We Analyze Golden

And this is where I put the chapter mark.

This will be a weird chapter, and the first chapter, where NOTHING from canon is carried over in the fic. Because Pomni's not here at all.

Why did we not clock in that these two are absolutely smitten for each other much sooner? Omg.

Genuine question, where did Zooble get this?

My assumption would be from Caine. And that's a sweet thought. Cause otherwise why would Caine give them a body part that looks suspiciously like Gangle's face?

I just noticed the 57 right here.

Why does Jax's voice sound very genuine when she says "I actually didn't mean to do that"

I love how it's canon that Ragatha is a sports girlie.

Given her appearance is a doll, you wouldn't think so if you were to judge a book by its cover.

But I love this for her.

This is the last episode that has this kind of intro at the start of it.

And that sucks. I miss this intro and the effort that was put into it.

There's a variation of it for Murder Drones too. I don't remember if they used it for Episode 7 & 8 or just 7.

Idk if I said this before. Maybe I did. But regardless, this is actually my second favorite episode of the entire show. It wasn't when it first premiered, but it's grown on me a lot.

My brain when I saw Bubble wearing the hat was "Oh they were trying to show that Bubble was the Blue AI all along"

"Did you remember to get my comedy mask?"

"...FUCK."

I admit, when I first watched this scene on premiere, my brain went to lesbian mode.

Like, "Oh wait oh my god are you flirting?"

Technically not. But maybe there is a part of me that does ship Pomni and Ragatha.

Back then, people were mad because Pomni didn't apologize to Ragatha for leaving her behind.

And then we got this apology scene and people shut up.

Every time I hear someone talk about their moment in the finale, it's always "This was not earned because we never saw their chemistry".

To that I say, the whole point of that scene in the finale was to validate Ragatha and that Pomni is finally properly expressing this to her.

And yes they do have moments and yes they do have scenes together. Throughout the entire show, actually. Why are we acting like they had nothing when this is clearly not the case?

I think the reason they said that was because of Episode 6 and us not seeing their talk after the show. Which I think that is valid. And I also kinda share that frustration.

Gooseworx said that what they talked about was the same thing Kinger told Ragatha. So it really would've just been a scene of rehashing something we already discussed in the same episode. And Episode 9 was there to kinda make up for not seeing that scene.

I got told by somebody once that "You're very strong Pomni" is a case of tell and not show, and that there's no evidence to back up that Pomni is strong in the entire show. AKA, she's actually weak.

IDK MAN THAT JESTER CAN USE A GUN WITH EASE

But in all seriousness, strength is not the ability to punch and kick and sick powers on their opponents. Strength, especially Pomni's strength is her emotional regulation and ability to keep going in spite of what she's going through.

That is what ACTUALLY makes a strong female character in my brain.

Sailor Moon for example. Yes she's one of the most powerful magical girls in anime. The character is not strong because of all her strong powers. She's strong because she is emotionally regulated enough to keep going in spite of all the trauma she endures. Which I think a lot of people forget about when it comes to Usagi as a character because on the surface she's "Oh crybaby lazy teenage girl". And that's the impression you get when you don't look into how much more there is to her than that.

Pomni frame.

And also, UGH, THIS TRACK IS SO GOOD OMG.

Such a good quote. One of the most iconic quotes of the entire show.

Did I address the bug thing yet? I think I did. I think I decided not to count it. Because it did lead to this and Kinger was genuinely a programmer.

As for another 'unanswered question' I hear people say this show has. "We never got explained what caused Kinger's memory loss when he's in the light"

Upon rewatch, I realize WE DID. It's just they answered that in a pretty subtle way.

He outright SAYS that the darkness brings him back to his last memory of his wife and that calms his brain enough to make him sane.

And they never address any possible outside force that would've caused Kinger's situation. Never implied that Caine caused it. (If it was I don't remember)

So PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER. They show he's sane when he entered the circus. He also talks about how low self esteem in Episode 6 from the things he's been through.

This is what intense PTSD and trauma does to a man. This is a side effect that can genuinely happen.

It WAS explained in the show. Just subtly.

They did not need to explicitly state "I have intense PTSD and trauma from my experiences in the circus and now my brain spirals when I'm in the light".

"TADC doesn't do show don't tell" MY ASS.

And you know what? This is not only designed as a direct parallel, but it also acts as foreshadowing for Episode 9.

Especially the question of "How did Pomni know this was something she could do?"

Kinger told her. Right here.

Maybe she didn't know she would dive into Jax's brain, but she knew that making the room dark would make Jax calm enough that she could touch her.