THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES #84 - Possessive

[@agoatinthecircus125]

"...problems. martin?" elias went from useless pushover boss to all seeing menace in the span of so few episodes and it spooks me to death

[@Makujah_]

Yeah very sudden change of character. I wonder if it was designed to go like this since episode one, of if they are developing the story on the go. If it's the former, then it feels a bit sloppy.

[@bardoftherunekeepers6601]

Makujah maybe a little bit, but it seems more like Elias has been playing in the shadows, and now that Jon’s gone, he’s taking a more active role.

[@nanahuatli2144]

@@Makujah_ I think he was playing dumb. No need to draw unnecessary attention to his true nature.

[@horrificreader4084]

Joe spooky

[@darlingrosiebun8952]

Honestly we rarely saw him till now so we wouldn't know much of his character so makes sense to me we can see more of how scary he is specially knowing he's a murderer

[@tharchandran3709]

"Formal qualifications aren't everything, are they, Martin?" HE KNOWSSSSS!!!!

[@kyberserpent6397]

That's what I said!

[@RelativelyBest]

That was a nice touch. I like that he didn't even emphasize it much. Like you could miss it if you're not paying attention, and Martin himself couldn't be _sure..._

[@amandanaoexiste]

he knows everything about everyone. that's why his hair is so big

[@DrMDHyde]

Of course he knows! Mfer probably knows ever secret in the institute.

[@SwirlyPinwheel]

@@amandanaoexiste It's full of *secrets* .

[@AckermanYuki]

melani: accepts the job me: so you have chosen death.

[@jasonschuler2256]

(Mild Spoilers for Season 5) Ironically, her taking the job probably put her in a better position than most people post-Change.

[@Panroles]

@@jasonschuler2256 Why? Why do I always click on things that say spoiler even if I don't want to be spoiled?

[@Necronomikus]

@@Panroles Because the Eye pushes you to do it ...

[@namaschu9418]

Fandoms opinion about Elias: 80%: bastard man, rat 20%: same, but also simping

[@tearez13]

I feel called out...

[@josef3475]

I simp

[@justalittlesleepy]

Shush. You are too truthful

[@thestrongestjoestar8342]

He taken

[@justalittlesleepy]

@@thestrongestjoestar8342 Is he?

[@clovercard22]

God, Martin's increasing panic as he tries to subtly make Melanie go and then Elias goes to offer her a job. Either if it's bc he suspects something or he doesn't want anyone else involved, poor guy is doing his best.

[@PlatypusDragon]

Or maybe he doesn’t want to accept that Sasha isn’t coming back 🥺

[@joyc.e.7511]

@@PlatypusDragon And isn't that just the saddest thing...

[@aw3707]

I hear possessive as the episode title and the first thing I think is "ELIAS SAID ITS MY TURN ON THE TAPE RECORDER"

[@jordanenby9734]

LMAO-

[@jadynnkotch1833]

episode: **has Martin** comments: :D episode: **is pretty much all Martin** comments: **incoherent screaming**

[@jamilla8588]

as it should be

[@tearez13]

@@jamilla8588 indeed

[@midnights2631]

He's a precious bean

[@dendakrmelova1201]

melanie: agrees to work at the institute martin: so, you have chosen death

[@hircenedaelen]

SPOILERS! Oh, so you have chosen blindness

[@jordant.g.4337]

when i heard martin recording the statement i immediately went "I WANT TO SEE MY LITTLE BOY" ....out loud

[@darinae34]

HERE HE COMES

[@Child_of_Fae]

Totally true

[@tearez13]

Valid

[@justaduck3615]

@@darinae34 I WANT TO SEE MY LITTLE BOY

[@frogonthebikeheh]

Awwww💖💖💖💖

[@Carolina57685]

the static got louder after elias offered melanie a job

[@jsk-art]

I think it was "the Eye" influencing her, similar to how Tim and Jon couldn't quit, I don't think she would have taken the job, but she found herself unable to say no once the Institute gained control over her.

[@pyrosianheir]

@@jsk-art Maybe Elias' abilities that he used to read Daisy's mind lets him do other telepathic chicanery? Aka he pushed her into accepting, instead of the Eye?

[@dobyk5338]

@@pyrosianheir well.... sounds like he *is* right under the Eye's rule, or one of its agents

[@frogonthebikeheh]

@@jsk-art The Eye sees everything 😎👀

[@maggiem6209]

@@pyrosianheir Bold of you to assume the Eye/Beholding and Elias aren't one in the same, or so entwined it makes no odds.

[@soaring-comet]

a whole episode of basically just martin? heaven

[@takeoats]

my thoughts exactly

[@coreacartoonist]

You know those memes about employees trying to sign to new employees to get out of here while they can? The Magnus Institute is a whole mood of that

[@purplecatloverrandompizza]

Melanie: accepts the job Jon when he inevitably returns: your my assistant now? Well, your now stuck here and you can't leave this job whether you want to or not. All of the assistants before you died horrible deaths so have fun with that and don't die.

[@shadowfire8063]

"Formal qualifications aren't everything. Martin" ooof

[@beetlbrite]

“Are you alright?” “Oh, uhm, no” Brilliant

[@Speckaboo]

SketchyTidbits thats honestly me

[@-kirby-2851]

And the whole "I got shot." So casually

[@HarryTaylor2867]

I know this comment was made 3 years ago but I do believe that this one comment sums up this whole podcast

[@cleliea8770]

i know that's not really the "entity" of the Archives, but Melanie's like a fly that just got caught in its web

[@late_prince8945]

There is the Eye and it has some power over institute.

[@EkkieEkk]

Yeah, I noticed when she was being offered a job static started to play in the background, and that usually happens when paranormal stuff is occurring which makes me think she was made to agree by some force.

[@HyacinthoIgnis]

@@EkkieEkk people mentioned before that one of jon's earlier signs of association with the eye was how he knew just which questions to ask the statement givers. if you look at how jon seems to be holding barely any sort of active power vs elias reading daisy to filth on events from years ago it would make sense if he was able to pressure people into doing his bidding by just talking without any real effort

[@anriofastora1776]

Lol this comment is too on the nose

[@yakketyyak6414]

I mean, I imagine the Eye and the Web get on well together. You can't watch a fly struggle if there's no web to trap it.

[@hrani]

Surely I am not the only one who finds Martin absolutely adorable. Also: oh god, Mel is in for a world of trouble

[@samara1676]

Martin is best boi.

[@ZeroOhClock]

Martin literally the love of my life at this point tbh

[@klaushargreevesstanaccount8835]

Elias: *comes out of nowhere after two whole seasons of doing basically nothing and being a complete background character to all of a sudden become a main threat and mega-powerful force* Me:✨🧚🏻‍♂️ I'm spinning like a ballerina ✨🧚🏻‍♂️ PS: Martin you're doing amazing sweetie

[@shsltrash6685]

Martin: TMA fandom: _just dies_

[@frogonthebikeheh]

We must protect Martin at all cost 💖💖💖😭🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🙏

[@dohlecarnett1866]

I'm just at this episode here and while I appreciate Elias being where he is I always found it a bit unbelievable why Jonathan and the others never pressed Elias after the stuff that happend after season 1. Surely you would want to know more about the place you work in after all they discovered.

[@janelantestaverde2018]

@@shsltrash6685 Hold on, why are people obsessed with Martin of all people? And why do they want to protect him? :D He's the least haunted person in that place and less wound-up in that whole mess than everyone else that ever showed up in the podcast to that point ^^

[@midnights2631]

Martin is precious

[@samlueke2855]

"drat" A BABY I LOMVE HIMMMMMMM

[@ironbarsjack7977]

SWEET BBY BOI

[@casper6212]

That is a full grown man

[@LemonRaptor000]

Him suddenly yelling, "D R A T 👹" scared tf out of me lol

[@jellywiish1340]

“So... who did he kill?” 🤔 She is gonna be a great addition alright, I can feel it

[@nanahuatli2144]

Imagine if/when Jon comes back and she's there like "Hi, we're going to see each other everyday now". It's going to be brilliant.

[@mechengr1731]

@@nanahuatli2144 i thought this too!!! "Who allowed this to happen?"

[@darlingrosiebun8952]

MY HEART DROPPED WHEN I THOUGHT HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE HER AN ARCHIVIST AT FIRST

[@ot7biasedmashups]

Thank goodness it isn't an easy role to take on... As long as Jon is alive he'll always be the archivist

[@nanahuatli2144]

"Come to my office so we can complete the ritual binding your soul to this institution... I mean do the paperwork". Melanie nooo... Martin, you should have been more forceful, but you're too much of a sweetie and that's ok. I love these kinds of loyal frenemies who're like "Yeah, Jon is pompous garbage who could bore you to death and his face is stupid, but he would *never* kill a person". With enemies like you, who needs friends. And Martin's righteous indignation, what a precious person. Elias continues to be the chilling magnificent bastard he revealed himself to be and that's great. I love these kinds of villains.

[@Axius27]

It's a good thing magic isn't real, because 'ritually binding your soul' is definitely something corporations would try at least once :P

[@Badficwriter]

@@Axius27Ok this is funny because in a superhero video game called City of Heroes, the main villain group is a corporation that literally bound the soul of one of its dead employees to it. She's a ghost who can't be exorcised.

[@crov.0375]

Even if Elias is considered evil now, he's still a nicely written character and continues to be my favorite (If he's the one dropping the statements in gorgie's apartment for Jon, imagine him trying to walk fabulously around the complex, dropping the statement, and just start booking it to a back door to outside or something so he can't be seen)

[@lydiac9118]

Picturing Elias sauntering into an apartment block desperately trying to look as inconspicuous as possible with an obvious marked case file under his arm and looking for Georgie's apartment and then jamming it under the door and scrambling down the fire escape is so goddamn funny to me oh my god

[@tearez13]

@@lydiac9118 I can' stop laughing at this description!!! There are legit tears in my eyes rn!!! An addition to your already marvelous idea: It's even funnier considering that most of the art/cosplays I've seen of Elias have him in a three piece suit and very neat and put together. So I'm just imagining somebody like looking up and seeing this excessively posh, snooty, bastard just scrambling down the fire escape like a bat outta h*ll, and loosing it.

[@lydiac9118]

@@tearez13 you just made it SO much better with Elias actually being in a three piece suit

[@jessmess7170]

Jon is on the run and he goes out of his way to keep his job I place and brings his work to him even when it looks indefinite. I wish I had this kind of job security and this kind of boss who helps me progress my skillset and career. Ik he's like the villain but he's a boss. It's realistic. I'd trade him for some of mine.

[@stephenderry9488]

You're telling me Elias doesn't have minions? If anyone has minions, that's a guy who has minions. Minions.

[@grumpygato99]

Martin's "drat" surprised me, when someone sweet like him becomes loud and pissed you know things are bad

[@rebelliousone6182]

Wow he already went and replaced Sasha...

[@dracorei5143]

Rebellious One Yeah, what a jerk! That made me really mad. And nervous for Mel.

[@swiftfeathers7028]

elias gives no fucks

[@Stray7]

Well, technically Sasha hadn't been there for months already...

[@arthurcosta1657]

Sasha is dead

[@unslept_em]

actually sasha's second replacement, can you believe it, turnover's really high at the magnus institute for some reason

[@annatalksaboutstuff9476]

Everyone is (understandably) obsessed with Martin, but I'm gradually falling more and more in love with Melanie. I really hope she'll be okay!

[@namaschu9418]

Elias: " What, you lost your job? How unfortunate, oh noO "

[@TheJuliana0901]

jon wasn't kidding when he said Elias knows more about the supernatural than anyone hes ever met... Im guessing he knows a lot of things better than most people

[@azulresendiz3359]

Martin trying to recover his bearings after reading a statement is *chef's kiss* it was another nice touch that demonstrates how when one reads a statement for the institute they sort of become possessed by it.

[@jaxsonadros2066]

The only assistant who properly reads a statement as far as I remember. >:) *Ominous laughing of a Jon/Martin shipper*

[@melissaharris3389]

Spoiler: Melanie mentions reading a statement at one point and sleeping for hours afterward.

[@fluffsnake]

all things considered, I just love how human Elias is... he hasn't actually done anything too creepy or supernatural, he'd almost seem neutral if not for the occasional murder XD

[@tearez13]

I mean murder is pretty mundane compared to alot of the stuff that goes down in the statements ngl...

[@mimkyodar]

You mean, apart from literally read someone's mind in order to psychologically torment and blackmail them?

[@stephenderry9488]

If he had killed the old man with a tobacco pipe that really WOULD have been creepy. Maybe he did, and then beat the body with a lead pipe just to cover it up?

[@Child_of_Fae]

Martin: *reads a statement* Me: "They grow up so fast😭"

[@Record_Scratch]

man, the way martin narrated the story was so damn gripping and is the reason why this is one of my fav episodes so far.

[@nanahuatli2144]

I wonder if even non-Archivists get "possessed" when they read a statement. It seemed like it took a moment for Martin to "come back" to reality after reading.

[@StormSnake0618]

Elias calling Martin out on his "formal qualifications" was the funniest thing. Of course Elias and his all-seeing fuck off eye around the institute knows Martin lied on his application form lmao

[@imacommenter1255]

No ones gonna mention the way Martin got basically overtaken by the statement the same way Jon does? He even clearly reacted as he was pulled out of it.

[@Etherealsky07]

For several minutes I couldn't focus on what the statement was about, I could just think “Martin is recording a statement” :o Melanie pictured Jon with a smoking pipe?! Not sure if is cause he looks old or for being pompous. Probably both.

[@borderlinecrazy6444]

Maybe he gives off Sherlock vibes.

[@eliwhite6159]

is this season just going to be elias being a creepy omniscient bastard man

[@unslept_em]

*me, swaying elias back and forth in the air:* stinky bastard man

[@tharchandran3709]

Man, the last few episodes were harrowing... Jurgen Lichtner was brutally murdered and the sound of that was very distressing. Then, the next episode was about a spider, and the one after that was about a demonic mannequin. THESE ARE A FEW OF. MY. FAVOURITE. THINGS. 🙃🙃🙃🙃 I'm genuinely loving all these great episodes you guys are putting out, and I'm going to be listening to the next couple of episodes before I head to bed.

[@Macey88]

Oh no Elias has roped in another one

[@raebaer8580]

Martin taking the shaky breathes after finishing the statement really hit hard. I think it was the first time anyone realizes how deeply connected these statements are to the entities they describe. They’re almost paranormal in of themselves, I think it’s too late for Jon to separate himself but I hope Martin filling in for Jon doesn’t mean he gets stuck in the statements either

[@mimkyodar]

Maybe the statements are like mini Leitners. Wee manifestations of the powers they describe

[@KuyalawVA]

I really like that Melanie is joining the team but knowing what happened to Sasha being killed, Martin probably doesn’t want anyone else to get hurt and his frustration is more on someone being safe rather than just irritation to Melanie. She has no idea the world she’s gonna be in and Elias offering to hiring her on the spot really crushes the good guys spirits. Damn you, Elias. A real bastard.

[@meical2680]

( first time listening) I have the impression that it's more like he realized that once you work in the archives you end up trapped here...

[@HyacinthoIgnis]

season 3 is killing me, it feels like the final season arc every episode so far and im just worrying for these losers all the time

[@HyacinthoIgnis]

but! having martin narrate the episode was great, and having melanie back so soon is also great. even if im worried a lot about elias just roping her in and him just listening on to everything that was said all the time in the institute apparently :) during all the seasons :):)

[@billedeverre7769]

''Are you offering me a job ?'' I literally almost died in an anxious laugh Can't wait to see how Jon deals with Melanie on a every day basic ! Once again an amazing episode 🐛🐛🐛

[@markyjanu10]

That is very true - not that we need more tension but those two in prolonged proximity? Yay!!!!

[@mimkyodar]

@@markyjanu10 I'm sure it'll be fine. It's not as if they'd come to blows.

[@vX-ter_]

Martin's trying so hard to protect everone to the point where it breaks my heart when something goes wrong

[@hannahcartwright8190]

Martin K. Blackwood is my favorite character so realizing that he was making the statement this time killed me

[@blushymae]

Someone said Martin's voice is friend-shaped and he is my best friend.

[@Companion92]

That was better than ok, Martin :)

[@ironbarsjack7977]

Proud of him

[@plutoandpolaris]

I’ve always loved how if you don’t know Elias’s true powers or motives, the first two seasons make him look like a neglectful boss who has no idea what his workplace truly houses. But if you DO know, it really does seem like he was staying his hand, WATCHING (wink wink) until he needed to get directly involved. I honestly think this podcast is BETTER the second time around

[@CelestiaQuinn]

18:57 I love the idea that Elias watches KZbin

[@Julian-bq9qv]

Ohhhh - now I remember this one - THIS is one of the more chilling tales!!!! Gaaaah!!!! Would not be the one to listen to just before bedtime!

[@MugetsuFused]

Oh shit, it's bedtime!

[@tharchandran3709]

It's past midnight here. Aren't we all brave soldiers. XD

[@Speckaboo]

2 am for me boys

[@thrs00007]

I listened to this when I got out of the shower and had to turn off every light in my house before going upstairs to bed fully in the dark while everyone else was asleep, not fun

[@AIDragon_2]

Of course I see this as I’m listening before bed. Oh well. It’s only 10:15 here.

[@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises]

Melanie is such an icon "Yeah I got shot, in India. Nothing to notice here. Anyway where's your boss ?"

[@savingplayer1613]

I'm so glad that Martin has found Melanie! The only other person (besides Elias 😬) who doesn't think that Jon murdered that man.

[@undergnomes6248]

Melanie is such a good frenemy to Jon I love it

[@MechanizedPlant]

I would die for Martin Blackwood

[@flynland7366]

- isolation - rotting stuff -backpacks like the teeth - worms

[@JazzyRedMusic]

Okay so Elias definitely has some powers. He knew all about Daisy, and he has this ability to persuade people without them realizing. Melanie clearly wasn't really gunning for the job, but as soon as he came in, she somehow felt like she actually did want it. And before, Tim really wanted to quit the job, but something was keeping him from going. I think that was Elias too. And with all the "eye" symbolism, maybe Elias has something to do with it? All-seeing, all-knowing etc.?

[@theprideling]

👁

[@purpleheadache6455]

Melanie: "So what? He's supposed to have suddenly just murdered some STRANGER."

[@uselessknowledge1013]

The quiet statuc that appears after elias says "do you want a job" really sells his supernatural presence given what we know about the tapes

[@purplecatloverrandompizza]

Martin finishing the statement: holy shit oh that was weird. Jon was right oh no

[@arrtes6479]

So the Beholder is using its power, as demonstrated by the static when Melanie was offered a job, to have people work at the institute. I wonder if this static appears when people want to quit but stay. This is my theory.

[@Marylily2]

Oh it’s okay sweetheart, you did such a good job! Well done Martin, you good good boy!!!

[@apollyoniguess]

The static got louder when she was thinking about taking the job... Maybe he has powers and uses them to make people work there? Like how tim couldn't quit

[@leawa]

I know that Melanie has probably sealed her fate, but I really like her character so I'm exicted to see more of her.

[@TenjoTengeCT]

Dude I really don't want Melanie to be cursed like the rest of them

[@isabelleshaw2383]

I WANT TIM TO READ A STATEMENT

[@marys.9367]

*MAG 104 has entered the chat*

[@lyx8039]

@@marys.9367 can't wait

[@zeelovesthee]

martin deserves more fr. they all do honestly (all being sasha, jon, and tim)

[@fluu619]

martin must be extremely frustrated with no one EVER listening to him

[@KatanaDen]

Melanie is qualified enough but we know he hired her to keep her away from Jon.

[@tearez13]

😮 oh. my. gosh. I would NEVER have thought of that!!!!!! That is such a good theory!!! Also: I like the user name😉

[@KatanaDen]

@@tearez13 Thanks!

[@tearez13]

@@KatanaDen 👌

[@panickypatchwork8863]

As someone who’s named Maggie (Maggie, not Margret), seeing all these crazy, evil Maggie characters everywhere is honestly comical. There’s hardly ever a sane, normal Maggie character in any of the media I’ve watched or listened to. I’m starting to see why maybe people don’t trust me XD

[@tearez13]

😹I know right? It's crazy! One of my closest friends for year was named Maggie and she was like the sweetest! 💗

[@Jbip]

oxenfree be like

[@Aidan-is9qz]

“formal qualifications aren’t everything” oh fuck

[@void8617]

Smh, its "Formal qualifications aren't everything, MAHTIN"

[@allenl5960]

I must say, I kind of like how everyone has their own way of saying the statement and recorder before they record said statements. Makes things feel more... real? Lived-in? Something like that.

[@AnanasVert]

Having no idea what tf game elias is playing i am now headcanonning that he was a massive fan of ghosthunt uk and jumped on the opportunity to recruit its host like a massive nerd. Probably humming the ghosthunt opening theme on his way to his office.

[@launch_queen]

MARTIN!!!

[@jaderush4141]

When he said "possessive" there at the beginning in this very dramatic tone, my brain automatically added "pronouns" to it, and now I'm distracted by the thoughts of what kind of a story that would be. Ooh, I hoped Martin would be reading some statements now, this is great. Martin is. Such a pure boi. My heart will give at some point. Cause of death: too much love for a fictional character. Officially. As my last will. Oh no, Melanie. What have you gotten yourself into. Poor Martin is so upset, I can't. Elias is a scary motherf/cker.

[@savingplayer1613]

Also i love how Martin's voice shifts when he is telling a story! It's so different from his normal speech, it's like he's in a trance 😮 wonder if that is part of the hold the Institute has on them. Making them the mouthpieces for the stories it knows...

[@maryagrimm8412]

The crackling when Elias asks her... she really never had a choice.

[@maggiem6209]

I feel really bad for Melanie. Took to a path early in her life that pushed her into the realm of the paranormal, then the maliciously paranormal, then into the Institute, and likely, the woman she was is replaced by the possession of her person to the Institute and the Eye. She will never have a normal life again, assuming she survives at all. It almost feels like, just by association, by pure, innocent curiosity, she was condemned from the start. Like the Institute was always going to have her, the minute she became interested in ghosts.

[@Badficwriter]

You call it pure innocent curiosity, but human spooky legends are there to warn people AWAY from such things. Don't go near the deep tarn, there's a Greenhag or Rusalka who'll grab your heavy woolen clothes and drag you in and drown. Its only when people *disbelieve* that legends are seen as harmless. They treat the danger as entertainment to be explored and poked at. Much like people who love animals and then try to touch every wild animal they can. There are obvious dangers, like being attacked, passive dangers, causing wild animals to endanger themselves because of what the people taught them, and hidden dangers, like many species have diseases and parasites that they can tolerate, but would cause sickness and mass death if human hands carried it to other species. Both behaviors are careless fun because the people are IGNORANT. They tire of safe places and animals and want WILDNESS. This can only be thought as "innocent" in the sense of ignorance.

[@Rolan7196]

Melanie assuming that Jon used a smoking-pipe sounds like a cute reference to the fact Jon was out smoking at the time! I guess people can tell he's a smoker (perpetually quitting).

[@scubatuba3294]

Martin i love you so much

[@victory_snow8220]

Martin must be so frustrated. He had to lie his way into the Institute and this ghost hunter gets the job just by showing up.

[@roseclearwater9904]

“Formal qualifications aren’t everything. Martin.” Daaaaaaammmmmmmmm 😱❤️‍🔥

[@tani2575]

Melanie, casually: oh I got shot, no biggie, anyway can I talk to Jon?

[@baszko6152]

"Formal qualifications aren't everything Martin" wow just wow

[@themprophet1]

Elias has such a charismatic voice I'd probably accept a job from him even knowing what I know.

[@evagrev7351]

My theory from this episode and what we know so far: There were lots of mentions of rot and disease but also mentions about bugs as well, so I think this episode is either about the disease/corruption entity or maybe about the hive one..? I don't know, but Gordon was marked from the entity and that night when he stayed there he became part of it I believe. But I am more inclined to the disease entity, because Maggie and, then, Gordon, they were possessive only of things that were already dead (like Maggie's corpse) or rotting (all those fridges and sodas and such). As for what happens besides the statement in this episode, I believe the eye was interested in Melanie from before, because of when she said that she felt going to the magnus institute was the thing that would help her. Like John and other people whom the eye is drawn to, she is interesting to finding out, knowing it all, but unlike John she's a more active, not waiting for the info to find her but going out to find it herself. And considering the job an archivist assistant has to do, I believe that any archivist assistant in the magnus institute is becoming or became a part of the eye whos role is to be an active "investigator" of truth (how they will search for clues for each statement, even if it meant putting themselves to danger) while the archivist's role is a more passive one, to collect the info when it comes to the institute and record it in some way for it to stay "alive" (like how previous statements that are written have been also recorded, there must be a reason for the eye wanting them revisited again). So, I think Melanie was already marked by the eye, so when Elias offered her a job, the static wasn't because he used mind-control powers ro make her stay, but the static was actually a sign that the eye already had a hold of her and, at that moment, like any other witness we saw that at that moment don't realise why they do the actions they do but afterwards they understand that they were already touched by the entity and didn't realise it yet, like a fly just gotten caught in a spider's web, she accepted even if any other normal person would at least consider it for a few days. I mean, we just heard on tape the moment that other witnesses described as "without realizing it" or "next thing I knew" or "I should have run away, but I didn't", "I should have said no but I didn't". So, Martin's tries to politely "stop" what was about to happen were futile.

[@guilhermemorius]

Since Melanie came back episodes ago I suspected she would join the Institute and was eager for it to happen, pretty nice that it came to be

[@ot7biasedmashups]

Dawg the static increasing when Elias offered her the job.... So like I'm very sure now that either Elias is The Eye or some sort of lackey. Melanie wouldn't have taken on this job but to no surprise she couldn't refuse.

[@halfchiangel88]

I'm excited for more Melanie but I'm not sure if I should be more worried for her now that's she's officially an assistant, guess I can only hope she has some type of protection under the archive now

[@ablynn_thegalewinds]

Fun fact every time Elias appears I yell "BITCH!!" out loud

[@pyrosianheir]

No, Melanie! Explain to the sweet boy! He won't make fun of you, he might actually listen! Also GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ELIAS! Damn schemer.... (edit: Elias is the schemer; not Melanie)

[@NerveUnderscore]

The number of assistants that an Archivist has is important in some way, i wonder? All 3 assistants of Gertrude found... umpleasant finals but is like she just had those 3. Leitner said that she worked alone- that she felt lonely-, but in this case, Elias took the first oportunity to hire a new assistant. Curious. Martin you are doing great sweetie.

[@wyrmoffastring]

Melanie: accepts job Me: areyousureaboutthat.gif

[@N8O12]

Lmao Melanie going "IM NOT DOING THIS AGAIN" when Another person from the institute doesnt understand how many Sashas there are

[@lilalino]

yup lol, also the phrasing "how many Sashas there are" is funny to me for some reason

[@lesssss8124]

The way melanie stuttered and struggled to make a statement to martin, when usually all statements are very detailed and eloquent👀👀👀 it seems like being The Archivist comes with certain special quirks

[@mars6128]

MARTIN M,Y BABY I LVOE HIM

[@Drak_buddy]

Martin trying to stop Melanie from being dragged into all of this so desperately

[@crystalj1684]

Oh my god the static when he asked if she wanted the job. I got chills.

[@mistykat3137]

Is this my favorite ep so far? Yes. Is it bc of martin? Maybe

[@purplecatloverrandompizza]

With Melanie being there more Martin will probably find out about Sasha because she knows it wasnt the same person

[@user-mz6gk7cj4d]

martain is adorable in every way possible

[@Thisone109]

My god Elies has left all subtitles behind. He's full on evil boss now.