Recent opening visuals (and the "The Tides" ending theme) lean into a more metaphorical tragic story.
Season 2 opening analysis (spoilers for S1 and S2) : r/LinkClick link_click_op_openinguhd_60fps
: A recurring metaphor depicts an inventor (Lu Guang) trying to reunite with a deceased girl (Cheng Xiaoshi) by building a flying machine. This mirrors Lu Guang's desperate attempts to use his powers to "reach" a version of Cheng that doesn't die. Recent opening visuals (and the "The Tides" ending
This opening is famous for its "reversed" gimmick, where the second half of the sequence (and the song itself) plays backward to reflect the theme of reversing time. more tragic narrative.
The first opening sets up the core mechanic of the show—the "dive"—but hints at a deeper, more tragic narrative.