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It is not one of my favourite episodes but it still has some very interesting scenes in it.

ZYL being Player One is interesting because it shows him doing what it takes to protect others. Taking out the better part of his team with a feather duster still makes me giggle... and I love him saving the day with his 'skills' in wire cutting.

Things I still want to know are how they get the other SID members out of the hospital since Da Qing wakes up not remembering what happened (and apparently not because of his memory loss).

Another burning desire is to see Shen Wei's reaction when Zhao Yunlan tells him about the game rounds, particularly the 50/50 one at the end that ends up with the death of the other player. I can't see SW's reaction being particularly calm at how close ZYL came to death without him being aware or being able to intervene.

On a final, slightly sillier note, I adore that ZYL even slouches sitting behind interrogation tables.

Edited to correct typo in the episode number.

Nobly suffering Shen Wei when he's doing whatever is necessary to get Zhao Yunlan healed should be held up as a shining example of heroic woobieness... then times it by a factor of 1000 when he realises that there is no way ZYL is keeping his eyes at the price of someone else's pain.

I still thoroughly approve of the scene in the SID office when ZYL gets his healing. I am finding more things to notice on the repeat viewing, though. There is symmetry in the anonymous email providing the info on how to fix ZYL coming from the first 'victim' that ZYL saves with the Black Cloaked Envoy. Also, what was up with SW's hand holding the Longevity Dial? Was the Dial fighting being released?

In the next episode we get the long-suffering Dixing bar owner again. He deserves a cookie for putting up with ZYL again. It does give us one of Shen Wei's most epic 'why do I have to deal with these infants' faces when he watches Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing with the bar owner.

Back in Zhao Yunlan's apartment, what is the energy field he is seeing when Shen Wei is preparing dinner?

I hadn't noticed it on first viewing but before ZYL freaks out when he sees Shen Wei's wrist he asks SW if he woke up and was still hungry (according to the subtitles). Curious to know what happened in the span of time in between. *g*

Da Qing was adorable in both episodes, as well. I approve of him being a good Deputy Chief and giving Little Guo time off to visit the graves of his parents. He cares about his subordinates too, just like ZYL.

Well, I have made it to half way again. *g*

I appreciated Zhu Hong much better on this viewing of the episode. She appears to have much more focus and depth in this one and that is a good place to build her emotional development from in the latter stages of the show.

It is also yet another episode that demonstrates the confining of Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei in an enclosed space (be it a cave, apartment or vehicle) results in an emotional wallop of some description.

Shen Wei swooping in to save his Zhao Yunlan never gets old and the worry/anguish he expresses with a few minute expressions is very apparent. It makes a person want to sign him up for some daily hug therapy. He is going to need some!

I appreciated the loyalty his team showed to ZYL in these episodes and all the little interactions between them... and I love the fact that SID has inadvertently ended up with the most adorable librarian ever.

What else? I have a burning desire to know about Da Qing's 10 years working with the former chief.

I also like implacable Shen Wei when he's tracking down Zhao Yunlan in Dixing. I certainly wouldn't want to be the person that gets in his way. He does grumpy worried very well by this point in his relationship with ZYL.

What can I say about #13 other than thank goodness the cat is finally out of the bag. Poor Zhao Yunlan couldn't have taken much more frustration with Shen Wei and his evasions.

I still love ZYL's wink to Shen Wei during the gun scene. I should probably go hunt down some gifs and state at them for a while.

As for #14, I love all the interaction between ZYL & SW. Whomever picked ZYL's wardrobe for this episode deserves a medal. The rest of the SID crew were interesting with more little snippets catching my eye about them during this second viewing.

Random musings after watching the three episodes back to back.

I like that this is the part of the story where Zhao Yunlan starts to figure things out. The slow awakening of understanding and piecing the clues together was not introduced too soon into the show. By this point, it was believable.

Having said that, the adorable cannot be overlooked in every interaction of Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. I will forever approve of the use of blatant sleeping on shoulders.

I like the teasing of Little Guo interspersed with the map scene where his chief and his mentor are actually sort of training him. The moments of teamwork for the SID crew are again a reminder that - for most of them - there was life and a job to do before they crossed paths with Shen Wei.

Zhao Yunlan's protective nature for his people (not just Shen Wei) is demonstrated well.

I am still a bit bemused with Shen Wei and his alcohol intolerance. I know it was already touched on in the earlier episode when he's escorting a certain other drunk professor to a taxi. Since there is a bar type establishment in Dixing in a later episode, why is the all powerful Envoy different to others of his kind?

There are obviously a couple of the big, important Weilan scenes in these two episodes... and I adored them again.

I am loving the little character moments for the entire group just as much. Second viewing is giving me much more time to appreciate the nuances.

I still smile at Shen Wei blithely moving into Zhao Yunlan's building.

I also like the popcorn maker, it looks funky.

Take away from this episode is Li Qian's question to her professor on the roof.

I hadn't quite noticed before that she asked about what he'd do if someone he loved was dying in front of him and that he answered that he'd willingly exchange his life for him. No hesitation in saying him as opposed to them.

(I meant to post this earlier but I was distracted by the sad news of Luke Perry). 😢

Ooh, I have just found Balto on Netflix. Excuse me while I dive into some animated nostalgia.