Listen I didn't notice the carpets either but I don't think Avery is like, dumb dumb. I'd say he's got fairly good average intelligence and does make attempts to solve the puzzles, the issue isn't that he's not observant cus he is yk, he noticed the blue latern, tried to see if the carpeting on the floor meant anything, took notes on what COULD be a code or cipher of some kind by counting the beds. Nono the issue isn't that he can't notice things, the issue is that he's looking in the WRONG PLACES.
If the beds were the solution he would've gotten it. If it ended up being a cipher he could've plugged it in to a site and figured out the code. He's looking for the hard equations because that's what he's expecting out of this journey, he saw D3rlord3's video and saw how he figured out the puzzles in ways that were crazy observant. Like guys I bet just like everyone else watching the video, Avery saw how D3rlord3 set that grass block trap as a backup, saw how he noticed the signs and mapped out their angles to reach the exit AND solved a stacked cipher in SEVENTEEN MINUTES ON PAPER he watched all of it and felt intimidated. Cus WHO WOULDNT BE.
Avery already went into this knowing he wasn't nearly as qualified. So he is actively trying to think like D3rlord3 would by paying attention to the objects that seem the most likely to be a difficult cipher that d3r would take note of.
What typically happens when you condition yourself to think in ways that don't include your skillset, you tend to miss the painfully obvious clues.
Avery has low self-esteem when it comes to his intelligence. He's been trying to mimic d3r because he doesn't believe in himself to be able to work it out with what he knows. He feels the need to emulate what he's observed to be a sign of intelligence. His self-doubt slows him down and makes him perform WORSE and inevitably fail.
And its funny cus the King is being. Sooooooo easy on him with the puzzles. Cus methinks the puzzles in the first video were catered specifically for d3r, the King needing to hook him in and then futher use him as a lure for Avery so it could get Avery in its grasp. Aves probably still wouldn't have the smarts to accomplish what he views as an actual success even if he did stop trying to mimic d3r just based on how the King treats him with these puzzles. But. yk. its a thought.
Defined by his determination and compassion, this and the church sequence both share a thread with this concept of being not enough. "You are nothing" "You're not smart enough" etc. Achk whatever, I've got brainworms and everyone already knows ts.
(Also as a side note that I just realized now; Avery doesn't swear really. "What the freak" "frickin" etc. Unless we count his comment on the first video where he goes "WTF" and also in the scene where he's saying the above)
I'd wager that the King banked on Avery reacting this way. I bet it knew that Avery would compare himself to d3r and feel stupid after he can't solve anything. The puzzles are simple because if Avery ever figured out how simple they were, it would make him feel even more worthless. "God, it was right in front of me the whole time" type shi
This is all. ALL part of the King's intentions to clear Avery's mind. In the church he is PRIMED to get stuck there because of the experiences prior. He is perfectly set to be taken advantage of and have his sense of identity stripped from him.
In the church world. The gate is right there, there is no puzzle, no trek across the land. The goal of saving d3r is within reach with that next step. Take note that Avery has to turn left when he decided to go check out the church btw, just thought that was a fun detail.
My running interpretation with this story is humanity in the presence of existential dread, yk the misery you feel when you realize nothing you do matters, you are but a small raindrop in the ocean. More on that later I have a Statement to make about why the King wants him specifically and its not just cus he's a vessel with an easily manipulated mind.
I watched the whole 12 hours btw.
I think the acts he cycled through have some sort of meaning behind them, like pertaining to mortality and insignificance. This is just me spitballing I have no real evidence to back my claim up but here's the train of thought:
The gravestones represent the obvious; ancestors and the like. The people that came before you. Death is an inevitable process. None of these gravestones have names or markers signifying their individuality, thus playing into that feeling of insignificance, the "your life is nothing. You will be forgotten" Avery having to place flowers is to commemorate these forgotten lives and therefore recognize his own mortality in the process.
The well, representing the flow of new life, infinitely coming in and out. Being replaced over and over again
Cleaning up the ferns to represent the worship of nihilism and destruction of sense of self. Like, cleaning it up is the act of worship itself, to guide the mind back to thinking about the church, not leaving it to rot but caring for it instead.
Drowning. Final act of admitting defeat in the presence of the cosmic horror that is living in a universe as vast and endless as it is. And our universe not even being the full extent of it, just what we know of. Giving up because of your objective non-importance.
And rereading the book as a rinse and repeat of continuing the cycle obviously. But like all of this is just me sayin crap for funsies. Those were just the thoughts going through my head when I had the twelve hours going on in the background while I did other stuff.
Anyways. Avery gets snapped out of it via ✨human compassion✨ which of course the signs here can be interpreted to highlight the sheer humanity that exists within everyone, the uniqueness of the self, the holiness of being human. Blahlala. And henceforth Avery's perspective shifts.
The scene that DEFINES Avery's character. His grit, his perseverance, his WILLPOWER.
"But Avery is done trying to solve these puzzles the way the world wants him to."
Finally we see Avery try it his own way, not emulating d3r, not trying to look for clues he's unsure of. This is him creating his own solution in a way he KNOWS will work. Bruteforce. It is liberating it is freeing it is INCREDIBLE how well done this scene is. My god
He subverts what the King wants guys, the King wants him miserable and lacking of a solid identity to fall back on during the intense stress that is this entire experience of the King's world. And he subverts it. He creates his own path he assures his OWN IDENTITY he REMEMBERS WHO HE IS AS THE DETERMINED PERSON HE'S BEEN THIS WHOLE TIME.
Small related tangent, but mankind is primarily defined by its problem solving skills. However its the fact my mind always falls back on is the fact that we are an endurance hunter. Our brains are designed for the long chase, to keep walking and never relent. This is what I mean when yall hear me say Avery in this scene stands for the most important core of humanity. Not our intelligence although intellect is meaningful, its the ability to endure until the goal is met.
The ability to keep moving forward, one could say.
Speaking of d3rlord3. I aint gunna linger on it too long but their whole scene when they first meet is a pure gem yall, its filled with such relief and accomplishment like hell yeah Avery found him at fucking last this is the best. It can't last forever though.
okay this post is massive already and I have a few more thoughts to communicate that are sooooomeeeee bit offkilter to Avery's arc so Imma put it in a separate thing. Thamks for coming to my tedtalk
