#analysis request

We don’t know how we feel about discussing Rhett and Link’s deaths. Even when it's a topic they are talking about. It feels so big. Too big for little Tumblr people to write about. Though,  this concept is disquieting and makes our hearts want to burst from our chest in revolt, we both sit back in reflection of mortality. On the one hand, we don’t want to let this thought enter our worlds, but on the other, we are in a never ending race with death. It is always at our heels, trying to trip us up and trying to take us down. It is inevitable that as soon as we are born, we are that much closer to death. So it is with heavy hearts that we have decided to continue forward.  We have discussed and have decided that in light of the fact that these are real-life people that we respect and admire and this is a very serious topic, we will try our best to tread lightly.

The conversation about “Link’s funeral tape” begins at 5:00, but even so, Rhett is still genuinely laughing – shown by his open body language and his full body laughs. He is still maintaining eye contact with Link as he jokes with him.

But as the episode progresses, you can see that it starts to bother Rhett. By 05:29 his body language changes and you can see he is getting uncomfortable. We’ve discussed Rhett’s tells before in our first post here. Suffice it to say, that when Rhett experiences a surge of emotion, he fidgets, touches his face, beard and hair, rubs the desk and is generally ready to jump out of his skin.

At 05:31 he’s starts rubbing his forehead, looking away and reprimands Link, saying:  “Don't make this your funeral tape, man!”

When Link continues, Rhett starts covering his face with his hand (05:36), touching his mouth and doesn’t make eye contact. Rhett explains to Link that this tape could be really morbid. At 05:42 Rhett says: “You could die young and this would be really sad”  and “Think about it, the ironic tears that will be being shed right now.” Rhett’s voice and demeanor has changed. Where before his voice was higher and energized and playful, it’s lower now. Softer. Somber. Then, whatever Rhett was trying to avoid, happened.

Unlike Link, Rhett knows what it's like to almost lose his best friend. This isn’t a foreign concept for him. Rhett has experienced almost losing Link when they were younger, approximately 16 years ago. This memory probably resurfaced in Rhett’s subconscious mind, flooding him with similar emotions. Rhett knows that death (or serious permanent injury) can be a reality. Link doesn't live in that world because he doesn’t remember the accident. But that's another analysis for another time (Full analysis to come).

As the discussion continues, Rhett’s fidgety behavior intensifies. Looking anywhere but at Link or the camera and still chuckling with nervous laughter (05:44). He is touching his mouth and then starts his ‘tell’, which is beard stroking (05:55)

Link makes light of his funeral, saying:  “We have to find a way to laugh through this”(05:57). Rhett just responds with a “hmmm”. Face grim, rubbing his mouth and looking away with no funny comment to make.

When Link moves on with a joke, saying he’s starting to get sad at the thought of his own death, Rhett responds with a very gravelly “oh really (6:04).The emotion is clouding his voice, but Rhett takes the opportunity to move on with a laugh as things were too heavy.

While we went into this analysis looking for unshed tears, what we came upon was so much sadder. On of the biggest indicator of Rhett’s emotions concerning the death of his best friend happen at time stamps: 06:07 with this exchange.

Link: “I’m dead, man. You’re not sad?! “

Rhett: “Not here and now. I’ll be de--I’ll be sad.”

Rhett almost says: “I’ll be dead”, but changes it quickly to: “I’ll be sad.” This is a major Freudian slip. Rhett’s first instinct to Link being dead, is that “I would be dead too”.

This statement says a million things in one tiny stutter. It highlights the profound emotional bond Rhett has for Link. His deep inner love seeping through the cracks.

It also highlights their interdependent relationship. They live for each other and because of each other. They have moved and followed each other because they couldn’t live without the other by their side. They have professed that “I’m doing this show for you.” They make a show that they themselves can enjoy. It is their baby and their life. Their relationship is based on their creative process and on forming and shaping ideas and concepts together. As a team.

So, if Link is gone, where does that leave Rhett? In Rhett’s mind, buried deep, it leaves him with nothing. This shows not only the sadness, but the emptiness Rhett would feel. We truly believe that the stuttered “dead” is the word that was truly meant to be said.

It reminds us of the quote “There ain't no me, if there ain't no you.”  Because without Link there is no Rhett. The story would unravel. The timeline would end. Without Link, there is just a Rhett and blank. This idea is most unsettling of all.  

So was it just a slip of the tongue? It could be argued, yes. But then Rhett repeats the same line at 06:14 when Link asks if Rhett will be at the funeral and they both stutter over each other.

Link: “But you’ll be there?”

Rhett: “But I’ll already be dead.”

What on Earth does he mean by this and why does he repeat himself? We are leery to discuss this topic further. The feelings this brings up are too sad and these are real people we’re talking about. We will silence our own theories and let you make your own assumptions at this point.

Rhett makes the comment that “Now if we're really old this will be good stuff.” (06:15) Rhett doesn’t mind the thought of them being old men together and dying after they have had a big life. But he can’t handle the thought of his best friend dying before they have had a chance to do everything that they have set out to do. Thinking of a future with just himself is heartbreaking. Not heartbreaking - unbearable. Rhett has already experienced a terrible 24hrs where he thought that he’d have to do that. And now this moment is bringing him back to that place. The place where he had to imagine what his life would be without Link. It is an impossible thing.  

At 06:33 Jason asks: “Why do you think Link is gonna die first?”

Link answers immediately: “I will.”

Rhett adding: “He’s more accident prone.”

Its at this point where Rhett becomes his most fidgety. The mostly calm and collected man starts moving all over the place. Link however seems oblivious and just grins as he says: “But it will be entertaining.”

Link doesn’t even realize the storm that is brewing in Rhett’s mind. He doesn’t answer Link’s ‘my-entertaining-death’ statement straight away. He looks down, licks at his lips and stares at the camera before letting out an awkward breathy laugh. And there is a beat before what Link said registers in Rhett’s mind. Link dying being entertaining?

There is disbelief in Rhett’s voice as he asks: “When you die?” He stares and then shakes his head as if he can’t believe Link would say that.

As Link responds with: “Yep, that’s my final wish. Go out with a laugh.” Rhett continues to fidget, leans back in his chair, strokes the table.

Rhett gives a half-hearted “Alright” and wipes at his eye (06:51). This is the point the anon was making, that it looks like Rhett had tears. Now, we can’t make out if he was crying or not, but we can just show what he does. It looks like he wipes at his eye and then there is an audible sniff. His voice sounds emotional and he resumes fidgeting, rubbing the desk, moving his mug playing with his hair, his face.

When Link continues, it seems that Rhett isn’t paying attention. Link says: “Boy, how sad is this? Salisbury Steak-”

Rhett doesn’t seem to be listening. Rather is just looking at his mug and offers a “hmm”.

As Link talks about Salisbury Steak, Rhett finally turns to look at Link, starting to listen to the story. When Link explains that the Doctor recommends eating the steak three times a day, Rhett finally laughs and says: “Whoa, I like this Doctor.” Though he laughs, the light hasn’t quite come back to his eyes and his voice isn’t back to normal.

Rhett starts to interact and the fidgeting lessens. Though he continues to play with the hair at the back of his neck, picks at his beard and touches his eyebrows.

Towards the end, once Link starts talking through the rest of the items. Rhett does eventually come out of whatever dark space he was in. So much so that when Jason tells them that this is the weirdest funeral tape ever, they start joking and laughing. Rhett’s body language is back to big and open and happy. His eyes light up, he smiles wide and his cheeks are round. He isn’t serious anymore.

In the scenario where they are giving people apples to take a bite of and place in Links open casket, we are reminded that Rhett is the one doing all this. Where before, he said that he’d be dead if Link was. Twice.

We went into this expecting to analyze a snippet of a video, but what we came away with was much larger, much more intense and real. The fingers of death are after us all, and as nearly forty year old men in this video, they are not strangers to mortality. But to come head on and face-to-face with the idea is terrifying. Once again, we see a very oblivious Link, while Rhett experiences an internal meltdown. The horrific idea of being without his best friend is thrown at Rhett and it is obvious that he is having trouble dealing with that possibility. So, in conclusion, we have no scientific proof of tears, but are very certain that Rhett would be lost without Link.

GMMore Link’s Funeral Tape

Season 5 Episode 453

*@razle-dazle gifs