elysiaanx

[elysiaanx]

do you think that ragatha will abstract in the next episode of the amazing digital circus, or will she have a chance of surviving?

y'know, i get a lot of asks like this, and i usually just delete them, but i wanted to genuinely ask something back

at this point, me and my castmates have recorded most of the show already. so stuff that happens next episode? i already know. we already know. and we tell people at panels not to ask specifically because we can't answer

but like, would you REALLY want such a major plot point spoiled for you?? by a random voice actor on a random wednesday morning? like, even if i lied about what my "opinion" was, discussion of the next episode & rest of the show would be permanently tainted by people screenshotting my answer to a question like this and being like "well, gangle's voice actor said..."

not trying to single you out at all, asker, because i understand this mostly comes from a place of enthusiasm!! but i wonder if you realize how catastophic it would be to the theory-crafting part of the fandom if i answered, even if i lied or was vague, lol. the theory-crafting part is for you guys to enjoy!! it's meant to be fun! don't let me ruin it by encouraging me to dip my slightly-more-informed toes in. one day, you'll get an actor in a piece of media you like who genuinely doesn't get it and answers something like this and ruins the fun part for everyone-- i wouldn't recommend encouraging that!!

[elysiaanx]

My headcanon for the zodiac signs of TADC characters

Pomni — Pisces

Ragatha — Libra

Jax — Gemini

Gangle — Cancer

Kinger — Aquarius

Zooble — Scorpio

Caine — Sagittarius

Reasons (for some of them):

• Am I read it way too deep or Zooble seems Scorpio-ish internally? I mean, they may not be shown to have intense emotions on the outside but they definitely have a depth of emotion that you wouldn't expect from someone who seems stoic. In episode 3, they finally open up about their issues with self-loathing and body dysphoria. How they express their frustration with the issue is very water signs coded, like the line "I want something that feels.. good." Speaking of body changes, Scorpio also has their transformation phase that requires body changes to do so.

Just like a phoenix rising from its ashes, we're encouraged to shed old layers and reemerge. The shedding of old layers lies in how they have toxic things inside them that don't make them feel 'satisfied with their bodies, resulting in sudden but gradual transformations that appear over time. Like Zooble who change their arms and legs every episode. They just look for parts that don't make them have to suffer from their mindset, making them much more confident and not hating their own bodies.

• I definitely think Gangle is a Cancer. Her character arc screams "how to protect her sadness behind a mask to stabilize her mood but the impact is worse until she almost abstracts, she hides behind her mask and never comes out." That mask is special to her, she clings to it and became a part of her identity as a result. Sure, art is her way of coping but what's essential for her character is her freaking thalia mask, even if that means extreme mood swings.

So, Gangle is sometimes happy, sometimes sad. But the exact reason why her mood is divided is because she mostly uses the happy mask as a protection tool. She doesn't want people to know her true mood, so she masks her emotions. This is not because she is good at pretending (tbh she is bad, her comedy mask is easily broken) but cause she's so afraid to show the world how mentally unwell she's that she holds her shell tightly.

She's very private with her emotion but still lowkey shows it because it's a part of her. This makes her look like she has a split personality. High low mood, unstable, duality, etc. All of it isn't just a gimmick, she's just too attached to her mask that the mask really controls her. This is one form of excessive clingy and I know which zodiac sign always does this... Cancer. TO THE MAX.

It's crazy to know how Gangle's name rhymes with Cancer. Cancer is known for its sudden and instant mood swings, this is because they're ruled by the moon which has very fast phases crossing. As a result, Cancer's mood swings follow the moon's phases, it can go from 0 to 100 and can go back to 50 (neutral). Cancer is also known as an emotional sign that focuses on regulating emotions and can't get away from them.

As a character, Gangle has been explored on her emotional side and how long she can stay happy. Cancer is symbolized by the crab, this could be interpreted as a strong shell that protects the emotional side. We can assume that the comedy mask is her confident self and the tragedy mask comedy is her authentic self.

Her mask is like a shell, but it surprisingly ruined her mental well-being. Her main character arc is literally masking, tbh all zodiac can mask their emotions but the way she do it suspiciously similar to one sign. I'm a Cancer myself and I know she's probably one too.

Also, Gangle is capable of taking others in charge so she's a cardinal sign.

• I think Jax is more of a Gemini or Leo after watching episode 5, lean towards Gemini tho. He's def hiding something. One subtle but consistent aspect of the character is that he's afraid to show his vulnerability. Because of fear, he chooses to create controlled chaos. He likes chaos and sensory stimulation that fits his plan. However, this could also be his way of connecting with those around him without having to get too close.

However, deep down, he still has a sense of caring, such as in Stargazing when he expressed doubt that Gangle could get rid of her mental problems just by being with Zooble, etc. But keep in mind that this side doesn't prove that he's actually a lovable character, it just shows that he's aware of his surroundings. It also shows that sometimes his jerk exterior breaks in calm situations.

In his mess he can hide his true side by being the funny, sarcastic and literal bully that we know him to be but he has a hard time doing that when things get too personal. This could be one of the reasons why Gangle is always his victim target. They're both masking, but one's more fragile that he finds this as an opportunity to bully her so he can feel better abt himself.

Now this might remind you of Leo BUT this is also actually a Gemini trait that avoids getting too emotionally involved. This sign likes superficial conversations, wit, jokes and wordplay so as not to have to touch on deep bonds. They also deflect into this sarcastic persona to hide something. Now Jax isn't fully developed yet but the traits he showed in episode 5 might as well point to Gemini.

For Ragatha, I think she's a Libra. No doubt. Pomni could be a Pisces, especially since she has great empathy, was delusional at the beginning of the episode when she entered the circus and is easily adaptable to situations (which shows mutable sign traits). Kinger.. I have no idea, probably Aquarius?

And lastly, Caine is obviously a Sagittarius imo. He's adventurous, playful and have a wanderer mentality.

Feel free to send an opinion or argument in the comment below!

[elysiaanx]

Another Jax canvas

[elysiaanx]

Gangle is ambidextrous and I have proof

The first time we see Gangle draw is during the first minute of episode 3, she is drawing with her left hand

Then in episode 4, she throws the ball at the beginning with her right hand, and the manager mask with her left

Then at the end of the episode we see her draw with her right hand

I wouldn't be surprise if this was simple cause its better to animate her this way, but I still really like the implication

[elysiaanx]

ZOOBLE AND GANGLE RELATE TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY BOTH FEEL BROKEN. They both feel like they have to fix parts of themselves. For zooble it's gender dysphoria and for Gangle it's bipolar disorder. They both don't feel normal, and it's why they connect to each other. OHHHH oh I'm ill.

[elysiaanx]

”Gangle is a sociopath in Episode 4. She’s the reason things went wrong and everyone hated their experience and her.”

And to that I say…

YES. YOU ARE CORRECT.

She does do a lot of messed up stuff in the episode. Being bossy, disregarding her workers health and feelings, outright enslaving Jax and attempting to brainwash him… yeah it’s not good.

Even if you hate Jax and think he deserves it, you gotta admit Gangle didn’t have to be this cruel about it.

”…and that makes Gangle a villain.”

THAT is the part I have to respectfully disagree with.

Gangle is very sympathetic. She is treated terribly by everyone throughout the show, and when she finds someone that does treat her well, she questions how genuine it is.

There’s also her clear mental disorders, bipolar, borderline personality, autism (that one technically isn’t a disorder), depression, whichever one you see and view it as.

She came from an environment that not only crushed her, but told her she had to wear a mask to function. She’s tried to fix it so she can function in the circus too, but nothing has worked. Because sometimes it’s not that simple. Sometimes treatments don’t work for a person. And it’s extremely hard to find something that works.

So I, as well as others, sympathize with Gangle, and her behavior is very well explained.

BUT, THERE’S STILL NO EXCUSE.

Yes she’s sympathetic, but that shouldn’t excuse her actions at all.

That’s why there’s ONE LITTLE THING that prevents me from saying Gangle is a bad person.

It’s NOT because she’s sympathetic.

It’s because SHE TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY.

She was given the opportunity to pin the blame on someone else. But she chose not to.

She took accountability that she was responsible, messed up, and confessed that she broke.

And she gets consequences for it by having her score docked.

It really PROVES that she is capable of acknowledging when she’s in the wrong.

And she says this AGAIN by confessing she messed up and hurt the people around her.

And the story doesn’t excuse her, either. It’s not brushing off what she did as a joke and nothing else.

Zooble and Pomni both consider what she’s going through and offer help.

But neither of them ever excuse what Gangle does or coddle her.

Both of them just offer help when they see she needs it. (Gangle just shows more appreciation to Zooble cause she knew Zooble longer)

Regardless if Jax and Ragatha forgive Gangle or not, there’s people that do.

They don’t help because it’s ‘not as bad as you think it is’. They help because they sympathize and understand.

That’s a major difference. I would look back at the scenes I screenshot here to understand what I’m talking about.

[elysiaanx]

Tall Gangle

[elysiaanx]

I watched Sarcastic Chorus’s video on if “Unhappy Campers” fixed Millie or not, and I really liked it, because it actually brought up the giant elephant in the room that the fandom won’t acknowledge. While this episode certainly does have Millie in it and we actually get to see her vulnerable about herself for once, she still was attached to Moxxie, and at the end of the day, he was the one who got more focus, with the episodes plot being more about him and his journey.

It was Moxxie who was put in charge of the investigation and planned for him and Millie to dress up as brother and sister to eliminate suspects. It was Moxxie who wanted to show his worth to Blitz in that he could handle a job. It was Moxxie who tried to bond with the kids but ended up being made fun of and making him insecure. It was Moxxie who ended up getting jealous at Millie for all the fame but couldn’t snag the attention no matter how he tried, and also couldn’t find the suspect. It was Moxxie who ended up snapping at her, but needed to realize in the end that he was a being a dick. It was Moxxie who had the character focus and growth to change his actions at the end of the episode.

—-

Millie for the most part, did what she always did, stood by at Moxxie’s side and supported him. She may have finally got a song, but most of it was fluff and just animation eye candy, showing off her skills, something the audience already knew she was good at. I don’t think fans realize this, but the argument scene she has with Moxxie is legit the ONLY scene in the entire episode where she’s in the spotlight that actually has to do with her character, because the rest was focused on Moxxie at the front. Not that there’s something entirely wrong with that, but it is the bare minimum, especially since what fans want is her to be purely the focus and not just trotting along with another character.

Her feeling happy for once that others aren’t screaming in agony at her is one thing, it could actually make sense and I wouldn’t find it hard to believe, however as everyone else keeps saying, her randomly spewing about how she finally feels like she’s important and “something to be proud of” makes no sense within the narrative, because Millie has always been a strong killing machine, painted as a really good assassin with her family, Blitz, AND Moxxie praising her. She legit has no reason to feel like she isn’t important or something to not be proud of, because she’s always been portrayed as really strong, saving Moxxie millions of times and helping the IMP gang out. And for all the audience has seen and knows, she’s very happy go lucky and loves her job, her co workers, and her family, so this small bit of character exploration feels half assed, unearned, and not thought through.

__

Finally, the most funny thing about this episode is that Moxxie needs to learn to let Millie shine since she always supports him, and yet the writers struggle with that themselves. Even when Millie finally does have her “big moment” that she was talking about, it’s just an anime montage of her doing stunts and playing the guitar, while the ACTUAL plot of Moxxie trying to kill the target and fighting Barbie is going on at the front, and even ends with the target dying before cutting back to hell later. Millie doesn’t even get any lines, how nice would it have been to see more…like what if she felt bad for her fans since she’s never coming back, or what if she looks through the pictures of her phone of the camp friends she made and wishes she still had that? Feeling sentimental? For Pete’s sake, you’d think after spewing about how much she feels like she isn’t valued, Blitz and Moxxie would confront her in the end and we’d have some heart felt scene of them reassuring her they care and her deciding to be more open. We get none of that, it’s not only wrapped up so quickly, but ends with Moxxie himself, getting the credit from Blitz he wanted, only to end on an unfunny joke of Blitz calling him a disgrace before the credits roll, so we legit close out on Moxxie and Blitz instead of Millie herself.

Putting the bad writing aside, “Unhappy Campers” definitely didn’t fix Millie’s lack of depth and focus, but I would say it’s a small start, wether the writing is dog shit or not, and wether we had to wait this damn long for crumbs or not. At the end of the day, this episode in my opinion opens more of a door to more potential on actually fleshing Millie out….but I do have my doubts, as not only do we have to wait until season 3 for Millie to get the focus again, but Viv and Adam really do make it clear that they have no idea on how to flesh Millie out without attaching her to Moxxie, since the upcoming ghost demon episode has her trying to off herself because she feels like she’s holding him back and a bad wife. I’d say I hope she gets more in the future, but I’m done believing in Viv and Adam. For Millie to work, I feel like she just needs new writers man, cause these writers clearly don’t care for her enough to put the work in and flesh her out and focus on her, bc they suffer from biased favoritism regarding the other characters. Millie will always deserve better and I honestly don’t think it’ll get better for her from here on out. Someone take the rights for her out of Viv and Adam’s grasp and give her the attention and development she deserves lol.