My Journey To You - Tumblr Posts
My Journey to You Ep. 10 visuals: It's all in the hands
I love a show with smart visual storytelling. Such an efficient way to show how different Yun Weishan's life could be with Gong Ziyu just from the positioning of hands.
GIF source: Gongjunn
GIF source: trendingdrama
From always being on the precipice of death to being saved and adored.
My Journey to You Ep. 11 visuals: Peering through paper doors
Something I love about historical (-esque) dramas is a director's ability to use architectural framing to represent character emotions and change. Episode 11 gave us some interesting character moments for the two main couples and each happened through paper doors.
This was one of the first episodes where I finally felt Gong Ziyu intentionally stepped into his leadership position as Sword Wielder by not giving in to his natural impulsivity and naivety. He's made aware of Yun Weishan's possible betrayal, and while he's clearly trying to give her an opportunity to explain herself and join him, he's also refreshingly cautious.
Him keeping the door closed is both a political and personal choice. Ziyu can't reasonably let her go without addressing the medical records, but he wants to reassure Weishan that he won't recreate the political cage he believes her to be trapped in. They both desire freedom and the soft life, but she needs to articulate what she's going through so that he can politically maneuver the situation.
Ultimately, she (literally) opens the door to that possibilityâand (literally) steps into the light of her true feelings.
Now, returning to our favorite emotionally repressed and overly cocky couple...
(Side Note: I'm obsessed with this pool in the center of Gong Shangjue's chambers and really hope they make more use of it in future episodes. Think! Of! All! The! Metaphors! I'll take a suggestive shot of dipping her hand into those still waters for $400 dollars, Alex. Please, show, give me something to hold me over until the sexy bath scene from the trailer. Anything.)
Do I sense a disturbance in the Force or is Shangguan Qian actually starting to feel something other than blood-thirst? Of course, she's angry at having been bested by Weishan (and probably a bit wary of having to recalibrate her perception of the other assassin), and Lu Yuxiao is doing some lovely acting letting that jumble of emotions play out on her face. And then she turns her gaze to Shangjue. It's in that shot through the open door that we start seeing the stirring of something else. Whether it's guilt, concern, or just a healthy dose of empathy who knows but it's there.
What I appreciate about the architectural framing of the scene's last shot is that it works on multiple levels:
Shangjue's isolation and shame after obliterating his reputation with the clan's elders. This man wants to be the Sword Wielder because he truly believes he would be a more capable leader. Being seen as having to rely on petty tricks is incredibly humbling.
The depth of the shot through multiple doorwaysâbarriersâmakes it seem like Qian's master plan for Shangjue is even further from her grasp now that he is less secure in his plans to depose Gong Zuyi.
And yet...she is also seeing him through the door. Usually, the camera films Shangjue to look powerful: he's shot to look tall and untouchable, looking down from his horse or surrounded by regalia. But here, blocked in by these two doors, he's stripped of all of it. I could imagine Qian feels vulnerable seeing the man whom she has envisioned as larger than life since he rescued her years ago tucked away like this, and so I'm super excited to see if and how she attempts to cross this literal and metaphorical threshold to get closer to him to execute her mission.
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 fiancĂŠe 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 challengesâin 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.
My Journey to You Ep. 13 visuals: Lanterns of fate
"Be it manmade or natural fate, I want all these fates." -Thirsty Sister
No matter how many times I see them, I always love a good lantern festival scene. And when those scenes use said lanterns as a visual motif to represent the significance of Fate in our characters' relationships? Yes, please.
Sigh, such lovely framing. And I'm glad to see Jolin Jin get an opportunity to exercise those dramatic chops.
Gong Zishang's rumination about Fate really encapsulates so many of our characters' current relationships, no? Both Yun Weishan/Gong Ziyu and Gong Yuanzhi/Gong Shangjue collided into each others' lives because of nefarious, political machinations, not natural Fate.
Weishan was planted in the Gong residence by Wufeng to destabilize the clan's stronghold in the martial arts world. And yet Fate is a funny thing. Weishan probably never imagined the Sword Wielder to embody the type of soft life she has always desired but never deemed herself worthy of so it almost seems like Fate that two individuals who desire the same thing would find each other and fall in love despite living in such a cutthroat world. Ultimately, she decides to challenge the fate dictated to her by Wufeng by deciding to save Ziyu, thereby permanently changing the course of their lives (and the plot of the show).
It's also revealed in today's episode that Shangjue and Yuanzhi first met soon after Shangjue's mother and brother were assassinated by Wufeng (starting to see a pattern) and Yuanzhi's own parents had died. Through their mutual grief, they formed a strong bond, although it seems for most of their relationship Shangjue hasn't always been able to fully reciprocate Yuanzhi's open devotion and warmth despite caring for him deeply.
But seeing his cousin near death seems to have shifted Shangjue's perception of their relationship. As he cradles the new lantern Yuanzhi made to represent their relationship (independent and distinct from the one Shangjue shared with his younger brother), it finally seems like he's accepted their Fate as an inseparable found family despite the terrible circumstances that had brought them together.
With each new episode, the mystery that is Shangjue gradually unravels; for instance, his obsession with cleanliness or why he often compares himself to beasts (lions,...). He considers himself to be one - an impure and inhuman killer living in a dark cave.
Shangjue has spilled so much blood, he can't even stomach the idea of eating a dead animal because it reminds him of all the people he's killed. The lifetime of bloodshed damaged him to a point he doesn't see himself fully human anymore.
Even the smell of a single drop of blood makes him alert, the way he catches the scent is reminiscent of a predator noticing his prey.
Moreover, battles are bloody and dirty so Gong Shangjue tries to keep an outward cleanliness not to be reminded of past battles and that he considers himself unclean inside.
I am genuinely fond of the fact that SJ's BDE ended up making her fall for him for real, but still not enough to give up her goals, and the same was true for him.
But they did both end up with a raging case of feelings and honestly, maybe someday. Life is long and their world is pretty small...
My Journey to You Ep. 23 visuals: Ravens only belong to winter
Say what you will about this show's writing for the lead characters (particularly Gong Ziyu and Shangguan Qian), but you can't deny MJTY's writing when it comes to its minor characters. I came to care for so many of them with just a few scenes, and I think a lot of that is due to the show's visual storytelling, which is used to reinforce its themes in an almost brutally efficient way.
Nowhere is this truer than with Hanya Si and the show's use of shadow and light to communicate his story.
The death and violent secrecy surrounding Wufeng have been etched so permanently on Hanya's soul that he can't escape its darkness. He no longer sees himself as a man, but as something less than:
"[Ravens] know there are hunters and traps in the dark forest, but they can never fly to the light. They've been eating dirty mice and rotten meat since they were born. Even their screams are fearful and ferocious. They can only live in the dark and beneath the sunset."
This is communicated over and over again with how the show physically positions Hanya either against or away from light for most of his scenes. Whether at the Wufeng headquarters or in the Gong residence, he is placed in the shadows--even as other characters stand in or move toward light.
Interestingly, he's really the only assassin we're officially introduced to who is shot like that. For example, check out the scene below where he, Hanya Qi, and two of the wangs meet. Even though the overall scene is dark, Hanya Si is the darkest as he's positioned furthest away from the overhead light. And in the final showdown at the Gong residence, the other assassins fight during the day (which Hanya Si has never been portrayed as doing until his final scene). Unlike the others who revel in killing their targets in broad daylight, Hanya has become so consumed by his sins that he doesn't believe he's worthy of existing anywhere but the darkness.
(Side Note: I found it telling that the last Wufeng attack that killed Gong Shangjue's mother and brother also happened during the day rather than at nighttime. There's a startling brazenness to Wufeng's violence.)
The exception to this pattern, of course, is when Hanya is shot with either Yun Weishan or Yun Que. Those moments with his protĂŠgĂŠs are the only times he embraces his own humanity and dares to step out of his self-imposed prison to provide care in whatever misplaced way he can. It's only in those scenes that his face becomes awash in direct light.
So when Hanya decides to help Weishan fight Ziyi, it's fitting that the show commemorates this character-defining moment by drenching the entire screen in sunlight.
I absolutely love this shot with the lens flare. The show rarely uses this camera effect in its outdoor cinematography so you can feel the foreignness Hanya must have felt walking into the early morning light to face his destiny. The blown-out sky is wondrous and almost overwhelming in its brightness.
And it also seals his fate because we know ravens can never fly to the light; they can only live in the dark.
The mirroring of Weishan and Hanyaâs first sunset and last sunrise together nearly took me out. Director Edward Guo clearly likes reusing certain compositional elements to establish his characters, and with Hanya's scenes that repetition not only lends itself to a feeling of tragic inevitability but also freeing closure.
"I watched the sunset so many times with you. This time, I can finally watch the sunrise with you."
What a perfect way to send off this character.
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. đđź
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 fiancĂŠe 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 challengesâin 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.
Ooh, thanks for contextualizing Shangjueâs visuals with how wuxias tend to code villain and villain-adjacent characters! (I really like the post I linked below because it shows how that scheming characterization gets reinforced by not only the set design and costumes but also the lighting and dialogue.)
Given we can look at Ziyuâs brother as a representation of a morally upright, filial form of masculinity, I love the idea of the showâs initial visual storytelling playing with our expectations of the charactersâ storylines and their true personalities/intentions. Ziyu is visually portrayed as a wastrel and overly delicate (I forgot to add in my original response that shot of him sprawled on that low seat like a Victorian woman resting on a fainting couch) but he ends up growing into the role of Sword Wielder and becoming respected. Shangjue is visually portrayed as a powerful scheming villain but is not actually as antagonistic or ruthless as we first assume (I believe his last scene is him looking at the azaleas Qian planted?). And then Huanyu is visually portrayed as the dutiful and strong First Son but then ends the series fighting tooth-and-nail in darkness basically going âfuck the Gongs I just want powerâ. I so appreciate the show using its first and last shots of each of these characters as bookends and to efficiently communicate their growth, changing relationships, and the showâs larger themes like deception and first impressions.
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 fiancĂŠe 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 challengesâin 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.
My Journey to You Ep. 1-2, 24 visuals: Portraits of power and masculinity
I'm doing a rewatch of My Journey to You and I just can't get over how well the show introduces its two male leads, Gong Ziyu and Gong Shangjue. In under two minutes, these two scenes brilliantly establish one of the show's core themes around masculinity and power without a word of dialogue.
Ok, so I gasped when the first glimpse we get of Ziyu's character, the protagonist of a wuxia drama, is a delicate shot of his bare feet. He's a nobleman's son in a sect that is revered by the rest of the martial arts world and yet look at what he's (not) wearing: no military regalia, weapons--just a thin robe and his bare feet.
He's also shown napping, sprawled across his seat like a Victorian woman on a fainting couch. And then when he wakes up, we see him staring longingly out of the brothel's window, his face gently cast in the morning light, like a fairy tale princess locked away in a tower.
Visually, the show immediately communicates to us that Ziyu represents a softer, more romantic image of masculinity, which is reinforced over and over again throughout the show with other feminine-coded symbols (e.g., Ziyu playing music, wearing a red couple bracelet, carrying a bunny lantern). Heâs not meant to be seen as a strong son ready to lead his sect but as an overly sensitive playboy wasting his time away.
And then we're introduced to Shangjue.
The music thrums menacingly as Shangjue rides into the Gong residence, his uniformed men carrying spoils of war behind him. As he passes through the main gates, we see each guard bowing in respect. All of this fanfare and the solemn blackness of his riding gear signal the important political role he occupies within the Gong family.
(Side Note: Ryan Cheng's side-eye is magnificent and one of the sexiest things to hit Cdramaland in 2023.)
But what I love most about this scene is the use of high and low-angle shots and central framing. At 6'2ââ, Zhang Linghe (the actor playing Ziyu) is a giant, and yet the high angle and surplus negative space around him makes his character look small, almost pitiful in comparison to Shangjue.
In contrast, the zoomed-in, low-angle shot for Shangjue communicates his intimidating persona. Thereâs something ruthless (even kind of malevolent) about his character, and the show tries to convince us of this first impression with repeated use of shadow and animalistic imagery in its early episodes. He embodies the type of masculinity a powerful sect like the Gongs would want representing them in campaigns with the outside world.
From the jump, Ziyu and Shangjue are set up as antagonists, both by how the characters dismiss one another in the script and also by the show's visual storytelling.
Of course, as the show goes on, both characters gradually change their opinion of one another, and this change is mirrored once again in the visual storytelling. Their final scene in Episode 24 is a near reversal of what we saw in their intro scenes (many thanks to @kingsandbastardz for pointing out the costumes!):
Shangjue's hair is up in a ponytail, neck bare, his rich blue robes nipped in at the waist. He's no longer dressed in his villainous black robes and he doesn't look as physically imposing without his signature cloak. He is finally Ziyu's ally. And check out how the camera angle is also reversed, with Shangjue being shot from a high angle so he looks less dangerous--even fragile--while Ziyu is shot from a low angle to look more powerful.
Despite audience expectations about what type of man would make a strong leader, he has officially grown into the role of Sword Wielder.
Ha, yes! Edward Guo loves a foil and he loves mirroring. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of the symbolism of
Hands: When Shangjue is wapping Qian's injured finger back in Episode 12 (the "do you still think I'm gentle?" scene), Qian tells Shangjue that the heart and fingers are linked. And I love how that becomes a motif for both Ziyu and Shangjue. Ziyu is always shown extending his hand to Weishan, whether it's to guide her through the dark, to provide her emotional comfort, or to caress her while they kiss. Or in Episode 11 when Ziyu gives her the snow lotus while voiceover-ing "I want to make a cloud I can hold [emphasis added] onto" even though he suspects she is lying to him about her identity. Hands are an extension of his unconditional trust and care. In contrast, Shangjue is always pulling his hand away from Qian when she reaches for him because he interprets the act as transactional, that she's bartering in physical intimacy. So it's super significant that the only times he allows her to hold his hand is when they separate in the final episode. I'd interpret that allowance as him desperately wanting to believe her "truth" even though he can't reconcile her being Wufeng.
Couple poses: Ziyu and Weishan are often positioned directly across from one another so they can face each other head-on, and they're usually placed at the same level (e.g., they're sitting at the same table, standing up at the same time). And I think that's indicative of Ziyu's respect for Weishan and seeing her as an equal partner. In contrast, Shangjue is usually positioned higher and facing forward in a thronal position while Qian is at his side looking up at him obsequiously. Their lack of alignment is a visual representation of how they're always playing their cat-and-mouse games and never quite on the same page even if they desperately desire it. The few scenes where they're facing each other head-on are usually their most honest.
Duplicity of bare skin: I don't know how intentional this was but I was fascinated by how much skin is shown in My Journey to You. Iâm thinking about an early scene where Qian and Weishan pretend Weishan is ill with a rash and she shows her bare back to distract the guards. Or the scene after Huanyu is rescued and they show his back (and identifiable birthmark!) while treating his wounds. Or when Qian is treating Yuanzhi's wounds after the Gong family fight in the field and he slips her false intel about Shangjue's depleted internal power. Itâs interesting to see the vulnerability and honesty of "baring it all" being paired with lies.
Sometimes I feel like a conspiracy theorist when I analyze the visuals of this show but there was some really cool storytelling happening, whether conscious or not.
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 fiancĂŠe 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 challengesâin 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.
@randomingoftherandomness Does it make it better or worse even more heartwrenching that Shangjue cradling Yuanzhi's hands in Episode 13 mirrors Yuanzhi's Episode 19 flashback where Shangjue tries to teach him how to communicate his emotions?
In Yuanzhi's flashback, Shangjue approaches Yuanzhi after hearing the other Gong residents gossiping about how strangely emotionless he is for a child.
Shangjue: You'd rather bleed than cry? Yuanzhi: Why should I cry and shed tears? Shangjue: Because bleeding can tell others that your body is injured. Crying can tell others that your heart is hurt. Sometimes one can't tell if you are sad and you need tears to tell them that. Yuanzhi: Why should I tell others that? Shangjue: You can get other people to help share the burden and give you comfort.
And then in the present, Shangjue has his own flashback to when Yuanzhi recently injured his hand from creating the lantern. Shangjue had asked what happened but Yuanzhi lied that the injury was because he had been handling herbs.
It's only in that moment that Shangjue realizes he had missed two signs that his didi was hurt: his wound and the smile masking unshed tears.
So he gently wraps his hand in Yuanzhi's to give him the comfort and validation he had silently asked for after their argument over Lang's lantern, and stays with him all night.
Side Note: Pure speculation, but I think the lanterns hanging in Yuanzhi's room are his previous attempts at creating his own lantern before this episode's festival. His is the only room where the set design includes those DIY lanterns hanging from the ceiling and the transition between the scenes of Yuanzhi's conversation with Shangjue's guard about the meaning of Lang's lantern and him creating his own lantern is the superimposed image of those past attempts over Shangjue's home.
It's an aesthetically beautiful but devastating reminder of how the ghost of Shangjue's brother continues to hang over Yuanzhi even if Shangjue clearly loves him for him.
My Journey to You Ep. 13 visuals: Lanterns of fate
"Be it manmade or natural fate, I want all these fates." -Thirsty Sister
No matter how many times I see them, I always love a good lantern festival scene. And when those scenes use said lanterns as a visual motif to represent the significance of Fate in our characters' relationships? Yes, please.
Sigh, such lovely framing. And I'm glad to see Jolin Jin get an opportunity to exercise those dramatic chops.
Gong Zishang's rumination about Fate really encapsulates so many of our characters' current relationships, no? Both Yun Weishan/Gong Ziyu and Gong Yuanzhi/Gong Shangjue collided into each others' lives because of nefarious, political machinations, not natural Fate.
Weishan was planted in the Gong residence by Wufeng to destabilize the clan's stronghold in the martial arts world. And yet Fate is a funny thing. Weishan probably never imagined the Sword Wielder to embody the type of soft life she has always desired but never deemed herself worthy of so it almost seems like Fate that two individuals who desire the same thing would find each other and fall in love despite living in such a cutthroat world. Ultimately, she decides to challenge the fate dictated to her by Wufeng by deciding to save Ziyu, thereby permanently changing the course of their lives (and the plot of the show).
It's also revealed in today's episode that Shangjue and Yuanzhi first met soon after Shangjue's mother and brother were assassinated by Wufeng (starting to see a pattern) and Yuanzhi's own parents had died. Through their mutual grief, they formed a strong bond, although it seems for most of their relationship Shangjue hasn't always been able to fully reciprocate Yuanzhi's open devotion and warmth despite caring for him deeply.
But seeing his cousin near death seems to have shifted Shangjue's perception of their relationship. As he cradles the new lantern Yuanzhi made to represent their relationship (independent and distinct from the one Shangjue shared with his younger brother), it finally seems like he's accepted their Fate as an inseparable found family despite the terrible circumstances that had brought them together.
Oooh I didn't know Guo was in the middle of filming another drama with our faves! đ He's like the Cdrama version of Ryan Murphy collecting all his beautiful, fabulously wigged dolls. I'll need to keep an eye out for that. So, I have to admit I'm a bit of a Qian Apologist even though her character is criminally underwritten (I have an unfinished draft about her and Shangjue's relationship as told by the show's cinematography that is so long Tumblr freezes whenever I try to make edits) so my answer to those two questions would be yes and no?
1) Do you think she is a direct catalyst for his blooming?
Something I found fascinating about Qian is despite her manipulativeness, she is one of the few people who truly treats Shangjue as a man not as a role. For example, she doesn't flinch at his self-imposed aura of ruthlessness. Especially in earlier episodes, Shangjue often wears bulky/threatening clothes, uses animalistic metaphors to articulate his worldview (âlions hunt byâŚâ, âbeastsâ), and his home is shot to look dark and cave-like as if heâs some creature of the night. Qian picks up on that and uses what I'd label as "humanizing" tactics to manipulate their relationship:
âOthers are scared of you but youâre actually gentleâ
âIsnât it good to be cared for?â as she blows on and cradles his fingers (and shares a story that indicates he too should also say when he's hurt--just like what he told Yuanzhi when he was little)
Let me plant some frivolous flowers in your cave to represent my lifelong devotion
I wonât cook animals that remind you of people you have killed, etc.
Yuanzhi adores Shangjue and demonstrates his devotion in numerous ways but there's still that deferential distance of Shangjue being a surrogate parent plus future sect leader. Qian ultimately treats Shangjue as someone worthy of care, someone who has their own particular desires and preferences, and someone who is more than the self-sacrifice and violence he has committed on the battlefield in the name of the Gong family. Like the inky black pool and inkstand by his side, Qian touches something very deep inside Shangjue that is not easily seen at the surface. (Notice how she's the only other character whose reflection is ever shown in his pool and when he's imagining her in the last episode with the azaleas that is where she is standing.)
And he slowly reciprocates that care towards her while softening his demeanor despite never quite trusting her ("I didn't expect that fragrance of this bay laurel ink can really calm people down").
And then we get to Episode 24, which is the true test of Shangjue's growth.
Shangjue is a foil for Ziyu so his (tragic) character arc is meant to emphasize the goodness of Ziyu's alternative approach to leading the Gong sect (e.g., his compassion, foregiveness towards Weishan). Shangjue is principled, intelligent, and loyal but I think we're meant to interpret his traditionalism as both a strength and weakness because his black-and-white approach not only makes him lose 1) the only thing he has ever selfishly desired for himself, 2) the person who saw him for him, but also 3) the person carrying his child (and ensuring the longevity of the Gong sect, which is something deeply ingrained in his identity). He can't make himself fully accept Qian like Ziyu was able to with Weishan.
At the same time, he does let Qian go and even forgives her (that "let her off" versus "let her go" dialogue nearly took me out). He is not the same Shangjue, and I can imagine how this will help him better relate to Ziyu and others.
(Side Note: When I saw this moment between Weishan and Shangjue during the fight with Huanyu, my eyebrows raised way up because it's basically Shangjue confronting the limits of his preconceptions of what it means to be part of and loyal to the Gong family. He recognizes her loyalty and saves her despite hating her origins as Wufeng.)
2) Do you think Yuanzhi has now got another ghost in his relationship with Shangjue?
I don't think so only because Lang and Qian represent such different aspects of Shangjue's love. Lang represents an idealized past Yuanzhi can never compete with while Qian represents possibility that hasn't yet been explored. You can't miss something you never had.
If I were writing Season 2, I'd have Shangjue and Yuanzhi go on an adventure outside the valley to search for Qian and that child. Maybe find Yuanzhi a boyfriend now that Jin Fan is officially off the market. What do you think? @randomingoftherandomness
My Journey to You Ep. 13 visuals: Lanterns of fate
"Be it manmade or natural fate, I want all these fates." -Thirsty Sister
No matter how many times I see them, I always love a good lantern festival scene. And when those scenes use said lanterns as a visual motif to represent the significance of Fate in our characters' relationships? Yes, please.
Sigh, such lovely framing. And I'm glad to see Jolin Jin get an opportunity to exercise those dramatic chops.
Gong Zishang's rumination about Fate really encapsulates so many of our characters' current relationships, no? Both Yun Weishan/Gong Ziyu and Gong Yuanzhi/Gong Shangjue collided into each others' lives because of nefarious, political machinations, not natural Fate.
Weishan was planted in the Gong residence by Wufeng to destabilize the clan's stronghold in the martial arts world. And yet Fate is a funny thing. Weishan probably never imagined the Sword Wielder to embody the type of soft life she has always desired but never deemed herself worthy of so it almost seems like Fate that two individuals who desire the same thing would find each other and fall in love despite living in such a cutthroat world. Ultimately, she decides to challenge the fate dictated to her by Wufeng by deciding to save Ziyu, thereby permanently changing the course of their lives (and the plot of the show).
It's also revealed in today's episode that Shangjue and Yuanzhi first met soon after Shangjue's mother and brother were assassinated by Wufeng (starting to see a pattern) and Yuanzhi's own parents had died. Through their mutual grief, they formed a strong bond, although it seems for most of their relationship Shangjue hasn't always been able to fully reciprocate Yuanzhi's open devotion and warmth despite caring for him deeply.
But seeing his cousin near death seems to have shifted Shangjue's perception of their relationship. As he cradles the new lantern Yuanzhi made to represent their relationship (independent and distinct from the one Shangjue shared with his younger brother), it finally seems like he's accepted their Fate as an inseparable found family despite the terrible circumstances that had brought them together.
Ooh yes let's talk assassin bride outfits. I think Weishan wears that lilac number and then a mint green one? Everything else is, as you noted, dark and rich-looking. (They're also more heavily embroidered, particulaly with gold, which also connects her to Ziyu). Interestingly, she wears the mint green robes when she gets attacked by the box Wuji gifts her from Ziyu's dad (that was tampered by Huanyu).
I think for Weishan, the light purple represents that she is part of the Gong family (it's a gift from Ziyu and she finally "accepts" him and "giving up her freedom" ) and it's interesting that this is the softest, most delicate she has looked. Like she has finally gained the soft life away from Wufeng that she always wanted.
And it's a nice parallel to Qian who is also wearing Shangjue's gift to her in their final scene together. I know people had alternative interpretations of Qian wearing those pink robes as a way to seduce or distract Shangjue one last time before her final escape, but I think it's significant that both women, regardless if they stayed in the Gong residence or not, wore something with connections to the family. They both ended the show having divorced from Wufeng.
Something that also intrigued me about Qian's outfits is how voluminous they were on her (Weishan's outfits were dark and heavy but relatively sleek in shape). That and the fact they were pale in color helped make her beacon as you noted but I wonder if you could also read their style as a way for Qian to make herself look more conservatively feminine, which has the added benefit of signaling her
Harmlessness (can't be Wufeng in baby blue)
Delicate submissiveness (I always thought she and Shangjue had a vaguely B D S M dynamic in how they were portrayed together in their blocking and camera language), and
Purity (I'm not sure if this is an issue of translation but there was a pattern of Shangjue using words like "clean" to describe women so the idea of Qian making sure she always dressed in pale almost virginal colors to communicate her appropriateness as his bride makes sense to me)
@randomingoftherandomness
My Journey to You Ep. 13 visuals: Lanterns of fate
"Be it manmade or natural fate, I want all these fates." -Thirsty Sister
No matter how many times I see them, I always love a good lantern festival scene. And when those scenes use said lanterns as a visual motif to represent the significance of Fate in our characters' relationships? Yes, please.
Sigh, such lovely framing. And I'm glad to see Jolin Jin get an opportunity to exercise those dramatic chops.
Gong Zishang's rumination about Fate really encapsulates so many of our characters' current relationships, no? Both Yun Weishan/Gong Ziyu and Gong Yuanzhi/Gong Shangjue collided into each others' lives because of nefarious, political machinations, not natural Fate.
Weishan was planted in the Gong residence by Wufeng to destabilize the clan's stronghold in the martial arts world. And yet Fate is a funny thing. Weishan probably never imagined the Sword Wielder to embody the type of soft life she has always desired but never deemed herself worthy of so it almost seems like Fate that two individuals who desire the same thing would find each other and fall in love despite living in such a cutthroat world. Ultimately, she decides to challenge the fate dictated to her by Wufeng by deciding to save Ziyu, thereby permanently changing the course of their lives (and the plot of the show).
It's also revealed in today's episode that Shangjue and Yuanzhi first met soon after Shangjue's mother and brother were assassinated by Wufeng (starting to see a pattern) and Yuanzhi's own parents had died. Through their mutual grief, they formed a strong bond, although it seems for most of their relationship Shangjue hasn't always been able to fully reciprocate Yuanzhi's open devotion and warmth despite caring for him deeply.
But seeing his cousin near death seems to have shifted Shangjue's perception of their relationship. As he cradles the new lantern Yuanzhi made to represent their relationship (independent and distinct from the one Shangjue shared with his younger brother), it finally seems like he's accepted their Fate as an inseparable found family despite the terrible circumstances that had brought them together.
Ooh I love this question. +1 on this depending on what part of Shangjue's arc we're talking about. But let's assume we're working with post-MJTY Shangjue... I'd say he would sacrifice himself for Yuanzhi.
Yuanzhi is a teenager so he's occasionally reckless but he otherwise has a good head on his shoulders. Most of the times Shangjue chided him was because of his lack of respect (don't insult the elders just because of your loyalty to me) or because of his lack of politicking (you shouldn't have let Qian beat you so publicly).
So for Yuanzhi to actually harm the Gong sect either he did it to protect the family and no one appreciates that (just like how he was the only character to continuously suspect Weishan and Qian of being Wufeng) or he did it to specifically protect Shangjue. If the former, Shangjue would basically Erin Brockovich his way into dropping all charges against Yuanzhi (ooh what would his paralegal outfit look like?). If the latter, Shangjue wouldn't hesitate to exchange his life for Yuanzhi's because Yuanzhi is his didi and also plays a critical role in protecting and making the Gong sect prosper with his poisons.
(Side Note: Even when Huanyu went berzerk over the Infinite Heat, the Gongs were still trying to offer him an out so they clearly don't want to kill their own.)
Maybe Shangjue would pull a Lan Wanji and go into seclusion for a few years as penance for Yuanzhi's crime. And if it was an actual serious crime, I think he would put his life on the line. @randomingoftherandomness
Let's say Yuanzhi does something bad, would Shangjue betray the Gong family for him? Or would he choose family over his didi?
I think the answer to this will depend on the version of Shangjue that the situation is being posed to
Are we talking about the Shangjue that we met at the beginning of the show?
Or are we talking about the Shangjue we met at the end?
Because my answer will depend on that.
If we are talking about the RBF-card-that-never-declines, then I would say, No. He wouldn't betray the family for him and he wouldn't choose Yuanzhi over the family. That man is someone who doesn't see himself as anything more than just a vessel for his family's interests.
I mean. We already know he was willing to let Yuanzhi be imprisoned, though yes he did give the caveat that Yuanzhi must NOT be harmed, his exact words iirc were "if he died under suspicious means". Someone correct me coz my brain is a bit of buzz.
If we are talking about the Shangjue we met at the end of the show, we should also note that that is a version of Shangjue that has been tempered enough by purpose and drive to do this đđź
Dude deadass rocked up to essentially his clan leader's abode, straight up said bitches better let my baby bro loose or else I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your fucking house down. And every single one of the people there knew he meant it.
And I think that the Shangjue that is formed by the end of the show is someone who is more settled within himself. Less bogged down by his place in the family and how he can serve it. I do think that he is more open, or at least more open, about the idea that he does have a favourite didi; even if he wouldn't hesitate to look out for the rest of his kin (the reveal of him being the one to leave that note that helped ziyu master his moves will remain one of my favourite things about that last arc of this show)
Also, it just may be a "me" thing but gaddamn Lei Lei's face in this scene. The rage. The pure discontent. The sheer THREAT that came right from his chest because HOW DARE THEY ďźâŹŕ˛ çಠ) I would pay good money to see him level the whole of Yu residence tho. Who is with me and who do we need to bribe.
I think on some level, should it ever come to Yuanzhi doing some fucked up shit that violates the precepts of the Gong family, the first thing Shangjue -- regardless of the version -- will do is ask for Yuanzhi's reasoning because he's not about to make a judgement without knowing the cause for that action. Yuanzhi's brash and young, but he's the furthest thing from stupid. Shangjue would never tolerate stupidity.
Then, once satisfied with Yuanzhi's reasons, he would murder and bury anyone who could incriminate Yuanzhi. The next thing he would do is confine Yuanzhi to his side where he can see him (lbr that brocon would love it) and where he can't get up to mischief. Because while Shangjue may not put Yuanzhi above family, it doesnât mean he isnât wholly and utterly devoted to Didi.
He would keep him safe to the best of his ability. In a way that the family wouldn't be dragged into it and he wouldn't have to make a choice.
@romchat you wanna jump in on this, fam? ~ăž(ďźžâďźž)
As long as Shangjue's three-piece suit also comes with a sexy pair of invisible framed glasses đđź
Ok, assuming our Season 2 head canons come true, I think Shangjue would protect/die for Yuanzhi but give up/leave the Gong family for Qian.
Narratively, we'd expect Season 2 Shangjue to show character growth by not repeating his same tragic "mistake" (i.e., putting his traditionalist loyalty to the Gong family ahead of his personal desires) but he would still always protect his family.
To safeguard Yuanzhi, he'd put his reputation and/or life on the line, but he would still be operating within the confines of Gong law/norms. To safeguard Qian, I don't think he would challenge those Gong law/norms but would instead abandon the family altogether because he had sacrificed her one too many times already.
It would also, narratively, be a good way to cap off the Ziyu/Shangjue foil. Ziyu always wanted to explore outside the valley but he has finally settled into his role and responsibilities as Sword Wielder inside the valley. Shangjue would always return to the valley after dedicating himself to doing commerce and waging battles for the Gong family but he can free himself of that self-imposed pressure now that he knows Ziyu is taking his position seriously (obviously he'd need to find a replacement for his role. Maybe Jin Fan given Zishang and Yuanzhi would probably be collaborating on weapons at this point in the series?).
@randomingoftherandomness
Let's say Yuanzhi does something bad, would Shangjue betray the Gong family for him? Or would he choose family over his didi?
I think the answer to this will depend on the version of Shangjue that the situation is being posed to
Are we talking about the Shangjue that we met at the beginning of the show?
Or are we talking about the Shangjue we met at the end?
Because my answer will depend on that.
If we are talking about the RBF-card-that-never-declines, then I would say, No. He wouldn't betray the family for him and he wouldn't choose Yuanzhi over the family. That man is someone who doesn't see himself as anything more than just a vessel for his family's interests.
I mean. We already know he was willing to let Yuanzhi be imprisoned, though yes he did give the caveat that Yuanzhi must NOT be harmed, his exact words iirc were "if he died under suspicious means". Someone correct me coz my brain is a bit of buzz.
If we are talking about the Shangjue we met at the end of the show, we should also note that that is a version of Shangjue that has been tempered enough by purpose and drive to do this đđź
Dude deadass rocked up to essentially his clan leader's abode, straight up said bitches better let my baby bro loose or else I'm gonna huff and puff and blow your fucking house down. And every single one of the people there knew he meant it.
And I think that the Shangjue that is formed by the end of the show is someone who is more settled within himself. Less bogged down by his place in the family and how he can serve it. I do think that he is more open, or at least more open, about the idea that he does have a favourite didi; even if he wouldn't hesitate to look out for the rest of his kin (the reveal of him being the one to leave that note that helped ziyu master his moves will remain one of my favourite things about that last arc of this show)
Also, it just may be a "me" thing but gaddamn Lei Lei's face in this scene. The rage. The pure discontent. The sheer THREAT that came right from his chest because HOW DARE THEY ďźâŹŕ˛ çಠ) I would pay good money to see him level the whole of Yu residence tho. Who is with me and who do we need to bribe.
I think on some level, should it ever come to Yuanzhi doing some fucked up shit that violates the precepts of the Gong family, the first thing Shangjue -- regardless of the version -- will do is ask for Yuanzhi's reasoning because he's not about to make a judgement without knowing the cause for that action. Yuanzhi's brash and young, but he's the furthest thing from stupid. Shangjue would never tolerate stupidity.
Then, once satisfied with Yuanzhi's reasons, he would murder and bury anyone who could incriminate Yuanzhi. The next thing he would do is confine Yuanzhi to his side where he can see him (lbr that brocon would love it) and where he can't get up to mischief. Because while Shangjue may not put Yuanzhi above family, it doesnât mean he isnât wholly and utterly devoted to Didi.
He would keep him safe to the best of his ability. In a way that the family wouldn't be dragged into it and he wouldn't have to make a choice.
@romchat you wanna jump in on this, fam? ~ăž(ďźžâďźž)
I just realized @randomingoftherandomness that Weishan's golden embroidery on her white robes is a stole to designate her as a gold-tier candidate. The other gold candidate also has a similarly embellished stole. I don't read Chinese so I'm not sure what the tablet says but maybe those flowers are ones that have some meaning like "victory" or "chosen one"?
Once chosen, she is predominantly dressed in black with gold and red accents and designs. @romchat said that it is to tie and complement the wardrobe colouring on Ziyuâs clothes, and I agree.
And the few times Weishan and Ziyu don't match are either when his trust in her wavers OR he knows she's deliberating whether or not to leave (like when she gives him the saber hilt named after them). So it makes sense that during her final showdown with Huanyu, she's dressed in that lilac number as a confirmation of her desire to stay with him.
(Side Note: I love how the first scene above is one of the few times we see similarities in the cut and color of Ziyu and Shangjue's costumes because they both smell bullshit from our Wufeng assassins. And this tentative agreement is reinforced by the fact that they're standing in the background together because they're rarely positioned next to each other, on the same plane, facing the same direction, etc.)
Also, Director Guo is really going for broke emphasizing the tragedy by mirroring these two back-to-back scenes with Ziyu/Weishan and Shangjue/Qian, no? From the costuming to the actor blocking to the composition:
Other costume observations: One of my pet theories about the show is its symbolic use of bare skin. Throughout MJTY, we see the vulnerability and honesty of "baring it all" paired with the characters lying:
Weishan in the bride hostel pretending to be ill with a rash and then showing her naked back to distract the guards
Yuanzhi slipping Qian false intel about Shangjue while she is treating wounds on his naked back
Huanyu lying about his imprisonment while showing his naked back
And one of my favorite editing moments of the show is in Episode 6 when Shangjue gently chides Yuanzhi about allowing Qian to get the better of him after stealing his poison pouch. He warns Yuanzhi, "There is someone from Wufeng still hiding in the Gong residence" and then the show cuts to Weishan dressing. Ha.
And speaking of baring it all, the bath scene between Qian and Shangjue: Qian came underdressed and ready to seduce Shangjue with all that creamy healed skin, but when he confronts her with his own ânakednessâ (of his body, desire, post-coital personality) she actually opens up about her past and motivations once they become clothed again. Itâs their most direct conversation up until that point in the series and sheâs bashfully gripping her robes closed because of it. Itâs much harder to trade her nakedness.
(Side Note: It still tickles me that one night with Young Master Jue got Qian rethinking her whole revenge plot. He dickmatized her that good.)
The original meta thread between @romchat and I was getting a little too long so I thought I would take the initiative to start a new one đ
So here are my thoughts about the light colours in Yun Weishanâs wardrobe as per that original thread. I wonât be talking about all the wardrobe choices, just the ones that stood out to me.
We start off by seeing her start her journey into the Gong family in red. Thatâs the colour that she carries with her into The Valley and thatâs how Ziyu sees her for the first time. Not much to say here, just establishing her as a bride candidate.
Then we see her as she is living in the hostel. Sheâs dressed in white. To signify purity? A crossroad of choices? Whatâs fascinating is the embroidery there. I canât make out what it is, but Iâm sure it was an intentional and deliberate choice. This show doesnât do accidents, I feel.
Once chosen, she is predominantly dressed in black with gold and red accents and designs. @romchat said that it is to tie and complement the wardrobe colouring on Ziyuâs clothes, and I agree.
I like that the red is just a cut of colour on her. Not dominant in her colour palette but just there. Enough to remind you that she is meant to be here to marry into the family (red) but it is hidden under subterfuge (black).
Then we also get this one. I love how the red bled through a lot more in the fight between her and Jin Fan. An indication of her shifting loyalties? A wavering of the foundation?
From the looks of it, this one had a bit of purple injected into it. Subtle enough that in certain lighting it still looks black, but upon closer inspection, you can see the way it flashes.
Then we come to this scene. Her and Ziyu were like two peas in a pod and I think it is in this scene that theyâre the most complementary in colour palettes to each other. I deeply adore the golden stitching of clouds on her clothes. Donât you think they look a little like clouds at a sunrise?
Then we come to this number. A lilac shade. Following the theme of a sunrise perhaps? @romchat had pointed out that between this and the mint number she wore when getting poisoned by the trickbox given by Lady Wuji, these are the two âlighterâ colour shades we see on her.
Fascinating when you think itâs definitely standing out from the rest of the darker & heavier draped characters.
Rom said that it perhaps symbolises her acceptance of her freedom and her place by Ziyuâs side. Iâd like to also agree on this point and add that it is possibly her way of coming out of the night (divorce with Wu Feng) and firmly settling into the new era of her life.
Also, can we just also appreciate how different Esther Yu is on this show? Iâve only ever seen her in very happy, bright, and sunny roles, which kinda befits how she portrays herself in her public persona. Itâll be interesting to see what other type of roles she could possibly grow into in the future.
The way I will devour every bit of this, especially how the jianghu and regular society would structure itself around the Gong family's catalog of exports. And yessss to any and all supply chain analysis.
Also, I'm curious about the implications of these arms exports for the development of "terrorist" and insurgent groups. When I first watched My Journey to You, I was intrigued by the possibilities of Wufeng's origins, especially given the similarities in certain fighting styles. Some people on Reddit theorized it's because the Wufeng founder might have had familial links to the Back Hill but what if Wufeng received this knowledge (and possibly technologies) through other means? Reminds me of how the US armed, funded, and trained groups in Latin America and SWANA and the long-reaching impact that has had on governance and development in those regions.
Re WIP Title Game: I want to know EVERYTHING related to your WIP about My Journey to You's Gong family economics and their position in the jianghu and regular society. Personally, I always felt there was a lot of sketchiness about that family (starting with their whole bride ritual) so would love to hear from someone more knowledgeable about the genre's worldbuilding tropes!
my write up for this was originally pending a rewatch but it's taking awhile to organize it. Anyway i'm gonna need to simplify this down because I think some information from some categories will cross over and others are probably best left out -- but I've transferred a tree I wrote down on paper for the planned topics:
the family skill sets/offerings of exportable goods plus limitations they would impose on it + reasons for limitations
how those goods (And thereby the gong family) would traditionally be seen in a wuxia-world jianghu
implications of selling what they sell and what that would mean -- including how would that cause all of jianghu and regular society to structure itself around their catalogue
gong shangjue's role as the only person allowed to go outside - and therefore must control the customer-facing side of the gong family
how the gong family handles inherently uneven distribution of favor/power/access to Things
extrapolation on what customers the gong family must be selling to and how they would be able to maintain the power that allows them to continue to have autonomy
what it might be like for shangjue to somehow straddle both jianghu and regular society at a high level AND lever control over both worlds' power levels via what he allows to be sold - imagine a single representative for company that's essentially the monster amalgam of lockheed martin and the beyer corporation. Now imagine that guy having access to all the world's leaders at every layer of society
What would gong shangjue's personal limitations be in this situation? Where does he draw the line? (will probably refile this under gong family limitations)
what it must be like to come home and suddenly have to let go of that power and be completely under someone else's control (see section about how the gong family handles uneven distribution of favor/power/things)
Supply Chain Management - logistics for sourcing of raw materials and movement of goods when no one is allowed to leave the compound
the bridal selection and currying favor and what it means when the gong family accepts and expects tribute
the gong family as an ancient conglomerate and how they handle guanxi
also - economic conglomerate as a feudal family (think korean chaebol families, esp. Samsung) with some sort of mysterious lore that even they have forgotten about - and how they will be able to pivot. Also what are they going to do about their birth rate??
It's a lot that I have swimming around in my head. I'm basically trying to power slam my way through every shorter fanfic and meta I can to create brain space for my monster writings - of which I count this one to be. LMAO