Assassin's Creed Valhalla Forgotten Saga Analysis Part 1 - The Niflheim Simulation (AC Valhalla DLC)

[@craftingranger7552]

This is definitely before the final boss battle in DoR. He must've stayed in this simulation for a few days but it felt like an eternity for him. Would help understand why his perception of time was different to the dwarves.

[@assassinscreedislife7636]

Yeah. I thought the EXACT same thing!

[@tffknowledgekeeper1088]

Amazing analysis, guys! I think that your interpretation really makes sense in the Isu metastory. Can't wait for the second part!

[@AccessAnimus]

Thank you so much TFF! I'm surprised myself that this interpretation (and thus the story of this game mode itself) does make sense this much within the Isu narrative. Absolutely didn't expect it from this expansion ^^

[@_UNISTAR_]

Man, you guys are the only ones still keeping my faith in this franchise, alive. Thank you........but also wish it didn't need to be like this.

[@AccessAnimus]

Same, I'm happy we can do our analyses, show our interpretation of the events, *hope* that it might be the correct one... but I still stand by my idea that this mythological coating has to go and that the stories in the universe have to be shown for what they are and not for what they might be.

[@_UNISTAR_]

@@AccessAnimus True, man. True. I really hope Rift is actually a good game, follows the old style, and thus, sells well. That might finally intice Ubisoft to try and go back to the old formula and improve it, instead of giving us this crap. They now also have Avatar and Star Wars IPs too, so they don't have to play so safe with AC all the time. Hope, they realize that. They can experiment once or twice.

[@assassinscreedislife7636]

Really enjoyed this game mode and this analysis is incredible! I actually came to many of the same conclusions on my own, so it’s cool to see we’re on the same page! The story fits very well with established AC lore, much like the rest of this game, which makes me very happy! One thing that I will say though is that when I played FS, I assumed that it took place just before the final chapter of Dawn of Ragnarök. You might remember that after Odin found Baldr’s body and killed Sinmara, there was a time skip to him returning to see Brokkr and Ivaldi to see if they found out what the Salakar was before going to kill Surtr. However, Odin said it had been centuries since he’d been in Svartalfheim, but once he was talking to the dwarves, they said he’d only been gone a couple of days. I thought that Forgotten Saga was supposed to explain why Odin was forgetting what he’d done for the past few days and why it felt like centuries to him. Idk. Just a thought I think explains the Dawn of Ragnarök time jump well. Anyways, really great video as always! Keep up the good work!

[@Monsterclip101]

Its crazy how deep the lore still is in this day and age. Thank you for all your videos man. I love these

[@j0nathan]

As always, very nice analysis that I fully share! Can't wait to see the second part on Baldr which is more interesting because he seems to know a lot more than we think !

[@AccessAnimus]

Indeed, the second part should feature more juicy parts! Thanks for the kind comment sir

[@higorravel7795]

There is nothing to do with ur vid, but as a brazilian, it’s so good understand everything u saying with no translated subtitles. You speak the words soooo clearly

[@AccessAnimus]

Awww thank you so much Higor! I always worry I speak either too fast or too slow - or that my Italian accent might influence the comprehension of the video.. Thank you so much for the feedback!

[@towellight9400]

@@AccessAnimus I watch all videos at 1.75x speed. I've always been able to understand you perfectly (as a non-European).

[@velioskay3924]

Really cool analysis video. And I do think the end of the game Mode with Baldr might be a hint to the upcoming DLC of Eivor's ending

[@AccessAnimus]

Thank you Veli! Yes, we expect that too! More on that in the next video 👀

[@GameboySR]

Good video, as always. Looking forward to the second part, maybe more details from the letters? I didn't bother reading them in my playthrough :D I thought the same thing, that this is definitely a simulation. Given Hel's tree-themed attacks and design, I think she is plugged into an Yggdrasil device and the design is a hint to it. This would explain how she is both in control but also trapped there, since we've seen multiple people being plugged in and how they couldn't unplug themselves. This would also perfectly fit the idea of a prison simulation. Plug the prisoners in and let Hel play her simulations to torment them. We've seen something similar, accessed from an Yggdrasil device no less. Valhalla - when Eivor plugs herself in at the end of the main game. It was a too a periodic infinite simulation, where she lost most of her memories, or had to focus very hard to hold onto them and break out of the simulation, just like Odin is doing in the expansion. So, I think Odin is actually accessing the simulation from the Yggdrasil in Asgard, in the chamber where the secret cutscene from completing all the anomalies takes place. That would explain why gets visited by all the Isu/gods who tell him about the events happening outside. If he really was far away, how and why would they go to him, when they are on the brink of war? Instead, the far away place is The Grey, or the simulation within it. We know Yggdrasil is used as an interface, or an entry point, into the Grey, since Desmond got "uploaded" there in America, but Layla met him from the Yggdrasil in Norway. Loki says "The Mad one is away, wandering in lands afar." Lands afar being The Grey, which is afar, in a manner speaking, can't access it unless you have a very specific type of technology. Every time Odin dies in the simulation, he gets forced out of the simulation and The Grey, and wakes up in the chamber with the other Isu/gods. This would mean that a part of Baldr is still alive in the Grey, together with Desmond and Layla and who knows how many more.

[@assassinscreedislife7636]

Beautiful theory. Cool to see people actually using their brains to actually understand the stories they play. Well thought out, sir!

[@GameboySR]

@@assassinscreedislife7636 Thank you :D Though credit should go to ATA because the game alone doesn't make me think about it this much, only when I watch the videos, most of the time

[@assassinscreedislife7636]

@@GameboySR Fair enough. They do often think up some clever theories!

[@kylemarcusroberto]

Love your analysis, bro. Feels like i'm not alone.

[@thegreatnerdsby6701]

Awesome video as always.. i really enjoyed forgotten saga as well.. wasn’t expecting that.. cant wait to see your next analysis video!!

[@AccessAnimus]

Same exact feeling! And the next video should be live next week!

[@zakfrost8647]

Really amazing analysis,cant wait for part 2.

[@zailak7]

Interesting analysis. I get the impression we will see more of Baldr in Rift. Basim will likely need a isu to be part of the story, while his mind is slowly becoming one with Loki. Baldrs comments about Synin, makes me think he will be in the present somehow. My understanding was that Baldr let himself be sent to hel, so he could be preserved and survive the ragnarok cataclysm - and then help bring light to a new age aka approx around eivors time. Interesting that he just allows the rest of the aesir to just die with their fate.

[@AccessAnimus]

Indeed, it seems like he is prone to sacrifice everything and everyone for the greater good - what that greater good is though, we don't know yet - but we may know with Eivor's final chapter in Vinland, I also believe most of the narrative threads will converge there

[@m.j.cervanez61700]

This is a very good analysis. Can’t wait for the second part And the fact that I really wish Eivor's conclusion by the year's end is worth it too.

[@AccessAnimus]

Thank you so much Marwin! Yep, Eivor's final chapter should release by the end of the year, so maybe there is indeed a connection there!

[@m.j.cervanez61700]

@@AccessAnimus Welcome! And honestly, the connection and the story should be worth it since it's Ubisoft's, in fact, a very ambitious game. The devs should at least answer how come Eivor ended up in Vinland. And if Hytham somehow make a hidden one journal about the legendary shieldmaden. And if Eivor wanted her glory to be spread, well... let's just say her viking saga was lest anonymous 'till 2020. Hmmmmmm. Idk, just a thought.

[@enenrax]

the Eivor Final has to be the best Update, to finish everything that was left open

[@AccessAnimus]

@@enenrax Yeah fingers crossed, with so many doors being left open I don't expect it to close EVERYTHING, but hopefully the main narrative threads at least!

[@m.j.cervanez61700]

@@enenrax I surely hope so. This "Viking fantasy" has to pay off. ESPECIALLY, the next set-up of the Basim's story. Because we need to more about his perspective and insights after spending so much time with Eivor (and Odin through her)

[@Aalok1991]

This dlc was such a pleasant surprise! I did not expect to enjoy playing it so much, it grew on me...Baldr seems to be playing for the long haul, most probably against Loki and Aletheia... somehow using the Helheim simulation/the Grey along with its keeper Hel's assistance to keep his consciousness preserved and hidden from ?Loki and possibly planning to reveal himself at a pre-planned moment in the future...

[@drskelebone]

Brilliant video! XD Thank you for all your hard work!

[@nicholasalley7324]

I'm rewatching this and thinking oh man I can't for your second review! The simulation is the Grey If I had to guess

[@erenjageralmuhed6029]

This is amazing analysis bro

[@AccessAnimus]

Thank you so much! Part 2 will be out soon!

[@r3l1csvk]

honestly,i too was not expecting to enjoy the dlc,was thinking that when i will be simply dying too much i will get fed up and stop playing it,but no quite the opposite,played it even after first hel´s defeat even if for a sake of gathering enough dreams currency to get everything from the vendor,minus materials

[@Klartraumprofi]

They could have packed All DLC into one heavily compressed, more interesting DLC… Just thinking about valhalla gives me a burnout

[@davidestabilini4468]

Not sure about the fact that it is all a simulation. It makes a lot of sense, but I like the idea that the roots taking Odin to Baldr in the end are in fact a device like Yggdrasil, and only Baldr is in the gray. What if Níðhǫggr, parasitizing the roots of Yggdrasil, is trying to live longer in a similar way to what happened to Basim?

[@pastlife960]

I see Nidhogg as like a computer virus, rogue code eating away at the foundations of the simulation

[@Skatha]

Thanks for the video, really made my work shift better, i also loved the new game mode

[@AccessAnimus]

Hah! Thank YOU for watching Skatha!

[@Skatha]

@@AccessAnimus haha no problem it was my pleasure mate 👍

[@jacobholly2096]

I finally beat the dlc from August 2 to August 8 failed so many times but I finally beat it.

[@lumineniananubis4161]

I find ot strange that Helhiem. Is inside of Nifilhiem. Because Helhiem and Nifilhiem are separate realms in Norse mythology.

[@shortmuscle7223]

I think that Baldr is hinting that is main enemy is Loki. In Norse Myth isn't Baldur the one that kills Loki? It would be great for Baldr to be able to finally get one up on Loki and Alethia. He did say that he is playing the long came and his light to return to the world is for the far off future. It is encouraging to know the Loki and Alethia do not know about Baldr and nice to see Hel being influenced positively by Baldr presense. I think she is his ally in this.

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

Basim is the hero of Valhalla, the main villian would be Odin.

[@ChrissieBear]

What if Hel is basically a "prisoner warden", who was locked up in Helheim as punishment for, but given control over it as a "mercy", so she could rule the prison, but be unable to escape it?

[@fuladh]

Been waiting for this! I was not expecting to like the Forgotten Saga so much… and your analysis videos are always a treat. On another note… I enjoyed seeing Valka again. I really liked her in the White Horse book. It’s nice to see her mistrustful side Also, do you think Aletheia’s consciousness being moved into the staff could have been related to the Salakar? Like Baldr’s conscious being moved into the Salakar and his body sent to Helheim

[@AccessAnimus]

Hey hey atef! As far as I know Aletheia's consciousness should have stayed in the Staff all the time, we actually don't know what happened to her body. But I don't think the Salakar was used to store her consciousness - that might have been a risk for their plan, it might have been discovered by Juno or Odin at some point ^^ As for Valka, I'm happy to see her too after reading Sword of the White Horse, I'm just sad they're making her misunderstand stuff half of the times. I guess we'll see this time if things are going to be different!

[@mastertucker]

It pretty much has to be a simulation but the thing nagging me here is there was so much physical experiments going on. Like of course they experiment in simulation but like there was so much about reanimating dead flesh with the heat and cold experiments on dead tissue to bring the wolves and boar bosses back to life. Hjalmgunnar almost seemed robotic, like as if one of the experiments was to cyborg him back to life or functionality. Like they made a big deal about how he'd gone there and become this monster which could mean they put the guy's consciousness in and experimented on that but it seems weird for all the physicality to be all simulated. The shieldmaiden was literally a body regeneration experiment as well. Also the way Nidhogg works makes him seem like a vehicle or weapon. Besides the fleshy bits, he comes off a bit mechanical in a way but more so the first time you beat him a buncha guys come out and 'repair' him? But it's not magic they can keep doing and they vanish almost as if getting into Nidhogg and running it best they can before it's demolished. As if he was some nuclear weapon with his 'poison' being radiation or something. Though could he be a virus in the system? At first playing it I was thinking it was some research facility where they were doing experiments to reanimate Isu and humans. The notes scattered around (which didn't get much coverage here??) talk abut experiments like that, or how in the second area near the second hidden merchant there's a note talking about keeping plants alive near the crystals and that they are hoping to make plants that survive heat. So I was thinking they split Baldur's mind and body instead of two consciousnesses or a copy of his sent to them. Like as if the consciousness was put in the artifact and then they were storing his body in Hel for later use. At the very least even in simulation with how much is focused on reanimation and physical experiments I feel like the implication is that Hel has his body for whatever reason. But it could just be all simulation. Just found it odd there was little mention of the experiments said to be going on there in all the notes.

[@benwilkie3553]

Can you do a video explaining the connection between the isu we see in Ac valahalla and the other assassins creed games? I feel I understand the isu story in the other games and the isu story in valhalla but i don’t understand the connection between the two? It seems like its two different versions of the isu story…confused please explain

[@KingOfHearts777]

I always felt like the dwarves represented humans within the mythological vail. For some reason I got the impression Hjalmgunnar was a human who wasted tested on via the Olympus project like in odyssey and became this monster. Or at least maybe in this simulation they tested out calculations of what the Olympus project may due to someone when turned into a monster. Just my personal theory.

[@nimbusnimbus.IV.]

Dwarves are not humans. Humans were created to be slaves, not Dwarves. Asgard has both humans and a Dwarf, the one who help Odin make the unbreakable rope.

[@AccessAnimus]

Yep, as Nimbus said, I also believe that the dwarves should be another group or race of the Isu, because the humans are indeed called "humans" and also shown as normal men in the Asgard and Jotunheim arcs If Hjalmgunnar is actually meant to somehow reference the king of the Goths, then maybe he was indeed a human that got involved in the Olympos project... then again we have no element to measure that (which happens far too many times with the monsters in the myth arcs...) which is why I just moved on without focusing on him too much. Because this really does look like a simulation, it could indeed be also a test for how the Olympos project could have worked out ^^

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

Uhm no, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Humans are depicted in Norse mythology as a species of their own without any substitute for them and on top of this, we actually meet humans in the Mythology portion of the game, especially in Jotunheim, where they are oppressed. So no, Dwarves are something different entirely from humans, they aren't the same race of people.

[@jacobholly2096]

Is valka potions that helps eivor relive the memory of Odin the reason the Templars discovered a way to make the Animus ?

[@jimsus69]

Niflheim means Home of the Night Elves aka the Dark Elves.. Alfheim is home of the Elves, and Svartelfheim is home of the Short Elves aka dwarves.

[@joakimnannestad]

Love the analysis videos! AC is by far my favorite franchise. Great Job!

[@AccessAnimus]

Thank you so much!

[@demigodhades4506]

I wonder if balder was split into to people I wonder if Desmond is also I mean he was shown at the end also kinda now shows cuz of Odin seems like his fault he brought the end

[@rickyb107]

Is there a way to actually 'clear' this quest from the quest log? I've 100%'ed the DLC, but also never gotten a single Freya cutscene, only Thor ones, but I don't know if that's because I only died on my first few runs before completing everything else?

[@izuniaberg1227]

I really wonder what country is Helheim during Isu era, some fans thinks that Helheim is Asia or Japan and Hel is also goddes Izanami.

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

I think that it might be possible. Though if that is true, the modern day story might be the weirdest Digital Devil Saga fanfic ever.

[@Telamonian]

6:55 is this isu ball the same thing Desmond touched at the end of assassins creed 3?

[@AccessAnimus]

That's what we hypothesized in our Dawn of Ragnarok analysis!

[@JustAJoX]

best dlc for me , no grind ,just collect stuff on the way i love it ! + all free

[@drskelebone]

I love how the auto captions consistently call it "Donald Ragnarok." Like it's a guy. :D

[@jacobkelly1358]

Not paying for more dlc after I already purchased the season pass. Screw Ubisoft

[@franks2796]

*dies of cringe*

[@atlemoen9595]

Will be cool to try. My game crashes when I logg in. Have to wait until the festival is over. It plays the cutscene in the begining of the festival, and then the game quits 😂 and ubisoft support haven't even looked at my request 🤬😂

[@purplemismagius28]

Any one else seeing Nidhoggr through the veil as a cannibal?

[@towellight9400]

Isu meat best meat. lol

[@rohit_parashar]

Hel yeah, it's finally here. Waiting for the ending 👀

[@AccessAnimus]

Ha! I see what you did there! The script for Part 2 is 95% ready so hopefully we should be able to release the final video next week!

[@rohit_parashar]

@@AccessAnimus 😎👉👉 and that's good news

[@dori-tos94]

What confuses me is that Baldur's death in mythology is supposed to be the begining of the ragnarök 😅 but its a great dlc! Bur Nithog is technically the guardian of Yggdrasil (the tree that holds the 9 relms) so it can go anywhere in the worlds.

[@AMBBrr]

20:44 maybe that's Persephone's Realm and here 20:50 it's Hades Realm ?

[@emrysmyrrdin9333]

What if, Munnin was a sort of companion IA like cortana for master chief in halo vidéo gales like ia made by the forerunners (équivalent of isu for halo games). It could make sense for why munnin get abilities uprgarde for havi, and as it is precious for him, maybe for his plan to survive ragnarok, he should not risk it to be corrupted/hacked in a virtual world ? Also, i am not so sure that is camp has a physical existence. I rather think that it is his virtual interface to go/hack niflheim, explaining why he got his ia here, as we can see an yggdrasil tree like the one in the temple in norway (with mytho filter). Indeed, even if it is not THE yggdrasil temple, it can be a smaller device/similar one créateur (or stolen) by odin (or stolen) to acces the virtual world. I also think Niflheim is virtual prison which rely on the yggdrasil tech, and or maybe a specific area of the gray which need an yggdrasil like entre point

[@shortmuscle7223]

Is part 2 to this in creation or you have already completed it since I do not see a link to it?

[@AccessAnimus]

Still in production! It should be out by the end of the week!

[@ChrissieBear]

6:45 In Norse mythology Helheim is IN Niflheim.

[@DMPTC]

Very good work, i thought the same thing, but instead a simulation, i intérpreted as the proper Grey, the isu outer plane, and they began a "colonization" of It, by istabilishing "prision colonies" and thats is what hellhiem was, but It could bê intérpreted as a simulation as well, since looks like the simulations is one of the ways tô reach the grey

[@michachwastek5287]

Cool update but I killed hell to soon and didint get all cutscenes after death and the quest is Still active can someone help

[@AccessAnimus]

You can check all the cutscenes in our video here, at least: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5DXd2SJg9qLsKM As for the quest still being active, that should be normal for everyone. It's not clear whether it's a bug or the quest is going to be completed with another update

[@michachwastek5287]

@@AccessAnimus ok thanks for the info

[@InitiatePeace]

I dont get it so if i killed hel fourth time now is that it or can you save baldr some how in this game mode please help

[@towellight9400]

They made a video that has all the cutscenes that they know of you can see if you want to check if you missed anything. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5DXd2SJg9qLsKM

[@mentaldesert]

wasn't Persephone also imprisoned in a simulation that she reconstructed to her liking? i wonder if there is a connection

[@ironbot2226]

I kinda regret skipping all of the cutscenes

[@AccessAnimus]

You can still find them all on our channel, we have posted a dedicated video last week!

[@towellight9400]

My speculation for Baldur is that if he manages to appear in Modern times is that he is going to be a Templar.

[@AccessAnimus]

Is he? Or will he support the Assassins? 👀

[@towellight9400]

@@AccessAnimus He sounds awfully Templarish in that final scene, being able to control an Isu as powerful as Odin to do what he wants. And if I recall correctly that was the big difference between the Order of the Ancients and the Templars. One revered the Isu and the other wants to control their technology and even the Isu (like the sages)... Also Loki seems like his mortal enemy. And the God of Lies and Trickery just screams "Nothing is true, everything is permitted."

[@crowngaming3277]

@AccessTheAnimus Suttunger is not the leader of the GRECO ROMAN Pantheon bro. Do yourself a favor. Compare jotunheim to the Vinland map. Same map dude. So that puts Suttunger/Saturn as the leader of the Isu Trifecta in new York where the Grand temple is. The American Isu are the Jotuns, I believe the fire giant that Odin kills in dawn of Ragnarok was ZEUS, the leader of the Greek Pantheon. Why? Because that branch of enemies have one female character model and Its Kassandras model from Odyssey suggesting it's the GRECO ROMAN Pantheon. If you look at Odyssey there is ALOT of volcanic activity everywhere in the game, Atlantis is under a volcano.... So when you look at it from a distance you have the Jotuns/American Isu, you have the fire giant/GRECO ROMAN Isu, and then you have Odin and his group of gods the AESIR. There are 9 realms, 9 different branches of possible Isu, we know of 3 for sure and one questionable group, the vanir. As Freyja was a vanir god and not one of the 3 previously mentioned.

[@muhammedgokcan22]

Everold reminds me of ivaldi a bit

[@cakeassassin6277]

Maybe odin rewarded ivaldis services by letting him reeincarnate.

[@chasingexcellence6646]

I think: Helheim = Elysium Hel = Persephone That zombie dog of Hel’s = Rus (Cerberus) This Isu’s consciousness is trapped in a simulation, cannot ever escape, and chose to modify this simulation to her taste, demands total worshiping, and treats other souls (consciousness) alright if they do as she says. Underneath, there are rebellions.

[@lavin214]

It's good that there's actually a story but I genuinely did not like this game mode one bit.

[@nimbusnimbus.IV.]

22:17 In the library I climbed up to the 2nd floor and there is one stained glass window with no light coming through. Though this was odd seeing how the other windows do so i shot it and another letter was exposed. It said the same thing as the other documents in the room. Odd place for it.

[@giuseppemorello5173]

I think all theese levels to Hel, are like "firewalls" of the Yggrasil simulation👍😎

[@AccessAnimus]

That could be!

[@HGA-84]

will be another add to the game or it is the last part?

[@AccessAnimus]

There should be at least two pieces of new content still to be released!

[@HGA-84]

@@AccessAnimus ¡Gracias!

[@GamingWithVector]

dokkerland..doggerland?

[@type_mob]

I couldn’t play this crap

[@drskelebone]

Is it just me, or is Odin/Havi the only Isu who isn't an absolute monster? The Capitoline Trio weren't great (Minerva slightly excepted), the Egyptians did nothing (unless they killed Baldr), and the Greeks just sat around building their Atlantis (and also some horrible monsters). Havi's looking at the problem, judging what will work best, fighting to get what he wants, and trying to save everyone.

[@drskelebone]

Also, this video triggered in me a strong desire for there to be another Eivor/Odin/Havi reincarnation in modern times. I hope the final DLC shows us how Eivor died in the Americas, and also presents the New Havi, who, based on what's happened, stabs Basim multiple times until he's dead, then takes the staff and Alethiea out to a cool party. Female!Eivor, obviously.

[@drskelebone]

Also, I really wish there were cameos from those you damned in the main game. I want to see Ivarr the Boneless again, tormented and tortured because I refused him a good death. I'm sure other people also want to see Dag, but I let him ascend in my game. Mostly, I just want Ivarr to know that I still am angry about Ceolbert, and will be forever.

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

@@drskelebone Odin is pure evil. He caused more suffering than anyone in the story and is the main villain of the story. He is the reason why Loki turned on Asgard, he imprisoned his children on false charges and is responsible for the death of innocent fenrir as well as for the death of Alethea. He also killed many innocent people for his own selfish gains and didn't apologized to Freya when he contemplated selling her to the builder. He also manipulated Minerva and stole the mead, which they studied to save countless people, whereas Odin only cared for himself and his flock. I hope Basim would kill Odin's next reincarnation, if he ever gains control over his next host. Odin is evil and speaking of him, if you want to avenge Cleobert, then Odin is not your ally, since he actually agreed with Ivarr's use of the blood-eagle and would have not denied him Valhalla, even if he murdered Cleobert. Glory in Odin's eyes is callous murder and he not only loved it, but rewarded it in his, Eivor's and even Layla's timeline.

[@shortmuscle7223]

I think that Baldr is hinting that is main enemy is Loki. In Norse Myth isn't Baldur the one that kills Loki? It would be great for Baldr to be able to finally get one up on Loki and Alethia. He did say that he is playing the long game and his light to return to the world is for the far off future. It is encouraging to know the Loki and Alethia do not know about Baldr and nice to see Hel being influenced positively by Baldr presence. I think she is his ally in this.