Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 7, part 1

[china_shop]

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 7, up to 24:30

Summary
Shen Wei starts to get serious with the muggers, but just then Zhao Yunlan shows up and "rescues" him... only to be caught unawares with a metal bar. They go to Shen Wei's place for first aid and verbal sparring.



Zhao Yunlan asks Shen Wei to be an official consultant to the SID, and Shen Wei refuses. Zhao Yunlan accidentally implies he's been in Shen Wei's place before. The next day at the SID, Lin Jing is telling ghost stories when a call comes about a new case: one of the muggers is dead. When the SID review nearby CCTV footage, they don't see much, but rewinding to earlier reveals that Zhao Yunlan met up with Shen Wei in that alley. Zhao Yunlan unconvincingly laughs this off. The "bears" call: Zhu Hong grudgingly conveys a laptop to Shen Wei for a Zoom call with Zhao Yunlan and the others. After Shen Wei's extensive and illustrated lecture on different kinds of bears, Da Qing pipes up to suggest the attacker might be a Youchu; Shen Wei produces a relevant sketch. Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing and Chu Shuzhi visit the surviving mugger in hospital; he's out of his wits, babbling about a monster. Lin Jing sees the crime scene photos and makes the connection with his favourite web novel.

Quote
Shen Wei: There are some questions that, out of principle, I cannot answer. But when the safety of people around me are at stake, I will surely not watch from the side and hide information from you. You can count on me for that.

Detail
The moment they're inside his apartment, Shen Wei starts disrobing takes off his jacket and attempts, twice, to fold it while pressing Zhao Yunlan to stay.

Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 7? Do you think Zhao Yunlan's arrival at the mugging was coincidence, or had he been tailing Shen Wei? Do you think Shen Wei had qualms about letting Zhao Yunlan take on the muggers? Shen Wei doesn't show any surprise at the job offer -- do you think he was expecting it? Which of them do you think was most turned on by the "first aid"? We didn't see Zhao Yunlan in Shen Wei's bedroom while searching the apartment -- did he? We now know Lin Jing and Da Qing read web novels; who else at the SID reads them? What do the others think is going on when they see Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei in the CCTV footage? Did Zhu Hong volunteer to take the laptop to Shen Wei for the video call, or was she assigned to do it? Why a video call instead of Zhao Yunlan paying a visit? At the hospital, why is Chu Shuzhi so grumpy? Lin Jing draws a connection between the case and the web novel -- but how does Wang Zheng already know about this when she calls?

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!)

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Comments

[china_shop]

:D :D :D They have zero excuses, and aren't even trying to find any! :D :D ♡___♡

Both of them going, "If he's not going to point out the obvious then neither am I!!" ;D (And obviously Shen Wei wants the fig-leaf of first aid so he can do actual healing.)

But he also knows that Shen Wei only called him out because bantering is fun, not because he was upset, so in the end they had a good time and they are on the same page. :D And yeah, if he ever started to worry about how Shen Wei felt about it, he only had to remember all the touching to be instantly reassured, so by morning it was the only important part of the evening in his mind. :D

Hmm, my reading of this is a bit different, but I'm still figuring it out. (Is this a DND thing? Should I think it through in a separate thread?)

(Other than Xiao Guo probably. xD :D)

LOL! This makes me wonder when Xiao Guo *does* realise. :D :D :D Probably sometime after the Envoy reveal, I think. Hee!

♡♡♡ Omfggggggg okay, I like this so much better. :D :D :D

:D :D :D :D :D

Lao Chu is like 'I don't even need to guess or imagine what was happening, I KNOW what was happening', bwahhhh, and he may be incorrect but Zhao Yunlan acts like he's 100% correct. xD xD :D

:D :D :D :D :D

I think it's the one thing that would explain to me why it's a video call!

Heh, you don't think ZYL is trying to be discreet and give SW space (during working hours at least) because SW said he was busy? ...Oh, ha, that makes me realise:

SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D

(But it could easily have been Zhu Hong's idea, too.)

So this time Zhao Yunlan was actually wrong that Shen Wei was withholding information?

Yeah, I think so. I don't think the possibility of Youchu occurred to him. And really, this is a notional Youchu that came out of the web novelist's story/imagination, right? So Shen Wei isn't wrong that a Youchu attack is unlikely in Dragon City.

In this conversation they don't seem to consider the freezing at all, only the wounds?

Ahh, that's such a great point. I'm confused about that now, too. Why would you suggest bears (and not even polar bears, lol)?! (I mean, I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way, but really, the subject of freezing should have come up!!)

SUCH A GREAT HALF-EPISODE!!! a;sdlkfja;sdlkfjas;dlfkjasdf

[facethestrange]

"Both of them going, "If he's not going to point out the obvious then neither am I!!" ;D (And obviously Shen Wei wants the fig-leaf of first aid so he can do actual healing.)"

Yep, Shen Wei has another reason not to point it out, but Zhao Yunlan doesn't have one, and it would be so obvious for him to say 'hey, I can do it myself' (and then Shen Wei could insist anyway) but he just really doesn't want to. :D :D

"Hmm, my reading of this is a bit different, but I'm still figuring it out. (Is this a DND thing? Should I think it through in a separate thread?)"

(AW, yeah, probably, thank you! :) ♡♡♡)

"LOL! This makes me wonder when Xiao Guo *does* realise. :D :D :D Probably sometime after the Envoy reveal, I think. Hee!"

Lmao, I have no idea. :D :D :D He's so adorably clueless about anyone's personal stuff, so definitely really late, possibly never? And then at some point he's suddenly faced with 'waittt, they're basically married, but when did that happen'? xD

"Heh, you don't think ZYL is trying to be discreet and give SW space (during working hours at least) because SW said he was busy?"

I dismissed that first because Zhu Hong sitting there makes Shen Wei just as busy (and looks the same to an outside observer) as Zhao Yunlan sitting there? But maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is not flirting with him, lmao. xD

"SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D"

Hahah, this is totally on brand with 'I'm rejecting your offer but I'm not actually rejecting your offer'. :D

"I don't think the possibility of Youchu occurred to him. And really, this is a notional Youchu that came out of the web novelist's story/imagination, right? So Shen Wei isn't wrong that a Youchu attack is unlikely in Dragon City."

Yeah, this is all true, but then I stumble into the question why did it occur to Da Qing? I'm starting to consider a crack idea of Cat Tribe prophetic dreams or something. ;D

"Why would you suggest bears (and not even polar bears, lol)?! (I mean, I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way, but really, the subject of freezing should have come up!!)"

Right?? (Does Shen Wei even know about the freezing at this point? But if he doesn't, why didn't Zhao Yunlan tell him? /more confusion)

[china_shop]

but Zhao Yunlan doesn't have one, and it would be so obvious for him to say 'hey, I can do it myself' (and then Shen Wei could insist anyway) but he just really doesn't want to. :D :D

Yes, and saying that would draw attention to the fact Shen Wei wasn't saying that, and potentially make things awkward. Much more socially comfortable and normal to let Shen Wei grope his arm! \o/ ;D :D :D

<3 <3 <3

But maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is not flirting with him, lmao. xD

Hee! :D :D :D (Oh, maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is in legit respectable business clothes...)

Hahah, this is totally on brand with 'I'm rejecting your offer but I'm not actually rejecting your offer'. :D

Yesss! :D

I'm starting to consider a crack idea of Cat Tribe prophetic dreams or something. ;D

He is canonically another Hallows-groper, so it's quite possible!

Re the freezing -- maybe that's not so much about the attacker as the case generally. All the other victims were frozen, too, and I don't think they were all Youchu attacks, were they? (I, uh, wasn't paying that much attention to the case part, sorry Lin Jing!)

[facethestrange]

"Much more socially comfortable and normal to let Shen Wei grope his arm! \o/ ;D :D :D"

Lolol, I love everything about this. :D :D :D :D

"Oh, maybe the difference is that Zhu Hong is in legit respectable business clothes..."

Oh true, that's one difference! (Otoh, if this was Zhao Yunlan's reason for the video call, maybe he would just dress more respectably for once - he doesn't bother to do that for authority figures, but being able to sprawl seductively on Shen Wei's desk could be an actual incentive. ;D)

"He is canonically another Hallows-groper, so it's quite possible!"

Oh damn, yes, I didn't even think of that - my crack theory is a lot less cracky than I thought! xD

"Re the freezing -- maybe that's not so much about the attacker as the case generally. All the other victims were frozen, too, and I don't think they were all Youchu attacks, were they? (I, uh, wasn't paying that much attention to the case part, sorry Lin Jing!)"

I think Lin Jing didn't explain this in his scene (or I missed it too, which is always possible xD), but now I'll be paying extra attention during the second half because I have no idea what the freezing has to do with the Youchu? (Even if it's two different things, would a bear make any sense? That would be a wild coincidence. Oh, and now I went back and CSZ at the crime scene says "I'd say he froze to death." and ZYL nods, so the 'bear' isn't even what killed him? Yeah, I'll wait for the second half, maybe it will explain something. :D)

[china_shop]

Otoh, if this was Zhao Yunlan's reason for the video call, maybe he would just dress more respectably for once

Noooooooooooo! *keeps him scruffy forever* (Hee!)

Oh, and now I went back and CSZ at the crime scene says "I'd say he froze to death." and ZYL nods, so the 'bear' isn't even what killed him? Yeah, I'll wait for the second half, maybe it will explain something. :D

I should make more of an effort. But honestly, I just assume the murders are horror stories that came true, so I don't know how much internal logic they need? But yeah, you're completely right that the freezing really should factor into the SID's enquiry at this stage.

[facethestrange]

"Noooooooooooo! *keeps him scruffy forever* (Hee!)"

Same tbh. :D :D ♡___♡

"But honestly, I just assume the murders are horror stories that came true, so I don't know how much internal logic they need?"

True, I don't expect internal logic either. :D But yep, what the SID deems important during the investigation is getting more confusing the more I think about it.

[trobadora]

All the other victims were frozen, too, and I don't think they were all Youchu attacks, were they?

Idk if they were also physically attacked or just frozen, but I think it's meant to be all the same monster doing it - the manifestation of the monster from Lai Su's novel.

[china_shop]

I should watch Lin Jing's explanation again, because it sounded more like a series of short stories than a coherent novel to me, so I didn't see why the culprit had to be the same each time.

[trobadora]

It sounded to me like an episodic webnovel with a consistent protagonist, and the protagonist is the murderer.

[china_shop]

Ahh, right, that makes sense! Thanks!

[trobadora]

Hmm, my reading of this is a bit different, but I'm still figuring it out. (Is this a DND thing? Should I think it through in a separate thread?)

FWIW I'd love it if you came back to this in a separate thread, I'd love your take!

SW: I'm teaching many classes this semester. I truly am too busy.
Also SW: *gives an hour plus TED talk on bears* :D :D :D

LOLOLOLOLOL! :D

I know Shen Wei was basically just trolling ZYL in a "why are you insisting I have information about this? Fine, here is some information" kind of way

Damn, you already put this more succinctly than I did!

[china_shop]

> FWIW I'd love it if you came back to this in a separate thread, I'd love your take!

Done!

:D :D :D

[trobadora]

Yay! ♥ ♥ ♥

I have lots of thoughts, but it may take a while to make them coherent and put them into words - the day ran away from me and I don't have much brain left tonight. Very looking forward to tackling this, though! :D

[china_shop]

Looking forward to your thoughts, yay! <333