Now that the final episode is out, I just want to appreciate how the big “cliffhanger” at the end left me and my friends analyzing the entire show under a magnifying glass. It’s been really fun to try and piece together how and when the big reveal happened and it’s made me really appreciate the second season for what it is
before season 2 aired, i attended a link click panel at my local convention back in may. ive got to say that panel was probably the most fun i have ever had at a convention. hearing everyone share their theories, personal interpretations of the story, fav episodes… but the best part was everyone excitedly trying to figure out what would happen in the next season. since link click isn’t all that popular, it felt like everyone finally had the chance to talk abt this beloved series for the first time with other people. I have always believed that the best media is interactive. when the audience gets to be a part of the story by interpreting it and theorizing about it themselves.
What I love about Link Click is how they don’t soften things. They don’t say “we’ll find a way to save these people even tho we can’t.” They tell you the rules straight up and stick to it. Don’t change anything. Even if that means watching your own mother die. Even if it means you won’t be able to change whatever horrible tragedy happened. Link Click at its core, is about acceptance and how to cope with loss and regret. How to finally let go. And I think that’s a beautiful thing they focused on for a time travel based show.
i think this makes the plot twist so much more heartbreaking. idk if alot of people have realized but nearly all of the songs seem to be about the uh, twist and about Lu Guang. i only wonder where they'll take this in season 3. it's such a brilliant show.
Li Tianxi has to be one of the most tragic characters I've ever seen. To see something so brutally horrific that you just stop developing beyond childhood then get used as a tool to be discarded. I wanna watch it again, but man that sht was heavy.
Can confirm that simply having the time travel mechanic in a show makes me 10x more likely to watch it. If that makes me simple, so be it. Link click may be my 2nd favorite overall, and this season was a 10/10 for me.
OH GOD， I was literally searching about it today lol I'M SO DAMN EXCITED This series has make me so much happier I CAN'T WAIT for when season 3 comes out
Now I'm just wanted to say as a lot of people I've seen kinda miss the mark with Link Click analysis. People often said the show change it's trajectory for some reason. How it turn from time traveling drama into time traveling mystery. The thing is the show has always been a time traveling mystery show. The way the story was laid out are the same way that mystery story are supposed to be written. The way the show laid out everything and connect it in the end is just a textbook mystery show. Perfect examples is in episode 3-5. The way the show keep the viewer wondering why Lu Guang allowed this rule breaking stuff to happened? And then in the end we learn yeah turn out there is something bigger that we didn't catch. There's also another thing about Link Click that I also find it weird not manny people talk about. It almost like people keep missing the big picture like literally. And that is the meaning behind the photo. Why is the photo are used as the time traveling method. You know the old saying picture tell 1000 word. And the show kinda give the idea that this picture are basically a memory of past frozen in time. The first episode is a great example of how this concept work for me. You see how Emma took a picture of spring roll that she bought in a take out. For most people picture of take out spring roll might not mean much if any at all. But after we learn about Emma now that picture have even way more meaning. It symbolize the little bit of happiness that she had with her current life and also a memory of a much more simpler and happy time in her life. Sorry if I'm a bit rambling on this one. As you can see I love this show so much and Li Haolin is probably my favorite animation director right now. And I'm looking forward to all of his work not Just Link Click. To Be Hero X is such an underrated gem that make me wonder why nobody talk about it. Especially since it has Spiderverse level of animation. Anyway great analysis on the show.
I say this from overall enjoying the second season, and I mean my it literally brought my sister and I closer together because we were would talk about the episode and theorise about what will happen for hours, which was super fun, but in my mind it was very different from the first season. It really subscribes you to idea of action and mystery, which I feel was secondary to showcasing the lives of regular people in the first season. And since we saw less stories from clients, we were also able to gain insight into cxs to a lesser degree. He seemed to perceive the twins as the enemy throughout. I guess me not being an action flick type person combined with the fighting reducing the overall realism (yknow what I mean?) it made the two very different to me. I was still able to appreciate the technical marvel of the animation tho. Within the action mystery genre tho, the story is really solid. Very excited to see how this director’s career continues to flourish!
@@mattmaggoux9859 of course season 1 and season 2 are different. Season 1 is more episodic since it has a much more self contained story in each episode. The second season goes into the more overarching plot regarding this murder mystery that happened. However if there's one thing that both seasons had in common is the mystery element. As both seasons are written like how mystery stories are supposed to be written. And honestly if someone complains about Link Click is that they prefer the more episodic stories then I personally have no issues. People could have preference and there's nothing wrong with that. But I see a lot of the complaints that they think the story changes the trajectory from this emotional time traveling drama into this time traveling mystery stories. Which is not the case. To get even more pedantic the show Chinese title is "Shiguang Dai Li Ren" literally translated to Time Agent. The show is meant to be a time traveling mystery show from the start.
One thing I really like about this show that I don't see a lot of people talk about is that Cheng Xiaoshi finds these fascinating loopholes. I think my favourite example of this is saving Dodo in season 1. If a time travel story fucking encorporates Schrodingers Cat into how it plays out it's narrative I am on my fucking knees bro. I love this idea that Cheng didn't change the past with Dodo because that past had yet to be observed. It's fucking brilliant. God I love this show
link click once again left us with a cliffhanger, not that its a bad thing honestly because thats what makes waiting for the next season more anticipating . This show was honestly way better than i thought it would be and now its in my top ones.I think everyone should check it out cause according to me its very very underrated
I'm immensely hyped for season 3, in no small part because it what we saw at the end was right, cheng xiaoshi is going to be furious if he finds out. I think he's probably the kind of person who would risk everything for the sake of others, and he only didnt because he believed itd lead to even more people being killed.
@@PhenomSage I hope we get to learn more about him and see him be a more active player in the story :) So far it's mainly been from Cheng Xaoishi's view.
I found out about this show from Spotify, I was listening to songs and overthink got recommended to me so I searched it up on RUclips and found out about link click now I'm in love with it.
I came through the same way, I've listened to "Overthink" for more than 1 year and finally ended up watching, can't wait for s3, maybe because I'm craving trauma dahahaha
This analysis I have to say is the most consistent with my own estimation of this anime. I get why people would like S1 over S2 but I just don't see how a repeat of S1 was going to out do what they have already done. The shift had to happen in order to finish the arc. The way the story is revealed in bits and parts IMO is very similar to the movie Memento. You getting a little bit and think one thing but then it changes. The one cool thing is Officer Bin in that from the very beginning he was pushed off. He didn't go off face first he went back first as if pushed. For most of S2 you assumed he walked or jumped off similar to Emma but no and we got to see why at the end. Just a small detail I didn't notice till the end. Perhaps people do not feel things as deeply for Qian Jin, Tianchen, and Tianxi since the appear to be the villains of the series even though their stories are just plain tragic. One thing though I think people might be missing from all this is Emma. I am not fully convinced that she was possessed by the twins. I don't think she was in any of the visions sent from Tianxi to Qiao Ling and knowing how tragic Emma's story is I don't think Tianxi would have allowed gone through with that. I'll have to rewatch.
I think Tianxi allowed it because… of her brother’s powers. Why she didn’t allow the same wit Officer Bin is that he was supposed to become a father (and maybe had some unrevealed powers). And to not, Emma took corrupt moneys. Maybe Tianshen played on it.
Honestly, calling Lu Guang the impersonal side is so ironic considering the season 2 ending. (Spoilers btw) He's a character who is painted as rational since the very beginning, but no matter how rational he is, he also would do pretty much anything for the person he cares for the most, and I think that's what makes him so much more human
His care for Xiaoshi was felt since the beginning, he just doesn't like to show it overtly. He's very secretive around Xiaoshi because he knows very well what can upset him. Also he gradually relents to Xiaoshi's requests, like when he wanted to enter Tianchen's photo. Pretty sure Lu Guang's face softened that time. I wish we get to know more about him like where are his parents? Where did he come from? How did he get his powers (question applies to Xiaoshi too)? Honestly I love this duo so much. Idc about the shipping but I love the dynamic and the fact that they can destroy the world together. It's just that they choose not too (that is until S2 finale). 😂
@@f4llenleavescompletely agree with you. They could just travel back in Hitler and Stalin and rule the world together. Or to change the whole modern story to be better or worse. They just know about butterfly effect. But if this is the question of lives of who they care about, they can destroy the Entire Universe just to save they’re loved ones.
I think this is what makes the twist at the end of S2 work so well, I saw somebody else say this a few days ago but it's interesting how S2 has multiple throughlines of Cheng Xiaoshi going out of his way to honor his promise to Lu Guang about sticking to the rigidity of the past, no matter what, and then by the end of S2 it's Lu Guang who breaks this promise because of their relationship, I really like this development for his character.
I will do u one better if u remember in season 2 when they try to open lu guang's phone his password for the phone was 091305 then they said "oh does it mean anything to him?" If u look at the every last bit of the last ep his digital clock before he click's back to the past display's Date 09 13 and 00:05 o'clock so thats the date where shit hits the fan and he had to go back in time
Having not watched the show but very aware of its presence and the general fanfare around it, I didn't realize it also had a mystery/detective slant, I had only picked up on it being supernatural. The way you described the human moments and the focus of emotionality within an otherwise fantastical premise reminded me instantly of things like To The Moon (and it sequels) which has a similar idea of going to a past, ultimately being unable to really change what had happened but being able to emphasize with the past and "solve" the past in a way through empathy and understanding. Definitely putting this on the plan to watch
I think what’s cool about link click is that it utilises time travel as a main plot point, other series I’ve read or watched use it as a solution to the plot with little buildup which comes off as unnerving. But here it’s the main focus. And I agree it’s so cool that what they focus on is the little things (although the plot is looming over them). The characters are fun and I also same the amount of times I’ve yelled and texted my friends because of yet another cliffhanger is a lot XD. Now that I’ve finished watching it once I’m confident I can make it through without pausing every 3 minutes lmao. And also the ending of the second season hooked me and convinced me to rewatch everything. Also the songs are amazing, although I feel like I’ll hear the starting sequence of the ending songs in my nightmares because stress + cliffhangers
also the soundtrack is a banger through and through. I really like the anime, even if in the beginning listening to chinese was a bit difficult but it is so worth it. I hope I can convince other friends to watch it too.
For me Link Click is a masterpiece, because it makes me feel things. Happiness, Anger, Excitement and Sadness. That’s what gets me hooked on a show. The concept could be the silliest or most overdone concept ever, if it gets me on an emotional roller coaster it’s great. Even if there’s plot inconsistencies or something (I’m not saying that is the case here!)
Finally got around to watching this. Fuckin fantastic video essay. Link Click is an incredibly special series that more than deserves the attention it gets
I already loved Link Click after season 1. The cliffhangers are no joke. The show could literally be called Cliffhangers, and it'd live up to its name perfectly. But after season 2... I had no doubt in my mind and in my heart that this series is top 3 period. I'm a longtime fan of series like Pokemon, but this newcomer Link Click is so good that I am proud to say it sits high up there with the big guys like Pokemon. I always try to get the most random people to try this show, it's like my secret life mission to have everyone in the world appreciate this masterpiece.
The most powerful thing i saw in this show is that there is a story differs by who tells it. It allows you to see one action in sooo many angles. Soooo many that the characters become real life human with complex thinking and aren't just one is the bad guy and the other is good. It's really good seriously
"estranged 'friends' "... this is some lesbian erasure par excellence if interpreted literally. these two girls were almost as gay for each other as the two mains are! you are entirely correct, i think, in focusing in on the emotional/empathetic ingredients that make timetravel stories so compelling to audiences: they tap into the emotional immensity of our memories and REGRETS
Lol that wasn't my intention, they almost have a noodle kiss so the intent is there. I think that was just the best way I could come up with frame it in the video since they do eventually grow apart from each other and we're never really shown an actual relationship.
@@PhenomSage rereading my post it sounds more accusatory than i meant it to be. i didn't mean to suggest you were seriously doing this. :) and it is definitely true that the show doesn't explicitly portray ANY of it s main characters in a relationship. one can argue about the extent to which this is self-censorship vs 'fans reading their own ideas into the plot' (though especially with donghua and the role played by very conservative cultural policies and assumptions of chinese media/political authorities there is no question that you have to be careful not to openly portray things that the authorities consider 'at odds' with some nonsense notion of a 'harmonious society' which apparently doesn't include GLBTQ people). i think most of us who have found watching this show so great are generally on the same page here: part of how enjoyable the show is, depends on how invested we get in the depth and trajectory of its characters' relationships (whatever their nature and whether they involve kissing up on each other)
Beautiful video, you managed to put everything I love about this show into words way simpler than whenever I've tried to describe it. It's my favorite show of all time for its emotional aspects, it's character relationships, and everything you mentioned. Thank you for making this :)
I think the personal grounded down to earth human stories and problems and emotions that Link Click began it's focus on actually makes the entire rest of the show so much more impactful. Putting Li (and by extension the viewer) into the lives of random people every episode reinvigorates our empathetic muscles so that we begin to view every character we see in the show as a person rather than a placeholder. As a result, every danger is so much scarier, every conflict that much more conflicting, and every death is so much more defeating because these are all people with lives and thoughts and motivations and cares. Link Click trains you to trule understand the stakes of human lives.
I liked S2 less than S1 but still interested for S3 as it seems like that will answer a lot of questions I have on the series (and especially about the powers).
Season one had many different stories, different missions with lots of body swaps , this one was only about the bond between the brother and sister and Lu Guang and Chen Xioshi
If my guess is correct we will get back to more what S1 was in S3. I think we will get more mystery elements as S3 continues to unfold but it won't be like it was in S3. Perhaps S4 (if there is one) might come back to like S2 to resolve the arc. Not sure.
amazing video!! you described my favourite characters so well and the whole masterpiece this show offers. i really hope more and more ppl see this video and watch link click bc they’re really missing out on something amazing!
Such a good video, I hugely appreciate this show for very similar reasons. Time Travel tends to be so large in scale that it loses that personal side to it. This is one of the most gut-wrenching concepts ever and they handle it so beautifully with the character Cheng Xiaoshi ❤
Anyone who hasn't watched this show is MISSING OUt!! i wish more reaction channels would watch this tbh, iv'e tried getting Yaboyroshi to watch it but im the only one requesting it lol
Link click is my first donghua I ever watch it amazing I even marathon from s1 to s2 Also opening song and ending are banger too❤ Cant wait for season 3
Man... waiting two years again to end this misery I'm feeling after that cliffhanger aarhgghghghhg link click really is the only show that knows how to do solid cliffhangers without them turning expected.
I loveddddd this anime. I am glad I could binge watch it. And I appreciate how fast they release seaons. I like this side of chinese studios. Greatest animes sometimes dont even get s2
im not sure cxs gets all of the memories of the ppl he possesses... coz then he'd see all that's in lu guang's head too which he most definitely didn't in light of ep12 of ss2
@@pigboykool mm yes im aware his memory-gaining is based more on triggers. if the person he's inhabiting would've had a flashback at that particular time about a memory of the past, only then would cxs get it as well
i'd like to share firstly how good the op and ending songs of both seasons are. (s1 ending-- Overthink-- was my favourite of the two ending songs because everytime i'd hear it slowly creep into my ears and then a huge cliffhanger dropped along with the beat, i'd get so hyped) i largely loved the s2 intro more because of the animation even though the animation is top tier in all of them. i think this and kakegurui are the only anime/dongua that I've never skipped the intro no matter how much the suspense is killing me. ah! there's also the chibi mini series with the comedic/wholesome intro too. (if you want to forget the serious/tragic parts of the main story, i suggest you watch the chibi miniseries) Also, (SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2) does someone else want to know at the very least what photo Lu Guang ends up going back into like I do?! is it one from season 1 or season 2? or even one from a time they (him and Xiaoshi) were in high school? (which i doubt) they don't tend to take photos of themselves as stated in season 2 so I'm really curious to know what other pic he could have used. Imo, i used to think it's that pic Lu Guang took of his hospital window, because there's no reason for him to randomly take a picture like that unless he knew that he'd use that specific picture to go back in time. maybe he took it so that Xiaoshi could go back in time and find him on the boat or maybe both. problem is, that theory is basically debunked considering he took that picture on his phone but the pic he goes back into is most likely from a polaroid, not digital... now i need to rewatch the whole show just to find all the polaroids they have :') agh! i really can't wait for season 3. it's probably going to be a Lu Guang-focused season rather than a Xiaoshi one. i feel like in season 1, they were both equally the protagonists because they were both using their powers equally and then season 2 focused mainly on Xiaoshi and his power. Lu Guang didn't use his vision much in season 2 so I'm expecting in season 3, he'll use it more but on his own as well. maybe. I'd very much like a Lu Guang focused season either way. Like, he can look into photos 12 hours before and after the photo was taken. does this mean that if someone took a photo now, he can look 12 hours into the actual future? so many questions! i guess they answered (partially) how they might have gotten their powers (I'm not sure if Qiao Ling actually has powers now after inheriting Li Tianxi's memories or maybe it was just a one time thing though) anyway! I'll stop talking now. this comment is too long!
Duuuuude, first video of you I watched was 4 years ago about western animation turning away from 2D drawing to CGI or 3D and I felt an igniting connection to you when you expressed your astonishment to The Legend of Korra show which in turn I f*ing worship and adore ❤❤❤😂 it is hard these weird times to find a Legend of Korra real enthusiastic fan 😅
@@PhenomSage Earth .. toof tof tof Fire ... fyoo fyo Aiiiir ... hooo hoof Wadder... flook fooshh Only the Phantom Sage can create the best Legend of Korra appreciation video And Bring Balance to the World ... too tooo tooooo fooosh... ( Radio man recapping...)
S2 didnt really have the emotional impact S1 gave me. Maybe because it only ever focused on the past of a few people (Li Tianxi and Li Tianchen, and Qian Jin), and even their stories were connected in a way. Also S2 was heavy on the fight scenes, while its very impressive animatiom wise, I was more interested on the story rather than the fights. Im not saying S2 is bad, its still really good. But comparing the two, I think S1 is better. I just hope S3 will be much much better than the two.
It was definitely a lot less sentimentality focused like S1 was but I still thought the emotional aspects hit where they counted. I do agree that I enjoyed S1 more than S2 though
So i have one Question and this looks like a great show and i want to watch it but i dont know what it is on so can any of you tell me what link click is on
I just watched the entirety of season 2 link click and while I do agree that they’ve done a tremendous job balancing thriller and heartfelt story, I feel like its run its course. In fact I’d say because of season one’s cliffhanger ending run, season two’s weakest moments happened when they shoehorned emotional moments and abuse. Yeah there’s this story about abuse, doing the right thing, but ultimately it just gets overshadowed by this mind game that it plays with you. Who’s controlling who? Is there free will? Is that Cheng controlling himself or is that just actually Lu Guang? It’s harder to focus on the emotional themes when there is such massive worldbuilding and mystery implications involved. I can’t be focused on someone’s grief when I’m busy wondering in the scope of this universe, is everyone just being controlled by external factors?
@@PhenomSage maybe its because im chinese but the way you said it is dang-wa and i pronounce it dong-hu-a like ping 'pong' where its a low o sound and hU-a (i also just realized how late i was to this video, oops) ps. i hope u dont take this offensively !
Now that I think about it when Cheng Xiaoshi went back in time to save himself didn't he know right away that Lu Guang is from future timeline as he sees his memories and emotions?
I don't think cheng can see memories, I believe that's Lu Guang's power, cheng can only possess bodies from the past, this is why he needs Lu guang as a guide
Spoilers! You said that Cheng Xiaoshi, by "posessing" the body of person who took the photo, gets acess to their memories and expirience. Wouldnt he then knew after he "posessed" Lu Guang that he died and it was changed? Either he doesnt get the acess or its a plothole, or possible reveal in further story.
He has limited access to the person's memories, unlike Tianxi. You'll see that he only accesses memories when the person he possesses is having a flashback. He is always guided by lu guang to now what is happening in the person life
The only problem I have with the second season is that there's too many fight scenes. LIKE TOO MANY. I know they're police officers and mafia and all, but felt like a lot of scenarios could be shorten so much without the unnecessary fighting. I watched link click becuz of the thrill from the mystery, NOT Fight scenes
I have to agree, this season definitely felt like it was trying to become more of an action thriller type of story when I would have liked more character drama oriented stuff like in S1
I'm not waiting for the third season as I waited for the second. Second season was the biggest disappointment of the decade. It's unbelievable, those "villains", had to accept that the second season was written by the same person who wrote the first.
Now that the final episode is out, I just want to appreciate how the big “cliffhanger” at the end left me and my friends analyzing the entire show under a magnifying glass. It’s been really fun to try and piece together how and when the big reveal happened and it’s made me really appreciate the second season for what it is
100%. Planning on doing a full rewatch after that finale lol
@@kirbeeez6131 I've been planning a rewatch since the start of the season from how confusing things were for most of it haha.
before season 2 aired, i attended a link click panel at my local convention back in may. ive got to say that panel was probably the most fun i have ever had at a convention. hearing everyone share their theories, personal interpretations of the story, fav episodes… but the best part was everyone excitedly trying to figure out what would happen in the next season. since link click isn’t all that popular, it felt like everyone finally had the chance to talk abt this beloved series for the first time with other people. I have always believed that the best media is interactive. when the audience gets to be a part of the story by interpreting it and theorizing about it themselves.
@@pootluv damn, i wish i could attend smth like that - sounds like fun
Same omg
What I love about Link Click is how they don’t soften things. They don’t say “we’ll find a way to save these people even tho we can’t.” They tell you the rules straight up and stick to it. Don’t change anything. Even if that means watching your own mother die. Even if it means you won’t be able to change whatever horrible tragedy happened. Link Click at its core, is about acceptance and how to cope with loss and regret. How to finally let go. And I think that’s a beautiful thing they focused on for a time travel based show.
lu guang will finally break that rule
i think this makes the plot twist so much more heartbreaking. idk if alot of people have realized but nearly all of the songs seem to be about the uh, twist and about Lu Guang. i only wonder where they'll take this in season 3. it's such a brilliant show.
@@casterartheartbreaking or better
Mans hasn't seen latest episode 😭
@@kagamitaiga4650 um yes. just yes
Li Tianxi has to be one of the most tragic characters I've ever seen. To see something so brutally horrific that you just stop developing beyond childhood then get used as a tool to be discarded. I wanna watch it again, but man that sht was heavy.
Can confirm that simply having the time travel mechanic in a show makes me 10x more likely to watch it. If that makes me simple, so be it. Link click may be my 2nd favorite overall, and this season was a 10/10 for me.
Let me guess... your #1 is STEINS;GATE
@@ktrishan3165 Guilty as charged.
@@seriouslysatan216 xDDDDDDDDDD Bruh same
Same 😭😭(pretty obvious considering my pfp)
Season 3 waiting room.
october when
Winter when?
OH GOD， I was literally searching about it today lol
I'M SO DAMN EXCITED
This series has make me so much happier I CAN'T WAIT for when season 3 comes out
Link Click made me want to check out more Donghuas like it.
Also, the openings and endings are so good.
If you like detectives and mysteries, I recommend TWIN DETECTIVE 双生灵探-
Try Scissor Seven and Blades of the Guardians.
I think you might like “Spare me, O great lord!”
Now I'm just wanted to say as a lot of people I've seen kinda miss the mark with Link Click analysis. People often said the show change it's trajectory for some reason. How it turn from time traveling drama into time traveling mystery. The thing is the show has always been a time traveling mystery show. The way the story was laid out are the same way that mystery story are supposed to be written. The way the show laid out everything and connect it in the end is just a textbook mystery show. Perfect examples is in episode 3-5. The way the show keep the viewer wondering why Lu Guang allowed this rule breaking stuff to happened? And then in the end we learn yeah turn out there is something bigger that we didn't catch.
There's also another thing about Link Click that I also find it weird not manny people talk about. It almost like people keep missing the big picture like literally. And that is the meaning behind the photo. Why is the photo are used as the time traveling method. You know the old saying picture tell 1000 word. And the show kinda give the idea that this picture are basically a memory of past frozen in time. The first episode is a great example of how this concept work for me. You see how Emma took a picture of spring roll that she bought in a take out. For most people picture of take out spring roll might not mean much if any at all. But after we learn about Emma now that picture have even way more meaning. It symbolize the little bit of happiness that she had with her current life and also a memory of a much more simpler and happy time in her life.
Sorry if I'm a bit rambling on this one. As you can see I love this show so much and Li Haolin is probably my favorite animation director right now. And I'm looking forward to all of his work not Just Link Click. To Be Hero X is such an underrated gem that make me wonder why nobody talk about it. Especially since it has Spiderverse level of animation. Anyway great analysis on the show.
I say this from overall enjoying the second season, and I mean my it literally brought my sister and I closer together because we were would talk about the episode and theorise about what will happen for hours, which was super fun, but in my mind it was very different from the first season. It really subscribes you to idea of action and mystery, which I feel was secondary to showcasing the lives of regular people in the first season. And since we saw less stories from clients, we were also able to gain insight into cxs to a lesser degree. He seemed to perceive the twins as the enemy throughout. I guess me not being an action flick type person combined with the fighting reducing the overall realism (yknow what I mean?) it made the two very different to me. I was still able to appreciate the technical marvel of the animation tho. Within the action mystery genre tho, the story is really solid. Very excited to see how this director’s career continues to flourish!
@@mattmaggoux9859 of course season 1 and season 2 are different. Season 1 is more episodic since it has a much more self contained story in each episode. The second season goes into the more overarching plot regarding this murder mystery that happened. However if there's one thing that both seasons had in common is the mystery element. As both seasons are written like how mystery stories are supposed to be written. And honestly if someone complains about Link Click is that they prefer the more episodic stories then I personally have no issues. People could have preference and there's nothing wrong with that. But I see a lot of the complaints that they think the story changes the trajectory from this emotional time traveling drama into this time traveling mystery stories. Which is not the case. To get even more pedantic the show Chinese title is "Shiguang Dai Li Ren" literally translated to Time Agent. The show is meant to be a time traveling mystery show from the start.
this show was way way more better than what i thought it'd be
seriously, i thought this show would be terrible, little did i know 😭
@@wisteria0971 I'm still stunned by shock it gave me 😭
@@moonlores SAME 💀
Fr fr
Same
One thing I really like about this show that I don't see a lot of people talk about is that Cheng Xiaoshi finds these fascinating loopholes. I think my favourite example of this is saving Dodo in season 1. If a time travel story fucking encorporates Schrodingers Cat into how it plays out it's narrative I am on my fucking knees bro.
I love this idea that Cheng didn't change the past with Dodo because that past had yet to be observed. It's fucking brilliant. God I love this show
The basketball episode from season 1 was crazy. It’s what hooked me on the show.
link click once again left us with a cliffhanger, not that its a bad thing honestly because thats what makes waiting for the next season more anticipating . This show was honestly way better than i thought it would be and now its in my top ones.I think everyone should check it out cause according to me its very very underrated
I'm immensely hyped for season 3, in no small part because it what we saw at the end was right, cheng xiaoshi is going to be furious if he finds out. I think he's probably the kind of person who would risk everything for the sake of others, and he only didnt because he believed itd lead to even more people being killed.
ha, funny how now after the last episode what you said about lg being the calm, collected, objective one is totally turned on its head xD
Honestly that's what makes it such a great twist and cliffhanger lol, can't wait for S3
@@PhenomSage I hope we get to learn more about him and see him be a more active player in the story :) So far it's mainly been from Cheng Xaoishi's view.
I found out about this show from Spotify, I was listening to songs and overthink got recommended to me so I searched it up on RUclips and found out about link click now I'm in love with it.
I think a lot of people checked out the show just from the openings/endings alone and honestly, valid lol
@@PhenomSage they are so good like I had to watch. It felt illegal to just listen to it.
I came through the same way, I've listened to "Overthink" for more than 1 year and finally ended up watching, can't wait for s3, maybe because I'm craving trauma dahahaha
This analysis I have to say is the most consistent with my own estimation of this anime. I get why people would like S1 over S2 but I just don't see how a repeat of S1 was going to out do what they have already done. The shift had to happen in order to finish the arc. The way the story is revealed in bits and parts IMO is very similar to the movie Memento. You getting a little bit and think one thing but then it changes.
The one cool thing is Officer Bin in that from the very beginning he was pushed off. He didn't go off face first he went back first as if pushed. For most of S2 you assumed he walked or jumped off similar to Emma but no and we got to see why at the end. Just a small detail I didn't notice till the end.
Perhaps people do not feel things as deeply for Qian Jin, Tianchen, and Tianxi since the appear to be the villains of the series even though their stories are just plain tragic.
One thing though I think people might be missing from all this is Emma. I am not fully convinced that she was possessed by the twins. I don't think she was in any of the visions sent from Tianxi to Qiao Ling and knowing how tragic Emma's story is I don't think Tianxi would have allowed gone through with that. I'll have to rewatch.
I think Tianxi allowed it because… of her brother’s powers. Why she didn’t allow the same wit Officer Bin is that he was supposed to become a father (and maybe had some unrevealed powers).
And to not, Emma took corrupt moneys. Maybe Tianshen played on it.
@@somesymbols371 Yeah maybe you're right.
I feel like XiXi allowed Emma to die because Emma was already trying to kill herself at the moment, and then let her brother finish the job.
I love Link click SO MUCH since it dropped a couple of years ago it's just a masterpiece.
Honestly, calling Lu Guang the impersonal side is so ironic considering the season 2 ending. (Spoilers btw)
He's a character who is painted as rational since the very beginning, but no matter how rational he is, he also would do pretty much anything for the person he cares for the most, and I think that's what makes him so much more human
His care for Xiaoshi was felt since the beginning, he just doesn't like to show it overtly. He's very secretive around Xiaoshi because he knows very well what can upset him. Also he gradually relents to Xiaoshi's requests, like when he wanted to enter Tianchen's photo. Pretty sure Lu Guang's face softened that time. I wish we get to know more about him like where are his parents? Where did he come from? How did he get his powers (question applies to Xiaoshi too)?
Honestly I love this duo so much. Idc about the shipping but I love the dynamic and the fact that they can destroy the world together. It's just that they choose not too (that is until S2 finale). 😂
@@f4llenleavescompletely agree with you. They could just travel back in Hitler and Stalin and rule the world together.
Or to change the whole modern story to be better or worse. They just know about butterfly effect.
But if this is the question of lives of who they care about, they can destroy the Entire Universe just to save they’re loved ones.
I think this is what makes the twist at the end of S2 work so well, I saw somebody else say this a few days ago but it's interesting how S2 has multiple throughlines of Cheng Xiaoshi going out of his way to honor his promise to Lu Guang about sticking to the rigidity of the past, no matter what, and then by the end of S2 it's Lu Guang who breaks this promise because of their relationship, I really like this development for his character.
I will do u one better if u remember in season 2 when they try to open lu guang's phone his password for the phone was 091305 then they said "oh does it mean anything to him?"
If u look at the every last bit of the last ep his digital clock before he click's back to the past display's
Date 09 13 and 00:05 o'clock so thats the date where shit hits the fan and he had to go back in time
Having not watched the show but very aware of its presence and the general fanfare around it, I didn't realize it also had a mystery/detective slant, I had only picked up on it being supernatural. The way you described the human moments and the focus of emotionality within an otherwise fantastical premise reminded me instantly of things like To The Moon (and it sequels) which has a similar idea of going to a past, ultimately being unable to really change what had happened but being able to emphasize with the past and "solve" the past in a way through empathy and understanding. Definitely putting this on the plan to watch
I will find you if you don't start watching fr 🙏
Anime of the year no debate
@@kagamitaiga4650it's not even anime, it's from the donghua industry
I was so confused the first couple episodes, but everything fit into place and I had a eureka moment and then I cry when xixi died
I think what’s cool about link click is that it utilises time travel as a main plot point, other series I’ve read or watched use it as a solution to the plot with little buildup which comes off as unnerving. But here it’s the main focus. And I agree it’s so cool that what they focus on is the little things (although the plot is looming over them). The characters are fun and I also same the amount of times I’ve yelled and texted my friends because of yet another cliffhanger is a lot XD. Now that I’ve finished watching it once I’m confident I can make it through without pausing every 3 minutes lmao. And also the ending of the second season hooked me and convinced me to rewatch everything. Also the songs are amazing, although I feel like I’ll hear the starting sequence of the ending songs in my nightmares because stress + cliffhangers
also the soundtrack is a banger through and through.
I really like the anime, even if in the beginning listening to chinese was a bit difficult but it is so worth it. I hope I can convince other friends to watch it too.
For me Link Click is a masterpiece, because it makes me feel things. Happiness, Anger, Excitement and Sadness. That’s what gets me hooked on a show. The concept could be the silliest or most overdone concept ever, if it gets me on an emotional roller coaster it’s great. Even if there’s plot inconsistencies or something (I’m not saying that is the case here!)
Finally got around to watching this. Fuckin fantastic video essay. Link Click is an incredibly special series that more than deserves the attention it gets
I already loved Link Click after season 1. The cliffhangers are no joke. The show could literally be called Cliffhangers, and it'd live up to its name perfectly. But after season 2... I had no doubt in my mind and in my heart that this series is top 3 period. I'm a longtime fan of series like Pokemon, but this newcomer Link Click is so good that I am proud to say it sits high up there with the big guys like Pokemon. I always try to get the most random people to try this show, it's like my secret life mission to have everyone in the world appreciate this masterpiece.
Nice analysis! I love Link Click so much and so hyped for season 3
The most powerful thing i saw in this show is that there is a story differs by who tells it. It allows you to see one action in sooo many angles. Soooo many that the characters become real life human with complex thinking and aren't just one is the bad guy and the other is good. It's really good seriously
Well said on how amazing Link Click and Cheng Xiaoshi is 💖💖💖
"estranged 'friends' "... this is some lesbian erasure par excellence if interpreted literally. these two girls were almost as gay for each other as the two mains are!
you are entirely correct, i think, in focusing in on the emotional/empathetic ingredients that make timetravel stories so compelling to audiences: they tap into the emotional immensity of our memories and REGRETS
Lol that wasn't my intention, they almost have a noodle kiss so the intent is there. I think that was just the best way I could come up with frame it in the video since they do eventually grow apart from each other and we're never really shown an actual relationship.
@@PhenomSage rereading my post it sounds more accusatory than i meant it to be. i didn't mean to suggest you were seriously doing this. :)
and it is definitely true that the show doesn't explicitly portray ANY of it s main characters in a relationship. one can argue about the extent to which this is self-censorship vs 'fans reading their own ideas into the plot' (though especially with donghua and the role played by very conservative cultural policies and assumptions of chinese media/political authorities there is no question that you have to be careful not to openly portray things that the authorities consider 'at odds' with some nonsense notion of a 'harmonious society' which apparently doesn't include GLBTQ people).
i think most of us who have found watching this show so great are generally on the same page here: part of how enjoyable the show is, depends on how invested we get in the depth and trajectory of its characters' relationships (whatever their nature and whether they involve kissing up on each other)
Link Click is a masterpiece 😭
season 3 waiting room
I LOVE THIS ANIME! I had no idea the 2nd season was out already!
Beautiful video, you managed to put everything I love about this show into words way simpler than whenever I've tried to describe it. It's my favorite show of all time for its emotional aspects, it's character relationships, and everything you mentioned. Thank you for making this :)
I think the personal grounded down to earth human stories and problems and emotions that Link Click began it's focus on actually makes the entire rest of the show so much more impactful. Putting Li (and by extension the viewer) into the lives of random people every episode reinvigorates our empathetic muscles so that we begin to view every character we see in the show as a person rather than a placeholder. As a result, every danger is so much scarier, every conflict that much more conflicting, and every death is so much more defeating because these are all people with lives and thoughts and motivations and cares. Link Click trains you to trule understand the stakes of human lives.
I liked S2 less than S1 but still interested for S3 as it seems like that will answer a lot of questions I have on the series (and especially about the powers).
I liked s1 more than s2. But s2 was insanely good in my opinion both seasons are 10/10 for me. But its my favorite "anime" so...
true, i just loved cheng xiashi experiencing
the emotional stories of different people in the first season.@@MrMrbokchoi
I liked both in different ways. To me, S1 is a great-tasting apple and S2 is a great-tasting orange.
Season one had many different stories, different missions with lots of body swaps , this one was only about the bond between the brother and sister and Lu Guang and Chen Xioshi
If my guess is correct we will get back to more what S1 was in S3. I think we will get more mystery elements as S3 continues to unfold but it won't be like it was in S3. Perhaps S4 (if there is one) might come back to like S2 to resolve the arc. Not sure.
Link Click is my all time favorite anime, thank you for giving it the love it deserves
amazing video!! you described my favourite characters so well and the whole masterpiece this show offers. i really hope more and more ppl see this video and watch link click bc they’re really missing out on something amazing!
Such a good video, I hugely appreciate this show for very similar reasons. Time Travel tends to be so large in scale that it loses that personal side to it. This is one of the most gut-wrenching concepts ever and they handle it so beautifully with the character Cheng Xiaoshi ❤
Anyone who hasn't watched this show is MISSING OUt!! i wish more reaction channels would watch this tbh, iv'e tried getting Yaboyroshi to watch it but im the only one requesting it lol
It's honestly crazy to me that more reaction channels don't make videos on this series, the story is practically made for reactions lol
YESSS i was trying to get a bunch of people to comment it with me under certain channels but it never works lol@@PhenomSage
This anime is the true definition of underrated and trampled over by popular animes
Link click is my first donghua I ever watch it amazing I even marathon from s1 to s2
Also opening song and ending are banger too❤
Cant wait for season 3
ayyyyy im so glad someone else is watching and talking about it
Man... waiting two years again to end this misery I'm feeling after that cliffhanger aarhgghghghhg link click really is the only show that knows how to do solid cliffhangers without them turning expected.
I got into this show cause of ensemble stars. Dive back in time is such a good song and hits so different after the season 2 ending
Link Click the 🐐
season 1 was more light (until near the end) where i just enjoyed watching it like a slice of life anime but season 2 thats when it gets interesting
I quite agree with you, thank you for finding the right words for such a beautiful piece of art.
I loveddddd this anime. I am glad I could binge watch it. And I appreciate how fast they release seaons. I like this side of chinese studios. Greatest animes sometimes dont even get s2
im not sure cxs gets all of the memories of the ppl he possesses... coz then he'd see all that's in lu guang's head too
which he most definitely didn't in light of ep12 of ss2
He does get certain memories, if they're related to the situation at hand. But he isn't like Tianxi who can see all memories I think
@@victoriac8852 yea that's what i think as well,
Yes, Chen has limited emotions and memory readings ability unlike XiXi, just rewatch Season 1 I can confirm it.
@@pigboykool mm yes im aware his memory-gaining is based more on triggers. if the person he's inhabiting would've had a flashback at that particular time about a memory of the past, only then would cxs get it as well
Oh damn Phenom doing a Link Click video
I just finished this today
Real talk for one second, I wasn’t expecting Li Fan to be an abuser. Did anyone hate him?
i'd like to share firstly how good the op and ending songs of both seasons are. (s1 ending-- Overthink-- was my favourite of the two ending songs because everytime i'd hear it slowly creep into my ears and then a huge cliffhanger dropped along with the beat, i'd get so hyped) i largely loved the s2 intro more because of the animation even though the animation is top tier in all of them. i think this and kakegurui are the only anime/dongua that I've never skipped the intro no matter how much the suspense is killing me.
ah! there's also the chibi mini series with the comedic/wholesome intro too. (if you want to forget the serious/tragic parts of the main story, i suggest you watch the chibi miniseries)
Also, (SPOILERS FOR SEASON 2) does someone else want to know at the very least what photo Lu Guang ends up going back into like I do?! is it one from season 1 or season 2? or even one from a time they (him and Xiaoshi) were in high school? (which i doubt) they don't tend to take photos of themselves as stated in season 2 so I'm really curious to know what other pic he could have used. Imo, i used to think it's that pic Lu Guang took of his hospital window, because there's no reason for him to randomly take a picture like that unless he knew that he'd use that specific picture to go back in time. maybe he took it so that Xiaoshi could go back in time and find him on the boat or maybe both. problem is, that theory is basically debunked considering he took that picture on his phone but the pic he goes back into is most likely from a polaroid, not digital... now i need to rewatch the whole show just to find all the polaroids they have :')
agh! i really can't wait for season 3. it's probably going to be a Lu Guang-focused season rather than a Xiaoshi one. i feel like in season 1, they were both equally the protagonists because they were both using their powers equally and then season 2 focused mainly on Xiaoshi and his power. Lu Guang didn't use his vision much in season 2 so I'm expecting in season 3, he'll use it more but on his own as well. maybe. I'd very much like a Lu Guang focused season either way. Like, he can look into photos 12 hours before and after the photo was taken. does this mean that if someone took a photo now, he can look 12 hours into the actual future? so many questions! i guess they answered (partially) how they might have gotten their powers (I'm not sure if Qiao Ling actually has powers now after inheriting Li Tianxi's memories or maybe it was just a one time thing though)
anyway! I'll stop talking now. this comment is too long!
You earn a sub
What’s the realistic version shown at the end 😊
That's just an eye-catcher before every episode of season 2.
@@notationmusicalnot just an eye-catcher, it's the title card.
You should watch tencent’s three body :)
Duuuuude, first video of you I watched was 4 years ago about western animation turning away from 2D drawing to CGI or 3D and I felt an igniting connection to you when you expressed your astonishment to The Legend of Korra show which in turn I f*ing worship and adore ❤❤❤😂 it is hard these weird times to find a Legend of Korra real enthusiastic fan 😅
Dude back then I wanted to make an entire video about Legend of Korra and I still do, maybe look forward to that in the future lol
@@PhenomSage
Awesomeness!!!! 😭❤❤❤
@@PhenomSage
Earth .. toof tof tof
Fire ... fyoo fyo
Aiiiir ... hooo hoof
Wadder... flook fooshh
Only the Phantom Sage can create the best Legend of Korra appreciation video
And Bring Balance to the World ... too tooo tooooo fooosh... ( Radio man recapping...)
I am waching link click I love the anime
Spoiler
In the sencond seasom finale, How Shen Xiaoshi still using the clothes that he get in the theather when he turn back to the present?
S2 didnt really have the emotional impact S1 gave me.
Maybe because it only ever focused on the past of a few people (Li Tianxi and Li Tianchen, and Qian Jin), and even their stories were connected in a way.
Also S2 was heavy on the fight scenes, while its very impressive animatiom wise, I was more interested on the story rather than the fights.
Im not saying S2 is bad, its still really good. But comparing the two, I think S1 is better.
I just hope S3 will be much much better than the two.
It was definitely a lot less sentimentality focused like S1 was but I still thought the emotional aspects hit where they counted. I do agree that I enjoyed S1 more than S2 though
whats the anime in 0:39
Re:Zero
BTW, x is sh and q is ch in pinyin.
3:38 what do you MEAN friends??
Without spoilers how u enjoy the insane s2 ending?(I watched it all just don't want to spoil for others)
Chen zaoshi 😭
There is maybe gonna be a season 3
So i have one Question and this looks like a great show and i want to watch it but i dont know what it is on so can any of you tell me what link click is on
It's on Crunchyroll
@@PhenomSage thanks
Spoiler
"you cant change anything in the past" then he goes back in the past to save his boyfriend
Frrr tho but it's not canon
@@srishtidrawszz5664bro hasn't seen the last episode
they are not a couple just best friends
I just watched the entirety of season 2 link click and while I do agree that they’ve done a tremendous job balancing thriller and heartfelt story, I feel like its run its course. In fact I’d say because of season one’s cliffhanger ending run, season two’s weakest moments happened when they shoehorned emotional moments and abuse. Yeah there’s this story about abuse, doing the right thing, but ultimately it just gets overshadowed by this mind game that it plays with you. Who’s controlling who? Is there free will? Is that Cheng controlling himself or is that just actually Lu Guang? It’s harder to focus on the emotional themes when there is such massive worldbuilding and mystery implications involved. I can’t be focused on someone’s grief when I’m busy wondering in the scope of this universe, is everyone just being controlled by external factors?
where can i watch it and what is the name?
it's name is Link Click (chinese name:Shiguang Dailiren) and you can watch it on the usual places like Funimation or Crunchyroll
What’s the name of the song at 0:45 ?
In The Pocket by Flamclap
Plz tell me any dongua better than link clink to watch ( cuz i have already watched it)2d
the way u said donghua caught me off guard
How do you pronounce it?
@@PhenomSage maybe its because im chinese but the way you said it is dang-wa and i pronounce it dong-hu-a like ping 'pong' where its a low o sound and hU-a (i also just realized how late i was to this video, oops)
ps. i hope u dont take this offensively !
Now that I think about it when Cheng Xiaoshi went back in time to save himself didn't he know right away that Lu Guang is from future timeline as he sees his memories and emotions?
I don't think cheng can see memories, I believe that's Lu Guang's power, cheng can only possess bodies from the past, this is why he needs Lu guang as a guide
lotm mention
Spoilers!
You said that Cheng Xiaoshi, by "posessing" the body of person who took the photo, gets acess to their memories and expirience. Wouldnt he then knew after he "posessed" Lu Guang that he died and it was changed?
Either he doesnt get the acess or its a plothole, or possible reveal in further story.
He has limited access to the person's memories, unlike Tianxi. You'll see that he only accesses memories when the person he possesses is having a flashback. He is always guided by lu guang to now what is happening in the person life
Anyone got link click season 2 in hindi dub ? ?
Yooo make another video of mushoku tensei season 2!
i really like this anime. I think s2 was a bit weaker than s1.
The only problem I have with the second season is that there's too many fight scenes. LIKE TOO MANY. I know they're police officers and mafia and all, but felt like a lot of scenarios could be shorten so much without the unnecessary fighting. I watched link click becuz of the thrill from the mystery, NOT Fight scenes
I have to agree, this season definitely felt like it was trying to become more of an action thriller type of story when I would have liked more character drama oriented stuff like in S1
@@PhenomSageyessss" character oriented drama" is the word I'm looking for
I'm not waiting for the third season as I waited for the second.
Second season was the biggest disappointment of the decade.
It's unbelievable, those "villains", had to accept that the second season was written by the same person who wrote the first.
Same. I didn't hate the season 2, but the quality of it is too inferior to the first one
what?? I loved it i dont get whats wrong with it