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cannot stop thinking about how good the fabrication of consent in squid game was… like yeah, the participants consent! over and over, from agreeing to the slapping game to ringing up the number of their own accord to meeting at the location to signing a separate sheet once more upon arrival… they can even disband the game if the majority decrees it. but this is all performative. because of course they’ll agree - of course they’ll come back.

the second episode is even all about addressing this ‘consent’, and that potential audience superiority: “so why don’t they just leave???? if they can??? why did they even do all this to start with?? it’s so extreme, to do all that just for money, i would never”

because, the show says, look at what they’re returning to. look at the life that’s offered as their alternative. debt up to their ears, money-brokers beating them up, poverty at its worst. do you see? do you see how yeah, joining that game is optional, but it’s optional in the sense of choosing to be stabbed or shot: theres consent, but not actual desire. that theres agreement, but under exploitation. there’s a reason only poor people are chosen to compete and it’s so obvious but i fucking love how the show handles it and addresses any audience superiority anyway

Illena character analysis

The unrighteousness of the Hierarchy took Illena's fragile state of mind and twisted her into a monster. And while we can understand her cruel actions and such she should still be held accountae as she is deserving of the consequences. Narratively, She is not a sympathetic character but instead a pitiful character due to how she is presented in the story

But to provide some background, the high rankers dictating the lives of people beneath them reinforced the idea that power is everything to the mid tiers and that if you have it you're better than anyone who is weaker than you and are allowed to do what you want to them basically, that's part of the why the mid tiers bully the low rankers so much, because that sort of thing is justifiable in their world due to the hierachy.

But they aren't just doing it because they believe that they deserve it, it's deeper than that. The mid tiers want to be respected and or atleast acknowledged/taken seriously for the strength that they possess, just like the high tiers. And with that being said, there are things that the mid tiers cannot do in society because they're simply not strong enough, and because of they're forced to conform to what the high rankers tell them. The mid tiers quite literally hate that they have to listen to the high rankers because they will suffer the consequences and get beat up if they dont. Point is, they're just picking on the lower tiers to feel good about themselves and vent their frustrations in a system where power is everything. Illena is no exception

But she practically sees a former god tier acting all high and mighty/condescending when they've literally been rendered powerless, and notice that they are now attempting to take the moral high ground since that they're the one being discriminated against after losing everything. High tiers wanted mid tiers to know their place but cannot accept their own if they're not in a position of power, that is what Illena learns here.

think about it, all of a sudden they neglect the entire structure of the system and consider beating up low tiers as an injustice when they did not care about what happened to them at all when they were on top of the food chain where she perpetuated the same caste system because it was once beneficial for her. And that seriously pisses off Illena because to her this must mean that Sera still thinks that she's better than them even without any abilities because she decides to fight back/retaliate, perceiving the mid tiers as week (protecting other low tiers in the process and more importantly acting as if she still owns them by telling them what to do and getting into their business, as Illena has said)

And Illena doesnt just kidnap Sera to get back at her specifically, but all of the high tiers in a sense, their arrogance entitlement, etc etc only using Seraphina as an outlet for all of their pent up frustration and hurt. She didn't even see them as an individual, but just another high tier, as we see when Illena addresses Sera using words such as "you guys" "her kind" "them".

Illena basically just wanted to hammer in notion that the high tiers were nothing without their powers to get rid of that same high tier like mindset ingrained in Sera's head to establish her place in the hierarchy as the most worthless and incompetent student in Wellston. All she wanted was for Seraphina to learn her place and act her rank accordingly. Because as a cripple she's worthless, and she should act/be treated as such. For in this society power is everything, and high tiers were the ones who ebstablised this with their Hierachy. Seeing Seraphina acting like she was better than them was unacceptable after everything the high tiers perpetuated

Which we can see here

In this instance, Illena wanted Sera to admit that they were better than her and that she was beneath them

And so, when she refuses. Illena gets pissed off because of her stubbornness, this is when the others step up and tell her that what she's doing is excessive.

Here Krolik implies that they should let Sera go, and this isn't what he tjinks but everyone else present too, as seen as other mid tiers stand by his side. But I am not saying that they felt remorse for Sera necessarily, but felt that torturing her was unnecessary and that if they kept her hostage/continued abusing her they would be severely punished once they're eventually caught, and that just isn't worth it to them as they know that beating her up will ultimately change nothing in the long run, anyway. They just wanted to get back at her for what she did... But not like this

Basically, they want Illena to accept that they don't need confirmation to know that they're better than her, it's a given seeing as Sera's a cripple, having no value/worth. She should just give up...

But she's refuses.....out of pride, insecurity. Needing reassurance, a sense of superiority above someone that was better than them for so long as she is offended by their hypocrisy and double standards

..Anyways when Arlo catches them and calls them disgusting, Illena calls him out for valuing a cripple above the rest of them when they were stronger than her, as following the structure of his hierarchy he shouldn't even care. Usually he would just ignore them anyway. And while it is debateble on whether or not Arlo would do anything if it was someone he didnt know the fact that Illena genuinely believed that he wouldn't step in only reinforces how bad the system really is where no one expects a high tiers to help someone beneath them when they're in trouble. She also said that the high tiers dictate the lives of the people beneath them because they were born gifted and get specials privilege because of it, just because they are stronger than everyone else. And Illena is frustrated that they have to listen to the high tiers, because they're punished if they don't comply, to her it's unfair. The high tiers did whatever they wanted with the mid tiers because they were above them, so the mid tiers should be able to do whatever they want with Sera as she is beneath *them*.

But Arlo just ignores her, and this reinforces her belief that the royals dont care about the feelings/opinions of anyone beneath them since it doesn't matter what lower tiers think because the high tankers will always be stronger, meaing they dont have to listen to shit(The lions do not concern themselves with the opinions of the sheep). And that pisses her off. In that moment, she disregards his rank. Pushing past her fear and trying to sucker punch that bitch. As the only way to get your point across in this world is through violence….but the realization that she can't do shit begins to sink in once she receives reflective damage from his barrier, serving as a reminder that no matter what they really can't do anything, because they're not strong enough. Turns out her little stunt was nothing but a meaningless attempt to change the status quo, this hits Illena hard. And she just accepts that she will probably be expelled

And with all of that said Illena might've been a hypocrital bitch but she still had a valid point.And if anything her being a hypocrite only reinforced how bad the system is at hand as well. Simply put, Illena represents the struggles of being a mid tier and sheds light on their mentality and what they deem jusifiable as a result of their system. She also provides insight on the damaging us vs them mentality and actually had a point in her rant to the high tiers. She had actual depth to her actions other than just being an asshole and had something of importance to say

I like her as a character study. I think her motivations are pretty realistic in context of the world she lives in. She's an product of her environment that shaped her into becoming this bully who resents the higher ups because of their privellege.

And that my friend, is why I like Illena as a character from a narrative standpoint

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The Ricks of s3e6

I took Rick notes. Morty notes can be found here.

Toxic Rick 

1st thing after gaining consciousness, he cries out for Morty and hurries to his rescue

Assumes the worst of the spa hand, blaming him for retaliation

Sense of ownership over Morty

Nothing is worth his time due to his overwhelming genius

He really does seem overwhelmed by it.. Imprisoned by it?

Rages as he does science, intense and urgent need for immediate and absolute control

Morty is weak and so inferior that he is undeserving of attachment

Equates genius to godhood, genius is everything

Immortality and God-complex, “If God exists, it’s fucking ME!” Might actually be undercut by a cry for help—this is his fate.

Conflicted by his godhood, and the pointlessness of it—he has nothing to prove to anyone, everyone is beneath him.

And that seems to trigger his realization of his Toxicity..

Seeks validation from Morty regardless, “Think anyone but me could do that?!”

Vengeful

Believes he’s the part of “Pussy Rick” that “keeps it real”—Real being pessimism, cruelty, suffering

Constantly indignant.

Calls Healthy Morty a “sociopath”, implying Rick is aware of Morty’s darker potential.. And maybe wishes he weren’t, since it’s with Toxic.

“Remember us?!” Us. Not “me”.

Denial of reliance on Morty, a reliance which sounds almost like a (psychotic?) dependency.

Affirms to Healthy Rick he must assume dominance over Healthy Morty. He sounded especially earnest, and anything but dismissive over its importance.

“Don’t negotiate”, anger and indignance but subtext might be worry and necessity for the ‘proper’ dynamic

Eyes adjusting, or so caught up in rage he misses what’s obviously going to be in front of him?

Demands Morty’s excitement, and includes him, “We did it”

“Fuck you Summer!”

Described by Healthy Rick as “literally unable to see the bigger picture”, implying he is myopic and self-obsessed

Incapable of humor. Too much suffering and self-obsession.

“Bottled up inside a sentimental jackass” Rick hates his own sentimentality to no one’s surprise

Coo’s to grow a monster into a loyal fighting dog with gibberish love, both manipulative, controlling, and possibly earnest

Straight into a violent brawl, immediately fighting dirty. No honor!

“I lie about everything!”

Fear of confinement, of being stifled or silenced. He values his freedom and autonomy above anything, and no one else’s.

Simply vacates once Beth shows up, not a word to her or about her

Can’t achieve vengeance, so he damns the world to his own hell

“You’re not impressing anyone!” Because impressing people is what HE wants to do, and he IS impressed by Healthy Rick’s callous cruelty

Requires constant validation, despite that impossibility when all of existence is beneath him

Rage as a plaintive call into the Absurd

“Grandpa’s here.”

Summary: Despite everything, he is paradoxically insecure and suffering his intense narcissism. He is wracked with oppressive psychological pain and tortures himself with his loneliness. Godhood is inescapable, a burden he cannot make peace with. He never seems pleased by his power, only harnessing it because there is no other way of being. His fate is eternal isolation, no matter how much he screams or how hard he thrashes.. or how much his familial bonds matter to him.

“Healthy” Rick

1st thing he does is apologize to the spa hand, insisting on his wrongdoing even as the apology is accepted. It isn’t just politeness, he seems to feel real guilt.

Smiles at the infinite possibilities of the universe, and relinquishes his sense of control or understanding of it (Relinquishing self to Camus’ Absurd?)

His genius naturally wants to expand on Morty’s “interesting” music idea, before realizing he’d gotten caught up in trying to calculate happiness. Some things are out of his reach and not his place, and that’s okay.

Pride in Morty, and his familial connection to him

Blows off his genius and potential in favor of simplicity

Respectful of others’ autonomy and needs, “A moment of your time?”

Apologizes several times throughout

Personal responsibility

Feels concern, and openly comes to Healthy Morty about it

Shares the entirety of the problem, as well as his feelings on it

Nervous, uncertain when Morty blows off the phone call, and hesitates before continuing

Wants to work with Morty at an even level, seeing him as an equal?

Wouldn’t have detoxed, but knows he still would have if he had known pre-detox. Familiar with himself and his demons.

Not seeing the disturbing voicemails as the problem to stop, but rather the pain of the Toxics.

“We yanked them from their home.”

Trusting to a fault, even trusting his own inner demons not to lie

Seems okay with the concepts of finality and things being finite

Seems to smile as he works, implying a sense of ownership over his capability

Even smiles at his toxins. Does this Rick actually love himself? Empathy for others’ suffering? Seems pleased with himself for finding and facilitating an amicable solution.

Indecisive, insecure with his own judgement without Morty’s assurance. At first. Sense of adult responsibility bringing him to make the choice anyway?

Can’t disregard the “will to live” in the Toxics. Respect for and values life in all expressions

Has his sense of humor, though it is still capable of being destructive

“I’m accountable to my own toxins, right?” Strong sense of responsibility for his whole self and his behavior. Uncertainty, and a desire for moral integrity. Seeking validation and reassurance, expressing weakness in the form of uncertainty and insecurity.

Also responsible for their resolution, their happiness, homing them. Owning them as part of himself.

Startled by Morty’s outburst of breaking the phone– by the suddenness, finality, and violence of it.

Realizes Healthy Morty won’t be of help, confused and disappointed by it. Something else he failed to expect.

Doesn’t anticipate the actions or motivations of others, making only the best assumptions. Belief in inherent good?

Ready to fight only after being struck, and even then, he takes slow initiative

“We can resolve our issues without resorting to—“ This Rick believes in resolution and recovery! Maybe therapy too..

Tolerant to the point of absolute pacifism, even in the face of a world-scale threat that he should still be responsible for.

Honorable in his treatment of others, even attempting to fight his Toxic as a last resort and in a fair boxing fashion

Didn’t seem to predict that the Toxic would fight dirty, even as its obvious. Does his intelligence take such a backseat to his honor?

Capable and fully willing to self-sacrifice for what’s right(re-toxifying)

“Sorry Summer!” “Summer get out of here!”

“Leave her out of this!” Protecting Beth from his own personal struggle, and the danger it wroughts

“I’m so sorry, girls.” Accepts and embraces his role as caring patriarch

Appreciative of Healthy Morty’s drive to stop the Toxics, but explains in a fatherly way that it “isn’t their place” and the Toxics have “a right to their worldview”

States that Toxic Rick’s motivations “are a mystery”. Might be a vague answer to avoid explaining more than he sees is necessary. If so, doesn’t want his Toxic to trouble his family.

Describes Toxic Rick as his “entitlement, narcissism, crippling loneliness” and his “irrational attachments”

Too healthy to lie, and too uncaring to have a personal stake in Toxic Morty

Possesses Rick’s capacity for ruthlessness

“You’ve never done anything but complain about me being in charge” Healthy Rick holds dominance in Rick’s psyche

Sees merging with the Toxics as healthy. Becoming a complete and healthy person requires embracing one’s demons

Empathy for others, including himself

Forces his Toxic’s surrender by exploiting his love for his grandson. Ouch.

Summary: Doesn’t let his own shortcomings be a problem for himself or anyone else, apologizing when they do. He is never controlled by fear, unlike the Toxic, and finds peace in being passive when it comes to the grandiosity of the universe. Feels openly, unguarded. Believes in personal growth, being honorable, and talking things out. A strong sense of personal responsibility, especially in regards to his place as patriarch of the family. Either possesses a sense of empathy for the plights of others (and himself), or feels such responsibility that he will do what is “right” regardless.. and by any means necessary, as long as it doesn’t conflict with his own ethics. At times, he is contradictory, perhaps telling of his indifference.

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Hugging but jerrick, and in the rain. But only if you want to

It’s probably not the content you wanted lol, but I just can’t see them hugging in the rain in a way that wasn’t angsty or smth.

More thoughts behind the cut.

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squid game is an purposeful critique on the consequences of capitalism and explores the desperate measures those living under it will take. to say that it was simply "their choice" to return is... deliberately missing the point :/

IN THIS ESSAY I WILL—