Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 10, 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 10, up to 22:09

Summary
Zhu Hong wakes Zhao Yunlan with the news that everyone's been drugged. Shen Wei comes in, and they deduce Wang Zheng is the culprit. Meanwhile, Wang Zheng finds Sang Zan's glowy pillar in the caves. As well as the execution flashback, we see their happy past, dancing in a meadow, and talking together there too. In the present, they reunite through the pillar. Sang Zan's agitation (? or his attempt to free himself?) triggers an earthquake, and in the village, people run for safety. Zhao Yunlan charges Zhu Hong with keeping Shen Wei safely at base camp and goes into the mountains with Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng to find Wang Zheng. Zhu Jiu arrives at the pillar and menaces the lovers. Shen Wei tries to leave the hotel (in Zhao Yunlan's jacket), but Zhu Hong hypnotises him into staying. Chu Shuzhi uses his dark-energy strings to open a door into the mountain, and Zhao Yunlan goes in alone. He's facing off with a Youchu, once more unable to fire his gun, when the Envoy finds him. The Envoy dispatches the Youchu, and together, he and Zhao Yunlan hurry through the cave system in search of Wang Zheng.



Quote
Zhao Yunlan: Everyone at 4 Guangming Rd is mine. We can't just ignore them.

(Unbeknownst to him, he's saying this to Shen Wei who he's repeatedly tried to recruit.)

Detail
I'd forgotten that even the ghost soldiers aren't on board with Zhu Jiu's treatment of Wang Zheng. One of them protests, "She deserves to die, but what you're doing is too cruel!"

Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 10? When Shen Wei asks, "What is your purpose in coming here?" does Zhao Yunlan answer? (There's a scene break there.) Is Shen Wei tempted to put an extra dark-energy whammy on Jiajia and Xiao-Quan to make sure they don't wake up during all the excitement? Was the heart of candles in the flashbacks Sang Zan's idea or Ge Lan's? How much stuff does Guo Changcheng have in his satchel? If Zhu Hong hadn't deployed her hypnotism eyes, how long would Shen Wei have continued to play along? Did Zhao Yunlan know in advance that Chu Shuzhi had researched the Hanga tribe, or was he just lucky? On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy is Zhao Yunlan to see the Envoy in the caves? On a scale of 1 to 10, how much is Zhu Jiu projecting when he tells Wang Zheng, "You were betrayed before. You are always fated to be abandoned!"

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]

My notes:

* When Zhao Yunlan hears about the drugging, he doesn't seem to suspect Shen Wei for even a second, but a bit later in the scene, he just stares at him. Does he suspect him after all, or does he just not want to seem too friendly in front of Zhu Hong? (Zhao Yunlan, this is the guy you slept on top of and gave your coat to!)

* Shen Wei comes in speaking for Wang Zheng. He understands protectiveness and sacrifice. <3 Also, "I know that the Special Investigations has its own confidentiality measures" made me laugh, given that ZYL keeps going to Shen Wei's office and telling him the intimate details of cases.

* The flashback to Sang Zan tied up and screaming while Ge Lan is executed = Zhao Yunlan in ep 39. And then their reunion with Sang Zan in the pillar is like the very final Weilan scene.

* Aww, Jiajia brought a teddy bear. I think Shen Wei, looking at her, considers dark-energy sleeping her but then decides it isn't necessary.

* Flashbacks to dancing and Wang Zheng/Sang Zan hanging out in a heart-shape of candles. I got so distracted by the latter, this time around. For starters, that's a huge waste of candles, hee! But more saliently, the heart shape as a romantic symbol started in Europe and seems unlikely to have reached a remote, secluded tribe in 100-years-ago China. (I may be completely wrong about that! :-) Still, I love that they're talking, with her thoughtfully brandishing a long grass stem. And the dancing is so happy.

* The contrast between the romantic cave moment, while everyone outside is freaking out at the earthquake, lol! (I always notice how modern and colourful everyone's clothes are. There is even luggage. This may be a small quiet village, but I bet they have internet.)

* Q. Is the pillar more than a prison? Does it also have mind-healing properties, and Ye Zun's is broken (or not working because of his mind control)?

* Zhu Jiu showing up in the cave is chilling. So much threat.

* Love Zhao Yunlan and Zhu Hong weaponising Shen Wei's professor role against him.

* Zhu Jiu calls Sang Zan a monster for being trapped without dying, but Zhu Jiu knows (and idolises?) Ye Zun. Does he also think of him as a monster? Or is this a double standard?

* ZYL, CSZ and GCC head into the mountains with no prep and no provisions except whatever's in GCC's bag. (Luckily, he has jerky and the map.) I am so judging ZYL for this. Proper preparation saves lives!!

* Zhu Hong is so authoritative and capable, running interference on Shen Wei. <3 If it had been anyone else, she would have totally succeeded. And he's clearly worried for the others but still choosing to stay in character.

* I ♥♥♥ research master CSZ!!! Also chaos gremlin thumbs-up CSZ!! :D :D :D :D :D

* ZYL has gun flashbacks again (*hugs him*) -- I do love him grabbing GCC's wrist to direct his zap, hee! <3

* Argh, them splitting up here (ZYL going into the caves alone) makes so much more sense in the novel. Here, it's just stupid -- why go alone into the place where the Youchu are coming from??? (In the novel, iirc, ZYL gets the warning missive from the Envoy before they split up, so he sends the others back for their own safety.)

* Aww, it's Shen Wei's "You still have me" moment (or, at least, one of them)! <3 <3 <3

* The ghosts can cause the mountain to collapse? Yikes!! And ha, I love that even the Ge Lan haters think Zhu Jiu is too much of a jerk to her. <3

* Zhu Jiu says, "You were always fated to be abandoned." But no one's willingly abandoned her!! Ever!! (Except the villagers, I guess.) Is he projecting and really talking about himself? ;-p

Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 10?

I think my favourite scene is ZYL, CSZ and GCC's little picnic. I love the body language mirroring between ZYL and CSZ, and I like that they get a little respite to sort themselves out and make a plan. Though I do wish someone had thought to bring a water bottle!! /o\

When Shen Wei asks, "What is your purpose in coming here?" does Zhao Yunlan answer? (There's a scene break there.)

I think they're interrupted by the earthquake before he can answer?

Was the heart of candles in the flashbacks Sang Zan's idea or Ge Lan's?

Ignoring the anachronism, I think it was Sang Zan's idea, the big sap.

How much stuff does Guo Changcheng have in his satchel?

ALL THE THINGS, apparently. ;D

Did Zhao Yunlan know in advance that Chu Shuzhi had researched the Hanga tribe, or was he just lucky?

I'm telling myself he knew (and possibly requested it), but I'm only 80% convinced. ;-p

On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy is Zhao Yunlan to see the Envoy in the caves?

3000%. The Envoy isn't just a political ally here -- he's a saviour! *swoon* <3 <3 <3 Oh, this might even be the mirror to ZYL's arrival in YOHE turning the tide of the battle? <3