lunabee34 | It's the moment I've all been waiting for: Guardian 13-15

Emma and I were talking like you do about whether we think any of the characters will die. We both agree that this doesn't seem to be the kind of show with a lot of character death, but if a character does die, our odds are on either Little Guo sacrificing himself for the team or Old Chu sacrificing himself for Little Guo because he loves him even though he is a gruff taskmaster.

Prediction: Minister Gao is actually the big bad. Evidence: the scientists at the Ministry conducting experiments (I think they're using the human energy collected by Zhu Jiu), and I think the Minister set up Little Guo to work at the SID for some nefarious reason although Little Guo is totally innocent and would only help him unwittingly.

Emma and I have also decided that Zhao Yunlan is the missing prince of Dixing. LOL I mean, I can't help looking at this show through the lens of Victorian literature. Zhao Yunlan's got to be a secret aristocrat, or else he and Shen Wei can't get married. *g*

Question: How old is everyone supposed to be? Emma and I have guesstimated that Zhao Yunlan and Old Chu are about the same age, 35ish. Shen Wei and Zhu Hong are about 30. Little Guo is about 20, and everyone else is about 25. What do y'all think?

Emma brought up Shen Wei's aversion to technology which I hadn't really noticed, and she wondered if that was because Dixing people just don't use technology and so he doesn't know anything about it (which as she said makes no sense for a person with a biomedical engineering degree). I think it's just that he doesn't care to, not that he couldn't. I think he uses a brush to write because it's more comfortable to use the method he's always used rather than that he couldn't use a pen. And I think he doesn't have a phone because until Zhao Yunlan, he didn't have anyone he'd care to call.

Episode 13

1. I'm glad that the SID instantly saves Damn Cat.

2. I feel so sorry for the couple at the wedding. What a pall to be cast over the rest of your relationship. :(

3. The minister seems a little too okay with Shen Wei's powers which also makes me think he might be the bad guy.

4. "If you were the trouble, it is better to take dozens to bother my whole life." *hearts in eyes*

5. Ya Qing is an interesting character. I love all the animal and plant shape shifting.

6. The little girl is powerful enough to hurt Zhu Jiu and Ya Qing. She's an extremely dangerous weapon.

7. Zhu Hong's back story is pretty tragic. Her dad is dead. It's starting to look like none of the SID have intact families. (Emma and I died when the subtitles called her a rascal baby LOL).

8. Every time Little Guo gives one of his speeches or writes in his diary, my heart swells three sizes in my chest. I love his point that he could hide, but no one can hide forever, and so he stands to fight with his friends (the implication being that the Snake People can try to hide and be Switzerland but that ultimately they'll have to make a choice).

9. I love that Zhao Yunlan's whole thing is not that he wants to punish Shen Wei in some way or that he doesn't trust him now or that he feels betrayed; his whole deal is that if Shen Wei was just honest with him, they could work together and be waaaay more effective and efficient.

10. All Shen Wei wants to do is protect Zhao Yunlan. I WANT TO KNOW WHY OMG!!!!

11. Oooh, Shen Wei can't use his power on earth for very long (although this does seem to be rearing it's head at a convenient plot moment rather than being consistently applied).

12. I love that the flower shifter tries to talk sense into Ya Qing and that Ya Qing doesn't hurt her.

13. OMG, the ending scene is so freaking tense. Zhao Yunlan shoots her! Shen Wei declares his undying friendship! Zhao Yunlan shoots Shen Wei!

AND IT WAS ALL A TRICK!

I do not think I can textually render the amount of screaming and squealing that happened upon the reveal. Josh had to leave the room. I absolutely adore that Zhao Yunlan gets the upper hand with science. He's never controlled; he's playing Zhu Jiu the whole time. I love that Shen Wei recognizes what's going on. THAT WINK, THAT WINK, THAT WINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*dreamy sigh*

Of all the ways for Shen Wei to reveal himself, this exceeds my expectations. I mean, he's all--You took my boy! Raaaaaaggggge! And Zhao Yunlan is all clever and badass. And instead of one saving the other, they work together.

<3

Episode 14

1. What's even better than Zhao Yunlan knowing Shen Wei's secret? Zhao Yunlan being the only one who knows Shen Wei's secret. :)

2. Loved the use of the opening song in Chinese? instead of English during this epiosde.

3. I think it demonstrates Shen Wei's kindness and humanity that he let the girl go, but I can't help but think doing so is really stupid. I mean, I don't think she should go to jail or be punished, but I also don't think just letting her go is a great idea. What prevents Zhu Jiu from just picking her up again and using her as a weapon? It makes emotional sense to let her go but not a lot of logical sense.

3. "We have always been friends." *my heart*

4. So that black power gun is really something to reckon with; Zhu Jiu cannot heal his wound.

5. And the next Holy Relic appears. It's a writing brush! Emma and I thought it was a flute from the credits. LOL

6. Singing in the car!

7. Again that reiteration that Zhao Yunlan just wants them to work together as a team.

8. I love the way Shen Wei deflects attention from Zhao Yunlan when he notices he's upset after the mention of his dad.

9. The scene of Chu training Little Guo is one of my favorites in the whole damn thing. That little smile when he realizes that Little Guo has been more effective than he believed is perfect.

10. Damn Cat with all the baby kittens is another favorite scene. Emma and I have laughed for days over the translation: "I have told you to stay away from those rubbishes!" So adorable.

Episode 15

1. Love all of their countermeasures against Congbo the paparazzo. I think the revelation that he genuinely believed he was fighting the good fight instead of wanting money or fame makes him a much more interesting character as does the revelation that he was wrong about everything he thought he was uncovering. This is where we get to see Zhao Yunlan being a really savvy leader; offering Congbo a place on the team is a really clever way of dealing with the problem he poses.

2. Shen Wei's power is that he can learn anything. I would like to have that power please.

3. Zhao Yunlan believes he has to use the holy relics to protect people even if using them might hurt him.

4. Awwww, Zhu Hong. Emma kept saying that Zhu Hong is in love with Zhao Yunlan, and I was all, No she's not. She's just prickly with everyone, and she doesn't think anyone is good enough for her fearless leader which isn't the same as being in love with him herself, but *sigh.* Emma wins again. Not sure if I like this development.

5. Zhao Yunlan is in particular danger from the black power. I wonder why.

6. So Zhao's dad was neglectful and work driven. I really hope he's not more of a villain than that. It's clearly his dad who shows up at SID at the end. Poor Little Guo; I fear he is in for an embarrassing moment next episode. LOL

I finally joined the SID_Guardian comm! Do y'all think it would be good to post my reviews there? They aren't really very in depth or meta-ish, more just lists of stuff I like about the episode. I'm not sure anyone beyond my nearest and dearest would be very interested. LOL

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From:

trobadora

You should totally link your reviews on

sid_guardian! It's such a joy to watch you watch the show. :D

Your speculation is, as always, delightful. I can't wait to see your reaction to all the reveals yet to come. :D

Ages are difficult. There's a prop early on that says Zhao Yunlan is 28, and Shen Wei at one point claims to be 32. (Bai Yu was 27 and Zhu Yilong 29 when they were filming, IIRC. SO YOUNG OMG.) Zhu Hong is definitely younger than Zhao Yunlan, and Xiao-Guo is in his early 20s. Other than that - honestly, I'm not good with ages.

I think it's just that he doesn't care to, not that he couldn't. I think he uses a brush to write because it's more comfortable to use the method he's always used rather than that he couldn't use a pen. And I think he doesn't have a phone because until Zhao Yunlan, he didn't have anyone he'd care to call.

Awwww! ♥

I agree with you that he could if he actually cared to; he's actively choosing not to learn.

I really like Ya Qing and the raven shifter special effect. It pleases me a lot. (Also, I ship Ya Qing and Ying Chun, the flower Yashou.)

Oooh, Shen Wei can't use his power on earth for very long (although this does seem to be rearing it's head at a convenient plot moment rather than being consistently applied).

We never do see him in full Envoy mode for very long, but yeah, just how long he can remain at full power isn't very clear.

From:

lunabee34

Okay! I'll do that then. :) Thanks for the encouragement.

I wondered if people shipped those two. I certainly do. Ying Chun just seemed so sad when Ya Qing continued down her dark path. :(

Ages are always weird for me, too, especially since Hollywood distorts our perception of it by frequently casting actors who are significantly older in teen roles, etc.

It's the moment I've all been waiting for: Guardian 13-15

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