#vert yap

[greeneldritchfurby]

I'm still a bit conflicted on Reprised.

(Very light proshot spoilers)

On one hand I ADORE the lighting, choreography, and even new characterizations. (Like, for example, Ted and Charlotte.)

But the one thing I'm still iffy on is one of the reasons I love the show: that being the characterization of Paul himself. I do love how active he in Reprised, he really does feel like hes in constant peril. There's an almost slapstick nature to him, which I find really endearing.

Admittedly though, I do feel like he's a bit... nicer? Than og Paul?? Hes still awkward and can be rude, but he seems more.. smiley? I don't know how to describe it. Polite?

I just really liked in the original how blunt he was. For lack of a better word, its like 1am for me rn, I enjoyed how unintenionally dickwadish he was.

Though it could be I'm just annoyed that my character analysis of Paul in the og is kinda undone by Reprised.

[greeneldritchfurby]

I wrote an informal essay on the tragedy of Paul Matthews as a character and I thought.. why not post it here!

What do you want, Paul?

On the surface, Paul Matthews is a very bland and normal character. He works a simple 9-5, hes maybe a little blunt, and he has a crush on this one barista at a copy shop. He is a simple, bland man. But underneath that normalcy is really a complex and conflicted man.

It's clear that Paul doesn’t know what he wants for his life, that's a huge part of the show. He refuses to make an outright statement of what he wants. During “What Do You Want Paul?”, and under the duress of Mr. Davidson, he throws out several ideas of what he wants, money, a partner, maybe kids. But he's so non specific and its clear he’s just throwing them out there to satisfy Mr. Davidson.

While not having much of a personality in the way of hobbies or interests, his personality is built on an ironic source. He doesn’t like musicals. That is the crux of who he is, that dislike leads him. Instead of a want pushing him through the events of the story, it is his staunch denial that does this. He has no ambition, nothing that drives him, except for his distaste of musicals.

Its almost tragic in a way, because we begin to see Paul discover possible wants throughout the span of TGDWLM. He grows closer to Emma, he willingly goes with Bill to save his daughter, he even goes to sacrifice his life to save the world. He never says it directly, but it seems he yearns to find that want, that desire, but he can only satisfy others wants. Bill wants to save his daughter, Emma wants to go and save the world together but cant. In the end he still doesn't figure out what he wants truly.

And then, the final confrontation. In Let it Out Paul is forced to come to grasps with what he wants, and to let go of that want to assimilate into the hive. And yet.. he still doesn't know what he wants. He says hes never been happy and that maybe the hive is the solution… but that's just a guess. The only thing he has is his hatred of musicals. And even then, as the spores take root in his mind, he begins to question that.

In a way, you could argue Paul sacrificing himself was a purposeful act. He most likely knew he wasn't coming back alive. But what does a man with no ambition, no pursuits have to lose? Why continue to live when you can give your aimless life up to save those that have a plan for their life?

Yet, in some tragic irony, through the hive Paul found purpose. He has a want now, and even if its not his own, what does it matter if he is happy now? He has a role to play. Its so legitimately heartbreaking because Paul is always so close to finding his purpose and yet he can only find his purpose in death. Either by sacrificing himself for the greater good, or succumbing to the alien hivemind.

Paul is such an interesting portrayal of a depressed, emotionally isolated man, a man trapped by the monotony of everyday life and riddled with a pervasive sense of aimlessness.

[greeneldritchfurby]

Im being cyberbullied bruh </3

[greeneldritchfurby]

wait i could TOTALLY use this account to post my fanfic wips yay

[greeneldritchfurby]

INTRODUCING...

Vert!

Hello! I'm Vert and welcome to my sideblog! I mostly use this to reblog art and yap about fandoms I'm in.

I am 20 years old, an artist, and I love a variety of horror, musicals, old movies, and queer media! My fandoms include Starkid, The Amazing Digital Circus, Five Nights at Freddy's and way way more.

Currently I'm really into... 80s horror movies and The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals!

OTHER BLOGS

@ballpitcryptid -> art blog

@shopping-mall-of-stims -> stimboard blog (inactive for now)

@the-nerds-in-black -> au blog (inactive for now)

TAG GLOSSARY

#wiggling out rn - stuff I really like, not just Wiggly stuff

#vert ramble - longer text posts

#vert yap - random text posts

#vert art - reposts from my art account

[greeneldritchfurby]

I really gotta fix my layout on this account this sucks

[greeneldritchfurby]

Ate some cheese fries recently

[greeneldritchfurby]

I have the opposite of art block. Too many ideas. Too many things to create. I cant decide which to pursue. Its agonizing.