#she's fun and silly and pretty and deserves as much respect as a lantern as kyle does!!!!

[antrunner]

someone sent me a request to draw jenny YES!!!!! ill do that this evening oh my god im so excited

im gonna push my "jen and kyle are adoptive siblings and never dated" propaganda until i die. peace and love 💚

[cypressey]

Episode 7. This episode is so good, I'm tempted to rewatch it again immediately. It's got it all: character growth, fun scenes, touching scenes, plot, and bunnies.

It continues directly from ep.6, with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji talking with Lan Yi in the Cold Pond Cave. There's this cool dynamic here where WWX and LWJ are clearly in it together - looking at each other in these silent conversations whenever Lan Yi says something significant - but also kind of claiming their own space with regard to Lan Yi.

Wei Wuxian wins out, as Lan Yi recognizes him as Baoshan Sanren's disciple. (Love that expression.)

—

Outside the cave, they run into Wen Qing and Jiang Cheng and then return to the heart of the compound. There’s a moment where Lan Wangji is clearly about to tell at least some of the truth about the cave, but almost instantly takes the cue from Wei Wuxian to keep it secret. I love the way Wei Wuxian skirts the truth on both their behalf, deliberately saving Lan Wangji from having to disobey his principles or reveal too much.

A similar scene takes place in the courtyard, as Wei Wuxian answers Nie Huaisang’s very reasonable question about their absence. Lan Wangji observes Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang closely, and we see how Wei Wuxian creates a sense of closeness and draws Huaisang into the story he’s weaving. (Some wonderful character building here I think, re: WWX’s deliberate use of his witty and charming persona.)

Next, lanterns! This scene would really deserve a post of its own since Tumblr only allows ten screenshots per post and there is So Much happening here. But some highlights:

Jiang Yanli works on her lantern side by side Jin Zixuan. There’s truly no accounting for taste.

Wei Wuxian works side by side with Lan Wangji, painting a rabbit on his lantern. This is such a key moment for the series tbh, often noted as The First Time Lan Wangji Smiles. The soundtrack is Wangxian, of course, a slow and hopeful version on the piano.

It’s not just about them either. We get a look at Nie Huaisang, at Wen Qing, at Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan as the lanterns rise up to the sky.

Jiang Cheng takes note of Wen Qing’s protectiveness of her brother, his face far more open and soft than usual.

Lan Wangji takes very much note of Wei Wuxian’s wish — to stand with justice and live with no regrets.

The scene ends with Wei Wuxian teasing Jiang Yanli about her upcoming marriage. Ill-considered teasing, it turns out: Jin Zixuan is pretty embarrassed about the whole thing and speaks very dismissively of the whole thing. First time I watched this I thought MianMian was being mean on purpose, to mock Jiang Yanli about the marriage, but now? it reads much more friendly, in a way where she’s doing it to support the marriage and tease her friend gently about it.

Of course, that’s not how it reads to Wei Wuxian, who Makes a Scene and picks a fight with Jin Zixuan. Kind of an asshole move, really, when Jiang Yanli would clearly prefer to downplay the whole thing.

Is this the first time Lan Wangji calls We Wuxian by his given name on screen? He’s referred to him as Wei Ying earlier, for sure, but not sure if he’s addressed him directly with it. Anyway, some pretty heavy-handed points here about their respective approaches to standing with justice.

The whole kerfuffle ends up with both Jin Zixuan and Wei Wuxian being disciplined by Lan Qiren.

To be honest this line feels so out of character for Lan Qiren, considering what we know about Lan clan disciplinary action. Does he secretly approve of Wei Ying’s actions? Is there some softness here for Cangse Sanren? Is he just being kind?

In the end, the Jiang and Jin clan leaders agree to call off the engagement. Jiang Fengmian is wonderful here. Jin Guangshan is being wonderfully sleazy.

Wei Wuxian cheers up Jiang Yanli with a paperman. Adorable!

And of course, Lan Xichen hits the nail on the head.

—

Things I love about this episode: those (many!) moments where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji check in with each other or agree silently on what the best course of action would be. Lan Xichen poking Lan Wangji gently but relentlessly about Wei Wuxian. Bunnies. Lan Xichen getting to do cool magic as he casts a silencing (?) dome around the area. Wei Wuxian calling Lan Wangji zhiji. All of the lantern scene.

Number of bad-ass entrances: 0. There’s a silly entrance though as Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji find their way out of the Cold Pond Cave.

Number of rooftop or waterfall duels: 0, regrettably.