Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 16, 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 16. On to the second half!

Episode 16, from 23:53:

Summary:

In Dixing, the Envoy discovers Ding Dun's filed have been destroyed. Zhao Yunlan is still on the run from An Bai and friends. He finds a bar, steals a mask and chats up the barkeeper - dropping unfamiliar terminology and talking about the surface, immediately making himself suspicious. When An Bai et al. arrive and start a fight, Wu Tian'en saves him with his teleportation power. Wu Tian'en warns him about the Regent, who Zhao Yunlan is underestimating as weak and harmless. The Regent appears, and they return him to the palace, where they learn Shen Wei has just left.



In Haixing, the case isn't progressing, and Zhao Xinci criticises Zhao Yunlan's methods and suggests dismissing him as chief if even one of the team agrees. Guo Changcheng is the last one Zhao Xinci talks to, offering a lot of leading questions and provocation. Xiao-Guo stands up to him, and Zhao Xinci is satisfied. Then his eyes are yellow, and Zhang Shi tells Xiao-Guo he's his hand-picked weapon. New developments appear in the case: a street has been torn up. When the team arrive at the site, they also learn the security guard witness from the first site has disappeared ... In fact, he's outside the SID right now with Zhu Jiu, who's convinced him destroying the SID will let Dixingren live freely in Haixing.

Quote:

Zhao Xinci to Guo Changcheng: "Da Qing has worked at the SID the longest. The others either possess a risky identity or don't have potential for greatness. Only you have a clean communist background. So if Zhao Yunlan were to be demoted ... You understand my meaning, right?"

Detail(s):

Every time I watch this episode, it stands out to me how many of them notice something off about Zhao Xinci, but they don't talk to each other, so nothing comes of it:

• Lin Jing's black energy detector goes off (in last week's half-episode)
• Sang Zan notices him switching between being left-handed and right-handed
• Xiao-Guo sees him turn all yellow-eyed
• and Chu Shuzhi says in the lab: "This father of Zhao Yunlan's, I keep feeling a bit ..." so he's picked up on something too!

Questions:

Which this your favourite part/scene/moment in this half-episode? Any favourite lines? What's going on with the masks at the bar? How often do An Bai et al. start a bar fight? What would have happened if Wu Tian'en hadn't been there to save Zhao Yunlan? What does the Regent think happened to the Dijun Register? How much do you think Zhao Xinci means his criticism of Zhao Yunlan? Did he concoct this loyalty test on the spot when it turned out Zhao Yunlan was absent, or would he have done something similar regardless? Why do none of the team talk to each other about Zhao Xinci's suspicious traits? Did Zhu Hong shout at Zhao Xinci in their one-on-one interview? What did Zhao Xinci ask Chu Shuzhi?

And finally, any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel? Does any of it have any direct relation, besides Papa Zhao having a hitchhiker?

(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!

Comments

[trobadora]

Apologies for the screencap, I know it isn't exactly representative of the episode. But I coudln't resist that shot of Chu Shuzhi and his puppet striking the same pose! *g*

My notes:

This episode half has almost no Shen Wei! The first little bit is all we get: discovering that Ding Dun's files were destroyed without even consulting him. (The Attendant, of course, claims he was just following orders.)

Every time I see the scene at the bar with all the masks, I notice that some people mime drinking while wearing masks that don't allow drinking! What is this?! LOL.

Zhao Yunlan chats up the barkeeper, but his usual fast-talking isn't working well for him here - he keeps digging himself deeper by using words the barkeeper doesn't know (schools! hospitals!) and also talking about upstairs. (Tbh it hits my embarrassment squick quite a bit. /o\) To the point where the bartender asks if Zhao Yunlan is really from here!

(He also seems entirely unconcerned about how he's going to pay for his drink.)

An Bai et al. immediately start a fight when they arrive at the bar, LOL. The bartender rips Zhao Yunaln's mask off (alas, not nearly as nice a moment as him taking off Shen Wei's mask in YOHE - but still a recurring motif!) And the guy he stole the mask from comes in to confront him. Dandan calls him a human thief, and no one seems to think this preposterous, so do humans sometimes turn up in Dixing after all? (Does Ye Zun sometimes use the passage in reverse and bring people in rather then sending them upstairs?!)

Wu Tian'en is such a great character to bring back here. I love all the recurring side characters!

It's so fascinating that Zhao Yunlan not only underestimates the Regent, but doesn't seem quite inclined to believe Wu Tian'en's warning either. He asks what the Envoy says (almost saying "Shen Wei" instead, but he's still protecting Shen Wei's identity!), and when he hears he didn't say much, Zhao Yunlan misjudges that as Shen Wei thinking the Regent is under control: "Well then, Lao-Wu, you should trust his judgement. Cunning the fox may be, but if you put a leash on him, you could use him as a hound." But he does look at the Regent with new eyes from then.

Love the way Wu Tian'en immediately steps aside when the Regent suddenly turns up!

Zhao Yunlan is so taken aback at Wu Tian'en's reaction to being in the palace.

And the Regent winking at the Attendant shows us that they're in cahoots - or at least the Regent thinks the Attendant is on his side; we haven't yet learned that he's in fact working for Ye Zun.

The Regent won't even commit to the size of the Dijun Register, only saying it has a black cover, LOL. He really has zero interest in Zhao Yunlan actually conducting an investigation for him. Bringing him to Dixing was definitely not for that. *g*

I love that Sang Zan notices the left hand/right hand switch! The right-handed one is Zhao Xinci (as we know for sure he's the one right-handedly pointing his gun at Xiao-Guo in episode 36), so the one talking about "the person I love" (ZYL) has to be Zhang Shi.

Da Qing does do a bit of deputy-ing in this episode! First he's the go-between telling Zhao Xinci that the team is gathered, then he's the one to tell Zhao Xinci they don't really have anything useful for the case, and later he's the one calling everyone to work once there's been a new development in the case.

Zhao Xinci says the team's previous way of working is all wrong: "Casual, unfocused, and lacking a concrete chain of evidence." (Which isn't in fact true.) His suggestion to dismiss Zhao Yunlan as chief is so telling in that it's him suggesting this to the team, as if them getting a say in it made any sense! But damn, I wish we saw more of these one-on-one interviews, rather than only getting Xiao-Guo's. I'd love to hear what they all said, and what he said to them!

Zhu Hong is so furious with Zhao Xinci! And aw, Xiao-Guo shows he has a spine - but personally I find it really infuriating that he understands Chu Shuzhi so little at this point. Boo!

If Zhao Xinci really wanted Xiao-Guo to turn against Zhao Yunlan, showing him that everyone else is on Zhao Yunlan's side definitely wouldn't be the way to go, LOL. It's a loyalty test ... but it's rigged in favour of everyone proving their loyalty.

And still, despite wanting them to prove their loyalty, Zhao Xinci insults everyone left and right, and shows off his bigotry. "Risky identity" indeed! And then pointing the gun at Xiao-Guo! Ugh.

(At least it's the black energy gun, which wouldn't hurt a human. Though does Xiao-Guo actually know that? Has anyone explained the gun to him? If so, why didn't they do it on screen, I want to hear that explanation too! :p)

(Zhao Xinci is provoking the team and pushing them into pulling together as a team, against Zhao Xinci's "threat" - he wants them to be loyal to Zhao Yunlan. But I'm sure all his criticism and insults against Zhao Yunlan come across as so genuine because he does mean them in a lot of ways.)

I always wonder how Zhang Shi managed to get from behind the desk to in front of Xiao-Guo so quickly.

Lao-Chu is the only one actually thinking about the case - and when he speculates about the case being connected to Zhu Jiu, he's spot on.

When Da Qing tells them they have a new lead on the case, they all spring into action - and this time, without Zhao Xinci looking over their shoulders and undermining their confidence, they all know what to do on their own, and get to work!.

Lin Jing realising Zhao Xinci must have figured out the soil composition power right at the start is so interesting: he had a theory right away, just like Zhao Yunlan - it's just that he didn't tell the team anything, and insulted them, and made them feel like they were being sent to do busy work. And when that gained them nothing, all he said was that they needed "more patience, and better delegation of tasks." LOL.

Bao Laosan is so naïve. Zhu Jiu really has him convinced destroying the SID building (not even the team, who are away! just the building!) would let Dixingren live on the surface legitimately. *headdesk*

[china_shop]

My notes:

The spiral staircase at the palace is very cool. Love that it has an exit at the Dijun's dais.

Shen Wei already suspects the Deacon of treachery, I think. That guy is so clearly trouble.

I love Zhao Yunlan in the bar, bluffing and bonhomie-ing his way through the awkwardness (though man, ZYL, stop putting Haixing on a pedestal!!). (I wrote a fic explaining the masks, and my explanation there has become my firm headcanon.) I'm always very aware that ZYL's masquerade remark cuts immediately to Zhang Shi/Zhao Xinci in the library -- I think narratively that's why he says it.

ZXC/Zhang Shi says he's "waiting for the fish to take the bait." Does he just mean for the case to come to fruition? Or is he talking about his broader scheme? I never understand his motives in planting the Ancient Mysteries book. But I love that Sang Zan is super sharp and notices the change of handedness. <3

An Bai & co are so determined in their pursuit! And lol, the bit where ZYL is unmasked and gives his dorky wave to the bar, hoping to turn public sentiment to his side. *hearts him* (The bartender stripping his mask off foreshadows YOHE, I think. I wonder how much of this Dixing trip parallels YOHE in random ways...)

ZYL's expression post-teleport, lol! :D :D :D And yep, he's still underestimating the Regent. Wu Tian'en gives his warning. (So good to see him again. I love that case-of-the-week characters show up again now and then. <3 <3 <3)

ZXC discovers the SID can't abide his "correct" investigation method. I love (and screencapped) all of CSZ's smirks. *hearts* And Changcheng warning him to be loyal, awwww! Changcheng really doesn't understand CSZ very well at this stage -- he thinks CSZ keeps running ZYL down, but in fact, it's just that Changcheng keeps talking him up, putting CSZ in the position of competing with ZYL for mentor status/authority in Changcheng's eyes. ;-p

ZYL helping the old Regent down the palace steps. ♥ ♥ ♥ But ugh, the Regent is so terrible, it's almost kind of fair for the Deacon to scheme behind his back -- if only he'd chosen a better side. ;-p

Stubborn Changcheng holding his ground against Zhao Xinci! My heart!! <3 <3 <3 (Though talking about parents still being alive to Zhao Xinci is a bit OUCH.)

ZXC making sure the team having ZYL's back ("Good. Very good. With you guys as his subordinates, I don't have to worry anymore.") makes me wonder how much that's about Shen Wei joining the SID, or alternatively, whether maybe ZXC had a malcontent on his SID team back in the day (possibly leading to the Shen Xi tragedy?).

Does Changcheng tell anyone about ZXC's glowing eyes? I don't think he does! These people, man, gossiping all the time, but not about the important stuff!! <3 <3 <3

I love how the "new lead" is actually two massive craters in the middle of the road, lol. And ha, Lin Jing's detector is working just fine.

Aww, Bao Laosan, trying to make Haixing safe for Dixingren like his late wife. *pets him*

(It's late -- I'll come back and look at the questions tomorrow.)

[facethestrange]

- Sang Zan is so happy that someone is talking to him and being kind, awwww! :D And he's so observant too! (Btw, this is the scene where I first noticed that his tones are off, which I'm very proud of, hah. :D :D)

- I'm more concerned about Dixing not having hospitals than not having schools, like, they're not in any way more invulnerable than humans, and most of them don't have healing powers - what do they do in this situation? Bring this guy to someone who happens to have healing powers? (That's kind of a hospital, just without the name. :D)

- Zhao Yunlan's tongue, that's all. :P ♡♡♡



- Wu Xiaojun is in prison and at least one of his kidnappers is not, ouch. *pokes this entire justice system with a stick*

- The way Xiao Guo awkwardly looks around the room for everyone's reaction when Zhao Xinci is speaking is, lol awww!

- Daaaaamn, Chu Shuzhi is perfectly civil, and Zhao Xinci just immediately starts yelling and throwing things. o___O I love CSZ so much in this scene! ♡

- I love that it doesn't even need to be specified why Zhu Hong is pissed at Zhao Yunlan. :D

- The gun is just far too much, ugh, I love Xiao Guo so much and I love how brave he is, but he should not be treated like that. (Did Zhao Xinci pull a gun on each of them? I can imagine Chu Shuzhi scoffing and Zhu Hong yelling and stomping her feet, that makes me feel better. xD)

- I never noticed that CSZ's puppet was sitting next to him in the same pose! :D :D

(I screencapped it too, to post here, but it's already in the main post, hee, A++ screencap choice!! :D)

- Zhu Jiu is so full of shit, damn, he makes nonsense promises, and he isn't even worried that the people he manipulates would turn on him later when it turns out that the promise isn't actually coming true? (Things would literally only get worse for Dixingren if the SID was destroyed by one of them.) I guess the consequences don't matter, as long as the job is done? Also he would probably just manipulate them further and convince them that it wasn't his fault that things didn't work out.

Which this your favourite part/scene/moment in this half-episode? Any favourite lines?

Xiao Guo telling Zhao Xinci off! (And also Zhao Yunlan's general aesthetic. :D)

"What's going on with the masks at the bar?"

Definitely some kind of tradition.

"How often do An Bai et al. start a bar fight?"

Lol, they have a reputation, so possibly a lot. :P

"What would have happened if Wu Tian'en hadn't been there to save Zhao Yunlan?"

That's probably not what actually would have happened, because for some reason Shen Wei couldn't sense him in Dixing, but I hope he would have showed up in the nick of time. :D

"What does the Regent think happened to the Dijun Register?"

I honestly don't know what the Regent thinks and mostly I don't know when he's not bluffing - it feels like he's bluffing 100% of the time, lol.

"How much do you think Zhao Xinci means his criticism of Zhao Yunlan?"

100%, unfortunately, lol.

"Did he concoct this loyalty test on the spot when it turned out Zhao Yunlan was absent, or would he have done something similar regardless?"

I can never figure that out, but obviously it's at least partially improvised because he didn't know Zhao Yunlan wouldn't be there.

"Why do none of the team talk to each other about Zhao Xinci's suspicious traits?"

Lin Jing is sure that the detector is broken, Sang Zan may not know how to say it (? but he could have said it to Wang Zheng at least), and the way GCC nodded looks like he feels they have a secret understanding or something, so he wouldn't want to betray that. I don't know what CSZ was going to say, so I'm not sure if it had to do with Zhang Shi or if he just doesn't like Zhao Xinci in general, lol.

"Did Zhu Hong shout at Zhao Xinci in their one-on-one interview?"

Absolutely!! :D :D (If GCC of all people did, they all did, lol! And Zhu Hong was in a shouting mood already. :D)

"What did Zhao Xinci ask Chu Shuzhi?"

In the interview? I feel like all the interviews were more or less the same. (If he asked him something else at some other time, I already forgot, lol oops - that's the downside of watching the episode 2 weeks earlier. xD Otherwise it only has upsides tho. :D :D)

"And finally, any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel? Does any of it have any direct relation, besides Papa Zhao having a hitchhiker?"

The ghosts in the Netherworld Dixingren in the bar all trying to jump Zhao Yunlan at the same time seems to be a parallel. :D (Though he's not saved by Shen Wei here.) The cracks in the ground are also from the novel, I only noticed it during this watch! The cracks in the street are so large that people could easily fall in, and I remembered the one that novel Shen Wei flew into. :D