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sid_guardian2026-04-11 11:23 pm
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2026-04-11 11:23 pm
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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 13, part 2
Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch, we're back in business! 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 the first half of episode 13. On to the second half!
Episode 13, from 21:44:
Summary: Chu Shuzhi has (needlessly) rescued Guo Changcheng from the Snake Tribe. Ying Chun tells Shen Wei that there's a Yashou traitor in play. Shen Wei enters the sonic lab to find Zhao Yunlan there instead of Tan Xiao. Zhao Yunlan confronts him about his secrets, but they're interrupted by Zhu Jiu, who takes Zhao Yunlan hostage. Shen Wei transforms into the Envoy and offers to take his place, but no dice. Ying Chun goes after Ya Qing, and they have a fraught confrontation. Zhu Jiu decides Zhao Yunlan to get into the SID for Tan Xiao, so Zheng Yi will give him the Hallows. Lin Jing and Da Qing are searching for Zheng Yi. Chu Shuzhi finds Zhu Jiu's lair, but no Zhu Jiu, and Shen Wei runs into him there.
At the SID, Zhao Yunlan enters with Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi, and shoots Zhu Hong. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi are reunited. Shen Wei arrives, confronts a hypnotised Zhao Yunlan, and is seemingly shot - but it's a fake-out because he realised Zhao Yunlan has been faking it. Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Jiu and reveals that he's been wearing anti-hypnosis earplugs.
Quote:
Shen Wei: "Were you pretending from the start?"
Zhao Yunlan: "Yep! How else would I have got you to disclose your identity?"
♥ ♥ ♥
Detail:
This is a half-episode with a lot of fabulous things going on in it, but my absolute favourite detail has always been the way Shen Wei, having realised that Zhao Yunlan isn't actually under the influence, easily and smoothly lets Zhao Yunlan know that he knows, without giving anything away to Zhu Jiu. All he says is, "You actually killed Zhu Hong," and Zhao Yunlan, who knows he did no such thing, knows. :D
Questions:
What is your favourite moment in this episode? Your favourite line? What do you think about Ya Qing's introduction? How gorgeous is her outfit? Do you ship her and Ying Chun? What does Chu Shuzhi think when Professor Shen turns up at Zhu Jiu's lair? How great is the Envoy reveal? Do you also go :D :D :D every time you watch that moment when Shen Wei rises and he and Zhao Yunlan turn towards the camera/Zhu Jiu? Any thoughts about how any of this compares 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!)
Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!
no subject
I love that Xiao-Guo essentially rescued himself by talking to/listening to Fourth Uncle! And Chu Shuzhi is so irritated at him when he hears the story. "Zhao Yunlan didn't ask me to bring you back in one piece," LOL! :D
Ying Chun now just calls Shen Wei "Hei Pao", without any honorific! And she's still worried about Shen Wei putting himself in danger! She's already come quite a bit from "uh, I'm leaving now, bye!"
And she's just got the news about a Yashou traitor, which substantiates our suspicion that the plant in the last half-episode was a Flower Yashou. :D
I'm not quite sure what Shen Wei means by "I already have no way to retreat" / "I can't back down now" (as various subs render it). What he says in Chinese is 我已经没有资格后退了, "I already don't have the capacity to retreat."
OMG, Zhao Yunlan's terrible violin playing! It has been called, with some justification, the wrongest violin playing ever. Anyone who hasn't yet, you absolutely need to listen to the audio clip in that link! No, really, you NEED to hear this. :D :D :D
The confrontation between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan is so fraught. Zhao Yunlan brings up the impossible things Shen Wei did, then turns sincere and talks (quite rightly) about how they could have avoided the wedding disaster, and then "I thought we were friends." And Shen Wei replies, very earnestly, that he thought he could protect everyone - and Zhao Yunlan laughs.
And we get the third interrupted sentence this episode: "Actually, I ...," says Shen Wei, and once again I wish I knew what he'd been going to say. *g*
Zhu Jiu gives us a bit more Envoy lore here with the "how long can you maintain your complete form on the surface?" - which together with what Shen Wei himself said in the Hanga caves about being restrained by gravity and the Guardian Treaty, is so fascinating to me!
The timeline is a bit weird here because he seems to be in Envoy form much shorter than he has been in other instances when he collapses into his Professor Shen look and spits blood. (I always resolve this for myself with a missing scene where he's looking for Zhao Yunlan with black energy at maximum intensity.)
And then we get another fraught confrontation between two people who mean a lot to each other! That scene with Ying Chun all "Qing-jie!!" initially made me ship Ya Qing/Ying Chun, and even though I eventually ended up more into Ya Qing/Zhu Hong (because that dynamic is just made for me), I still have a lot of fondness for the ship. (I wrote it once, too: Listen (it's late, it's late, but listen) )
I really love that the drama made these two childhood besties, and made the conflict personal as well as political.
When Ying Chun says, "According to the original agreement we can't interfere their internal conflict. Only then they won't bother us in return," I assume she means the Guardian Treaty. And Ya Qing is so worried about the future of the Yashou, and knows she can't rely on humans (but foolishly thinks she can rely on Ye Zun) - but she still cares so much about Ying Chun that her clenched fist is shaking before she says, "Too late." ♥ ♥ ♥ It's such a fantastic scene.
LOL, I had forgotten that Tan Xiao gets aggressive at Xiao-Guo when he's demanding to know where Zheng Yi is, and that Zhu Hong just knocks him out!
Every time I watch the scene where Chu Shuzhi arrives at Zhu Jiu's lair, I wonder how he found it! And how Shen Wei found it too, almost at the same time. But also, I really love the way they run into each other there, and Shen Wei then abruptly disappears when he realises where Zhu Jiu must have gone!
The shot from above when Zhao Yunlan, Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi enter the SID is so gorgeous, I had to put it in the post.
Zhu Hong tries so hard to get Zhao Yunlan to react to her, and she just refuses to believe he would shoot her, but he does.
I always love the structure of this scene, where we only later find out in flashback that Shen Wei figured it all out right away. And also figured out how to smoothly let Zhao Yunlan know that he knows! It's such a delight.
And Zhao Yunlan has great self-control! He never drops that bland expression, even though he must be surprised that Shen Wei already knows the truth. (I always love the way his blank stare turns alert and he winks at Shen Wei in the flashback, after Shen Wei tells him to pull his gun. So well done!)
And Shen Wei speaks so urgently and loudly, making sure Zhu Jiu hears him, giving him the completely wrong impression. :D (Also doesn't hurt that he has him by the lapels there, I love that!)
Seriously, all of this is just perfect. Zhao Yunlan fake-killing Shen Wei, and then that moment when he rises and they both turn - SO good. :D
Also, Zhao Yunlan going, "haha, black energy is not magic, of course we found a scientific solution" is just delightful to me. :D
Incidentally - he says, "We have a scientist who wants to remain nameless. Half a day ago, he invented this." So that should mean that when they previously arrested Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi, they didn't have this yet! Big risk there, but of course they had to take it.
And then the final lines - for once, a completely perfect point to end an episode! "How else would I have got you to disclose your identity," indeed! *g*
no subject
Yes! That's all so good!!
Ying Chun now just calls Shen Wei "Hei Pao", without any honorific! And she's still worried about Shen Wei putting himself in danger! She's already come quite a bit from "uh, I'm leaving now, bye!"
She's also the only one who's really on those friendly terms with the Envoy, isn't she? Even ZYL is more polite (when SW is in his robes). It's so good for Shen Wei to have that.
And she's just got the news about a Yashou traitor, which substantiates our suspicion that the plant in the last half-episode was a Flower Yashou. :D
\o/
I'm not quite sure what Shen Wei means by "I already have no way to retreat" / "I can't back down now" (as various subs render it). What he says in Chinese is 我已经没有资格后退了, "I already don't have the capacity to retreat."
I guess he feels partly that all of this mess was started by Ye Zun coming for him, but if SW tried to back down at this point, Ye Zun would just continue on and wreak destruction? And the SID are 100% in the crosshairs (and will keep themselves there), so the only way to protect ZYL is to keep going.
And Shen Wei replies, very earnestly, that he thought he could protect everyone - and Zhao Yunlan laughs.
Do you think ZYL laughs because this was such a stubbornly impossible goal, or because ZYL doesn't think anyone should go to such lengths to protect him, or for some other others?
And we get the third interrupted sentence this episode: "Actually, I ...," says Shen Wei, and once again I wish I knew what he'd been going to say. *g*
Yes! Argh! *shakes fist at Zhu Jiu*
LOL, I had forgotten that Tan Xiao gets aggressive at Xiao-Guo when he's demanding to know where Zheng Yi is, and that Zhu Hong just knocks him out!
Zhu Hong is (understandably) so done with Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi! LOL!
Zhu Hong tries so hard to get Zhao Yunlan to react to her, and she just refuses to believe he would shoot her, but he does.
Yes! She has such faith in him -- and it's not that she's wrong exactly...
I always love the structure of this scene, where we only later find out in flashback that Shen Wei figured it all out right away. And also figured out how to smoothly let Zhao Yunlan know that he knows! It's such a delight.
It's fantastic!!
no subject
Yes, exactly! I really love it. :D
I guess he feels partly that all of this mess was started by Ye Zun coming for him, but if SW tried to back down at this point, Ye Zun would just continue on and wreak destruction? And the SID are 100% in the crosshairs (and will keep themselves there), so the only way to protect ZYL is to keep going.
Yeah, I guess! All of that is true, it just feels like an odd way to phrase it. Idk, maybe I'm overinterpreting.
Do you think ZYL laughs because this was such a stubbornly impossible goal, or because ZYL doesn't think anyone should go to such lengths to protect him, or for some other others?
I don't think it's either; IMO it's his awkward "I don't know how to deal with this" laugh, here responding to how earnest Shen Wei is being.
She has such faith in him -- and it's not that she's wrong exactly...
Yes, exactly! She's right about him, ultimately, but also he DOES shoot her, and she doesn't know he's faking, so that has to be a horrible moment for her. Poor Zhu Hong.
no subject
Oh, I just realised/remembered -- having Zhu Hong vow to live and die with the SID earlier this episode makes her being shot that much more dramatic. There's a significant portion of time when we don't know it's a fake-out, after all. (I remember being shocked, my first watch. Like, did they really kill Zhu Hong? NOOOOO!)
no subject
And yeah, they go all in on the fake-out, it's very convincing. (I can't remember what I thought the first time through, though, it's all a blur.)
no subject
Chu Shuzhi has (needlessly) rescued Guo Changcheng from the Snake Tribe.
This is 100% foreshadowing for Shen Wei rescuing not-hypnotised ZYL. \o/
Ying Chun goes after Ya Qing, and they have a fraught confrontation.
A mirror for Shen Wei and Ye Zun (childhood siblings/close friends who now find themselves on opposite sides).
Shen Wei arrives, confronts a hypnotised Zhao Yunlan, and is seemingly shot - but it's a fake-out
Because death is not the end in this show! :D
All he says is, "You actually killed Zhu Hong," and Zhao Yunlan, who knows he did no such thing, knows. :D
Yessssss! It's wonderful! And they go so smoothly into conspiring/keeping up the act (and being extremely hot) together!!! <333333333333333333333333333333333
How great is the Envoy reveal?
It is AMAZING!!! I love it so much!! It makes writing alternative reveals really hard because nothing can really compare. :D
My notes (oh no, I made far too many notes about this half episode! there is so much amazingness here!):
In the flashback to Changcheng and Fourth Uncle, Changcheng is back in his regular clothes but still tied up. So I think one of the Snake powers must be skin-shedding/moulting/changing their own and others' outer clothes. ;-p
I love the references to Zhu Hong's father. He's such an intriguing figure. I love that he didn't fit in either. And I enjoy reading "Her father was pro-human. He left the deep mountain forest and pursued a life in urban cities to indulge in love and romance" as implying that Zhu Hong's mother was human.
Also, Changcheng foreshadows the ending by talking about the SID's spirit of willing sacrifice (though it's hard to see how this reassures Fourth Uncle re Zhu Hong working there!).
Anyway, the Changcheng "rescue" and "you hit [Fourth Uncle} in vain" all work to foreshadow the Envoy reveal, and CSZ's retaliatory threats are wonderfully annoyed-and-threatening-but-playful (which also mirrors the post-Envoy reveal tea scene). I love it all. <3 <3 <3
Is this our first look at fully human Ying Chun? I love her bright, summery appearance and how openly she's concerned for SW's safety. A true ally, speaking to him as an equal.
Shen Wei's deer-in-the-headlights look when he sees ZYL at the lab!! He knows he's busted, he really wasn't expecting it, and he's having So Many Feelings About It a;dsklfja;sdlkfasfd. It must be like having his metaphorical mask snatched off unexpectedly. <333
"I thought we were friends," says ZYL. I don't think he's frustrated anymore -- he knows he's won. This is more earnest and gentle (because there have been terrible consequences to SW's stonewalling, and it's important that SW acknowledge them). And I think Shen Wei hears that, because it breaks through his resolve. His gaze flies to meet ZYL's. He can't help himself. He starts talking to ZYL the way he used to talk to Kunlun, open and genuine right back. Hints of the young Envoy showing through.
ZYL laughing at Shen Wei talking about protecting the SID -- I think partly it's "of course you were protecting me/us" and partly just relief that Shen Wei is finally giving him real answers. asdjflkasdflkds
ZYL must hear Zhu Jiu's commands as suggestions so he immediately knows what to do, right? Creepy! And Shen Wei is just completely horrified. This is 100% his worst nightmare. But he still manages a smirk and to act cool, referring to ZYL as just "an ordinary person." Immediately reining in his horror and switching to Envoy negotiation mode.
Zhu Jiu's, "what is the relationship between you two?" Because it's so inconceivable that the Envoy would sacrifice himself for one stupid human.
And ZJ's "Anyone who is human is my enemy." What does Zheng Yi, who is so fixated on Tan Xiao, think of that? ;-p (I don't think it registers, sadly. But what if it did?)
SW offers himself as a substitute hostage, and I have no idea how he thinks that would work. Zheng Yi's hypnosis doesn't work on him -- does he expect Zhu Jiu to just trust him to play along?
Ying Chun always seems to know exactly what's happening. Is there a plant in the lab, too? ;-p
Ya Qing looks so lost when she says, "Too late."
Zhao Yunlan is deliberately using Tan Xiao to lead Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi to the SID (cf. "we could have used [Tan Xiao] to lure Zheng Yi out" - I think there's an implied "sooner" there), just like Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi deliberately got themselves taken in earlier! So many ruses and deceptions!! It's definitely a theme. (And oof, how hard must it be for ZYL to act hypnotised all the time they have him. He never breaks character!)
Changcheng ineptly babysitting Tan Xiao, lol. (What room of the SID is that? The observation room?) Then Zhu Hong lets slip that Zheng Yi is missing, Tan Xiao gets agitated, and Zhu Hong knocks him out without any compunction whatsoever. She is done with all of this (and the worst is yet to come for her! *pets*).
Wait, in the street, do LJ and DQ inadvertently rescue a girl from being kidnapped? The guy with her just runs away, and she starts crying for her mother. Dragon City really isn't a safe place for kids to be roaming around -- Tan Xiao wasn't exaggerating! (Also, at first they mistake the girl for Zheng Yi -- more mistaken identity!)
Idk why CSZ is at Zhu Jiu's lair, unless when ZYL sent Tan Xiao back to the SID, he also told CSZ to flush out Zheng Yi. (Oh, maybe Tan Xiao told them where to look? He'd been to the lair but not the rooftop. And he didn't know Zheng Yi was missing, but they could have just asked about Zhu Jiu.)
Does ZYL know that grazing Zhu Hong's neck won't kill her or seriously hurt her energy matrix or whatever? It's a calculated risk but still a risk!! She's completely right to be upset about it. (I wrote a fic about that.)
And finally SW answers ZYL's earlier "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends," by saying, "Zhao Yunlan, although we haven't known each other long, I already regard you as my best friend." aldksfa;sdkflja;sdkfja;sdlkfjas;dlkfjas;dklfjasd;lfkjasdfdfa <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 (Luckily, this doesn't distract ZYL from the situation at hand!! *g*)
Ye Zun would be so furious if he knew Zhu Jiu was trying to get SW killed. No one gets to be mean to gege except him!!
Does ZYL actually shoot SW, or does he aim wide? I'm never sure.
Ot1h, I feel like ZYL and SW could probably have restrained Zhu Jiu if they hadn't stopped to monologue/gloat. Otoh, ZJ has a hostage, and it's like when SW & ZYL killed time during the hostage situation in the fight club case. Same strategy. <3
Given how much frantic worry ZYL has just put SW through, it's a bit much to joke about "how else could I make you obediently say your true identity?" So I wrote a fic where ZYL gives his real reasons for undertaking the charade. :-)
I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
no subject
Isn't it a fantastic shot? :D :D :D
This is 100% foreshadowing for Shen Wei rescuing not-hypnotised ZYL. \o/
YES! I never put that together until you said it, but it's so obviously true, OMG!
A mirror for Shen Wei and Ye Zun (childhood siblings/close friends who now find themselves on opposite sides).
Yeah, I really love that! So good.
Because death is not the end in this show! :D
♥ ♥ ♥
And they go so smoothly into conspiring/keeping up the act (and being extremely hot) together!!! <333333333333333333333333333333333
10,000% agreed on all of this! :D
It makes writing alternative reveals really hard because nothing can really compare. :D
Yeah, I've written a bunch, but I'm always very aware that none of them can hold a candle to the original. *g*
oh no, I made far too many notes about this half episode! there is so much amazingness here!
It's definitely worth ALLL the notes, so much fantastic, meaty stuff!
So I think one of the Snake powers must be skin-shedding/moulting/changing their own and others' outer clothes. ;-p
LOLOLOL, I didn't even notice, but you're totally right about the clothes!
Also, Changcheng foreshadows the ending by talking about the SID's spirit of willing sacrifice (though it's hard to see how this reassures Fourth Uncle re Zhu Hong working there!).
1) YES about the foreshadowing!
2) I don't think it convinces him that it's safe (it isn't), but that they will protect her as best they can (they're sincere about this) and also that there's enough conviction there that he can't really talk or bully her out of it. (He won't try again until the stakes are REALLY high, right?)
Is this our first look at fully human Ying Chun?
Yes, I believe so!
"I thought we were friends," says ZYL. I don't think he's frustrated anymore -- he knows he's won. This is more earnest and gentle (because there have been terrible consequences to SW's stonewalling, and it's important that SW acknowledge them).
To me, there's a bit of deliberate poutiness in there, a performativeness to the complaint - his way of shielding himself from his own earnestness. *pets him* Because underneath it very much IS sincere and earnest and he DOES fully mean it, and yes, Shen Wei does hear that, and responds just as earnestly.
ZYL laughing at Shen Wei talking about protecting the SID -- I think partly it's "of course you were protecting me/us" and partly just relief that Shen Wei is finally giving him real answers. asdjflkasdflkds
I think that's definitely in there, but there's also a layer of "what am I even supposed to DO with this earnestness *flails*", where he has to laugh because he needs a moment before he can work out what to say.
ZYL must hear Zhu Jiu's commands as suggestions so he immediately knows what to do, right? Creepy!
Yeah! I always wonder how it works, since Zhu Jiu is directing him but the hypnosis is Zheng Yi's - did she just hypnotise him into following Zhu Jiu's orders?
This is 100% his worst nightmare. But he still manages a smirk and to act cool, referring to ZYL as just "an ordinary person." Immediately reining in his horror and switching to Envoy negotiation mode.
Yes! That is such an excellent point. He handles it so well, considering the circumstances.
And ZJ's "Anyone who is human is my enemy." What does Zheng Yi, who is so fixated on Tan Xiao, think of that? ;-p (I don't think it registers, sadly. But what if it did?)
VERY good question! It would be so fascinating if Zheng Yi were just a bit more mature/capable!
SW offers himself as a substitute hostage, and I have no idea how he thinks that would work. Zheng Yi's hypnosis doesn't work on him -- does he expect Zhu Jiu to just trust him to play along?
I think he's not actually literally offering himself as a substitute hostage, because as you say, that wouldn't work - he's buying time, keeping Zhu Jiu talking while he's trying to find an opening to free ZYL. He'd take ZYL's place if he could, and the offer is emotionally sincere (which does come through), but practically speaking he can't. Just him saying it already serves to completely baffle Zhu Jiu and make him spend a few moments wondering about their relationship. *g*
Ya Qing looks so lost when she says, "Too late."
Right??? And the way her hand shakes always gets to me. She cares so much! ♥
just like Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi deliberately got themselves taken in earlier!
Oooh yes!
What room of the SID is that? The observation room?
Yep, that's the observation room, in between the interrogation room and the main SID office.
Wait, in the street, do LJ and DQ inadvertently rescue a girl from being kidnapped? The guy with her just runs away, and she starts crying for her mother.
Oh, is that what's happening? I'm always a bit confused by that scene, LOL.
Oh, maybe Tan Xiao told them where to look? He'd been to the lair but not the rooftop.
Oh, yes, excellent point!
Does ZYL know that grazing Zhu Hong's neck won't kill her or seriously hurt her energy matrix or whatever? It's a calculated risk but still a risk!!
Yeah, I wonder how much he knows about how the gun works and what it does to people who get shot ... I doubt it came with a manual. *g*
And finally SW answers ZYL's earlier "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends," by saying, "Zhao Yunlan, although we haven't known each other long, I already regard you as my best friend." aldksfa;sdkflja;sdkfja;sdlkfjas;dlkfjas;dklfjasd;lfkjasdfdfa <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Does ZYL actually shoot SW, or does he aim wide? I'm never sure.
I'm never sure either, but I'm definitely sure Shen Wei could handle it if he shot him. (Ye Zun can catch bullets; Shen Wei can totally surreptitiously catch a bullet he's prepared for!)
Ot1h, I feel like ZYL and SW could probably have restrained Zhu Jiu if they hadn't stopped to monologue/gloat. Otoh, ZJ has a hostage, and it's like when SW & ZYL killed time during the hostage situation in the fight club case. Same strategy. <3
Agreed about the hostage, but yeah. I figure the reason he doesn't fire his gun again is because he's worried Zhu Jiu will use Zheng Yi as a shield, but couldn't they do SOMETHING?
Given how much frantic worry ZYL has just put SW through, it's a bit much to joke about "how else could I make you obediently say your true identity?" So I wrote a fic where ZYL gives his real reasons for undertaking the charade. :-)
Yep, I always feel that! Too much flippancy for what you just made him go through! So I very much appreciate that fic. *g*
I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
YOU AND ME BOTH OMG <3 <3 <3
no subject
:D :D :D
Yeah, I've written a bunch, but I'm always very aware that none of them can hold a candle to the original. *g*
Me too. :-) (It's one of the reasons I'm fine with the Envoy reveal to the rest of the SID being low-key, though; that gives us plenty of space to play!)
2) I don't think it convinces him that it's safe (it isn't), but that they will protect her as best they can (they're sincere about this) and also that there's enough conviction there that he can't really talk or bully her out of it. (He won't try again until the stakes are REALLY high, right?)
Okay, yeah, that makes sense. :-)
You and I see the lab scene a little differently, and that's okay. (I really don't want ZYL pouty/reproachful at this point, even a little bit, and having just rewatched a few more times, I don't see it.) I like my reading, and we're unlikely to convince each other, so let's not discuss it anymore, please.
Yeah! I always wonder how it works, since Zhu Jiu is directing him but the hypnosis is Zheng Yi's - did she just hypnotise him into following Zhu Jiu's orders?
Put him into a compulsively suggestible trance, I guess?
VERY good question! It would be so fascinating if Zheng Yi were just a bit more mature/capable!
Right? She's such a blank. :-/
I think he's not actually literally offering himself as a substitute hostage, because as you say, that wouldn't work - he's buying time, keeping Zhu Jiu talking while he's trying to find an opening to free ZYL. He'd take ZYL's place if he could, and the offer is emotionally sincere (which does come through), but practically speaking he can't. Just him saying it already serves to completely baffle Zhu Jiu and make him spend a few moments wondering about their relationship. *g*
I guess so. (Buying time is such a ZYL tactic, I don't think of SW as doing it, heh.)
Yep, that's the observation room, in between the interrogation room and the main SID office.
Thanks. :-)
> Wait, in the street, do LJ and DQ inadvertently rescue a girl from being kidnapped? The guy with her just runs away, and she starts crying for her mother.
Oh, is that what's happening? I'm always a bit confused by that scene, LOL.
I think so. Which makes yet another kidnapping in these few episodes. :D (Oh, now I think of it, DQ being hypnotised and trashing the fruit stand was a precursor to ZYL entering the SID and shooting Zhu Hong, too.)
> Does ZYL know that grazing Zhu Hong's neck won't kill her or seriously hurt her energy matrix or whatever? It's a calculated risk but still a risk!!
Yeah, I wonder how much he knows about how the gun works and what it does to people who get shot ... I doubt it came with a manual. *g*
And even if he knows for Dixingren, it might work differently for Yashou! Such a risk. Maybe he had Lin Jing writing a theoretical paper on it, once, and ZYL is relying on that?
> And finally SW answers ZYL's earlier "Shen Wei, I thought we were friends," by saying, "Zhao Yunlan, although we haven't known each other long, I already regard you as my best friend." aldksfa;sdkflja;sdkfja;sdlkfjas;dlkfjas;dklfjasd;lfkjasdfdfa <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!! :D :D :D
I'm never sure either, but I'm definitely sure Shen Wei could handle it if he shot him. (Ye Zun can catch bullets; Shen Wei can totally surreptitiously catch a bullet he's prepared for!)
It's the surreptitiousness I'm not sure about. It has to look seamless, and given ZJ can move super fast, I feel like he must have pretty sharp eyes too (or he'd crash into moving objects, lol).
Agreed about the hostage, but yeah. I figure the reason he doesn't fire his gun again is because he's worried Zhu Jiu will use Zheng Yi as a shield, but couldn't they do SOMETHING?
Like maybe close the window? Why is that even open anyway? ;-p (Oh wait, that's next episode. Ignore me. :-)
> I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
YOU AND ME BOTH OMG <3 <3 <3
*SQUEES WITH YOU* :D :D :D :D :D
no subject
Yes, that's a great point!
You and I see the lab scene a little differently
Yeah, clearly! I don't even have particular preferences, I just read it differently than you do. Has to happen sometimes! *g*
Put him into a compulsively suggestible trance, I guess?
That works!
VERY good question! It would be so fascinating if Zheng Yi were just a bit more mature/capable!
Buying time is such a ZYL tactic, I don't think of SW as doing it, heh.
Shen Wei does it in the alley with Zhu Jiu too, talking to him while he searches. Not quite the same way ZYL would do it, but still! I love all the ways they're similar.
Oh, now I think of it, DQ being hypnotised and trashing the fruit stand was a precursor to ZYL entering the SID and shooting Zhu Hong, too.
AHHHHH so many parallels! So good! :D
Maybe he had Lin Jing writing a theoretical paper on it, once, and ZYL is relying on that?
Oh yeah, good idea! That would work.
Like maybe close the window? Why is that even open anyway? ;-p (Oh wait, that's next episode. Ignore me. :-)
LOLOLOL! Something to talk about next week! *g*
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Whereas it's really important to me. It's such a key turning point in their relationship. *sits on hands*
Shen Wei does it in the alley with Zhu Jiu too, talking to him while he searches. Not quite the same way ZYL would do it, but still! I love all the ways they're similar.
Yes, and it means they're really good at doing it together; they both understand. (Possibly SW acquired the tactic from Kunlun... I'm not sure YOHE Shen Wei would be naturally that way inclined.)
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YES, exactly! They work together so well without having to explain things! ♥ ♥ ♥
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- Why is Xiao Guo tied up for so long, and why is he not wearing the disguise anymore? xD
- I forgot all of that info about Zhu Hong's father, and therefore I somehow never realized that she probably had a human mother?
- I love Xiao Guo just reciting what he's memorized, hee, and I wonder if he was directly told to learn the history of the SID, or if he just learned it because he wants to contribute as much as he can. AW.
- "You are surprisingly good at preaching", yesss, the foreshadowing of Xiao Guo passing on the dead people's messages! ♡
- Zhao Yunlan's violin playing technique may be terrible, but he sure looks good when he's being all dramatic (and Shen Wei thinks so too). :D :D
- I'm always impressed with Zhao Yunlan's ability to follow commands he doesn't actually 'hear', but he is extremely good at reading people, so that's not implausible at all, just really cool. :D (Or maybe he does hear them, just doesn't feel compelled to follow them.)
- THAT SCENE. ♡♡♡♡♡ (I'm not sure why Shen Wei specifically can't keep up his Envoy form at this point vs. in any other situation, but this is such a wonderful and perfect moment for that to happen that I don't care why at all. :D :D I also love that it was foreshadowed, when he was unwell in the caves.)
- I'm always loving that Ying Chun in the novel just says "Crow Elder!" (in a 'wtf are you doing' context) exactly once, and the drama gave them an entire backstory/storyline from that. :D
- Where is Zheng Yi keeping the Hallows? She refuses to give them to Zhu Jiu (and later she agrees to give them), but it doesn't look like she keeps carrying them with her? The dress just has some really big pockets, I guess. :D
- Zhu Hong knocked out Tan Xiao so easily that now I want to see her try to do that to Shen Wei, back when she was trying to hypnotize him. xD
- The kidnapping that only gets noticed because they mistake the other girl for Zheng Yi is so creepy!
- Xiao Guo gets told to deal with Tan Xiao, and he just leaves him passed out on the couch, wth lol. I feel like something more should be done to make sure that he's safe. And Zheng Yi was asking for Tan Xiao so much, but when she finds him she stops speaking again, aw.
- "We haven't known each other for long, but you are already my best friend" - I feel like Shen Wei really wanted to say this in YOHE, I'm glad he got to say it now. ♡♡♡ (And it's a reply to "I thought we were friends" too, obviously. ♡♡♡) Or maybe he did say it in YOHE too, which would also give him feels right now. :D
- Their expressions after they pulled it off so flawlessly! :D ♡♡♡
- I'm always a bit confused how Zhu Hong passed out so easily from the tiny neck wound (or how Zhao Yunlan knew that she would), but that's just another thing that is too cool to nitpick. :D :D Maybe she passed out from the energy blast, not the wound?
"the way Shen Wei, having realised that Zhao Yunlan isn't actually under the influence, easily and smoothly lets Zhao Yunlan know that he knows, without giving anything away to Zhu Jiu. All he says is, "You actually killed Zhu Hong," and Zhao Yunlan, who knows he did no such thing, knows. :D"
This is so cool, yessss. :D :D (And maybe Zhu Jiu could have checked if Zhu Hong is dead, lmao, but he's too busy gloating, and he has no reason to doubt that anyway.)
"What is your favourite moment in this episode? Your favourite line?"
Favorite moment is obvious. :D :D And favorite line is also Shen Wei offering himself up. ♡♡♡
"What do you think about Ya Qing's introduction? How gorgeous is her outfit? Do you ship her and Ying Chun?"
I have relatively few Ya Qing feelings in general, but her outfit is so on point indeed, and her relationship with Ying Chun is such a fun extrapolation from the tiny novel scene! :D
"What does Chu Shuzhi think when Professor Shen turns up at Zhu Jiu's lair?"
Just another reason to be suspicious of Professor Shen, what else is new, lol. (Also maybe he's thinking 'what happened to Zhao Yunlan?', depending on how much he's paying attention to Zhao Yunlan's love life. :P)
"How great is the Envoy reveal?"
*screm* :D :D ♡♡♡♡♡
"Do you also go :D :D :D every time you watch that moment when Shen Wei rises and he and Zhao Yunlan turn towards the camera/Zhu Jiu?"
Heeee, definitely! :D Even Zhao Yunlan does!! :D
"Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel?"
*grabs this opportunity to squee about this reveal some more* :D :D I love it so much more than the novel one, it's so much more emotional and satisfying and AHHH. ♡♡♡♡♡ (There are some earlier parts that I like better in the novel, but the final reveal in the drama wins hands down! ♡___♡)
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:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD It's so goooooood!! :D :D :D
Rewatches don't generally give me the same feels about it, but Shen Wei offering himself up and then spitting up blood was the main reason I fell head-first into this fandom. ♡____♡ I had paused the episode for a long while when Shen Wei was bleeding on the ground because I had too many feels to continue watching. :D :D
Ahh, that's awesome!! <3 <3 <3
Why is Xiao Guo tied up for so long, and why is he not wearing the disguise anymore? xD
I think everyone's just got used to having him tied up there, lol. (I noticed the change of clothes, too. Maybe a sign that Snakes have skin-sloughing powers, for themselves and for others? ;-)
I forgot all of that info about Zhu Hong's father, and therefore I somehow never realized that she probably had a human mother?
Right? And yet it never comes up when they talk about how "immature" she is for not being able to transform fully, etc.
I love Xiao Guo just reciting what he's memorized, hee, and I wonder if he was directly told to learn the history of the SID, or if he just learned it because he wants to contribute as much as he can. AW.
Yes, any of those. Or maybe he studied it at the start, when he was feeling completely out of his depth, and it encouraged him to persevere. *pets him*
Zhao Yunlan's violin playing technique may be terrible, but he sure looks good when he's being all dramatic (and Shen Wei thinks so too). :D :D
YESSSSSSS, I love him so much!! (Technique? Pfft, whatever. Haixing violins just work differently. ;-p)
(Or maybe he does hear them, just doesn't feel compelled to follow them.)
That was my guess. That he hears them as suggestions, rather than compulsions.
- I'm always loving that Ying Chun in the novel just says "Crow Elder!" (in a 'wtf are you doing' context) exactly once, and the drama gave them an entire backstory/storyline from that. :D
YES, 100%! Gift basket for the writers!!! :D
Where is Zheng Yi keeping the Hallows? She refuses to give them to Zhu Jiu (and later she agrees to give them), but it doesn't look like she keeps carrying them with her? The dress just has some really big pockets, I guess. :D
LOL, yes, I assumed they were secreted away somewhere in her flounces. :D
Zhu Hong knocked out Tan Xiao so easily that now I want to see her try to do that to Shen Wei, back when she was trying to hypnotize him. xD
LOL!! :D
The kidnapping that only gets noticed because they mistake the other girl for Zheng Yi is so creepy!
Right? And the fact that we never learn anything more about it only makes it creepier. /o\ I guess Lin Jing and Da Qing take the girl to a police station?
And Zheng Yi was asking for Tan Xiao so much, but when she finds him she stops speaking again, aw.
Ooh, this made me wonder whether, when she said "Tan Xiao" over and over, she was low-key using her power, trying to compel Zhu Jiu (and Ya Qing) to produce him? Either way, I don't think she wants to use her power on Tan Xiao, so she can't risk speaking around him -- and luckily they understand each other so well that she doesn't have to.
- "We haven't known each other for long, but you are already my best friend" - I feel like Shen Wei really wanted to say this in YOHE, I'm glad he got to say it now. ♡♡♡ (And it's a reply to "I thought we were friends" too, obviously. ♡♡♡) Or maybe he did say it in YOHE too, which would also give him feels right now. :D
Oooooh! (I hadn't thought that through before, but now I really like the idea that he felt it deeply YOHE (a kind of wonder at how close he feels to Kunlun so quickly), but that this is the first time he's articulating it aloud. Ahhhh, that gives me so many feels! And it would mean that he's 100% acknowledging ZYL as Kunlun, too. :D)
- Their expressions after they pulled it off so flawlessly! :D ♡♡♡
Yesss!
- I'm always a bit confused how Zhu Hong passed out so easily from the tiny neck wound (or how Zhao Yunlan knew that she would), but that's just another thing that is too cool to nitpick. :D :D Maybe she passed out from the energy blast, not the wound?
I think it wasn't the physical wound, so much as it damaged her dark energy field.
> "How great is the Envoy reveal?"
*screm* :D :D ♡♡♡♡♡
*SCREAMS WITH YOUUU* :D :D :D :D :D Yayayayayay!!!! :DDD
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I love that idea!
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That is so cool! And it's SUCH a good episode, with so many things to have ALLLL the feelings about! :D
Why is Xiao Guo tied up for so long, and why is he not wearing the disguise anymore? xD
LOL, I never noticed it before, but now I won't ever be able to unsee the clothes change again! :D
I forgot all of that info about Zhu Hong's father, and therefore I somehow never realized that she probably had a human mother?
There's nothing else ever implying she's half human, even when it would be relevant (like her trying to be more human for Zhao Yunlan), so my headcanon is that there are Snakes living elsewhere too - that there are city Snakes too, who aren't necessarily on the tribe's radar - descendants of Snake families who left ages ago, and Zhu Hong's father met one of them in the city.
Idk, I just like it better. *g*
(Or maybe he does hear them, just doesn't feel compelled to follow them.)
Yeah, that's how I understood it.
I also love that it was foreshadowed, when he was unwell in the caves.
Yes! Same!
I'm always loving that Ying Chun in the novel just says "Crow Elder!" (in a 'wtf are you doing' context) exactly once, and the drama gave them an entire backstory/storyline from that. :D
YES! I love everything the drama has done with Ying Chun and Ya Qing, and the Crows in general. So so good, such a great expansion of the worldbuilding, and giving us more female characters with prominent roles. ♥
Zhu Hong knocked out Tan Xiao so easily that now I want to see her try to do that to Shen Wei, back when she was trying to hypnotize him. xD
LOLOLOL! :D
The kidnapping that only gets noticed because they mistake the other girl for Zheng Yi is so creepy!
Yeah, I don't think I ever fully understood what was going on there, but it has to be a kidnapping, surely?
Or maybe he did say it in YOHE too, which would also give him feels right now. :D
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Their expressions after they pulled it off so flawlessly! :D ♡♡♡
I love them so. :D :D :D
I'm always a bit confused how Zhu Hong passed out so easily from the tiny neck wound (or how Zhao Yunlan knew that she would)
Yeah, very good questions! For worldbuilding reasons I definitely would like to know the answers, but you're totally right that it's too good to nitpick otherwise.
Heeee, definitely! :D Even Zhao Yunlan does!! :D
Haha, you're not wrong! :;D
*grabs this opportunity to squee about this reveal some more* :D :D I love it so much more than the novel one, it's so much more emotional and satisfying and AHHH. ♡♡♡♡♡ (There are some earlier parts that I like better in the novel, but the final reveal in the drama wins hands down! ♡___♡)
Yes, seriously, they made it SO good in the drama, it's just perfection. Not a thing I'd change about it. :D
(Which makes it so so challenging to write alternate reveals in fic, oof ...)
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True, though the changes she made were cultural (clothing, food) rather than physical, and she was definitely raised in Snake culture, as a Snake. /not trying to persuade you, just saying
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Mainly I feel, though, that it should come up in a "this should come more easily to me, my own mother was human" kind of way. /also not trying to persuade you *g*