Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 14, part 2

[trobadora]

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! 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 14. On to the second half!

Episode 14, from 21:05:

Summary: Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan meet with Minister Gao, and a flashback reveals how Zhao Yunlan persuaded Shen Wei to join the SID (not without first putting his foot in it, that is). Minister Gao brings up Zhao Yunlan's father, and Zhao Yunlan reacts badly. Shen Wei steps in to redirect Minister Gao towards the actual topic of the meeting, which turns out to be Cong Bo. On their way out, Vice Minister Guo invites Zhao Yunlan for dinner, and Zhao Yunlan invites Shen Wei along. Cong Bo spies on the SID with bugs and drones. Chu Shuzhi trains Guo Changcheng. Vice Minister Guo has dinner with Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei and Xiao-Guo, and wants Xiao-Guo to leave the SID. Shen Wei drops his chopsticks, and they leave uncle and nephew to talk it out. Da Qing talks to alley kittens, asks about Kunlun and wonders why he can't speak cat. Chu Shuzhi accosts a spying Cong Bo. Zhao Yunlan takes Shen Wei to eat street food with the SID team and introduces him as their new consultant. Later, in the hallway between their flats, Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei to come to him if he's too excited to sleep. Cong Bo is spying again, recognises Shen Wei from the wedding, and decides to investigate.



Quote:

Zhao Yunlan: "Is he Dixingren?"

Minister Gao: "He's more terrifying than Dixingren! That Cong Bo is a professional professional paparazzo and online reporter."

Detail:

One of my favourite underrated little details in an episode that has so many fantastic moments:

When Zhao Yunlan introduces Shen Wei to the team, everyone claps - except Zhu Hong, Lin Jing and Chu Shuzhi. Chu Shuzhi even pointedly takes a drink from his bottle while everyone is clapping! Zhu Hong just looks put out. *g*

Questions:

What is your favourite part of this half-episode? Any favourite lines? How great is that little bit of flashback about Zhao Yunlan convincing Shen Wei to join the SID? (Do you have any thoughts on why this is only revealed now, rather than included in that scene?) Is Minister Gao right about Cong Bo being more dangerous than Dixingren? Does Cong Bo already know about Dixingren, or is there some other reason why he doesn't seem to react to seeing Dixing powers at all? Before this, did Shen Wei have any idea there was something wrong between Zhao Yunlan and his father? Why does Shen Wei drop his chopsticks at the restaurant? What's Shen Wei's opinion on the street food on offer at the SID? What do you think about the team's reaction to Shen Wei becoming their consultant? And finally, 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!)

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Comments

[trobadora]

My notes:

When Minister Gao asks how Zhao Yunlan talked him into joining the SID, I love the way Shen Wei lobs the question back at Zhao Yunlan.

And the flashback! The conversation went so well at first, with Shen Wei opening up a little, Zhao Yunlan apologising a litte - but the fake flirtation of asking for compensation is already making Shen Wei tense up even before Zhao Yunlan turns it into another "join the SID" - and that is definitely a step too far. This time, Zhao Yunlan actually puts his foot in it, and Shen Wei almost gets up, then actually shakes his hand off. I really, really like this bit, and the way it makes Zhao Yunlan actually make an effort to be serious and sincere, because Shen Wei needs to know he's taking this seriously!

Every time we're in Minister Gao's office I wonder about that portrait of Ma Gui, and who put it there. Was it Zhang Shi? How long has it been there? What's the official story that goes with it? I want to know!

Love the way Zhao Yunlan claps his hand on Shen Wei's shoulder when the Minister praises the self-criticism. *g*

It's really interesting to me that Zhao Yunlan doesn't even know his father and the Minister know each other, given that they were working together when Zhao Yunlan was a kid. Zhao Xinci really doesn't talk about work at home! *g*

And I adore the way Shen Wei intercedes when he notices how badly Zhao Yunlan is reacting, and how smoothly he redirects the Minister. (I remember back in the early days of the fandom, it was generally Zhao Yunlan who was seen as the smooth-talker, and Shen Wei was considered socially inept, but it's really not like that at all.)

Minister Gao is so interesting to me. We haven't seen his worst side yet, of course, but he's very happy to have Shen Wei on board, and he's seen him use his powers. He also genuinely means it when he says Cong Bo is worse than any Dixingren. (I really want to know what Shen Wei is thinking when he hears that, LOL!)

And of course we get a bit of foreshadowing here, with Minister Gao saying that if Cong Bo reveals the SID's secrets, there will definitely be social unrest.

I always wonder about the phone call Zhu Hong gets while Cong Bo is pretending to be a delivery guy. She addresses them formally and says she'll call back. What's that about?!

Love the way Zhao Yunlan just invites Shen Wei along when Vice Minister Guo invites him for dinner, and how quickly Shen Wei agrees!

I also notice every time that both with the invitation to Zhao Yunlan and later to Xiao-Guo, the conversation ends without anyone talking about when or where this dinner is supposed to take place. So weird!

Cong Bo, after seeing Chu Shuzhi destroy his drone, makes a note about secret abilities, but doesn't really seem to have a reaction to witnessing a Dixing power. Likewise at the end of the episode when he remembers Shen Wei using his powers at the wedding. Somehow he's looking for a big thing to expose, but that doesn't seem to qualify?!

When Shen Wei drops his chopsticks at the dinner, I think it's definitely strategic - disrupting Vice Minister Guo's rant - more than just a reaction to him calling Dixingren monsters. And it works!

In the car, Zhao Yunlan is worried about who sent Xiao-Guo to the SID, but doesn't want to talk about it right then. I wonder if he's already guessing it was his father (sort of)?

I love Xiao-Guo's impassioned speech about the SID, and the way his uncle concedes by clinking his wine glass against Xiao-Guo's. (Xiao-Guo had every reason to be indignant that his uncle tried to get him out of the SID without even asking him what he wanted! But at least he did listen eventually.)

Shen Wei is so uncomfortable at the SID streetfood dinner! Zhao Yunlan can't get him to eat a skewer either. *g* But I really love the clapping - how enthusiastic some of them are; the way Zhu Hong just won't, and Chu Shuzhi pointedly drinks beer instead of clapping, LOL.

"Honorary special consultant" implies Shen Wei isn't getting paid, I assume. Which - yeah, the BCE taking money from the Haixing government would be bad! But also, they don't know who he really is, so the Inspectorate is just just being stingy. :p

(Also, I can never unsee that LJ eats the same bite twice, LOL.)

In the scene in the corridor, Zhao Yunlan is really ramping up his teasing and flirting, but it's very performative - he still feels the need to hide genuine sentiment under a cover of blitheness. *pets him*

[china_shop]

Ahh, you chose ZYL backtracking as your screencap. Perfect! :D

When Minister Gao asks how Zhao Yunlan talked him into joining the SID, I love the way Shen Wei lobs the question back at Zhao Yunlan.

Ha, yes! "You got me into this. You deal with it!" *g*

And the flashback! The conversation went so well at first, with Shen Wei opening up a little, Zhao Yunlan apologising a litte - but the fake flirtation of asking for compensation is already making Shen Wei tense up even before Zhao Yunlan turns it into another "join the SID" 

I always think Shen Wei is expecting a proposal/relationship escalation...

and that is definitely a step too far. This time, Zhao Yunlan actually puts his foot in it, and Shen Wei almost gets up, then actually shakes his hand off. I really, really like this bit, and the way it makes Zhao Yunlan actually make an effort to be serious and sincere, because Shen Wei needs to know he's taking this seriously!

Yes, I love that ZYL is a bit out of his depth, but he course-corrects quickly. And Shen Wei isn't making it easy for him (partly out of pique and partly because he's dealing with too many feelings on his own part).

Every time we're in Minister Gao's office I wonder about that portrait of Ma Gui, and who put it there. Was it Zhang Shi? How long has it been there? What's the official story that goes with it? I want to know!

I wrote a fic about that, but I think you objected to it on principle. Just linking here for completeness. :-)

Love the way Zhao Yunlan claps his hand on Shen Wei's shoulder when the Minister praises the self-criticism. *g*

Yes, it's so good. He can't actually pass on the praise, but he really wants to.

It's really interesting to me that Zhao Yunlan doesn't even know his father and the Minister know each other, given that they were working together when Zhao Yunlan was a kid. Zhao Xinci really doesn't talk about work at home! *g*

I guess ZXC withdrew from the family when Zhang Shi arrived, and even if ZYL had heard him mention a Gao, it's not an uncommon name...

And I adore the way Shen Wei intercedes when he notices how badly Zhao Yunlan is reacting, and how smoothly he redirects the Minister. (I remember back in the early days of the fandom, it was generally Zhao Yunlan who was seen as the smooth-talker, and Shen Wei was considered socially inept, but it's really not like that at all.)

1000%! <3 <3 <3

Love the way Zhao Yunlan just invites Shen Wei along when Vice Minister Guo invites him for dinner, and how quickly Shen Wei agrees!

They're partners!! :D :D :D

I also notice every time that both with the invitation to Zhao Yunlan and later to Xiao-Guo, the conversation ends without anyone talking about when or where this dinner is supposed to take place. So weird!

I presume they follow the TV convention of following up with a text message with the details. ;-p

When Shen Wei drops his chopsticks at the dinner, I think it's definitely strategic - disrupting Vice Minister Guo's rant - more than just a reaction to him calling Dixingren monsters. And it works!

Yes, agreed. He's just reminding Guo Ying that they're in a social setting. It's great.

In the car, Zhao Yunlan is worried about who sent Xiao-Guo to the SID, but doesn't want to talk about it right then. I wonder if he's already guessing it was his father (sort of)?

Maybe partly that, and partly that there's no use speculating without more info?

I love Xiao-Guo's impassioned speech about the SID, and the way his uncle concedes by clinking his wine glass against Xiao-Guo's. (Xiao-Guo had every reason to be indignant that his uncle tried to get him out of the SID without even asking him what he wanted! But at least he did listen eventually.)

I feel like this is pretty culturally normal behaviour, though? Guo Ying feels completely responsible for his nephew, and was presumably Changcheng's "in" at the ministry -- and then, from his POV, it's all gone horribly wrong. Not just a low-status position instead of a desk job where he could work his way up, but actively dangerous. And also, he must be used to Changcheng protesting that he's fine, and not wanting to be a fuss, so there's no way to be sure he's not just going along with things rather than actively invested. At least, until Changcheng gives his, as you say, impassioned speech. <3

"Honorary special consultant" implies Shen Wei isn't getting paid, I assume.

VIKI has "Professor Shen Wei has officially joined our team to be our honored guest consultant." I don't think that's definitive. Does the Chinese imply he isn't getting paid?

Which - yeah, the BCE taking money from the Haixing government would be bad! But also, they don't know who he really is, so the Inspectorate is just just being stingy. :p

Honestly, I don't think it would occur to ZYL not to pay him?

In the scene in the corridor, Zhao Yunlan is really ramping up his teasing and flirting, but it's very performative - he still feels the need to hide genuine sentiment under a cover of blitheness. *pets him*

I know. I think it's really rubbing Shen Wei the wrong way. In some ways, the Cong Bo crisis at the start of the next episode is great for making ZYL taking things seriously, so they can get on the same page...

[trobadora]

Ahh, you chose ZYL backtracking as your screencap. Perfect! :D

Isn't it just? I love that moment so much! His FACE! :D

"You got me into this. You deal with it!" *g*

:D :D :D

I always think Shen Wei is expecting a proposal/relationship escalation...

I think so too! But Zhao Yunlan is still very fake-flirty about it, so I don't think he's sure if Zhao Yunlan is genuinely fully there yet, and even if he is, he wants more sincerity than this.

Yes, I love that ZYL is a bit out of his depth, but he course-corrects quickly. And Shen Wei isn't making it easy for him (partly out of pique and partly because he's dealing with too many feelings on his own part).

Yes, I love all about that! That he's not there yet, because we get to see that journey, and it's so much more satisfying when he IS there! And that Shen Wei doesn't make it easy, because it's not easy for Shen Wei either, much as he wouldn't trade it for anything. *g*

Yes, it's so good. He can't actually pass on the praise, but he really wants to.

Yes, exactly!

I guess ZXC withdrew from the family when Zhang Shi arrived, and even if ZYL had heard him mention a Gao, it's not an uncommon name...

Yeah, true on both counts!

They're partners!! :D :D :D

YES THEY ARE :D :D :D

He's just reminding Guo Ying that they're in a social setting. It's great.

Yes, that's a great way to put it! I love it so.

Maybe partly that, and partly that there's no use speculating without more info?

Yeah, that would make sense.

I feel like this is pretty culturally normal behaviour, though? Guo Ying feels completely responsible for his nephew, and was presumably Changcheng's "in" at the ministry -- and then, from his POV, it's all gone horribly wrong. Not just a low-status position instead of a desk job where he could work his way up, but actively dangerous. And also, he must be used to Changcheng protesting that he's fine, and not wanting to be a fuss, so there's no way to be sure he's not just going along with things rather than actively invested.

I don't think Minister Guo is doing anything wrong or culturally unusual, yeah - he's responsible for his nephew; he's trying to protect him. And that's a good point about Xiao-Guo saying he's fine and everything, even when that isn't true! But I do feel that Xiao-Guo's complaint about not being asked says something about what Xiao-Guo expects from his uncle - how his uncle usually handles things, and it's not like this. Of course the stakes are much higher! But still.

VIKI has "Professor Shen Wei has officially joined our team to be our honored guest consultant." I don't think that's definitive. Does the Chinese imply he isn't getting paid?

荣誉 means honorary, among other things, and honorary implies no payment. But I'm not sure about any implications in Chinese.

Honestly, I don't think it would occur to ZYL not to pay him?

LOL! Whereas I could easily see it going either way, with ZYL. Now that it's no longer about protecting probably-secretly-a-Dixingren Shen Wei, he might just see it as "regularising" their unofficial consultations and giving Shen Wei an excuse to hang out with them, for the sake of the Inspectorate.

I know. I think it's really rubbing Shen Wei the wrong way. In some ways, the Cong Bo crisis at the start of the next episode is great for making ZYL taking things seriously, so they can get on the same page...

Oh yes, that's a great point! It really helps that Zhao Yunlan takes that seriously and talks about it seriously. And then working together to get Cong Bo in line ... It's a really great way of getting them over that hurdle, now that you've mentioned it!

[china_shop]

I think so too! But Zhao Yunlan is still very fake-flirty about it, so I don't think he's sure if Zhao Yunlan is genuinely fully there yet, and even if he is, he wants more sincerity than this.

Yes, Zhao Yunlan is still conflating work with personal, and Shen Wei just wants the genuinely personal side of things. And maybe Shen Wei feels a bit like Zhao Yunlan is holding his mistakes (re the mess at the wedding) over him?

I don't think Minister Guo is doing anything wrong or culturally unusual, yeah - he's responsible for his nephew; he's trying to protect him. And that's a good point about Xiao-Guo saying he's fine and everything, even when that isn't true! But I do feel that Xiao-Guo's complaint about not being asked says something about what Xiao-Guo expects from his uncle - how his uncle usually handles things, and it's not like this. Of course the stakes are much higher! But still.

See, that makes me wonder if that *asking* is part of what's changed about Xiao-Guo. If we go by the novel, at least, he was pretty passive and going wherever he was sent before. And also very dutiful in the drama. So I think Changcheng not just being willing to challenge his uncle about this, but even *wanting* to challenge his uncle, might be new? And therefore, not something Guo Ying would have factored in?

荣誉 means honorary, among other things, and honorary implies no payment. But I'm not sure about any implications in Chinese.

Thanks for checking that. <3

LOL! Whereas I could easily see it going either way, with ZYL. Now that it's no longer about protecting probably-secretly-a-Dixingren Shen Wei, he might just see it as "regularising" their unofficial consultations and giving Shen Wei an excuse to hang out with them, for the sake of the Inspectorate.

That's true. (But okay, I don't think it would occur to Wang Zheng not to pay him? *g*)

Oh yes, that's a great point! It really helps that Zhao Yunlan takes that seriously and talks about it seriously. And then working together to get Cong Bo in line ... It's a really great way of getting them over that hurdle, now that you've mentioned it!

:D :D :D

[trobadora]

Yes, Zhao Yunlan is still conflating work with personal, and Shen Wei just wants the genuinely personal side of things. And maybe Shen Wei feels a bit like Zhao Yunlan is holding his mistakes (re the mess at the wedding) over him?

Yeah, maybe that, too! It would make sense, under the circumstances.

See, that makes me wonder if that *asking* is part of what's changed about Xiao-Guo.

See, I don't think he'd expect his uncle to ask if there wasn't precedent. So I'd expect him to say something like, "I know you want what's best for me but actually I want to stay," not "why didn't you ask me?"

Totally agreed that challenging his uncle is new, and not something Guo Ying would have expected, though!

[china_shop]

Idk, I don't think people are always that literal or logical. Changcheng could easily have thought, "Argh, I wish you'd asked me first," and that's how it came out. Maybe he's feeling a bit belittled in front of Zhao Yunlan, where he's never had reason to feel that way before. Idk. *shrugs* I think it's open to interpretation, anyway.

[trobadora]

We just read it differently, yeah.