#once again I'd like to blame utena for this insane level of parallel noticing

[heart-stomper]

Embracing the Fall, Why Anne will Fall in the Season 3 Finale

Three stars burning bright / Come from beyond to expel the night / Should they fight or embrace the fall / Their choice will determine all

Time to talk about Reunion and True Colors. Starting with the parallels between Sprig and Sasha, Grime and Marcy, and Andrias and Anne, and how their choices reflect who they are.

Anne had the Plantars by her side, but failed save Sasha. While Andrias was alone, but managed to toss out Sprig.

Sasha chose to fall to in order to protect her friend. While Andrias chose to drop Sprig in order to hurt his(Sprig’s) friends.

Grime saves Sasha. And Marcy saves Sprig.

But Grime solidifies the rift between Anne and Sasha, and only saves her due to his personal connection with her. While Marcy saves Sprig to reunite him with his family, whether or not Anne will forgive her. 

Antagonist Parallels, & the Cycle of The Plantars

Polly and Sprig both have moments where one of the antagonists (Andrias and Sasha respectively) try to kill them. Keep in mind that Anne tries to kill both Sasha and Andrias in True Colors, and that both girls have tried to off one of their biggest foils. (Grimesy if you see MarMar RUN.)

Like Andrias does to Sprig, Hop Pop is dangled over the edge by Grime. However, Grime is the one who falls.

Sprig has his own “grab the calamity box” heroic moment when he confronts Sasha. Him standing up to her serves the same purpose as Polly growing legs: showing how the Plantars have Anne’s back. 

Which means, Hop Pop might get a fake out with one of the season 3 antagonists, perhaps Anne (or one of the other girls) pretending to be loyal to the bad guys. Hop Pop will also play a pivotal role in momentarily impeding the antagonists plot. With Polly being the one who incites the final “fall”... perhaps by choosing to jump.

Refusing to Fight and Embracing the Fall 

Because you weren’t just a jerk. You also inspired us.

- Anne, The Third Temple

The companions have a lot of meanings worth exploring but I’ll just address the most relevant one to this analysis: that the girls companions give you insight into what they need to “embrace” to “repel the night”. Sasha needs the humility to let go and listen, Marcy needs to take responsibility and stop hiding, and Anne... Anne needs to be persistent about what she wants from herself and others, instead of sending mixed signals and giving in.

The power of tears, AKA love. With this bit of (what I’m assuming is foreshadowing), it’s time to talk about Anne and The Night.

The Night will be the antagonist of season 3. They are a metaphor for our darkest instincts, corrupted intentions, and our toxicity. Of our arrogance, irresponsibility, and desire to give up. The girls have a choice: continue to fight like those before them(Andrias and his friends), or embrace the fall(accept positive change). Sasha’s fall was night, Marcy’s was dusk/dawn, and Anne’s will be day. Specifically it will be the daylight that “casts out the night”, the moment all three stars burn brightest: together. The Beginning.

Symbolically, The Night can never truly be defeated because your best intentions will always be capable of harm. They’re a part of you. It’s only through shining a light on yourself and refusing to look away, through trust, time, and honesty with yourself and with those around you, that you’re capable of holding it at bay. The Night is a relationship broken. It fails to acknowledge and grow with those around it. Anne can’t defeat it alone, but she also won’t submit to it by letting it corrupt her like Andrias did.

Andrias & The Night will manage to regain the calamity powers. Anne might even die. Because what repels the night comes from beyond, perhaps in more ways than one. If Andrias turns to revenge because of the betrayal his friends? Anne will do everything she can to save her friends. She loves them. She won’t give up on them, no matter what. Not because she’s a pushover, not because she’d forgive them if they refused to change, but because she refuses to hurt them, and won’t allow herself to be consumed by hatred. Even if things look hopeless and impossible. Having the humility, responsibility, and persistence to reconcile is the only way to repel The Night. The cycle of toxicity can only be stopped if everyone is willing to embrace the fall.

So, Anne falls.