Guardian: An Introduction.
Before I start posting fanfic and talking about Guardian, I’d like to give you all some idea of what this fandom is about. So!
Guardian is a Chinese fantasy/scifi series about a cop who heads a specialized team for supernatural* crime. Zhao Yunlan - the cop - is supported in his endeavors by Shen Wei, a mild-mannered professor who acts as a consultant, and who frequently jumps in to save Zhao Yunlan and/or the day. He does this surprisingly effectively, because Shen Wei is secretly an immensely powerful being known as the Black-Cloaked Envoy, one of the rulers of the supernatural* realm. Shen Wei has also been in love with Zhao Yunlan for thousands of years, for complex and spoilery reasons that don’t need exploring at this juncture.
* I use „supernatural“ as shorthand for „technically scientifically explainable scifi-genre-like goings-ons that are for all intents and purposes supernatural“. More on this in a bit!
The entire series is available on YouTube, with subtitles, and is a delight. I encourage you to check it out if you have any interest in gay romance, or fantasy/scifi with an unusual slant.
The Heroes
Zhao Yunlan is irreverent, quirky, brilliant at reading people, and somewhat reckless, but scarily competent and completely devoted to protecting people who can’t protect themselves. He has a habit of sucking on lollipops that gets rather R-rated at times. He also possesses the superhuman ability to sprawl on absolutely any surface.
Shen Wei, aka the Black-Cloaked Envoy, is seemingly reserved, but intensely passionate, and is both a bad-ass, steely incarnation of justice and a fussy, kindly gentleman (with hearts in his eyes, if Yunlan is near). He likes to cook for Zhao Yunlan (because ZYL does not take proper care of himself), and he stares at him a lot. He also moves in right across the hall about two seconds after meeting him (again). (It’s complicated.)
Together, they fight crime!
The actors are great, the characters are multi-faceted and well-developed, and their sizzling chemistry fairly jumps off the screen. (If that is a thing that chemistry does. Errr.)
There are also a lot of great supporting characters, including Zhao Yunlan’s team, which is awesome, and his father, who is horrible in an awesome way.
The World
Guardian‘s worldbuilding is initially somewhat startling, particularly because there is a jarring info-dump right at the start of the series. This is because the novel the series is based on is fantasy, and the series had to be changed to scifi because of censorship. However, don’t worry! If you ride it out for an ep or two, it all comes together beautifully. It’s totally over the top in some ways, but gloriously so - the series just goes all-in and throws in everything, no holds barred. Aliens! Genetic mutation! Shapeshifters! Elemental powers! Meteors! Ancient wars! Rulers of the magma-filled underworld! Yes! Just keep piling on the awesome!
The Gay Romance
The series is based on an m/m novel, and in theory, the romantic and sexual relationship between the two male leads was toned down to a bromance for TV (censorship again). In practice, it was totally not. Granted, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei never kiss on-screen, and their relationship is never openly referred to as romantic (although Zhao Yunlan flirts so openly and massively that it almost counts). But that’s it. In all other respects, this is a gay romance.
It is, in fact, the most front-and-center gay romance I've ever seen in a fantasy series, as well as probably being the most satisfying gay romance I have ever seen in any TV series, period. The relationship between the main couple is central to the plot, it is well developed, it has immensely strong and genuine emotions, and it is intense and sweet and angsty and absolutely believable every step of the way.
Special Effects and All That
Evidently, the series ran into some financing issues, so the special effects are not always great. This didn’t bother me at all, though. CGI is never a priority of mine anyway; I focus on characterization and plot, and to my uncritical eye, most of the special effects seem absolutely fine, or even good. Plus, I grew quite fond of some dubious costume elements, such as one of the villain’s purple-streaked mop wig - you will know it when you see it.
Far more important for me is that a lot of thought went into set and costuming. Shen Wei's and Zhao Yunlan's apartments, for example, are perfectly furnished to reflect their characters, down to the tiniest little details.
If you do give this series a try, I’d love to know what you think! :-)
Guardian is a Chinese fantasy/scifi series about a cop who heads a specialized team for supernatural* crime. Zhao Yunlan - the cop - is supported in his endeavors by Shen Wei, a mild-mannered professor who acts as a consultant, and who frequently jumps in to save Zhao Yunlan and/or the day. He does this surprisingly effectively, because Shen Wei is secretly an immensely powerful being known as the Black-Cloaked Envoy, one of the rulers of the supernatural* realm. Shen Wei has also been in love with Zhao Yunlan for thousands of years, for complex and spoilery reasons that don’t need exploring at this juncture.
* I use „supernatural“ as shorthand for „technically scientifically explainable scifi-genre-like goings-ons that are for all intents and purposes supernatural“. More on this in a bit!
The entire series is available on YouTube, with subtitles, and is a delight. I encourage you to check it out if you have any interest in gay romance, or fantasy/scifi with an unusual slant.
The Heroes
Zhao Yunlan is irreverent, quirky, brilliant at reading people, and somewhat reckless, but scarily competent and completely devoted to protecting people who can’t protect themselves. He has a habit of sucking on lollipops that gets rather R-rated at times. He also possesses the superhuman ability to sprawl on absolutely any surface.
Shen Wei, aka the Black-Cloaked Envoy, is seemingly reserved, but intensely passionate, and is both a bad-ass, steely incarnation of justice and a fussy, kindly gentleman (with hearts in his eyes, if Yunlan is near). He likes to cook for Zhao Yunlan (because ZYL does not take proper care of himself), and he stares at him a lot. He also moves in right across the hall about two seconds after meeting him (again). (It’s complicated.)
Together, they fight crime!
The actors are great, the characters are multi-faceted and well-developed, and their sizzling chemistry fairly jumps off the screen. (If that is a thing that chemistry does. Errr.)
There are also a lot of great supporting characters, including Zhao Yunlan’s team, which is awesome, and his father, who is horrible in an awesome way.
The World
Guardian‘s worldbuilding is initially somewhat startling, particularly because there is a jarring info-dump right at the start of the series. This is because the novel the series is based on is fantasy, and the series had to be changed to scifi because of censorship. However, don’t worry! If you ride it out for an ep or two, it all comes together beautifully. It’s totally over the top in some ways, but gloriously so - the series just goes all-in and throws in everything, no holds barred. Aliens! Genetic mutation! Shapeshifters! Elemental powers! Meteors! Ancient wars! Rulers of the magma-filled underworld! Yes! Just keep piling on the awesome!
The Gay Romance
The series is based on an m/m novel, and in theory, the romantic and sexual relationship between the two male leads was toned down to a bromance for TV (censorship again). In practice, it was totally not. Granted, Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei never kiss on-screen, and their relationship is never openly referred to as romantic (although Zhao Yunlan flirts so openly and massively that it almost counts). But that’s it. In all other respects, this is a gay romance.
It is, in fact, the most front-and-center gay romance I've ever seen in a fantasy series, as well as probably being the most satisfying gay romance I have ever seen in any TV series, period. The relationship between the main couple is central to the plot, it is well developed, it has immensely strong and genuine emotions, and it is intense and sweet and angsty and absolutely believable every step of the way.
Special Effects and All That
Evidently, the series ran into some financing issues, so the special effects are not always great. This didn’t bother me at all, though. CGI is never a priority of mine anyway; I focus on characterization and plot, and to my uncritical eye, most of the special effects seem absolutely fine, or even good. Plus, I grew quite fond of some dubious costume elements, such as one of the villain’s purple-streaked mop wig - you will know it when you see it.
Far more important for me is that a lot of thought went into set and costuming. Shen Wei's and Zhao Yunlan's apartments, for example, are perfectly furnished to reflect their characters, down to the tiniest little details.
If you do give this series a try, I’d love to know what you think! :-)