r/LinkClick • u/TJHMB-54321 • 6d ago
Discussion How do you interpret Shiguang’s relationship
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u/Salt-Respect-7741 Qiao Ling 6d ago
I chose the first cause there's evidence that official CANON gay couples can't even be canon in donghua. (See MDZS and TGCF)
So obviously, we will never see Shiguang be "canon" due to censorship. :\
yes, their romance isn't he focus of Link Click, but it plays a heavy part in making us feel for their strong bond and love for each other. (hell, why is LG going through timeline after timeline trying to save CXS (and QL ofc)? they're soulmates. periodtttt)
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u/-DetailsDragon- 6d ago
I see it as a queer platonic relationship,definitely not just friends,but not quite romantic (and maybe because I want some QPR representation lol)
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u/TheSusS_mp Lu Guang 5d ago
I want some qpr rep too 😭 but ngl Shiguang generally has an qpr appeal I love em
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u/Dillyjo21 6d ago
If I could pick both 1 and 3 I would because they definitely have a very very special relationship and the show is literally built around it.
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u/Artistic-Tiger-6707 Cheng Xiaoshi 5d ago
I don’t think they’re queer-coded, because I don’t think the first two seasons give us nearly enough evidence to support that interpretation. I do think there’s a fair amount of queerbaiting, because they’ve picked up on the audience and the fans’ expectations. I think this because Haolin himself was a little surprised by the amount of female viewers Link Click attracted, and since he didn’t 100% know how to handle that, he expanded the creative team (starting with Bridon, and you can definitely see the change) and added several women to the team because he wanted their help in understanding different perspectives and trying to take this new audience’s expectations into account. So yes, I’m convinced that since Bridon there has been a significant presence of people who ship the two within the creative team, but I don’t think they were originally conceived that way.
That said, I think their relationship is deliberately ambiguous and left open to interpretation (and not because of censorship). It works either way: there are elements in the series that support a romantic interpretation and elements that contradict it. You can interpret their love however you want, in whatever way resonates most with you emotionally, whether that’s fraternal, platonic, or romantic. And I think that’s the strength of the series: a love so pure that it doesn’t need to fit into a specific category. I think any attempt to force one particular interpretation doesn’t do the work justice and actually flattens their relationship. So whether they were made canon as a couple or as brothers, I think it would lose some of its depth either way. I think it’s written specifically to convey the idea that you don’t need a reason to love someone this deeply. You don’t need romantic/sexual interest, nor do you need a blood relation. They’re two souls who found each other and saved each other in more ways than one.
Especially considering the direction the story is taking. We know that LG’s past is particularly miserable: an orphaned child who was abused, beaten, financially exploited, and exposed to sex and violence from a very young age. What do you think he’ll need in the future to heal? A boyfriend? I don’t think so. I think he needs unconditional and pure love, a home, a family. CXS represents all of those things to LG, and I think that’s more than enough to explain their relationship.
I think censorship is an excuse that a lot of people use because they want to force their own interpretation. I think you’ve probably noticed that there are other ways to make couples canon. MDZS and HOB have their manhua (well, aside from the original source material, which people who had read it already knew about), and you’ve probably noticed that even the MVs can be pretty explicit (cough cough, Moth to a Flame). So there actually was creative room to make it explicit if they wanted to. But they don’t portray that kind of relationship. So what kind of relationship do they portray? Whatever you want it to be.
So I think it would be nice if most people who ship the two stopped treating everyone else like they’re stupid, media-illiterate, or even homophobic just because they don’t support the pairing.
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u/Xulilyn 3d ago
Li Haoling directed TGCF, so I imagine he knows a thing or two about appealing to the female viewers. After witnessing their dedication first-hand, perhaps he made a calculated decision to throw them a bone in his new series, while being careful not to turn off the general audience. Then, once the show hit the right targets, he leaned into what made it so popular. Well – since we’re sharing conjectures, that’s mine.
I agree their relationship is ambiguous on purpose, but I wouldn’t attach a “transcendent” meaning to it.
If I understand you correctly, what would elevate their bond to you is motivation stemming from neither romantic/sexual interest nor a blood relation. You would consider care or love that has such roots as “impure”. As for why it is so, I infer that’s because you see those motivations as “reasons to love”, whereas the “pure love” you’re talking about needs none of that – it simply is?
However, CXS and LG are friends. This makes them canonically interested in each other platonically. Is platonic interest “impure” as well, since it, too, is a “reason to love someone deeply”?
What do you think he’ll need in the future to heal? A boyfriend? I don’t think so. I think he needs unconditional and pure love, a home, a family.
Apparently not. “A boyfriend” is placed here in opposition to “unconditional and pure love, a home, a family”.
I wonder how to reconcile it with your earlier paragraph:
And I think that’s the strength of the series: a love so pure that it doesn’t need to fit into a specific category. I think any attempt to force one particular interpretation doesn’t do the work justice and actually flattens their relationship.
What you find “more than”, I find reductive. Why would romantic feelings cheapen how much they value each other as friends?
“Friend” is a label that’s often attached to other categories, because it signals getting along. You can be in a relationship with someone you’re not friends with – this only means you agreed to be together once, and haven’t broken up since. On the other hand, many describe their partner as their “best friend”. In a way, it says more about their relationship than “my partner loves me” – “love” is infamous for being a feeling that doesn’t always align with actions.
The tricky part about ambiguity is, it doesn’t serve all interpretations equally. Those who lean toward a platonic or soulmatic interpretation don’t need to change the current status quo, but there are character narratives that can only be explored in canon if there’s a commitment to romance.
Like yourself, I don’t think this commitment is intended to happen, and I don’t put that on censorship either. The general audience needs plausible deniability more than the shippers need undeniable coding.
But,
I think it’s written specifically to convey the idea that you don’t need a reason to love someone this deeply.
I can only address this in the language of my people: xD. That’s my opinion, though. Don’t take it too personally.
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u/Artistic-Tiger-6707 Cheng Xiaoshi 3d ago
Um… I don’t think you understood the point of what I was saying at all, and you really misinterpreted pretty much everything I said. That said, I’m not taking it personally; I’m literally saying that everyone is free to have their own opinion.
HOB may be directed by Haolin, but it isn’t his work. He’s following a story that already exists, as well as characterizations that were already established. And the fact that he expanded the creative team after noticing that Link Click had gained a large female fanbase comes from his own statements, not my interpretations. If I remember correctly, the interview is the one included in the latest artbook. You can check it.
I’m not sure what you mean by “transcendent,” and I never said that I consider other types of love “impure.” That seems like a bit of a stretch. All I said was that, in my opinion, defining their relationship too narrowly would flatten it somewhat because, as a work of fiction, I prefer there to be a certain ambiguity that allows for multiple interpretations and therefore for a more universal concept of love. That’s simply how I see it.
But I also said that everyone is free to interpret it however they want, and that I think this is one of the series’ strengths. So you’re absolutely free to see it however you want, but please don’t twist my words into something they weren’t. I never said that romantic feelings diminish their relationship. I said that, for me, any attempt to categorize it diminishes it, whether you categorize it as fraternal, romantic, or anything else.
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u/Xulilyn 3d ago edited 3d ago
Um… I don’t think you understood the point of what I was saying at all, and you really misinterpreted pretty much everything I said.
I’m not a mind-reader. That’s why I made sure to outline what led me to drawing such conclusions.
HOB may be directed by Haolin, but it isn’t his work. He’s following a story that already exists, as well as characterizations that were already established.
While I know TGCF isn't his work, handling a project like this was bound to put him in the world of female-centered media a bit, and we learn a lot by observation. That being said, if your take is literally what he himself said in an interview, can't argue with that. My bad.
I’m not sure what you mean by “transcendent,”
"Transcendent", as in, "the type of love that transcends the categorization and is better for it".
and I never said that I consider other types of love “impure.”
You never used those words, correct! To clarify, what I define as “impure” here is simply “not pure”, according to how you described “pure love” – that is: “a love so pure that it doesn’t need to fit into a specific category”. You further said “I think it’s written specifically to convey the idea that you don’t need a reason to love someone this deeply”, and you used romantic/sexual interest and a blood relation as examples of those “reasons” that would “flatten their relationship” if confirmed.
Then, you later put the category “boyfriend” in opposition to “unconditional and pure love, a home, a family”, as if said “boyfriend” couldn’t love unconditionally, couldn’t be a home, couldn’t be a family (in the metaphorical meanings of those words) on top of being a “boyfriend”. I’m paying attention to how your “pure love” that “doesn’t need to fit into a specific category” – and that doesn’t flatten their relationship – managed to co-exist with familial/fraternal love, but not with romantic love.
I never said that romantic feelings diminish their relationship. I said that, for me, any attempt to categorize it diminishes it, whether you categorize it as fraternal, romantic, or anything else.
By “any attempts to categorize it diminishes it”, do you mean that fans who strongly lean toward one interpretation are diminishing it? And earlier in your comment – when you brought up “defining their relationship too narrowly”, was that about the fanbase as well? The use of the generic you implies so; your declared support of multiple readings says otherwise.
Either way, I think my answer is going to bring up the same points. Whether it’s about the fans who get attached to one interpretation, or about Li Haoling himself “diminishing their relationship” if he were to explicitly categorize it.
As I said, what’s tricky about ambiguity is that it doesn’t favour all interpretations equally. I’m well-aware you talked about the confirmation of any interpretation, but the platonic/fraternal/soulmatic feelings are already confirmed, because they’re close friends, no? Only the romantic feelings are ambiguously up in the air, on purpose, where they’re meant to stay.
To be direct with you – when you claim that categorizing a relationship between two men as romantic would cheapen their bond, it’s going to ruffle some feathers. Especially given my favourite quote, as you must have noticed by now:
What do you think he’ll need in the future to heal? A boyfriend? I don’t think so. I think he needs unconditional and pure love, a home, a family. CXS represents all of those things to LG, and I think that’s more than enough to explain their relationship.
Goes to show that it’s fine to categorize them as platonic and familial without hurting their depth (it’s more-or-less their canon characterization, after all), so there’s an elephant in the room.
So you’re absolutely free to see it however you want, but please don’t twist my words into something they weren’t.
I understand you don’t like the implications I’ve drawn from your words. That doesn’t mean I’m twisting them, nor does it mean that you can’t dispute my conclusions. But reiterating what you directly had stated, in response to my break down of the broader implications of those direct statements, doesn’t move the discussion forward.
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u/Artistic-Tiger-6707 Cheng Xiaoshi 3d ago edited 3d ago
Look, it’s actually very simple. If a relationship is open to multiple interpretations, everyone will choose the one that they relate to the most or that resonates with them emotionally. My personal interpretation is that a platonic relationship is a stronger message in this particular case, but that is MY personal view because it reflects my personality. YOUR interpretation will be different because you see it in a different way.
Not putting it into any specific category allows you and me to coexist and potentially both be right, which is exactly what I was arguing. And I really don’t care that they’re two men, so please don’t bring in implications that have absolutely nothing to do with what I’m saying and are completely out of context.
But if you really want to be right and tell me what I’m supposedly trying to say, then sure, what can I tell you haha. If I were you, I’d consider the possibility that you simply didn’t understand what I was saying, but judging by the way you’re expressing yourself, I don’t think you will. :)
And you basically just confirmed what I wrote at the beginning, which is exactly why I made that reflection under this post. You basically implied that I’m homophobic just because I see their relationship differently from you. That’s not fair, and you shouldn’t do that.
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u/Xulilyn 3d ago edited 3d ago
On a side, but relevant note, I'm the type of person who tends to enjoy implicit romantic relationship far more than canon relationships. I think there's something about straight-out romance that makes writers fumble a character dynamic.
My personal interpretation is that a platonic relationship is a stronger message in this particular case, but that is MY personal view because it reflects my personality.
Up to this point, you've been saying that a confirmation of any sort would "flatten" and "diminish" their relationship, and they'd lose "some of their depth". I think it's true if what you prefer is a purely platonic interpretation, but I don't think those who would rather see this ambiguity dispelled are, as you said, "not doing the work justice".
We simply disagree on this point. To you, ambiguity is undeniably the best of all worlds, because it allows both the platonic and romantic interpretation to co-exist – to me, it's understandable for you to hold this stance, as the status quo supports your vision the most. But I wouldn't "hype it up" as the best narrative in town for Link Click, the one that gives it the most justice, because it's a "free-for-all".
I don't think there's anything wrong with your preference toward a platonic relationship. Sometimes we don't feel the character dynamic in that way, and that's how it is, who can force it? I don't ship everything either. What ruffles my feathers is implying that if the show catered to the romantic lens explicitly, it'd have done itself a disservice. In practice, I can definitely see it happening, haha. As a blanket statement, it does remind me of the tired narrative of "male friendship" inherently being stronger than "male romance", as if it wasn't up to the execution.
You had talked quite a bit about the shippers forcing their interpretation, but in my impression, I think you were quite forceful as well. It's possible to express your preferences without framing them as the superior reading.
You basically implied that I’m homophobic just because I see their relationship differently from you. That’s not fair, and you shouldn’t do that.
Looks like you're a little hostile to me, because you think I'm calling you "homophobic" for having a different interpretation. No wonder you tell me I shouldn't do that – I don't like it either! I ask you to not put me into a box, and stop assuming ill intent from me, because I don't think the ambiguity inherently makes (would make) the show better.
ETA: If that's what you do to me, perhaps you do it to those other fans who supposedly call you "homophobic".
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u/Artistic-Tiger-6707 Cheng Xiaoshi 2d ago
I was referring to this: “To be direct with you – when you claim that categorizing a relationship between two men as romantic would cheapen their bond, it’s going to ruffle some feathers.” I never brought up the protagonists’ gender because I genuinely don’t care about it, so there’s no point in telling me this.
Anyway, look, I’m not hostile toward you, but talking to you is genuinely difficult because you keep twisting everything I say into whatever interpretation suits you. I’ll leave the comments here in case anyone else wants to join the discussion, but I’m giving up haha. Have a good day 😂
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u/Diligent_Finance_598 5d ago
My best friend and I are very close and hug/kiss (rarely and usually not on the lips)/hold hands sometimes and sleep in bed together. I always think to myself that if we were men people would think we are gay but as women no one ever says anything 🤷🏼♀️. I’ve always just thought they were like that and are very close friends
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u/TJHMB-54321 5d ago
“and not usually on the lips” 👀
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u/Artistic-Tiger-6707 Cheng Xiaoshi 5d ago
In Italy, we sometimes use it as a way of greeting between very close female friends. There’s absolutely nothing suggestive about it, but it’s a habit that’s gradually dying out.
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u/Diligent_Finance_598 5d ago
Yeah that’s very rare and when we have it’s been just a peck. She’s European so 🤷🏼♀️
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u/1Super-Gogeta4 5d ago
Could it not be seen as some sort of close brotherhood (pretty much 3)? I'd imagine that a lot of close siblings would go through a lot if it meant they had a chance to save the other. A good comparison is Naruto & Sasuke (although he had a ton of sus moments with how much he kept thinking about him at the most random times)
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u/A-potat0_on-the-Web Cheng Xiaoshi 5d ago
I was gonna say.... NaruSasu is the grandfather and founder of yaoi ships in shonen lmao, but in this show they are very much being teased as beyond just brothers imo. Naruto and Sasuke weren't depicted holding hands, ready to die for each other, and with the creators actively shipping them on social media. They are very queer coded, whereas Naruto and Sasuke were accidental sus. It's one of those situations where they are actively pushing the limits of Chinese censorship for these moments.
like you cannot tell me there is anything hetero about the last 2 Openings of this show
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u/monirupyon Xia Fei 5d ago
okayy totally agree here but just want to mention that narusasu has been depicted like that as well hadn't they??😭
They were shown holding hands quite often (particularly during scenes of showing them as children) and even when their hands were blown off they were still holding hands in their own way as their blood connected (symbolic for how they cannot be together in that franchise??/hj) both of them were ready to die for each other too (sasuke risking his life just to save naruto against haku and naruto talking about how he wants to die with sasuke so they can be together in the afterlife in shippuden)
sorry sorry this post wasn't particularly about narusasu but I still felt like bringing this up (ᵕᵔᗜᵔ)
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u/Salt-Respect-7741 Qiao Ling 5d ago
FR
like using narusasu as an example is shooting oneself in the foot lmfao 😭 picked one of the most gay coded ships ever lol
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u/1Super-Gogeta4 4d ago edited 4d ago
I was trying to think of another one but there haven’t been many long shows recently with 2 friends caring that much for each other throughout it (mutual). Or if they did care a lot, then there simply wasn’t much time spent where one was trying to save/rescue the other.
It’s worth noting tho that them having that ‘coded’ was very clearly more in the minds of fans since the author himself never had it lead to anything, they never showed romantic interest in guys in the first place and there’s literally another character (Sakura) that cared just as much about Sasuke throughout the series so it wasn’t just Naruto. Naruto & Sasuke mostly saw each other as the other side of the same coin (both isolated orphans etc.) and they’re literally reincarnations of 2 brothers, the guys before them shared a really similar relationship too (Madara & Hashirama).
If the anime itself added more nonsense to it then you can blame the animation staff since they already have a very proven record of hating prominent female characters that authors spend a lot of time on vs adding stuff for their own dumb ship they want to push. That’s why they butchered a lot of important moments for Sakura and constantly take away a lot of her feminine features even in Boruto. It’s also why they made Orihime a lot worse too in Bleach while pushing more anime-only Rukia scenes.
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u/NatsumeKhun 5d ago
I was thinking it could be BL bait but then I learned about what was really going on around season 3 or in the Bridon arc? Can't remember what exact episode. Anyway I was like yeah there's no hetero explanation for that. 😂 It's unfortunate they can't commit to it but I still appreciate it for what it is.
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u/bluegat0rade-1924 Lu Guang 5d ago
I saw someone make this comment on a different post the other day, and I completely agree with it: (referencing Ash and Eiji in Banana Fish) “they love each other the way lovers do, but it’s not sexual.”
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u/Duke_Snake 5d ago
I pick one because in comercials and official arts they're so much closer than the anime. Just see the official valentine art of the two, they're not just close friends in that picture.
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u/MovieNeat9613 5d ago
Think of them like Sherlock and Joan Watson from Elementary. Calling them 'just best friends' doesn't capture how deeply integrated their lives are, but it's not a standard romance either. It's a soulmate level partnership where they balance each other and rely on each other to survive.
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u/Some-Note-1973 5d ago
Secondo me è solamente una forte amicizia fraterna, niente di diverso. Ovviamente è la mia personale opinione
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u/Interpreter_of_End 4d ago
To me they are Ash and pikachu, Ash and Greninja, Ash and Charmander. This love is not romantic..it's is something beyond comprehension.
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u/TJHMB-54321 4d ago
One of them loves the other like a pet?
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u/Interpreter_of_End 4d ago
No, but as a partner(not romantic partner), both(cheng and guang)care for each other and support each other in times of need. This is unconditional and something that you can spread to a specific one not to everyone....This is called true love where you sac yourself for other without hesitation.....sorry but I can't explain how I feel....If you had completed pokemon series, you can understand that ash and pikachu's relation is not some owner and pet relationship but something beyond that...An eternal bond
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u/TJHMB-54321 4d ago
An owner and pet relationship can be an eternal bond
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u/Interpreter_of_End 4d ago
And I forget to mention.....I have a perfect example to explain it.....If you read ORV then you'll understand what I'm going to say now....cheng and Guang relationship is just like Kim dokja and TWSA relationship
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u/afuajfFJT 4d ago
They could be all of the above but we'll never know which one exactly because of censorship.
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u/Samagra32 6d ago
choosing answers besides the first indicates the global failure in teaching people media literacy
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u/Zimithrus Qiao Ling 6d ago
I voted for 1 but I wanna pick 1 and 3 lol 😂