English Dub Review: LINK CLICK “The Forgotten Past”

Overview

An adoptive father, an old photo, and the day two powers first crossed paths.

Our Take

Picking up years after Season 2, “Link Click” returns with a beautiful and emotionally devastating premiere that explores the childhoods of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi. And this is made more apparent when we learn that Lu Guang endured abuse and exploitation from his foster father, but his life changed when he met Xiaoshi, who becomes his only source of happiness. That makes Xiaoshi’s disappearance and his later failure to recognize Lu Guang hit especially hard. The episode does a great job showing how Lu Guang’s traumatic childhood shaped the person he became.

The rest of the proceedings also raise plenty of questions about the timeline and Xiaoshi’s connection to Lu Guang’s past. Why did Xiaoshi break their promise? Why doesn’t he remember Lu Guang or his own powers? The brief appearance of what seems to be an adult Xiaoshi near the train tracks only deepens the mystery, suggesting that someone may have altered his memories or that his future self somehow influenced the past. Gorgeous animation, expressive backgrounds, a nostalgic opening, and an emotional soundtrack further elevate the episode, though some of the heavier sound effects feel excessive.

Overall, this was a fantastic return for “Link Click,” perfectly blending supernatural mystery with personal tragedy. Lu Guang’s heartbreaking childhood is balanced by the warmth of his friendship with Xiaoshi before everything falls apart. Rather than resetting after Season 2, the premiere embraces the consequences and mysteries already in motion, setting up another potentially painful chapter. If this episode is any indication, Season 3 is ready to hurt us all over again, and it isn’t going to apologize for it.