Poll: Your favourite self-sacrifice (drama)

[china_shop]

Poll #33058 Self-sacrifice

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 24

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Best attempted/successful self-sacrifice

View Answers

Wu Tian'en taking the poison dart/bolt/whatever meant for his son
1 (4.5%)

Shen Wei snatching Zhao Yunlan's drink and gulping it down, in the Hanga arc
4 (18.2%)

Tan Xiao letting himself be deported in Zheng Yi's place
3 (13.6%)

Shen Wei's "take me instead" in the sonic lab, trying to rescue Zhao Yunlan from Zhu Jiu
2 (9.1%)

Guo Changcheng agreeing to forfeit his life to give Ye Huo first aid, in the zero-degree lab
3 (13.6%)

Ye Huo exhausting his powers to warm the others, ibid
2 (9.1%)

Chu Shuzhi giving Changcheng his coat and scarf, ibid
7 (31.8%)

Zhao Yunlan returning the energy that healed his eyes the first time
4 (18.2%)

Dr. Feng giving his life force to the people he'd inadvertently harmed
1 (4.5%)

An Bai giving up his freedom for his friends
2 (9.1%)

Shen Wei trying to portal away with the hospital bomb
2 (9.1%)

Da Qing blocking Da Ji's attack on Lao Li
2 (9.1%)

Zhao Yunlan's "take me instead" on the rooftop, trying to rescue his father
2 (9.1%)

Wang Zheng and Sang Zan taking the brunt of Ye Zun's attack on Zhao Yunlan in the SID lab
2 (9.1%)

Shen Wei jumping in front of Ye Zun's energy bolt
9 (40.9%)

Shen Wei's energy bomb gambit
3 (13.6%)

The apartment across the hall is vacant because...

View Answers

Zhao Yunlan is a terrible neighbour and drove the last occupants away
4 (16.7%)

Da Qing is a terrible neighbour and drove the last occupants away
7 (29.2%)

the previous occupants experienced mysterious, sudden-onset "plumbing" and/or "ghost" problems (*koff*Shen Wei*Koff*)
4 (16.7%)

the previous occupants inherited another dwelling from an unknown "long-lost relative" (*koff*Shen Wei*Koff*)
6 (25.0%)

the Hallows willed it so, as part of their cosmic matchmaking
5 (20.8%)

other (please specify in comments)
2 (8.3%)

Note: I didn't include the Sundial exchange itself in question 1 because I don't think that was done in the spirit of sacrifice. Feel free to @ me!! ;-)

Comments

[facethestrange]

POLL! :D ♡♡♡

"Shen Wei's "take me instead" in the sonic lab, trying to rescue Zhao Yunlan from Zhu Jiu"

Sooooo this scene is single-handedly responsible for me going feral for Guardian instead of being a casual watcher with a giant crush on Zhao Yunlan from the first moment I saw him, that is. ♡♡♡ (ETA: Maybe not single-handedly - there may also have been two fics, but the order of things is hazy at this point. xD Still, don't want to leave other factors uncredited. :D) And therefore nothing else can compare, and therefore all the other fantastic options don't get enough appreciation from me this time, lol oops. (But srsly, the options are SO GOOD, I got so many random feels for things I never even really thought about, just from reading the list!) Until I got to Shen Wei desperately protecting Zhao Yunlan with his body, and decided 'okay, you get an honorable mention'. xD Because DAMN. But otherwise, sorry not sorry, all the other awesome scenes, I'm married to this one and incredibly grateful that is exists. :D ♡♡♡ *lowkey considers going back and also voting for the alcohol too tho, but probably won't*

And in the second poll I just absolutely love the idea that Shen Wei yeeted a better apartment at some random person so that they leave this one, lolol, it's perfect! I can't say I've ever wondered why the apartment was empty. :D

[china_shop]

Sooooo this scene is single-handedly responsible for me going feral for Guardian instead of being a casual watcher

Awwww, yay! I can totally see how that would happen!! :DDD

But srsly, the options are SO GOOD, I got so many random feels for things I never even really thought about, just from reading the list!

I know, right? And there must be so many that I missed. Those are just the ones that came to mind as I scrolled through galaxysoup's episode guide.

Until I got to Shen Wei desperately protecting Zhao Yunlan with his body, and decided 'okay, you get an honorable mention'. xD

Aww, fair!

I just absolutely love the idea that Shen Wei yeeted a better apartment at some random person so that they leave this one, lolol

:D :D :D :D :D :D "Hi, you've inherited this house from a relative you've never heard of... Please. Move. Now."

[autodach]

Sooooo this scene is single-handedly responsible for me going feral for Guardian instead of being a casual watcher

That’s awesome! Your Guardian-awakening :D

[trobadora]

Sooooo this scene is single-handedly responsible for me going feral for Guardian instead of being a casual watcher

Wow, that's so fascinating! As someone who was EXTRMELY into Shen Wei from much earlier than this, that moment didn't leave nearly this much an impression on me, LOL. So cool to hear about what grabbed you that hard!

I can't say I've ever wondered why the apartment was empty. :D

Haha, same!

[maggie33]

Another great poll, yay. And so many good scenes to choose from. I almost decided at first to just click on everything, because it was really hard to choose. :D

And heh, that second poll. It's my headcanon that Shen Wei absolutely did have a hand in the apartment across the hall becoming miraculously vacant exactly when he needed it. :DDD

[facethestrange]

Ikr, if I wasn't super biased for one scene, it would be at least 10 scenes from this list easily. :D

*waves to all the other ChuGuo voters who are silently in the lead* :D

[china_shop]

I almost decided at first to just click on everything, because it was really hard to choose. :D

I understand!! (I got a bit carried away myself. :D)

It's my headcanon that Shen Wei absolutely did have a hand in the apartment across the hall becoming miraculously vacant exactly when he needed it. :DDD

Aww, awesome!! (I feel like he'd be very fair about it and make sure they weren't disadvantaged by the move. :D)

[trobadora]

I almost decided at first to just click on everything, because it was really hard to choose. :D

Ha! That makes sense, that's often the case for me with these polls. It's just all so good! :D

[autodach]

I voted for both Shen Wei snatching Zhao Yunlan's drink and him jumping in front of Ye Zun's energy bolt.
The former because I love the trope, and it’s actually a very effective sacrifice (many on the list are more ‘it’s the thought that counts’ sacrifices).
The latter is because Shen Wei looks very, very good doing it. And because Bai Yu somehow nailed his reaction while tied to a pillar made of styrofoam.

My interpretation was always that the apartment just…happens to be empty. I realize now that’s kinda lame, haha. I voted for the long-lost relatives.

[facethestrange]

"many on the list are more ‘it’s the thought that counts’ sacrifices"

I didn't even notice that, that's a really good point!

"The latter is because Shen Wei looks very, very good doing it. And because Bai Yu somehow nailed his reaction while tied to a pillar made of styrofoam."

Ahhh, IKR?? ♡♡♡ And the hand holding!! Which is not visible in the end, but IT'S THERE. ♡

"My interpretation was always that the apartment just…happens to be empty."

Same, lol. This is the first time I've ever given this any thought. :D

[china_shop]

Aww, great choices! I love the drinking one so very much. <3

and it’s actually a very effective sacrifice (many on the list are more ‘it’s the thought that counts’ sacrifices)

Yeeeah, I always feel like that about Wang Zheng and Sang Zan. Like, it was so noble of them to try, but did it actually achieve anything?? :-(((

My interpretation was always that the apartment just…happens to be empty. I realize now that’s kinda lame, haha.

Fwiw, I think that's what we're supposed to think (in as much as I don't think we're supposed to think about it at all). :D Yay sneaky SW! :D

[trobadora]

That's very true about the effectiveness, that was a factor for me as well. And the drink-snatching is such a delightful moment!

My interpretation was always that the apartment just…happens to be empty.

Same here, and I stand by that interpretation! Not lame at all, IMO. *g*

[trobadora]

I could have voted for a lot of things with the first question, but the energy bomb beats out everything, no competition. I love it so, it's the revelation that makes me go YES!!!! every time watch even though I obviously already know, and it's just perfect in every way. Shen Wei doesn't know if they can win against Ye Zun, and obviously they try, but when they don't, he's ready. He's thought about this and prepared (and hoped it wouldn't be necessary), and in the end, he snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, and it's glorious. It's Shen Wei, who he is, what he does, what he stands for. It's everything. There's a lot of sacrifice in fiction, but I can't off the top of my head name any that was more satisfying than this.

If I'd had to think about what to choose, I'd have gone for one of the effective ones, not the ineffectual ones (I have a competence kink, what can I say), and for a successful one, and for one that's a thought-out sacrifice, and ... well, I'd have ended up at the energy bomb anyway, LOL.

(Agreed that the Sundial thing doesn't count; it wasn't intended as sacrifice, and that's a necessary condition. What definitely counts and is missing from the poll, though, is Zhao Yunlan giving himself to the Lantern! That would have been my second choice. *g*)

As for the second question, I always assumed it was just empty. ZYL seems to have a decent relationship with the one neighbour of his we see, and there's so little time between Shen Wei first meeting Zhao Yunlan and him viewing the flat, there's no way to guarantee anyone moving out that fast out of nowhere except by evicting them or terrorising them, which is very not Shen Wei. And sure it's a big coincidence, but I honestly don't mind that at all.

[facethestrange]

How weird do I sound if I just say that I love your enthusiasm for this scene? Like honestly, genuinely, it's wonderful, and it's the kind of enthusiasm that is among the best things about fandom itself. ♡♡♡

"As for the second question, I always assumed it was just empty. ZYL seems to have a decent relationship with the one neighbour of his we see, and there's so little time between Shen Wei first meeting Zhao Yunlan and him viewing the flat, there's no way to guarantee anyone moving out that fast out of nowhere except by evicting them or terrorising them, which is very not Shen Wei. And sure it's a big coincidence, but I honestly don't mind that at all."

If we're talking actual non-cracky reasons, ITA! I don't really see any other explanation than this. :) (And if we're talking cracky reasons, I'd still never be able to imagine Shen Wei doing any evicting or terrorizing, just getting the people something better than this apartment. xD)

[china_shop]

Shen Wei doesn't know if they can win against Ye Zun, and obviously they try, but when they don't, he's ready. He's thought about this and prepared (and hoped it wouldn't be necessary), and in the end, he snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, and it's glorious.

YES! And by jumping in front of Ye Zun's energy bolt, he's both protecting ZYL and provoking YZ into eating him -- both desired outcomes at this stage. I love that he manages to combine those things!

and ... well, I'd have ended up at the energy bomb anyway, LOL.

Hee!

What definitely counts and is missing from the poll, though, is Zhao Yunlan giving himself to the Lantern! That would have been my second choice. *g*

Ohhh, how did I miss that? *facepalms forever*

And sure it's a big coincidence, but I honestly don't mind that at all.

I don't either, to be clear! I mean, it's fate. These two are so entangled, fate makes perfect sense! The poll question was just for fun. :-)

[autodach]

love it so, it's the revelation that makes me go YES!!!! every time

You are absolutely correct about everything you wrote here! This is Shen Wei and it is glorious!

[donutsweeper]

The apartment is empty because the previous tenant cooked amazing smelling food yet not only absolutely refused to share it with the poor starving kitty that either meowed for it from the hallway or from the windowsills, but was rude about it.

Not sharing was wrong, but being rude? That was not allowed.

[facethestrange]

Lololol. :D What did the poor starving kitty do with the rude neighbor? xD

[trobadora]

Now that makes complete sense to me! :D

[china_shop]

Hahaha, I love that! Yes! :D :D :D

[satsuma]

Shen Wei absolutely would make up a fake relative for someone to inherit from so he can live across from Zhao Yunlan but alas the timing doesn’t quite seem to work. So my money is some combination of Da Qing and the hallows matchmaking (perhaps they are matchmaking by ensuring that all of Da Qing’s shenanigans happen at the absolute worst most inconvenient time for the previous resident, thus ensuring they loose patience and move at exactly the right time?)

[trobadora]

Da Qing FTW! :D

[tinypinkmouse]

I feel so boring. I never once thought about why the apartment was empty. Apartments are empty all the time for no special reason. I mean Shen Wei definitely would arrange it if he needed to somehow. But it never even occurred to me.

Shen Wei's energy bomb gambit, does that mean the whole final sacrifice? I voted for that one but I'm not sure if that what it's referring to.

[china_shop]

Not boring at all, and you're not alone! I don't think we're meant to question it (why would we?). I was just being silly in the poll. :-)

Shen Wei's energy bomb gambit, does that mean the whole final sacrifice?

Yes! Great choice -- it's costly, but so effective and necessary and worth it. *hearts*

[trepkos]

I picked the drink one because most of the others are too sad/traumatic!

[china_shop]

Aww, great choice! It's such a personal sacrifice, too, that one. <3

[tehfanglyfish]

I always tend to think of Da Qing as the adult. (But honestly, Da Qing definitely raised Zhao Yunlan but he's also Zhao Yunlan's son, at least in dramaverse. How does that work out? I don't know - it just does.) But as I think about living with my own cat, I could totally see Da Qing being the bad neighbor who made the former occupants decide to move.

Too loud at night, too interested in their meals, too busy looking in their windows. Cats can just be like that.

[trobadora]

They don't really fit the usual familial terms, but they're definitely family and taking care of each other. ♥

And agreed that Da Qing could be like that! Depending on what the neighbours were like, they might even have deserved it. *g*

[china_shop]

Oops, I never said why I chose what I chose. Here's my reasoning.

Shen Wei snatching Zhao Yunlan's drink and gulping it down, in the Hanga arc It's so romantic and thoughtful and protective. It's not epic or necessary, except that Shen Wei can't bear to see ZYL suffer again. <333

Tan Xiao letting himself be deported in Zheng Yi's place This is so brave and comes from a place of such selflessness. Tan Xiao has no idea what he's signing up for, but he still has to do it.

Shen Wei's "take me instead" in the sonic lab, trying to rescue Zhao Yunlan from Zhu Jiu Such a classic desperate move. *hearts* (And also, of course, it's the turning point of the Envoy reveal, and I love it for that too. noogies ZYL, that rapscallion)

Guo Changcheng agreeing to forfeit his life to give Ye Huo first aid, in the zero-degree lab This isn't even personal! It's just Changcheng being so determinedly, bravely good, and I love him.

Zhao Yunlan returning the energy that healed his eyes the first time Again with the selflessness and doing the right thing even when it's hard and scary. *hearts and hearts* And also, I love that he doesn't know what Shen Wei endured to convince Dr. Feng to treat him, but if he did, he'd still have to make the same call. Because that's who he is.

Dr. Feng giving his life force to the people he'd inadvertently harmed I really like that he takes responsibility for the harm he inadvertently caused. It makes me respect him a lot.

An Bai giving up his freedom for his friends This one is just unfair and gut-wrenching, because it's all a set-up. Poor An Bai. But he does it, even though he really doesn't want to. Loyalty, man!

Zhao Yunlan's "take me instead" on the rooftop, trying to rescue his father Alllllll the complicated undercurrents. How ZYL would do this for anyone, and doing it for his father actually makes it more fraught than it otherwise would be. How ZYL takes the insults on the chin and pushes through. How Shen Wei is standing there helplessly, with devastation looming but unable to intervene because he has to let ZYL be ZYL or else what's the point? (Same with the re-blinding sacrifice.)

[facethestrange]

I love so many options on the list, and I basically just agree with your entire comment, like, YES THIS, they're all wonderful scenes and reasons! ♡

All the love for the sonic lab scene, obviously. :D ♡♡♡ (And we're the only two people who voted for it. xD)

And the drink scene that I didn't end up including but it's my third fav! It's so sweet. ♡

"And also, I love that he doesn't know what Shen Wei endured to convince Dr. Feng to treat him, but if he did, he'd still have to make the same call. Because that's who he is."

*SNIFFLES* ♡