#character: xia ling

[heymeowmao]

镇魂街之热血再燃 | Hero is Back (2024) [Rakshasa Street]

[zishuge]

The Spirealm 致命游戏 (2024) | Ep. 33

[shijiujun]

HE LOOKS SO DAMN HAPPY TO BE PIGGYBACKED

The Spirealm 致命游戏 (2024) | Kaleidoscope of Death Live Action

[raddestrose]

So I have found just about every Link Click Spotify playlist i can find

there are hardly ANY playlists for Qiao Ling, which is kind of sad but more will probably be made

there are a WHOLE LOT of Shiguang playlists

im kind if having a hard time finding any that aren’t Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang

[ultimateshixiongfuckertournament]

Round 1, Match 14: Gu Feidi vs Yu Zhijue

Match 14 is between Gu Feidi (shixiong: Su Yang) from Where is Our Agreement to be Each Other's Arch-Rivals? vs Yu Zhijue (shixiong: Ling Xia) from Transmigrating into a Mob Character to Rehabilitate the Villain Plan

Propaganda under the cut

Gu Feidi:

So Gu Feidi and Su Yang are from different sects (righteous and evil, respectfully), but they both end up studying at the House of Jade as Shixiong and Shidi. They end up falling in love, and if I'm remembering correctly, Gu Feidi leaves the Wulin Alliance (/fights with his father, the leader) to be with & help Su Yang

Yu Zhijue:

None submitted

[mermazing-art]

The real name of the Furious Five 

After the Kung Fu Panda 4 movie I started thinking about what Zhen's first conversations with the Furious Five would be like. I imagined her nervous about making a good impression but fitting quite well with her group dynamic given her mischievous attitude and enjoying their adventures with her, establishing a relationship of trust. Which led me to a thought "Would she, wanting to know them more, ask them what their real names are?"

This theory has been circulating in the fandom for years since it is said that their names actually refer to their fighting styles or their species (as well as Master Ox, Crocodile or Rhino) since those who retain their own name within this discipline are those who have a superior role such as Oogway, Shifu or Po and those who do not have a title such as Zhen or Tai Lung.

Well, I decided to look for a suitable name for each one, one that fit their physique or personality, that was easy to remember and that would distinguish one another, let's go!

Mantis: Xun Yu ( fast jade )

With Mantis I was clear that I didn't want to look for anything that had to do with his size but I did want to highlight his most powerful abilities such as his speed.  That's where his first name, Xun, comes from.  His middle name, Yu (Jade), is because of his green color although this can also mean ''insect'' depending on the kanji with which it is written.  My idea is that Mantis calls himself ''the green lightning'' referring to his real name.

Crane: Zimo ( refined ink )

At first I wanted his name to be related to the sky or the air due to his avian species or his techniques, but it made me think that one of the things that catches my attention about this character is his interest in Chinese calligraphy.  Therefore, I decided to name him Zimo (ink or writing) to reflect his beloved hobby in his name.

Monkey: Wong Sang ( yellow mulberry )

For Monkey, I researched his voice actor, the one and only Jackie Chan, born Chan Kong-Sang. I wanted to take it as a reference by changing the name Kong since it is the name of the Monkey's brother to Wong (yellow), relating it to the color of his fur. I wanted to make a reference to his comic side but I couldn't find a suitable name for the guidelines I had assigned to it.

Viper: Jia Ling ( beautiful tinkle )

As with Monkey, I researched on her voice actress, Lucy Liu, whose full name is Lucy Alexis Liu Yu Ling. I wanted to reflect her charming and sweet personality, so I took the name Ling (tinkerbell) as a reference of the hiss' snake she produces, as well as her happy attitude.  But her first name would be Jia to emphasize the beauty of this character.

Tigress: Xia ( sunrise )

For her, I thought I would delve deeper into her story and her development as a character in order to give her the appropriate name.  This is her story:

When Tigress lived in the orphanage, she received the name Xian ("who lives in seclusion") from the other children perpetuating their contempt and fear of her. When Shifu finally decided to adopt her, after He heard that name many times, almost always accompanied by the word "monster", he asked her what new name she would like. She simply accepted Tigress because she didn't believe she could deserve a name. Shifu pondered and decided to call him Xia. Tigress at first didn't like this idea because it sounded similar to the previous one, but Shifu explained his choice to her. Both names, although similar, did not have the same meaning because now she would no longer be in the darkness, secluded and alone, but rather she had the opportunity for a new life, a path marked by the light that emanated from her, a new sunrise.

So yes, Zhen would ask the furious five their names, giving the situation that Po would find out right then and there about this. Everyone except Tigress would answer this question since for her it is still a very personal matter related to her past and Shifu and she still doesn't feel comfortable sharing it with everyone. Could Tigress talk to a certain panda about this?

[miyamiwu]

Not listing Li Tianchen and the other side characters because I don’t think they’ll make an appearance in this arc (assuming the arc takes place pre-season 1)

[orchisailsa]

Can you tell me what spirealm is? I see you reblog gifs and such and I'm intrigued. What's the plot/genre/setting, stuff like that

(I'm asking you to pitch me this show you seem to enjoy because this is the best method I have for getting involved in new shows.)

Also, where do you watch it

Ah, sorry for the delayed response here! I haven't been on Tumblr much this week. BUT YES! THE SPIREALM! You should definitely watch it. (It's on Viki.)

The story follows Ling Jiushi, a video game programmer, on an involuntary adventure through a VR-game-gone-wrong where the players must solve the puzzles of each "door" (level) they enter, or die trying. Inside the game he meets Ruan Lanzhu, an apparently experienced player who helps him learn the ropes, and invites him to collaborate together in the future on efforts to beat the game. This post describes the show far more vividly than I could (though it’s an older post, and mentions the 78 original episodes (there are only 38 now), don’t get confused by that). This is, in fact, the post that initially made me curious to watch the show! There's also this one!  And this one! 

But for my personal pitch?? I think the main pairing was amazing together — they both did a superb job with their characters, and finding the right chemistry for their partnership. Also… Huang Junjie and Xia Zhiguang are both a BEAUTIFUL FEAST FOR THE EYES. Who can argue with the appeal of THAT??? Aside from them, though, the supporting cast is also full of well-rounded, interesting characters. And each arc of the show has its own unique feel and its own unique plot/puzzle/story. (The GC on Discord calls them “The Escape Room Gays”) 

I can’t really explain some of the more compelling reasons I’ve been so fixated on the show without major spoilers, but there’s something about the nature of the story that has piqued my interest and hooked me — I can’t stop imagining “what-if” scenarios that lead me to want to write — which is something that I love, in a fandom. 

So, yeah — I’d say if you liked Weilan’s dynamic in Guardian you’d really enjoy this pairing. And if you like sci fi, thrillers, or monster-of-the-week type stories like the X-Files and the twilight zone used to serve up, this one would be worth giving a try. And if you like your main pairings frighteningly competent and utterly unhinged for each other, this one is absolutely worth a spin.  I know I've had a great time.

If you end up watching, I'd love to hear your thoughts!! Enjoy. <3

[protect-namine]

bringing back the white hair theory because I just thought of something.

to recap, we have qiao ling and lu guang developing white hair, right?

^ single white hair strand after li tianxi's death

^ timeloop trauma guy (we don't actually know if his hair is just naturally like that or if it's related to the dives)

so I was thinking about the S1 basketball scene and how trusting cheng xiaoshi is of lu guang in that scene when: 1) this should have been "the first time they met"; 2) cheng xiaoshi has never made a friend outside of qiao ling for years. and suddenly he (super duper) trusts the new kid he randomly invites to play basketball with that he'd wax poetic about it?

and it's not as if we haven't seen cheng xiaoshi with white hair before, because he did have white hair in the break video. the music video that's specifically about fighting fate, reversing time, etc etc. now it could be a stylistic choice, or an error... but I don't think that's something you can just color mistakenly. especially in a video where the contrast between the colors black and white is the central theme. they even animated it! no way nobody caught such a "mistake"

so. what are the odds that lu guang wasn't the only one diving in the basketball scene and we see cheng xiaoshi dive there in season 3? something something flipping hourglass metaphor

anyway, bonus crack theory time. it's probably not the case bc I lean more towards the theory that xia fei has a conection with the mystery newspaper lady, but I think it would be sooo funny if xia fei actually has white hair for similar reasons, and he just dyes it blond. there are moments in xia fei's character video where the lighting makes it look white, so it's not hard to imagine

[brokenmachinemusings]

hi tumblr you get to hear my insane sgdlr ramblings theories whatever about mr vein which mifht be wrong but I DOTN CARE

LINK CLICK SPOILERS . OBVIOUSLY!!!!

ok sooooo first i connected the dots with cheng xiaoshi and vein bc they had the same shadow that dropped from the top left in the anniversary pv’s. most people reacted with “you didn’t connect shit”, but i’m telling you, i connected the dots.

what caught my eye on the shadow thing is that vein’s shadow didn’f have the same circular borders as liu xiao and xia fei who were obviously meant to be the same style. so they deliberately kept it at just the top left (to cover him up also). and did i mention cheng xiaoshi looks like he is trapped behind glass in the anniversary artwork? no i didn’t. i personally think all of the anniversary artworks are supposed to represent a special part of each character (qiao ling stepping out. you know).

i have not fully analysed vein’s outfit design because frankly i’m not sure what else to search up but. i’ll talk about the parts i did find

so. first of all the pattern on his shoulders looks like blood. isn’t rhat fun!

second of all the little knots around his design, i’m pretty sure are ‘round brocade knots’ which represent “balance, completeness, good fortune”. i haven’t made exact ties between that and vein myself yet but it’s worth noting it.

i didn’t find out anything else about his design. the necklace is cut off just perfectly to not be able to see what it is (like liu xiao’s)

anyway. i’m just gonna jump to my theory. i think he is connected to either cheng xiaoshi or the disappearance of his parents!!!! wow. it might sound unlikely i am aware but this is what theories are for.

the biggest reason i came up with this is because we don’t need a new villain. we don’t need to be introduced to someone new when we already have liu xiao. but you know what liu xiao wouldn’t do? GET HIS HANDS DIRTY. at least, most likely, he strikes me as the type to work behind the scenes.

so what other reason would there be to introduce vein? “you could make the same argument for xia fei” well yeah but xia fei is a pushing force in how cheng xiaoshi and lu guang discovered their powers (probably. idk)

okkkk back to vein and cheng xiaoshi’s parents actually. why i think it’s likely they’re either missing because of vein or, if they’re dead, their bodies got disposed of for some reason? it’s because if they were caught in the earthquake THEIR BODIES WOULD BE FOUND BY NOW. at least that’s what makes sense to me lore wise. and i don’t think they would just ghost their child for like 12 years. and because from narrative storytellijg it would make sense if vein was the one that did something. (let me redirect you to pattern that looks like blood on his shoulders)

of course this could all be a red herring but the last time i said something was a red herring it turned out to be true. so i choose to stick to it this time!

the other possibility (or actually, both possibilities could ring true) is that vein was the one who shot cxs. who else would? (feel free to debate lol) i don’t think xia fei would have interest in that after the whole overseas trip business, liu xiao wouldn’t want to do it himself (he’d make someone else do it) and li tianchen is an option but we don’t know if he will be the one to do it in the end. so

i don’t have a good way to end this weird theory bit. if i think of something else i will add it. it has been plaguing at my mind. thank you tumblr user for reading my weird theory rambling and feel free to debate me. if i tjink of anything else myself i will edit and add it

[heymeowmao]

致命游戏 | The Spirealm ° In seven days? What happens then?

[pastorfutureletthembe]

Hiii I hope i'm not bothering you, but I wanted to ask you something? Do you think it's possible that Lu Guang has his powers activated all the time?👀 I was looking at color wheels and how lights interact. Red light and Green light together make yellow light (Xiaoshi) meanwhile Green and Blue light make cyan light (Guang). If we would overlay the yellow with cyan (Red + Green + Green + Blue), we would have all components for a desaturated grey. Lu Guang has grey eyes. We would never know if he was using both powers at the same time - is this possible? What do you think? Also the only colors of light left out in this equation are Blue light + Red light, which gives magenta light, or purple, which I suspect will be the eye color of the next antagonist! - but then again I don't know 😂

Thank you for this very interesting question, anon! I apologize in advance, because you put me on the LIGHT topic, and there are loads of things to say.

Here you go, so everyone is up to speed:

First, I'm going to start with the eye color as a concept the Link Click' verse: it is fact that yellow/red/blue colored eyes when using powers are only seen by us, the audience. It is informatiive and clever. And when the show doesn't want us to know that, for example, Li Tianchen is controlling someone or that Liu Min isn't himself or Qiao Ling is about to stab Lu Guang with this apple knife, it just doesn't show us the unatural eye color until it needs to be revealed.

So it is absolutely possible that Lu Guang is using his power ALL THE TIME. I have one meta coming about Lu Guang's physical condition but I can already give you the outline:

Lu Guang is always tired. He always need to sit down and always has dark circles under his eyes. Add the white hair and his inability to do any physical exercice without hurting himself- Well, our boy isn't in good shape. That's one more hint that he's weak, perhaps weakining every passing day a little more because he's using his power 24/7.

Secondly, the colors itself. It's amusing that you mentioned magenta as the antagonist's eye color because I do think magenta when talking about light is Lu Guang's color. In the PVs, it is often associated with his character, just like Green.

But let's start from the beginning: the official artworks and merch state that Yellow is Cheng Xiaoshi, Cyan is Lu Guang and Pink is Qiao Ling. Indigo is Liu Xiao and Red is Vein. (Note: Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi's color is also pink, which is genius since there is a possibility that Qiao Ling got Li Tianxi's power or that it triggered her own). I think it is interesting that the first three colors are not primary when we're talking about LIGHT. Also, if we're refering to the color wheel, Lu Guang is Vein's complementary/opposite character and Cheng Xiaoshi is Liu Xiao's. Here, you have your antagonists.

As for eyes colors, I have two things to say. One, Qiao Ling had WHITE pupils when she got a glimpse of Lu Guang's memories through Li Tianxi's power. Two, we have no green character for now. Following the previous logic, the green character should be an antagonist. But we do have a trail: "Burning Palace". I mentioned it before in my analysis of the recent official artwork.

This PV introduces us to three new characters: Vein, Liu Xiao and Xia Fei. Because of the dark tune, the aggressive lyrics, and also Vein and Liu Xiao being here, we can only assume they are all antagonists.

If you look closely, you'll notice this pattern: X X X X

For one thing, Green isn't any of these character's color, might it be identity color from the merch or the eyes color revealed in this PV (note that Xia Fei's eyes are Yellow). But we see it in some details:

♠ ♦ ♣, with ♥ missing.

For starter, it does present Vein ♦, Liu Xiao ��� and Xia Fei ♠ as part of a whole, not necessarily meaning they are on the same team, but we can assume it echoes our first conclusion: they are antagonists to our main characters.

Plus, every hint dropped regarding colors tell you all the same thing: there is one more character yet to be introduced.

Now, that's more interpretation on my part than solid fact if we talk about this particular topic but here you go:

♥ has been associated with Lu Guang before:

Note that this particular shade of magenta and green are complimentary. Could it be that Lu Guang is his own antagonist?

We know nothing of his past and his origin story, so it is an acceptable lead to follow. Green is present in "Burning Palace" but the absence of the character associated with it is too obvious not be a foreshadowing.

[Now, I'm going to go off topic for a moment, but I do think it is relevant:

Magenta and Green give WHITE. For now, we don't know what all these colors mean, we only got one clue:

I'll bring to your attention that the "Now and Forever" PV is advertized as Qiao Ling's song but the memories we sees are Lu Guang's, his and those from Cheng Xiaoshi's dives that he witnessed. Although the lyrics are obviously about grieving someone and could applied to either Lu Guang or Qiao Ling, they do sound like her feelings judging from the desire to move forwards. 1) She doesn't need nor want to change anything at all, 2) she represents the present, the current time in merch, 3) past and present are what they are but the future is what we make of it. This is the ultimate lesson that Lu Guang needs to learn. This is the moral of the story.

If we could go back to that time We wouldn't change anything at all Believing that this encounter Represents the promise of happiness For you, I gather more of my courage The future ours to pen The light in the depths of your eyes Lights up the whole world

She will find courage in these memories, in the name of Cheng Xiaoshi. I have a TAROT DECK meta coming so I won't go into the specifics but STRENGTH is Qiao Ling's major arcana, just so you know. This song is her song without a doubt.

Now, I don't know the exact words and their meaning in the chinese version of this song, but here, the english translation offers light twice, once as a noun and once as a verb. White light, after all, is only LIGHT. It could mean that "white" light is the ultimate and more powerful power in the Link Clcik's verse. It is at the center of the chromatic chart of light, after all.

I had a conversation about episode 1x01 recently and we argued that Cheng Xiaoshi didn't actually time traveled but merely relived a memory trapped in a picture. Basically, his power would be based on "quote" science "unquote" (and not magic or whatever supernatural thing). If we regard it in a scientific perspective, it has been said that light or water has memory, but there are actually no purely scientific proof to back up the therory, not with current technology anyway. Light itself does print impression of images though. For example, you look at something bright and still sees it when you close your eyes, and if it is magenta in real life, it will appear as green into the darkness of your eyelids. So the hypothesis is interesting to argue over.

In the context of the Link Click' verse, We can theorize that when Cheng Xiaoshi goes inside a picture through light, is part of it, and changes something, the impression left by the light trapped in this photograph could be changed and, by entention, the impression of the memory as well. Basically, Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn't change the past but change the memory of it. And it also could be the reason why we cannot touch an unchangeable node: if someone dies, they are physically absent in the present/future, and no twist in memory can change that.]

Some food for thought. Anyway-

One more puzzling visual is "Burning Palace": cyan and green fill Liu Xiao's silhouette while indigo is set to be his color identity. He's also surrounded with red here, but we cannot assume it means anything for now since the main color of the whole PV is red.

Liu Xiao is a mysterious charater for now but we know 3 things for sure about him:

Li Tanchen and he are a team/friends

He wants to "bring more parallel lines together" to erase uncertainties

He has a peculiar interest for Lu Guang

So, if green, magenta and cyan are all linked to Lu Guang in a way, he surely is a mandatory trail to follow for someone who wants to "merge" timelines. Liu Xiao being filled with both cyan and green could implied he is close to the truth or the ultimate power. Perhaps that's why he took Li Tianchen and Li Tianxi in. Maybe he was plotting to get what we assume is Qiao Ling's power.

I think I addressed everything regarding color and light.

Honestly, the grey color of Lu Guang's eyes don't seem as important to me as the fact he has vertical-slit pupils? Not enough people are willing to talk about this?? lmao (if that's a topic you're interested in...)

This is not a definitive answer but a few details that might help some of you to crack the case. I think about it every freaking day myself because it is obvious there is some kind of easter egg hidden there. Hopefully we might find an answer together!

[shijiujun]

A Summary: The Spirealm | 致命游戏 (Kaleidoscope of Death 死亡万花筒 Live Action) & Why You Should (Eventually) Watch It

Talk about the most short-lived drama release ever, not even totalling two hours if I recall. Creating this summary as I've seen a handful of confused friends, so here it goes!

It's going to be a long review because I sped through all 78 episodes and only properly watched the first two doors, but I got you. You'll get both the brief book rundown and the drama parts!

If you just wanna see the bromance (LOVE) parts please skip to section 4!!!!

1. Overview

Title: The Spirealm (kinda awful I'm sorry it's a mouthful) or 致命游戏 which means fatal game

Adapted From: Danmei (BL) Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu

Novel Prints: There are GORGEOUS Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese versions printed, AND Singapore publisher Rosmei has signed the license for the ENGLISH version, probably going on sale this year (preview is here). You can still access fan translations by Taida on I think wordpress and someone else on Tumblr sorry bad memory (they did half and half each) if you'd like to read it for context. It is one of my FAVE danmeis EVER and I am a die-hard OG book fan, check out my full danmei review here.

Total Episodes: 78 (20 minutes each with the exception of last episode which 10 minutes, with several BTS not that I think we will get to see all of them yet)

Where to Watch (LOL): Erm considering that iQIYI China AND International took the episodes down, there is no legal way to watch this, BUT thanks to some cnetz with super fast and great wifi, we managed to get ripped HD versions without subs. iQIYI is very hard on copyright though, they've taken down several subbed and unsubbed versions already on YouTube, but you should type the titles of show into Twitter and the top tags will tell you where to access the raws and very little subbed episodes, that may also be taken down at any point. I have the Chinese raws but as it's hosted on a cloud, I had to pay to access it.

Main Characters: Lin Qiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the novel) and Ling Jiushi & Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie (in the drama)

Produced By: iQIYI so for SURE they won't film it fully BL even if the original is, but I've seen enough bromance cuts

Main Actors: Xia Zhiguang (Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie) + Huang Junjie (Ling Jiushi)

2. Summary

Book (drama follows closely if not removing the supernatural premises): Lin Qiushi, a designer, opens the door to his home one day from inside and sees 12 iron doors outside. Confused, he opens one of them and arrives at a snow covered village in the mid of winter, and meets Ruan Baijie, who's a pretty, unusually tall and whiny/timid woman. They realise that they're in a horrifying door game, and they'll have to find a door and a key to get out, while battling a long-haired, human-eating deity. They, along with a few others, have to survive day after day until they get out, and on the first night, two people have died in gory ways. Ruan Baijie and Lin Qiushi partner each other, and despite seemingly timid and crying all the time, she saves Lin Qiushi a few times mysteriously, and Lin Qiushi finds himself trusting in Ruan Baijie.

They get through the door together and when they leave successfully, Lin Qiushi realizes that the people who died in the door will die in real life by some freak accident too - car accidents, forced suicides, a robbery gone wrong, a lift trapped in the air and going ablaze, and more. That night, Lin Qiushi wakes up to see a super handsome and tall Ruan Nanzhu at his bedside and this man feels familiar to him, but he can't put a finger on it. All he can think of when Ruan Nanzhu says his name is Ruan Baijie (ahem he would later find out who it is of course). Ruan Nanzhu takes him to his mansion in the suburbs where he meets a group of other people just like them, who're forced to go through the doors for survival. Ruan Nanzhu then invites him to join Obsidian, his organization.

Through various doors, Lin Qiushi grows and supports a super intelligent and powerful Ruan Nanzhu, falls in love with him, gets through many many scary doors with him and some of their other team members, makes friends, loses them to the cruelty of the doors as they ponder over what the door means, and what being alive/dying means.

And at the end of it, at the end of of it all, when they're all good and living their life, Lin Qiushi also finds out what Ruan Nanzhu's secret is, and the lengths to which Ruan Nanzhu went to, just to be with him.

Drama: Ling Jiushi is a VR game designer who gets pulled into a game, and he meets Ruan Baijie (in his male form) right off the bat (SO NOT CROSSDRESSING I AM SAD). All the parts are actually the same as the novel, albeit with the game setting and Ling Jiushi and Ruan Nanzhu's identity adjustments to suit the game premise. Most of the other doors and their lines are the same, just that the ending is a bit more confusing than it could be. There's a big bad as well and they actually show the opposing organizations when in the novel, these other organizations aside from Obsidian didn't even actually have a face or goal to them.

3. Characters

^ Them in the book (based on manhua that never got to go live LOL) (RNZ/RBJ left, LQS right)

^ Them in the show (LJS left, RNZ right)

Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie: MY HANDSOME CROSSDRESSING INTELLIGENT ALOOF BUT WHINY (WHEN IT COMES TO LIN QIUSHI) SASSY BOSS!!!! He's super mysterious and super thick-skinned too, and all he wants is Lin Qiushi's attention the moment he meets him. He's intrigued by Lin Qiushi's calm and his brains and the way he handles things, and has a lot of trust for him right from the get-go. This is also shown in the drama itself. As the leader of Obsidian, he cares a lot for his team members and his friends even if he doesn't show it most of the time, and the last thing he wants to do is lose Lin Qiushi, and he would do ANYTHING for Lin Qiushi, ANYTHING!!! Just look at him whining:

Ling Jiushi (Lin Qiushi): In the novel he's super calm, has quite a lot of brains, a little bit of a blur in the beginning but he's super smart as well. Worries a lot for Ruan Nanzhu and is also a loyal friend to some of his only friends, and feels a lot when he loses them. Falls gradually in love with Ruan Nanzhu in the novel, like they just belong together. In this drama, Ling Jiushi holds that same trust for Ruan Nanzhu, but in demeanour he seems a bit more like a klutz and and not as cool as he was in the novel, but I guess it's acceptable. Literally like the only thing he loves more than RNZ (maybe) is his cat Chestnut LOL and RNZ is NOT really happy about that but Chestnut LOVES RNZ

Yixie and Qianli: CUTEST TWINS ;-; WHO TREAT RNZ and LQS as their big brothers LOOK AT THEM BOWING AND RNZ/LJS like parents LMAO

A handful of other characters who will keep turning up and get your hearts ;-;

4. ALL FAVE BROMANCE MOMENTS + TROPES

THEY TOUCH EACH OTHER A LOT LIKE HOLDING HANDS AND TOUCHING FACES, PIGGY BACKING?!?! DID I MENTION FACE TOUCHING

WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP THEY HELP EACH OTHER WHEN HURT OR GET HURT FOR EACH OTHER

AND WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN BED THE OTHER IS AT THEIR BEDSIDE

AND DID I MENTION HE FEEDS HIM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

AND THAT THEY DATED UNDER THE FIREWORKS LIKE THE NOVEL DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THIS SHIT

AND THE KABEDONS

AND FINALLY RUAN NANZHU RIZZ OMG

5. Settings

They REALLY OUTDID THEMSELVES. THIS JUST FROM DOORS 1-6:

THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE NOVEL DESCRIBED!!!!

6. Overall Thoughts

PROS: This was NOT a cheap production, I'm telling you, they followed the cases very well and there're a lot of super recognisable lines, if not ALL of them, even if they changed the cases a little. I think they did it because in the novel originally, the author DOES leave a lot of details hanging like someone dies and you know he had a background and there are some shady things happening but the author NEVER actually goes into detail. So the drama did their best to cover these loopholes, even if it felt a little awkward at times. Money went into settings and attires and every damn thing, this looks EXPENSIVE. And if you've ever imagined each door and the bosses inside in your head, you might have felt chills go down your spine because damn did they really colour the book's settings for me (despite its differences). DID I MENTION that Xia Zhiguang really got the damn memo and he was a passable Ruan Nanzhu/Ruan Baijie who knew how to turn on his BL eyes. PLUS they really did some of the character deaths really well - they're technically some of the biggest parts of this story so ;-; (not two main of course)

CONS (maybe): They did away with the supernatural/horror premise and replaced it with a GAME premise, which means that there's a scientific element to it and the try to explain away stuff with the game, including the ending. I don't 100% get the ending, but the feel/vibe is about the same. Might not be for hardcore reader fans tho! They skipped out on a couple of doors, some of which were my faves, but it's fine, it's long enough LOL. They give away/explain some of the clues and surprises super early which means you don't get that added boom at the back as well. Despite that, I have to say they tried to round up the loopholes from the book as much as they could and give it an explanation while tying elements/conspiracies across doors (probably also to save cast fees LOL). And as always it's not a solid ending, it's an open confusing one, and even more confusing than the book itself because THERE IS NO CERTAIN HAPPILY EVER AFTER WITH HUBBY for it (there is in the book tho, they live together happily every after). Secondl,y, I'd say HJJ's acting is a bit stiff and OOC compared to the novel, but Xia Zhiguang really made up for it.

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HOPE THIS HELPS YOU GUYS!!! But I guess if you need subs it's going to be a long LONGGGG ride, considering that iQIYI doesn't seem to be going to be able to put it up anytime soon CRIES.

[anulithots]

Hi, can I ask your top 3 favorite characters from Link Click? And why you love them? Also your top 5 favorite moments from the series?

As shiguang shipper, what do you think are Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang's greatest personality strengths and weaknesses? Why? What do you love about their dynamic? Thanks if you want to answer.....

(Last one, are you surprised with that plot twist in s2? Can it enter your top 5 fav plot twist ever from any media?)

TOP THREE FAVORITES!

Cheng Xiaoshi - craves a childhood he lost (so real), empathetic and one of the empathetic characters that is done soooo well with all of the dives paralleling his character and exploring it, canonically likes cooking and makes sure LU Guang and him don’t survive on ramen noodles alone (+ Lu Guang’s bio things says he likes gourmet food sooooooooooo)

The silly and the way he stays hopeful and doesn’t accept finalities because of what happened to his parents and how he trusts and relies on others.

How he tries his best to fix the past and can adapt to the situation, predict how people will act, and is hyper-observant, but he doesn’t act on this ability because of how much he trusts Lu Guang and he cares about Qiao LIng so much and immediately cares about every case he hears about because of his empathy.

(Headcannon that he doesn’t watch the news after the earthquake, hence why he didn’t know about Emma despite it being all over the news)

Lu Guang - mystery boi. Cares about Cheng Xiaoshi sooo much and the way he relies on the future, on rules and on control and will freak out whenever the future becomes uncertain, a rule breaks, or things fall out of his control.

The way he’s shy about being in public but will not hesitate to yell at a police officer if it concerns CXS. How he reads all keeps himself learned and tells others (CXS) to do the same like it will fix all their problems (keep him less immature). The way that he has the trust of both CXS and Qiao LIng because of the way he acts. The way that one might look at him and think ‘oh the serious levelheaded one’ but NOPE. He lightly teases CXS constantly (whereas CXS is overdramatic about his teasing) and again, goes feral at times, as you do.

The fact that he creates rules and tries so hard to keep everting under control and no one the wiser but this is time. This is reality. He’s fraying at the seams.

Qiao LIng - will not hesitate to beat up her brother or lawyer for her brother if the situation calls for it. An incident she had no control over (Doudou’s kidnapping) stuck with her and caused so much turmoil that she went to university somewhere else and tried to escape her lack of decisions, regretting it the entire time (so real).

Compared to the rest of the trio, she’s the levelheaded one, and she has the most real takes on the weirdness of shiguang (’I thought you two were doing some ritual with the photos!’) and the way she’s the one who talked to, comforted, and connected with Wu Xia, Doudou’s father, CXS(multiple times), and Li Tianshi.

Her friendship with Xu Shanshan (’calling her beautiful all the time’) along with Xu Shanshan saying that she has to take care of Qiao Ling… QIao LIng is more like her brother than she admits. Also her (and Lu Guang’s… and CXS’s obsession with Boba tea alkfkajsdf)

the trioooooo

… just five… moments... sigh okay okay /pos

When CXS got angry at Qian Jin but was restrained, then Qiao LIng SLAPPED HIM AND IT WAS WONDEROUS (should’ve beat him up tbh but alas the paperwork)

The little moments in episode two. Especially where Cheng Xiaoshi says ‘just because you see no hope doesn’t mean there is none’ and Lu Guang SMILES

CHENG XIAOSHI’S SPEACH TO EMMA WITH KEEP IN MIND PLAYING THEN THE TITLE CARD SAYS ‘when there is light, once can photograph’ AND IT’S A MASTERPEICE I”VE SEEN IT A MILLION TIMES AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH

In season two where Qiao Ling connects to Li Tianxi via telling a story about her younger self and CXS, who she calls her LITTLE BROTHER AAAAAAAAAAAA

SIgh okay okay so like… all of episodes six, seven, and ten where Lu Guang is overprotective of CXS OKAY BUT IN PATICULAR - where Lu Guang notices that CXS is getting anxious about Xu Shanshan’s disappearance and tells Qiao Ling to keep him safe. Just how the calm and collected Lu Guang gets angry and frustrated when things don’t go according to plan and it puts CXS or those he cares about in danger. It shows a lot about his character

(Then of course there’s episode 5 where it’s just done in a masterful way with the earthquake scene and s2ep1 where CXS flashbacks to all the moments with Lu Guang and…)

Shiguang shipping + strengths and weaknesses

I have some thoughts I need to write down about their dynamic so that first if you don’t mind! (I’ll probably somewhat answer it here but aklfaklsdjf analysisssss)

(Also QPR shiguang is peak ahem ahem thank you /pos )

Okay so CXS is an optimist and looks for the best, for solace to fix the past he lost, and he views that Lu Guang loses hope too easily (I think, still formulating the thoughts on this one) which causes him to act on his own in episode 9 (when he goes back in time and witnesses Emma getting strangled.)

But okay the moment at the end here where he realizes Lu Guang only did all this to protect him because he does tend to get too emotional about things and ruin the past in his longing for a perfect one (which leads Lu Guang not to tell CXS things because he thinks that CXS is an ‘unpredictable variable’ and wishes to protect him from himself.

Which is nice of him but still. CXS is competent he just trusts others more than he trusts himself), where he asks Lu Guang what he should do as he curls up in painful defeat, which parallels where he says he’s afraid of being alone and in the dark in episode 5?

It’s link click and I kajdsfklasjdflkj

So CXS then sees what Lu Guang sees, that he can’t fix the past no matter how much he tries. Which is a painful thing, but to be honest, it’s something he needed… or not… it’s a nuanced growth that isn’t good nor bad (and CXS’s view on this will probably change when he finds out that Lu Guang went back in tiem to save him ).

BEcause CXS accepts now that while he cannot change the past, the future will surely change because of what he does, then he accepts that he cannot change Li Tianxi’s past. Okay so trusts and weaknesses with Shiguang is that they do trust each other and care for each other’s well-being… but the care for each other’s wellbeing causes them to not trust the other as much…. okay that made no sense here we go

SO CXS completely and totally trusts Lu Guang (at first trusting that he knows best - he said this in ep 3 I think - while also fighting with himself with his desire to fix the past, constantly questioning Lu Guang if things will really turn out okay, and in turn, reassuring himself that he doesn’t need to be swept up by his emotions.) which lessens after episode 5 - which was a risk on Lu Guang’s part and he did not want CXS to find out about the earthquake but alas - which then returns back to a different sort of trust (The ‘I understand now that you tried to protect me from myself because no matter what I try I cannot fix the past, so now I’ll hope for the future like you told me’)

Whereas the reason Lu Guang likes CXS is for his naivety, his innocent hope that everything will be okay, and for that reason Lu Guang attempts to keep CXS’s own faults from hurting him, along with the reality of the past and its hardships.

(Hence all of the ‘and remember that you cannot change the past and you’ll have to face the results of this’). THEN it’s BECAUSE of this overprotectiveness that drives CXS to think that Lu Guang gave up too easily (see episode 10 where Xu Shanshan is kidnapped. Lu Guang told QIao ling to keep CXS’s phone away from him and keep him at the shop to calm down)

OKAY so that’s all I got for now in this brain dump. LIsten to BishaJAWS. Thank you for the ask!

[alicericoletti]

Maybe it's just me, but Jiang Tian does look like he could be Ruan Lanzhu and Ling Jiushi's kid.

(imo his character is a lot like both of them n benjamin looks like xia zhiguang from his side profile)

[moononmyfloor]

In the 2nd Quarter of 2024 Cdramaland...

1st Quarter, 3rd Quarter, 4th Quarter

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9. Drama set that I want to visit

The Altay Steppes

Introduced from the wonderful, wonderful drama To the Wonder/My Altay, (which EVERYONE should watch and especially if you haven't seen much of the incredibly vast and varied geographical and cultural landscape of China), I am now in love with this place. The show captured the glimmering waters, the freshness and evergreen-ness of.....everything and I can only imagine how it must be like to experience it first hand. For now I'll have to be satisfied with the digital footage like professional travel vloggers here:

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10. Most memorable scene

The wedding scene from Regeneration

The groom is dashing and the bride is delicate and that's the most beautiful bridal getup I've ever seen and the entire hall screams RICH and elegant and it looks like an absolute dream and,

Enter the context and you have a haunting prelude to the most miserable chain reaction of a story full of deception and despair. Now I look at this scene and all I see in those sombre blacks and whites is dreary funeral vibes.

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11. Most Favorite Actor of 2024

Jiang Long

Saw him this year on A Soldier's Story and Link Click, and he was an absolute delight. He's like the most unassuming person in the room who turns out to be the most cheerful, genuine, heartfelt guy with the best comedic timing ever.

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12, 13. Favorite Supporting Roles AND Actors of 2024

Yu Shi and Alima Mayutian (as Batay and Tokan from To the Wonder)

In a way you can argue Batay was the male lead of the show but also, To the Wonder didn't really fit the usual parameters of a romcom drama and if anything, the FL and her mom were the main leads.

The roles of brother-in-law and sister-in-law pair of Batay and Tokan followed close behind as the new generation Kazakh ethnic youth who are equal parts fond of their simple, slow life in the grassland but are also tied down by it.

Batay and his beloved horse Snowshoe and Tokan and the Washboard she never got were highlights of the show. And these two actors gave a MAGNIFICENT performance in these two roles.

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14. Favorite Villains

Shen Yurong (Liang Yongqi) and Grand Princess Wanning (Li Meng) from The Double were a great example of toxic and problematic done right. From start to end they were both very fascinating, full-fledged characters, their backstories were sound even though that didn't excuse that they were truly horrible people. At some point I found out I even felt sympathy for them. The show didn't try to put them forth like the next hot thing ever, instead presenting them as they are and letting the audience make their judgement; hence resulting in them stealing the screen from the main couple without even trying lol. 👏👏👏

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15. Favorite Couple of the Year

Ling Jiushi (Huang Junjie) and Ruan Lanzhu (Xia Zhiguang) from The Spirealm

I adored their chemistry full of playful banter, protectiveness and indulgence, but also just look at them!

I mean

(Watch the show, it's good. Even if it wasn't that good I'd still support it for being a BL that got shelved during the ban anw. BUT it's actually good too!)

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