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

[facethestrange]

Oooh, good categories too. :D

I don't have much of an opinion on Shen Wei's glasses, weirdly enough, but now that you introduced that, Bai Yu with glasses > Bai Yu without glasses. :D

For me it's generally Bai Yu with beard > Zhu Yilong > Bai Yu without beard, but tbh it's mainly his Guardian-era beard - there are times when my order would be the same as yours. :D (And then there's Bai Yu with beard AND glasses who automatically wins everything, lol. ♡_♡)

And yesss omg, Zhu Yilong absolutely gets more gorgeous every year, but I don't think I can rate him post-Guardian by time because I will mostly rate him by ponytail/hair length, hee. :D Definitely post-Guardian > pre-Guardian, though. :D

[trobadora]

Haha, the glasses are important! Or rather, their absence is. Lots of people like him with them, but I've always preferred him without.

The Guardian-era beard is definitely ideal, yep!

because I will mostly rate him by ponytail/hair length

I would say the same, except he cut off almost all his hair for Lighting Up the Stars and somehow managed to come out of it looking unspeakably gorgeous in a whole new way, so I don't even know any more. *g* Ponytail is definitely up there, though! I adore the ponytail.

[facethestrange]

Hee, he literally can't look not-gorgeous ever, but the super short haircut is not among my favorites. The mustache is tho. :D (And then there's the mustache in Dongji Rescue, especially bts with the cap and ponytail. *DED* ♡_♡)

I may be a true neutral on Shen Wei's glasses, haha, but I just thought of another axis - YOHE Shen Wei > modern Shen Wei. :D No opinion on Zhao Yunlan (or maybe a slight preference for his modern look?) which is funny considering how much I usually prefer long hair.

[trobadora]

Can't argue about the mustache! (Have you seen Dongji Rescue, or just the pics?)

But I'm definitely all present-day Shen Wei > YOHE Shen Wei, despite my usual preference for long hair - high five on that, btw! The maturity and experience and self-assuredness that show through matter more to me and make him look more attractive to me.

[facethestrange]

"Have you seen Dongji Rescue, or just the pics?"

I need to find it somewhere where I can actually watch it (it's not playing in cinemas here), but I've seen at least 20 minutes of actual clips from the movie (and soooooo much bts :D). I know all the spoilers too. :)

"The maturity and experience and self-assuredness that show through matter more to me and make him look more attractive to me."

Hah, same but opposite. :D It's all about the softness and openness to me. ♡