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Fall Theories on Blood Magic, Homunculi, and King Midas

This was originally going to be my last, long, pre-Fall prediction post. I had other, shorter posts with Rise thoughts and lesser theories, but I don’t have the time to post everything. So, I will likely post those when I go to post Fall thoughts after reading. Even if they become outdated, I may adjust them, or note that they were pre-Fall. Also, I aim to finish my second and final Fall prediction fic before May 2, but I may not. Even if it’s late, I’ll post the fic just in case anyone wants it.

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First, for context:

“A homunculus “[...] is a representation of a small human being, originally depicted as small statues made out of clay. Popularized in sixteenth-century alchemy and nineteenth-century fiction, it has historically referred to the creation of a miniature, fully formed human. The concept has roots in preformationism as well as earlier folklore and alchemic traditions” (Wikipedia).

“The homunculus is a diminutive humanoid creature believed to be created through magical alchemical means” (“Medieval Scientists Tried to Make Little People with Semen, Blood, and an Animal Womb”).

“The Kabbalah, for example, includes legends and stories about the alchemical homunculus, or "little man," and the golem, a kind of proto–Frankenstein's monster. In both cases the idea is that through certain secret magical practices, human beings can share in the creative power of God. To the orthodox believers of both Judaism and Christianity such a notion is considered blasphemous and betrays either the hubris of humanity or the work of the devil” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

“Prior to the rise of science and the mechanical vision of human life and the universe, the idea of creating human simulacra had a strong organic foundation. The homunculus was something one grew; the popular belief was that homunculi could be grown from the mandrake root, whose shape lent itself to anthropomorphic speculation. The golem, too, although not quite as organic as the homunculus, was nevertheless not pieced together bit by bit, as Mary Shelley's monster would be; it was fashioned, molded from clay or soil and then miraculously brought to life” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

“For the alchemist, matter was not the dead, inert stuff it is for us: it was a living body, one that could respond to a person's attention. As the alchemists transformed the matter in their alembic through the alchemical process, their own inner world experienced similar changes. The entire process centered on the idea of rebirth. The alchemists were to "die" in a sense—to lose their earthly, mortal being—and, if the procedure was successful, would be reborn” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

“Death was an essential aspect of the alchemical process; it was out of death that new life could emerge, as it did in the Frankenstein's monster. In Paracelsus's recipe for the homunculus, the horse manure represents the putrefaction needed to begin the process of rebirth. This is the first step in the alchemical work. The old self, the old Adam, must be broken down until we arrive at the prima materia, the primordial stuff, the unformed matter out of which any future creation can take place. The forty days in which the sperma is buried in the horse manure parallel Christ's forty days in the desert, when he is tempted by Satan. This means that the alchemist must undergo trials, must endure some suffering, and that the alchemical process is not something going on outside of oneself but is something that must be lived through. This is also suggested in the idea that the homunculus, the little man who is the alchemist reborn, must be fed by the alchemist's own secret blood. The alchemist's attention, concentration, mind, or soul must be completely focused on the task variously known as the creation or discovery of the philosopher's stone, the elixir of life, potable gold, the universal solvent, and, very often, the creation of the homunculus depicted in numerous alchemical illustrations, often as the god Mercury encased in the alchemical vessel” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

“That the alchemists would speak of this in parable, allegory, and obscure language shouldn't be surprising. It's difficult enough for us, who have the advantage of familiarity with self-help and psychotherapeutic literature, to grasp the meaning of rebirth. For the literal-minded of the Middle Ages, who were taught that all magic and occult knowledge was the work of the devil, this would be a subtle notion indeed. The idea that by going through the alchemical rebirth, one would become as Christ—regenerated—would strike them as blasphemous. What was left was the literal idea of making an actual man or woman, just like the idea of making actual gold from lead or finding an actual stone. Yet a famous alchemical maxim reads: "Our gold is not the vulgar gold." Clearly, making material gold was not what they were after. Creating an actual tiny human being was always recognized as a display of power that went beyond nature. This is a dim and distorted echo of the alchemists' belief that their art was against nature in the sense that it both sped up a natural process and redeemed its practitioners from a life lived solely at the natural, Adamic, unregenerate level” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

“The imperfection of their creature shows that the magicians, no matter how knowledgeable, are still far short of God, a point that contemporary advocates of "man-made humans" may wish to ponder” (“Homunculi, Golems, and Artificial Life”).

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For background, we know blood magic exists not only in the SGE movie but in the world of the books, to some degree. In the movie, Agatha holds a book called The Blood of the Homunculus, and coincidentally or not, it’s a red and gold book, like Fall. Otherwise, we do know a few other things surrounding blood magic from the main series.

In TLEA, the old heroes of the League of Thirteen, or rather, I think just a select few, paid off a witch to retain their youth or extend their lifespans with a life-extension potion, concocted from an odd mixture of blood and gold. The life-extension potion was also mentioned in the Handbook as well.

Something similar is mentioned in passing in Rise as well. The Pirate Captain was rumored to live on an elixir of blood and gold that kept him from aging. Though, I’m not sure whether you can gain true immortality from the potion. I think it is just a way to artificially prolong a life.

Thus, this potion could potentially have a more prominent role in Fall, especially considering the visual elements of the cover. Rafal and Rhian are dressed in blood red and gold outfits, and if that is not a massive indicator of a plot element, I don’t know what is. I think it’s quite likely that the groundwork has already been set up in canon, in TLEA, in the Handbook, in Rise.

Also, I find the usage of colors on Fall’s cover odd in general. There are probably some symbolic connotations or plot hints, but weirdly enough, I almost never associate Rafal with the color red. (Aside from the Handbook trivia that Sophie named a nail polish color from the line she designed Rafal Red. But, that is her interpretation, not mine. I associate Rafal with black, silver, dark blue, ice blue, and either emerald green, or a cold, wintry, firefly, radium-esque green. I’m convinced he renovated the Schools in TLEA to match Sophie’s eyes, whether it was a conscious decision or not.)

There was also a mention in Rise, I think, about Rafal being capable of using blood magic, as related to his ability to fly, and that Evers can’t use blood magic, which is why Rhian swims. I think this could be proven false, if Rhian goes as far as to do something with blood magic in Fall though.

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My theories regarding blood magic would have to be related to possession, resurrection (likely gone wrong), or raising an army.

I think there is a chance that Rafal could become obsessed with blood magic, and would possibly want to restore the state of the world to its Balance, the natural order of things, but in an unnatural, drastic way, by extreme methods, possibly to also retain his and his brother’s original Good-Evil roles.

If Rafal were possessed by blood magic, corrupted by some new, villainous force or his own greed, then it could explain any out-of-character characterization or his presumed murder of Rhian. Otherwise, he may just be temperamental, unstable, or too ambitious for his own good.

Also, that reminds me, in this particular possession theory, Rhian, no matter what he tries, will not be able to countermand the effects of the blood magic on Rafal’s psyche. The thought brings to mind this excerpt from Beasts and Beauty actually:

And, because the brothers have lost their immortality, they probably need something more: a functional replacement for their former power, more powerful magic than whatever they already have, than their preternatural sorcery, to fix all their problems. The two could see blood magic as the solution to all their problems because desperate times call for desperate measures, and they would become possessed by it as a result of giving up their free will to use it, or through selling their souls in some way or another. I think in many cases, magic tends to come at a steep price, but whether that actually applies in this case, I don’t know. And, by using blood magic that is intrinsically tied to life, they’d also be inadvertently too prideful, bringing about their downfall.

If one of the brothers dies, the other could use blood magic to grant him artificial life, returning as a hollow, empty shell of his former self, a vessel that isn’t quite alive in the typical sense. But, in most literature, having the power over life and death, and giving artificial life tends to be a sort of taboo. It’s simply not ethical, so by doing this, one of the brothers could be crossing the line because it is always dangerous and too prideful for humans to play God. I bet the Storian would not like this at all. Also, if resurrecting one of them backfires or doesn’t work, the brother who’s left alive could spiral into a depression, and could still have some involvement with blood magic or a descent into insanity as well.

For example, if Rafal is alive, he could then, hypothetically, artificially prolong his life after his brother dies, and he wouldn’t have True Love to actually sustain him and his youth. He would continue aging, but his lifespan would be abnormally long, and he’d likely suffer.

Also, this whole creation-of-a-life-through-magical-means is strangely reminiscent of the Spansel from TCY. And, all of this could share similarities with Rafal’s AWWP resurrection and his resurrection of the Old, fairy-tale villains. So, any of these possibilities aren’t wholly implausible.

Another possibility is that Rhian and Rafal, having no support, decide to raise an army of homunculi under their exclusive command to fight Hook, or to contend with any other probable villains of Fall. To back this idea, there are certain existent mythologies with creation stories wherein the human race are little figures sculpted from clay.

Also, any inclusion of such magical or elevated “technology” could be culturally-relevant today, or serve as commentary on current issues regarding genetic modification and the boundaries of what is and isn’t ethical. And, in crossing such ethical lines, Rhian and Rafal could change their own psychology, their inner worlds, by performing blood magic, or tampering with human life.

(This also makes me question whether the brothers have Celestiums. Regardless if they do or do not, I actually have plans to write Rafal’s Celestium someday. It’s already outlined.)

If these ethical debates are transferred over to the context of fantasy literature, to fit thematically into Fall, they could easily be a mirror to our world also. So, including something like this with broader parallels to our world is something Soman could potentially do with the many ways artificial life could come into play in Fall’s plot.

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Then, to go one step further with the blood magic theories: King Midas could be involved.

What if King Midas replaced Rafal, and is the School Master in the main series?

He certainly has the means to do so. He literally has an endless supply of gold at his fingertips. And, he could easily commandeer the Night Crawlers to supply him blood, like how Rafal negotiated with them, and exchanged Hook’s blood for passage to the underwater prison.

This could all add up to Midas abusing the life-extension potion to grant himself near-immortality.

Symbolism

I thought I might not be the only writer out there who likes to put symbolism in their stories so I found some things and what they represent!!

Animals

Alligator - stealth, survival

Ant - diligence, industry, community, remarkable strength, hard working, success, patience

Antelope - action

Armadillo - boundaries, self protection

Badger - aggressiveness, passion and drive

Bat - rebirth, longevity, joy, good luck

Bear - gentle strength, dreaming, introspection, power, protection

Beaver - builder, accomplishing goals

Bee - divine messenger, love, service, gathering, community

Bird - enlightenment, perspective, swiftness, vision, prophetic knowledge

Boar - nature-based wealth, prosperity, success, protection, courage

Buffalo - prayer, abundance, survival needs met, good fortune, healing

Bulls’ horns - a good symbol in meditation for motivation

Butterfly - rebirth, the soul, transformation, the three phases of life

Cat - feminine energy, mystical power, used to keep the wearer safe in travel, wholeness

Chameleons - ever-changing future, inconsistency

Cheetah - speed, focus

Cougar - power, swiftness, balance

Cows - red cows are a symbol of hope, inspiring symbol for nurturing efforts

Coyote - trickster

Crane - longevity. A pair of cranes symbolizes “Long Marriage”

Cricket - good luck charm, singing, Spring, fertility

Crow - sacred law, gateway to supernatural, shape shifting, illusion

Deer - graceful gentleness, sensitivity, compassion, kindness

Dog - companionship, health, service, loyalty, protection, future prosperity

Dolphin - manna, joy, childlike play, helpfulness, breath of life, harmony, intelligence, self connection

Donkey - fertility, easy childbirth, efficiency, health, well-being, and luck

Dove - peace, innocence, fidelity, love, gentleness, kindnes

Dragonfly - good fortune, magic, vision, dreams, luck, and ancient knowledge, illusion

Dragon - wisdom due to long lives and potent magic, royalty, Emperor, eternity, courage, strength, rain, Spring

Eagle - courage, spirit, bravery, strength

Elephant - commitment, strength, astuteness

Elk - stamina, pride, power, majesty

Fish - miracles, providence, sea/water magic, good luck and prosperity, foresight, fortune, salmon in particular, are associated with knowledge

Fox - camouflage, adaptability, integration, tricksters, shape shifters, and possessors of great magic

Frog - healing, cleansing, messages, health, honesty, fluidity, purification

Gazelle - awareness

Giraffe - grounded vision

Goat - tenacity, diligence, can help to achieve goals, endure criticism, and stay safe. Goat’s fur or foot - an anti-evil talisman.

Goose - safe return, love of home

Grasshopper - nobility, prosperity

Hawk - nessenger, strength, foresight, truth

Hippopotamus - emotional depths

Horses - power, stamina, speed, transportation and communication - A black horse with a white marking on its forehead is lucky

Hummingbird - joy, pure love, celebration of life

Ladybug - delight, trust

Lamb - filial piety (dutiful respect or regard for parents).

Lion (baby) cubs - inspire mercy and gentleness.

Lion (grown) - inspire strength, courage

Lions - pride, nobility, cunning, courage, just laws, fairness, the sun, images can protect sacred ground.

Lizard - dreaming, foresight, ancient secrets

Lynx - secrets

Monkey - benevolence, drives away evil

Moose - self-esteem, assertiveness

Mountain Lion - wisdom, leadership

Mouse - frugality, rebirth, scrutiny

Opossum - strategy, diversion

Otter - medicine (woman), balanced feminine energy

Owl - deception, wisdom, clairvoyance, magic

Ox - evil spirits that disturb lakes, rivers, and seas

Peacock - wholeness, dignity, beauty, recognition, self assurance, pride

Pig - rebirth and rejuvenation

Porcupine - innocence

Rabbit - fear, fertility, moon magic, speed, swiftness, longevity, courage, strength

Raccoon - dexterity, disguise

Raven - magic

Robin - growth, renewal

Rooster - courageous, warlike disposition, warmth and life of the Universe

Scorpion - the “fire within” that often needs careful tending

Seal - inner voice

Sheep - sacrifice

Snake - cunning, evil, supernatural power

Spider - destiny, fate, weaving

Squirrel - gathering

Swan - grace

Tiger - courage, bravery, fierceness, strength, being in the now

Turtle - mother earth

Weasel - stealth

Whale - record keeper

Wolf - teacher, A Guide to the Sacred

Zebra - Individuality

PLANTS

Aloe- Healing, protection, affection

Amaryllis- Pride

Anemone- Forsaken

Angelica- Inspiration

Apple blossom- Preference

Arborvitae- Unchanging friendship

Aster- Symbol of Love, Daintiness

Basil- Good wishes

Bay- Glory

Begonia- Beware

Bittersweet- Truth

Black-eyed Susan- Justice

Bluebell- Humility, kindness

Candytuft- Indifference

Red carnation- My Heart Aches, admiration

- White carnation- Innocence, pure love, women’s good luck gift

- Pink carnation- I’ll never forget you

- Yellow carnation- Disdain, disappointment, rejection

Chamomile- Patience

Chives- Usefulness

Chrysanthemum- Cheerfulness

Clover, white- Think of me

Coreopsis- Always cheerful

Coriander- Hidden worth

Crocus- spring, Youthful gladness

Cumin- Fidelity

Cyclamen- Resignation and good-bye

Daffodil- Regard

Daisy- Innocence, hope

Dill- Powerful against evil

Edelweiss- Courage, devotion

Fennel- Flattery

Fern- Sincerity

Forget-me-not- True love memories

Gardenia- Secret love

Geranium- oak-leavedTrue friendship

Gladiolus- Remembrance

Goldenrod- Encouragement, good fortune

Heliotrope- Eternal love

Holly- Hope

Hollyhock- Ambition

Honeysuckle- Bonds of love

Horehound- Health

Hyacinth- Games and sport, playfulness, rashness

– Blue Hyacinth- Constancy of love

– Purple Hyacinth- Sorrow, forgiveness, regret

– Yellow Hyacinth- Jealousy

– White Hyacinth- Loveliness, prayers for someone

Hydrangea- Gratitude for being understood; frigidity and heartlessness

Hyssop- Sacrifice, cleanliness

Iris- A message

Ivy- Friendship, continuity

Jasmine- white- Sweet love

Lady’s-mantle- Comforting

Lavender- Devotion, virtue

Lemon balm- Sympathy

Lilac- Joy of youth

Lily, calla- Beauty

Lily, day- Chinese emblem for mother

Lily-of-the-valley- Sweetness, purity

Lotus Flower- Purity, enlightenment, self-regeneration, and rebirth

Magnolia- Love of nature

Marjoram- Joy and happiness

Mint- Virtue

Morning glory- Affection

Myrtle- Good luck and love in a marriage

Nasturtium- Patriotism

Oak- Strength

Oregano- Substance

Pansy- Thoughts

Parsley- Festivity

Peony- Bashful, happy life

Pine- Humility

Poppy, red- Consolation

Rhododendron- Danger, flee

Rose, red- Love, I love you.

Rose, dark crimson- Mourning

Rose, pink- Happiness

Rose, white- Purity, heavenly, I’m worthy of you

Rose, yellow- Jealousy, decrease of love

Rosemary- Remembrance

Rue- Grace, clear vision

Sage- Wisdom, immortality

Salvia, blue- I think of you

Salvia, red- Forever mine

Savory Spice-  interest

Sorrel- Affection

Southernwood- Constancy, jest

Sunflower- Adoration

Sweet pea- Pleasures

Sweet William- Gallantry

Sweet woodruff- Humility

Tansy- Hostile thoughts

Tarragon- Lasting interest

Thyme- Courage, strength

Tulip, red- Passion, declaration of love

Tulip, yellow- Sunshine in your smile

Valerian- Readiness

Violet- Loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty

Wallflower- Faithfulness in adversity

Willow- Sadness

Yarrow- Everlasting love

Zinnia- Thoughts of absent friends

Color

Red: Excitement, energy, passion, love, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, all things intense and passionate, sincerity, happiness (Only in Japan)

Pink: love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.

Beige and ivory: symbolize unification. 

Ivory: symbolizes quiet and pleasantness. 

Beige: calm and simplicity.

Yellow: signifies joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard and friendship.

Dark Blue: Symbolizes integrity, knowledge, power, and seriousness.

Blue: Peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.

Turquoise: calm. 

Teal: sophistication. 

Aquamarine: symbolizes water. 

Lighter turquoise: a feminine appeal.

Purple: Royalty, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, honor, arrogance, mourning, temperance.

Lavender: femininity, grace and elegance.

Orange: Energy, balance, enthusiasm, warmth, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.

Green: Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, service, inexperience, envy, misfortune, vigor.

Brown: Earth, stability, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, simplicity, and comfort.

Gray: Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring. Silver symbolizes calm.

White: Reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical.

Black: Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, style, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures), austerity, detachment.

A Quick Guide to Colour Symbolism

Colour symbolism has been a long-standing part of the writers' craft. Colours can hold different meanings across various cultures, but here are some common examples of some colours and their associated imagery.

🍎 Red: Love, lust, anger, danger, violence, passion

💎 Blue: Tranquillity, calm, peace, sadness, isolation

🥬 Green: Jealousy, rebirth, growth, greed, renewal

♠️ Black: Death, sadness, loss, grief, evil, depression

🎀 Pink: Sweetness, love, kindness, innocence

🍊 Orange: Joy, creativity, energy, excitement

🌼 Yellow: Joy, cowardice, innocence, optimism

🏳️ White: Innocence, faith, peace, purity, mourning

🐴 Brown: Stability, comfort, predictability, boredom

💟 Purple: Royalty, bravery, virtue, luxury, spirituality

Color Symbolism

❀

⤷ black

⟼ banishment, classy, cleansing, dramatic, elegance, exclusivity, formality, glamor, luxury, mystery, power, protection, retribution, sophistication, unconsciousness

⤷ blue

⟼ calm, clean, conservative, forgiveness, insight, inspiration, integrity, loyalty, patience, peace, reliability, security, serenity, stability, trust, wisdom

⤷ brown

⟼ approachability, comfortability, earth, friendliness, grounding, organic, permanence, practicality, security, strength, stability

⤷ gold

⟼ illumination, luxury, prestige, prosperity, radiant, rich, traditional, valuable, wealth, wisdom

⤷ green

⟼ abundance, balance, fertility, freshness, growth, harmony, healing, health, luck, maturity, nature, prosperity, restoration, wealth

⤷ grey

⟼ balance, calm, maturity, minimal, intelligence, neutral, reliability, sleekness, stability

⤷ orange

⟼ activity, creativity, confidence, encouragement, energetic, enthusiasm, excitement, friendliness, joy, optimism, success, youthfulness

⤷ pink

⟼ affection, compassion, femininity, friendship, happiness, harmony, love, optimism, playfulness, romance, self-love, softness, sweetness

⤷ purple

⟼ ambition, creativity, honor, intuition, luxury, majesty, mystical, nobility, royalty, sensitivity, spirituality, success, wisdom

⤷ red

⟼ action, ambition, attention, confidence, courage, danger, determination, desire, energetic, love, livelinesses, lust, passion, power, strength, urgency, vitality

⤷ silver

⟼ classy, glamor, grace, magical, modernity, style

⤷ turquoise

⟼ balance, emotion, healing, imagination, peace, protection, sophistication, spirituality, wisdom

⤷ white

⟼ beginnings, clean, divination, freshness, goodness, hope, imagination, innocence, minimal, modernity, peace, purity, simplicity, wholeness

⤷ yellow

⟼ cheer, energetic, enlightenment, friendliness, happiness, joy, intellect, learning, optimism, youthfulness

Carmen Sandiego and Color

So let’s appreciate the absolutely Legendary™ use of Color Symbolism in Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego:

V.I.L.E’s Iconic Color is green– all the villains wear green, the lair is green, the uniforms are green, etc. 

When Carmen rebels against them, she obviously starts wearing her iconic red– which is green’s complement, its “opposite” on the color wheel. This shows that Carmen has become the “opposite” of V.I.L.E. 

Scenes where V.I.L.E has a lot of power/influence are often tinted green, scenes where Carmen has power/influence will often be tinted red.

VILE in San Francisco:

Carmen in San Francisco:

Julia Argent, the ACME agent who believes Carmen is a good person, wears a bright red shirt that the other agents do not wear.

This ties into the series’ theme of “don’t be fooled by initial appearances.” Green is the color we usually associate with goodness, while red is the color we usually associate with danger/villains. But in this show, the colors’ meanings are flipped.

 Green means danger, and red means safety.

And again, this isn’t just in the costumes!!  

Contrast these scenes where Carmen is nervous on V.I.L.E island:

And can’t relax Because V.I.L.E:

With this scene where Carmen feels confident and free:

The dialogue in the “Carmen finally relaxes” scene is cute too:

Player: Red? Carmen: Yes, it is. I may finally be unwinding.

Because scenes where Carmen is at peace, or confident and in power, tend to be tinted red (or pink/reddish-violet.)

Scenes where Carmen and co. are frightened, losing, trapped, or in terrible danger will be tinted green.

HOW TO SPOIL THE SHOW FOR YOURSELF:

If a fight scene in this show is red, things will probably go well for Carmen. But if the fight scene is green, things will probably go badly.

The battle Carmen loses against Paperstar:

The one that she wins:

The Indonesia episode is very green, because the Stakes Are High and Carmen seems to be losing:

 but after Carmen wins RED FIREWORKS GO OFF, lighting everything red:

Also: Tigress was an idiot for choosing to battle Carmen on the Golden Gate Bridge, bc it’s the reddest place in San Francisco, meaning that it’s where Carmen’s POWER IS GREATEST

Tigress shoulda gone to New York and battled her on the Statue of Liberty instead, that’s a guaranteed victory right there

And in Carmen’s worst failure in the season, her red coat is even torn off, so that the shot is completely green:

But then she escapes and look who’s back?? RED

ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS:

Before Carmen steals the VILE data thing, everything is green:

But the moment she successfully steals it, RED ALARMS START GOING OFF:

Like “heck yeah La Femme Rouge is finally here!!!!”

And (major spoilers ahead!) what I find most interesting is this Red™ scene:

The scene where Carmen fails her pickpocketing test, ruining her chances of becoming a V.I.L.E operative. 

When you watch it for the first time you see it as a failure. The blood-red sky is there to show us that Carmen is in serious danger, and her life is about to be ruined.

But when you rEWATCH THE SHOW WHILE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE COLOR SYMBOLISM (as ya do) you realize it’s the opposite. This is the moment that saves Carmen– that sets her on the path to becoming “The Red Rogue.” 

And I might do another post on this but like– it’s so cool how red is used in Shadowsan’s scenes in general!!! Most V.I.L.E people’s scenes are all green, but Shadowsan’s scenes are often red, to hint that he’s secretly sympathetic to Carmen.

See you initially think he’s grabbing the sword to kill Carmen, but when you rewatch it, you realize he’s going to sabotage the VILE’s helicopter and rescue her! He was on her side all along, and the Color Symbolism knew it!

TL; DR:

As Carmen says in “The Sticky Rice Caper:”

“Green bad……red good.”