I actually don't remember whether or not I've made a post about this, so I guess I'll just make this post anyways, in case I haven't!
Small Spooky Month theory/observation, but I've seen some people mention that Skid's Dad's hair could've been made to look a bit like the spider (you know, with the way his hair sticks out at the ends). I can definitely see that, but I've come to provide a different association:
MY MAN HAS TREE HAIR.
First off, Skid's Dad has what I'd call "tree associations". What I mean by that is that he's associated with wood/forests enough that I can probably make theories revolving around it.
First off, it's possible he was a woodcarver, or at least carved as a hobby, as seen in this picture.
Secondly, that book from the ARG mentioned seeing a tree that spoke to the writer, and we can theorize that Skid's Dad wrote the book. It even has a doodle of the Tree Entity in it, for added measure into my "tree association theory".
It's also important to note that The Eyes of the Universe look tree-like. Almost like a mix between a spider and a tree when silhouetted. So it's another addition to the tree association and the spider association.
My final little mention is the Kevin's Dream Job short. With the ending, where things start flashing by, there's both sections where Skid's Dad shows up and what's probably the Tree Entity framing the shot. So we can sort of see a small glimpse of how they look animated. We've seen Skid's Dad in portraits with his face obscured, and there was the Tree Entity in the ARG pictures, but the actual animation art style is different enough that I think seeing them like this is important!
Here's the Tree Entity framing a shot of Lila, Jaune, John and Jack entering the Candy Club. There's also a few where Skid, Pump, the Hatzgang and Susie are in the store.
The most important part about these images is how the branches are drawn. We don't necessarily know if the actual Tree Entity is going to have the sort of "Aspen Tree, but reverse the colors" appearance or if that's just how the silhouette is supposed to look for the episode, but it's mostly the shape I'm talking about, anyways. The coloring only really emphasizes it in this case.
You see how the branches are drawn in a jagged manner? Especially the one in the top left of the top left photo, where Lila and Jaune are fighting? Well, in this same short, I noticed how Skid's Dad's hair has that same sort of jagged pattern to it! Which we've already known he has that due to the portraits and stuff, but to see the branches right next to them sort of made the idea pop in my head that it looks similar!
It's much more visible in the picture of his shadow on the floor, but you can see it slightly in the other one.
I think it might make a bit more sense that, if his hair is a purposeful design choice meant to sort of represent or symbolize something, it'd be with trees more than spiders. Sure, he HAS a spider in the attic, which is implied to have been his pet and is currently in the attic where all his stuff is. Yet, lore wise, I'd say he's much more connected to the idea of trees/forests.
Especially since, if he IS part of the cult, the cult itself seems to be associated with trees a bit. Not a lot, but I noticed at the end of Hollow Sorrows, the doors that they bring Father Gregor through has an interesting design.
The main portion of the door looks to be The Eyes of the Universe, of course. Makes sense, since that's what's behind the doors. Then there's a man kneeling on the left door, which mirrors the pose Father Gregor does after seeing The Eyes. Yet, the thing on the RIGHT door? That's a bit difficult to tell, but I'd guess that might be the Tree Entity? When you look at the picture drawn in the book, which we can only assume is the tree entity, it looks like one of the branches is raised up. We can probably wager that that might not be what it ACTUALLY looks like in person, but if the cult only had that book to go off of to make the door, then it'd make sense that the design would be how it is in the door.
What I find EXTRA interesting, however, are the designs on the walls. I don't think it's meant to be The Eyes, as it doesn't have the round head. It looks more like TREES. So, once again, we have tree imagery associated with the cult, which so much about Skid's Dad connects to... So, basically, a roundabout connection between Skid's Dad and trees, with one semi direct connection through the woodcarving photo.
The woodcarving, the Tree Entity, the shape of The Eyes, the freaking DOOR... Though, it could also be possible that it's meant to look like both, since if you take just the round part of The Eyes, it does look sort of like a spider. That, or maybe his hair is supposed to be a parallel to The Eyes, with the antennae.
Now, is it possible I'm just being absolutely deranged and looking for connections where there are none? Definitely. Am I having too much fun looking for these connections to actually care? Yes! Am I also WAY too hyperfixated on this specific guy who hasn't even shown up in the actual show! You bet I am!
