Some Guardian ep 2 questions

[riventhorn]

 What is the name of the game that Zhu Jiu is playing, with the wooden pieces?

Also, am I correct that the Longevity Dial grows bigger? When Li Qian is wearing it as a necklace, it is smaller, but then at the very end, Lin Jing comments that it has grown, and I think that it is definitely bigger, yes?

I was also quite struck this time around with how tense and antagonistic the initial meetings between ZYL and Hei Pao Shi are. Filled with passive-aggressive comments, where ZYL is always needling Hei Pao Shi, who gets rather tetchy with ZYL in turn. Of course, that aligns well with a history of a SID that is very anti-Dixingren, as well as a ZYL who lost his mother to a Dixingren. 

Comments

[mekare]

Yes, the Dial is changing size, it's been discussed in other episode posts.

No clue about the game, the only Chinese game I know is Go. But I'm not knowledgeable enough to recognize if it's that.

Of course, that aligns well with a history of a SID that is very anti-Dixingren, as well as a ZYL who lost his mother to a Dixingren.

Oh absolutely! Though you would only think that on a rewatch. The scene with his mother is very late in canon (I think) and I remember being shocked by it.

[riventhorn]

I thought of Go, but am also unsure.

[china_shop]

It's definitely not Go. That's played with black and white stones. :-)

ETA: I just did a Google image search on "Chinese chess" and it looks like that's probably it.

[riventhorn]

It's been confirmed that it is Chinese chess, or xiangqi.

[trobadora]

Isn't Zhu Jiu playing the Chinese version of chess?

Yes, the Sundial grows! Lin Jing even remarks on it.

I was also quite struck this time around with how tense and antagonistic the initial meetings between ZYL and Hei Pao Shi are

Right? I really like the way ZYL takes some time to warm up the Envoy.

[riventhorn]

Yes, naye confirmed it's xiangqi or Chinese chess.

[bonibaru]

Rewatches showed me a lot of tension with Hei Pao Shi and also a lot of tension from Shen Wei, especially the whole "many tragedies were destined from the beginning" scene in subsequent episodes, he is MAD at Zhao Yunlan. Through the whole case with the cake and the Dixing version of Rogue from XMen and the cute lesbian couple, he gets progressively more and more frustrated and angry and it keeps surprising me that people don't see that coming through when Zhu Yilong is definitely playing it that way.

[riventhorn]

That's an interesting take on it--I was reading it very differently. For example, the "many tragedies" line, I was thinking that he was referring to what is going to happen, i.e. that there is not much hope they'll be able to live long, happy lives but rather are going to need to do something drastic to stop the villains. Not that it was about the past and how ZYL is not acting like Kun Lun. I'll have to keep your reading of it in mind as I rewatch.

[bonibaru]

But at that point they don't know what's happening, who the villains are, what they are after, even that Ye Zun is involved, so how does Shen Wei know what is going to happen unless premonitions are an ability that he learned, and if that's the case, SHEN WEI YOU MADE REALLY BAD CHOICES (lol). Interested to hear how it goes for you next time. At that point (is it ep 3? 4?) all SW knows is someone is trying to get the dial, and ZY is being a jerk and not acting like the guy who was all wonderful but then secretive and abandoned him without, apparently, looking back.

[riventhorn]

I guess I felt it was more of a general, "I can never have nice things" attitude on the part of Shen Wei as opposed to knowing all of the specifics. I believe it's also in the early eps where he says that line about those with great power also have great responsibilities, which fits into a general attitude of "I'll do what I must, no matter what."

But yes, I will see what my impression is this time around! :) I love shows like this that have enough layers and questions that rewatching always reveals something new.

[naye]

Zhu Jiu is playing Chinese chess, aka xiangqi.

[riventhorn]

Thank you!!

[winter_blossom]

Yep, it's very antagonistic (especially on ZYL's side), and I don't think it ever really eased up until...the fight in the cave during the Hanga arc? But even then, I thought ZYL's "Wow!" sounded kind of sarcastic, though maybe that's just me. Anyway, at that point they were at least cooperating without too much friction. Which is why BCE/ZYL/SW identity porn fics leave me skeptical, because imo ZYL was never interested in BCE at all until he realised he and SW were the same person.

[riventhorn]

I agree that it's only once ZYL really knows for sure who the Envoy is that he becomes much more, um, appreciative of the Envoy's skills!

[lynndyre]

I really love the evolution of those early meetings between the SID and the Envoy, there's so much going underneath.