Hello Honeybuns!💜

sad sad ringmaster

Anyone else relate to Caine?

Like I've been seeing so many people say they relate to Jax but I almost never see anyone say they relate to Caine.

We saw in a promo video that he's scared of losing everyone to abstraction and he just wants to make everyone happy, even giving up a part of himself for them. When he’s finally excepted by the circus members he’s happier than he’s ever been.

I just think that Caine can be a pretty relatable character to some people, including myself.

And I just love Caine so you can call this a bit of an appreciation post for him and his character development throughout the series.

Alright, it's been a bit since the finale dropped and while I saw the Last Act in cinemas day one, I wanted to wait until after the final episode dropped for everyone before saying my piece.

I love the series. I loved the finale and everything that happened in it - barring one moment that was pointed out to me as being a little out of character - but still, I think everything that happened and how everything ended was done extremely well and left me a crying wreck multiple times.

After seeing thoughts from others, one that has stuck with me is the idea that the Amazing Digital Circus is a cautionary tale and honestly I think that's the best interpretation yet. While Pomni is the main character that we relate to as being someone trapped in the circus, Jax is the character presented to us as being the thing to be cautious of.

Jax is a fantastic fictional character but an awful person. They're a bully, they make light of everything, they don't anything seriously. They are a terrible person and even they admit this in the finale. They are an example of what happens when someone represses themselves to such a point that they hurt everyone around them, they close themselves off, they push people away, they refuse any kind of help, and as a result, their story ends tragically.

The montage accompanied by the song isn't to say that Jax was lovely, it's that could have been lovely if she had simply accepted herself for who she truly was. Jax was a terrible person, but she could have been lovely.

what's even more brilliant is that the series as a whole repeats this same sentiment with other characters in different ways.

Ragatha is an example of how being overly positive can sometimes be a bad thing. How trying to be nice and caring all the time can wear one down. How it can cause others to become exhausted and want to distance themselves from such a source. Ragatha tries so hard, but she ends up pushing people away, her own words, and Kinger even asks the most important question. Do you hate yourself and she doesn't give an answer implying that she does.

Gangle is an example of what happens when you wear a certain mask for too long, how it can change how you act around others, but how others perceive you, and that sometimes what you think might be a good thing, like the mask Zooble gives her, can actually end up backfiring horribly and only cause you more pain.

Zooble has body dysmorphia and has issues dealing with it, though over time, looks at their situation in a different way, thinking it's not so bad being able to change whenever, and in her conversation to Jax, even points out that if they do still have issues, they talk about things with the people they trust. Zooble faces their problems and does so with others rather than alone, while Jax does the opposite, isolating themselves and running away.

While Pomni starts the series a nervous wreck, she over time does become the strongest character, the person everyone can rely on because they have a good head on their shoulders, even when they make mistakes and feel bad for it, they don't stop moving forward in some ways. She does the best she can and never fails to be kind or to step up when the situation calls for it. She isn't perfect, but she does her best and that's all anyone can ask for. She is an example of who people should strive to be like.

And she's not the only one. Kinger offers words of wisdom and comfort numerous times. Zooble gives words of encouragement to Gangle and is always there to lend a hand if Gangle wants it. Despite Ragatha's toxic positivity, she is still a deeply caring person who wants everyone to be happy. While Gangle has many insecurities, she doesn't let that stop her from doing what she loves and can be seen drawing many times throughout the series.

Caine even gets some amazing growth, going from someone that doesn't understand humans to finally understanding them after being put in a situation of their own making where they did everything wrong. Yet instead of doing what Jax did, they analyzed what they did, took accountability for their actions, and started working towards ways to repair and improve upon what they destroyed, giving the humans control of the circus and not being this overbearing presence but one of them, he joins in the adventures, he lets them create adventures, he spends time with them to learn more about them. While he responded to their criticisms with violence, he ultimately took their words to heart and put in the effort to fix what was broken, becoming better in the process.

Is the series perfect? No, absolutely not. I wish we got more episodes. I wish some things were done a little differently here and there. Very few actual criticisms and more or less nitpicks if anything. But I still love this series and am so happy that less than a year ago I decided one evening to just finally give this weird looking show a try because I knew nothing of it except that a lot of other people like it. I never expected what it turned out to be and never expected to fall so deeply for it that it's made me incredibly sad that it's already over.

Like at best I can see Kinger only as a neglectful dad who prioritized his other children, thinking the first one would be fine

Because his first kid was different.

He neglected him his entire life, doesn’t seem to care or have any conflicting feelings about the fact that he doomed a sentient being, (and yes I know it was an accident but human beings still feel guilty or conflicted about things they cause by accident.)

He was ready to perform brain surgery on him, didn’t give a damn that he killed him during the attempted surgery and even calls him an “achievement.” But I guess it’s okay because they are fishing in the end credits?

These three are siblings

And these two are boyfriends

Rapidly shifting and shallow emotions - Self explanatory

Dramatic and extremely emotionally expressive, even to the point of embarrassing friends and family in public - Also self explanatory

Have a “larger than life” presence - I'd argue Qi Rong is extremely noticeable in any room he's in, for better or for worse

Physical appearance draws attention to themselves (bright-colored clothing or revealing clothing) - Qi Rong is mostly portrayed with bright green clothes that are worn improperly, so I'd argue this is accurate

Acts inappropriately sexual with most of the people they meet, even when they’re not sexually attracted to them - This one reminds me of when Qi Rong "flirted" with the wind master in the books, but can also refer to his weird sexual jokes in general

Speaks dramatically and expresses strong opinions but with few facts or details to support their opinions - Just most Qi Rong dialogue in general

Is gullible and easily influenced by others, especially by the people they admire - The whole Jun Wu thing, but this can also refer to Qi Rong's younger years with Xie Lian

Thinks that their relationships with others are closer than they usually are - Qi Rong with Xie Lian

Has difficulty maintaining relationships and often seems fake or shallow in their interactions with others - Self explanatory I feel

Needs instant gratification and becomes bored or frustrated very easily - Very characteristic of Qi Rong

Constantly seeks reassurance or approval - This mostly shows in backstory parts of the story, but I feel like it's relevant