Here's another adorable mini moment (Heartstopper S1E6). Tao has just asked, "So...we're ordering a second round, right?"
As the gif shows, the group agrees, and Nick says, "Yeah, I mean, we can go and get them if you want."
Taking a closer look at this:
Nick says "we" can go and get them without specifying who "we" is, and it wasn't obvious from the preceding conversation. So not only is Nick just casually lumping Charlie in with himself, he's also assuming that everyone else will understand that Charlie is the rest of his "we".
Nick didn't even non-verbally check with Charlie before making this offer, that's how strong his assumption (or hopeful confidence) is that Charlie will be okay both with being part of the "we" and with being volunteered by Nick to fetch the milkshakes together.
Perhaps the best part of all of this is Charlie's reaction:
He does a quick double-take at Nick with a little smile sneaking in, and then he tries his very best to not get stuck on what has just happened and to remain casual in front of the group.
Charlie's slightly delayed "yeah" of confirmation to the group that he and Nick will get the milkshakes is pretty convincingly nonchalant, but it's still clearly trying to be nonchalant, basically saying, "Yeah, whatever, just gonna go get the milkshakes with Nick who volunteered 'us', no big deal".
Honourable mention of additional cuteness:
After Tao's question about ordering a second round, Nick and Charlie instinctively look at each other to coordinate their responses. They quickly look away though, possibly because they've realised they "shouldn't" be checking in about their answers (especially in front of Tao and Elle who don't (yet) know that Nick and Charlie are on a date).
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Lu Guang is a hypocrite and that’s okay (great even)
I must stand ten toes for this man because I’m noticing the slander that went on in September and I cannot allow it. I know I’m six months late but just bear with me. We are introduced to Lu Guang as a rational, stoic, sort of wise protagonist. The brains of the operation if you will (although Cheng is clever in his own right but that’s a whole other discussion). Qiao Ling and Captain Xiao describe him as more mature. Shiguang’s relationship is strong but it’s structured, especially for their work, to where Cheng has to depend on Lu Guang. Should only do as he says and not do anything impulsive.
And it gets to a point where Cheng doesn’t know what to do without him and when LG isn’t there he relies on his past words to guide him. The thing is, we’ve seen that CXS can come up with great plans and make good decisions without Lu Guang’s voice in his head. Like how he caught Min Liu or planning how save Lu Guang from Li Tianchen. But the story has built LG up so much to be a reliable character so it can’t be untrue. But then the s2 finale happens, Cheng gets shot and Lu Guang loses his mind.
And then the ending basically tells you that he’s been winging it and gambling this whole time. Experimenting with god knows how many timelines, simply using his knowledge from the previous one to see if he’ll get lucky this time. Lu Guang has been playing a crane game. So in a story that is all about mistakes, guilt and regrets. Of showing the imperfections of people. Of showing the struggles of moving forward, of being satisfied with the present. Of sacrificing your sanity, your voice, your desires, and happiness for the people you love. How is this bad writing?
Link click has been tricking the audience to believe Lu Guang is an infallible character.
But Link Click was never about perfect people.
What he’s trying to do is no different from Li Tianchen, one of our antagonists. And I love CXS to fucking pieces but this show raises the question of a life’s value. LG is trying to save Cheng and so refuses to change the past for anyone else. Bc it may alter things and doom CXS in the process and ruin all he’s worked towards. But then you ask yourself, is CXS’s life worth more than the twins' mother? Is it worth more than Chen’s mother? Is it worth more than Emma?
It doesn’t matter because it is to Lu Guang. It’s like the question if your sibling and a mailman are trapped in a burning building but you can only try to save one. Unless they’re the absolute scum of the earth, chances are and possibly even despite that, you’re going to pick your sibling. That don’t mean it’s objectively more valuable than the mailman or you didn’t have sympathy for that person, they have loved ones, hopes and joys too. “Lu Guang is a hypocrite, selfish, unreliable, and a liar” yes he is. Because there is something called ‘flawed characters’. It’s okay for your protagonist to not be the best person. It’s okay to write a protagonist whose trauma has defined some of their actions.
If you’ve been forced to have someone you love die in your arms over and over, why is it surprising that you would lie to them? How is it surprising that you’d try to keep secrets? That you’d set things up to be in a position to control the situation? That’ll force you to plan better so maybe, just maybe things will be different? You think Lu Guang lacks self awareness and doesn’t know what this makes him? Of all things you can call LG, he’s not delusional. He knows the weight of his actions.
Link Click has and always will be a story about people. Where our emotions and choices take us. Lu Guang isn’t a robot so why would he be an exception?
Plus everyone should’ve been knew Lu Guang was sus anyway. Idk how that’s mischaracterization, there’s proof of him lying and keeping secrets from CXS in s1. It doesn’t ruin anything it recontextualizes what we were shown back then.
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