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sid_guardian2025-11-23 02:52 am
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2025-11-23 02:52 am
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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 6, part 2
Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!
Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!
Episode 6, from 22:44
Summary:
Zhao Yunlan returns to Zhou Weiwei and makes her admit the truth: she switched places with Mirror Girl, and that was who was engaged to Ji Xiaobai. Ji Xiaobai, having confirmed what he already knew, isn't interested in a replacement goldfish. Mirror Girl tells the Envoy about a phrase her father used to repeat.
Then Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing talk about Shen Wei being suspicious, break into his flat, find his file on the SID, and have to hide when Shen Wei arrives. Zhao Yunlan sends a smoke messenger to the Regent, and a banner with a spy camera to Shen Wei. Da Qing teases him about his interest in the Envoy. Shen Wei confronts the uni's chancellor about Li Qian withdrawing, and has a brief conversation with Zhao Yunlan. Zhu Jiu puts a new agent in play. Finally, at night, Shen Wei is mugged by two thugs.
Quote:
Da Qing: "In this world, two people can be very close, but have never seen each other. But maybe once they've met, they'll see each other every day. Destiny is unpredictable."
Zhao Yunlan: "Damn Fatty, I never knew that you were a poetic cat."
Detail:
Zhao Yunlan: 这个也很好看，衣服真漂亮。我想给我女朋友买一件，哪买的呀？
This [photo] is nice as well; pretty outfit. I want to buy one for my girlfriend. Where'd you buy it?
I remember from the early days that fandom had decided Zhao Yunlan was talking about the coat Mirror Girl was wearing in the photo, and had related it to the similar trenchcoat Shen Wei wears in later episodes. And that despite the fact that the English subs - all of them: the original ones and the ones that came later, Solo's and the Viki ones - say "shirt"! Of course the Chinese only says 衣服, clothes, and IIRC this concept originally came from the Chinese side of fandom.
Questions:
What's your favourite part in this half of the episode? Do you think Shen Wei is too harsh on Mirror Girl? Do you feel for Ji Xiaobai? for the human Zhou Weiwei? Why is Zhao Yunlan stepping up the investigation into Shen Wei? Do you think the spy camera is warranted? Why does Shen Wei respond to being mugged like that, when he could easily defeat the muggers? Any thoughts about how any of this relates to the novel?
(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 for the next batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!
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Zhao Yunlan has already figured out what's up with Zhou Weiwei, though he doesn't know the background yet. Is he going back to satisfy his own curiosity, or to give Ji Xiaobai the truth? I think it's a bit of both. And I really like how he corners Zhou Weiwei with the photos, and how she tries to give plausible answers but so clearly doesn't actually know.
Zhou Weiwei is so entitled - she seems convinced Mirror Girl's life and fiancé should have been hers. She accuses her of stealing "my body, my friends and my lover" - but Ji Xiaobai doesn't know her; he was never hers, and she can't seem to see that at all. Very ironic considering when we see her in flashback, she's complaining about other girls who steal people's boyfriends! She also keeps calling Mirror Girl a monster. :(
Zhou Weiwei talks to herself about school just before Mirror Girl speaks to her and offers the switch, but the phrase in Chinese is 读书, which means reading/studying/going to school - very vague. So maybe she's at uni? And she later explains that she originally gave Mirror Girl a year - seems like it's been longer by now, but maybe not that much longer? The timeline remains very unclear, and besides, there's no clue as to how long Mirror Girl may or may not have been watching Zhou Weiwei from the mirror before she spoke up.
I like that we get a very clear shot of her without a shadow when she pulls open the curtains in the flashback!
Zhao Yunlan tells them: "What you two do next is none of our business, but I hope you [pl.]won't regret your choices. After all, that person is not coming back." But clearly they're both already unhappy with how they ended up.
Ji Xiaobai takes off his ring! And physically pulls Zhou Weiwei off him: he's definitely not interested in a replacement Weiwei. "You're not her," he says and leaves - and Zhou Weiwei is left alone to stare at her mirror image, which now is just an ordinary reflection. (Great final shot!)
Shen Wei is pretty harsh on Mirror Girl, but as was mentioned in last week's discussion, he didn't see any of the mitigating circumstances, only her trying to blow everyone up, including the man she supposedly loved, and including Zhao Yunlan. No wonder he's not feeling too kindly towards her.
He compares her to her father, says she's "greedy for prosperity, encountering disaster because of love" - which makes me wonder if that last part about love also applies to her father? No idea how it might, though.
I love that moment when Shen Wei reins in his anger at her father's betrayal and softens his words, only tells Mirror Girl that he kept a secret he couldn't tell in time.
The line from the father is indeed very cryptic - Solo's subs even have a note about now no one has any idea what it means, not even Chinese Fans. *g* The most baffling part is that it clearly talks about the south, whereas the Awl will be found in the Hanga mountains in the northwest ...
(And interestingly, this entire scene still takes place in Haixing, though I do assume he takes her to Dixing afterwards ...)
It's hilarious to me that not only does Xiao-Guo fail to understand why Ji Xiaobai and Zhou Weiwei "broke up", Zhao Yunlan also refuses to explain it to him. Meanwhile Zhu Hong understands it perfectly and is angry at Ji Xiaobai for failing his (Dixingren) Weiwei!
The entire conversation between Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing about Shen Wei is a delight. The physicality between them! Da Qing just flopping down on top of Zhao Yunlan, and Zhao Yunlan pushing him away - but not immediately!
Zhao Yunlan claims that "The person who can drug me hasn't been born yet." Wang Zheng, of course, was born over a hundred years ago, and Cheng Xinyan is about his own age. *g*
And the insight into Zhao Yunlan's character development! When Da Qing asks about arresting Shen Wei if he's Dixingren, Zhao Yunlan protests that he hasn't done anything bad - when formerly he used to say he'd arrest every Dixingren on sight. I love that arc.
And then Zhao Yunlan decides to seriously step up his investigation into Shen Wei - searching his flat, asking the Regent, and installing a spy camera in his office! Last week we talked about Zhao Yunlan being much more earnest in his flirting post-Wu Tian'en, and I guess this is part of the same development: Zhao Yunlan wants to move forward with Shen Wei, and feels he needs to know the truth to do that. And goes to extreme lengths, because you can't tell me the spy camera business is SID-normal at all, that's all Zhao Yunlan being pretty unhinged about Shen Wei. He just needs to KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. *g*
(Mentioning Shen Wei to the Regent is a risk - I wonder if he's only now willing to take it, now that the Envoy has agreed that only Dixingren who misuse their powers need to be deported? Or perhaps he suspects that Shen Wei, who was so clearly not afraid to speak for Dixingren in front of the SID, is himself working for Dixing in some way?)
(And I do think the spycam goes too far - it's a huge invasion of privacy not only for Shen Wei but also everyone else who comes to his office. So I'm definitely glad that that move will get Zhao Yunlan in trouble later!)
Da Qing's line about destiny is from the JJWXC version of the novel, where Shen Wei says: "It's a big city after all, two people may never meet one another even if they live close by. But some day, perhaps they will start seeing each other all the time. I guess that is fate." Here, Da Qing ascribes the quote to his ex-owner, whom he can't remember. Of course if Zhao Yunlan did say that back in YOHE, he was quoting Da Qing - another little time loop, where that line doesn't actually have a real origin! ♥
My favourite scene from this episode is Shen Wei catching Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing in his flat. He arrives with dramatic footsteps, dramatic music and a (terrible) dramatic suit! He pauses with his key in his hand when he notices something wrong! He has that absolutely delightful little smirk when he realises just who it is! ♥ ♥ ♥
(We never see how Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing got off that balcony - my headcanon is that Shen Wei pretends he hasn't noticed anything, then goes into the bathroom and turns on the shower, so they'll have an opportunity to sneak out.)
Poor Chu Shuzhi, having to deliver that banner - and poor Shen Wei, having to be polite about it! But I like it a lot that Zhao Yunlan picked up on Chu Shuzhi's unusual reaction to Shen Wei, and that's why he's sending him. I also like the way Zhao Yunlan can't seem to look away from the screen! Right until he mentions the Envoy. And then Da Qing teases him about his interest in the Envoy, and Zhao Yunlan makes to kick him off the desk! Hee! - After which Zhao Yunlan is promptly back to staring at the screen, and Shen Wei. :D
When Zhao Yunlan talks about "the enemy" not knowing which cards he has, and forcing "the enemy" to make a move, I'm really not sure what he's talking about. Is Shen Wei the enemy here? I'm not sure that's a great way to conceptualise a romantic relationship, LOL.
The scene at the university is a bit strange, isn't it? Zhao Yunlan pops up, walks down a hallway with Shen Wei, and then Shen Wei goes to teach a class. Zhao Yunlan never says why he's there, and Shen Wei never asks. I think it was during the last rewatch that someone theorised that this isn't actually when Zhao Yunlan arrives - that he'd previously visited Shen Wei in his office (maybe to update him on the mirror case, since he already consulted him about that?), and then when Shen Wei got the news about Li Qian, Shen Wei went to see the Chancellor, and Zhao Yunlan instead of leaving followed behind. That would make a bit more sense to me!
Anyway, Shen Wei blames himself for not noticing Li Qian's problems (and presumably the Sundial) sooner, and Zhao Yunlan tells him he can't take the whole world on his shoulders. It won't be the last time he has to say that! ♥
And then we get the first part of the mugging scene! The two muggers are so baffled by Shen Wei's stoicism, and then get angry about it, ouch. And Shen Wei could so easily handle them - he wouldn't even have to physically fight them; he could just freeze them and walk away. But he doesn't; he plays along. I'm never 100% sure why - because he doesn't want to use his powers on Haixingren? That didn't stop him from freezing the Li/Huang goons, but then that was during Envoy business ...
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Zhao Yunlan tells them: "What you two do next is none of our business, but I hope you [pl.]won't regret your choices. After all, that person is not coming back."
Ohh, so interesting that that's plural. Thanks! Huh.
and Zhou Weiwei is left alone to stare at her mirror image, which now is just an ordinary reflection.
Oh, that's what that shot means. How have I never figured that out before?? *facepalms forever*
Shen Wei is pretty harsh on Mirror Girl, but as was mentioned in last week's discussion, he didn't see any of the mitigating circumstances, only her trying to blow everyone up, including the man she supposedly loved, and including Zhao Yunlan. No wonder he's not feeling too kindly towards her.
Yes, and he's associating her with her father, too, who committed all those crimes. I love that he softens when he sees her reaction to the mention of her dad. <3
says she's "greedy for prosperity, encountering disaster because of love" - which makes me wonder if that last part about love also applies to her father? No idea how it might, though.
I always feel like he's half talking about himself. :-/
I love that moment when Shen Wei reins in his anger at her father's betrayal and softens his words, only tells Mirror Girl that he kept a secret he couldn't tell in time.
Yessss, that's so good. <3 <3 <3
Ha, I hadn't even registered that bit about the father's line referring to the south. Could he have been located somewhere north of the northwest mountains when he said it??
(And interestingly, this entire scene still takes place in Haixing, though I do assume he takes her to Dixing afterwards ...)
Doesn't want to be interrupted by more traitor guards?
Da Qing just flopping down on top of Zhao Yunlan, and Zhao Yunlan pushing him away - but not immediately!
Yes! And the timing of that -- ZYL pushes DQ away at the same time as he rejects the idea of arresting Shen Wei. It's like a physical manifestation of the feeling. :D
Last week we talked about Zhao Yunlan being much more earnest in his flirting post-Wu Tian'en, and I guess this is part of the same development: Zhao Yunlan wants to move forward with Shen Wei, and feels he needs to know the truth to do that.
Yes! And SW helped with this case even when he wasn't involved, too, so maybe it feels safe to find out now -- ZYL is 99% sure he won't find out anything bad. Until he finds the SID file -- that must be sso confusing.
Or perhaps he suspects that Shen Wei, who was so clearly not afraid to speak for Dixingren in front of the SID, is himself working for Dixing in some way?
That must be one of the possibilities that occurs to him. Who else could have that file??
Da Qing's line about destiny is from the JJWXC version of the novel, where Shen Wei says: "It's a big city after all, two people may never meet one another even if they live close by. But some day, perhaps they will start seeing each other all the time. I guess that is fate."
Oh, cool. Thank you! :D
I also like the way Zhao Yunlan can't seem to look away from the screen! Right until he mentions the Envoy. And then Da Qing teases him about his interest in the Envoy, and Zhao Yunlan makes to kick him off the desk! Hee! - After which Zhao Yunlan is promptly back to staring at the screen, and Shen Wei. :D
Oh, ha, I hadn't consciously noticed that, so I went back to rewatch. Wow, that's some STARING! :D :D :D
When Zhao Yunlan talks about "the enemy" not knowing which cards he has, and forcing "the enemy" to make a move, I'm really not sure what he's talking about. Is Shen Wei the enemy here? I'm not sure that's a great way to conceptualise a romantic relationship, LOL.
Ha, I'm not sure he's thinking in terms of romance at that point.
because he doesn't want to use his powers on Haixingren? That didn't stop him from freezing the Li/Huang goons, but then that was during Envoy business ...
Yeah, I think the difference between Envoy business and personal business is everything, in SW's mind. Which is fair -- he shouldn't set rules for others than he can't keep himself, right?
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Yeah, right? I remembered this scene as "I hope you, Ji Xiaobai, won't now make a choice you'll come to regret", but now that I've paid attention to the Chinese, it sounds to me like it's actually "I hope you, Ji Xiaobai and Zhou Weiwei, won't come to regret the choices you've already made" ...
Oh, that's what that shot means.
Yes! It's so striking, I almost picked it for the post, but then I couldn't resist Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing. *g*
I always feel like he's half talking about himself. :-/
Yeah, that's true, it doesn't have to literally apply to her father.
Could he have been located somewhere north of the northwest mountains when he said it??
I have no idea! It's so random!
Doesn't want to be interrupted by more traitor guards?
Ooh, yes, excellent point!
And the timing of that -- ZYL pushes DQ away at the same time as he rejects the idea of arresting Shen Wei. It's like a physical manifestation of the feeling. :D
YES! It's such a great scene. :D :D :D
And SW helped with this case even when he wasn't involved, too, so maybe it feels safe to find out now -- ZYL is 99% sure he won't find out anything bad. Until he finds the SID file -- that must be sso confusing.
Ooh, yes, that's true about the mirror case! And then the file ... He did know Shen Wei had deliberately drawn the SID's attention by exposing his knowledge, and I don't think he had a good theory as to why, but the file makes it all the more clear there's something calculated going on, and that Shen Wei has sources an outsider shouldn't have, and now Zhao Yunlan has to actually deal with that ...
Wow, that's some STARING! :D :D :D
RIGHT???? :D :D :D
Ha, I'm not sure he's thinking in terms of romance at that point.
It doesn't seem to me as if he's decided Shen Wei is a villain either, though. So I really don't know what he means by those words.
Yeah, I think the difference between Envoy business and personal business is everything, in SW's mind. Which is fair -- he shouldn't set rules for others than he can't keep himself, right?
Yesh, excellent point! He's trying very hard not to abuse his powers for personal reasons. ♥
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Oh, I like that! It means ZYL's sympathies are more with mirror Weiwei than the others. <333
And then the file ... He did know Shen Wei had deliberately drawn the SID's attention by exposing his knowledge, and I don't think he had a good theory as to why, but the file makes it all the more clear there's something calculated going on, and that Shen Wei has sources an outsider shouldn't have, and now Zhao Yunlan has to actually deal with that ...
Yeah, I think once he's found the file, there are two possibilities: either Shen Wei is a Dixing official (or someone with high-up government connections in Haixing, but then wouldn't he just say), hence the message to the Regent; or Shen Wei is playing some unfathomable game with him, possibly with ill-intent (and ZYL has to question his own instincts), hence the bannercam. Does "enemy" have to mean outright enemy, or can it just mean opponent?
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Yes! I think he's really starting to sympathise with Dixingren more and more. ♥ ♥ ♥
And then the file ... He did know Shen Wei had deliberately drawn the SID's attention by exposing his knowledge, and I don't think he had a good theory as to why, but the file makes it all the more clear there's something calculated going on, and that Shen Wei has sources an outsider shouldn't have, and now Zhao Yunlan has to actually deal with that ...
either Shen Wei is a Dixing official (or someone with high-up government connections in Haixing, but then wouldn't he just say), hence the message to the Regent; or Shen Wei is playing some unfathomable game with him, possibly with ill-intent (and ZYL has to question his own instincts), hence the bannercam
Oh, yes, that's a good point, these two strategies are aimed at different things! So let me reinterpret that since I don't think he's seriously considering Shen Wei being a villain: he's messaging the Regent for a potential offical Dixing alibi, and he's bugging his office for a mundane Haixing alibi!
Does "enemy" have to mean outright enemy, or can it just mean opponent?
Idk, it's definitely "enemy" in Chinese too, but you can use that more metaphorically.
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And thanks for the gifset, I love that it includes the Hanga jacket scene!
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And yessss, all the jacket sharing! :D
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1. I think the main reason ZYL went back to Ji Xiaobai's flat was to confirm the truth for JXB and make the two of them confront it (it would be pretty negligent for the SID to knowingly leave an imposter in someone's place and not make that clear to her fiancé!), but I wonder if part of it was also to witness original Weiwei's prejudice and entitlement, holding it up as a mirror to his own heart. It's not pretty! (Is original Weiwei's attitude a metaphor for Haixing's entitlement in general, I wonder? "All the nice things belong to us and only us. These people who don't belong here are thieves and monsters." /o\)
2. What does Weiwei even mean by "taking my body"? I presume she means appearance, but it sounds like they can't both be physically present in the outside world at the same time, and we know that's not true...
3. Shen Wei is so harsh to mirror Weiwei. Like, "Your greed for prosperity," but all Weiwei wanted was a normal life and someone who loved her! Telling her she should have stayed hidden, oh Shen Wei. /o\ And "You and he are from different worlds." -- ow! That's bleak for everyone!!
4. Changcheng's diary!! (I wrote a fic about this diary entry.) I have maybe half a dozen other fics that reference this case, too. It's such a good one, with its heartache and parallels, and the tragic ending begging for a fixit. <3
5. Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing: BEST!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D My favourite scene in this half-ep, just for the physicality and comfort and teasing and acceptance. They know each other so well, there's 100% friend energy, and 0% romantic chemistry, and I adore that for its own sake, as well as for the contrast with ZYL/SW. :D :D :D
6. What on earth is Lin Jing doing on his computer at 32:34?? Did he plant a tracker on SW???
7. Break-in, yay! "I never knew you were a poetic cat." - LOL! Calling himself poetic by proxy, though I guess he's just quoting DQ when he says it. (Also, is that poetic or just philosophical?? ;-p) And awwww, DQ's first mention of his ex-owner, who he conveniently doesn't remember. Awww! At least he seems pretty cheerful about it.
8. Shen Wei's ominous approach, lol! Are we supposed to think he's dangerous? It's filmed that way.
9. It initially looked to me like the SID file only had 1 page in it, and I started theorising that SW had left the rest of the file at work but brought home the deets on ZYL. But sadly, the photo ZYL takes is just of the cover page, and I suspect the rest is there after all. Unless maybe SW is carrying ZYL's page in his inner breast pocket? (Srsly, I believe he could be!! :D)
10. Does SW sense ZYL and DQ, or does he hear the light switch? It's pretty loud, and I'm pretty sure we have indications that SW's hearing is amazingly acute...
11. It's unclear to me whether the smoke messenger to the Regent and the banner were planned all along or are only a result of finding the SID file. I think the latter? I don't think ZYL would have involved the Regent without a hard-evidence reason to. I wonder if, at this stage, he's guessed that there's someone orchestrating all these cases, and now he's wondering if he's been wrong all along and it might be Shen Wei? Like, has he mistaken Shen Wei for Zhu Jiu?? That would definitely justify going to these lengths (and also explain why he doesn't confront SW directly)!
12. Kinda love that it's DQ who lights the incense, so ZYL can be all high-status Lord of the Guardians to the smoke messenger. <3
13. SW greets CSZ like he wasn't interrogated by him two episodes ago, lol. And the banner is so clearly insincere (as well as ugly) -- if ZYL had meant it, a) he would have delivered it himself, and b) it would have been a gift tailored to Shen Wei's tastes (like the old books). Shen Wei is polite about it, but it must contribute to his exasperated reaction to the book con, surely.
14. ZYL: "I have to maintain a good relationship with him." Have to!!! Zero choice here!! Just look how gorgeous he is!!! ;D :D :D :D
15. Da Qing's expression when he says, "Or probing Professor Shen?" LOLOLOL!!! I really hope that's as smutty-sounding in Chinese! :D
16. I'm a little perplexed by DQ defending SW ("My dear Chief Zhao, I must criticize you. Are all you humans so suspicious? Professor Shen has helped us so much.") after they found the SID file. I mean, that's pretty solid proof that SW is someone to keep eyes on, surely?
17. And then DQ's hilarious, "Hei Pao daren, our Mr Zhao misses you!" LOLOLOL!!! Little does DQ know!
18. I did a scene post on the scene with the Chancellor (his and SW's second scene out of three), and I still have a lot of feelings about it. This time around, I was sure the Chancellor had actually encouraged/pressured LQ to leave, to pressure/send a signal to Shen Wei to stay in line and distance himself from the SID. It's the kind of evil politics that bureaucrats do while telling themselves it's to everyone's benefit in the end. (The more I see it that way, the more I despise the Chancellor, rather than just seeing him as a respectability fetishist who's clumsily doing the best he can for the university and its alumni.)
I still think this screencap beautifully encapsulates SW's dilemma, caught between the university and the SID.
19. I love SW and ZYL talking about LQ. They saved her together -- of course they should be invested in her welfare. *smishes* And ZYL is making nice like he hasn't just broken into SW's flat, bugged his office, and ratted him out to the Regent... separation of
church and statework and personal, I guess?20. The mugging: Shen Wei hands over his cash as soon as they ask. He kind of has to, after scolding the mirror girl for using her powers. But is this what he thinks a good Dixingren in Haixing should be like? /o\ He has his limits and his pride, though, refusing to apologise. Yessss!!
ETA: 21. Going back a bit, I know this is from last week's half ep, but when I started watching this week, the video defaulted to the office consultation scene, and I really noticed that when Shen Wei said, "This info you gave me is not complete. But, interestingly, you've already told me your doubts." (11:39), ZYL has a reaction I can't quite read. He looks... checkmated, maybe? And leans back. Is he reacting to Shen Wei identifying the gaps in the info and reading between the lines? (And what exactly was it that ZYL didn't tell?)
Do you think Shen Wei is too harsh on Mirror Girl?
I think Shen Wei is caught in a really difficult position. He wants his people to be able to live well in Haixing, but it's his job to deport them if he catches them. Presumably there's only so many he can divert to upstate or wherever, and once there's paperwork he has a lot less discretion. (That might be why he had to deport Wu Xiaojun?) Meanwhile, the Haixing Administration is hostile, and the SID is only just starting to soften. So at the moment, SW's compromise is to insist on people quietly assimilating and flying under the radar. But still, telling mirror Weiwei that she should have stayed alone in the mirror is a LOT. :-(
Do you feel for Ji Xiaobai? for the human Zhou Weiwei?
More for Ji Xiaobai than original Weiwei, but I like to think they both overcame their prejudice in time.
Why is Zhao Yunlan stepping up the investigation into Shen Wei? Do you think the spy camera is warranted?
Shen Wei keep making it clear that he's up to something, and ZYL needs to know what that is, for both professional and personal reasons. The Envoy being willing to tolerate Dixingren living quietly in Haixing must also free ZYL up to investigate -- if he discovers SW is Dixingren, it won't automatically lead to deportation. And once ZYL finds the SID file (and maybe suspects SW is the big bad, who's been toying with him all this time?), pretty much all bets are off. If that's what he's thinking, then yeah, I think the spy camera is justified. (But oh, this makes me think that the SID really should have recruited a Flower Yashou for stakeouts! ;-p)
Why does Shen Wei respond to being mugged like that, when he could easily defeat the muggers?
He did just tell mirror Weiwei she should have lived quietly and not made a fuss, so what's sauce for the goose... But also, I think the Envoy is only allowed in Haixing if he doesn't go around using his powers on humans willy-nilly. I can't imagine the Xingdu Bureau would agree to his being able to throw his weight around.
Also, I think SW feels that beating up human muggers is beneath his dignity. They're not wrong about him being proud, after all. ;-p
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Awww! I love that idea. I thought a big part of it was also that he really wanted to know, just for himself, HOW it all happened, and whether the Mirror Girl really stole Zhou Weiwei's identity. He doesn't like unanswered questions. *g*
Is original Weiwei's attitude a metaphor for Haixing's entitlement in general, I wonder? "All the nice things belong to us and only us. These people who don't belong here are thieves and monsters." /o\
Yes, I absolutely think that's why she's so blatant about it - she's a stand-in for Haixing's attitude towards Dixing.
2. What does Weiwei even mean by "taking my body"?
I think it's just a way of saying that she took her physical appearance. Which on the one hand isn't so terrible, but on the other, a person's body is something personal and intimate, and I wouldn't blame anyone for being creeped out by someone else copying it exactly and using it for whatever.
3. Telling her she should have stayed hidden, oh Shen Wei. /o\ And "You and he are from different worlds." -- ow! That's bleak for everyone!!
Right???? I expect a large part of this is Shen Wei himself wondering if it might not have been better to stay hidden, and feeling the gap between him and Zhao Yunlan.
My favourite scene in this half-ep, just for the physicality and comfort and teasing and acceptance. They know each other so well, there's 100% friend energy, and 0% romantic chemistry, and I adore that for its own sake, as well as for the contrast with ZYL/SW. :D :D :D
Yes! It's not my favourite, but it's definitely up there, one of the best moments in the episode. I really love the dynamic between Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing.
6. What on earth is Lin Jing doing on his computer at 32:34?? Did he plant a tracker on SW???
It looked to me like he was tracking down where Shen Wei actually lives, since Zhao Yunlan only knew he'd moved into the neighbourhood. As for the time, it sometimes looks like Lin Jing basically lives in the lab; he doesn't seem to go home much. *pets him*
Also, is that poetic or just philosophical?? ;-p
The content is philosophical, but I guess the phrasing is more poetic in Chinese?
8. Shen Wei's ominous approach, lol! Are we supposed to think he's dangerous? It's filmed that way.
It's one of those few places where Shen Wei gets the villain framing! But I figure it's just a way to heighten the tension about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing being in danger of being found out.
10. Does SW sense ZYL and DQ, or does he hear the light switch? It's pretty loud, and I'm pretty sure we have indications that SW's hearing is amazingly acute...
Hmmm, could be either, I guess! Hearing would make sense to me, but so would something else.
And then I guess he searches with black energy - we don't see his hands while he's figuring out who it is, but that would make the most sense to me.
11. It's unclear to me whether the smoke messenger to the Regent and the banner were planned all along or are only a result of finding the SID file. I think the latter?
I'm not sure either - if Zhao Yunlan hadn't found anything in Shen Wei's flat, what would he have done next? I mean, he knows there is something up with Shen Wei, and he's decided he needs to know, so ... I'm just not sure.
I wonder if, at this stage, he's guessed that there's someone orchestrating all these cases, and now he's wondering if he's been wrong all along and it might be Shen Wei? Like, has he mistaken Shen Wei for Zhu Jiu??
He just doesn't give off that vibe at all, IMO. I think he'd be a lot more hurt and angry if he seriously thought Shen Wei was a villain who had been playing him this entire time. The way I see it, he's found something incredibly suspicious, but he literally can't bring himself to believe Shen Wei is a villain, so he's going to extremes to try and prove it. Even though you can't really prove a negative that way.
12. Kinda love that it's DQ who lights the incense
Oh! Somehow I missed that! Excellent. :D
13. SW greets CSZ like he wasn't interrogated by him two episodes ago, lol.
As if he barely recognises him! Hee!
Shen Wei is polite about it, but it must contribute to his exasperated reaction to the book con, surely.
Seriously!
14. ZYL: "I have to maintain a good relationship with him." Have to!!! Zero choice here!! Just look how gorgeous he is!!! ;D :D :D :D
LOLOLOL! :D
15. Da Qing's expression when he says, "Or probing Professor Shen?" LOLOLOL!!! I really hope that's as smutty-sounding in Chinese! :D
I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. Great translation choice, anyway!
16. I'm a little perplexed by DQ defending SW ("My dear Chief Zhao, I must criticize you. Are all you humans so suspicious? Professor Shen has helped us so much.") after they found the SID file. I mean, that's pretty solid proof that SW is someone to keep eyes on, surely?
I guess Da Qing is just more willing to shrug these things off and go by vibe. *g*
18. This time around, I was sure the Chancellor had actually encouraged/pressured LQ to leave, to pressure/send a signal to Shen Wei to stay in line and distance himself from the SID.
Yeah, totally agreed on that. :(
I still think this screencap beautifully encapsulates SW's dilemma, caught between the university and the SID.
Yeah, that's so striking! And also perfectly emblematic of how Zhao Yunlan, presumably without meaning to, is causing trouble for Shen Wei. The Chancellor wants him to distance himself from the SID, and here Zhao Yunlan is lurking right in the background!
But is this what he thinks a good Dixingren in Haixing should be like? /o\
I'm not sure. I think he demands more of himself than of others, most of the time.
He has his limits and his pride, though, refusing to apologise. Yessss!!
YES! And he's so unimpressed with the muggers, LOL. No wonder they're completely baffled by him!
21. and I really noticed that when Shen Wei said, "This info you gave me is not complete. But, interestingly, you've already told me your doubts." (11:39), ZYL has a reaction I can't quite read. He looks... checkmated, maybe? And leans back. Is he reacting to Shen Wei identifying the gaps in the info and reading between the lines? (And what exactly was it that ZYL didn't tell?)
Oh, good catch! *rewatches*
He has a reaction when Shen Wei says the info must not be complete, and then again (with leaning back) when he says he's already told him. I think the first bit is definitely about Shen Wei noticing gaps in the info, but I have no idea what those are and what he means by Zhao Yunlan already telling him. Perhaps just that the bathroom and the dressing room were named, but the presence of mirrors wasn't? Idk.
I think Shen Wei is caught in a really difficult position. He wants his people to be able to live well in Haixing, but it's his job to deport them if he catches them. Presumably there's only so many he can divert to upstate or wherever, and once there's paperwork he has a lot less discretion. (That might be why he had to deport Wu Xiaojun?)
Yeah, that's a good point about the presence of paperwork. He managed it with Wang Yike, but surely the more often he does it, the more likely it is that someone will notice ...
More for Ji Xiaobai than original Weiwei, but I like to think they both overcame their prejudice in time.
Yeah, same here!
The Envoy being willing to tolerate Dixingren living quietly in Haixing must also free ZYL up to investigate -- if he discovers SW is Dixingren, it won't automatically lead to deportation.
Yeah, that has to be an important point!
But oh, this makes me think that the SID really should have recruited a Flower Yashou for stakeouts! ;-p
Hee! :D
Also, I think SW feels that beating up human muggers is beneath his dignity. They're not wrong about him being proud, after all. ;-p
Yes! I totally agree. It's not just that he's being a model Dixingren, he also probably thinks it's beneath the Black-Cloaked Envoy's dignity to bother with these guys. *g*
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Oh, that's true, too. Good point!
> Which on the one hand isn't so terrible, but on the other, a person's body is something personal and intimate, and I wouldn't blame anyone for being creeped out by someone else copying it exactly and using it for whatever.
That is a really great point. And even if she originally agreed to the idea, I can see how it could get creepier and creepier. /o\
> I expect a large part of this is Shen Wei himself wondering if it might not have been better to stay hidden, and feeling the gap between him and Zhao Yunlan.
Do you think so? Even when ZYL is making such great progress, largely as a result of Shen Wei's influence? That seems a strange thing for him to be feeling when ZYL has just agreed to a new unofficial policy for the SID.
> It looked to me like he was tracking down where Shen Wei actually lives, since Zhao Yunlan only knew he'd moved into the neighbourhood.
It's just a weirdly geospatial program to be using for something that's just an address? Idk! (I presumed the lateness of the hour was specifically so that ZYL & DQ could go breaking and entering after dark. *g*)
> But I figure it's just a way to heighten the tension about Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing being in danger of being found out.
True. And maybe a hint of "outsider POV" or "guilty!ZYL-tilted POV", even though he doesn't witness that himself? Idk.
> And then I guess he searches with black energy - we don't see his hands while he's figuring out who it is, but that would make the most sense to me.
It could be black energy, or he could still be listening at that stage. After all, he wouldn't want to be caught using energy, even by an intruder.
> if Zhao Yunlan hadn't found anything in Shen Wei's flat, what would he have done next? I mean, he knows there is something up with Shen Wei, and he's decided he needs to know, so ... I'm just not sure.
Confronted him outright? Idk either.
> He just doesn't give off that vibe at all, IMO. I think he'd be a lot more hurt and angry if he seriously thought Shen Wei was a villain who had been playing him this entire time. The way I see it, he's found something incredibly suspicious, but he literally can't bring himself to believe Shen Wei is a villain, so he's going to extremes to try and prove it. Even though you can't really prove a negative that way.
Yes, now that you say all that and I've thought about it, I agree. I like the idea of him mistaking SW for ZJ in an AU misunderstanding way, but you're right, there's zero reason to think it's canon (and lots of reasons to think it's not).
> I guess Da Qing is just more willing to shrug these things off and go by vibe. *g*
LOL, I think ZYL absolutely would too if he weren't the chief of the SID.
> And also perfectly emblematic of how Zhao Yunlan, presumably without meaning to, is causing trouble for Shen Wei. The Chancellor wants him to distance himself from the SID, and here Zhao Yunlan is lurking right in the background!
Yes, but only because SW has been deliberately getting his attention all along, so... it's not like SW doesn't want him there, you know? (Well, maybe SW wants to compartmentalise more than ZYL will go along with...)
> I think he demands more of himself than of others, most of the time.
Yes, true.
> but I have no idea what those are and what he means by Zhao Yunlan already telling him. Perhaps just that the bathroom and the dressing room were named, but the presence of mirrors wasn't? Idk.
Yes, maybe. Or maybe ZYL was trying to exercise appropriate departmental discretion, and SW easily inferred the missing parts? *g*
> he also probably thinks it's beneath the Black-Cloaked Envoy's dignity to bother with these guys. *g*
It's a shame he can't just portal them to a police station...
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No, you're right, after the discussion in the comments I think Shen Wei is just really feeling the tension between hiding (parts of himself) and revealing (parts of himself).
I presumed the lateness of the hour was specifically so that ZYL & DQ could go breaking and entering after dark. *g*
Yeah, agreed! Though during the day (ideally while Shen Wei is holding a lecture and therefore definitely can't interrupt them) might have been a better choice if they could avoid being caught by the neighbours.
It could be black energy, or he could still be listening at that stage. After all, he wouldn't want to be caught using energy, even by an intruder.
But there's nothing to hear when he realises it's Zhao Yunlan - he has to be discovering this some other way.
I like the idea of him mistaking SW for ZJ in an AU misunderstanding way, but you're right, there's zero reason to think it's canon (and lots of reasons to think it's not).
Yeah. It's definitely a set-up for an AU that would work very well!
> And also perfectly emblematic of how Zhao Yunlan, presumably without meaning to, is causing trouble for Shen Wei. The Chancellor wants him to distance himself from the SID, and here Zhao Yunlan is lurking right in the background!
Yes, but only because SW has been deliberately getting his attention all along, so... it's not like SW doesn't want him there, you know?
Oh, yeah, Shen Wei definitely wants him there! It's just that I think Zhao Yunlan isn't aware at all that his presence is causing trouble (because Shen Wei isn't telling him).
It's a shame he can't just portal them to a police station...
I wish SOMEONE would take them there! *grumbles*
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- MUGGING! (Which means skillful hands are coming up, asdfghfjdkjkl;; :D :D :D) I like the pendant cliffhanger being like 'oops, shouldn't have done that, NOW shit is going to go down'. Which it isn't, but well, cliffhanger. :D
- "You and him are from different worlds"! The equivalent of the multiple scenes in the novel where "humans and ghosts don't belong together" is said by different people (including by Shen Wei, twice iirc) while also not being taken seriously by the narrative at all. :D And obviously in this storyline being from different worlds is literally not where the actual problem lies, and everyone knows that, and it's never been a problem before either (like with Wang Yike and Zhang Ruonan). And there's this dramatic close-up on Shen Wei's face, just to make it even more clear that he's talking about himself, lol.
- Girlfriend jacket! :D I made another comment about it but I can't not mention it again. :D
- Da Qing literally falling asleep on top of Zhao Yunlan mid-conversation until he gets shoved off, lmao, CAT. :D
- And then, in the flashback, Zhao Yunlan swiping/scratching at Da Qing like a cat. :D And Da Qing randomly covering himself with a tiny (cat?) blanket. :D
- What/who is Lin Jing tracking before they break in? Can he track Shen Wei (how?) or did he just find his address? Why does Zhao Yunlan have keys to Shen Wei's apartment? I have a lot of HOW questions about this scene apparently. xD
- And Shen Wei is so happy that Zhao Yunlan is stalking him right back. :D :D And Zhao Yunlan is using three different methods to find out more about him at the same time (the break-in, the message and the camera) because even in the drama they both have no chill. xD
- Is the "poetic cat" (诗猫) supposed to be a pun/reference to "damn cat" (死猫)? The way Zhao Yunlan says it sounds like that, and the sounds are similar enough, but I have no idea if that's intentional.
- The way the song from the end credits is obviously a Weilan song and they play it during the really emotional het couple moments is glorious to me - just another one of those 'look at Weilan' things. :D
- Did mirror Zhou Weiwei know her father? I feel like I missed something somewhere - I thought his wife was pregnant but he was already dead at that point. Does she know the thing he used to say from her mother?
- Why won't Zhao Yunlan tell Xiao Guo that it was the wrong Weiwei? I didn't expect 'nobody tells Xiao Guo anything' to be this much of a thing in the drama until this rewatch. xD Also I'm not sure what Zhu Hong's reaction exactly was because it sounds like she thinks Ji Xiaobai should try to make it work with a complete stranger, and that can't be right?
- Chu Shuzhi slowly unrolling the banner. xD xD
- Shen Wei's frown when the Chancellor talks about Li Qian, aw! And Zhao Yunlan's hand on Shen Wei's shoulder. ♡♡♡
- Why does Zhao Yunlan want to see Li Qian? Are they just being her two dads again? xD
"What's your favourite part in this half of the episode?"
Da Qing calling out for Heipaoshi and dissing Zhao Yunlan. :D :D
"Do you think Shen Wei is too harsh on Mirror Girl?"
I see this so much as Shen Wei talking about himself and about how much he shouldn't be around Zhao Yunlan (a novel leftover) that I give him a pass, lol. And I guess at this point in the drama he did have a bit of a reason to stay away too (Zhu Jiu's threats), but it does sound harsher when you know he's not just being self-hating, so it's a very fair question, yeah.
"Do you feel for Ji Xiaobai?"
Yeah, this is all super confusing (like, for his entire life he didn't even know that any powers were a thing, and then suddenly this happens), of course he wasn't thinking clearly for a moment.
"for the human Zhou Weiwei?"
Definitely yes when it comes to being stuck in an unfamiliar place for a long-ass time (is there even anywhere to go in the mirror dimension, or did she have to stay by the mirror?), but not when it comes to her thinking that this life is rightfully hers because it's clearly not.
"Why does Shen Wei respond to being mugged like that, when he could easily defeat the muggers?"
It makes more sense in the novel, where he's genuinely afraid of his gui self and of actually hurting/killing people. Like, drama Shen Wei also doesn't want to accidentally hurt someone who is pathetically weak compared to him, but it's not really a factor because he knows how to use his powers without doing any harm. He wouldn't even need to fight the muggers, he could just freeze them. Maybe he doesn't react simply because he's not in any danger and this is just a minor inconvenience, so why use any powers in public? Idk. He obviously starts to react after the pendant. (Novel Shen Wei too, but that could be a very different reaction. :P)
"Any thoughts about how any of this relates to the novel?"
There are so many things this time! :D In addition to everything I've said above, I feel like the team captain's cryptic message must be a novel reference in some way - there's just so much about cardinal directions there. Two times off the top of my head - during the Hanga arc (when GCC provides a mnemonic and Zhao Yunlan says "soggy waffles my ass" xD and it turns out that the Hanga tribe had reverse directions), and then during the ending ritual where every Hallow is connected to one of the directions.
I also don't remember much of the differences between the mugging scenes (other than novel Zhao Yunlan tying the muggers to a lamp post?? xD), and it makes me want to re-read the novel version now. :D
(And then I skimmed your comment and saw that that Da Qing's 'poetic' quote is also from the novel - I'll flail about it more when I reply. :D :D)
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Ohhhhhh, maybe there's an unspoken part to "You and him are from different worlds," which is "and he didn't know/you didn't tell him (yet)"?? That would account for the difference between WYK/ZRN and the other examples. After all, mirror Weiwei's story would have gone very differently if JXB had known (and had time to accept) in advance.
And then, in the flashback, Zhao Yunlan swiping/scratching at Da Qing like a cat. :D And Da Qing randomly covering himself with a tiny (cat?) blanket. :D
Ahhhhh, the swipe!! It's like he's speaking Cat!! And he has his hands behind his head just like DQ did earlier!! ADORABLE! :D :D :D
What/who is Lin Jing tracking before they break in? Can he track Shen Wei (how?) or did he just find his address? Why does Zhao Yunlan have keys to Shen Wei's apartment?
I had the exact same question about Lin Jing, lol. It looks like they put a tracker on SW, but surely not!! Pretty sure ZYL has lockpicks, not keys.
The way the song from the end credits is obviously a Weilan song and they play it during the really emotional het couple moments is glorious to me - just another one of those 'look at Weilan' things. :D
Yesssssssssss! It's so good!!! :D :D :D
Why won't Zhao Yunlan tell Xiao Guo that it was the wrong Weiwei? I didn't expect 'nobody tells Xiao Guo anything' to be this much of a thing in the drama until this rewatch. xD Also I'm not sure what Zhu Hong's reaction exactly was because it sounds like she thinks Ji Xiaobai should try to make it work with a complete stranger, and that can't be right?
I think ZYL probably thinks GCC should work it out for himself, and he doesn't want to deal with CC crying over the separated lovers and lobbying to bring mirror Weiwei back, lol. And ZH is angry with JXB for not sticking up for his (non-human) girlfriend -- I expect there's some defensiveness/projection going on there, ZH wondering if ZYL hasn't fallen for her because she's Yashou?
Why does Zhao Yunlan want to see Li Qian? Are they just being her two dads again? xD
Yeah, I think so. :D ZYL saved her life and feels responsible? Also, I headcanon there's some fellow-feeling of having lost a loving mother/grandmother figure through traumatic circumstances... *smishes*
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
You're completely right and somehow I overlooked that???? That is a HUGE part of it, it has to be! She was impersonating a Haixingren, not being herself, and he didn't know! *HEADDESK*
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(Which, given Shen Wei is impersonating a Haixingren himself, suggests he sees that as a big obstacle to getting closer to ZYL?)
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Ohhhhh omg, this is a fantastic observation, yes!! Damn, it really would have changed everything for them.
So basically Shen Wei thinks that Zhao Yunlan also deserves to know who Shen Wei is, but he doesn't know how much ZYL can know because of potential timeline shenanigans, which gives SW a really good reason to angst about it in this context, without relying on the novel context at all. :D This is really neat!
"Ahhhhh, the swipe!! It's like he's speaking Cat!! And he has his hands behind his head just like DQ did earlier!! ADORABLE! :D :D :D"
Yessss! :D :D :D I know I've linked it before but: the gifset that shows how much Zhao Yunlan was raised by Da Qing. :D
"I had the exact same question about Lin Jing, lol. It looks like they put a tracker on SW, but surely not!!"
*high five on the confusion* It also looks like Lin Jing didn't just let them know where SW lives, they also know that he isn't home right now.
"Pretty sure ZYL has lockpicks, not keys."
Ahh, I didn't think of that, thanks. :D (Even rewatching doesn't help much because he just waves them around the entire time. xD)
"I think ZYL probably thinks GCC should work it out for himself, and he doesn't want to deal with CC crying over the separated lovers and lobbying to bring mirror Weiwei back, lol."
Lol, this sounds like a very good reason, yep! The 'you'll understand when you're older' thing is pretty weird in this context, but I'm assuming ZYL was just busy or annoyed and this was his way of telling GCC to piss off, and obviously GCC remembers and writes down everything verbatim. xD :D
"And ZH is angry with JXB for not sticking up for his (non-human) girlfriend -- I expect there's some defensiveness/projection going on there, ZH wondering if ZYL hasn't fallen for her because she's Yashou?"
Ohhh, and that makes so much sense too! I didn't get it (from GCC's POV what she says sounds like they shouldn't have broken up, and I couldn't figure out what else she could have meant), thanks! :D And lolol poor Zhu Hong, is she in for a surprise re: Zhao Yunlan and non-humans. xD
"Yeah, I think so. :D ZYL saved her life and feels responsible? Also, I headcanon there's some fellow-feeling of having lost a loving mother/grandmother figure through traumatic circumstances... *smishes*"
AW! ♡ Damn, that's really sweet that he still checks in on her, I love it so much. I've never paid attention to this line before. ♡
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Hee! :D
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Yes, that's how I see it. :D :D :D (I can get them together earlier, of course, even before the Envoy reveal, but in that case I usually want ZYL to at least be pretty sure Shen Wei is Dixingren.)
Ahhh, I'd forgotten that gifset! Thanks so much for linking again!! :D :D :D
It also looks like Lin Jing didn't just let them know where SW lives, they also know that he isn't home right now.
I don't think that can be right. Wouldn't that mean they can track him? In which case, Lin Jing should have messaged them to say SW was on his way home?
(Even rewatching doesn't help much because he just waves them around the entire time. xD)
I know! I have a feeling that we see him picking locks some other time, but I might be confabulating or remembering a fanwork...
And lolol poor Zhu Hong, is she in for a surprise re: Zhao Yunlan and non-humans. xD
Ha! Yes!! :D
Damn, that's really sweet that he still checks in on her, I love it so much. I've never paid attention to this line before. ♡
:D :D :D (I'm honestly not sure how much it's canon vs headcaon, ftr.)
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Hee! :D :D :D
I like the pendant cliffhanger being like 'oops, shouldn't have done that, NOW shit is going to go down'. Which it isn't, but well, cliffhanger. :D
I love that this is the first time we're getting a proper look at the pendant! (It's on screen in the healing scene in episode 2 too, but not very visible. Here's my pendant picspam!)
- "You and him are from different worlds"! The equivalent of the multiple scenes in the novel where "humans and ghosts don't belong together" is said by different people (including by Shen Wei, twice iirc) while also not being taken seriously by the narrative at all. :D
AHHHHH you're so right, I completely missed that novel parallel but it's so obvious! *headdesk*
- And then, in the flashback, Zhao Yunlan swiping/scratching at Da Qing like a cat. :D And Da Qing randomly covering himself with a tiny (cat?) blanket. :D
Ha, I didn't pay attention to the blanket, but now that you mention it, that's delightful! And of course the swiping, yes! Raised by a cat! :D
What/who is Lin Jing tracking before they break in? Can he track Shen Wei (how?) or did he just find his address?
I thought he was tracking down his address, since Zhao Yunlan only knew he'd moved into the neighbourhood.
Why does Zhao Yunlan have keys to Shen Wei's apartment?
It didn't look to me like he had keys - I thought he had a lockpicking kit.
And Shen Wei is so happy that Zhao Yunlan is stalking him right back. :D :D
Yes! THAT SMILE!!!!! :D :D :D
because even in the drama they both have no chill. xD
ZERO CHILL. :D
Is the "poetic cat" (诗猫) supposed to be a pun/reference to "damn cat" (死猫)?
Yeah, I think it is!
The way the song from the end credits is obviously a Weilan song and they play it during the really emotional het couple moments is glorious to me - just another one of those 'look at Weilan' things. :D
I always love it when they do that. It's SO clearly a Weilan song - it's the Weilan song, end credits and all - and applying it to all the het pairings just really highlights the parallels. Perfect solution to not being able to spell things out. :D
Did mirror Zhou Weiwei know her father? I feel like I missed something somewhere - I thought his wife was pregnant but he was already dead at that point. Does she know the thing he used to say from her mother?
No, he wasn't dead at that point - his wife was pregnant when he went AWOL. But he then went on to hide in Haixing, committed various crimes, and eventually was shot dead. Some time during that hiding-in-Haixing period, he must have reunited with his family, so that Mirror Girl knew him when she was little.
Why won't Zhao Yunlan tell Xiao Guo that it was the wrong Weiwei? I didn't expect 'nobody tells Xiao Guo anything' to be this much of a thing in the drama until this rewatch. xD
RIGHT????? I never noticed that before either! Amazing.
Also I'm not sure what Zhu Hong's reaction exactly was because it sounds like she thinks Ji Xiaobai should try to make it work with a complete stranger, and that can't be right?
No, the way I understood it, she means Ji Xiaobai failed Mirror Girl because he didn't stand with her, and so deserves to be left alone. (Presumably she was told what happened inside the mirror.)
Why does Zhao Yunlan want to see Li Qian? Are they just being her two dads again? xD
Oh, good question, I honestly have no idea! It might just be a polite phrase.
I see this so much as Shen Wei talking about himself and about how much he shouldn't be around Zhao Yunlan (a novel leftover) that I give him a pass, lol. And I guess at this point in the drama he did have a bit of a reason to stay away too (Zhu Jiu's threats), but it does sound harsher when you know he's not just being self-hating, so it's a very fair question, yeah.
Yeah, he's definitely talking about himself, but he doesn't have the novel version's self-hatred, so it hits different. Though he saw Mirror Girl at her worst, which mitigates things slightly, IMO.
like, for his entire life he didn't even know that any powers were a thing, and then suddenly this happens
Right? He's had everything turned on its head, give the guy a moment to catch up!
Like, drama Shen Wei also doesn't want to accidentally hurt someone who is pathetically weak compared to him, but it's not really a factor because he knows how to use his powers without doing any harm.
Yeah, he could do that easily! I think it has to be half him not wanting to use his powers against Haixingren when that's what he's deporting other Dixingren for, and half feeling it's beneath his dignity. But all that goes right out the window as soon as the pendant is in play!
There are so many things this time! :D
I missed a lot, so it's delightful to discover all of it here in the comments!
I feel like the team captain's cryptic message must be a novel reference in some way - there's just so much about cardinal directions there. Two times off the top of my head - during the Hanga arc (when GCC provides a mnemonic and Zhao Yunlan says "soggy waffles my ass" xD and it turns out that the Hanga tribe had reverse directions), and then during the ending ritual where every Hallow is connected to one of the directions.
Oooh, do you think maybe the Hanga upside-down-ness has something to do with why the captain's message talks about the south but the Awl is in the north?
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> > Is the "poetic cat" (诗猫) supposed to be a pun/reference to "damn cat" (死猫)?
>
> Yeah, I think it is!
Hee! Awesome!
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Ahhh, I didn't even realize that it's the first time! ♡ (Same as in the novel, now that I think about it. :D) And the picspam is all kinds of wonderful, thank you for the link! ♡♡♡ It's also particularly helpful right now because the pendant is in my current drawing (even if the drawing is not ABOUT the pendant per se, lol), and having all the refs in the one place is really nice, so thanks for that too. :D :D (That's also why I'm so slow with comments rn - I'm attempting to finish the drawing by tomorrow. :D)
"Ha, I didn't pay attention to the blanket, but now that you mention it, that's delightful!"
I only noticed it on this rewatch too. :D I love that he has his own cat-sized blanket, and then apparently he cuddles it in his human form too. :D
"I thought he was tracking down his address, since Zhao Yunlan only knew he'd moved into the neighbourhood."
Yeah, that probably must be it in the end, but what Lin Jing is doing doesn't look like he's just looking up an address, and also they know that Shen Wei is not home, so it does seem like SW is being tracked somehow? Maybe a leftover of some scene that didn't make it to the final cut or something.
"It didn't look to me like he had keys - I thought he had a lockpicking kit."
Makes sense, yep! He's wiggling them so much that I still can't see much. xD
"Yes! THAT SMILE!!!!! :D :D :D"
Yesss, he's like "awwwww, I'm being stalked, HE REALLY CARES". xD xD :D (Now that I wrote it, it sounds like the novel scene where Shen Wei goes all awwww because Zhao Yunlan threatened to handcuff him to protect him. xD)
> > Is the "poetic cat" (诗猫) supposed to be a pun/reference to "damn cat" (死猫)?
Yeah, I think it is!"
:D :D :D So fun!! I don't often listen carefully to what they say in Chinese, and this time it really paid off. :D
"I always love it when they do that. It's SO clearly a Weilan song - it's the Weilan song, end credits and all - and applying it to all the het pairings just really highlights the parallels. Perfect solution to not being able to spell things out. :D"
Yesss. :D Especially in the long Wang Zheng/Sang Zan dancing scene I was like "this is really, REALLY on the nose", and I love that for the writers and for Weilan. :D :D :D
"No, he wasn't dead at that point - his wife was pregnant when he went AWOL. But he then went on to hide in Haixing, committed various crimes, and eventually was shot dead. Some time during that hiding-in-Haixing period, he must have reunited with his family, so that Mirror Girl knew him when she was little."
AH, thank you for explaining! ♡
"No, the way I understood it, she means Ji Xiaobai failed Mirror Girl because he didn't stand with her, and so deserves to be left alone. (Presumably she was told what happened inside the mirror.)"
Yep, this makes a lot more sense, thank you! :D
"Oh, good question, I honestly have no idea! It might just be a polite phrase."
"I'll go see her once she's calmed down" sounds like a real plan to me, and I think to Shen Wei too (he seems to suggest that Zhao Yunlan doesn't see her too soon or stress her out)? Which is really sweet and I'm glad that I noticed it this time. :D
"Yeah, he's definitely talking about himself, but he doesn't have the novel version's self-hatred, so it hits different. Though he saw Mirror Girl at her worst, which mitigates things slightly, IMO."
*nodnod* ITA.
"him not wanting to use his powers against Haixingren when that's what he's deporting other Dixingren for"
OH, this is a really good point!
"Oooh, do you think maybe the Hanga upside-down-ness has something to do with why the captain's message talks about the south but the Awl is in the north?"
Ahhhhh, is this what is happening?? (I was so confused that the Chinese phrase has south in it and the hardsubs do too, and then Solo's subs say "look to the north", as if that was a correction? But it does actually say south, doesn't it?) A novel reference would explain this so well, and I just checked, and it is indeed north and south that they talk about being swapped: "‘Up’ is the direction of the mountain, the main peak to the south. ‘Down’ is the direction of the water, so that’s north." / "Placing the illustration of the monster against it, he slowly rotated the map until south was facing up." :D :D I say you're 100% right!! :D
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Oooh! I totally forgot about that.
So glad the picspam is helpful, I'm cheering you on for your drawing!!!! ♥
and also they know that Shen Wei is not home, so it does seem like SW is being tracked somehow?
But they clearly don't know Shen Wei is coming home until he's there, so they can't be tracking him.
Yesss, he's like "awwwww, I'm being stalked, HE REALLY CARES". xD xD :D
He's like, HOOKED YOU. :D :D :D
And great point about the novel comparison, I love that!
"Oooh, do you think maybe the Hanga upside-down-ness has something to do with why the captain's message talks about the south but the Awl is in the north?"
Ahhhhh, is this what is happening?? (I was so confused that the Chinese phrase has south in it and the hardsubs do too, and then Solo's subs say "look to the north", as if that was a correction? But it does actually say south, doesn't it?)
Yes, the Chinese definitely says south. If it really is related to the up/down north/south swap, that would at least make some sense! I just wish they'd explain it, LOL.
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