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ordinaryschmuck · 18 hours ago

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Abstragedy is the OTP that is never meant to be

Real quick, before I get into it, Sarcastic Chorus style, I do want to point out how both Gooseworx and Dana Terrace have gone on record saying they were/are not confident in their abilities to write romance…

And then proceeded to create the most endearing ships of recent memory. With one of them doing it by accident!

Alright, now let’s talk about why Abstragedy fucks hard, but canonically won’t.

For those who are somehow out of the loop, new here, or prefer me talking about The Owl House and only The Owl House, The Amazing Digital Circus has been rocketing upwards as one of the most popular things on the internet. Every episode just keeps getting better and better, the views hit the millions within hours, and the fandom is consistently growing as more and more people are getting sucked into the madness.

And, of course, like with most fandoms, there is a lot of shipping. Because the internet is gonna go wild and, whether we like it or not, fandom spaces will mash characters’ faces together like dolls and tell them to kiss. It’s inevitable, and The Amazing Digital Circus’ fandom is no different…except it comes with one essential caveat:

None of them will become official. Especially some fandom faves. BUT Gooseworx isn’t against shipping itself, even encouraging it. Just, you know…don’t be a dick.

This leaves the TADC shipping community in an interesting position. Most fandoms often argue what ships are more likely to become canon, with the worst case scenario being some children throwing fits over the ones they’re most attached to being neglected over something else, especially another pairing. But with Gooseworx making it clear from day one that nothing is gonna be canon, it allows a sense of freedom when it comes to ships. Essentially, it’s all fun and games with these pairings, but we’re all going to get hurt in the end, so you might as well enjoy the ride while you still can. The fandom took this idea, and relatively ran with it.

There are still fighting over which ship is superior and a few too many people being in denial, but that’s the basis for any fandom. For the most part, everyone’s just shipping for the thrill and the fun of it all. All the characters are adults, most of them fall under the “half your age plus seven” rule, none of them are related to each other, and there are no confirmed sexualities, so you can just pair anyone up with whoever the fuck you want. There’s no moral highgrounds, you’re not a monster if you ship Jax with literally anyone, as this is a fictional world with fictional characters and you are more than welcome to mash your dollies’ faces together.However, for a while there, shipping mostly circulated between three characters:

Jax, Pomni, and Ragatha.

And not just the various ships they had together, but through others. Pomni basically got the gatorgoo that most were thirsting for, Ragatha got the lady NPCs, and Jax basically got every other character under the sun because the fans deemed him to be “the hot one” and wants to see the bunny man fuck everyone. For the other half of the cast, well, they didn’t get that much love, and for a number of reasons.

This “main three” had more…let’s call it “appeal” to viewers. They’re all more human-like and more fun/easier to imagine being in “romantic” scenarios together because of it. Like it or not, horniness often plays a part for a lot of shipping (If you don’t believe me, look up fan art for these three over a year ago). And no normal human being wants to admit finding a chess piece hot. Speaking of…

Due to the age gap between Kinger and the rest of the cast, added with his briefest moments of wisdom, his character got shoved into being “The Dad” in this series. And when the fandom does that, there’s no going back, with every instance of shipping Kinger with anyone that wasn’t his dead wife having this backlash of people calling it incest or way too questionable for comfort. It’s silly, but it can’t be helped.

Finally, there's a lack of interactions. Jax, Pomni, and Ragatha seemed to spend the most time together, either as a trio or with one on one conversations. Episodes Five and Six alone show how thoroughly connected they all are, specifically through Pomni and wanting to mold her purpose in the circus.

The fandom, and even the show, put much more of a spotlight on these three than the other three. Even shipping aside, Zooble, Gangle, and Kinger didn’t get as much fan art or praise as you’d expect. Hell, even Kinger barely got scraps before Episode Three. So when it came to a ship like Gangle and Zooble, they had their fair share of fans, but nothing as vocal or loud as the “main three” did. It was sort of like a Shaggy and Velma situation, where so much focus on romance were put on the attractive people while the other two might as well be paired together because neither can nor should fuck the dog.

And yes, Kinger is the dog in this situation too. Might as well be, when you create the thing that killed your wife. That puts you in the doghouse for eternity.

Yet, despite not being the popular ship, the two still had attention. It wasn’t loud and grand, but they had it, especially as the series further went on and we learned more about them.

Gangle, out of the two, was easiest to get and understand.

Happy mask on, she becomes relatively stable.

Happy mask off, she becomes a limp noodle and Jax’s personal punching bag (And sometimes she doesn't need to be sad for that to happen).

Gangle’s the character who’s arguably going through it the most as she’s consistently in a state of utter despair. When everyone else has brief episodes of sadness, Gangle has brief moments of happiness. And you can look at the mask as symbolic for either her literally masking her turmoil or it being a form of depression medication she relies on to get through most of her day. It’s a pick your poison situation, as both ideas often hurt the heart deep where it counts, and, yeah, no shit that a ton of fans gravitated more towards Gangle. It’s always anyone’s bet if the sad one or the grumpy one will be the more popular in a fandom, and the sad one won the day this time because the competition…might as well not have been there.

Zooble, before episode three, wasn’t really part of the gang. They either noped on out of adventures or got forced away while everyone else went on shenanigans. There was a reason why attention was minimal with Zooble within the fandom because fans couldn’t really find that hook, you know? The reason why they should care or latch onto Zooble. Thankfully, no one had to wait long, as episode three gave them exactly what they needed.

Zooble went to “therapy,” which was actually Caine showing how incapable he was at taking any kind of criticism, and it’s here that Zooble reveals that they have this sort of body dysmorphia. It likely started in the real world, and the Circus probably didn’t do Zooble any favors as it forced them into a body they already hated and couldn’t get used to, no matter how many removable parts they had to make themself look…good. There are layers to something like that, and many people who go through the same thing can easily relate. It was the fuel to the fire that this character needed and it was enough for them to skyrocket into popularity because nothing sells a character to fans faster than tragedy.

So Gangle and Zooble had stuff that made them great as individuals, but as a couple, they had nothing to go for. Shippers were left with, essentially, the scraps. Like how Gangle was the only one who was really worried about Zooble in the Pilot, and Zooble had a softness in their eyes when briefly mentioning Gangle in Episode Three. Now, dealing with scraps is nothing new for shippers, especially in animation. They will look at the slightest blush on screen, and that might as well be a love confession. So with Abstragedy, it really seemed like shippers were content with getting what they’re gonna get, because in a show that focuses on the “main three” and having Pomni get to know each member of the cast, one-on-one, there’s a certain doubt that Gangle and Zooble would share any lengthy screentime together.

Only for Episode Four to change the game.

“Fast Food Masquerade" was the moment Abstragedy fans stopped getting scraps and started getting some good frickin’ food. From here, it’s revealed that not only do Zooble and Gangle get along together, they already have…a friendship. They’re not an item, none of the characters really are, and never will be (Please remember that), but they’re at least close. Close enough that Zooble seemed to be actively searching for something that could help Gangle stay happy, even if just for a little while longer.

It’s quite possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever done to Gangle in recent memory, and not only does Zooble look astonished to see her like this, they act abashed as Gangle thanks them. It’s a sweet moment, romantic or not (And it’s not), showing that Gangle is the only person Zooble has a genuine soft spot for and brushes it off as if it’s nothing. Even though it’s everything to Gangle, and her smile is everything to Zooble.

Unfortunately, the mask did nothing but make a bad situation worse.

Turns out, all the new mask did was give Gangle the appearance of happiness, while underneath she’s still just as miserable as ever. Except now she’s getting worse because she ends up doing her old job, remembers why she hates doing it, and her coworkers aren’t doing anything but talk about how annoying it is for Gangle to act happy. She’s having a very stressful, no good, horribly bad day, with the episode implying that Gangle nearly abstracted because of it.

Zooble’s the first to notice that something’s wrong, and you can tell that from their expression that they feel worried for Gangle’s emotional health and safety, as well as a sense of guilt because…

This whole thing was their idea in the first place…Which makes it odd that they don’t really say anything or reach out until the adventure’s over. Zooble acts sensitively towards Gangle when sensing her pain, and offers a worried glance before leaving the restaurant, but given how much they show they care, it is a little odd that Zooble didn’t at least ask what was wrong until the aftermath of the traumatic event. Pomni stepping in is still sweet and shows how great of a character she is, but, I don’t know. As much as Gooseworx does to sell this friendship, it feels odd that the two don’t share a moment, especially with how close Gangle was to the show’s version of death. Their last moments together would have been talking about who gets to drive Ragatha’s drunk ass back home if not for Pomni stepping in and being employee of the month.

Still, their moment together after the adventure’s over is sweet for all it’s worth. Gangle’s already isolating herself because she believes everyone already hates her for forcing them into having a bad day with her, with Zooble stepping in and saying...

It’s a response Gangle wasn’t expecting, but it’s something she needed to hear. Despite annoying half of the people she worked with today, one person still enjoys Gangle’s presence and goes above and beyond as they praise her art, something the episode earlier implied to be a huge thing in Gangle’s life before the Circus.

All this praise, like everything else in life, moves Gangle to tears. Except that this time there’s a small smile on her face, she’s able to wipe a tear away, and the episode ends on the sweetest possible sentiment it could:

Episode Five explores that further.

Gangle and Zooble get paired up for most of the adventures the two are forced upon in the lightning round. Zooble’s there to lift Gangle’s spirits, reassures her that the anime idea is perfectly fine, encourages her to speak up more about herself, and, most importantly, protects her from Jax.

I breezed past it before, but while Zooble is the friend Gangle needs to survive, Jax is the one to remind her how bad her existence is. Mainly because he doesn’t allow Gangle to exist in peace. He’s often the first to start shit with everyone and is mostly the reason Gangle’s happy mask gets broken and stays broken. And in Episode Five, he starts off by making Gangle his favorite prop to use for bits, turning her into a rhino he shoots and mauls and strapping a live bomb to her chest. It’s all a game to Jax, including how he treats his fellow players, and he believes he’s better off making everyone else miserable so he doesn’t have to think about how miserable he is.

This is where Zooble steps in, because while Gangle is Jax’s punching bag...

Zooble is often the one to punch back. In Episode Five, they force Jax to go vegan so he wouldn’t kill or maul Gangle anymore, clocks in on his corn phobia, and is the one to encourage Gangle to vote putting him in a maid outfit because of how funny it would be. Where Gangle is often scared to talk back because she worries of what Jax might do to her, Zooble is already planning a way to get back at him for any shit he pulls. They speak up when Gangle is too scared to, and it’s just–M’Wah! Perfect shipping fuel.

Yes, it is just Zooble being a good, supportive friend. There is no romantic subtext like most gay ships in children cartoons before Steven Universe changed the game. There is only text, and nothing else, because that’s not what Gooseworx wants to make. But, still, despite these two being friends and nothing more, as a shipper, you can’t help but see the more.

Zooble is the sunshine protector for someone who primarily has cloudy days. They share sandwiches together on a picnic under a starry sky, and Zooble even asks Gangle if she wants to draw together sometime. It’s fuel for the fire, giving fans the chance to see these two as a couple, and having the fan fic ideas write themselves when Zooble suggests drawing together, because you can just imagine the fluff that comes from a scenario like that. I know I have (Plug).

And I think by Episode Five, a lot more fans were starting to see the vision. Gangle and Zooble were the cutest thing on screen and Gooseworx was basically serving nine-course meals on a silver platter, even if she didn’t mean to.

Then we got to Episode Six and Zooble said–

And, okay, it’s more of them just asking for autonomy, to be able to feel more human. However, you can’t have a character say that in front of a fandom this horny and not expect them to connect the dots on who Zooble might want to have sex with…

And crack jokes about how turned on they must have been during the tommy-gun bit.

But the episode does more than reveal how badly Zooble wants to get laid. Due to them showing Gangle how Jax is, indeed, a little bitch boy who isn’t invincible, Gangle gets some courage enough to refuse joining a team with him. She wants to hang out with Zooble instead, someone who actually likes her, with Jax already looking like the concept pisses him off.

From there, we see just how close these two have gotten in the series at this point.

Gangle, before the shooting starts, entrusts her comedy mask to Zooble, wanting to save it so she can laugh maniacally with a tommy-gun. And we all know how big of a deal something like that is. The mask is the one thing that gets Gangle through the day. So to ask Zooble to hold it, to force herself to be in her sad state for most of the game until she gets her prized tommy-gun, it shows how safe Gangle feels to be with Zooble. She knows she can be sad with them and that Zooble can still be there to cheer her up. The only times Gangle seemed to truly smile without her mask is when she’s with Zooble or because of something Zooble said, so there’s this idea that maybe Zooble can be the next best thing to make Gangle happy, and she can trust putting away her mask for now as long as they’re there.

As for Zooble, you see in their eyes how much they understand this as a big deal. Gangle is essentially entrusting them with the key to her happiness. That type of thing shouldn’t be taken lightly, and Zooble doesn’t. They understand the assignment, taking it with extreme care and respect. Already, Abstragedy fans felt like they were getting fed with some solid support and fluff, and that was before the two had their little sit down.

When they’re alone and planning, Gangle voices her concerns of Jax being upset about not wanting to be on a team with him, already expecting him to plan something to get back at her, which is valid. Jax is the worst, and his coping mechanism is treating everyone as his personal play things for shit he finds funny. So you can get Gangle’s fear, it’s like a nerd being scared of going back to school after telling their bully to “Fuck off” the other day, already expecting a beating. Only for Zooble to step in and say, “Fuck Jax. He can’t control you. You need to put him out of your mind.” Once again, they’re there to tell Gangle exactly what she needs to hear and what she doesn’t have the courage to admit. Only for it to not completely work this time, as Gangle is still messed up about something else, that being her difficulties of feeling happy. None of these characters are doing well in this digital hellscape, but Gangle’s having a rougher time due to her avatar’s gimmick looking like it doesn’t make things anything easier for her. She finds it hard to love herself when all she feels is sadness. Then Zooble steps in and says…

These are sweet sentiments that reign true for…anyone dealing with anything. Whether it’s depression like Gangle or body dysmorphia like Zooble, you have to remember that everything about you is good and is valid, no matter what you or anyone else thinks. And Zooble of all characters, the one who arguably has the most difficulty loving themselves, is the one to tell Gangle that she’s perfect the way she is. It says so much about how Zooble cares for Gangle, wanting her to be happy and identifying with the inability to love oneself, that they’re the ones to give the best advice in the world, even if they don’t necessarily follow it. You can see it in how Zooble’s thrown off by Gangle asking them if they ever made the choice to love themself. That’s enough to make them shrink a little, but then Gangle says, "Of course not..."

After all this helpful advice and having a better attitude, Gangle has the impression that Zooble doesn’t have to make a choice to love themself, they already do. It’s not true, we and Zooble know it, but Gangle doesn’t seem like she does and that’s what throws Zooble off for a second. They weren’t expecting someone to think they’re okay with who they are, inside and out. So for Gangle to come out and say that must be true, implying that she likes Zooble as is, it’s enough to give them a boost they were never expecting to get. Meaning that while Zooble will always be there to lift Gangle up, she’ll be there to do the same. It’s the perfect balance both need, with this moment being the moment that cemented their—

...Friendship.

As sweet as this moment is, we have to always remember that nothing about it is romantic. Gangle may look up at Zooble with the lighting making them shine like a literal angel, but, at the end of the day, it’s more likely platonic admiration if anything else. And honestly? It’s for the best.

This gives people who are aromantic, or anything similar, the sort of platonic relationship they crave for. One built on mutual respect and understanding, where both would do anything to make the other happy. Romantic or not, these two are sweet together while bringing out their best sides, be it Zooble’s kindness or Gangle’s joy. They’re both at their happiest when they’re together, and that’s still sweet whether they’re friends or a couple. It’s a true platonic friendship at its finest…but people are going to still ship the fuck out of these two no matter how many times you remind fans that Gangle and Zooble are “Just friends.”

That’s the internet, baby. There’s no stopping it. Gooseworx understood this and it’s why she made it clear from the beginning that it’s okay to ship, because people were going to do it anyway. Plus…

She kind of ships it too. The intention may be that they’re friends, but even Gooseworx can’t help but admit that these two would be cute together, even getting in on the joke with others because what’s the harm with shipping? Hell, if she wants to, Goose could end the series with Zooble and Gangle “Having a moment,” Bubbline style. Fandom has essentially done the heavy lifting in explaining how these two are made for each, author intentions aside.

But, that’s not what she wants. At least, I’m fairly certain that’s not what she wants. Gooseworx didn’t want to tell a romance in this story, and it’s good for a creator to stick with their guns instead of appeasing fans. We make the stories we want to tell, not what you wanted to be told. No matter how popular your ship is.

Though, it is worth noting that Abstragedy has skyrocketed into popularity since episodes five and six. Not just because of how many sweet moments the series gave them, but because, comparatively, they seem more likely to be a thing. Ironically, it’s the “Main Three” that are kind of leaving fans with a big ol’ question mark as all three are stuck in the eight layers of Hell known as, “It’s Complicated.” Ragatha is too eager to please and too desperate for admiration that she ends up self-sabotaging most relationships she tries to have. Jax hates her, Pomni is sometimes comfortable around her, Kinger barely remembers their talks, and Gangle and Zooble are too busy making out in the corner. In her efforts to be everyone’s friend, she ends up being more alone than anyone else in the circus. But at least those results are unintentional, as Jax…

…Speaks for himself. He refuses to accept he’s anything other than his role as “The Funny One,” because doing so means considering the consequences of his actions and feeling hurt for those he lost. He pushes any chance of connection away to avoid that pain completely, with Pomni being his most recent victim to realize too late what a jerk he really is.

And as for Pomni, it says a lot that the only people she connected to in the entire Circus was either not real, someone who’s rarely sane, and a twisted mother fucker who claims to enjoy other people’s misery. I think it’s safe to say she’s having bad luck becoming friends with anyone, with her best relationship so far being with Ragatha, another character she’s consistently awkward around.

With all of that mess going on, you look at how healthy and natural Zooble and Gangle act, and it becomes clear as day why people are starting to hype them up, all while agreeing that they’re the ones who are most likely to succeed. The majority of popular fanworks I’ve seen proves how much people agree that Abstragedy rocks and, text be damned, they’re official in a lot of fans' eyes. They’re sweet, wholesome, and healthy, with even the series creator admitting they’re too good to ignore. I sincerely doubt Abstragedy will be the one to become canon, but they really don’t need to be. Whether you read them as friends or lovers, the text still works either way you look at it and the enjoyment in seeing their relationship grow closer will always be a delight.

Gangle and Zooble may never happen, but they’ve already won enough people over that it might as well not matter. Here’s to seeing more of them together, and hoping that nothing bad happens in the future.

(Gooseworx, if one of them abstracts, I swear TO–)

#the amazing digital circus #abstragedy #tadc zooble #tadc gangle

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