Language(s): English and German, some others non-fluently
How did you first get into Guardian fandom?
I saw several people talking about it on my friendslist, and eventually decided to casually check it out. I expected it to be some silly fun that I'd quit watching after a few eps. I ended up incredibly confused by the (then) incoherently translated prologue (which featured so-called Sub-Earthians), but liked the setting and thought Shen Wei was very pretty. And then Shen Wei *stared* at Zhao Yunlan in the window, and I sat up and took notice. A few eps more and I realized Zhao Yunlan was *incredibly competent* and the characterization was excellent and coherent, and the relationship was fascinating and complex and *exactly what I wanted it to be*.
So I thought, okay, I'll enjoy this lovely show and happily read some fanfic, but that will be it, and I certainly won't fall for another fandom, or write fanfic for it myself. It'll just be another nice, casual reading fandom. (Spoiler: that is not what happened.)
What is one thing you love about the show? The characters. The relationships. The unapologetic, all hands on deck approach to worldbuilding (Aliens! Genetic mutation! Shapeshifters! Elemental powers! Meteors! Ancient wars! Rulers of the magma-filled underworld! Yes! Just keep piling on the awesome!).
What is your favourite terrible special effect? Hee! I think it's the Youchu monsters in the caves. :-) I don't tend to pay much attention to special effects, though, and actually think most of the effects are perfectly fine.
What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship?
So many. The obvious one is my OTP, the reason why I love Guardian: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. For me, this is honestly the best, most satisfying and intense m/m relationship I have ever seen in any TV canon. It's not something that gets a few minutes of airtime each ep, in between the actual plot. It IS the plot. And because the characterization of both of them is so excellent, and the relationship is developed so carefully and wonderfully (and gloriously on-screen!), I find it immensely believable and satisfying in emotional terms. And they are so mature about it, like actual adults - which is not as common as you might hope with fictional romance.
I also love Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing's rock-solid friendship, which both of them rely on to a huge degree that only gradually becomes apparent because it's woven so deeply into both of their lives as a constant. And I love Zhao Yunlan's relationship with his various team members - and I ALSO love his horrible rocky relationship with his father, because it's angsty and painful and says so much about the amazing person Zhao Yunlan is.
Do you have a favourite character? Zhao Yunlan. This was actually a surprise for me, because I usually go for guarded, introverted characters - and it took me a bit to realize that this is basically exactly what Zhao Yunlan is, for all that he hides behind performative extroversion. And he's also so dedicated and competent and passionate and brilliant and courageous and brazen, and just... yes.
Do you have a favourite villain? Zhu Jiu! While he isn't a complex character, he's a solid and competent villain, IMO. He is smart, competent, effective, and very loyal - to the death, in fact. I have also grown to love his purple octopus wig and hand ornament and evil smirk. ;-)
Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons: I'm so sorry, but I don't really have any. I have clutched onto Guardian and not looked right or left.
Do you like RPF? In some fandoms, yes, but not in Guardian. I am too focussed on my fictional character OTP.
Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)? I confess that I don't follow the actors' ads and other activities - but I did see the Time Engraver commercial, which I loved for its sheer creepy, fascinating, surrealistic worldbuilding.
What other fandoms are you in or have you been in? Oh wow, so many. I started out four score and seven years ago in X-Files (Mulder/Krycek), moved on to Once a Thief, Highlander and Eroica, Saiyuki, Utena, X 1999, Smallville, Supernatural, Jpop, X-Men First Class - and those are just some of the fandoms I've written in. I read in a lot more, notably Due South, Person of Interest and Hockey RPF, and most recently Stucky.
What are some of your general fanwork likes: I greatly enjoy a wide variety of fanworks, but I'm in it for the slash fanfic.
Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things? Dreamwidth! I've never really gotten the hang of Twitter, and Tumblr is completely out of my reach, sadly. Discord is still something I mean to try at some point, when I actually have a lot of spare time... so maybe in ten years or so?
Anything else you want to say? I am not always as quick to reply as I would like, because I am sometimes very busy with RL - and also sometimes low on spoons. But I want to talk about Guardian with you!!
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-03-03 11:56 pm (UTC)Pronouns: she/her
Language(s): English and German, some others non-fluently
How did you first get into Guardian fandom?
I saw several people talking about it on my friendslist, and eventually decided to casually check it out. I expected it to be some silly fun that I'd quit watching after a few eps. I ended up incredibly confused by the (then) incoherently translated prologue (which featured so-called Sub-Earthians), but liked the setting and thought Shen Wei was very pretty. And then Shen Wei *stared* at Zhao Yunlan in the window, and I sat up and took notice. A few eps more and I realized Zhao Yunlan was *incredibly competent* and the characterization was excellent and coherent, and the relationship was fascinating and complex and *exactly what I wanted it to be*.
So I thought, okay, I'll enjoy this lovely show and happily read some fanfic, but that will be it, and I certainly won't fall for another fandom, or write fanfic for it myself. It'll just be another nice, casual reading fandom. (Spoiler: that is not what happened.)
What is one thing you love about the show? The characters. The relationships. The unapologetic, all hands on deck approach to worldbuilding (Aliens! Genetic mutation! Shapeshifters! Elemental powers! Meteors! Ancient wars! Rulers of the magma-filled underworld! Yes! Just keep piling on the awesome!).
What is your favourite terrible special effect? Hee! I think it's the Youchu monsters in the caves. :-) I don't tend to pay much attention to special effects, though, and actually think most of the effects are perfectly fine.
What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship?
So many. The obvious one is my OTP, the reason why I love Guardian: Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei. For me, this is honestly the best, most satisfying and intense m/m relationship I have ever seen in any TV canon. It's not something that gets a few minutes of airtime each ep, in between the actual plot. It IS the plot. And because the characterization of both of them is so excellent, and the relationship is developed so carefully and wonderfully (and gloriously on-screen!), I find it immensely believable and satisfying in emotional terms. And they are so mature about it, like actual adults - which is not as common as you might hope with fictional romance.
I also love Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing's rock-solid friendship, which both of them rely on to a huge degree that only gradually becomes apparent because it's woven so deeply into both of their lives as a constant. And I love Zhao Yunlan's relationship with his various team members - and I ALSO love his horrible rocky relationship with his father, because it's angsty and painful and says so much about the amazing person Zhao Yunlan is.
Do you have a favourite character? Zhao Yunlan. This was actually a surprise for me, because I usually go for guarded, introverted characters - and it took me a bit to realize that this is basically exactly what Zhao Yunlan is, for all that he hides behind performative extroversion. And he's also so dedicated and competent and passionate and brilliant and courageous and brazen, and just... yes.
Do you have a favourite villain? Zhu Jiu! While he isn't a complex character, he's a solid and competent villain, IMO. He is smart, competent, effective, and very loyal - to the death, in fact. I have also grown to love his purple octopus wig and hand ornament and evil smirk. ;-)
Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons: I'm so sorry, but I don't really have any. I have clutched onto Guardian and not looked right or left.
Do you like RPF? In some fandoms, yes, but not in Guardian. I am too focussed on my fictional character OTP.
Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)? I confess that I don't follow the actors' ads and other activities - but I did see the Time Engraver commercial, which I loved for its sheer creepy, fascinating, surrealistic worldbuilding.
What other fandoms are you in or have you been in? Oh wow, so many. I started out four score and seven years ago in X-Files (Mulder/Krycek), moved on to Once a Thief, Highlander and Eroica, Saiyuki, Utena, X 1999, Smallville, Supernatural, Jpop, X-Men First Class - and those are just some of the fandoms I've written in. I read in a lot more, notably Due South, Person of Interest and Hockey RPF, and most recently Stucky.
What are some of your general fanwork likes: I greatly enjoy a wide variety of fanworks, but I'm in it for the slash fanfic.
Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things? Dreamwidth! I've never really gotten the hang of Twitter, and Tumblr is completely out of my reach, sadly. Discord is still something I mean to try at some point, when I actually have a lot of spare time... so maybe in ten years or so?
Anything else you want to say? I am not always as quick to reply as I would like, because I am sometimes very busy with RL - and also sometimes low on spoons. But I want to talk about Guardian with you!!