Scene Discussion: Episode 15: The Regent

[awanderingcoyote]

SO! I started off with a different pic spam in mind :D It’s affectionately called: If I fits I sit.  And it’s going to be all the times the SID (including Zhao Yunlan, of course) is sitting in odd/not typical ways :D 

However, I didn’t realize how big of a project this would be and I’m only halfway through the episodes.  So, If I fits I sit will be for my next weekend I sign-up for!

For this weekend, I decided to go with a small screen discussion, centering around episode 15.  There are so many things I love about episode 15. I love when Shen Wei goes all HPS on the Regent.  I love when ZYL gets to see Shen Wei go all HPS on the regent, and I also love the part where they go to Dixing together for the first time!

But for this particular discussion I am feeling lots of Chu Shuzhi feels today, so I decided to review the part where Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi encounter the regent in his Haixingren disguise.

It starts at the 21:04 mark and ends at 24:58.

We start out with a gray-haired man looking around himself.

I find this camera angle so interesting! 


 

The (unknown to me at that time) Regent crosses the street but a trunk almost hits him.


 

Our good bean Guo Changcheng just so happens to be walking down a nearby street (reading a book!!) and sees the accident.

Can anyone tell what book he’s reading? I can make out Combat, so I think it’s a self-defense book, which if it is OMG.  THIS IS ADORABLE.  He’s reading up on fighting to help him learn faster/better with Chu-ge?!?! I never noticed this on my initial watches!!


 

Guo Changcheng runs over and helps the Regent up.


 

Eventually the driver of the truck/van gets out and between Guo Changcheng and the driver they get the Regent up off the ground.  The Regent assures the driver he’s fine.

Interestingly the Regent says: The cars on the surface are so different.   Neither the driver nor Guo Changcheng react to it.  Which to my brain makes sense because in the moment it’s still like: Oh no is he hurt/is he okay/adrenaline!!!


 

The driver eventually leaves, and Guo Changcheng urges the Regent to take a seat off to the side.  Guo Changcheng asks if he should take the Regent to the hospital (because he’s such a good bean!).  Eventually an alarm sounds and Gou Changcheng reaches for his phone in his pocket.

Guo Changcheng needs to go because he is late for work!

I also think this is incredibly adorable that he has an alarm set for work!! :D

Guo Changcheng urges the Regent to be careful when crossing the road. XD XD

We transition to Guo Changcheng turning the corner of a building and rapidly (sometimes jogging) down the little alleyway-between buildings. He’s late for work!


 

As Guo Changcheng is running-jogging down the street a familiar person arrives. The Regent.

I love the music they play here.  It’s very mysterious-slightly sinister-surprise. :D

We can clearly see Changcheng is surprised!


 

Guo Changcheng asks what the Regent is doing here and the Regent says he is lost.

Is he though? IS HE? XD

Guo Changcheng asks if he’s trying to go home, and the Regent says his home isn’t here.  He continues with: Not anywhere here. It’s been years since I’ve seen the sunlight.  

Guo Changcheng says that’s a shame, and seems very uncomfortable, or possibly anxious since he’s LATE FOR WORK!

They proceed to have a conversation about the Regent’s kids being too busy to help the Regent, and the Regent reveals he’s childless.

Poor Guo Changcheng XD he’s just trying to get to WORK.  He doesn’t want to disappointment Chu-ge and his team XD

Either way, the Regent says his life is destined to be a lonely one and Guo Changcheng says I’m sorry for your suffering.   The Regent then says Boy, we can suffer together. 

 

Guo Changcheng is definitely confused up until the Regent reveals he could tell Guo Changcheng was a kind person and can he help him find the place he’s looking for. The Regent reveals he has an appointment there this morning.

Guo Changcheng TRIES to protest saying he’s late for work but the Regent gives him Regent-puppy-dog-eyes and our poor Xiao Guo folds.


 

Guo Changcheng asks for the address and the Regent reveals the address to be Number Four, Bright Road.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN.

Guo Changcheng’s surprise/shock is very evident. Very surprised Pikachu look here. XD

 

We transition to Guo Changcheng leading the Regent to the SID HQ where Chu Shuzhi steps out of the doorway to meet Guo Changcheng.

I love this wide shot of the SID and the street and the other businesses!

PS: Do you think Chu-ge was specifically looking for Guo Changcheng?! I DO :D

 

Here we get a nice shot of Chu Shuzhi looking stern and currently unaware that the Regent is nearby.

I think it’s interesting that he’s looking out at the street and then turns to look at Guo Changcheng.  Is he specifically making it seem like he isn’t waiting for Guo Changcheng? XD

Poor Guo Changcheng apologies and Chu Shuzhi replies with: Oh? You learn to be late now?

Guo Changcheng is quick to assure Chu-ge there IS a reason!

It’s because of the Regent.

I love how this frame initially has its focus on Guo Changcheng so that the Regent is unfocused and then when Guo Changcheng points at him it all comes into focus. 



It really is about the micro expression for Chu Shuzhi as his eyes widen just a bit as realization sets in on who he’s looking at.



 

The Regent sees Chu Shuzhi and immediately says: Look who we have here, Xiao Chu?


 

The Regent adds: Long time no see.

And Chu Shuzhi's expression starts to shift to angry disbelief.

Angry Chu Shuzhi grabs the Regent by the neck and says: It’s you.


 

Guo Changcheng immediately grabs Chu Shuzhi’s arm and asks: Chu-ge, what are you doing!

I love how everyone in the background is watching it all like: Ooooh what’s going on there!!


 

Chu-ge switches hands and shoves Changcheng away!

I just have to point out look at the Regent’s expression.  Such a smile of pleasure at all of this!

After Chu-ge shoves Guo Changcheng away we refocus on the Regent who is looking even MORE SMUG.

Intense Chu-ge is INTENSE.

Thankfully (for the Regent not Chu-ge) Zhao Yunlan makes his appearance! Just realized there's that theme of people being in-between people!

Chu-ge, however, will not release the Regent.

You can just see Zhao Yunlan’s annoyance here.

He eventually steps over to the two and pushes Chu-ge away. 

People in the background still watching XD


 

It’s hard to capture but when Zhao Yunlan shoves Chu-ge aside Guo Changcheng catches his arm to steady him.

Zhao Yunlan also reprimands Chu-ge about fighting while in public.

Which begs the question would inside the SID have been better? XD XD XD

Zhao Yunlan continues with: are you hypnotized by black energy?

You can also see the Regent is still smiling with the uptilt of the muscle in his cheek from this profile view.

Chu Shuzhi looks pretty done with all this non-sense!

Though really, I read this as shock.  Perhaps shocked that Zhao Yunlan would forcefully shove him aside? Or perhaps shock at his own actions.  Or maybe shock that he was stopped? Or maybe he’s determining if he could just shove Zhao Yunlan aside and continue his attack on the Regent XD  Honestly it could be a mixture of all of that!  But either way he’s angrily shocked, or so my brain reads it!

Oh here is some more in-between people! :D I love this motif I've recently noticed in the show :D

A nice little shot of the group (and the background people still watching LOL).

I do feel like you can just see the tension zinging between Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi with his shot.

The Regent also finally speaks and says: Lord Guardian, you are finally here. 
 

We have a shot of Zhao Yunlan clasping hands with the Regent and an unfocused Guo Changcheng in the background but between their clasped hands.

The camera then turns to Chu-ge and he still looks intense.


 

It then shifts to showing the Regent and Zhao Yunlan, with Zhao Yunlan saying they’ve been waiting a long time for you (the Regent).

Again, the interesting shot where in-between the two is a person, this time Chu Shuzhi who’s unfocused.

Chu Shuzhi stomps angrily away while Zhao Yunlan motions for the Regent to enter.  Only after Chu Shuzhi and the Regent are inside do we wend on Zhao Yunlan’s gregarious expression turning less so.

Points to Ponder:

• I remember when I originally watched this episode I did NOT make the initial connection that he was the Regent.  Did anyone else miss that?  LOLOL.
• Do you think the Regent running into Guo Changcheng was innocent? Or did he contrive to run into Guo Changcheng.  If he did do it purposely, do you believe he knows all of the SID employees?
• I sure did feel like he enjoyed twisting that knife – as it were- when he saw Chu Shuzhi.  It would be interesting to see some fan fiction written for in-between moments of this episode, on how Chu Shuzhi handles himself, and if he explains anything to Changcheng. 
• I love how at the end Zhao Yunlan’s expression turns to something more like he’s gearing up for a battle, because 1. It’s the Regent and 2. Chu Shuzhi gonna have to say something about it, I think XD  I also love how this really leans into the whole push-pull of Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi’s relationship.
• Poor Guo Changcheng just looked so confused throughout the whole ordeal XD
• I love ferocious Chu Shuzhi! What are some of your favorite ferocious Chu Shuzhi moments?

 

I hope everyone enjoyed this! 

Comments

[awanderingcoyote]

THE SMIRKS! Yes, it was so clear in those pictures how much the Regent was enjoying himself!

So much joy he has causing chaos!

Thank you for the lovely comment and I'm so glad you enjoyed the discussion :D