#and yet and yet and yet

[herrmit]

an ode to middle managers

This show truly knows how to juggle the duality of victim and perpetrator with the kind of finesse I haven't seen in a while. Woe's Hollow had me screaming at Milchick when he was (essentially) killing Irving... but then the very next episode they're doing performance reviews, talking about the "kindness reforms" he's instituted and its like. Well, shit. All those tactics have been underhanded and manipulative as fuck but it was also more than Cobel ever tried to do (no, Harmony, psychologically tormenting Mark S. with repressed memories of his "dead" wife does not count as employee recreation). Crazy that he's stuck in this middle managerial position and its clear that- as awful as he is- he is the one higher up we've seen that views the innies as something approximating Human. Especially contrasted with Ms Huang, Helena, and Drummond's comments that same episode. (And it goes without saying that Tramell Tillman's performance has been fantastic.)

Even with people far higher up, like Helena, we see exploitation! I was fr feeling murderous over her violation of both Mark and Helly's autonomy, of depriving me of my girl for four episodes and driving a wedge between the team- but the way Drummond and Natalie were so quick to cast her aside, "shut up, be a good girl, and put the noose around your neck" like damn they really don't care about anyone!! Not even Jeff Bezos herself!!!

Not to mention how Sydney Cole Alexander's performance as Natalie adds so much nuance to her character- even without telling us anything outright. The fear, shame, repression, complacency flitting across her face- truly a Get Out/ Being John Malkovich moment. She speaks for the board but her voice is never her own. She only has power when she's being exploited.

And now, with the most recent Cobel loredrop, I am hoping and praying and hoping and praying that we'll get to see at least one of these Lumon insiders have their "lets burn this place to the ground" moment. I think Cobel is closest to that now, and I see Milchick possibly following along. At the very least I hope we get some Reghabi backstory, because we know she used to work at Lumon (putting the chip in Mark's head herself!) and maybe she was always a spy but maybe she too was able to break from the system. Please Mr. Stiller, more Reghabi.

The contradiction at the core of capitalism is that it relies on everyone's complacency- yet values no one. Cobel, Milchick, Natalie, Helena: they can give and sacrifice all they want, but it will never change the fact that they are all replaceable. They are both victim and the perpetrator, and to go against the system would be to face their own complicity, rejecting whatever sunken-cost fallacy they've built up in their head. It's hard- but it's not impossible.

Here's to hoping.

[slidetoleft]

neilriko are an example of character perpendicularism rather than character parallels 🤓👆

[glitterghost]

I shouldn't feel like crying while I'm eating cake... and yet..

[ceruleanblueshells]

I think my country deserves to heal. As a treat.

[somuchbetterthanthat]

someone stops me from just quitting my two jobs and disappearing on another continent only writing more and more insane post about jonelias to survive

[mysdrymmumbles]

hnnnnnnnngh must not buy $150 monster high doll...it is not worth it

[trckstergods]

working in medicine has me clinging onto kindness with a white knuckle grip

[drumlincountry]

If your life is horrible and you need a new source of meaning and direction.... Do NOT find religion. Learn to identify plants.

[xxscrabiesxx]

hey folks if you have an android phone: google shadow installed a "security app".

I had to go and delete it myself this morning.

[rowanisawriter]

this what im going thru rn. if anyone gaf

[pipebombgf]

gender-affirming surgery is a months-long dark comedy. what the fuck do you mean you're charging me double for everything. what do you mean they itemize the bill by left and right ball. what the fuck.

[codecicle-archive]

MY FAVORITE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS' PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE!!!!

[valdotpng]

an accomplice turned victim his apology, long overdue

[ruerock]

im sure someone already made a post about it but i came across a ublock origin add-on that blacklists around 950 AI websites and disables AI overview ☝️ so u can be free from seeing AI in your search

[miggylol]

Surprise! Tumblr just got turned into an epic fantasy RPG, just like [your favorite appropriate media franchise]. And the Tumblr RPG's plot needs to have all of its characters covered, in roles both large and small.

That means that you are assigned to a stereotypical RPG role inside our new fantasy world. Spin this wheel to find out what you are now doing for a living.