#intermezzi

Max Klinger (1857–1920), Cupid, Death and the Beyond

I hope I'm not the only one, but I haven't the slightest idea what makes an event and intermezzi rather than a side story.

At first, I had it explained to me that intermezzis have more main story relevance while side stories do not. And for Darknights Memoir and A Walk in the Dust, you could argue this holds true. But then comes Under Tides and Stultifera Navis, which are as far as we currently know entirely unrelated to the main story, unless act 3 decides to take a hard left turn towards Iberia. Ok then, maybe Intermezzis are for the longer, more complicated storylines in addition to main story relevant events. Nope, that doesn't fit either. The Kazimierz events and the Sui sibling events are just as complex and lengthy of a multi-event plotline as the Abyssal Hunters', but they are all side stories (and vignettes).

The biggest point of confusion for me was seeing What the Firelight Casts placed as a side story rather than an intermezzi. It directly fits into the main story, bridging the Dublinn plotlines of episode 9 and 10 with what is to come in the future of the main story and directly continuing Reed's character arc in episode 9. Nope, side story. Clearly, being an Intermezzi has nothing to do with main story relevance.

Could it be production value? Can't be that either, as events like Il Siracusano are side stories.

So, what is the common factor? As stupid as it sounds, I think I've figured out the only thing it can be.

Intermezzi are events where Kal'tsit plays a major role. That's it, that's the only common thread I could find. Kal'tsit is in Darknights Memoir, central to A Walk in the Dust, appears briefly but in an important role in Under Tides, and is important to Stultifera Navis. There are some side stories in which Kal'tsit appears, but not for more than a scene at a time.