Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 1, part 1

[china_shop]

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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

[trobadora]

but he's also holding himself stiffly, I wonder if it was due to not just being in front of his students but also Professor Ouyang etc.

Yeah, and (circumspectly) talking about Dixing matters in public, too, but probably especially in front of Professor Ouyang, who he presumably knows is aware of the truth.

Zhao Yunlan knew he was Minister Guo's nephew and still throws him to the wolves with that kind of intro

FWIW, my impression is that ZYL only realises he's Minister Guo's nephew after he's already pushed him into that.

It was sneaky to have the first cop at the murder scene have to be schooled in who Zhao Yunlan is and whatnot since it lets us know as well.

Hee! Yes, great way to insert necessary exposition. *g*

Zhao Yunlan's reaction in the window to being spotted by Shen Wei doesn't really make much sense? He doesn't actually know Shen Wei here/now, the reaction seems a little more extreme than it should be in that case.

He's just been caught not just dangling someone out of a window, but letting him fall. And the person who's seen this isn't a student; it's someone who looks very prim and proper and might make a fuss about it. So I think his wince makes perfect sense.

*sighs at the business card* Mark Stewart? WHY show, why

I always love that the designer apparently just reused a template already used for S.C.I., LOL.

and last but not least... the handshake and grab, THAT SCENE. sighs happily

:D :D :D