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Spy x Family Chapter 97: An Old Love Story

Okay, say it with me: FOIL!

You can see it too, right? Looks like Martha x Henry (Henderson)'s story is a foil of Twilight and Yor's story.

Henderson was in Twilight's place; the smart, lonely young man so focused on his ideals that he was blind about who was in front of him and his very own feelings.

Martha was in Yor's place, the strong and graceful girl too young and inexperienced to know her own heart and that she was in love.

This is exactly what's happening with Twiyor, the main couple of the story, and I think we may get to see one of the possible endings for our beloved Twiyor through Martha and Henderson story.

Now, what do we know about these two 🤔...

We know that Henry Henderson has a daughter and a son-in-law. It was mentioned he writes to them, but there was no mention of his wife. This leads me to believe that:

His wife is no longer alive.

He lives with his wife, so there's no reason for him to write to her.

He is divorced.

So, with this information we still can't know what's the current relationship between Martha and Henry, but we can take a guess 😉

From the way the story is being told, it almost feels like it's a semi-tragic love story, doesn't it? We can almost assume that they didn't end up together...or did they?

Theory one: Yup, everyone is right and Martha and Henderson eventually went their separate ways for reasons we'll probably get to know in the next couple of chapters.

If this theory is right, I think it's beautiful that they are getting a second chance 💖They certainly look more mature, confident, and calm (also elegant!). I love the way they look at each other, so much trust and love 😌

Theory two: I know this one is a long shot (and Henderson just said in that panel that "She is merely and old friend") but maybe...they're actually married. Why am I so bold to even consider that possibility?! Well, there's this panel:

The matron is clearly teasing Master Henderson, don't you agree? If she does it, it's because she knows something. Either she knows that there was something between those two in their youth or she knows they are married. I don't know, but they way she said the word "partner" and the fact that Master Henderson is married made me think that Martha is his wife. I know, I know...it's a remote possibility, but you have to remember that marriage is mentioned a lot through different characters and couples during the story, so maybe those two were actually married. (But, it's quite possible it's theory one).

Other things to consider...

How long have Ostania and Westalis have been at war?

My guess is that we're talking about two different wars between the same countries; very much like WWI and WWII, where there was a brief period of peace before a second conflict. So, probably the first war started while Henderson was in his 20s and the second war started when he was in his 40s (and Twilight was a kid).

It makes a lot of sense that now they're in a period of "Cold War", just like in real life.

The Garden

I am convinced that the Garden is involved in this. I've talked about this before (read it here). After this chapter, I still think the Garden is going to pop up. Want some evidence?

Do you recognize this guy?

That's right 😏 That's Matthew McMahon. What is he doing there? Too much of a coincidence, don't you think?

And also the way this is phrased:

Odd that there was a mention of the word Garden, isn't it? And the fact that the whole story between those two takes place in a garden...🤔

In addition to that, in a previous chapter, Twilight observes how Martha moves like a soldier. Franky mentioned earlier that Garden people are like soldiers. And the Garden has a history of recruiting young skilled/strong people, like Yor. Things keep adding up.

The Consequences of War

This is a prevalent theme throughout the whole SxF universe: how war (violence, intolerance, manipulation of information, propaganda, politics) has affected the life of all the characters.

No matter their background, nationality or education, we've seen it again and again with most of the characters big or small, like Twilight, Franky, Sylvia, Millie, and now we're about to see it with characters from an older generation like Martha and Henderson.

My guess is that this won't be the last time and this pattern will continue while the story lasts. I think what the story is trying to show us is how war is seen by some (politicians and men in power like Desmond) as a natural, inevitable course of action, but at the same time how brutal the consequences are in the smallest stories. That's one of the things that is truly remarkable about SxF.

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loid and yor doing spy and assassin shenanigans: just fine

loid and yor when anya has a sugar rush:

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MARTHA YES!

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YOU COME HERE!

Join the ranks of Martherson!

We have elegance and ballet!

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I loved the new sxf chapter so I just had to draw Martha and Henry

They are so cute together 🥺

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Redraw of this vintage ad:

I feel that we as a fandom need more vintage ad redraws with Loid and Yor and well be the change you want to see.

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Endo-sensei’s illustration for chapter 97! (Source)

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Yor Forger

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chapters like today really emphasize the fact that Spy x Family is about war and all of it’s consequences

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Oh wow Henderson/Martha as bad end Twiyor. Henderson so focused on his ideals, on conquering ignorance, that he doesn't look at what's in front of him. "Ignorance is a sin", "they wouldn't do this if they were educated correctly". Those ideas taking precedence over any kind of personal life for both Twilight and Henderson. And so Henderson and Martha miss their chance because Henderson is so caught up in his own cause and Martha doesn't recognise her own feelings for what they are. Just as how Twilight is so focused on his mission that he deliberately tries to clamp down on his own connections with others and sees them as a weakness. As he too could miss his chance and leave one day without warning.

It's not technically the end of either of their stories. But the parallels at present read as very deliberate.

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you know the drill, he has to do a scary interrogation or whatever but anya gave him that cute phone case. so now he has a cute phone case. whats a guy gonna do, NOT use it?

(i saw this pic online and it was just loid LOL)

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Started a new yurikuro drawing

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Oh hello McMahon!

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Ahhhhh! Such a good chapter!!! I can screenshot every panel I loved because I loved every single panel 😭💖💖💖

But I can pick this one

As it's the same thing Becky says to Henderson 😂

Also, I bet next volume cover is Henderson!

It's curious, because when I began buying the manga, I thought Henderson was in one of the covers, I probably dreamed that cover, cause I was so sure I have seen it 😂😂😂

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I saw code white

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Twilight becoming so unwittingly settled into his family life, that he accidentally refers to Yor and Anya as “my girls” when he reports back to Handler.

“Your girls?” Handler repeats, teasing him.

He nervously clears his throat, “I-I meant my wife and daughter.”

“Seems your “girls” are making you soft, Twilight.”

“Nonsense. It was just a slip of the tongue.” He says, heading towards the exit.

Handler chuckles to herself as he leaves.

“Seems our dear Twilight is so deep in character that it’s hard to tell where Twilight ends and Loid Forger begins.”

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