CLANCY isn't the end || twenty one pilots initial thoughts + double album theory

[@beestings22]

I had a thought, (no I am not going insane) but I think I have some interesting reasoning hear me out. My proposal is that for the first album that they dropped, they decided to take out a decent chunk of the lore being presented, and sell an album of hits, one to get the crowds excited (as in they do in this theory I'm gonna present as a part of the dema/bandito revolution), and then drop the full version with the surrounding context later. A big reason for this is I feel like a lot of the songs on this album could be considered lore relevant if they had the surrounding concepts and characters. Like you could argue that routines in the night is clancy/tyler walking around dema at night after sneaking back in/maybe seizing a body, like we know dema is colorless so it would make sense that the only spray paint allowed to be displayed is probably completely desaturated (white??). However, we would only know this for sure if there was extra added context, which could've been delivered by the music video but since it wasn't the only real way to confirm this would be through surrounding songs talking directly about characters or events. Vignette literally talks about becoming zombies, i.e. siezing bodies, but the song is a tribute to them, he doesn't want to take advantage of these people who have died in the city or portray their deaths as a good thing, but he wants to honor them and who they were. However, the clancy mask could also be a way to avoid glorifying deaths in the way that the bishops do, he doesn't want to directly flaunt these bodies that he's disturbing, and it seems like he holds some regret for it. Lavish could be Clancy being discovered in Dema but then being welcomed in by the bishops with bribery. The lyrics say "welcome to the style you haven't seen in a while", which could be referencing the fact that Clancy has been physically gone from Dema for a while, and now it's the "coolest" it's ever been. However, it seems like Tyler (and maybe josh i'm not sure?) is/are using this opportunity to get to play music to Dema citizens again, but this time because of the way they had to bribe him (because they're probably scared of him now and what he's proven he's capable of) he can as he says in the song, "say whatever and whatever that [he] want[s]". Relating to this idea, the songs he's playing to Dema citizens now aren't like the ones he was requiremed to play to them during Scaled and Icy. I know there's some disagreement on whether or not the next semester video is lore related or not (and even if it was it wouldn't have to fit that point in the album story wise because we know that the nico and the niners video exists before the levitate music video but levitate is way before that song in the album), but the performance featured in that video isn't the TV highly produced performances of the SAI era, these are in person intimate rowdy shows to get people riled up. There's so much crowd interaction in that video, and while that isn't exactly new for the boys, it could mean that this is part of the plan, Clancy is radicalizing dema citizens from the inside. This also kind of seems to happen in overcompensate but if true this seemed to be maybe before the boys were discovered because this one seems a lot more secretive and less like an actual concert. Maybe this was the original plan before they were discovered. Also, whatever happens inbetween navigating and lavish, if that is the actual order, could be what gets people out of the walls to begin following tyler who navigates them through trench for their first time, starting to build a small army? This could also be why Paladin Strait feels like the song right before the last song/battle, not because there's a second album but because it literally is the second last song and whatever will fill that gap finishes this story. Snap Back could even be clancy/tyler feeling that the movement is dying, that it's going to fail, and him reflecting on his desperation. Maybe in his desperation to fight back against Dema he did something that made him feel no better than the enemy he is fighting "If I'm gonna snap necks than I gotta snap back". This could be a call for himself to remember where everything started, but starts feeling himself slipping into familiar safe tendencies from before he became this symbol. Idk if this has been theorized but this could also be about Tyler feeling the pressure of being this face of a new mental health movement, as someone who is only just recently gaining some control over his mental health, which makes him slip back into older mindsets that he seemingly escaped I don't necessarily think that if this is true it means every song will get recontextualized as lore, but I certainly think it's very possible for a lot of them. Especially with how loose some of the lore stuff has been in the past, I feel like the main things that contextualized everything happening on those songs was the surrounding character names and lore words spliced in. A lot/most of the actual lore also relates directly to tylers life and has multiple meanings. We now know that Clancy Ultimus Capitulus 25 is a real thing, and if that is 25 tracks that would make perfect sense. However, this could be less tracks added and still make sense with my theory here. This is only based on very anecdotal evidence so it's very possible that this isn't true and I'm not gonna be disappointed if this isn't true, it's more just a thought given all the marketing around this album being so lore related. Technically that could be true, we just might not have all the context yet. (also probably gonna also post this on reddit but I had a lot of these thoughts after watching ur video so I decided to post here first).

[@caseylovett]

this theory has been stuck in my head ever since you said it, i love love love the idea of this album being a skeleton of the real story and how it could all tie in, thank you so much for sharing

[@beestings22]

@@caseylovett thank you so much for the pin and the kind words! Your content is what inspired this theory, so thank you for all that you do, your multi hour long breakdown of the lore lives in my head rent free

[@derekrose3328]

🤔 Tyler asked, “You tell me: does it sound like the end?” And IT’S NOT: on my 30th+ spin of this record. Luckily? I didn’t listen to the album without this stream. After, “Overcompensate,” and it’s music video? That was all I needed. So, I got the whole album + the music videos on this stream. It was SO GOOD that I forgot: •the album art •that Tyler said, “This will be the most lore heavy,” •all of the clues and all signs that pointed to, “It’s showdown time.” It hit like a bolt of lightening. On like spin #32 (not exaggeration). This album •doesn’t match the cover art •it isn’t lore heavy (it has a lot in common with Scaled & Icy in that way: dry for lore with two dense spots).. and rather than a bulleted list.. the weirdest part? Between, “Navigating,” and, “Overcompensate?” That feels like the first couple hours after the end of Scaled & Icy. ‼️BOOM‼️ lore vanishes (aside from Tyler wearing Blurryface paint in nearly every video.. liked the detail of the single version of, “The Craving,” where you can see he washed it off, but it’s still lightly encrusted around his fingernails), so the lore vanishes. In this final leg of the story? After, “Navigating,” &, “Overcompensate,”open this leg of the story as an intro? We skip through 9.25 tenths, so 9.25/10 of this final leg of the story, then we’re at Paladin Straight, and it covers the 9.25 - 9.50 mark of the story, and ends on a cliffhanger… Where did the 1.0 - 9.25 section of the story go?? You’d have thought that there would’ve been several tracks in the vein of: •Pet Cheetah •Nico and the Niners •Overcompensate •Paladin Straight in terms of lore, and that the songs would have musical teeth ala •Overcompensate •Heavydirtysoul & •Jumpsuit … None of that happened. We’re all talking about it over on Reddit in depth. Am I taking crazy pills? What do you guys think?? Isn’t a lot of stuff missing? Like, and don’t get me wrong: this album insulated to just the songs and music videos? I love it. Hell, lots of people weren’t into SAI yet I loved it all (aside from “Bounce Man)”. Loved this album.. Problem: it’s not any of the things that were indicated.. What’s happening? And, does the fact that Tyler has on Blurryface paint at near constant in these videos have any bearing (even in “The Single Version,” music video: it’s encrusted around his nails, implying he washed it off, but still traces remain)?

[@Millawaukee]

I heard somebody say once, maybe on reddit "tyler is finally able to be in the same room with blurryface, Deal with him, work with him" which makes sense because you cant really rid yourself of insecurities. What if he is willing to be one with them. lead them maybe? and guess what. there is an open spot in the lineup of bishops. just food for thought.

[@lauranicolodi5559]

i mean you do have a point considering keons' death, and him being the "kindest" bishop, who represented tyler's insecurities around his creativity. i saw some people speculating about tyler's behaviour on the clancy album, his whole visual, the stripe he is always wearing and how it resembles a religious thing, his authority behavior (especially on overcompensate) and the possibility of him accidently "becoming what he is trying to defeat". maybe this is all leading to him becoming a bishop, but now trying to live with his insecuirities, and not becoming a glorified one. or maybe im tripping idk lol *also sorry if my english is bad, im brazilian :')

[@Millawaukee]

@@lauranicolodi5559 no you worded everything that I was thinking exactly how I meant it!

[@derekrose3328]

Damn I really like that. And, it would make sense as to why Tyler had on the Blurryface paint in EVERY video (and I count the single version of, “The Craving:” they focus on his nails and hands, and very intentionally he’s washed it all off, but it’s encrusted around his nail bed).

[@smoothcrmnlmj9126]

I can’t tell if I love or strongly dislike this theory 😂 it would make sense, I guess, but the fact is that there is ways to defeat pain and suffering you are going through- even if it’s for a little while… I have a feeling that he’s gonna keep pushing forward, and defeat The Bishop… or maybe he’ll turn him to his side… or they’ll just all leave and never see each other again- idk 😂

[@lolersauresrex8837]

If blurry face could be seen as Tyler’s shadow ( in the jungian sense) then you would be referring to something called “integration” where embracing the shadow is a necessary part of that journey of individuating.

[@pohoneypot]

it would be poetic to end in some sort of truce… not a definitive winner or conclusion but rather a temporary consolation with what is. because after all, the battle never really ends

[@KingofRatsGaming]

my theory is that the Paladin Strait video is going to be a long one, extending well past the song's runtime on the album. What that extension would contain is beyond my ability to guess, but this postponing of its release, when Tyler said the music video _was_ ready to go seems like it's setting up for something much bigger. An album? I don't necessarily think so. But certainly something significant to the story. It's like when the tide recedes shortly before a big wave hits.

[@brandoni.fernandez6059]

I think Routines in the night is actually pretty lore heavy too! There's a lot of references and hidden meanings also in the lyrics that talk about it

[@caseylovett]

i feel like that song is the most lore heavy in both the music video and the lyrics outside of the songs that are officially in the story but i love how it can still be understood even when people don't know the little references

[@xx-nekoxd-xx]

@@caseylovettcrazy though, why does it sound like blurry and Tyler are talking to each other in that song

[@verueblue]

I think you got it at the end of the video. The album tells us the whole story. The battle with our insecurities is never ending. Dema will always be there, NIco will always find you, you will get captured again sooner or later. But it's about finding the good times in the cycle. It's about the persistence. And as you said, loosing or winning, both would feel a little bit wrong, because not everybody wins and loosing (becoming one of the neon gravestones) is depressing. And that's why I love the "ending" so much! He has shown us the possibilities and the rest is up to us. The most important thing is not to loose and never give up. Push on through.

[@brandonherr8919]

I think the album cover literally shows the end. Some kind of fire is going to burn the whole thing down. Taking from the lyrics “destroy it if I want” He’s definitely going to destroy it. It’s right in front of us

[@grategorbony]

But destroy what though: the storyline of Trench/Dema OR TØP??

[@shmoosmith]

I think that Tyler is showing us who Clancy is, and its Tyler becoming himself, trying to unit the expectations he has for himself and what he ends up doing. Tyler is just a white dude from ohio and we have a lot of expectations for him. That's why there so much self movement with the themes of cycles and backslides, maybe overcompensating, waiting and trying again next semester, getting stuck in your head, being haunted by your past. I don't think he ever really meant to go mainstream and so blurryface literally haunts him. He was forced to make propaganda (pop music) in order to keep his job going. And now he is a Dad with a lot more responsibilities outside of his job, every which way is expectations. I think that its very clearly not the end just yet.

[@gilbertserrano485]

After listening to the album for the 20th time already i think snap back is actually following the story and i think it's telling us to look back at the old tracks again. I think it's the return of blurryface and maybe unread of fighting it and seeing it only as negative that he is going to utilize it and move forward. A new start a new way to see things.

[@gargin1633]

I personally think that it the ends loops back into Heavydirtysoul as a cycle.

Me too

[@idle_speculation]

It'd be really cool if after the "hello clancy" bit at the end of Paladin Strait the opening of Heavydirtysoul started playing, similar to the original version of Goner.

[@lukeafranklin]

This exactly what I thought when I first finished the album…we’ll see

[@maryynekdied]

Nah that would be so simple for the boys, i think they will surprise us and takes our breath away

[@Chaoticdisc]

Don't mind me rambling and sorry if this doesn't make any sense, but I just thought of it when you were talking about "real life" experience-based songs VS storyline songs and how they seem to be moving away from the story and more towards "real life" experience and stuff in this album (so far. As of writing this, the Paladin Strait video hasn't dropped yet). Together with Tyler wearing the Clancy clothing. It just got me thinking. Like something just clicked. Lemme know your thoughts! :D I feel like as the storyline is being concluded, the shifting of the tone to "real life" experiences at the same time makes so much sense. It's literally being inbetween two places and the places are blurring together. Tyler = Clancy. That was the whole deal and that's what we're seeing. We're seeing him in perhaps reality struggling with perhaps real things/issues/things he's dealt with (fe: Next Semester), but the metaphors of the world are still being used (see Routines of the Night, for example). Little things, metaphors of the story/world intertwined with the real world and real experiences, as that's how the world was created in the first place ("I created this world to feel some control"). And now they're fusing the two to show how the metaphors they previously used in f.e. Trench and the rest of the storyline applies to real life. The music videos aren't as lore heavy as many may have expected, but we will definitely get what the band had promised. Whether Paladin Strait is the last record or more will follow (like a deluxe), I feel like that song will be the conclusion to the story with a beautiful bow. Meanwhile this album has succesfully started to shift towards what comes next for the band and what they would like to make in the future! But these are my speculations, and just how I interpreted it with my overthinking brain! I'm in love with this album. The producton is so high and the dedication is insane. Great video as always :)

[@caseylovett]

the whole big theme of being in between two places fills me with so many emotions every time i hear it so i absolutely love this idea. thank you for sharing your thoughts!!

[@alltimedwn]

I absolutely have the same feelings as you, especially about the whole "is this the end?" thing. I am currently just super confused and really excited for what they have in store for us. Since it really doesn't seem like the end just yet, I will hold on before I make my final assesment on the lore aspect.

[@bossmuffin3587]

When it comes to the ending. I feel like Clancy should win, but Blurryface will always be there. He'll always come back at some point. He can never truly be defeated after all.

[@110.12dc]

I haven’t even finished the 2 hour video yet 😭

[@matthewblair2301]

I have a theory that made me terrified that it could happen because it seems like it could be an understandable thing to happen is that the door that opens is a car door to the heavydirtysoul car and all of this is in the head of Clancy trying to figure out how it will go if he does go through with the plan of escaping Dema and even the Bandito Josh is not real! I am actually getting chills even thinking about that!

[@flashnrt]

That actually could make a lot of sense. Especially since in the hds video, it ends with Tyler/Clancy back in the car, as if the car falling apart and burning and exploding never actually happened, and it was all in his head

[@LisasLabs]

I feel like the clancey album is translating Dema into reality. It's a mental prison that you got yourself stuck in and you can get yourself out (but you need to accept you may need help) you also need to accept that it cycles. 1st at 17 then again and again even with success or losing people... you can even support others like your friends and spouce

[@joshuaalderson860]

If this album is the end you have to remember the first song in it replays the lyrics “I created this world to feel some control, destroy it if I want”

[@judojd]

Sorry if I'm misinterpreting this point but I feel people are getting some ideas mixed about the Torchbearer reveal. TLDR (sorry idk what this band is doing to me) : You were correct about Josh being actively important to the narrative before. You just didn't know how correct you were lol (Metaphors and analogies to the side; just in literal story terms) It's not that Tyler was actually alone this whole time (since being recaptured from the camp). It's that he actually WASN'T even though he should have been. This was the character development I needed for Torchbearer. The Torchbearer didn't abandon one of his people. He telepathically projected himself to Tyler and supported him through his time of isolation and despair reluctantly taking a part in Dema's propaganda while imprisoned. Reminder Tyler was under specific watchful eye from the Bishops so it goes to reason the Banditos couldn't just waltz in and break him out like they did when they recruited him during his previous escape attempt. Sidenote: Some people were also wondering why The Torchbearer still had yellow props like drumsticks & tape and all during those performances. When Tyler got stranded on an unknown island (Voldsoy) Torchbearer projected himself to him, picked him up, led him to gaining the ability to seize and devised the plan to use that to rebel against the Bishops. That's why the physical Torchbearer has the Clancy mask back in Trench. They've been fighting together this whole time. Again as Tyler pulls up to the shore of Trench, there are Banditos who just so happen to already know where to pick him up. The banditos and Torchbearer help him navigate (I couldn't resist) through Trench's wilderness, Torchbearer again still getting Tyler to push on when the journey gets weary. The physical Torchbearer knows exactly where and when to meet up with Tyler because he is simultaneously with Tyler via the use of his ability. He turns off his psychokenetic ability when they're face to face and, upon having the mask Hades to him, Tyler fully gets it like, "brooooo 😭", "homieeeee 😭", "my guuuuyyyy😭", "my blooooood😭" lol My Blood (which is loudly Torchbearer's song) aptly has literal lyrics to match, again putting symbolism/metaphors/analogies to the side. 'Torchbearer' has been looking out for 'Tyler' like he's family. (Other sidenote: we generally seem to mix up a song itself being lore relevant with a dedicated music video for it being lore relevant but that's another topic) What Navigating revealed was we've been following 2 focal characters throughout these music videos this entire time. Tyler AND Josh, even as the latter has been rebelling from a physical distance. We've been seeing Josh using "to guide" this entire time outside Jumpsuit, Nico And The Niners, Levitate & the end of Navigating the same way we saw Tyler using Seizing in The Outside and Overcompensate. As a fan of supernatural/fantasy mystery stories, Navigating and Overcompensate GAGGED me. Like not only is the choice of superpowers cool and chuuni as heck...the use of music and music videos' unique limitations and strengths in storytelling. I personally didn't we were meant to be taking Josh's presence in every MV into account as much as some people were lol. It could have just been artistic licence to display support or something and ended at that. Cool writing. It's the Manic Clay letter after this MV. OH YEAH. I found it weird how 'Clancy' was switching between saying 'we' and 'I' when reporting from Voldsoy in uploaded text letters and the "I Am Clancy" video (which is still a letter). He'd talk like he and The Torchbearer were in on it together and then switch to I on physical application like, "*I* am returning to Trench"...but we saw 2 people on Voldsoy & 2 returning to Trench? Makes sense now

[@caseylovett]

this is such a lovely and in depth comment thank you so much! i realized after recording this that tyler had talked about the torchbearer as being able to project himself in to act as a guide rather than it just being something tyler was making up, that all makes a lot more sense now

[@anialichon9021]

I feel like it's also an allegory to the fact that sometimes your friends are not physically with you but they are in your thoughts and heart through the darkest of times

[@ashleysbored6710]

Lavish has gotta be my favorite from the album. It's so much fun

[@EffieStephens33]

That video on the lore owned me yesterday. Thank you for all of your hard work. I’m sure I’ll love this as well. So glad I found your channel!

[@caseylovett]

tysm!

[@Goldberry]

In your longer video regarding the whole story of the lore before the album came out when you read the letter that said “they haven’t seen him all this time, I hope they keep up with the torchbearers plan” I was like “oh em gee” cause I knew what you didn’t at the time, that Torchbearer is the only real Josh.

[@ijoeymatthews]

I agree, I was going through the videos and each one that finished I kept thinking.. here it comes… here it comes… and that feeling never came… I pray we get a positive resolution out of this

[@natthecat2862]

i slept in and i literally came back to the live when Tyler was just saying the whole ,,Does this sound like the end?" speech and honestly my heart started to beat faster in that second. THIS IS NOT THE END!!! i doubt it will be a double album but i have a feeling we might get some hints towards the final battle... i feel like maybe next year we'll see something bigger. that's just my guess but i really hope we'll see something more soon. i am gonna remain hyped.

[@Coolperson88888]

Everyone has been sleeping on At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb and Lavish. At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb is probably my new favorite. In time I hope they will be appreciated more

[@Joelgreene1]

Tyler said in the live stream that the torch barer has a special power. Like maybe he can project himself to Tyler to help him. 16:18

[@mattford808]

Paladin Strait’s gonna be an amazing music video, if they’re taking extra time to release it then it’s for a good reason.

[@SemkOld]

Clancy was never alone. The torchbearer has the ability to guide (which you mentioned) which is assumed to be some form of projection. Thats why he pops up in places without having to move etc. It’s unsure if others can see him though, or if it’s just Clancy. If we assume the music is diegetic, then the torchbearer is visible to others. If the music is non diegetic, it greatly muddies the water because we have to evaluate the music videos without the performance itself taking place. In other words, any time we see the two performing, we ignore them and focus on the other actors in the room unless there is direct interaction from other actors to the duo.

[@marialemcr]

Anyone with depression knows there's no defeating Nico

[@lucashicken]

There is no defeat but you can learn to live with him

[@DinoDude1114]

I think the lyric: Come up with Josh Dun (Overcompensate). means that Tyler doesn’t even know who Josh is when he is playing a bandito. And he came up with the name Josh Dun in his head

[@neds_pilots]

I sent that 2 hour video to one of my best friends who is just now getting into twenty one pilots and wanted to know all the lore, you made a great video! 🙌🏼

[@caseylovett]

tysm!!

[@iforgotmyid]

I love seeing the passion in your explanations!

[@jennaclum8022]

My partner interpreted the navigating video as Josh being there in the beginning to represent even though Clancy was actually alone he was fighting the whole time to get back to Josh and he was the one that keep Clancy going🥲

[@Goopbrainz]

I’m so glad you posted this omg 😭 watched the 2hr vid and you got me hooked on the story so I couldn’t wait for you to cover the rest of the vids

[@jaimemurillo4829]

Blurryface at the end of Paladin Strait references the same lyric in Fairly Local and I just can’t help but to appreciate the call backs and tying it all together

[@giuliacontin]

Thank you so much for the explanation, I watched the whole previous video, you are really talented in explaining that so good THANK YOUUU

[@jamzj.m5181]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO CONFIRM MY THOUGHT ON THIS

[@entitree.]

just wanted to say this is a great video, along with the 2 hour lore video a few weeks ago. watched them both last night as I wanted to catch up on everything. I've been a fan since the Hiatus so I knew about most things but your video really helped piece together a lot of the theories for me so thank you very much! You are a brilliant communicator, you really did a great job. Looking forward to potential future videos when the paladin strait MV drops! :)

[@caseylovett]

thank you sm!! it means a lot

[@user-by9ff5wz8c]

Watching this 20 minutes before the paladin strait. Can’t wait for to see you on the other side

[@AphonicRoar]

I find it interesting that Lavish is being so well received when Saturday received so much hate. They seem in the same vein to me. (I love them both btw)

[@caseylovett]

i hadn’t thought about that but now that you mention it i can definitely see the similarities :o i wonder how much of that reaction had to do with SAI as a whole

[@idle_speculation]

The main discussion around Lavish is mostly because of... that line. I think the difference in reception is also because they sound fairly different. While Saturday is super generic pop from a musical perspective, I've mostly seen Lavish compared to other alt artists like Tame Impala.

[@lukeafranklin]

I feel like it comes from the same place as lane boy as in they’re giving the finger to the industry and flinging against the grain. Saturday felt like they were following orders where as Lavish feels like a “OH YOU WANT A RADIO GEM? Here. Take this.”

[@rafaeljoestar224]

I’ve been listening to the album multiple times a day since the premiere, I love it so much but I feel so good more people felt underwhelmed because we were expecting way more lore-related songs. The name is CLANCY, I was hoping for a way more in depth related to the story album. Just hope the two album thing actually gets to be a things 🥹

[@cobaltcryptid]

I feel like a full double album is a bit much, a theory my friend told me about is how "ned's cozy fireplace" is an anagram for "clancy seized for ep" which would imply an ep finishing off the story, and since they've said clancy is the last album of the storyline, releasing an ep to finish it off would make that still true. since people found both "clancy" and "seized" in there I feel like there's gotta be something to it, wouldn't be the first time they've used anagrams like that I also wonder if the end of the story is gonna be this triumphant defeat of blurryface & dema & all that, since the story so far has been based on the cyclical nature of mental illness, that ending would feel unrealistic. but I don't think they'd end it off with a complete downer either. oldies station in particular talks about these ideas of learning what you can handle and pushing through the bad times, so I'm curious where that sort of idea might lead in terms of a conclusion to the story

[@caseylovett]

omg i haven't seen the fireplace anagram before, that is so cool

[@veman5409]

Whenever the "actual last video" is made I picture a huge battle but at the end Clancy and Blurry Face embrace. They accept each other. They sit on the edge of the cliff and NED brings them Capri Suns. ☀️

[@imogen3548]

i had this exact same monologue to myself after i let the album digest, we are all the same. this band is tearing me apart i am going insane.

[@iron1607]

Would be cool if they did isle of flightless birds mv to finish off the story.

[@monsterjake.91.26]

On his jacket in oldies station i believe it says FPE...all these videos have yie in this is the transformation 💖 he is fighting back against his insecurity

[@IDC777]

I like to think in the canon that my blood is the very beginning of clancy’s story. Navigating has the line “a guy just lost his momma…” and that’s the first thing we see in My Blood. Tyler mentions that the torchbearer can almost project himself and has the power “to Guide” I think was his exact wording. So I think that somehow some way the torchbearer has been guiding Clancy since he was a kid before dema. I think next semester CAN be lore based if you think about it kind of literally. After my blood ends and his friend is no longer around he went to college and was planning on making changes NEXT SEMESTER (literally) but then dema rose to power. This is also taking into account that Clancy mentions only being in dema for 9 years (I’m pretty sure) implying that there was a time before DEMA and that there is a world outside of dema and trench or at least there was at one point. 😊

[@caseylovett]

omg the idea of my blood representing child clancy is so sweet, i love this idea

[@IDC777]

@@caseylovett normally I wouldn’t have gone there but with the music playing at the end of the MV, the whole idea being similar and everything that’s just where brain goes

[@idle_speculation]

I’m pretty sure that line was “my dad just lost his mom”

[@IDC777]

@@idle_speculation I see that now, kinda messed up my theory but the visual of someone losing a mother is still applicable 🥲

[@mr.nachos1675]

If you stop palidan straight before the third verse, you can link the bird chirping in Paladin straight to the start of Backslide. A lot of connections to PS in BS. Rat race, place to place,(voldsoy to dema) Adding weight(PS- I'm all in I'm surrounded.. even though om past the point of no return) Feel the pull (PS- can't be sure that I'll make it)) Waters over my head(PS- swimming without floating) Reach my hand above the tide.(PS) I don't care you control me(nico) Did you solve your problem, yes but uncovered a new one yesterday I Used to be a champion of a world you can't see (nico leader of the niners) Do you think that now's the time you should let go(PS- you on the other shoreline waiting) I think it a story of about handling all the ups and downs life throws at us. Just when we think we got it figured out, were hit with a new problem that can' start the cycle all over again. Our Nico is always there, and we can always rely on our support circle to help the Clancy in all of us to rise up and face your demons. I made a playlist that I think follows this theory and would love to share it. kzbin.info/aero/PLAtVHtqn6kQQJaDFpKEhhHlfQDBqCxtO1&si=u6kJR2i6T0TJ3zm- Thanks for posting, I love your passion and never made those connections. Keep up the good work.

[@hotbutter8831]

(typing this before i finished the video[around 23 minutes in]) maybe, they're doing this on purpose, making it so vague, telling it's the end so we wont expect anything more, but making it so vague so that we just have to have a little bit of hope for something more, but we still have that creeping feeling in the corner that this actually might be the end and we still might not get anything more. they're doing this on purpose. what will happen? i dont know. all i know is that i'm all here for it. whatever happens.

[@hazelpool-h4n]

i think more than anything there will be a cooporation between blurry face and clancy. because it would be impossible for either to win (except nico which like you said would not be the greatest ending) but to completely rid urself of depression and anxiety is not possible. i hope the story continues cause im really invested now.

[@diet_bleach_]

There was warning about the some of the videos being a less quality production so every song could have a video. Also there are touches of lore in other songs just not lore heavy like overcompensate, navigating,and paladin strait. (I haven't made it that far in yet so you may have touched on it later)

[@rhyssutherland149]

I really don't mind the lower quality videos they seem way more personal

[@caseylovett]

@@rhyssutherland149 i totally agree, its so fun to have these smaller videos bc their personalities seem to come through a lot more

[@m.e.shorts]

I was waiting for this video!!!

[@m.e.shorts]

My friend recently got me into TOP and your videos are perfect summaries!

[@KriibusRS]

Watched both of your videos. Good luck with your KZbin channel, you have natural talent!

[@caseylovett]

Thank you so much!

[@AydenWalker-ep2qf]

yeeeeeeeees! i was hoping you'd make one for clancy!!

[@despotsimic]

When you reverse so few, so proud, so emotional, hello Clancy you get: You snuck well. On the shore meet. With us. Northwest. Wait for us".

[@patrickwildschut5750]

I love your theories! I think they’re just joking around right now, letting us think that this album sucks in terms of lore. And when the Paladin strait music video releases they give us a big cliffhanger, telling us that there’s more to come. That’s what I’m hoping for at least.

[@kryptid2800]

my theories on this. i think it would be a bit unrealistic for the story to end with a massive triumphant battle but i do still think there may be more to the story , possibly another album or clancy part 2 or even just the paladin strait music video. i feel like the story might end in a more subtle conclusion , maybe clancy makes some kind of deal with nico, some kind of agreement

[@poryadin99]

literally all my thoughts here in one video, great job!

[@pringlechipsclips]

Paladin strait I feel like is going to be Tyler slinging about crossing the straight from the island of Dema back to voldsoy thinking that he will find Josh again like he is still a true person. But at the end he gets captured or the sound of the door opening / closing is the jail door in heathens.

[@XDenyDefendDeposeX]

First time watching. Gotta say i throughly enjoyed the video. I absolutely love twentyone pilots but never been into the lore much. First listen to i wasn't big on it but its definitely growing on me. You earned my sub n think imma finally learn some lore thro ur other video❤

[@adzdrawss]

a main reason why i think a double album (not talking about an ep or dlx) is most likely not happening is because.. 1. they have consistently released albums around 3 years from each other. another album in only a year (if the 25 means 2025) would be a lot. they take care of their work and will not rush something like that 2. does that mean they’ll do even more mv’s for every song again? they did every song for clancy so if they did that for the “final chapter” i’m guessing they would want to make mv’s for all of them again and idk this is kinda a weak point because they could just not make like 12 mv’s again. i don’t think there will be a double album just because of their normal album *cycle* (no pun intended) but i definitely could see a deluxe album

[@_he1ena_s]

Thank you!!! Loved the last video💛🧡❤️🖤

[@axisrogue]

Waiting on that Paladin Strait explanation video now 🙏🏾

[@jishwagent]

I totally feel the same about the music videos, even the 4 singles are a hugger quality music video and tyler said before the stream really started is that lore music video especially are expensive, and all the music videos we got were fun but felt like just them hanging out and not a whole to them which is fine but feels weird Im 100 agreeing with you im so happy someone else Is saying it!

[@taraowens549]

i love so many things about many songs on this album but i was also underwhelmed by the noticeable lack of lore especially considering it was advertised as being very lore heavy. the last two albums were so lore centric in the branding and lyrical content that i was definitely expecting something in that world for this album that concludes this story. that being said i do like to look at it through the lens of these songs being more personal because they are dropping the veil and showcasing reality of dema that manifests in tyler’s real world, but it feels like such major shift! i would think one of the music videos of all the songs that they filmed would reveal that shift. maybe something is missing and all will be revealed in the paladin mv, but also maybe not and we can interpret it any which way.. we shall see!

[@gracecreamer7284]

This album felt very close to home as an Ohioan and someone who lives in the same general area where Tyler and Josh are from. A few of the videos are pretty clearly (at least in my opinion) filmed in Ohio. Backslide and Lavish specifically are in the Columbus area. Idk exactly where I was going with this but it just sort of hits different knowing that I’ve lived similar experiences to two people whom I look up to. Midwest Indigo has a very homey and safe feeling to me

[@caseylovett]

especially with midwest indigo it seems like that’s what they were going for so i love love that it did what it meant to do, that is so special ty for sharing

[@silvanabodner6977]

12:50 i think you miss the point quite a bit. Josh was not physically there but the imagination that he is helped Clancy through this difficult time. Like, knowing that you have this buddy who is always there for you gave Clancy hope. Thats the beautiful part. And it really describes how mental illness works. In the moments of darkness you need something or someone to hold onto and in this case it was josh for clancy. Just shows how important josh is for clancy!

[@caseylovett]

thank you for explaining so kindly :)

[@SuperSieth]

They have gone full circle and are now back. But with so much experience and hurt to be shared. Can they break the cyclus? Backslide has a theme around this I think. Buuut, a lot of things can still skew. I havent sat down and nerded it out yet. Just a thought, when I saw Backslide..

[@dougwbenson]

Theory. The door opens. A mirror 🪞 appears with Tyler’s face. Nico speaks. At that moment, it is revealed that Tyler is Clancy. And, that Tyler is also Nico.

[@alicabanas671]

i def have to say now with the DR PDF pointing out the tempo change with constant lyrics of over comp " i was born right here just now originated right in front of your eyes if you cant see i am clancy" plastered through the files, theres something with the number 25 going on with the band. i know for a fact tyler would not let the world he made end in just 3 videos after making a whole album dedicated to propaganda. i dont think theres enough time in one video to sum up tyler and josh and the rest of the followers and banditos in an epic battle. it feels too vauge. i do enjoy how personal this album feels but if this really is the end of it i dont think tyler would end it in such a way, they did way too much with trench and SAI for an album called "CLANCY" to have 3 lore songs.

[@rhyssutherland149]

I was thinking today looking closer at the lyrics. Tyler says "I would swim the paladin strait" meaning he is still in dema somehow even after navigating. Could there be another song and MV where he's captured again? Bit this time maybe locked somewhere which would explain the heavy sounding door opening at the end and he fact he says "I would swim implying he cannot." I also thought paladin stait sounds to peaceful for a big ending it sounds like the 'big ending' as Tyler said in an interview. It sounds like that has already happened. Tyler's lyrics Imply that too at the end he says "on the ground are banditos" meaning its already happened? Plus he was going on about MV expenses a lot ,even if paladin straight is a big MV there hasn't still been that many big budget MV so I think there could be a couple more too. Would make sense like my previous comment about the MV not saying from the full length album clancy'. Idk why I'm obsessed with the thought of him being he'd captive somewhere. At the end, I went back to the heathens MV set in a prison. we now know josh as a guide isn't actually with him in navigating. ITS THE SAME IN HEATHENS he's following josh around and at the end josh vanishes :0 the only reason i think they cannot be linked is tyler has hair.

[@kitkat2598]

oh hey, i just saw your first 2h video like yesterday and i'm glad you uploaded a video on clancy !!! i don't think clancy (the album) is the end of the lore tho

[@HTX7130]

What if there’s two endings. 1. Tyler wins. Works it out with himself and his demons and breaks his cycle finding himself across the ocean playing his uke in peace. Like the visual. 2. He almost breaks free but falls back into his cycle ( the second ending with the last part of the song where he’s alone again playing his music and blurry face talks to him) he goes back to fairly locals dorm looking rooms place. And Tyler falls back into blurry face’s hand coverts back into him. And josh is at the door coming to save him again. I say those dorms because the door that blurrface opens sounds old and abandoned like it would take place in fairly local.

[@caseylovett]

the idea of tyler being able to find peace and just peacefully play his songs out to sea makes my heart so happy, thank you so much for that mental image

[@ELias-vn5yv]

my theory is the torch bearer is God to tyler. when he gets seperated from the torchbearer and the banditos in levitate, it represents him backsliding from God and being stuck in dema for a period. in paladin, he talks about being past the point of no return and his desperation to reach God on the shore.

[@captainobvious.29yearsago70]

that makes so much sense now that you mention it, of course he'd be named "torch bearer" then, because he can bring the fire and tyler can bring the bones

[@Az-bf5qo]

Well tyler had said 2 nagivating and routines in the night werent going to be on the album so they clearly have more music that is unreleased . I think they are going to make us wait until the paladin straight video to build up anticipation and the video will show us its not fully the end yet and it will lead inti the 2nd part of the album

[@lukeafranklin]

I thought about this today…lots of artists right more than they release and I’m assuming will stow away ideas and come back to them for later projects. But since it was live and everyone in the room knew the ins and outs of the story and the plan, I BET you’re right. There’s gotta be like 5 more songs to give us a definitive conclusion

[@kr0n0n0va7]

I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and say I was wrong and in this instance, I wouldn’t even be mad about being wrong. But honestly, I think fans might be coping. I think this is it. I don’t think there’s a reason to read too much into Tyler asking if Paladin Strait sounds like the end. I don’t think it sounds too light, I think it sounds very conclusive and sounds like the end credits for a movie. I listened to Clancy for the first time with my friend and when we heard Blurryface at the end, I just said “He lost”. I agree that the voice is condescending and I think it’s because he lost. You say it yourself, people get so wrapped up in the lore that they forget it’s all one big metaphor for mental health. The way I interpreted the end of the album is that you don’t win, how do you defeat an enemy that is simply the darkest part of yourself made manifest? You talk about the cycles but then you seemingly ignore the cyclical nature of the ending. Clancy gets caught again and taken back and that’s it. That’s the end. Like I said, I’ll be the first to admit it if I end up being wrong but if this is the end, I am personally happy that they went back to basics with an album that should serve as a reminder that all of this was symbolic for one person’s internal struggles.

[@CharlieGalmiche]

That explains why in sai they had a lot more people in stage performing many instruments

[@TNNTheNonsenseNinja]

18:33 he's surrounded, and hes hounded, theres no above or under or around it

[@joaquinsosa2607]

The idea of a "Happy ending" feels off tho, if the end is the cycle repeating the it would be realistic imo. The journey has its ups and downs but you really win? Do you really scape those bad feelings? I think you just learn to live with them or to "resurface" better, idk loved the album either way

[@EDtheIII]

Okay, this feels a bit off cut, and doesn't really respond to this video in particular - but I've had this thought floating in my head and i just wanted to push it out somewhere. Anyway, I know I've at least seen flirtations of this idea floating around and I apologize up front if this is hard to follow, cuz I'm kind of going stream of consciousness. So, big posterboard theory: Tyler/Clancy and Nico/Blurryface are the same person. There's been a few moments in all of the Trench era that have made me think there is a bit more going on in all of this than just the Clancy storyline. Vagueness about why only Tyler can be controlled despite being alive, inconsistencies on how Nico is treated vs all the other bishops, but for me; and I think what Tyler is pushing on us the most, is the line "I created this world to feel some control. Destroy it if I want.". It has felt out of place from Bandito to Overcompensate as a line that seemingly pulls us out of the lore and show Tyler dangling some sort of carrot in front of us before going back to the bandito call. Normally, the music either speaks to Tyler's personal experience, or directly references the lore - but this one line (that gets sang multiple times including at the literal start of the livestream) - breaks that rule. But maybe it could fit in-lore. Maybe this is Tyler/Clancy/Nico/Blurryface saying that he/they created this distinction between himself and the face that he's not as a way to resolve his own internal conflict. And it all escalated into this giant conflict of Dema vs the Banditos. Also, from a cinematic, storytelling POV - My Blood and now especially Navigating have set up the standard of an unreliable narrator, and that what we see isn't necessarily what's happening. So now, in the Clancy album - as Tyler/Clancy starts overcompensating and becoming more and more confident in himself and his red-coloring, the line between what makes him Tyler and what makes him Nico is getting blurred. I fully expect Tyler to climb the top of the tower and find a mirror. Of course, this doesnt necessarily conflict with many theories or even a double album theory - since an epilogue or sequel of Clancy/Tyler battling with himself sounds very on-brand. In fact I have separate thoughts on that, but this comment is already way too long. Sorry again for any unfinished thoughts.

[@henry1_9]

yo you deserve so much more people subscribing because the videos that you post are so good and in such a good quality that im suprised that your not a popular. i love your channel and keep up work i love it👍👍

[@caseylovett]

thank you so much!!

[@mossbug9454]

also the thing where josh isn’t really there during scaled and icy- every album has a josh dun line except scaled and icy,,,, is he trying not to name drop the leader of the banditos under the bishops watch……….,

[@mossbug9454]

and says ride or die my son on no chances but says josh dun live AAA

[@StephanieDavidson-qy4zh]

At the very end of the late night stream paladin strait says the official music video will premiere early June... So maybe this weekend or next week! 😁

[@RonSwansonPAR]

Tyler and Josh have commented several times that doing the theme based videos for the lore are way expensive, but we just had three with this release...

[@ethanbast3945]

Imagine, they build all this story, this world, and then give no ending and destroy it… “I created this world to feel some control, destroy it if I want”

[@troybucher6383]

We will win but not everyone will get out. The exhibition was in Columbus.

[@caseylovett]

thank you for clearing that up, i think i got it confused with the pop up shop in london

[@d4na-4]

Maybe the end of the story is the friends we made along the way

[@caseylovett]

yea you get it

[@JPS95gti]

Agree 100%. Just an idea, could a reveal of " who" is saying "hello Clancy" be a giant twist?

[@meHelen41]

i feel like the whole album is on loop. "Hello, Clancy. Welcome back to Trench"

[@Lon3Wolf65]

Uh, hai again; that shirt is amazing

[@caseylovett]

hehe thank you! i got it from hot topic :)

[@dorianthekilljoy4092]

all I'm sayin, did anyone ever consider that Josh is Clancy? I mean he was watching in the jumpsuit video, and there for scaled and icy. (pls I know its dumb, it's like my own favourite crack conspiracy theory. I 100% know its wrong but I will believe it till the day I die) Also personally I don't think it's going to be a double album, a lot of it feels like it's talking about struggling to deal with all the lore he's created. like, "I used to be a champion of a world you can't see but now I'm drowning in logistics". Idk I feel like the album can be placed and interpretted in the lore but I also feel like a lot of it is about how Tyler is feeling, and struggling to know how to continue with everything he's created. I feel like the last song is about Tyler having to return to the world he created (in order to deal with his insecurities), despite the dangers of it because otherwise he will never defeat his insecurities, however he loses because hes fragmented and compartmentalised blurry face so far that it's impossible to destroy all of it. To me it reads as a metaphor for creating a complex escapist world to process trauma and mental health issues, then being forced to return to it (in order to create more art) but you just lose all the progress you made towards healing by going back, and now it's even more difficult to survive because the original insicurity has fragmented so even if you destroy parts of it, just one piece is enough to take you out. (sorry its 6am, I haven't sleppt and I'm not explaining my thoughts well)

[@diet_bleach_]

I think that the reason that more people are pointing towards it being a double album is because Taylor Swift dropped a really big album and Billie eilish dropped a double album so I guess maybe that has something to do with it🤷🏾‍♀️

[@rhyssutherland149]

None of the music videos at the start say from the full length Clancy album. Every other MV from any album by them says from the full length album....

[@caseylovett]

that was totally my thought when i first saw the double album theories floating around, i would love another album but i for sure feel like people are just being fueled by their excitement from the other artists doing it

[@JudeShepherd-m7j]

I KNEW IT. I knew that My Blood had to be significant!!

[@JudeShepherd-m7j]

Hey. What were your sources? And I forgot if you mentioned which album(s) were your favorite. I've listened to all of it at least twice and watched all of your (...3?) clancy videos. This all is very fascinating.

[@gilbertserrano485]

my favorite is vignette followed by routines in the night and at the risk of feeling dumb. but the whole album is very goooooood! least favorite probably navigating and the craving...sorry not sorry.

[@jishwagent]

Haven't finished the video yet, but I would love a double album, my only worries are when Tyler said "you tell me does it sound like the end" I almost feel like he just meant wait cuz theres a minute long pause before the song picks back up and he didn't want people leaving before the end, but what gives me hope is that puzzle at the FPE exhibit, but also the music not saying "from the full length album" could just been an oversite but dammit I want a double album, I just dont want to get my hopes up 😢 But also why isn't paladin trait coming out yet he never said why but if they delayed it for the videos why is it being delayed, unless to release with the double album????? UGHHHH

[@alltimedwn]

no tyler definitely meant the very end of the song not the minute long pause. he even said in another interview that he is excited for this album and "what it teases" at the end.

[@Feemailgamer]

there's a robed fella behind Josh in a scene of routines

[@RoseThorn1108]

Clancy capturing Nico????? My brain is meltinggggg-

[@JudeShepherd-m7j]

OH, also, I heard that Clancy/Tyler never looks Nico straight in the eyes, but the ONLY time he really does is when Nico/Blurryface comes gliding across the floor to him and says that phrase.

[@Feemailgamer]

I screamed THIS IS ONLY ADDING FUEL TO THE FOREST FIC FIRE 😂

[@whyisgamora3721]

Why not a triple album? It's going to take a lot more than two albums to fit all those 300 tracks.

[@asunachidory]

😭😭😭 I just bought tickets to their Clancy uk tour 😭😭😭

[@caseylovett]

omg have fun!!!

[@stephenblack134]

I think if Tyler sticks to his roots in faith in Jesus that Clancy can win. Because in the end Jesus will win and clearly Tyler is a believer. Awesome video and holy crap how do you only have 850subs?????