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sid_guardian2019-03-28 11:29 pm
extrapenguin) wrote in sid_guardian2019-03-28 11:29 pm
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Guardian Episode by Episode: 06
Welcome to episode 6 of the Guardian rewatchalong! Slightly ahead of schedule due to penguinly schedules. The imgur screencap album has 75 images. In this week's episode, we move forwards into another arc of Hallows plus cat and mouse games setup.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5
This episode concludes the mirror girl case and starts the next round of cat and mouse games for Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.
Introductions
We're introduced to Shen Wei's necklace very briefly at the end! IIRC it hasn't really appeared before this?
The one thing that'll upgrade these muggers from mere gnats buzzing at the Envoy into people worth being angry to.
Characterization
We see more of Zhao Yunlan being good at playing social games and prompting his underlings to comfort the shocked and grieving Ji Xiaobai! Alas, his underlings are terrible at it, and even xiao-Guo only made it worse. He also holds Chu Shuzhi back so that Ji Xiaobai and the Zhou Weiweis can have a chance to sort it out themselves. After that, he very clearly picks out that the original Zhou Weiwei wasn't the one Ji Xiaobai fell in love with, and then sets up a confession.
Newbie, try to be more useful than Da Qing.
Meanwhile, Shen Wei is a total drama llama. He hangs out in front of a bush after dark, not even looking at it, and monologues about the war 10k years ago to baffle the Yashou woman into showing up, then identifies himself as the Envoy by summoning his yutoudao and slamming its butt on the ground. (As an aside, the Yashou at this point switches from the regular 你 to the more courteous 您.)
Resident drama llama is a drama llama.
In news happening while Shen Wei was wearing his other set of clothes, the Envoy has kept his commitment to punctuality and arrived just in time, at a moment dramatic but before anyone had the chance to come to harm. He's also torn a leaf from Zhao Yunlan's book and he catches himself in the middle of his ranting about mirror girl's father ("coveted prosperity, plundered due to love") to blatantly lie and say that he was killed before he could deliver an important secret. And whaddya know, mirror girl told that her father had always said "The mountains and rivers are guarded in the South" and thus we start our next Hallow's arc.
Apparently, the Envoy can also do his own bureaucracy? This close working relationship has unexpected benefits!
Going back to the Professor wardrobe, Shen Wei is angry (likely with himself) that Li Qian has withdrawn from school. Zhao Yunlan stalks him at work and Shen Wei sees nothing wrong with this, instead opening up about how Li Qian is his responsibility and he's failed her. Zhao Yunlan's comment that follows is something that'll come up in the context of his and Shen Wei's relationship much further down the line: "You cannot take the entire world as your responsibility."
Also a vaguely ominous shot of Zhao Yunlan watching Shen Wei walk away.
In general, though, this episode feels like the next arc of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship: Zhao Yunlan comes to ask for insights on the case without Shen Wei being connected to it at all, and Shen Wei is ecstatic about it. At one point, they complete each other's thought.
Just look at that happy expression!
Even on the side of hoods and half-coverage masks, the relationship is on a new level: they've achieved an explicit understanding that Dixingians can stay in Haixing as long as they don't abuse their powers. He also shares a view unbidden: "Wherever there's good, there's bad. Dixing or Haixing, our identity is only as deep as the skin. The heart cannot be judged by identity alone." Given the actions of the SID in the past episode, I'd have thought that they were past these dramatic declarations that truly Dixingians Are People Too, but I guess Shen Wei wanted to reinforce the moral lest Zhao Yunlan forget.
Zhao Yunlan's spidey senses are ticking.
We get more about Guo Changcheng as well: he grew up friendless and raised by his grandmother and his very busy aunt and uncle, and his favorite places are ones where there are no rules. He's deeply selfless as some sort of coping mechanism, and he's happy when others are happy.
He also believes in not interrupting lovers enough to manhandle Chu Shuzhi out the door.
Chu Shuzhi, on the other hand, shows some hidden depths in his ability to console Ji Xiaobai where others failed. He then finds one (1) redeeming feature in Guo Changcheng – namely, that Guo Changcheng reminds him of his little brother, what with being happy when others are happy – and I think this is the start of the character trajectory where he quits loathing Guo Changcheng's guts and becomes protective of him.
Alcohol: an acceptable manly source of comfort and consolation.
At the end of the case, Zhu Hong (who otherwise didn't appear) is mentioned to be super angry at Ji Xiaobai because he'll run off at the whiff of trouble. Guo Changcheng lampshades later revelations by asking his diary whom Zhu Hong could ever fall in love with, if her standards are so high?
I really like Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan's easy casual physicality and how they lounge against each other. We're also introduced to the Da Qing plots: his memory loss ("Alzheimer's") and the fact he had an owner. Their banter also allows us to see how the SID has changed: once, Zhao Yunlan vowed he'd arrest every Dixingian; now he's willing to let them be in peace unless they do something wrong. (Like trigger his spider senses.) Da Qing also really pushes for them to investigate Shen Wei (because he's a suspicious person and Zhao Yunlan won't shut up about him, Lord Envoy, please take him awaaay).
Time to lounge against each other in sufficiently feline fashion.
Zhao Yunlan's spider senses were tingling well, and he uses all his skills to investigate Shen Wei more after discovering that Shen Wei is investigating the SID: he calls the Regent of Dixing (to look up Shen Wei in a database) (but funnily enough not the Envoy), he sends Chu Shuzhi over to deliver a banner that has a hidden webcam, and he himself remains on the charm offensive. The original bit of cat and mouse came and went, but the honeymoon is over, and it's back to Zhao Yunlan being very suspicious about Shen Wei.
We close this episode on two robbers trying to mug Shen Wei. As Shen Wei is a very proud person, while he cooperates with the demands of handing over his money, he isn't afraid and doesn't deign to give any fucks about the robbers. They're obviously displeased by how he doesn't fear them, and ask whether he truly considers himself that far above them. The unvoiced answer is "yes".
Foreshadowing and case notes
Firstly, Zhou Weiwei's surname is that of Shen Wei's mentor's, and while her "wei" is a different character, it's pronounced identically to Shen Wei's "wei", and "Weiwei" would be a technically acceptable (albeit extremely, extremely cutesy) nickname for a Shen Wei. Make of that what you will.
Secondly, I don't quite get why both Zhou Weiweis couldn't be outside the mirror and interacting with Haixingians at the same time – this would've been better for everyone. (I also wonder at mirror girl's power, since Shen Wei and Chu Shuzhi certainly have shadows. Huh.)
Thirdly, Zhao Yunlan says that he hopes Ji Xiaobai and original Zhou Weiwei won't regret their decisions, and I can't help but interpret that as foreshadowing for what Zhao Yunlan tells bb Shen Wei while he's being sucked up into a wormhole. This is interesting, and I can't quite figure out what to make of it.
Canon details
Cinematography
Light and shadows are very prominent in Ji Xiaobai and Zhou Weiwei's apartment as a bit of visual foreshadowing for the lack of shadow for the mirror girl:
I also like the mirror universe set design; it's sufficiently wondrous yet clearly based on the world outside the mirror – much like a reflection.
Also, the sparkly stuff!
Shen Wei has a momentary return to Villain Cinematography:
The camera mostly stays at about eye height, but we do have a requisite shot through blinds and some variation in distance and height.
This scene is the source of so very many adorable expressions of Shen Wei's. He's happy!
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He starts in his vest thingy, then wears the leather jacket the next day. The third day, he wears his Good Vibes Only shirt beneath some jacket (and investigates Shen Wei's apartment in the shirt without jacket), and he then returns to the vest thingy. The action seems to happen over four days.
Shen Wei shoe watch
Mostly stuff we've seen in previous episodes, which to my eye looks like it has just a little bit more heel than I'd expect. The pale high heels of episode 1 haven't returned.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
Previously on:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5
This episode concludes the mirror girl case and starts the next round of cat and mouse games for Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei.
Introductions
We're introduced to Shen Wei's necklace very briefly at the end! IIRC it hasn't really appeared before this?
The one thing that'll upgrade these muggers from mere gnats buzzing at the Envoy into people worth being angry to.
Characterization
We see more of Zhao Yunlan being good at playing social games and prompting his underlings to comfort the shocked and grieving Ji Xiaobai! Alas, his underlings are terrible at it, and even xiao-Guo only made it worse. He also holds Chu Shuzhi back so that Ji Xiaobai and the Zhou Weiweis can have a chance to sort it out themselves. After that, he very clearly picks out that the original Zhou Weiwei wasn't the one Ji Xiaobai fell in love with, and then sets up a confession.
Newbie, try to be more useful than Da Qing.
Meanwhile, Shen Wei is a total drama llama. He hangs out in front of a bush after dark, not even looking at it, and monologues about the war 10k years ago to baffle the Yashou woman into showing up, then identifies himself as the Envoy by summoning his yutoudao and slamming its butt on the ground. (As an aside, the Yashou at this point switches from the regular 你 to the more courteous 您.)
Resident drama llama is a drama llama.
In news happening while Shen Wei was wearing his other set of clothes, the Envoy has kept his commitment to punctuality and arrived just in time, at a moment dramatic but before anyone had the chance to come to harm. He's also torn a leaf from Zhao Yunlan's book and he catches himself in the middle of his ranting about mirror girl's father ("coveted prosperity, plundered due to love") to blatantly lie and say that he was killed before he could deliver an important secret. And whaddya know, mirror girl told that her father had always said "The mountains and rivers are guarded in the South" and thus we start our next Hallow's arc.
Apparently, the Envoy can also do his own bureaucracy? This close working relationship has unexpected benefits!
Going back to the Professor wardrobe, Shen Wei is angry (likely with himself) that Li Qian has withdrawn from school. Zhao Yunlan stalks him at work and Shen Wei sees nothing wrong with this, instead opening up about how Li Qian is his responsibility and he's failed her. Zhao Yunlan's comment that follows is something that'll come up in the context of his and Shen Wei's relationship much further down the line: "You cannot take the entire world as your responsibility."
Also a vaguely ominous shot of Zhao Yunlan watching Shen Wei walk away.
In general, though, this episode feels like the next arc of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship: Zhao Yunlan comes to ask for insights on the case without Shen Wei being connected to it at all, and Shen Wei is ecstatic about it. At one point, they complete each other's thought.
Just look at that happy expression!
Even on the side of hoods and half-coverage masks, the relationship is on a new level: they've achieved an explicit understanding that Dixingians can stay in Haixing as long as they don't abuse their powers. He also shares a view unbidden: "Wherever there's good, there's bad. Dixing or Haixing, our identity is only as deep as the skin. The heart cannot be judged by identity alone." Given the actions of the SID in the past episode, I'd have thought that they were past these dramatic declarations that truly Dixingians Are People Too, but I guess Shen Wei wanted to reinforce the moral lest Zhao Yunlan forget.
Zhao Yunlan's spidey senses are ticking.
We get more about Guo Changcheng as well: he grew up friendless and raised by his grandmother and his very busy aunt and uncle, and his favorite places are ones where there are no rules. He's deeply selfless as some sort of coping mechanism, and he's happy when others are happy.
He also believes in not interrupting lovers enough to manhandle Chu Shuzhi out the door.
Chu Shuzhi, on the other hand, shows some hidden depths in his ability to console Ji Xiaobai where others failed. He then finds one (1) redeeming feature in Guo Changcheng – namely, that Guo Changcheng reminds him of his little brother, what with being happy when others are happy – and I think this is the start of the character trajectory where he quits loathing Guo Changcheng's guts and becomes protective of him.
Alcohol: an acceptable manly source of comfort and consolation.
At the end of the case, Zhu Hong (who otherwise didn't appear) is mentioned to be super angry at Ji Xiaobai because he'll run off at the whiff of trouble. Guo Changcheng lampshades later revelations by asking his diary whom Zhu Hong could ever fall in love with, if her standards are so high?
I really like Da Qing and Zhao Yunlan's easy casual physicality and how they lounge against each other. We're also introduced to the Da Qing plots: his memory loss ("Alzheimer's") and the fact he had an owner. Their banter also allows us to see how the SID has changed: once, Zhao Yunlan vowed he'd arrest every Dixingian; now he's willing to let them be in peace unless they do something wrong. (Like trigger his spider senses.) Da Qing also really pushes for them to investigate Shen Wei (because he's a suspicious person and Zhao Yunlan won't shut up about him, Lord Envoy, please take him awaaay).
Time to lounge against each other in sufficiently feline fashion.
Zhao Yunlan's spider senses were tingling well, and he uses all his skills to investigate Shen Wei more after discovering that Shen Wei is investigating the SID: he calls the Regent of Dixing (to look up Shen Wei in a database) (but funnily enough not the Envoy), he sends Chu Shuzhi over to deliver a banner that has a hidden webcam, and he himself remains on the charm offensive. The original bit of cat and mouse came and went, but the honeymoon is over, and it's back to Zhao Yunlan being very suspicious about Shen Wei.
We close this episode on two robbers trying to mug Shen Wei. As Shen Wei is a very proud person, while he cooperates with the demands of handing over his money, he isn't afraid and doesn't deign to give any fucks about the robbers. They're obviously displeased by how he doesn't fear them, and ask whether he truly considers himself that far above them. The unvoiced answer is "yes".
Foreshadowing and case notes
Firstly, Zhou Weiwei's surname is that of Shen Wei's mentor's, and while her "wei" is a different character, it's pronounced identically to Shen Wei's "wei", and "Weiwei" would be a technically acceptable (albeit extremely, extremely cutesy) nickname for a Shen Wei. Make of that what you will.
Secondly, I don't quite get why both Zhou Weiweis couldn't be outside the mirror and interacting with Haixingians at the same time – this would've been better for everyone. (I also wonder at mirror girl's power, since Shen Wei and Chu Shuzhi certainly have shadows. Huh.)
Thirdly, Zhao Yunlan says that he hopes Ji Xiaobai and original Zhou Weiwei won't regret their decisions, and I can't help but interpret that as foreshadowing for what Zhao Yunlan tells bb Shen Wei while he's being sucked up into a wormhole. This is interesting, and I can't quite figure out what to make of it.
Canon details
- Shen Wei says that in the war 10k years ago, the Dixingren were defeated and the Yashou stayed neutral (or was he only talking about the plant Yashou?). This would have made him the general of a defeated army, drawing up a ceasefire as advantageous as he could salvage from the situation. Given later canon developments, we can only conclude that Da Qing isn't the only one with Alzheimer's.
- The first time we hear the ending theme (Just Loved Too Much) is when it plays over the montage of Ji Xiaobai's romantic memories with mirror Zhou Weiwei as he's leaving Haixing Zhou Weiwei.
- There are different sticks of incense for contacting the Regent and the Envoy. The one for contacting the Regent doesn't care who lights it (we see Da Qing light it this time) re: taking instructions, and sends a shadowy servant construct to relay the message.
Cinematography
Light and shadows are very prominent in Ji Xiaobai and Zhou Weiwei's apartment as a bit of visual foreshadowing for the lack of shadow for the mirror girl:
I also like the mirror universe set design; it's sufficiently wondrous yet clearly based on the world outside the mirror – much like a reflection.
Also, the sparkly stuff!
Shen Wei has a momentary return to Villain Cinematography:
The camera mostly stays at about eye height, but we do have a requisite shot through blinds and some variation in distance and height.
This scene is the source of so very many adorable expressions of Shen Wei's. He's happy!
Zhao Yunlan jacket watch
He starts in his vest thingy, then wears the leather jacket the next day. The third day, he wears his Good Vibes Only shirt beneath some jacket (and investigates Shen Wei's apartment in the shirt without jacket), and he then returns to the vest thingy. The action seems to happen over four days.
Shen Wei shoe watch
Mostly stuff we've seen in previous episodes, which to my eye looks like it has just a little bit more heel than I'd expect. The pale high heels of episode 1 haven't returned.
Did Shen Wei take off his glasses?
No.
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