Now: The Special Movies of 2025, and WOTFI 2025
Well, My two months of silent mourning are overdue now; and learning that SMG4 will make its big finale soon. So I think it's time I say something from the last Wotfi and the previous events that made it how it went. And the near end of the conclusion of the channel, all the way back, I discovered the channel by accident back in 2014. Who Let the Chomp Out was my first SMG4 video. (Link for my Final Thoughts on SMG4's Finale)
Now, I usually would review the specials/movies on my Instagram and put them in highlights... but it seems I've been a bit slow, too slow.
So this year, we got Silence of the Cats, Guns and Puzzles, and finally WOTFI 2025 (the final Wotfi). Now, these have been very good movies and/or specials that came with the continuation of events; GG for starteas who wrote parts of the episodes. And speaking of...
HA HA, the thumbnail is so whimsy
Starting first with Mr Puzzles, WPNZ, and the remaining chapters of the Puzzlevision Saga of 2025. Ever since Puzzlevision Movie, Mr Puzzles has been my favorite character since; and even after... still to this day. He's such a complex character; along with the other new character, Mr WPNZ. (Toomp too I guess). We learned that WPNZ is the true father of the Katphish kids and Karen's former husband. WPNZ came back to recover the lost time with his family, and at first it seemed it was going mellow; but his harsh experience as an assassin and being born a walking weapon arsenal with anger issues was not the ideal for raising kids who inherited his abilities, so he broke that bridge permanently. When Puzzles and WPNZ (and Toomp) met and went through all the shenanigans to the prison break has shown, it seemed they would keep that friendship. But... WPNZ and Puzzles are different. WPNZ choses to move on from his fallout from his family, which... I'll explain further; WPNZ seems to be the most able to learn from his mistakes. Puzzles on the other hand, while he started to like having WPNZ as a friend (recalling how WPNZ would address him as "pal," he... can't move on from the past; he doesn't want to. So, Puzzles broke that friendship with WPNZ and Toomp during the massive fight in the near end scene of GnP; and to add more salt to the wound, Meggy doesn't want to see Puzzles again for lying to her again (and never to see Leggy again, his first ever friend). Mr Puzzles realized too late, that WPNZ and Toomp are his actual genuine friends, and he sabotaged it. And finally seeing he went too far, he expresses remorse and tried to fix what he did. I'll explain below.
And again, Puzzles and along with WPNZ, are the most complex; and further explored with the writing thanks to @starteas . To some, they feel it's hard to tell if Mr Puzzles mainly, is evil, or a tragic sympathetic villain. I'm for the latter side. While waiting for the perfect time, Puzzles has shown he does have some good qualities.
An example as seen in Mr Puzzles Teaches Cinema, he seems to be able to have the ability to teach others his experience to cinema and even revitalize the Katphish Kids' drama club; he... could have become one and that way, keep at it. And when he briefly worked at Walmart and his ways of working were questionable and absurd, he begrudgingly had to agree on following the way Karen handles things. Showing that he usually, never likes to be told he's not doing things right... and has to accept it reluctantly.
(Fun fact, I work on retail irl)
Now on to Mr WPNZ, the walking weapon, and Karen. We know he was a main part of Karen's life (when she was Katana) with being assassin partners that grew close as shown in the movie Silence of the Cats, until the time Karen was expecting Cory, Katie, and Zack; WPNZ was never there when the triplets came, away keeping with the assassin life, that Karen put aside to raise her kids alone. We all remember that Karen was homeless from very young, and taking the job as an assassin was what brought her to sustain herself. And as a single mother, she did everything to give her kids a decent life. Going from one job after another as her usual.
Now with WPNZ making a sudden return, Karen has all the right to doubt him and not wanting him around close to her kids. Mostly because Karen moved on from her old life, but when she gave WPNZ a chance with her kids and put them in danger, showed WPNZ never moved on from the assassin life; the fact he addressed his kids as "my weapons" revealed this is what he saw them (and a red flag of disconnection). After his falling out with Karen and during his interactions with Puzzles, he has shown he matured and moved on from his mistakes when Toomp came; his surrogate son.
Looking back to the prison break mini arc, he has mellow down with Toomp around; all to avoid repeating the same mistakes he did with his former family, because after the nasty fight in GnP, Toomp was all WPNZ has. He chose the decision to carry the memories of his family, rather than having it erased. While he did tried to be more mellow with Toomp, he was coddling him too much; and even Toomp reveals he's older and not a kid (Who would think Toomp would be an adult if he looks like he isn't?) But eventually, WPNZ and Toomp understand each other and all is well in Weapons of Mass Destruction (I found the scene of Toomp running over Swag with the Mario kart Wii stroller hilarious). WPNZ reasoning was that if he was soft with Toomp, Toomp wouldn't leave him. But Toomp revealed he can look after himself well enough, given he was in prison as "the most dangerous prisoner." So yeah, WPNZ Does learn from his mistakes; Puzzles whereas, runs away and/or refuses to see he's at fault.
Now onto WOTFI 2025 a.k.a. A timey reunion.
Recalling the cliffhanger of GnP, Puzzles looks up the bullet casing WPNZ gave him as a gift of friendship, determined to fix things. But what exactly? Patching things with the SMG4 crew is out of the question, because his main goal is recover the broken friendship with WPNZ. And some pointed out that the quote he said in ...Teaches Cinema, that Puzzles would solve his wrongs, "One way or another;" some said it sounded as a red herring. Like he's going to use his usual ways that only would end up hurting others. And what was that solution? Going to the Internet Archives in search for The Youtube Remote; the same one during the Youtube Arc, that SMG3 used to take over SMG4. He plans to turn back the clock, in the scene of the road dividing; one for the Border, and the other the Showgrounds, and Puzzles choosing the border.
While Puzzles wants to patch the friendship, WPNZ and Toomp have been stewing to finding Puzzles, and end him; still not over the betrayal. Very willing to go through lengths to catch him, and shut him down. WPNZ has grown on Puzzles ever since the break out and escape from the Death Cube, and thought the CRT and he understood each other... But Puzzles was too stubborn, he chose Meggy over him, betraying him; and resulting another disappointment that was similar when Karen and her kids put him in his place, only worse. The walking gun remembering the terrible words Puzzles told him about how there was nothing between him and Puzzles, and insulting WPNZ about his family (something Puzzles came to regret shortly)
Mr Puzzles and Mr WPNZ (and Toomp and the SMG4 crew as well) finally reunite on WOTFI 2025 (and the last one).
Kudos for the epic thumbnail cover
Mr Puzzles finally enacts his plan to turn back the clock; to fix the "mistake" of turning to the Showgrounds instead of the Border and ruining his friendship with WPNZ and Toomp. But from Meggy's words during the random time traveling across old SMG4 videos and Puzzles asking a past version of WPNZ, Puzzles realized that trying to undo his mistakes and pretending none happend are not how to solve his problems; he's going to make it even worse, and pretending his mistakes ever happened is more likely counterproductive. Is more like lying to himself and avoiding consequences of his actions, which is something Puzzles is known for; and mainly... his guilt.
So, realizing what needed to be done, and after the epic and finally WOTFI rap battle sequence and fixing the Youtube Remote, he waits to face WPNZ's wrath. Even when Meggy, Tari, and SMG3 wanted to stop WPNZ from hurting Puzzles, Puzzles refuses their help. He has settled to face his problems alone... even if it means getting the walking weapon to finish him off to atone for everything. For a moment... WPNZ can't seem to put the final bullet into Puzzles, whether because he's still attached to Puzzles, or it wasn't a fair fight if Puzzles isn't fighting back like he did in GnP. When WPNZ questions him, Puzzles simply answers: "I. Deserve. This."
So eventually after the beating, WPNZ forgives Mr Puzzles, and both reconcile. (And Mario butting in to tell them to hurry and "get a room" as form of breaking the mood. Wonder if the writers knew what they were doing? Because it's funny if they did)
Even after everything, the reconciliation brought them closer; from Puzzles time travel to GnP, Past WPNZ assured him that when Puzzles asked about the future of their friendship... the answer? That depends on how it will go. Thus, more character development has been written on them.
So, another act of taking account of his actions, Mr Puzzles choses to sacrifice himself to close the dangerously growing time rift he caused, all the while apologizing to Meggy for everything in the last 2 years of being the main antagonist since IGBP; his plan to go back and time backfired, but this time, he's taking accountability.
Mr WPNZ, knowing he won't be back if he joins him, at least wants to give SMG4 a final message to his family. WPNZ doesn't want Puzzles to do his act of selflessness alone, as if finally made his mind with staying as his true friend.
And for the first time... in his final words, calling out to Meggy
Credits: Animated by the talented @richardanimations :')
And just like that, Puzzles' "curtains closed," along with WPNZ by his side. Nothing was left when the rift closed. The walking weapon and CRT saved the day... but at what cost? As Puzzles stated, what he did was at least the only thing he did right; and... along with the idea of closing the main rift with an energy spiderweb from the Youtube Remote.
Shortly after, Meggy still doesn't know what to make of all that... but a part of her still wished for Mr Puzzles to still be here with everyone; Mr Puzzles has been Meggy's number one tormentor, yes, but she can also still see the good in people. Mario of all people, concludes that Puzzles wasn't all an evil person; just a tragic person who lived all alone for too long and was too wrapped up to getting attention and feeling of validation. Recalling how Mr Puzzles' childhood was. Lonely with no friends, a father who dismissed and discouraged his dreams, and TV was the only thing he had.
As for Karen. When she received the note by WPNZ, all she could do was smile and tear up a little. His final message, that she did very well to raise his kids; and knowing they will be fine with him gone after his heroic sacrifice.
Concluding Review
And with that, that was that.
This year has been such a joyride to explore more on the character development of Mr Puzzles, and the interactions of Mr WPNZ who debuted since spring; and more story debt on Karen's past, and Meggy's faith on Puzzles.
In fact, who knew a TV producer with an actual TV for a head, and an assassin made out of weapons, could indeed en up, as an Unlikely Friendship?
Mr WPNZ for the most part, has to be one of the most mature anti-heroes from this year. Reckless and with a temper, has grown to know when to draw the line after something very big such as endangering his former family; an event, that has struck him too much. And ever since, he choses to carry it. When Puzzles set him up on the fake kidnapping and felt betrayed what was the reason behind it, to the audience, we learned that even an assassin with a large arsenal of weapons, WPNZ has standards (Even Evil has Standards). A trait he has different from Puzzles, is that he is somewhat hesitant to grow close like he did with Karen; the fear of getting betrayed. But after GnP through WOTFI, he has learned to let go of it; and while not totally forgiving Puzzles, he gives him a chance. (If that's how I see it/phrase it)
While some (trolls) finally had enough of Puzzles, some of the majority cried for either Puzzles and/or WPNZ... Believe me when I say, I watched WOTFI 2025 twice on that same day... I should have cried. But until I saw everyone's fan art shorty after, that's when the waterworks of grief hit; and looking at the final expression before his 'That's All Folks!" screen, just the same effect. So much dedication to these characters, so much of how the fandom found these as fictional characters to relate to. Mr Puzzles back in Puzzlevision, learning his backstory in song, and when he sobbed he just wanted to create a good tv show, that was the moment... He's a character I would grow close to. I watched how he grew, how he had his lowest moments, how he eventually realized he went too far and starting to feel deep regret, and how long it took him to realize there's more than just wanting fame and validation. And finally seeing, he at least left with dignity; he left with a friend (Mr WPNZ)
And with the trick he did with the Youtube Remote to close the time rift, he indeed did showed, he has creative vision.
He didn't left all alone...
And in the end, he became a good person...
All I can say... Thank you SMG4,
For making such an interesting character with this much depth, design, personality, and something to relate to. And even if Puzzles and WPNZ aren't coming back anytime soon now that the series is many hours left to make its grand finale, the fandom will always keep them alive. Even if the show is over, there will be other ways to keep it going.
All of the AUs or canon divergence are not stopping from being made and developed. Let's allow everyone's creativity to thrive.
I also want to thank @starteas for being a writer during the more complex and fun episodes during the Prison Break mini arc and post mini arc. I admit, that if I formed part of the writing crew, I would have explored Mr Puzzles and Mr. WPNZ' dynamic of an unlikely friendship similarly. I loved the writing. And Toomp was a cute and cool yet badass character. Congrats that he came from a simple doodle, to an actual 3D model to be made into the series.
Wished I could say a little more...
That's All I Have to Say. Thank you.
(And we will watch the series finale of SMG4)