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One of the highly anticipated titles from Winter 2025, Link Click: Bridon Arc, has left the anime community perplexed following its intriguing premiere on December 27, 2024. Marked by a complex, time travel-centric narrative, the premiere has raised questions regarding the show's timeline. Notably, the franchise has released two seasons prior to the ongoing installment.
However, the opening scene from the premiere, where Cheng Xiaoshi is seen dying with Lu Guang beside him, has confused fans because it's a direct reference to Guang's memories from the season 2 finale. In the previous installment, Guang was seen going back to the past to change the timeline where Cheng Xiaoshi died. Therefore, the question arises, is Link Click: Bridon Arc a sequel or a prequel?
According to the official staff at the Bilibili conference held on December 19, 2024, Link Click: Bridon Arc is a prequel, focusing on Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang's adventures prior to the events of seasons 1 and 2. Moreover, Guang's memories of Xiaoshi's death from season 2's finale were a flashback from his perspective, i.e., his memories from the past timeline.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Link Click series (season 1, 2, Bridon Arc).
Exploring the Link Click: Bridon Arc timeline and why it's a prequel
To understand the timeline for Link Click: Bridon Arc, one must recall the events of season 2 finale (Can't Live Without a Good Brother). During Li Tianxi's final moments, her powers were passed on to Qiao Ling. As a result, Ling confronted Tianxi's visions, and simultaneously everyone she (Tianxi) was associated with.
That's how Qiao Ling peeked into Lu Guang's memories, of where Cheng Xiaoshi died. Shortly after that, we see another scene toward the end of the finale, where Guang recalls the same memory. At that point, the timeline wasn't clear. However, Link Click: Bridon Arc's premiere proves Guang's memories of Xiaoshi's death are from the original timeline (past), where he had failed to save his friend.
Moreover, the scene (Guang recalling Xiaoshi's death) itself was a flashback from Lu Guang's perspective, something we see in the first episode of Link Click: Bridon Arc. The episode commenced with a scene, where a red-haired person named Vein, wanted to kill Lu Guang. As he held the white-haired boy under his gunpoint, Cheng Xiaoshi jumped forward and took the bullet for him.
After that, Guang and Xiaoshi somehow managed to escape to the Time Photo Booth's red room. With his dying breath, Cheng Xiaoshi urged Lu Guang to save everyone, as his powers got passed on to his friend. Notably, the scene suggested Qiao Ling also died in the original timeline. Shortly after that, the scene transitioned to season 2's finale's scene, with Guang dove back in time to save his friend.
According to Link Click: Bridon Arc, Lu Guang returned to the point where he met Cheng Xiaoshi for the first time at the basketball court. He wanted to redo it all and save his friend's life. Now, Guang's notebook in the episode suggests he has gone back in time and tried to save Xiaoshi multiple times.
As a result, he has created multiple timeline branches. However, from the events of season 1 and 2, it's obvious Guang was able to save Xiaoshi in one of those timelines. Yet, he realized death was an unchangeable node. The ripples caused in the past might influence some events, but certainly not death.
Hence, even though he managed to save Xiaoshi from Vein (not yet shown how in the donghua), the boy found other means to die in the future. For example, when Xiaoshi was shot by Qian Jin in the season 2 finale while trying to save Li Tianxi and Qiao Ling, Guang was visibly horrified.
Although the bullet only grazed the boy's torso, Lu Guang's irrational rage suggested Xiaoshi had probably died in a similar manner in one of the timelines. At any rate, the first episode makes it clear that Link Click: Bridon Arc takes place three years before the events of seasons 1 and 2.
The installment focuses on Guang's diving back in time and his relationship with Cheng Xiaoshi. Notably, the series further focuses on Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's trip to London, which was referenced in season 1.
Moreover, Link Click: Bridon Arc is integral to understanding Guang and Xiaoshi's relationship with Liu Xiao, who emerged as the mastermind in the season 2 finale. As a result, the ongoing prequel could be the key to connecting the story to season 3, which has already been green-lit for production.
Conclusion
As fans can understand, Link Click: Bridon Arc is a direct prequel to the main events, with a major focus on the primary timeline, which Guang wants to rewrite. From the events of season 1 and 2, it's clear Guang was successful in his quest.
Therefore, the Guang fans see in season 1 and 2 is from a different timeline, albeit his "winning" timeline. As such, the ongoing installment will explore how Lu Guang saved Xiaoshi from his doomed fate in the original timeline, and their relationship with Liu Xiao.
Also read:
- Link Click: Bridon Arc complete release schedule — All episodes and when they arrive
- 10 best starter Chinese Donghua series for anime lovers
- Link Click: Bridon Arc episode 1 — Lu Guang returns to the beginning to save Cheng Xiaoshi and others
