Time for a mascot relationship update, because enough time has passed for me to reassess everyone’s emotional attachment to their little corporate children:
First off; It has become increasingly apparent that Tay and New would absolutely kill or die for San. No irony, no hesitation. He’s real to them. That’s their son.
Perth and Santa, meanwhile, have developed the funniest parenting situation with their child. Their devil child exists in theory, but in practice Perth cannot understand why he would ever acknowledge it when his beloved Santa is right there. Neither of them is willing to let it come between them, because that would require standing more than a foot apart. Half the time they simply forget it exists. Interviewers have literally asked them to let it stand between them, and they’ve just… said no.
Junior and Jummo have developed a relationship based on mutual bullying, disguised as family bonding. Jummo can’t speak, but that has never stopped him from dissing his father at every opportunity. At this point, it’s becoming increasingly unclear who the parent is and who the child is supposed to be. The Save Mark Ji petition continues to gain support.
Joong and Dunk, on the other hand, seem to exist in a state of polite emotional distance from Jaidee. They adore the doll version of their child, but the moment the live version appears on screen, they’re immediately backing away like they’ve never met her in their lives. We get it.
And finally, Pond and Phuwin have now arrived at the “what am I doing with my life?” phase of mascot ownership. The bear is still loved, but it knows too much now, and there is a lingering sense that they would absolutely muzzle it if given the opportunity.
I will, of course, continue monitoring these critically important mascot-parent relationships and report back as new evidence emerges.
