sid_guardian | GUARDIAN REWATCH

Beginning of episode: On a YOHE clifftop, Zhao Yunlan gives the Envoy his name.
Ending of episode: Back in Dragon City, Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei he's not just a knife, and "Professor Lin" arrives at the DoS security check to confiscate Guo Changcheng's baton.

Important scenes/developments:

Zhao Yunlan fixes Shen Wei's name and asks about his past and his brother.
Ye Zun brings the Hallows to the Rebel Leader and gets kicked in the chest, mind-controlled and abused until his power manifests and he commits involuntarily cannibalism; he becomes the new Rebel Leader.
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan talk in the moonlight some more; Da Qing runs up to say the Rebels have declared war.
Clash #1: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan reclaim the Hallows, and Zhao Yunlan shoots a bunch of guys.
For the first time in months, Zhao Yunlan fails to activate the Hallows (but at least he doesn't have visions, collapse or go blind).
Da Qing chooses Zhao Yunlan as his master, and Zhao Yunlan fastens the bells around Da Qing's neck.
Clash #2: Ye Zun & co attack, Ye Zun's mask comes off, and the brothers reunite... until Ye Zun knocks everyone down.
The Hallows' wormhole swallows Zhao Yunlan, and he meets present-day Shen Wei inside.
From there, they watch as:
- Ye Zun falls into the energy seal, and Shen Wei follows after
- the Treaty is signed and the Allied Forces disbanded
- Da Qing leaves in search of his memories
- 10k years later, the Regent sends Ding Dun to Haixing to investigate the energy seal and look for the Hallows
- Ding Dun's mission finds the newly waking Envoy
- the Regent and Shen Wei agree on their roles
- Shen Wei talks to pillar!Ye Zun, then returns to Haixing and catches some petty Dixingren crooks.
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan leave the wormhole and land in the SID lab, where Da Qing is waiting.
Da Qing says Dixing has declared war on Haixing; cue flashback to Ye Zun impersonating the Envoy and burning the treaty.
At the DoS security check, Changcheng gets stopped because of his baton, and the guard sends for Professor Lin.
In the street, Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei that he's not a knife, and says the big problem for the moment is humans.
Lin Jing comes to the DoS security check and takes Changcheng's baton.

Thoughts

Zhao Yunlan gives Shen Wei his name. Ot1h, this has always struck me as incredibly presumptuous; otoh, does it still count as presumptuous when (as far as Zhao Yunlan is concerned) it's already Shen Wei's name, and Zhao Yunlan knows how important it is to him? Ot3h, I mean, Zhao Yunlan and presumption go hand in hand, so... *g*

Anyway, Zhao Yunlan extemporises (off the top of his head?) about Shen Wei's name, turning it into a call to duty just in case Shen Wei was in any danger of losing sight of his priorities: "In this world, water and mountains are connected. Towering mountains extend endlessly, just like the burdens on our shoulders, but we have to keep walking till the end."

Then he asks about Shen Wei's backstory, and while Shen Wei talks openly, Zhao Yunlan listens. He isn't figuring out how to slyly ask for compensation or being a cute ratbag; his attention is absolute. Partly, this is because he's matured and now understands his own importance, so he doesn't have to joke for attention or put up defences anymore; partly I think it's because he's been denied these confidences for so long, and he wants them so badly. To hear about Shen Wei's past. To be a shoulder for Shen Wei to unburden himself onto. It was worth travelling 10k years just for this!

I think that, at the time Kunlun showed up, YOHE!Shen Wei was having a crisis, not of confidence or self-worth, but of hope. For whatever reason, Ma Gui and Fu You haven't told him about the message from the future saying they'll win the war, and he's lost so many men, and things just seem... really bleak. And as a leader, he's responsible for the losses, large and small. Can they win? Is it worth sending yet more of his men to die? Should he try to do it all alone?

But then Kunlun arrives, and he is a total revelation. He talks confidently about the future, about a long life after the war. He listens seriously and believes in Shen Wei. His encouragement strengthens Shen Wei's resolve when he needs it most, and a lot of that influence is to keep fighting, keep on with the sacrifice. Shen Wei starts to say, "If I had a choice..." and Zhao Yunlan cuts him off and tells him he'd still be a leader. "Even if it is not what you want, you would still fight with the bad because of your conscience and for the sake of everyone."

(He tempers that a little with his "You're not just a knife" line later this episode, but that's 10k years later, from Shen Wei's pov!)

Zhao Yunlan asks about Shen Wei's brother, and we get some of Ye Zun's side of the story. A few things about this:
- I think this partly parallels the start of the previous episode, with Chu Shuzhi telling the truth about him and Nianzhi. With the Chu brothers, we got multiple confusing versions, all mixed up, and then the real one, which was about the older brother feeling that he'd failed the younger; the younger seeming to die (but actually being preserved in an object?); misplaced vengeance, and a hundred years of punishment/torment. Here, we only start to see the shape of Shen Wei and Ye Zun's story, and we know not to entirely trust it (because this show! ♥), but I think it's safe to guess that some of those elements are going to be present.
- There's a dramatic contrast between the Rebels and the Allied Forces. The Rebels are assembled outside, with no apparent infrastructure; their Leader is a thug and a bully, ruling with an iron and mind-controlling fist. Meanwhile, the Allied Forces are led by a lord and a lady who don't seem to be fighters so much as strategists; they have at least one general, a council chamber, and magical healing ointment. Ma Gui tries to develop a technological breakthrough that can help them win the war. Given how little the Rebels seem to have, it's not surprising they're not interested in peace...
- What was Ye Zun's situation, growing up among the Rebels? (There's some discussion about this in the comments on extrapenguin's excellent scene post.) He's mind controlled like the other soldiers, but also verbally and physically abused and lied to. He's despised for his illness/weakness/lack of power. He believes he has nowhere else to go, and he's disturbingly flinchy. He dresses more like the Allied Forces than like the Rebels. And he's been working his way up from whipping boy, using his wits to try and help the Rebel Leader, eg, by suggesting and carrying out the Hallows heist. (Has anyone written the Hallows heist?!) But the Rebel Leader doesn't trust him and isn't willing to grant him any status.
- Ye Zun's power activates, and it's clearly involuntary and terrifying.
  
  It's also his first taste of any kind of power.
- When the Rebels acknowledge him, they hold out a new, golden mask. Maybe one of them has an on-the-spot appropriate-mask-creating power?

Back to the tranquil moonlight chat between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan, in particular Shen Wei comparing his view of the world with and without his mask (very symbolic) and Zhao Yunlan being so charmed. And then Shen Wei breaks Zhao Yunlan's heart by thanking him for being interested. It seems very IC to me that Shen Wei doesn't blame others for keeping their distance; it's just the way things are.

Zhao Yunlan says, "If one day, I leave without saying goodbye, please don't blame me. You only need to know that we will meet again." (I wonder if he's partly talking to future Shen Wei there too, promising him (and himself) that they'll be reunited?)

Da Qing runs up. "The Rebel Leader sent a declaration of war." (Confusing, because it seemed like they were already at war, right?) "I heard they brought the Hallows, too."

Shen Wei says he'll bring the Hallows back. Zhao Yunlan clasps his shoulder. "You are not fighting alone." (And he can back this up with his weapon, which gives their side a new edge; it's the YOHE equivalent of his bomb-defusing skills in the hospital.) He's telling, not asking here -- claiming a place at Shen Wei's side, and trying to send Da Qing to safety, too. (He calls himself Da Qing's master, so I guess he has connected those dots; of course, Da Qing objects.)

In the clash that follows, Zhao Yunlan uses his gun ruthlessly and unhesitatingly. And he and Shen Wei work together seamlessly -- Shen Wei throws Zhao Yunlan the box of Hallows without even calling his name first, freeing himself to fight Ye Zun. <3 <3 <3 But having retrieved the Hallows, they retreat.

The Hallows won't activate. Zhao Yunlan even picks up the Awl without having visions! He says, "My mission is complete. It's time to go back now," and omg Shen Wei's faaaace, but it's Da Qing who runs up, protesting, "No! You just came! Why are you leaving now?" (undeadrobins made a great post on this scene.)

I wanted this to be where Zhao Yunlan realised he was Da Qing's master, but he has been claiming that all along; I guess it's where Da Qing claims him back, though, and where Zhao Yunlan realises the significance of the bells.

Second clash. Shen Wei slices Ye Zun's mask and it falls off. Ye Zun emotionally manipulates. Zhao Yunlan finally learns that Ye Zun is Shen Wei's didi.

And here, in YOHE, with Shen Wei not weakened by light energy, and with Zhao Yunlan at his most shooty, even working together they still can't defeat Ye Zun. He knocks them all over with relative ease. But the Hallows intervene, dragging Zhao Yunlan into their wormhole.

His parting words to Shen Wei are echoes of Zhang Shi/Zhao Xinci: "No matter what decision you make, never regret doing it."

Zhao Yunlan arrives back in the wormhole. We get Shen Wei's amazing line: It took me 10,000 years to find you. (After he says it, he's breathing hard -- so many emotions!) And Zhao Yunlan can't answer that, can't only laugh out his own feels.

I love how Zhao Yunlan's having met and mentored the younger Shen Wei doesn't alter their present-day dynamic: modern Shen Wei is still ancient, authoritative and a scientist, and Zhao Yunlan slots into place as his partner who defers to Shen Wei's judgement, knowledge of wormholes, etc -- while still angling for what he wants, because he's still Zhao Yunlan. *g*

Shen Wei says, "The magic of the timeline is that from a macro perspective, no matter how long you stay at this node as long as you return to the start, not much time will have passed." Which gives us lots of leeway for YOHE fic. ;-)

Zhao Yunlan says he wants to see the ending, and I feel like either Shen Wei doesn't, or he doesn't want Zhao Yunlan to see it? But he doesn't argue.

trobadora's already made an awesome post on Ye Zun and Shen Wei falling into the abyss. In short, Shen Wei once more fails to save his brother -- this time losing him to the Hallows. (I think there's a potential AU here where Shen Wei decides the Hallows are problematic, and he goes into engineering instead of biology to figure out how to destroy them, and research other ways of bringing resources to Dixing. ;-p)

Shen Wei following Ye Zun into the energy seal seems a lot like his following Zhao Yunlan into the wormhole last episode: throwing caution to the wind for the people he cares about most, who he wants to keep and protect.

Then we get the Treaty and the Allied Forces disbanding. Fu You says, "Goodbye, Dixingren," to the other treaty signatory like she didn't bother to ask his name, hee. (Or is it plural? 再见了地星人)

And like every other "good guy" character else in the show, she puts leadership ahead of personal things -- and she makes Ma Gui do the same.

Da Qing doesn't remember anything, and apparently everyone is refusing to fill him in (???), so he's off on his own.

Fast forward. In the wormhole, Shen Wei says, "Dragon City was built upon the crater caused by the meteorite." Which is why the troubles start and end in the city. We see the pre-awakened-Envoy palace, with the Regent being pro-Envoy and telling the Deacon off for speaking out against him. We see Ding Dun and co find the Envoy. The Envoy and the Regent amicably agreeing on their roles. (The Regent, faced with this wide-eyed, young-seeming ancient legend who outranks him but knows nothing about the current political climate, is understandably I think none too thrilled, but he hides it well.) Shen Wei decides to go keep the peace in Haixing and look for the Hallows, but first he talks to Ye Zun in the pillar and discovers his brother hasn't repented. It's not 100% clear to me what he thinks Ye Zun's crime is -- continuing the warmongering after he took power, I guess? Also, I wonder how long Ye Zun has been awake at this point. /o\ And then we get a delightful glimpse of an Envoy-in-Haixing-fighting-crime procedural, which I would have LOVED to see more of, especially if it featured pre-embittered Zhao Xinci. (trobadora covered all of this in her epic scene post, so I'm skating over it.)

Finally, it's time to leave the portal. Zhao Yunlan name-checks Wang Zheng and Sang Zan as part of his motivation, aww, and he and Shen Wei fall into the SID lab, where Da Qing has been sleeping. The three of them help each other up: reunion!!! Zhao Yunlan checks his phone (a perfectly reasonable first move after being offline for who even knows how long) and discovers two days have passed.

Da Qing says Dixing has declared war on Haixing, and the Envoy is rumoured to be behind it. Flashback to Ye Zun stirring up a crowd, with An Bai and the Regent watching. (This takes place in the palace, but it's a weird angle and it took me a moment to be sure.) The bartender vouches for the fake!Envoy, despite his uncharacteristic behaviour. Sigh! I like the bartender, but he's not the smartest cookie.

Ye Zun says, "I am honored that the Dijun and Regent handed me the commanding power at this critical time. After pondering over [Dixing's situation], I am here to announce that... this shameless treaty is invalid now." And he sets it alight.

The onlookers actually sound alarmed and not particularly militant until Ye Zun eggs them on and one of them starts up a chant: "Rule Haixing!" The others quickly join in. (I wonder what they think this invasion will entail, and also how many of them have weaponisable powers.)

Poor Shen Wei. Ye Zun is using the Envoy's reputation as a powerful chess piece. This is really upsetting (and enraging?)!

At the DoS security check, Guo Ying schools Changcheng in discretion:
GY: Changcheng, the Inspectorate is not like the outside world. Once you're inside, be very careful about what you say or do.
GCC: Uncle, my colleagues—
GY: Hush. I care about them, too. I also sympathize with them. But now is not the time.

Aww! The security people find something suspicious in Changcheng's bag, and they call "Professor Lin".

In the street, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan walk and talk (with very little urgency for wanted men).

SW: I have no allies in Dixing. The Regent and Dijun are on Ye Zun's side now.
me: And the Regent was pretty unreliable to start with!
SW: (cont.) In Dixing now, no one can rightfully discern the real Black Cloaked Envoy anymore. To my knowledge, with Ye Zun's current power, it's impossible for him to bewitch the whole of Dixing, so he dresses up like me and causes chaos.

ZYL: Enough. Remember, you are a person, not a knife.
SW: But he's now provoking dissension under my name. It's my fault. I should have been ruthless at that time [10k years ago?].
ZYL: It's not you who was lenient, it was Heaven. But I also believe that man will triumph over Heaven. People like Ye Zun will never understand the point of our sacrifices and persistence.
SW: (apparently this is what he needed to hear, because some of the tension leaves him) Thank you.
ZYL: (laughs) For what? (changes the subject)

Shen Wei thanking Zhao Yunlan here echoes their conversation 10k years ago, awwwww! I think here, he's thanking him for being by his side, for once more bringing hope by talking Shen Wei out of his dismay and self-recrimination and back into determination and action. And maybe, too, by Zhao Yunlan's referring to their sacrifices and persistence, Shen Wei feels Zhao Yunlan is giving him permission to carry out his contingency plan. (He doesn't need permission, of course, but it must be good to know Zhao Yunlan will understand.)

Shen Wei has asked Da Qing to find the rest of the SID. Zhao Yunlan has a plan to manage things in Haixing. "The most worrying thing is us Humans right now." And then he uses the most delightfully Zhao Yunlan idiom I can imagine: Let's go to the mountains knowing there are tigers (ie, time for a calculated risk). :D :D :D

At the DoS, Lin Jing comes to the security check, all serious (undercover) and not accepting Changcheng's warm greeting.

Discussion starters:

What's your favourite scene in this episode? Favourite line of dialogue? For me, it's the entire clifftop conversation, and especially Zhao Yunlan asking Shen Wei not to blame him for leaving. It says so much!!

How do you feel about YOHE Ye Zun? Do you have thoughts about his terrible circumstances? Do they make you pity him?

Any thoughts or feelings about Fu You and Ma Gui? Do you ship them? Do you think Fu You was right to leave?

At the end of the episode, Shen Wei seems to think he could have defeated Ye Zun in YOHE. Why do you think he thinks this?li
What exactly does Shen Wei feel about Ye Zun using the Envoy's image to start a war?

We know that, among other things, the treaty places some restrictions on the Envoy. Does burning it change anything?

Does the Regent have any redeeming features?

The first time you watched, did you think Lin Jing had gone to the dark side, or did you recognise his no-nonsense attitude to Changcheng as a ruse?

Let’s talk about episode 35!
Come and talk about this episode – anything from favourite scenes or lines of dialogue to notes/questions about continuity or translation, most gorgeous (or angsty) smile, or anything else that strikes your fancy! And share links to your own and/or others’ episode-related meta, picspams, and fanworks, new or old!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hee! I commend you on your sacrifice! (Sadly, I'm the wrong person to comment on actor stuff, but I'm sure others will be happy to discuss further! <3)

when Shen Wei puts on his iconic mask, he uses the same gesture as when he adjusts his glasses. Or is it the other way around? Hm. It’s a nice moment regardless.

That is so cool -- such a great observation. Both of them are masks! :D :D :D

I like that this ancient wuxia warrior thrown into modern times doesn’t allow himself to wallow and despair – instead he finds a new purpose for himself ❤

Yes, that's so good! And then... he goes to university, which makes so much sense for him! (Do you think of him as wuxia? I'm not sure of the limits of that category.)

I do feel bad for him when he gets mistreated by the rebel chief, but it doesn’t last very long because he then proceeds to make some really bad choices. Also I’m distracted by his pretty face.

Ha, yes indeed. There are reasons for his terrible life choices, but that doesn't fix the fact that he makes them.

I don’t really get why they can’t initiate a relationship or whatever Ma Gui was aiming for. These people have no concept of work-life-balance.

LOL! Exactly!

I feel that Fu You is making a sacrifice for sacrificing’s sake, when it wouldn’t actually be necessary.

Honestly, her decision always makes me think she just isn't that into him. Like, I feel like for her it was a meeting-of-the-minds and a great working relationship, which she enjoyed, but she doesn't seem to be drawn to him the same way he's clearly into her. ;-p

Could he mean he should have killed Ye Zun or at least contained him better when he first woke from his nap? There was certainly more time to figure something out, before Ye Zun escaped from the pillar.

Idk, I think the pillar was pretty impregnable from inside and out. It took a lot for Ye Zun to break out. But I may be swayed by the original subs, which actually say, "It's my fault. I should kill him 10000 years ago."

And then... he goes to university, which makes so much sense for him! (Do you think of him as wuxia? I'm not sure of the limits of that category.)

Yes! And he is absolutely thriving as a professor ❤❤❤

Ah, I'm not sure about a precise definition either. I was just thinking the fantasy ancient China setting we see in YOHE would fit the genre, but there's probably more requirements story- and character-wise.

Honestly, her decision always makes me think she just isn't that into him

Poor Ma Gui, not even worth a proper rejection XD

Idk, I think the pillar was pretty impregnable from inside and out. It took a lot for Ye Zun to break out. But I may be swayed by the original subs, which actually say, "It's my fault. I should kill him 10000 years ago."

Yeah, it’s not rational for Shen Wei to blame himself at all, he had no reason to doubt the pillar’s effectiveness. And obviously Ye Zun is responsible for his own actions, regardless.

Yes! And he is absolutely thriving as a professor ❤❤❤

Yes! I love that too. :D

I think YOHE would feel more wuxia to me if we didn't have Zhao Yunlan blundering around being very modern-thinking, with the thinnest of Kunlun veneers. *g*

Poor Ma Gui, not even worth a proper rejection XD

LOL, right?

And obviously Ye Zun is responsible for his own actions, regardless.

Well, up to a point. I wonder how much all that mind control scrambled his brains... (I find it hard to have much sympathy for Ye Zun because he's cruel, but objectively, it's not like he ever really had a chance to turn out better.)

Well, up to a point. I wonder how much all that mind control scrambled his brains

He's pretty unwell, even before he gets stuck in a pillar for 10 000 years, yes.
I have some sympathy for a Quest of Revenge when it comes to people who avtually wronged you (and Ye Zun seems rather convinced of Shen Wei's betrayal), but none for extending that to uninvolved third-parties.

Yeah, that's an excellent point.

Yeah, 100% agreed.

I still want him to get a chance to heal, and to finally grow out of all of this, though. *g*

GUARDIAN REWATCH – Episode 35

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