Guardian rewatch episode 4

[selenay]

This is such a great episode if you're here for the Weilan ship, which I suspect most of us are.

There is a plot, I guess, about face stealing and so on. Apparently in some way this was set up by Zhu Jiu for some purpose that isn't too clear, but he does seem pissed that it didn't work (again). The important plot thing was at the end, where the Envoy reveals that human energy and dark energy mix about as well as matter and anti-matter. But he doesn't want Zhao Yunlan to know that some dark energy was inserted into Lin Yusen because that might send him off to look for the person who did that and put him in danger.

Oh, Shen Wei. Honey. You're fighting a losing battle, here. And so much of what you love about Zhao Yunlan is his badass investigating and justice fighting ways.

I'd forgotten how early that human energy-dark energy thing was set up :(

This is the first episode where Shen Wei directly confronts Zhu Jiu (guess his professor cover is blown there) and this is also the one time in the episode where Shen Wei really loses his cool - when Zhu Jiu threatens to reveal some facts to Zhao Yunlan. Way to stay chill and not show your weaknesses, Shen Wei. It was interesting because it didn't seem so much like it was Zhao Yunlan learning Shen Wei is the Envoy that freaked him, it was the danger that might bring to Zhao Yunlan. Again, Shen Wei, you are not thinking this through clearly.

The main theme of this episode was Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan circling each other, trying to deal with the trust and suspicion issues. The interrogation at the beginning of the episode is so interesting. Zhao Yunlan sitting on the sofa, listening to Zhu Hong and Chu get verbally taken out without learning much, with this look on his face that is both disappointed and hopeful. He so badly wanted to believe Shen Wei isn't involved in anything odd that's happening, but every time he starts let himself believe nothing is happening, a new piece of evidence appears.

Zhao Yunlan finally joining the interrogation and asking a single question that Shen Wei can answer without technically lying (after all, as far as he knows, he isn't the target or cause of any of the recent events) and Zhao Yunlan trusting that it's the truth is just...I really like that moment.

Of course, a few scenes later the trust is shaken again when Zhao Yunlan is made to notice how often things have happened that should have hurt Shen Wei and didn't. Shen Wei, wiping away blood from the cut that healed instantly is not helping your case even if you seem to think it will make Zhao Yunlan worry about you less. He noticed the blood. He noticed that there was no source for the blood. He isn't stupid.

I don't think Shen Wei was expecting his attempt to deflect on that to escalate into hospitals and tetanus shots, and I had to laugh :)

Perhaps one of my favourite things about the episode was the definitely-not-romantic evening walk. It's just a lovely scene, learning a bit more about Zhao Yunlan's background and how much his relationship with Shen Wei already means to him. Platonically. And the origin of Shen Wei's name comes up again and it's so lovely. I love any of the glimpses of the Old Haixing times, even though it was frustrating on my first watch because I really needed to know how that had even happened.

Shen Wei has so many great faces at various points in this episode, mostly directed either at Zhao Yunlan or about Zhao Yunlan. Zhu Yilong incredible at conveying a lot through his eyes when he's wearing the Black Cloaked Envoy mask - the way he looks when Zhao Yunlan is angry at him for taking away the human as well as the Dixingren people is heartbroken. It's only matched by the expressions when he's talking to Chu about Zhao Yunlan. It's not easy to convey so much when there's a mask covering most of the face, but Zhu Yilong does it.

It's such a great episode *happy sigh*

Comments

[umadoshi]

Way to stay chill and not show your weaknesses, Shen Wei.

Why, he's so good at it! ^_-

Zhao Yunlan finally joining the interrogation and asking a single question that Shen Wei can answer without technically lying (after all, as far as he knows, he isn't the target or cause of any of the recent events) and Zhao Yunlan trusting that it's the truth is just...I really like that moment.

YES. ;_;

the definitely-not-romantic evening walk.

I adore the gifs of this segueing into and out of them walking together in the past. My HEART.