Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 12, part 1
Feb. 23rd, 2026 11:47 am
Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!
Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.
Episode 12, up to 22:18
Summary
Fourth Uncle drugs Zhu Hong; Guo Changcheng zaps himself unconscious. Wang Zheng is teaching Sang Zan to write (but hasn't shown him how to hold a pen). Zhao Yunlan confronts Shen Wei in his university office, ostensibly about the case but in fact seeking confirmation of Shen Wei's other identity. Tan Xiao breaks into the SID to steal the Hallows but is thwarted by Sang Zan's trap, followed by Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's arrival. Zhao Yunlan catches the Awl, has visions and falls unconscious (feat. some lovely manhandling by Shen Wei); Da Qing wakes him by being catlike. Lin Jing wants to run some tests on a human; Zhao Yunlan fakes a headache, so Shen Wei volunteers. Shen Wei lies on the evidence bed in his undershirt. Fourth Uncle talks to tied-up!Zhu Hong, only it's actually Guo Changcheng in a skirt and wig. Zhu Hong drugs her uncle. (So much drugging!) Zhu Jiu is angry at Tan Xiao's failure to retrieve the Hallows; he's holding Zheng Yi hostage, promising to cure her. Zhao Yunlan doodles Shen Wei and the Envoy in his notebook. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi ambush and hypnotise Zhu Hong as she returns from the Snake Village. She fights Chu Shuzhi, and Lin Jing has to sedate her. Zhao Yunlan tells Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi that they can't trust Zhu Jiu.

Quote
Shen Wei: Are you even listening to me?
Zhao Yunlan: I only want to hear you tell the truth.
Detail
Presumably Zhao Yunlan is already wearing protective earplugs when he apprehends Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi on his own.
Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 12? How is Zhao Yunlan hoping that the conversation in Shen Wei's office will go? Does Sang Zan have any other booby traps set up around the SID (and how many times has Guo Changcheng set them off)? Did Shen Wei put himself in a trance/stasis during Lin Jing's experiment? Any theories about what happened to Tan Xiao's sister? What's with all the drugging??
How many times has Guo Changcheng zapped himself unconscious before?
once
0 (0.0%)
a couple of times
1 (14.3%)
truly an alarming number of times
4 (57.1%)
Lin Jing is ~this close~ to confiscating the baton
1 (14.3%)
Chu Shuzhi bought a portable defibrillator to take to training practice
4 (57.1%)
other
0 (0.0%)
Does Shen Wei expect Zhao Yunlan to take him literally when he says, "To be honest, I'm just a normal person who happens to be unlucky"?
yes, he's determined to stuff the cat back into the bag
2 (28.6%)
he doesn't *expect*, exactly; but he hopes!
4 (57.1%)
no, he's implicitly asking Zhao Yunlan to play along
3 (42.9%)
other
1 (14.3%)
Why does Shen Wei volunteer to be a test subject?
he thinks he can fake a human field of consciousness
4 (57.1%)
he's no longer really hiding his identity; he just doesn't want to admit the truth in so many words
3 (42.9%)
other
0 (0.0%)
Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?
(As usual, these are all just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like! You don't have to be keeping up with the rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)
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FIC: in the darkness with you (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan) [Mature]
Feb. 22nd, 2026 08:18 pmWord count: 4,233
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV)
Pairing: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Mature
Content tags: Blind Zhao Yunlan, First time, Hand-Feeding, Finger-Sucking, Clothed Sex, Zhao Yunlan's oral fixation, Episode Related, Episode 21, Missing Scene, Blindness Arc
Summary:
Zhao Yunlan woke to the smell of citrus, sweet and strong in the air. Without fully turning his face out of the pillow, he slitted open a sleep-heavy eye - to complete, unchanged darkness. Reality came crashing down like a landslide. Right: still blind.
My latest Guardian fanworks
Feb. 22nd, 2026 07:18 pmUnderneath by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Undressing, undergarments, Kneeling, Mild Sexual Content, no sex just touching and vibes, Black-Cloaked Envoy | Hei Pao Shi (Guardian), Long-Haired Shen Wei (Guardian), Fanart, Drawing
Summary: Zhao Yunlan discovers what's under the Envoy's robes.
meet me where the hours bend (I'll do it again) (524 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Episode: e008 Zhao Yunlan Fails at Impressing Shen Wei, Canon Compliant, Pining Shen Wei (Guardian), Caretaking, Hurt/Comfort, Stomach Ache, Sick Zhao Yunlan, Memories, Tenderness
Summary: Zhao Yunlan whimpers in his sleep, and Shen Wei doesn't do anything.
The Envoy and the Cat (549 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Da Qing & Shen Wei & Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Da Qing (Guardian), Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Tree Climbing, friendly teasing, Da Qing Being a Cat in Human Form
Summary: "Really? Really, Damn Cat? You had to get the Black-Cloaked Envoy of all people to help you down from a tree?"
It Takes a Village (369 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng
Characters: Chu Shuzhi, Guo Changcheng, Xiaomi the Dog (Guardian), Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Fluff, Dogs, Domestic, Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Minor Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Team as Family
Summary: "Who will feed Xiaomi when we're away?" Guo Changcheng asks, and Chu Shuzhi blinks.
"Everyone?"
See Nothing (100 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong, Li Yan (Actor)
Additional Tags: Beard Burn, Innuendo, Silly, Light-Hearted, No Homophobia, POV Outsider, Drabble
Summary: "Hey, what happened to your chin?"
Challenge #232 - Deuteragonist
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:16 pm
(So sorry for being one week late with this entry.)
After watching Zootopia 2 and doing some research on Nick I was surprised to learn that he was classified as Deuteragonist. So I thought we could focus a bit on those sort of characters for this Challenge. :o)
The deuteragonist or secondary main character is the second most important character of a narrative, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist often acts as a constant companion to the protagonist or as someone who continues actively aiding a protagonist. The deuteragonist may switch between supporting and opposing the protagonist, depending on their own conflict or plot.
For this Challenge you may icon every character that is classified as Deuteragonist (second main character) (such as on pages like Deuteragonists for example). As long as it's NOT the main character (such as Aladdin in "Aladdin") and that character played a bigger role in the media (such as tv show or movie etc) I'm okay with you using them. :o)
Nicholas Piberius "Nick" Wilde (Zootopia) by
* You may icon 2 different Deuteragonists in this challenge (in case you cannot decide which one is your absolute favorite).
* You may enter up to 4 icons (ICON+URL).
* Please submit your icons as new posts to this community. Every member has posting access.
* Please no animations or x-rated icons. Everything else is allowed.
* Icons must fit DW standards (< 60kb, 100x100 px).
* Tag your entries with challenge number and your username, or I can do it for you.
* Please put a description in your entry which Deuteragonist you picked.
* Please ask questions if you have any.
* DEADLINE: Sunday, March 08th 2026 (04pm Central European Time). [countdown]
Challenge #231 Voting
Feb. 22nd, 2026 04:15 pm
(So sorry for being one week late with this entry.)
* Vote for the best THREE (3) ICONS in order of preference (f.e. 80, 66, 57). Voting is weighted, meaning first place gets 3 points, second place gets 2 points, third place gets 1 point.
* Don't vote for yourself or ask anyone to vote for you.
* Voting ends in two weeks, at the end of the next challenge.
( Voting: Challenge #231 - First Movie )
Please vote in comments, comments are screened.
Challenge #230 Winners
Feb. 22nd, 2026 04:02 pm
(So sorry for being one week late with this entry.)
Thank you so much for all your votes! Congratulations to all winners!
If you would like to get a winner banner, please comment.
| FIRST |
SECOND |
THIRD |
MOD'S CHOICE |
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