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anulithots · 28 days ago

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Attempting to analyze Cheng Xiaoshi’s arc over the course of season one.

(I watched too much arcane analysis, which tends to combine plot and character analysis - I tend to focus on underlying character essence - and here I attempt to use a similar thinking in relation to Link Click season one. THIS IS NOT FINISHED but I won't be on tumblr after today. Once I finish, I'll post it here).

We’ll continue slightly out of order. Writers craft their stories in iterations and long nights, so I’d assume direct arcs string themselves in differing episodes and aren’t the most linear process in existence. It’s a mess. I know. Hopefully, I can consolidate it all at the end!

(I’m writing this in a fancy font on google docs first and now this sounds like an academic paper. … I’m sorry.)

The noodle ladies -

Wu Xia and Lin Zhen act as direct parallels to Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. One might think Lin Zhen - with her quiet, mellow nature and her upkeep of the shop itself - represents Lu Guang. Wu Xia - louder, impulsive, and stubborn - parallels Cheng Xiaoshi. The show itself supports this. Cheng Xiaoshi acts as Wu Xia and Lin Zhen poses as this mysterious secret-keeper.

Until the last dive.

Cheng Xiaoshi - idealistic, sentimental, moral, if not ethical, to a fault - possesses Lin Zhen.

Wu Xia - carried into the depths of her obsession with their dream - represents Lu Guang with this viewpoint.

Now, the ‘second half’ of this episode (most episodes of season one have this sort of structure… we’ll get to that later), might lie in the Bridon/Yingdu arc, which reframes this episode as a call-back, a thematic flashback, if you will. However, if the ‘second half’ appears in a later season, then it’ll act as foreshadowing. I’m leaning towards the second option simply because of the weight that implication has - we’re getting to that, I promise - but it could be a call-back; it could lie partially in both the future and the past; this is Link Click! They surprise us.

I say all this to convey that hindsight will let me write a more thorough answer, but for now, we have this:

With Lin Zhen representing Lu Guang, we as the viewers receive some indications of Lu Guang’s inner workings… which we get so few of. I’d like Lu Guang’s backstory now please.

Lu Guang, both in the future and in the past, gets carried away with the obsession of keeping Cheng Xiaoshi alive, eventually driving both Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang apart.

They’ll get back together and get married though. (Please director Li, I beg you.)

The Earthquake Arc -

This arc explores Cheng Xiaoshi’s trust. His trust towards Lu Guang, towards his parents, and to himself.

With Lu Guang, the trust cemented in episode two - where the Wu Xia and Lin Zhen recovering their relationship paralleled how Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi could also recover their relationship, should anything happen to it - showcases itself further. Cheng Xiaoshi trusts Lu Guang with this dive, even though something seems off about changing the past. Throughout this arc he asks Lu Guang specifics about the mission and if it’s really okay to change the past. Lu Guang gives vague answers. Cheng Xiaoshi trusts him. ‘You’re always right.’

Moving on to episode four, the focus of ‘trust’ shifts to Cheng Xiaoshi’s trust towards his parents - previously established in episode one. He trusts his parents to return, to alleviate him of his pain and because of this, he won’t accept their possible death.

After Cheng Xiaoshi realizes the truth, the incoming earthquake, he loses trust in Lu Guang, and his ‘trust’ in his parents to return fluctuates. In episode five, the theme shifts to Cheng Xiaoshi’s trust in himself. As he says to Emma on the bridge, Cheng Xiaoshi wishes to give others a perfect past. He has power. He has the ability to help others. He feels so much, so easily, for the plight of others, and this belief that he can help them and give them the past he couldn’t have, this allows him to hope for his own life, to live vicariously through others and avoid descending into apathetic depression (See post episode five. *pain intensifies*).

It all relies on his trust in his own abilities - to notice issues and other’s feelings, to change the past or alleviate it as soon as possible, so he doesn’t have to feel their pain.

After the earthquake, he loses trust in his parents to return. (notice how he doesn’t ask about them afterwards, focusing only on others and their relations… especially with their parents)

And he loses trust in himself, his ability to counteract the pains of time. Lu Guang lies. His parents died. He can’t change the past.

Doudou -

After Cheng Xiaoshi returns from the earthquake dive, Lu Guang comforts him - in his typical Lu Guang way, wisdom, wow /aff - with the phrase, ‘fool, you can’t change the past. Because of us, the future will surely change.’ (Going off of memory, so my apologies for any inaccuracies.)

Cheng Xiaoshi only listens to ‘you can’t change the past.’

Cheng Xiaoshi brings this belief with him and drowns in his pessimistic misery. He doesn’t talk to Lu Guang (the autism). He discourages Doudou’s dad from finding his son. He refuses to accept the mission, even though he still cares and looks up information about Doudou. He doesn’t think anything good will come of it though.

When Qiao Ling tells him the story of her regret and her escapism (her character is a whole playground to analyze as well…), Cheng Xiaoshi agrees… since Qiao Ling is asking, since this whole trio deals with regret in their own way, since Lu Guang got him boba tea (Possibly other reasons as well).

Cheng Xiaoshi reunites Doudou with his father, which rekindles some trust Cheng Xiaoshi had in his abilities, allows him to listen to the ‘because of us, the future will surely change’ portion of Lu Guang’s words.

(Until he misconstrues it in episode nine… but we’re not there yet.)

Yes, Cheng Xiaoshi cannot change the past, but he can use the past to change the future. That’s where his abilities lie. It’s a new sort of hope.

(I am now starting to realize just how hyperfixated I am on this show)

Xu Shanshan -

This will be brief. Promise.

Here this mission showcases how much Cheng Xiaoshi hopes in his abilities, while also not fully regaining trust in Lu Guang. Lu Guang will not take Emma’s case, and Lu Guang led him astray in the earthquake arc, so Cheng Xiaoshi can take his words with a grain of salt.

Emma -

Here we go.

Emma represents both Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang. Cheng Xiaoshi more obviously - she misses her parents; time breaks her bonds; she misses her past, and in the ninth and eleventh episodes, she also desires to change the past. She also encapsulates Lu Guang with the idea of ambition and obsession driving her and her parents/loved ones apart. (This might not show itself as obviously until later seasons).

Another quick thing to mention - these episodes with Xu Shanshan and Emma show how Lu Guagn always protects Cheng Xiaoshi from the consequences of his actions. Many people on tumblr - very wondrous people - mention how this can stem from past timelines, how, in previous timelines, Cheng Xiaoshi could’ve cost his own doom. This is tragic. I’m including it in my fanfiction.

(This is where I'm at as of now). Thanks for reading!

#link click #shiguang #shiguang dailiren #shiguang daili ren #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #qiao ling

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animehouse-moe · 1 year ago

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Link Click Season Two Episode 3: Two Funerals

After the initial two episode fare of this season, episode three certainly feels like it slows things down. Which is not a bad thing. It gives the story time to establish itself, to provide mystery and unspoken curiosities to the world, to allow for exploration of the new characters and their roles in the story, and it gives Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi time to work their magic. So certainly quite a bit to chat about with this episode!

I think the first thing that really tickles my brain is the oddities of the production for Link Click. Not that it's a bad thing, but that it's just decidedly different when compared to anime. Stuff like the letterboxing and the camera movement leave it very telling that this is a donghua rather than an anime. Bit hard to explain over words, but check out this panning shot. Feels.... wrong, right? Well, that's because of how it's shot. The way that the pan stops during the scene is different than what you'd normally see with anime, which continue the pan right to the end typically (or at the very least have it slow down before coming to a stop).

Similarly, the production vastly prefers depth to breadth, which is an interesting idea. Considering the share of horizontal to vertical space, you might have thought the latter, but instead they choose the former. Detail doesn't come from side to side, rather it likes to appear from front to back. Take this layout for example.

Typically, if you're operating on breadth instead of depth, you'd be more inclined to place the focus (the older characters in track suits on the right) towards the center of the frame, while placing the supporting characters and details on either side of them. Focusing on depth first however allows for far more different shots that feel more grounded in 3-dimensional space.

Anyways, the episode itself. We start with the older characters and/or masters of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi waiting around in a hospital. Nothing too special, just establishing their characters and why they showed up to help Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi. Though I have to admit, some of the pieces through their short time here are comical as they have a run in with an incredibly drunk person.

Of course, the trio of elderly leave this hospital and arrive at Lu Guang's (in style, obviously) to take on the mob that has surrounded Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi. I was really looking forward to some crazy action, but I also wasn't surprised when they kept things simple and skipped most of it. They gave two crazy action sequences back to back, so I think they can afford a bit of a break. Still, they delivered some cool and interesting sequences and a fun impact frame or two.

Also, fun little detail here. During this sequence, and before the impact frames, the father of the other two actually disappears in frame for a brief second. Fun little bit to give to people paying close attention.

Also also, this gif provides an excellent example of that depth-first approach for the production. Rather than the left to right or vice versa you might usually see, they place the camera at an arbitrary spot in 3D space, and have the mob of characters run through the camera. Pieces like this really help establish Link Click's visual style.

A similar example can be found in a follow-up scene of Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi after the fight. It really does look good, it's just that it might take a bit to get used to because of the letterboxing. Certainly makes me curious about the choice for it to be a consistent visual restraint considering how much they might be able to accomplish with a full scene.

I haven't really talked about the story, have I? Well, up until this point it hasn't been anything super crazy, truthfully. The bad guys got beat up and are being interrogated, and Xiao Li comes to apologize to Qiao Ling and Cheng Xiaoshi. There's nothing crazy or important yet. That is, until Liu Min's father and entourage show up and butt heads with our current trio.

The back and forth is more performative than substantive, but Qian Jin's interactions are most certainly the focal point. Establishing his prior history as a police officer, and the past that he shares with Xiao Li, an odd rivalry brews between him and Cheng Xiaoshi.

It makes you really curious as to what led Qian Jin to his current station in life, and what it was that happened in this flashback we're shown by Xiao Li.

Anyways, the arguments come and go, and Qiao Ling ends it all with an incredibly satisfying slap that gets the first reaction out of Qian Jin in the whole conversation.

It's an incredibly subtle difference, but his default grin does widen a bit after the interaction. I think it adds a good deal to the sort of slimy and snake-like personality that Qian Jin wields so far. Very curious to see how his role plays out given that his lackey is being detained.

We move forward, and into Chen Bin's funeral. They do well with it as an emotional moment and bring out the best in Chen's now-widow to help give Cheng Xiaoshi the push he needs to solidify his desire to go back and prevent Chen Bin's death. I do think the emotional beat is well done, it's just that I'm not really one to be "all-in" on this sort of stuff myself, so I don't have too many words to say about it.

What I do have words to say about though is how Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang interact as the latter goes back in time. Also, just more of that whole Black and White/Ying and Yang theme here.

Anyways, the biggest thing is how Cheng Xiaoshi asks Lu Guang for his help. He says that he wants to help the pair, which appeals to Lu Guang through the guilt they share for being the cause of Chen Bin's death. It's a great moment that establishes the hesitation the pair have in the use of their powers currently, and their overall intent in their reasoning for using them. A solid shift from their original purpose through season 1, though of course the natural conclusion of their experiences with it anyways.

Of course, we end the episode on a cliffhanger though. That red-eyed guest from the prior episode? They didn't come to take over Lu Guang, they came to deliver a picture. Are they the same person that inhabited Qiao Ling at the end of S1/start of S2? It's hard to say, but the idea of the red eyes does beg quite the question.

The back of the photo is even more interesting when you know what it says. "Don't Die, Good Brother". Specifically "Gege" which is elder brother. Together with the drawing on the back of the young girl in the photo with an older brother, does it really mean what viewers might think it does? Is Lu Guang related to this pink haired girl somehow? Does she expect him and Cheng Xiaoshi to use the photo and learn something from it?

A far more intriguing ending than the episode itself might let on, this third episode works very hard to slow things down and draw them out so that viewers can have time to get attached to and understand the stories and characters that appear within. Of course, the quality is still way up there in terms of animation and direction, so it seems overall we've settled in for the long haul with a long term story compared to the more episodic approach of season 1. Really interested to see what they do with more time.

#link click #time agents #shi guang dai li ren #shiguang dailiren #时光代理人 #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #qiao ling #donghua #shiguang daili ren #anime recommendation #anime review #anime and manga #anime #shiguang #link click spoilers

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muninnhuginn · 1 year ago

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Link Click Fic Recs

I've seen some of these around and thought I'd have my own go. As others largely have the shippy side covered and I've historically struggled to find good gen fic, I ended up deciding to make this list gen-only. This means that all fic included can be read as platonic regardless of tags.

That's not to say shippers won't get anything out of these though. Think of it as canon-typical levels of ship and that's about what to expect here.

Notes: These are listed in largely chronological order as to when they were posted. I've limited it to one fic per author in instances where multiple fic would otherwise appear on the list.

Overtime by machasw

The job for Chen Xiao has been a nightmare from start to finish. Cheng Xiaoshi changes almost every event, breaks almost every rule, and the night ends with a roof crashing down on his head. There's one more nightmare in store though. When the twelve-hour limit arrives, Cheng Xiaoshi doesn't return home.

without you (i don't know if i could take this road) by DandyDonut

Roleswap AU where Lu Guang enters photos and Xiaoshi guides him through the process using precognition.

Depth of Focus by Shadaras

Cheng Xiaoshi’s earliest memories were of the click and flash of a camera.

synesthesia by silverinerivers

“First, you only get 12 hours.” “Wait, why?” Cheng Xiaoshi interrupts, wrinkling his brows. (Or: the moments which bring them to the start of it all.)

power of possessions by macrauchenia

A group of violent thieves starts targeting businesses around their neighborhood. When the photo shop becomes the next victim and Lu Guang ends up bruised and bloody, he tells the others not to get involved. Leave the past in the past. Too bad Cheng Xiaoshi is allergic to listening. [Link Click Case-Fic]

wine glass on the cusp of falling by sunslants

Cheng Xiaoshi wakes up the morning after Liu Min is arrested feeling an intense, nauseating deja vu.

Fics with spoilers for season two below the cut:

the first time by choucobos

Lu Guang (stupid, foolish, and naïve, but not for much longer) looks at the photo. He listens to his heartbeat, the reliable ticking of the clock that can save Cheng Xiaoshi. Bringing his hands up in front of him, he takes a deep breath. He dives back in time.

clasp my contradiction-filled hand by jan (note: jan has a lot of other fic playing with underutilised dynamics in canon so if that's your fare I'd check them out)

What the twins don't tell each other.

like once you did for me by Syncogon

"If this is a loop, then... how many times has it been?" "I don't know." Cheng Xiaoshi laughs, somehow. "You wouldn't tell me."

did you know bunnies can die of loneliness by lesbievie

Lu Guang abandons countless timelines to save Cheng Xiaoshi — and in every one, he leaves Qiao Ling alone.

#despite my best attempts to find them there aren't many fic above 5k and even fewer that are complete.#link click #shiguang daili ren #spoilers for s1 in most of these and s2 in the latter half of them #fic recs

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syncogon · 1 year ago

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back to back, fade to black

(reverse power au (inspired by @/daily-linkclick), timeloop theory. frantically written before ep 12)

September 13.

This time, this is how it goes: the dance studio is busy with classes, so Lu Guang brings his speaker outside to the basketball courts. There’s no mirror to study his own movements, so he lets himself focus on the musicality, intentionality, sharp hits and smooth steps, drowning himself in the flow.

“Hey, you! Classmate Lu, right?”

Lu Guang stops, looking over. Someone is jogging toward him, basketball tucked under his arm, messy black ponytail bouncing with each step as he waves. He looks a little familiar, Lu Guang thinks, but he can’t quite place his name until the other sticks his hand out for a handshake.

“Cheng Xiaoshi!” he introduces himself, noticing but seeming unbothered by Lu Guang’s blank stare. “We’re short one person for 3v3, wanna join?”

Not particularly, to be honest. But something stops those words from making it out of his mouth. Cheng Xiaoshi takes his silence as tacit agreement and tosses the basketball to him, and he automatically catches it in front of his chest.

“C’mon, it’ll be fun!” says Cheng Xiaoshi brightly, and Lu Guang, without really knowing why, finds himself following.

After a person learns a new word, they suddenly start to see that word everywhere. After Lu Guang meets Cheng Xiaoshi, it’s the same. It turns out that their schedules overlap greatly, even down to when they go to the gym. And Cheng Xiaoshi always sees him, and always greets him. How’s it going, did you finish the project, have you eaten yet, wanna go together?

Cheng Xiaoshi’s carefully aggressive friend-making moves work. Lu Guang is a loner by nature, yet before he’s even realized, this young man has squeezed his way into his heart. So it’s natural that they take a trip abroad together. So it’s natural that when Cheng Xiaoshi tells him about his plans for his parents’ photo studio, Lu Guang says automatically, “I can help.”

“What? You want to help run a photo studio with me?”

“Sure.”

There’s a pause. Cheng Xiaoshi squints at him. “You heard me, I have a debt to clear off. You wouldn’t be earning much either.”

“That’s okay.”

At his dead-serious expression, Cheng Xiaoshi laughs and claps him on the back. “Alright! And you agreed without even knowing how much the debt is. That’s not like you. But no take-backs!”

Lu Guang pointedly rolls his eyes.

“But don’t you worry your pretty little head, I have a plan. We’ll be profitable in no time.” Cheng Xiaoshi looks at him, and it’s like a switch flips, suddenly serious. “Do you trust me?”

And, there it is. This time, this is what draws Lu Guang to Cheng Xiaoshi: beneath that playful and friendly nature, there’s that remarkable cleverness, and beneath that there’s something more. It’s in the eyes. Weight and depth, pulling him in.

Cheng Xiaoshi asks do you trust me and Lu Guang answers yes. And Cheng Xiaoshi takes his two hands in his own.

It turns out that there is magic in this world, and money to be made from it. Lu Guang looks doubtfully at the printed photograph held delicately between his fingertips, careful to avoid getting prints on the glossy surface. “This will work?”

“I already explained everything,” Cheng Xiaoshi says, just a tad defensive. “At this point, all that’s left is your own proof.”

The thing is, as outlandish as it sounds, Lu Guang does believe him. But if he does believe him, that opens a frankly dizzying array of implications. He picks one to be concerned about. “You’re not worried I’ll mess up the past?”

“It can’t happen,” says Cheng Xiaoshi firmly. “Like I said, beyond the small details, the major nodes can’t change. You’ll come back to this same world, I promise.” He holds out his right hand, his watch catching the sunlight. “And you’ll have me with you the whole time. Are you ready?”

Lu Guang takes a deep breath, and claps his hand.

After the fifth dive, Lu Guang grows used to it.

He controls a body that isn’t his own. Careful, deliberate, hyperaware of his position in space as he plays the part of, this time, a daughter bringing a final message to her bedridden grandmother. In the original timeline, the daughter hadn’t made it in time. Now, Lu Guang gets to see the grandmother’s well-worn face settle into a relaxed smile.

When all is said and done, he claps back to the present. Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand is immediately there to steady him. “You still good?” he asks, and Lu Guang nods.

It feels worthwhile, this work. With the safety net of fate’s immutability, they can erase the regrets of the past. Their clients leave looking lighter, and Lu Guang thinks, this is what he can do…

Cheng Xiaoshi looks at him and smiles, and Lu Guang can’t help but wonder what it would take to make his eyes truly lighten, too.

“You see, it’s really two halves of one power,” Cheng Xiaoshi explains to him. “So we can use our powers individually, or we can have that telepathic link.”

Lu Guang frowns. It sounds reasonable enough, but it’s not like these mystical powers have much reason to them anyway. “Is that just your own theory? How do you know?”

Cheng Xiaoshi blinks at him, then gives that smile that’s equal parts dazzling and infuriating. “Why, you were the one who explained it all to me…”

“I’m being serious.”

But Cheng Xiaoshi’s grin doesn’t waver. “Me too, haha! —Aw, don’t give me that face…”

“I still can’t believe he roped you into this,” sighs Qiao Ling, dropping the bag of takeout on the coffee table. “You really deserve better.”

“Thank you, Qiao Ling-jie,” says Lu Guang.

“I told you, no need to be so polite to the landlady,” Cheng Xiaoshi snorts, already digging through the bag. “Ooh yay, pork buns.”

“Not everyone is as ill-mannered as you,” Qiao Ling says, making a face at him, before turning back to Lu Guang. “I imagine using your powers is tiring. Have you been sleeping okay?”

“Thank you for the concern. I’ve been alright.”

It surprises Lu Guang at first, that someone as reasonable and down-to-earth as Qiao Ling is also entangled in Cheng Xiaoshi’s supernatural scheme. But as Cheng Xiaoshi put it, “she’s my sister, she should know.” In any case, Lu Guang is grateful for her involvement; her handling the clients means a great burden lifted from their shoulders.

“You’d better speak up if he’s working you too hard,” Qiao Ling continues. “When he gets an idea in his head, he doesn’t know how to stop.”

“Hey! I’m perfectly reasonable in everything I do.”

“I’ll let you know, Qiao Ling-jie.”

She smiles warmly at him. It feels like… home.

Serial killer.

In the end, with rumors like theirs spreading, he supposes it was only a matter of time before the police came knocking on their door.

Lu Guang looks at the victim’s photo, his stomach churning. Cheng Xiaoshi eyes him. “We don’t have to do this,” he says quietly, but Lu Guang swallows.

“Let’s do it.” Because with Cheng Xiaoshi as his guide, they could fix anything.

Right?

live live I have to LIVE

Lu Guang stumbles back into the present, shaking, still feeling the line of cold metal at his throat, the victim’s life gushing out, his own life with it, the taste of iron on his tongue.

He falls to the ground, gagging. He reaches forward blindly for the edge of the coffee table, trying to escape, pulling himself forward and up and right into a brand-new nightmare—

Cheng Xiaoshi collapsed on the couch, a dark stain upon his shirt. And ahead, Qiao Ling, still holding the bloodied knife.

“Too slow, little boy,” she croons, and flips the knife to point straight toward her heart. Lu Guang doesn’t even have time to scream.

It’s not real, is it? It can’t be real. There’s no such thing as magic in this world. Everything since then, just one long dream that he should be waking up from now. Any second now.

“Lu Guang,” croaks Cheng Xiaoshi. He’s still alive. “Come here…”

Against all odds Lu Guang drags himself to the edge of the couch. It shouldn’t be so difficult. He’s not the one with a gaping, bloody hole in his body.

“Listen,” Cheng Xiaoshi coughs, blood on his lips, “it’s not the end. Reset… try again…”

Lu Guang can barely hear him. “What do you—what are you talking about? I thought you said the past can’t be changed—”

“One power, reunited.” Shakily, Cheng Xiaoshi extends his two hands toward him. Just like that warm sunlit day, an eternity ago. “Different rules… loop back…”

It all makes sense now. It makes no sense whatsoever. “What about you?”

He’s smiling, that Cheng Xiaoshi. “If it’s you… this time you can do it for sure… Hurry…”

Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes are fading. Lu Guang doesn’t know what he’s doing. He reaches forward, and claps his two hands.

September 13.

It’s the same basketball court. And the same person running over to him, basketball tucked under his arm.

Cheng Xiaoshi’s eyes are clear and bright. It isn’t until Lu Guang sees him like this now, that he realizes just how much the weight of time had been pulling him down. Cheng Xiaoshi could smile and laugh all he wanted, but now, he is truly free.

Lu Guang thinks, he deserves this happiness.

Lu Guang thinks, I’ll figure this out on my own.

Lu Guang thinks, I’ll be your guide.

This time, I’ll save you for sure.

“Hello?” This Cheng Xiaoshi waves a hand in front of him. “Anyone home? You want to join?”

“Sure,” says Lu Guang, pulling himself back to the present, “let’s play.”

#link click #synco writes #hhh #revised version will go on ao3 #happy finale day everyone

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elibean · 1 year ago

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here’s fic 2. lu guang is whipped: the fic (again).

Lu Guang can’t say no to him. And that’s the root of the problem, isn’t it. If he could just tell him “no” (and mean it) and be firm, it would save him so much trouble.

Of course, the real trouble is when he gives in and lets Cheng Xiaoshi go into a picture he really shouldn’t, or agree to a stupid plan, but those were arguably much bigger problems, with much larger consequences, than this current predicament.

No, the current problem was that face, that face that he loved but dare not ever say so, was asking to KISS him, of all things. And he could never say no to Cheng Xiaoshi, not really, but this—this couldn’t be right. A fantasy. A dream, maybe? Lu Guang was prepared to take these feelings to the grave. But this…

“Lu Guang?” Cheng Xiaoshi repeats, looking like a kicked puppy. “You can say no,” he murmurs sheepishly, and oh no, that’s right, Lu Guang hadn’t given him an answer yet. He clears his throat.

“Um. I—Ah. What?” Smooth. Cheng Xiaoshi snorts, at least.

“As eloquent as ever. I asked if I could kiss you.”

“Right, but. Why?” At any other time, Lu Guang would have appreciated the red that creeps up Cheng Xiaoshi’s face, but he’s unfortunately too busy trying to keep his own composure. Cheng Xiaoshi rubs the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.

“C’mon, you’re really gonna make me say it?” Lu Guang doesn’t answer. Can’t answer, can’t think straight, this is all too much too much too much—

“I thought maybe I liked you before, and then I thought about it more and more and decided that was right, that’s what these feelings are, and I know I just get on your nerves and am a thorn in your side, but—but, blame Qiao Ling! It’s her fault, she said she was sick of hearing me talk about this all the time, she told me I should just tell you, I guess I should have just told you how I feel instead of asking for a kiss, that was dumb huh—” Lu Guang shut him up with a kiss. Damn, if he’d known all this time it was this easy to get him to shut up, they should have been kissing a lot sooner.

When they break away, they’re silent. Cheng Xiaoshi blinks once, twice.

“Lu Guang?” he asks, whispers really, like he’s afraid any louder and he’ll scare him away. As if. As if this isn’t something Lu Guang’s dreamed of. But…well, in his dreams, it’s a lot less embarrassing, somehow. Here, now, in real life, Cheng Xiaoshi is looking at him hesitantly but earnestly, so genuine like…like he likes him or something. And of course Lu Guang loves him, has loved him for a while, but…But to say that out loud…He turns away, feeling the heat on his face.

“…Yeah, you can.” A pause.

“Huh?”

“You asked if you could kiss me. You can, and.” He swallows. “And in the future, you can kiss me too,” he manages. Maybe in the future he can say what he wants to say, can speak to the depths of his feelings. To how he wants to hold and protect Cheng Xiaoshi from harm. How despite everything, despite how he’s had to lie to him and hurt him in the past, he really doesn’t want anything bad to happen to the boy, and just wishes for his happiness.

But for now, that’s all he can manage.

“Lu Guang!” Cheng Xiaoshi exclaims, jumping up and wrapping him in a tight hug. Lu Guang doesn’t resist, and after a beat hugs him back, sighing as if he’s annoyed (it’s pointless, they both know he’s lying). Cheng Xiaoshi is rubbing his head up and down Lu Guang’s cheek, which tickles.

“Hey, cut that out!” he exclaims, trying to stifle his laughter. Cheng Xiaoshi eventually pulls away, looking at Lu Guang with a grin. Lu Guang can’t believe he’s the reason that he’s smiling that wide. Instead of returning it, he rolls his eyes. “Idiot,” he huffs out.

“Yeah, but I’m your idiot now,” Cheng Xiaoshi says, his grin never faltering.

“Always,” Lu Guang replies instantly, without thinking. He should be embarrassed by the admission—he is, but not enough to turn away.

“One more?” Cheng Xiaoshi asks, putting on his puppy dog eyes. Lu Guang lets out another sigh.

“You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“I didn’t hear a no~” he sing-songs. Lu Guang rolls his eyes (again), but it holds no real malice, and they both know that. He offers a small smile.

“One more.”

#text post #link click #shiguang #i know ~ is not a grammatically uuuh. viable thing #and is like #it reminds me of some more poorly written fic #(not to say that all fic that use ~ are badly written or anything but anyway)#BUT LISTEN #it just felt. more pertinent than ending that sentence with a comma #is sing-songs even the right verb #should it just be sings #idk #also idk why my brain wanted to write this in present tense #i never do that #oh well #i feel silly putting my fic out there #i mean at least it's not on a03 but its like #ive read some INCREDIBLE ao3 stuff #and my writing is just. not great compared to that lol #this is just choppy way too many --s and like #i feel like im ok at writing CHARACTERS and DIALOGUE but not like #actual writing writing #like metaphors and descriptive writing and stuff #you don't even know what position these two are in when this fic starts lol #oh well i'll leave it up to you #are you still reading this? hi hope you're having a good day

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miyamiwu · 9 months ago

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This was just supposed to be a short response, but I ended up writing a Part 2 of the meta entirely jdhgfhjsdgfhjs

@sgdlr-asdfghjkl I’ve also thought about where her parents have been this whole time. But even if her parents do add depth, the depth still doesn’t come from her…

I feel it's just a common thing to throw in a female character into a main trio of the show

You are so right about that. But I personally think it’s just so the cast won’t be all-male. For “diversity,” so to speak. It’s why managers in shounen sports anime tend to be female. All the players are already male, so just make the manager female y’know?

I honestly don't have much feelings about her. She's a badass and it's just funny to simp for her. But like you said she may as well be a supporting character ><

Totally understandable. But let me thrown in @always-a-joyful-note’s tags here coz it’s related: (formatted to make it easier to read)

This reminds me of the time people were talking about female leads in romances having not much personality but a lot of great goals but throwing it off for the ML. Except for this show, its Qiao Ling having a LOT of personality but it getting…pushed around by the plot. I don’t know how to explain it ’cause like she does not become less herself for Plot Reasons.... but it is like herself is created to be a construct of the plot? (In orvish terms, she is a character who has no will except that of the author’s) So anyway....you cannot hate Qiao Ling because she remains very much herself. Like, I think the writers don’t exactly sacrifice her personality for the plot. Its what you said, Lizzie....she is given no goals or story of her own. In essence, she is a personality but not a character, which means you can love her character but not really be invested in it because its not being used to build something out of her? Honestly, I’d love it if this meant something plot significant. That Qiao Ling is the orchestrator of everything and is just there to make sure things go the way she wants, which could ‘explain’ why she didn’t ask questions about LG’s and CXS’ job or do much beyond just helping the boys survive…and also make her outburst about trust be about her needing to keep control of everything…especially cxs. I put ‘explain’ in quotes because that sort of explanation isn’t really needed and i also feel like it’d be a disservice to her anyway. Probably still makes her revolve around the boys but at least she’d be taking an active role in sustaining a goal or something. Anyway, Qiao Ling deserves to be used as a protagonist if she is marketed as a protagonist

I bolded the part that I totally agree with because YES, that’s exactly what Qiao Ling is. I’ve always thought of her as a character that’s constructed solely to have a Strong, Independent, Woman type of character in the show, but story-wise, does not serve any real purpose. It’s like how white Western shows would insert POC/queer characters just for the sake of it but then fail to actually properly represent them.

There’s nothing wrong with Qiao Ling’s character in itself. It’s just that the writers were so caught up in checking off a Nice Character Trope to Have in their list that they didn’t think whether such character is even necessary. I mean, seriously, the story can still go on even with Qiao Ling...

Cheng Xiaoshi can still get adopted by the neighbors, and they can just justify it as the neighbors wanting to have a child of their own coz they don’t have any. Cheng Xiaoshi having only Lu Guang as his friend would also strengthen their bond???

If they needed a friend of ShiGuang that Li Tianchen can possess at the end of s1, it can be Xu Shanshan or even Xiao Li. (While writing this, I realized Xiao Li getting possessed would be so much more interesting because he’s the Police Guy, the one who’s supposed to be on their side. What’s ShiGuang gonna do if even he can’t be trusted?)

As for that scene where Qiao Ling talks to Li Tianxi and plays all Big Sister… it could just be a different scene entirely. Idk, maybe it could just be Cheng Xiaoshi talking about his “brotherly” relationship with Lu Guang.

Anyways, none of the important roles Qiao Ling has played so far needs to be fulfilled by Qiao Ling herself. She is replaceable.

ShiGuang is also pretty much capable of doing their Dives without Qiao Ling, which is why I don’t think anything would change even if Qiao Ling does get to play a role in the whole diving thing, as implied in the s2 ED. At most, ShiGuang just gets a third-wheel.

On What Qiao Ling’s Role Could Be

@animegoil-vnc once pointed out how in s1e1, Lu Guang openly used his powers in front of Qiao Ling, making us think she knew what’s up:

But later, the writers made her ignorant of it. This shows how they really didn’t plan her character through 😩

But to say there was no planning for her at all would be unfair, though. In s1, Qiao Ling being the Big Bad Boss at the end definitely seemed planned (although it’s not really her, but yeah).

I remember watching the final episode of S1 and being blown away because this girl, who hasn’t played much role so far yet still occupies a lot of time in the OP and ED, actually does have a Big role. There was this big italicized Oh moment, you know?

But then it just stopped there...

It would’ve been fun if QL really was the villain. It also reshapes how we view the dynamic between her and ShiGuang. But since they didn’t go that route, then I can only hope, like @always-a-joyful-note:

Honestly, I’d love it if this meant something plot significant. That Qiao Ling is the orchestrator of everything and is just there to make sure things go the way she wants

Because if you think about it, despite Qiao Ling’s lack of any real purpose, she has played other Interesting roles like:

S1E7, when past!QL and past!XSS cross paths with future!CXS:

(Xu Shanshan alone could’ve done the job, but the focus is on Qiao Ling here)

And isn’t it sus how, when Xu Shanshan was so ready to run after Cheng Xiaoshi and ask for answers, Qiao Ling instead readily makes excuses for it?

Then, in the Chibi shorts:

And in the final ep of s2:

Oh… and from that image above, I’m reminded of how, in Overthink, we are first shown Qiao Ling the moment the lyrics go “You should really stop thinking ‘bout it…”

also this:

These three shots + the lyrics can be indicative of them

“I know I have no power to solve these problems of mine…” with Lu Guang facing away from us… Is it alluding to how Lu Guang has dived many times to keep Cheng Xiaoshi alive but still fails at some point?

“Why ya mind overclouded” with Cheng Xiaoshi looking to the side while holding a twins-lens reflex camera (@omnipotent-omnicube wrote an amazing meta about this camera)

But then there’s Qiao Ling with the lyrics “I stopped thinking in the limbo of time” and yet she’s looking straight at us while holding a camera

Throughout the show, Qiao Ling has always looked away. And yet here, she isn’t...

You know, if Qiao Ling ended up being an Observer or Orchestrator, then that would be so mind-blowing… It would also explain her passiveness so far.

Right now, we’re so caught up on Lu Guang Knowing Too Much Coz He’s From the Future. So if Qiao Ling turns out to be even above that, it’ll be just… Wow.

Unpopular opinion: There is no Link Click “trio.” It’s just the ShiGuang Duo + Qiao Ling

Now, before the Qiao Ling fans come after me, I just want to make it clear that I do not hate Qiao Ling. She’s a queen, and I love her. What I do hate, however, is the writers’ neglect of her character.

Warning: This will contain major Link Click season 1 and 2 spoilers.

Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, and Qiao Ling have been marketed as the main trio right from the OPs and EDs all the way to the different official artworks and PVs. But despite this, Qiao Ling has never been portrayed like a protagonist in the story itself. Her value has always been tied to some other character, and what’s sadder is that even as a supporting character, she’s still being neglected by the writers.

Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang both have something in themselves that push the story forward. Cheng Xiaoshi’s recklessness in s1 is what gives tension to the dives and what leads to the overarching plot related to Emma. His planning in s2 also keeps the plot going. On the other hand, Lu Guang acts as the voice of reason, grounding the fantasy aspect of the show. His hypocrisy revealed in s2 also reshapes how we view the entire story.

But what about Qiao Ling?

Throughout most of season 1, she’s been kept in the dark about ShiGuang’s powers, which in turn excludes her from a big part of the story. In s1, it was only during the kidnapping arc that we see a bit more about her, but the focus wasn’t on her at all but on some random extra. And at the last episode when she finally gets to be in on the whole eye power thing, Li Tianchen possesses her, overshadowing Qiao Ling entirely and redirecting our attention and interest to him. (Extra: In season 1, between Qiao Ling and Emma, would you dare say Qiao Ling is the protagonist? I bet you won’t.)

Then in s2, despite Qiao Ling’s extra screen time and more involvement in the plot, the neglect of her character is even more palpable. She got possessed by a murderer, nearly killed her friend, and even tried to stab her own brother, but even after all these, we barely get to see how she had to process everything.

It’s really no surprise many people loved this scene:

This, for me, is the one time, the ONE time Qiao Ling is portrayed as a character on equal grounds with Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang. If Link Click were a sports anime, this would be the scene where she discards her role as the female manager over a bunch of male athletes and expresses her desire to become a player as well.

But unfortunately, after this episode, Qiao Ling is once again pushed to the sidelines. She’s a player now, yes, but a player who’s just being pushed along the game. She may take the initiative in some things (like talking to Li Tianxi), but even then, the things she do are all still just to help her friends. You know, like a supporting character. None of what she’s doing is for herself alone. (If any Blue Lock fans are reading this, Qiao Ling has no “ego,” so to speak.)

Qiao Ling has no goals of her own, and this is how the writers failed her.

All the other major characters have their own goals. Heck, even the antagonists are more like protagonists than Qiao Ling.

Cheng Xiaoshi wants to find his parents. And he also just wants to help the people he meets in dives

Lu Guang selfishly broke the rules of time travel just to keep one man alive and will do it again if he must

Li Tianxi betrays her brother and Qian Jin just to find a way home

Li Tianchen approaches ShiGuang and later kidnaps Cheng Xiaoshi because he also wants to go home

And Liu Xiao wants to, I don’t know, change the rules of time and space entirely?

God, writing that last bullet makes me realize that even Liu Xiao, who only showed up in the last episode of season 2, has more weight in the story than Qiao Ling. This is ridiculous.

Seriously, what is Qiao Ling even here for??? Play big sister???

Just market her as a supporting character. It’s fine. She’s still badass.

I also don’t have much hopes over how she will be in season 3 because of how season 2 ended. Qiao Ling seeing Lu Guang’s memories means her worth in s3 will inevitably be tied to this secret. It’s the s1 ending all over again. At the end of s1, her worth was tied to the mysterious Red Eyes. At the end of s2, it’s tied to Lu Guang.

If the Link Click writers are gonna keep pushing her as a protagonist, then they better start treating her like one!

It’s not enough to just give Qiao Ling a goal, by the way (although it is very important too). She must also become a player who has the power to control how the game goes. If she ends up inheriting Li Tianxi’s powers, as many theories have said, then may the drama around her not be focused on how she may leak Lu Guang’s secret at any time.

I don’t know what she could do with her powers, but I think it would be very interesting if she ends up opposing Lu Guang.

Lu Guang wants to keep Cheng Xiaoshi alive, but...

...he’s no longer alive. The Cheng Xiaoshi we see is just a glimpse of the past...

What if… as Qiao Ling sees more of Lu Guang’s memories, she sees more of the real Cheng Xiaoshi and suddenly… wants to let go… wants to move on?

The fandom have talked a lot about how ShiGuang may react once the secret is out. But what about how Qiao Ling would react to it over time as she realizes those memories weren’t just her overthinking things?

In season 1, she couldn’t bear to face that kid’s father for years, and at the end of s2, she couldn’t bear to confront Lu Guang… In s3, how long can she bear looking at her dead brother?

The chances of her “giving up” Cheng Xiaoshi and returning to the original timeline is slim, though. I’m just giving an example of how she can be more like a protagonist.

Anyways, I’ll end here… I still have so many thoughts, but I can’t figure out how to organize them. This has also been in my drafts for over two weeks and I just want to post it already!

#qiao ling #qiao ling meta #shiguang dailiren #link click #时光代理人 #link click spoilers #link click meta #miyamiwu.meta #miyamiwu.src

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shantechni · 3 years ago

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Some important Link Click observations PT 3 (1, 2, & 4):

I honestly thought I'd wait until S2 aired or at least until more content was revealed to tease the fandom, but there's still much to analyze about official art, BTS animation/art/genga, as well as the Chibi short series. So, spoilers below for everything I just mentioned, as well as S1 and the S2 trailer!

Keep in mind that the Chibi short series isn't considered canon by most due to contradicting plotlines in some of the episodes, but certain aspects can be taken as canon so long as they fit the narrative of the main series. Though there are a few things that could imply this series takes place after the events of S1, it's mainly for comedic purposes and simply makes callbacks to any major happenings in S1 (particularly it's finale).

In EP7 of the Chibi short series where the trio is doing a Q&A, they're asked about the bunk bed situation and Lu Guang says they got a bunk bed because the room lacked the adequate amount of space for two separate beds. He also went on to say he sleeps on top because Cheng Xiaoshi moves a lot in his sleep and he worried he'd fall off.

In EP2 of the short series where the trio is searching for food, it's implied that Lu Guang gets a bad case of dry eye if he overuses his powers.

Speaking of Lu Guang's eyesight, in EP6 of the short series and EP8 of S1, he's seen wearing glasses whenever he's on the laptop for a prolonged period of time (that or when he's using the laptop in the dark).

Though I previously mentioned Studio LAN's Twitter acct where they frequently post production images/videos of Link Click and other series they've worked on, I neglected to mention the directors' (mainly Lan Laoshi) Weibo accts and how frequent posts of Link Click behind-the-scenes are there as well. Link to the Twitter acct: ☆ & Weibo accts of the studio and Lan Laoshi: ♡ ♧. It's also worth noting that they often post things that aren't canon or related to the plot, much like the Chibi short series, so be sure to check them out for more slice of life content.

Last bullet point about official accts and whatnot, be sure to check out the official Shiguang Daili Ren Twitter acct (■) and INPLICK's (the character designer behind the series ●)

On the topic of production materials, one most recent image shared by Lan Laoshi pertaining to Link Click is a genga of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang in a car together. Whether this is simply referencing the duo's overseas trip mentioned by Qiao Ling or if it's a tease of it being shown in the future is to be seen in S2 (the latter is likely since the directors stated they'd go more in depth about the trip in S2).

Two short videos of unfinished animations were shown recently, the first one of Cheng Xiaoshi and the second one focusing on Lu Guang. It's yet to be seen if these are rough animations for S2, but Studio LAN has a habit of showing a few BTS things to keep the fans on their toes.

The Cheng Xiaoshi animation appears to have him imagining or dreaming of Lu Guang before coming back to reality and noticing his absence. The Lu Guang animation is more akin to the S1 OP animation in how the camera is doing a close up on his majestic movement.

Despite Lu Guang being the only one who's blood type has yet to be revealed, he was shown with a blood bag during his rush to the emergency room in the S2 PV. It's up to speculation why the creative team would keep his blood type a secret when the doctors in the PV appear to have found his type.

The series' 1st anniversary since it's airing on April 30th of last year saw the release of official art courtesy of INPLICK. Though there isn't much to be taken away from it aside from the formal apparel the trio wears, the image contains the repeatedly seen phrase, "Past or future, let them be."

In the recently revealed 2D intro to the Chibi short series (the original intro until the last 2 recent episodes has been 3D), the trio is depicted using different styles of cameras to take photos. Cheng Xiaoshi is seen using his phone, while Lu Guang and Qiao Ling are using old style cameras (akin to the one Cheng Xiaoshi has in the S1 ED, as well as the one seen in the 200 million views celebratory art of the trio in high school). This could easily just be a representation of different types of cameras.

The ramen conspiracy--gets dragged

I talked about the 2nd still image (the one of a long haired Cheng Xiaoshi swarmed with photos and a black ribbon) from the S1 OP in my last observation post, but neglected to mention the other 2. The 1st image is of Lu Guang holding a disentigrating photo as he solemnly watches it fly off with a background reminiscent of a cathedral window, while the 3rd image is of him and Cheng Xiaoshi standing back to back and holding onto a black ribbon similar to the 2nd image's (possibly a camera reel). Obviously these images are so ambiguously mysterious that there is little to no concrete explanation for them, but it's fairly certain that these images are representative of things. What they represent is up to interpretation.

This may just be coincidence, but when the verse "stop thinkin' 'bout it" in the S1 ED plays, Qiao Ling appears on screen. This may or may not have been alluding to the S1 finale when the red-eyed antagonist controlled her.

Liu Min calls the red-eyed antagonist from the end of S1 his "friend", raising the question of whether or not Liu Min knew this person before his situation with Emma, as well as if Liu Min hired them as an agent.

It's not confirmed if red-eyes is behind the string of killings before Emma, it's simply implied due to the similar circumstances that each victim died under.

A number of fans have pointed out that in the early character PVs for S1, Qiao Ling's backdrop is the only one lacking a camera shutter symbol. It's been added that the camera she uses in the 2nd Chibi short series intro has a shutter symbol on it, so does the camera from the 200 million views celebratory art. The reason for her lacking the symbol up until now is up to speculation.

Many fans have been pointing out hand signs Lu Guang's been making in the S1 OP & ED, as well as some pieces of official art. There are many theories ranging from him replicating a clock to it having something to do with his powers, but we have yet to find a definitive answer.

Okay I wanted to add more but this is getting pretty long now, so I'll cut it off here and save anything else I have in mind for part 4 (whenever that'll happen lol). I will add: If anyone has something to add to this list or a future one, feel free to speak up, it's nice trying to make sense of this donghua.

#anime #donghua #link click #shiguang dailiren #时光代理人 #时光代理人 2 #shiguang daili ren #shi guang dai li ren #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #qiao ling #lan studio #studio lan #bilibili #sgdlr #Link Click observations #analysis

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syncopatedid · 4 years ago

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时光代理人 | LINK CLICK #04

Ohhhhh shiitake mushrooms we’re not even halfway into LINK CLICK and already the Tragic Backstory™ for Xiaoshi has been set! Usually such hints only come out in episode 7, it’s too soon and my body’s not ready! But this means there’s a certain predictable direction this plot is going to take now, aka Xiaoshi’s definitely going to try and mess with his past and break the rules, and Lu Guang is going to try and stop him? Invested now, but I also want Lu Guang’s Tragic Backstory ™ to come to light quickly too. Oh yes, I’m definitely banking that he would have one. I mean, sudden thought, but I have a new hunch after this episode as to why Lu Guang’s stats are all unknown. Maybe, just maaaaybe... Lu Guang isn’t just some mystery time traveler; perhaps he was a victim of erasure from time, and perhaps this was a result of his own doing, even! My speculations, let me show you them. :D

Also, main plot aside, I’m actually suffering whiplash from this flashback scene, because... what do you mean Qiao Ling is actually OLDER than Xiaoshi and they may not be related after all?! (Did I miss that memo in earlier episodes because I totally had them pegged as siblings! But I guess it makes more sense that they’d be childhood friends/neighbors since they don’t share the same family name, d’oh!) But that said, I am still getting that feeling that far as character depth goes, Qiao Ling is not going to amount to anything deeper than the token spunky female character she was created for, alas. There’s just too much blanks the series has yet to fill for ShiGuang as it stands, so I doubt there’d be... time. (lol). Also yes. I’m just going to refer to Cheng XiaoShi and Lu Guang as the series’ namesake now because their names are a mouthful and you do not name your characters so blatantly like that and not expect me to use that for my convenience.

p.s: Apparently I still kept a screenshot from episode 3 and I just wanted to be silly and bring to attention that “the only one who can beat me is me” . :P

#时光代理人 #shi guang dai li ren #Link Click #time agents #currently watching #Cheng xiaoshi #Lu Guang #Donghua animation #It's not an obscure reference if they are still making merch of the series

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hermanoga · 16 days ago

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Vortex We Took Every Breath to Follow : Shiguang and Their Companionship Through Life and Beyond

@justfrolikin I hope this will be a suitable reply to the question you asked; what I think about the nature of the bond Shiguang share.

First, a few words from me :

Even though I love engaging in fandom spaces and enjoy ship fanarts, fanfictions etc, till today my heart truly belongs to a very few ships. Shiguang is one of them. As long as one is not blinded by homophobic delusions, I enjoy discussing any kind of interpretation of my OTPs, be it 'Platonic', just friends™, romantic or whatever. But I have a fixed category (which very ironically is not quite fixed if you read the whole discussion) that fulfills my idea of true love.

for me, Love is a dialogic discourse with your existential other.

The terms I used are very loaded terms; 'dialogue' and 'other' come from the Bakhtinian philosophy of ethics, 'discourse' is a Foucauldian term and existentialism has a long postmodern and post-structuralist philosophical tradition. The reason I LOVE Link Click is because of their postmodern lens and the narratives of the characters, not only the protagonists fundamentally question what is the real purpose of life? Why do human bondings matter? The answers reside in the simplest vignette of everyday life. Grief, trauma, hope, memory, reconciliation, remembrance, love, family - these are the central themes of Link Click. Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's separate existence and their interpersonal dialogue thematically and structurally complements the main ethos of Link Click.

When asked about the nature of Shiguang relationship Director Li Haoling answered : 是生死之交咯! (Shì shēngsǐ zhī jiāo gē! - It's a life and death relationship!)

source :

Fate, mortality, death, remembrance are the building blocks of their relationship as we perceive it.

Now let me talk about something. When I first watched Link Click on September 17th, 2024, the first Intertexual connection I drew was with another text called Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. Funnily enough, early in this year I wrote a crossover Hamlet adaptation (and won the second prize in a competition hehe) interweaving a few elements from Godot. Time loop, fragmentation of time and space, panopticon with no exit - all these elements featured in that. I recommend Waiting for Godot to you all, you'll understand why it resonates so much with Link Click.

Now,

Lu Guang is a person who is shown to be a character who has some mysterious powers to manipulate time and space. Even from the very beginning, he has this dominant (and sometimes seemingly monologic that feels problematic to new viewers) voice with which he guides Cheng Xiaoshi through the dives. He is apparently headstrong and has acquired all kinds of praises ™ like hypocrite, selfish (lol) and what not. Again quoting Li Haoling "Lu Guang is a complex and delicate character." But after the release of 'The Eye' and 'The Lull', I think we are pretty sure that Lu Guang has been trapped in a rewind, like a Sisyphus figure. A friend of mine told me the other day, "Superficially, Lu Guang is presented as an archetypal strategist, the one who guides, the one who keeps things in control, but in reality, he has no agency whatsoever." Lu Guang lacks the fundamental agency in life (we all do but we have to accept it one day or other) and that mortifying realisation comes to him with the death of Cheng Xiaoshi. What is unacceptable to him is the most obvious outcome of a mortal life : death. Lu Guang's tragic flaw stems from this unacceptability of Cheng Xiaoshi's death and him attempting to manipulate time, very Sisyphus of him. Till now, we are yet to see Lu Guang's character traits without any reference to Cheng Xiaoshi but this does not reduce his character depth. His denial is actually very delicious ( I almost wrote a paper on this, taking the popular sci-fi trope of time travel as an allegorical and symbolic means of resistance and subversion but anyway, it's not relevant here)

Lu Guang's character makes me fall in love with the song Flash by Gorilla Attack. It is from Lu Guang's character, no one can convince me otherwise.

Just a loop A bored 'n loop Should I do this now 'til the end? Into the story As just an extra You are the reason I live But you don't remember me? Oh, can I be with you?

And

The only thing that I got, just like a little lamp I gotta go in one-way smoke Resist the lifeless scenario Become the person The person I wished for that day The room like a coffin, too bright A groove that I lost faraway Blanket, I need a blanket Not a synthetic one Notice the regret engraved so hard

And the line that keeps coming back as a haunting refrain :

Flash me, flash me Gotta get the power to rewrite I just wanna deny, I just wanna rewrite, yeah

Every time I listen to this song, these lines send a chill down my spine. But Lu Guang's obsession with 'rewrite' echoes with what my professor said to be Hamlet's constant meta-theatrical discomfort with the script, role, play he has been provided with. He does not comply with the playwright's words. Apart from time and death, I think Lu Guang's most wretched enemy is Li Haoling himself. That's why he constantly wants to 'rewrite', but all he has got till now is 'rewind'. Now whether his 'urge to rewrite' will turn into a successful 'write back' is the central play of the plot we are looking up to. What is my personal opinion on the ending?

The ending which is so dryly plausible in our real world is Lu Guang accepting his defeat and carries within him the remembrance of Cheng Xiaoshi.

But my question is, my brother in Buddhism Li Haoling, why the fuck would I watch your Link Click to know that death is the node that can't be changed? Is it not the given fact? It's a cultural text, however modern or postmodern a text might be, it ultimately uses the plot to defamiliarise and convey well known concepts and emotions with a critical engagement. A plot is just a vehicle, a crucial one, to help us have a greater and more nuanced vision of life. Due to non-linear narrative and active subversion of chronotope, complex plot will have plot twists and cliffhangers BUT it still has to perform a crucial, non negotiable role - the arc. If the beginning point and the ending point have the same temperaments, what kind of significance will it even achieve?

If Lu Guang can't write back at the end of Link Click, the structure of the plot will be like this :

1. Exposition, rising action : Cheng Xiaoshi died at the very beginning, Lu Guang is fucked.

2. Climactic stage : shit and shit and complex quantum physics, hallelujah hot villains, 'I am a great writer I can kill any character TeeeHeeeeHeeee', backstories, parallel narratives, foil characters have no relevance and rendered completely meaningless,

3. Falling action and resolution : Cheng Xiaoshi is still dead to the very ending, Lu Guang is still fucked.

No catharsis, not a milimeter of displacement from the beginning point.

What is the fucking point?! From the perspective of a writer and a critical reader, I can say it will be a sheer waste of money, time and potential. I would rather watch... whatever.

The friend I mentioned before told me, " You know why Emma or Chen Bin die? They had to die. Emma had a loving family, she got the job she wanted, she had her hardships but she didn't begin with tragedy. And when tragedy came, she was so not ready to negotiate the problem and considered self-annihilation as her first choice. She actively erased the possibility of dialogue with herself. If Emma were an orphan, struggling with unemployment and other hardships from the very beginning, I don't think Emma would die that easily. Emma was denied the conflict of life which very ironically tests human agency itself."

And for Chen Bin...during my first watch, the moment I saw him my instincts told me he was going to die. He had a loving wife, a daughter, he loved her, she accepted the proposal and they married soon. Conflict where? To bring his story to a full circle, he had to die.

I can say every parallel story in Link Click can be judged from this lens. People who had a point of conflict (the noodle lesbians, the couple who lost their child, Xu Shanshan, that old man) engaged in dialogue with themselves, others and social forces ultimately got a happy ending. Even in the earthquake episode, it's a story of reconciliation with the past, the man got his mother's photos and it's plausible and satisfying (and bittersweet resolution). He got his (absent) father back.

Another thing, we as a fandom have a collective amnesia about....*drumrolls* Cheng Xiaoshi's character! Congratulations! The man, the freaking protagonist just dies at the beginning, accepts his death, and remains dead. Doomed yaoi allegations are just nonsense. Link Click is doomed if Shiguang doesn't get a happy ending. Link Click is NOT a dramatic monologue told from Lu Guang's perspective, engaging with his perpetual trance of melancholy and him holding onto Cheng Xiaoshi's memento mori.

If Lu Guang is attempting to write back to Li Haoling and the doomed yaoi allegations, Cheng is attempting to write back to Lu Guang himself, not in confirming his own death, but saving Lu Guang from the loop of eternity and by being together. Cheng Xiaoshi is always seen to be guided by Lu Guang, he has to witness repercussions of his actions. Even with all this knowledge I will say, Cheng Xiaoshi has way more agency than Lu Guang has. During my first watch, I could feel Lu Guang has this barrier of guilt and unsettled emotions wrapped around him which denies Cheng Xiaoshi access into the deepest core of his subjectivity. Even though he achingly wishes to be together with Cheng Xiaoshi, the burden of his past actions and PTSD holds him back from being together with him, as if his existence is antithetical to Cheng Xiaoshi's existence. Cheng Xiaoshi is that glitch in the matrix that messes up Lu Guang's plans of withdrawing himself from Cheng Xiaoshi. Cheng Xiaoshi should not listen to everything Lu Guang orders. In season 1, he mostly conforms to Lu Guang's ideals, but in season 2, when Lu Guang was hospitalised, Cheng Xiaoshi became more active and you could tell a layer of barrier melted away. He was less of a stone statue, showed more emotions (the S2ep1 lmao when he said "would you prefer if I die?" abhimaan we call it), then the unique high five that feels like Lu Guang accepting Cheng Xiaoshi's proposal or something :

(LMAO ignore my comments, but what I said is true)

My point is, Cheng Xiaoshi is Lu Guang's existential other and vice versa. They cannot live without each other. They cannot exist without each other. If one dies, the other will die and I want them living happily ever after in heaven. Cause 'Break' clearly depicts them as soulmates. I personally take Break as the ultimate canonical ending

Do you see? each of them has one wing missing, meaning that it's their cumulative effort that will make them fly successfully. FYI, there is another Haoling directed, Haoliners Animation League animated canonical queer donghua called 'Beryl and Sapphire'. A separate episode, episode 13 just explores this 'one wing soulmate trope'.

Now take them as friends, platonic friends with no erotic feelings, pure familial feelings or whatever, they are like Yin and Yang, like Shiv and Shakti, and Yin changes to Yang and Yang changes to Yin actively as they interact. You will have a hard time pointing out who is who. I have watched TGCF and Beryl and Sapphire and a tiny bit of Spiritpact - all three directed by Li Haoling and I am well aware of his narrative strategy to represent soulmates and Link Click seems to be the one of the greatest (and my favourite) product of that genius mind.

I began with team Lu Guang cause he is a scorpio, I understand him, his birthday almost coincides with mine, we share some identical issues. But the fandom's often yeeting Cheng Xiaoshi out of the narrative phenomenon brought back my due attention to him. Is Cheng Xiaoshi so willing to be doomed? Does he not yearn to be with Lu Guang? Let me whisper to your ear...he yearns for him too.

so he

does understand that the person who dies...dies, death affects them the least who dies, it's the people, the family and loved ones who actually suffer. This man will leave his Lu Guang on his own volition? eh.

Also I wanna talk about Link Click's strategy of deliberate misdirection. The first and second seasons are so deliberately crafted (manipulation of narrative you can say) to actively erase Lu Guang's subjectivity and nuance. We are just denied access his perspective. He is mysterious but not that aligns itself with a viewer's emotions. In fact, during my recent re-watch, I felt "wtf Lu Guang, why are you interacting with Cheng Xiaoshi like a straight dudebro?" He is a menace, the kind I usually don't like. But there also seemed to be a critical undercurrent which I couldn't really grasp, but it was surely there. It was adding up to my increasing discomfort and made me question - "was it just my wishful projection? they do not share that bond at all." I was so pissed at that thought that I almost decided I am not gonna abandon Link Click. BUT BRO, BRO

'The Eye' and 'Lull' just blew my mind. I was not that affected by Cheng Xiaoshi's corpse advertisement agenda (that corpse is drawing people's attention who is suddenly aware of Yingdu release, great tactic, Haoling) what pleasantly brought me out of despair is Lu Guang's love for Cheng Xiaoshi was acknowledged in these songs. You will read between the lines on your own in season 1 and season 2 if you have that critical method to engage with a cultural text, but the silencing narrative was also very prominent. I very much felt that the Shiguang story is actually the central action, and not the creative sci-fi archtexual exercise of genres, which again, is just the vehicle. But The Eye and Lull focus upon them, them and them. Their emotions are acknowledged, they are no longer behind the veils of symbolism, parallel narratives, intense defamiliarisation; their emotional dialogue now not only demands a voice of their own but also has the potential to reclaim the central part of the stage as they struggle and negotiate power and agency. And I am here for it.

@guangshi-091305 I present to you my rubbish.

#meta #tumblr meta #link click #shiguang daili ren #shiguang #lu guang #cheng xiaoshi #donghua #时光代理人 #guangshi #queer

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animegoil-vnc · 1 year ago

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I had forgotten about all the interesting bits they introduced Qian Jin with - this suave and fit character who seemed to be completely in control in front of others but was hiding real crazy levels of batshit.

Yeah, fully agree, Qian Jin should have been handled very differently, and that could have made him an incredibly compelling characters, made the emotional thread tying the season together much stronger, created symbolic parallels between our main characters, and even heightened the twin's story further.

The first problem, as you said, is that they hyped up Red-Eyes as the villain, so when QJ comes in... you know he's sketchy, but it's not clear how - is he a pawn of Red-Eyes? Are they both working for the same person so they're just co-workers? Is he just a really cool side character the way the lady cop was? So not only is my attention split by these questions, but when eventually it becomes clear that he's the "real" villain, it feels like less of a significant reveal and more of a frustrating shift in attention - suddenly I'm expected to be invested in him even though the ones I want to be invested in are the twins. This could have been partly solved if they'd had the scene of QJ kneeling in front of LTC early on in the series - establishing them as "equal" partners with a fucked up relationship in the beginning would have helped me understand to what extent I'm supposed to care about QJ, and it would have made the betrayal more impactful. He could have even still been pretending to be his sister.

The second problem was just... his backstory in general. They spent way too much time on it, and it was unnecessarily convoluted. We could tell he was crazy without adding the delusions of him thinking his wife was cheating on him. A better backstory for him would have been:

His pregnant wife is killed and the supposed killer walks away without penalty. Unoriginal, but it's certainly enough motivation, and if his goal had been to bring back his wife, it would have been an incredible parallel to LG trying to bring back CXS (if that theory holds) especially since we're rooting for LG but supposed to prevent QJ from it. It would have been a great opportunity for the audience and characters (Lu Guang) to reflect on their hypocrisy.

QJ answers the Liu family's domestic abuse incident and realizes that the son is controlling the mother. This becomes immediately an *opportunity* - if he can control these kids, he can maybe avenge his wife's death. At this point he gets the kids away from the incident, but somehow allows the mother to die or covertly kills her (she was already hurt enough it wouldn't have been difficult to do). The twins are now orphans. I really don't think this would change anything about LTC - he could still grow up as twisted as he is now without needing to have killed his own mom. In fact, finding out that QJ had a hand in his mom dying could have been an even greater motivation for betraying QJ.

He adopts the twins. At this point, instead of a flashback about his wife "cheating", showing more of their twisted relationship would have been so much better for the emotional payoff later in the season. It could have also tied in to the fact that his future child had also been killed, so he was using the twins to fill in that hole, but he did it by manipulating them. At the moment, we have zero clue what LTX's relationship with Qian Jin even is. The tension of his twisted love could have been really, really good setup for the betrayal later.

I genuinely think this could have all made more thematic sense and emphasized the brokenness of LTC's family situation by giving him a twisted father figure - as it stands now, it's not really clear what role QJ played in the twins' lives other than as a handler so their relationship has no depth. The delusion aspect would have still been there - QJ could see these as his children that he loves, and he's going to bring back his wife to complete their family, not realizing the hypocrisy because he's the one who destroyed the twins' chance at a better life with their mother.

The Lost Genius Of Qian Jin’s Character

So I had a lot of time to think yesterday (8hr of workless work, flight) and I spent about half of it just thinking about this season of Link Click. One thing I fixated a lot on was that I love the idea that Qian Jin warps his own reality in order to justify his actions… but why in that case did ep 9 include Cheng Xiaoshi? As “act breaks”? It was kinda a jarring choice that took you out of Qian Jin's perspective (not POV, i think that there's a slight distinction that should be made). This made me think more about Qian Jin’s character as a whole, and damn, I really think we missed something there.

This focuses more on Qian Jin as a character in more of a meta sense and how he did or didn’t (spoiler: he didn’t) meet the expectations that many of us had for S2. I use the term “viewers” as a reflection of the general consensus on the season on Tumblr and Twitter, where I find most of my Link Click info, but of course we all have very different opinions on the show and I respect that! Would love to hear any other thoughts on Qian Jin and this season.

FUCK he could’ve been so good. The conducting music for no one, the odd hours at the gym (his intro), the twisted relationship with the twins that he mistakes for parenting, the facade of the suave and cunning mastermind that he dons even though someone ALWAYS does his dirty work for him?? Not to mention the warping of reality and victim blaming that he employs in his mind like an obsession to be justified in his actions. Couple that with his backstory… that's honestly a genius concept, especially because so much of S1 had to do with the truth behind and within photos and how much you can get away with manipulating it.

Something went wrong in its execution, though. Frankly, it was obvious from the start that the writers would have to work very hard to get viewers to care about Qian Jin because they had introduced a completely different and therefore more compelling villain that we had spent the PAST 2 YEARS theorycrafting for. Introducing the potential “Red Eyes/Hong” (crying… those were the days) identity as twins was a pretty smart way to keep the audience on their toes and continuing to ask questions, but they did nothing with it until the halfway mark of the season was coming up. Maybe this could have to do with mistakes that come earlier into one’s career as a showrunner (thanks @daily-linkclick for the info, Director Li is an experienced director but he’s only run one other original show before), but introducing and fixating on a completely different villain was one of the biggest missteps of the season. In the end, many viewers only watched Qian Jin to get to the answers that they wanted about the mysterious person with abilities and the abilities themselves, which we still haven’t gotten answers for. In its place, we’ve gotten SO MUCH info on Qian Jin.

The execution of Qian Jin's character has been jumbled and confused. I don't believe that the intention of the writers was to manipulate the viewer’s opinions on Qian Jin, but it sure felt like they were trying to at times. Making a mystery around whether or not his wife cheated (which BTW, way to go writers, using yet another female character as a plot device… anyone else kinda feel that Qiao Ling’s characterization fell flat this season? Like I enjoyed it at first but the more eps that came out the more apparent it was that a concerning amount of her character only exists in the context of her relationship to CXS. So sad) was a strange angle to approach his backstory from. This angle focused on Qian Jin’s victim-blaming behaviors in a way that honestly made me uncomfortable. It wasn’t the fact that it was happening that made me feel this way, because a cruel reality is that it is pervasive in most (if not all) societies, but how it felt as though the writers were trying to garner sympathy from and for his behavior through the "did they/didn't they" of his wife and his acting partner.

What if they revealed the truth before airing s2ep9? If the potential cheating was treated more as an fact rather than a mystery, then maybe his characterization wouldn’t have felt as condescending toward the viewers. Qian Jin as a character who tries to maintain a perfect face for Quede Games and the parallels of how this also happens on a deeper level for himself internally could have recontextualized his actions in an compelling way that didn’t require a Female Plot Device for it to be centered around. His backstory should make him an interesting character. It is at the center of his character, but it did not really work at the center of the plot for S2 because the viewers did not care enough about him for the writers to get away with its sloppy execution.

The thing that sucks is that there are some flashes of brilliance in all of this. I adore that scene in the back of the theater, when Qian Jin kneels before Tianchen and asks what they should do next with a smirk on his face that implies that he doesn’t understand the implications of his position. It captures the relationship and power struggle between them so well without spelling it out for us. Also his wife’s posters that remain hanging further shows us how deep the damage from all of this runs. His one tense interaction with Xiao Li leaves the captain bitterly reminiscing about how he’s changed (which… maybe he hasn't. Maybe his values are just misdirected these days). And back to the beginning, the visit to Ms. Chen was so cruel but revealed so much to us about him, how he plays dirty and doesn't have any trouble killing off the occasional acquaintance, no matter how sympathetic their circumstances are. He clearly lacks the morals that we see as standard in society (don't kill/hurt ppl), but he draws the line at Ma’s nasty burp. There is just so much potential richness in his character that gets lost in a mystery that viewers never wanted. We could’ve had something great in Qian Jin’s character - of course, we would’ve hated him just the same - but instead, we got this, and it really is a shame.

#link click #what a wasted opportunity #bummer #i don't usually refuse to acknowledge canon #but by god i want to here

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starberry-cupcake · 4 years ago

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The Chinapuri finale and its montage aka censorship who?

I decided to do all of this in one post and read more, so that the 95% of my followers who are uninterested on this particular drama/source material can easily skip it. Here are 7 relationships showcased in the montage ranked and 2 bonus (a family relationship and an extra).

Note: I’ll speak about the relationships as they were portrayed, whichever the form of relationship chosen to display in this version. Also, I’m glad that everyone was aged up in this version, kinda wild but very much appreciated that some of these actors are my age or somewhere around there lol

#7 Lu Xia (Echizen Ryoma) and Qi Ying (Ryuuzaki Sakuno)

This drama was a bit more romantically-inclined in terms of these two than the anime/manga was, but some of that may be also influenced by them giving their version of Sakuno more room (which yay!) and having them be older.

For this to stand alone as a drama, it was a needed step, I believe. I found Lu Xia to be more vulnerable than Ryoma, he doesn’t feel quite as ~cool~ and it doesn’t take away from the character that he has moments showing internal struggle (in tennis as well as at home). These two were sweet and adorable, which gave the drama probably more of an expected appeal for a wider audience, to make it stand on its own as a drama and not only an anime adaptation.

#6 Yan ZhiMing (Inui Sadaharu) & Liu Lian (Yanagi Renji)

Kinda mad they didn’t do this for Fuji (Zhuo Zhi) and Saeki (Zuo Xiaohu) but they did good with these two. I didn’t know at first why they started to build up their relationship so early, but it ended up being a good emotional plot point during their match, which is, as we all know, a determining factor in Seigaku’s (Yu Qing) win against Rikkai (Hai Guang).

I don’t remember being as invested in their match in the anime as I was here, maybe I was just too focused on the Fuji match at that time, but what they did to build that game as a decisive point in the season finale was so well developed, I was impressed.

#5 He XingLong (Kawamura Takeshi) & Ya JiuXin (Akutsu Jin)

This is a relationship that can get complicated and even problematic if handled incorrectly. Akutsu’s journey through the anime is pretty long and takes a while for him to be on a healthier place, but the added element of aging the characters could have gone really wrong here if they had done him exactly as in the anime or manga. I think they did pretty well with the time they were given, showing his turmoil and learning curve.

XingLong was allowed to have a more in-depth journey being older and about to graduate, it made more sense for him here to think about his career at this stage and added the gravity of this being THE moment to decide whether to keep pursuing the sport or take over his dad’s restaurant (they even adapted the type of food they cook to match the cultural impact of the family-owned business, which was great).

I think the two complemented each other really well and worked interestingly together, in a way I didn’t think the drama was gonna give them time to do, so I’m really pleased.

#4 Qiao Chen (Momoshiro Takeshi) & Zhang BaiYang (Kaidoh Kaoru)

My younger self is thriving with this one being included tbh. These two were so much fun in the anime, two rivals and opposites that represented the future of the team upon their elders leaving.

I was surprised to see them so focused here, because it’s not a relationship most adaptations put emphasis on (their loss), but it paid off immensely by the time their game against Bunta and Jackal (Jin WenTai & Ke Jie) came around.

Kaidoh is a tough one to adapt most times, and they did him so well in this one, I think this is my favorite live action Kaidoh in any adaptation, and I’ve watched a whole bunch of tenimyu in my day. They really captured the ambiguity of his character, how he balances a tough exterior with a sensitive core. Qiao Chen maintained his feelings for Xu Xingzi (Tachibana Ann) but that didn’t stop them from showing these two every time they could.

#3 Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Ji Jingwu (Atobe Keigo)

Oh, these two. Hyotei (Xing Yao) wasn’t featured as much as one would probably expect (I’m a Fudomine fan and with Yu Feng I got more than I even was expecting, but I admit Hyotei is a riot and I always live my best life when they show up). Still, they did the Tezuka/Atobe match justice and then some.

Mu Siyang was incredibly compelling as Tezuka, and had a vulnerability to him that made me worry for his health more than I probably did for his anime counterpart. Maybe also the fact that he was older than his anime version yet looked younger than him made it sink more that his injury was something to worry about. I wish we had time to include anime!Tezuka’s issues with yips with Siyang, because I know the drama would have pulled it off, but that was further down the line in the story. Maybe for a season 2.

Anyway, the Atobe/Tezuka game is one of the best games in tenipuri history and the drama knew it. The game felt like it earned its gravity with the development of both Siyang’s injury and Ji Jingwu’s determination to play against him. Then they sprinkled the camp on top, as the anime does, with Ji Jingwu paying for his every expense and calling him to get updates, which is 100% canon compliant imo.

I feel like Ji Jingwu didn’t have enough room to be as much of Atobe as he could be, but then again, that’s not easy for anyone to pull off. Not even Kato Kazuki can do Junichi Suwabe as well as Junichi Suwabe.

#2 Bai ShiYan (Yukimura Seiichi) & Tian ZiLong (Sanada Genichirou)

So, it’s tough to feel for Rikkai (Hai Guang) at this point of the story. You learn about Yukimura’s health and it’s difficult, but you just met them and the first impressions haven’t been great.

However, the relationship between Sanada and Yukimura has always been something pivotal for the way the team is constructed (they were named that way for a reason, two parts of a same hero and all that) and they sustain the team in a way other teams don’t have to. They are the mom and dad of the team, the coaches, the leaders and the pillars. They have a balance of severity and permissiveness, of strictness and instinct. They are like a couple who has been married for 25 years.

How on Earth, I asked myself, will they achieve that with censorship on the way? I don’t know, but they did it, the mad bastards.

It really does come through 100% the importance of their relationship and the way in which the captain’s health affects the team and, more than anything, their vice captain. It reaches a crescendo during the final match, before ShiYan’s operation, and they manage to pull it off with the time they have.

Also, their scenes are like shot for a contemporary romance drama and I appreciate that vibe.

#1 Tang JiaLe (Kikumaru Eiji) & Chi DaYong (Oishi Shuichiro)

Oh boy. Look. I still own Golden Pair merchandise from my Days, ok? These two hold a special place in my heart. I saw actors who portrayed them grow up, succeed and pass away, sadly. I still sing Depend On Me sometimes. There is a cheerful vibe with these two, a sense of overcoming obstacles and finding balance, I don’t know. Fuji is my favorite character but these two are special in their way.

This freakin’ drama just went full on Golden Pair. The level of content was off the charts. The moment they came on the screen, the second they talked about their doubles, it was already setting the tone of how deep their relationship was going to go. I am a bit amazed that they avoided to get closed down for this ngl. And I appreciate the risk because it paid off.

They have a body language communication that is captured in every shot. Even when they’re not the focus of the scene, they’re close, touching or holding each other, arms around each other, hands on each other’s shoulders, grabbing each other’s clothes. When they fight, that language changes drastically, and the distance they take feels intense and cold. You go through it with them and the team shows it as well. There’s an entire episode I had screencaps of and never posted when the team falls apart because they do.

My favorite part, though, ironically, isn’t what they did with them together but what they did with them apart. They took time to develop them as individual characters with their own issues, their fears, their worries and weaknesses. They were allowed to be flawed and wrong and have to mend their ways.

What really got me and impacted me deeply was the fact that they chose DaYong to talk about mental health. They gave room to speaking about the physical implications of anxiety disorders and about how self esteem issues can give more magnitude to ongoing issues with your mental health. Again, the age of the characters being changed helped add a depth to some issues that get developed with more intensity in a drama of this kind, and the way in which it takes TIME to get resolved, it isn’t a one episode thing, it’s an underlying issue that spans the season...*chef’s kiss*

Even though there’s a specific tenimyu incarnation of these two that I hold dear and will always remember fondly, I think that Xu Ke and Zhu ZhiLing are the most successful and best portrayed live action Golden Pair I’ve ever seen.

Bonus that was in the montage but it’s specifically about a family relationship: The Zhuo Bros

I have said Fuji has always been my favorite and his relationship with Yuta as an older brother (albeit he’s not the eldest sibling like me) is one I always felt close to.

In the anime, the two have a rocky relationship that gets developed throughout, but the drama is very good at establishing not only Zhuo Yu’s (Fuji Yuta) self esteem issues, the subsequent use of that Guan Yue (Mizuki Hajime) does and Zhuo Zhi’s (Fuji Syusuke) attempts to breach the gap between the siblings, they also use it to develop Zhuo Zhi’s character and his reticence to show weakness.

It’s tough to get Fuji towards a place of vulnerability without breaking character, but they used family and the care he provides to his brother as a point to further his story, and I appreciate that a lot. They managed to build Zhuo Zhi up with this sibling bond as one of his core elements, and that gave a lot of dimension to his games and his character.

Bonus that wasn’t in the montage but I’m including in some capacity: Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Zhuo Zhi (Fuji Syusuke)

I thought these two deserved a place in the list, even if they weren’t grouped much in the montage, because the drama did make them share moments together that I feel gave more depth to their characters.

There was a very interesting moment in which they showed Mu Siyang and Zhuo Zhi establishing their differences when approaching tennis, and how serious Mu Siyang is about taking the team to victory. I think that strengthened the character as a captain to me, in a way that shows it rather than tells it, and allowed for his guidance to still be present when he wasn’t physically there. His determination ultimately influenced Zhuo Zhi to take things more seriously, and that was a pretty interesting development to see.

All in all, I should, at some point, go and do a serious review for MyDramaList but I wanted to leave in my blog how much I appreciated this adaptation. I wasn’t expecting much and I was delivered everything.

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anulithots · 7 months ago

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NOORIE. I JUST WATCHED EP 3-5 OF LINK CLICK AND I BAWLED MY EYES OUT. I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS MUCH EMOTIONAL DAMAGE WHYYYYY

off topic but like scattered thoughts:

i don't know if you know this but what they're chanting during the game (龙阳之好 — meaning longyang's interest) is basically a phrase that refers to gay relationships. this has to be intentional. right. right. right. anyways if you'd like you can learn more about lord longyang in this brief wikipedia page

cheng xiaoshi's basketball flashback thing with lu guang is peak queer cinema. casually called him his partner and made a profound metaphor on trust on the spot. no one is doing it like him. icon

the captain's (i think his name was hong bin??) accent changes drastically when he's around his family — i don't live in china so i can't pinpoint which region it's from, but just think of it as the chinese equivalent of a country accent. skfjd just thought that was a cute detail

embarrassing but for like the tiniest moment but with the dramatic sunlight and the gentle music i fr thought that implied that hong bin was chen xiao's first love... my stupidity knows no bounds

when cheng xiaoshi is 'in the body' of another person in the past, how much of his emotions are his, and how much of them are the other person's? ...this calls for a character psychoanalysis

okay thank you for listening to my rant. sfjdskfjkfjsj going to scream into my pillow now

KDFJKLDSJF KSDJF

EPSIDOE THREEE THROUGH FIVE ARE SO EMOTIONALLY DEVESTATING, IF NTO THE MOST EMOTIONALLY DEVESTATING EPSIDOES IN ALL OF CINEMA (I'm weak for parents singing lullabies and providing comfort that ends tragically. I never stood a chance.) /pos

OKAY RESPONDING TO YOUR THOUGHTS! (sorry if this seems disjointed I'm going through an 'execuative dysfuntino floaty-float cloud rn... yes feeligns I know how to describe those.)

OHMIGOSH THE GAY CHANT. YES IT HAS TO BE INTENTIONAL. THey just get more queer the more you watch. Their shop literally has their ship name.

The manhua exists.

If this isn't the most queer platonic/gay thing I've ever seen... I don't know what is.

OOOH and I have to tag @celestialsun123 and @mylee-sketches in this just for that point GAY BASKETBALL CHANT WOWOWOO

This ep was also just like... very queer. SO queer. the most queer coded thing I've ever watched in my life (they wanted to convince us we were safe, that this would be a fun little gay time travel show.)

Holy herbs. You know what? The censorship just made them more creative and this is more queer than if it were cannon (just shiguang in general actually... it gets even better as you go on)

ANd the shorts as wellll... also Qiao Ling literally asks Lu Guang 'so what do you like about Cheng XIaoshi?' Like she's honestly the biggest shiguang shipper of us all.

The accent thing IS such a cute detail yess. The way that entire town was written with so much life and little things, each character having depth and intrigue from the get go... only for... episode five.. . and ... *ugly sobbing*

(Especially Chen Xiao's mom. I've honestly rarely seen parents written as well as they are in link click.)

PFT YES YES I ALSO THOUGHT HONG BIN AND CHENG XIAO were supposed to be queer coded in that scene. It's very vibes.

OHMIGOSH THE CHENG XIAOHSHI POSESSION THING CONSUMES SO MUCH OF MY THOUGHTS IT"S SO INTERESTING AS BOTH A NARRATIVE DEVICE AND PART OF HIS CHARACTER. I have a post here:

Theorizing on how Cheng Xiaoshi's emotions work when he's possessing people

with some theories behind it, and lots of notes and anlysis that are... in the works (I'm on my second rewatch of season one but I'm silly and keep rewatching the same scene six times before I watch the next... rinse repeat I've been rewatching for a half a month now.)

LIke the layers and layers and layers in this show are insanneeeee.

Also boba tea:

and... screenshot collection (It's so hard to screenshot shows holy herbs. I wish the manhua adapatation of the first season - where it's all the same as the show - was available online)

(not goign to include any spoilers)

....and I reached my image limit.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH ME ABOUT LINK CLICK AKLDFSJKLDSJFKLDSJFDKLSFJDSLKFJDS.

#link click #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #shiguang daili ren #shiguang #qiao ling #sgdlr #noorie answers asks #answered asks

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dearestpartnerofgreatness · 5 years ago

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give me your top ten couples in the dramas you've watched and why they're so great

Okay this is gonna be super in depth + full of spoilers so details below the cut to spare y’all scrolling on your phones haha.

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

Chen Qing Qing x Situ Feng (Accidentally in Love, Cdrama) - I love both of these characters so much. Qing Qing is such a bad*ss, and Situ Feng is such a lovable dork. I love how well-matched they are in wit and humor. They are also the best example of enemies-to-friends-to-lovers I’ve seen on any drama so far. The way their bond developed was so natural. I also LOVE how obsessed they are with each other while also remaining independent. They are physically affectionate in a believable way that you don’t see often in dramas.

Nam See Hee x Yoon Ji Ho (Because This Is My First Life, Kdrama) - This couple is just so soft. They’re also so dang compatible--they genuinely enjoy each other’s company/habits and support each other without jealousy or drama. I appreciate how they subvert traditional drama stereotypes-- See Hee is blunt + honest without being mean, and Ji Ho prioritizes her work + friendships just as much as her relationship. Also, they have one of the most beautiful, sexy, realistic first kisses in any drama ever!!! THEY ACTUALLY MOVE THEIR LIPS AND EVERYTHING.

Woo Soo-Ji x Ma Sang-Goo (Because This Is My First Life, Kdrama) - What do we love more than a cool, confident, feminist heroine? A man who adores and supports a cool, confident, feminist heroine. Their scenes together range from sexy, to sweet, to tender, to comedic. Both actors bring so much depth and range to their individual characters, thereby creating what is one of the most interesting and shippable beta romances (imo).

Wang Qiang Wei x Wang Qiang Da (Lion Pride, Tdrama) - THESE TWO. The jokes, the eye contact, the mystery solving--everything about the way they interact is just so CUTE. The scene right after they’ve kissed and are hugging in the street (when Si De tries to prevent Tsiao Tie from seeing them) is just bursting with intimacy and affection. They strike the perfect balance between a youthful, innocent romance and a more domestic, mature romance.

Lian Si De x Tie Bu Fan (Lion Pride, Tdrama) - What I love most about these two is how similar they are. On the outside, they’re confident, stars of their workplaces, and popular in the dating world. But at their core, they are loyal, selfless, hard on themselves when they make mistakes, and the two best friends anyone could have. Watching them fall for each other amongst the crazy circumstances of the mystery plotline endeared them to me so much. Also, that scene with the umbrella is A+ ROMANCE. Still mad they never got to kiss.

Pi Yanuo x Du Zifeng (Bromance, Tdrama) - If you want a couple with red-hot passion, you don’t need to look further than these two. The sexual tension between them had me screaming “JUST KISS!” at my TV practically every episode. Beyond that, the level of trust + loyalty was beautiful--they really were equal partners in the relationship. Also, I LOVE that the show explicitly stated that Du Zifeng’s attraction for Yanuo went beyond her gender, and he would love her the same no matter how she identified. (Also, that final scene in the hotel hallway is, to this day, the hottest scene I’ve ever witnessed in a drama.)

Liao Guang Chao x Zi Han (Bromance, Tdrama) - At first, this couple felt more like a “pair the spares” situation for me. But the more time they spent together, the more I appreciated the humor of their moments. By the show’s end, I fell in love with how they bring out the best in one another + help each other grow. A-Chao challenges Zi Han to rethink her assumptions, manage her temper, and be less selfish. Zi Han emboldens A-Chao and inspires him to be more hard-working, brave, and determined. The actors are also comedic gold individually and as a pair, so that helps them slip into the top 10.

Lu Yang x Lin Jingxiao (A Love So Beautiful, Cdrama) - These two were the real otp of ALSB, lemma tell ya. First of all, Jingxiao’s super cool: feisty, intelligent, and ambitious, but also a little too aggressive sometimes. Lu Yang’s obvious adoration of her, as well as his charming, loyal, humorous, and slightly scaredy-cat personality, made them such a fun and lively pair. I also appreciated their “you exasperate me but also I would die for you” dynamic and how that continued after they became official--I can’t stand when a drama has a couple get together and then changes one of their personalities to hide the fact that they just wouldn’t work (*cough* *cough* like they did with the main couple for this show).

Oh Dong-baek x Hwang Yong-sik (When the Camellia Blooms, Kdrama) - I am 100% on board with this pair!!! I ADORE their honesty and communication. So many dramas are exasperating bc their leads constantly misunderstand each other or can’t explain what they want, but not these angels! They excel at compromising to suit the other’s needs/wants and find ways to show love through meaningful actions. The level of care and nurturing is so lovely. Also, the actors have amazing chemistry--they genuinely look so happy together! (Where can I get me a Yong-sik???)

Fei Fei x Wen Li (Well-Intended Love 2, Cdrama) - The only thing that got me through season 1 of this show, tbh. I will say that I liked the development of their relationship in season 2 a lot more. Unlike a lot of other couples, the awkward moments in their relationship came off as comedic rather than cringey. Their meet-cute at the bar and the scene where Wen Li cleans Fei Fei’s house while she sleeps showed how sweet and genuine their connection was. I’m glad they gave them that shift where Fei Fei realized she had to go after him and put her all in the relationship too--Wen Li was such an angel, so I'm glad he got to be the one who was romanced after spending so much time romancing her.

LET IT BE KNOWN that I wanted to include Ji Jia Wei x Xiao Tong from the Tdrama Murphy’s Law of Love on this list, because Jia Wei is my favorite male lead of all the dramas I’ve watched so far. Unfortunately, the consistent wishy-washy-ness of Xiao Tong prevents me from doing so. I still can’t get over how she constantly misinterpreted what was happening in their relationship and refused to communicate DESPITE LITERALLY BEING A DATING EXPERT.

Also honorable mention to Cha Soo-hyun x Park Hae-young (Signal, Kdrama) because although they aren’t a canon couple, they clearly have intense chemistry considering how much they invade each other’s space, and their intense emotional connection coupled with what a dream team they are as crime-solvers just gets me, y’know? If the season 2 rumors are true, I’ve got my fingers crossed for them to go canon!!

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