#tpn character analysis

[sillyghostnerd]

i love you teenage boys with white hair who get separated from the main character for years and then when they get reunited are leading this whole underground society of children they saved that’s based in a giant tree

[lonely-cereal]

I stayed up all night thinking about how depressing Rays life is.

Since he was just a toddler he had been gearing up for death his whole life, he never really found joy in much things because he knew he'd lose them. when he did find a good interest he never gave up on it.

When he read, he only did it to improve his value so he could save Emma and Norman, the two people he'd always loved with a true passion.

He did everything I could to prepare for the escape.

Became Isabella's spy

Gathered things for 6 years to disable the tracking device.

He also planned to burn himself alive.

Ray believed that he wasn't worthy of love because he stood by all those years watching everyone he loved die and couldn't do anything about it.

And also because his biological mom was the one killing all of them.

He did everything he could to make the escape perfect for Emma and Norman.

After the escape plans seem to be going smoothly, Ray's own mom snaps emmas leg and reveals that Norman will be killed in a day.

Ray watches as the plan he's worked on for 6 YEARS fall to ashes (no pun intended) and has to watch as norman refuses to escape alone, and is shipped out.

(When ray reunites with him years later, Norman has been traumatized by the demons so badly that he turns genocidal)

Then on his 12th birthday ray tries to light himself aflame to distract isabella and let everyone escape. When Emma saves him he's shook. Then she slaps some sense into him and tells him that his family won't let him die, and that they're all going to escape together.

After the escape ray admits that he "lost." to Norman and will continue to life for his family, and protect them no matter what.

HE'S SUCH A TRAGIC CHARACTER I WANT TO HUG HIM SO BAD UGHHHHHDJDJJJJGJDJF

PROTECT THIS BOY AT ALL COSTS

[fullscoreshenanigans]

Your analyses are the best. They are so fun to read and I over think everything afterwarrs

Thank you!

For analyses above my level, I highly recommend checking out these if you haven't already read them:

The two chapters of Kei Toda's Reading The Promised Neverland with a British/American Literature Scholar (2020) that have been translated into English by fans (Chapter 2: Religion by @thathilomgirl & @0hana0fubuki0 | Chapter 3: Gender by @1000sunnygo)

Anime Feminist's "Emma’s Choice: The gender-norm nightmare at the heart of The Promised Neverland" article (2018) (good follow-up to Toda's chapter on gender)

Jackson P. Brown's "Thoughts on… The Promised Neverland, and Black Women in Manga" (2018) blog post and Zeria's video essay/blog post (2019) on Krone's depiction

Jairus Taylor's "The Unfulfilled Potential of The Promised Neverland Anime" (2021) which made me more open to the idea of a remake of S1

For tumblr posts (some of these I'm linking through my blog because I either had a minor link addition or think the OP's/prev's tags deserve to be seen and rebloggable, but you can just click through to the original post):

@puff-poff's exploration of the demon world's culture (Part 1 & Part 2)

@just-like-playing-tag's examination of the farm system, Emma character analysis launched by a minute change in S2e02, and mini-Isabella analysis regarding her treatment of Ray (along with her blog just being a wealth of knowledge in general)

@hylialeia's post on the series' handling of Norman's plan/the oppressed and oppressors

@avadescent's analysis of the S2 ED album art (Norman and Emma are perpendicular; Emma and Ray are parallel.)

@linkspooky has a lot of analyses from when the series was running but special mention to this analysis of Norman's character

@vobomon also has a lot but special mention to her Norman is autistic and Norman has PTSD posts

@goldiipond's "Ray is autistic" essay

@emmaspolaroid with some of the best Emma and Emma & Isabella meta in general

@nullaby's post on Isabella and Ray's relationship

[p1ckleju1ce]

Howdy hey my names Ray

(Totally not stolen greeting)

Hi there my name is Ray, i use she/they pronouns and i really, really like TPN! I’m an artist, writer and i like to think im pretty easy to talk to, i write about TPN, and will write for every character!

I mainly do character or relationship analysis! I will not write ships or x readers. I can write one-shots, imagines, HCS, angst, and fluff! Just nothing weird pls… most of these characters are childrennnn and my requests are open! I’ll try my best to get to every req as fast as possible (if i get any tbh),

My only real boundaries are as follows: No transphobes, no homophobes, no non-con/dub-con supporters, and pls no sexualizing of any tpn characters.

I suppose thats it, i hope this was somewhat informative, pls send requests i want to write stuff

(ask me about my tpn ocs/oc x canon)

[fullscoreshenanigans]

#Emma is genuinely terrifying #Shirai said that it would be dangerous for someone like her to exist in the real world #he’s right ya know #like looking at that manga panel makes me shiver #there are so many moments like that throughout #I mean #Ray was scary for literally five seconds and then suddenly everyone’s safer when he’s around #Norman is waaaaay scarier than Ray but not in a way that gives you chills? #like he scares my brain but not my nerves #Emma triggers my fight or flight instinct (via @esthelle-wanders)

Look at me straight in the eyes and tell me that’s a face of someone who’s ok

[variansg0ggles]

HIIII I’m Layla, AKA the number one Steven fan EVER!!

I like really like writing and stuff soooo… yk.. if you have any writing requests :3 Mostly Steven Universe but I’d also do Tangled the Series and possibly Percy Jackson. I’d also be open to other stuff like headcanons, character talks/analysis, rants, story times, and other stuff :P (I’ll mostly do Steven Universe)

I’m not COMPLETELY opposed to ships butttttt… also idk. I’m not a romantical type (heh.. Aroace) but I’d maybe do these few: Connverse (Connie X Steven), Varigo (Varían X Hugo), Percabeth (Percy X Annabeth), Solangelo (Nico X Will), and Valgrac (Jason X Leo)! But that’s a hard maybe because I low key suck at romance writing. ABSOLUTELY NO SMUT OR STUFF LIKE THATTTT. Yuck. And no X Reader stuff !!

A few things about ME! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Steven Universe, my favorite character is STEVEN. He’s the main character for a reason. I like to draw, although I’m not all that good. I like to write too!! I have lots of ocs and they r my children. I like TTS, PJO, TPN, musicals, and as said before, STEVEN UNIVERSE. Anddddd I really like raccoons.

Boundaries because I know how u internet people can be: No homophobes, no racists, no proshippers, no weirdos that sexualize minors (so no pedos), no Steven haters (or SU:F haters) because Steven is very important to me he’s such a silly, anddd that’s kinda it for me.

I hope u guys leaves request and I’ll try to get them as fast as possible :3!!

[norman-ratri-truther]

unpopular(???? maybe) opinion i think that tpn as an anime would've worked way better in the art style that the ending credits of season 2 was made in, like visually it just fits the manga better imo idk how to explain it but i feel like the characters (from the little that we saw) just generally looked better) and i feel like the way it was drawn fit the whimsical vibes of the manga.

don't get me wrong though, tpn at least in season 1 was absolutely beautiful too it's just my preference that I think the art direction of that one ending sequence was better

idk is there anyone else who shares this opinion but is actually good at art analysis that could explain my opinion better for me bcz im so bad at articulating my thoughts haha

[milkcartoncatkid]

GUYSGUYSGUYGSGSTSHSGE HERES MY PERSONA FR THIS TIME

and here’s the analysis of his design :3

INTRO

name: aspen

pronouns: he/they

species: chaos demon, half baku

age: ageless

agere: yes

likes: making friends with apparitions, video games, multiverse hopping, tricking people, music, poem writing, those cookie ice cream sandwiches, kisses, hand holding

dislikes: alc0h0l/drvgs, loud noises, bright/flashy lights, crowds, clocks, dresses

universe of origin: anti-void (hi undertale fandom)

multiversal friends(I AM CRINGE BUT I AM FREE): Tsukasa Yugi, Magolor, Marx, Taranza, Susie, Kasane Teto, Rin Kagamine, Kokichi Ouma, Carlos De Vil, Pearl Houzuki, Frye Onaga, Callie Cuttlefish, Una Otomachi, Idia and Ortho Shroud, Killer!Sans, Horror!Sans, Ink!Sans, Mizuki Akiyama, Emu Otori, Saki and Tsukasa Tenma, Flamberge, Francisca

lives: goes back and forth between universes to Planet Popstar, Splatsville, and Empty Sekai

HEADCANONS

spends a lot of time on Planet Popstar, but often retreats to Empty Sekai if things get too overwhelming

they always spend Splatfest weekends in Splatsville, and will occasionally take the train to Inkopolis

he HATES clocks. they remind him of Bad End Night, and Galactic Nova

loves to cause chaos, but usually runs from it pretty quickly as he doesn’t like the aftermath

”DAMN bitch you on dat ZAZA OR SUMTHN??” - Aspen during Magolor’s boss fight

loves plushies and WILL steal them

im gonna make a special age regression post about him someday

they actually were on a lower level of the tower but did witness the events that happened in the Hell Of Mirrors in the tbhk universe

can only universe hop about three or four times a day, or else he gets really sick and nauseous (the exception is the anti-void; they can get here whenever they need to with ease)

he can also jump around timelines.. spooky dude

may or may not have been the reason Lor Starcutter crashed…….. dont ask

has a special music box, it plays Isabella’s Lullaby from TPN, but it was a birthday gift from Susie

CHARACTER DESIGN (rlly bad srry)

his hair is messy becuz i like messy hair, the horn thingys are inspired by both Taranza and also Tamari from Reckless Battery Burns/Qualia Automata, the wings are inspired by Meta Knight and Marx (when retracted they look somewhat like Meta Knight but when extended they look more like Marx), the clothing is inspired by Tamari, the shirt design is supposed to be like the warp star from Kirby, the jeans i mention i just thought of becuz i like the jeans a girl named Kaitlyn usually wears in history, just any random sneakers will work when drawing him, and the sleeves are over his hands becuz one im too lazy to draw hands two it fits that alt art style and three it just looks cute, and i drew a star on his face to represent the Star Allies Sparkler from Kirby Star Allies in tribute to it being the first (and so far only) Kirby game ive finished

i rlly like his design and fun fact the first time i drew his final design today was on the back of a statewide testing material for science :3

[graphx]

#OOOOOOOOO OMG?????????????????#Im always thinking about how much i want Norman to meet Yuugo but Lucas is so interestingggg#because as funny as freaking tf out of Skunk Dad is i am starving in the desert for more Lucas development#and the parallels are insane i mean. guy who spent years planning to kill a few demons to save a few humans#vs guy who spent years planning to kill ALL demons to save ALL humans#they would have so many Conversations.....................................#do you think Lucas would be on board with Norman's plan idk he could be like Gillian and go 'i can't bring myself to forgive them'#but at the same time he's like 30 and he's pretty level-headed I think he has the emotional maturity to understand genocide isn't the answe#yeah i'm pretty sure he would be on Emma's side here. then Norman would give him a 'we're not so different' speech OOOO CLUTCHING MY HEAD#tpn spoilers#the promised neverland spoilers

amazing points in the tags from @darklight-owl!

I've expanded on it before in this post but I plan to actually explore their dynamic more in a fic they make me so insane

Some people complain about everyone going along with Emma's mindset (but I do think Gillian's "i care about my friends more than I hate demons" makes sense) and it would be cool to see the adult's perspective on Norman's plan since they have been hurt THE LONGEST and arguably THE MOST

THIRTEEN YEARS IS NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT

most of the characters have some sort of self-sacrificial aspect, but Lucas and Norman's fragile idea of minerva since they have to fill the role of leaders and the shoes he left behind to fill is so important to meeee

(Oliver and Emma also taking on that role as well later because norman and lucas inspired them IM SO ILL)

THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN OLIVER AND NORMAN SHOULD BE ADDRESSED MORE TOO LIKE?! Albino leader character that smiles when people are in trouble and takes every burden upon themselves??? GET THEM TO TALK PLZ-

having all the characters address toxic expectations when they are not in a life or death situation in the human world IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME PLZ AND THANK U

i would pay so much money for them to meet

LOOK AT THEIR PARALLELS!!!! LOOK AT TTTTHHHHHHEEEEEMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

[tuiyla]

I’ve been very slowly watching Buffy s4 and Angel s1 while on holiday but I’m also watching a few TPN s3 reviews and ugfhjd unwell about a lot of things, Actually

most notably Faith but in general just Buffy as a show and Buffy as a character and I know I have pending asks but talk Buffy analysis to me maybe

[p1ckleju1ce]

Bae you should totally write an in depth analysis of emma slash not forcing slash you don’t have to

mY WIFE!!!!! yes of course emma is my favorite tpn charCter tbh

Emma is clearly portrayed as a very energetic and loving character, its her main character trait. I feel as though its common for Emma to be mischaracterized to be dumb just because shes so cheerful, Emma is a top score kid all the same, she’s a fast learner with insane athleticism.

She’s trusting and reckless with her plans, such as in the start of the bunker arc, it was clear that she was making a risky decision when it came to making that deal with Yuugo, even considering him as a possible ally could be seen as a stupid decision. In my mind, after Ray let her know on how dangerous her split-second decisions could be, she started to put much more thought into them, she clearly put a LOT more time and thought into her plan during the battle of the imperial capital arc.

Adding onto the trusting part, with the part where Norman asked what Emma would do if the traitor didn’t want to escape, she said she would “force them too” (may not be an exact quote), she somewhat trusted Yuugo within around a day of knowing him, she trusted Sonju and Mujika with little second thoughts, and she grew close with the children in Goldypond and even risked her life to save Theo, Monica and Jake. (Mind you kids she DOESN’T KNOW) and her side of the promise wasn’t just about her family, it was about every single cattle child, she freed everyone, even if she doesn’t know them and at the price she had to pay.

she clearly cares for everyone around her, thats obvious. I always thought Emma hated the idea of leaving the kids below age 6 but she knew it would be better, As per the thing on her putting more thought into her decisions, and Ray telling her sometimes she has to do things she doesn’t want too. Emma is a very family driven person, most of the things she does it out of deep care for her family. She was always devastated whenever she heard something bad happened to one of them, she wasn’t portrayed as overly protective, but even then it was CLEAR she adores everyone around her.

Though somewhat naive and far too trusting, Emma is obviously displayed as intelligent, she can learn things quickly, in my mind i think she has really good memory to go with it. I think she’s like a knowledge sponge.

Her caring attitude is shown especially in Goldypond imo, she was willing to risk her life and fight against demons she was probably terrified of for people she barely knew. She is clearly very selfless, she was willing to give up all her memories for those around her, she’s a fantastic character.

[bloomfish]

The italics make it somewhat hard to read but anyway; honestly I don't think it's unrealistic that Xander would have that position. I understand why he would and as I've said I am a fan of Xander and tbh despite what I said in the first post I love him and always will. I don't totally disagree with what you said in the post that you linked- it makes sense that he would have this hypocrisy.

The problem I have is more with the narrative framing of the episode. The music, the way it's acted, the cinematography, all makes it pretty clear that we're supposed to agree with Xander and think that Buffy running after Riley was the right thing to do, and that it's sad that she didn't make it. Despite the fact that objectively, Buffy was right in leaving Riley and Riley was right in leaving Sunnydale. Buffy later states that she pushed Riley away; the writing never corrects her belief that what happened with Riley was her fault. Unless you argue that cheating with vampire prostitutes is a reasonable response to your partner "being closed off". Or that dumping someone for cheating isn't justified if there were other problems in the relationship previously that were maybe your fault.

If the into the woods speech was MEANT to be hypocritical, it would have clearly read that way. Sure, the audience is not stupid and can form their own conclusions, but the fact that everyone finds it hypocritical and unfair is what makes it so jarring. I don't hate the fact that Xander would think that, it's totally consistent with his character. I hate that the tone of the episode makes it seem like he's right. If Buffy running after Riley was supposed to be a mistake, it would have been set to foreboding music, not a sweeping tragic/hopeful romantic score. We would have had some sort of reflection on it later, not just dialogue that pretty much reinforces Xander's opinion. Etc. I'm clearly supposed to feel sad that Buffy missed Riley by seconds when really I'm just relieved she didn't get there faster lol

I think one of the worst moments in buffy history is them framing xander's speech about riley in into the woods as like... correct in any way. it makes you really dislike Xander (even more). Buffy's boyfriend literally cheats on her with vampire prostitutes lol and then tells her that if she doesn't forgive him on the spot he's leaving forever. and then we're supposed to buy that Xander is correct in saying that it's all Buffy's fault and that she should run after Riley to beg him to stay?

It's sooo infuriating how Riley is framed as 'the one who got away' when really he's 'the one who was so cripplingly insecure that he couldn't handle his girlfriend being stronger than him and having her own problems because he's made his entire identity about his girlfriend instead of getting the fuck over himself'

the real reason why xander doesn't want buffy to dump riley's ass as she should is so clearly because he projects onto riley. subconsciously he thinks that if someone 'normal' like riley can be with buffy then he also has a shot. newsflash it wasn't riley being 'normal' it was riley being an insecure condescending freak just like u

[avadescent]

Norman and Emma are perpendicular; Emma and Ray are parallel.

The way they’ve composed this image is heavily symbolic.

Norman is usually shown to be “opposite” of Emma visually (in the image mentioned above, in their sitting arrangement in the dining room at GF, the way they’re usually never illustrated to be side-by-side during important scenes like the shipment, the reunion, their argument and so on, though there’s probably a lot more imagery than that); while Ray has always been by Emma’s side (GP arc, Seven Walls arc, choosing to support Emma in the end despite agreeing with Norman).

These differences in their dynamics have always been subtly hinted at throughout the manga—though not so subtly later on, in Norman and Emma’s case—and continues to be highlighted in official art like this.

Part I: “In the end...” (Ch. 32)

Ray is Emma’s “counterpart”. They seem different at first: Ray is more logical and meticulous while Emma looks at the big picture and does things based on her feelings, but they’re both really two sides of the same coin. They’re both logical (Emma showed her pragmatic side when she debated with Norman and presented a counter-proposal to his plan) and they both operate on their feelings (Ray cared deeply for Norman and Emma so he wanted them to live, and Emma cared for everyone so she wanted everyone to live).

They both also care for their family in the same way. When Ray was faced with the notion that he can live (or that he should live), he did his best to become the sibling he had never allowed himself to be. There’s a caring, almost motherly nature to him in the way he handles the kids, in the way he frets over Norman and Emma, and in the way he supports everyone silently.

Emma is the same: she’s a lot more loud and open about it, but they’re both very caring towards their siblings. Unlike Ray, however, she’s certainly a great deal more idealistic and ambitious.

Ray and Emma are similar because they are warm and tender, and they’re both very family-oriented. They do things for the sake of their family, putting their loved ones first and themselves last.

Their familial love manifests itself similarly, and while they do have their individual, defining traits, they are the same at their core.

Hence, they are parallel: heading in the same direction in terms of how they think and feel, but going about it in different ways.

An example would be from the final chapters of the Jailbreak Arc, where Ray explicitly points out that: “In the end, [they] were thinking the same thing.” (Ch. 32)

they might be thinking the same way but ray’s the lil shit who goes off and says he’ll burn himself to achieve their goal

Part II: “Fate—has split our paths” (Ch.128)

Norman is essentially Emma’s “foil”. He has contrasting traits that serve to highlight Emma’s own. Take the famous “sun and moon” depiction for example: it is the night that lets you know the day exists, and vice versa. A more nuanced interpretation of this is that Norman, as the “moon”, operates on borrowed light.

Firstly, he is neither idealistic nor ambitious—in contrast with Emma, who most definitely is. He does not wish for extravagant or impossible things; despite, or perhaps because of, his intelligence, he only wants the simple things: to see the world, and to stay with Emma and Ray.

He does not actively set idyllic goals for himself, he only seeks to apply his mind in the present rather than consider abstract/seemingly unreachable concepts (I want to ride a giraffe!). He never even considered having their entire family escape until Emma brought it up. It is here that we see him operating on ‘borrowed light’; his actions in the Jailbreak Arc are made to directly achieve what Emma wants.

He and Emma get along and complement each other very well (more on this later), though they are fundamentally not the same.

Thus, Norman and Emma might share the same ideals (a world where they’re all free), but they aim towards different goals. Emma essentially wanted co-existence (at the same time, not necessarily at the same place), while Norman determined that the best route was to eliminate the demons altogether.

This in contrast with Emma and Ray’s dynamic, where they share similar goals, but different methods.

To further define this difference, it is Emma and Ray who can come to the same conclusion independently, with them working separately and finding out they thought the same way in the end (of course, with the absence of a conflicting variable—‘will we bring everyone or not’, that entire spiel).

Meanwhile, Emma and Norman only reach the same conclusion when they’re working dependently (this more so in Norman’s case, wherein he’s usually striving to achieve what Emma wants).

This illustrates itself clearly when Norman and Emma are working independently throughout the next few arcs of the manga, and eventually find that they both reached different conclusions about the same matter.

Case in point, this difference makes itself one of the center conflicts in 3 arcs (King of Paradise through the Imperial Capital Battle Arc). They even get an inside cover.

Hence, they are perpendicular: heading in different directions, and intersecting once (clashing).

It is through this consolidation of views that TPN manages to bring forth a (hypothetical) moral conflict to the forefront of its story through its characters—quite like a physical, mental, and emotional debate, wherein the protagonists each present one aspect of the moral conflict and work to achieve a balanced and unanimous outcome.

In other words, they complement each other magnificently in their opposition. Emma hopes for the impossible, while Norman works within the realm of possibility. Emma reaches for the sky, while Norman is rooted to the ground.

Norman sees the world for what it is while Emma sees it for what it can be.

[winterune]

On one hand, I think Ray is quite an honest person. I feel like he’s not the type to lie, but the type to omit some truths. Well...this is, again, just my anime-only speculation, but yeah I guess this is my opinion on Ray after watching episode 5. 

I think in the score sheet we’re shown in the first episode, Norman was higher than Ray. But for some reason, I have a feeling that Ray is actually a much more genius than Norman. He somehow found out about the truth of the House when he was 5. He became Mama’s spy in order to stay alive long enough for him to look for a way out. He never told a single soul about the truth of the House. And...I have a feeling that Ray is that type of character who intentionally hides his true abilities. He wants to leave, but he’s not overconfident like Norman. He knows that escaping would require a lot of thinking and the right timing so he needs to lay low in order to prepare everything. And what better way to “hide” from Mama than be her trusted lapdog? Though Mama probably never trusted him in the first place. I still think she’s always a step ahead of everyone, even Ray, with his careful planning and stuffs.  

From what we see of his interaction with Mama, at least what he said about spying in return for “reward” is true. But I know there is more to it than that. Sure he says all those things to Norman about wanting Norman and Emma to survive, and I believe (at least for now) that he genuinely means it, but what he said then was only something Norman wanted to hear. He didn’t explain his entire situation to Norman. And since he already knows Norman doesn’t truly trust him, why should he? In fact, Norman was probably lying when he said he wouldn’t lie. Unlike Norman who seems to be able to manipulate other people to do what he wants them to do, Ray doesn’t seem to be capable of doing that. 

Ray wants to survive and he wants to survive with Norman and Emma. Though I said he’s quite an honest person, I also think that he can lie with a straight face--if that makes sense. The lie he tells are not like Norman’s though. I’m sorry if this feels like I’m putting Norman in a bad light, but I feel like Norman would lie in order to survive, someone who would not have qualms about sacrificing others (except for Emma) so he could live, someone who could exploit others’ weakness for his own gain. As for Ray, it feels like he has his principles and he will never sacrifice his principles even if it meant he’d have to suffer. He could very well escape on his own, but he wants to escape with Norman and Emma because he sees them as his best friends (at least, that’s my interpretation right now). It’s not that he doesn’t care about the others but if they were to bring everyone, their escape mission would fail, and he doesn’t want that. He’d sacrifice some things, but I feel like he’s someone who would never sacrifice what he believes in. 

Then again, what he said to Norman could very well be a lie to gain Norman’s trust--though he probably knows Norman still won’t trust him.

Or maybe I’m just romanticizing things haha. I don’t even know if what I’m saying makes sense. And maybe I’m quite biased since I don’t really like Norman from what I see in these 5 episodes. I really want to know more about Ray. 

[lightningflash55]

I’m reading through this part again cause apparently I hate myself, but I just love, I just looove how Demizu Posuka fleshes out the kids in her illustrations so well

If you haven’t read up to chapter 30 in The Promised Neverland, spoilers under the cut

Ahh, this scene. Everyone’s favorite :/ The first page is mostly just here for context:

I noticed the first time around, and I noticed again, how Emma kept watching Norman speak, but Ray immediately put his head down in his hand. I love this just as much as it kills me, just cause it’s such a quiet but strong reaction? 

I was trying to break down the differences between the two here and then I realized all these wonderful details that all contribute to their personalities SO. PERFECTLY. There’s so much in Ray’s reaction itself alone. My initial feeling is that he’s just.done. He’s so overwhelmed the more Norman speaks, the more he realizes everything’s suddenly spiraling out of control, the more frustrated he gets at realizing everything he planned for ISN’T going as he planned. In that moment, there are so many things he’s feeling that he can’t even process them, so what does he do but make this sort of hopeless gesture? I also sort of think that Ray, being Ray and not one to show his feelings nearly as much as Emma or Norman, probably doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want the other two to see his face in that moment. He definitely bottles up a lot of his feelings and when you’re used to that, I think it’s hard to know how to respond around other people? 

But also, being Ray, you know that’s not it. As much as he’s feeling in that moment, you also know he’s going to immediately wrack his brain for any, any possible solution to turn around the present situation. He’s not only overwhelmed, but needs a moment to work things out. That being said, his posture somehow simultaneously conveys (perhaps it’s the amount that Norman is talking with no response from Ray) that this one is a REALLY impossible scenario and that he knows it. He’s thinking because of course he’s going to try, you know he’s good at connecting the dots fast and it doesn’t take him long to just give up(I think he’s actually logical to a fault, for it leads him to giving up super quickly when the situation is impossible, unlike Emma). 

Emma, on the other hand, is still standing and still listening to Norman speaking. The gravity of the situation hasn’t seemed to hit her yet, but cause she hasn’t let it? It’s not that she’s not hearing what Norman’s saying or doesn’t realize what it implies, I just don’t think she’s accepting it, nor is she analyzing the situation in depth like Ray and coming to an impossible outcome. Cause that’s not how Emma works. Her first instinct is to always find some glimmer of hope in the situation and hold onto it, even if it’s purely generated from her own faith in the world and not grounded in reason or logic. I swear there’s a “But...” coming after the bottom panel with Emma on this page. Further, her posture and expression just don’t have the same weight that Ray’s do, and that supports all of this.

Ugh, how does one little page say so much?

This page GETS me, cause just look at their posture?? Ray’s not even holding onto anything, he looks so lost and he’s only not falling down because Norman’s holding onto him. He was pulled into the hug but he’s completely lost all his strength to return it. I wonder if he feels slightly betrayed too, cause like Norman mentions on a later page I believe, Ray’s always so logical but he seemed to really believe that Norman was going to follow through with the hiding plan. His curled fingers still show weak frustration but also suggest that he’s trying to hold onto something but there’s nothing to hold onto?? Someone please save him, everything about his body language here makes me cry. 

And Emma’s feeling the weight of the situation just a little bit more - Norman just finished and is pulling them into a meaningful hug and Ray hasn’t spoken up yet, what are they going to do? She just looks a bit...sad. Like she doesn’t know how they suddenly got to that point and also why Norman didn’t follow through. It’s clicked a little bit more, and that this hug is real, and she’s probably going “what happened?” She’s still able to stand though, and is returning the hug more than Ray is. Her dropping her crutch seems to indicate a bit of shock though, too?

Most of the commentary I wanted to include was on these first two pages because the next just further support and expand on their reactions? 

The horror is finally striking Emma here, but she STILL, even in her dread is able to think there’s some hope left. I love that she takes so long to accept his words and that she goes right into hoping even if it’s weak, cause that’s what makes her Emma. Please don’t ever stop being your hopeful self (I love her agh).

And Ray’s getting more of a physical grip on the situation again but he’s at a loss cause nothing he’s thought of would possibly fix this scenario.

Oh yeah, this is the page I was referring to:

And in these last couple pages here, Ray has just given up because it’s the logical thing to do. He’s almost going back and forth between trying to think beyond this situation now and wondering how it got this hopeless in the first place. 

It’s interesting how they contrast, actually, because Emma won’t give up even though it’s useless and even dangerous to try and stop Norman from leaving now, and Ray is actually urging her to get over it. I think they’ve now both come to the same hopeless conclusion but even so, their reactions still reflect the biggest parts of their personalities?? Emma is an undying optimist at her core and Ray is ever focused on reason and moving forward.

Thank you for reading! I hope you get something out of this little character analysis aside from being sad :u Ugh, as always, the subtlety and detail in the art get me cause they contribute SO MUCH and it’s part of why this story is so heckin’ good. Every bit is always so, so on point and it takes skill to be able to pull that off when drawing such complicated emotions.  

Please feel free to comment/discuss, it’s always welcome! 

[graphx]

tags from prev esthelle-wanders!

#THE LANTERN#we talk about ray’s VERY complicated feelings about his mom and we’re right to do so#and honestly the emma-isabella dynamic could stand to be discussed more because I rarely see anybody go beyond the larger narrative beats#to have a look at how the characters actually feel about each other#… but yeah ‘norman and isabella’ is my favorite branch of this particular tree#and i think about how we zone in on ‘norman got his facade and manipulation and sass from isabella’#which he did#but I think their relationship is built on kindness just as much as all of that?#Norman is the only one of her children who ever asked if SHE was happy#and when she says ‘yes’ it’s absolutely a lie#but like everything about isabella there’s nothing but truth there too#‘because I was able to meet someone like you’#norman HAS to think about that too right?#the last genuine conversation he ever had with his mother?#her last words that were exclusively for him?#and then we see that norman’s black-and-white sense of justice isn’t the only thing that drives him as minerva#but also a gradual poisoning of his kindness#his desire that no one else should suffer#his desire to be a comforting and inspiring figure for others#the part of himself that he actively smothers but still outs constantly even in masked and stilted ways#like Isabella’s kindness and her desire to deal out the longest and most beautiful lives she could for as many people as possible#and underneath all that they both want to live SO much#I can’t quite hit the nail on the head with them but believe me the nail is THERE#tpn analysis#tpn norman#tpn isabella

what if i told you that Norman almost certainly harbors a deep resentment and anger toward Isabella, one that festered so quietly he wasn’t even aware of it until he watched her bleed out on the grace field lawn