This is more of a rant than a coherent TADC critique, so feel free to skip it, but I really want to talk about how Gangle is treated in the show.
First I want to say that I really liked her character. We actually get to know a little about her background and her general goals and dreams. And, well, she's pretty relatable! As a person roughly her age (I don't remember how old she is exactly, but I think she's supposed to be in her early/mid twenties? Like 24-25?) I understand her struggle of not being able to fulfill your dreams and settling for whatever job is available. And if I were in her shoes, I'd probably want to leave the circus too, because I would want to actually try to make my dream come true in real life even if I fail.
So, I initially thought that her arc was going to be focused on that: it's either her learning to live with the thought that she's never going to reach her goal or her learning to appreciate her situation at hand and use it to her advantage. I guess the second option is still possible if either Caine returns or everybody in the circus will get the ability to create whatever they want, but... I'll be honest, it probably won't be satisfying because of the elephant in the room:
It feels like the show is more interested in victimizing or treating her like a punching bag.
Her happy mask is always broken, she's constantly getting shoved, her friend calls her "annoying" in one instance she's not on the verge of tears, the other "friend" is more interested in buddying up with her bully, it is revealed to us that her self esteem is in the gutters thanks to Jax to the point she doesn't feel like a person.
She doesn't even get to stand up for herself properly. The only instances of her "getting back" at Jax are making him wear a dress once, letting Caine punish him. She couldn't even get a single hit when she had her tommy gun.
Honestly this begs a question: if all of their bodies are digital, why are we still treating a male(-presenting) character as a threat or someone who can't be held accountable?
How convenient how the only one person who's willing and not afraid to physically confront him is Zooble, who doesn't go to adventures 90% of the time.
"Oh but Ragatha is a soft ragdoll and Gangle is made from ribbons-" why does it matter lol?
The last I checked Ragatha was capable of holding a baseball bat and Gangle could throw him down the balcony like a yo-yo until he would throw up all the code that made him a jackass. And why can Jax continuously wallow in his delusions and misery after his friend's death and make it everybody else's problem, but Gangle isn't allowed to snap and meaningfully defend herself against him once to send a "I'm not your toy" message?
At this point of the story Gangle became such a one-note victim she doesn't even get to be sad about HER dreams not coming true.
What do you mean ZOOBLE who we know almost NOTHING about gets the line "I had dreams of leaving the mark on the world"??? Wouldn't that suit Gangle more since you know- THAT'S LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS WE'VE BEEN TOLD ABOUT HER???
Now, you could say it was supposed to be a part of her character arc, where she would comfort a like-minded individual going through the same struggle, to which I say-
WHAT CHARACTER ARC??? She doesn't even get to enjoy her little anime adventure because of Jax again! We get told she wanted to make manga, she draws 1 picture, she didn't even seem to be upset when she couldn't enjoy her own suggested adventure... and that's it, I guess she's cured of all her aspirations so she can comfort Zooble now?
Now, I'm going to mention her torture sequence, just because I know someone will eventually bring it up in the comments: it's just vague as shit.
Does it mean that she's sick of her own emotions?
Does it mean she's afraid she failed as an artist?
Is it Caine mocking her about her emotional instability through the things she loves the most, reminding her she could never be the artist she aspired to be?
Is it just another hastily thrown together scene that's "up for interpretation" so fans can argue endlessly what that's supposed to mean? I don't know, and frankly it just gives me nothing.
Honestly, besides Ragatha, she's the only reason I dread the finale. It's either a woman who gets to have nothing before she killed off by her abuser (if that's gonna be the case... wow, what a story about a meaning of stagnant life am I right guys?) OR is forced to continue to live with the guy who abused her and didn't get to have any consequences for his actions, because he'd magically explode otherwise. Even if both of these predictions won't turn out to be true, I feel like her character just has been waisted because focusing on her abuser is apparently more interesting and important to the narrative... Man, I'm just so tired.