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sid_guardian2026-03-22 01:04 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2026-03-22 01:04 pm
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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 13, part 1
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 13, up to 21:44
Summary
Zhao Yunlan & co. break Da Qing out of his frenzy with the help of Lao Li's dried fish. Looking for Tan Xiao, Zheng Yi causes mayhem at the wedding, and Shen Wei arrives and stops it. Zhao Yunlan arrives and intervenes before Minister Gao can blame Shen Wei for any of it, but in fact, Minister Gao is grateful. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei go head-to-head about Shen Wei's secrets again, neither able to concede. They're called out to the street, where Da Qing and Lin Jing are trying to calm a frenzied Cong Bo. From him, they learn Zhu Jiu and the Crow Yashou have a boss. Zhao Yunlan hints again that he wants to work with Shen Wei, but Shen Wei leaves. Human-form Ya Qing and Zhu Jiu fight in front of Zheng Yi, who just wants her Tan Xiao. Chu Shuzhi stomps through the Snake forest and rescues Guo Changcheng. Tan Xiao has a nightmare and wakes up in the lab, where Zhao Yunlan finds him.
Quote
Shen Wei: Did I bring you trouble?
Zhao Yunlan: If you are the trouble, I'll take it by the dozen to bother my whole life.
Detail
Ya Qing delivers a message from Ye Zun to Zhu Jiu. Does that mean she's travelled to Dixing as their go-between?
Questions
Dried fish brings Da Qing back to his senses: what would work for some of the other characters? During Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's standoff in the parlour, who do you sympathise with the most? Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship? Is it okay for the SID to go around sedating members of the public without first checking their medical histories? What is Zhao Yunlan thinking as he watches Shen Wei leave the alley? (He looks so serious!)
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!
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Da Qing is really putting his back into trashing the fruit stand. No wonder Wang Xiangyang got such a fright. I will never not love the way ZYL beckons DQ like an animal (palm up) rather than a person. <3
Lin Jing, foreshadowing the next plot development: If it were Boss whose mind went out of control, I couldn't even imagine...
ZYL doesn't even bother to fill Da Qing in on what happened or reassure him. (I wrote a canon divergence for this, which includes the post-wedding scene and an alternate Envoy reveal/first kiss.)
The wedding: lol at Mr Li waving to the crowd as he walks his daughter up the aisle, as if they're applauding him and not her.
Why is it less awkward for the groom to play a recorded message while he stands there like a big dummy? *noogies him* (I love that the recording cuts off when the chaos starts, lol.)
The groom strangling the bride is so upsetting. (I wrote fic for that, too: more scenes from Shen Wei's first day on the job, feat Li Jiaqi.) And I made this a while back:
I love how Shen Wei stops to assess the situation before taking action, and his expressions as he de-whammies everyone. ad;lskfjas;dlkfasda And yes, this is where he discovers Zhu Jiu is the one controlling Zheng Yi.
Ahhhh, Zhao Yunlan just stops in his tracks when he sees Shen Wei amid the wreckage!! :D :D :D The whole scene with Minister Gao is a complete delight, I love everything about it (and
This exchange of glances is everything:
Lin Jing to Mr Li: I never thought your ending would be like this.
That makes it sound like he knew him?? I wonder what that's about. Maybe Li's corporation invested in Professor Ouyang's research?
How much is Zhao Yunlan sitting in the parlour mulling over the fact that, despite Shen Wei shutting him out, despite everything, ZYL still put his reputation on the line to protect Shen Wei? *pets him*
I've written all my meta about this scene into a fic already (this one, linked above).
I wonder how Da Qing feels, seeing Cong Bo freaking out and not remembering what happened. Poor Da Qing. No one explains anything -- they just expect him to bounce back.
Zhao Yunlan not arguing with Shen Wei's "experiment" excuse, just waving without looking -- I love that so much. I love the weariness of it. I do wonder what he's thinking as he looks up and watches so seriously as Shen Wei leaves, though.
Our first look at human-shaped Ya Qing!! So glamorous!!
And then she and Zhu Jiu start fighting in front of the hostage, the dorks. *g*
Zhu Jiu is a complete maniac! "I just love bombs that can go off anytime. It doesn't matter getting injured if the bomb can kill people." /o\ /o\ /o\
Zheng Yi is such an interesting mirror for Ye Zun -- abused, causing havoc, looking for her gege because she has no one else to turn to and no real sense of control of her life.
And every time that scene ends on the flowers, I'm convinced all over again that this is deliberate and the plant is one of Ying Chun's spies. <333
Chu Shuzhi stomping through the forest, lol! (I keep meaning to check if one of the Snakes who tries to stop him is Zhu Hong's Jia-ge. I assume so?) I don't understand what CSZ did to Fourth Uncle -- it's like Fourth Uncle just disappears?
Tan Xiao having his guilt/anxiety dreams at the lab. I'm so interested that his encounter with the Envoy doesn't feature in this nightmare! The carnage at the lab was clearly more traumatic. And what does it mean that he thinks of Zheng Yi as a monster?
And then Zhao Yunlan's immediate comprehension when he finds Tan Xiao at the lab reminds me of him telling Ji Xiaobai that his Weiwei isn't coming back. He's so sure that the Envoy's deportations are one way only.
(I'll come back and do the questions later.)
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Ha! I noticed that too. :D
Why is it less awkward for the groom to play a recorded message while he stands there like a big dummy? *noogies him* (I love that the recording cuts off when the chaos starts, lol.)
If he's shy it's easier to not have to speak in public? I thought it was sweet. :D
The wedding meme is delightful, thank you for re-sharing! :D
I love how Shen Wei stops to assess the situation before taking action, and his expressions as he de-whammies everyone. ad;lskfjas;dlkfasda
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I love everything about it (and
♥ ♥ ♥
(Clearly Minister Gao has no idea Shen Wei is Hei Pao Shi; if he did, he'd know you can't just recruit the Envoy of Dixing as a Haixing consultant!!)
I mean, Zhao Yunlan knows, and he's still trying! :p
This exchange of glances is everything:
YES, I noticed that too, it's AMAZING. :D
Lin Jing to Mr Li: I never thought your ending would be like this.
That makes it sound like he knew him?? I wonder what that's about. Maybe Li's corporation invested in Professor Ouyang's research?
I thought he just knew him from the Wu Xiaojun case, where he apparently got away with everything, only to now die in a totally random event.
How much is Zhao Yunlan sitting in the parlour mulling over the fact that, despite Shen Wei shutting him out, despite everything, ZYL still put his reputation on the line to protect Shen Wei? *pets him*
AWWWW. I think he's at least partially stewing over the fact that he did that, and it turned out to not even be necessary!
I've written all my meta about this scene into a fic already (this one, linked above).
♥ ♥ ♥
Poor Da Qing. No one explains anything -- they just expect him to bounce back.
Yeah, seriously!
Our first look at human-shaped Ya Qing!! So glamorous!!
She is GORGEOUS and I love her look so much.
Zheng Yi is such an interesting mirror for Ye Zun -- abused, causing havoc, looking for her gege because she has no one else to turn to and no real sense of control of her life.
Yes! That is so well constructed, I love all the mirroring on this show. It makes everything feel so much richer!
And every time that scene ends on the flowers, I'm convinced all over again that this is deliberate and the plant is one of Ying Chun's spies. <333
*high fives*
I don't understand what CSZ did to Fourth Uncle -- it's like Fourth Uncle just disappears?
Pulled him away with his strings? That's what I assumed.
Tan Xiao having his guilt/anxiety dreams at the lab. I'm so interested that his encounter with the Envoy doesn't feature in this nightmare! The carnage at the lab was clearly more traumatic. And what does it mean that he thinks of Zheng Yi as a monster?
Ooh, that's such a great point about the Envoy! Yeah, he has so much worse things to have nightmares about. I don't think he actually thinks of Zheng Yi as a monster - I mean, look at how he acts when he finally sees her again, in the second half of the episode! Not a moment of hesitation there. It's a nightmare where he suddenly discovers that on top of everything else, he's been wrong about her. His waking self knows better, but he can't see her to reassure himself that she is the person he knows, so his fears and nightmares just spiral.
(I'll come back and do the questions later.)
You said you would, but you never did. *g*
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*high fives* I'm aware of it every time. :D
If he's shy it's easier to not have to speak in public? I thought it was sweet. :D
He's the acting chairman of a corporation; I feel like he should be able to speak in public. Maybe that's just me. (Or maybe it's different when he's speaking from the heart. And she would have been able to keep the recording -- I wonder if they ended up getting married, or whether it all fell apart after he choked her under the influence... /o\)
> (Clearly Minister Gao has no idea Shen Wei is Hei Pao Shi; if he did, he'd know you can't just recruit the Envoy of Dixing as a Haixing consultant!!)
I mean, Zhao Yunlan knows, and he's still trying! :p
Yes, but ZYL's view of the SID is different too, I think? Minister Gao sees it as just another state law enforcement agency, albeit a secret, specialised one; ZYL sees it as a family, his ragtag bunch of misfits who work together to protect Haixing.
> This exchange of glances is everything:
YES, I noticed that too, it's AMAZING. :D
:D :D :D :D :D :D
I thought he just knew him from the Wu Xiaojun case, where he apparently got away with everything, only to now die in a totally random event.
Did Lin Jing even meet Mr Li during that case? Or do you think he's just reacting to Mr Li's reputation? The "never thought" sounds personal to me, but maybe it's a translation thing, and it's more "wouldn't have thought".
> How much is Zhao Yunlan sitting in the parlour mulling over the fact that, despite Shen Wei shutting him out, despite everything, ZYL still put his reputation on the line to protect Shen Wei? *pets him*
AWWWW. I think he's at least partially stewing over the fact that he did that, and it turned out to not even be necessary!
Like, "my selfless gesture went to waste?" I'm not sure about that. I feel like there's two parts he's stewing on, but neither is that exactly: one is Shen Wei's presence/SW's being on Minister Gao's good side somehow/everything that's gone wrong, and one is his awareness of his own feelings about the above -- "I'll take it by the dozen to trouble my whole life." I mean, everything went horribly wrong with the wedding, and you could partly lay the blame at SW's feet, and still ZYL's first instinct had been to try and protect SW. Even though SW is still shutting him out.
That is so well constructed, I love all the mirroring on this show. It makes everything feel so much richer!
Yes, it's fantastic. And this one doesn't even become clear to the viewer until the very end (by which time they're not thinking about Zheng Yi at all). But it still sets up a mindset and story expectations.
I don't think he actually thinks of Zheng Yi as a monster - I mean, look at how he acts when he finally sees her again, in the second half of the episode! Not a moment of hesitation there. It's a nightmare where he suddenly discovers that on top of everything else, he's been wrong about her. His waking self knows better, but he can't see her to reassure himself that she is the person he knows, so his fears and nightmares just spiral.
*nodnod* That makes sense. (I like that that makes his dream less meaningful. I'm not very fond of dreams as narrative devices. ;-p)
no subject
He's a nepo baby; he's chairman because of his dad, not because he's good at any part of it. So who knows, maybe he's terrible at it! But yeah, I think it's a very different thing when it matters emotionally.
I wonder if they ended up getting married, or whether it all fell apart after he choked her under the influence... /o\
When Da Qing wakes up from the hypnosis, he doesn't remember anything about what he did under the influence, so maybe they don't remember either. That must be so weird, too!
Minister Gao sees it as just another state law enforcement agency, albeit a secret, specialised one; ZYL sees it as a family, his ragtag bunch of misfits who work together to protect Haixing.
But it still is a law enforcement agency! I always feel like ZYL should be taking that into account when trying to recruit a foreign dignitary, and he just doesn't. *g*
The "never thought" sounds personal to me, but maybe it's a translation thing, and it's more "wouldn't have thought".
It's a very set phrase in Chinese, so I wouldn't read anything in particular into it.
Like, "my selfless gesture went to waste?" I'm not sure about that.
No, not in that sense, more like, he's feeling raw because he exposed himself, and he didn't even have to. Pretty much what you said, the awareness of his own feelings about the whole thing - how instantly he jumped to Shen Wei's defence. And Shen Wei didn't need the defence, and still keeps shutting him out!
But it still sets up a mindset and story expectations.
YES! That's exactly it, and I love it to pieces. ♥ ♥ ♥
I don't think he actually thinks of Zheng Yi as a monster - I mean, look at how he acts when he finally sees her again, in the second half of the episode! Not a moment of hesitation there. It's a nightmare where he suddenly discovers that on top of everything else, he's been wrong about her. His waking self knows better, but he can't see her to reassure himself that she is the person he knows, so his fears and nightmares just spiral.
*nodnod* That makes sense. (I like that that makes his dream less meaningful. I'm not very fond of dreams as narrative devices. ;-p)
I do think it's meaningful, just not in the sense that it exposes a truth or something like that - it's very thematic; grappling with people who are sometimes seen as monsters is very much at the heart of it. The word "monster" keeps coming up over the course of the show, like a repeated motif, and Tan Xiao's nightmare spells out his own grappling with that thematic strand.
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True, and I have no idea if Chinese firms have boards of directors whose confidence needs to be secured. I still feel like he should have been raised/trained to do the thing he was inevitably going to end up doing, but what do I know. :-)
When Da Qing wakes up from the hypnosis, he doesn't remember anything about what he did under the influence, so maybe they don't remember either. That must be so weird, too!
Yes, her with bruise marks all around her neck. /o\
> Minister Gao sees it as just another state law enforcement agency, albeit a secret, specialised one; ZYL sees it as a family, his ragtag bunch of misfits who work together to protect Haixing.
But it still is a law enforcement agency! I always feel like ZYL should be taking that into account when trying to recruit a foreign dignitary, and he just doesn't. *g*
I mean, yes, absolutely. But he has such issues with authority (and in this case, the "authority" officially includes his terrible father) that I suspect he couldn't really do his job if he framed it that way, you know? And he believes wholeheartedly in the job, even as that wholehearted belief changes with new information/understanding.
It's a very set phrase in Chinese, so I wouldn't read anything in particular into it.
Okay, thanks.
> Like, "my selfless gesture went to waste?" I'm not sure about that.
No, not in that sense, more like, he's feeling raw because he exposed himself, and he didn't even have to. Pretty much what you said, the awareness of his own feelings about the whole thing - how instantly he jumped to Shen Wei's defence. And Shen Wei didn't need the defence, and still keeps shutting him out!
*nodnod* (I still don't feel the fact that it turned out to be unnecessary makes any difference to him at this point: SW is the strategic one; ZYL is the "gulp down maybe-poison to save a stranger and never worry about consequences, before or after" one. But that's nitpicking -- we can agree to differ on that part, and just agree on everything else. :-)
> *nodnod* That makes sense. (I like that that makes his dream less meaningful. I'm not very fond of dreams as narrative devices. ;-p)
I do think it's meaningful, just not in the sense that it exposes a truth or something like that - it's very thematic; grappling with people who are sometimes seen as monsters is very much at the heart of it. The word "monster" keeps coming up over the course of the show, like a repeated motif, and Tan Xiao's nightmare spells out his own grappling with that thematic strand.
Yes, okay, I'm fine with thematically meaningful dreams. Just so long as it doesn't have to make any literal sense. ;-p
no subject
Yeah, all very true!
I still don't feel the fact that it turned out to be unnecessary makes any difference to him at this point: SW is the strategic one; ZYL is the "gulp down maybe-poison to save a stranger and never worry about consequences, before or after" one.
Yeah, agree to disagree - I definitely think it makes a difference to him that he tried to protect someone who didn't need protection, and revealed his sincere feelings that way. Risking his life is a lot less exposing. *g*
Yes, okay, I'm fine with thematically meaningful dreams. Just so long as it doesn't have to make any literal sense. ;-p
LOL! Can't argue with you there. *g*
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Oh, do you think he's trying to keep his feelings hidden at this point? He keeps going out of his way to show Shen Wei that they're on the same side...
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Dried fish brings Da Qing back to his senses: what would work for some of the other characters?
We know from a later episode that mentioning ZYL works for Zhu Hong. And invoking CSZ and the SID helped Guo Changcheng to break out of his hypnotic trance. Who does that leave? I bet the Envoy could break mind-control on CSZ with a single look, lol. Or Changcheng berating him back into being himself. Lin Jing -- I'm really not sure? And ditto with Wang Zheng and Sang Zan.
During Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's standoff in the parlour, who do you sympathise with the most?
Both of them, hee! I understand why Shen Wei has set himself this boundary beyond which he can't cross, and I feel sorry for him having to hold himself back. I think he does want to be known by and closer to ZYL, and it's only the strength of his duty and protectiveness that are keeping him on his chosen path.
At the same time, I feel like it's really hard on ZYL that Shen Wei is always moving closer while holding him off. Shen Wei talked about friendship and literally moved in across the hall. Those were personal acts. But Shen Wei is also the one telling him to stay in Dragon City (not willing to share the danger), and setting what seem like unnecessary boundaries. It's such mixed signals, and ZYL really doesn't know what to do with that, especially given this new, enormous piece of the puzzle.
Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship?
I think Trobadora's completely right -- ZYL doesn't make that distinction at all. Like, in the second half of this episode, he goes straight from, "If you told me that Tan Xiao wasn't Dixingren earlier, we could have used him to lure Zheng Yi out, then the tragedy at the wedding would have not happened." to "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends." <3 <3 <3
Is it okay for the SID to go around sedating members of the public without first checking their medical histories?
Heh. I'd prefer it if they'd called an ambulance with paramedics. But I understand why they didn't. ;-p
What is Zhao Yunlan thinking as he watches Shen Wei leave the alley? (He looks so serious!)
I think it's something like, "Will you ever let me close? Guess I'm not worthy of being your confidant." (But as more of a feeling than as the actual words/coherent thought.)
Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama?
Mostly just what I said elsewhere about Zheng Yi being mute because her voice is so powerful, and Shen Wei keeping silent on his secrets because of the devastation he fears might follow if he said them aloud.
Oh, I guess having Changcheng dress up as Zhu Hong, and that tiny mistaken identity plotline fits with Cong Bo's disguises and falsely attending the wedding, too?
no subject
Ooh yes, great catch!
I bet the Envoy could break mind-control on CSZ with a single look, lol.
Oooh, I want that! :D :D :D
Lin Jing: threaten to take away his bonus, and he starts arguing on reflex. *g*
I think he does want to be known by and closer to ZYL, and it's only the strength of his duty and protectiveness that are keeping him on his chosen path.
Yes, completely agreed!
It's such mixed signals, and ZYL really doesn't know what to do with that, especially given this new, enormous piece of the puzzle.
Yeah, Zhao Yunlan just doesn't have the info to put the puzzle pieces together in the right shape, so it's all extremely confusing and frustrating to him. *pets him*
Oh, I guess having Changcheng dress up as Zhu Hong, and that tiny mistaken identity plotline fits with Cong Bo's disguises and falsely attending the wedding, too?
Oh, yeah, great point! You're right, that totally fits.
no subject
Hee! Or threatening to break one of his precious inventions?
Yeah, Zhao Yunlan just doesn't have the info to put the puzzle pieces together in the right shape, so it's all extremely confusing and frustrating to him. *pets him*
Especially given his self-worth issues. He knows Shen Wei thinks he's important somehow, but it can't be personally important, can it?
Oh, yeah, great point! You're right, that totally fits.
Ohhh, and the disguises theme totally fits with the Envoy reveal!! \o/
no subject
OHHHH, yes, that has to be why it's happening now!!!!!!
no subject
Shen Wei: Did I bring you trouble?
Zhao Yunlan: If you are the trouble, I'll take it by the dozen to bother my whole life.
Still such a fantastic line! :D
Ya Qing delivers a message from Ye Zun to Zhu Jiu. Does that mean she's travelled to Dixing as their go-between?
Very good question! I assumed they communicated in other ways, but I have no idea why Ye Zun would go through Ya Qing instead of contacting Zhu Jiu directly ...
During Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's standoff in the parlour, who do you sympathise with the most?
I understand them both, but if I have to take sides, I'm always on Shen Wei's. (Nothing to do with sympathy, though. Shen Wei is just my favourite. *g*)
Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship?
He's completely conflating the two, IMO, not drawing any kind of line between the two any more.
Is it okay for the SID to go around sedating members of the public without first checking their medical histories?
Probably not, but leaving someone under the influence would also not be okay.
My notes:
When they're stopping Da Qing's rampage, two things stand out to me: first, Zhao Yunlan beckoning him (AWWW), and second, while they just sedated Zhu Hong when she was on a rampage in episode 12, here they're just using fish to override Da Qing's instincts. Hee!
(It takes Da Qing quite a while to actually wake up; we see when that happens! The fish just overrides everything else for a while. CAT. :D)
I don't think I ever really noticed the bit of foreshadowing/laying the ground for the fake-out where Lin Jings talks about how terrible it would be if Zhao Yunlan were hypnotised instead!
I'm still not sure how the tracking they're doing works. Wang Zheng is apparently using Lin Jing's device and can determine Zheng Yi is moving east, towards the Huangs; later we see Lin Jing and Da Qing running through the street with the detector trying to find Zheng Yi. What exactly are they tracking? If it were black energy, surely they would have used this kind of tracking-people-moving-across-the-city with others too. So it must be Zheng Yi's sonic disruptions, right?
(Also, Zhao Yunlan says she's moving east with the Hallows - that's just because she was last known to have the Hallows, right? They can't actually track the things, or they would have on other occasions ...)
When Shen Wei appears at the wedding, he freezes the scene and almost reaches Zheng Yi, but Zhu Jiu snatches her away at the last moment. At the same time, people start moving again - things weren't frozen for very long. I wonder why - did Zhu Jiu break it somehow?
When Shen Wei sees Zhu Jiu, he seems surprised to find out it's Zhu Jiu controlling Zheng Yi. Was he still thinking it was Tan Xiao? But later he said he thought he could protect Tan Xiao, so ...?
The sequence where Shen Wei kicks the groom away from the bride, then knocks the effects of Zheng Yi's hypnosis out of with black energy, is fantastic. And I love the quasi-villain shot of Shen Wei where he's looking over his shoulder - and Minister Gao looks at him!
Also, the whole bit with Zhao Yunlan coming in, starting to berate Shen Wei, then pivoting into putting his reputation on the line to defend Shen Wei, is so great!
I always wonder what Minister Gao is thinking. He treats Shen Wei as the hero of the moment, even though he must know he's Dixingren. He doesn't seem to be bothered by that at all, despite the SID's official mission.
And there's an absolutely delightful bit in the middle of this where Shen Wei's eyes flicker to Zhao Yunlan and Zhao Yunlan looks at Shen Wei, both completely baffled by this turn of events. :D
And then the stand-off inside. I think this time what I noticed the most is how sincere Shen Wei sounds when he says "I didn't mean to," and I wonder exactly how his "It's just -" would have continued if Zhao Yunlan hadn't come in with "- a coincidence?", changing the tone.
But "I just work out a lot" is still my favourite line. :D :D :D
(Seriously, I cannot believe that there have been people who thought Shen Wei genuinely wanted Zhao Yunlan to believe that excuse! It's such a beautiful piece of stonewalling, I love it to pieces.)
Zhao Yunlan's "Are you actually -" is the second interruption in this conversation, and I'd love to know what he was going to say there! (My headcanon: "Are you actually expecting me to believe that?" or something like it.)
Cong Bo witnessing Zhu Jiu talking to Ya Qing in Crow form is the first time we hear they have a boss. (That's missing from Solo's subs, but it's in all the others.)
Zhao Yunlan keeps hinting at wanting Shen Wei to join the SID, with his "oh we're so understaffed", and I wonder if he's actually thought about the fact that he's trying to make the Black-Cloaked Envoy himself join the SID ... *g*
Our first encounter with Ya Qing in human form is on the rooftop with Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi! She looks fabulous, and we see she's powerful - she can protect herself against Zheng Yi's power. So can Zhu Jiu, but is it just me, or is he straining more than she is? And we know he's quite powerful too ...
Zhu Jiu is being nasty about Yashou, and Ya Qing tells him he'll one day apologise to them all. She's also completely right that Zhu Jiu can't actually control Zheng Yi. He can only manipulate her - and it seems he wasn't planning to initially. When she once again tells him she wants Tan Xiao, he shakes her off and starts saying, "who the hell knows where he is" - and only then corrects and tells her only he knows where Tan Xiao is.
The conspicuous flower shot always makes me think it has to be a flower Yashou - who is presumably Ying Chun's source when she appears a bit later (in the second half of the episode) to tell Shen Wei that there's a Yashou traitor.
Chu Shuzhi on his mission to save Xiao-Guo is so much fun! He stomps through the woods, knocks out two Snakes, stomps into Fourth Uncle's house, knocks out more Snakes, and grabs Xiao-Guo to drag him out. And Fourth Uncle was just about to let Xiao-Guo go, but I don't think he even noticed. *g*
no subject
Hi! Wow, it took me long to get to this ... but I'm here now!
Yay, you're here!
> Zhao Yunlan: If you are the trouble, I'll take it by the dozen to bother my whole life.
Still such a fantastic line! :D
Yes!!! It's so good.
> Ya Qing delivers a message from Ye Zun to Zhu Jiu. Does that mean she's travelled to Dixing as their go-between?
Very good question! I assumed they communicated in other ways, but I have no idea why Ye Zun would go through Ya Qing instead of contacting Zhu Jiu directly ...
Maybe it's just easier? The only communication we see between Haixing and Dixing is via smoke messenger, right, and who knows if Ye Zun could do that from inside his pillar?
Zhu Jiu says, "I wouldn't bother with you if not because Boss ordered it. Who told you Yashou to be natural-born cowards? Other than being intelligence agents, you are no use at all." So I guess it depends whether "intelligence agents" includes playing go-between between Ye Zun and Zhu Jiu. Or maybe it was just this one time -- Ye Zun was talking to Ya Qing anyway, and he told her to pass on a message.
I understand them both, but if I have to take sides, I'm always on Shen Wei's. (Nothing to do with sympathy, though. Shen Wei is just my favourite. *g*)
<3
> Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship?
He's completely conflating the two, IMO, not drawing any kind of line between the two any more.
Yeah, agreed. Which makes it interesting that this is the point where Minister Gao appears -- official Haixing oversight!
Probably not, but leaving someone under the influence would also not be okay.
Yeah, and I suppose if they called an ambulance, they'd have to explain things to the paramedics (and wouldn't get to take Cong Bo's statement). Still, I feel like they should take him to the hospital afterwards. ;-p
When they're stopping Da Qing's rampage, two things stand out to me: first, Zhao Yunlan beckoning him (AWWW)
*high fives you* I always notice that. <3
(It takes Da Qing quite a while to actually wake up; we see when that happens! The fish just overrides everything else for a while. CAT. :D)
It's so good. :D :D :D :D :D
I don't think I ever really noticed the bit of foreshadowing/laying the ground for the fake-out where Lin Jings talks about how terrible it would be if Zhao Yunlan were hypnotised instead!
Priming us to be taken in. :D :D :D
I'm still not sure how the tracking they're doing works. Wang Zheng is apparently using Lin Jing's device and can determine Zheng Yi is moving east, towards the Huangs; later we see Lin Jing and Da Qing running through the street with the detector trying to find Zheng Yi. What exactly are they tracking? If it were black energy, surely they would have used this kind of tracking-people-moving-across-the-city with others too. So it must be Zheng Yi's sonic disruptions, right?
I thought Lin Jing and Da Qing were just using Lin Jing's black energy detector. The device back at the SID, I'd been assuming they were following the Hallows (because Lin Jing has had them around long enough to figure out how), but maybe it's Zheng Yi. But then wouldn't someone from the SID have rushed to the lab when ZYL was fake-abducted?
When Shen Wei appears at the wedding, he freezes the scene and almost reaches Zheng Yi, but Zhu Jiu snatches her away at the last moment. At the same time, people start moving again - things weren't frozen for very long. I wonder why - did Zhu Jiu break it somehow?
Yeah, I'm not sure if Shen Wei loses concentration/releases the freeze or if just having people move through it makes it inherently unstable...
When Shen Wei sees Zhu Jiu, he seems surprised to find out it's Zhu Jiu controlling Zheng Yi. Was he still thinking it was Tan Xiao? But later he said he thought he could protect Tan Xiao, so ...?
Maybe he thought Zheng Yi was going after the Hallows just like the Shadow Man and the others? Using Tan Xiao as cover? Idk. I'd forgotten about him saying he was trying to protect Tan Xiao -- does that mean that while ZYL thought Tan Xiao had kidnapped Zheng Yi, Shen Wei was making the reverse assumption? Or did SW just mean he was protecting Tan Xiao from the Dixing criminal justice system?
The sequence where Shen Wei kicks the groom away from the bride, then knocks the effects of Zheng Yi's hypnosis out of with black energy, is fantastic. And I love the quasi-villain shot of Shen Wei where he's looking over his shoulder - and Minister Gao looks at him!
Yes, it's all so dramatic and gorgeous!!! :D
Also, the whole bit with Zhao Yunlan coming in, starting to berate Shen Wei, then pivoting into putting his reputation on the line to defend Shen Wei, is so great!
:D :D :D :D :D :D
I always wonder what Minister Gao is thinking. He treats Shen Wei as the hero of the moment, even though he must know he's Dixingren. He doesn't seem to be bothered by that at all, despite the SID's official mission.
I think the Minister is less bigoted than even ZYL. Later, he even describes Cong Bo as worse than a rogue Dixingren. *g* I suspect that if it weren't for ZXC's pressure from above, Minister Gao would be generally okay with relaxing the strict deportation measures. (And then he'd immediately panic and reverse course if something went wrong and the public got upset. ;-p)
And there's an absolutely delightful bit in the middle of this where Shen Wei's eyes flicker to Zhao Yunlan and Zhao Yunlan looks at Shen Wei, both completely baffled by this turn of events. :D
I love it so much! The silent communication and shared understanding a;dslkfjas;dlkfjas;dlfkjas;dflkjasd;flkda :D
And then the stand-off inside. I think this time what I noticed the most is how sincere Shen Wei sounds when he says "I didn't mean to," and I wonder exactly how his "It's just -" would have continued if Zhao Yunlan hadn't come in with "- a coincidence?", changing the tone.
Ha, yes. ZYL needs to learn to let people finish their sentences! ;-p
(Seriously, I cannot believe that there have been people who thought Shen Wei genuinely wanted Zhao Yunlan to believe that excuse! It's such a beautiful piece of stonewalling, I love it to pieces.)
Yes, LOL! :D
Zhao Yunlan's "Are you actually -" is the second interruption in this conversation, and I'd love to know what he was going to say there! (My headcanon: "Are you actually expecting me to believe that?" or something like it.)
Or maybe "Are you actually sticking to that line/keeping up your pretence?" or something?
Cong Bo witnessing Zhu Jiu talking to Ya Qing in Crow form is the first time we hear they have a boss. (That's missing from Solo's subs, but it's in all the others.)
Oh cool, thanks! I'd lost track. We have heard SW thinking there must be someone behind them, though, right?
Zhao Yunlan keeps hinting at wanting Shen Wei to join the SID, with his "oh we're so understaffed", and I wonder if he's actually thought about the fact that he's trying to make the Black-Cloaked Envoy himself join the SID ... *g*
Yeah, I think that only works because ZYL doesn't really see it as an arm of Haixing Administration, right?
Zhu Jiu is being nasty about Yashou, and Ya Qing tells him he'll one day apologise to them all.
Yes, the seeds of their coalition's downfall are right there from the start. (Showing such disunity in front of a hostage, too! If Zheng Yi were more capable, she could totally have divided and conquered.)
The conspicuous flower shot always makes me think it has to be a flower Yashou - who is presumably Ying Chun's source when she appears a bit later (in the second half of the episode) to tell Shen Wei that there's a Yashou traitor.
Were you the first to notice this? Whoever it was completely incepted me with this reading. :D
Chu Shuzhi on his mission to save Xiao-Guo is so much fun! He stomps through the woods, knocks out two Snakes, stomps into Fourth Uncle's house, knocks out more Snakes, and grabs Xiao-Guo to drag him out. And Fourth Uncle was just about to let Xiao-Guo go, but I don't think he even noticed. *g*
Yeah, Chu Shuzhi definitely didn't notice that. (GCC has to spell it out next episode.) :D
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Yeah, good point, that could be true! Ye Zun seems to be able to bypass any permissions for the Dixing-Haixing passage easily enough, so maybe that is the best way for him to communicate until he frees himself enough to be able to project himself into Haixing.
Or maybe it was just this one time -- Ye Zun was talking to Ya Qing anyway, and he told her to pass on a message.
Yeah, that sounds more likely to me!
Which makes it interesting that this is the point where Minister Gao appears -- official Haixing oversight!
Ooh yes! And thereby foreshadowing the upcoming conflict between Zhao Yunlan's SID and the Inspectorate!
Yeah, and I suppose if they called an ambulance, they'd have to explain things to the paramedics
And also the paramedics couldn't do anything about anything black energy-related. I guess Da Qing and Lin Jing stay with Cong Bo long enough as they take his statement to be sure there's no lingering damage?
I thought Lin Jing and Da Qing were just using Lin Jing's black energy detector. The device back at the SID, I'd been assuming they were following the Hallows (because Lin Jing has had them around long enough to figure out how), but maybe it's Zheng Yi. But then wouldn't someone from the SID have rushed to the lab when ZYL was fake-abducted?
Yeah, good point! Okay, that makes a bit more sense about the black energy detector. I still think they're tracking sonic disruptions, because from everything else we see Lin Jing can only track the Hallows when they're actively resonating. As for Zhao Yunlan being abducted - I thought everything was happening so fast, the SID didn't know anything was happening until it was too late.
or if just having people move through it makes it inherently unstable...
Yeah, that might work too! Interesting that Zheng Yi and Zhu Jiu don't seem to be affected by it at all.
I'd forgotten about him saying he was trying to protect Tan Xiao -- does that mean that while ZYL thought Tan Xiao had kidnapped Zheng Yi, Shen Wei was making the reverse assumption? Or did SW just mean he was protecting Tan Xiao from the Dixing criminal justice system?
I think Shen Wei definitely originally thought Tan Xiao was exploiting Zheng Yi, but he must have later realised that wasn't the case. Presumably when he stashed him at the lab? Except I can't figure out how he didn't work out Zhu Jiu was behind the whole thing. Honestly, I have no idea.
I think the Minister is less bigoted than even ZYL. Later, he even describes Cong Bo as worse than a rogue Dixingren. *g*
Hee! Yeah, true. And I like that! He's not great, but he's got this one good point at least! *g*
And then he'd immediately panic and reverse course if something went wrong and the public got upset. ;-p
LOLOLOL, too true!
I love it so much! The silent communication and shared understanding a;dslkfjas;dlkfjas;dlfkjas;dflkjasd;flkda :D
YES!!!!!!!!!
Ha, yes. ZYL needs to learn to let people finish their sentences! ;-p
LOL, he really does! If only because I want to KNOOOOOWWW ... *g*
Or maybe "Are you actually sticking to that line/keeping up your pretence?" or something?
Yeah, that works!
We have heard SW thinking there must be someone behind them, though, right?
Yeah, during the Hanga arc.
Yeah, I think that only works because ZYL doesn't really see it as an arm of Haixing Administration, right?
Yeah, and I always wish he'd grapple with that a bit more!
Yes, the seeds of their coalition's downfall are right there from the start.
Yes! It's all set up really well. :D
Were you the first to notice this? Whoever it was completely incepted me with this reading. :D
Not as far as I remember! Tbh I thought it was you. *g*
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Yes!!
And also the paramedics couldn't do anything about anything black energy-related.
But doesn't Lin Jing just administer a sedative? Anyone could do that, and paramedics could probably do it more safely (like, if Cong Bo had a bad reaction to it, they could take further medical measures, hi, I may have been watching too many hospital shows).
I guess Da Qing and Lin Jing stay with Cong Bo long enough as they take his statement to be sure there's no lingering damage?
I imagine so.
Interesting that Zheng Yi and Zhu Jiu don't seem to be affected by it at all.
Maybe SW can decide who it affects? In ep 1, it didn't affect the SID, just everyone else on campus.
I think Shen Wei definitely originally thought Tan Xiao was exploiting Zheng Yi, but he must have later realised that wasn't the case. Presumably when he stashed him at the lab? Except I can't figure out how he didn't work out Zhu Jiu was behind the whole thing. Honestly, I have no idea.
Maybe he thought Zheng Yi was acting independently on Zhu Jiu's behalf, rather than "being controlled" by him? (I feel like there's a potential parallel here with YOHE!SW not knowing how aligned Ye Zun was with the Rebel Chief?)
And I like that! He's not great, but he's got this one good point at least! *g*
Yes, Minister Gao is fine when things are going okay. He just falls apart in a crisis.
> Yeah, I think that only works because ZYL doesn't really see it as an arm of Haixing Administration, right?
Yeah, and I always wish he'd grapple with that a bit more!
It would be super interesting, yeah.
> Were you the first to notice this? Whoever it was completely incepted me with this reading. :D
Not as far as I remember! Tbh I thought it was you. *g*
Ha! I thought it was someone in the comments here, but I can't remember who.
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I guess? Maybe it's a special black energy-countering sedative. *g* But you're right, and they do say the other wedding guests got medical attention, didn't they?
(Lin Jing does seem to be their medic as well, but, yeah.)
Maybe SW can decide who it affects? In ep 1, it didn't affect the SID, just everyone else on campus.
Yeah, true. Or possibly it doesn't affect high-powered Dixingren at all, which a) would be a good reason why Shen Wei doesn't use this power more frequently, and b) would be interesting for someone who was on campus that day ... *g*
I feel like there's a potential parallel here with YOHE!SW not knowing how aligned Ye Zun was with the Rebel Chief?
Oooh! Yes, that's an excellent point, that makes sense to me. Mirroring to the rescue!
It would be super interesting, yeah.
YES! There's so much potential in it! *flails*
I thought it was someone in the comments here, but I can't remember who.
It probably was someone in the comments, then! I just tried searching my inbox, but didn't turn anything up. I wish I knew!