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archivalofsins · 9 months ago

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hey, do you remember if mikoto/john ever made any comment about the viewer's opinions? fuuta outright tells the voices to shut up, amane acknowledges them when fuuta asks her about it, and mahiru mostly just feels like her thoughts and love are being rejected. i dont think mikoto/john ever even acknowledge the viewers thoughts about their situation outside the double mv and vd, and even then that could be about what es thinks about them and not the omniscient viewers.

They do!

It's one of the things specifically highlighted by Milgram and Yamanaka within his tweet about Mikoto's voice drama. Through the fact that they recognize and view what Es has deduced through Milgram as valid.

To keep it short. Mikoto references the audience opinions in these instances.

This has been editted to get rid of spellings errors and add more context. Editted on 02/28/24. (There were so many spelling errors to correct don't know if I got them all. I added so much more quotes from the timeline and interrogations and tried to adjust for tone.)

"Eheheh... But...it's not coming to an end. All of this. With things I've never even heard before, the whole ti- The whole time... Haah... I have to see through all of these irritating experiences...!" (Doesn't directly reference Es just that things now feel like they never end. Along with things he's never even heard before.)

"As for alters... Why do you think they're born?" (Specifically asking Es how they think this works instead of divulging any information he's heard from the audience that would in fact be beneficial to Es who after being asked immediately shows they don't know a damn thing about it. Staying consistent with what happened in Amane's voice drama prior.)

"Right. You're decision to not forgive me is especially stress inducing." (Recognition of the punishment attached to the guilty verdict working properly for Mikoto and that's adding to his stress. So, yeah he's hearing the voices.)

"You know that because of Milgram! I don't care about the law, I want to know what you think!"

His birthday interaction from last year. (Him asking if there's really another him implies, he has heard the audience bring it up.)

His birthday interaction with Futa after his verdict.

21/10/06 (Mikoto’s Birthday) Mikoto: ……ah, Futa? What’s up? Did you come to celebrate my birthday? Futa: Hah!? Like I care about your birthday. ……what’s up with you, though, you’re usually a lot more excited. I thought you were the sort of idiot who’d make a big deal over your birthday. Mikoto: Yeah, usually that’d be the case. ……I think I must be getting tired. It’s like I’m anxious over something but I can’t really explain what it is…… Like, the feeling that I’ve been totally wrong about something. Haha, but it’s not like talking to you about it is gonna do anything. Futa: Yeah, yeah, just like you say. Talking to me about it isn’t gonna help. ……but, it’s not like I don’t get what you’re saying. Or rather, I understand exactly what you mean. And if it’s the same thing as I’ve been feeling, then it will just get stronger as time goes on…… probably. But anyway, rather than talking to someone like me you should go and bother the others. Go and get showered with their stupid birthday wishes.

Also, the fact that Mikoto's entire defense for his actions pivoted from I don't remember, and Milgram probably got the wrong guy by mistake to the other one did it. Which not much different from the excuse he gave before but was an excuse widely jumped on and presented by the audience after he was called out for faking for a good period of time and being bad rep. Well, to say the least- It puts a different meaning behind this line,

"“He’s a liar”, you said, and made me out to be a scoundrel, why?"

Since it encapsulates what his first trial was like in a nutshell. Where people either called him out for faking/lying or blamed the alter for all the violent acts making him out to be the scoundrel. People even posited that what we see in MeMe is fake because it's far more graphic than the others and cuts and that this could be due to him having DID and lookie here.

In fact Mikoto's mental footage was so violent... "It's unforgivable." That was my judgment. "That too could be just a fake or attributed to multiple personalities, right?!"

Overall Mikoto, like many of the prisoners, does not state what the audience has told him. However, he heavily implies through his actions he's been told something. What that something is we don't know and given his first verdict percentage he would not be as inclined to tell us as the others would. Hell, even then a lot of others don't tell is. We were never shown what innocent does to a person outside of this from Mu.

21/07/05 (Mu’s Birthday) Mu: Yuno. Don’t you have something to say to me? Yuno: Huh? To you? Me? ……ahh, uh? Your birthday, right? Happy birthday~ Mu: How mean…Since it’s my birthday, I really wish you’d said something before I had to come and tell you myself. Yuno: Right, right, I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in future~ Later! Haha… things have become even more of a bother… ……so was that Mu-chan’s real personality, then? It’s probably because the guard did something, right?

But yeah, since you were just asking if he referenced the audience outside of his voice drama and music video there's no need to read the rest here. What comes after this basically goes over how I tend to tell when the prisoners are subtly referring to the audience and other things but it's very long.

Now onto the interesting stuff. Because I wrote this before rereading the question and seeing you were asking about things outside of the voice drama and song. So, I'm leaving it.

Mikoto discusses the audience in the way similar to how Mahiru does. Never referring to the audience or the voices as an individual entity or directly instead either referring to that as Milgram collectively or referring to it as an extension of Es' actions and decisions.

Even in Double and I Love You neither of them refer to a big group of people but go "You".

"What you trampled is my, “This is how to be in love with you”."/ "“He’s a liar”, you said, and made me out to be a scoundrel, why?"

Unlike the rest of the prisoners who refer to multiple parties, Mikoto and Mahiru couldn't give a damn less about who is causing them problems and considers the audience, Es, and Milgram all the same entity. Never really separating the three. Because they don't care to.

Other prisoners that do this are Haruka, Shidou, and Kotoko if I'm remembering correctly.

"I will definitely make you love me again."-"Hug me again as you once did."

"You don’t even know yet, and yet."- "What do you mean INNOCENT, if this is my punishment... Now I see, this world is cruel and merciless. The vote that negates the option of death, the love that won’t perish."- "No thank you, it’s none of your concern."- "Shall I fulfill your request and elect to live."

"That's why I became your fangs."- "Tell me why you tell me, “Stop'. Don’t you dare stop now."

Kotoko and Shidou do something interesting in their second trial songs having parts where they both directly refer to Es and the audience separately within their songs. Referring to Es at the beginning and then the audience in the second half.

"I want to be INNOCENT, I want to live. So this is unpleasant, hurling slurs of “hostage game”, you do know that it’s up to me? That’s right, there are lives that need safeguarding. So hey, prolong my life, I’m indispensable. The correct answer, I don’t yet know, but there are lives that need safeguarding. So hey, prolong my life, I’m indispensable."

Shidou Trial 2 Voice Drama

"But... as long as Milgram continues in this direction. We won't be able to save those who get injured if I'm not forgiven." ...! "Even now, Shiina-kun is in a condition where any digression could be fatal. She can't live without my treatment. If I'm not forgiven she will end up dying."

Just want to highlight how Shidou uses the same tactic as Mu but somehow what he does ends up succeeding and what she did doesn't. A lot of people may think that's because none of them asked to be put in that situation and Kotoko was the one who attacked. Yet, my honest response to that would be what the fuck is actually stopping Shidou from helping if he was guilty?

Like prisoners who were Guilty once can still move around and interact with others and the things around them. Unless one is assuming that the punishment for being guilty trial two is worse than one. Something I don't believe would make sense and would not be fair considering this would just simply for many of the prisoners be their first time being guilty. Although, this is Milgram so maybe who knows.

Even in a situation where the trial two punishment for being guilty is harsher than trial ones; what the fuck is stopping him from teaching or instructing someone else within the prison on how to help if he were restrained? He even said Amane could be assisting him and Yuno has been. He's very replaceable, actually. So, it's wild this worked.

As we will get into it is wild any of them are getting away with what they are.

He also doesn't say this as if it will change later. Instead he literally states that Mahiru now just can't live without his help which given injuries should not be true. Yet considering that she hasn't been getting better over the course of trial two honestly yeah, I guess he's right.

That's... true I suppose. "From now on conflict between the prisoners will probably become more frequent."

Dude why the fuck does he say this??? Like no I'm being serious why does he fucking say this? Especially considering last we heard from Haruka in his second trial voice drama Shidou and Kazui were meant to have been negotiating a ceasefire? This sounds like something an individual about to start a conflict would say. A person about to throw down if you will.

Like what the fuck does he know in regards to this? The most good faith interpretation is the ceasefire negotiations have failed. Yet, it's still a weird thing to just add. Especially since he says conflicts between the prisoners. Implying that people other than Kotoko may end up instigating fights.

Even though most of the other prisoners are simply attempting to mind their business and he's the only one who directly states hostility towards Kotoko in various ways.

Others that state having animosity towards someone are

Yuno,

Q.11 Which of the other prisoners do you get along with least? Yuno: I wonder. The ones that are painful just to watch are Haruka and Mu-chan.

Futa,

Q.12 Are there any prisoners you don’t get on with? Futa: Can you not tell by looking at my face? Obviously Kotoko.

Mu,

Q.12 Are there any prisoners you don’t get on with? Mu: Yuno has been really cold lately so maybe her a bit.

Shidou,

Q.06 Do you forgive Kotoko? Shidou: No. I can’t forgive someone for trying to achieve thing with violence.

"To extract that fang, now."/“That’s why I became your fangs.”

Oh, and he has some feelings on Mikoto as well.

Q.07 Are there any prisoners you get along with? Shidou: Kayano-kun has become like that, and I can’t spend my time smoking at the moment, so the smoking trio has disbanded, which is a bit lonely.

What those feelings are beyond me. However, he speaks of his current disposition as though it's a problem. So, I'm putting it.

Kazui,

Q.06 Are there any prisoners you don’t get along with? Kazui: To be honest, probably also Kashiki-chan. It feels like she sees through all the things I don’t want anyone to notice.

Amane,

Q.06 Are there any prisoners you don’t get along with? Amane: Kirisaki Shidou.

and Mikoto,

Q.12 What do you think about Kotoko? Mikoto: I don't like her.

It makes sense that we the audience would know whom everyone is hostile towards. Especially since we just blatantly asked in some written interrogations. However, it's not as though many of them have been presenting their hostility towards each other openly.

Outside of Amane and Kotoko everyone else attempts to be cordial with each other or just outright avoid people they dislike. So, it's still weird he would know this unless he's really good at reading the mood and paying attention to others.

Something he has not shown himself to be. Though, maybe he really is. Still considering he has two individuals he'd could possibly have an issues with this really sounds like some shit somebody who wants start trouble says.

"If I'm not there... They will be in even more danger!"

Bitch you will be there- Guilty or not. You're not getting out of this panopticon any earlier unless you see yourself out buddy. Where do you think you go if you're guilty? The sunken place? You gonna mentally tap out because of the guilt and constant bombardment of being told you're wrong by the audience?

Other people who have been Guilty before you with no warning of what that mental or evironmentally entailed were still able to help and speak to others while suffering under the affects of said verdict. The child did it grow a backbone man! You're an adult and apparently you hold a lot of stake in the fact that you are... So, at least make it make sense why you do with your actions.

In case Shidou has forgotten we have a third trial. So, he's just being a fucking manchild here. Does he think we're gonna kill him immediately after he's voted guilty in this second trial out of three? Does he think as soon as the guilty verdict hits Kotoko is going to attack him? That's the most reasonable and good faith interpretation of this statement.

Like she did attack guilty people that's a fair concern to have. Yet, he's currenty being guarded. Because now that an attack has happened once the others are more on guard.

As Yuno implied would be the case,

Q.09 What do you think about Kotoko’s attacks? Yuno: Is she an idiot? Nothing’s going to change in the world if you just act out violently where everyone can see.

If a person just acts out violently where everyone can see most people will reasonnable recognize that person is apart of the problem too. They won't usually assume they're the solution to anything. Plus again the fact that other people were guilty before him and he knows what that could reasonably entail he should be preparing for that possibility. It's clear that he wants to avoid it by any means and is doing his best to do that.

Which I can't fault the man for that's only natural. But-The fuck is Shidou's second voice drama fearmongering 101?! Why the fuck is he acting like this towards the end?

I bet you're thinking Gunsli is this your first time listening to Shidou's voice drama and honestly yeah it is.

This man is in here like what will they do without me. Despite the fact that a majority of viewers have pretty much agreed the child can take him out/is a serious threat to his safety. At the point the previous statement is widely considered a genuine concern true if anyone wants him dead outside of himself in this facility he is going to die. Because we know that from the beginning Shidou has wanted this all to end and to get the death penalty.

That he's been smoking to be unhealthy,

20/08/04 Mikoto: By the way, why did you two start smoking? For me it was just a means for communication with people at work. Kazui: Hm? I don’t really remember……It’s maybe changed nowadays, but in the past it was just natural for everyone to smoke. What about you, Shidou-kun? Do you remember? Shidou: ……I wonder. I suppose…… I just wanted to do something that was bad for me. Mikoto: Ahh, I kinda get that. It’s like eating instant ramen in the middle of the night.

So, he came into Milgram already trying to get out of life in general. So, he can't threaten himself like Haruka can. He's still gunning for that death sentence even now.

"The scale tilts to and fro, I yearn to be found “GUILTY”."

The only thing he can do is what he's always done used the lives of those around him to excuse his actions and validate his own existence.

"But it tilts towards, find me “INNOCENT”. If the voices crying out in pain, can be saved by me- Allow it to be my charge and mission."

Like I don't know why he came in here acting like this verdict gonna make him someone he ain't and never was. Like man you couldn't even take care of your own- You want us to leave you in charge and responsible of even more people. People who have no reason to have to listen to or take him seriously. People who don't even like him.

Meanwhile Shidou's kids in Triage out here looking like they need Yusuke Urameshi not Shidou Kirisaki. What will they do without me? Man I don't know probably have a better grasp of road safety. You know just spitballing some guesses here.

He came in here really pretending to be the guy and for who? Himself because he's fucking weak and emotinally immature. He can't handle the mental stress of a guilty verdict, he couldn't even handle his own social relationships when his wife was alive,

Q.19 What was your partner like? Shidou: A strong person. I tend to be a bit careless in my personal life, so I was always relying on her.

or taking care their kids after she either died or got ill.

Like listening to the end of his second trial interrogation is legit hearing him hype up his own importance. As though he's going to be a meidcal doctor on the frontlines of a war and voting him guilty is equivalent to immediately killing him in front of a bunch of injured civilians. Halting people from getting aid. When that's not what's occuring here at all!

He's still going to be in Milgram and he will still have another trial. Like maybe he thinks that's what's occuring because of Kotoko but that's even weirder. Because there are more people against Kotoko's actions in the prison than for them.

One of which is fucking Kazui who is already guarding him.

Shidou... "I need to be punished... But I also need to stay alive or young lives will be lost."

Oh, Shidou you're such a martyr.... Pushing to the side your selfish desire to die because you're sick of living with yourself, your own failures, and the fact that the things you worked towards weren't the benefit you thought they would be and instead a massive failure-

Q.15 Do you think you’ve made a contribution to society? Shidou: I used to think my work was a contribution to society.

All because you've found something that validates your existence again. Something that,

"Tells me, the reason it’s ok to be here."

Again I need to highlight we're not fucking killing him with this verdict. Telling someone what they did was wrong is nowhere close to comparable to murder. Also, Kotoko can attack prisoners whether they're innocent or not. Jackalope's brought up that the prisoners are allowed to attack each other during the intermission all of them regardless of verdict.

Unless they're physically restrained and thuse made unable to they can still do it. Plus some of them are shown in full restraints within Undercover still ready to attack somebody if needed. It's not like she is completely bound to acting in accordance with Milgram's rules as has been highlighted before.

22/08/05 (Kazui’s Birthday) Kotoko: ……Mukuhara Kazui. Thanks to you, I wasn’t able to properly serve justice to those who did something unforgivable. I’m currently acting as an agent for our prison guard Es. Don’t get in my way next time. Kazui: Oi oi, don’t be silly, Yuzuriha-chan. There’s no way I could just look away from your outrageous display of violence. Anyway, even disregarding the fact violence against those voted guilty isn’t a part of Milgram’s system, what you’re doing is just acting recklessly based on a broad interpretation. As long as I’m free myself, I’ll stop you. Kotoko: ……what a pointless argument. Hmph. Since Es forgives you, I have no choice but to forgive you myself too. If you to keep to your words, then you’d best do what you can to keep being forgiven. If you’re not, then next time you’ll be one of my targets. Kazui: Oh, how scary. That girl truly is frightening. ……well then, I wonder what the guard will decide to do with me. That’s the one thing I really can’t make out. Honestly……

Yet, throughout his second trial voice drama he keeps subtly pushing this idea that not only will Mahiru die if we vote him guilty but he will too. That not even really touching on the fact the one to bring up a death sentence or execution as a result of the trials to begin with was Shidou.

He brought it to this point and is now lamenting about it being there like oh what should I do.

"I... I don't know what to wish for anymore. I'm starting to think that I want to live. That I want to be forgiven... Despite being so riddled with sins...! ..." Shidou... Do you remember what i told you? "..." Back when you were still fine with dying at any moment, I told you to deperately want to live. "Punishments for sins exist in the first place because we have an attachment to life. your existence in itself is a sacriliege to Milgram and myself", I said. "Yes... I remember." And now, finally, you've gotten attached to life and finally become a real prisoners of Milgram. That's what I believe. You wanting to be forgiven and your wish... Those are the steps that now represent you. "...That won't do... I musn't be forgiven. Otherwise... the countless lives I've taken will never be paid back." Heh. If you're really trying to give up your life as compensation for the people you've killed, then there's no reason to stay alive that will hold up anyway. "..." Don't face them with a life that you're so willing to throw away.

Es greatly sums up the main issue with Shidou's logic.

He is ready and willing to die.

Yet, all the people he killed weren't. Usually people seek medical attention for help, because they want to live. Because they're in pain and they don't want it to get worse. Thesse are people who are trying to survive and seeking out what they believe is the most appropriate help for either themselves, a family member, hell even a stranger on the street if someone calls an ambulance.

It's incredibly tragic when help doesn't get there soon enough but it's down right dispicable when the help is there and decides no you'll die today because I feel like it. You understand what it's like to have to take in order to give and I need to take from you to give something to myself. We're all suffering and you know some people like myself deserve to suffer less than others so this is just how it has to be.

Since that's the case-

"You're in my way...hurry up and die."

I see no difference between this and this.

"Please, go ahead and die already."

Excpet one of the people making this sort of statement puts a lot of stock in being a mature adult and never acting childishly. While the other is at least emotionally honest about their mistakes.

Why did I bring all of this up? To highlight a key difference between Shidou's voice drama and his song. Es never rebuts Shidou for saying he's the only one that can help or calls what he's doing a hostage game.

Making it more than likely Shidou is referring to the audience and the voices he heard discussing his case or something from his real life given the quotes around the phrase. This is more than likely something Shidou has said in reality or had said to him. I lean more towards the first interpretation when it comes to viewing these put in quotations lyrics as direct snippets of quotes from statements the prisoners have said but I'm not that committed either way.

The point is it highlights that he's not just referring to Es here,

He's instead speaking past Es and directly pleading to the audience or voters.

Which is the same thing Kotoko does here-

"So, make yourselves my reason. Just choose the only choice, GUILTY. Say that sympathy is useless. Hate evil as the evil that it is. Don’t you dare stop now. I want a reason for judgment execution, I want it. Give me the next target “UNDER”."

Notably not stating that she became our fang before that but leading into that again. These lyrics (along with the prisoner 011 line in Kotoko's case) recontextualizes the entire song as a direct plea to the audience with allusions of concern towards Es. Mostly merging the two and going if you're on good terms with me I'll be on good terms with all you and your proxy if not things could get messy.

This showcases that they all see no difference between the audience, Es, and Milgram like stated before.

The ones who are more direct while referring to the audience are Yuno, Futa, Mu, Kazui, and Amane. Instead referring to multiple parties through their songs or one.

"I’m the one who chose, let you and you and you all in."

Yuno mentions two others before stating she let "you all" referring to the audience in.

"Don’t get cocky, you in that cypher."- "Tolerate, impress those spectators."- "This prison hosts ears and lethal eyes, I’m sick of it. You and you, throwing around rules for fun, hoisting up morality and feeling good. Should I succumb, make your wish come true? Full of yourselves, are you?"

Futa seperates the prison host from the audience the spectators. In a way showing off that he views Es as an entity hosting an event and the ones spectating as the actual entity he needs to impress or sway to his side. He's basically going if the audience likes me I'll be fine.

"So, it’s wrong? Oh shove that! INNOCENT, isn’t that right?"

It's a personal dislike of mine. People who act based on their sexual urges like that, that is. "It's personal?" Yeah. That's right. "That's strange. I did think that, despite being neutral as a warden you did have some things you dislike, but..." ... "Isn't it unusual to openly reavel a personal dislike as a personal dislike?" You're splitting hairs. "Seems like you really disliked my crime... I get it! Maybe it's because you're so young... Which is to say... ..." Hah? Stop staring at me so openly. It's disgusting. "..." ... [Es punches him]

Honestly warranted he is making fun of Es for the same reasons Jackalope did in Es' voice drama. Being a bit green behind the ears. Which is never fun. So, of course after that the first thing Es does is do the same thing to Amane in her interrogation after this.

... Now I feel better. "-Ow! What are you doing all of a sudden..?!" It was an instinctive reaction. Don't take it personally. "Would you stop just punching me in the face without any hesitation? ...huh Anyways... That's how it is, huh? That's how it is...?"

Kazui stating "That's how it is..." highlights that he does take note of Es' personal feelings. He not only does that but seems to take a moment to mentally compare them to what he's been hearing from the voices over the course trial one. Really honing in on the fact that Es says them disliking Kazui's crime is a personal thing.

Meaning that Kazui knows full and well that Es' personal opinion does not matter when it comes to the verdict and may have concluded as such. Something made even more clear by his second trial song opening with him telling Es to just go shove it. Fuck off get that nonsense out of here.

Kazui literally forgoes Es' statements on his actions from his second voice drama at the jump of cat like oh well the guard said it was wrong but fuck that- Innocent is the right answer. It's the conclusion you all came to the first time so.

Double down. Hence the-

"Lie, until it gets better, follow the king of the masquerade. Lick that sin and oppose punishment, until you can meet the king of the masquerade."

The only allusion to Es in Cat is,

"So it’s wrong? Oh shove that!"

This is because Es has already said they personally dislike Kazui's crime or people who act based on their sexual desires. Meaning if Kazui's crime is that of a sexual nature trying to sway Es on seeing it any other way is pointless. So, he no longer has an interest in convincing Es his behavior was okay. Plus he's not even really concerned by what the audience themselves have assumed or figured out. Something alluded to through how comfortable he in while singing Cat in comparison to Half.

Amane's is rather straight forward as well. Considering her song starts with direct recognition of the audience/spectators going-

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! It’s the beginning of a most wonderful day! However, there are blasphemers and silent by-standers, who would have it otherwise. We must not give into them, they are the ones that should be judged." - "I disavow you, eyes corrupted must be crushed."

These are the only references Amane makes to the audience and Milgram. Literally going those who agree with me you know what to do. Those who don't well we can't give into those people now can we!

Then there's Mu,

"I am innocent as everybody desires."- "We are just the same. Don’t you think it’s wonderful to control them with my gentle sting?"

Mu compares how what the audience is doing is no different from what she has done. So of course it only makes sense she'd be Innocent. Then specifically speaks of Es after. The one who is also controlling people with their gentle sting. (This statment does apply to the audience as well. Since we're impacting the prisoners through the press of a button a gentle sting/poke. )

The lines calls attention to the emotional and psychological abuse Kotoko points out as being just as bad as what she's doing in her voice drama. Something Es also brings up as a factor in Mu's case during you guessed it her second voice drama.

When Mu says she never really hit anyone herself and Es goes yeah you just had other people do it for you.

"I haven't bullied anyone! I'd never do such a mean thing!" ... "I've never once hit anyone or poured water over anyone's head. I wouldn't do something like that!" ... "I'm not lying. I'm not being dishonest! I really haven't done anything!" I see. I'll take note of that.

Just like Kotoko did with Es. Saying just because you never hit anyone doesn't mean you haven't caused harm or incited it to occur. As Es attempts to highlight they never really used excessive physical violence/took it as far as Kotoko did with the prisoners. Despite the fact that they have hit them and impacted some of them just as negatively as Kotoko has.

Even more so from the admission of Mahiru in her second voice drama.

"I mean it. It doesn't hurt. Compared to the way I felt when you chose not to forgive me... Not at all." ...! "Not at all... Nothing. None of it hurts. It's not...as big of a deal. Ever since, I've constantly been hearing...voices saying I couldn't be forgiven. Yours? Whose? I don't know... I don't know, but... I've heard them this whole time." Mahiru, calm down... "Was what I did such a bad thing? I just... had a normal relationship like everyone else...! That's all I did! Why can that not be forgiven? Hey, why? Why? Why?"

Kotoko's second trial voice drama does well to follow up on those similarities It's Not My Fault, Bring It On, and Backdraft highlighted between the prisoners and those who watch Milgram. The same mentality to jump into something that is quite frankly no one other than the parties involved business just to turn around and blame others when things get bad.

Later

"Ah- But if you don't forgive me, then Haruka-kun will die. So, I think it'd be best not to do that." ...! So, you've heard about that nonsense, too? "Mhm! Haruka-kun told me. So, I could rest easy according to him. That made me happy... It made me really feel our friendship!" You know about it and you're not trying to stop him? Haruka, that is? "Why would I? Haruka-kun says that's what he wants. So, there's nothing I can do, right?" But you're calling him your friend? "Isn't it exactly because he's, my friend? Isn't friendship about letting your friends do the stuff they want?" ... "Are you planning to tell me, "That's not what friendship is."? Then, what is it? It's about sticking together because it's beneficial for everyone involved, isn't it?" I don't think Haruka is benefitting from that at all. "No way... It's not like you'd know what's good for him." ... You sure are tough to beat. "I really don't get what it is you're trying to say, Warden-san. Haruka-kun is free to decide what he wants, and I'm not doing anything wrong. It's not like I asked him to do that!" I see. So, that's how it is, huh. You don't say anything; just because you're present, the wishes of those around you evolve to benefit you- Oh, so that's it. Like, a born queen. No, it's as if you're influencing your surroundings not with words but with pheromones... Just like a queen bee. "Pheromones...? I'm not sure what you're going on about but I'm not a fan of that lewd-sounding stuff." That's not the nuance i was talking about. "Either way there are prisoners much more deserving of not being forgiven than me. So, I think you should focus your energy on those guys instead. Like, Kotoko-san has been up to no good, for example. Ah, but what she did was approved by you, wasn't it?" ...You're making my blood boil. "Anyway... I think you would do good to forgive me. Then Haruka-kun will be safe, too. Ah, actually- Couldn't you just forgive everyone? Then Kotoko-san won't run amok, and you won't have to think about all the difficult stuff." ...That is...a very enticing proposal. "Right? Hah, hehehe." Abandoning all thinking... How nice it would be if I could just do that. "...If you ask me, I don't really get why you don't do it..." Because this is the role I'm playing! "But this role was giving to you, wasn't it?" ...! "You didn't end up doing this because you wanted to, right? It's not a dream you've had for a long time or anything, Warden-san? So, there's no need to let it tie you down. Couldn't you just quit?" What are you... "Warden-san- We call you warden, because that's what you are, right? And I wa sassigned the role of prisoner, but that doesn't mean I'm now nothing but a prisoner at heart, too. After all, I'm still me." ...! "Are you okay warden? Are you feelings sick again?" Haah...haeuahh... "That's because you keep thinking too much about difficult things." ...Gyh!... Haah... "Just stop. Being the warden, that is."

Es brings up that Mu is emotionally manipulative. That she hones onto any weakness to exploit in those she dislikes and makes herself look small so those around will feel more inclined to help her. Through her voice drama, like many of the other prisoners, Mu uses the same tactics that got her into Milgram to begin with.

From her first voice drama Mu is well aware that Es has issues when it comes to thinking about themselves outside of their job as prison guard. She recognizes it as a trigger which she willfully exploits in an attempt to get her point across better.

Then despite saying what Kotoko did is no concern of hers and since it was approved by the warder it'd be wrong of her to disagree with it earlier in the same voice drama her tone changes a lot near the end.

"Huh? But that has nothing to do with me." What? "The ones who are suffering are the ones who have done bad things right? You know, like, what goes around comes around?" ... "Besides Kotoko-san hurt and was mean to the people who you chose not to forgive, right?" ...Yeah. "Wouldn't it be weird for me to have any thoughts on that, then? After all, I didn't do anything wrong. You forgave me!"

Yet, suddenly when the idea that she might be viewed as in the wrong later comes up Kotoko is running amok and is a prisoner more deserving of not being forgiven than her. Because Mu as she has always done puts targets on other people to avoid being singled out herself. Then to add insult to injury she directly contradicts what she says about friendship and it being letting the people around you do what they want.

By continuing to badger Es into quiting being a guard and stop taking the role so seriously. Because Es taking their job seriously does not benefit Mu. It puts her at risk of being singled out and votes guilty later down the line. So, it's better if they just drop it.

If they don't/can't she has no issues, or qualms making the situation more difficult for them by poking at weak spots until Es-

If you want to betray from jealousy I’ve told you what’s gonna happen.

What's the point of highlighting all of this? Why include all the others when this is just meant to be about if Mikoto references the audience over the course of trial two.

Well, to be completely honest this isn't about them.

Even though at times this seems to be about the others. They're only being used as examples of how I analyzed the information provided and discerned through my own perspective when the audience was being referred to, how it was being referred to and why.

It is just easiest to explain that method over the course of all the prisoners and build up to Mikoto.

It just so happens that this may stand out more overtly with Mu than any of the other prisoners. Because of how consistent a character she is. Like she states in her voice drama no matter what labels external forces put on her, inside, in her heart she will always be Mu. She, like all the other prisoners, isn't changing and has no desire to change.

Their only desire is to escape punishment and gain social power and influence by any means necessary at times.

This is important with how they refer to the audience and the entities they choose to suck up to. Many of the prisoners have recognized being nice to Es just does not matter long term because they are just a proxy. They don't have much power or influence over how the prisoners are viewed.

Sure, it's good to get along with them for images sake during the interrogation but ultimately how well off they are with the guard doesn't heavily impact their verdict.

Yet, as long as they aren't outwardly and overtly malicious, they can get away with harassing Es if they want to. Mu's whole thing is making it appear as though she had no malicious intent or at least if she did it was a warranted response to the circumstances. She's just a victim, an underdog biting back. It's not her fault people were mean to her, but she doesn't just have to take it on the chin and wear it.

She has a right to protect herself after all she was-

"Having such a hard time." and "Trying so hard."

She was at a point where she couldn't take it anymore. Her heart was all dried up and her sorry spells weren't working.

Mikoto is the same way throughout his voice drama.

A mix of Mu and Mahiru's behavior. Basically, they're all passive aggressive about it. Dancing around the point instead of tackling it head on.

Not really elaborating on what they've heard but more so implying it through their emotional states and responses.

"If you just laugh and pretend, usually things will work out in the end right?"

"I'm pretty good at that! Making things work out to the best of my abilities." Is that so... "Eheheh... But...it's not coming to an end. All of this. With things I've never even heard before, the whole ti- The whole time... Haah... I have to see through all of these irritating experiences...!" You emerged, huh. "Hey. Looks like you haven't received a beating yet, Warden brat." ...! ... "Hah? What, are you scared?" Like you didn't get beaten by Kotoko...! "Heheh... That was just because she caught me off guard. We went at it again while you were asleep and it's not like i lost there."

Mikoto in his second voice drama similarly to Mahiru and Kazui does not willfully give Es or the audience information. Instead questioning Es on what they believe and what they saw.

"As for alters... Why do you think they're born?" In precise terms it's called, Dissociative Identity Disorder. Generally speaking it refers to when a person experiences severe pain or stress, and a new personality is created in order to isolate the original personality from the resulting trauma. "Yeah. I... probably come out to ease the stress I experience."

It's important to note that Mikoto (John) is not speaking in past tense here but present tense. So, he's not stating I emerged in the past in response to the stress Mikoto was experiencing. He's literally saying I'm coming out now to ease the stress he's currently experiencing.

Subtly calling to attention that Milgram, the verdict and the audience voices are causing Mikoto stress and he was brought out to handle and relieve Mikoto from that.

Even elaborating after that-

"The fact that I come out for longer just means that I'm constantly under extreme stress."

Again highlighting the negative impact Milgram has had on Mikoto's mental health and wellbeing. Yet also calling to attention that Mikoto (John) doesn't have a clue about what the source of the stress is. Just that Mikoto must be stressed for him to be here. Saying that just means and going off the fact that he's here at all to discern that.

Them asking this at least confirms again that they both recognize the audience as well as Es at least know Mikoto has Dissociative Identity Disorder. Something Mikoto states he's heard from the voices on his birthday as well.

The fact that he's questioning if there's really another "me" on his birthday means he more than likely heard that from the audience. He doesn't really get the chance to broach it in his voice drama or doesn't broach the topic.

Yet it is made abundantly clear before that occurs that Mikoto is aware due to the voices he's heard from the audience. So there's that as well.

All this makes the moment after this particularly interesting.

Stress... Namely, the environment of Milgram, right? "Right. You're decision to not forgive me is especially stress inducing. That's why I'm entrusting me with my heart." I see. "Not like I can blame myself. From my point of view, I'm being blamed for a crime I can't even remember." If that's the truth, then... You're the one who committed the murder? "Yeah, it was me. I killed them off." ... "So, I, Mikoto really didn't do it." Can i ask... Why you killed them? "They annoyed me." Who did you kill? "Just whoever was walking around nearby." ... How many did you kill? "Can't remember I was just born back then, you know. It's kind of fuzzy."

Just whoever was walking around-

In this empty ass back alley looking underpass in the dead of fucking night. Okay, Lil' Slugger. I believe you.

I too walk around in the dark of night to secluded spaces with no public foot traffic and a loud passing train that would mask not only my screams but those of anyone else around this is true and reasonable. It's something we all have to do we can't control where our homes are located or find other safer alternative night routes at times. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do and people like Mikoto are there.

Sometimes you have to walk up to or past a suspicious ominously posted up stranger that definitely doesn't look in any way to be waiting to initiate a hit. That's not something any person would want to avoid in the middle of the night on their walk by all means. I would have seen you like this and went whelp fuck my house is that way... Aw, damn he's either gonna kill me or I'm gonna get home but I gotta walk that way. Better start praying and speed walking.

I ain't even a religious person but I need something to have me right now.

We already made eye contact. I saw him see me. That was my first mistake. Can't get out of it now. Whelp, I have the perfect song for this. I'm such a fucking disappointment. Oh, this route will be shorter there's not many people on it! We'll get home faster. Now I'm about to die.

I would be so pissed to die because this guy was just what fucking waiting to hurt somebody. What the fuck man pick up a contact sport and put the bat down!

Think I was fucking around when I said okay I belive you well ha ha; no. I wasn't. I don't believe this is the truth in this instance. However, I one hundred percent believe this is some city shit. The fucked up thing is what he just said isn't unreasonable like that shit happens there's senseless violence all the time. That doesn't make it better he really went on the mic and said,

"I killed someone because it really was just one of those days, I'm quirky like that. I didn't even know them. Didn't even know their name. They were just annoying had those hit me with a bat vibes you know."

Like dude fuck you that's not better. That's substantially worse actually. I'm sorry this has nothing to do with the question. It's just... Rewatching Mikoto's second voice drama is a trip. One second it's like if you did do that for the reason you stated then you're kind of just objectively the worst person here and continuing to vote you guilty would be better.

He just admitted he just does this shit to relieve his own stress and it doesn't matter who he hits. It's not personal in any way. Does having a hard time and demanding job excuse that? I don't think it does. These were all people to his own quick and flimsy admission had no connection to him. Never wronged him, hell they're strangers whose only crime was walking near him.

Yet the child who killed their abuser is barely treading water while he's here coasting-

That's fucked up! The fanbase did Amane Momose dirty and it really just seems like it's because she's a child. Because these fucking adults be acting hell of childish and they are not getting as much heat as this twelve year old has. Be better. The fuck type of defense is this. He really came in here and said,

"I felt like it so I did. What's the problem?"

Then a majority of people went alright go off he's such a victim- Of what nepotism, marginally good looking priviliege?! Being shippable and okay to sexualize leading to people liking and projecting on him more than a twelve-year-old?! Because all of those things are actually helping him a lot if you take a step back to think about. Like if you take in the image in full he's doing quite well now in comparison to the shit start he had.

He literally said I killed just because they annoyed me. I didn't even know them and people went I do not dee the problem with that. Go off king people do be annoying. If you don't want to die don't be annoying in public. Being annoying death penalty actively abusining your child for years and killing a cat come on Amane jumping to murder due to that was a bit of leap wasn't it. Like even if your religion said so sweety killing is bad.

Because the truth is if he was Amane's age and gave the excuse that was given here it wouldn't be working. It would be giving repeat offender energy he would need to learn a lesson. He would be hiding behind his disorder.

Even though Mikoto (John) may only be admiting to committing the murders to cover for Mikoto which I'll go into again later... I'm mostly highlighting this to go this should not have made him be more favorably viewed. Like people really just ignored he said that shit.

Yet, then other times in the voice drama it really sounds like listening to your friend lie about the disorder they have blatantly and without restraint to get out of something they simply did not want to do to begin with. To an individual that is woefully underinformed about how the disorder works. Which is me saying it's fucking hilarious. It is absolutely amazing. He should keep doing that actually.

It's not Mikoto or Mikoto (John's) fault that people are ignorant when it comes to dissociative identity disorder and stereotype people that have it. He should take advantage of what aids him. If that's the ignorance of others in this age it takes ten seconds to start researching. No one has to teach anybody in the real wold except teachers and they ain't paid well for it.

We gotta figure it out on our own. He is in jail he doesn't owe society or anyone in that jail shit especially the truth and he isn't giving it.

Mikoto (John) goes me fronting longer has allowed me to stabilize which probably isn't good and means Mikoto the prisoner is disappearing. That is not typically not how Dissociative Identity Disorder works. I don't know why anyone would want to present it as though it does work the way Mikoto (John) is purporting. He's basically saying that alters are born at random and are immediately violent.

This is a a very weird and stereotypical way of discussing and presenting people with DID. That has led to the demonization and stigmatizing of the disorder. It's not like it can't happen people can have violent alters but usually they're responding to a trigger not just being violent towards uninvolved parties or just lashing out at anyone while outside of stressful situations.

Plus, alters can go dormant but that doesn't just happen due to someone else fronting. They can also be integrated. Everyone is different though. So, maybe that's just how this works for Mikoto. Though, alters do disappear for a bit that happens as well. So, why is Mikoto (John) acting like Mikoto's gonna die?

It's difficult for me not to question how this was phrased, especially given what others have pulled over the course of trial two. A good deal of trial two has been prisoners going well if you vote me Guilty someone else will disappear/die- So, you should just like find me innocent. It's that easy find me innocent and everything will be fine.

Like these assholes have genuinely forgotten they are in here because someone has already died. They really be out here like I will certainly take a life but it won't be mine. Do as I say not as I do. Violence is bad and we wouldn't want to hurt anyone let's all just get along.

Where was this Barney ass logic when you were giving people head-on collisions with bats, knives to people's chest, committing malpractice. Like none of these people have said there's no reason to take a life because they've all fucking done it. Just that there's no reason to take away their lives. At least with the people who have brought that sort of thing up.

Isn't that sort of fucked up? That all of trial two a good deal of prisoners threatened the audience with the idea of someone dying as a result of the audiences' actions. Completely ignoring, downplaying, or evading the fact that someone has already died because of their actions.

Instead, it's about reducing harm in the present suddenly. Yet they weren't thinking about reducing harm when they did what they did. Maybe reducing harm to themselves. Then when their victims come up they get real quiet suddenly. Unless it's Shidou or Mahiru who immediately turn it around and make it about how the victims deaths are impacting them.

How it's making them feel bad.

Even ignoring all of the emotionally questionable things presented here and over the course of trial two. Pushing that to the side and just taking the voice drama by itself.

It's riddled with contradictions. For example, this statement

"Evidently, the time I've been fronting has been getting longer. So, this "me" has been able to stabilize. Isn't that the reason we can talk properly?"

Let's again ignore the fact that you were working and taking the fucking train before Milgram. Something that is not only expressly shown in your music video but corroborated by Mikoto's own testimony that directly conflicts with seeing you on a fucking train,

Q.12 How do you travel to work? Mikoto: Road cycling. It’s one of my hobbies, and it’s good exercise too. The fact I don’t have to worry about making the last train can be both a blessing and a curse.

Meanwhile in clown town where the alibis are shit and keeping a story straight is dead.

Q.17 Do you smoke? Mikoto: Only electric. I used to smoke real cigarettes in the past, but since I started my job I’ve stopped.

Like they even change the tote bags they carry so one has the color we fucking have had associated with Mikoto (John) and the other doesn't so the person taking the fucking train is more than like Mikoto (John).

Not even adding to the fact Mikoto confirms that he's the one who works at night in his fucking first written interrogation through this answer-

Q.06 What do you hate? Mikoto: working overnight / reptiles / violence

All things that appear or are alluded to in MeMe. Either from the tarot cards or expressly shown like with the images of him returning home.

Ah, man it'd be a fucking shame if on top of all that there was canonical merch that showed Mikoto vaping after the murder or holding an e-cigarette.

Certainly no one has that and the staff wouldn't provide us with something so damning because they like to keep things up to interpretation and it's not meant to be solvable. It's about how we all view it, view it in our hearts through our feelings.

Meanwhile the third anniversary art coming in with a steel chair.

(Something I brought up way before, along with the idea that the art from the third anniversary is in fact the prisoners after their crimes. Even getting this merch to check more closely. )

Oh, Holmes I'm absolutely stumped at what this could mean. Surely this is still just Mikoto (John) too. It could be no one else. Mikoto is an honest innocent man who couldn't hurt a fly.

All he did was dream. Except when that witty bastard plum forgot he still smoked cigarettes occasionally just a few times. Quitting is difficult, yes, even when moving over to the same thing in a different form. It doesn't mean he's a liar.

For another example, here

This is not Mikoto (John) in MeMe smoking in the tub but still Mikoto. He's an honest but confused man. Who wouldn't know or rightfully remember no longer smoking cigarettes.

Okay time to stop joking around-

It is more reasonable to recognize that they both appear throughout MeMe and Double and this is subtly displayed through their stated habits, clothing, and facial expressions. Then just ignoring the pile of evidence that shows Mikoto (John) clearly had a life outside of here too.

Along with that again to Mikoto's own admission trial one he was the one more active at night until recently. Stating with extraordinarily little prompting-

Q.20 Are you more of a morning person or a night person? Mikoto: I used to be basically nocturnal. Recently though I’ve been falling asleep pretty early.

Ignoring all of that again he's still just fucking lying.

Just because alters don't front doesn't mean they don't have a stable internal existence. What the fuck are you on about right now? Like at most I can generously say he meant it was becoming easier for him to front but this was bullshit.

This was not a good way of phrasing that. Again alters that don't front have personalities and could even have rich lives internally. So, Mikoto (John) is on some nonsense. Like he's just testing what he can fucking get away with because he knows Es is stupid and ill informed.

Every day I question how he is getting away with it when the honest answer is,

People frankly don't care to see it and that's fine.

There's even the fucking fact that Mikoto (John) directly fucking contradicts himself right after stating this.

"Evidently, the time I've been fronting has been getting longer. So, this "me" has been able to stabilize. Isn't that the reason we can talk properly?" ... "If I had stayed a monster maybe that would've been better. ...What?" You've turned out to be much more rational than I expected... I'm surprised. "I'm a university graduate after all."

Alright, Mikoto (John) which the fuck is it?

Have you only recently been fronting enough to stabilize leading to you being able to communicate properly or did you front for all of fucking college?

You were at least aware enough of it to consider yourself a college graduate. So, what's the truth? Huh which fucking is it?

"Can't remember I was just born back then, you know. It's kind of fuzzy."

I am once again asking how you fucking remember college Mikoto (John)?! Yet, were just born back then?

Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room-

The threekoto or trikoto theory.

Because some people may want to say if you take into consideration the existence of a third unknown alter than all these inconsistencies can be explained, Gunsli. This is what all those inconsistencies are hinting towards, it's the perfect explanation you're just choosing not to see it.

Yes, I am choosing not to see it that way.

Yet that's not only because it doesn't bring me any narrative joy and subtracts from it. It's also because I view that concept as a cheap fix-it solution where a new factor has been shoved into the narrative in order to account for things within it that could be logistically explained by other means. There's also no actual evidence to this being the case.

One could rightfully say what about the inconsistencies you just pointed out though.

Those could simply be explained by a fact that Milgram has brought up since the beginning of the series-

The prisoners can lie.

If the prisoners who are under more restrictions than Mikoto (John) still have the freedom to lie why are people assuming Mikoto (John) isn't lying as well? Especially when being faced with an unknown, dangerous situation, in which he's been threatened with the death sentence? Like wouldn't the reasonable response to such an odd situation be to keep your information yours alone. Not willfully give it to an entity exerting power over you?

So, the inconsistencies found here very well could be there to hint at what exactly happened once all the information is examined together.

Though, let's be serious for a bit.

Let me walk down that bridge with anyone who wants to go there? What's the actual probability that all the information that they gave us-

Including naming the songs,

MeMe and Double.

Along with willfully adding this fucking very overt line,

"Doesn’t matter if you didn’t wish for it, can’t get rid of me now. Just the two of us, relieved, aren’t you? I’ll protect you (us)."

Are all actually statements meant to mislead the audience and both Mikoto and Mikoto (John) are being honest about not remembering the murder and this third more recently born alter is the actual murderer. Because given that statement on the crimes and Mikoto (John)'s admission that yes, he is a college graduate, the lyrics in Double pointing out we made him out to be a scoundrel-

In my opinion that would be the most reasonable conclusion to draw if I were to believe this is true with the information we've been given so far.

Even if that were the case and all of these other things were red herrings.

These would all be objectively the worst red herrings in existence. Because that isn't a red herring it's a fucking school of them. Grab a fishing rod and get to it. This is past the point of being considered a red herring and instead would be more aptly described as a series of overt lies.

You know a good red herring is when people can actually figure out it is that and there's evidence in canon alluding to that being the case and what is commonly accepted as truth being disingenuous. I'm not the biggest Steven Universe fan nor do I hate it passionately. I'm more neutral to it.

So, let's use it as an example.

-Spoilers for Steven Universe-

In Steven Universe it turns out Pink Diamond and Rose Quartz are the same fucking person. There is art that alludes to this before this reveal. There were speculations and theories of this being the case. What Steven Universe did not do repeatedly at any point was go she's not a diamond we swear this is a normal Rose Quartz.

They didn't draw attention to the elephant in the room over and over. Most of the characters in the series believed fully that she was a quartz and had been lied to for years. It's never called attention to because it is a wildly accepted truth. So, nobody questioned it.

Yet, there were still hints this was the case enough for people to speculate such far before it was revealed to be the case. My point is red herrings are seen not heard, not repeated over and over. A red herring by definition is one misleading clue or accepted truth meant to trick the viewer into believing something that is untrue or move them away from the truth.

It's not a consistent pattern.

-End Spoilers for Steven Universe-

Then to add more insult to fucking injury why the fuck would Deco*27 say this-

This isn't a red herring this isn't even within the canon.

This is a statement he made independent of the canon. Outside of that he didn't even have to give a specific number but did anyway. He could have just said what will happen to the Mikoto's now. If they wanted this shit to remain ambiguous. Yet, he still used two unless this translation from the Milgram app is simply wrong and it added that.

It'd be weird but machine translations have been weirder.

Yet, considering everything I've seen it truly makes more sense for me to believe Mikoto and Mikoto (John) are both being dishonest for self-preservation reasons than to believe that the entire series has been lying from jump.

I just find it more likely that these two who found themselves in such a strange situation, who are vehemently trying to convince the audience and the other prisoners around them that they are honest trustworthy men are just fucking lying about a lot of provably false shit. Then as it tends to happen when someone is telling lies off the seat of their fucking pants there are many easily spotted contradictions and direct confirmation of actual truths.

Because the truth tends to be consistent lies aren't unless a person is very skilled at it. (Glances at Kazui.) Throwing all that to the side.

If the idea of there being three alters brings someone joy, then that's all well and good. I'm not trying to stomp that out or rain on anyways parade. I just don't personally want the information I discuss to be associated with that or have any interest in discussing that interpretation.

There are a lot of people who'd have a great time doing that. I am not one of them.

Because I feel using that idea to excuse the fact that the alibi, excuses, other statements Mikoto has given, and the reality of the situation through the songs extracted directly contradict each other in a way that highlights he may not be being honest is not only incredibly convenient for him but somewhat disingenuous.

This includes his voice dramas and the birthday interaction before Double premiered. Unsurprisingly.

I'm not looking for an easy fix for those inconsistencies that keep Mikoto looking infallible and like he couldn't hurt a fly. I'm not looking for something that frames Mikoto as being in the right, a good person, and a victim of circumstance while highlighting an alter as being completely bad and in the wrong always. Because that sort of story is lacking in nuances in my opinion and wouldn't be fun to me.

If that were the case it would make it feel as though the story itself was highlighting Mikoto's character having dissociative identity disorder as the reason for him being a murderer or the only thing that led to these issues occurring. Something that just doesn't feel right to me personally.

It's never like what has Mikoto done/chosen to do or how could he have responded differently or managed stress better. Nope it's always an alters fault, it's always the disorders' fault. There's no respect for Mikoto's own agency because he's a guy with a disorder, he didn't mean it, he couldn't help it, that's just how it is.

The impressive thing is how often Milgram as a series pushes back against this interpretation and simplification of dissociative disorders in general.

Then the fandom pretty much plays into this trying to tell others there's a definitive way to know if someone has it, how many alters they have, and at what time an alter is out just by vibes and speaking patterns alone.

As if dissociative identity disorder doesn't involve a shit ton of masking and trying to appear fine to avoid being singled out by others.

Milgram highlights this issue with the perception of dissociative disorder through Amane's voice drama.

Where Es literally implies that since Amane's case doesn't present the same exact way as Mikoto's and she cannot do the same things as him that solidifies to them that Amane herself cannot have a dissociative disorder. So, in Es' eyes what Amane is doing is just playing pretend by referring to herself as we and god. So, really all she is or appears to be to Es at the end of the day is a kid throwing a tanturm and playing make believe.

Well... It's in vain. So, you might as well listen to me while we're here. "I won't forgive you. I won't forgive you." Prisoners can't attack the warden. This is one of Milgram's core rules, although a certain guy with multiple personalities managed to slip past it. "I won't forgive you... I won't forgive you..." Which means Milgram doesn't dictate who the prisoners are by their body but by their mind. If the mind isn't accounted for then the rule doesn't apply. It bothers me that there's a loophole, but... "I'll kill you...! I'll kill you!" Thanks to this defective rule we can confirm this; The 'you' holding the scissors right now isn't a god or a concept. It's Amane Momose herself. "...I'll..." So, what you're doing right now really is just a game of pretending. This is stupid.

Then Amane later in her voice drama calls out Es for referring to themselves as we. Saying that Es must just be playing pretend to avoid taking accountability for their actions as well.

Es makes the very severe and common mistake of assuming all dissociative disorders present the same way and immediately has their own logic used again them. Leading them to have another crisis of identity. They're shown to have a serious lack of understanding of themselves and their opinion.

Something that from the beginning of Milgram has been shown to cause them discomfort in multiple voice dramas. Mu's first and second one, Kotoko's first and second one, and Amane's second one. This same logic could very well lead to the audience making a lot of the same mistakes as Es is presented making.

Well, that was longer than I anticipated. But, there's a lot of things about Mikoto that imply he not only heard the audience voices but took the reaction he received into account when deciding on how he proceeded.

Other than that, I've got a birthday to have. Sorry for the long answer and going much more in depth than I needed to. I also hope none of this was rude.

Though i can't really control how I'm interpreted.

#gunsli rambles #milgram #mikoto kayano

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1moreff-creator · 1 year ago

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DRDT + Milgram AU: Undercover (Introduction)

Finally succumbed to the Urges and came up with ideas for a full Danganronpa Despair Time - Milgram AU, and now I feel like sharing. This means giving each character a MV + VD concept (not a full VD though I ain’t writing that much dialogue, and not a full MV because who do you think I am), plus this Undercover post! I’m not sure if I’ll commit to this for a full three trials, or I’ll just drop it after just one, but I can guarantee I’ll do this trial in full. Feel free to make analysis posts (no pressure obvs), but also obvs don't expect this to be that good, I'm doing this for fun.

And if you come from the Milgram side, uh... have fun? I am curious about what people with no prior conceptions of these characters would think, but I do recommend DRDT if you haven't watched it (the overlap between the fandoms is non-trivial, I imagine you'll like it). If not, you should probably look up the character designs at least, but be wary that there will be DRDT spoilers.

As an obvious disclaimer just in case, I am not affiliated with either DRDT or Milgram in any way, this is just a fanmade AU done entirely for fun.

Basic Concept

Pretty simple. What if the 16 students of DRDT were prisoners in Milgram? This means they're all "murderers" by some loose definition of the word, implying most of their backstories must be changed to acommodate for that. For the prisoner pairs, I just paired them based on the Chapter 1 recap. The rest is pretty self-explanatory provided you know how Milgram works; three trials, vote Forgiven/Unforgiven, etc. I won't repeat it all here. You can go to the official Milgram YT channel for more information if you're not familiar.

Meet Es

Although they are of unspecified adult age, this universe’s Es is very similar to canon Es from the main series, at least in appearance. The only differences are red highlights in their hair, as well as sharp yellow eyes and taller height. They also wear arm sleeves on both their arms, being particularly adverse to people touching the left one, and their voice is slightly higher pitch. As for their personality… well, you’ll have to wait for the VDs, right? But as a heads up, they’re quite a bit nicer than canon Es, though they can still get pretty strict with the prisoners.

(Can you tell who they’re connected to yet?)

Their uniform is the same as canon, including the band thing which in Milgram runes reads “reciffO eciloP”. The only difference is that their other band thing is longer and has the following runes:

(As a heads up, since there's no rune for 'q' I just used the rune for 'c/k' in its place. You probably don't need to translate it all to know what this says if you're familiar with DRDT lore)

Jackalope is replaced by DRDT canon MonoTV, no big changes to its personality. It still breaks the fourth wall and talks to an audience,which is odd for the prisoners (and Es) seeing as there is no audience in-universe (at least, that's what it claims).

*Es’ VD is mostly the same, besides changes in dialogue caused by the difference in personalities. The only real difference is that there is no ‘extra cell.’

*Cover is still Hibana.

Alright, let's get to the fun stuff.

Undercover

(It is highly recommended you know what the canon Undercover looks like before reading this, since a lot of it is pretty similar)

The opening is still the same minus Es' different appearance and MonoTV replacing Jackalope, and only starts changing when the prisoners begin showing up.

(Don’t- Don’t expect this to actually work as a song btw. I’m not insane enough to make that work)

UNDER Split in between decisions, my conscious is made up of torn stitches

Levi (01) holds a mostly neutral expression as he holds up his prisoner card, which displays his face alongside an image of an alleyway. His pose keeps changing slightly in smash cuts. Levi’s face darkens right before there’s a switch to the next prisoner.

(Note: I won’t mention the pose switching and the face on the card all the time, since that’s part of canon Undercover. Just assume it always repeats)

UNDER The beauty in simplicity, wilting with rising complexities

Arturo (02) has his chin up arrogantly at first, showing a prisoner card with a picture of a bathroom. He scoffs and turns around before the switch.

UNDER A liar? No, that’s wrong! My honesty shines like a star in the night

David (03) (speaker persona) smiles nervously, rubbing at his cheek with a finger. His card shows a bedroom. He covers his face with his free hand, sighing before the switch.

UNDER A sinner? No, you’re kidding! I’m innocent as can be, just don’t mind the gaps

Whit (04) throws a cheeky grin to the camera, doing a finger gun with his free hand. His card shows a park. He nervously rubs the back of his neck before the switch.

(Note: Yes I gave him 04 because of the tetraphobia thing sue me-)

UNDER With a fury and a passion, unstoppable, show them your fangs

Ace (05) snarls at the camera. His card shows a city street. He throws it to the floor angrily before the switch.

(Note: Sometimes I wasn't quite able to tie their talent to their murder, so it's either tangential to their story or has been replaced with something similar. I am mentioning this with Ace for... no reason in particular, sure, you'll believe that)

UNDER Your fears and anxieties, Respond to the stress, show me fight or flight

Nico (06) hides under the part of their cloak which looks like a scarf, peeking out nervously. Their card shows a locker room. They take a step back as the scene switches.

INSERT CHORUS HERE

UNDER Each existence is like no other, Lucky, unlucky, showtime reaches all

J (07) holds up her card with an unsatisfied expression. It shows a bridge surrounded by camera equipment. She rolls her eyes as the scene switches.

UNDER And yet, it’s all the same In the end, this wretched still life goes on

Rose (08) yawns as she holds up her card lazily. It shows a large dining room. The card slips from her hand as she falls asleep.

UNDER It’s too much, too much, I’m high strung, please forgive my sins

Hu (09) looks nervous, glancing around as if to find a place to hide. Her card shows a zither in a non-descript room. She drops her card, and closes her eyes with a pained expression, a hand on her chest.

UNDER Please do condemn me, Bloodletting, the horror inside us is what makes me feel.

Veronika (10) spins and gives the camera a bright smile as she pulls out her card. It shows a rooftop. She throws the card in the air dramatically, laughing as it spins around and falls beside her. Her eyes fall back on the camera, and she smirks menacingly.

UNDER Unopposable, incontestable Merry kings, life’s queens, for me they bow down.

Arei (11) is sticking out her tongue and looking to the side dismissively. Her card shows a bowling alley. She laughs into her hand before the scene switch.

UNDER My weakness haunts me, Alarm bells are ringing, there's no going back.

Eden (12) fidgets with her hands, shaking nervously. She hides her face behind her card as she shows it, but her teary eyes are still visible over it. The card shows a bedroom full of clocks. She cries into her hands before the switch.

INSERT CHORUS HERE

[The music winds down, a bridge of sorts. As it plays, a few scenes are shown, where only the characters’ silhouettes are visible, white noise covering them]

[01: A steaming kettle covers most of the foreground. In the background, Levi is seen sitting at a table, head slumped forward. Most of the table is visible, but no one else is in the frame]

[02: Arturo is seen to the left, holding a white turtle neck shirt in his hands. Behind him, an open suitcase sits on a bed, clothes splayed haphazardly around it]

[03: David stands alone on an empty stage, arms wide out. The spotlights are all on him. The entire stage and some of the front row seats are visible, with David’s silhouette only covering a small part in the center of the frame]

[04: A computer monitor covers almost the entire frame. There are countless photos and words, but they’re all too blurry to see, with the exception of a small message on top which reads “Analyzing profiles…” Whit is reflected on the screen, resting his head on one of his fists]

[05: Ace sits on a motorcycle, looking up and admiring the night sky which takes up most of the frame]

[06: Nico is crouched beside a cat, holding out a pink mouse toy for it to play with. Only their legs are visible, but there is a puddle of water under Nico]

[07: J has her palm spread out all over the screen, as if blocking the camera. There are flashes of light behind her, but the source is impossible to see]

[08: Rose sits slumped in a chair, hands on her face. All around her, dozens of canvases can be seen, painted entirely in black. Small bits of color poke out at the bottom, but no full paintings are visible]

[09: The camera is entirely focused on the top of a zither. Hu’s hand is visible, touching the strings with her plectra]

[10: Only Veronika’s footwear is visible over a dark floor. The rest of the scene is filled entirely by blood]

[11: Arei stands in front of a bathroom mirror. She’s holding the right side of her hair, the only part that’s visible. It looks very unevenly cut]

[12: Eden is holding her head in her hands, slumped over a work desk full of small machinery. Behind her are a multitude of analog clocks of various designs, all showing the same time; 6:00]

[13: Min is sitting on a chair, slumped forward and apparently collapsed over a notebook. A pen sits just beside her right hand. A bit of the writing can be seen, showing this:]

[The brown part being Min's hair. Don't make fun of me I'm using Paint and have zero art skills]

[14: Xander, the focus of the shot, stands in front of a crowd, standing on a simple chair. His fist is in the air, and so are the fists of everyone in the crowd]

[15: Charles is kneeling over a grave, the name on it hidden behind the silhouette. Charles is pulling at his hair with his hands. Other graves are visible around him, but the edges of the screen are darkened and it’s impossible to see them well]

[16: Teruko’s hand is reaching out to a black figure, this one without white noise. The figure is completely non-descript, more a simple shadow than a proper silhouette. Blinding white light surrounds this figure]

UNDER No mistakes, no corrections, 100% Perfection, results shall not vary.

Min (13) wears a neutral expression, and she holds her card perfectly upright. Her pose changes only to match the exact angles actual mugshots use. Her card shows an untidy bedroom. Before the switch, she lowers her hand, and looks briefly to the side, before turning back to the camera. When she does, her left eye flashes magenta behind her hair.

UNDER Fighting for true justice, Stand strong, a reflection of the will of the many

Xander (14) is glaring at the camera, moving his card around flippantly. Said card shows a window overlooking an entire city. Xander throws the card away before throwing a punch at the screen.

UNDER Leave no room to hide, No hesitation, a chain reaction of truth unfolds

Charles (15) looks serious, if a bit annoyed as he holds up his card. It shows a laboratory table with several test tubes. He turns his back to the camera, adjusting his goggles, but gives one last, softer look behind him as the scene switches.

UNDER Or shall the secrets remain? What lies beyond the lies, armageddon untold

Teruko (16) looks at the camera with cold eyes, but a hint of a frown on her lips. Her pose never changes; unlike everyone else, her segment is one continuous shot. It starts with her holding her card at an angle such that only her face is visible on it. She closes her eyes solemnly, before finally flipping her card around so only the backside is shown. It has the Milgram logo combined with the DRDT logo. She never shows the rest of the front of the card, as the scene switches moments after.

[Pre-chorus, as the prisoners hold their hands to their mouths before a scene of them smiling plays. At the end, for a few frames, a white camellia blooms, before there’s a sudden shift in scenery as we hit the final chorus. All the prisoners’ silhouettes have a still shot each with Es, with a blood splatter always under the latter. The scene starts to focus on each individually]

[Levi’s punching Es in the face, Es thrown to the floor from the impact. Brass knuckles are barely visible on his hand. Levi’s shouting, as are all the other prisoners]

[Arturo is kneeling, facing away from Es. The latter is laying on the floor behind him in what would be a pretty uncomfortable position. Arturo is holding his head in his hands, his mouth visible from the side and open in a shout. One of Es’ shoes is off]

[David is holding Es by the neck of their shirt, shouting at their face (from now on I’ll stop clarifying that they’re shouting). The following symbol appears over where his eyes would be, glowing yellow: 正] EDIT: I forgot to mention one of Es’ shoes is off. RIP to the theorists I’m so sorry-

[Whit is pointing what looks to be a gun at Es, who is recoiling as if they’ve been shot in the heart]

[Ace is seen running, Es’ body falling to the ground beside him and twisting as if they’d been bumped into]

[Nico sits on top of Es’ back. With one of their hands, they’re grabbing onto Es’ hair and apparently pushing it forward. With the other they’re holding two ends of a wire firmly planted on Es’ neck]

[J stands normally, pointing what seems to be a remote control at Es. The latter is face-up on the floor, their limbs contorted in unnatural angles]

[Rose is standing, facing away from Es, who is kneeling and grabbing at their throat. A small jar sits beside them, the cap taken off]

[While standing, Hu is grabbing Es by the throat with both hands, blood coming from the Warden’s throat]

[Veronika is kneeling besides Es’ face-up body. Her hands are on her chest, and there is blood under her as well as the Warden. Meanwhile, Es’ limbs are contorted in unnatural ways, and one of their shoes is off]

[Arei is violently swinging a bowling ball at Es’ head, causing their body to twist around as it falls]

[Eden is standing, covering her eyes. Her right hand has a Ⅵ symbol glowing bright yellow. Es is uncomfortably laying face-up on the floor]

[Min is standing with her back turned to Es, who is kneeling on the floor and grasping at their neck. Min is shouting into a landline phone. Along her arm, an equation glows bright yellow:

ln(x³ - 2 . 13) = 0]

[Xander is grabbing Es’ shoulder, plunging a knife into their stomach]

[Es is standing neutrally, but there is still blood on the floor. A glowing yellow question mark floats above them. Charles is nowhere to be seen]

[Teruko is kneeling calmly besides Es, who is lying face-up with their hands crossed over their chest as if in a coffin. A question mark glows on Teruko's left hand. Teruko is the only prisoner besides Charles who is not screaming]

[The song winds down while a sped up and translucent version of the video plays in the background. A shadow begins growing in the middle, and for just a moment, two sharp yellow eyes stare at the camera from the center of the screen. The finale simply has Es exiting to the left as they do in canon Undercover]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And there's Undercover! How we feeling? Hope you enjoyed! Take care!

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landthatplane-blog · 1 year ago

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Another steam of consciousness on Mr Daniel Ricciardo and no sleep so apologies in advance if things are a bit scattered.

A little scared to post because tags have been intense.

Anyways....

Happy for Daniel. Everyone criticized him for taking a break last year (which he clearly needed) and not taking a Haas/Williams seat. People thought that he thought he was too good. Well, he's now taking a seat at the last place team, to rebuild and prove himself. He sees a pathway, but he's taking the step down in hopes for a long view move. He is a multiple race winner and probably could have retired but of course, unfinished business. Beauty of the sport. The comeback. He's allowed the chance to rebuild and is literally starting with a back marker team now and knows he has to prove himself. But now, people are pressed he is in a seat. Again, obviously Red Bull see something in him. If they weren't seeing some indication - based on Red Bull's history of being cutthroat - this wouldn't be a conversation. Even on that Simon Rennie/RB podcast, Simon mentioned not wanting to basically lie or hype Daniel up if the results weren't there. There's a trust there. Luckily, they saw something. They literally can't hire Daniel solely for markeing/PR. Does it help? Of course. Everyone has to find value wherever they can. There's only 20 seats people have to take their opportunities where they can.

Alpha Tauri is a junior team narrative. It was but they've obviously repeatedly put out there they're looking for a restructure with one experienced driver and one younger, and they're going to be using Red Bull parts. Two young drivers (unless you're a generational talent like MV) could very well result in little to no points and they're dead last right now. Haas had to bring back two experienced drivers to make up for the previous years of two young drivers. They need an injection of experience.

Pay Driver - He has not had a family member nor a huge corporation buy his way into the sport. He's built a career where people are interested in him - over 10 years - how can people find a way to penalize that? Again, he can't win. Just because he can pull in interest from huge sponsors - again, after years of building a career, that's just the business. If it was based on that person's definition alone - Lewis, Lando would also be pay drivers. But it isn't based on that factor alone. There's so many factors.

A lot of people deserve things, but this is a competitive sport, so nothing is ever guaranteed. Liam may very well deserve a spot on the grid, but you could also say he never would have had this opportunity if not for DR's accident. Also, if he’s as great as people think he is - I’m not too worried for him. People keep going back to Alex Albon's appendix causing the string of recent events but sometimes I think - this all wouldn't have happened if Daniel hadn't left Red Bull in first place lol. Maybe he'd still have his Red Bull seat now! I don't mean that in a he shouldn't have left, just that his leaving kind of caused a similar effect and gave all these other people opportunities lol. But again, that's not really how it works. They're making decisions based on today's circumstances. And now, he's come back but has to re-earn his spot. His leg up is Christian Horner supports him, but he still has to perform to get back. Just think it's funny people are acting like, there won't be hard work or there's no talent (again, drivers don't forget how to drive). It's complicated and impossible to identify who "deserves" a seat more or less. So many variables and impossible to be definitive (the way some people speak as if they know everything/must be right). Guess, we could argue forever which is what's entertaining. That said....

Professionalism/Kindness. While I think everyone knows that the way McLaren handled Daniel's exit was in poor taste, never once did Daniel complain or make excuses. He was professional and continues to be. The results weren't there. When he was fired (let go, released), he understood it. Acknowledged the results weren't there and this was part of the sport (I'll get into that NY Times article another time - but it was clearly not for a lack of trying). Daniel called Oscar Piastri to tell him no hard feelings. Wanted him to still have a positive start. Even Checo has been asked about Daniel "coming after his seat" and presumably under a lot of pressure for 2025 and his response was also professional and an understanding of the sport. He said Daniel's a friend and there are only 20 seats, there's no hard feelings. It's up to him (Checo) to perform. They all understand. Nobody inherently deserves or is guaranteed a seat. Wish some fans would understand. If the drivers aren't publically pressed about it themselves - maybe everyone just calm down. People are just so nasty, and without actually knowing all the information. Twitter/X is the worst. This should be fun, juicy, competitive but no need to bring hate or be nasty.

That's all for now🤷🏻‍♀️. As always, happy to discuss but please be kind (or funny).

#daniel ricciardo #dr3 #danny ric #f1 #formula 1

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good-beans · 2 years ago

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I just think it's funny that the prisoners are supposed to be ordinary people getting songs extracted right from their heads -- I mean, statistically a few of them must have no musical talent in the 'real world', right? Despite the incredible voices in the mv's, some of them are just completely tone-deaf, off-key messes if they were to actually try to sing. I think it'd be cute if knowing the Milgram machine extracts a perfect voice gives them a bit of pride/confidence. It could also be sad if they're already self-conscious about their voice and think that Es is sitting there listening to them miss every note...

#milgram #milgram project #haruka sakurai #yuno kashiki #fuuta kajiyama #muu kusunoki #shidou kirisaki #mahiru shiina #kazui mukuhara #amane momose #mikoto kayano #kotoko yuzuriha #es #rose posts #just a silly thought i had

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plan-3-tmars · 1 year ago

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And Now, The Weather!

So I noticed that the weather changes in Purge March follow a sort of pattern, so I think a meaning can be derived from it.

Amane's MV begins with clear sky's. Amane is saying her speech, she's announcing the cult's values/rules using flags and altogether things seem promising. There are no grey clouds, no looming omens, everything is pure and positive and happy - all sunshines and rainbows if you will.

But as we all know, rainbows can't exist without rain. It's very obvious from the MV that the rain is tied to Amane being punished - in order for prosperity there must be strict rules you follow. Break those rules and you'll be punished so you don't break them again. Rainbows and rainbow imagrey are also tied to very positive things. I think this might be implying how the cult brainwashes it's followers - these bad things are for the greater good! is it really a punishment if its for such a beautiful and good cause?

I would also like to point out how the weather pattern mirrors Amane's abuse she got from her mentors vs Amane killing her victim.

The first picture is before the old man tells Amane's mother that she helped a cat through traditionally ways, instead of being faithfully that her religion would fix whatever is wrong with the cat. We also know after her mother tells her this information she gets tazed, and when we see her again she has bruises and what looks to be tear stains on her face.

The second picture is before Amane kills her victim. She saw what her mentor did to the cat she tried to help and decided that he broke one of their values/rules (-> Amane is vegetarian so harming animals is most likely frowned upon.) We also know straight after this scene she beats her victim to death in her house while wearing a badge that looks to be the cults logo.

Both of these scenes have a "calm before the storm" vibe that they share. The sky isn't clear, so the mood isn't positive and we can tell that something bad is about to happen, but the rainbow is also there in the corner. What they're about to do next is for, in their opinion, the "greater good" of the cult. They're both just carrying out something they believe to be right, to help clear those pesky grey clouds and get the sky back to being pure and clear.

It also rains in both of these moments which I also think contributes to the idea that both her mentor's and Amane carried out the actions they did because they believed it was for the greater good (although we can put more blame on one more than the other ..)

Rainbows symbolise all that is great, and seeing them is generally seen as a great and exciting thing, but they cannot exist without rain. The cult's perfect, prosperous image cannot exist without harsh rules and punishment.

I also found this more philosophical interpretation of rainbows and rainbow imagrey while doing some research which I think could also apply to Amane's situation.

The cult's image of a prosperous and happy place is just that - an image. The reality is much more darker and sinister. Amane has been brainwashed since she was a kid so this is how she views her beloved beliefs but no matter how hard she tries she will always end up failing in their eyes because you can never touch something that isn't real. No matter how hard she tries to be a good girl, eventually it will get to exhausting and she will fail. And when she fails, she will be punished.

#yes i made the title of this a wtnv referance. its my beloved i had to take the opportunity #anyway take another amane reading. her character is rlly growing on me #especially after her vd i think shes so interesting #milgram #amane momose #wtnv #tw child abuse #tw torture #tw cult

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atiny-for-life · 10 months ago

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Ateez's Full Storyline Explained - Part 2

Masterlist

Inception (A-World)

As already implied by the song title, the entire MV takes place inside a dreamscape which gives us some leeway when interpreting the imagery

Additionally, it also helps us align it with the storyline: we're seeing the time right before their reunion, meaning they've already parted ways quite some time ago and are now beginning to forget about each other, just like Hongjoong described in the Outro

We open on Yeosang in the violin practice room which we already know he doesn't feel at home in before we cut to the classroom we saw San in in the Diary Film

We see Seonghwa in a room reminiscent of a detective's office; a place in his dream that likely represents his search for the 'Be Free' girl

Yunho is in his brother's old room/recording studio while Wooyoung is in the parking garage where his solo dance-battle took place

Hongjoong, of course, is in their shared hideout and San in his room which is already filled with packed boxes - his family's move to another city is imminent

We then get to see Jongho on the burning basketball court and Mingi trapped in a decrepit hallway - likely a reflection of his mental state which must have been worsening since he parted ways with the only people he ever felt fully accepted by

As the song continues, the lyrics become more desperate, speaking of a "you" they're desperately chasing after in their dreams, a "you" they cannot live without because it would mean going back to the way thinks were and they cannot bear the thought of continuing to walk in circles whenever they're awake

The dream around them begins to warp, the classroom floods, their surroundings are set ablaze (sick-ass use of practical effects by the way - it's so stunning)

In order to determine who this "you" is, we only have to look at what we already know: what are they missing that they previously had? Each other. A shared dream of making music and performing. A place to call home where they felt comfortable, loved, and accepted. That's their "you".

As the song then keeps building and the chaos in the dreamworld keeps escalating as a result of their powerful emotions, Hongjoong finds himself confronted with his own body asleep in a bed at the end of the hallway

He sprints toward it and jumps, diving through his own body and the bed into a dark empty space (once again, the visuals in this MV, the camera work - ah, so stunning)

His actions result in everyone waking up back in their own beds

We get some final glimpses of the chaos that had been going on in the dreamscape: the books flying around Yeosang in the practice room, the fire in Seonghwa's room and a familiar shot of Hongjoong in the warehouse which we could already see in the Diary Film

He's surrounded by floating objects, a gravitational anomaly that will later become associated with the travel between realities (for more info on that, you can read on chronologically in the masterlist or go straight to my entry on the Cromer)

The final shot is of Hongjoong alone in the dark empty space.

Now that he's awake, he feels lonely again, without a family

He does not yet know that he'll soon meet a man in a black fedora in his dream and be reunited with his family

#ateez #ateez lore #inception mv #hongjoong #seonghwa #yunho #yeosang #san #mingi #wooyoung #jongho #fever part 1 #fever series

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visualtaehyun · 10 months ago

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When you get this you have to answer with 5 of your fav songs and then tag your mutuals to do the same :) (no pressure <3)

Tagged by @chickenstrangers @twig-tea @thegalwhorants - thanks y'all ☺️ please never stop tagging me in music games, I love discovering and sharing music <3

I'm cheating here but a lot of my fav songs are OSTs so to not give myself a headache give the rest a fighting chance, I'm gonna choose 5 favs, excluding OSTs, and 5 only-OST favs!

ดาวหางฮัลเลย์ - fellow fellow

/daao haang Halley/

youtube

This song has not released me from its clutches since I first heard it during the musical portion of the ZeeNuNew concert last year. I love the lyrics and the vibes so so much. 🥹

ติดฝน - PiXXiE

/dtit fon/

youtube

I. LOVE. THESE. GIRLS! They're so talented! I legit struggled with which song of theirs to choose but I'm most obsessed with this one these days and, recently, I keep hearing people I follow sing it or play it as background music. Case in point: Keng Harit, Domundi gen 3, singing it on an IG live.

ฉันมันเป็นคนแบบนี้ - Boom Saharat

/chan man bpen khohn baaep nee/

youtube

The weirdest thing happened: I was listening to NuNew's cover of this song (listen- I'm aware I discover a lot of songs through him but he IS my favorite performer dsjshdhhs) and got real confused because I was able to sing along right away but cannot for the life of me recall how I knew this song already! I hadn't seen the MV, no one I follow seems to have covered it, and I didn't know the artist at all?? It remains a mystery to me but I've played it endlessly since then. New Thitipoom stars in the MV btw!

ต่อจากนี้เพลงรักทุกเพลงจะเป็นของเธอเท่านั้น - No One Else

/dtaaw jaak nee phleng rak thook phleng ja bpen khaawng ter thao nan/

youtube

I don't remember how I originally found it but it's one of those songs that routinely has me singing along. The title translates to 'From now on every love song will be yours'. I love the lyrics a lot!

Complicated - MATCHA

youtube

This is one of many songs and artists I discovered on that one afternoon-turned-evening-turned-night when I decided to start tracking down every song Amp Achariya has had a hand in (I then realized I was in over my head and that she'd worked on so. many. more. than I ever expected and that my spreadsheet skills weren't sufficient to catalog them lol). Needless to say, Matcha is incredibly talented and I've so far only scratched the surface of her discography.

Onto 5 of my fav OSTs!

ร้อยฤดูหนาว - Pond, Phuwin

/raawy reu duu naao/

youtube

I love the way this song builds with the instruments coming in one after another. I love their voices. I love the lyrics. This song was written by ณกมล ปุคคละนันท์ aka PEPPERY P who penned a lot of the My School President songs - อีกนิด (Come Closer), รักษา (Healing), พูดได้ไหม (Let Me Tell You), ก้อนหินกับดวงดาว (Rock&Star), and รักคู่ขนาน (Multi-Love). Yes, I am in fact sneakily rec'ing the MSP OST here too lol

คือเธอ - Zee, NuNew

/kheuu ter/

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I could've chosen so many songs among the Cutie Pie OSTs but ended up deciding on this one because P'Pin truly wrote this song to highlight both their vocal talents and it shows. ✨️ He works a lot with Domundi artists (especially ZeeNuNew) and FreenBecky, writing songs and OSTs for them and arranging songs for them for concerts - his IG is full of song insights and singing snippets if you like any of these artists!

ภาพสุดท้าย - William Jakrapatr

/phaap sut thaai/

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Do I even need to explain? It's an Amp Achariya song, the lyrics are beautiful, the meaning within the show is so !! and this LYKN boy right here kills it with his performance. 👏

แค่เธอ - Jeff Satur

/khaae ter/

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I'm not a KP girlie and this song wasn't even on my radar when I watched the show. I kinda rediscovered it a few months later, most likely either by going through Jeff's discography or maybe through Joong Archen singing it on an IG live (I realize it must look like I sit and watch a shit ton of IG lives but the honest truth is that I don't even use IG, I just stumble upon clips on twt and YT a lot lol). And boy howdy did Jeff's writing strike a chord! Don't get me wrong, the English version is nice too and all but it doesn't come close to the Thai lyrics and how well they flow with the melody, Jeff really outdid himself there!

คู่คอง - Kong Huayrai

/khuu khaawng/

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นาคี is not a drama I've seen and, yes, I again know this song through a NuNew cover lol but I really wanted to make sure to include a ลูกทุ่ง (Luk Thung) song because I love this genre. This song is extra special because the lyrics are in Isan, which is a Northeastern Thai dialect (though it's actually far closer to Lao than Central Thai). I routinely get this song stuck in my head.

/end of Thai music ramble

I'm sure I'm late to the party again so if you've been tagged already, please kindly ignore this or point me towards your post. ✨️ Tagging @raktae @sunshinechay @btwinlines @zimmbzon @airenyah @rocketturtle4 @telomeke and whoever sees this and wants in on the fun~

#tag game #thai music #tpop

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saythenameritwika · 27 days ago

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first of all, I think I forgot to respond to your other reply and I'm so sorry for that life has been. trying to mess me up 🫠

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COMEBACK DAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ARE WE FEELING ABOUT THE NEWEST EPPPP???? I watched the LMF MV and although the producer tag made me physically cringe (dj Khaled and I are strangers but I prefer more understated, one-liner tags since they're "cooler" to me.. idk why 😭 I think I was expecting something like what Marshmello did with SOS, just quietly going "Mello made it right" before the song, so I got very jumpscared by dj Khaled's 😂) I actually quite like it??? the first half of the song with the intro hits SOOO GOOODDDD, mingyu is looking fantastic in this era I must say and don't get me started on when jun and jeonghan showed up im not ok anyways moving on before I get too emotional--it's definitely an easy listening track which I'm not opposed to because I love easy listening, but that also means everything kind of flows together, BUT it is also extremely catchy sooo.. final verdict to be decided after more listens although I feel like I'll find a one true love in another song in the album since I'm weak for svt's b-sides 😅

standout moments: shua giving the robber a rose (I LOVE HIM), mingyu in wonwoo's.. lap??? (JUMPSCARE I wasn't expecting wonwoo I thought he was on a couch 😂😭), the8 with a bloody-ish face surrounded by reporters, JUN AND JEONGHAN NO MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID, the rain dancing scene, dk with the roses in the subway that becomes destroyed, mingyu's opening scene (TESTING MY LOYALTY 😭)... almost everything... they're just too good 😭💓

I'll fill you in on my thoughts on the rest of the album once I'm done listening but those are my thoughts for now!!! 🩷🩵

OMG, YESSS COMEBACK DAY!!! I'm sorry I'm so late in responding, I've just been so busy 😭. I have so much to say, though, so buckle up!!

I personally like the producer tag. I don't know anything about Dj Khaled, but the producer tag is pretty fun to sing along to. I've heard that he's not that great of a person, but as long as the music's good, I don't really care. And the song itself?! IT'S SO GOOD!! I loved LMF since the track samplers, and I loved the song since the first listen during the concert. It's really my cup of tea! My favourite parts of the MV are definitely the Dino part (obviously), the dancing in the rain, Mingyu driving into water (??), Joshua putting a rose in the gun (?? Pt.2), Woozi and Jeonghan's phone call (it was so heartwarming). I love that they made Jeonghan the main character of the mv. They love each other so much 😭. Actually, my fav song from the EP is rain because MY GOD?! That song is so hot and sexy and sad, like it's everything I wanted and more. I also love 1 to 13 and Candy. Honestly, every single song is so good, I genuinely love them all!! Can't wait to hear your opinions on the b-sides! 🩷🩵

#seventeen #svt #carat #spill the feels #svt 12 mini album #carat talk #seventeen comeback

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linabirb · 8 months ago

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okay i think ive looked through linagram masterlist here is my review

not going to review these who im completely neutral towards like they're... just here... they exist

miki - i like her design and the savior complex is funny

akio - skrunkly, i think his average ass design is his charm point👍 also sorry about the homosexuality

aimi - i like her design and the ideas with bullying are interesting to me, also you should redraw her to a frame from carrie

shun - i find him interesting as a character, neutral about him as a person, a lot of things wrong with him for sure

naomi - gorgeous t2 design and i like her personality, i like the idea of a sort of childish adult. FUCK THEM KIDS 💥 i love when adult women go fuck them kids this is hilairous

eiko - the woman ever 👍👍 thank you for e-dating representation

asahi - skrunkly, happy that i got to draw him out of all people for the new year requests

yurika - i like her, idk why you all people are so mean to her, girls must be covered in blood at all times

riku - boy situationship with a person you're sick of much 👍👍 get it 👍👍 being idolized and because of that isolated since you're not Just a Person like everyone but also not ready to let go of being idolized since you cant experience affection in normal ways👍👍

i think my top of those i like the most would be like ... asahi > naomi > akio > riku > yurika maybes?

also i really like the idea with two (well now three) wardens, that makes the vds much more lively, and the verdicts more, thought through? since you can actually see how the arguments went in their conversations, and you dont have to twist the warden's personality to adapt to the verdict since each represents only one verdict

have you ever made smth like a popularity poll i want to know what is the general rating among the linagrammers im new to the fandom

YAYYYYYYYY

"sorry about the homosexuality" made me scream you're so right.. sometimes i think about how if akio was straight maybe all of this wouldn't have happened /j

AND OH WAIT YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT AIMI AND CARRIE... NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IT FITS HER SO WELL ESPECIALLY WITH HER FIRST MV... writing this down writing this down

and yes, when i started thinking about naomi's character more, i actually had this idea that like.. "what if we had a character who's an adult woman and who doesn't like children, but she has no idea that she's actually still a child on the inside". her third mv will focus a lot on that too..

thank you for summarizing riku's character 😌😌 the guy actually probably has a god complex that's worse than akio's but his story isn't about that. he's also a god who's kinda tired of his followers but knows he won't be able to do anything without them so.. what a dilemma.. kurae ban ban ban..

actually yes, i kinda went with multiple guards bc i did have only one guard oc at first but when i started to think about the vds the conversations sounded very awkward.. so i was like two guards it is! well now three. it's okay to forget hinode exists btw i forget about him sometimes too writing him is agonizing bc this guy is just linagram komaeda

i think i haven't really made any polls like that and i don't think linagram has like. a really big fandom hdjkskssk i think people were more active when i just started, but i remember making a poll that was like "hey if linagram was a dating sim, who would you date" and kei and eiji got the most votes. sanada brothers are overall very popular i think? and i think if i made a poll like that kei and/or yurika would win djsksls

#it's actually kinda refreshing to see someone who doesn't have anything to say about kei HJSJKAKSLS #tysm for saying nice things about naomi and eiko.. i love them a lot..#it's okay. if yurika dies she'll have the coolest execution ever. that's coming from someone who had a fanganronpa #[ 💌 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 ]#[ 💕 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 ]#[ 🐈 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝: 𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢]

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reflections-in-a-critical-eye · 9 months ago

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https://twitter.com/Jikooks_diary/status/1743085830975963366?t=DURrIT176AhuD4CrpabRAw&s=19

I'm no shipper who thinks they're together, just a pjm who kinda love her some little jikook things. You know i always wonder that how can he look that radiant just watching a man's content on his screen whom he's known for 11 years in person...like me as a pjms even i won't react this same way like jungkook did even though l love jimin will all my heart he's my baby but like really? After 11 years?? I also wonder if he reacts/will react the same way to watching other members' content as well....he has watched their MVs right? Do the reaction looks different to you? I mean this is a genuine question because I don't wanna be someone who's imagining things up so just for clarification...be honest. I do think it looks different he looks more radiant and engrossed while watching jm's MVs. actually i haven't finished all his lives cause that's too much (since he does hrs long lives) so most things i have seen on twitter only.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Jungkook reacted to any other member's mv or any other video during his livestream, apart from Jimin. I must have caught all of his streams from last year right when he went live, but I genuinely don't remember him acting the same way or getting involved in reacting like that. The most he did was sing the songs that he must have had in a playlist, but that's it.

I don't know what else to tell you. I like to joke that he's a bit pathetic, acting like some puppy in love, but that's just my impression. I mean, I used to get happy and excited when Jimin went live or posted something, but I didn't spend my entire time with that look upon my face. Maybe Jungkook is very expressive, maybe it's his big doe eyes, maybe he just likes Jimin very much, whatever that means.

Edit: one anon sent this, so there you have it

#m thoughts #jikook

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struggle-but-its-all-ocean-floor · 3 months ago

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NMIXX Fe304: Stick Out, let's go. Why are their album titles so weird? What does Fe304 mean? Fe is iron, but 304?

See that? has grown on me a bit, but the lyrics are cringe and the members don't fit the "cool" concept. The chorus is a bit weak. The song is good for a bside, but needed more impact to be a tt. The MV was cool, but they can't act cool for the most part. Lily in particular does not fit the concept which is probably why she got almost no lines and screentime. JYPE always pushes different members in the songs and this time they went back to Sullyoon after not doing in the last comeback. 7.5/10

SICKUH sounds like an ITZY song during the chorus, which is weak, but Kid Milli's version actually sounds much better and like it's supposed to sound. Jiwoo and Kyujin rap pretty well. The song needed a bridge or something to break the monotony. 7/10

Red light sign, but we go and with this they drop the tough girls act and go back to normal NMIXX... it's a bit jarring. And why do they only mix genres in the title tracks? The last 15 seconds are the best. The song is barely 2 minutes long... Is it even a song? 7.2/10

BEAT BEAT is in the same vein as the previous song, but more upbeat and youthful. This is the real NMIXX and it does not fit the concept for the album. An album concept can't only apply to two songs... 7.5/10

Moving On made me feel like I wanted to move on from this genre in kpop. Praying they get tired of it soon. 6/10

Love is Lonely is okay, but sounds a bit dated. It has this nostalgic feeling that doesn't fit the album. 7/10

Ngl, it's a pretty disappointing album. I never expect albums to be good, because they rarely are, but at least the title track must slap, and this isn't the case. I watched the performance video for See that? too and while the choreo isn't bad, their delivery is weak. They know the right energy and emotions to deliver for upbeat tracks (even one like Dash), but when they're supposed to act like cool girls their facial expressions disappear and it's boring and awkward to watch them. They don't fit cool concepts because their whole vibe is "slightly uncool and awkward (*cough* Lily *cough*) but always trying their best". They're known for having heart and passion, not for being it girls or having electrifying stage presence.

#nmixx #reviews #text

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causesciencethatswhy · 4 months ago

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The screen falling down serves as part of a narrative in the mv to literally stop Jimin in his tracks. You’re right when you said it could have been a black screen, but it isn’t. It’s very clearly a picture of someone’s eyes, they seem computer generated to me, but they are what they are, a man’s eyes. It’s intentional in that way. I feel that sometimes jikookers do dismiss what they are showing us. You don’t see other shippers doing this, others are so so sure vmin are married, are so sure yoomin are married, don’t get me started on tkkrs. Yes they are all delusional and it is healthy to maintain some boundaries and skepticism, and I feel jikookers do this best, we police ourselves. But, the irony is we are the ones being fed the most (I hate that term but it’s the damn truth atp) We got our guys enlisting together, and now a show! That’s insane! Truly.

Not only that but we have letter, we have what JM said in mmm, we have them enlisting together, I could go on. Their bond is so wonderful and they must mean the world to each other. Idk but I’m getting kind of fed up with us policing that as much as we do, these are facts and not made up theories lie others above, for example, they are literally so domestic. For example, in the teaser trailer, they are showing us their true selves, as they are (their words). They want us to see them, why now I don’t know, I guess why not now?

Maybe at some point we need to stop being too skeptical? Especially with the travel show. I think it’s going to be delivered at face value, so far it’s them brushing their teeth together, playing cards at night, cuddling. It’s all there. These patterns of behaviour are made from years of intimacy and knowing each other. That can’t be excused anymore by bro stuff, because if they are just that, and have lived apart as a band for 4/5 years now, those familiarities would have faded by now, replaced by new ones from living alone. This is not that, this is two people who know each other and are in sync. It’s literally staring us in the face, and they are no afraid of us seeing it anymore.

I get where you're coming from. Jikook are in opinion the only pairing from bts I genuinely see having something more going on.

But like you said a healthy dose of skepticism is good? I don't feel there's anything wrong with being open to the idea that we can be wrong about all of this, because no matter how much jikook tell us about their relationship, it's still not our place to assert that our interpretations of their relationship are facts. Just because other shippers are very loud and assertive doesn't mean we must follow suit just cause we have more ground to stand on.

I think the most I would assert about my assumptions regarding their relationship are that if they're not dating each other, it's highly unlikely anyone is and that's it lol.

#jikook

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faceglitchsworld · 1 year ago

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Pygmalion: the myth, the effect, the album

Hello everyone, finally, after ages and hours of research and a good chunk of relistens, I can finally give you my analysis about Pygmalion.

And I think this is the best time to give you this analysis, since the next comeback is around the corner and we still don't know what will be about.

Oh, before we start, I just want to say that this analysis is in part inspired by the conversations both me and @onlyoneofyouu had regarding the album so, thank you Jo, this analysis exists especially thanks to you <3

Let's start from the album's title, shall we?

Now, the title, Pygmalion, might sound just as a cool, elegant name who just sounds elegant and that's it but actually, it has a very heavy meaning. In fact it's a reference to the main protagonist from a Greek myth.

Pygmalion is, in fact, the name of a Greek sculptor who fell in love with a statue. He thought that the statue was the loftiest expression of the female beauty. He was so in love with the statue that he even slept with her, hoping that one day she would have come to life. One day, Pygmalion went to a temple dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite and he prayed and asked the goddess if he could have get married to the statue. The goddess decided to grant his wish by turning the statue into a human being.

Now, this myth is heavily referenced both in the concept pics for the album and in the Erase Me MV. If we check for a second all the pictures which have been released, we'll see that there's a group of pics were Oneus are dressed like sculpturs from the 19th century (at least this is the impression they gave me when I'll saw them the first time) and they're surrounded by statues covered by a fabric.

Must admit I have heart eyes right now for them...

If we look to the Erase Me MV, the references to the myth become much heavier. For example, there are some scenes where Seoho is covered in a fabric or is surrounded by the fabric itself, implying that he was a statue at first and that he became a human at some point. The scene where he breaks free from the fabric is the best reference to it.

And of course, I cannot mention the scene where he kisses the statue. Now, in the original myth Pygmalion never kisses the statue but, since it's implied that he loved his creation so much, the image of him kissing the statue became very popular through the centuries. Seoho kissing the statue is a reference to this image and, if we think that he was supposed to kiss Keonhee covered under a fabric at first (source: Erase Me MV Behind #1), it's obvious, at least to me, that the directors wanted to make the references to the myth much more obvious (and let's be honest, Keonhee probably would have turned into a human by breaking free from the fabric after the kiss).

The image on the left is a detail from Pygmalion and Galatea by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Now, you might think that they just referenced the myth right?

Well, it's not. The album's title is also a reference to what will be the album's main theme. And we need to bring psychology here. Even tho I'm not a psychologist. In fact, there's a psychological phenomenon called Pygmalion effect. This phenomenon is an explanation about "the self-fulfilling prophecy": if you have high expectations towards someone or yourself, the person's performance or your performance will improve. The same thing happens if you have low expectations towards someone or yourself too.

Now, since this album is very important for Oneus, since it's the first album they made as a five members group, it's obvious that they made high expectations towards themselves. The result of course is a better performance from themselves AND a new, improved version of themselves both as single people and as a group. And the way they presented this new version of themselves is quite creative to be honest. And full of Greek mythology references.

Now, this last theme is better explored on the songs' lyrics so, for now, we'll keep the MVs analysis on hold for a second and we'll start with the tracks analysis.

And we need to start to the beautiful intro, which has another title that will "force" me to turn into Greek mythology nerd once again. The title, in fact, refers to the Lethe river, a river which is also referred as the oblivion river.

This river appears in Plato's The Republic, the tenth book to be exact, when the philosopher tells the Er myth, where he gives an explanation about the afterlife and the reincarnation. This myth is heavily influenced by the Orphism, a religion where the reincarnation plays an heavy role in it. According to this religion, a soul who wants to reincarnate needs to drink Lethe's water but they must respect one condition: they must not drink too much water or they'll forgive everything about their past life, making the reincarnation useless. The souls who drank too much water are condemned to the oblivion, hence why the river has this name.

Also fun fact, this river actually exist hehe. It's in my country, in Campania. And we make good water out of it. The famous Lete water.

Now, the intro has the river's name in the title but it mentions it in the lyrics too, especially here:

(I) Drink the river of oblivion Lethe, if I can erase you. Save me from being trapped in the past, hurry. (Cr.)

Now, the river is placed in the afterlife so, if Oneus want to drink it, they...well, they must die for it. And this is where I need to bring the Erase Me MV once again. In the MV, the members dying in the story is heavily implied to me. Probably some of you are already thinking about Leedo being in a coffin but it's not just that scene. In the beginning, we can see the members walking through some stairs while they're seeing a big light. And I don't know you but the image of someone dying and seeing the light during their last moments is pretty common. And there are also the few seconds where both Seoho and Keonhee's eyes turn white. And you might wonder why they have white eyes. Well it's another reference to the Greek mythology and their representation of the souls. According to the mythology, the souls are most similar to shadows and they live a very sad and miserable existence in the afterlife. Their eyes are white because of Achlys, the mist which fogs or blinds the mortal eyes in death.

Of course, their death is not permanent, since they're supposed to come back to life. Leedo getting out from the coffin in the MV implies that. "But how did they died?" you might ask. Well, in the Erase Me MV, we can see Oneus making a sort of ritual. In my opinion, this ritual gave them a sort of fake death or the possibility to go in the afterlife so they could drink Lethe's water before coming back to life as new people.

Now that I explained another part of the MV, it's time to come back to the intro and it's lyrics. If we look closely at the translation, we can see that Lethe's purpose is introducing Erase Me's theme, which is also briefly mentioned in the lyrics:

"I'm standing at the edge of a cliff, no way. I want to erase you, Erase."

"Get out of my memory, Erase" (Cr.)

But the intro doesn't stop here. The lyrics and Oneus' performance as a whole clearly explains that the past memories are hunting them, their old selves (which, in my opinion, are the "you" who are referring to) are blocking them from becoming better and they suffer from it. I think the part where Seoho sings "Set me free" is the most explicative one. In that part we don't just hear Seoho hitting an high note but we can also hear and feel his suffering (this just proves how he's an amazing performer singing wise).

Now that we analysed the intro we can finally move to Erase Me, its lyrics and the last parts of the MV that I want to analyse.

First and foremost, I want to say that this song might work perfectly as an after break song, some lyrics imply this.

My room is empty without you/A ruthless world, bring it on/I'm crying every day/I'm still obsessed with the moment/the tracks have crossed/we can't face each other/like a broken film.

I'm in the dark/I lost everything/I only thought about you/I'm nothing (I'm done)/the tracks have crossed/we can't face each other/like a broken red thread (Cr.)

So if you think that this is just a song about them being heart broken about a loved one, I can understand, really. But if we listen to the song after listening to Lethe and we check the chorus, we can easily see how the theme expressed in the intro comes back once again.

Erase everything/burn everything/Get rid of everything/Erase all the memories/Erase me now (Cr.)

Once again, it's them who want to erase the past, including their past selves. And the "you" who might have rejected them it's not a generic "you" but it might refer to ToMoons. And you might wonder why ToMoons can be the ones who are referring to. Well, it's simple. When Oneus became a five members group, both them and the fandom didn't have the best time overall. They needed to rearrange the line distribution, they needed to calm the fans during their first concerts as five, heck, they even promoted Dopamine, a song which had a very "troubled" history release speaking, if you ask me. All these events might have heavily affected them and their bond with the fandom for sure, hence why they want to become better people in the first place and getting rid of the bad memories. Why did I say bad memories? Well, because when we'll move to Unforgettable we'll see something very interesting if you ask me.

Now, back to the Erase Me MV, we need to cover some last scenes. And this time we talk about The Pygmalion effect once again. Now, in the MV there are a couple of scenes where Keonhee and Xion are featured together. Now, it's clear the director wanted to play with the fact that these two are twins in disguise (sorry Dongmyeong), but I think there's another meaning into these scenes. Remember what I said about the Pygmalion Effect at the beginning of this post? Good. I think that the scenes with both Keonhee and Xion in it might hint that both of them are putting some expectations to each other. And since they want to fulfill these expectations, the result it's that they end up being much more similar to each other than before. And what kind of expectations they're putting to eachother? Well, I think we get some hints on the scene with Keonhee and the masks and the scene where Xion is "trapped" in a frame.

Now, regarding the mask, I want to remind you that, during Ancient Greek times, actors wore masks during their performances. And since Xion always wanted to become an actor (anyway, congratulations on your Web Drama Dongju I'm waiting for the first episode!)...Well, I think you guessed what's expectations Keonhee wants to achieve.

In Xion's case on the other hand, I admit that I have no clue 🥲 Except that Xion sings at the beginning of these scenes, so we might assume that he aspires to become a better singer like Keonhee and getting more confidence on his voice (and we know that he was (and maybe he's still) very insecure towards his voice).

Now that we finally ended with Erase Me and its cryptic MV we can finally move to Unforgettable. Starting from the lyrics, we can notice how the song is a complete contrast to Erase Me. While in that song Oneus desire to erase all the past memories about them and the "you" they're referring to in the song, here in Unforgettable the memories are coming back once again.

I'm falling apart every day/tired of missing you./The room left alone/keeps chasing our memories/it's a scene repeating itself over and over/like a revert [...]

I'm still stuck in that time/I am left alone in these memories/I forgot, forgot, forgot, everything/I have erased, erased, erased you from my memory/No matter how many times I promised, in the end/I'll connect with you (Cr.)

These lyrics made me wonder why a song like this appears after Erase Me. But then I understood why somehow. I think that, despite Oneus wanting to erase their memories and their past selves, they want to keep the good memories they got during these years. Now, it's never implied in any part of Greek mythology that the Lethe river is capable of erasing just a part of your memories or just a certain kind of memory so, we can come out to two conclusions here:

Oneus erased everything from their past lives but the positive memories and the positive qualities they earned are so strong and important to them that they came back in a way or another;

The Lethe river didn't erased everything but just the bad memories (is this a Dante Alighieri reference?!) and the positive ones remained, but Oneus didn't knew that.

So we got a sort of continuation to Erase Me, with Oneus coming back to life as new people and with all the positive memories kept.

Another big difference towards Erase Me and Unforgettable it's the MV of course. The MV has a story into it and it's straight to the point, not to mention that the story doesn't have any connections to Erase Me except maybe that they die at the end and Oneus "die" in the Erase Me MV too. Unless we don't try to find some metaphorical connection to it. If you look at the end of the MV, all Oneus members seem to accept their fate after having a little moment of crisis towards the end of the MV. I think that this part can be connected to them doing the ritual in Erase Me. We don't see what they feel during the MV so, if we take the Unforgettable MV and we think it's connected to Erase Me, we might think that the emotions they feel towards Unforgettable's ending are the same they might have felt during the ritual in Erase Me: they're scared that the ritual might fail, that they're gonna regret it because they might be stuck in the afterlife or that they'll forget everything. But they decide to do the ritual anyway: they did everything together, they'll do this one too.

Also, did you notice that their outfits in Unforgettable are very similar to the ones they used in the Dopamine MV? Do you think the directors wanted to tell us something? Maybe the two MVs are connected? 🤔🤨

And now we move from my LOML, ECHO.

Accurate representation of me every time I listen to it fr

Now, you have no idea how much I love this song really, I loved from the first snippet and I'm proud of Leedo's writing like GO MAN, WE WANT MORE OF THIS FROM YOU 😭

And if you searched some history regarding the song maybe you already know that it was supposed to be...well, an explicit song but the company went full "no, no, THE KIDS, THINK ABOUT THE KIDS" and probably scrapped the entire original text. But our Geonhak managed to change the lyrics perfectly and, despite being much more family friendly, we can still see some of the "explicit stuff" in it. Because Seoho singing "your dripping sauce" wasn't a reference to the tomato sauce or any kind of sauce associated with food. It was... another sauce.

Or well, when Leedo rapped, and I quote:

The game that begins after we kiss is getting stronger at my dry fingertips/It seems like we've already reached you, your feelings stimulate my heart, making this full night sticky (Cr.)

Or when he sang "Yeah, now we movin'" well...I hope you didn't though these lyrics were innocent because, well, I have some bad news for you, buddy.

Now, before losing all my followers and moots after this last sentence, I want to point the Greek mythology reference that this song contains. Because yes, there's a Greek mythology reference here.

So, Echo is the name of a nymph who loved to tattle. Zeus decided to befriend his wife with her so he could have distracted her from his love affairs. But Hera discovered that she was tricked and so she punished Echo by taking her ability to speak and giving her only the possibility to repeat the last words she hears. This will turn into a big tragedy for the nymph in the exact moment she'll fell in love with Narcissus. Since she couldn't confess her love for him because of her curse, Narcissus thought she was making fun of him and he rejected her. The nymph cried so much because of this that she turned into thin air, becoming the echo's phenomen itself.

Why did I explained all of this? Because, believe me or not, Oneus seems to ask to their lover to turn them into Echo while they're saying "love words" to them:

Let's be honest they're not love words but we need to keep this analysis SFW somehow

Make me Echo, fill the space

Make me Echo, fill the silence (Cr.)

Of course there aren't just these hard lyrics, the song overall has a romantic tone and we should give kudos to this.

Sadly there's no connection to the other songs except for the mythology reference so...guess we might count as a sort of semi filler ig. But that reference...very well played Geonhak, very well played.

Anyway when you'll release the unreleased version on SoundCloud, I need the explicit lyrics for science purpos-* gets shout *

And finally we reached the end with the last song to analyse, Halley's Comet.

Halley's Comet is the only song where we don't have any Greek mythology reference here and apparently it seems completely disconnected from the other songs BUT there's still a connection imo, and that connection is regarding the ending of Oneus' journey at the end of this album. This song tells the story of a promise of love being renewed and destined to last many years as the ones taken by Halley's comet to reach the Earth (which is something between 20 to 200 years by the way). Now that Oneus have made their new selves and they're ready to start a new journey, they're ready to give us a new kind of love to us too. And it's implied in the song that years might pass, we might live kilometres apart from them and we might meet them only once in a lifetime, but they'll treasure all those moments they had with us and they'll use every occasion to remember those moments. Or at least this is what I thought while I was reading the lyrics, especially these ones.

I stretch out my heart, even if I can't reach you/waiting for us to be remembered more brightly

I think I saw something beyond a planet that resembles you/goodbye into the single ray of light that shined on me (Cr.)

And we reached the end. To me Pygmalion told us the story of how Oneus became what they are now. Of course their journey wasn't easy, they went through some hard times and, who knows, maybe they thought that this time they would have failed. But they didn't. They came back much more stronger then ever and they gave us this album that surely will be important for both their and our journey.

Hope you loved this analysis, even tho I it looks confusing. I loved the references they made in this album and I really wanted to dissect them and trying to understand what they wanted to tell us by using them. If in their next album they'll use something like that, I'm pretty sure that I'll come back with another one 🤍

#oneus tifosi del napoli? capiamo #jokes aside I think they should promote the Lete water after this album 🤣#it will never happen I know it already 🥲#oneus #my analysis

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