ExtraPenguin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
extrapenguin) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2019-03-15 08:15 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-03-15 08:15 pm
Entry tags:
Guardian Episode by Episode: 04
Welcome to episode 4 of the Guardian rewatchalong! The icon battle is still ongoing until April. This post has notes on characterization and cinematography. Imgur screencaps album. Only 48 screencaps this time. Please excuse any typos, I'm running on not enough sleep.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
This episode concludes the "face-stealing powers" case introduced last episode.
Introductions
Wang Xiangyang and his wife make their first appearance, as the harmless greengrocer who gives Zhao Yunlan some apples and his pregnant wife.
Characterization
The SID has caught on that Shen Wei's nerves really are too steely for a mere university professor (and he looks too alert to be the "I am blithely unconcerned about anything save my research, including personal safety" archetype) and basically they all think that something's up with him. Then he confirms their suspicions by going on the attack against Zhu Hong, intentionally toying with Chu Shuzhi while he creepily wipes off his doll's face, and in general doing a very bad job at acting like a hapless professor. Then he screws up and has to heal an injury in front of Zhao Yunlan.
Really, Shen Wei, would a university professor try to do this?
This is the episode in which Zhao Yunlan is shown to start piecing the clues together. I'm pretty confident he's figured out Shen Wei is some sort of Dixingian, but confirmation is not yet at hand, and the actual identity 1+1 is not yet there. He's got some serious clues, though, and he wants to know who the hell Shen Wei is.
"It's not one suspicious thing, it's many." [flashback montage] *sound of brain ticking*
Investigative methods include going for moonlit walks with the ex-suspect while the children are working. *g* Of note is that they walk in lockstep all throughout.
Zhao Yunlan is a slippery eel, as usual; he's a cynical bastard when need be, but he does protect xiao-Guo's ocular innocence and prevent him from looking at the faceless corpse. (Or maybe he just didn't want Guo Changcheng to faint again on his watch.) He goes full-on anti-vigilante with Lin Yusen, then switches tack and gives a spiel on how he was "just like you in my youth" except not, because had he been that naïve, he'd never have survived this long. It's all very interesting from a characterization perspective, and he expertly handles people. I'm pretty convinced that the promise he gave to Lin Yusen at the end was at heart empty: he'd have gotten Lin Yusen the interview, but I doubt he'd have hired him due to the kid's personality. Also, Zhao Yunlan hates vigilantes, unless they're Shen Wei.
These resemble some "tired/wired" image meme about vigilantes Zhao Yunlan approves of.
The Envoy was playing cat and mouse games with Zhu Jiu and only arrived at the scene late, which Zhao Yunlan was justifiably annoyed at. Shen Wei's overreaction is hilarious – he calls Chu Shuzhi over to basically ask whether he was being unreasonable!
The Envoy could've stood to arrive earlier. Note the mirrored poses he and Yunlan have.
Chu Shuzhi's creepy doll makes another appearance! We're told he doesn't like anyone touching it. He also says his vaguely ominous threat of "Some lives are already tainted. Those should be treated like a doll – utterly sundered." He then told Shen Wei that he doesn't compare to the Envoy's toes. Later, we learn that he learned espionage from Zhao Yunlan, who likes to fish. Chu Shuzhi is still annoyed by everything Guo Changcheng does.
This is a pretty decent "shots of Chu Shuzhi and Zhao Yunlan" episode.
I really like how Zhu Hong told us that they would have to lure the dude out and then immediately volunteered as bait, even if it would have been hilarious to see e.g. Guo Changcheng try to crossdress. The red dress and lipstick were overkill, yes, but effective. We also got to see her use her Yashou powers, even if she was drugged.
Pow!
This episode, we're told that Zhu Jiu gave the bit piece villains a task. Based on the evidence, I suppose that the task was to make Lin Yusen turn into a vigilante who'd be an annoyance and then blow up in a huge kaboom so that Zhu Jiu could waltz into the crater that once was the SID and pick up the Longevity Dial. However, he just had to go and boast about his plan to the Envoy, leading to Lin Yusen being neutralized before he could make the SID crew go kaboom. Unless his plan was to blow up the Envoy and he just miscalculated the size of the explosion.
Canon details
Dragon City in the middle, but we also see a Cold City, Thousand Cities, ?? Mountain, and three other clocks.
About the freeze thing that came up last episode: IIRC that and this are the only two times it's used, and in this episode we do see Zhu Jiu show his face after its use, and if it were Zhao Yunlan's, he'd have used it on Lin Yusen instead. (But confusingly, both of the times it's used, it's Zhao Yunlan who's yelling "Stop".)
There is another thing I would also like to touch upon, even if solely due to another recap series that shall not be named. That is the paralyzing fog. The paralyzing fog gives us zero plot holes, because as we can see, it's there very close to the Jeep, while fake Zhang Danni is ten meters away and unaffected. We also see Chu Shuzhi recover enough to come over and participate in the action again, all before the Envoy turns up, so no, the Envoy being able to move is not a fucking plot hole.
Cinematography
Mostly dark and moody, but with slightly more shots from a bit above or below sight line!
I also really like this shot:
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
Zhao Yunlan wears the same leather affair two days in a row.
Shen Wei shoe watch
These are workhorse shoes I recall seeing on him often!
A bit of heel but not stilettos.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
This episode concludes the "face-stealing powers" case introduced last episode.
Introductions
Wang Xiangyang and his wife make their first appearance, as the harmless greengrocer who gives Zhao Yunlan some apples and his pregnant wife.
Characterization
The SID has caught on that Shen Wei's nerves really are too steely for a mere university professor (and he looks too alert to be the "I am blithely unconcerned about anything save my research, including personal safety" archetype) and basically they all think that something's up with him. Then he confirms their suspicions by going on the attack against Zhu Hong, intentionally toying with Chu Shuzhi while he creepily wipes off his doll's face, and in general doing a very bad job at acting like a hapless professor. Then he screws up and has to heal an injury in front of Zhao Yunlan.
Really, Shen Wei, would a university professor try to do this?
This is the episode in which Zhao Yunlan is shown to start piecing the clues together. I'm pretty confident he's figured out Shen Wei is some sort of Dixingian, but confirmation is not yet at hand, and the actual identity 1+1 is not yet there. He's got some serious clues, though, and he wants to know who the hell Shen Wei is.
"It's not one suspicious thing, it's many." [flashback montage] *sound of brain ticking*
Investigative methods include going for moonlit walks with the ex-suspect while the children are working. *g* Of note is that they walk in lockstep all throughout.
Zhao Yunlan is a slippery eel, as usual; he's a cynical bastard when need be, but he does protect xiao-Guo's ocular innocence and prevent him from looking at the faceless corpse. (Or maybe he just didn't want Guo Changcheng to faint again on his watch.) He goes full-on anti-vigilante with Lin Yusen, then switches tack and gives a spiel on how he was "just like you in my youth" except not, because had he been that naïve, he'd never have survived this long. It's all very interesting from a characterization perspective, and he expertly handles people. I'm pretty convinced that the promise he gave to Lin Yusen at the end was at heart empty: he'd have gotten Lin Yusen the interview, but I doubt he'd have hired him due to the kid's personality. Also, Zhao Yunlan hates vigilantes, unless they're Shen Wei.
These resemble some "tired/wired" image meme about vigilantes Zhao Yunlan approves of.
The Envoy was playing cat and mouse games with Zhu Jiu and only arrived at the scene late, which Zhao Yunlan was justifiably annoyed at. Shen Wei's overreaction is hilarious – he calls Chu Shuzhi over to basically ask whether he was being unreasonable!
The Envoy could've stood to arrive earlier. Note the mirrored poses he and Yunlan have.
Chu Shuzhi's creepy doll makes another appearance! We're told he doesn't like anyone touching it. He also says his vaguely ominous threat of "Some lives are already tainted. Those should be treated like a doll – utterly sundered." He then told Shen Wei that he doesn't compare to the Envoy's toes. Later, we learn that he learned espionage from Zhao Yunlan, who likes to fish. Chu Shuzhi is still annoyed by everything Guo Changcheng does.
This is a pretty decent "shots of Chu Shuzhi and Zhao Yunlan" episode.
I really like how Zhu Hong told us that they would have to lure the dude out and then immediately volunteered as bait, even if it would have been hilarious to see e.g. Guo Changcheng try to crossdress. The red dress and lipstick were overkill, yes, but effective. We also got to see her use her Yashou powers, even if she was drugged.
Pow!
This episode, we're told that Zhu Jiu gave the bit piece villains a task. Based on the evidence, I suppose that the task was to make Lin Yusen turn into a vigilante who'd be an annoyance and then blow up in a huge kaboom so that Zhu Jiu could waltz into the crater that once was the SID and pick up the Longevity Dial. However, he just had to go and boast about his plan to the Envoy, leading to Lin Yusen being neutralized before he could make the SID crew go kaboom. Unless his plan was to blow up the Envoy and he just miscalculated the size of the explosion.
Canon details
- Dragon City is large enough to have "sides". The University is in the north, while the crime scenes are in the south.
- Zhao Yunlan's mother died "a long time ago", and would be proud to see her son keep such intellectual company.
- This is the episode we're told about the "Haixing energy + Dixing energy = big kaboom" recipe.
- You know that "the vast mountains connect to the seas" thing Kunlun named Shen Wei after? I just realized that baby Shen Wei later said he came from the mountains, and Haixing means "sea star".
- The other clocks on the wall are also for imaginary cities, and I can only conclude that the entire planet uses solar time.
Dragon City in the middle, but we also see a Cold City, Thousand Cities, ?? Mountain, and three other clocks.
About the freeze thing that came up last episode: IIRC that and this are the only two times it's used, and in this episode we do see Zhu Jiu show his face after its use, and if it were Zhao Yunlan's, he'd have used it on Lin Yusen instead. (But confusingly, both of the times it's used, it's Zhao Yunlan who's yelling "Stop".)
There is another thing I would also like to touch upon, even if solely due to another recap series that shall not be named. That is the paralyzing fog. The paralyzing fog gives us zero plot holes, because as we can see, it's there very close to the Jeep, while fake Zhang Danni is ten meters away and unaffected. We also see Chu Shuzhi recover enough to come over and participate in the action again, all before the Envoy turns up, so no, the Envoy being able to move is not a fucking plot hole.
Cinematography
Mostly dark and moody, but with slightly more shots from a bit above or below sight line!
I also really like this shot:
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
Zhao Yunlan wears the same leather affair two days in a row.
Shen Wei shoe watch
These are workhorse shoes I recall seeing on him often!
A bit of heel but not stilettos.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
no subject
no subject
Zhu Hong and Shen Wei
*record scratch* Do we ever learn when/how they were acquainted before? Does this reflect something in the novel, or what?
Or maybe he just didn't want Guo Changcheng to faint again on his watch.
Or puking! Or screaming, or just being someone they'd have to *deal* with.
The absolute #1 thing I love about Zhao Yunlan (in a crowded field) is that no-one praises his intelligence, he's not IDed as The Smart One or like Sherlock Holmes-- but we can SEE him thinking and being smart, we can see him putting the evidence together without cheating. SO refreshing compared to the Crime-Fighter Team Leaders in American TV.
When they walk side-by-side the shortness of Zhu Yilong's arms is hilariously obvious to me.
I think I saw someone say that the interrogation scenes in this ep are where Chinese fandom jerked upright and said, "OMG! He's not just super-pretty, he can really act!"
[also, what is the Chinese equivalent of OMG? 不可思议?]
Re: Zhu Hong and Shen Wei
Good point about Zhao Yunlan being intelligent in a less lampshaded way than American media would present him. A lot of cdramas are more understated in that way, AFAIK.
Re: Zhu Hong and Shen Wei
Re: Zhu Hong and Shen Wei
Re: Zhu Hong and Shen Wei
no subject
no subject
no subject
I'm pretty confident he's figured out Shen Wei is some sort of Dixingian
I think he's not 100% sure yet, but he has a very strong suspicion, yeah. And no wonder!
Dragon City in the middle, but we also see a Cold City, Thousand Cities, ?? Mountain, and three other clocks.
OMG. This is amazing. Thank you for this screenshot!
(Completely agreed about the paralysing fog, btw.)
no subject
He must be at least 99% sure/has now acquired the hypothesis and is in confirmation-seeking mode. After all, not only does this dude have incomprehensible healing powers, he also seems to disappear whenever the Envoy arrives.
The paralyzing fog was one of those ... well. It's like people going "But Shen Wei breathes ammonia, so he and Zhao Yunlan can never be happy together due to their conflicting atmospheric needs!" while one sits in the corner going "??? How on Earth did you acquire the misconception that Shen Wei breathes ammonia???" Sigh. Guardian has a lot of "plot holes" that are entirely figments of the viewers' imaginations.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Yes, I think so, too. By that episode Zhao Yunlan at least strongly suspects that Shen Wei is from Dixing.
Shen Wei's overreaction is hilarious – he calls Chu Shuzhi over to basically ask whether he was being unreasonable!
I love that scene, poor Shen Wei is so disturbed that Zhao Yunlan is mad at him. :)
We also see Chu Shuzhi recover enough to come over and participate in the action again, all before the Envoy turns up, so no, the Envoy being able to move is not a fucking plot hole.
I agree.
Also I like that leather jacket a lot. :)
no subject
Shen Wei's sadface at Zhao Yunlan actually disliking him was funny and aww-worthy. Don't worry, just turn up earlier next time, and maybe bring him some food or coffee or tea. Or come over for a chat and give him a shoulder massage. Woo him a bit!
no subject
I just rewatched the episode the other day (also knowing it would be up for the rewatch post! ^_^) and I really found this super interesting to watch again. Shen Wei is, IMO, not even trying to play The Harmless Professor here. His attitude towards Zhao Yunlan is 100% consistent - as soon as Zhao Yunlan is in the room with him, he's switching to earnest* and really straightforward**. But from his general demeanour, you'd expect him to try the harmless professor with Zhu Hong and Chu, and instead he's basically dissing them. It doesn't look like a sudden loss of control either, though I also don't think it's the smartest strategy - if he didn't have the kind of rapport with Zhao Yunlan that he does, his interview behaviour would be likely to get him more on their radar rather than less.
It's one of those moments where I'd expect Shen Wei's character type to do something, and Shen Wei the character does something very surprising.
*lying about being Superman aside
**ditto
Zhao Yunlan is great in this episode, though, the way he's putting the clues together, and figuring Shen Wei is some sort of Dixingian but trusting him anyway. (It's really remarkable and I went a little "Zhao Yunlan, Zhao Yunlan..." too at how one moment Shen Wei was in an interrogation room and the next Zhao Yunlan is asking him about case theories. *g*)
Zhao Yunlan is a slippery eel, as usual; he's a cynical bastard when need be, but he does protect xiao-Guo's ocular innocence and prevent him from looking at the faceless corpse
I loved that! <3
The Envoy was playing cat and mouse games with Zhu Jiu and only arrived at the scene late, which Zhao Yunlan was justifiably annoyed at. Shen Wei's overreaction is hilarious – he calls Chu Shuzhi over to basically ask whether he was being unreasonable!
Shen Wei is really not coping well with "Zhao Yunlan might not like him". (I actually think Zhao does have a bit of a legitimate beef about Shen Wei's timing. I mean, it probably wasn't Shen Wei's fault, IDK what his Dixingian Trouble Alert System is like, but it's true that they really could have used the Envoy to show up a little earlier, and it's a pattern, and the Envoy is now all serious and mighty about The Rules... it's really no wonder Zhao is pissed off.)
I'm actually a big fan of Zhu Hong's dress in this, I think it looks killer and is visually great in all the darkness in the scenes she's in there. I do find it interesting that they were quite explicit at the start that she's not a field agent - there's her "I'm a secretary" talk, and Chu also says at some point that he's the only field agent of SID - but that seems to have fallen by the wayside later, when she's out on missions and investigating. (I'm hoping her pay got adjusted. *g*)
About the freeze thing that came up last episode: IIRC that and this are the only two times it's used, and in this episode we do see Zhu Jiu show his face after its use, and if it were Zhao Yunlan's, he'd have used it on Lin Yusen instead.
Yeah, I was paying attention to this after it came up in the last post, and I don't think it has anything to do with the SID, I think it's Zhu Jiu laying a trap or trying to interfere.
The other thing I found noteworthy while rewatching this was that Shen Wei is really a little... reckless... in how easily he gives away what his biggest liability (Zhao Yunlan) is. It seems terrible strategy to on the one hand say, 'I can't tell this guy I love who I really am because it might put him in danger', but then paint a HUGE TARGET on him by telling the currently-main villain du jour that the villain is absolutely not allowed to touch him. I mean, I love you, Shen Wei honey, but that was not good self-control!
The shoes were quite prominent in this one! And definitely some shots that disguise the height difference!
And that is one of the best leather jackets! *g*
no subject
It's very interesting, yes! We see him be a harmless-ish professor in episode 1, but here he seems to be accidentally stuck in Envoy mode for some reason. Maybe he's just super pissed that he was interrupted by the SID?
Indeed! And I agree that Zhao Yunlan's beef with the Envoy's timing is completely legitimate, and the Envoy should probably start investigating options into getting a better Dixingian Trouble Alert System. Currently he's the deus ex machina at the end of the exciting bits, when he really should be there at the start to stop whatever it is from happening, or at the very least appear in the middle of the exciting bits to take over.
I agree on her dress, it's quite killer! Re: the field agent stuff – IIRC most of the "field agent" stuff we see her doing is not really going into danger, except the Hanga arc field trip, where she's there as Wang Zheng's female friend. Then later on, when the personnel is tight, she gets enlisted into doing more field stuff.
Indeed. It's every terrible superhero identity thing rolled into one. I now want Zhao Yunlan confronting the Envoy about why the Envoy went to such trouble to specify that the villain isn't allowed to touch him, and if the Envoy is going to paint such a large target on him, he'd like some forewarning, thanks. Or just more Zhao Yunlan calling Shen Wei out on his bullshit, even if Zhao Yunlan seems to have gone for the "judge nothing and make encouraging noises so maybe he'll tell me something later as well" approach. No, Shen Wei, no indeed.
(no subject)
(no subject)
Spoilers for the entire drama
I've been developing a theory about this after re-watching. Once he recognizes Kun Lun he absolutely intends to stay close to him (because of spoilers plot, timeline, hallows have disappeared etc.) and everything is starting to come together. I think it's Shen Wei's strategy to keep people (Ye Zun) from wondering why he is so interested in Zhao Yun Lan.
It's a great cover because it's true, (especially useful against people who might be able to read your mind just by touching something you recently touched etc.).
This works well for the major secrets Shen Wei is keeping later, no one really questions why he keeps making what seem like crazy choices - including Ye Zun.
Anyway I will have to do more re watching to see if my unified Shen Wei theory holds up. :))
Re: Spoilers for the entire drama
Re: Spoilers for the entire drama
Re: Spoilers for the entire drama
Re: Spoilers for the entire drama
no subject
i love that the interrogation scene shows just how easily shen wei controls the conversation, in different ways for different interrogators, and basically dismisses them until he can speak to the only person whose opinion matters to him :D
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
no subject
i love the interrogation scene SO MUCH.
(no subject)
no subject
For some reason I really love those clocks and the hint of Haixing being a genuinely alien world. Though It's probably better not to look to closely at the world building.
no subject
(no subject)
no subject
The Envoy was playing cat and mouse games with Zhu Jiu and only arrived at the scene late, which Zhao Yunlan was justifiably annoyed at.
Yes, plus someone just attacked ZYL's Cat, so he's not in any mood to be diplomatic!
Zhao Yunlan's mother died "a long time ago", and would be proud to see her son keep such intellectual company.
IMO, the best thing about that was Shen Wei's reaction:
ZYL: If my mom knew I had an intellectual like you as a friend, she'd be bursting with joy.
SW: What's precious between friends is intimacy. If she saw you now, she would definitely be happy.
Which both affirms that they're friends and contradicts ZYL's line. I read that as Shen Wei obliquely complimenting ZYL for his openness/ability to be intimate AND indicating his own willingness to be intimate AND removing any suggestion that their "friendship value" is different because of their different social statuses. <3
Another moment of note from this episode: Shen Wei calling a realtor/letting agent (I presume) and saying he needs to live in that particular apartment block, regardless of its inconvenience.
The other clocks on the wall are also for imaginary cities, and I can only conclude that the entire planet uses solar time.
I recently discovered that since 1949, all of China uses one timezone, so maybe solar time is more of a thing there, and they just extrapolated to the rest of the planet?
I hope Wang Zheng makes Zhu Hong cocoa and fusses over her, after Zhu Hong's kidnapping, and everyone gives Da Qing lots of strokes and fish after his being attacked!
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Poor heipao's feelings are hurt. It reminds me of the interview Zhu Yilong gave where he said that Shen Wei is a pretty sensitive guy and cares a lot about doing the right thing and especially what Zhao Yunlan thinks of him.
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
I like the show's rather sneaky visual foreshadowing when Shen Wei reveals that tidbit:
Does it not look like he's at the center of a blast radius? (Why do you do this to us, show? SO EVIL.)
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Thank you for the shot of the clock wall! I hadn't managed to read any of the names before.
Sad Envoy making sad eyes at Chu because Chief Zhao is angry - poor Shen Wei. Envoy puppy eyes are adorable.
no subject
The clock wall is very interesting, especially from a ficwriter's perspective, because it gives some neighboring cities for people to visit! I'll see if I can get names for the other cities at some point – surely there must be shots of the clock wall coming up later as well.
Envoy Puppy Eyes is cute and should probably get a headpat for his troubles.
no subject
I love the interrogation scene to bits, Shen Wei totally refusing to play the mild Professor and really trolling Zhu Hong and Chu Shuzhi. And then the totally openness with Zhao Yunlan. My heart!
An interesting thing (well, to me) in the scene where they actually find him at the crime scene is that he was running around without glasses on but when Zhao Yunlan catches him, he puts them on before he turns around.
And later he waits on 'the' bench for Zhao Yunlan. Their bench. :) (I know, they have only one small set but I like that anyway.)
I find it totally cute how Shen Wei goes all flusterpuppy when Zhao Yunlan asks him about the name.
And of course this is also the ep with the hilarious fingerprick/tetanus scene. I do admit tetanus would not have sprung to my mine, but it's so sweet of Zhao Yunlan that he goes there, even if it's hilariously inconvenient for the Envoy.
Adding my voice to those who wonder what on earth Shen Wei is thinking by identifying Zhao Yunlan to Zhu Jiu as someone he cares about. Okay, Zhu Jiu had already figured that Shen Wei is interested in the SID but you don't hand the guy information like that on a platter.
Also adding: Shen Wei pants watch - acceptable length.
no subject
IDK, he pricked his finger on purpose, so I think he did it to make sure Zhao Yunlan wouldn't venture out of the park (where Zhu Jiu was) alone.
no subject
(One of the clocks say 明日山 - Tomorrow Mountain. The one on top seems to be 清城? The names seem really random lol, I wonder if there’s any pattern to them.)
no subject
Huh, that might be it! Shen Wei should know by now that Zhu Jiu is using some bit rate villains as pawns, but doesn't yet know that Zhu Jiu is working for Ye Zun, IIRC.
Thank you for the transcription! I suppose "Dragon City" is pretty random a name as well. The names are likely just set dressing, but the onomastics are intriguing! I guess the SID might be sent to Tomorrow Mountain in some fic of mine. Though a quick search reveals that 清城 is an actual place that exists.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)