Link Click Is an Underrated Gem That’ll Make You Want to Dive Into Donghua

It’s a show that has it all: fantasy, mystery, and characters that feel undoubtedly real.
The show’s prequel, Link Click: Bridon Arc, was just released on Crunchyroll. New episodes with the English Dub cast premiere every Friday.

I was in an anime slump when I found Link Click. You know, the time after you finish watching something so good that you think nothing else will ever be able to compare but still search for the next thing. (In my case, I had just finished watching Jujutsu Kaisen).

Though I had a lot of highly-rated shows on my watchlist, including Solo Leveling, I didn’t know if I was in the mood to get invested in another show so soon. As such, I decided that I needed a palate cleanser, something that was good but chill with low stakes. That’s when I stumbled upon Link Click, a Chinese animation production known as a donghua, on Crunchyroll. Described as a show about two friends who travel back in time using photos to fulfill their client’s orders, it seemed to fit what I was looking for.

But damn was I wrong. While it may seem innocuous at first glance, Link Click is a show that slowly gives you much more than what you bargained for. It’s a gripping mystery rooted in fantasy that at its core asks a simple question: What would you do if you could go back in time? It’s a question that the main characters, who are best friends, have to ask themselves again and again, all the while they weigh what’s more important—the individual or the timeline.

Along with a great story, Link Click features top-notch animation from Studio LAN, superb music, and incredible performances from its English dub cast. It’s undoubtedly one of Crunchyroll’s underrated gems and an excellent introduction to donghua. If your interest is piqued, below is a breakdown of some of the things that I think make Link Click stand out and worth the watch.

Diving Straight Into the Action

One of the first things you'll notice about Link Click is the fact that it doesn’t waste any time introducing you to its characters or how its world works. The little we do know is that the main duo, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, work as a team of time-travelling detectives at the Time Photo Studio. They go back in time to recover crucial information that their clients need in the future.

Cheng Xiaoshi has the power to travel back in time using a photo and become the photographer that took it. Meanwhile, Lu Guang can see the 12 hours that happen immediately after a photo was taken. By using their powers together—which they do by high-fiving each other—Cheng Xiaoshi avoids changing things when he travels back because Lu Guang gives him the “script” that he can follow.

We don’t learn how our characters got their powers or whether there are others like them. All we’re given is the three rules set by Lu Guang: you get 12 hours in the past; you can’t change anything; and past and future must remain untouched.

The lack of a set-up can be a bit disconcerting at first but overall adds to the show’s mystery. With every new episode, I found myself both excited to learn about the new case they were tackling and anxious to learn more about their powers.

The Growing Tension

While Cheng Xiaoshi agrees to follow Lu Guang’s rules about time travel, he struggles to keep his word throughout the show. That’s another one of Link Click’s strong points. Every case features characters going through things that are profoundly relatable. First, there's Emma, the girl who moved from a small town to the big city and misses her parents. In another episode, we meet Chen Xiao, a man who regrets not telling his first love a series of important words the last time he saw her.

In short, you would help these people if you could, too. That’s what makes it so hard for Cheng Xiaoshi when he travels back in time. But as we soon learn, even changing a seemingly small and insignificant thing can set off a wave that can mean the difference between life and death.

A Story About Friendship

Although the mystery and fantasy elements in Link Click will draw you in, the show is above all a story about friendship, specifically the one between Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang. At first glance, the pair appear to be total opposites. Cheng Xiaoshi is easygoing, warm, and wants to help everyone he meets. Lu Guang, on the other hand, is reserved and unwilling to bend the rules. Despite their differences, it quickly becomes clear that these two will do anything for each other, even potentially put the timeline in danger.

The trio is rounded out by Qiao Ling, who Cheng Xiaoshi calls his “landlady” because well, she is. Qiao Ling and her father took care of Cheng Xiaoshi when his parents disappeared years ago and let him remain as a tenant at the Time Photo Studio. Though Qiao Ling finds cases for the duo under the pretense of helping Cheng Xiaoshi pay off his rent loan to her father, she genuinely cares for both of them and plays a growing role as the story goes on.

Tasty and Mysterious Villains

One of the show’s biggest draws is its villains, though it takes a while to get to know them and their intentions. It’s kind of like watching a game of chess play out without seeing one of the players. You have the duo of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang on one side and a mysterious player on the other. And then, just when you think you figured something out, you’re facing a different player.

Case in point: I just finished Link Click: Bridon Arc, a prequel to seasons one and two, and I’m more confused and excited than ever. I’m especially eager to see more of a certain red-headed character who likes to greet people by saying, “You look tasty.”

The Music

The music in Link Click is top of the line. I love how the season one’s opening, Dive Back in Time by BaishaJAWS, incorporates nods to the show in its lyrics. The music changes as the show progresses, with other songs incorporating darker tones that are in line with the growing stakes. BaishaJAWS’ opening for season two, VORTEX, gave me goosebumps when I first heard it and thoroughly creeped me out. It completely matches the mood of season two.

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An Amazing English Dub Team

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight the work of the English dub team on the show. Alejandro Saab and Zeno Robinson do a spectacular job as Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, respectively.

I’ve been a fan of Saab’s since he voiced Shaddiq Zenelli on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. The fact that I had no idea he was behind the easygoing voice of Cheng Xiaoshi speaks to his range as voice actor and I can’t wait to see what else he does with this character.

Bottom Line

I had never watched a Chinese donghua before watching Link Click and I have been blown away by the quality of the story, the animation, and all the care that director Li Haoling has put into his show. While I'm not an expert by any means, I used to think that no country could hold a candle to Japan’s anime industry, which has become known for its ability to draw people into complex stories with profound reflections on humanity—and have them enjoy the ride.

Link Click proved me wrong. It’s made me grip my chest in anxiety, suffer, laugh, smile, cry, and most importantly, let my mind run wild with possibilities and questions. I can’t wait to see how the story continues and what other cool donghua we see from China in the years to come.

Seasons one and two of Link Click are currently streaming on Crunchyroll. The prequel, Link Click: Bridon Arc, is available with subtitles in full. New episodes for the English dub premiere on Fridays.

Images | Studio LAN