#also lol i feel like i need to add spoiler warnings since im convincing people to watch.

[mikiruma]

ok kind of had an epiphany regarding td:as (ok so mal/mike) so bear with me (spoilers abound obviously, discussing the finale)

upon rewatching the season i was struck by how odd it was that mal constructed this edgy superdeath watch tower with a mass integration button at the top, especially considering presumably everyone (aside from mike of course) was aware of said button's effect. why have that be a thing if your goal is to usurp the current host's role? well considering mal didn't really have any other plans aside from the one he was following... the button was his weak spot, but i think instead of it being something the others could race to and press first, it might make a little more sense to think of it as an absolute last resort. think about it- one plan for overthrowing someone who you aren't on the best of terms with, who your equals only receive marginal respect from because they're nicer than you or considered "useful", without any backups, the overconfidence in said plan not to warrant any alternatives or too much improvisation...

this dude was ready to tear the whole ship down if he couldn't do it. knowing if his plan failed he would absolutely be repressed again. it was kind of tragic that the button was eventually pressed, but not by mal, since that solidified his belief that not only did the others he was supposed to be equal to also think he wasn't necessary, but having to beg for his life and be told he wasn't needed... being seen only for his maladaptive coping mechanisms and not as a fully fleshed out other person. then again it's not like the others were afforded the same dignity, they were just more 'acceptable' because they could be used to the host's advantage. but i'm sure it was that much a harsher turn simply because even though being repressed must have been like hell, he made it through, and he could just try again after a couple years, right? i mean, like mass integration without good communication or adequate professional help is gonna do anything beyond bringing everyone back tenfold after a while. but that had to fuckin STING, everyone deciding you're too much trouble to be worth even dealing with. that they collectively talked about it and decided they would rather die and take you down with them than even try to understand an ounce of what you've gone through. and the one guy who's done the most damage with the least amount of idea what he's doing gets to be the one who continues to live that much longer without questioning anything about it. god damn mal deserved so much better

oh yeah and don't get me wrong, this isn't a mike hate zone, im just in awe every single time over how little we actually see everyone interact internally but how much of their relationships feel so... exposed? is that the right word? seeing their development with mike during s5 was kind of eye opening. they know each other so intimately and yet not at all... like it's actually insane how close svetlana/vito/chester/manitoba are *just* from being cooped up in the headspace and not being able to share the life they.. well, Have To Share, and how mike apparently had *never been in the headspace until grand chef auto* and seeing him in there for the first time prompts THEM to attempt overthrowing him!!!!!! like clearly there's a lot of anti-mike-leadership sentiment that resulted in four people bonding and one going full joker mode like if that isn't enough flags letting you know mike either needs to be reformed or hand his role to someone else for a minute!!!!

anyway i kind of got off topic but my point is. mal really said revolution or bust & because mike was """the real one""" as per singlet rules, even if he wasn't the season villain he still would have been treated like shit because his entire system was working against him and as much as i want svetlana/chester/manitoba/vito to unionize, they literally cannot go anywhere if they don't take mal in with them. oh yeah and mike needs to be taken down a peg or several so bad it's unreal. he's fantastic "just got diagnosed and am under the illusion of non-control" host representation and i mean that painfully, relatably and derogatory