Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 17, 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 17, up to 22:31

Summary
We get Bao Laosan's tragic backstory, which Zhu Jiu uses to incite him to attack the SID. Shen Wei searches Dixing for Zhao Yunlan, starting (as far as we know) in the bar, where everyone is rowdy and disrespectful. He quells them with a display of power, and the quaking bartender whispers something in his ear. In Haixing, the SID team confront Bao Laosan, and he takes Lao Li hostage. Zhao Xinci, who has zero de-escalation skills, struggles with Bao Laosan and shoots him. The team are horrified. Meanwhile, Zhao Yunlan and Wu Tian'en are running around Dixing in search of the missing book. Shen Wei finds An Bai and friends and intimidates them for information about Zhao Yunlan's whereabouts. Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing talk about loyalty/ethics and Ye Zun, and we see Zhu Jiu's backstory, being bullied in his job as a palace guard. Zhao Yunlan and Wu Tian'en find an information broker. At the SID, everyone is upset about the case; Zhao Xinci tells them they did well and leaves, returning Zhao Yunlan's gun to Da Qing on his way out. Zhao Yunlan bargains with the information broker for intel, but the masked man stabs him with a poisoned syringe and reveals himself as Ding Dun. Zhao Yunlan falls to the ground in agony. Shen Wei arrives just in time to stop Ding Dun finishing him off. They fight with dark energy, and Shen Wei kills Ding Dun.



Quote
Ding Dun: You want to ask about marriage.
Zhao Yunlan: I... have been a huge asshole since the day I was born; so cold and heartless. I don't want marriage.

Detail
Ding Dun's sign says 包打听 which is translated in every version of the subs as "Knows everything." Google Translate rendered it as "Know-It-All" one time, and "Gossip" another, and Pleco as "nosey parker" -- which explains Zhao Yunlan's bemused reaction.

Questions
On a scale from 1 to 10, how upsetting is it to see the SID façade crack? Is the bar the first place Shen Wei looks for Zhao Yunlan? Why do the bar patrons assume Shen Wei is an imposter Envoy? On a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you blame Zhao Xinci for Bao Laosan's death? When Shen Wei intimidates An Bai and co, An Bai folds pretty quicky -- is that due to cowardice, latent respect for the Envoy, or some other reason? Zhu Jiu is unpowered in his backstory; when does he acquire his powers? When Wu Tian'en says he can't teleport anymore, is he telling the truth or lying to spare Zhao Yunlan's health and give him face? When Zhao Xinci tells the SID, "You are truly worthy of being members of the Special Investigations Department" (Viki subs), does he mean it, or is he just trying to cheer them up? Does Ye Zun want Zhao Yunlan dead, or is Ding Dun acting unilaterally when he attacks, or (third option) has Ding Dun conspired with Zhu Jiu and/or the Deacon to take Zhao Yunlan out? If the last option, does Ye Zun know their plan?

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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