#''Hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength'' and just wanting to have some tea with his friends

[imminent-danger-came]

Anon chilling on the precipice of madness again, and I’m so glad you liked that last ask! Truly, there is much joy to be found in discussing how much we enjoy (*cough* are dealt immense emotional damage on a daily basis by *cough*) the monkey show. Also, since I apparently can’t stop bugging you, for clarity’s sake I’m going to call myself Unhinged Anon if I submit any future asks lol. 

As always you make excellent points, and I am very normal about you bringing up the ‘MK smiling at his reflection’ thing because the motif of reflections in this show (see also: S2E5, S3E4, some others I’m probably missing, and especially S4E1) doesn’t make me even the tiniest bit insane. Nope! Not at all. But this time, it’s actually something you said in the tags that launched my marbles into the stratosphere for me to never find, because now I can’t stop thinking about how badly I want, like… a Sandy spinoff series or something. 

And I don’t mean a lore-heavy, epic adventure rich in heavy themes and conflicts like we have in the main series, just with Sandy at the center instead of MK. I want Sandy's series to be almost exclusively season one-style laid back episodes. But the good kind of laid back episodes, you know? Stuff like S1E6&7, that a lot of people dismiss, especially on a first watch, as nothing more than filler but actually serve as a subtle expansion/exploration of characters (“I also summoned monster trees with my stress, so. Should I see a doctor? We’ll worry about that later” still haunts me) and dynamics hidden under the guise of a silly little adventure with funny jokes, great animation, and fairly low stakes. 

I want to see what an appointment with Sandy’s therapist looks like, or even just the shenanigans he gets up to during those episodes where he’s mysteriously absent and only Tang seems to notice. 

I want to see Sandy teach Tang how to make tea, and maybe nerd out about those theories Sandy mentioned having about the gang's whole deal with the OG Companions.

I want to see Sandy’s endless teddy bear energy clash with Red-wants to seem intimidating but will also grab his new friends warm milk if they ask-Son. 

I want to see Wukong forced to have an extended conversation with Sandy, or really anyone from the team that isn’t MK or actively yelling at him, and getting to really see how they work off of each other. 

I want to see the secret ‘how do we help our clearly not okay friend?’ talks Mei and Sandy have behind MK’s back whenever he starts acting weird, and all the gossip that goes on during the yoga sessions they start doing together after Mei gets the Samadhi fire. 

I want to see Sandy talking with the little girl that LBD possessed, especially since something kind of similar happened to him during season 4, and accidentally becoming her new (and favorite) giant blue uncle. 

I want an episode of MK and Sandy hanging out. Just chilling on the boat, playing with Mo, going for a little walk around town until BOOM! Sandy brings MK to his unsuspecting therapist, who’s about to get the most interesting case of their career. And maybe, if we’re allowed a little angst, a discussion about how scary it is to be born with a lot of power that not only can, but will, hurt a lot of people if it isn't carefully controlled. About how they’ve tried, and failed, to avoid causing pain. About wanting to never cause pain, and how the futility of that sentiment almost outweighs the importance of trying anyways. 

And above all, I DEMAND a Pigsy-Sandy origin story! 

Anyways, this is basically just me edging ever closer to the brink of madness after you accidently inflicted No Thoughts, Only Sandy syndrome upon me with your last response. But, it's also an invitation to gush about Sandy some more, if you want, and also share anything you would want to see in a hypothetical Sandy show!

Unhinged Anon I got you, here's a motif post where I have every MK reflection in the whole show.

AND “I also summoned monster trees with my stress, so. Should I see a doctor? We’ll worry about that later” HAUNTS ME TOO. There's something about the way those shots are set up, cracking from blue to gold:

MK also becoming a "master of focus" in this ep, with focus becoming important later in episodes like 1x09 and 3x11/12 with Mei.

BUT ANON.

Imma use this ask as a spring board for one of my fav personal theories, which is this: OG Sandy, from the original jttw pilgrimage, is also our current day Sandy!

I'll probably throw this into an official theory post later, but for now I'll go into this theory underneath the cut:

First, let's start with 2x08 To Catch a Leaf, during which Sandy has several PTSD flashbacks:

So, the first one is some sort of battlefield, and the second one...

Is of Zhu Bajie?

Now, we know Pigsy has never worn an outfit like this based off of this comment in 4x05:

Pigsy: "Blue ain't really my color, but it beats looking like that monster, Zhu Ganglie."

-

The Pig Demon in that flashback from 2x08 HAS to be Zhu Bajie of the original jttw pilgrimage. But why would Sandy have a memory like that?

Next is the fact that while everyone else in 4x09 Roast of the Monkie Kids is compared to their past life, Sandy notably isn't.

Tang knows friendship, but unlike Tang Sanzang isn't studious.

Mei is bold and brave, but lacks Ao Lie's caution.

Pigsy like Zhu Bajie is stubborn, but he has the heart his predecessor originally lacked.

Yet this is all Subodhi has to say to Sandy:

Subdohi: "You have nothing more to learn my hilariously blue student! Another star for you!" Sandy: "Dooww thank you wise master!" Subodhi: "But! You're far too nice for your own good." Sandy: "Uh huh, you noticed!"

(4x09 Roast of the Monkie Kids)

-

It's exceedingly strange that in an episode where Subodhi breaks down everyone's character arcs, Sandy is told he's all good. He has nothing more to learn, and no more character development to go through.

Unless of course...Subodhi quite simply couldn't compare Sandy to his past life because there was no past life to compare him to.

Another detail in s4 that's always intrigued me is how Sandy is brought back to himself from Sha Wujing in 4x06.

Pigsy's heartfelt speech on the legacy of their past lives not defining their current one, or how they're not monsters, doesn't work. It's instead Mo offering Sandy wholehearted love that brings Sandy back:

Which, of course Sandy has a close bond with Mo, but Pigsy's speech wasn't anything to scoff at either:

Pigsy: "No. No! Just cause we look a certain way, cause our monster ancestors were, well, monsters, none of that matters! I won't let his legacy define mine, and neither should you! Your the strongest, the biggest, the bluest guy I know! But all you've ever used those muscles for is to help people in need—your friends. That don't sound like a monster to me." (4x06 Show Me the Monster)

As far as we know, that should have been the exact thing Sandy needed to be freed from his past life, and yet it wasn't.

That would be because, at least under the confines of this theory, the guy Pigsy is saying Sandy wasn't like was indeed who Sandy used to be. Yes, Sandy has far outgrown the person who fought to establish his own place in the world, learning that "hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength". But here's the thing, who you used to be matters. Unlike Pigsy's relationship with Zhu Bajie, Sandy's relationship with who he was in the past can't as easily be written off. It's still a part of him.

There are also certain other details. like the fact that Sandy knows his way to Flower Fruit Mountain in "A Hero is Born", or how he's so knowledgeable on ancient powerful remedies like the crimson jimson weed. Of course these details could be chalked up to plot convenience—which is by no means a flaw or complaint—but I've always wondered if there was anything more to it.

But, Sandy's more laid back reaction to most things has always intrigued me, and it would re-contextualize certain scenes like this one from 2x10 in a fun way:

Pigsy: "No! What could have been so important that you'd leave MK alone to face that- that thing! You're supposed to be his mentor-"

Sandy: "ENOUGH!" "I think we should give Mr. Monkey King, a chance to explain."

(2x10 This is the End!)

Of course with this theory comes a few questions, like why Sandy didn't meet the same fate as the other pilgrims, or why he wouldn't let Sun Wukong know he was alive, or why he would bother to pretend he wasn't the OG Sha Wujing at all. And honestly? I don't have an answer to these questions!

But what I do know is that Sandy's friends are greatly important to him-

Sandy: "Hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength—took me a really long time to realize that. As long as I'm doing something to help out a friend, I don't mind what it is! I just want to be there for 'em when they need me. Cause at the end of the day, helping my friends is more important than anything else in the world!" (2x08 To Catch a Leaf)

-and losing them would affect him greatly.

Whatever happened to the og jttw crew, that could very easily be the reason Sandy was "the most dangerous, deadly, rage filled warrior [Pigsy] ever [knew]". Based off of that 2x08 Zhu Bajie flashback, Sandy could very well have watched his friend die.

But, now that Sandy has his friends back in his life? Of course he's going to do whatever he can for them!

Which would include anything from making tea to breaking his vow to never fight again.

And please for the love of god give us a Pigsy - Sandy origin story. I'm begging. WHAT IS THEIR HISTORY MAN. WHY DID PIGSY KNOW HOW TO COMMIT A JAILBREAK.

#that slice of life sandy show sounds so comfy #I would love to learn about the sanctity of quiet moments and daily life with my favorite blue thing! #Also MK get's therapy pog #anyways *plays Sandy's ''anything for pigsy'' in my mind over and over again* #So if the stars aligned and BOTH og Sandy is current Sandy and eamk were true #Which is unlikely. BUT PRETENDING FOR A MOMENT IT COULD HAPPEN #The dream would be for Sandy to share what he learned with MK. #Like. How he got from ''I am a monster! That's what the world wants me to be—so that's what I'm gonna give 'em!'' to #''Hurting others isn't a measure of one's strength'' and just wanting to have some tea with his friends #Either way clearly Sandy has some expertise on the subject of being a chaotic destructive force. HE CAN HELP MK OKAY #HE HAS GUIDANCE AND WISDOM TO SHARE #SANDY MK TRAINING ARC WHEN #I need Sandy to meditate with MK at least once alright #Which may never happen and that's okay. But I can dream! #asks #lmk theory #lmk #lego monkie kid #monkie kid #lmk sandy #Still chasing the high of 2x03 where Sandy and MK made tea together #unhinged anon

[whimsically-ominously-auspice]

So,apparently there was some thing wrong with the satellite receiver ... Not the missle ... Although Kim Jong-Un has been making plans for a replica that will work right with no interference...

While the leader of North Korea worked with the original information from 2002 that I wrote while I was pregnant...

Okay 1st let me say we all know I'm not a coward. 2nd let me say we all know i am very angry. 3rd let me just say when pregnant shit gets intensified by 9000%

Okay. So in Kim Jong-Un's work he uncovered that the missle isn't inaccurate. There's a specific satellite that actually works with my GPS coordinates, in case i am making last minute deals with qE2 and i don't get dust in my eyes when she's blasted and i can expell her secrets from her brain as fast as possible.

Which everyone has known that informational coding... But the way it's worded sounds like I don't like fighting around me and it sounds like i don't know how to protect my kid. Because people read my writings with an attitude and mind set to protect me. Not that I'm giving militant orders like i can rule the world and no one know.

Like literally "Sabrina would kill No one and she would never order that and so we need to work arounf her to protect her because she doesn't know how to do it herself"

When i clearly state, "i will do Any thing to protect my kid, remove me and the battle will commence"

Like who built the missle?

"Yeah you called it a batteryless missle and Kim Jung-On called you and told you. Okay i built it how do i make the missiles and you say it's a Care Bear invention. Yeah fuck you, yes we're gonna go around you! Because he went and told Every body you were insane!"

And yet the proof is in the pudding and im still stuck here for Christmas and they're putting Every one in danger! Duh.

So but i began to write to make fun of William... I got interrupted to prove my point and let Wiliam know "United They Stand"

And so I tell William where have you been the last two nights that allowed this creep to be all up on me? And I word it as running around being a tramp.

And he's all "if you call creating a satellite being a tramp"

And then Matt informs me there was nothing wrong with the satellite initially but i got into a fit of rage because no one would tell me my husband was dead or who he was and so I used a comet to break it on purpose and called New Mexico nothing but hoes and cunts

"Lets continue, but i was wrong" says Matt now.

And so I had asked William where he had been the last 6 years. And he was all "there was shit you had me do that I didn't want to do Because I told you it would take me 9 long ass years but you insisted because you had deep PTSD and you said people needed individual therapy because you did and you wouldn't get it so thats what i been doing when other people were fucking with you and you wouldn't interrupt their therapy to help yourself belittle others. You said you could do it all on your own"

And so there was always the blame of time in confusion. Why it's taken so long and I said we just had to wait for the right President.

And then im told the DNA system has only been in effect for the last two years "because of This" and I'm directly pointed at. Which is quite funny. I'm much too much to be a you.

And a little about the electoral votes... Russia was the one country that unanimously elected Uncle Donald to be President. -- the United Nations uses diplomats from other countries to vote for the President. The President represents us but the President interacts internationally. So the entire world gets to vote who they want to play with.

This is why every Russian Diplomat voted in Uncle Donald:

Because Russia used to be the USSR in the pre-1990s.

As many people can grasp I learned of the eQ2 shortly after my dad disappeared in 1986. I was 2, almost 3. People like Lucas told us the truth and attempted to save us. And did. And i fought her because she came down to learn why we kept being obtrusive so she could gain control.

But luckily i had a twin that was so angry that his dad was gone he began flushing every non Darth Vadar toy he had down the toilet because all he wanted was his dad.

And earlier today he was doing reps with weights in case he had to beat up William for being a tramp. Just in case.

And i had a mom that loved me. And a whole neighborhood full of people that had relatives nearby. Like Alex Laughlin in our trailer park and Channing Tatum that was relocated a few towns less than an hour away. Our trailer park was primarily military families that worked the river.

So my brother in his anger couldn't deal with the bitch. My mom in her horror and sadness needed protection. That left me.

In my house I was alone. Sadness of my family and friends bathed me like the miracle waters of Truth or Consequences heals, their tears and heaviness of their heart fed me strength.

I knew i had to do anything, like Lucas to help save the little Alabama town.

I saw how my brother would upset my mom because he would flush brand new toys down the commode but when i told her the story line and he recreated it for her with a new toy, she laughed and i saw her heavy heart lift and be able to live and be my mom again for a few more days. Days we didn't expect to have. Because we became accustomed to a sad and depressed mom.

I saw how he could be bad but I could explain it to her later and we could be a small without a dad normal family. And talk with each other.

So one day while Care Bears was on and i did my usual sitting across from my mom staring at her while she read and cried to analyze her emotions to see if she would be mom after she put down her book. To see how much work I'd have to put in to see my family and the sun shining on them, i was reminded of Lucas. I was reminded of Channing who was taken away by standing up to eQ2 and I began kneeling in front of the TV every time the Care Bears blasted love and protection from their tummies.

And my little twin Brother Matt Hagan began filling his stomach up with tension and telling me he could too. And so he and Alex Laughlin went round the neighbourhood teaching about the Care Bears and how we could fix everything if we just cared. And so people would literally bend over backwards all the time.

To enhance their stomachs to show we were United. And we would not fail. United in Silence. United in suffering. United in the fight.

So i told my mom one day while she was smiling and reading. "Mom i have to help save you but i have to lie. But I'll only tell you the truth"

"Samantha don't you dare lie to good people"

"Mom, let me watch the TV and I'll decide"

And i cried. I was scared.

"Mom. I only told you that because Darth Vadar said i should. But i don't know how to lie and not only tell you the truth but to tell everyone else. I don't know its safe"

She laughed "Darth Vadar, huh? You mean your dad. I can hear him, too. Next time she comes to town. I'll invite her here for tea and ill see you in action"

No. But she prepared it all then went to town and left me alone with her, the neighbors all on high alert and ready to pounce if I left the house with eQ2. And I bequeathed the eQ2 on my own and finished up what my mom had prepared and served it in the kitchen where there was less Windows but a man standing on his car and 2 others on their houses across the dirt road to watch for me. And I sat in front of the open window knowing I just had to push out the screen and jump out and I would be safe And i could pretend to fall out and kick and punch the screen in my panic of "falling" as suggested by a neighbor. As long as I didn't hear mom's car i wouldn't get hurt much.

And so thats how at the age of 2 I infiltrated the eQ2's circle because of Channing Tatum and my dad and the unbearable sadness I saw daily.

And heroes like Lucas and attempted heroes like Channing and the town's bravery and support.

I learned to Sleigh. Sit back and ride the ride, controlling the reigns with delight. And fear. Dread.

Each meeting i took the heaviness in the air around me and put it in me as much as possible. All the Care Bear sadness not in their belly but their hearts and minds and the rest i hid around me, under the table, under my shirt, in my hair.

Then every time she left i measured the heaviness to see how good of a job I did. Nearly every time it was light enough to easily dance a jig.

Merry Christmas to All, once and for all!

So this shirt... Its me hugging my mom to make her feel better about my crazy Darth Vadar loving brother sneaking up behind her chair to check on her and not to check if he was in trouble, but to hear her laugh

Its me hugging my mom while my brother Matt is in the bathroom flushing his toys or taking a nap and all his dreams come true when our dad comes in behind us, says the desiger Jesse James whom also used to live in the trailer park. Whose dad used to kill the kidnappers.

Not that my mom is fat or waddled. But as adults saw everything in black and white, couldn't fly or run like we could due to paralyzing sadness. But had full unbranded Care Bear tummies just like the rest of the neighborhood.

And my dad sneaking up has a Darth Vadar helmet on his tummy for representing all human trafficked dad's.

We decided mom would get an open book and a magic wand for hers because she became a high school teacher and she always drowned her sorrows in an open book she read that took her away to a life that filled her with imagination and other worlds.

Merry Christmas, mom. From Jesse and all the team.

..

I'll come back with Russia after i eat.