Guardian thoughts, part, um, 4

[nnozomi]

Episodes 21 through 25, more or less.



21

 

Now we see the actual purpose of the sleeve garters: Zhao Yunlan can hook a finger into them while Shen Wei is leading him. That is some impressive moving in tandem, no wonder Zhu Hong looks upset (and you can see the giant question mark floating over Lin Jing’s head).

Shen Wei really has excellent taste; all the women he’s close to are both intelligent and gorgeous, with Dr. Cheng as with Li Qian. But his tension in Dr. Cheng’s office is actually painful to watch (although she seems to find it super cute).

“Xiao Chu” omigod. Guo Changcheng looks so happy. They also seem to have learned how to handle each other effectively, as it were: “Chu-ge. My uncle won’t hurt your puppet.” “…I know.”

Shen Wei trying to hold it together in front of his class with ninety percent of his mind elsewhere, oh dear. (Now I want a little fic about the other students ganging up on the girl—is that Jiajia?--who corrects his spelling error: “How could you be so insensitive! Couldn’t you tell the Professor was upset about something?” “Well, I thought he’d be more upset if he realized he’d made a mistake and left it that way! You know how finicky about the details he is…”)

And of course it’s Zhao Xinci who appears at the absolute worst moment…

I like Lin Jing getting interested by Sha Ya’s audio skills first and her face afterward.

Shen Wei raises his voice to Zhao Yunlan like a terrified parent, and seems to be right on the edge of losing it thereafter as well. Zhao Yunlan is being a lot more collected…

I hope Dr. Cheng gets a retainer from the SID.

Ying Chun’s “is this guy for real?” face when he offers her a lollipop is great.

Ya Qing feels a little underattended to while Shen Wei is busy having Xiao Wei feelings.

Sang Zan missed his calling as a window designer for a department store.

okay, “Good day, Lord Black Robe!” in unison is funny, and I reacted exactly the same way Zhao Yunlan did. Shen Wei’s look of pained how-could-you-do-this-to-me patience is even funnier, and the combination of genuine feeling and light making fun of Zhao Yunlan in his exchange with Lao Chu is lovely.

The doctor has a beautiful house, those gorgeous prewar-type windows, Kyoto via Frank Lloyd Wright.

22

I want Shen Wei’s Dixing power of not catching cold. (Also, he really is like the Jekyll and Hyde of dress sense…)

Xiao Guo and Lao Chu actually look like (work) partners now, and Zhao Yunlan ships it!

I will never get over how gorgeous the SID set is.

I like the egalitarian nature of the SID conference—everyone speaks up who has something to say, there isn’t any hierarchy.

Li Qian is as lovely as ever, although I disapprove of her bare shoulders. Also, she really loves her work.

Shen Wei really likes pale blues and greens and blue-greens; maybe he thinks of them as the opposite extreme from his professional Black Cloak. I can do without this thing that doesn’t know if it wants to be a dress shirt or a work jacket, though.

Oh dear, Shen Wei’s face while Zhao Yunlan is being re-blinded: “I can’t stand this, I want to be able to bear it for you and I can’t.”

多事の秋, lol

Shen Wei’s silent “Will you stop fussing with the damn cane!” is funny, okay. And then that what-the-hell smile.

Dr. Cheng is adorable. Also, what would happen if Da Qing were to turn into a cat in the middle of his hypnosis?

Zhao Yunlan, turning what could have been a sappily emotional moment into a practical joke. “Long time no see, you guys”—very funny.

Lao Chu’s rare grin is great. I actually really like the relationship between Zhao Yunlan and Chu Shuzhi—they don’t have a lot to say to each other but you can see trust and actual affection around the edges.

Shen Wei is ridiculously unable to resist Zhao Yunlan in any context.

The whole bar scene is very sweet and silly, and Shen Wei can’t get his head around it.

I don’t know why Da Qing doesn’t just turn into a cat to get around the guard.

23

Shen Wei’s what-is-Zhao-Yunlan-going-to-get-up-to-next tense face is great.

You’d think Zhao Yunlan would have figured out by this time that asking Da Qing to spy on people never ends well…

Oh my God, Zhao Yunlan, you really are incapable of sitting like a normal person ANYWHERE.

Once in a while Shen Wei needs to release some stress too.

Really, either the censors are AIs who don’t pick up on nuance, or the censors ship it. Zhao Yunlan sitting on his bed and Shen Wei looking down at him…

I am taking time off from drooling over the kitchen scenes to drooling over the beautiful ruined building behind Ya Qing’s hideout. Old concrete warehouses with multi-paned windows and lovely proportions…

…I know the midnight kitchen scene is iconic in the drama…oh dear…yeah, lives up to its advertising and then some. OH SHEN WEI.

Sometimes I think Guo Changcheng is really the only genuinely mature person around here.

Shen Wei in full armor, complete with collar pins.

24

Shen Wei being very, very well dressed and very straight-backed and very vulnerable… Zhao Yunlan, either stay ultra-polite at him or tease him but don’t do both, that’s not fair.

Dong Nan, it’s not nice to flirt at a graveside.

Lin Jing would be happier in Star Wars, I think sometimes. Imagine him with a droid. Zhao Yunlan really has his number… Also he’s obviously been consulting Da Qing about his would-be love life. “Your Sha Ya” indeed. Her “Cats. Ugh” face is funny, and, all right, I find Lin Jing in love kind of adorable, okay? (Also, Da Qing’s final meow is obviously “Don’t look at me, this one’s on you.”)

Wait, are they actually saying “boss” for 老板? Oh, of course, because it’s a video game.

“…Thanks!” Let no one ever say Zhao Yunlan doesn’t have style.

loool, Chu Shuzhi: “I have a bad feeling about this…”

Zhao Yunlan does not do things for me the way Shen Wei does, but damn, Bai Yu can act.

and there’s no way he’s not deliberately mimicking Shen Wei’s glaive thing with the feather duster, ふふふ。

Zhao Yunlan keeps his cool very well in a room with two lethal weapons, the bomb and a grey-suited Shen Wei.

Poor Shen Wei, being presented with two incomprehensible statements at once: “What am I going to do if you die?” and “This is how electrical circuits work.” No wonder he gives up and lets his eyes do the talking. (And holds his breath while Zhao Yunlan works on the bomb.)

(I think visually the bomb scene is the most stunning thing so far…)

Shen Wei is not up to coping with other people dealing with grief for little brothers right now, I think.

25

Not a lot of comments for this episode because the personality swap thing embarrasses the hell out of me (even though it must have been fun for the actors). I wish they’d played it less for laughs and more as a way to see what the characters don’t normally ever let out.

I feel like you can see certain Zhao Yunlan-like notes in Zhao Xinci when he’s talking to the bureaucrat—Minister Gao?; nice acting. (Also, it depresses me how much you could swap the Minister for any sitting Japanese politician and never notice.)

Poor Zhao Yunlan. You know you’re in trouble when Lin Jing has to be the voice of reason. (Also Lin Jing, go wear that two-toned T-shirt in front of Sha Ya, she might like it as much as I do.)

Oh my God, it’s the fateful feather duster. Poor Zhao Yunlan. God, this episode is a mess.

Comments

[winter_blossom]

Shen Wei really has excellent taste; all the women he’s close to are both intelligent and gorgeous, with Dr. Cheng as with Li Qian.

So true! Too bad his taste in men is considerably less refined. (Though ZYL certainly doesn't lack in intelligence or looks, either) XD

I want Shen Wei’s Dixing power of not catching cold.

More hard truths from you! (Also, I have a horrible cold right now T_T) I don't think he ever gets sick at all, which might actually be his best power, albeit the most understated and underappreciated one.

Shen Wei’s silent “Will you stop fussing with the damn cane!” is funny, okay

I love that scene! And both his and ZYL's expressions there.

I really like CSZ's relationships with ZYL and the BCE/SW; the two opposing dynamics provide an interesting contrast, but you can see they're both important (to all parties involved), though in completely different ways.

Zhao Yunlan sitting on his bed and Shen Wei looking down at him…

The composition of that scene (and the accompanying dialogue) was really interesting. I personally like it more than the Kitchen Scene itself, though the acting in the Kitchen Scene was earth-shatteringly good.

I find Lin Jing in love kind of adorable, okay?

Hilariously adorable! I'm still furious about what happened to that couple; it was one of the most unnecessary deaths in the show, imo.

Zhao Yunlan keeps his cool very well in a room with two lethal weapons, the bomb and a grey-suited Shen Wei.

Haha, nice! And, yep, I was saying this same thing elsewhere just yesterday: good lord, the Bomb Scene! They were both so damn stunning in it.

Episode 25 was indeed a mess, but by the gods, it was funny! I think CSZ's actor had the most fun with it. And have you seen the bts shots of how much Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu were cracking up during the filming? It was really kind of cute.

[nnozomi]

So true! Too bad his taste in men is considerably less refined.
lol, sorry Zhao Yunlan...no, Zhao Yunlan isn't my personal type but I think Shen Wei's good taste holds all around.

I don't think he ever gets sick at all, which might actually be his best power, albeit the most understated and underappreciated one.
Oh my God I know. I hope your cold is better!

I really like CSZ's relationships with ZYL and the BCE/SW
Yes, and you described them well. It's one of the things I think the drama does well, showing a whole web of relationships, not just the main pair.

I personally like it more than the Kitchen Scene itself, though the acting in the Kitchen Scene was earth-shatteringly good.
See, the kitchen scene just sort of reduces me to "oh Shen Wei" and makes my brain stop functioning for a while...

have you seen the bts shots of how much Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu were cracking up during the filming?
no, but maybe I need to!

[winter_blossom]

I hope your cold is better!

Much better, thank you! (Mostly cos I cheated and took Tamiflu ;D)

Here are a couple of tumblr posts with gifs from the bts video. The video itself is here, though it's part of a compilation of Zhu Yilong and Bai Yu's off-screen interactions.

[nnozomi]

Too cute! Thanks :)

[abyss_valkyrie]

Ying Chun's face at the lollipop,lol!That whole speech Zhao Yunlan gives about his 'poor' self,I swear,Shen Wei is just like why do I love him! 'Xiao Wei feelings' is now an official term. You totally got the Shen Wei being greeted as Lord Black Robe part just like I was thinking of it,only in words!! When Sang Zan asks Wang Zheng if she likes his decoration,I was like,due,I like this so much,where can I find me a man who does this?!
Shen Wei is ridiculously unable to resist Zhao Yunlan in any context. Speaking facts,aren't you?!:D The fans, directors, censors, the whole world ships them!
Mimicking the glaive thing with the feather duster!OH DEAR!
two lethal weapons, the bomb and a grey-suited Shen Wei. :D Indeed.
Ep25 is a mess but yeah,it was fun for the actors,I mean every time I see Zhu Yilong falling over the sofa laughing in the behind the scenes videos,I just can't help smiling at his cute self.!

[nnozomi]

I swear,Shen Wei is just like why do I love him!
Somewhere in one of the earlier episodes there's a moment where Shen Wei might as well have this written on his forehead, it's so clear on his face--I think around the Cong Bo thing? If I knew how to make gifs I'd track it down and make one. So funny.

When Sang Zan asks Wang Zheng if she likes his decoration,I was like,due,I like this so much,where can I find me a man who does this?!
See, my first reaction was hon, you're the one getting out the vacuum cleaner afterward, right, not me? ;) Clearly I'm not enough of a romantic.

every time I see Zhu Yilong falling over the sofa laughing
♡

[abyss_valkyrie]

my first reaction was hon, you're the one getting out the vacuum cleaner afterward, right, not me?
What do you mean?!It goes without saying!XD

[trobadora]

I love these episodes so much. Especially Shen Wei's increasing exasperation, and dragging/leading Zhao Yunlan around. But also, the video game episode is so underrated - there's so much in it, including Zhao Yunlan showing off his own penchant for self-sacrifice by cheating at Russian Roulette. THESE TWO, really, they deserve each other. :D

Now we see the actual purpose of the sleeve garters: Zhao Yunlan can hook a finger into them while Shen Wei is leading him.

Hee! Yes, that is perfect. :D

“Well, I thought he’d be more upset if he realized he’d made a mistake and left it that way! You know how finicky about the details he is…”

Yes! He's definitely someone who would rather know.

Really, either the censors are AIs who don’t pick up on nuance, or the censors ship it. Zhao Yunlan sitting on his bed and Shen Wei looking down at him…

I don't understand the censors AT ALL. They pulled the show down ... and then censored all kinds of ridiculous stuff, but none of the INSANELY OBVIOUSLY DELIBERATELY SHIPPY stuff.

[nnozomi]

the video game episode is so underrated - there's so much in it
Honestly, if I were to rank my favorites of the episodes so far the video game one would definitely be in the top five. Not just for the bomb scene, although God knows it helps, but also the way it balances between tragedy and comedy the whole time (and the feather duster scene, which definitely comes down hard on the comedy side).

I don't understand the censors AT ALL
Me neither. I mean, I literally don't know anything about the process and I feel like I shouldn't really be making light comments about it...I still kind of picture them like the 1930s censors in Japan, sitting in offices taking red pens to play scripts and articles and so on. If they're just ordinary low-level functionaries, watching the initial results...well, I don't see why they should be any more immune on average to Zhu Yilong and his pretty eyes than the rest of us.

[clevermanka]

Shen Wei is not up to coping with other people dealing with grief for little brothers right now, I think.
I never considered that angle. I always wondered why he didn't feel capable of consoling his friend--this is an excellent thought, thank you.

[nnozomi]

Sure! I mean, the thing with Shen Wei is that he always has various possible sources of Angst, so various interpretations could apply...but that's the one that came to mind immediately for me.

[winter_blossom]

I actually read that scene entirely differently: that the reason he was like, "Nah, you do it!" to Zhao Yunlan was because he was not guilty that he was basically responsible for killing his best friend's adoptive brother. I mean, it's his duty as the BCE and Zhao Yunlan was in danger as well, and the way I read Shen Wei he's never one to hesitate when either of those two things are concerned, but afterwards he was like, "Huh, think I'll let someone else smooth things over this time, because it kind of prickles my conscience that I'd absolutely do the same thing again." After all, Shen Wei's been the Envoy for a long time, so I doubt he actually feels that much remorse about what's basically another day's work for him. But in this case he'd be sorry about the impact his work has had on his best friend, but not sorry about the actual action itself (I'm not making much sense, am I? ^^)

[clevermanka]

Ooooooo I love this interpretation, too! Thank you!

[sakana17]

I love your rewatch notes!

(I think visually the bomb scene is the most stunning thing so far…)

It's a gorgeous scene. That whole episode is lit beautifully. So many nice shots. But the bomb scene is fantastic!

[nnozomi]

Thank you! You're so right about the whole episode and particularly that scene :)

[china_shop]

Returning to this post reeeeeally late because I've had it open since you linked it on sid_guardian, I think? /o\ Hi!

Dr. Cheng is adorable. Also, what would happen if Da Qing were to turn into a cat in the middle of his hypnosis?

Oooooh! Did you know if anyone's written this? Because I would totally read it! *g*

I feel like you can see certain Zhao Yunlan-like notes in Zhao Xinci when he’s talking to the bureaucrat

In Zhao Xinci's first appearance at the SID, when he's talking about how irresponsible it is for ZYL to have left, what if there's a case!?, and then the phone rings and it's a case, Zhao Xinci spreads his arms in a "what did I tell you?" gesture that always makes me laugh because it's so Zhao Yunlan. *g*

[nnozomi]

Oh, hey, I am delighted to have somebody read these ramblings at any time!

I think there's a real shortage of fics where Da Qing turning into a cat is a proper plot point. (I also think someone who, unlike me, has an actual reference cat available should write them, envy envy ;) ) I suppose they'd have to get him out of hypnosis the same way they do in his human form when Zheng Yi gets to him, with lots of fish...

I did not notice that in episode 16 with Zhao Xinci and I should have done! Can I borrow that moment to add to his character post? I feel like in a lot of ways the Zhaos father and son are at opposite poles, and yet there are also very solid, under-the-skin similarities...

[china_shop]

I think there's a real shortage of fics where Da Qing turning into a cat is a proper plot point. (I also think someone who, unlike me, has an actual reference cat available should write them, envy envy ;) )

Hee! Maybe you should put something like that in undeadrobins' prompt fest when that kicks off? :-)

Can I borrow that moment to add to his character post? I feel like in a lot of ways the Zhaos father and son are at opposite poles, and yet there are also very solid, under-the-skin similarities...

Absolutely! And yes, I think so too. I think that's part of what they each find so frustrating about the other. *g*