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sid_guardian2025-11-01 02:55 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2025-11-01 02:55 pm
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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 5, part 1
Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!
Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.
Episode 5, up to 23:04
Summary
The Chancellor, worried about the university's reputation, tells Shen Wei to move out of the teachers' dorm. The SID team eat popcorn!! Zhao Yunlan and co. investigate a rich bratty young man's mysterious disappearance from his bath. The family butler, Wu Tian'en, arouses suspicions. Shen Wei chooses an apartment over the estate agent's objection that he could do better. (The only flat Shen Wei would consider better is the one across the hall.) The bratty young man's fiancée disappears from her bath, too. Zhao Yunlan interviews Wu Tian'en, who claims to be just a loyal butler. Shen Wei dramatically confronts Wu Tian'en in the street, recognising him from 20+ years ago, and warns him not to touch Zhao Yunlan. The SID needs evidence, but Zhao Yunlan refuses to turn to the Envoy for help; instead, he calls Shen Wei. Wu Tian'en leaves the Huang house because he believe his missing son is back. Cue flashbacks to him searching the city for his son 20 years ago.
Quote
Zhao Yunlan: Don't they say "Father-son grudges don't last the night"?
(Ha!)
Detail
When Shen Wei warns Wu Tian'en not to touch Zhao Yunlan, he uses the plural "you": "Zhao Yunlan is someone you are not allowed to touch." (赵云澜这个人你们不许动) So Shen Wei sees Wu Tian'en as part of a group who are a potential threat (presumably the missing team he sent after the Hallows).
Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 5? Who's your favourite SID team member here? In the popcorn scene, Zhao Yunlan arrives yawning - has he just woken up from a nap? In a meta sense, do you think the others leave Lin Jing behind at the crime scene just because it's funny, or is there something thematic going on? How clearly does Zhao Yunlan recognise Shen Wei through the teashop window, and why doesn't he follow him? What do you think of Wu Tian'en? Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama?
If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?
(As usual, 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. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)
And here is our schedule, where you can sign up to host a post!
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2. I think the real problem with the Chancellor is the university having too flat a management structure. It makes perfect sense for the Chancellor's primary concern to be the university's reputation -- that's important for an academic institution! But it should be a dean or head of department who delivers this message to Shen Wei, someone who sees him as a person and listens to his side of things. Otoh, that wouldn't illustrate the tension between Shen Wei's roles as well.
3. POPCORN SCENE! Changcheng writing everything down verbatim! Zhu Hong pretending to be fierce! Da Qing pretending to block Zhao Yunlan's entry, and Zhao Yunlan jumping on the table! My favourite scene for sure. *loves everything about it* (Oh hey, I only just realised Zhao Yunlan is coming from his office, rather than in the front door. That makes so much more sense! ETA: And I just watched again, and now I'm confused again. It really does look like he's coming from the main door. Has he been napping in Lao Li's office??)
4. I love that Zhao Yunlan doesn't make the slightest effort to smarten himself up before traipsing into some business magnate's house. LOL! What must Huang Snr think?? Also, when ZYL asks for the Huang family background, it's CSZ who answers, even though Wu Tian'en is right there. Zero manners. :D :D :D
5. There's some brief, hilarious by-play between CSZ and GCC at 7:58. Hee!
6. I was so struck by ZYL saying, "Don't they say 'Father-son grudges don't last the night'?" I know he's just digging for info, but still, coming from him?!
7. All the ways Wu Tian'en is like Shen Wei -- suspicious because he's too calm, saying outright during his interview, "This case really is not my doing. I simply visited the waterside. You have to have real evidence before you direct your suspicion at me, right?" -- that's almost a summary of what Shen Wei said during the ep 4 interrogation scene. ETA: They both went missing while on a mission to find the Hallows; they both have loved ones who were stolen away from them in their absence; they're both peaceable and competent, while their loved ones are both... a bit unstable. ;-p I wonder if we're supposed to conclude from that that WTE is innocent.
(Also, I appreciate the implications of this confident assertion; Shen Wei's poise during the interrogation could well have come from being the Envoy and having that authority as a backstop, but here we see that, in WTE's understanding after 20 years topside, Haixing officials aren't prone to locking people up on no evidence. \o/)
8. ZYL calls Li Jiaqi "icy" based on a glance across the street. So judgy. She could just be afraid or upset because her fiancé has disappeared. And next time we see her, her father is already talking about sending her on blind dates with other people, wtf! The Li and Huang fathers are so terrible.
9. My second favourite part of this half-episode is CSZ teasing ZYL for being a beast, and that whole exchange. :D :D :D
10. I love that DQ and even diligent GCC fell asleep on the stakeout. ZH is the only competent, responsible one among them! ;-p (Noticing once again that GCC is in the driver's seat.) So... they're staking out the Huang place while ZYL & co forensic the Li place, right? Is the stakeout protective or to make sure the culprit isn't one of the Huangs?
11. What does the writing on the mirror say? (I'm sure we've had this before, but I've forgotten.)
12. I don't think this is actually the same teahouse as in ep 4, but I had to check. And I will never get over Zhao Yunlan saying, "Our department doesn't deal with normal cases, and we certainly don't use normal logic to make deductions about them." :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD (It's kind of true, but surely not something to be proud of? ;-p)
13. Does ZYL actually recognise SW at the window, or is it just a suspicion? He doesn't do anything about it, so I'm never quite sure.
14. When ZYL asks WTE, "Have you heard of Dixingren?" isn't it suspicious in itself for WTE just to say, "No," with no follow-up questions? Like, wouldn't an ignorant person go, "What? Where's Dixing? There's no such place."?
15. The WTE & SW scene is so good! Assuming WTE is a defector, Shen Wei at first flaunts his power and knowledge, in a very controlled way. He treats WTE respectfully but dispassionately. (He does not get a kick out of being knelt to.) Then WTE says, "only I am lucky enough..." and Shen Wei realises he's still loyal and gently helps him up. <3 <3 <3
16. SW says outright, "I won't interfere in what's between you and the SID." It makes sense to me that he's backing off, but I can't pin down why, especially when dangerous cases are coming thick and fast now. Is it just because of the uni?
17. SW going around warning people away from ZYL. The way he says, "Don't touch" reminds me of the mugging, where the pendant was his hard line. (I presume the plural "you" is referring to the rest of the mission team? His subsequent "you"s are singular, I think?)
Btw, I know they have to do this to make the subs sound natural, but I really wish there were a way to avoid inverting sentences, eg: here the VIKI subtitles say:
you are not allowed to touch... / 赵云澜这个人 (lit. this person ZYL)
Zhao Yunlan./ 你们不许动 (lit. you are not allowed to touch)
This happens in other places, too, and it means the line delivery doesn't line up with the subs, and sometimes the emphasis feels wrong. (This is why I should learn Chinese, right? /o\)
18. Back at the SID -- 86 types of water-based Dixing abilities!! 86!! :D
19. DQ suggests involving the Envoy, and ZYL is all, "NOPE!" Still angry. (I do love that when CSZ starts off to accost WTE, ZYL insists they need actual evidence (versus his actions in the Wang Yike case). He's taking things more seriously! <3)
20. And then, instead of going to the uni to talk to Shen Wei in person, he calls. I wonder if he's keeping his distance so SW won't get involved in the case and get hurt, or if the Inspectorate have told him to stay away from the university, or some other reason. But even if he can't see him in person, naturally he has to contact him for advice!
21: SW: Then, to prove my innocence, if Director Zhao needs anything I will do everything in my power to cooperate.
ZYL: All right. Great timing, I actually have some questions I want to ask you.
Aww, SW starts the consultant ball rolling already. It's only episode 5! Presumably ZYL is asking for theories about what might have happened (same as he does in the next episode).
22. The flashback of WTE searching the city for his son is so much like Li Yufen staggering around looking for Li Qian. I wonder what would have happened if Xiao-Guo had been around then and found him...
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Oh ouch, I didn't think of that!
"3. It really does look like he's coming from the main door. Has he been napping in Lao Li's office??"
It looks to me like the main door too, yep! I didn't think he was napping, I thought he was being a cat at Da Qing, but napping in Lao Li's office would be funnier, and why not. xD xD
"4. I love that Zhao Yunlan doesn't make the slightest effort to smarten himself up before traipsing into some business magnate's house. LOL! What must Huang Snr think??"
I feel like he specifically and intentionally doesn't give a damn what Huang Snr thinks. ;D
"5. There's some brief, hilarious by-play between CSZ and GCC at 7:58. Hee!"
Earlier today I rewatched it like five times over trying to figure out why they do it, lmao, I guess CSZ doesn't want to be 'consoled' this way? xD Or he thinks GCC is being anxious and wants him to stop?
"6. I was so struck by ZYL saying, "Don't they say 'Father-son grudges don't last the night'?" I know he's just digging for info, but still, coming from him?!"
This is one of my favorite lines from this episode - to me it's a case of 'you get told something that is clearly bullshit so much that you start repeating it to people you are currently bullshitting', because it clearly works on most people, otherwise they wouldn't have said it to you so much. (And it does work!)
"7. All the ways Wu Tian'en is like Shen Wei -- suspicious because he's too calm, saying outright during his interview, "This case really is not my doing. I simply visited the waterside. You have to have real evidence before you direct your suspicion at me, right?" -- that's almost a summary of what Shen Wei said during the ep 4 interrogation scene. ETA: They both went missing while on a mission to find the Hallows; they both have loved ones who were stolen away from them in their absence; they're both peaceable and competent, while their loved ones are both... a bit unstable. ;-p I wonder if we're supposed to conclude from that that WTE is innocent."
Daaaaaamn, what a fantastic catch, I literally didn't think of any of that and it's all so true! Such a great analysis, ahhh. ♡♡♡
"(Also, I appreciate the implications of this confident assertion; Shen Wei's poise during the interrogation could well have come from being the Envoy and having that authority as a backstop, but here we see that, in WTE's understanding after 20 years topside, Haixing officials aren't prone to locking people up on no evidence. \o/)"
Oooh, and this too, yes!
"8. ZYL calls Li Jiaqi "icy" based on a glance across the street. So judgy. She could just be afraid or upset because her fiancé has disappeared. And next time we see her, her father is already talking about sending her on blind dates with other people, wtf! The Li and Huang fathers are so terrible."
Yeppp, ITA. (Oh hey, that's another person who acts too calm in an emergency, which makes them look suspicious!)
"10. I love that DQ and even diligent GCC fell asleep on the stakeout. ZH is the only competent, responsible one among them! ;-p (Noticing once again that GCC is in the driver's seat.)"
I didn't catch that GCC fell asleep, oh lol. :D (I did catch that he's in the driver's seat because we talked about it when he drives in the novel. :D)
"11. What does the writing on the mirror say? (I'm sure we've had this before, but I've forgotten.)"
"I'm back" :)
"12. I don't think this is actually the same teahouse as in ep 4, but I had to check. And I will never get over Zhao Yunlan saying, "Our department doesn't deal with normal cases, and we certainly don't use normal logic to make deductions about them." :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD (It's kind of true, but surely not something to be proud of? ;-p)"
Lol, I see it as 'if we used normal logic, we wouldn't be very good at solving abnormal cases, would we'. :D
It is the same teahouse btw. :) It took me a while to notice that they sit in a slightly different place, but you can see the corner further to the right, it even has the same shelf. :)
"14. When ZYL asks WTE, "Have you heard of Dixingren?" isn't it suspicious in itself for WTE just to say, "No," with no follow-up questions? Like, wouldn't an ignorant person go, "What? Where's Dixing? There's no such place."?"
Zhao Yunlan looks like he finds it pretty suspicious too, yeah. :D
"16. SW says outright, "I won't interfere in what's between you and the SID." It makes sense to me that he's backing off, but I can't pin down why, especially when dangerous cases are coming thick and fast now. Is it just because of the uni?"
This is right after he says, "This place has its own rules." - would that be because of the treaty?
"17. SW going around warning people away from ZYL. The way he says, "Don't touch" reminds me of the mugging, where the pendant was his hard line. (I presume the plural "you" is referring to the rest of the mission team? His subsequent "you"s are singular, I think?)"
Yesss, it reminds me of the pendant too! ♡ And the plural "you" is fascinating, I wouldn't have caught it myself! (And yes, later they're singular.) Does Shen Wei know anything about the team in the present?
"Btw, I know they have to do this to make the subs sound natural, but I really wish there were a way to avoid inverting sentences, eg: here the VIKI subtitles say:
you are not allowed to touch... / 赵云澜这个人 (lit. this person ZYL)
Zhao Yunlan./ 你们不许动 (lit. you are not allowed to touch)"
My subs say "Zhao Yunlan is someone you must not touch" fwiw. :)
"18. Back at the SID -- 86 types of water-based Dixing abilities!! 86!! :D"
Now I'm wondering if they even know about every single ability, or is it just some of them that they happen to know about?
"22. The flashback of WTE searching the city for his son is so much like Li Yufen staggering around looking for Li Qian. I wonder what would have happened if Xiao-Guo had been around then and found him..."
Awww! ♡ Even Xiao-Guo couldn't have helped with this, but he definitely would have tried! (How old was Xiao-Guo at that point, and was he even born at all? :D He's younger than Wu Xiaojun, isn't he?)
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Earlier today I rewatched it like five times over trying to figure out why they do it, lmao, I guess CSZ doesn't want to be 'consoled' this way? xD Or he thinks GCC is being anxious and wants him to stop?
I didn't think Xiao-Guo was trying to console him - I thought he was supporting Zhao Yunlan's unspoken "shut up" because he thought Chu Shuzhi might need additional cajoling to actually back down. And Chu Shuzhi doesn't appreciate that, LOL.
'you get told something that is clearly bullshit so much that you start repeating it to people you are currently bullshitting'
Hee! That's a great way to put it. :D
Lol, I see it as 'if we used normal logic, we wouldn't be very good at solving abnormal cases, would we'. :D
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the intended reading!
Now I'm wondering if they even know about every single ability, or is it just some of them that they happen to know about?
Yeah, I'm so curious where that info is coming from!
He's younger than Wu Xiaojun, isn't he?
Xiao-Guo says in episode 1 that he's 24, so 20 years ago he'd have been 4. I'm bad at judging kids' ages, how old do you think Wu Xiaojun is in the flashbacks?
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Aaaah, somehow I didn't get that, this makes so much sense, thanks!! :D
"Xiao-Guo says in episode 1 that he's 24, so 20 years ago he'd have been 4. I'm bad at judging kids' ages, how old do you think Wu Xiaojun is in the flashbacks?"
I already forgot he said he's 24, lol, thanks for this reminder too! :D I'm always astounded that I completely lost the ability to tell kids' ages basically the moment I stopped being around kids (??? I was so good at it too!), but I'd say he's quite older than 4.
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's the intended reading!
It still makes no sense to me. Logic is like maths -- it's not situationally dependent. ;-p
I thought WXJ was in the 7 to 9 range? Idk.
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4. Even before he meets him, though? And when it could potentially impede their investigation.
5. I agree with Trobadora's read on the ChuGuo byplay. And also, that CSZ might feel drawing attention to his mistake is just compounding it.
6. to me it's a case of 'you get told something that is clearly bullshit so much that you start repeating it to people you are currently bullshitting',
Oh, that's a great way of looking at it, yes.
7. :D :D :D :D :D
8. True, but unlike with the others, her "too calm" might well be masking "freaking out".
11. Ah, thanks! It's not in the original subs, and I didn't think to try the others.
12. 'if we used normal logic, we wouldn't be very good at solving abnormal cases, would we'
But! But! Logic is logic is logic! Just because you have different inputs, doesn't make the way you process the information less (or differently) logical!! ;-p
And oh, thanks for those teahouse caps! All the angles I saw looked so different from the bits of the ep 4 scene I compared them to -- I thought it was just similar decor. You're totally right!
16. This is right after he says, "This place has its own rules." - would that be because of the treaty?
Yes, I think so. The Envoy's role in Haixing doesn't include getting involved in cases -- that's the SID's job.
17. <3 <3 <3
Does Shen Wei know anything about the team in the present?
I don't think so. I think he assumes they all deserted.
My subs say "Zhao Yunlan is someone you must not touch" fwiw. :)
Yes, that's much better in terms of word order. <3
18. I know, right? So many questions!!
22. I was thinking more if there was some time-slippage in the situation, and newly-joined-the-SID xiao-Guo found WTE, the same way he found Li Qian's grandmother in ep 1. Wouldn't he have mentioned the missing kid at the SID? Maybe they'd eventually have been convinced to investigate... :-) (Yes, I think he is younger than WXJ.)
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Surely not the whole team? There must have been some evidence that at least some of them were dead, or Shen Wei would have been looking for them. I figured he thought they were all dead except for the captain, until he ran into Wu Tian'en.
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HEE YES, it really should be canon that he naps on tables and everywhere. ;D
"4. Even before he meets him, though? And when it could potentially impede their investigation."
I feel like the default is that ZYL doesn't care what anyone thinks, and if it started to impede anything, he would probably start to care? :P (And he's still not as bad as CSZ apparently. xD)
"8. True, but unlike with the others, her "too calm" might well be masking "freaking out"."
It could be true for the others too, for all Zhao Yunlan knows? Well, not Shen Wei anymore because he already knows him too well, but in general he can't know the reason why someone appears too calm. Lol, I feel like knowing that Shen Wei is not internally freaking out may even be the reason why other calm people are now even more suspicious to ZYL. :P
"12. But! But! Logic is logic is logic! Just because you have different inputs, doesn't make the way you process the information less (or differently) logical!! ;-p"
Hee, you're not wrong! :D I guess he means that a regular person would go 'this can't possibly happen' and try to find ~logical~ explanations, and they know that everything can happen.
"22. I was thinking more if there was some time-slippage in the situation, and newly-joined-the-SID xiao-Guo found WTE, the same way he found Li Qian's grandmother in ep 1. Wouldn't he have mentioned the missing kid at the SID? Maybe they'd eventually have been convinced to investigate... :-)"
Awwww, so first I ADORE THIS, and second, spin-off idea! xD :D :D What if post-canon, when they have all the Hallows and know how to use them, the SID goes back in time and solves all the cases before they become an actual problem (like finding Wu Xiaojun right away or getting Zheng Yi out of her abusive home)? :D Butterfly effect be damned, the Hallows can mysteriously fix that too. xD
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Yes! You can really follow the evolving dynamics despite the separate cases, and to me that's the best of both worlds. :D
Shen Wei isn't visibly getting involved in the case because he needs to be free to intervene as the Envoy (he doesn't want to be late again), because he doesn't want to fuel Zhu Jiu's proxy campaign against the SID, and becaue involvement in the cases is having repercussions for his academic career
Great summary! There's so much going on there, yeah, and I really love that Shen Wei has multiple reasons to keep his distance at this point.
Chu Shuzhi is more engaged with the cases and actually teases Zhao Yunlan. ♥
One of my favourite bits of this episode! :D
2. I think the real problem with the Chancellor is the university having too flat a management structure. It makes perfect sense for the Chancellor's primary concern to be the university's reputation -- that's important for an academic institution! But it should be a dean or head of department who delivers this message to Shen Wei, someone who sees him as a person and listens to his side of things. Otoh, that wouldn't illustrate the tension between Shen Wei's roles as well.
Haha, you're not wrong about the management structure, but also, the Chancellor seems quite short-sighted to me if he's mainly concerned with the optics. Rumours that he kicked Professor Shen out of the teachers' dorms surely can't help the situation!
3. POPCORN SCENE! [...] And I just watched again, and now I'm confused again. It really does look like he's coming from the main door. Has he been napping in Lao Li's office??)
I thought it might be morning and he's was just arriving. Why is everyone else already there? Because he's the boss and doesn't need to be on time. :p
4. I love that Zhao Yunlan doesn't make the slightest effort to smarten himself up before traipsing into some business magnate's house. LOL!
Yeah, and that's particularly notable because he clearly does make an effort to be diplomatic with Papa Huang!
6. I was so struck by ZYL saying, "Don't they say 'Father-son grudges don't last the night'?" I know he's just digging for info, but still, coming from him?!
I know, right????
7. All the ways Wu Tian'en is like Shen Wei
YES! I noticed that too! The parallels are really striking. So many of them!
I wonder if we're supposed to conclude from that that WTE is innocent.
It's definitely a strong point in his favour!
Also, I appreciate the implications of this confident assertion; Shen Wei's poise during the interrogation could well have come from being the Envoy and having that authority as a backstop, but here we see that, in WTE's understanding after 20 years topside, Haixing officials aren't prone to locking people up on no evidence. \o/
Oh, that's an excellent point! I wonder if Wu Tian'en is aware of the SID and its Zhao Xinci-related reputation, but the confidence is definitely good to see either way.
8. And next time we see her, her father is already talking about sending her on blind dates with other people, wtf!
Right? So much WTF at that in particular.
9. My second favourite part of this half-episode is CSZ teasing ZYL for being a beast, and that whole exchange. :D :D :D
My favourite! :D :D :D
10. So... they're staking out the Huang place while ZYL & co forensic the Li place, right? Is the stakeout protective or to make sure the culprit isn't one of the Huangs?
I think Zhao Yunlan is sure there's something wrong with the Huang household. He can't be sure whether that's because the culprit is one of them, or whether they know something that makes them a target. So I guess the stakeout is mainly because they're looking for any additional clues about what's going on there.
11. What does the writing on the mirror say? (I'm sure we've had this before, but I've forgotten.)
我回来了, "I'm back". (Solo's subs translate it, btw.)
12. I don't think this is actually the same teahouse as in ep 4
It's definitely the same place -
13. Does ZYL actually recognise SW at the window, or is it just a suspicion? He doesn't do anything about it, so I'm never quite sure.
Yeah, I have no idea either.
14. When ZYL asks WTE, "Have you heard of Dixingren?" isn't it suspicious in itself for WTE just to say, "No," with no follow-up questions? Like, wouldn't an ignorant person go, "What? Where's Dixing? There's no such place."?
For all any random outsider knows, there could be a place (town, village, region) called "Dixing" somewhere that they're not familiar with.
15. The WTE & SW scene is so good! Assuming WTE is a defector, Shen Wei at first flaunts his power and knowledge, in a very controlled way. He treats WTE respectfully but dispassionately. (He does not get a kick out of being knelt to.) Then WTE says, "only I am lucky enough..." and Shen Wei realises he's still loyal and gently helps him up. <3 <3 <3
Yes! All of this! It's SO good. :D :D :D
16. SW says outright, "I won't interfere in what's between you and the SID." It makes sense to me that he's backing off, but I can't pin down why, especially when dangerous cases are coming thick and fast now. Is it just because of the uni?
The way I see it: As Professor Shen he can't really interfere, because Professor Shen has no reason to know Wu Tian'en. And as the Envoy he won't interfere - he's allowing Wu Tian'en to stay in Haixing, but won't protect him from the SID if the SID catches him.
Btw, I know they have to do this to make the subs sound natural, but I really wish there were a way to avoid inverting sentences
Yeah, that happens a lot with Chinese because it's structured so differently. Sometimes you can find a smooth way to keep the order in English, but sometimes you just can't. It's always a shame because something's always lost in translation.
This is why I should learn Chinese, right? /o\
Haha, are you actually thinking about it? I wish I had the time to properly study these days, but it's definitely useful to know some Chinese!
19. I do love that when CSZ starts off to accost WTE, ZYL insists they need actual evidence (versus his actions in the Wang Yike case). He's taking things more seriously! <3
Ooh, yes, excellent point!
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Lol, that's such a good point! If the problem is that people are talking, people are going to continue talking, just about something slightly different. xD But maybe the Chancellor prefers this topic?
"3. I thought it might be morning and he's was just arriving. Why is everyone else already there? Because he's the boss and doesn't need to be on time. :p"
:D :D This interpretation makes so much sense (especially with Zhu Hong asking where he is), and also it implies that Lin Jing was working on the popcorn machine instead of sleeping (otherwise he would have shown it to them the previous night), which is honestly 100% on brand. xD
"4. Yeah, and that's particularly notable because he clearly does make an effort to be diplomatic with Papa Huang!"
I'm wondering if he's just doing the bare minimum, so wearing better clothes is not included. xD (And CSZ can't even do the bare minimum. xD)
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I guess he prefers to be seen as "doing something", whether it's in any way productive or not.
and also it implies that Lin Jing was working on the popcorn machine instead of sleeping
Oh yeah, I love that! Very Lin Jing indeed. :D
And CSZ can't even do the bare minimum. xD
Haha, right? Diplomacy really isn't his strong suit. *pets him*
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2. But where would that rumour come from? Shen Wei wouldn't start it. (I presume there have been complaints from parents, donors, or other faculty members. I mean, ZYL hanging out in Shen Wei's office doesn't seem like the kind of thing the Chancellor would even notice on his own, you know?)
3. That might be it. Hopefully he didn't drive sleepy, though!
7. I wonder if Wu Tian'en is aware of the SID and its Zhao Xinci-related reputation, but the confidence is definitely good to see either way.
Presumably he's been out of the loop all this time, so he might well not know, I guess.
10. That makes sense!
11. Thanks -- clearly I should have checked the other subs. /o\
12. Ah, I thought it just had a similar design aesthetic. I should have tried more angles on the ep 4 scene.
14. But then wouldn't they say, "Where's that?" Subtext: Why would you expect me to know that?
16. And as the Envoy he won't interfere - he's allowing Wu Tian'en to stay in Haixing, but won't protect him from the SID if the SID catches him.
Yes, that seems particularly significant after the end of ep 4. For those not paying attention, the Envoy is clearly not cold and legalistic. He's working around the letter of the law as best he can.
Haha, are you actually thinking about it? I wish I had the time to properly study these days, but it's definitely useful to know some Chinese!
Not really. I wouldn't know where/how to start, and I have so much sunk cost in Korean. But I still feel like I should, sometimes...
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Honestly, I'm not even sure there have been actual serious complaints about Shen Wei. The Chancellor strikes me as the kind of guy who overhears some casual speculation and immediately jumps into Protecting the University's Reputation overreaction mode.
7. Presumably he's been out of the loop all this time, so he might well not know, I guess.
Yeah, true, I could see that for him. He strikes me as very isolated.
14. But then wouldn't they say, "Where's that?" Subtext: Why would you expect me to know that?
I wouldn't necessarily. In a casual conversation, perhaps, but I wouldn't ask if I didn't expect an answer. (Possibly I'm taking this too literally, LOL.) I really don't think you can draw any conclusions from that.
16. For those not paying attention, the Envoy is clearly not cold and legalistic.
Yes, exactly! :D
But I still feel like I should, sometimes...
No "should" about it. Or rather, you only should if you want to. *g*
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- I'm also amused by Zhao Yunlan basically confessing his undying love to the popcorn maker?? xD
- Xiao Guo writing down absolutely everything someone says is straight from the novel. :D ("Every day he carried a little notebook around, following Chu Shuzhi everywhere, taking note of everything, and meticulously writing down every word anyone said, up to and including Daqing calling someone a stupid human.")
- I remember watching the bath scene for the first time and thinking that the guy got boiled because the water started bubbling. :P
- Also honestly when someone says you're worse than a dog, telling them to get a dog instead is the correct response.
- Zhao Yunlan lowkey wishing his father did that too when he learns about the painting, lol, but Mr. Huang is also an asshole, pretty much an even bigger one. (And at the end when says "To me he's no different from my own son" it's not entirely a lie, considering he's also terrible to his own son.)
- What is up with Shen Wei saying to himself, "Then how much time do I have left?" In general, and especially at this point?
- I'm always distracted by how pretty Zhao Yunlan is in this episode, and especially in the scene that is approximately between 9-10 minutes, asdghfjdkjkl;; Like, he always is, but this is one of the extra special looks for some reason. :D And the curly sideburns. ♡___♡
- Also I found
- I feel like the coincidence that Shen Wei is told to move out after he already decided to do that at least an episode ago (I'm not checking rn when that scene was but it already happened) is really on the nose, but I can't figure out why it is like that? They can't be trying to pretend that he wouldn't have moved if he hadn't been kicked out of the dorm, because they would have removed the aforementioned scene from the earlier episode then. :P
"(The only flat Shen Wei would consider better is the one across the hall.)"
!! :D :D :D It doesn't take long to move in there either. :D
"Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 5?"
The popcorn scene. :D :D And Shen Wei yearning in his new apartment, lol.
"Who's your favourite SID team member here?"
Wang Zheng in the popcorn scene! ♡ And Zhu Hong bribed with popcorn by Xiao Guo. :D
"In the popcorn scene, Zhao Yunlan arrives yawning - has he just woken up from a nap?"
I assumed it was part of his cat posturing/stretching/whatever they're doing with Da Qing. ;D
"In a meta sense, do you think the others leave Lin Jing behind at the crime scene just because it's funny, or is there something thematic going on?"
I honestly have no idea why they left him (they can't have been THIS much in a hurry?), so I'm thinking it's just because it's funny, but I'd love to see if anyone has any other ideas. :D
"How clearly does Zhao Yunlan recognise Shen Wei through the teashop window, and why doesn't he follow him?"
I think he's only sure it was Shen Wei after the phone call, or maybe not even then?
"What do you think of Wu Tian'en?"
Mostly that he's by far the best father of all the available options at this point. :P
"Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama?"
Wu Tian'en saved by Mr. Huang is another storyline where someone from Dixing was 'adopted' by someone in Haixing and basically imprinted on them - three episodes/cases in a row! (Are these all supposed to be parallels to YOHE Shen Wei??? :D)
"If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?"
Apart from Xiao Guo writing everything down, I don't think I've noticed anything from the novel? Apparently sometimes there's a lot, and sometimes there's nothing.
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YES! :D :D :D
Xiao Guo writing down absolutely everything someone says is straight from the novel. :D
Ooh, great catch, thank you for the quote!
Also honestly when someone says you're worse than a dog, telling them to get a dog instead is the correct response.
100% agreed!
And at the end when says "To me he's no different from my own son" it's not entirely a lie, considering he's also terrible to his own son.
LOL, you're not entirely wrong. The Huang and Li fathers both are terrible.
Also I found
Hee! :D
I feel like the coincidence that Shen Wei is told to move out after he already decided to do that at least an episode ago (I'm not checking rn when that scene was but it already happened) is really on the nose, but I can't figure out why it is like that?
I'm not sure what's bothering you about that? It makes sense to me; everyone's responding to what's been happening lately. Only the uni is responding to the rumours related to the cases, and Shen Wei is responding to having found Kunlun again through these cases.
(It was in episode 3, btw. End of the Wang Yike case.)
Mostly that he's by far the best father of all the available options at this point. :P
Oof, yeah, we have a lot of shitty fathers in Guardian but he isn't one of them!
Wu Tian'en saved by Mr. Huang is another storyline where someone from Dixing was 'adopted' by someone in Haixing and basically imprinted on them - three episodes/cases in a row!
Yeah, that's a great point! Idk if it ties into anything beyond that, but it's definitely a pattern that I'm going to keep paying attention to.
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(It was in episode 3, btw. End of the Wang Yike case.)"
Idk, something about the order 'SW decides to move out -> SW gets told to move out -> SW moves out' sounds like they're trying to soften the original decision, as if maybe he would've stayed after all if he wasn't told to move out. I'm talking writing-wise, not in-world. :) And that's not quite working because the original decision is still there, so we know that he would have moved anyway. (In-world it definitely all makes perfect sense, as you said!)
(Thank you! ♡ I even remembered it was included in the episode-related questions, so it would be really easy to find, but I needed to finish commenting and go to sleep. :D)
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Very long legs? ;D :D :D
I'm also amused by Zhao Yunlan basically confessing his undying love to the popcorn maker?? xD
LOL, yes, I love that, too.
Zhao Yunlan lowkey wishing his father did that too when he learns about the painting, lol
Awwwwww! *pets him*
What is up with Shen Wei saying to himself, "Then how much time do I have left?" In general, and especially at this point?
I'm sure we talked about this during the last rewatch, but I can't remember whether we came to a conclusion. It sort of gives the impression that Haixing (or the treaty) gradually drains people's dark energy powers, since it's in reference to WTE's power growing weaker, I think?
I'm always distracted by how pretty Zhao Yunlan is in this episode
Yesss! :D :D :D (And lol about the icon! :D :D)
I feel like the coincidence that Shen Wei is told to move out after he already decided to do that at least an episode ago
I think that scene is there to show the repercussions of associating with the SID for Shen Wei's academic career, rather than anything else. It just so happens that the Chancellor's solution is one that suits Shen Wei anyway. ETA: So he doesn't really have to choose yet -- but this lays the groundwork for the scene where the Chancellor does try to get him to choose. This scene also helps to explain why SW might want officially to keep the SID at arm's length.
!! :D :D :D It doesn't take long to move in there either. :D
Hee! True!
The popcorn scene. :D :D And Shen Wei yearning in his new apartment, lol.
<3 <3 <3
I assumed it was part of his cat posturing/stretching/whatever they're doing with Da Qing. ;D
I thought the yawn happened before DQ ran over. *checks* Yeah. And I think ZYL smells the popcorn, too. :D
I honestly have no idea why they left him (they can't have been THIS much in a hurry?), so I'm thinking it's just because it's funny, but I'd love to see if anyone has any other ideas. :D
I guess they're not really used to forensicking or LJ being out of the office?
I think he's only sure it was Shen Wei after the phone call, or maybe not even then?
So he was bluffing when he asked if SW had been off campus? That works!
Mostly that he's by far the best father of all the available options at this point. :P
Hee! <3
Wu Tian'en saved by Mr. Huang is another storyline where someone from Dixing was 'adopted' by someone in Haixing and basically imprinted on them - three episodes/cases in a row!
Oh, true! This feels a bit less personal to me, but yeah. I guess all these imprintings are showing the different ways Dixingren have or haven't assimilated into Haixing society: the face-stealer couple, not at all; Wang Yike, partially; Wu Tian'en, completely.
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Shen Wei relates Wu Tian'en's loss of power to his age, so IMO that doesn't follow, but it does sound a bit like Shen Wei is expecting to deteriorate ...
I guess all these imprintings are showing the different ways Dixingren have or haven't assimilated into Haixing society: the face-stealer couple, not at all; Wang Yike, partially; Wu Tian'en, completely.
Oh, yes, great point!
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LOLOLOL! :D
Zhao Yunlan: Don't they say "Father-son grudges don't last the night"?
OMG, Zhao Yunlan!!!! Yeah, that line stood out for me, too.
So Shen Wei sees Wu Tian'en as part of a group who are a potential threat (presumably the missing team he sent after the Hallows).
Yeah, I'm really not sure what he's thinking is happening there. He says later that he suddenly lost contact with the team Wu Tian'en was on, and he knows the captain survived the mission, hid, and eventually was killed before Shen Wei could catch up with him. Presumably he thought at the time that everyone else was actually dead, just like Wu Tian'en, who believes everyone but him died. So finding a second survivor, I guess Shen Wei thinks there must be more, and they were all in league?
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 5?
The little bit when Zhao Yunlan is questioning Wu Tian'en outside, and casually mentions Li Jiaqi being pretty, just to tease out more about the whole situation with the arranged marriage - and Xiao Guo takes him literally, praising Zhao Yunlan's eyesight, and then Chu Shuzhi calls it the instincts of a beast! And Chu Shuzhi's little smile! Hee!
Who's your favourite SID team member here?
Lao-Chu. He's great in this episode, grumpy but also teasing and clearly loosening up around the SID. :D
In the popcorn scene, Zhao Yunlan arrives yawning - has he just woken up from a nap?
I figured it was morning and he was just arriving at the SID, not quite fully awake yet.
In a meta sense, do you think the others leave Lin Jing behind at the crime scene just because it's funny, or is there something thematic going on?
Huh, good question! I can't think of anything thematic, so it may just be for the funny.
How clearly does Zhao Yunlan recognise Shen Wei through the teashop window, and why doesn't he follow him?
I honestly have no idea how he recognised him at all from that brief flash, but he seems very confident when he says it in the phone call! I wonder if perhaps he isn't actually that sure, and is bluffing. (In which case he gets nothing from Shen Wei. *g*)
What do you think of Wu Tian'en? Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama?
I like him a lot! So much thematic resonance there, with his search for his son mirroring young Shen Wei's search for his brother, with the lost person ending up in a bad situation, working for a villain, and attacking others. In both cases, the "lost" person wrongly blames his family member - and importantly, in both cases, there's a reunion and reconciliation. ♥
On to my notes:
The Huang and Li family both are horrible, no wonder the kids aren't doing great. Papa Huang compares his son unfavourably to a dog. Papa Li tells his daughter to forget her fiancé after he himself arranged the marriage, and tries to push her at some other guy. And that's without taking into account everything they did to Wu Tian'en and Wu Xiaojun! Oof.
The Chancellor also sucks. Not for a moment does he have Shen Wei's back - it's all "there are rumours so we have to hide you out of sight, but of course you must keep up your work!" Ugh. Also, it's very interesting that it's Shen Wei's association with Zhao Yunlan in particular that's giving him trouble, not just the murder cases. (Something Zhao Yunlan either doesn't take into account, or doesn't care about ...)
POPCORN!!!! That whole scene is delightful. The steampunky popcorn machine itself is also great. Lin Jing quipping that maybe the Sundial is sentient and won't respond if it doesn't like you, and Xiao-Guo writing that down! The little moment with Da Qing standing in front of Zhao Yunlan! Zhao Yunlan jumping on the table! All of this is so much fun. :D
And Chu Shuzhi is notably absent during this - I think that matters, even while we see him starting to joke with the SID, teasing Zhao Yunlan, and generally warming up to people. It's still a process, they're not quite there yet. ("You've changed," Zhao Yunlan says - but it's the whole SID that's changing.)
What Chu Shuzhi isn't good at: diplomacy. *g* Reciting the Huang family's background right in front of Wu Tian'en, sharply correcting Papa Huang when he gets the SID's name wrong! Zhao Yunlan has to cough to stop him, and Xiao-Guo knows better too, LOL. *pets him*
I'm still not sure why Zhao Yunlan finds Huang Junior's painting so remarkable - maybe he expected something more traditional? It doesn't seem that out of place for a rich person's house to me, but then, what do I know?
I do love Zhao Yunlan picking up on the unmentioned father/son tension. and the way everyone at the Huang household is way too calm about these weird happenings. So suspicious!
Apartment time! I love the real estate agent trying to talk Shen Wei into some better/more expensive place, but all Shen Wei is doing is staring across the corridor at Zhao Yunlan's door. :D
Wu Tian'en says he was homeless, distressed and desperate, and Papa Huang saved him. I wonder if Papa Huang was different back then, or if he just saw someone he could exploit. Or maybe he just got steadily worse after what he and Papa Li did to Wu Xiaojun. (In other words, I'm wondering if what they did to that kid was representative of who they were already, or if that act was the start of it.)
"We don't use normal logic" covers for a multitude of sins, LOL.
"You're suspecting me without evidence," Wu Tian'en says, and Zhao Yunlan must be thinking of Shen Wei in the interrogation room ... and decides to ask him about Dixingren. Such a cool parallel! But Wu Tian'en isn't Shen Wei, has no interest in drawing more of the SID's attention, and doesn't admit to knowing a thing about Dixingren. *g*
When Shen Wei confronts Wu Tian'en, he takes off his glasses - does that mean he went without his mask sometimes, back then when he was working with that team? Was he close to any of them? Ouch.
Wu Tian'en dropping to his knees. SW is quite sharp with him until he realises Wu Tian'en means it. And Wu Tian'en so obviously has no clue what Shen Wei means when he talks about plans and warns him away from Zhao Yunlan ...
I'm never quite sure what Shen Wei means by wondering how much time he has left. It may just be a novel leftover about the Great Seal breaking, but in the context of the drama, what is he worried about? The time loop closing? The Hallows all assembling? The coming showdown with Ye Zun? (Though idk if he's even sure Ye Zun is behind it all yet, at this point?)
Casually unfreezing the people watching Wu Tian'en! I always love that moment. :D
Zhu Hong says they've gone through the data and found 86 types of water-based Dixing powers. I want to know so badly what data they're working with! Is that data from the Inspectorate, the Xingdu Bureau, some previous incarnation of the SID? Or did they query the Dixing archive and get an excerpt from the Dijun Register?
Da Qing suggests asking the Envoy, but Zhao Yunlan isn't having it, he's still sore about the end of the last case. Interesting to me: this is the second time Da Qing nudges Zhao Yunlan towards the Envoy - he also encouraged him back in episode 2. Da Qing doesn't have memories of YOHE, but I guess there's something subconscious there all the same.
Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei. "Where are you?" / "You called my office landline." Still top tier dialogue. :D
I'm so curious what questions Zhao Yunlan actually wants to ask Shen Wei, I wish we got the rest of that phone call too!
Papa Huang says it's been over 20 years since Wu Tian'en has seen his son. Which gives me so many questions about the timeline! What we know:
Wu Tian'en was on a Dixing team searching for the Hallows in Haixing. He thought he was the only survivor and rather than reporting in, stayed in Haixing.
Wu Tian'en is homeless (presumably with his son) and Papa Huang saves them.
20 years and 7 months ago: Wu Tian'en becomes the Huang family butler
Over 20 years ago: Wu Xiaojun disappears.
So Wu Tian'en coming to work for Papa Huang and Wu Xiaojun disappearing should have happened in quick succession, except Papa Huang says he watched Xiaojun grow up. Which is either a ridiculous exaggeration based on having known him for a few months at most, or something's wrong with the timeline. /o\
(We also don't know anything about when or where Wu Xiaojun was born, or what happened to his mother, right? Or am I forgetting something?)
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Lol, I interpreted this scene so differently - I thought Zhao Yunlan saw her body shape but not her face, and GCC is too innocent to realize that, but CSZ is not. :D (But tbh you can't see much of her behind the car door at all, so talking just to get more information makes more sense. :D)
"I honestly have no idea how he recognised him at all from that brief flash, but he seems very confident when he says it in the phone call! I wonder if perhaps he isn't actually that sure, and is bluffing. (In which case he gets nothing from Shen Wei. *g*)"
I think he was bluffing, yeah. Someone is acting suspicious, must be Shen Wei? xD (He doesn't get to do the bluffing in the identity reveal scene like in the novel, good for him that he gets to do it somewhere else. ;D)
"So much thematic resonance there, with his search for his son mirroring young Shen Wei's search for his brother, with the lost person ending up in a bad situation, working for a villain, and attacking others. In both cases, the "lost" person wrongly blames his family member - and importantly, in both cases, there's a reunion and reconciliation. ♥"
I'm so grateful to you and
"The Huang and Li family both are horrible, no wonder the kids aren't doing great. Papa Huang compares his son unfavourably to a dog. Papa Li tells his daughter to forget her fiancé after he himself arranged the marriage, and tries to push her at some other guy. And that's without taking into account everything they did to Wu Tian'en and Wu Xiaojun! Oof."
100% ITA, such an accumulation of mundane(ish) horribleness.
"Also, it's very interesting that it's Shen Wei's association with Zhao Yunlan in particular that's giving him trouble, not just the murder cases."
I thought it's more that always being seen with the investigators makes SW look like a suspect, so it's still the murder cases, but yeah, in the end it comes down to the same thing.
"POPCORN!!!! That whole scene is delightful. The steampunky popcorn machine itself is also great. Lin Jing quipping that maybe the Sundial is sentient and won't respond if it doesn't like you, and Xiao-Guo writing that down! The little moment with Da Qing standing in front of Zhao Yunlan! Zhao Yunlan jumping on the table! All of this is so much fun. :D"
Yessss, all of this! :D :D
"It's still a process, they're not quite there yet. ("You've changed," Zhao Yunlan says - but it's the whole SID that's changing.)"
Ahh, this is a wonderful observation! ♡
"I'm still not sure why Zhao Yunlan finds Huang Junior's painting so remarkable - maybe he expected something more traditional? It doesn't seem that out of place for a rich person's house to me, but then, what do I know?"
Yeah, I think it's not exactly the right style and possibly not the highest quality, but honestly a lot of decorations around Dragon City look a lot more out of place than this. ;D
"Apartment time! I love the real estate agent trying to talk Shen Wei into some better/more expensive place, but all Shen Wei is doing is staring across the corridor at Zhao Yunlan's door. :D"
♡♡♡ Yesss! :D
"Wu Tian'en says he was homeless, distressed and desperate, and Papa Huang saved him. I wonder if Papa Huang was different back then, or if he just saw someone he could exploit. Or maybe he just got steadily worse after what he and Papa Li did to Wu Xiaojun. (In other words, I'm wondering if what they did to that kid was representative of who they were already, or if that act was the start of it.)"
I feel like someone who isn't already a terrible person wouldn't have done this to a small child and to their supposed friend, so it can't really be the start, but obviously they could have been only getting worse since then. And I think saving someone in order to have an easy target to exploit and manipulate sounds about right, yeah. (Or maybe originally he had slightly better intentions but eventually making Wu Tian'en feel indebted was just too tempting.)
""You're suspecting me without evidence," Wu Tian'en says, and Zhao Yunlan must be thinking of Shen Wei in the interrogation room ... and decides to ask him about Dixingren. Such a cool parallel! But Wu Tian'en isn't Shen Wei, has no interest in drawing more of the SID's attention, and doesn't admit to knowing a thing about Dixingren. *g*"
Ahh, great catch that this is how Zhao Yunlan got to this question! :D
"When Shen Wei confronts Wu Tian'en, he takes off his glasses - does that mean he went without his mask sometimes, back then when he was working with that team? Was he close to any of them? Ouch."
I didn't think of that - ouch indeed!
"I'm never quite sure what Shen Wei means by wondering how much time he has left. It may just be a novel leftover about the Great Seal breaking, but in the context of the drama, what is he worried about? The time loop closing? The Hallows all assembling? The coming showdown with Ye Zun? (Though idk if he's even sure Ye Zun is behind it all yet, at this point?)"
*high five* Idk either. I didn't even consider it could be a novel leftover, but now I'm thinking it probably is, yes. The one-off lines often seem to be, as if they wanted to check off the reference and move on in a different direction. :) Re: where it fits in the drama, I have the same questions as you! If the novel reference goes deeper, it probably is supposed to be about Ye Zun freeing himself?
"Casually unfreezing the people watching Wu Tian'en! I always love that moment. :D"
Now that you said it, I remembered that I didn't ask - who are they exactly? But yep, the moment is delightful. :D
"Zhu Hong says they've gone through the data and found 86 types of water-based Dixing powers. I want to know so badly what data they're working with! Is that data from the Inspectorate, the Xingdu Bureau, some previous incarnation of the SID? Or did they query the Dixing archive and get an excerpt from the Dijun Register?"
YES, I want to know tooooo. It could be from any/all of the above, and I feel like the data would always be incomplete regardless of where it came from, except maybe if it's from the Dixing archives (but that would still depend if they felt like sharing everything or mostly everything).
"Interesting to me: this is the second time Da Qing nudges Zhao Yunlan towards the Envoy - he also encouraged him back in episode 2. Da Qing doesn't have memories of YOHE, but I guess there's something subconscious there all the same."
Hee yes, Da Qing is always weirdly enthusiastic about the Envoy. :D
"Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei. "Where are you?" / "You called my office landline." Still top tier dialogue. :D"
LOLOL indeed, it's romcom levels of 'why would you even ask that'. :D :D
"So Wu Tian'en coming to work for Papa Huang and Wu Xiaojun disappearing should have happened in quick succession, except Papa Huang says he watched Xiaojun grow up. Which is either a ridiculous exaggeration based on having known him for a few months at most, or something's wrong with the timeline. /o\"
Thank you for pointing out the timeline weirdness, I didn't catch how close it was! Honestly Huang Sr is so full of shit that maybe he just says that to make himself look better (and Wu Tian'en has more important things to worry about than nitpicking seemingly-supportive words).
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Ha, that never occurred to me because yeah, you can see so littel of her!
Someone is acting suspicious, must be Shen Wei? xD
Hee! He does have Shen Wei on the brain, and to be fair, last episode Shen Wei did randomly turn up in the middle of the investigation more than once. Maybe Zhao Yunlan was half-way expecting him to turn up again - so of course his first thought at "vague suspicious shape passing by outside" is "Shen Wei"! :D
I never caught it myself and the parallels are so neat and good! ♡♡♡
Right??? I really love what this drama does with all the parallels and mirroring and such, it's always so satisfying when you draw the connection!
I thought it's more that always being seen with the investigators makes SW look like a suspect, so it's still the murder cases, but yeah, in the end it comes down to the same thing.
Well, yeah - to an outsider it makes him look like a suspect, but in fact it's not because of the murders or the investigation, but because he's been deliberately drawing and holding Zhao Yunlan's attention right from the start. So what's giving Shen Wei trouble is not that his students were murdered and people think he's a suspect; it's that he's hooking himself a Kunlun, and because Kunlun happens to be investigating murders, people think he's a suspect. Yes? :D
If the novel reference goes deeper, it probably is supposed to be about Ye Zun freeing himself?
Oh, oof. Yeah. I'm not sure if he knows Ye Zun is behind everthing at this point, but if he does (or even just strongly suspects), he must know there's a countdown until he'll have to actually fight and potentially kill his baby brother. :(
Now that you said it, I remembered that I didn't ask - who are they exactly?
That's explained in the second half of the episode, when Papa Huang says to Papa Li, "Didn't you send someone to follow him?" They already thought it might be Wu Xiaojun, so one of them had someone tail Wu Tian'en.
Honestly Huang Sr is so full of shit that maybe he just says that to make himself look better (and Wu Tian'en has more important things to worry about than nitpicking seemingly-supportive words).
Fair! That makes sense, yeah.
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Ye-es, though I think Huang Snr saw Xiaojun as something of a monster or freak, so the same rules might not apply (to them). Maybe they were scared enough that they did something out of character, and then it set them on the wrong path. /not justifying, just wondering
If the novel reference goes deeper, it probably is supposed to be about Ye Zun freeing himself?
Yeah, but then why would it be in the context of Wu Tian'en's powers fading? I thought it was something more inherent to SW himself.
"Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei. "Where are you?" / "You called my office landline." Still top tier dialogue. :D"
LOLOL indeed, it's romcom levels of 'why would you even ask that'. :D :D
ZYL is so used to cellphones, lol. :D
Honestly Huang Sr is so full of shit that maybe he just says that to make himself look better
Oh, good point -- that's quite plausible, I think. /o\
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Yeah, I'm really not sure what he's thinking is happening there.
I wonder if, as a result of recent developments, his default assumption now is that more Dixingren are against him than is actually the case? I'm not sure the Envoy has that many allies in Dixing itself (he hasn't spent much time there, and the Regent would probably oust anyone who might cause trouble for him from the palace), and none aboveground except for CSZ. After the last few cases, and especially after the face-stealer case, Shen Wei might be feeling a little besieged, and that's colouring his assumptions about WTE?
So finding a second survivor, I guess Shen Wei thinks there must be more, and they were all in league?
That's how I read the plural "you", yeah.
Lao-Chu. He's great in this episode, grumpy but also teasing and clearly loosening up around the SID. :D
Yes!! I love that. <3
I figured it was morning and he was just arriving at the SID, not quite fully awake yet.
In that case, I hope he didn't drive or motorbike while not quite fully awake!
I wonder if perhaps he isn't actually that sure, and is bluffing.
I wondered that, too.
and importantly, in both cases, there's a reunion and reconciliation. ♥
And then the older member dies/has a brush with death(!!).
Also, it's very interesting that it's Shen Wei's association with Zhao Yunlan in particular that's giving him trouble, not just the murder cases. (Something Zhao Yunlan either doesn't take into account, or doesn't care about ...)
Yeah, I think the SID are just disreputable, and ZYL's dress sense doesn't do anything to mitigate that. Why is this motorcycle-riding, ripped-jeans hoodlum hanging around your office so much!?! (Ha, did ZYL get a sense of that? Is that why he's wearing those trousers with the elasticated ankles in ep 3, and only visiting at night in ep 4?)
And Chu Shuzhi is notably absent during this - I think that matters, even while we see him starting to joke with the SID, teasing Zhao Yunlan, and generally warming up to people. It's still a process, they're not quite there yet.
Yes, at this stage I feel like he's only really warming to ZYL. He's still openly annoyed by GCC.
and the way everyone at the Huang household is way too calm about these weird happenings. So suspicious!
It really is suspicious! You'd think they'd all be a lot more worried about the missing heir!!
But Wu Tian'en isn't Shen Wei, has no interest in drawing more of the SID's attention, and doesn't admit to knowing a thing about Dixingren. *g*
Oh yes, excellent point. Also, WTE has no authority to back him up, and has to fly under the radar if he wants to stay in Haixing.
When Shen Wei confronts Wu Tian'en, he takes off his glasses - does that mean he went without his mask sometimes, back then when he was working with that team?
It certainly implies that, doesn't it?! :-) *checks* He's bare-faced for most of the Dixing flashbacks in ep 35. And hey, maybe WTE was part of the search party who found the newly woken Envoy?
Or did they query the Dixing archive and get an excerpt from the Dijun Register?
If they did, that could be part of what prompts the theft of the Register, maybe?
Interesting to me: this is the second time Da Qing nudges Zhao Yunlan towards the Envoy - he also encouraged him back in episode 2. Da Qing doesn't have memories of YOHE, but I guess there's something subconscious there all the same.
Oh, good point! But alternative explanation: Da Qing is lazy and wants the Envoy to do the hard work for them? ;-)
I'm so curious what questions Zhao Yunlan actually wants to ask Shen Wei, I wish we got the rest of that phone call too!
I'm sure it's "How could someone disappear from a bath" kinds of questions, like when he's asking about the mirror girl case.
So Wu Tian'en coming to work for Papa Huang and Wu Xiaojun disappearing should have happened in quick succession, except Papa Huang says he watched Xiaojun grow up. Which is either a ridiculous exaggeration based on having known him for a few months at most, or something's wrong with the timeline. /o\
Maybe "20 years" is a rounded up or down in some of those cases. And yeah, I can't remember anything about Wu Xiaojun's mother, either.
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Oh, ouch, yeah, I could see that ...
And then the older member dies/has a brush with death(!!).
!!!!! I hadn't thought of that! Oh, wow. The parallels keep going further!
Why is this motorcycle-riding, ripped-jeans hoodlum hanging around your office so much!?!
Haha, I thought it was more that Shen Wei was too close to a criminal investigation, not that ZYL was too disreputable! But actually, thinking about it, it could easily be both at the same time.
He's still openly annoyed by GCC.
Yeah, there's a turning point coming up with that, but he's not there yet. Good point!
Also, WTE has no authority to back him up, and has to fly under the radar if he wants to stay in Haixing.
Yes! All things that make Shen Wei's behaviour stand out even more in comparison. :D
When Shen Wei confronts Wu Tian'en, he takes off his glasses - does that mean he went without his mask sometimes, back then when he was working with that team?
And hey, maybe WTE was part of the search party who found the newly woken Envoy?
Oh, I like that idea!
If they did, that could be part of what prompts the theft of the Register, maybe?
Ooh, I hadn't put that together, but that would make a lot of sense, yes!
But alternative explanation: Da Qing is lazy and wants the Envoy to do the hard work for them? ;-)
LOL! But I like the subconscious memories. He can still be lazy on top of that! *g*
I'm sure it's "How could someone disappear from a bath" kinds of questions, like when he's asking about the mirror girl case.
True. I guess that's why they're not showing it here, so they won't have too many too similar conversations.
Maybe "20 years" is a rounded up or down in some of those cases.
Yeah, good point, the only one that is definitely exact is the "20 years and 7 months" bit.
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