aoughhhh bro I loved the newest episode of AvM so muchhh
I love Purple and Mango's dynamic so much and I'm so glad we got an entire episode just focused on them !! I cried during both of their backstory episodes in s3 and I love how Alan and Co keep finding ways to drag out their trauma to the current story.
I was FREAKING OUT during that flashback/panic attack at the beginning, it was actually so good. I also love the sequence of Purple wandering around, exploring, having the time of their life.. and then Mango just locked in and trying to get their shit together. Really highlights the difference between the two and makes the ending more impactful.
Actually now that I'm thinking about it, that really makes sense from a psychology standpoint. In 'Note Block Universe', Green confronted Purple which allowed them to vent and let out all of the trauma they had pent up. And now Purple always has his friends to support him and he's had time to heal
But in 'King', we only learn about Mango's past through his own flashbacks. He never got to tell anyone about the pain he's had to carry. And sure, he has Purple and the rest of the Color Gang as support but even so, he's the adult here. He has to be the mature one. It may not be a crown of self righteousness and power anymore, but a mask is still a mask.
So now, Mango has to be the one to pick the group back up, take care of Purple, be mature, be the leader. Because the last time he slipped up, he lost it all, and he cannot afford to lose that again.
I still have more to say about this episode, especially about the ending, but I think I'll just leave it at that now ^^