tinyevilgremlin

[tinyevilgremlin]

"Stuck in the timeloop as a punishment" is cool and all, but stuck in the timeloop voluntarily though? Oh, brother. Stuck in the timeloop cause you just can't move on. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know that it's not real and whatever should've happen already did. Stuck in the timeloop even if doesn't makes you happy. You just can't bear the thought of not being able to see them ever again. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know you should move on. Stuck in the timeloop even if you know they would want you to move on.

But maybe just a little while longer.

[tinyevilgremlin]

"Are you with me till the end of the line?"

©sowaarin

[tinyevilgremlin]

This is the most validating thing I have ever heard someone say 🥹🥹🥹

[tinyevilgremlin]

best boyfriend things

[tinyevilgremlin]

Are you people aware that whatever happens in this arc. Whatever it is Cheng Xiaoshi finds out. If he doesn’t make it. If he dies again…

then yes of course he won’t „remember“ any of it anymore. No info about his parents at all.

But you know who still know?

Qiao Ling and Lu Guang.

And while Qiao Ling might only know that CXS shouldn’t go to Bridon.

Lu Guang might know A LOT more. He might even know all about his parents now.

Which, if this turns out to be the case, makes CXS asking LG about his parents in episode 1 season 1 a whole lot worse.

[tinyevilgremlin]

When I saw this part, and how it glitched into a black and white scene (symbolizing a memory), I buried my face in my hands.

That's so, so devastating. Lu Guang was having a great time with Cheng Xiaoshi, they were cheery and well. But then Lu Guang looked at Cheng Xiaoshi's face.

His friendly, welcoming, familiar, warm smile, and couldn't help but think: "He's not here anymore". Because the Cheng Xiaoshi in front of him doesn't remember everything they've done together. What Lu Guang is seeing isn't the present. Cheng Xiaoshi is not alive, he's merely a memory that Lu Guang desperately wants, no, needs, to preserve

[tinyevilgremlin]

spoilers for link click bridon arc ep 1

ive seen some people criticizing the new link click episode for being confusing or sidetracking the main plot, and i think they are missing a lot of what The Point of this episode is.

so first i wanna talk about WHY i think this episode is structured the way it is and then i wanna talk about the new information we've received in terms of the lore and timeline shenanigans and generally ramble about how great of a set up episode this!

SO first: the structure of the episode. ive seen quite a few people confused or unhappy with the plot lines this episode, and i think first its important to understand that that was two episodes mushed into one.

1st episode - anime con

2nd- scammer girl

soooo lets talk about what these two episodes do for the overall narrative AND our understanding of the characters.

in episode 1, we see cxs die - and there is a LOT of mystery still surrounding this event but i think what we're supposed to gather is that there are two main timelines. timeline a (the original where we see cxs die) and timeline b (the timeline were following for the rest of the season and in s1 and s2). we've been shown no reason to believe lu guang has traveled back more than once. this is the first time that we see lu guang travel - evident by his emotional reaction to seeing cxs die. its not resignation, its shock. he didnt expect him to die at all. and his reaction to seeing cxs again in their first meeting in timeline b.

so what is the anime con sideplot doing there? firstly i think its evident by the way lu guang turns away near the end that he is planning to stay away from cxs. but he chooses not to BECAUSE of the way we get that classic feel good adventure with a problem and resolution- cxs LIKES being helpful and kind, it makes him happy. and seeing cxs happy makes lu guang happy and so he decides to abandon the idea of leaving. in a meta sense the episode returns us to a sense of normalcy not just to the audience but to lu guang too. secondly, this episode shows us how lu guang introduces his powers to cxs and qiao ling. he tells them its divination, and while he eventually tells cxs that thats not true, it does show us how qiao ling would know to get them jobs in s1 while not knowing about their powers.. she thinks lu guang is psychic lol! also in this timeline (timeline b) this is the shiguang meetcute!! this is how they became friends! this is re-contextualizing all of season 1! super cool and exciting!

so for episode 2- what the purpose here? mainly its too show us a rudimentary form of what shiguang's missions are like! think about it! this episode is the first ever time cxs goes on a mission with lu guang in his ear telling him what to do! this is SO IMPORTANT for contextualizing their relationship with each other! also cxs being accidentally put in danger and lu guang being able to save him this time? this is cathartic for lu guang as well, to trust he can keep cxs safe, this is why he asks to live w cxs at the end of the episode!

tldr: this episode's structure might feel kinda all over the place but thats kind of the point! lu guang as well as the audience are having to resettle in a new timeline, and the stories her serve as the avanues to understanding the characters and timeline better!

so what did we learn about the LOREEE?

1st: timeline a shiguang were messing with the past which is why vein comes to kill them - what they were messing with and why is still yet to be revealed, but it wasnt due to lu guang traveling to save cxs cuz cxs hadnt died yet

2nd: the 12 hour limit is there because if you stay for longer than 12 hours in the photograph you stay there forever - you become part of the photograph, which is why lu guang's eyes return to normal from the yellow. we do not yet know if this means that lu guang no longer has cxs's power or if he still has it.

3: there is likely only two timelines - timeline a where cxs dies and timeline b- the current one were in and the one that takes place in s1 and 2.

4: cxs probably gets his powers from someone in london dying in his arms

5: Powers are passed down through death, which means in s3 qiao ling will have li tianxi's powers!!!!

6: lu guang is absolutely weak to cxs puppy eyes! that man folded immediately

thats all ive gotten from just this episode! in conclusion, this episode does a great job of confirming SO MANY theories, giving us an insight into the characters (especially lu guang) and setting up the adventure going forward that leads them to london! really excited to see how the next episodes play out!!!

[tinyevilgremlin]

One fear: Link Click gets a happy ending, but everybody forgets their memories

[tinyevilgremlin]

Out of the entire "The Eye" song, the lyrics that hit me the hardest is "I still remember the day you danced under heavy rain". Jesus fuck, LET ME LIVE. That one chokes me up every time. My friend mentioned that Cheng Xiaoshi hates the rain, so he wasn't dancing alone (implying Lu Guang danced with him) AND I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT ALL DAY SINCE.

[tinyevilgremlin]

LG HEADPATS

[tinyevilgremlin]

I can go with you if you insist. I said, I will never give up. - Shiguang Daili Ren: Yingdu Pian - Episode 2

[tinyevilgremlin]

[tinyevilgremlin]

[tinyevilgremlin]

some things just never change, lu guang forever weak for cheng xiaoshi

[tinyevilgremlin]

WHEN YOU PUT IT LIKE THAT

Now I think about how the tsundere Lu Guang thingy actually comes from him trying to "follow a script" when the real Lu Guang wants to spoil CXS as much as possible but can't 😭😭😭

[tinyevilgremlin]

// Link Click yingdu arc ep1 spoilers

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I don’t usually do this, but I want to rant about one of my favorite shiguang moments. Don’t mind me, haha

“I have to go.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Cxs here talks about opening a side business with the three of them, which seems to make lg realize something, one that is painful but possible: maybe he realized the only way to save cxs is to not get involved with his life anymore (hence the heartbeat?). After all, it’s because of lg that made cxs consider opening such a business. And his “I have to go” sounds so quiet and sad, it was almost like he was saying his final words.

lg’s shaky breath right when he turns made me think he was going to make a run for it, albeit forcefully. But of course cxs stops him and grabs him by the hand. (By the hand!!) Which is crazy to me btw, wasn’t he already at the studio’s entrance at this point? Yet he returns instantly before lg could even take another step.

“I can’t just leave you alone.”

I believe that, even if the two meeting each other wasn’t fate, they were always meant to be in each other’s lives, even if that time is short. Because cxs meets a stranger one day that fills the loneliness in him and decides to never let him go, and how could lg refuse him? And so he stays, and thus the cycle continues. But at least neither of them are lonely.

[tinyevilgremlin]

I know talking about Lu Guang's gay pining is indeed very entertaining. But can we talk about how happy CXS is to finally get a friend, namely "trusted partner"??

Bro got abandonment issues, struggled making friends all his childhood and teenage life. And now he got a person who "randomly" appeared in their life.

The way CXS wakes up and sees a message from LG and his face lights up....as a person who struggles to make friends this shit hits home. He is so happy and content to finally look forward to something... someone...it's so cute.