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amorelray · 5 months

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VORTEX - An Analysis

Season 1/Start of Season 2 Analysis: ❗Season 1 Spoilers Ahead❗

Disclaimer: All thoughts are my own personal interpretation and contain my own theories. Additionally, this post will be of a significant length.

Starting with the Opening Chorus:

Let it unfold Will howling tides give me something to hold? On to my life when I've sunken so low Over the end of the vortex we took every breath to follow Where do we go Where do we end up when we save the world Truth in the shadows so brightened in gold Place our fate into the ones aren't in control

Starting out the season, Cheng Xiaoshi's life has been completely flipped upside down. From Qiao Ling being possessed by the other power user to Lu Guang bleeding out on their living room sofa, CXS is utterly at a loss as his life has "sunken so low." In fact, it's almost assumed that CXS blames himself for much - if not all - of what's happened as he knows the mistakes he made in the past likely led to change what has unfolded in the present. At the beginning of the season, the line that seemed to stand out the most was, "Place our fate into the ones aren't in control." This is said and fades out as CXS is falling, falling, falling and being thrown around through the chaos and void of everything around him. It fades out before hearing the word "control" very clearly and almost sets this tune of "slipping away," as if what little control he did have previously is sliding right through his fingers.

Verse 1:

Stop A couple things undue Drop the fight and let it follow through Freeze just for a sec or two Breathe again in the world anew I guess that there was never such a thing Like everything's meant to be But I'mma win this silly game Until then I will never leave Take back all my regrets And camouflage it like your silhouette Time is like music Play it 'til the end and then reset Knowing it all am I destined to fall? Like once you did for me

This verse at the beginning of the season very much felt like a promise from CXS to LG. Especially with the lines, "Take back all my regrets," "But I'mma win this silly game," and "Knowing it all am I destined to fall? Like once you did for me." Each one of them seemed to double down time and time again on CXS's resolve to fix the problem he likely believes to have created. Throughout the verse, he's falling and the audience sees glimpses of him being tossed around once again and LG falling as well - like a mirror to CXS. It's like CXS is watching both of them plummet due to his own wrong doings. However, while these lyrics paint one picture, the actual animation seems to paint another. During this verse, it's shown that LG is the one falling alongside our antagonist and QL while she's possessed. By showing the audience this image alongside the lyrics it can be inferred that there's something else going on with LG regarding these characters. At the beginning of the season, it was likely heavily believed that it had to do with LG's life hanging in the balance. However, there always seemed to be a sinister undertone that the audience seemed to clue in on and want to understand.

Backwards Portion:

In the intro, everything goes forward and during this portion, it all goes backwards. As the song rolls into the distorted backward melody, the audience watches as CXS falls over and over again; back to the beginning. After the smallest touch from LG's hand, CXS is dropped back into the chaos the same way he might be when he enters a photo after a shared high-five. The audience watches as everything slips away from CXS, completely unable to grab or hold onto anything to stop him from falling all over again.

I'll go into more of the full song in the next section as I didn't actually listen to it until the end of Season 2.

Overall, I believed that we were about to see a season where CXS would desperately try anything and everything to save LG, but that it might all have slipped away from him at the last second. However, just as I discussed in my "Dive Back in Time - Analysis," I was severely mistaken by what was hidden underneath in both of these openers.

❗Season 2 Spoilers & More In-Depth Analysis Below❗

Season 2 Analysis: ❗Season 2 Spoilers❗

Once we received the knowledge that LG had dove back in time to save CXS, the way this opener was interpreted changed quite a bit as well. I don't believe it was as drastic as Season 1's "Dive Back in Time," but it certainly did change.

Verse 1:

Where, in the beginning, this verse seemed like a promise from CXS to LG, its script is nearly flipped as the audience discovers LG's secret. Once assumed to be CXS's words, it's almost certain that these are likely LG's instead or as well as CXS's. The word that really seems to prominently stick out is "undue." Why use that word? When first listening to the song, it's almost assumed that it's "undo" as in undoing the present or the past, unraveling something that was once almost certain. However, with the change of word, it changes this intention entirely. The way the word is used could imply 2 different things: 1. "A couple things undue" - Maybe a couple things that are excessive, inappropriate, or extreme that they have to deal with. Or... 2. "A couple things undue" - as in "not paid" or "not yet paid." This would be a good nod to the fact that LG had gone back in time to save CXS and his "death" is currently "unpaid." Additionally, the lyrics following: "Freeze just for a sec or two, Breathe again in the world anew," really seem to double down on that idea of CXS coming back and LG asking him to pause, wait, stay in the new world he created by going back in order to save CXS. However, once all of this starts unraveling again, LG seems to start questioning the world he created. "I guess that there was never such a thing, Like everything's meant to be." Reading the rest of the verse, it becomes increasingly more clear that this is more likely from LG's perspective and reflecting back on what is currently happening in their lives along with the decision that he made to go back and try it all over again. "Like once you did for me," really seems to seal the idea and theory that LG wanted to sacrifice himself in place of CXS at the top of Season 2.

Verse 2:

Back to me I know that you can track it back to me No matter who and what and when intertwined dive back in time The truth will remember our legacy Wasn't it hard to follow? I'd do it again tomorrow It drag me down and drag me down Maybe we'll never leave Like trying to bend water Why would you even bother Time is like music Now you know I've got to kill it Wanting it all And the whole world will crumble and fall

"Back to me, I know that you can track it back to me," immediately tips off that this entire verse desperately has to be from LG's POV. As it might have been assumed early in the season that "I know that you can track it back to me," could point towards CXS's mistakes from the previous season, knowing what LG did, this has to be about that. At the end of the day, LG knows that the choice he made to save CXS is the main node in this current timeline; and therefore, all of this can be tracked back to him and that one decision he made to go back. The next two lines heavily imply that LG knows that despite what happens in this timeline, the truth remembers their legacy (assumed LG & CXS). It's almost as if he's recognizing that this timeline might not be the truth, but that outside of this one lived experience, the galaxy, stars, truth will always remember what he and CXS were always meant to be and the true lives they were meant to carry. By stating this, it leads the audience to believe that there is in fact a true or correct timeline and that it's possible LG knows what it is. The following four lines, starting with: "Wasn't it hard to follow?" and ending with "Maybe we'll never leave," really reiterates that LG does not, under any circumstance, regret the decision that he made to go back. He may have broken his rule, but there's no remorse in doing so. LG also recognizes that the choice he made is nearly fruitless. "Like trying to bed water, Why would you even bother?" LG knows that it makes no sense that he even tried, but he talks about "Wanting it all" even though he knows that it would make "...the whole world will crumble and fall." Overall, this whole verse feels like LG basically saying a huge "fuck you" to the universe and expressing that he will do anything to ensure that a timeline where CXS is alive and well will exist.

Chorus:

By the end of the season, this chorus could easily be seen from LG's POV as well. "Let it unfold," - is this about the timeline/future that he's trying to see play out? The howling tides could be a nod towards all of the hard times they're going through as it might not be the best, but at least it's something - a timeline where CXS is alive, at least giving LG something to hold. Then, noting that his life has "sunken so low," likely because of how LG's life has dwindled to a place that he's just so desperately trying to save CXS that nothing else matters anymore. There's questions he seems to have for when they manage to set everything right and are allowed to move on. Where do they go from there? Everything LG will have fought for will have petered out and he sounds as if he might feel a little lost. Is he worried that CXS won't need him when they've managed to make everything right? "Truth in the shadows so brightened in gold." This line really feels like it's about CXS. The audience knows that CXS's eyes change to "gold" when he jumps in a picture. So, this line could possibly be LG pointing out that all of the "truth" that can be found is hidden, but may be found via CXS. As if he might be the key to "setting the truth right." Which leads to the final line of the chorus: "Place our fate into the ones aren't in control." Hearing this and knowing what place LG is in during the entire season, it could be inferred that he's placing their fate in CXS's hands and while he appeared to be the one "in control" during the season, he truly wasn't. Thus, placing their fate into the hands of someone not in control.

Closing Stanza:

I've held promises unbroken Even when the night has fallen Shattered mirrors our reflection Should you keep the light on reason I've held promises unbroken Shattered mirrors our reflection

It would be hard to believe that this could be anyone's POV except LG's after the end of Season 2. He's held many, many promises, rules, ideals- unbroken even in the hardest of situations. LG is presented time and time again throughout both seasons as a stickler for the rules. By doing this, it created a narrative for something like this: "I've held promises unbroken, Even when the night has fallen." While simultaneously creating a human aspect about him and allowing him to make a "human" mistake and become a "hypocrite" by breaking his own ideals to go back and save CXS. Thus, potentially leading to the next 2 lines: "Shattered mirrors our reflection, Should you keep the light on reason" LG recognizes that the shift and changes in the timeline has, in fact, "shattered" their reflection. It's almost alluded to that he's aware of the changes and multiple timeline parallels; and its even hinted at that this timeline might not even be the second or third one that he's lived through to try and save CXS. Additionally, when first listening to the line, it's curious that it's not written/sang in such a way that it sounds like "Shattered mirrors. Our reflection," as if indicating shattered mirrors being their reflection, but that "shattered" is what mirrors their reflection. Thus, giving a slightly different idea/feel to the line. It really helps drive home the idea/theory that there are multiple timelines and LG has potentially gone back and experienced a handful of them in order to bring them to the current present time. It helps the audience gauge that there's likely more information that LG knows that has been unrevealed and that the time-traveling theories are much wilder and more vast than originally imagined from Season 1. After notating the shattered reflection, the next line could be a question LG asks himself. Is it worth it to hold onto the ideals and rules when everything has shattered beyond a point he might believe to be irreparable? Is it worth it when CXS's life is on the line? How much longer should he hold onto reason while he's actively committed and continues to commit hubris in regard to their fate?

Final Thoughts:

A couple of things to note before I officially close. 1. The final "Let it unfold" feels like a call LG is making to the void/timeline. Asking for it all to show itself. To be the way it should be/he wants it to be. He's desperate to see the final outcome to the onslaught of choices and hard decisions he made to get there. 2. The line, "Over the end of the vortex we took every step to follow," really intrigued me. Looking it up, "the end of a vortex" is an actual space that exists. It's: - The phenomenon when under some conditions the vortex core deviates from the axis of the cyclone separator and attaches to the wall, where it rotates at some level above the bottom of the separator. & A flow instability that plays a crucial role in cyclone design and operation. By reading this, it's incredibly interesting to think of the fact that LG potentially believes that they've been existing and following this "experimental" space within the vortex of time. They're following this phenomenon that's still being experimented on, studied, and understood in regards to water vortexes - let alone, time-travel. It's not something that is concrete or has sound science backing it, yet, LG seems to be experimenting on his own. I believe it's interesting that this phrase was chosen potentially for this very reason. LG has likely been "experimenting" with the timeline in order to come to the end of his intended conclusion regarding CXS's life in this [time] space that is entirely unknown and untested. He's been taking them down this route and keeping them in a space that is not only unstudied but also unknown and completely unstable. Overall, I think this song really doubles down on a lot of the theories going around regarding LG and CXS, but also gives us hints and insight into information that we might not know yet as the audience. There are certain words and keyphrases used in these lyrics that really seem to tip the audience off to deeper and more profound theories that I cannot wait to see unravel in later seasons!

For those of you who made it to the end, thank you for listening to my ramblings. I love this show so much and was really excited to do a deep dive analysis on both VORTEX and Dive Back in Time! I think this show is beautifully well done and I cannot wait to see more!📸💙

& if you haven't read the Dive Back in Time Analysis and liked this one, you should check it out!

That's all for now! Thanks again for reading!😊💙

#link click spoilers #link click #link click season 1 #link click season 2 #link click brainrot #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #show analysis #song analysis #analysis #my writing #i may have forgotten some stuff #oopsie #oops im rambling #oops i did it again #i spent way too long on this

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carbon8tion · 6 months

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Garshield, Kageyama, and Kidou

I feel like Kidou (Yuuto's adoptive father, who I will be refering to as "Kidou" throughout this, and Yuuto as "Yuuto" to avoid confusion.) isn't exactly a good guy. That's obvious, given his status in society and connections to Kageyama, but I never really see anyone talk about how much influence he has, and still does, on Yuuto- or what his actual goal may be, and who he's working with.

He and Kageyama are close- and that's a probelm since Kageyama had been working with Garshield ever he sabotauged the bus to disqualify Raimon 40 years before the events of the OG season. I shouldn't have to elaborate on who Garshield is, i'm sure you all know. When did the two meet, I can't help but wonder- perhaps Kidou's a Teikoku alumni, but... I think it's a bit deeper than that. I think Garshield is a far bigger threat than we thought, and has influenced the events of the plot, and the life of one of our most beloved protags- FAR more than we could ever believe, and i'll be elaborating on it here.

Kidou's father trusts Kageyama enough to let him take his son on trips around the world to see how other cultures play soccer, (this was flavor text in IE3, I cannot find a screenshot of it.) In Everyday+ both Kidou and Kageyama state that the whole reason Kidou's with Kageyama is so he can learn leadership, learn to rise to the top.

That in itself is self-explanatory, as to why Kidou's left Yuuto in Kageyama's care. Kidou put's an awful lot of trust in Kageyama, enough to where, even when Kidou transfers to Raimon and Kageyama is arrested for his crimes- he CONTINUES to sponsor him and the school in Ares, because Kageyama's methods get results. Now, Ares is a seperate timeline, but alot of the lore of Kidou Zaibatsu established in it carried over to Everyday+, such as Hakamada, and Kidou Zaibatsu owning multiple companies, so it's safe to assume everything that Kidou does in Ares, he'd also do in the original timeline.

When Yuuto asks to transfer to Raimon, Kidou allows it, because he loves Yuuto, and is proud to see him grow into someone who can forge his own path. That's a great quality in a leader, to break past the influence of another and overcome them. Despsite Kidou not being a very good person in my personal opinion, he still loves his son, and that can't be ignored. Kageyama has taught Yuuto all he can, and now it's up to Yuuto to continue honing his abilities. (And Kidou himself, and Yuuto's personal tutors.)

Kidou shows upset at having left Yuuto in Kageyama's care, having not done much to raise him on his own. There's alot that Yuuto needs to learn to be a successfull heir, he brings Yuuto to enough company functions and has him focus on his studies, hire tutors for him, and encourages growth to where he can be without Kageyama's help- but... that's the problem here.

The company functions. The parties, they go to them often. In Ares it's revealed one of Kidou Zaibatsu's companies is Kidou Heavy Industries- lots of vehicles, lots of.... gas.

Lots of... oil.

And who's s aid to be the #1 supplier of oil in the world, who just so happens to be Kageyama's employer?

Garshield.

Garshield is very interested in soccer, and had Kageyama use his experimental program on Demonio- who he turned into a copy of Yuuto. Perhaps that was just Kageyama's own influences at play and not Garshield's, but... Kidou was likely employed under Garshield as well. He needs that oil, and he plays along with Kageyama, and shows interest in soccer. Kidou, like everyone else, wants to be on top, to succeed- so he'll work with those who will help him achieve that, which is why he adopted Yuuto, because of Garshield's weird plans to take over the world with soccer. Yuuto's skills in the sport were the main reason for his adoption, after being scouted by Kageyama- it wasnt based on IQ, or behavior, or personality, or even family- it was soccer.

He even gave Yuuto an insentive to play, taking him away from the only family he had left, Haruna. He and Kageyama knew that the only thing Yuuto had to connect with his family would be soccer, if they took him seperately, so they did- that way he'd have that much more motivation to play. By the looks of it, since Yuuto never tried to contact Haruna, he may have not been ALLOWED to contact her, so that he can become more and more invested in winning, in soccer, in developing those leadership and sports skills.

With how important Kidou Zaibatsu obviously is to Kidou, and how important it will end up being to Yuuto... In GO, he's letting Yuuto play soccer in the pro leagues. You'd think Kidou would have pushed him into the family bussiness by then, with how adamant he was about it in his teens- but he's not. Because that's not the only way torwards success in this world Akihiro Hino created. Soccer has become politics now, and Yuuto's not only a big name in the soccer world, with keychains of him canonically being sold in stores, he's got his foot in the bussiness, financial, and even political world too now, with the Resistance and Kidou Zaibatsu.

There's only one person I can think of who wanted to make soccer politics, and had the money, power, influence, and people to make it happen, to have the insane idea to try and take over the world using it....

Garshield.

Garshield sowed the seeds, and even though he's not the one reaping the glory, theres still people out there carrying out his mission, because that's where all the money is, and thats where the POWER is- in soccer. Laws get changed because of soccer, children are turning into mutants because of soccer, like Garshield predicted when he started experimenting on players, he knew the potential this stupid little ball game and it's players had and wanted to capitalize on it the best he could. He isn't completely out of the picture, either- his people took Kageyama's life.

The question of who gave Kageyama's life back, however, is lost on me, but I have a theory that it may have been the man who he worked with to create his "ultimate creation".

To sum it up: Kidou Yuuto is a direct product of Garshield's vision. He has the potential to be a very, very big threat to the world. Garshield's dream of taking over the world with soccer is very tangible, and the impact of soccer can be seen in Chrono Stone and soccer being the one thing deciding the fate of the galaxy in Galaxy. The UNIVERSE is literally based on soccer, Earth was just REALLY late to the party. (But truth be told, i'm not thinking that big, i'm more concerned about how the people on earth are being affected in our original trio's lifetime.)

With that said, I think our beloved protag Kidou Yuuto ends up having alot more to do with the politicalization of soccer in his lifetime than we think, he has the money, he has the power, and he has the influence of people who didn't have very good intentions with the sport.

....Thank god he has Endou to keep him on the right path.

Victory Road is a sequel to GO, it's considered canon, I believe. We don't know any of the story yet, but if Kidou Yuuto doesn't play a part in it, i'm going to be very dissapointed.

#inazuma eleven #inazuma eleven go #kidou yuuto #inazuma eleven theory #i hope this makes sense i spent way too long working on it oops #im not very good at structuring writing and stuff like this so i hope my points are flowing properly and its coherant

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