I'm not in very deep in tadc fandom. I've only seen each episode once. But I have to make a post about this because I haven't seen anyone else do it yet. (I'm sure someone has lol.)
So I am almost positive that there is going to be a climactic heartfelt moment between Pomni and Caine. This last episode made me less positive about that with you know, Caine dying and that definitely not happening.
But I do think it's possible that Caine can return in some form or another before the series end. And I really hope he does. Because there was so much deliberate set-up without any pay off.
Like I said I've only watched each episode once so far. I binged them all just before ep 7 aired so I could watch the new one with my brother, who introduced me to the show.
But I remember one of my takeaway predictions right after finishing all eps up to that point, being that whether the series ends happy or bittersweet or sad, there has got to be a moment of understanding between Pomni and Caine.
Caine is the antagonist, but is well meaning, despite the horrors he inflicts upon the humans from day 1. He truly believes he is doing the best he can to fulfill his purpose. Which was given to him by humans. He is trying the entire series run to please them, and truly wants them to be happy and recieve praise for what he does. He doesn't understand them, but he certainly tries to.
And not once do any of the humans empathize with him. And that's what drives him to his breaking point.
Out of all six human characters, Pomni is the one who the audience is following. The protagonist is the girl with the most empathy. The one who tries to understand and see the best in everyone. This trait is exemplified in her relationship with Jax. But her empathy doesn't extend to the human characters alone.
The second episode, after establishing the main characters and setting focuses largely on Pomni's empathy for an NPC. An AI. Her bond with Gumigoo isn't treated lightly either, as there are several references to it after episode 2, including in her own personalized nightmare sequence.
Why was it that the very first episode after establishing the basic setting and main cast, they dedicate the MAIN character's plot to understanding, relating to and bonding with an npc that won't make any plot relevant appearances ever again???
Maybe to set up an understanding between her and the AI that is actually a member of the main cast and an extremely plot relevent character?
Her attempts to befriend Jax, who spends a good portion of his screentime ridiculing and torturing the others, is another example of set up for her attempting to befriend Caine, who wasn't even malicious towards the humans until his breaking point in episode 8.
She doesn't spend very much screentime with Caine, and I feel that has to be deliberate, because there is no reason that any extended period of time they spend together wouldn't result in some kind of understanding or maybe even a friendship between them.
"In this world the worst thing you can do is make someone think they're not wanted or loved."
Advice that Kinger gives TO Pomni.
Which everyone has caught on by now was foreshadowing Caine's breakdown.
There is so much build up to this understanding between Pomni and Caine and it just... goes nowhere???
I know Caine is dead, but if he doesn't come back, it doesn't even have to be permanently, I don't care how or why, if he doesn't come back and have some sort of moment with Pomni that ties all of this together I will be disappointed ngl.