HelerWz said:PaninaManina said:Quoting Hideo Kojima, "I'm back!".
But first, remember what I responded on that little discussion about if and how Link Click is good?
What we could point to say that this is an "above average" series?
Do you agree that those qualities are at display here,
@ilalochezia @HelerWz ?
Yes, now we are seeing "the plot unfolding", but can't we deny that the events are unfolding because the actions of the characters and not the contrary? That's why it's hard to predict what was happening, but now that we are seeing what really happened (in the end) "makes a bit of sense" knowing these characters.
It's fascinating for me that we are seeing both Xiaoshi and Lu play for and against the rules at the same time. Xiaoshi is making an effort to be composed and let the past be and this meaning let the dead stay dead, and Lu is finding a way to change the past and bring the dead back to the living.
I don't thing that Qiao fully understood the significance in Lu words when she went out from the studio in the middle of the episode, that Xu was dead. But Xiaoshi understood and it's just beautiful that this information just dropped and there was no screams, no tears, no scandal. Lu very in character controlled the situation and Xiaoshi just sat there, breathing. Just beautiful. Then he left Lu alone to do the thinking and went to be alone himself to let the reality sink in and be prepared for what would come next. I still not sure if Lihua (Emma) will remain dead or if she'll be saved,
but what matters is that Xiaoshi made his farewell to her. He need to do this to be able to take whatever would happen in the end with Xu.
But now...
The characters sense, if you think just about the characters you can follow the events, but there are so many detail that you notice and point and "holes"...
that's why I'm writing this without reading any comments. I want to put my thoughts to words without external influences.
The murderer, Lin, it's really him.
Having money he just purchased the hospital to give him an alibi. But it's because he feared Lihua could denounce him to the police or because he went after her do finish the job? Either way works.
But seeing how much he is lying and that he want after Xu for the reasons he did he may very well be the serial killer. Someone will need to put a timeline of events in the end because it's hard to understand the detail. Some details simple don't feet.
When we see Lin in his house looking at the news about Xu on his phone, he end talking about "my friend". How is this possible before Xiaoshi talked with him? It's just a plot hole and is this just a detail that we can't understand yet that it's important to way he didn't appeared a single bit shocked to Xiaoshi talking to him through Xu? It's because he really isn't just a normal person, it'a because he also have supernatural powers and was already aware of more people like him and the main duo out there?
EDIT (forgot a bit, they got the time of Xu photo wrong. If you rewatch the other episodes you'll see by the shadows, and they use shadows to tell the passage of time, that Xu and Qiao arrived at the studio during the morning, but they pretend that she took her photo at the door during the afternoon)
We'll have to way and see if the ending explains everything in a way that makes sense, for now we can at least marvel at the brilliance of everything else. I mentioned before, how Xiaoshi and Lu dramatic roles are reversed. Xiaoshi was prepared to let Xu die, but Lu found a way to same her. The called again the police to make sure that Xu body wasn't found and not one still suspected that she had been killed. Exploiting this opportunity he thought a way to save her while her death is still not acknowledge by the world, right? She is probably tied somewhere waiting for the rescue. But what exactly will Xiaoshi and Lu do with Lin? Kill him? Because, how can they sillence him about their powers?
There's so much, so many feelings, better stop now and read the comments.
Yo! I was actually waiting for you to comment, its always a refreshing post to read.
Im not quite certain about the killers capabilities and if he has abilities but they are certainly not like Lu Guangs or else he would have known what was about to happen.
It was absolutely brilliant that they actually executed this patched up plan in such short notice. They both broke the rules this time. Normally you leave the past node to happen but change something else, that results in changing the future. This time they altered the past, right? But the future seems to have already happened. that phonecall that smells like paradox, is what lead them to change the past, so I assume that indeed what everything happens, happened. Im not sure if this is soothing or scary , as a thought.
*I'll scream it at the top of my lungs, WHY did they think that its a good idea to lock Xiaoshi with the ARMED killer in that room*
They did break the rules to follow the theory of two wrongs equal one right, I suppose. Since its Xiaoshis past action that altered ShanShans (i hope i wrote it correctly lol) past. If they didn't change it, the other girl would have been the original victim. This series is absolutely gorgeous in the sense that are playing with rules and what's morally correct, the ability to play god and having the strength go turn a blind eye.
Morals is a strong word, it is associated with the lets say "light" side? Correct? But what happens when rules come into the picture. (Picture, see what I tried to do? Okay sorry). Rules are depicted as the absolute. Usually to follow the rules you have to bury your emotions, your will and what else? Your morals. Xiaoshi didn't think that breaking the rules a little would affect the past and the future that much since he had been driven by his morals and compassion, two factors that made him feel self-righteous with his actions and that he was changing things for the better, no?
On the other side, Lu Guang, followed the rules to avoid chaos, putting away every emotion that would make him want to take part in their stories and get emotionally attached to the people, he didn't want to play god in the past but he did in the future, hence the third rule.
Neither is in the wrong from a first person view. However from the third person view, which means us, we can easily, quickly judge and misjudge their actions. Those characters are not written to be anime characters, in this universe the power of friendship that gives an immense and immediate powerup or saves lives does not exist, nor the everything will be okay if you wish it to be trope. They are written to be humans, just like us.
The story itself is humane, supernatural elements aside. Think of it as a cop story with two partners sporting two different points of views and trying to solve cases together.
What I admire in this original story is how they convey the people's inner frustrations, their regrets and their wishes. Everyone is a participant in the game of life there with no exceptions. The drama is real and the trauma is real and the anticipation is growing.
If anyone actually read this, thanks.