#tdac analysis

That is to say: They’re doing the same thing in opposite ways.

In the Jax post I made I mentioned at the end that I think Episode 4’s mask theming goes beyond the main focus of Gangle, specifically that it also applies and is shown through Ragatha and Jax’s storylines.

Let’s dive into that more! The episode literally starts with an interaction between these three.

Obviously Gangle’s comedy mask would have to break to kickstart this episode, and obviously Jax would probably be involved in that, but I still think it’s very deliberate that this scene only contains these 3. They’re the characters the episode is about and that you’re supposed to pay the most attention to. They’re the ones wearing masks, (literal or metaphorical) following the episode’s main theme.

But focusing on Ragatha and Jax, the both have very notable behavior changes in this episode for different reasons. Ragatha acting different because of the stupid sauce and Jax after the training/employee reevaluation/torture thing.

Heeeere’s where I may lose some people: I think their behavior changes are meant to evoke the typical behavior of the other in some subtle ways.

Some specific examples before I generalize: On the stupid sauce, Ragatha essentially repeats a sentiment Jax made earlier in the episode.

She isn’t “acting like Jax,” she says it in a bit of a nicer Ragatha-y like way. She even acknowledges that she was being rude.

On the other hand, once Jax is mellowed out, he asks Pomni how she is. The past three episodes have had Ragatha constantly doting over Pomni and asking her how she’s doing.

Which again, is not to say Jax is “acting like Ragatha” exactly, he’s nowhere near as interested or overbearing as Ragatha typically is.

But that’s all still part of my point, they aren’t mirroring the other one to one, not even close, but their roles are swapped regardless.

Ragatha speaking her mind to everyone however rude it may be: Telling Gangle she’s annoying, Zooble that they’re grouchy, Jax that she hates him, complaining about Pomni’s connection with Gummigoo.

Jax being calm and even downright friendly: Exchanging pleasantries with Pomni, not messing with Ragatha in her… state, (barely even reacting to her) going along with the adventure until it’s over.

Not exactly like the other, but evoking the other. I think this is written purposefully.

Why? Refer to the title of this post. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that these two’s own respective focus episodes are going to be back to back as episode 5 and 6. They’re the same and they’re opposites.

Ragatha’s “mask” is being overbearingly caring, wanting everyone to like her and think of her as nice or even motherly. She will act like this regardless of how she really feels about something.

Jax’s “mask” is being unbearably antagonistic, wanting everyone to think he only cares about his own entertainment and that their wellbeing never even crosses his mind. He will act this way regardless of how he really feels about something.

Their swapped roles in this episode is a display of these masks beginning to slip, making their parallels abundantly clear.

Gangle’s drawing posted on Glitch’s social media really runs this all home for me.

Gangle draws herself with Pomni and Zooble, all happy and talking with eachother. Pomni and Zooble are upfront with the other characters, they aren’t wearing masks. The both make effort throughout the episode to be there for and help Gangle. Therefore, they can be connected with. Their care is always genuine because they’re always honest.

Ragatha and Jax can’t be connected with. Ragatha, despite probably being a genuinely sweet person, is too far behind her mask to reach and tell what of her is genuine and what is a performance. Jax… acts like Jax. Even though he’s probably quite an average person behind the mask.

the caine x readers are running with this. it's me. i'm part of caine x readers.

The theory is that cain pumps Lsd into the humans he cant make happy, because his ultimate goal is to “make the humans happy” and although he said he doesn’t, he clearly does have control over the humans brains, and thus can make them experience Lsd like experiences and emotions.

(Before i go on i think its worth mentioning that although it could have been a lie, i think the whole “the humans are being kept alive by c&e somehow” thing could have truth to it.)

to add onto this theory:

i think abstraction is the humans “overdosing” on the “Lsd” thing. think about it. the human is unhappy. Cain cannot appease the human with adventures or entertainment and they’re getting out of control, possibly upsetting other humans. So cain… makes them happy. This goes on until their human body/brain develop an immunity to whatever drug they’re being pumped with, and cain has to up the dosage to get the proper affect.

then again.

and again

and again.

the whole time, this causes, unbeknownst to cain, an ADDICTION within the human and the urges that come with an addiction when said addict doesn’t have their “fix”. Jax said: “You dont know what people are like before they abstract- they are NOT fun to be around!” Hmm.. maybe like howwww an adict can not be fun to be around? Especially when they don’t have any control over when they get their fix, outside “when im unhappy or unpleasant, i get my reward”, so they keep demonstrating that behavior.

then the cycle repeats, and cain ups the dosage. And it lasts for longer, and longer, until their body/brain cant take it, and they overdose.

they abstract.