Spoilers for tadc episode 8, if you haven't watched it look away!
Okay SO, hear me out here..
I've heard a lot of Bubble is a virus theories and a lot of Bubble is the second ai theories, but I raise you: my own
Ngl this might be a reach but worth a shot.
Bubble is the original AI which got the virus. Here's why I think so-
- To me personally Bubble is a simple model, something that was worked on first and then scrapped when it became unstable (and we see that a LOT on the show). The reason why it's shown as a red dot is because red was there first, historically, and red is likely to overrun the color blue, not the other way around. Plus, symbolism. If Bubble was an AI with a virus, it would be held back in that 'box' due to danger. Blue is a more neutral and safe color.
Caine's model is more advanced, something that was worked on for longer, something that was new and improved.
When two ais combine they create a hybrid model, I think Caine was made to be the 'leader' because he's technically superior, even though he doesn't know it. And Bubble is... something else.
- When Caine was purged, the Circus started falling apart, but it didn't fall apart into nothing. Most of the circus was spared. Yes, it seems a lot up close, but if it WAS Kinger wouldn't have been able to walk over to the other so easily in the end.
Bubble and Caine combined and since Caine was deleted, Bubble is holding up the rest of the circus. Maybe this is because Bubble is more powerful? Maybe because Bubble was also a creator of the circus??? Hm?????
- If Caine was the other AI, he wouldn't have had time to be as good as the og. This is why he seems so 'simple minded' in a way. It's why he doesn't really listen to the others and only focuses on his own purpose. That purpose is all he knows and all he CAN do, creation. Sure, he was creating alright in the beginning, but with how fast the og ai got to him I don't think he was fully developed.
This is also what makes Bubble's words hit harder.
While the rules of the circus are 'child friendly' in a way, Bubble keeps coming for Caine in evey way he can. Insults, inappropriate jokes, random thoughts with no rhyme or reason, etc. He confuses Caine and actively hurts him. He WANTS Caine to feel bad. He wants to shatter him. In episode 8, we see this perfectly, the virus finally got to the new ai. Which brings us also to:
- Back on the idea that Caine is the 'leader' or, well, the Ringmaster; Kinger and Scratch created him. They know what he is capable of. So why was Scratch so confused when he got in? Why was Kinger so lost? Why was Bubble not present at ALL up until Kinger was in his 'lost' state?
Because Caine wasn't MEANT for that. Caine wasn't capable of doing something so advanced on his own. Kinger says Caine 'Never created anything like this' because Caine shouldn't have been able to. He was new, he was just learning, how could Caine possibly create a game?
Bubble. Bubble helped there but he knew they would recognize him and want to delete him, which wouldn't have been too hard because Bubble was 'lesser' of the two. So he didn't show himself at all, not to anyone but Caine, who wouldn't really KNOW him, till eventually all of them abstracted but Kinger, who eventually was just... ruined.
- Caine gave himself the name Caine, he created the acronym from the words 'Creative Artifical Intelligence Networking Entity' to sound more professional. But why would Caine need to GIVE himself a name?
Wouldn't he already have had one if he was the first? Wouldn't the creators think of that?
I think he did have a name. At one point. But one the combination began, I think Bubble wanted to feel superior and gave him his own name. Or maybe Bubble was yet again setting him up for failure.
6. Speaking of failure; The purging itself
- This one I think matters a lot. During the scene where Kinger is 'fighting' the system on the computer, the system itself is trying to defend itself, CAINE is trying to defend himself, but here's the catch...
Bubble is in his system. He is in his code. He is A PART of Caine. We do see Bubble talking in the words on the screen, we see him helping Kinger and we see him say that. Bubble pushed to deletion.
Kinger was trying to calm Caine down, maybe put him to sleep, not kill him. Why would he do that if he didn't know more than we do?
And here's another major thing: Kinger understand Caine, we never see him truly angry with the ai, but the rest don't get that. They push at Caine, they're never happy, never satifued, but he's trying his best.
Bubble's final nail on the coffin for Caine was making sure he took what those humans gave him, all the hatred, the rage, the projection, turned it into something ugly and watched as it got worse and worse till he could also add deletion via Kinger to the basket.
Caine's final 'wait' at the end before he's gone WAS confirmed to be a wait of 'What have I done'. Why would he care if he wasn't fully himself?
Now it's just Bubble. This is what he has always wanted.
And I hear you ask, why wasn't Bubble in the credits if he's still present?
Well I ask you this, why would he show us his new emperor clothes so soon?
This might be a reach but honestly it kinda makes sense to me-
Anyways, love yall, byeeeee!