SID team

[maggie33]

Like I’ve said I like making lists. So here is another one – members of SID team (other than Zhao Yunlan) in order from most liked to least with pictures. I love them all, I just love some of them more than others. :)


Image heavy so behind the cut.

Chu Shuzhi – beautiful and dangerous, with a tragic past. A good guy under all this grumpy and mean exterior.

My favorite scene that isn’t a shippy Chu/Guo scene: that one after the team finds out about Shen Wei being Black Cloaked Envoy and Shen Wei apologizes to Chu Shuzhi. I love that Shen Wei felt the need to apologize, I love that Chu is all “regardless of what you do I will support you unconditionally.” And of course I love Zhao Yunlan’s reaction: “Just remember who is your boss.” :DDD And then Chu Shuzhi just rolls his eyes and Shen Wei smiles with that soft, indulgent smile.

I’m fascinated by the relationship between Chu Shuzhi and Shen Wei. My second favorite scene for Chu is the one in the end of episode 2. When Shen Wei just looks meaningfully and covertly at him, and Chu Shuzhi knows that he’s been summoned. And then they talk and Chu kneels and says: “That I can live to this day and make a difference here is all because of you. This one will not hesitate to sacrifice his life for the Honorable Envoy.” I have a loyalty kink, but without a romantic or sexual component. Just a subordinate being devotedly loyal to the person in charge. Also people kneeling to show respect does things to me, see also my favorite Zhu Hong scene below. :)

After Chu kneels Shen Wei says “Rise. This is friendship between gentlemen. Not a repayment of good and evil.” But Chu definitely treats their relationship as that of superior and subordinate or maybe more like a commander and a loyal soldier. I think Shen Wei just didn’t have anyone to talk to really, especially about his Envoy duties, before Zhao Yunlan. That’s why he tries to with Chu Shuzhi. Like in episode 4 when he asks him “Do you also feel that I am unreasonable?” But Chu is too engaged in 'everything Lord Envoy does is just and right' narrative, to really respond to that question.

As you see, I have a lot of thoughts about it and someday I will write a fic about Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is Black Cloaked Envoy.

Da Qing – pretty, funny and loyal, behaves like a cat even in human form. What’s not to like? My favorite scene: hard to choose, but let’s go with him meowing to wake up Zhao Yunlan (all his “boy and his cat” scenes with Zhao Yunlan are great). Or maybe pinky swear with Shen Wei? Like I’ve said – hard to choose. :)

Guo Changcheng - usually not my kind of character at all. He annoyed me a lot in the 1st episode. But later his relentless optimism and sunny personality won me over, shipping him with Chu Shuzhi also helped. :) My favorite scene that isn’t a shippy Chu/Guo scene: when he resists Ye Zun’s mind control in Dixing. I love that he was able to do that because of his pure heart.

Zhu Hong – beautiful, so beautiful. There are two pictures, because I couldn’t decide which one is better. :) And she’s a badass, too. She totally deserves to be the leader of Yashou tribes. My favorite scene: Zhu Hong becoming Yashou tribes leader and everyone kneeling before her, and then her being so embarrassed about it and urging them to rise. :)

Wang Zheng and Sang Zan - Wang Zheng is pretty and mysterious, Sang Zan is pretty and sweet and they make a cute couple. I also like their angsty backstory. Favorite scene: angst always wins with me, so I have to go with them sacrificing their lives for Zhao Yunlan in episode 34.

Lao Li – he’s nice and cares for Da Qing. Favorite scene: the one when Da Qing goes mad and tries to destroy the shop and Lao Li feeds him fish. I like how he strokes Da Qing’s hair as if he was petting a cat.

Lin Jing – for a long time I didn’t care for him. I didn’t hate him or anything like that, I just didn’t pay much attention to him. But he grew on me. His laziness and his efforts to avoid doing any actual work amuse me. But I don’t have a favorite scene for him.

Comments

[trobadora]

Ooooh. Lovely!

and someday I will write a fic about Chu Shuzhi’s reaction to being told that Shen Wei is Black Cloaked Envoy.

YES PLEASE OMG. I want that so badly! Their relationship is so fascinating, for all the reasons you mention, and that reveal definitely deserves more attention.

He annoyed me a lot in the 1st episode. But later his relentless optimism and sunny personality won me over

Xiao-Guo totally won me over in episode 2, when he puts himself bodily between Shen Wei and the attacking Dixingren. He's got to know he has no chance of stopping that guy, but he's still trying to protect others.

for a long time I didn’t care for him

I've warmed up to Lin Jing a lot - the undercover plot did a lot for that. Also, the whole thing with Sha Ya, and how weirdly sweet he was about her trying to kill him.

It's Sang Zan I like the least, these days. He's got a lot of interesting backstory, but after that, he's just kind of ... there? Boring.

(Damn, I need a team icon.)

[maggie33]

Their relationship is so fascinating, for all the reasons you mention, and that reveal definitely deserves more attention.

I even started vaguely plotting the fic, because I re-watched episode 4 yesterday and during Shen Wei interrogation scene Chu Shuzhi says to him “Your confidence and composure reminds me of someone I know.” So I think that Chu would probably have two conflicting emotions: a total disbelief, but at the same time ‘it makes so much sense’ feeling. :)

As for Guo Changcheng - it took me a bit more time than one episode, but by episode 7 I loved him a lot.

[trobadora]

So I think that Chu would probably have two conflicting emotions: a total disbelief, but at the same time ‘it makes so much sense’ feeling. :)

Yes, totally! There's got to be a part of him that's just, damn, I should have known.

[asya_ana]

I LOVE this. I wish I had had something like this when I started the show. It took me a little while to figure out all their names and roles. I think it's really hard for people who have no Chinese background, and being able to see their faces and match with names would help a lot.

I had to read a little bit through my fingers to avoid spoilers, but I can totally relate to so many of your thoughts! First, you know, even though I was kind of ambivalent at first, I did grow to love them each, like it seems you did, too.

The scene you mentioned from ep 2 where Chu Shuzhi kneels before Shen Wei, I am very into that scene. I love that they have this aspect to their relationship that is different from SW's relationship to the other members of the SID. It makes for some additional complexity, and I'm interested to see where it goes next.

But yeah, I love them all and want to cuddle them all. I need them in a big puppy pile.

[maggie33]

Ha, yes, it too me some time to learn and remember all the names. Like for instance for a long time I thought Lin Jing's name was Li Jin and I had even more problems with remembering Wang Zheng's name. :)

And it's true that not knowing Chinese makes it harder. I'm in the middle of watching that other Chinese drama SCI and I still have problems with names for like a half of secondary characters.

And I'm very sorry about spoilers. I should have wrote above the cut that the post contains spoilers for the whole show. I forgot sometimes that there are people that are still watching it for the first time.

[asya_ana]

Oh, please don't worry! I'm making a half-hearted attempt to avoid spoilers, but I accept that it will happen if I want to chat with folks about the show. I already know a lot, so it's really ok :) I just wanted to clarify why I wasn't responding to some of the detail.

[rheasilvia]

I love this post! The SID Team is one of my favorite things - they are so much fun, both as a team and individually. I don't even think I could rank them; I do love some a bit more and some a bit less, but which are my favorite depends on the ep in question!

LOL, that scene with Chu Shuzhi, ZYL and SW. And yes, you definitely should write a fic about it!!!

I love the pic you chose for Da Qing, who only ever seems to hang out with kittens. Adult cats are too bossy for him...? ;-)

Like you, I also didn't pay much attention to Lin Jing initially, but at this point, I have developed a real appreciation for him. I am about to rewatch the eps that focus on him and Sha Ya, so who knows where I will end up. :-)

[maggie33]

I love the pic you chose for Da Qing, who only ever seems to hang out with kittens. Adult cats are too bossy for him...? ;-)

LOL, they probably are. And yep, I chose this pic, because I love the scenes when Da Qing tries to talk to kittens. Da Qing + kittens = cuteness overload. :)

[china_shop]

Awwww, what a great post and a beautiful choice of screencaps! (I think I have Da Qing, Chu Shuzhi, Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng as first equal, personally. They are ALL my favourite! (Okay, maybe Da Qing inches out ahead just a teeny bit.))

[maggie33]

Thanks. :)

(Okay, maybe Da Qing inches out ahead just a teeny bit.)

I understand that. If not for Chu Shuzhi, who's seems tailor-made for my id, I would like Da Qing best. :)

[bonibaru]

Lin Jing touched my heart a tiny bit when he was falling in love with electricity girl, and a little bit more when he had the foresight to pre-record a "if you're seeing this, I'm dead" warning to his estranged team. But his biggest problem in the series is that his most heroic moment comes at the very end and is part of the tragedy that broke all of our hearts. But upon reflection, he did what he was asked, what he had to do for the greater good even though he personally didn't want to do it (the embodiment of the theme of the series) and he was very brave about it, so to be totally honest in that moment he was as much a part of saving the world (perhaps top of the list) as Xiao Guo and Da Qing and all the rest. So for me Lin Jing's best scene is one of the ones I hate the most but I'm trying not to hold it against him.

[maggie33]

and a little bit more when he had the foresight to pre-record a "if you're seeing this, I'm dead" warning to his estranged team

Ah, yes, that scene is great. I love angst, so if I had to choose my favorite scene for Lin Jing that would be it. :)

in that moment he was as much a part of saving the world (perhaps top of the list) as Xiao Guo and Da Qing and all the rest.

Of course he was, I agree 100%.

[firestar]

Here from sid_guardian and I love your caps. <3 For me, it's always a toss up between Da Qing and Chu Shuzhi as to my fave, but when it comes down to it, as a cat person? The cat wins. XD (Though I do notice now that I have no CSZ icons and this needs fixing.)

But I'm echoing everyone who's telling you to write the thing, because seriously. Write the thing. That would be so fascinating. XD

[maggie33]

Like I've said above in response to china_shop - Da Qing would be my favorite SID team member if not for Chu Shuzhi. Also that is a lovely icon. That sunny smile...:)

And I will write the thing. Probably. It's just I'm a very slow writer, so it will take time. :)

[firestar]

*laughs* They both hit my id, just in completely different ways. And yes, Da Qing has some super cute smiles.

Fair enough. The writing bug doesn't hit me much anymore but I know how that goes. Take your time, no pressure. <3

[mekare]

I think Shen Wei just didn’t have anyone to talk to really, especially about his Envoy duties, before Zhao Yunlan. That’s why he tries to with Chu Shuzhi. Like in episode 4 when he asks him “Do you also feel that I am unreasonable?” But Chu is too engaged in 'everything Lord Envoy does is just and right' narrative, to really respond to that question.


Oh that is an interesting headcanon I will adopt. I agree that Chu Shuzi shows too much deference to be a partner to talk to.

[maggie33]

I always thought that Shen Wei must have been pretty lonely. In Dixing people only knew him as feared Envoy and in Haxing he had acquaintances, but he could never be totally honest with them. That’s why I was so glad when SID team finally found about him and he didn’t have to pretend anymore. :)

[abyss_valkyrie]

They are all important and very likable in their own way,aren't they?It's as you said, can't hate or dislike any of them,just the level of liking them is different.I totally agree about Changcheng,he just grew on me,adding that youthful naivete and optimism but also trying his best to be helpful throughout the series. :) Zhu Hong is a badass while still being so feminine and being so strong emotionally.

[maggie33]

They are all important and very likable in their own way,aren't they?

Yes, yes, they are. :) I fell like the drama, thanks to having 40 episodes which is quite a lot, could dedicate some time to secondary characters and give each of them "a day in the limelight". Which I love a lot.

[lannamichaels]

Here via... somebody. I love this writeup, really helpful for fic-reading, and your discussion of Chu Shuzhi and loyalty kink might just be the kick in the pants for me to watch this show, since that sounds just like my catnip :D

[maggie33]

Thanks, I'm glad it's helpful. There are other great scenes (besides the two I described) showing Chu Shuzhi's devoted loyalty to Shen Wei, especially in the first half of the drama. By which I mean - yes, yes, you should definitely watch it. :D