Guardian (镇魂) 17-25
3 Nov 2018 22:02![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
extrapenguinGuardian continues being excellent escapism from what is a reality of screaming a lot while dodging deadlines (and also my ass is on fire). I didn't have the time to sit down and write this after watching episode 24, so here we are now.
Zhao sr./Zhao Xinci: You remember that bit where Shen Wei commented on the SID really having changed re: their attitude to Dixingians? He was referring to Zhao Xinci, who shoots first and doesn't bother asking questions. Had Zhao Yunlan been dealing with it, the bit with the soil-changing earthquake Dixingian would've gone much differently. I'm also intrigued by Zhao Xinci's doppelgänger/posesser of the golden eyes, who seems to be kinder and more forgiving than Zhao Xinci himself. The flashback to Zhao Yunlan's mom's (Shen Xi) death is interesting – it seems this incident is at the root of why father and son are estranged, plus perhaps what makes Zhao Yunlan's attitude different. Zhao Xinci also seems to be involved in Professor Ouyang's experiments, like Li Qian. I'm glad to have Li Qian back! Also, Sha Ya the maybe-crow musician girl Lin Jing has a crush on is sent to try steal stuff from them, and Li Qian seems to have moral qualms about it.
Sang Zan seems to have undergone a personality transplant, but the narrative finds him unimportant, so whatever. Also, in addition to being illiterate, it almost seems like he isn't a native speaker of Chinese? (Wang Zheng died 100 years ago, so ... 1918. That is not very long ago. The time depth is quite short, especially compared to Shen "I have waited for 10 000 years" Wei.)
The relationship dynamic I did not see at all was Chu Shuzhi declaring he'd protect Guo Changcheng, but I suppose it's all displaced "must protect replacement younger brother" feelings. The bit where Chu Shuzhi was 100% ready to avenge someone else's younger brother in that underground fighting rink was a good characterization moment, and the way these episodes treated Yehuo were a nice continuation of the sentiment behind the anti-whistleblower propaganda: not everything is as it first seems. I do wonder what taboo crime Chu Shuzhi committed to be exiled to the surface, though. He promised to tell in the freezer, but didn't.
We visited Dixing repeatedly! The internal politics are screwy; I very much suspect that the Chancellor (let's call him the Chancellor for now; if you know the hanzi for his title, please share) is manipulating the situation. We saw him nod along and go "oh it's too early to commit" in the Shen Wei vs Ye Zun power struggle, so I wouldn't be surprised if he were playing both sides against each other. Dixing also has no schools or hospitals, despite Shen Wei's desire to reform it. The Dijun is just an automaton copier whose life force seems to be sapped by the mind-possessing throne, so the person blocking it must be the Chancellor.
Episode 19, despite containing the most unrealistic low-temperature laboratory ever (for one, the actual low-temp bit is tiny, since cooling stuff takes energy; the interested student may wish to check out dilution refrigerators and laser cooling), was an amazing episode! Zhao Yunlan got to show off his brains by figuring out that Zhu Jiu teleports using light, and then organized a power blackout on the city! :3
Zhu Jiu is very much a tragic figure, in a way, used and abused by his boss and then he sacrifices his life energy for his boss so his boss can get out of jail. On the other hand, he really is kinda dumb: "A glowing pillar told me one of our supreme leaders was a traitor, and I believe it wholeheartedly!" That's been kinda salvaged by the later reveal that Ye Zun's power is manipulating the weak of heart, and Zhu Jiu really wanted to be a hero. In Dixing, where light is scarce, he was powerless; on the surface, where there is light, he has power, and he can teleport as he pleases. Irritating and annoying, but also a tragedy.
Of course, after episode 19, everyone was hit with the idiot ball – who the fuck leaves Guo Changcheng alone with a prisoner???? Chu Shuzhi, please supervise! The resulting confrontation between Zhao Yunlan and Ye Zun was a nice duel with words, and the Infinity Sundial was ... well, idk, I have no clue why it could counter Ye Zun's powers, but if I thought more about it/rewatched stuff, it'd probably make more sense. The blindness subplot was basically just an excuse to have our two leads touch each other a lot and give Zhao Yunlan an impressive cane, so I'm not complaining too much. The actor really did a good job with the blindness – the only thing I noticed was him shying away from the car before Shen Wei came to the rescue, but the eye line of sight was perfect. I do wonder who gave them the final cure using the Infinity Sundial, though. Shen Wei got hurt.
Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship continues to be amazing. Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei has his secrets and lets him tell them at his own pace, and most importantly, doesn't make a big deal about the secrets when Shen Wei tells them, thus establishing himself as someone Shen Wei can tell secrets to. Example: the fact that Chu Shuzhi was sent over by Shen Wei to spy on the SID. Though I honestly can't blame Zhao Yunlan for freaking the fuck out at all in episode 23 – he saw Shen Wei slit his wrist with a knife and okay sure it's nbd because he's a Dixingian, but he didn't even tell anything about the energy restructuring being necessary, and Zhao Yunlan drew a big line between "it's okay to tell your backstory at your own pace" and "stuff that impacts us, tell it now" and then they had an argument that was dripping with Shen Wei's unrevealed backstory, including such gems like "thankfully, I'm used to getting hurt" (Shen Wei no) and "this life is what I'm returning to you" and a very interesting expression. Episode 23 was a very good mix of Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan feels and Dixing stuff, including frustrated expat Shen Wei.
The Merit Brush is interesting. Doctor Cheng might recall the Merit Brush's holder dude, who came to visit while she was lucid enough to order patient records. The anti-video game episode was perhaps a bit "Video games are bad for you. Love, the Government" but whatever, we got an argument between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan about lies of omission vs commission, and Zhao Yunlan got to use the life skills he acquired during his brief period of blindness to his advantage. The real-life video game was goddamn creepy; like breaking the fourth wall but not really. I wonder where Zhao Yunlan got his bomb-disposal skills, but I don't mind at all how he saved the day. Also that "I'd miss you" and "we're part of each others' lives" and all the forbidding Shen Wei to do any self-sacrifice, and Shen Wei's face when he promised to tell Zhao Yunlan all his secrets some day!
The bit with the personality inversion was hilarious, albeit cringey. Especially for Chu Shuzhi. Multiple personality disorder really doesn't work like described in the episode, but whatever. We got Chu Shuzhi flirting with Zhao Yunlan! Manly man Guo Changcheng! Utterly 110% Done With This Shit Zhao Yunlan! The bit where he said "you're mistaken, I'm not yet awake" because he didn't want to deal with the multiple personality infection vector: golden. Doctor Cheng said that the only people whose personalities don't change are those who already wear disguises; we know Shen Wei wears his disguise (and is likely also immune, because Black-Cloaked Envoy), Zhao Yunlan hides his true self from absolutely everyone (and might have been given the vaccine by Shen Wei? idk how we were supposed to interpret that bit), and Lin Jing ... is suspicious.
I like how Ya Qing does have some decency in her, despite her antagonist status. Guo Changcheng was a great comfort to Dong Nan as she lay dying? Give him a token of appreciation. Multiple personality source wanted to die? Let him keep his last shreds of dignity. She promised to the other two semihuman tribe leaders to mend her ways and quit working with Ye Zun, but didn't. Intriguing. How long do crow people live, anyway?
Zhao sr./Zhao Xinci: You remember that bit where Shen Wei commented on the SID really having changed re: their attitude to Dixingians? He was referring to Zhao Xinci, who shoots first and doesn't bother asking questions. Had Zhao Yunlan been dealing with it, the bit with the soil-changing earthquake Dixingian would've gone much differently. I'm also intrigued by Zhao Xinci's doppelgänger/posesser of the golden eyes, who seems to be kinder and more forgiving than Zhao Xinci himself. The flashback to Zhao Yunlan's mom's (Shen Xi) death is interesting – it seems this incident is at the root of why father and son are estranged, plus perhaps what makes Zhao Yunlan's attitude different. Zhao Xinci also seems to be involved in Professor Ouyang's experiments, like Li Qian. I'm glad to have Li Qian back! Also, Sha Ya the maybe-crow musician girl Lin Jing has a crush on is sent to try steal stuff from them, and Li Qian seems to have moral qualms about it.
Sang Zan seems to have undergone a personality transplant, but the narrative finds him unimportant, so whatever. Also, in addition to being illiterate, it almost seems like he isn't a native speaker of Chinese? (Wang Zheng died 100 years ago, so ... 1918. That is not very long ago. The time depth is quite short, especially compared to Shen "I have waited for 10 000 years" Wei.)
The relationship dynamic I did not see at all was Chu Shuzhi declaring he'd protect Guo Changcheng, but I suppose it's all displaced "must protect replacement younger brother" feelings. The bit where Chu Shuzhi was 100% ready to avenge someone else's younger brother in that underground fighting rink was a good characterization moment, and the way these episodes treated Yehuo were a nice continuation of the sentiment behind the anti-whistleblower propaganda: not everything is as it first seems. I do wonder what taboo crime Chu Shuzhi committed to be exiled to the surface, though. He promised to tell in the freezer, but didn't.
We visited Dixing repeatedly! The internal politics are screwy; I very much suspect that the Chancellor (let's call him the Chancellor for now; if you know the hanzi for his title, please share) is manipulating the situation. We saw him nod along and go "oh it's too early to commit" in the Shen Wei vs Ye Zun power struggle, so I wouldn't be surprised if he were playing both sides against each other. Dixing also has no schools or hospitals, despite Shen Wei's desire to reform it. The Dijun is just an automaton copier whose life force seems to be sapped by the mind-possessing throne, so the person blocking it must be the Chancellor.
Episode 19, despite containing the most unrealistic low-temperature laboratory ever (for one, the actual low-temp bit is tiny, since cooling stuff takes energy; the interested student may wish to check out dilution refrigerators and laser cooling), was an amazing episode! Zhao Yunlan got to show off his brains by figuring out that Zhu Jiu teleports using light, and then organized a power blackout on the city! :3
Zhu Jiu is very much a tragic figure, in a way, used and abused by his boss and then he sacrifices his life energy for his boss so his boss can get out of jail. On the other hand, he really is kinda dumb: "A glowing pillar told me one of our supreme leaders was a traitor, and I believe it wholeheartedly!" That's been kinda salvaged by the later reveal that Ye Zun's power is manipulating the weak of heart, and Zhu Jiu really wanted to be a hero. In Dixing, where light is scarce, he was powerless; on the surface, where there is light, he has power, and he can teleport as he pleases. Irritating and annoying, but also a tragedy.
Of course, after episode 19, everyone was hit with the idiot ball – who the fuck leaves Guo Changcheng alone with a prisoner???? Chu Shuzhi, please supervise! The resulting confrontation between Zhao Yunlan and Ye Zun was a nice duel with words, and the Infinity Sundial was ... well, idk, I have no clue why it could counter Ye Zun's powers, but if I thought more about it/rewatched stuff, it'd probably make more sense. The blindness subplot was basically just an excuse to have our two leads touch each other a lot and give Zhao Yunlan an impressive cane, so I'm not complaining too much. The actor really did a good job with the blindness – the only thing I noticed was him shying away from the car before Shen Wei came to the rescue, but the eye line of sight was perfect. I do wonder who gave them the final cure using the Infinity Sundial, though. Shen Wei got hurt.
Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's relationship continues to be amazing. Zhao Yunlan knows that Shen Wei has his secrets and lets him tell them at his own pace, and most importantly, doesn't make a big deal about the secrets when Shen Wei tells them, thus establishing himself as someone Shen Wei can tell secrets to. Example: the fact that Chu Shuzhi was sent over by Shen Wei to spy on the SID. Though I honestly can't blame Zhao Yunlan for freaking the fuck out at all in episode 23 – he saw Shen Wei slit his wrist with a knife and okay sure it's nbd because he's a Dixingian, but he didn't even tell anything about the energy restructuring being necessary, and Zhao Yunlan drew a big line between "it's okay to tell your backstory at your own pace" and "stuff that impacts us, tell it now" and then they had an argument that was dripping with Shen Wei's unrevealed backstory, including such gems like "thankfully, I'm used to getting hurt" (Shen Wei no) and "this life is what I'm returning to you" and a very interesting expression. Episode 23 was a very good mix of Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan feels and Dixing stuff, including frustrated expat Shen Wei.
The Merit Brush is interesting. Doctor Cheng might recall the Merit Brush's holder dude, who came to visit while she was lucid enough to order patient records. The anti-video game episode was perhaps a bit "Video games are bad for you. Love, the Government" but whatever, we got an argument between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan about lies of omission vs commission, and Zhao Yunlan got to use the life skills he acquired during his brief period of blindness to his advantage. The real-life video game was goddamn creepy; like breaking the fourth wall but not really. I wonder where Zhao Yunlan got his bomb-disposal skills, but I don't mind at all how he saved the day. Also that "I'd miss you" and "we're part of each others' lives" and all the forbidding Shen Wei to do any self-sacrifice, and Shen Wei's face when he promised to tell Zhao Yunlan all his secrets some day!
The bit with the personality inversion was hilarious, albeit cringey. Especially for Chu Shuzhi. Multiple personality disorder really doesn't work like described in the episode, but whatever. We got Chu Shuzhi flirting with Zhao Yunlan! Manly man Guo Changcheng! Utterly 110% Done With This Shit Zhao Yunlan! The bit where he said "you're mistaken, I'm not yet awake" because he didn't want to deal with the multiple personality infection vector: golden. Doctor Cheng said that the only people whose personalities don't change are those who already wear disguises; we know Shen Wei wears his disguise (and is likely also immune, because Black-Cloaked Envoy), Zhao Yunlan hides his true self from absolutely everyone (and might have been given the vaccine by Shen Wei? idk how we were supposed to interpret that bit), and Lin Jing ... is suspicious.
I like how Ya Qing does have some decency in her, despite her antagonist status. Guo Changcheng was a great comfort to Dong Nan as she lay dying? Give him a token of appreciation. Multiple personality source wanted to die? Let him keep his last shreds of dignity. She promised to the other two semihuman tribe leaders to mend her ways and quit working with Ye Zun, but didn't. Intriguing. How long do crow people live, anyway?