#tmbs s2

[threedaycharter]

getting silly up in here

S.Q thinks that is where he and Martina truly became friends, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in the woods, avoiding an uncomfortable group event that would’ve required a weird amount of smiling and an awkward amount of dancing or yoga or some other supposedly calming activity. He thinks at this moment he begins to know Martina more than he could ever hope to know his father, and then he wonders when he decided he might just be okay with that.

[disappointingcabbage]

Constance Contraire is autistic and you can’t convince me otherwise

[bi-demon-ium]

this fandom's tags are a. fucking mess

[nobodysdaydreams]

One thing I did notice that feels a bit different from season 1 vs. 2 is elements of Dr. Curtain’s character

People have commented that Season 2 is nice, but has a different vibe they just can’t quite put their finger on and honestly, I think it’s Curtain. Not that they completely rewrote his character, he’s still a manipulator obsessed with power/being liked, but he’s not reacting to situations the way he would have in season 1 and his emotions have clearly shifted and that has some disturbing implications for how this plot is gonna go.

Season 1 Curtain was also a manipulator who liked to come off as happy and charismatic, but he still had a strong underlying anger: he flipped out on his typist over a squeaky key, screamed at Garrison, could barely keep his cool around SQ when he confronted him about his work, assumed Nicholas had come there to make fun of him/gloat, etc. Now, he’s still manipulative, and that dark hunger and drive is still there, but it’s more focused and hidden, and he seems to genuinely be enjoying himself. He’s riding around in a fun golf cart, laughing to himself, etc. The last time Curtain saw Nicholas, he accused Nicholas of wanting to gloat and mock him, threw Nicholas’ apology back in his face (“I disappointed you” “oh to say the least”), and told Reynie that what happened to him was the worst betrayal of his life and now he’s like “that hurt and angry version of me doesn’t exist, I’ve moved on Nicky”. (Oh really? Moved on by kidnapping the brother that is hardly a threat to you? You held onto a grudge for 30 years, your brother destroys your work, and a year later you’re totally chill and past it? Not sure I buy it) and it seems like whether he’s moved on or not, Curtain is hiding the animosity and jealously he had towards Benedict pretty well which he was not able to do in season 1.

Even some of the consistent story elements are done differently. Curtain manipulates people over fancy meals in both sessions, but in season 1 with Sticky, Reynie, and Garrison, the manipulations were clear, here it doesn’t feel quite as calculated, desperate, or forced, Curtain wasn’t even there when they ate most of the time and seems way more happy casual over his meals. Slightly less boastful and compliment fishy too. Slightly.

Also Curtain’s obsessed with being liked and we see him do “cringy” stuff in both seasons. (E.g., practicing his “yes” in front of the mirror, dancing alone in his room), but one of those was him clearly trying to impress someone and display power and the other was just- him vibing, and not being overly concerned with his appearance, which we’ve never seen.

This change leads me to one of two conclusions

Curtain feels angry when he feels himself losing control and in season 1 he felt like he was still trying to gain control but now in season 2, everyone praises him as the man who solved the emergency, Benedict is a laughing stock for accusing him, so he feels secure and in control enough to actually be a little happy

if this “hypnosis” plan was really so easy, Curtain would have tried it before the Whisperer. I think there might be more to it than Curtain changes body language and voice = everyone artificially happy. That’s pretty basic cult leader stuff- and Garrison’s engineering plan she gave Curtain would have nothing to do with that. It’s possible that whatever Dr. Garrison’s plan was (whether she’s hiding out or actually gone, doesn’t matter) her invention could also be taking a toll on Curtain and making him relaxed so he doesn’t need to worry about the vulnerability thing. After all, Curtain would love an artificial state happiness: all the happiness he wants, no vulnerability risk because it’s not real. It’s possible he doesn’t even realize he’s slipping into it or that he does but the only thing holding him back is jealousy that others can still have real moments and connections with others and he can’t (though of course he plans on “fixing” that).

Which means, when it comes to the treatment of his brother, Curtain has either (1) gotten to a place where he feels in control and is super comfortable manipulating Nicholas and has spent a year of calculated time carefully working on his revenge to perfectly destroy Nicholas for abandoning him: breaking him until he has no choice but to accept his control and artificial joy or (2) Curtain has knowingly or not bought into his own artificial happiness to such a degree that he half means what he says when he says he doesn’t feel angry jealous or hurt by Nicholas any more and has moved on. He might actually try to get Nicholas to join him and have trouble understanding why they all can’t be happy in this artificial state or why it horrifies Nicholas so much and ugh, if Nicky could just accept his help and control everything would be better.

there’s also the implication that this “happiness” procedure could be just as harmful for Curtain/SQ as it is for Curtain’s enemies, and oh boy, if they go there.

[jollythunderstorms]

I'm sorry but mr. benedict getting electrocuted by the fence is so funny to me because a) it comes up so abruptly and b) it's only a few seconds long so it kinda looks like number two is already done with him

[scuzznishimuraenthusiast]

hey has anyone noticed how sticky is gullible and essentially falls into traps in both seasons not because he's gullible but because he was shown kindness for like once and someone wanted to listen to him or be around him for once

[bytedykes]

me scrolling down my dashboard and every post is hype about tmbs s2 <3333 truly A Day today