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history3_trapped
The episode begins with the police team sharing a meal, before Meng Shao Fei hauls off to confront Tang Yi at another cafe. We get a flashback to Tang Guodong teaching Tang Yi to cook, and it becomes clear that Tang Yi wants revenge on Chen Wenhao for Tang Guodong's death. Then the world's least subtle stake out leads to Meng Shao Fei getting all up in Tang Yi's face AGAIN and trying to provoke him to reveal more about Wang Kunchen's death and Chen Wenhao's return. They're suddenly attacked by mysterious assailants and end up fighting back to back before being kidnapped, then escape into the woods while handcuffed together.
Meanwhile, Jack hauls Zhao Zi off to try and shake him down for information about Tang Yi's whereabouts. Tang Yi and Meng Shao Fei hole up in an abandoned house for the night. Tang Yi freaks out about Meng Shao Fei touching his lighter and in flashback we see Tang Guodong giving it to him as Tang Yi promises to take on leadership of the mob after him. Meng Shao Fei, who was stabbed in the arm the previous day, wakes up feverish and the ep winds up with him tripping as they make their way down the mountain and falling into Tang Yi's arms.
MSF & TY's bickering in front of their kidnappers is hilarious, but their silent communication abilities are impressive - they'd probably already pass the broccoli test.
Zhao Zi walking on his hands like a total goof, and Jack's smirking reaction to it, is SO CUTE. And I love how much of a force of positivity Zhao Zi is - in the cafe scene he's really doing his best to make sure the other cops support MSF.
A++++ to the script writer for the enforced snuggling while MSF & TY are hiding behind a very small rock.
As Canadian Shacks go, the one they end up in is somewhat deficient. It barely even has walls!
MSF is SUCH a cinnamon roll. He's still basically meant to be your nemesis...
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Date: 8 Jan 2020 21:06 (UTC)Meng Shao Fei hauls off to confront Tang Yi at another cafe
And boy is that a fancy cafe! The bill Tang Yi leaves MSF with is about €100 (or USD$110). No wonder he has that look on his face.
Then the world's least subtle stake out
It is downright painful how obvious their stakeouts are. It is a wonder they catch any criminals at all. I love that they were trying to stake out CWH but then MSF just totally blows their cover the second that TY arrives. *facepalms* It makes me wonder if the whole purpose of Interpol calling on Unit Three for help with CWH is as a distraction so that Jack can have an easier time getting in? (But nah, I don't think the screenwriters are that deft. XD)
They're suddenly attacked by mysterious assailants and end up fighting back to back before being kidnapped
I was sold on this entire show by now because Battle Couple is my all time favorite #1 trope, and it's an Enemies to Lovers couple and I am already ascended. The look they give each other as they're forced back-to-back and then decide to face their assailants instead is *chef's kiss* THE GOOD STUFF.
The fight choreography, editing, and camera movement is also really good and very dynamic, which is unexpected for a show with this budget. My only lament is that we never see any more action with Jack, and that is such a waste given Andy Bian's stacked-ness.
And then there's another close-quarters fight in a moving vehicle with MSF and TY Handcuffed Together? Sweet Jesus, all of my favorite tropes coming at me at once!
MSF and TY totally pass the broccoli test! ♥
About Zhao Zi's heart palpitation thing—do we think he has a legit heart condition, or is it just stress-induced from being the subject of Captain Shi's scolding? ...plus probably some "MSF is in danger" signalling?
Zhao Zi walking on his hands like a total goof, and Jack's smirking reaction to it, is SO CUTE.
There is absolutely no canonical reason for Zhao Zi to be able to do that, but I love that the director included it because it made for an interesting scene transition. Also, Kenny is pretty damn skilled.
Also, Jack's little "hee hee" as he grins at ZZ and then bodily hauls him away while still grinning is THE BEST!
I love that TY's house has a special interrogation room, and it includes a comfy sofa. XDDDDD
Jack's "Are you playing dumb with me?" OH JACK, DON'T YOU KNOW HE'S JUST LIKE THAT. XDDDDD You can really tell how charmed Jack is by ZZ's continuing stubborn refusal to give him MSF's phone number. ZZ doesn't appear to be all that afraid of Jack, so I imagine that Jack is vaguely intrigued by this incredibly naive little cop who is not afraid of all the terrible things that Jack is capable of. Fine, Jack thinks, we'll see how you fare in the morning, as he leaves.
(You have NO IDEA who you're up against, Jack. XDDD)
This is definitely the episode where TY first starts going, "OH NO, HE'S CUTE" about MSF, and the looks on TY's face are amazing as he kind of sullenly stares at MSF and thinks, "Goddammit, this is so not the time or person."
And then...THE FALL!
THE FALL (DIFFERENT ANGLE)!
T H E F A L L (slowmo)!
Trapped is a fanfic by that BNF that you know delivers the goods, and every chapter is pure, tropey delight.
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Date: 8 Jan 2020 21:35 (UTC)The thing that pushed me from "oh this is cute" to "yes I am In Love" about this show was that the gangster fell first, and he fell early, and he fell hard. And then he sat back and waited and I was like I Have Never Seen This Story Before and oh my goddddd SOLD.
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Date: 9 Jan 2020 21:17 (UTC)I devour well-choreographed fight scenes, and wow, yeah, this one hit all my buttons. Even the later one when MSF gets jumped isn't bad. I am so, so sad there wasn't more opportunity for MSF and TY to Battle Couple together. And Jack and ZZ no less. *sobs*
the gangster fell first, and he fell early, and he fell hard. And then he sat back and waited
Like, it's one of those where you expect to have seen it before, but upon reflection, you realize you haven't. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Tang Yi actually fell in love with disaster cop MSF—whom he has PREVIOUSLY SUED—first, and then later he just kind of watches with great amusement as MSF falls for him too, equally hard.
Watching MSF realize his feelings and TY's small modicum of satisfaction at "Ha, he has it as bad as I do" is not something I've seen before on live action TV.
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Date: 9 Jan 2020 21:23 (UTC)no subject
Date: 11 Jan 2020 14:43 (UTC)You've explained it perfectly - and this is one of Trapped's greatest joys. On my first (speedy) watching, I hadn't properly grasped this and so I was a bit confused by what Tang Yi feels when and how things progress. As soon as you said this, it's like it just clicked in my head. And now I get it. Going forward, my viewing pleasure is doubled as I watch Tang Yi's interactions with Meng Shaofei just WAITING for MSF to get with the programme. Yes! :-)
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Date: 11 Jan 2020 15:44 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Jan 2020 23:09 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Jan 2020 03:03 (UTC)i feel that tang yi has the slight advantage when it comes to recognizing their underlying connection because of how they're positioned around the tragedy from four years ago. tang yi (thinks he) knows what happened that day and he's channeled his obsession into plans for revenge; whereas MSF only has the mystery surrounding his mentor's death, and he turns his obsession towards tang yi... who can probably recognize, on some level, that they are both grieving in a similar way, having lost parental figures at once and feeling bound by filial loyalty to keep pursuing a resolution (revenge \ justice).
and yes, naturally tang yi HATES IT - MSF is a cop and therefore automatically the enemy, tang yi's father figure was clearly keeping secrets, tang yi himself nearly died, and then while maintaining his new position of control over the gang AND trying to make the syndicate go legit, he's hounded for years as if he's the killer... yeah, of course he hates MSF being in his face and harassing him and trying to provoke him into a confession (he only perhaps succeeds in making tang yi ~emotionally compromised by the awful memory he keeps bringing up). AND YET - they do share a similar hurt, and MSF is just as relentless and passionate and dedicated to his misguided pursuit as tang yi is himself, so amidst all that hate there's probably an inkling of respect and maaaaaybe a notice taken of MSF's lean, cute, live wire physicality. not that tang yi would ever ~go there omg, he's a self-respecting gangster! but he's also human and i bet he'd allowed himself to imagine a few ways he might make MSF shut that pretty, noisy mouth of his.
...so yeah, thanks for pointing this out!
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Date: 12 Jan 2020 15:48 (UTC)no subject
Date: 12 Jan 2020 23:17 (UTC)Taking this in a slightly different direction, I have big questions about Meng Shaofei’s own family situation. I know he’s extremely empathetic, but he seems to GET how Tang Yi feels about being a lost, lonely orphan so well. Add in his strong connection to Sister Lizhen (and to a lesser extent to the captain) - plus (I think) no mention ever of his own parents - and this all gets me wondering whether he’s alone too.
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Date: 13 Jan 2020 03:47 (UTC)maybe the novelization contains some info, but i'm afraid i haven't read it.
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Date: 13 Jan 2020 11:26 (UTC)Yes, that confused me a lot at the time too. I decided to let it go as a turn of phrase rather than literal meaning. Something like being a “mummy’s boy”. Possibly also something slightly lost in translation? I don’t know.
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Date: 13 Jan 2020 21:50 (UTC)So he's disparaging the fact that ZZ didn't have both sets of parents around, which is pretty mean!
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Date: 13 Jan 2020 21:54 (UTC)One thing supposedly revealed by the novelization is that both MSF and ZZ are orphans, which is why they bonded so well when they were together at the Police Academy!
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Date: 12 Jan 2020 23:20 (UTC)100% without question. Now, of course, I want to know whether they go *here* once they’re together.
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Date: 9 Jan 2020 20:10 (UTC)I love that TY's house has a special interrogation room, and it includes a comfy sofa.
:DD Comfort is very important!
"OH NO, HE'S CUTE"
He even has cute hair - that little sticky-uppy bit!
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Date: 9 Jan 2020 21:11 (UTC)One of the things I could never figure out is what that scene was actually meant to be read as. Is Zhao Zi faking it? Is it stress-related because the Captain is yelling at him in particular? (Though you think that with as long as he's been there, he'd be used to it by now.) Does he legit have an undiagnosed heart condition? Is it some omen that MSF is in trouble?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
He even has cute hair - that little sticky-uppy bit!
I think the most endearing little detail about MSF is that little cowlick. It just sticks straight out, it's not doing what the rest of his hair is doing, and that is just MSF's personality to a T.
Jake even named it, it's Fifi!
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Date: 11 Jan 2020 14:47 (UTC)This scene completely confuses me. The best I can come up with is that it's light relief to leaven the heavier atmosphere from an otherwise set of more serious scenes with the kidnapping, etc. In itself it makes no sense. Trapped doesn't exactly play for laughs but it's definitely a light-hearted series. I took this bit of ridiculousness in that light.
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Date: 11 Jan 2020 23:43 (UTC)The look they give each other as they're forced back-to-back and then decide to face their assailants instead is *chef's kiss* THE GOOD STUFF. - that look is such a charged shorthand for THIS ISN'T OVER BUT WE HAVE MORE PRESSING ISSUES TO DEAL WITH and it's PERFECT omg.