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Welcome Home theories -> Sometimes I have theories about WH. If I think they're good, I may write a post for them on this blog!
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Credits: Beads header // Wax seal divider // Retro flowers
If Wally is the one who shared the Commercials video with W for them to share with us (implied by the fact Wally shares the hidden videos to us, knows about W, is the website hacker, and is likely the mystery collaborator based on multiple things stated about them in the past);
but W did not share it on the WHRP website, but instead on awayfrompryingeyes, a website Wally is not aware of (due to it being shown to us during an update Wally was not there for);
how does Wally know we've seen Commercials?
Cause like, I don't think he would have shared Echo with us unless he knew we've seen Commercials, since you very much need the context from it for Echo
I do not trust Julie's siblings, and here's why. (My theory on the Joyful siblings)
Ever since the April 2025 update, I've had many thoughts on the Joyful siblings: particularly, something about Franny, Jonesy and Bea was bugging me, but I've had trouble putting it into words.
After a couple months of observing other people's thoughts on them, though, and another update to ruminate on, I think I've managed to place it:
Their relationship with Julie feels... kind of mean-spirited at times?
... Let me explain what I mean.
(Divider credits: Vinyls)
So, first things first. Although Julie's siblings were first mentioned and shown in previous updates, their first actual appearance was in the April 2025 update, so this as well as the November 2025 update are what I'll be focusing on here.
(Feel free to bring up anything else from other updates in the comments, though!)
In the April 2025 update, Julie's siblings appear in three of the video/audio materials: the "Springtime Salutations" storybook, "What Makes the Flowers Bloom", and the "Darling Broadcast".
Julie mentions them as well in the hidden "_congratulations" videos, but they don't appear there.
I have things to say about all of these, so let's walk through them in order:
1— Springtime Salutations storybook
Sure, them helping Julie bring Springtime around early is a nice gesture of them. ... Even though considering that, with the Frank update, we learned the neighbors— and whoever is under the camera— know they are being recorded in the storybooks; judging by the usage of the word "work" by Frank in the Specimen R/"bound" video, they most likely actually consented to this beforehand. Combine this with the fact that it is very likely Julie was woken up by the narrator at the start, and this storybook effectively becomes an entirely manufactured situation...
But you could counter this by saying that Julie could not remember why she woke early later, which she most likely would if she had signed up for this; meaning it is possible that the Joyful siblings signed up to be recorded, but did not know what for ahead of time. So let's move on.
They are immediately rude to Frank. And sure, it's an ongoing bit not just for them but in the neighborhood as well to be rude to Frank: Howdy, Barnaby and Sally all are. But note how the blame is never given to Frank, if these characters mock him it is a problem with them and not him. (Or not solely him.)
Sally fights him because she is inconsiderate and struggles to understand other people's perspectives; Barnaby also repeatedly does not consider the effect his jokes have on others; and although we haven't seen a lot of Howdy yet, he can sometimes be a bit mean.
So what does this say about the siblings?
... Well, they are kind of judgemental, aren't they?
This is something that will be shown again in the other videos, but in this one this is demonstrated by them immediately judging him on his appearance before either him or Julie had time to explain what they were here for:
The rest of the storybook goes well, with nothing else to really note.
(Julie being embarrassed that she woke up early— and in her singing at the end, notes the meeting as "careful Family collaborations" with a capital F— could mean nothing.)
But this doesn't end there.
2— What Makes the Flowers Bloom
This book seems innocent enough at first: Julie teaches Frank about rainbow monsters with the help of her siblings. Without giving it too much attention, you wouldn't think of this book as anything too out of the ordinary.
When you do give it attention, though... You may realize that many of the things the siblings list as universal Rainbow monster traits, apply to them... but don't apply to Julie... in a way that very quickly starts to feel pointed.
Rainbow monsters have big hair-dos and hibernate in the winter, sure, but they're supposed to only have one color: Julie notably doesn't, being pink and orange and blue/green.
They're supposed to have big horns, which they shed in winter: neither of which Julie does.
They're supposed to live in groups of other Rainbow monsters: Julie doesn't, she lives in the neighborhood of which she's the only one.
They play instruments— not sing: Julie doesn't play instruments, but does bring Springtime by singing. (Note how even in the second page pictured above, she doesn't play an instrument.)
Rainbow monsters can only bring Springtime together, so they must stay together: she doesn't, and it's strange.
She doesn't fit in the description of Rainbow monsters as given by her siblings, and they seemingly make no exception for her.
Her being different is not mentioned in the book at all.
3— A Darling Broadcast
This radio episode, on its own, is pretty much the entire reason I'm writing this post. The siblings appear in the second half to answer the neighbors's questions... but it kinda goes off rails.
The first caller is Poppy, and before she even has time to ask her question, the siblings interrupt her to make quips about her name.
And sure, it's funny to be rude to Poppy... in the same way it's funny to be rude to Frank... but she never even gets to ask her question?? Which she gets frustrated about; but the siblings entirely ignore her, simply choosing to say goodbye and move on.
The second caller is Howdy, who inquires on how to make his plants taste good. It is kinda rude for him to ask that, but he does admittedly make it funny.
The siblings get absolutely shocked that a caterpillar eats plants... which, if you were really part of nature and executor of the seasons and whatnot, isn't this something you'd already be familiar with? Bugs are part of nature and they do need to eat.
Julie herself shows no problem with bugs: in an older update, she's discussing insects eating Frank's tomatoes with no problem.
The siblings tell Frank that if he dresses badly, his plants will mock him for it.
Which you could argue, could just be a joke in Julie's favor... It's not like the siblings are familiar with Frank— how could they know that being jeered at is something he fears:
They choose to directly ask Julie to join their band, on the radio in front of her friends. Is this such a bad thing, you ask?
Well, if Julie choosing to hang up the phone rather than answering their question doesn't answer this, one of the secret videos that came out with this update, the "temptationdreamshope"/"ati" video, also answer this:
Julie is not only afraid of her siblings's reactions to the flower, she's actually afraid of being made to go back to them if she has to leave Home: if she fails at being a rainbow monster and make flowers bloom.
And sure, you could argue that she's also afraid of Frank's reaction just earlier in the same video: which we now know with the newest update was unfounded, as upon learning about the flower, he instead comforts her, and tries to help her by removing (and killing) it.
But after seeing all the videos and text outlined previously... Is it that likely? That they would react helpfully?
Or would they chose to use her fears— at failing, at her expectations as a rainbow monster— to make her go back to them?
4— Miscellaneous
The frame of the Joyful siblings in the /ourhome/Julie page of the latest update has their faces obscured and them standing slightly out of frame, yes; but note how the frame is on the table next to Julie's "regular" bed, as opposed to her real bed (the nest with leaves and sticks).
In fact, if you look at the position of the table and the frame on it, this photo is not visible from Julie's nest bed: as opposed to the heart frame with the drawing of Frank on the wall, which is visible from the bed. Did she put it there intentionally, as to keep the appearance of her liking them, while not actually looking at it more than necessary?
In the final "_congratulations" video, Julie excuses herself by telling Frank she sees her siblings and that she needs to say goodbye to them before they leave. Obviously this is not what happens; she goes to see the flower instead, and the rest of the video as well as the events of Specimen R/"bound" happen, and Julie goes home afterwards. Did she not say goodbye to her siblings before?
... Well, no, because that video happens right after the events of Darling Broadcast, so the last thing she said to them was... hanging up the phone.
A couple of people have already noticed this, but in the Primrella storybook, Primrella (played by Julie) has siblings that mistreat her heavily... that just so happen to have the same colors as her real siblings:
which could mean nothing, I'm sure.
5— So what does that mean?
Well, you can take that to mean anything, really!
Is it a failure of communication between Julie and her siblings, with her being unable to tell them that she doesn't want to join their band?
Is it that they've always had a bad relationship, with them being unable (or unwilling) to accept that she left the cave, and by extension, them?
Does Julie remain in contact with them because she genuinely loves them, or is this part of the obligations and expectations of a rainbow monster, too?
My own theory is that, perhaps in the same way many people in the fandom believe Frank and Julie to be in a relationship so as to keep Frank's gayness a secret, I think it is fully possible she is in a relationship with him to avoid her being made to leave the show.
Of course, that doesn't have to mean that she doesn't truly love him, romantically: there is the whole question of why does she have a package from Eddie addressed to Frank in her bed.
But well, isn't it interesting that the picture of Frank above her bed is a drawing and not a photo? That it's not a photo of them together?
But regardless of how true that theory is, there is one thing I can say for certain by now: that the siblings will play a part in Julie's character arc going forward, but that I don't think it'll be a good one.
Over the past months, I've observed the many theories regarding Julie Joyful. While there are a few who point out the abuse in her family, many acknowledge more in the secret videos (CONGRATULATIONS) and the relationship between Frank and Julie, rather than the root cause of her unstable behaviour, even to the extent of dismissing the abuse itself, and claiming that the Joyful siblings were nothing but nice to her.
Now, I am not here to put down others' thoughts on this project, but to paint the Joyful siblings as 'caring' and 'only looking after their little sister' is so jarring to me since we have a plethora of heavy implications where the Joyful family are actually more than what meets the eye! (After all, that's the premise of the whole ARG, right?)
As someone who primarily focuses on Julie throughout many updates, I believe the 'Julie is Abused' theory is accurate in her lore.
1. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and the Unstable Behaviour of Julie Joyful
There are many instances in which Julie explicitly shows a lack of self-worth or self-esteem. The prime example is the storybook Primrella, where, on the very last page, Julie refuses to refer to herself as Primrose and instead sticks to the name her abusive sisters gave her.
FRANK
Are - are you sure it’s not something else? Maybe... Maybe like Primrose? Remember?
JULIE: Nope! I’m all in on the soot! Prim-rella it is!
SALLY: [under her breath] My writing... My eloquence… [sighs] Foiled again…
In the early pages, too, Julie was seen being delighted in handling all the chores, implying that she has been exposed to harsh conditions and is even used to being mistreated.
SALLY: Prim-rella, shine my slippers!
EDDIE: Prim-rella, shine my hats!
POPPY: Prim-rella, shine whatever this is!
JULIE: [wailing as many items are shoved into her arms] WO-OA-OAH! [happily] You got it sis!
SALLY: [laughing nervously before whispering sharply] No, no! Your character, Julie! Anguish! Loss! Despair!
JULIE: Oh, yeah! [repeating the line more sadly] Boohoo! Waaaah! You got it!
Lastly, during the first transformation, Julie compliments the ragged dress.
JULIE: Mr Fox, Mouse, I’ve never been happier! Stains have never looked more stylish! Just wait until my sisters see me now!
But says nothing much in the second transformation. Instead, it was Howdy who was giving all the compliments.
HOWDY: Prim-rella’s subjectively beautiful dress turned into a drop-dead, show-stopping, head-turning gown made’a pure magic! [Glitter sound] She even had the most beautiful pair of Mary Janes you've ever seen! [Hopeful melody plays.]
You could argue that in this part, Julie does not want to conform to gender norms and bring up her genderfluid identity (has not been revealed yet). It's not a bad assumption, but I think her struggle with gender identity ties more to her not wanting to join the band.
I also want to address the people who belittle her demeanour, claiming that Julie was only insecure because of her siblings' fame.
There's a reason for every action and for every behaviour. Nobody is born just insecure, just like how no child is evil. The upbringing is always a factor in these characteristics.
For one does not choose to be self-destructive out of the blue. Events, actions, and words shape us, whether we notice it or not.
2. Proof and Explanation of the Abuse in the Joyful Family
Let's begin with the pieces of media that are on the website itself:
a. The insistence on being the carbon copy of the Joyful siblings (excluding Julie), and how it is the only right way.
a.1.
FRANNY: Disoriented and frantic?
JONESY: Are you jonesing for the good?
BEA: Just please remember to be,
ALL: Like the entire joyful family would!
a.2.
FRANNY: There’s more to it than that, Julie! Rainbow Monsters have special horns that grow in sunshine and shed when it's cold. Rainbow monster horns come in all different shapes and colors, but the bigger the better, obviously.
a.3.
JONESY: Did you say color? I’m in the know on that one, sis! Rainbow monsters come in all hues, toos! From our heads to our roots, from our leaves to our nose! We stick to one color, so that together we’re totally kaleidoscopic!
a.4.
BEA: Yes… But we don’t do this all alone, Jonesy… Rainbow monsters live together in groups called a band… And a band of monsters are only as melodious as their harmony together!
a.5.
FRANNY: (With a commanding tone.) Back to us- Julie, when are you going to finally join our band?
JONESY: Yeah, sis- What’s a rainbow monster band without its dynamite drummer?
BEA: (Wistfully said.) Just think of it, sister dear… A colorful quartet pushing the seasons!
JULIE: (Nervous and hesitant) That sounds… (Pretends to be losing signal) Oop- Oh no! The sounds! We’re breaking up!- (Whispering harshly.) Hang up the phone, Frank! Hang up!
Notice how Julie doesn't own any of these characteristics, including not wanting to be a part of their band?
Julie stands out like a sore thumb for obvious reasons, and her siblings are aware of this.
Which is why they are trying so hard to convince her to come back, solely so she will embrace the norm and be purified, despite being physically unable to do so.
It's basically the equivalent of telling a person with no legs to walk.
(No, not crawling, but to legitimately walk.)
The argument that the Joyful siblings are oblivious to the great effect their words have on Julie is very weak. Their whole gimmick is to follow their appearance and image. They would be very dense not to notice the loud difference between them and Julie.
The tauntings are (clearly) not accidental.
b. The First in Hierarchy; Franny
Occasionally, Franny shows a sort of hostility towards Julie, in which she often scolds her.
FRANNY: Missing things again, Julie!
FRANNY:(Said accusingly) Because someone here doesn’t!
JONESY: Yeah, someone here doesn’t.
After collecting information about Franny, I realise the said information hints that Franny was the one who mostly initiates the abuse and is overall controlling.
First, the cards:
The first card seems to target Julie, as she is the one who holds the bouquet cards.
On the other hand, the second card says, "You're in charge. Steal a card from a fellow rainbow monster."
This most likely implies that Franny abuses her power as a leader, taking advantage of and grooming other rainbow monsters so they wouldn't question her ways.
Secondly, the storybook Springtime Salutations:
We all realise that the narrator shares the same voice as Franny herself, but I haven't seen anyone question why this has happened.
I believe this is a smart choice to subtly show Franny's need to assert control, even if the story itself centres around Julie.
At the end of the audio, the narrator (Franny) takes the wheel by interrupting in the middle of Julie's last dialogue. Once again, hastily stealing the spotlight for what was supposed to be her sister's.
Not to mention, the narrator compliments Franny merely throughout the book. The irony!
Thirdly, the Darling Broadcast:
FRANK: Why you-!
FRANNY: (With a commanding tone.) Back to us- Julie, when are you going to finally join our band?
See? Take note of that. What seems to be innocent at first glance is actually a pattern of hers. Franny truly cannot last without being the one in charge; it's really ingrained into her. Her ego has to be stroked.
Lastly, the prominent one is yet again, Primrella:
Unsuprisingly, the most abusive sister was Bluebell. The one that lead the family and forced/encourage the others to discriminate and abuse Primrella... I think you get it now.
c. The Second Abuser (The Insecure Fool); Jonesy
Shocking or not, I promise this has multitudes of reasons.
If I had to describe the relationship between Jonesy and Julie, I would say it's a trauma bond and a 'victim abuses another victim.'
(For those who don't have a full grip of what it is, trauma bond is when a victim forms an emotional bond with the perpetrator of the abuse.)
One of Julie's cards says, "Jump to the nearest green space!"
From my understanding, Julie had once found security in Jonesy. Perhaps Bea was too positive for her, or that he understood Julie's situation since both of them were in the shadows of the other two sisters.
This is until Jonesy ultimately takes advantage of Julie's feelings and participates in the abuse against her to fish out the approval from Franny.
Why do I say this? Well.
He actively backs up Franny's actions, even following the exact same action right after her.
Examples:
1.
FRANNY:(Said accusingly) Because someone here doesn’t!
JONESY: Yeah, someone here doesn’t.
2.
SALLY (FRANNY): Hmpf! Dressing like the rags used for polishing our shoes, I see!
JULIE: [happily] That’s right! Hand-made, too! By some friendly woodland critters!
EDDIE (JONESY): [laughs] Oh, sister, dear, don’t tell me you’ve stooped so low as to talkin’ to the rodents!
JULIE: They’re not rodents! One… is a mouse! And the other is a successful entrepreneur! He even made me this dress!
3.
FRANNY: (With a commanding tone.) Back to us- Julie, when are you going to finally join our band?
JONESY: Yeah, sis- What’s a rainbow monster band without its dynamite drummer?
4.
5.
Serendipitous means beneficial.
"Close your eyes and pluck any flower card!"
Jonsey gets benefits from the prejudice against his younger sister by blindly following the abuser.
Please keep in mind that I am not saying Jonesy does not care for Julie; I think deep down, he really does!
But a nice person who supports and continues the cycle of abuse is still in the wrong.
EDDIE (JONESY): An ugly little thing you pulled out of a bucket, more like! I wouldn’t even let you polish the family soot pile with a raggedy thing like that! [Catches himself being too in-character and quickly becomes apologetic] S-So fancy dress or not, this buggy’s too small for the likes of you! [quietly] ...I-If that’s alright...!
I'm unsure if this is Eddie getting too in character with Jonesy's abusive tendencies, or if it actually represents Jonesy.
Eh, most definitely the latter.
Similar to Julie, Jonesy suffers from the same lack of self-worth/insecurity. This could explain why he constantly relies on his elder(?) sisters for almost everything.
In terms of character design, the long hair that obscures his face can symbolise his loss of identity, not knowing who he actually is and had his feelings neglected.
_________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, this is where I must end the post.
It is now more than a thousand words and the maximum of putting photos on posts is ten, so.
Do not fret, for I will be making a follow up soon. Thank you if you had read this far! I'm apologise if there are any mistakes as I struggle with communication at times!
Please tell me if I had missed anything.
Thank you, again, and have a lovely morning/afternoon/evening/night dear reader ^^
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