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wachinin · 3 days ago

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everything in this show is symbolism and its driving me insane.

the choir performance is meant to represent societal norms/heteronormative standards and just a general sense of harmony and belonging. which neither yoshiki nor “hikaru” feel. the fact that the classes performance was kind of criticized by hara in previous episodes but the day that the two are gone they sing it perfectly. their duet in the end symbolizing not only them literally mixing together, but also their combined sense of isolation and otherness. its something they both share, yoshiki because of his queerness and “hikaru” because of his monstrous nature. the fact that the choir singing stops at “dear friend-“ when yoshiki stabs him. the fact that the phone lies on the ground with the screen cracked with the two characters on the sides. its all showing just how different the two are from everyone else but also their connection from that.

their positioning in this scene is also so interesting because there’s the obvious visual element of the light separating them at first and then dimming as both of them sacrifice something of themselves to be on even ground. but also the fact that “hikaru” is on the bed with his hand outstretched while yoshiki is on the floor on his knees, which to me looked like slight religious imagery/symbolism? (honestly just the vibe i got) that could also tie in with the set up of “hikaru” being the “god” that the people of the village used to worship (which is going to be a pretty hard come down after it’s revealed hes not) and even his reaction after yoshiki stabbed him i feel was implying his whole wish granting ability.

also this scene is so important and also an insane (in a good way) anime only addition because this is “hikaru” reacting to yoshiki’s wish for “hikaru” to kill him, rather than reacting to yoshiki wanting to kill him. in the manga the background words included things like “he hates me he dont need me no more!” but in this scene his breakdown is because of his promise to do anything yoshiki asked conflicting with his own feelings of not wanting to kill him. its a slight change but it also conveys a TOTALLY different internal conflict.

also in these scenes i love how it portrays yoshiki more as the “scary one”. just the parallels of “hikaru” making himself more human by tearing out a piece of himself while yoshiki succumbs more to the mixing by giving up a part of his human morals/humanity (literally the light going out from his eyes). and the tendrils engulfing him at the end could obviously symbolize them mixing but also like a projection of their fears maybe? the uncertainty of not knowing what “hikaru” is and that he is still potentially dangerous despite everything. i think it could also be a thing of him losing control of hikarus body because he just gave up a part of himself (he basically said as much in the manga so again foreshadowing?) ALSO the shot of him looking scared and then glitching out into his “half monster” form makes me think that maybe he also doesn’t want to find out what he is because doing so would just solidify the fact that he is different and not human. as of now both of them have tried to pretend that he is human because they could at least be together that way, but excepting that they are fundamentally different could break that (is this a reach? i dont know man i am losing it.) both of them are on a mutually self destructive collision course and i have no clue what will come out of it but its insane and making me feel things.

why cant the curtains just be blue for once /j

#the summer hikaru died

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wachinin · 5 days ago

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I think a reason I’ve seen so many people say that we know nothing about Helena or Hellyna doesn’t seem like a lead is because her story is a lot more subtle and showed in camera angles,facial expressions and connecting Helly’s behavior to Helena’s. You can tell Helly is a manifestation of Helena’s barely contained rage if you take Helly’s behavior and connect it to the fact that Helena always seems to have an angry expression on her face,or how she scrunches her nose in disgust or anger every time she says something positive about Lumon showing she clearly doesn’t actually like saying this.

Or look at how Helena looks down seemingly in shame at saying “I know you’re unhappy with the life that you’ve been given but sometimes we have to accept reality” or if you put together that Helena isn’t laughing at the Kier story to be a show off or to try to be like Helly but that she’s struggling to hold in her laughter during that whole scene before bursting out laughing. (Which she immediately apologizes for doing) or how even before she laughs she’s looking at everyone like the story is ridiculous while everyone is ridiculous. She seems to genuinely think that is ridiculous she’s not faking that at all. And you have to pay attention to word choice and people’s actions around Helena. During the OTC when Helly is Helena, she is being guided around that party told not to drink being placed in front of people with talking points subtly pushed at her and clearly being watched even when she’s alone because they knew she was in the bathroom, or how Natalie is tracking how much Helena is drinking and making sure she doesn’t drink too much. Or how Natalie does not leave the stage while Helena is giving her speech. Making sure everything stays proper. She could’ve only tackled her from onstage.

Or even the scene with Jame in the bathroom. Jame seems like he is complimenting her sure. And of course we don’t get their full dynamic without Helena there to react to him but watch how Jame interacts with her. He says he cried in his bed when he found out what happened to Helena but yet? He didn’t know for a full week? He made Helena keep going back? He didn’t even fire Cobel himself for it? No. He just tells her Kier would approve of her. He seems to be more angry at Helly for expressing bodily autonomy than at Helena’s safety. And then the story he tells about her? It’s about her approving of a Lumon invention as a child.

You have to listen to Helena speak at the gala on that video too. Listen to the words she says.

“My Dad would like to me to say” she doesn’t call her father Dad. She calls him father. First hint this is all fake. They’re trying to make her seem more personable.

Helena saying her father made her say the nine principles every night before bed (remind anyone of prayers before bed every night? I did them as a child) Lumon is a religion Helena was raised in.

(Helena about saying the nine principles every night) “Which I can’t say I always did so happily.” Child Helena didn’t like saying the nine principles. Does that mean she’s never been a believer even as a child? Is that why she’s so heavily watched and controlled?

The apology video. First of all. Her facial expressions when she’s first about to do it. She looks anxious. Unsure of herself. She’s fixing her outfit. Looking to Natalie for guidance. Pasting a fake smile on her face.

Not to mention. The framing. Helena is taking up less than half the screen. Then in comes Natalie. The hand of Lumon. Filling the whole screen. To press record.

Then let’s dissect the apology speech. An arm rash? We can see Helena’s full arms. In the video and throughout the party. Is this subtle rebellion done by Helena? Saying a lie that’s provably false?

After the video. Helena collapses. And looks down for a while and her face while she looks almost completely dissociated fills the screen now. This is the real Helena. This face right now. Does she not want to be doing this? Doesn’t seem like she does.

Jame. The fetid moppet scene. He was so pleased with her before. Creepy as he is. He was pleased. He’s not pleased anymore. He knows that wasn’t her. He knows that was Helly. But he still gets in her face. (Helena tears back) and calls her a fetid moppet. Which means “Dirty child” The innies are thought of as children. Is he saying Helena is now dirty because Helly is in her? Interesting how he was willing to sever his own daughter if he thinks it makes her dirty. Does he not really care about her? Unless she’s useful to him?

Let’s also talk about Helena during before and after that scene.

Helena is standing there. Looking out the window. Holding her neck. Is it a control thing? A fear thing? I don’t know. But I find it interesting how she’s grasping right where the bruise inflicted upon her in the elevator is.

Next, when Jame comes in the room she stands at attention. And waits until he comes towards her and says what he needs to say. She lets him put himself in her face. And rears back in fear.

Then after that something interesting happens. Not sure exactly what to make of it. Helena looks him dead in the eyes. And says. “Father” and Jame looks horrified and leaves. I’m not sure what to make of that there. But it’s interesting for Jame to go “Fetid moppet” which means dirty child. And Helena responds by looking him in the eyes and (seemingly) reminding him she’s HIS child. Is this implying she’s saying “Yes but I am your child” is this an attempt from her to throw his insult back at him in a way that won’t get her punished?

Then yes Irving. Let’s do Irving. Irving finds her out. Partly because of his dream and partly because imo Helena had the hardest time pretending around him. Understandably to be honest. He is an older man with gray hair. Just like her father whose she’s been taught to see as a threat. There’s a few instances where it’s clear she may think of her father when thinking of him

With the hand thing here. Jame does the same to Helly.

Then here. At the waterfall when he confronts her, she reacts in the same exact way that she does to Jame during the fetid moppet scene. She rears back.

Alright. The scene where Helena gets sent back down. Drummond says he and Natalie will not tell Jame about Helena’s “contretemps” since we learn later in the scene that Jame does know Helena was found out to be Helly we can assume the contretemps is how she behaved during the ORTBO. The laughing at Kier and sex with Mark as that is the only other significant event recently. This shows us that while Drummond and Natalie are true believers of Kier seemingly they are willing to keep secrets for Helena. Why we do not know but it’s an interesting development. This is also seemingly given as the reason why Helena may not speak to her father about the ORTBO. (Which side note the fact that she seemingly has to ask permission to speak to her own father that she lives in the same house with? Interesting)

I also find it interesting how Natalie seemingly tries to comfort Helena by saying she’s almost done and she can do this. Seemingly already aware Helena is not happy to be being severed. This comes before Helena even says she doesn’t want to come back down. So Natalie is already aware of this information.

Then. When Helena says she will not go back down there. Natalie laughs at her. Seemingly not in a mocking way as that is subjective but to me it feels more incredulous rather than mocking as if Helena saying no to something is just not possible so Natalie finds it kinda funny and weird that Helena says no. So Helena reminds them she almost died. And Drummond and Natalie do seem to get slightly uncomfortable at that fact but they do not waver. They basically tell her that’s not an option. To say no. Helena sits with that. Grimaces. And asks if her father agrees with this. And Drummond. Seemingly with sympathy in his eyes. Says her father encouraged it. And then she goes downstairs. As they discuss how Lumon thanks her for her sacrifice. What is she sacrificing you should ask yourself. Her safety. Maybe even her life. For what? Cold Harbor. We still don’t know for sure what Cold Harbor truly is. But they are willing to sacrifice the Eagan Heir for it.

Then the swim clock. They show us a the clock ticking by as she swims. Now swim clocks aren’t super weird it’s how laps are timed. But it does make me wonder if the swimming recreational? Or forced. Not to mention how she floats and her similarity to the toy Ms Huang has which is later broken.

The transition as Helena walks down the halls. The water stays on her for a full six seconds. That’s a while. Is she drowning? The symbolism makes me wonder.

The house. White walls. Don’t these look like the halls of the severed floor? Feels very similar to me.

The egg scene. Jame sits there. And watches Helena cut up this egg in an ornate fashion. He’s either meaning or making a disapproving sound. I think it’s a disapproving sound but this is subjective. He Sticks his lip out at her and fixes his coffee cup. So Helena then says “We’re seeing to Mr Bailiff” to break the silence. (was Helena involved in sending Burt after Irving in a hope he’d save Irving? We’ll find out I assume) Jame’s response? “I wish you’d take them raw” Creepy double entendre. Did he means raw eggs like Kier? Or. Did he mean something more sinister. Are we supposed to get creepy horrifying sexual undertones here? I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the intention. Feels like that.

And Helena responds by putting her fork down. And not eating anymore. Smiling as Jame leaves. She’s rebelling. She’s doing yet another little rebellion.

Helena seems to be a master of small little rebellions that don’t get her punished. Understandable given her upbringing.

And then. The final scene where we learn about Helena. The Jame and Helly scene. Where he outright tells Helly he doesn’t love Helena and he implies he prefers Helly to her. Says Helly reminds him of Kier. And tells her he’s created other heirs. Backup heirs. And most importantly, he says his entire reason for having children is to see Kier in them. And he saw Kier in Helena as a child. But he stopped seeing him as Helena became an adult. But he sees Kier in Helly. And we’ll find out what that means.

Basically. Tl;dr we learn ALOT about Hellyna. Helena’s backstory is sure a mystery still. But her present? Why Helly is the way she is? We learn a lot. And her storyline certainly is not just about Mark. It’s much more complicated than that. Mark is a part of her story of course. But she also has one all her own. And they gave us a lot to think about in season 1&2 regarding them.

(I already made this post on one of @kestrel-of-herran posts but I thought I would repost it as its own post.

#severance #hellyna #helena eagan #helly r

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