Sundial Exchange Love and Friendship meme!

[sundial_exchange_mod]

Happy March or Happy Leap Day, depending on where you are in the world!

We’re still glowing from the lovely energy that the exchange created, thank you all so much for making it such a wonderful experience for everyone! It exceeded our wildest expectations in both number of fanworks and type of fanworks, and we are so honoured to have been able to create a space to make that possible 🥰🎉✨

At asya_ana’s suggestion we are hosting a Love and Friendship meme for Guardian and Guardian-related canons. You can use the form in the textbox below if you like or go wild!

<strong>User names:</strong> <strong>Pronouns:</strong> <strong>Language(s):</strong> <strong>How did you first get into Guardian fandom?</strong> <strong>What is one thing you love about the show?</strong> <strong>What is your favourite terrible special effect?</strong> <strong>What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite character?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite villain?</strong> <strong>Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons:</strong> <strong>Do you like RPF?</strong> <strong>Do you have a favourite ad campaign (such as Bai Yu's rentboy photoshoot or Zhu Yilong's ReFa ads)?</strong> <strong>What other fandoms are you in or have you been in?</strong> <strong>What are some of your general fanwork likes:</strong> <strong>Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things?</strong> <strong>Anything else you want to say?</strong>

There is also an ongoing Guardian fandom friending meme over at sid_guardian, for more of your meme needs✨

Comments

[tinny]

User names: tinny
Pronouns: she
Language(s): English and a few more, I studied Chinese for 10 years and can cobble together bits and pieces, but have no listening comprehension to speak of. I love the language, though, and got back into studying it through Guardian and related cdramas.
How did you first get into Guardian fandom? The gifs on tumblr, and my friend simboo, who kept reccing me other Asian BL. I first didn't want to watch it, because it's not explicit BL, but I caved in the end. I have no regrets, other than that being in the middle of a fandom is stressful. But I'm not really complaining. *g*
What is one thing you love about the show? How much Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are in love.
What is your favourite terrible special effect? The monsters in the mountains, because I love to see Shen Wei fighting them.
What is (one of) your favourite relationship(s) on the show (either romantic or friendship) and what do you like about that relationship? Weilan all the way. I also adore the way Zhu Hong can be in love with Zhao Yunlan and still her own person (and his friend), and the episode where he lets her down gently is one of my favorites in the whole show.
Do you have a favourite character? I have trouble with Shen Wei's insistence to sacrifice himself, otherwise I would say Shen Wei.
Do you have a favourite villain? Ye Zun. Zhu Yilong is amazing in everything he does.
Talk to us about one (or more!) of your favourite Guardian-related canons: I have watched all of their works that are not historical dramas and that I could get my hands on. So I guess I could make an informed decision here, but... really, the one I care most about is Luo Fusheng! Literal Kitten! Dreamlike Life is so terrible (like most of Zhu Yilong's shows), but his character Luo Fusheng is absolutely adorable and I want him to have all the good things.
Do you like RPF? Oh boy, yes. It is what still keeps me hooked on this fandom.
Do you have a favourite ad campaign? Nope. I hate ads, and I don't like the prevalent opinion in Chinese fandom that the endorsed products must be supported/bought. I could do without the ads (especially the ReFa ones, because they trigger my embarrassment squick on Zhu Yilong's behalf).
What other fandoms are you in or have you been in? Actively: only The Librarians. I was a passive onlooker in other fandoms, starting with X-Files in the 1990s, and hitting on SGA, SPN, Doctor Who, and Sherlock on the way. My fave will always be Farscape. I'm into fantasy/sci-fi in general.
What are some of your general fanwork likes: Smut. Art. Icons (which I make myself, a lot.)
Where can we best find you to squee more about this thing or other things? Here on dw. My journal has almost exclusively Guardian and adjacent content, and about half of that is icons.
Anything else you want to say? I love this fandom ditch.

[clevermanka]

FARSCAPE! \o/

[tinny]

The. Best. (And to think it took me two tries to get through the first season before I caught the bug. :D)

[clevermanka]

I had two false starts before I got into Guardian, so I get it. Happens to the best of us.
(<3 your icon <3)

[yue_ix]

That episode with Zhu Hong is one of my favourites too! I must admit I was unsatisfied with most character development for the women of the show (...those that weren't gratuitously dead...) until that episode. It redeemed a lot of how I perceived the handling of Zhu Hong's affection so far, provided backstory, and was wonderful emotional labour for many characters.

Your icons are a delight!!

[tinny]

Yeah, I wasn't expecting good treatment of female characters, seeing as how Asian dramas are often heavy on the gender inequality and cliches. But Guardian surprised me with Zhu Hong. (Not so much with Wang Zheng, who had a lot more agency and bite in the novel, which they easily could have kept, but... no.)

Your icons are a delight!!

Thank you! *blushes*

[sakana17]

Seconding the delight for your icons! :D

[tinny]

Thank you! <3

[naye]

I also adore the way Zhu Hong can be in love with Zhao Yunlan and still her own person (and his friend)
Yes this is so good. ♥

[asya_ana]

I didn't realize you had studied Chinese for so many years. What made you begin? <3

[tinny]

Sorry for the late reply... /o\

I did it for the artistic aspect, actually. I love the idea of a language made up entirely of pictures. (Stupid as it may be from a learning perspective.)

I thought learning calligraphy would be too boring, so I attended language courses. I still love it to this day, and got back into practicing it (on my own) through Guardian.

[sakana17]

the one I care most about is Luo Fusheng! Literal Kitten!

Exactly! I feel foolhardy enough to attempt a Luo Fusheng super-cut because everyone needs to see the KITTEN in full glory. ♥

[goss]

a Luo Fusheng super-cut

Please do! I would love to know more about this character, but am reluctant to sit through the entire show to do so. :b

[glymr]

Oh man, that would be amazing...

[tinny]

super-cut? That sounds like one of those life-size paper posters that the youth magazines used to have.

They were called "Star Cut", but that's what that word just reminded me of. :D Since I have already watched Dreamlike, I feel like I could definitely go for the life-size pop-up cardboard Luo Fusheng now instead. :DDD

[sakana17]

Luo Fusheng would be a perfect life-size pin-up poster boy! I want one!! :D