@peachworthy watching that clip again and reading your analysis but you missed something
at the end when link is explaining what his idea of a ‘highly flirtatious relationship’ is and when rhett’s talking over him, link says “yanno, like when you’re- does he like me?”
"Song For When You Want To Say I Love You But You Can't"
This song is the epitome of Let’s write a love song to each other about how we can’t say we love each other.
This song is exactly what it says. How to say I love you, when you can't. They wrote it to and for each other as a celebration of the love they share for one another. A love that they can’t fully admit to the outside world, maybe can’t even admit behind closed doors. But upon listening to this song, we both realized there is a lot that alludes to their shared life. There are so many references to their relationship and the things they have experienced in their thirty plus years together. We theorize that they are singing to each other, not these ‘imaginary’ women. This analysis is highly subjective, but we need to note that Rhett and Link’s inspiration draws from their shared past. We will attempt to deconstruct these lyrics, connect said lyrics to their combined past and illustrate how this song is indeed about their love for one another. Let’s do that.
Hey girl
You know we've been dating for a long time now
Going on five whole weeks
RandL has been together for a very long time now. That part is exactly true. It is ironic how they are talking about a five week relationship, yet all the lyrics point toward a long and trusting one. The type of relationship that they themselves share.
Now that's commitment, baby
They made a commitment in blood to do something great together. They wrote it out and cut their hands and became blood brothers vowing to do something big and great together.
So we've prepared this very special song
For the very special ladies in our lives
Listen up
It was magic on our first date
At the food court in the mall (at the Sbarro)
You still won't let me meet your parents
But hey, that's your call
Maybe alluding to not being able to tell their parents/friends about what's going on.
(You're a strong, independent woman)
Remember our first kiss
Romantically lit
Their first kiss (that we know of) was the plexi-glass kiss, lit by all the studio lights.
In the Wal-Mart parking lot
The Walmart Song is one of the many things they created together. This might remind them of their shared goals.
(Always low prices)
And then what did we do?
We got matching tattoos
This has definitely happened. Not only matching tattoos, on the same part of their body, but of the same thing--their wives’ names.
Of our high school mascot
(The charging chipmunks)
The person they are singing to went to the same high school….. Rhett and Link went to the same high school…..(long story short, the person they are singing to is not imaginary woman, but they themselves)
Now I'm ready to say
They weren’t ready to say it before. But something has changed. Some aspect in their lives has made them brave.
I lost my shoe in the park
It was a flip-flop, have you seen it?
I lotioned my skin with hotel shampoo
They’ve spent their fair share of time in hotel rooms together.
It was an accident
We have no doubt that Link had done this at least once on the multiple times Rhett and he have shared a motel room.
You nursed me back to health
When I woke up in Mexico
(He was missing a kidney)
Kidney pain is very similar to back pain, which Rhett experiences frequently.
And I drove you to the hospital
When you fell off the hoverboard
They both love the idea of hover boards. Link even has a shirt dedicated to the idea.
And broke both elbows
This part really stuck out for us. Rhett accompanied Link to the hospital when Link fell off his snowboard and broke his pelvis.
(All two of 'em)
His pelvis was broken and his memory was gone. Two injuries.
You shaved my hairy back
We are unaware of any backs being shaved, but Rhett and Link have shaved many other things together. In school Link was cutting Rhett’s hair to a buzz cut. They shaved each others’ heads in college. Link shaved Rhett’s beard in the Killing Rhett’s beard episode. They created two videos on how to kill a mustache and how to kill a beard.
Popped the pimples I can't reach
And you went with me to get my dog spayed
(Helping control the pet population)
Two theories: Jade and Barbara. OR The many discussions about getting vasectomies.
I think it's time to lock this down
Open my heart
And finally say
They want to finally let out the love that they have for one another. It has been long enough. They have lived with these feelings for too long and it is finally time to share these with each other and the world.
I long-jump on the weekends
I'm in a league, you should come watch
This is another throw back to their shared pasts. Rhett coached little league basketball for his son. Link came to the game and watched Rhett. Link even commented on Rhett’s chosen attire. Also there was all the times in their childhood where Rhett was training for a basketball scholarship, and Rhett’s family would come watch Link play soccer.
I lowered my car insurance
By fifteen percent when I switched to Geico
(Not a sponsor)
This may be in reference to several things. They could be talking about the many cars they have purchased together. Or it is most likely a reference to their The Backup Plan series of videos sponsored by Geico. Not a sponsor, boys? Come on!
Those three little words
They're so hard to say
And even though I can't say 'em
Yeah, we don't need to say much about this. It probably would be hard to say. After so long.
I want you think I'm saying 'em anyway
It is hard to say, not only because of the area and time they grew up, but that they are also married with children. It would be difficult to admit feelings that could rock their perfectly set lives. But it is important to note, that they can’t say these words, but they so want to. They want to show each other how much they mean to the other. So when you want to say I love you, but you can't...you write a silly love song for comedy.
I'll make you happy
If you just do this
Just put it on mute (mute it up)
And read my lips
So they may not be able to say the words. So ignore what is being said. Read their “lips” or read everything else they do. Every action shows a multitude of love. Going to the same college, aspiring towards the same dreams, putting their livelihoods in jeopardy to pursue silly dreams and moving cross country. Actions speak much louder than words. And these boys have spoken a million I love you’s without actually uttering anything.
Olive juice
Elephant poo
All the shoes
Mythical Shoes?
On the news
They were on the news for their Red House Commercial controversy.
I love booze
Alligator food
Island view
Vacuum
Will it vacuum seal?
Pile of poo
Dried-up glue
Could be in reference to two things. One they did a Wheel Ending a month earlier where their hands were superglued together. But it most likely refers to the dried glue on the mythical mail boulder. Taking them back to the roots of their show, where they glued a lego man to a rock and it became an empire.
Buy a zoo
Commercial Kings Zoo episode, along with all the references to poo.
Crawl and spew
Cows like moo
they interacted with a cow during their Are you going to eat that song video
Find Blues Clues
This seems suspiciously close to Buies Creek.
I lick boots
I like your boots, anyone?
Is that you?
They did a GMM on amnesia
All birds flew
First episode of GMCL was about birds.
Eyes like puce
Owls can hoot
Another GMCL episode
Barbecue
Throwback to their BBQ song that they did with alka seltzer road trip. This is also a very important concept in the south.
These many ways to say I love you without actually saying it is true RandL style. They have only said the actual words a handful of times and it was always by mistake or without thinking. This also shows how they don’t really need to say the actual words, because they both know in their hearts what they mean to one another. It is in their eyes and gestures. It is in each action and smile. So they say I love you everyday without the actual words. The words are unimportant. The list of ways to say I love you without saying it is a nod to these other ways they show love to one another.
See some other episodes where they mention love here and here and here
In discussing our head canons for these two amazing men, and their epic love for each other, we talked about when we thought their relationship changed from epic soulmates to soul mates who fuck.
After a very loooong ass discussion, where we flailed incoherently for 28 pages, we came to the same conclusion: The romantic/sexual side of their relationship is only a very recent thing. We don't think they’ve been sleeping together for years. We pinpointed the beginning of “something more” to the News Musical: Wedding Fail episode, better known as the Newsical-kiss, Plexi-kiss or the kiss that nearly killed the Rhink fandom.
We believe that the aftermath of the plexi-kiss showed them a side to their relationship that was previously, completely unexplored. This got them thinking, questioning what was between them. It made them realize feelings that they a) didn’t know they had and b) didn’t know how to deal with. Unfortunately, Rhett and Link didn’t kiss through the plexi-glass and ride off into the sunset. We think the aftermath of the plexi-kiss led to more denial and a great deal of angst. The plexi-kiss was a catalyst and where the change in their relationship began.
We invite you relax, take a seat and listen to our theory of how the plexi-kiss punched Rhett and Link in the face with feels.
So let's talk about that.
Our theory: Or better known as Plexi-gate
We share the headcanon that Rhett and Link didn’t progress their relationship until much, much later in life. Because it took that long to acknowledge and understand themselves.
These two men clearly share a relationship that transcends anything you could call ‘best friends’. They’ve been friends for 30+ years. And after all this time, they still adore each other, want to spend all their time together and genuinely care and love each other.
originally posted by mclaughneal
They couldn’t imagine their lives apart, so they went to the same university and took the same courses. And when Rhett wanted to move and pursue his dream, Link didn’t hesitate to follow him. Because Link couldn’t live in a world where he didn’t have Rhett in his life everyday. And if for some reason Link couldn’t go with Rhett, Rhett wouldn’t have left. Because he couldn’t live without Link.
How do two people who love each other so much -who are beyond just best friends, bordering on soul mates - take so long to realize they are in love with each other and finally do something about it?
To understand that. You need to first look at where they came from.
Rhett and Link’s Background: Buies Creek, North Carolina
Not only was the world a much less accepting place forty years ago, they came from a small town in southern USA. Rhett and Link were raised in an environment where having feelings for a man wasn’t just wrong, it wasn’t even on their radar. Some people may or may not understand this, but when you're raised in a very strict Christian homophobic household, bisexual people can deny an entire side of themselves. So much so, that it makes it hard to notice when they having feelings for the same sex, especially if they fall in love with someone of the opposite gender, because it can feel natural.. But there is in fact a side of yourself that is being denied because you were taught it was wrong.
Which is why we think they hadn’t really even thought about each other that way, fleetingly if at all.
The move to CA
So you may ask why did it take Rhett and Link so long to ‘get it together?’ It takes quite a bit of time to unlearn deeply ingrained ideas taught to us when we are young.
We believe that a huge changing agent for Rhett and Link was the move to CA. Before that, we don't think they would have had the exposure to the world outside of small town NC and outside of conservative Christian ideals that allow them to think of each other in non platonic ways.
The move to CA also came at a time when their Internetainment careers were beginning to skyrocket, and their new working relationship was becoming legitimate. New dynamics such as that can really change something in a relationship.
There’s a higher level of trust involved in committing to a move and partnership that big too. By moving to CA and forming a company they effectively put the fate of their careers, finances and ultimately their families in each other's hands.
Even with all this happening, it still took some time. Its believable that it took many years on top of the change of location, exposure to new people and ideas and definitely their age and developing relational dynamics to open their minds to new and startling possibilities.
Without all these factors lining up in the proper way, Rhett and Link may not have ever realized that this is the kind of thing that they could have. Their background and the ideals they grew up with would not allow it.
It's rather heartbreaking to think that they could have been loving each other for many years, and not ever realizing what it was because of their upbringing.
What caused the kiss?
Honesty, this kiss does not seem preplanned. It was not a ploy to see how far they could push each other or to reveal secret feelings at this time. Rhett and Link were just following the natural progression of the story and following each others’ lead. They were just going with it, like they always do.
The story didn’t call for a kiss through a prison glass. We’re sure the plexi-glass was just a prop, same as the wig. But these two clever cupcakes, who regularly pull hilarious and entertaining things at whim, were just following their creativity.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
As you can see in the above gif, it’s Rhett who asked Link to kiss him through the glass and Link didn’t even hesitate. These two have been bouncing ideas off each other their entire lives. One throws something at the other, who bats it back and fills in any gaps along the way.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
This easy and almost second nature reactivity to each other is what makes them so successful.
But it also means that they often don't think too hard about something before doing it. Because they trust each other so completely and aren’t afraid to take the jump. You can see that they in the moment and totally engrossed in their characters.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
In the above gif, you can see that Link was working off of Rhetts cues. He is so lost in in the progression of the scene and the character that he even kissed the glass a second time, after Rhett had pulled away. Link’s brain certainly was not in the driver’s seat, as all his actions indicate that he was responding to Rhett’s direction. This has always been their dynamic, Rhett asks and Link follows.
Link was not the only perpetrator of thoughtlessness. It is clear that they both weren’t thinking about what they were doing, which is why this was such an important event. They didn’t think about how they would feel after, they didn’t think at all. Neither realized that “Oh, this may be weird. Rhett just asked me to kiss him.”
This scene certainly affected them both in a significant way that they didn’t even consider. And it is evident how much it did affect them by their body language towards each other afterwards.
Link’s Reactions and Body Language
Originally posted by graveyard-whistler
Originally posted by graveyard-whistler
originally posted by silentbelvedere
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
To fully understand the impact this kiss had on Link, we need to understand the man. Link tends to live in a world where his emotions are out in the open and he finds it difficult, nay impossible to shut these feelings down. Everything about Link is a bundle of expression, with his hands moving, eyebrows waggling all over the place and his blue eyes sparkling with his thoughts. The man wears his heart on his sleeve and has no brain to mouth filter. It's not hard at all to work out what's going on in his brain.
Therefore, his face and body language are a clear indicator of the wide array of emotions he was experiencing the moment his lips left Rhett’s.
Link’s resulting reaction to the kiss was very telling. His feelings were all over his face and it seems like he had been hit by a truck. By observing Link’s body language and facial features, it can be concluded that it wasn’t embarrassment he was feeling, if you look closely Link’s face is one of complete shock.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
His eyes are wide, his face is flushed and he is breathing heavily, his chest visibly heaving. Link doesn’t seem like he can move, his body is frozen and he can’t even look away from the camera.
Also Link, not being one that can keep his mouth shut, says EXACTLY how he feels.
“Oh Goodness”
“I don't know what to say at this point”
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
We know you don’t Link. Because you look like you’ve been hit in the face with a realization hammer.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
As the video progresses, Rhett appears to be pushing forward, while Link is still stuck in the moment of the kiss. It is apparent that Link is still stunned judging by the look on his face and his posture. He still has his hand up to his ear like a telephone as if he can’t even move his body, and if his eyes got any wider, they’d burst out of his head. Link’s mind must have been the equivalent of a squirrel on speed in this moment. You can almost read the thoughts going through his mind just as clearly as if he were speaking them out loud:
“Omg what….what is this?... Why do I feel this way… Why is my heart beating so hard?”
Link is an exceptional actor. We have seen him use a variety of expressions and gestures for the benefit of entertainment. But in this moment, Link has stopped acting. And he certainly isn't reacting like he’s just had another awkward moment on the camera for the benefit of comedy. It was the look of a person who had just received their first kiss from their crush, one they didn’t even know existed. It was like Link had just woken up.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
Yeah Link. We know, wow.
In the above gif, you can see how Link just barely pulls himself back from the brink of hysterical laughter before he finally releases his “grip” on his phone hand. His mind and body are just starting to catch up to one another as he finally lets his arm fall to his side. The two parts of himself are starting to move at the same speed, but it hasn’t diminished the swirling emotions that are still written all over him. From his flushed face to his sighs and mumbling, you can tell he has not fully recovered his composure. It’s like the world is just beginning to come back into focus, but he has not even begun to work out what this all means to himself, to Rhett or their partnership.
Rhett’s Reactions and Body Language
originally posted by thenthekneehits
At first glance, one would say that Rhett was not nearly as impacted by this kiss as Link was. While Link looks like he’s had a visitation by god, Rhett looks like he’s gotten back down to business and moved on.
The significance of Rhett’s reaction is that Rhett tends to play things closer to his chest. Where Link is impetuous and you can see his emotions plainly, Rhett is trapped inside his own mind, which makes him much harder to read. He always seems to be less upset over things, but that is because his emotions stay inside of him, while Link’s flail all over the place.
Rhett is a thoughtful guy.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
And those thoughts tend to stay exactly where they are. A self proclaimed introvert, he is not prone to sharing much of what goes on inside. Revealing too much of his inner workings makes him vulnerable, which makes these obvious feelings that much more powerful. These emotions that he allowed on his face and in his gestures reveal something deep and important and speaks volumes of the propensity of the situation.
So it would be easy to say Rhett was unaffected by the kiss because he was very quick to push away the awkwardness and continue the show like always. The fact of the matter is, Rhett felt the emotion of the kiss acutely. We believe he was going through the same reactions as Link, but experiencing it internally rather than externally.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
As you can see here, Rhett is trying to work out what the hell to do and Link is SO offline that Rhett is basically left to sink or swim on his own.
You can see him trying to work out. What the hell this boy is doing? Is he still in character? Are we still acting?
Rhett keeps looking to the monitor, trying to gauge what Link’s face is doing. Rhett’s still got his phone hand up to his face, because Link has.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
You can see Rhett is thinking so damn hard. His face is twitching, his eyes are looking all over the place and his brain is in overdrive. He is looking to his friend for the next move and is struggling to figure out if this act has gone off the rails or not. There is a moment of recognition when Rhett realizes that Link is no longer acting and that his responses are true to life.
“Yep, okay. I don't think we’re acting anymore. I don't know what Link is saying. Come on Mclaughlin, do something.”
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
And do something he does. He spurs into action.
All the while Link is imploding, his emotions are leaking to the surface while Rhett is focused on halting his internal meltdown, frantic to pick up the pieces and get on with the show. Rhett is aware that he has lost Link, but is incapable of pulling the man back from the space he is in. So in order to deal with the situation, Rhett flies into fix it mode.
Keep it moving, maybe we will fall into step together.
Step by step, Rhett pulls away from the kiss, puts the plexi glass down and starts talking to the camera.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
Despite his efforts to remain calm and keep things chugging along, you can see he is on the precipice of losing all semblance of control, same as Link.
originally posted by rtr-gifs
Rhet has a tell when he’s nervous. We all do. It's generally a self soothing gesture. It doesn’t always mean you’re uncomfortable. But it's definitely something you do when you are.
Rhett is a beard stroker.
originally posted by remembertherandler
Rhett tends to not be a fidgety person when he’s relaxed. He’s not a nervous energy bunny like Link. When he’s chill, he’s chill. When he’s not entirely chill, he might play with his beard, or play with the hair at the back of his neck.
Rhett is in danger mode here, we’ve never seen him move so much. He is the most fidgety fidget man in these gifs. Touching his face, his beard, playing with the wig,and touching his mouth.
While Link has barely moved, Rhett is nearly ready to climb out of his skin.
originally posted by graveyard-whistler
This scene was a rarity for this pair because the way Rhett and Link function is clear. When one fails the other swiftly takes over without a beat. In the case of this unexpected kiss, both brains were taken by surprise and went off kilter.
Link was completely lost and was of no help to Rhett. Rhett struggled to keep everything going, but you can see that he was not only affected by the kiss, he was REALLY affected by Link’s visceral reaction afterwards.
Link, the bouncy energy-bound puppy, had an almost freeze-frame brain malfunction and cool, calm and collected Rhett nearly spiralled himself into the sun.
When usually this duo can just feed off each other almost telepathically, this episode demonstrates that this kiss left them stranded and unable to work out where to go.
Aftermath of Kiss/Why Release the Episode
The aftermath of the kiss is very closely related to the release of the episode. Why would they release an episode, or even just that scene, if it was so damn clear, to god and everyone, that they had a bone-deep reaction to kissing each other? Even through a sheet of plastic.
And that can be answered by a river in Egypt. Denial.
When you don't understand something, something so very profound that it drops you on your head and wrecks everything you thought you knew….well, it's safer just to pretend that it doesn’t exist because the alternative is terrifying and life changing.
Which is why they released the episode. If they didn’t release it, they’d have to acknowledge that there was something wrong with it and that the reactions meant something.
So release it and it just becomes …”Oh hahahah aren’t we funny and stupid!”
If they don’t release it, uncomfortable questions start to arise, questions they weren’t prepared to give life to by answering.
Which leads nicely into the next thought. They definitely did not talk about how this episode made them feel. Which is strange, because being friends for so many years, you would think that they would talk about everything. For as many times as fans have commented on their closeness, you can bet that people that interact with Rhett and Link in their everyday lives have commented on it twice as much. Which begs the question, why lock these emotions in a box and send it down the river?
It was clear that instead of having a open realization, feelings were repressed even further because they both were not ready for it. They weren’t ready for how it made them feel and for how it made them question what they meant to each other. This is the first time they’d been put into a situation where their defenses were down, unwittingly throwing them head first into each other, smashing and shattering the puzzle pieces of their relationship and leaving them to reassemble it.
They were forced to acknowledge what the scene made them feel,but their feelings were only given a cursory glance before they were shoved deep down again, back to where they had emerged from.
They needed time to assemble the puzzle back together, but this was definitely not the time or place. They were different people and just not ready. Time‘s fingers had not reached them and taken hold yet, not allowing them to accept their feelings. They were still stuck in the limbo of self doubt and disbelief.
Because it's one thing to love your best friend. But it's another to want your best friend.
So what happened next?
Denial would only get them so far. It may have worked for them in the past, (which saw them through the “no homo” days of the Kasts) but ignoring a big physical realization like this would only work for a short time. We think the tension between them would have erupted eventually. They would have fought it until they finally acted on how they felt OR at least talked about it openly.
So what happened next? That is another analysis for another time.
Originally posted by mythical-shippings
First things first we have some people to thank. We’ve had some help with this very scientific post.
Thanks to @afangirlsplaylist for her amazing help with editing. After staring at this for as long as we have, it was good to have a second...third? Pair of eyes to see our mistakes. Also she made a few really good points that added to our theories.
Thanks to @remembertherandler for helping us with gif searching and providing us with gifs. I swear girl, I didn’t think I’d ever find that gif. You’re amazing.
Thanks to @graveyard-whistler , @silentbelvedere , @thenthekneehits @mythical-shippings, @mclaughneal for your amazing gifs and pics which helped us illustrate the science.
And lastly, thank you dear and lovely reader! We had a lot of fun writing this. Never have we had so much fun in a fandom, before. Be your mythical best.
We got an ask from @turkish-delight-pc that requested that we analyze Rhett’s reaction at 6:50 to determine if Rhett was crying. What we found led us in a whole different direction and opened our eyes.
Let’s talk about that.
We don’t know how we feel about discussing Rhett and Link’s deaths. Even when it's a topic they are talking about. It feels so big. Too big for little Tumblr people to write about. Though, this concept is disquieting and makes our hearts want to burst from our chest in revolt, we both sit back in reflection of mortality. On the one hand, we don’t want to let this thought enter our worlds, but on the other, we are in a never ending race with death. It is always at our heels, trying to trip us up and trying to take us down. It is inevitable that as soon as we are born, we are that much closer to death. So it is with heavy hearts that we have decided to continue forward. We have discussed and have decided that in light of the fact that these are real-life people that we respect and admire and this is a very serious topic, we will try our best to tread lightly.
The conversation about “Link’s funeral tape” begins at 5:00, but even so, Rhett is still genuinely laughing – shown by his open body language and his full body laughs. He is still maintaining eye contact with Link as he jokes with him.
But as the episode progresses, you can see that it starts to bother Rhett. By 05:29 his body language changes and you can see he is getting uncomfortable. We’ve discussed Rhett’s tells before in our first post here. Suffice it to say, that when Rhett experiences a surge of emotion, he fidgets, touches his face, beard and hair, rubs the desk and is generally ready to jump out of his skin.
At 05:31 he’s starts rubbing his forehead, looking away and reprimands Link, saying: “Don't make this your funeral tape, man!”
When Link continues, Rhett starts covering his face with his hand (05:36), touching his mouth and doesn’t make eye contact. Rhett explains to Link that this tape could be really morbid. At 05:42 Rhett says: “You could die young and this would be really sad” and “Think about it, the ironic tears that will be being shed right now.” Rhett’s voice and demeanor has changed. Where before his voice was higher and energized and playful, it’s lower now. Softer. Somber. Then, whatever Rhett was trying to avoid, happened.
Unlike Link, Rhett knows what it's like to almost lose his best friend. This isn’t a foreign concept for him. Rhett has experienced almost losing Link when they were younger, approximately 16 years ago. This memory probably resurfaced in Rhett’s subconscious mind, flooding him with similar emotions. Rhett knows that death (or serious permanent injury) can be a reality. Link doesn't live in that world because he doesn’t remember the accident. But that's another analysis for another time (Full analysis to come).
As the discussion continues, Rhett’s fidgety behavior intensifies. Looking anywhere but at Link or the camera and still chuckling with nervous laughter (05:44). He is touching his mouth and then starts his ‘tell’, which is beard stroking (05:55)
Link makes light of his funeral, saying: “We have to find a way to laugh through this”(05:57). Rhett just responds with a “hmmm”. Face grim, rubbing his mouth and looking away with no funny comment to make.
When Link moves on with a joke, saying he’s starting to get sad at the thought of his own death, Rhett responds with a very gravelly “oh really (6:04).The emotion is clouding his voice, but Rhett takes the opportunity to move on with a laugh as things were too heavy.
While we went into this analysis looking for unshed tears, what we came upon was so much sadder. On of the biggest indicator of Rhett’s emotions concerning the death of his best friend happen at time stamps: 06:07 with this exchange.
Link: “I’m dead, man. You’re not sad?! “
Rhett: “Not here and now. I’ll be de--I’ll be sad.”
Rhett almost says: “I’ll be dead”, but changes it quickly to: “I’ll be sad.” This is a major Freudian slip. Rhett’s first instinct to Link being dead, is that “I would be dead too”.
This statement says a million things in one tiny stutter. It highlights the profound emotional bond Rhett has for Link. His deep inner love seeping through the cracks.
It also highlights their interdependent relationship. They live for each other and because of each other. They have moved and followed each other because they couldn’t live without the other by their side. They have professed that “I’m doing this show for you.” They make a show that they themselves can enjoy. It is their baby and their life. Their relationship is based on their creative process and on forming and shaping ideas and concepts together. As a team.
So, if Link is gone, where does that leave Rhett? In Rhett’s mind, buried deep, it leaves him with nothing. This shows not only the sadness, but the emptiness Rhett would feel. We truly believe that the stuttered “dead” is the word that was truly meant to be said.
It reminds us of the quote “There ain't no me, if there ain't no you.” Because without Link there is no Rhett. The story would unravel. The timeline would end. Without Link, there is just a Rhett and blank. This idea is most unsettling of all.
So was it just a slip of the tongue? It could be argued, yes. But then Rhett repeats the same line at 06:14 when Link asks if Rhett will be at the funeral and they both stutter over each other.
Link: “But you’ll be there?”
Rhett: “But I’ll already be dead.”
What on Earth does he mean by this and why does he repeat himself? We are leery to discuss this topic further. The feelings this brings up are too sad and these are real people we’re talking about. We will silence our own theories and let you make your own assumptions at this point.
Rhett makes the comment that “Now if we're really old this will be good stuff.” (06:15) Rhett doesn’t mind the thought of them being old men together and dying after they have had a big life. But he can’t handle the thought of his best friend dying before they have had a chance to do everything that they have set out to do. Thinking of a future with just himself is heartbreaking. Not heartbreaking - unbearable. Rhett has already experienced a terrible 24hrs where he thought that he’d have to do that. And now this moment is bringing him back to that place. The place where he had to imagine what his life would be without Link. It is an impossible thing.
At 06:33 Jason asks: “Why do you think Link is gonna die first?”
Link answers immediately: “I will.”
Rhett adding: “He’s more accident prone.”
Its at this point where Rhett becomes his most fidgety. The mostly calm and collected man starts moving all over the place. Link however seems oblivious and just grins as he says: “But it will be entertaining.”
Link doesn’t even realize the storm that is brewing in Rhett’s mind. He doesn’t answer Link’s ‘my-entertaining-death’ statement straight away. He looks down, licks at his lips and stares at the camera before letting out an awkward breathy laugh. And there is a beat before what Link said registers in Rhett’s mind. Link dying being entertaining?
There is disbelief in Rhett’s voice as he asks: “When you die?” He stares and then shakes his head as if he can’t believe Link would say that.
As Link responds with: “Yep, that’s my final wish. Go out with a laugh.” Rhett continues to fidget, leans back in his chair, strokes the table.
Rhett gives a half-hearted “Alright” and wipes at his eye (06:51). This is the point the anon was making, that it looks like Rhett had tears. Now, we can’t make out if he was crying or not, but we can just show what he does. It looks like he wipes at his eye and then there is an audible sniff. His voice sounds emotional and he resumes fidgeting, rubbing the desk, moving his mug playing with his hair, his face.
When Link continues, it seems that Rhett isn’t paying attention. Link says: “Boy, how sad is this? Salisbury Steak-”
Rhett doesn’t seem to be listening. Rather is just looking at his mug and offers a “hmm”.
As Link talks about Salisbury Steak, Rhett finally turns to look at Link, starting to listen to the story. When Link explains that the Doctor recommends eating the steak three times a day, Rhett finally laughs and says: “Whoa, I like this Doctor.” Though he laughs, the light hasn’t quite come back to his eyes and his voice isn’t back to normal.
Rhett starts to interact and the fidgeting lessens. Though he continues to play with the hair at the back of his neck, picks at his beard and touches his eyebrows.
Towards the end, once Link starts talking through the rest of the items. Rhett does eventually come out of whatever dark space he was in. So much so that when Jason tells them that this is the weirdest funeral tape ever, they start joking and laughing. Rhett’s body language is back to big and open and happy. His eyes light up, he smiles wide and his cheeks are round. He isn’t serious anymore.
In the scenario where they are giving people apples to take a bite of and place in Links open casket, we are reminded that Rhett is the one doing all this. Where before, he said that he’d be dead if Link was. Twice.
We went into this expecting to analyze a snippet of a video, but what we came away with was much larger, much more intense and real. The fingers of death are after us all, and as nearly forty year old men in this video, they are not strangers to mortality. But to come head on and face-to-face with the idea is terrifying. Once again, we see a very oblivious Link, while Rhett experiences an internal meltdown. The horrific idea of being without his best friend is thrown at Rhett and it is obvious that he is having trouble dealing with that possibility. So, in conclusion, we have no scientific proof of tears, but are very certain that Rhett would be lost without Link.
GMMore Link’s Funeral Tape
Season 5 Episode 453
*@razle-dazle gifs
*Thanks to @remembertherandler for beta’ing this for us! <3
god. that line from yesterday's show (and your commentary!) was just. so much. now i want nothing more than a fic about how link's rigid morning ritual is basically something he's developed over the years as to change his mind that he's got anything but platonic feelings for rhett by the time he steps out the door. a polishing of the armour, if you will.
- attachment!anon ☘
...
OH. MY. GOOODDLKWJE:LRKJW:ERK:JWE
HEADCANON ACCEPTED!!!
I can totally see that and I would read tf out of a fic like this <3
