Discussion post - episode 8

[yantantether]

The episode opens with Tang Yi meeting with Chen Wen Hao. Chen Wen Hao talks about how it was loyalty (to Tang Guo Dong, although we don't learn this until a later scene) which kept him in jail for 24 years. Tang Yi accuses Chen Wen Hao of bribing Ah-De to act for him, Chen Wen Hao responds by accusing Tang Yi of not keeping to their agreement, and finally Tang Yi pretty blatantly threatens him with revenge.

In a flashback, we see Chen Wen Hao and Tang Guo Dong running from pursuers. They're obviously close friends. There's a time jump to a later flashback and they're now by a river, talking about how Tang Guo Dong is on the point of being sent to jail. Chen Wen Hao says that Xin Tian Meng wouldn't survive without him, and offers to take the fall, and his place in jail. He asks Tang Guo Dong to take care of his girlfriend and says, "you can't let her know."

Back in the present, Chen Wen Hao gives Jack a meaningful look.

Meanwhile, Meng Shao Fei is searching through police records to find more information about Li Li Zhen's connection to Tang Guo Dong. He finds a secret compartment in Li Li Zhen's music/puzzle box, which conceals a birth certificate of someone with the same birth date as Tang Yi. Deng deng deng!

Meng Shao Fei's phone has died while he's out investigating, and Tang Yi is repeatedly trying to contact him, getting more and more angry/concerned. Awwwww, he's fallen SO HARD. The next morning finds him looking hilariously self-conscious and uncomfortable as he walks into the police station to find out his whereabouts. Blabbermouth Zhao Zi tells him Meng Shao Fei has the day off. Then he goes home to pine and Zuo Hong Ye notices and asks him if him and Meng Shao Fei are fighting, which is pretty cute. (Tang Yi, you know where he lives... why not go to his flat??)

Jack turns up at the police station and gives Jun Wei the eyes of death until he takes his arm from around Zhao Zi and scurries off. Jack asks Zhao Zi where Meng Shao Fei is, and Zhao Zi looks adorably disappointed that Jack is seemingly there on Tang Yi's business and not his own. They flirt about bento and Zhao Zi puts his arm around Jack first, which is adorable - he's obviously not too put off by the unwise kabedon.

"You're worried about me?" / "Why can't I be?" ♥♥♥



Zhao Zi might not be quite ready to tell Jack he likes him back just yet, but he's also hanging onto Jack's coat and looking at him with hearts in his eyes. And also, this is such good acting from Kenny here! His little satisfied smiles at Jack's pursuit of him, his physicality, his mix of shyness and boldness. So good!

Next, Jack goes off to meet with Chen Wen Hao, not looking happy about it. Chen Wen Hao flatters him and tries to bribe him into spying on Tang Yi for him. The scene ends ambiguously, implying that Jack might be considering it but trying to drive a harder bargain.

Back at the police station, Captain Shi and Huang Yi Qi are teasing Zhao Zi about his bento lunch box (assuming the cook is his girlfriend and not a handsome redhead of questionable morals) when they find out that Ah-De is dead. The captain goes to confront Ah-Zhi, and we learn that Ah-Zhi murdered Ah-De to cover up that Ah-Zhi has been mixed up in the mob and has been selling confiscated drugs, and Captain Shi knew about it and has been covering up for him. (I'd forgotten about this bit! Nooooooo Captain Shi.)

That night, Meng Shao Fei finally rocks up at Tang Yi's. He plugs in his phone and sees the multiple texts and missed calls and voicemails. He's playing back Tang Yi's worried voicemails when Tang Yi walks in and gets increasingly flustered and embarrassed. It's SO CUTE.



Meng Shao Fei has this stunned and pleased look as he listens to the messages, and it honestly melted me.



Meng Shao Fei is about to tell him about finding his birth certificate and what he's discovered when Tang Yi's phone goes, and he charges off looking furious. He and Meng Shao Fei run into a dramatic kidnapping scene with Zuo Hong Ye tied up and terrified, a ranting Xin Tian Meng gang member, and Chen Wen Hao. Chen Wen Hao claims that Tang Guo Dong stole his girlfriend and killed his child. Everyone points guns at everyone else, and then Meng Shao Fei tries to save Tang Yi from being shot by yelling at Chen Wen Hao that Tang Yi is his son!

Recapper note: I'm away this weekend, so episode 9 will go up on Weds 5th. Also, apologies for the lack of pretty in this post, I'm battling a semi-dead laptop which is making including gifs and pics quite tricky.

Comments

[clevermanka]

Look at him holding onto Jack's coat! Ahhhh! I never noticed that.

Is it ever said why Tang Guodong didn't get Chen Wenhao out? And I never understood the "don't let her know" stuff. Is Tang Guodong just supposed to let Lizhen think her long-term boyfriend disappeared off the face of the earth? He knows she's in the academy to become a cop. Did they think she wouldn't find out he was in jail?

I like how we see how Hongye's feelings toward Meng Shaofei have changed by this episode. When she and Tang Yi are talking about her leaving soon, she looks honestly happy that Meng Shaofei will still be there for Tang Yi.

That really sucks about your laptop, yikes. Failing tech is such a hassle and so annoying.

[yantantether]

I like how we see how Hongye's feelings toward Meng Shaofei have changed by this episode.
Totally, that's such a lovely scene!

Is it ever said why Tang Guodong didn't get Chen Wenhao out?
I don't remember clearly from the next couple of eps, but I feel like someone mentioned on here it being one of those plot threads that's just dropped?

[clevermanka]

someone mentioned on here it being one of those plot threads that's just dropped?
Well there's something that definitely needs to be explored in fic. Or at least discussed in meta. Why? Why did he do that? Was he plagued with guilt the whole time? Did Tang Guodong ever find out Tang Yi was Chen Wenhao's kid? Was he guilt-ridden by that? Or did he see raising Tang Yi as penance and then grew to love him? INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.

[doctorskuld]

My pet theory is that TGD kept on saying he'd get CWH out, and then everything he tried didn't work...and then time dragged on...and then it was like that library book scenario. Your library book is so overdue that you're embarrassed to show back up to the library and face the fines, that you just quietly keep the book and resolve never, ever to show your face at the library again. Except it's your buddy in jail who is the library book?

Okay, I don't fucking know either, but that was a REAL shit move.

Shit move also on CWH for not telling his girlfriend that he's actually in organized crime.

I imagine that TGD knew that TY was CWH's kid, LLZ knew that her son went missing and there's no way that she wouldn't have realized that TGD just happened to pick up a kid with the same birthday as her son?

[clevermanka]

Someone really needs to write this fic. *touches nose*

[doctorskuld]

I feel the whole TGD CWH LLZ jail scenario could make a whole season of an Arrested Development-like sitcom/tragicomedy.

[clevermanka]

The angst possibilities make this incredibly tempting to me as a writer, ngl, but I'm not writing Gen (or T) for anything other than an exchange because Yes I Am Just That Shallow Honest With Myself.

[yantantether]

Except it's your buddy in jail who is the library book?
GREAT analogy 😂

[doctorskuld]

If we assume that TGD isn't actually the type of person who would leave his best friend in jail for 24 years (which he might in fact be), I can't think of any other reason why in good faith he would have said, "I'll get you out" and then went "...Nah" except for the overwhelming anxiety and guilt being so strong that it was easier to sweep it under the rug and pretend it wasn't happening.

[clevermanka]

Oh nooooooooo I just had a thought. What if it was LLZ keeping him in jail??? Suddenly this makes So Much More Sense to me, y'all.

[her_cool_aunt]

Ooh! Bad but also very good. Intriguing theory that might just plug a gaping plot hole. Nice thought.

[clevermanka]

I can't see it any other way now, tbh.

[doctorskuld]

Yeah, this the reading that makes the most sense, TBH, and reconciles with how all the characters are presented.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Oh man,that voice message part,Tang Yi being so worried and annoyed,MSF finding out about them and just looking at Tang Yi like that-too too cute!Hhahaa!Jack and Zhao Zi's scenes always have me laughing whenever Jack does his glare/look thing and everyone just leave Zhao Zi alone.And getting lunch for him-awww!

[clevermanka]

Love Chris's acting in that scene where Meng Shaofei is listening to the messages. The way he shows the conflict between his anger and embarrassment and need for MSF's affection--so good. So, so good.

This is my fourth re-watch and a lot of the time I only glance at the subtitles so I'm really enjoying the way I can absorb the acting on the show and it's pretty impressive. This cast! <3

[her_cool_aunt]

I think I've said elsewhere that the build-up of TY missing MSF and leaving increasingly frustrated/angry/worried messages (plus the adorable girded loins visit to the police station) ending with the finale of MSF listening to the messages as TY internally squirms (in multiple ways) is JUST GORGEOUS. Love this.

Something I particularly noted during this rewatch was TY's use of different names for MSF in the mesages, showing how he felt. Naming conventions and cultural rules for them are really interesting to me as an ignorant westerner. (I've just watched a K-drama where an entire funny subplot revolved around formal vs informal forms of speech - which had to be painstakingly explained in the subtitles!)

[clevermanka]

TY's use of different names for MSF in the mesages, showing how he felt.
Ooooo! If you ever want to collect those for a post here, I know I'd find that fascinating and I'm probably not alone.

[her_cool_aunt]

I think the main change (here and throughout C- and T-dramas I've watched) is when someone drops the first part of someone's name, e.g. going from Meng Shaofei to just Shaofei.

[clevermanka]

Ahhh, got it. I thought maybe he started using the A- prefix or something...

[her_cool_aunt]

I don't think that's here, although I do have some memory of it (perhaps in episode 10?). The other thing I find interesting about the switch between MSF and SF is that it's not a one-way move. TY switches back to MSF again.

[doctorskuld]

The difference between using a full name and just the first name in Chinese isn't as large of a formality distance as it is in English, so it's cute that he does cross the intimacy barrier by using "Shao Fei," but not unusual that he would use the two mostly interchangeably.

[her_cool_aunt]

OK! Understood. I've been learning so many little (and big) things about Chinese and other Asian cultures from watching shows like this.

[doctorskuld]

I am melted by the way that Jack looks at ZZ vs Jack bemusedly telling others to stay the hell away from his crush.

He totally knows that Jun Wei isn't actually in the way of anything, but he's giving Jun Wei those looks as a POWER MOVE because he can.

[issenllo]

I think they mentioned that CWH was in jail for 24 years in the 1st episode but it didn't sink in for me until this episode and I was all kinds of pissed off at Tang Guo Dong about it. You don't let your buddy languish in jail for 24 years, TGD!

Jack's interaction with ZZ is the highlight for me. I hated the earlier scene of him pressuring ZZ but at least this made up for it.

[yantantether]

I'm not a huge fan of that earlier Jack and Zhao Zi scene either, so I really loved this scene cos of how warm towards Jack (and enthusiastic about touching him) ZZ is - it's super cute! Also it seems like he's been missing him over the previous few days and he looks so disappointed when he thinks Jack is only there to pump him for info on MSF's whereabouts again. ❤️

[doctorskuld]

ZZ's crestfallen look when Jack starts asking about MSF's whereabouts is so adorable. Of course he likes you, Jack. (Jack can already tell.)

And I like the earlier scene, only because it is completed by this scene, in which Jack scares off Jun Wei with a single look. I LOVE IT.

[clevermanka]

I interpret that first Jack/ZZ scene as Jack doing what usually works. He shifts gears a bit when he realizes what sort of vehicle he's actually steering, here, but he's still the same driver.

[yantantether]

That's a great interpretation! I'll definitely have that in mind when I watch the scene from now on.

[doctorskuld]

I really like the scene of Tang Yi and CWH in the tea house, the tension between them is palpable. I love it.

I was quite surprised, upon first watch, to see the care taken in writing the backstory of TGD and CWH, and how they didn't just leave it as a complete mystery told only through hearsay, which is why I was really surprised by the failure to close the loop with the question of, "So why did you leave your buddy to rot in jail for 24 years?" It makes me wonder if they'd written more in, but had to cut it due to length, or if this was something that was just never disclosed in the first place for sake of convenience.

Meng Shao Fei's phone has died while he's out investigating, and Tang Yi is repeatedly trying to contact him, getting more and more angry/concerned

The sequences of this entire bit are the cutest thing. TY getting worried out of his mind, while MSF cluelessly forgets about his phone while he's out chasing a case. It is very sweet that TY goes to the lengths of actually showing up at Unit Three's door to look for MSF. I still am gutted that we never see Captain Shi receive the news that MSF is dating TY now.

Jack turns up at the police station and gives Jun Wei the eyes of death until he takes his arm from around Zhao Zi and scurries off.
This scene, in contrast to the first, is pure hilarity. I love how long it takes Jun Wei to figure out what's going on, and how Jack effortlessly presses his superiority before Jun Wei scurries off.

I love the easy, closeness between Jack and ZZ here, the touching, the jacket-clutching, the way that ZZ smiles at Jack and Jack smiles back. I think that Kenny did a really good job at portraying ZZ's burgeoning feelings for Jack though I'm not sure whether that was Kenny acting or Kenny actually starting to feel something for Andy.

I also really like the scene between CWH and Jack, because not only does it make you question Jack's loyalties the first time you're watching, with a rewatch you really start to understand what Jack's objectives might be while he's undercover. Also, there's some close-ups of Andy Bian, and he is pretty.

and we learn that Ah-Zhi murdered Ah-De to cover up that Ah-Zhi has been mixed up in the mob and has been selling confiscated drugs, and Captain Shi knew about it and has been covering up for him.
I like how they had previously foreshadowed that there was something sketchy about Zhou Guan Zhi, but I had never suspected Captain Shi of being involved in it! Suddenly his berating of MSF and his pleas to drop the 4-years-ago things are thrown into a different light. Nooo, poor Captain Shi. :(

He's playing back Tang Yi's worried voicemails when Tang Yi walks in and gets increasingly flustered and embarrassed. It's SO CUTE.
This scene was SO ADORABLE. It was so seriously cute!! The way that TY goes from angry-grumpy to flustered, and how well MSF handles him, even though they're still so new at this relationship. I like that they've known each other for a long time before embarking on this relationship, and this helps them navigate situations like this and reach understanding. UGH. I keep forgetting how absolutely ADORABLE these two are.

Chen Wen Hao claims that Tang Guo Dong stole his girlfriend and killed his child.
This does make you wonder how involved TGD and LLZ were at some point...

Thanks for these recaps, Yan! They are amazing and fun, as always! <3333

[clevermanka]

I still am gutted that we never see Captain Shi receive the news that MSF is dating TY now.
I never even thought about that and omg that would be SOMETHING, wouldn't it?

Tang Yi is so brave showing up at the precinct! Like, they could have a warrant for his arrest right then but he has to go because he's so angry-worried about Meng Shaofei! Ugh, I love their relationship so much.

with a rewatch you really start to understand what Jack's objectives might be while he's undercover
Yep! <3 oh <3 Jack <3 ilu! So... do you think Jack's an Interpol agent from day one? Is that made clear and I missed it? I like to think he is, but I don't know if that's disproven somewhere.

[yantantether]

that would be SOMETHING, wouldn't it?
And potentially he's just recovered from the palpitations caused by THAT news, and THEN ZZ lets it slip that Jack is now his house husband 😂

[clevermanka]

Poor Captain! (sorry about my missing close tag in the HTML sigh)

[doctorskuld]

I can see the Captain being ever so slightly disappointed in ZZ. Like, it was inevitable that MSF's obsession with TY would invert itself and turn into them actually being in love with each other, but...innocent Zhao Zi and that leather-clad, knife-wielding trickster Jack?!

...what did ZZ ever do in a previous life to deserve such a cruel fate.

[yantantether]

And then Zhao Zi decides to smooth things over by inviting him for dinner! And it starts out by him glaring at Jack and Jack glaring back while wearing an apron, but once he's eaten a whole meal of Jack's delicious cooking, maybe he decides Jack can't be all that bad. 😄

[doctorskuld]

I want this fic more than anything.

[doctorskuld]

I have always assumed that Jack has been undercover in Xin Tian Meng since day one, it's heavily implied when he talks to Interpol Chief Yan in the next episode. I don't think Jack turned, he's been a mole since the very beginning.

[clevermanka]

Oh, good! It's not like I need to have my headcanons validated, but it's nice to be in general fanon company.

[her_cool_aunt]

That's also always been my take.

[yantantether]

though I'm not sure whether that was Kenny acting or Kenny actually starting to feel something for Andy.
EXCELLENT point.

I like that they've known each other for a long time before embarking on this relationship
Even though most of their interactions probably consisted of MSF trying to arrest Tang Yi and Tang Yi suing him 😂 but yeah, they have had a lot of time to get to know each other as enemies which is paying off now they're lovers ❤️

[doctorskuld]

I ADORE that MSF and TY have been enemies before (who know each other pretty damn well), and that knowledge plays into them actually understanding each other in their relationship. UGH. They are SO. CUTE.

[her_cool_aunt]

You do really get a grownup, established (or at least heading in the right direction) relationship vibe from MSF towards TY in this scene. I've recently been watching a few Thai BL dramas, amongst others, and in comparison Trapped is joyful - from the perspective of them being adults having an adult (by which I mean sensible and based in a recognisable reality) relationship. This show rocks!

[doctorskuld]

I think the one of the reasons that Trapped feels more adult is that there isn't any agonizing over "Oh no, I like him, what do I do?" or "Does he like me back, oh no, what do I do?" Everybody just kind of quietly comes to that revelation and GOES FOR IT. They just all pursue what they want, which is very adult of them.

I don't think Tang Yi is ever depicted as having a moment of "I'm in love with a COP" with the associated angst, he just goes on low-key being amused at MSF's silly antics until he's in too deep and liking it to even worry about the consequences.

MSF doesn't even have a revelation about being attracted to a man (possibly for the first time), he just straight up goes, "YEAH, I LIKE YOUR BOSS, SO WHAT?" He never questions his own identity or goes through those very teenage crises of 'Am I gay? Am I bi? Who am I?' Meng Shao Fei knows who he is, and he's attracted to Tang Yi and he GOES FOR IT.

I think the most child-like response we see is Zhao Zi, who is just kind of clueless about his own feelings, and then hides from them when Jack finally confesses. What I like is that he doesn't actually avoid Jack himself, in the stereotypical, 'OMG, this person likes me and I don't know how to respond, I must avoid them' kind of way. He continues to hang out with Jack and accept Jack's lunches. Even when Jack moves in that one night, Zhao Zi's response to that is a pretty adult, 'Yeah, this works out from a financial and division-of-labor perspective' and you don't see a typical teenage identity angst response.

I just love Trapped because of this. Even ZZ, who is the babiest of all, has a pretty grown up to response to Jack wanting to move in.

These all feel like ADULT relationships, and I fucking LOOOOOOVE the show because of it.

[her_cool_aunt]

Oh god, yes yes yes! You're right that both TY and MSF are quite accepting of aspects of their attraction and then love that less mature/evolved men would really struggle with. The grown-up nature of most of the characters and their relationships is a huge plus point about Trapped.