Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 6, part 2

[trobadora]

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!

Comments

[china_shop]

> 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*

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...

[trobadora]

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.

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*

[china_shop]

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).

Ooh, and seeing the potential cost of hiding parts of himself, mirrored in the Mirror Girl's story. Oof!

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.

True -- but I wonder if this was an official SID operation, or if it's semi-unofficial. After all, if it were on-book, it might have to be reported to the Inspectorate. /o\ (I don't think involving Lin Jing makes it official -- but I do wonder if Lin Jing told Professor Ouyang. /o\)

But there's nothing to hear when he realises it's Zhao Yunlan - he has to be discovering this some other way.

Two sets of heartbeat and breathing, one possibly distinctively Cat Yashou? And maybe Da Qing's response to ZYL's shushing him -- we don't know if he replies.

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).

Yes. You'd think ZYL might have got a hint from this scene, with LQ effectively being encouraged to leave. But I think ZYL forgets sometimes how weird the disreputable the SID is (while at other times playing that up deliberately).

I wish SOMEONE would take them there! *grumbles*

ME TOO!!! *grumbles with*

[trobadora]

Ooh, and seeing the potential cost of hiding parts of himself, mirrored in the Mirror Girl's story. Oof!

Yes! This!!!!!!!!!

True -- but I wonder if this was an official SID operation, or if it's semi-unofficial. After all, if it were on-book, it might have to be reported to the Inspectorate. /o\ (I don't think involving Lin Jing makes it official -- but I do wonder if Lin Jing told Professor Ouyang. /o\)

I agree, it's probably semi-unofficial. And I don't think Lin Jing would tell Professor Ouyang without a particular reason to - I don't think he just reports on everything that's happening at the SID.

Two sets of heartbeat and breathing, one possibly distinctively Cat Yashou? And maybe Da Qing's response to ZYL's shushing him -- we don't know if he replies.

I didn't think Shen Wei's hearing was that acute without using black energy. And I definitely got the impression that Da Qing shut up. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. :)

But I think ZYL forgets sometimes how weird the disreputable the SID is (while at other times playing that up deliberately).

He really does! And IMO he's also not used to actually caring about what effect he may have on outsiders, other than when he's deliberately politicking. He's not really let anyone other than Da Qing get close enough that he'd have to care about other people's opinions of them, and, well, Da Qing is a cat. *g*

[china_shop]

He really does! And IMO he's also not used to actually caring about what effect he may have on outsiders, other than when he's deliberately politicking. He's not really let anyone other than Da Qing get close enough that he'd have to care about other people's opinions of them, and, well, Da Qing is a cat. *g*

And even his terrible (respectable) father doesn't think that SID is that weird. Or at least, doesn't think DQ is weird.