Idk what I believe the Orange side will represent but I feel like he's going to represent something innately human that, while logical when you think about it, is also related to every other side and their roles, too.
I also think the reason he's targeting Logan specifically is because as of present, he's hurt, vulnerable, and confused. All of which are perfectly human and logical to feel.
Logan's anger causing him to go orange mode just briefly feels like something that's been building up over a long time within Thomas (to me, at least). I don't think it's wrath, I think wrath is a reaction to the orange side's presence. It's an instinct to protect yourself from pain.
I think the reason that Janus seems to know what's up but doesn't say or do anything is that he knows that the orange side fully manifesting is something bound to cause a lot of turmoil, and he literally can't stop it. He has to let whatever happens happen.
Plus, why would he voice his concern if nobody would believe him, anyways? He lies. Why trust a liar?
I hate when people say Thomas is mischaracterizing his own characters. Like, how can he mischaracterize his characters when he literally wrote them??? Sure, in more recent videos they may seem a tad bit basic, but that’s because the more recent videos are skits. They’re not going to do full character explorations in a video about the sides doing hear me out cakes or acting out incorrect quotes, and besides I’d say that they were pretty in character in What Makes a Perfect Gift?.
some of my favorite little bits and pieces of Why Is Dating Scary? that I haven’t seen people talking about as much, some serious but it’s mostly jokes I enjoy:
*spoilers for the most recent sanders sides ep!*
-the intro sequence not only being newly formatted to fit Janus (so giddy about that still) but also being specifically Doctor Who themed! makes me hopeful that future intro sequences will be a little unique in future episodes!
-the little party hat Roman puts on while excitedly announcing that they’re officially dating Nico saying happy birthday (not the same one Patton wore in the anniversary vid I checked)
-Janus FADING IN instead of rising up or popping in MHM I love it
-Patton’s strained “What a Hawaiian roller coaster ride.” that line delivery just kills me /pos
-see also the line delivery of “Patton I gave you a dog, did you lose that dog?” Another really funny thing about this that I didn’t notice until my second watch: the shot of Roman saying that line was filmed at a different time than the rest of the ‘regular outfits’ shots, go watch and you’ll realize he fully doesn’t have facial hair for a hot second lol
-Roman’s petty-ass smile drop and eye roll when telling Janus to conjure his own outfit and Janus responding by dressing in that cunty ass jacket and beanie they’re both such divas
-Patton wanting to call the pseudo-tardis the relation-ship. My pookie.
-Logan tossing and then failing to catch his sonic screwdriver and presumably dropping it right on Virgil’s foot
-“Hey everyone, follow me!” “ADVENTURE!!!!” *Roman Patton Logan scrambling after Thomas* *Virge tumbling into the stairs* *Janus being Janus and refusing to run*
-*dramatic sting builds* It’s bigger… on the inside. ;) *immediate cut to five sides and their center human comically squished in the closet and complaining loudly*
- I feel like Janus’s comment about being glad Remus isn’t there with them because ‘personal space infringement is one of his favorite things’ could be taken two ways: A. he is being genuine because Remus would actually get enjoyment out of being crushed in a closet and making everyone around him uncomfortable or B. Janus is doing that thing where he is very casually switching the truth around not to mislead anyone but just because it’s a habit of his, and so what he means is that he is glad Remus isn’t there because he knows Remus wouldn’t actually get enjoyment from invading personal space/having his space invaded. we don’t really know Remus’s relationship w touch yet so can’t really make any assumptions but it’s fun to speculate!
-the 1920’s and 1820’s jokes lol I find them so corny but it’s perfect and exactly the kind of silly out-of-left field gag I love about sanders sides
-“Yeah Patton you would feel right at home, until they find out you’re super gay.” “Oh! 😬”
-The way that they’re all arranged in the closet in young 20’s Thomas’s room! Janus Virge and Logan being on the left while Patton and Roman are on the right (from the audience pov)
-the actor playing early 20’s Thomas being the same one that played little kid Thomas in his vines 😭 and Patton calling Thomas out on it lmao
-Patton’s reaction to seeing Right Brain?! So wholesome it made my heart melt!!!
-“Look at you. Capturing the memories, even then.” Headcanon that Patton has showed Janus his room and the look Roman gave him after is him realizing.
-Vision’s outfit being oh so similar to Roman of Reston’s outfit!! As a big Roleslaying fan I got so excited.
- “Holy Hera” Roman back at it again with the mythology references!
-“Ok quick question, could we just like, go out there and tackle them?” the way I screeched out laughing virgil you’re on a roll with your witty remarks this episode.
-the slightly too long pause between ‘cotton candy’ and ‘chili dog’ like he can’t think of a third carnival food I cannot wait to see bloopers for the early 20’s Thomas scenes I just know Thomas is behind that camera giggling his ass off
-ok I know everybody and their dog is talking about this but the little past-anxiety entity sitting in the corner UGH precious thing. I bet his title is Worries it seems like it would fit so well. That is, if he was developed enough to even have a title. It seems that he was developed enough to manifest visually at least, even if he doesn’t seem to wanna speak up.
-did anyone think that we were going to cut to whatever the past deceitful/lying entity that Janus used to be lying under Thomas’s bed? No just me ok…
-shoutout to early 20s Thomas’s lesbian friends Becky and Gina (THEY GOT GINA!)
-ok so obviously Logan noticed Left Brain was going to start an argument with the other two and that’s why he chose that moment to close the door and fast-forward them to after the date right. Right.
-“Um, understatement much?” “I am? I am!” Man Roman/Vision is coming in strong with the line callbacks this ep im so here for it!
-Logan shushing Roman about the Dalek line in order to better hear versus Patton shushing him because he was about to say something inappropriate. It’s amazing how Thomas can convey two shushes so differently and yet it feels exactly in character for both of them.
-aww not us seeing the moment Left Brain decided to use note cards for slang.
- Oh Janus Janus Janus. We’re in the end of season two, babes, it’s not as simple as shenanigans-breakthrough-heartwarming end of video anymore. You wanna run with the core four you better be ready to be dragged along on this imaginary train for at least another half hour. Going home and letting Thomas monologue until the end card is gonna have to wait until like at least half of the sides get their feelings hurt in some way or another.
-Janus saying sssuffering sssuccotash. That’s it that’s the bullet point. Can you tell he’s my favorite yet.
-“Hey I’m making a six second video are you free for four hours today?” AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA MY GOD
-Late 20’s Thomas excessive riffing in his little wig is not something I knew I needed until now I would like at least three old school sanders sides episodes filmed in this format. they must be less than seven minutes long and there can’t be any background music at all. thank you
-THE STOVE!!!
-Did Thomas have to go find two different American Eagle shirts for this video or did he dig through his closet and find some old shirts of his? I suppose the world may never know
-“Joey Gracefa and whoever he’s dating right now!” “Oh my god what year was this?” Lmao
-love how Janus actually rose up while disguised as Patton in this past conversation but apparently forgot to in Can Lying Be Good. Maybe he was too preoccupied with his plan to more directly influence Thomas to blatantly lie to Joan and simply left out that detail.
- omg i forgot Thomas used to say ‘im not your son’ to Patton whenever he referred to himself as his dad back in season one
- everyone still referring to Logan as ‘Doctor’ throughout the whole adventure
-Roman slapping Janus repeatedly in the arm and Janus looking so disgruntled about it lol so funny
-Patton being the most offended I’ve ever seen him not because Janus impersonated him but because Logan and Roman didn’t notice it wasn’t him
-past Logan missing the vocab card on the first try
- present Doctor Logan also doing the most poorly executed forward roll I’ve ever seen
-“Why are you complaining? You clearly love sneaking around.” Roman you’re such a petty bitch and I adore you for it.
-when Janus said to Roman “You were craving acceptance. So was I.” something about that just screams season one prinxiety dynamic to me. Except to me it’s more like Virgil and Roman wanted the same things and went about them different ways versus Roman and Janus who want different things but go about them in similar ways. Am I onto something? Probably not tbh
- “There’s this annoying pressure (when sharing personal moments) to never ssstop. And sometimes? I want you to stop.” Dare I say top ten Janus line ever. that whole tangent of him wanting success and stability for Thomas but not willing to have Thomas sacrifice his personal and emotional safety despite how far he was willing to go initially to influence Thomas about using the relationship for content? JANUS I LOVE YOU it’s ok baby you were/are still learning how to help Thomas.
-“it doesn’t lie.” “would it like to learn?” Another fantastic line delivery
-go to the timestamp 36:58 and look at Janus’s hand.
-the effects and editing team did a really good job with the sound effects for the sonic screwdriver and especially when the sides return to the present and exit the closet door! The blue lights shining up and down the interior of their closet tardis is so cool!
-“Time travel, sickness, I think? Or just running?” Part 162435 of line deliveries that scratch a certain itch in my brain.
-Roman’s stunning myriad of facial expressions after Logan declares that Thomas shouldn’t date Nico
-Ooooo Roman’s pacing back and forth reminds me a little of Logan’s pacing back and forth in the What Makes The Perfect Gift? Asides video. Thomas please have your characters pace back and forth more I love when they physically move through space! (that may be weird to say but they’re imaginary beings who mostly stay in one area when talking so you know what no it’s not weird😝)
-“they can be frustrating, but don’t we love a challenge?” Janus baby it’s so obvious you’re talking about you
-REMUS!!! REMUS INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS SANDERS COME BACK!!! REMUS YOU ONLY HAD 55 SECONDS OF SCREENTIME PLEASE REMUS COME BACK I MISS YOU!!
- all jokes aside tho. This is (and I am not kidding) exactly how I want Remus to be included in late season two episodes/ potentially early next season episodes. It’s much too soon for him to be ‘accepted’ into the main group and have a seat at the table like Janus is now. It took Janus quite a few videos of lurking in the background after his introduction and then one whole video (selfishness v selflessness) (two if you count SVS Redux) where he had a large role in the plot and yet was still met with resistance if not from Thomas then very clearly from most of the other sides. And he is still being met with resistance after being given a seat at the table! I don’t know what plans the writing team has for Remus in the future but the character Thomas has so many other things to be working through (deepening relationship with Nico/Roman having beef with both Janus and Patton and maybe even Logan a bit; I’d say the only side Roman is on really good terms with right now is Virgil!/Logans ongoing orange-tinged issue that no one knows about/Thomas’s recovering mental health & acting career after the wedding/Janus being very new to working with the others as a group/etc.) Plus to be honest we actually don’t know as much about Remus as we think. I love Remus’s character so so much and I enjoy seeing him in the main series and the asides, but he needs time off-screen while the five sides most frequently hanging around Thomas still have things to work through. I believe Remus will serve best as a flighty antagonist who pops in to cause chaos and scare Thomas, at least for now. Thomas does know Remus is a part of him now and is no longer trying to totally repress him thanks to the conclusion Logan helped Patton and virgil reach in DWIT, but it would be really strange and out of character if Remus suddenly started being more serious or Thomas tried to reach out with the intent of accepting Remus fully. Character Thomas is just not there yet and that’s ok.
-… REMUS PLEASE JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS OF SCREENTIME PLEASE AND MAYBE AN ACTUAL CONVO WITH JANUS INSTEAD OF JANUS JUST TELLING YOU TO GO YOUR ROOM IN THE MIDST OF YOUR GREMLIN NIGHTMARE ACTIVITIES PLEASE—
- ahem. where were we. oh right what bits did i enjoy
-Patton mentioning a potential family (which I think is so freaking adorable, Character Thomas deserves a loving family of his own one day) while Janus mentioning a potential merging of Thomas and Nico’s bank accounts lmao
-Logan. Hey Logan. Logan your eyes are orange. Hey Logan they were orange just a second ago. Hey Logan I feel like perhaps this isn’t normal would you like to explore this further. No? Ok fine I don’t know what else I expected keep me in suspense why don’t you Logan 😀
-“I’m not grateful. Far from it.” Ahhhhh there you go again Janus with the switching truth habit. It’s ok baby it’s part of your charm
-ugh I need to talk about this more but once again editing team and Thomas: the SOUNDS, the MUSIC you guys have put in this episode. perfectly placed and powerful. “That… maybe be the best help you’ve given me yet, Doctor.” The build up of the music while Logan’s and Thomas have this moment until it finally crests,,, lovely. Amazing job
-“I am so glad you all see the vision!” the way I paused the video and SCREAMED into my pillow. Vision/ baby Roman I am so attached to you now.
-not Thomas being like “no Roman im in my thirties if i ride a carnival ride I’ll break my knees Roman roMAN THINK OF MY BONES-“
And then we’re here at the end. Everyone sitting with their younger selves, looking at them, being with them, admiring who they are, thinking of who’ll they’ll become. Thomas ever since your Having Pride video in June of 2017 you have been a huge role model of mine. That video helped me realize my sexuality, it helped me learn about different gender identities, it helped me realize that there were people out there like me, and that there were people who could see what I was and who wanted to uplift and support young lost people like me. You helped uplift and support me through your videos, through sanders sides, helped so many other people without even realizing it. I’m so proud of how far we both have come. 11/10 video. You and your team poured so much love and effort into this and the finished product is beautiful strong and admirable. Thanks for all the past episodes, thanks for this one and thanks for whatever you will share with us ganders in the future <3 @thatsthat24
wow this ended up being such a long post. I may make a condensed version of this with my most serious thoughts and analysis, I’m not sure yet. For now I’m going to go rewatch the video a fourth time and fall asleep to it probably. Bye guys gals and non-binary pals.
