Very brief meta

[frith_in_thorns]

What is currently KILLING ME about Guardian:

(This is a Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan feelings!post, as if I have any other kind these days)

So basically when I was watching through the show I could obviously tell that Shen Wei ~knew things~ about Kunlun/Zhao Yunlan (I genuinely believed that ZYL was reincarnated Kunlun until literally *that episode*, good misdirection job show). I assumed that Shen Wei had some kind of magic dark energy foreknowledge that ZYL would have this big important part to play and this is one of the reasons Shen Wei is so desperate to protect him ~at all costs~, because ZYL is ~destined~ for something special.

Turns out, NOPE! Shen Wei in fact at the start of the show has no clue about what ZYL is or isn't going to do. He met Kunlun, fell completely in love with him, learned that he was from the future, and then watched him get sucked back there before falling in a hole for thousands of years. No destiny, no special knowledge; the whole thing is just absolutely ride-or-die relationship commitment on Shen Wei's behalf.

I love this. I love it so fucking much.

Comments

[naye]

Same re: reincarnation!

Shen Wei is the ULTIMATE ride-or-die... And Zhao Yunlan doesn't even hesitate he's THERE for that relationship.

[frith_in_thorns]

Ahaha, it was the one thing I was sure I knew the spoilers for, and then NO COMPLETELY WRONG XD

The ride-or-die is astounding. On both sides.

[qikiqtarjuaq]

Shen Wei just loves Kunlun wholeheartedly and waited 10k years on his word that they would meet again.

[frith_in_thorns]

Yuuuup. That is COMMITMENT.

[no_detective]

RIGHT????? my headcanon is that, during the 10,000 years of dirt nap, shen wei has some lucid dreams about the timeline and seeing kunlun again and what it means that kunlun KNEW HIM ALREADY when they first met and how much is shen wei supposed to let him know in advance, and and and... but yes, it's all hypothesis and wild wild love through centuries <3

(also the reason i included "clairvoyant" on this shen wei playlist, if you'll pardon the self-pimpage, bc i genuinely believe that his character, while also the BCE, is basically made of pining and wanting to make sure the love of his life stays safe.)

[frith_in_thorns]

i genuinely believe that his character, while also the BCE, is basically made of pining and wanting to make sure the love of his life stays safe

god yeah, he is just constantly WATCHING ZYL very seriously and anxiously and just absolutely attuned to him every instant they're in a room together. amazing.

[clevermanka]

Yes yes yes! I love their love SO MUCH. Ride-or-die absolutely.

Does SW learn that ZYL's from the future before he takes his dirt nap? I don't remember that and it would be a good thing to know for this fic I'm about to start writing...

[frith_in_thorns]

I believe he does, hence the "I waited for you", but without the details of how much future, exactly. However, I'm at work so can't check right now!

[clevermanka]

I wonder if this has been addressed on one of the comms....

[frith_in_thorns]

I'm currently getting my wife to watch it all and we'll probably be at those episodes at the weekend, so if you can wait until then I'll get back to you! Otherwise comms or twitter is the best bet for a quick answer I imagine.

[clevermanka]

Oh that'd be fantastic, yes, thank you so much! I'm just scratching notes right now so that's plenty of time.

[naye]

So, I think the answer to this is ambiguous, in true Guardian fashion. There are interpretations where Shen Wei has no idea it's time travel - doesn't even figure it out when he meets Zhao Yunlan again. And then there's the "he probably figured it out" school of thought.

I think canonically there is no indication of what Shen Wei actually thinks, but Kunlun does tell bb!Shen Wei he hasn't changed in ten thousand years. So that hint really is right there for him to pick up!

[clevermanka]

Thank you for weighing in! I love how the source material gives us so many options. I mean, I just plain love the source material so.... =D

[kimboo_york]

OHHHHH Yes yes this! I agree! It's heartbreaking and yet so profound and lovely. Gahhh.

[frith_in_thorns]

These two and their amazing intense love story have just taken over my brain and heart completely. It's terrible. (I love them so much)

[philomytha]

Yes! I thought it was reincarnation too, though I think I'd vaguely seen time travel mentioned in a discussion of the show somewhere. But yeah, Shen Wei, WAITING FAITHFULLY FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS is just... yeah. I love it.

And Zhao Yunlan, who just ... goes with it, because Shen Wei is that fascinating to him, and then he finally does his time travel and he finally GETS IT, and he blasts bb!Shen Wei with all that understanding and adoration in return... <333

[frith_in_thorns]

I love how both of them get to meet this stranger who is emoting furiously at them "I can't explain why but YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE" and they both just respond to that intensely and then get to pass it on and I DON'T USUALLY CARE ABOUT ROMANCE AT ALL, WAAAAAAH

[clevermanka]

YES THIS SO HARD. I usually despise time travel but in this context Boy Does It Speak To Me.

[naye]

Frith I am so gen in my tastes I have no idea why I've fallen so hard for these two and their epic love.

[xparrot]

Ahhh I thought it was reincarnation for a time myself but figured it out beforehand (might have seen spoilers, can't fully recall)... But I always knew Shen Wei was doing it for Zhao Yunlan! Thinking he was protecting him for some purpose...awww that's such a sweet revelation!

...It also makes me wonder if Zhao Yunlan might've thought the samev at one point, I mean, it would explain Shen Wei's devotion. And then he realizes that no, Shen Wei is doing it all not for destiny but because it's him, it's always for him...