Early Access: Reset [China] E3

E3. I wasn't sure what to expect, after the previous episode, and I'm pleased to say that Show is surprising me in the best way, in terms of the new bits of information we get, this episode.

The thing that intrigues me most, this episode, is the reveal, that the time the events occur, in each time loop, varies. In fact, from what I can tell, from the way Heyun and Shiqing map everything out, it appears that this loop possibly cycles in a conical sort of pattern, rather than a cylindrical sort of pattern?

For some reason, I'd assumed that the time loop would be such that each cycle starts at exactly the same time, and the traffic accident occurs at exactly the same time. But with the details that Heyun and Shiqing plot on that overview this episode, it looks like they are waking up earlier and earlier with each time loop, by a single minute.

Would that widen each time loop, resulting in a conical sort of pattern? Or.. perhaps it is a cylindrical sort of pattern, but they are just joining each loop earlier, each time? Hmm.

I'm assuming that because so many little happenings feed into the various factors, causing the bus and the oil tank truck to collide at that specific location, that the timing of this accident would stay constant.

Meaning, if the collision happens at all, it should always happen at the same time, each time. And Heyun and Shiqing do confirm that, in a way, in the way they pinpoint that at least 2 of the accident explosions occurred at the same time, at 1:42pm.

I wonder, though, if there are occasions when the accident occurs, but not at 1:42pm? That would require a whole different set of smaller happenings, resulting in the collision at a different time? I'm curious to know more about this.

Also, with Heyun and Shiqing entering the time loops earlier, each cycle, and exiting each time loop at different times, depending on when they fall asleep or lose consciousness, it feels like they are getting deeper and deeper into this mysterious cycle?

Additionally, I find Heyun's game architect perspective quite interesting; that if this time loop were a computer game, then in order to win the game, they would have to get everyone off the bus safely. That's an unexpected insight that actually makes a lot of sense.

The computer game lens is also quite interesting. Does that then mean that, like most computer games, Heyun and Shiqing have a limited number of tries left, to break the time loop? And if that's correct, then does that mean that when they run out of tries, they'd.. die in the explosion..? 😱 Yikes. I hope that's not how it works!

On a different note, it's interesting to me, that even between Heyun and Shiqing, who have both experienced the time loops together, there is still a measure of distrust. When Shiqing is unable to recall certain details, and only gives a vague account of the earlier loops, Heyun himself loses patience with Shiqing, and assumes that she's withholding information from him on purpose - which is why he throws away the map that he's drawn.

That certainly puts things into perspective, a little bit, around the police officers struggling to believe Heyun's and Shiqing's testimonies, during questioning. If Heyun, who's been through the time loop himself, so easily doubts Shiqing's account of things, wouldn't the police officers, who have had no exposure to this time loop business, doubt them even more?

Based on that, I am not as disgruntled with Detective Jiang, as I think some viewers might be. While others might conclude that he's a douchebag for being so mean and disbelieving towards Heyun, I do think that his disbelief is quite reasonable. Of course, this doesn't mean that he isn't a douchebag; I just.. don't have that opinion of him (yet?), at this point of our story.

Additionally, the way Detective Jiang tries to provoke Shiqing later, by telling her that Heyun's accused her of being the mastermind, is, I think, a questioning technique. I mean, sure, Detective Jiang's probably more emotionally invested than he should be, but if I'm not mistaken, this way of priming suspects &/or witnesses, to see if the provocation will change their statements, is A Thing.

Also, I appreciate the fact that Director Du lets Detective Jiang know that his conduct is poorer than expected.

I have to wonder if there is some gender bias, in the way the questioning is carried out, at the police station.

Putting aside the fact that it's the more impatient Detective Jiang who questions Heyun, I'm actually rather perplexed that when Captain Zhang takes over questioning Heyun, he's noticeably more stern, and uses a more high-handed approach, than when he'd been questioning Shiqing.

Poor Heyun. He looks so stressed out. I'd been hoping that with the switch in interrogating officers, he'd at least get some reprieve from being accused of lying.

But no. It looks like Captain Zhang had perhaps been more patient with Shiqing, because she's a girl, and because she'd looked worried and scared.

However, all is not lost, since, like the other time Shiqing had been questioned by Captain Zhang, she lets slip a clue that piques his interest: if everything she says is false, then how would she have known his name with him telling her, and how would she have known that his right hand is weak?

Again, the differences in lens and approach between Captain Zhang and Detective Jiang are so apparent, when they sit down to discuss things. Detective Jiang has already decided the parameters of what makes sense to him, and is therefore quick to dismiss the testimonies about time loops, but Captain Zhang is a lot more measured.

He considers the questions of whether or not Heyun and Shiqing have any motive for lying, and also, why they took the trouble to call the police in the first place. His approach may not be perfect, as we see from his questioning session with Heyun, but so far, I see Captain Zhang as seeking to understand, rather than starting out with a pre-conceived set of judgments in place.

I was hopeful that Captain Zhang's approach would be helpful, but.. it looks like our team's run into an unexpected problem. With the confirmation that there are, indeed, remnants of explosives in the bus, they've now become prime suspects in the case. Yikes.

BUT. As I'd suspected, the moment Shiqing falls asleep (did she fall asleep on purpose there, in the interrogation room, as a way to get out?), she wakes up on the bus, again.

I have to wonder, though, with Heyun still awake, does this mean that Shiqing will be alone in the time loop..? Or, will the version of Heyun in the bus with her, not be the same one who went through the previous 5 cycles with her..? Or, does the fact that Shiqing fell asleep, reset the time loop for them both?

SO CURIOUS. I also want to know if it's possible for Shiqing and Heyun to get Captain Zhang into the time loop with them. That might be the breakthrough that they need..? 😅

Next episode notes will be out on: Wednesday, 16 Feb 2022!