UU Analysis: On exercises in trust falls and letting go of the need for control
so I was taking a bit of break from writing something else and re-watching "The First War" as a little refresher (also just really love that episode) and I have to say, I really love how Wifies' apology to Parrot is handled in this episode - especially the one that occurs right after Capture the Flag (though the first one in this episode is fun too).
Like, his apology is genuinely so sincere - A+++ apology, don't see that all the time in fiction! You can really tell that he listened to what Parrot was saying and reflected on his controlling behaviour from the Farlands episode, and I appreciate how natural it feels - not only in how the dialogue is written, but in how it feels like the natural next step for Wifies' character, given how intuitive and in touch with his emotions he is in comparison to Parrot.
Losing Parrot is clearly terrifying to Wifies, but he would rather be together and in danger than apart from one another, and unable to help Parrot at all (that instance in the end civ. where Parrot almost dies alone comes to mind). Wifies' apologies show that while his focus is still on Parrot, he does see the greater value of what Parrot is doing and recognizes that simply running away together will not solve the problem. While it does scare him (you can really hear his voice warbling as he speaks), he believes in the idea that unity is what will get them through it. That fighting one another and giving into fear hasn't helped anyone.
Not only that, he's very respectful of Parrot here; Of his autonomy and his choices, and is being proactive in making the decision that best empowers Parrot while also not compromising what Wifies himself wants (to protect him). It's a very mature way of approaching Parrot after their argument, and nice to see in that Wifies clearly doesn't make himself into a doormat for Parrot either. His apology isn't coming out of a place of desperation, but out of genuine regret and a want to repair the relationship. In previous conversations he very clearly does not put up with Parrot's angry projections, but doesn't cross lines either to retaliate. He recognizes his faults, but doesn't allow Parrot to put undue blame on him. Wifies has realized he can't change Parrot's self-sacrificial tendencies, but he can do his best, as he always has, to keep Parrot in balance. He can be the emotional rock that Parrot needs when he is unable to regulate himself.
And like that's the thing - Parrot is still angry in this conversation after capture the flag, but he hears Wifies out about why it (the war) matters to him, the answer clearly getting through to him, as evidenced by how Parrot is immediately more open and shares the problems he's facing with the Warriors to Wifies, falling into the familiar pattern of Parrot telling Wifies his troubles and Wifies offering sound advice. It's so natural I think it actually scares Parrot a little!! He's still thinking of the earlier betrayals, so to fall back into that familiar pattern so quickly? It's little wonder that when Wifies offers to help him train for the certain death mission, he is very quick to dismiss it angrily and declare he'll figure it out himself.
Ever the patient one though, Wifies recognizes where Parrot is at, and leaves the door open for him if he changes his mind. He makes sure to state that he trusts Parrot and his judgement, meaning he will respect Parrot's decision either way if he chooses not to ask Wifies for help, or if he does. It's a clear telegraph that he's not trying to control Parrot anymore - that he doesn't have to fear that from Wifies, and also that he doesn't have to fear that Wifies will abandon him again either. It's a gentle reassurance that Wifies won't leave him all alone, if Parrot doesn't want him to.
Shortly after, Parrot is having a miserable time prepping. In a delightful parallel to the moment where Parrot almost messages Wifies back when he's apologizing through msg in the Farlands episode, Parrot starts up a message to Wifies. He hesitates just like before, rewrites it a few times. When he finally gets it out, he's typed that he needs Wifies' help. I really wanna highlight that - Parrot doesn't ask him to come by, doesn't just ask him if he can help with practice. He specifically says he needs Wifies helps.
Which, the language here does make a difference! It shows that Parrot is recognizing the change in Wifies and is acknowledging his own wants in regard to their friendship. He is allowing himself to move on from the anger instead of holding tightly onto a grudge, admitting to himself that he can't do it alone like he told Wifies earlier. That's huge in and of itself tbh! Parrot has always had a problem with biting off more than he can chew and trying to shoulder the responsibility all by himself. Choosing to ask for help in this way, from someone he was angry and hurt by especially is a really great step forward! Parrot in this moment is choosing unity with Wifies - choosing to brave his fears about the possibility of Wifies hurting him again, and accepting the apology. It is Parrot allowing Wifies to share the burden with him - an incredibly vulnerable move from Parrot. He's extending a lot of trust Wifies' way here, which Wifies does not take for granted.
And like, I've said it before in another analysis, but I'll happily say again - this is why I really love the whole practice session, and that Parrotx2 chose to give them this healing arc instead of allowing the relationship to remain broken. The bow duel is so, so sweet - this too is a big leap of faith, by allowing Wifies the opportunity to physically harm him for training. That's not immediately obvious as a possibility, but it does matter that Parrot is okay with the duel - that he doesn't hesitate or voice any worries about Wifies potentially hurting him, despite accusing him of wanting to sabotage him earlier. At most, he wonders what the point is when his totem gets popped, but they're both laughing! It quickly turns into play. Wifies doesn't let Parrot just back out of it the first two times he's popped either - which, here's a healthy example of push back, frankly. He firmly insists they continue, gives Parrot sound reasons, and sets expectations for when they'll stop. Wifies gently encourages Parrot, making note of when he's improving, offering advice, and praising his victories. He helps Parrot prepare, but he also boosts Parrot's self-confidence.
The target practice has its own narrative purpose as well. In a way that is very cleverly staged, Wifies stands in the middle of the coliseum, no totem in hand. Parrot incorrectly hits the first target with slowfalling... but the next arrow he fires is a harming arrow. To make the shot from his current position, he has to fire directly over Wifies' head. Parrot takes aim, and fires a shot that threads very closely over Wifies' head. He hits the target.
This is a really significant moment. In my eyes, it is the exact moment Parrot is shown how much and how sincerely Wifies trusts Parrot in return. Wifies does not move, he does not equip a totem - Parrot's arrow could very easily have killed him, but Wifies trusts Parrot just that much. The entire training session is Wifies and Parrot communicating without words, showing each other the depth and sincerity of their trust. It's no mistake that Parrot and Wifies become very in sync with one another during target practice, Parrot becoming smoother and faster at following Wifies commands, and switching the arrows and hitting the targets more accurately.
The final touch is the last duel, which clinches it all together. It shows Wifies' commitment to preparing Parrot to survive, instead of encouraging him to run away, and it also shows the fruits of that effort - that through the healthy approach to ensuring Parrot's survival, Parrot actually improves! He has something he can do now, instead of always being forced to flee from stronger foes - a way to fight back and even win, considering he beats Wifies in the duel, when the goal was only to survive.
The practice session is not only an exercise in improving their ability to survive, it is an exercise in learning to trust and forgive. Like an extended trust fall! Through it, they are able to repair their bond to one another, restore the trust and respect that was lost.
You can tell it works, because right after this Parrot willingly and directly confronts Wifies about their argument, the root of the problem. Facing his problems directly is something Parrot really struggles with - I've said it many times before (and will probably continue to do so), but he is so very prone to running away when he is at his lowest. It is honestly an absolute guarantee to me that he will continue to make that mistake in the future, too.
But in this moment, right now, where Wifies and Parrot look out over the Farlands' city together, Parrot faces what happened between them head on and genuinely asks Wifies to explain himself. Parrot listens, finally hears him, and Wifies hands him the spyglass in turn, says, "It's like a promise that you won't die."
It's no mistake that Dean is the next thing on Parrot's mind as he thinks about forgiveness, about the bond he has just repaired. It is no mistake that he frames Dean's betrayal as "He betrayed us" instead of simply "He betrayed me.", or that he says this after Wifies hands him the spyglass. In this moment, they are truly friends again, trust repaired. They've finally come full circle again.
On that note though, there is one last thing that was of interest to me in this sequence too. Specifically, it is that Wifies wishes Parrot luck in this moment, and tells him not to die out there. Which is par for the course with Wifies- however! Very significant in that he does not offer to come with Parrot, and he does not sneak into the mission to be there with him either. Wifies has done this before against Parrot's wishes - shown up somewhere despite the danger to be there for Parrot. Which is sweet! Don't get me wrong by that.
But what's significant to me about it is that this is a very clear switch in attitude from Wifies. The mission has been framed to him as potentially lethal, with there being a very good chance Parrot will die. Considering the entirety of the last episode, it is shocking Wifies still doesn't do this, nor does he try to argue Parrot out of it. He doesn't even make a passing suggestion to Parrot about letting him tag along. Like that's absolutely massive.
Past Wifies would not only have argued against it, but he would not have let Parrot leave without him, regardless of who else would be there with Parrot. It's a subtle cue to us that Wifies really does mean it when he says he trusts Parrot, and that he's learned his lesson about giving into his fear. While I'm sure he does still fear for Parrot's safety, he has accepted that he must release his need to control the situation, and accept that while there may be risks, those risks are important, and he has done all he can to prepare Parrot to survive. Doing so is to treat Parrot as a proper equal in their friendship, and a show of trust. Not only trust in the sense that Parrot can trust him, but that he can trust Parrot, too. Trust that he will not try to control Parrot, that he respects his choices, and trust that Parrot will truly hear him, and not needlessly risk his life for no reason and leave Wifies all alone. His trust and his effort is rewarded - Parrot comes back alive because of their training session, and not only that, he doesn't take more risks on the mission than absolutely necessary, proof that he took Wifies' words to heart.
The entire practice session is just a really well done narrative sequence, and I really wanted to talk about it while I'm revisiting the episode - Parrotx2 is typically really good at show don't tell when it comes to his writing, and a lot of Parrot and Wifies' individual character arcs, as well as the arc around their friendship is really well handled. He really knows how to say something without saying it outright, and I really enjoy it! In part because I love being able to dissect individual scenes at this level AND be able to parallel it back to earlier moments in the plot because of the intentional narrative paralleling. It's just really cool, and I really love this scene and this episode <3
