Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 1, part 1

[china_shop]

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!)

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Comments

[china_shop]

Eeeeeeee, the rewatch is here! :D :D :D *BOUNCES* ♡♡♡

:D :D :D :D :D <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

So my plan for now is to list a bunch of my favorite things (maybe 5 but I'll probably end up with more xD), and maybe some novel comparisons and other things I haven't noticed before (idk if I notice something new every time, but it's not unlikely :D), and then whatever the questions of the week are. :D

Yeah, same here. I'm sure we'll find plenty to chat about! :D :D :D

XIAO GUO, alllll things Xiao Guo, he's the sweetest permanently terrified (and therefore extremely brave) cinnamon roll

*pets him forever* (He hadn't quite won my heart at this stage, but he definitely did by the end of the ep. :D)

And what I think I haven't noticed before is how it directly cuts from creepy-dark-scary to domestic Lao Li cooking. :D

Oh, true! And the entranceway of the SID is quite cheery, really. Except that ZYL is creeping all over GCC in such a weird, inappropriate way, lol. :D

Zhao Yunlan who needs to have something in his mouth asdfgfhdjskldfjkl;; I feel like don't even need to say this because it's obvious, but I can't just NOT. :D :D :D

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!?!?!? What a gift!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

the weird stuff just doesn't stop, no matter where he looks!

Exactly! (But I don't feel like they're being mean? They're literally just being themselves. *pets everyone*) (I'm pretty sure DQ only shifted at the bottom of the stairs, before GCC's first faint? Omg, you're right! I never noticed that shot of human!Da Qing at 11:28 before!! Ha, I wonder why he changed and immediately changed back again?!)

but maybe he's somehow used to that already. ;D

Like I said in my comment, I think GCC is metabolising his fear really fast!! *g*

Shen Wei's YEARNING. The picture in this post ^^^ SO MUCH YEARNING.

Yesssssss! AFTER ALL THIS TIME!! :D

and brushing off the invisible dirt from his jacket

That makes me scream internally Every. Time. :D

Da Qing's YOHE self in the prologue! :D

Aww, yes! (And great point about the canon Yashou characters in the prologue, vs all the OC Dixingren. Weird!)

It really depends what I'm supposed to trust him with, lol, but I wouldn't find him suspicious or anything, he's just an ass who's also absolutely gorgeous and fun to be around. :D

Ha, yes! :D

Hanging around crime scenes like it's the most natural thing in the world? :P

"I'm just an ordinary person. Super ordinary! Nothing to see here. It's all just a coincidence. Good day to you." :DDDD

but I also want to mention Weilan's first meeting that immediately establishes that Shen Wei's touch is not harmful to Zhao Yunlan - novel Shen Wei withdraws his hand as soon as possible, and drama Shen Wei does the exact opposite. :D

Yes!! I love that! Thanks so much for pointing it out on the readalong, and again here!! <3333

it's better than what I would imagine, especially for Zhao Yunlan. :D

*high fives* :D

[facethestrange]

"Yeah, same here. I'm sure we'll find plenty to chat about! :D :D :D"

I'm already loving the relaxed vibe of it, and it's only been a few hours. :D ♡

"And the entranceway of the SID is quite cheery, really. Except that ZYL is creeping all over GCC in such a weird, inappropriate way, lol. :D"

Yeah, once they're inside it's all kinda just sweet, as terrifying as it must be when you are GCC don't know what's going on. :P (I can't be mad at ZYL being inappropriate even if I tried. xD :D :D)

But I don't feel like they're being mean? They're literally just being themselves. *pets everyone*"

I do feel like intentionally dialing up the weirdness without trying to talk to him is a bit mean, but I don't mean it negatively - they're chaos gremlins and it is indeed who they are and how they're going to act in the future, so it's best if he just gets used to it? xD Like, if they acted all kind at first and then suddenly started acting like their real selves, I think I would find it meaner, and definitely more insincere.

"Omg, you're right! I never noticed that shot of human!Da Qing at 11:28 before!! Ha, I wonder why he changed and immediately changed back again?!"

(HEE YAY, I'm always excited when I notice something 'new'. :D :D) Maybe to see how GCC would react this time? :D And he didn't react at all, so DQ started speaking again to test him some more, and that didn't go very well. xD

"Like I said in my comment, I think GCC is metabolising his fear really fast!! *g*"

I'm still loving this expression, hee, so accurate! :D :D

"I'm just an ordinary person. Super ordinary! Nothing to see here. It's all just a coincidence. Good day to you." :DDDD"

Heeee. :D I can't wait for SW to add *adorable confused blink* and *holding his back like an elderly person* to this repertoire. ;D

[china_shop]

I'm already loving the relaxed vibe of it, and it's only been a few hours. :D ♡

*twirls everyone and sets out bowls of chips and dip*

(I can't be mad at ZYL being inappropriate even if I tried. xD :D :D)

Haha, I know what you mean. I'm not mad at him -- I'm just glad I'm not GCC at that point. Super uncomfortable (I think I'd be too unnerved to notice the hot at that point).

and it is indeed who they are and how they're going to act in the future, so it's best if he just gets used to it? xD Like, if they acted all kind at first and then suddenly started acting like their real selves, I think I would find it meaner, and definitely more insincere.

Yes, exactly! 100%. :D

I can't wait for SW to add adorable confused blink and holding his back like an elderly person to this repertoire. ;D

LOL! *hearts* (While also mentioning Dixing and powers and the SID. So contradictory!! :D)