china_shop: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan crouched down, stroking a black cat, on a gree background. (Guardian - meet cute)
The Gauche in the Machine ([personal profile] china_shop) wrote in [community profile] sid_guardian2025-09-07 09:20 am

Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 1, part 1

Zhao Yunlan sprawled on a couch, grinning at his phone. The background shows a purply sky with stars. Text reads "Slo-Mo Rewatch. Guardian - half an episode per week @ sid-guardian.dreamwidth.org."


Hi, and welcome to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Join us to watch half an episode a week (at your leisure) and then come and chat about it here in comments. If you already know the drama, of course you can jump in without rewatching if you prefer!

Episode 1, up to 22:28

Summary
The prologue explains Haixing's history. Professor Shen Wei presents a public lecture and turns down a job offer. Guo Changcheng reports to the SID in the middle of the night, where Zhao Yunlan is outrageous and the rest of the team scares Changcheng into fainting. Twice. An unseen threat chases Li Qian through the night. Zhao Yunlan investigates a murder at the university, where he and Da Qing dangle Guo Changcheng out a window while they discuss the case. Guo Changcheng's cries draw Shen Wei's attention. Cat!Da Qing gets strokes. Shen Wei is very intense, and Zhao Yunlan notices. Afterwards, Zhao Yunlan interrogates Li Qian about the murder; Shen Wei comes to pick her up for class and further arouses Zhao Yunlan's suspicions in the process. Zhao Yunlan sends Guo Changcheng to tail Shen Wei.



Quote
ZYL: By the way, I'm Zhao. I'm handling this case. What's your name, sir?
SW: No "sir". I'm Shen. Shen Wei. I teach here.
ZYL: Shen Wei? A good name.

Detail
I love the contrast between:

Zhao Yunlan: Damn Fatty.
Li Qian: What a fat black cat!
Guo Changcheng: It can speak?! *faints*
Shen Wei: *strokes* This is a very intelligent cat.

:D :D :D

Questions
Do you have any thoughts or feelings about the prologue? What was your first impression of Shen Wei -- good guy or bad guy? First impression of Zhao Yunlan -- would you trust him? Do you empathise with Guo Changcheng's fear? (If someone turned into a cat in front of you, would you be terrified, delighted, or both?) When Guo Changcheng falls from the window, is he unhurt or does Shen Wei surreptitiously heal his ankle? From Zhao Yunlan's POV, what is the most suspicious thing about Shen Wei at this point?

Do you have a favourite scene or quote? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation starts? The absolute perfection of the casting? :D :D :D Anything else?

(These are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in!)

And here is our schedule, where you can sign up to host a post!
facethestrange: (guardian: weilan: sprawled art)

[personal profile] facethestrange 2025-09-07 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
*HIGH FIVE* :D ♡♡♡ The 'Zhao Yunlan is attractive' part is not the weird part, hee - he's the only one who's actually my type character-wise, and that has never changed. :D (I'm not going into more actor stuff. :D) And his aesthetic definitely helps (the tight jeans, asdghfdjsklfg), but it's like 95% his face and facial hair and body language AND ORAL FIXATION to me. :D
trobadora: (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan - dance)

[personal profile] trobadora 2025-09-07 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, Shen Wei is the one who is 10,000% my type character-wise, but that didn't stop me from finding Zhao Yunlan more obviousy attractive at first. *g*