#checkmate's commentary

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Once again thinking about how the foundations of the Void run on the skeleton of a coherent and interesting story. Yugo Hernandez was only able to permanently die because the story needed a twist, a climax, a cliffhanger—all literary features that boost the strength of the narrative at that time (end of season). Moreover, his death functions as a motivator for the Awakened to continue to the next phase, if you will, and a strong enough incentive for MG to transition to Fate (A sacrifice to step up to the next level, if you will.)

Also thinking about the fact that Yugo's death was very specifically reversed when:

Fate isn't there to narrate, a narrative-acknowledged / Void-acknowledged disconnect from the Black Star running the place

The Awakened get narration powers instead and successfully forces the Void to bind to their whims as they work to tell a good and coherent story (both individually [their own personal setting] and as a whole [to get the MacGuffins])

The Awakened needed Yugo's revival as a literary device befitting the narrative (their motivator, their continuation to the next phase, one episode before midseason)

Not only did the Awakened assemble all of Yugo's traits that make up his story, the keywords that locked it in was Thorin (the person closest to Yugo and would have the most emotional attachment to this story, and emotional attachment is what makes a story powerful) saying "And that's the story of Yugo Hernandez!"

It's a wonderful allegory to their victory—the narrative has always been a tool that guides the way they interact with the Void. Knowing that the Void runs on stories and in turn manipulating the story to fit their purposes—reclaiming their story, reclaiming their fates, making the story their own—with the Awakened slowly but surely learning how to steer the Void from their knowledge and grabbing it by the reigns. If I may be so bold to say, it's wonderful thematic foreshadowing.

Yugo, in this case, as a character, is also a wonderful example to all those points—he began as a martyr and fulfilled his fate by dying on the altar, died for a cause he believed in, to save Thorin from their own confines of the narrative, and to dissappear.

But as the Awakened learn, empowered by his sacrifice, finally holds the collective power to shape the story by their own hands—use that power to defy Fate, to defy the role given to him.

Just as the way a story is stronger with an audience, Yugo's story lives on because there are people listening. People who remembers all the good he's given. People who can recall the story and share it, never allowing it to truly die, so long as it spreads by word of mouth.

Despite Yugo being fated to be erased from reality, to be forgotten by everyone he knows, the Awakened remembers. And so long as a story is remembered, it lives on.

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I slam the door open. Hello. I'm here to talk about Who's Gonna Die. And by talk, I mean, gush about basically every single detail of it, even if it's everything already said before, because it deserves another round of appreciation. I will never be apologetic gushing about DMP in this DMP sideblog that I've very specifically made to talk about DMP. You know this, that's why you're here, so.

First of all—god, what a beautiful ukelele intro. I believe that's a ukelele, at least. Guitar? Either way, It's great because we've always associated those strings with MG, especially the last two intros, and they've always had a light, goofy or fun, teasing tone to them. This time, it starts off foreboding—and while I don't know enough about music theory to say—it definitely was going for somewhere tense, something like anticipation, which is exactly what the Awakened feel after Game Over, followed by "I speak a falsification to the Stars and the Sea ..." It's so fucking good. It's so good. I adore this. Crimes did a wonderful job at the monologue. Super clean and crisp sounds, chilling delivery.

Loved how Murder God was just alone for her big moment against a sky of Black Stars, but they were also a gradient red. Foreshadowing Fate, perhaps? Her desire to control the Black Stars, supplanting them (when she tried to kick them out?) Then the snap, a snap, and the Awakened appears—establishing that she's still god, she still has power, she's still downright terrifying. In the first monologue, she really is. Also whaddya know, the title is foreshadowing.

Love how cheeky Crimes' delivery of "How are you holding up? / Are you going insane?" For Murder God, really added everything to her character at this moment. She's gloating her victory. Reminding them it's her game. Asserting control. Also: "Let's have a look at all you've lost / I told you before this would come at a cost" are SUCH good lines in terms of rhyming, theme, and purpose. The taunt. The payoff. It's so good.

"Discord Murder Party, let's see who's gonna die / the god of murder and death is ready to see who has to say bye-bye" is so obviously and so perfectly an imitation of the original theme song lyrics, just said in a very mocking way by MG. The proper first time I've heard it, context and all, it sent chills because of just how GOOD it was played off. Suddenly everything's much more serious. The Oh Shit (tm) moment captured in lyrics. After all, both songs did emphasize: "Get ready for a game of blood and death."

(The original "It could be a writer or a nurse" got swapped for "It could be on an island or in a gameshow" which is a reference to the original scenarios in S1 / reoccuring ones, but also. ISLAND MENTION! ISLAND MENTION! It really could be on an island.)

AWAKENED IN! I adore the buildup. Split did a really good job in leading with Vincent's "You gave me a life of blood and gore" as a solid, clear voice that's embodying the leadership Vinny has, and then the first four's "And now there are many, when we started with four" is just. So beautiful. They sound so united, and at this point, they are, but they've come such a long way—as referenced in the lyric!—from when they were still confused and trying to find ways to adjust to the game, but eventually realized the power they have in numbers.

Then Juniper and Percy's "You gave us a wish, and this is our debt," with Bro and Scott's incredible singing, and Valencia's "And no matter what happens, we won't give up yet" with Uprising's beautiful, regal voice.

Definitely reading too far into this one, but I loved that Percy, Juniper, and Valencia all sound very distinct in tone. The first four were united, harmonizing in a way that's very straight and true. Whereas the three of them diverged, slightly (Scott made Percy sing a pretty deep tone, I think Bro was trying to do a second / middle voice for Juniper, and Uprising's Valencia is obviously going the high note) which, contrary to the united, clearcut march of the first four, all three of them has had slightly different experiences with Murder God that's not easily black and white. Despite these different experiences, they can still harmonize, work together as an Awakened and their different strengths prevail when together as a team, because— timeskip much later to after Yugo's sacrificed, they're forced to—take the side of the hero, she's the villain, it's the Awakened against Fate. They sing the chorus. They play her game. They're singing it together.

"But who is the villain here? / I think you know." Vincent doesn't say it's her, it's a very very mild accusation, it's not even an accusation, with his tone. It's a statement. Something like: "Are you happy now, big man, Vincent Marshall Reid?" / "Are you?" (Game Over, 1x02) SO GOOD.

The AWAKENED SOLOS ... My heart. Grace's line was heartbreaking and Queen did such a great job conveying the raw emotion in it. Valencia's line was very solemn and gentle, not of disappointment, of resignation but also a quiet sadness, so good. Juniper's line sounded steady, but had enough of a tremble to it that betrayed his uncertainty. Tommy's just sounded so sad and defeated. Doc's line in particular was very interesting because it lamented the loss of his voice, his only weapon, so to hear him verbalize that was pretty powerful, especially when it's been happening all season (even in the final moments of Game Over) Percy's determination to resist MG (Looks over at Birder God) is so, so good. Vincent's buildup, two lines (special guy, cause he's the hero) and the lines specifically talk about going back to being rather confused and hopeless (Cause now, we've nowhere to go) is so fucking good.

Of course: "This is where I call home" by Thorin is heartbreaking every time. God. It's their lone voice, the ukelele fades out, no other voice but their own, you can say they're very alone for their solo, which emphasizes the whole reason they're there, god. Also, positioning, they're with MG now. It's so good.

"So onwards with the show!" Is sung by everyone and I absolutely love it. Another thing is that Thorin's voice is also diverging from the main vocals, because Gayle's voice is relatively high, which is great, because Thorin also diverged from the Awakened up to Birder God, so it's just fucking great. Also, this time, everyone said "I think you know," besides MG, which is incredible. It's meant to be that way. She's supposed to unite them all against her, even if she doesn't want them to fight her, but she does, because it's her duty. Because it's Fate.

I just NOW noticed that her first monologue was the monologue after Game Over and her final monologue "I am the Void given breath / the empty chasm in your chest!" Is THE monologue she gave AFTER killing Yugo, which. I'm WILDING over this. Oh my god? That's fucking incredible. Of course, the final words are "I'll end this descent."

Which is just. Peak Fate. And then everyone exclaims "Hah!" And then it fades to RED EYES, which is Fate, which is MG / Charlie / etc, because in season 3, she got the first word and final say. IT'S SO GOOD I am in shambles. I am in shambles. God. God I love this intro. Goosebumps and frisson everytime.

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Rewatched Oops All Monologues! (4x06) And like there's so many great scenes but I specifically watched Vinny's scene for this one and ohh my gosh. Vinny and Sam! Vinny and Sam! Dialogue was sooo good and the voice acting was just absolutely wonderful from Split and Moon. Analysis under the cut because I realized it got really long.

The way Sam asks him what Vincent do after it's all over. And Vincent doesn't know. There is a resignation that comes from him not knowing anything else beyond the fight, and if that war ceases to exist, he would too. Makes sense, he's a soldier from the War tossed right into another cosmic horror war with clear objectives and a clear endgame and he never pictured a life where he could make it out since he is, after all, crashing a plane. As he says: "When this is done, I'm done."

(Sold my soul to the devil, my happy ending is if others get a happy ending.)

He still doesn't actually believe he'll succeed — and even if they did — what to do with himself. Which is a great tragedy on its own coupled with the fact that Vincent Marshall Reid has always gave 110% for the fight even if it burns out the last of his straws, see also Goodnight (3x07). So he'll just expect he'll just crash and burn, which is also really heartbreaking but also essentially the whole thing around the Reluctant Hero archetype Vinny's playing so well here.

All of this has been Vinny thinking about other people — his family, his country, the Awakened — that Sam focuses exactly where he should be focusing, what *Vincent* wants. Sam says "you deserve to know what to do," and then emphasizes legacy. Talks about the tree, acknowledges that Vincent deserves to have a legacy, to be remembered and honored as a person and a soldier and for his actions, which plays into his central theme — namely, in Goodnight, Vincent reached his limit and snapped and accused the Awakened of not "caring back" or acknowledging his work — and Sam's bringing up a point where Vincent *should* be acknowledged for it.

And then Sam described his feeling of jumping off the plane: "I wanted to live. I had that drive. (...) Then you jump. It's that drive, Vinny, the kind I see in you every goddamn day."

Sam's comparing his courage to Vincent, letting him know that he's just as capable of doing that, of surviving, another chance at living and thriving, taking that leap of faith. Telling him that he can survive a life after the battle with that drive, telling him that he should have a little hope not just for the others but himself, too, allow himself to think selfishly for a bit and focus on what he wants and what can be a good, happy ending for him for once.

"You're the best of us, Vinny. You really are."

The music is a paid actor and cut off in the most perfect moment for this raw as hell line and great delivery. Empowers him for a final time, reaffirms he's the right choice to be The Hero.

"You've got that legacy, and that legacy will take us far. So now I ask, again, what're you gonna do when this is over?"

And Vincent's response — having now understood that he could just as well advocate for his future, the possibility of living, the potential to take a leap of faith for himself and the other Awakened and get them all a happy ending, just as he can get his own happy ending, says: "I guess I'm gonna jump."

(10/10 scene. Loves the dialogue and how easy it felt, like really good old friends reuniting, quipping about Ezra, all the good shit. Good shit good shit I miss DMP so bad. It felt like Vincent was truly at peace in this scene and it's just!! Absolutely wonderful.)

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God. I can talk endlessly about how fucking phenomenal Vincent's "My NAME is VINCENT MARSHALL REID!" scene was, but I also want to show some appreciation to Doc's first debut. I mean.

"Don't you fools get it? This world is completely arbitrary! I'm a werewolf one day, I'm a seer the next, who cares? Who cares about any of this? We are pawns in a larger game. [...] So go ahead, little man! Take your shot! It won't matter! Because the next day, I'll be up, fit as a fiddle!"

When Doc says this, it emphasizes his knowledge about the game (werewolf, seer, the roles) and even his inability to give a damn about death anymore because he'd lived through it so many times before, which reveals another truth: they respawn! He respawns! Which is huge lore points. He hints about the metagame before it began.

In the context of the Doc we know now, this is probably his most dramatic speech, but you can tell how close at tipping point he is, almost like he needed to get something out there. Which is even more heartbreaking when you consider that in the Void, Doc has no power. He's an anomaly. Not even part of the games. If he acts outside it, which he already does, brutal and horrible punishment to the point where he memorized every single death method there. Which makes it even more interesting to see how Doc doesn't actually fight back in this scenario, he accepts his death, but his real power that gave him the edge here was his words.

The only real power Doc has lies in his words, as evidenced by how it was the nudge that directly dominoed to Vincent's awakening, but at that time Doc probably didn't know that yet / the effect of that power was diminished, given that no one was Awakened yet and his words were lost to sleepers. Of course, this power only grows later on through his advice in guiding the Awakened, and becomes his main thing (remember "You made me silent, I have more to say"? from Who's Gonna Die?) Remember how that had to be spotlighted amongst all of the other injustices MG had done to the Awakened, really emphasizing that taking Doc's voice away is one of the worst things she could do / has done to him?

As a first-time watcher, it's a wonderful watch. Remember this is the "hwat-hwat-hwat, my name is Dr. McGillicutty!" Doc back then. It's the first major wall break and it was amazing for what it was. It was jarring, improv'd, unexpected, and it was his death monologue, too, before he got dramatically extinguished by the gunslinger, which is? Which is. Talk about dramatics. I love dramatics!

NOT TO MENTION, the episode that directly follows this is the "But have you forgotten the hot tub, my good man?" Episode, and AFTER that is Charlie (Vincent's sleeper's) glitching in and out. Which is wild.

Naturally, as always, the conclusion to all of this is that Doc's debut is super great in the sense that it revealed to us what he knew, what he was used to dealing with, framing the power of his words, and also that I'm Super Normal About This Scene And About Doctor McGillicutty, thanks.

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Said this in the Discord server but wanted to put it here for my own sake because I still think there's a very interesting contrast between Doc and Charlie and their power in words.

Doc's power comes from verbalizing his thoughts. The spoken word. He screams, he yells, he fights back. His advice in the Lotus Eater was the instigator to breaking the Awakened out of it. Hell, his dramatic speech debut was the primary reason that alerted the sleepers that there was something bigger at play, something wrong, and that's what cause Vincent to wake up. (Doylist perspective, that speech literally kickstarted the plot of DMP.) The biggest way to take away Doc's power is to silence him. (Remember when he tried to get through to Thorin, but had to be silenced? [Would be interesting to theorize if his involvement would've changed anything...] Remember when he figured out Chaos God's plot twist all by himself, and THEN he got silenced to prevent it from spreading to the Awakened, and kidnapped to boot, actually rendering him powerless?)

Contrast to that, Murder God / Charlie's power comes from stringing words to a narrative. The written word. She is, after all, an author — her job as Fate is to literally rewrite the world for the Black Stars. Just like Doc, when that power to write is taken away from her, she is powerless. (Remember when Morgan erased her fanfic work, essentially cutting off access to her words? How he tries to dictate it? Or the way Oz took control of the Void, essentially the narrative, essentially stripping her away from her words?)

It's super neat because they're opposites of each other in that regard, but similar, almost like a stalemate. Which is what they are. I personally found it beautiful that in the end, they both had the chance to give the final word: Doc's monologue was the last of the Awakened, and Charlie's narrative changed the entire world for the better. It started with their words and ended with it. Which I think is neat.

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Thinking about how powerful the: "My name is Charlotte, and I don't owe you anything."

It's just such a cathartic, powerful moment, with Charlie reclaiming a new name for herself despite her old one being stolen, a declaration of her identity and how she's not gonna accept any more shit from the Black Stars.

Thinking how it mirrors "My name is Vincent Marshall Reid!" and how they're both powerful quotes for the same reasons, because they both found their fire and refuse to bow down to their oppressors. It's like — it's like a proper awakening moment, too? (I know one happened a few episodes ago, but like!!)

And of course, cutting Her off in her giant monologue with a "You don't exist anymore." Not letting the Stars define her!! I just. I know this is all echoing the obvious but I think many people clapped and cheered. God I loved Charlie's growth throughout the whole four series, how she's allowed to fuck up many times and relapse but still echoed the values of a hero — someone who's trying her best in a shitty situation that's beaten her down over and over again. Like, over time, you can really see the heroine Side B looked up to, and it's just!!! God, so nice to see, I loved her growth. We love Charlie DMP <3

And then the God of Stories title... reclaiming an activity that she'd always loved, making stories, specializing in it, WRITING her own happy ending as she continues to write everyone else's. Stories, an appreciation of life, instead of Fate, an oppressor that dictates it. Can you tell I am not normal about her and her wonderful arc

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Why does the seer always die first?

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