In the wake of so many wonderful takes on Dottore's relationship with Pantalone, I feel like something is being missed desperately with Wanderer that is going to get addressed in the future so hear me out;
Zandik's segments, to my understanding, are all like husks--stagnant shells. They reflect a time and place, and he himself is aware of it; he mentions in the story he has no desire to change. How does this tie in?
Wanderer is all about change. Adaptation, resilience, down to the very conversation with Paimon. If you don't like who you are or how you feel about who you are, then do something about it. If you don't like how you're going about that, then try a new approach. Omega shows us repeatedly that he uses the same methods... and it's no wonder he's getting the same results. But then why is he doing it? He's a self-aware person. That's the reason itself. You can't avoid what you are. (Bullshit might I add.)
So this angles back to my point; if he's so incapable of growth, and he becomes aware of it, what would the next step be?
You need only to look at Wanderer to see proof that change is possible.
As a side note, I adore Pantalone's presence after this because he fully acknowledges not only Omega's vision, but his plight with this very issue. I fully believe him saying goodbye was his truthful way of treating Omega as a unique person, unlike any segment or the original Zandik, uncaring if Omega wanted him to do that or not--he just said what he felt (Person, or Deception? Zandik, or Il Dottore?). That kind of bond is... so incredibly interesting when you're dealing with a narrative of nobody else being given the privilege to speak their mind in the doctor's presence. But that's besides the point.
But back to the main point, if Zandik made all the segments to be static and his own life was unable to be prolonged... Well, irony is that he'd just have to cheat death multiple times, huh? A man who doesn't treasure life would certainly learn a lot about it after all this time. If the original had qualms doing what needed to be done, Omega certainly did not.
Wanderer has had to spend quite some time accepting that he isn't human, while perhaps, Omega was incapable of accepting that he was. If we get one more rebirth, maybe we'll see that kind of true paralleled growth once and for all, seeing as his lives are used up and theoretically, Pantalone wouldn't be capable of handling another contract of this nature.
I'm only speculating that if he were to return, he could formulate a way for Pantalone to live a little longer, but that's a hard guess. Also besides the point, I just want more of their banter.
Whether Omega was truly unable to grow is debatable, and I like that. I'm conflicted about what to make of his actions in grabbing the traveler; his self-hatred speaks for itself but I also believe his existence naturally will want to be whole, too. And it's not going to be pleasant at all for him, oh boy. But as for the Traveler, or why he wanted them to join his side to begin with... I'm not sure what benefit we could've had to his plan if my thoughts are correct and he essentially figured we'd move down this trajectory. I suppose that was his weird way of showing us respect while also trying to offcenter us.
His funeral will be a grand affair indeed, and I look forward to further answers... and questions, because this man only brings more questions.
I'm incredibly shy and I don't feel like I did a good analysis but I had so many THOUGHTS IN THIS NOGGIN
