Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 8, 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 8, up to 22:19

Summary
The SID enthusiastically welcomes Guo Changcheng as an official employee, and Lin Jing gives him the fear baton. ♥ Zhao Yunlan arranges to buy some old books and then calls Shen Wei to offer them as a gift, while Zhu Hong and Da Qing gossip about his black-heartedness and obsession with Shen Wei. Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing meet a student in the street to buy the books, then sit around and talk about recruiting Shen Wei to the SID. Zhao Yunlan is openly smitten. ♥ But presenting the gift to Shen Wei does not go as planned: Zhao Yunlan gives a fake provenance for the books, Shen Wei leaves, and Zhao Yunlan slinks off to recover his dignity in private drink tea and talk about new SID premises. A mysterious letter gives Wang Zheng flashbacks. Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi run into Ding Dun in the street juuuust before receiving an APB about him. The Envoy comes to the SID to request help tracking him down, but Da Qing is hesitant to proceed without their fearless leader. Chu Shuzhi sets to work anyway and takes Changcheng with him. Meanwhile, Zhu Jiu murders Ding Dun, whose body the others find and take back to the SID? (Or pass on to the Envoy?) On the university campus that night, Shen Wei confides in Ying Chun while wearing an ascot. Zhu Jiu shows up, and fisticuffs ensue (Ying Chun helps Shen Wei), but Zhu Jiu escapes. Ying Chun points out the dangers in Shen Wei's plan to go after a missing item, but Shen Wei is resolved.



Quote
Lin Jing: This is my newest invention. It can transform fear into electricity. The more fear, the more electricity. In other words, I made it especially as the perfect, most powerful weapon you could have.
Guo Changcheng: E...electricity? I'm also afraid of electricity.

Detail
When Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei about the old books, the original subs say, "What a coincidence! I have a lot of old books," and the VIKI subs say, "You are so lucky as I have some in my home!" while Solo's subs have "As it happens, regarding this, the two of us were brought together by fate." The last is closest to the Chinese subs: 巧了 咱俩在这个事上 太有缘了 ("What a coincidence! We're so destined to meet on this matter." according to Google Translate).

Poll #33955 Subtitles

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

View Respondents

Which subtitles are you using? (Tick all that apply.)

View Answers

original fansubs
3 (33.3%)

Solo's subs
8 (88.9%)

VIKI subs
2 (22.2%)

Chinese hard subs
3 (33.3%)

other
2 (22.2%)

Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 8? Is everyone genuinely glad to have Guo Changcheng onboard? Does Shen Wei as the Envoy already have a red stamp, and if so, when/how did he get it? On a scale of 1 to 10, how smitten is Zhao Yunlan with Shen Wei? On a scale of 1 to 10, how sympathetic is Da Qing to this smittenness? Who sends the APB on Ding Dun? (Presumably not the Envoy!) How do you feel about ascots? How great is the fight with Zhu Jiu?

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 -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!

Comments

[china_shop]

and I figure Zhao Xinci is paying special attention to the SID, at least early on during Zhao Yunlan's tenure. (He might not be looking as closely after years of nothing major happening.)

True! (And true, though the Envoy requesting a SID file must have sent up a plethora of red flags!!)

but Da Qing is the one I most wish had reacted differently. *g*

DQ really doesn't like taking on responsibility when he doesn't have to. *skritches him* He does get better as time goes on, I think?

Though now that I'm saying that, I wonder if that's due to censorship because actual resurrection hit the censors' "supernatural" DNW in a way other mutant powers don't ...

That's possible! But then, they could have just avoided the whole murder/resurrection plot to start with? I guess they wanted SW to show up at the SID looking for ZYL on urgent business.

[trobadora]

He does get better as time goes on, I think?

I think so too, but I'll be paying special attention this rewatch!

But then, they could have just avoided the whole murder/resurrection plot to start with?

Yeah, but the censors' requirements/criteria changed (and keep changing, of course) - I think when Guardian started filming, it wasn't nearly as clear-cut or as strict. I don't remember for certain, but I think the crackdown on modern-day supernatural stuff didn't even happen until shortly before Guardian aired.

[china_shop]

I remember Da Qing speaking up when Zhao Xinci visits, to explain where ZYL is, and again at the end of the case to ask if ZXC really shot Bao Laosan on purpose. Even that much is a step up from this. <3

Yeah, but the censors' requirements/criteria changed (and keep changing, of course) - I think when Guardian started filming, it wasn't nearly as clear-cut or as strict.

Oh, that makes sense. I didn't know that. (Ughhh.)

[trobadora]

I remember Da Qing speaking up when Zhao Xinci visits, to explain where ZYL is, and again at the end of the case to ask if ZXC really shot Bao Laosan on purpose. Even that much is a step up from this. <3

That's true! I guess I see more of a throughline between the early episode where he pushed ZYL to contact the Envoy and this, so his reaction in the Ding Dun case stood out more to me. But that was between him and ZYL, which probably makes it a different thing to him!

[china_shop]

Yes, when ZYL is in charge, DQ can suggest all kinds of out-there things without taking any responsibility. ;D