[ Episode Thirty-Four ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episodes Thirty-Six / Thirty-Seven ]
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The time travel arc concludes! Featuring Kunlun giving Shen Wei his name, a showdown with Ye Zun, and several emotional heart-to-hearts.
Cliffside Conversations
The episode opens with Shen Wei revealing his name to Zhao Yunlan, who immediately proceeds to make a terrible pun with it. (The original Wei in his name sounds a lot like the standard greeting used when picking up the phone.)
Zhao Yunlan renames Shen Wei's 嵬 (rocky terrain, composed of the characters for mountain and ghost) to 巍 (lofty, towering). Here's a great post on Shen Wei's name, which links well with Kunlun's lines on towering mountains that shoulder heavy burdens.
Shen Wei: Since Kunlun gave me this name, of course I like it.
Shen Wei tells Kunlun about his childhood & how the disaster following the meteor's fall has made the Dixingren more vicious.
Although this is a heart-breaking story, I love this moment where he actually gets to talk about himself to someone who cares to learn more about him.
Shen Wei: Why should I be like the rest of them? I don't like it. Better not be born.
This mirrors the little ghost king's speech the novel: Other than knowing how to kill, they only know how to eat—what else can they understand? So just because I am born of the ghost race, I must be like them? I don’t like it. Better not to be born.
Shen Wei reminisces fondly about how he got the Black-Cloaked Envoy nickname.
Will I ever get tired of these two smiling and being happy in each other's company?
Extra: Video Clip
I cut this clip of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan laughing because it's the purest sound of happiness in the world.
This scene where Shen Wei confesses that the Envoy isn't who he wanted to be always gets to me. With the incredible weight Chinese culture puts on duty & the high expectations placed on him, it's hard to understate just how much trust this admission of "weakness" took.
Sensing Shen Wei's uncertainty about his strength & resolve, Zhao Yunlan jumps in with reassurance. Shen Wei's conscience would not let him shy away from a fight. Zhao Yunlan then drives this point home using Shen Wei's own words: Better not to be born than to give up his principles.
There are a lot of different & valid interpretations on the extent of Kunlun's influence on Shen Wei in this scene. My own take is that this isn't Kunlun pushing a reluctant Shen Wei into something he doesn't want, but rather Kunlun telling Shen Wei to trust in his own strength.
It's Shen Wei being insecure: Everyone thinks I'm righteous & strong, but I actually wish I didn't have to shoulder this burden.
And it's Kunlun disagreeing: No, the good that everyone sees in you *is* there, because you're always willing to give your life to do the right thing.
Ye Zun Returns
As Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan move onto the topic of Shen Wei's younger brother, we transition to the scene of Ye Zun gaining his powers and becoming the new rebel leader.
Meanwhile, back on the cliffside, Shen Wei is being adorable & playing with his mask while Zhao Yunlan looks on fondly.
Shen Wei breaks everyone's hearts again by thanking Kunlun for being the first person to actually care about him as a person instead of seeing him as a symbol.
Zhao Yunlan's smile is a little sad this time, while Shen Wei's smile turns shy.
As they admire the scenery, Zhao Yunlan warns Shen Wei that there may come a time where he leaves without saying goodbye. Shen Wei is shook. Zhao Yunlan can only explain that he has to go back to where he should be.
Da Qing interrupts their lovers' goodbye with news that the rebels have the Hallows.
Shen Wei is determined to retrieve the Hallows this time. Zhao Yunlan reminds him that he is no longer alone now.
Shen Wei barely has time to recover from his heart going dokidoki before Zhao Yunlan is rushing off. Before he leaves, he picks up a lollipop wrapper as a memento.
Oh, Shen Wei.
The Confrontation
There's another battle couple sequence as Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan duke it out with Ye Zun & a group of rebels for the Hallows.
So impressed with their awareness of each other in such a chaotic battle. We see a Shen Wei vs Ye Zun showdown, before a moment of silent communication sees Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan escaping with the Hallows.
A super adorable moment here where Shen Wei offers to help Zhao Yunlan open a wormhole, despite having no idea what a wormhole is.
A somber Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei that it's time he left. That look of pure dismay on Shen Wei's poor little face.
Soon, the rebels catch up and there's another fight. I can't help but think they should have left to tinker with the Hallows somewhere safer. Like the giant, well-guarded Alliance base.
Ye Zun loses his mask in his fight with Shen Wei.
Brother vs Brother
Shen Wei and Ye Zun recognize each other.
As Shen Wei and Ye Zun's fight winds down, Zhao Yunlan has managed to defeat the rest of the rebels.
I've watched this scene so many times, but there are still times when I forget that these two characters are played by the same actor.
Zhao Yunlan defends Shen Wei against Ye Zun, but both of them end up getting knocked down.
In the heat of battle, the Hallows activate a wormhole. Zhao Yunlan only has time to give a brief parting advice:
"No matter what you decide, never have regrets!"
Look at the devastation on poor Shen Wei's face as he watched Kunlun disappear before his eyes.
Return to the SID
Zhao Yunlan is taken back into the wormhole, where he runs into a visibly emotional Shen Wei.
"I've searched for you for 10,000 years."
Look at the way they're looking at each other. Zhao Yunlan, with his love for both past and present Shen Wei. And Shen Wei, finally finding the Zhao Yunlan who remembers him.
THEY'RE JUST SO IN LOVE.
After they watch the conclusion of the rebellion and the signing of the Treaty, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan return to the SID to find Da Qing waiting for them.
Yet more happy smiles!
Unfortunately, although they were only gone for 2 days, Ye Zun has declared war by impersonating the Black-Cloaked Envoy.
I love this transition from Ye Zun to Shen Wei. It really highlights how distinctly recognizable Ye Zun is.
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan take a long, synchronized walk while they discuss what Ye Zun has done.
While Shen Wei is blaming himself for everything that has gone wrong, Zhao Yunlan stops him with the best line in the damned show.
"You're a person, not a blade."
You can see how much Zhao Yunlan's words & comfort mean to Shen Wei just by his reaction here. He's visibly overcome as he thanks Zhao Yunlan.
The two of them resume their in-sync walking as they discuss their next steps. The Dixing rebellion will take time to prepare for war, so in the meantime, their biggest threat will come from Haixing.
The episode ends with Zhao Yunlan coming up with a plan and telling Shen Wei that they're going to see someone.
[ Episode Thirty-Four ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episodes Thirty-Six / Thirty-Seven ]
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