Spy x Family Chapter 138 Discussion
TW: Mention of lobotomies, surgery, and suicide
Oh boy, this is either going to be an insane arc or it will be absolutely nothing. So here are a couple of my predictions for the upcoming chapters.
The chapter opens up with saying that Donovan has been visiting the hospital often lately, interesting. Not only that, it seems that he is visiting the neurosurgery section particularly.
The actual circumstances for Donovan's supposed acquisition of mind-reading abilities is unknown, and how they are precisely bestowed upon people is still vague. Whether it is something through genetic modification, and therefore only feasible to do for a child, or through some sort of surgery or implant is unknown. However, given that Donovan has notable scars on the side of his head, it is likely that his abilities were given through some sort of brain surgery.
Given that Donovan has been going to the hospital more often, it leads me to believing that the surgery is having some unforeseen side effects, or that he needs to discuss with the team on how to progress even further.
This gives the opportunity to bring back the side plot with Grandpa Siggy and see what exactly his connection is to Donovan Desmond, and by extension, Project Apple and Anya's Experimenters. Therefore, my concrete prediction is that Donovan will be meeting with Sigmund, as he will likely also need brain scans for his own issues with Alzheimer's. Sigmund does not always have lucidity when it comes to his past with Donovan, however, I think it would be interesting if Donovan has a code word that would force this part of him to resurface — it would certainly be a bit cartoonish, but it wouldn't be too outlandish.
But how would Anya witness this? I think Anya will likely travel through the vents and witness the whole discussion from an opening, therefore seeing the truth of Donovan Desmond and Sigmund. But what would the "truth" be exactly? I doubt that Anya would be able to fully comprehend the technical terms, however if Anya were to witness part of the surgery, then I think she could come back with valuable information for the mission without revealing that she is herself an experiment.
I can imagine that part of Donovan's skull may be opened, either revealing the surgery scars or cybernetic implants. While this would definitely be more outlandish, it would certainly be funny if Donovan's head opened like Kenjaku and Anya used her domain expansion on him. There is, of course, the risk of Donovan hearing Anya's thoughts, however I think that the surgery check-up is the perfectly opportunity for his own abilities to be compromised, thus giving Anya the upper hand. In other words, Anya confirms that Donovan does have mind reading abilities, how he got them, and his weakness regarding it, while also confirming Sigmund's affiliation with Donovan.
There is also a side thought that I had about why Donovan may be going to the neurosurgery floor and to the hospital more often, however I think it is less likely and significantly more upsetting. Unfortunately, there is the possibility that Melinda may be forced to be experimented on, whether it be for progress on the research, or, terrifyingly, a lobotomy. Lobotomies were common "treatment" for a myriad of mental health issues for years, although oftentimes they were also used as a means to silence people as well. Since this scenario of course would involve harm to Melinda, I think this is just wildly unlikely to happen. She has not appeared for many chapters/arcs, which could mean that she is in no condition to appear. On the contrary, given that they mentioned Melinda a few times already, it seems to imply that she has been attending therapy, just that it has not been shown to the audience.
Of course, if any harm does come to Melinda then I will scream and riot and complain, but thematically, it does not make sense for her to be in physical danger at the moment. Although, of all the characters I do feel like she does have one of the highest likelihoods to die, perhaps in a self-inflicted way, or her being silenced, or her taking the hit for someone else (whether figuratively or physically). My personal ideal Melinda arc would involve her learning about Yor as Thorn Princess and then having a fake-out death for Melinda where the audience believes her to be dead, but she returns in a later arc free from Donovan's influence. Something something Yor promises to take care of her kids and Melinda is relieved and then is fake-shot but Yor and the audience think she is dead, but then she returns later. (I would cry if Melinda shows a bit of relief at her situation and then is immediately killed off, however if its a fake-out then I'd loooooove it). Whatever, this isn't a Melinda post. Sorry Meli.
All of this said, I think the only way for this arc to really make sense is if Anya has the upper hand in the interaction with Donovan, and is able to relay the information to Loid and the others. Somehow, I think it would be hilarious if she tried to explain to Loid, Fiona, and Yor, and that they don't understand it at all, but as soon as she says it to Sylvia, she understands the situation immediately. And then we get a parallel between Anya and Sylvia's daughter.
As I said before, this is either gonna be such a packed arc, or go absolutely nowhere and be a massive disappointment.
