Gyrus and the Metaphor of the Self
Or the theory about why fusing the two Gyrus is a GOOD thing.
To prove a point to my sister.
So we all know this happened:
In his own words, Gyrus is both versions and neither. He remembers both his time in season 1 and his time as Past Gyrus.
And some people might find this disappointing that we’ve lost our sweet innocent Gyrus character and out edgy bad boy Gyrus character for a mashup of both, or that New Gyrus was absorbed because he hasn’t been around nearly as long as past Gyrus. Which isn’t true, because this is so much more than sticking two characters together or losing one. Because every one of those Gyrus’s were still Gyrus, his choices, his actions, just in different situations.
And together they make Gyrus one of the most well-developed characters I’ve ever seen. A character we as an audience get to know and watch develop in a way that feels very human.
Take our first meeting of Gyrus, he’s smart, clever, kind, scared, and just a bit generic. We see what Tori sees, a good hearted protag who’s gonna help us explore this world. Then we watch him grow, watch his impulsiveness and inability to think things through get him hurt, and for the first time we are introduced to a flaw in Gyrus: that he thinks if he’s strong enough, he can change the world. But we don’t dwell on that, its a heroic quality right? Makes Gyrus more interesting.
Then we discover the incident, see Past Gyrus in all his glory, learn who he is from the way the others react to him and the flashbacks and the black box. And we’re taken aback. Because could this edgy, dangerous man possibly be out Gyrus? It seems completely out of character.
He’s all of Gyrus’ flaws wrapped up in one, we hate him, and guess what? So does Gyrus. Because who doesn’t hate their own dark side? Who doesn’t hate their flaws? So he rejects Black box Gyrus and the help he offers, and the audience cheers him on, thinking he’s just another “monster within” type of villain we’ll see Gyrus reject to prove himself better than his flaws.
But that’s not how the real world works. You can’t just punch your flaws away, or your choices. You’ve got to live with them. A point brought up by Kodya of all people, who breaks up a fight between the two that comes across uncomfortably like the negative self-talk we all to often fall into. He points out that everyone makes mistakes, and that black box Gyrus is trying to make things right. He’s trying to change, so Gyrus should go easy on himself.
Then we get to know Black Box Gyrus’ story, to see who he was and who he became. And the more we see, the more we can see the similarities between our Gyrus and Past Gyrus. Gone is the edgy stranger wearing Gyrus’ face. Instead we see Gyrus’ kindness, his insecurities, his impulsiveness, his brilliance, and his fear. We see how his desire to save everyone, to save the world, led to his downfall.
We see Gyrus, and Gyrus sees himself too. He realizes for the first time that his past version is him too, and that he is worth saving when he dons the cape. He has learned to accept himself, all of himself. From his failures and his flaws, and see the good in him that comes not simply from his nature, but by his concious choice to try and fix the problems he’s created, starting with his own mind.
So of course he fuses. He’s accepted his past and made peace with his present. He’s finally whole.
