One of those rambley amateur character analysis things i do but i'll be talking about Chainsaw ppt2 and I hope to make this post a bit of a love letter to Chainsaw as a character that he is. But first of, my point today is:
Chainsaw is in a place of financial urgency which motivates 99% of his character acting and decision making in the entire show. Which in turns makes him one of the biggest tools for the show's antithesis.
The best part of it all is that whether you see him as poor, or in debt, or literally anything else that puts him in a position of being highly motivated to win 1mil, neither the show nor he nor anyone else in the process of it all victimizes him, he doesnt WANT to be victimized, and it shows very well through the lens of his position as a 'princess' - his approach to the game and how you play it is antithetical to the show's main idea (forming connections with people and going out of your way to learn how to keep them) and it landed him in a position of helplessness (ie 'princess'). I'll give my thoughts/predictions on how that spot of helplessness is gonna play out.
IMPORTANT: I will be taking Season 1 of PP into little consideration as it is hard to say how much of s1 is truly relevant to the modern iteration of the show, while I find s1 fun to think about it is very unreliable for thorough character analysis. That said I'll be mentioning it where it is actually worth mentioning. Also I will sometimes refer to Chainsaw by she/her bc I see Chainsaw as he is in the show as a closeted transfem.
(screenshots will have autogenerated captions since the show doesn't have official ones yet. they're here to highlight points im making, i expect you're reading it after having watched the show yourself and have an idea of what every scene entails)
Okay let's begin. This is part 1 by the way because tumblr doesn't let me put more than 30 images.
I want to start off by mentioning how Chainsaw has been presented to us in the very beginning. It is a no brainer in my opinion how similar Chainsaw is to early character of II Knife, but the longer you spend with the show and its characters you will see in detail how Chainsaw diverges from his possible inspiration. He's mean, he's cruel, he cheats, and that's all we have for the majority of his s1 self.
When we move to PPT2, we'll take a note that Chainsaw was the one to both call Gold Ingot out on his bullshit, and is easily persuaded back into the show upon being reminded of the prize. Though initially it might have been a simple throwaway interaction (Chainsaw is a very easy character to use as a deliverer of negative opinion or as a counter argument), it becomes a reoccurring interaction between him and Gold Ingot:
Chainsaw tries to rebel against Gold Ingot, Gold Ingot manipulates her through threats to her position in the game. Put a pin ☝ on it.
The early PPT2 proposes Chainsaw as a much less antagonistic individual, funnily enough. He doesn't go out of his way to harm others when there's no real benefit from it, and generally goes along with his team and rules to progress in the game.
On this screenshot Bubble Wrap paintballs herself, after which Chainsaw just leaves (could be taken as a joke rather than a character moment - but it doesn't contradict to things below).
Chainsaw helps Treasure Chest with the cooking challenge.
Chainsaw volunteers to help TC and Journal during the Lab challenge.
My personal interpretation on Chainsaw's reaction to TC is lack of verbal approval of his contribution to the team effort here. While it can be written off as his default expression it also feels pretty deliberate in relation to TC specifically since we actually do get his default expression almost immediately after.
Chainsaw displays concern for the loss of Journal along with TC (additionally I believe it would be safe to assume for her to process it as one of her fuckups and underperformances in the game that can get her potentially eliminated - she did space out and pulled the rope far too late. So even though I don't think she's concerned for Journal, it can be a nod towards her fear of losing (additional mention that it is very much also that showing loss of Journal is extremely concerning with Mr Hand subplot being the biggest reveal of the episode))
Chainsaw's worry for his own game is hammered down pretty solidly in just episode 3, as he tries to convince Malachite not to trust Globe.
I find his distrust of others generally quite fascinating due to what we are about to experience with Team ] in the future.
Though he's on good terms with Malachite, due to both of them valuing strength and independence, Malachite isn't gonna turn away ones in need even if they may serve as a threat to his own game. It is actually one of Malachite's best qualities - he values people more than the game, something that ends up putting an end to his relationship with Chainsaw. Ironically, the same approach taken by Slipper and Basketball will end up making Chainsaw the most vulnerable player in the final six.
The entire next section with bags highlights Chainsaw's cynicism and his fundamental difference with Malachite as mentioned above. He believes helping an opposite team player despite him having helped them first is a weakness and a threat, display of gratitude is a display of softness, and it's not hard to understand why he thinks so considering he's been one of the more active and enthusiastic players up to this point.
Why should he just hand someone else his deserved victory? That's just not fair.
Projecting much, Chainsaw?
Chainsaw once again someone out (Treasure Chest) for undervaluing his contribution again AND TC's own lack of tangible contribution to the team. This marks the start of TC and Chainsaw war.
The next episode is one of my favorites among the early PPT2, not only because of introduction of Bronze but I find some character interactions very fun. But most of all that's where Chainsaw's position of a 'princess' is introduced, albeit jokingly at first, but I believe it becomes far more relevant.
This is our next obligatory "Chainsaw tries to flip Gold Ingot off and Gold Ingot pulls the elimination card" moment.
Not ONLY is it Gold Ingot threatening AUE to Chainsaw, he VERY DELIBERATELY makes a point of CHAINSAW being the cause of it.
Of COURSE he doesn't WANT to be the cause of AUE, he's going to get his ass eliminated IMMEDIATELY. And we just CAN'T have that.
The thing is, the problem of the princess challenge isn't even that he doesn't want to be forcefully feminized (which is a tasteless joke on its own, even if it doesn't fully treat itself as one - it was still written with implicit goal to humiliate Chainsaw, but PPT2's early misogyny deserves a post of its own), it's the fact he has to let his agency and safety in the game be in the hands of someone else.
In just Blue Nightmares we see how distrusting and uncooperative she is when there's a prospect of helping someone else not on her team to a degree of fighting her teammate, now she doesn't have a SAY in how the challenge plays out at all. This is her worst nightmare.
I'm sorry Chainsaw but you have officially become the damsel in distress of PPT2 as of Right Hand Man.
Episode 6 or Don't Press It or My second favorite ppt2 episode is where Chainsaw's desperation to win or act at all is on full display once again but more so is the first real turning point for his character in the story.
I do quite enjoy the set up of the challenge despite how ridiculously unfair it is - it is within the character of Gold Ingot to act out like this, but it's a perfect opportunity to build a conflict, and that's when Chainsaw and TC tension goes into full spark. But let's see how things play out in order.
The set up for team ] is pretty funny to me because Slipper and Basketball not only aren't overtly antagonistic on their own but are complete opposites in how Chainsaw approaches the game. Slipper plays smart and Basketball just waits out for a good opportunity to get an easy win, and their nagging for Chainsaw to care less never works.
Chainsaw falls for the bait very easily. It just shows how easy he is to manipulate if you dangle something he wants in front of his face. And what he wants is one william doller.
Was it really fair of TC to start reprimanding Chainsaw at all? None of them knew what the challenge really was. It ended up being AUE, but the presser would've been immune. What was the time limit for the challenge? What would determine the winner if no one would've pressed it?
Why is Chainsaw being punished for playing the game?
It doesn't come as a surprise at all how unwilling Chainsaw is to listen to TC when we've already seen how little TC has shown care for Chainsaw's contributions when there was an opportunity for it, whereas we've already seen him kissing up to Journal. This will keep happening. This isn't about Chainsaw or TC's team, this is about TC's ego - but this isn't a post about TC, so maybe some other time.
At first I get the impression of Chainsaw picking Slipper and Basketball on a whim to have someone as backup. Strategically this is a good call, but these sorts of games and shows never go well on strategy alone.
This is where we have to look out for Chainsaw's dynamic with his team, because later we will face the idea of how Chainsaw's personal feelings come into play. So far, even when she's being an asshole, it serves a purely strategic purpose on her part. She's an asshole to Globe because she doesn't want to lose. Personal feelings are displayed in her being petty towards Malachite, being uncomfortable as a helpless object, but all of it comes from the circumstances of the game.
Friendships isn't something that he really does, he doesn't call anyone a friend. Does he?
All Fun and Games is actually the first instance of Chainsaw actively cheating in PPT2, almost acting like a call back to s1. Cheating is one way to win, and as we already know, Chainsaw will do and go as far as he needs to to stay in the game. That makes the progression from s1 rather funny since he should already know Gold Ingot hates cheating and he just does it anyway (and gets punished for it). This is where I'd say we can deduce that Slipper and Basketball are probably the worst enablers to have for a person like Chainsaw. Not because they want him to cheat, but because they just don't care by what means they get to go further. Which is arguably worse - because to him, this is important. To him, he is doing something. Their approval of his methods is approval of him, which TC, in comparison, has never done.
Funny detail that's 100% unintentional is that Chainsaw says this as a point to how little he cares about cheating but it's also a call out to how the games have been rigged anyway. Topper Testosterone Hat has been cheating to Begin With.
Rowdy Runaway is a very fun episode. Loved the part where Chainsaw hit Treasure Chest with his car.
Fairly this episode is more about Treasure Chest than it is about Chainsaw. TC's insecurity over his place as a leader makes for a nuclear mix with Chainsaw's desire for independence. I find their conflict one of the more interesting parts of the entire show, because neither of them are in the right here, but neither of them are exactly wrong. TC has no right to force control over Chainsaw anymore (throwing the challenge for his REMAINING team in the process), neither should Chainsaw be driving the damn cart - not because stealing is bad but because it's damn dangerous. Once again, this entire situation says more about Treasure Chest than Chainsaw, but what we HAVE to pay attention to is Chainsaw's expressions and body language.
A second of contemplation about TC's words, before realizing this isn't really about him, or Slipper, or Basketball, and immediately deflecting. I'd like to point out that Chainsaw gave TC an opportunity to explain himself and possibly resolve this without further escalation, which clearly doesn't work. The root of the conflict is TC precisely undermining Chainsaw and limiting his freedom, TC doesn't understand it, doesn't understand Chainsaw, and doesn't try to understand.
It's almost like sometimes we have to stop and listen to each other.
Picture Perfect, mark "Chainsaw tries to fuck with Gold Ingot and it doesn't fucking work" #3.
That's the most notable part of the episode in relation to Chainsaw as he's just off doing exactly that for the entirety of it while Slipper and Basketball forced to do something.
It's quite impressive how far he's willing to push himself only so he doesn't get eliminated. This is so stupidly patronizing, this is such a juvenile punishment that serves as nothing but humbling and humiliating Chainsaw again (understandably), if he actually wanted to penalize Chainsaw he would've already eliminated him. I don't believe Gold Ingot would've actually done it though, I'm 100% sure he was just messing with him, but as we already know, its uncanny how easy it is with Chainsaw.
Dungeons & Dimwits is another stop for us. It is both another point for Princess Chainsaw and also another fatttttt highlight on Chainsaw's strategic tunnel vision in the game.
First, he's pretty obviously just messing with Treasure Chest here. Voting Treasure Chest would've done nothing but move an annoying obstacle out of the way, how things are Treasure Chest is unable to stop them OR keep his team together. That would be a very petty vote at this point. Second, Chainsaw is trying to get Ukulele's vote on his side here, which is far more useful long term than having a player out - you either get TC out with no tangible benefit other than having one measly chance at getting further or you get a real advantage by manipulating Ukulele to join T], with the sentiment he's been carrying throughout the entire game himself.
This is the fated double edged sword of team ]. We'll put a pin on it.
She doesn't want to depend on anyone to carry her further in the game so bad it makes her look stupid. The entire sequence is the display of Chainsaw's need to have agency, through and through, but the moment he let Slipper go on with his plan his fate of a princess in a tower has been sealed.
Living on the Edge and further is where the Bottle v Chainsaw conflict sparks. And it's where I feel like talking about these two in particular AND where I will continue in part 2.
To wrap it up:
Chainsaw's independence has had the last moment of silliness allowed to it in his role as a Princess but with Bottle in the picture things will become much messier and more complicated. Chainsaw VERY, VERY DESPERATELY is trying to stay in the game, more than anything. Chainsaw cannot STAND having his freedom stifled and his contributions ignored or undermined. He is NOT antagonizing others for no reason, but the reason becomes very vague the less people there are competing. I think this post is enough for the first half of my point. I will he focusing more on the second half in the future.
In continuation I might actually end up making a subsection about Bottle. I dont know.
he doesn't wanna admit this to himself bc he ended up being right. and considering his toxic masculinity, he'd probably view this as a moral failing even if paper apologized. which, the chances of are low, not because i think paper's a bad person, but because it seems to somehow take a very special person to understand these nuances and go out of their way for them, unfortunately. top this all off with a desire for physical affection, and it's just confusion and comphet all about.
SECOND OFF
the desire to be vulnerable may also be considered "weak," ergo, "less of a man." while that could well enough result in repressing those feelings when in a romantic relationship, it'd probably be tenfold if desired to be directed toward friends instead. most people aren't like that with their friends. it'd be considered... odd. idk if he wants to be considered odd. plus, without understanding all the details of these labels and such, it'd possibly just end up being confusing... that, and everyone would possibly label him as in love, yet in denial.
uhhh. idk how to conclude my thoughts. ehmm. thank you for listening and let that bastard kiss that butch platonicstyle it'd fix him thank you
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