Episode 35: Chekhov's Piggy Back Ride

 Zhanalytics

Brooding Stares: 24

Intense Eye Contact: 8

Facial Twitch: 3

Fist Clench:

 

Immediately after having fallen for the "Oh no, Jiang Cheng!" trick, Legolas falls for the "Oh no, Haungaung Jun!" trick. Like this poor child does not have enough trust issues. 

 

"Lan Zhan, I'm fine" Lan Zhan immediately pulls up Wei Wuxian's robe to reveal the trace of the evil spell. Two can play at this sudden random physical intimacy game. 

 

"I'll carry you." Oh yeah, Chekhov's piggy back ride is happening. Wei Wuxian totally ruins the moment by complaining it's embarrassing and then claiming that he doesn't ever remember wanting to carry Lan Zhan. Wei Wuxian, you're breaking my heart into a million little pieces! You know that Lan Zhan has been treasuring the memory of almost being carried by Wei Wuxian for the better part of two decades, and then Wei Wuxian denies even remembering it! And does he really not remember? He kind of reminds me of the son of a friend of mine, whose response to being asked to talk about anything he doesn't want to talk about is to deny remembering it. It's more forgivable in him because he is 11. Although, Wei Wuxian is still basically emotionally a teenager, I guess. 

 

I was about to say that it must be hard for Wei Wuxian - everyone else has had sixteen years to process the events that immediately preceded his death, and for him it probably seems like it was yesterday. On the other hand, Jiang Cheng doesn't exactly seem to have put the past behind him. Also, I'm trying and failing to wrap my head around the mathematical fact that Lan Zhan must be in his thirties. 

 

Watching the tall and lanky Lan Zhan carry the equally tall and lanky Wei Wuxian on his back is kind of ridiculous. I hope there's blooper reel from that day of filming. 

 

Lan Zhan tells WWX to put on his mask. And then kicks down the door to reveal Nie Huaisang. Who claims to know nothing. Before he's even been asked any questions. Oh, Huaisang. Clan Leadership has not brought out your better qualities. 

 

"I feel we've met before." Heh. 

 

It's not a man-eating bunker. It's the ancestral grave of Nie's family? 

 

Oh dear. Apparently the Nie Clan has a problem with possessed swords. But it's not wicked tricks! Poor Huaisang, having to babysit all these bloodthirsty blades. And provide them with evil spirits to fight. And grave robbers to nom on. 

 

Huaisang hands over a rock. I'm not sure what the significance of the rock is. 

 

Wei Wuxian compliments Huaisang's favorite fan. See, this is why I don't buy the "I have a bad memory" thing. You can remember Huaisang's favorite fan, which you saw once, but you can't remember offering to carry Lan Zhan on your back. I disbelieve. 

 

Lan Zhan wants to help Wei Wuxian get rid of the evil spell, but Wei Wuxian seems shy about him getting involved. This is like the flip side of that scene in the Danger Turtle cave. However, before things go any further, the little magic bag starts freaking out, and these two have to play a duet. 

 

Lan Zhan fixes the flute. You know that Lan Zhan has perfect pitch and it's been driving him nuts. I love it when these two play music together. I would watch an infinite number of episodes of them wandering around the countryside investigating weird stuff and playing duets together. 

 

Our two heroes go to check out the Blade Shrine again, where Nie Huaisang is supervising some workmen fixing the wall. 

 

"We don't practice swords, we practice blades." Okay, this is a slight lost-in-translation moment, but that explains why Nie Mingjue was always running around with this giant Cloud Strife proportioned cleaver when everyone else had normal swords. 

 

Speaking of giant cleavers, Nie Mingjue's blade is not here. 

 

We get a flashback to Mingjue's death. Mr. Jinsincerity himself was there. That's not suspicious at all. Oh, and actually Mingjue's body was never found. Well, that 100% guarantees that Mingjue's sword, and possibly Mingjue himself, are out there causing trouble. 

 

Nie Huaisang is listening to them talk about the sword ghost and his reaction is interesting. He's clenching his fist. I'm not good at reading Huaisangalytics, so I'm not sure what that means. 

 

"How's your trace of evil spell?"

"There's a little left."

"What do you mean, little?"

"A little. Do you want me to undress and show you?" Does he ever. Seriously, I had to rewind the subsequent conversation four times because I was too busy watching Lan Zhan's reaction to that to read the subtitles. 

 

Wei Wuxian realizes they are dealing with two mysterious people. One of whom might be on their side, and one of whom is not. Something like that. Did I mention that I was not really focusing on the subtitles? 

 

Lan Zhan really does not want to tell Wei Wuxian how he recognized him. It was the flute playing, right? 

 

Yes, I still love every time WWX gets to overhear a story about himself. 

 

What! Did they just say Xue Yang is a courtier of the Jin Clan? And Jin Guangshan saved his life? How? Seriously people - you're all hell bent on slaughtering a bunch of Wen clan radish farmers but Xue Yang somehow gets a pass? And then he was punished by Guangyao? Well, chalk up one more actually good thing that Guangyao did. Maybe. 

 

Lan Zhan grabs Wei Wuxian's cup of liquor and downs it. I don't blame him. What I just heard would drive anyone to drink. And look at those Zhanalytics. Poor boy must be exhausted from all the feels.