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double--cross-d · 2 months ago

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I'm going insane over T is for Time so you will all hear my thoughts

I feel like the choice of Banaten for the cutscene and not anyone else is highly symbolic. I can explain.

Banaten is canonically disabled. Like it's not a question, it's just fact. In both his description and N is for Nobody, it's revealed Banaten can't climb trees and had to build practically an elevator to get up there.

While this can be chalked up to "haha nerd," there's another description for him that reads (when translated), "A computer geek with an IQ of over 200, [Banaten] is a genius athlete, but his motor skills are virtually zero. He is called the Programmer Monkey."

This pretty much confirms that he's got a disability. So what does this have to do with Time? Well, lets look at the cutscene itself. I'm pretty sure this is supposed to be a nightmare given he's still alive.

First, the setting is a marathon. This seems intentional because typically motor disabilities will interfere with physical activity. And it does, despite being described as "fleet footed" and "a genius athlete" he almost immediately falls behind the other monkeys. While more speculation, it seems those labels are specifically refering to him compared to everyone else in the main eight given neither of those labels seem to be true when compared to members of his own species. This gives the viewer an immediate guess of "oh, the lesson is take your time! He'll be the first to mske it to the end because the other two wore out too fast."

But then, as he runs around the track, all the cheers and music and goofy walking effects leave with only a sound that sounds like a heartbeat left. The referee and all the other racers have also left. This honestly gives the impression of no one wanting to wait for him. Why would they? He's already lost. He just can't give up though, because he's not done with the race yet. The reality of the situation is that this is hurting him.

And then, he starts aging.

He continues running the same track over and over again despite how long it takes in the hope that maybe, just maybe, he can still make it. It doesn't matter that it's taking so long and it's hurting him, even he can do it. The fact that it lingers on his face here may be a realization. That this is his entire life. That what he's been doing was wasted because he just can't. That he won't ever escape his body breaking down on him. Who knows?

Emphasis on the last point too, I want to point out here is how warped his arms on his aged model are, implying most of his motor issues are just showing up more and more over time, as most disabilities will. The fact he's described as young doesn't help either, because he's got his whole life ahead of him and all he can linger on is how his disability will define him.

And then he dies *on* the finish line. Not before, but on top of it. Because he crossed it, he won, but also he died to win a race that he'd already lost. The music here is warped and mournful. Even he can do it, right? He did reach his goal. It just took a lifetime of suffering.

Watching this again with the knowledge that Banaten is canonically physically disabled makes this go from scary to just sad. He's trying so hard but in the end he just can't keep up. But he won't accept the fact that he can't escape his disability's effects just by trying, so he keeps running anyway hoping that he can outrun time's effects on his body.

Idk I'm tired

#Roly-Polys no Nanakorobi yaoki #Banaten #tw ableism #tw death

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rndr-sn · 2 years ago

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