THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES

MAG101 - Case #UNKNOWN - ‘Michael’
Statement regarding their background and existence.
The Magnus Archives tells the tale of an archival assistant whose trust and diligence set them on a twisting path of self-discovery.
Content Notes: Betrayal, body horror, kidnapping
Starring: The Archivist - Jonathan Sims; Nikola Orsinov - Jessica Law; Breekon & Hope - Martin Corcoran & Steven Violich; ‘Michael’ - Luke Booys; ‘Helen’ - Imogen Harris
Writer: Jonathan Sims
Director: Alexander J Newall
Editors: Alexander J Newall, Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead
MERCH:
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DISCORD: / discord
EMAIL: [e-mail]

[@Companion92]

Michael: I'm here to kill you Jon: Get in line

[@f_mva]

take a number and sit down, you'll be here a while

[@piratehalfdroid7370]

I cant believe i laughed at this so much

[@Ghostrecall_M]

Yup

[@MPythonGirl]

Saying he groaned in response isn't adequate. It was an *annoyed put upon* groan.

[@rydertheashen1722]

The growl Jon makes had me dying, it's not even a fearful sound it just sounds like a "oh for fucks sake not you too"

[@lilimia100]

he's not even scared anymore he's just tired of all those people trying to kill him

[@pianos4095]

I would probably act the same in his situation like the first person trying to kill me? New!!!! Exciting!!! What's gonna happen???? Will I die????? The 70th person trying to kill me? Boring. Old school. Been done before, flopped every time.

[@holicandy01]

Get in the line

[@frogonthebikeheh]

Yeah! Hahaha Michael is like: I will kill you And Jon's like: * sighs * Just get it over already

[@TaryMeel]

*you gain an achievement* **Napping through a Kidnapping**

[@sishere7768]

fear turns into routine, after all

[@cybersearcher1041]

Can we just appreciate the fact that Jon's astounding lack of self care indirectly saved his life? If he had any sort of skin care routine the boy would've been peeled a lot sooner.

[@lonewaffle231]

I dont think so. I feel like Michael would just pop in and take him away. Also men dont do skin care so it isnt really wird. And it takes some time for skin to recover so he would be alive for some more time befor they skin him

[@albuseisenhorn3385]

Its why I refuse to take care of my skin as per Bill Burr LOL

[@Mel-qr5ob]

@@lonewaffle231 "men don't really do skincare" sunscreen, shaving, aftershave, washing your face, and pimple removal all count as skincare. If every man you've ever met, doesn't do at least one of those I wanna know what country you're in so I never visit cause that is groooossss I'm imagining that in summer men have constantly peeling sunburn skin on their faces, getting caught in their beards... makes me wanna hurl 🤢

[@CyVoltage]

@@lonewaffle231 I care for most of my skin most of the time thank you very much

[@lonewaffle231]

@@Mel-qr5ob this is "advanced skin care" I am refering to.

[@battyrae1398]

"anyway elias, can i CALL you elias?"

[@anerrantecho]

All along she was trying to date him.

[@hauntedteethcupboard]

@@anerrantecho I ship it

[@montauk1684]

Both her and Sarah Baldwin knew the whole time. She knew who he was the whole time. (In ep 96 Sarah Baldwin said, "Oh, so its Elias now". Bruh, they knew.

[@SolarSeaSlug]

I love how she says it three times

[@SOLO.DANDELION]

When you realise they weren't just being polite 0.o

[@bisexualantigone]

'WE DO NEED IT IN BETTER SHAPE BEFORE WE PEEL YOU!" did she just call jon crusty??

[@_mel_9953]

I always pictured Jon having really dry skin, maybe some acne. She straight up roasted his skincare routine lmao.

[@theprideling]

@@_mel_9953 Well to be fair he's probably COVERED in scars

[@uuxu6745]

he is a crusty musty noob

[@meowmeow6676]

What is skin if not the crust of a human?

[@meowmeow6676]

I absolutely do not remember replying to this what the fuck.

[@alexdillahunt6908]

Michael: Open it. Jon: . . . It's, uh, it's locked. Michael: No it's not. *Jiggles handle* Michael: Well, this is embarrassing.

[@midnights2631]

Reading this made me laugh

[@BiblicFurby]

Bro forgot his Keys inside the door smh.

[@kentonbaird1723]

Michael: "aahh, bugger. forgot my keys, they're inside.... Hey, y'know what? I left a window open. Got a ladder handy~?" Jon: "****** you~."

[@aaliyahadesida2815]

Nikola Orsinov may not be the dermatologist we wanted but she's the dermatologist we _needed_ .

[@gingerluigiwithnomoustache7411]

Take care of that skin coat baby ffff

[@Ghostrecall_M]

We'll use every piece of you.

[@Matheus-ql7mn]

"You're gonna die, but you're gonna die ✨️gorgeous✨️"

[@HeyItsNovalee]

HELP Jon literally walking headfirst into his death only to find out “...it’s locked” was the funniest fucking thing to happen in the whole show LMFAO

[@thatoneguy8521]

You could say it was ANOTHER TWIST????

[@cupcaketv5673]

Michael: "😀😀 It can't be- 😀"

[@ldg152]

I was DISTINCTLY under the impression that Jon lied about it being locked. That he lied to the liar, and made it trap itself within itself.

[@tretizzle]

@@ldg152 that would have been so damn funny XD

[@nateds7326]

​@@ldg152me too! But I have a feeling that that's not how Michael works

[@noamratner8058]

I know Michael says he's not..well Michael anymore But with the amount of times he repeats how much Michael trusted Gertrude It sounds like there is still a lil bit of him that was hurt by her in him

[@coffeewolfproductions9113]

Yep, especially with how he talks before giving the statement makes it feel like the real Micheal was shining through up until the end.

[@boobean1444]

I know it made me really sad :(

[@kingofpoliwhirls7464]

From the way Helen spoke, it sounds like that's why he was. . . removed. Michael still had bits of the original Michael hanging around, which is why Helen could take over

[@woodsiebabeyy7565]

@@kingofpoliwhirls7464 I think it's more he was neither completely the distortion nor completely Michael

[@frogonthebikeheh]

@@woodsiebabeyy7565 He just was, and Helen is balance

[@krasotabella9675]

every time I hear Micheal’s laugh twenty years are added to my lifespan

[@stevef.accounting7256]

Your taking them from mine. I'm at -40 now, thanks a lot

[@oliviadibb973]

🤝🤝

[@mabelmouland6114]

@@stevef.accounting7256 your fault for picking up the book

[@rafotrarran6888]

What about his scream?

[@lokimemes4694]

That’s funny. Every time I hear it, I lose 20.

[@pixiemeg]

"I do not WANT to be Michael" chilled me

[@tomboi941]

i mean, i wouldnt either

[@mothlee]

GUYS. GUYS. For the longest time I wondered how in the world Helen happened to find her way into being the Distortion and I chalked it up to pure chance. But guys. SHE DREW A MAP. At the beginning of MAG 47 while trying to show Jon how the corridors made no sense. She had that map with her when Micheal took her the second time, so it was only a matter of following it and making sense of the nonsense, just like Micheal before her. GAH the subtle detail and continuity in this show is amazing.

[@f_mva]

YOO thanks for pointing that out

[@imatiredstudent2081]

Holy crap you are totally right!!

[@josef3475]

You need to be noticed

[@thehappyhouselife3943]

Thank you so much for this because I was struggling lol

[@epsyblue7714]

So you figure the Distortion out, only to become it?

[@namaschu9418]

Elias S2: "Micheal? Don't know that guy." Elias S3: "Micheal? Unimportant, ignore him." So that was a fucking lie

[@SOLO.DANDELION]

Oh..

[@Birbs87]

3:09 John's muffled "Fuck. You." to this day is within my top 5 lines in the show

[@-S.L.]

Same

[@minuspi8372]

I never noticed that's what he actually said 🤣

[@jdk2535]

It's even funnier to me because I'm watching while having the transcript open, and the transcript writes it as "[Muffled Feelings]" ... great joke

[@NerveUnderscore]

You made me cackle 🤣

[@Drak_buddy]

And then the scoff when she didn’t understand his insult

[@mrjones2721]

In the Q&A for this season, Jonny Sims says this was his favorite episode to record. He got the “bound and gagged” sound effects by shoving as much of his fist as possible into his own mouth, which produces an astonishing amount of drool but was so funny that Sims was reduced to giggles as he tried to describe the appeal. If you listen to the blooper reel, there’s a bit with Breekon and Hope at the local drugstore, picking out lotions. Priceless. Strongly recommended for the discriminating fan.

[@klltsun_2576]

Where is this blooper reel?

[@klaushargreevesstanaccount8835]

ThEreS A BloOPeR REeL????????

[@himeow7454]

@@klltsun_2576 Patreon, pretty sure.

[@cybersearcher1041]

YES

[@jacthing1]

Gertrude has been on the sauce again

[@EVERYWHEREinc]

As somebody named Elias, that beginning in particular was an Experience to listen to

[@rainm9894]

its like being named Steven and playing the Stanley parable

[@apollyoniguess]

Can I CALL yiy Elias?

[@mothmanscousin9656]

My name is caitlin Bates and there's a the flash episode where he goes "Caitlin, Bates is gone" talking to one character about another but I wasn't paying attention and it was super creepy

[@dragonwolf4274]

I've heard my given name in history texts and my taken name in a show i think and it has spooked me every goddamned time Can't imagine what a fun experience it was for u

[@miratarnish6316]

Your username tho

[@dg674]

Jon's resigned "okay" before he essentially attempts to end his own life destroyed me, thanks

[@Vi_Vi_1]

Yeah that...that hurt

[@channel13113]

19:42

[@cae2212]

Good habits/ features/etc. for surviving in tma: - having adhd - being a himbo - just pissing off after the first supernatural encounter Bad habits/ features: -being named Michael (I mean seriously we have two Michaels so far and both had some trouble events before being killed/ destroyed on tape)

[@the_pipster]

three michaels, if you count shelley and distortion as two different people. four if you count salasa as a michael. and they were all killed by strong independent women

[@Ghostrecall_M]

So that's what happen to my dad.

[@TonyToed]

also just straight up falling asleep

[@artofboredom42]

Dunno if this counts but there is Salesa as well

[@citra1885]

​@@the_pipster so if you're Michael, BE AFRAID of strong women, got it.

[@kait-o-vision]

Jon's disgruntled "what else is new" noise after being told he was about to be killed made my day (noo Michael)

[@voidmatic]

"can I call you Elias?" *angry archivist noises*

[@lilaboxx]

Michael Shelley, Tim stoker and Melanie King, are they naming their characters after famous horror authors on purpose?

[@coffeewolfproductions9113]

Yep, they are judging from their statements and the heart on your comment. Martin Blackwood was also named after horror characters/writers (I forget which)

[@lilaboxx]

@@coffeewolfproductions9113 yeah, i heard that in a q&a at this point, it's a very cool detail

[@the_pipster]

also georgie barker, sasha james, and even jonathan sims if you count jonny

[@Archiv1st]

Now I’ve got to go read all these books by these authors

[@Pariah502]

@@coffeewolfproductions9113 that'd be Algernon Blackwood

[@fays.p.5663]

We gained a twisty wife today. But at what cost (The cost is Michael's laughter. I made myself sad about the spiral so I'm just gonna go ahead and put my clown make up on)

[@fays.p.5663]

@Emily Barclay *Oprah voice intensifies* and you get a wife and you get a wife and you-

[@fays.p.5663]

@Emily Barclay and they all have one thing in common. They *can* and *will* beat the shit out of us

[@mallerman7515]

@Emily Barclay I have not gotten any further so don't spoil if it hasn't appeard yet, but who is table wife? Is it Not!Sasha?

[@KateCantDraw]

I like to think that somewhere, deep in the unknowing, there's a very sad, very lost young man, who just became a little less alone.

[@emerz3530]

@@mallerman7515 Maybe Amy Patel? I don't really know either but she was the statement giver in the table episode. (Or maybe because it's related to The Web it's the girl from Arachnophobia).

[@ioannameli8602]

I remember that michael scared me so much at first, especially his laugh,but now i find him so amusing that an almost entire ep with him was phenomenal,as is his voice actor

[@hollynotholy]

I got really sad by the turn of events, cuz I loved his voice and laughter, but Helen's voice also works really well once distorted.

[@anemoi6803]

Somehow him being extremely funny doesn't stop him being pants-shittingly terrifying. Except for that scream, that was just terrifying

[@The-Busy-Beeeee]

@@anemoi6803low-key heart breaking tbh

[@kwasichan722]

The annoyed noise he makes when she calls him rude is hilarious

[@jackbelmont4389]

*muffled how dare you*

[@KirillZavyalov]

I’m sorry, Michael going “oh. Oh no” about the locked door is the absolute funniest thing ever

[@coffeewolfproductions9113]

Micheal: Oh, guess I'll die then.

[@_mel_9953]

Nikola really went “your skin is so bad that even I don’t want to wear it; looks like we’ll have to glow you up a bit.” Dont be shy Rusty Quill, drop the Nikola Helping Jon With Hi Skincare scene.

[@-S.L.]

I second this, what skincare is she using?

[@micahconnor8954]

@@-S.L. probably melted plastic molded over skin and painted with clown makeup

[@broblerone413]

WE NEED A NIKOLA SKINCARE TUTORIAL

[@DJSilly9]

TMA AU where Jon's not being carted off to the death circus to get skinned alive and Nikola just shows up in 97 to give the poor guy a proper skincare routine

[@MS-vp6hx]

Michael's description of becoming Michael weirdly reminded me of the episode where they guy's brain is made into a computer? Like the feeling of being a more complicated, vast, shapeless, eternal thing shoved into a human's more limited entity is probably similar to the human brain being shoved into the sharp angles of computer circuitry

[@barefootwanderer]

f**k i never thought of it like that.

[@lordbaphie]

That was also a Spiral statement, so it makes sense

[@clovercard22]

Michael: I'm going to kill you Jon: (long suffering muffled groan)

[@f_mva]

translation: "what else is new"

[@ksimvanderhlaar]

I love how cheerful, affable and theatrical Nikola Orsinov is. In a world seemingly populated by tired and snarky characters she's like a breath of fresh air lmao ...Even if she is a murderous clown mannequin.

[@Ghostrecall_M]

Can't be tired or afraid if you are a living mannequin.

[@The-Busy-Beeeee]

@@Ghostrecall_Mso true

[@GarethOfByzantium]

She’s hilarious.

[@hollynotholy]

SPOILERS Somehow I fell even more in love with Michael after his statement. Shame he disappeared right after giving it.

[@gylfie1099]

Me too, that’s why I’ve chosen to just ignore that fact

[@namaschu9418]

@@gylfie1099 same

[@malaizze]

Husband gone :(

[@midnights2631]

He's still around, probably

[@avet9413]

He’s still there. He may of disappeared screaming but HE’S STILL ALIVE. I choose to live in the reality where after Helen came around he was returned to being regular Michael and he got to do nice people things :-)

[@arttu2666]

Nikola is my government-assigned clownsona

[@lydiac9118]

THIS COMMENT IS SENDING ME UP THE FUCKIN WALLS

[@rexcorvus09]

1:32 I love how there are no actual words said, but can clearly hear him say "Wait, what?" Even with a gag.

[@egg3255]

also, “what?” at 4:31

[@rexcorvus09]

@@egg3255 not to mention the possible "Fuck you" at 3:09

[@mackenziedillon295]

Also "f@ck you"

[@jacthing1]

@@rexcorvus09 was definitely fuck you

[@_mel_9953]

Rex Corvus I kept re-listening to that part and... yep, it definitely sounds like a “fuck you”

[@konoha_z6300]

b-b-but;;; michael........ does this mean i'll never hear his beautiful, wonderful laugh ever again? :'( why am i actually sad over the fuckhands madness distortion murder man

[@malaizze]

HUSBAND NOOOOOoooOooo

[@xultra_violetx]

R.i.p. Door Husband he will be missed T^T

[@minty7945]

same :( goodbye to the world's best doorman

[@bluethespy]

toodles slendermans gay cousin ig

[@daringromanVA]

MICHEAL NOOOOOO, MY SPIRALLY BOYYYY :(((

[@freya951]

11:38 "Do you know what he worried about?" And then the answer was Gertrude! That hit me so hard because here Michael Shelley reminds me so much of our dear sweet Martin Blackwood. I really hope Michael the Hands (my name for him, or Michael the Spiral if you like) is/was right when he implied that Jon's better archivist than Gertrude. We already know Jon is appalled at the idea of sacrificing anyone even for the "greater good" but that just means he'll need to find a really good third option.

[@dandeliondaffodyls1426]

Hc that that might be why Distortion Michael considers Jon a better Archivist. He actually cares for his assistants.

[@midnights2631]

Gertrude deserved to die

[@bubberart]

I'm officially running for president of the Michael stans

[@mackenziedillon295]

I'd vote for you.

[@amphitritemists4595]

Ill run for vice then ✌

[@purpleheadache6455]

I find it incredibly poetic that the end of Michael’s statement in this episode ended up with him being destroyed by Helen. When, back in episode 47, Helen’s statement ended with her being abducted by Michael.

[@ilovebooks49]

jon's noises while he was gagged and nikola was talking were SO FUNNY

[@faxonii]

if you didn’t already know, jonny made the muffled effect by shoving as much of his fist as he could in his mouth lmao

[@_mel_9953]

fr he sounds so annoyed i love him

[@Gingerbredgirl1]

Michael telling Jon he's a better Archivist than Gertrude🥰🥰

[@motherfuckerultimate]

"We do need it in better shape before we peel you" *the shade*

[@maryagrimm8412]

Can Jon go three minutes without getting kidnapped?

[@f_mva]

or stabbed, or burned, or generally harmed

[@DJSilly9]

No :)

[@Ghostrecall_M]

It gets worse.

[@cae2212]

"We do need you in better shape before we peel you" Well excuse me, john got: - almost eaten by worms - burned - kidnapped and almost shot - kidnapped and almost nailed to a chair - Is under constant stress No wonder his skin sucks

[@ann-margretparke9525]

Jon is kidnapped by the unknowing, then kidnapped by the spiral. Only our Archivist could be double kidnapped. Go Jon!

[@pinxelated2799]

he is the king of plot armor

[@karmen4444]

I can literally hear Jon roll his eyes at Nikola.

[@ambrose4947]

I end up relistening to this episode so much more often than any of the others because Nikola and Michael's voices are both amazing, and listening to Jon be sassy even when gagged always makes me laugh.

[@KemonoPriestessHazuki]

The Liar entity, so... Michael resents the people of the institute for becoming an expendable unit in the hands of the previous head archivist... Helen is the new vessel to the Liar entity, she liked Jon before she became the avatar for the Liar entity... hrr... I understand how this creature works now * W * its like... it can retain its abilities and memories and stuff, but it cannot retain the will or agendas of the previous vessels... This is a very neutral entity.

[@AckermanYuki]

WHO TF IS HELEN???HAVE WE MET HER BEFORE???

[@mrjones2721]

Ackerman Yuki She was the statement-giver in The New Door, episode 47.

[@mrjones2721]

Ackerman Yuki Don’t feel bad. The series assumes we all have the same perfect memory for statements that Jon does, so you’ll frequently run into people you’re supposed to know and have zero recollection of. When you’re lost, check the wiki.

[@AckermanYuki]

@@mrjones2721 ty :')

[@beltaya276]

@@mrjones2721 oh my GOD helen was the woman who kept getting trapped in the corridors wasnt she??? holy shit

[@mammon_is_god]

The Liar tells no lies except that which you believe to be true.

[@Tegres1]

So, The Liar is basically Garak.

[@someoneawesome8717]

Seems Terry Pratchett may have been vaguely aware of this entity then

[@micahconnor8954]

@@Tegres1 idk how common it is for DS9 to intersect with Magnus but I'm so happy that it did

[@gulo2476]

One of the things I really appreciate about this podcast is the diversity. Like, it's not thrown in your face that THIS ASTROPHYSICIST IS A HISPANIC WOMAN LOOK HOW PROGRESSIVE WE ARE, it just *is*. And that's normal. Like it should be. Diversity should be an accepted normality in the real world, and it is in this podcast. So I appreciate that, so much. Thanks RQ.

[@pianos4095]

Yeah, it's honestly really awesome?? Like we get statements from all sorts of different diverse people, and it's never brought up it's just that all those people had stories to share and just happened to be that thing!! Its great :D

[@fishy658]

Jon being Asexual was such a delight for me to find out!! Its the only Ace rep besides maybe Todd from bojackhorseman that is in a fandom I'm apart of

[@MochiPuff58]

Is she Hispanic or is she Latina? I mean Spain isn’t too far from the UK, so I’m not sure if she’s a person of color

[@jormungandrworldserpent6437]

@@fishy658 when was it said that John was ace? Because everyone keeps saying this and I’d very much like it if it where canon

[@MarkWaner]

@@jormungandrworldserpent6437 It was confirmed on Q&A and Jon Sims (the author) twitted with a confirmation

[@mackenziedillon295]

I'm really going to miss Micheal. I love his voice and his laugh.

[@midnights2631]

Despite Michael saying he's not Michael Shelly, it seems like he's bitter what Gertrude did, and I don't blame him. We lost a king, but gained a queen.

[@drago1514]

Michael :-)

[@drago1514]

Michael :-(

[@cutiepie120048]

Best comment ever

[@thefluffyaj4119]

my exact reaction

[@nbv6975]

Would I trust Nikola with my life? Absolutely fcking not. But would I trust her with my skincare? Oh most definitely.

[@RoseMultiverse]

Michael sounding bitter: and she did *not* hesitate!

[@jakecowx2800]

I love how Jon's only reaction to being told he's going to be killed is a groan of 'REALLY??'

[@claude3429]

Everytime she shows up, I love Nikola's voice and character more and more

[@HyacinthoIgnis]

her voice does sound very mannequin-y, i love it

[@jrtandembicycles508]

I'm listening to tma for the first time and hearing Jon's character development gives me whiplash. Also, "How are you feeling?!" The muffled, "Fuck. You." nearly killed me.

[@SmokeyMountainSuccubus]

"The agony of being opened and remade," I know the feeling Michael, I'm also a bottom.

[@tretizzle]

😆😆😆😆😆

[@klaushargreevesstanaccount8835]

Michael: Martin: *insert spiderman pointing meme*

[@catwhiskers4885]

YES YES MICHEAL AND HELEN ARE WONDERFUL BUT WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT HOW JON WAS PREPARED TO DIE??? HE WAS WAY TO CHILL ABOUT IT

[@lorinnet5772]

The way Nikola is genuinely offended by John being RUDE after kidnapping him and planning to skin him will never be not funny. I am OBSESSED with the ways she's talking, it's just making me smile and I don't know WHY ! It supposed to be creepy

[@agoatinthecircus125]

jokes aside the spiral might be my fave entity i l o v e d this statement

[@hillsophie334]

[MUFFLED FEELINGS] [MUFFLED PANIC] I love the transcripts so much lol

[@trucetruce335]

You can hear Jon’s sass through his “mmrrrmrrrmrs”

[@beltaya276]

also just imagining jon being captive by these entities and he gets saved and has glowing smooth skin bc they've been keeping up a great regimen for him LMAO

[@cosmiccambion]

the panic before and the scream after are beautiful in their own right but there is something i find so captivating about the moment of realization. just a very small, i'd even call it calm, "oh. oh no." given the spiral's distaste for being michael i imagine that small exchange was the last piece of michael before his..... "unraveling" shall we say?

[@Ch-4-lie]

Another thing to note in this is his voice slowly losing the distorted effect near the end. By the time he says "oh no" the distortion effect is completely gone from his voice

[@nickoluspatraszewski7768]

5:06 for our special door boi

[@hollynotholy]

Michael Shelley deserved better.

[@theultimatedisappointment7059]

fun fact: jonny recorded the bit where he had his mouth covered by shoving his fist in his mouth just thought someone should mention that

[@mrs.han_whitethorn]

I still stand by my decision that Jon needs a three year paid vacation.

[@2001Pieps]

I wonder if the entity from MAG 85 'Upon the Stair' is one of the Spiral cultist who was "cast to the places that aren't".

[@Dewdlebot]

Helen showed up like “You are what you eat”

[@ode4162]

one thing i love about michael is that his VA's laugh is Just Like That

[@kryptoniantree1739]

I love Nikola's voice, she sounds like an over-enthusiastic primary school teacher

[@blep5340]

Michael's laugh gives me life

[@mjamin9124]

i could _HEAR_ jon roll his eyes after michael said he was going to kill him

[@purplecatloverrandompizza]

Everyone else: struggling to get decent statements and stuck at the institute Meanwhile Jon:

[@littleintrovert7469]

I wanna hear what Michael’s laugh sounds like when he’s dying of laughter

[@Izzy-iv8pr]

Jon’s indignant mumbling lol

[@jadynnkotch1833]

michael's laugh is the only reason to live

[@thestranger4894]

I love how Elias’s true identity is hinted here with Orsinov always asking “can I call you Elias?

[@voiddarkness3308]

I'm sorry I'm a bit confused what is Elias's identity?

[@thestranger4894]

@@voiddarkness3308 spoiler but, Elias isn’t who he claims he is.

[@tretizzle]

It's so funny that she's as polite as she is monstrous

[@lilaboxx]

Am i the only one who's gonna miss Michael's absolute chaotic energy? I like Helen but I'm gonna miss Micheal

[@alenasavenko7590]

I LOOOOVE the way Micheal scream turned into a door creaking

[@evancamphouse94]

I didn’t think I would miss Micheal this much :(

[@victory_snow8220]

Okay, so I found TMS by watching a music video titled "A Distortion Trial", and had no idea what the hell was going on. So I looked it up and fell into the TMA rabbit hole! Now I finally understand that music video and it only took 101 episodes to do so. Am I going to stop? Well I'm too far deep now and I wanna see Martin confess his love to Jon lol

[@vclentini]

This is even creepier since I kinda imagine Gertrude as my Introduction to Archival Science professor.

[@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises]

Three years after your comment, I hope she never brought you to an unexisting place in Russia

[@vclentini]

@@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises No, but last year I asked her to be my supervisor for my thesis in Archival Science💀

[@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises]

@vclentini Did she accept ? (Congrats if you're in a thesis and even if you're not !)

[@vclentini]

@@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises yes yes I'm in my Master Degree now 😂 Thank you! ❤️

[@koukonuts]

NOOOOOO NO MORE MICHAEL?!?! BUT I WANTED MORE OF HIM! 😭😭😭 SO HELEN IS THE SPIRAL NOW?

[@Indenei]

to clarify, the Distortion is just an aspect of the Spiral and not the actual Spiral itself, like how the NotThem is an aspect of the Stranger! ^^

[@imalittlelady]

I hold nothing against Helen, but *Michael’s laugh healed my depression* 🫠🥲

[@barefootwanderer]

Nikola Orsinov is the most terrifying character in TMA. Jess absolutely knocks it out of the park with her performance, she's bloody terrifying.

[@tmaxgo6696]

So there's a ritual for each Fear? The unknowing, whatever soon-to-be-micheal was doing. I also really like the You-don't-now-me and Is-not-what-it-is style nams

[@atiredweeb8551]

Bro that scream scared me so much IM SWEATING Also is it me or does Michael sound hurt when he keeps repeating how "he trusted her."

[@x-ca1iber]

he's not so entirely removed from "michael shelley" based on how he sounds distraught and angry at gertrude when describing "michael shelley"'s becoming. the spiral is not made to make sense, and michael as a character is so oughhhhhhhhhh

[@atiredweeb8551]

@@x-ca1iber Our favorite skrunkly boi

[@samlueke2855]

I think this might be the first time I've heard Nikola after getting into The Mechanisms. Hearing Jessica Law go from the Toy Soldier to.... that.... gave me whiplash lol

[@kyberserpent6397]

Lmao the Toy Soldier also stole a voice box.

[@samlueke2855]

@@kyberserpent6397 the typecasting is absolutely unreal

[@lord_azazel001]

Micheal's voice is so perfectly layered, it makes chills run up my spine every time.

[@olympus10001]

this reminds me of the man who wasn't there

[@himeow7454]

I think that could have definitely been a previous manifestation of the Distortion. That statement also had no specific date, and the descriptions seem very similar, especially with the winding staircase not being at the narrator's house, and then suddenly just... appearing.

[@Vi_Vi_1]

"just move yourselves away and take it with you" I can't why is Nikola so funny

[@charlymontague4409]

nikola: he is RUDE jon: HRJSNHFHAK

[@-S.L.]

I LOVED that line, I think she'd get on very well with Hannibal. (They could share skincare routines, too...)

[@viperv6768]

I'm going to miss Michael as he is now. Don't get me wrong, I'm here for Helen too, but I'd rather have both. The spiral is strange enough that it can have two agents bouncing around causing chaos.

[@FelipeFerreira-wk5nv]

i'm a visual person, i can't remember names very well without a face... At this point i'm so lost with the characters xD

[@buckye6545]

looking at fanart might help!

[@ironbarsjack7977]

And yet we’ve made it this far

[@martianbunny]

The wiki really helps

[@mayormayo1853]

Oh I’m the same way lol I had to look up fan art to know which character was which

[@nopeimout3182]

I cannot remember names for the life of me, I just started keeping a journal with all the character names.

[@rinam.8546]

the REAL villain of this podcast is Gertrude

[@clayxros576]

Considering the difference between Spiral!Michael and Spiral!Helen, it seems the distortion really is changed based on who becomes them. Nothing, given a mind to think. Are we in Hollow Knight??

[@josharchibald4637]

The gag did nothing to stop Jon's sass. Beautiful.

[@noamratner8058]

Tma - but you take a shot every time someone screams and kills your ears

[@toastghost9145]

What a twist.

[@rydertheashen1722]

The functions of the Distortion are SO. FUCKING. COOL. I really really liked Michael's VA and I get the feeling Helen is gonna be just as cool. Just over halfway through the podcast and I am so invested