Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 16, part 1

[china_shop]

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 16, up to 23:53

Summary
Zhao Xinci continues his SID inspection (setting off Lin Jing's black energy detector in the process), immediately identifies Guo Changcheng as an imposter, and introduces himself as Zhao Yunlan's father. He confronts the SID en masse about Zhao Yunlan's absence. A case comes in (the ground torn up at a park; trees toppled), and Zhao Xinci says he'll act as interim chief in Zhao Yunlan's absence. Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan and the Regent, while walking the Dixing streets, "happen across" an assault which Zhao Yunlan identifies as a set-up. The Regent wanders off leaving Zhao Yunlan alone. In Haixing, the SID team reluctantly investigate using Zhao Xinci's methodology. Da Qing is upset at having forgotten Cat Tongue. In Dixing, a disturbing growly voice calls to Zhao Yunlan, and he, following it, finds the Sky Pillar. The Pillar voice is sinister and portentous, trying to get in his head. Then the three youths from the fake assault show up, annoyed at Zhao Yunlan, and give chase as he runs away through the city.



Quote
Pillar voice to Zhao Yunlan: You're using playfulness to hide how uneasy you are. You can't deceive me, and you can't deceive your heart. You live among humans, but have your heart open to no one. You don't understand the point of everything you're doing. You don't even know whether your actions are right or wrong. (VIKI subs.)

Detail
Zhao Xinci checked Shen Wei's class schedule before coming to inspect the SID. (Stalking runs in the family?)

Questions
Given Zhao Xinci's quizzical face and lack of explanation when Lin Jing's dark energy detector goes off, is this the first time Zhao Xinci has been caught out? Any theories about what Dixing's street lanterns run on (dark energy, geothermal energy, mains electricity, flame)? Why does Zhao Xinci disapprove so strongly of Zhao Yunlan's field trip? When Zhao Xinci critiques Zhao Yunlan's investigative methods, do you think he has a point? Do you understand the fake "assault" in Dixing? What is the Regent's role in that? Who are the youths (An Bai and his friends) working for? Chu Shuzhi seems uncomfortable interviewing the victim's family (compared to, say, when he talked to Ji Xiaobai in the Mirror Girl case) -- any thoughts about why? Pillar!Ye Zun speaks as if he can read Zhao Yunlan's heart -- can he, or is it just a cold reading? Do you think his analysis of Zhao Yunlan is accurate? When he starts, "The only thing I can teach you is--" what was he going to say?

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

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Comments

[china_shop]

My notes:

• Lin Jing's photon detector is so steampunk, hee. He wants to be in a different genre. (He'd probably really enjoy the scientific potential of Dixing.)

• ZXC's reaction to the detector alarm is at once shifty and a total power play; he says nothing, relying on his status to avert suspicion and put Lin Jing in the wrong.

• ZXC must know ZYL would never wear a mask (even when he's sneezing all over everything). /o\ He knows Changcheng's backstory by heart, too -- did he come intending to test him?

• LOL at everyone standing around guiltily except CSZ, who's radiating Not My Fucking Problem. I'm guessing he's heard rumours about the former SID chief??

• ZXC: (re Shen Wei) I've checked his schedule. It's Thursday. He doesn't have a class to teach nor research duties in the morning. Is he with Zhao Yunlan?
  Everyone else: looks shifty
  The subject of Dixing hasn't even come up yet. What exactly is ZXC asking, lol?? And the fact he's checked Shen Wei's schedule confirms for me that Shen Wei's consultancy is the reason ZXC is here (whether he knows Shen Wei's Envoy identity, or just knows from Minister Gao that he's Dixingren) -- and I think ZYL knows/guessed that, and that's a big part of why he went to Dixing. He doesn't want to have to defend Shen Wei or the changing nature of the SID to ZXC. Maybe he's telling himself he just wants more time to marshal his arguments/prove his point.

• I always notice and love ZXC doing ZYL's exaggerated/performative shrug:
  
  

• The Regent feigns forgetfulness (knowing they're on a wild goose chase?); Zhao Yunlan yawns loudly (affected by the dark? losing patience? pretending to be offguard?).

• It must be a shock for Bao Laosan to see ZXC again!! (I wonder if ZXC would recognise him if he saw him clearly.) Anyway, ZXC is actually pretty kind to "witness" Bao.

• Aww, Guo Changcheng stands up for himself wrt Lin Jing's teasing! ♥!! (LJ: Xiao-Guo, he stutters like you. CC: I'm just nervous sometimes. <3)

• I wonder if ZXC's disapproval of ZYL's fieldtrip is partly that he doesn't want ZYL's sympathies swayed to the side of Dixingren... on top of general dereliction of duty, of course.

• ZH is supposed to get surveillance footage in a random part of the park? How much surveillance is there in Dragon City??

• I think ZXC has a point when he criticises ZYL's detective methods. Unless you have ZYL's instincts, it's not a good strategy, and the others shouldn't adopt it. And ha, this reminds me of Chu Shuzhi and Changcheng in episode 8, when ZYL is off drinking tea:
  
  CC: Brother Chu, I am afraid we can't find him by simply searching on the street. Not that I'm rushing you, but I feel that if Chief Zhao were here, he'd... Our chief will at least come up with a plan or something.
  CSZ: A plan cannot solve all problems. More importantly, you must rely on your experiences and intuition.

• Zhao Yunlan identifies the An Bai & co fake assault trap -- and implies the Regent was in on it? Ohh, was it to let ZYL be a hero, as part of the Regent's ingratiation compaign? Are An Bai & co working for the Regent as well as Ding Dun? Maybe the Deacon engaged them on behalf of both parties (or even suggested it to the Regent)?? Or is the Regent improvising here, taking advantage of a situation? Given how sneaky and scheming the baddies are, I'm leaning towards it being a plan.

• ZH is still feeling SW's hypnotic suggestion wrt not using hypnosis. pets her

• CSZ really hates interviewing the victim's wife. I can't tell if it's CC's privilege that's bothering him, or if it's a reminder of the victims of his own past crime, or something else entirely.

• Poooor Da Qing and his memory issues! This was my runner-up screencap, so I'll include it here:
  
  

• Ye Zun's pillar voice vibe is so different from his other (many) vibes. Here, he talks like he can read ZYL's heart, and I thought ZYL was immune to that kind of mindplay. And ha, ZYL does the same arm-spreading gesture as ZXC earlier in the ep. <3

• 22:10 "The only thing I can teach you is—" Not to trust Shen Wei?? LOL.

• ZYL cycling through his strategies, trying to find a way to befriend (and when that fails, escape from) An Bai and co, who are creepily predatory. And ZYL manages it!!

• Oh, hey, ZYL runs down some steps when he leaves the field of ruins. I don't think I'd noticed that before. I wonder if he had to run upwards first, or if the field is situated above the lower city...

(I love so much of this. I wrote about ZYL visit to Dixing and his pov of the pillar encounter in How the Other Half Lives.)