thinking about how MCR is performing in universe as a band called The Black Parade. how the tour is called ‘My Chemical Romance: “Long Live” The Black Parade’ with quotes around “long live”. about how Draag officially brought them here to perform, and there’s already a body outline on the floor when the show starts.
thinking about how Draag uses public violence simultaneously to reinforce their power (the Handler hitting Gerard when they refuse to comply) and as a form of entertainment (having the audience vote to publicly execute dissenters).
thinking about how the show opens with a ceremonial bundle of wheat, delivered on stage by a drummer and official soldiers: like an execution. Draag uses lots of imagery of wheat and of reaping. the seal (as seen on the patch set) is wheat and a scythe, they use footage of wheat during the national anthem and other propaganda. during Teenagers, there’s a dancer dressed as a scythe who “beheads” a dancer dressed as wheat, and ribbons of “blood” pour out. during the song Blood, after gerard is stabbed, the Clown dances with a few strands of wheat from that original bundle.
thinking about when the Handler brings back Gerard’s jacket, Gerard puts it on like he’s being puppeted. How Gerard holds his own puppet in a suit during Mama, but then discards it.
and how the show ends…with Gerard dying and The Black Parade being taken, yes, but it really ends with the Clown. how the Clown is the last setpiece: he comes out and dances, with bombs strapped to his chest. the Clown executes Gerard and performs for the crowd, and then is killed himself.
The Black Parade is a sacrifice. Draag is bringing them to perform, with every intention of killing them at the end of the show- as entertainment? as a warning? likely both. the band plays the part, they say the required words and comply with the violence, but they’re doomed to be reaped regardless. and the macabre performance goes on
