#EPISODE 4

[raggedypina]

I liked her drunk so much

[meowdance]

My guess is that Gangle has been through what every anime obsessed art kid has been through: Bullying.

It was probably really rough for her to the point where she used art for escape. But, when she got to the real world and realized she wouldn't be able to pursue her mangaka career, she cracked and started to put that energy into her shift managing job so she could feel like she had some kind of control regarding her future.

Also when you mentioned the symbolism part for the car crash scene it made me think about how in some situations people with mental illnesses are pinned with suicidal tendencies when they die.

(Idk if i saw that in fiction or real life BUT IT HAPPENED SOMEWHERE! ☝��)

Anyway thats my yapsesh BYE!!

The Amazing Digital Circus: Episode 4 Thoughts (Gangle)

So, who would have thought that the masks were symbolic for masking??

God, the episode has my brain buzzing and I just need to throw it out there to see what others think too. Probably going to do several parts and link them below when done, but for now I wanted to start with the current star of the show...

Gangle

Okay, so. The moment everything really clicked into place for me was the moment where Gangle and Pomni were outside the restaurant having their heart-to-heart. When they were being genuine with each other, and being vulnerable, what does Gangle do?

Quickly reaches for her mask to put on a "happy face" and get back to work. Freaking masking, d'uh. In hindsight, it seems obvious.

Gangle is struggling with depression, and the happy masks are symbolic for medication or other means to manage and hide that depression in order to be accepted into society.

In the instances where the others make remarks about how the happy masks aren't actually assisting with her being likable or fitting in, there's a noticeable breaking sound.

Because, even though she's trying her hardest to hide her sadness - something the others have actively complained about - she still can't win. Her effort are wasted, and her deepest fear - that she's worthless and unlovable - is reaffirmed. Especially after Ragatha makes her remark. Gangle later communicates with Pomni that she typically thinks Ragatha is being insincere regarding her kindness (something people who struggle with self-worth think a lot), and this moment essentially cements that idea in her head.

Another thing I believe, is that Gangle utilizes control, authority, and rules to create boundaries in her world and function through her sadness. So when others don't take such things seriously, it can break her entire worldview and self-image. Hell, even innocent remarks like Pomni wanting to speak to Gummigoo initiated a "tink".

And when Jax completely disregards the entire situation - something not uncommon for him, mind you - Gangle scolds him and laughs calling him "bad" before sending him for more training and trying to reaffirm control.

When Pomni extends a gesture of kindness by offering to close and let Gangle leave early, she stops a moment to ask Pomni, "Would that... be okay?" with an intense expression of concern and hesitation in her voice.

Even when breaking the rules a tiny bit would offer some relief to her day, she has a hard time simply letting go of control. Side note... this reads to me the behavior of someone who has gone through some real traumatic shit. What happened to you Gangle???

And the moment she's freed from the constraints of the day, of societal expectations, she's able to throw her mask away and be her authentic self. Though, I do believe this is a mix of her accepting/wallowing in the depths of her sadness, smiling her way though it while having relief that the shift is over. I do not think she was trying to "game over" herself, it was an accidental trip while she was in the throws of her emotions. Though, does make me wonder on the symbolism from the real world again...

Final thing I noticed was when Zooble speaks to Gangle at the end regarding the happy mask failing. Zooble's remarks are deescalating and reassuring. So your coping mechanism / medication didn't fix this really deep and complex problem? That's okay. We still love you and we'll help you move forward anyway.

God this show makes me feel things.

For real tho, last tidbit that I liked - in their reviews, everyone tied with a B+ except for Kinger, but we're... breezing past that.

So if Gangle had punted the blame onto Pomni to reduce her score further down, I think Pomni might actually have been considered the worst employee and been given a punishment. Just a really wholesome moment of Gangle trying to return the favor from earlier.

[mandy7w7]

Pomni 💙❤️🥺

[diamondsunbursts-and-marblehalls]

Athena, goddess of wisdom, and all-powerful, being the only person that Annabeth could call on for help; being so cruel that she would be complicit in her daughter's death just out of spite.

Percy, age 12, weak and dying, having told Annabeth they could never be friends; not only sacrifices himself to save Annabeth's life without a minute's thought, but does it without her having to ask for help.

[strangermurdock]

one of my favorite little fun facts about episode 4 is that percy’s super sickly and pale look from the poison is just walker scobell’s skin tone with some red around his eyes like he’s actually that pale and all they had to do was take his makeup off then do his eyes with the red

[theshortkid]

That’s the way it happened, your honor

[thelowerdecker]

This part here strongly implies that Gangle (IRL) had parents that forced her into a Shift Managing Job she didn't want to do. She was told that her dreams of making webcomics was "unrealistic".

"You Need to Stop Trying!" I'm sure she was directly quoting her parents at that moment. Clearly a hint of her tragic past!

[ozzaban]

Time to shine?

[digital-fand0m]

Me too buddy, me too.

[urlisalisa]

NOO THEY GOT MY QUEENN!! DIVA DOWNNN RHAENYS GET UP PLEASE!!!

[monkey-wrench-series]

"Hey kid... today's your lucky day!"

Monkey Wrench Episode 4 coming at you;

December 3rd for Patreon & Youtube members

December 11th general public release

[raggedypina]

She's so miserable. Someone get this woman a decent job and a boyfriend/girlfriend

[zaana]

crosshair doodle

[diamondsunbursts-and-marblehalls]

Honestly, I think from the moment that Percy found out that not every demigod has a loving mortal parent they can depend on, when they already can't depend on the gods, and that Annabeth specifically, hasn't had anyone take care of her like that since she was 7, he decided he would be the one to.

They take care of each other up to that point, but I think that's when he starts noticing how much she takes care of them. She already knew if she didn't no one else will. She protects them against humans, she stands with them against monsters, she always brings up the rear of the group when they're running, and she is always the first one to make a move when they're fighting. She does it because no one is going to protect her if she doesn't do it herself. No one is going to protect Grover and Percy if she isn't.

In the arch, he pretty much tells her he would fight the gods for her, and then he goes on to do just that.

Athena, the one person who was supposed to protect her willingly pushes monsters her way, she lets Echidna and the chimera into a place that was supposed to be safe. Her decision is that Annabeth should be punished, and say what you want, but I think she knew that Annabeth would think through every scenario and know that someone had to stay and hold them back. And I think she knew that Annabeth would be the one to stay. Because that's the way she raised her, knowing that no one cared whether she lived or died. And I think that's the cruellest part.

Which is why Percy's sacrifice means so much more. He not only made the decision to trade his life for hers and fight the monster so she and Grover could escape, but he also made the conscious choice to push back against Athena's wishes. He fought a goddess for her, Athena said "Annabeth will die for her impertinence" and Percy said "Not today, not ever"

[citruscarnival]

[sarahth2]

Hmmm subtle foreshadowing????