REVIEW: ‘LINK CLICK,’ Season 2 Episode 1 — “Falling”

LINK CLICK, the donghua (Chinese animation) series from Studio LAN and BilliBilli, ended on a cliffhanger that has stopped fans in their tracks for the past two years. Now, the series is back, and at Anime Expo 2023, we got the chance to see the premiere of LINK CLICK Season 2 Episode 1, “Falling.” After a two-year wait, fans finally get an answer. But if you need some catching up, the start of Episode 1 has that for you. Starting Season 2 of the series may not be easy for new fans, but the way that LINK CLICK Season 2 Episode 1 plays out, you’ll immediately rewatch or watch Season 1 for the first time.

A quick recap: Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang run Time Photo Studio and accept requests from clients to relieve them of regrets. Through a photo provided by the client, Cheng Xiaoshi can travel back in time to the moment it was taken, and Lu Guang has the ability to keep track of the events in time and helps Cheng Xiaoshi relive the experiences of the photographer. The duo was pulled into the middle of a terrifying murder plot around Quede Games. As the pair closed in on the killer, the killer closed in on them, ending with Lu being stabbed and Cheng left without any ability to save him.

Picking up immediately after the first season finale, Cheng Xiaoshi (Su Shangqing) sees Lu Guang (Yang Tianxiang), bleeding on the couch after being stabbed by a red-eyed Qiao Ling (Li Shimeng). With the situation dire, Cheng has to confront Qiao and save his friend in the process.

In truth, not much happens in Episode 1. It’s action-heavy, but at the same time, Cheng’s desperation to save Lu comes through in every action movement. One long action sequence, the episode pulls everything from last season into focus as you realize that the killer isn’t behind our dynamic duo but running right alongside them, figuring out Cheng’s power in real time.

A conversation sure to come back in the following episodes of the series, Cheng and the killer (via Qiao’s body) fight, but they also talk. The killer taunts Cheng, calling out his slightest mannerisms and connecting them to his power. Panicked, Cheng doesn’t seem to learn much from the killer, except that he knows more about the duo than they suspected.

Ramping up the tension with the ticking clock of a score, LINK CLICK Season 2 Episode 1 sets up the season with more questions instead of answering the ones left at the end of Season 1. That’s what makes it stunning. LINK CLICK’s pacing is a masterclass in tension-building and payoff, and with a somber end to the episode, the way forward will be dire for everyone in the cast. With no safety, even in the shop, Cheng and Lu have a battle in front of them. A stellar premiere, LINK CLICK Season 2 Episode 1 is how you make a comeback after time away.

LINK CLICK Season 2 Episode 1 is streaming on Crunchyroll July 14, with new episodes, every Friday.