drive-by Guardian thoughts

[riventhorn]

 I was watching ep 3 today, and was struck once again by ZYL's people skills. The first time he meets Professor Zhang, he notes how she is overly apologetic and connects that to either low self esteem or past trauma. In contrast, Shen Wei keeps insisting that she has nothing to do with the crime, and that one of the three students who we find out later was involved in raping Professor Zhang is a "sincere and warm" person. ZYL comments that although Shen Wei has studied many living things, he is lacking in the area of studying human beings. 

Other moments also support the idea that Shen Wei does not always have great interpersonal skills. For example, the way he "comforts" Zhu Hong about her unrequited feelings for ZYL. I think he is really trying to comfort her, but is obviously doing a terrible job. 

However, I think his relationship with Li Qian is quite different in this respect. He notices that she is stressed and unhappy; he finds ways to comfort her about her grandmother, etc.  And of course, his relationship with ZYL, where he is quite observant of ZYL's emotions. 

So, I'm interpreting Shen Wei as the sort of person who does better in long-lasting, deep relationships where he spends a lot of time with an individual and comes to know them and feel comfortable with them, as opposed to ZYL who can connect with people much faster. For this interpretation, I am assuming that Shen Wei has known Li Qian for a while and she has been his grad assistant for a while too. 

In a related note, I love how swiftly Shen Wei becomes super concerned over Zhao Yunlan's health. We're only on ep 3, but Shen Wei is already chastising ZYL for eating sweets when he has a cold. <3<3<3

Comments

[trobadora]

So, I'm interpreting Shen Wei as the sort of person who does better in long-lasting, deep relationships where he spends a lot of time with an individual and comes to know them and feel comfortable with them, as opposed to ZYL who can connect with people much faster.

That rings very true to me!

Shen Wei does recognise there's something wrong with Zhang Ruonan, though. He doesn't realise that it's connected to the crime, or what's actually going on, but he does try to talk to her, doesn't he?

(And I don't think the Zhu Hong situation quite counts because half the reason he's not good at comforting her over being in love with Zhao Yunlan is that he is in love with Zhao Yunlan, and he has what she can't have. That would be awkward for anyone.)

[riventhorn]

That's true that he's concerned about Zhang Ruonan.

I agree, the whole Zhu Hong conversation is super awkward and would be for anyone, but still--surely he could have come up with something better than "you'll forget him in x number of years because of biology." Dear Shen Wei, trying so hard, though.

[mekare]

Shen Wei/Trying HARDEST OTP

[riventhorn]

Yes, this! <3<3<3

[mekare]

In my episode review of this episode I interpreted that scene as him actually being pretty observant of people in his immediate squere. Since he comments on Zhang Ruonan's coursework she seems to be in his department (so his sphere).

I think, especially with that student he insists on being innocent, that he tends to assume the best of people (despite having ample evidence to the contrary via his real job.)

Whereas I believe Yunlan is a person who'd be a bit of a cynic regarding humanity (excepting his team though obviously).

But I totally agree that he'd be even better in long lasting relationships. Li Quian definitely counts there.

[trobadora]

Yeah, that's a good way to look at it, Shen Wei assuming the best and ZYL being more cynical. And given that in his Envoy capacity Shen Wei is essentially judge, jury and executioner, it's a good thing he does tend to assume the best - that he's willing to take people at face value until he has actual reason to think otherwise ...

[mekare]

Shen Wei is essentially judge, jury and executioner, it's a good thing he does tend to assume the best - that he's willing to take people at face value until he has actual reason to think otherwise ...

Oh I hadn’t thought of that, but that’s a very good point.

[riventhorn]

he tends to assume the best of people (despite having ample evidence to the contrary via his real job.)

Which makes his relationship with Ye Zun even sadder because he seems to have lost all hope there.

[mekare]

Oh yes, that makes it doubly depressing. T___T