This is not a full-fledged theory, but a little tid-bit about Ragatha.
So, I've seen a ton of people questioning why Gooseworx said Ragatha will get more development in Episode 8. To catch up with my state of mind, please go read this post (I poured 3 months of research into it and am very proud :> ):
💬 10 🔁 23 ❤️ 122 · Kinger gave himself a Lobotomy (Ep 8 Theory) · This is my personal theory, but I think Kinger lobotomized himself after
One of Ragatha's defining traits, however, is how she is a people pleaser due to her conditional relationship with her mother.
Conditional love is when someone provides you with love if you 'prove' you are worthy of that love, be it through achievements or good behavior. Essentially, Ragatha was only approved by her mother if she spoke and acted in a very specific way, that being overly positive and constantly re-assuring.
If my theory is true about Caine's relationship to Queenie, that would provide us with another member of the circus who is a people pleaser due to their conditional relationship to their mother. Caine tries to please the cast regardless of how he is feeling because the only love an AI can get is validation for completing their purpose. Caine is now far more sentient than a regular AI and, if he needs love like a human, then this conditional relationship would cause him to cope similarly to Ragatha: be a people pleaser and get the 'love' you so desperately need for your good behavior.
Jax, Gangle, and Zooble are a bit fat NO on the 'helping you out' chart. Pomni is empathetic but she would hold Caine accountable for Ep 7's adventure, which wouldn't fulfill his need for validation. Also, Pomni, who has in the past connected to AI in Ep 1, was shown (IN CAINE'S EYES) to not want to connect to AI again in Ep 4 with Gummigoo in the Fast Food Adventure (for valid reasons, since NPCs don't last long in the circus). Her confronting Caine AND this 'slight' against Caine wouldn't let him open up to her.
To be completely honest, Kinger won't reach Caine. Kinger has done too much damage to Caine's life and existence, and it just won't be enough. Someone, however, who has been in the *exact* situation as Caine, would be able to reach him. Ragatha has consistently tried to enjoy the adventures AND she has treated NPCs well (even though it's just her knowing how to act maternal figures, but in CAINE'S EYES this is pretty good).
Ragatha has, however, started to stand up for herself. She can now confront people about the way she is treated, and she's building more genuine relationships. Her problem, however, has been that her friendships are either with a kind yet incoherent parental figure (who told a complete stranger sooner than her that he can think clearly in the dark, which NEEDS to be talked about) or someone who doesn't connect with her nearly as much as she does with Jax (yes, Pomni stuck to Ragatha for Ep 7 and they do have an increasingly positive relationship, yet how was Pomni able to develop a stronger relationship with Jax in one episode rather than a character she's been with for nearly 6? Regardless, Pomni still does want and TRIES to have a better relationship with Ragatha, and Ragatha is smooth sailing for friendship development).
Caine is in the ditch right now and, if we see his backstory and Queenie is nearly as important as I speculate, then this will be why Ragatha's backstory was brought up in Ep 5. Ragatha's development has nearly come to an end but this would be the perfect way to tie it up: by GENUINELY understanding and wanting to help someone out.
Not to mention having two people pleasers talk about their need to connect with others but their coping mechanisms getting in the way is just SO INTERESTING. Hearing someone say 'Hey, YOU are enough. You don't need to 'prove' you're enough' would be words Caine has never heard and Ragatha has wanted to hear all her life.
