If There's One Thing That Makes Me Feral It's A Low-angle Shot - Tumblr Posts

I love this analysis! I currently have a half-written draft about how the show portrays Shangjue and Ziyu's different forms of masculinity (and by extension their approach to leading the Gong sect). I had noticed the convergence in their coloring but not the shared softness and how that not only represents political alignment but also familial bonds. Thank you for setting fireworks off in my brain. 🙏🏼

The costuming is doing so much to establish who these characters are. Two of my favorite scenes of the whole drama were Ziyu and Shangjue's introductions.

I gasped when the first glimpse we get of Ziyu's character is a delicate shot of his bare feet. He's a nobleman in a sect that is revered by the rest of the martial arts world and yet he doesn't wear any of the usual regalia. Then he's shown staring longingly out of the brothel's window like a fairy tale princess locked away in a tower, his face gently cast in light. Visually, he represents a softer, more romantic version of masculinity. and this initial image is reinforced throughout the show by his costuming (e.g., his couple bracelet with Weishan) and camera language/special effects (e.g., he doesn't get as many slow-mo, wind machine shots until later episodes).

And then we're introduced to Shangjue.

The music drums as he rides into the Gong residence. His uniformed men carrying the spoils of war behind him and the somber black of his costume immediately establish his critical role within the Gong family. But what I love most about this scene is the use of high and low-angle shots and center framing. At 6'2, Zhang Linghe is a giant and yet the high-angle and surplus negative space make him look small, almost pitiful. In contrast, the zoomed-in, low-angle shot for Shangjue communicates his imposing nature and a traditional version of masculinity rooted in strength and self-control.

What a difference from their last scene together:

You are so spot on, @kingsandbastardz.

Sigh. I'd love a BTS of the production crew's storyboarding process.

My Journey to You Ep. 12 visuals: Love in blue

Ok, I'm not really a color theory girlie, BUT when a character suddenly changes up their outfits that's something I like to pay attention to. Gong Shangjue has always been portrayed in somber black and suddenly he's dressed in blue for his little lantern date with his assassin fiancée who also happens to frequently dress in blue?

Oh, it's so on, production design team.

But first, let's take a moment to relive this banger of a scene.

The sexual tension between these two makes me absolutely feral. This slow burn is what enemies-to-lovers should always aspire to.

...

...

...

...

...

...

Well, shit. I saw that jaw clench, Shangjue. Sorry, can't offer any substantive commentary. Still recovering.

Moving on...

Something I didn't really notice until this episode was how blue-toned Shangjue and Qian's scenes are in comparison to Gong Ziyu and Yun Weishan's scenes.

It's reflected in the costumes, with Ziyu and Weishan often wearing warmer colors with more exuberant gold embroidery and trimmings. It's reflected in the lighting with their scenes more reliant on the warmth of ambient lighting while Shangjue and Qian's are often shot with cooler natural light. It's also present in the set design, with Shangjue and Qian's scenes (especially those shot together) consistently involving or happening by water, which reminds me of the Chinese poem:

Drops of water can break through stone [if given long enough].

In other words, "soft" strategies can eventually make headway in difficult challenges—in this case, Qian's clever use of care to crack through Shangjue's personal defenses. And probably vice versa in the future.

Also, note how both scenes above start with the camera panning and tilting up from the blue of the water before focusing on the two characters. The camera crew for My Journey to You use a surprising amount of movement in their shots so I'm going to pay more attention to how they introduce and conclude scenes from here on out.

Of course, Shangjue's new blue outfit (and the warm blue of the pond landscape) is immediately noticeable given how starkly monochromatic and cold most of their scenes have been up until this point. Wearing the same color is a costume representation of their growing closeness. This dinner date is yet another unexpected peace offering from Shangjue, possibly his response to Qian's earlier question of "Isn't it good to be cared about?" (And correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's also the first time he actually gives Qian something rather than a few insights into his psyche. He and Ziyu have very different love languages lol)

But from the loaded dialogue it's clear that neither are overcome by the unnamed growing attraction between them, and I expect the blue that visually represents their relationship to return to a cooler tone by the next episode. They're still playing cat-and-mouse with each other, just with sexier vibes.

(Side note: Ryan Cheng is so good here. The way he relaxes and tenses his body, the smooth transition between microexpressions as the two characters dance between interrogation and half-truths. Ah, to be hot and talented. Can't relate.)

Finally--and I'm pretty sure I'm reaching but it's my tumblr so why the hell not--I want to talk about Gong Yuanzhi's costuming. Something I immediately noticed about Yuanzhi's character is how his closet is probably the most diverse of the main cast. Unlike other characters who tend to wear variations of the same fabrics, his outfits use different textures and colors. He wears a lot of black like his beloved cousin but also blues, silvers, whites, and now in Episode 12 green. I wonder if his lack of commitment to one color story is an indication of how his alliance with Shangjue will shift in the future, especially if Shangjue ever allows his attraction to Qian to cloud his judgment about either Yuanzhi's loyalty or what is in the best interest of the Gong clan.

Episode 12 definitely felt like a transitional episode that is meant to drop clues and kickstart a bunch of plot threads so I'm excited to see how those threads converge or diverge from these color stories if at all.