I just saw a post talking about Gertrude and was thinking about how she, in her effort to remain human and not submit to the dread powers at any cost, ended up loosing her humanity differently by becoming a cold blooded killer and not caring about the people she sacrificed, and then Jon, by being so human and making his choices based on love, self doubt and fear, is what leads to him eventually becoming dependent on the eye, being marked by the fears and loosing his humanity that way
So you know how in EP 179 Basira says to Jon, "You apologize too much", to which he replies, "Martin says the same thing", and then Basira says, "Like he's any better"?
So yeah, this little interaction inspired me to crunch some numbers. And believe it or not, but Martin is, in fact, better!
Statistically speaking.
Over 5 seasons, Jon apologizes 122 times, while Martin apologizes 91 times.
The main difference between these two is that Jon apologizes more frequently and for everything (especially in S5), whereas Martin piles up multiple 'sorry's per apology.
Nothing illustrates that better than this little tidbit, which coincidentally comes from EP 179, as well!
EP 179 is *also* The Most Sorry Episode™: it sits at 9-4 with Martin in the lead!
Impressive work all around! (I'm incredibly concerned. These two need help.)
edit with a few notes under cut:
Since this post was (is?) getting a lot more traction than I expected (not gonna lie, a bit spooked), I should probably add a few notes regarding the data.
Most importantly, I only counted the regretful kind of "sorry", and so dismissed the instances where "sorry" was used as a substitute for "come again?", "huh?" or "my condolences", or was said in a sarcastic manner. There were a few cases which kind of blurred the line, but I ultimately decided to add them to the count, as well.
For obvious reasons, the 'sorry's read out from Statements weren't counted.
Also, Martin's total for Season 1 *technically* comes up to 7 total apologies. The additional 2 come from EP 161, specifically the birthday tape, – but I think it makes more sense to attribute them to Season 1 Martin.
Here's a fun little tidbit: Martin's first apology appears in EP 23, and Jon's – in EP 32. Because why *wouldn't* they mirror each other in something inconsequential?
Now, to the folks asking for the density stats I'd like to say: first, thank you for supporting independent research – second, I'll have to disappoint you. I have no idea what that implies or how to make that happen. I'm not a math person :(
Also, and this is just my opinion, but I don't really see the need for that sort of thing (but I'm not a stat nerd /affectionate, so maybe I just don't get the hype). The graph above, to me, perfectly illustrates the evolution of Jon and Martin's "apology tendencies".
Anywho, while I'd love to plunge even deeper into this particular research hole, I sadly do not have the time at the moment!
I would've loved to analyze what exactly these two apologize for, especially in S5. (Where they're on an even playing field, y'know? I feel like their "apology tendencies" are the most prevalent there). But alas.
Maybe some other time. Or perhaps someone else is willing to pick up the mantle...
the content warning for this episode is "self harm" and if you let that sink in... if you realize WHY he chose this as his anchor instead of options that "make sense." because traumatized and suicidal people don't "make sense" to people who don't understand their pain. they seek destruction and sometimes they seek self-annihilation. Jon sought Daisy both in his coma and in reality because as Adelard Dekker says in MAG 113, only a Hunter can successfully kill another Avatar.
The only way to understand Jon, especially in season 4, is that he is actively suicidal (listen to his opening message in MAG 132 Entombed and tell me it's not a suicide note). People blame him for things that are not his fault, and he absorbs their hatred because he has no self-worth (childhood neglect would do that to you. same, jon, same). Someone once described TMA as a story of victim blaming and you can see that with Jane Prentiss, and you can see that with Jon.
