Deceit is important to Roman
(disclaimer: this post is not defending or blaming anyone for anything)
We’ve all noticed this before but it’s even more clear now. Deceit is important to Roman and it’s dangerous but also makes perfect sense.
Roman is a character that seeks approval. Becuase sure we all do want to be approved but Roman doesn’t want a validation only. He’s creativity, he’s a massive part of Thomas’ ego. Other sides know that so they try not to boost his ego this much but that’s the problem. Because by doing that (I have no doubts that by doing so they want to help Roman), they also kind of ignore a big part of Roman’s personality. A trait that makes him who he is.
And then there’s Deceit, who offers to listen. Who offers compliments.
Let’s jump into the video:
“As an actor, may I say, the little things make a huge differance”
Roman’s not stupid. He realized that not all of his personal opinions has to be always right so he goes for something that applies not only to him. He goes for a profession, something that belongs to the “serious world”, something that shouldn’t be discredited. He is trying.
The reaction he gets is shushing him, the reaction he gets is “enough”. But look what Deceit is doing: That’s right. He is taking notes.
Now the question is: if he’s writing Roman words (probably what Roman lieks to believe) or is he taking notes of Roman’s behaviour. the second option is more likely because let’s remember that later on they are at the court (Dee’s idea). In the court you usually need an evidence to speak against somebody. Now, I know that Deceit doesn’t speak against Roman but that’s the thing with law - you never know what may come up and deem to be important.
Now let’s jump to the court scenes.
First and obvious thing to notice is that out of all people Deceit choses Roman to be the judge. The reasoning for me is pretty obvious: Roman is the party that is verging between one side and the other. However it’s not how it looks from Roman’s perspective at all: for him, it’s just a proof how important he is. I mean, look at him - he’s the judge, this is serious, this is important. This is a position that others should respect!
also Roman is using judge’s notes. And what was Deceit doing earlier? taking notes. And sure that is not the same notebook but we have no reasons to suspect that Deceit wasn’t the one who created this notebook. I mean, he’s the one summoning it.
And do you know what is funny?
Roman takes his role very seriously. He reads everything just like he should if he was in the real court. And do you know who’s the only one listening? Deceit.
Later Roman, my hyperactive little flea ilovehimsomuch, asks a question: “What does the judge even do?”
Who is the one that answers? Deceit. He is the only one who bothers to explain this to Roman. But what is even more intersting is that Roman actually listens to him. He doesn’t even question the reply, as the rest of the sides usually do.
The moment when Deceit questions Roman really got me. I gotta admit.
Because at the first sight we think that Deceit’s manipulating Roman into changing his mind: from going to the wedding to not going. The thing is… that it’s not true. On the contrary. Or at least partly.
In fact, Deceit offers validation to what Roman truly wants - he proves to Roman that it is not bad for him to wanting for Thomas to attend the callback. He goes through this with Roman step by step making it simply. Of course, at the end of the day Deceit wants to win the case but it doesn’t mean that he didn’t make Roman felt heard.
“Everyone’s an egoist” says Deceit.
And oh look, he has Roman’s attention. Because Roman feels bad about being an egoist. Of course he does. He is a prince. He knows that he shouldn’t feel this way. He should be the best human possible. But if everyone’s egoist… Then maybe it gievs him right to be a little bit egoist from time to time too?
By stating that Deceit indirectly validates Roman’s flaw. Flaw that has all right to exist in Roman’s heart - big ego. Moreover. He suggests that it doesn’t make him bad. It makes Roman human. Because it’s not being egoist what makes you bad person but your choices. Probably Deceit still hoped that Roman would chose his side. At the end - he didn’t, but I feel like this scene might be really important to Roman’s character.
“Thomas is a unconscious egoist.”
Yes, because he has Roman. Roman is Thomas’ ego.
And let me repeat that - having an ego, taking care of your own business sometimes, isn’t bad at all.
The most manipulative part of the whole video is this:
It’s Deceit saying “a dream come true”. Smart, classic move - Deceit playing on what’s important to Roman. He plays his emotions like a fiddle. But what is interesting is Roman’s reaction:
He looks uncomfortable as hell. Do you know why? Because he knows exactly what is Deceit doing. He is aware of this manipulation. And he feels bad for still leaning into Deceit’s side. This is not the face of someone who is too stupid to understood what is going on. This is a face of someone who saw what is going on and he feels bad about still agreeing with that. This is the face of someone who feels guilty.
Let’s skip to Roman’s verdict because this is once again where things get interesting:
Deceit is shocked. He thought that Roman would be on his side. He decided against. He stated against. But look at him:
No matter what he decided, he is sad. Because his final decision was dictated with what is wrong and what is right. Not what he wanted. No matter if you want to believe it or not. Roman wanted to skip the wedding but he felt that it was wrong. Selfish. And he doesn’t want to be a villain of this story. He consciously gave up on what he wanted in order to actually make other sides happy.
“You want that stuff that makes you happy, right?”
Look at Roman. He is heartbroken. He wants stuff to make him happy but he feels guilty about it. He is guilt-tripping himself for that. He feel guilty about wanting to be selfish. He is unhappy. The idea of feeling happy actually doesn’t spark as much joy as it should. At least to him. Because he feels that all his choices are selfish.
And then Deceit is about to disappear and he shows this thingy. Two-faced snake (as if a snake itself wouldn’t be enough).
Again. It’s not shock. It’s a surprise. He has seen this two-faced snake before. Possibly he knows the story behind this. Like hell, maybe he was even the one who came up with the idea? Because he takes a small step back. he suddenly tries to distance himself from that. He didn’t put a distance before. But now he does? Strange if you ask me.
It wasn’t easy for Roman to give up on the callback. He admits that, Thomas thanks him for that. It’s perfect. Isn’t it? It is. But Roman is still unhappy with his choice, the only thing that makes him happy is that he doesn’t have to feel guilty about going against Patton and Thomas.
But what if suddenly he feels guilty about going against Deceit? The very person that validates him?
Hence to that - he decides to leave the group. The deal with his emotions alone. On his own. Because he feels isolated in his needs and desires again.
“The little things make a huge differance”
Deceit giving Roman approval means a lot to Roman even though Deceit is Deceit. Do you know why? Because Roman actually can detect the lie easily. He just chooses to believe in them sometimes.
There’s a chance that Roman at some point started spending more time with Deceit than with the other sides.
Until this video I felt that Roman is easy to manipulate. Right now? I’m not so sure about that. After all “it takes a liar to know a liar”
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
