#ONE OF THE PLAYERS STABS SOMEONE. THIS HAPPENS IN S4 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

abybweisse · 3 years

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These assignments and other battles are like the needles...

...in Mother3. Lucas has to battle against his dead, reanimated older mirror twin brother (Claus/Masked Man/Pigmask Army Commander) to pull up the needles that are literally keeping the Dark Dragon asleep. Think of Lau’s acupuncture needles but WAY bigger. And they look more like swords.

Instead of removing 7 needles to wake the Dark Dragon (the Black Butler has already been summoned, after all), the twins have to battle over supporters and resources. And the battle started before Yorkshire. Regardless of what real Ciel says here:

What should we consider their rounds?

Campania? Real Ciel was there but not a participant. This apparently had more to do with the eccentric people who wanted to test out bizarre dolls as weapons. Neither side lost major players. Stoker was a pawn, but I don’t think Undertaker really needed him after that. So, I’ll say no; it’s not a real battle between the twins. This is, however, when our earl gets the Franklin Badge chain of mourning lockets from the grave keeper, Nippolyte Undertaker.

Weston? Real Ciel was there for a while, but he wasn’t a player. The only people who died were the ones killed by the P4 before even Undertaker became involved. This was an opportunity for Undertaker to make more advanced bizarre dolls. We could say it’s a slight win for our earl, since he gained Violet, Edward, Harcourt, and others as allies. But again, real Ciel isn’t directly involved. So, I don’t think it counts as a round in their battle.

Sphere Music Hall? Real Ciel is the whole reason this places exists. He gains Lizzie’s support. Nina works for both sides, but we haven’t heard from her since. The P4 become the S4 for real Ciel, but they are not loyal to the cult for long (as far as we know). Our earl wins by exposing the deaths there and getting the place shut down. However, our earl and Sebastian are competing directly against Fassad Blavat, since he’s essentially running the place... at least as far as the battle is concerned. I don’t consider this the start of the “game” between the twins.

Bath “Music Hall”? Blavat kills off some of their own money donors, who had been receiving leftover Polaris and Vega blood. He tries to kill Violet but ultimately fails. I don’t think our earl and Sebastian ever told the local authorities about what they found there, since they dropped Violet off at the local hospital and then went straight from Bath to the townhouse in London. You could say it’s a win for them, since the cult lost money and Violet is still alive. However, there was no battle; this is more like part of the aftermath from SMH.

1. Phantomhive townhouse. Real Ciel was there and shot Soma and Agni. Lord Polaris was there and stabbed Agni to death. I have to call this a major win for real Ciel. Agni is gone, and Soma is a sworn enemy of our earl, simply because he doesn’t know about the twin. In the aftermath, we still don’t know where Sieglinde’s and Wolfram’s loyalties lie. Our earl 0: real Ciel 1

2. Phantomhive Manor. It’s the first time the twins are confronting each other face to face. Another win for real Ciel, since he takes over the manor and keeps Tanaka (for now). The Midfords don’t know what side to take. The Yard and local police arrest our earl and Sebastian, as well as Blavat. This is where Lucas our earl gets confused for the Commander of the Pigmask Army Lord Sirius. Our earl escapes police/Yard custody and keeps his other servants, but he’s lost his title and his home and all its contents, and he has to go into hiding. Our earl 0: real Ciel 2

3. Yorkshire. Several maids hired there were once nurses at Karnstein Hospital. Mey-Rin and Ran-Mao destroy the blood supply “factory” at Heathfield’s manor, as Polaris has now confirmed to real Ciel, so a win for our earl. It’s the first win that real Ciel acknowledges for his younger twin. Our earl 1: real Ciel 2 However, we have to see if anyone from Heathfield’s manor comes back into the story, besides Polaris, of course. Some of them — like Jane, Abbie, the steward, and Chris Heathfield — are still people of interest... and I wish Ran-Mao and Mey-Rin had thoroughly interrogated them. Especially since Polaris is talking about killing them for being “useless”.

4. Norfolk. That’s where the orphanage is, and it could be a good place to learn something about Lord Vega, whether it’s twins or a single individual. Finny and Snake are going there, since they are minors (or can pass for minors. I think Snake might not be). It’s said that the children gain a unique education there. The Aurora Society connection is a wealthy donor. Score unknown. Since the previous win belongs to our earl, this assignment could go very poorly for Snake and/or Finny.

5. Wiltshire. That’s the location of the “former servicemen’s sanatorium”, so Lau and Bard are headed there. There is supposed to be a nurse there who performs miracles, but the known Aurora Society connection is several of the doctors there. This could be a good place to find Lord Canopus, who seems to need a lot of medical care; this could be the miracle nurse or simply someone there for treatment. If Blavat is back to scheming for the cult, he could be part of the racket for this “miracle nurse”. Score unknown. If the orphanage assignment goes poorly, Bard’s and Lau’s chances of doing well go up. If Finny and Snake are successful, then Bard and Lau might be in more serious trouble.

6. Brighton. That’s the resort hotel where our earl and Sebastian are going. It doesn’t cost much, but service is top notch. People extend their vacations and even move in permanently to stay there. This would be a good place to run into any number of important people: the queen, John Brown, the Viscount of Druitt, etc. Earlier, I thought this would be where our earl and Sebastian run into real Ciel and Undertaker again, but now I don’t think so.... Score Unknown. Whatever the confrontation here, our earl and Sebastian should prevail. Even if it’s against the queen and John Brown.

The worst thing about the assignments is that Sebastian isn’t participating in three of them. It’s possible that our earl’s plans are successful in all four assignments. However, the “game” is more interesting if real Ciel gets a win here and there. So, we have to expect set-backs from time to time, making it likely that either Finny and Snake or Bard and Lau will fail. It would be highly unusual in this sort of story for every battle to be a success for the protagonists. We would expect the demon to win any battle, of course, but like I said, he’s not directly involved in three of these four assignments. And the first assignment has already been successfully completed... as far as we can tell.

7. Phantomhive Manor again? The final confrontation between the twins might happen on shared family turf. If we ever finally get a backstory on Undertaker, it might be here, since it heavily involves the Phantomhive family. Score unknown, but our earl should prevail. And the contract should be fulfilled, if it wasn’t already fulfilled back in Brighton.

Seven needles and seven battles.

#black butler #kuroshitsuji #mother3 #lucas #claus #our earl #earl phantomhive #real ciel #ciel phantomhive #assignments #theories #observation #thoughts #game theory #nov 12 2020

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kiss-my-freckle · 6 years

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Fall finale.

Only Agent Keen’s life.

I’m just gonna jump right in with Tom and his neverending vigilantism against Red. Like Ressler’s non-stop hunt for him ending in, “Face it, Reddington. I beat you.” I feel that’s what it’s all boiled down to with Tom’s Anti-Red rage. The DNA information he finally got in his hands, revealing that one secret he feels would be enough for them to finally be rid of Reddington. Of all the secrets of Red’s he’s spilled to Liz throughout the seasons, and that’d be the one to steal her away. Someone should’ve told Tom, “There are no beatings here. No winners or losers. There is only Agent Keen’s life.” In all the hate he had for Red, it put his wife in a coma and left his child to suffer it.

I found the end scene rather powerful, especially given their song choice. Red and Tom in the back seat of the car, Liz between them. The Southern Cross for one. Polaris for the other. Both thinking they know what’s best for her. Both keeping secrets in thinking they know what’s best for her. Neither of them reaching that median. Because they’re talking without speaking, hearing without listening. Communication never found its way between them. Hard to say what this secret means for Liz, but I think both should’ve tried better. Tom even more, since despite seeing the test results, I’m not so sure he knows what it actually means for Liz. And I do believe some secrets are best kept in the dark. This suitcase served no purpose but to remove Red from her life, and all it did was put her in a coma and leave her with reason to end up like Red. Something to which I don’t believe will happen. Because Red won’t fail her.

You can trust me.

I found it idiotic as hell, Tom asking for Red to trust him. Especially when he asked for that trust after already having switched the bones out. He was conning Red. And in beating the man he’s been trying to beat since season one, he did this to his family.

And Tom was expecting Red to trust him, yet he couldn’t even trust Red himself. The man was willing to get shot because he was too afraid to get in the car with Red. Afraid he’d lose what he then believed was his Fulcrum-like golden ticket to be rid of him. Especially after what Ian said: ”Whatever you imagine the answer might be, it's better than that. Reddington's power is legendary. WIth this, I control that power.” So Tom’s standing there with Ian’s last words in mind: “That stays. Last thing I want, is that thing anywhere near Reddington.” Not just willing to get shot instead of getting in the car with him. But willing to take another stabbing intead of getting Red on the phone. He was willing to die before he let Red continue keeping this secret. That’s how selfish and hateful he was to get Red out of her life. And this, after he made it appear as though he was willing to work with her father in episode three.

Zero-sum game.

Tom had decided, that when it comes to the things that Liz cares about, what’s good for Red is bad for her and what’s good for her is bad for Red. Which is exactly why Tom believed Liz needed to learn this secret. Hiding it is something Red wants, so it must be something she needs to know. Making choices for her without even knowing what they mean in a broader sense. And Red mentioning Tom to make a point. “Like you?” Again, Tom thinking he was good for Liz because Red didn’t want them together. As long as it was something Red wanted, Tom went against it. Which is where I believe Red’s reverse pyschology came into play where it came to Tom getting answers about his own past. He didn’t want Tom working for Scottie, not when he wanted to keep Agnes within reach. That’s why his dialogue switched from S3 to S4. He found out Liz was alive.

You make her happy.

Red’s story about the first Keen2 wedding was all I needed to know that Red’s intent with this suitcase is honest. He knows very well what it will do to her. I don’t believe he’s keeping this secret out of selfishness, or of being found out. It’s about stopping Liz from losing what happiness and closure she’s found. The many chances he could’ve killed Tom and he didn’t take them. Her happiness matters to him. means more than anything else. As much as he loves her, I don’t believe he’d take issue in her walking away. He’s given her opportunities to. And that’s why he was sure to tell Tom that he makes Liz happy. Because that’s all he wants for her.

There is a part of Red that continues lying to Tom and Liz. I think he’s afraid to let the full weight of the truth actually hit them. For Tom to understand why Red was against him from the start. He saw what Tom was bringing into her life. And I feel, despite the lying, these were things Tom needed to hear from Red. Especially before he died. To at least believe this is how Red felt about him. That he was doing these things because he felt they were in Liz’s best interest.

Tom’s murder investigation.

“Well, according to police records, McGee received a call from Nik on the night of his death, just two hours before his body was found.” - Aram

Red has Nik's phone. Liz has Tom's. What should be on Tom's phone, are calls made to and from Nik from the start, as well as the image of her id badge. So whether or not Red wants to share this secret with her, he'll be left with no choice. Eventually, she'll find out what her id badge was used for. This will not look good for Tom, since he had to do a double-brush pass to steal her id, and he lied to her about the phone call being a telemarketer.

Similarities in dialogue.

“Your job’s to be the friend of a friend, get to know this Milhoan, not to get involved with her. Just be a friend of a friend. You got that?” -Major

This takes us back to the memory wipe dialogue.

“I hired Tom simply to be there as a friend of a friend to look after you from an arm’s length.” - Red of Tom, 2x19

“Not really. Friend of a friend.” - Nik of Tom, 3x15

“Dr. Krilov, I’m a friend of a friend.” - Kate to Dr. Krilov, 4x19

“You were brought to me by a mutual acquaintance of ours who wanted me to take certain memories away from you.” - Dr. Krilov, 4x19

If you want to know why he came into your life-

"Tom, you're scaring me." - Fall Finale

"You’re scaring me.” - To Kate, S4 finale

“And when it’s safe, babe, I’m gonna explain everything.” - Tom, Fall Finale

“I’ll tell you what I know as soon as I know you’re safe.” - Red, Red Wedding

Jumping into my S2 coincidences.

Tom calling from Union Station where Liz was attacked by Andropov.

“I believe Tom Keen is once again entangled in some nasty business, and I worry he may be involving Elizabeth.” - Red, Fall Finale

"Looks like Tom's in a little bit of trouble, and he's gonna bring that trouble to you. So... be careful." - Ressler, 2x17 deleted scene

Then we have the alias Tom used at the clinic with Lena, which Ressler put flags on in season two.

“You know, not everyone’s so anxious to leave. Put a flag on Tom, all his known aliases- he hasn’t left.” - Ressler, 2x17

Interesting to show the Keens owning a record player, which will go well with my Fowler frame theory, as I do believe those were Tom’s fingerprints left on the record brush.

Liz’s soul will be just fine. "I am the captain of my soul." Invictus by William Ernest Henley

I’m gonna be working up a post about the suitcase, which I’ll be posting separately. I’ve gotta gather up everything first.

#Anti-Tom Keen #Anti-Keen2

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