#i'm really curious to get to s1's final episode to pay better attention to carmen and brunt's interactions!

[youraveragecatastrophe]

Another episode that hurts me in the context of season 1's last episode! This is about Carmen's reactions regarding Coach Brunt in The fishy doubloon caper.

First, and maybe the biggest thing, the scene in the medical tent after Carmen passed out from lack of oxygen.

The way Carmen 1) awakens, notices someone tending to her, and immediately imagines it's Coach Brunt and 2) looks relieved and grateful to have her.

[Image description : a screenshot of season 1 episode 4 of the 2019 Carmen Sandiego show, The fishy doubloon caper. Carmen opens her eyes and sees who she thinks is Coach Brunt taking care of her after she passed out due to lack of oxygen. Her face is neutral. /End description]

Her look when she says "you", even the way she says it - surprised, maybe, but not afraid.

Carmen is in a very vulnerable position right now, alone and weak. And when she thinks one of the people tracking her down is with her, she seems happy. Because it's her mother figure.

[Image description : a screenshot of season 1 episode 4 of the 2019 Carmen Sandiego show, The fishy doubloon caper. Carmen talks with a smile about how Coach Brunt found her in Argentina as a baby. /End description]

"I always knew it was you."

Sure, the lack of oxygen can explain why she's not reacting too strongly, but still. She doesn't even look worried.

Next, the very end of the episode, while saying goodbye to Dr Pilar Marquez.

Below, her face when Pilar tells Carmen she "mistook [Pilar] for someone close to [Carmen]" :

[Image description : a screenshot of season 1 episode 4 of the 2019 Carmen Sandiego show, The fishy doubloon caper. Carmen looks upset. /End description]

Carmen says "a link to my past. We went our separate ways". Of course, she's not going to explain the whole messy story to a stranger, but still. This a pretty nice way to say "my mother figure who raised me goes against everything I fight for today and I indirectly fight her every two days".

[Image description : two screenshots of season 1 episode 4 of the 2019 Carmen Sandiego show, The fishy doubloon caper. In the first one, Carmen looks to the side with a small, slightly regretful smile, saying "a link to my past". In the second one, Carmen looks at the offscreen Dr Pilar Marquez with the same smile, saying "we went our separate ways". /End description]

Carmen does not seem angry, bitter, or fearful. Her expressions are of sadness and fondness. She still thinks fondly of Coach Brunt at this point, even though she knows they're on opposite sides. She still somewhat trusts her not to hurt her, at least subconsciously (see the tent scene).

...which is why the season 1 finale is so horrifying.