THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES

MAG146 - Case #0030109 - Marcus MacKenzie
Statement regarding a series of unexplored entryways.
The Magnus Archives hears the story of the son of a previous statement giver, who feels their father has manipulatively co-opted their childhood hallucinations about strange doors appearing.
Content Notes: Adverse mental health discussion
Starring: The Archivist - Jonathan Sims; Helen Richardson - Imogen Harris; Alice “Daisy” Tonner - Fay Roberts, Melanie King - Lydia Nicholas; Basira Hussain - Frank Voss
Writer: Jonathan Sims
Director: Alexander J Newall
Producer: Lowri Ann Davies
Editors: Alexander J Newall, Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead
MERCH:
Crowdmade: crowdmade.com/collections/rus...
Teepublic: www.teepublic.com/stores/rust...
Redbubble: www.redbubble.com/people/Rust...

[@kellanlevi5663]

Basira: I can excuse police brutality, but giving people nightmares is where I draw the line!

[@OneMartinAmongMany]

"...you can excuse police brutality?"

[@doozerpindan]

@@OneMartinAmongMany They were paraphrasing Basira's attitude.

[@bugjams]

@@doozerpindan Yes and they were also quoting a meme. Which is followed up by "you can forgive (x)?"

[@lathyrusloon]

Classic police officer to be honest though

[@silverquill101]

​@@lathyrusloonreal

[@nateds7326]

Daisy: literally murders people Archival Staff: it's okay Daisy we love you here's a cup of tea Jon: gives people nightmares once a month SO HE DOESNT DIE Archival Staff: *flips table*

[@DeyaBlossom]

literally

[@smittywerbenjaggermanjensen69]

While emotionally understandable, i wanna punch em all a few times

[@user-garnet]

Its not just death either, but it seems to be a really really bad form of withdrawal compounded by supernatural stuff. In other words, its really not his fault.

[@phnxtv]

why was there three replies but only rwo here

[@dull_demon4717]

@@phnxtv one was deleted or hidden by youtube, probably

[@L_Aster]

I think the only character that isn't a hypocrite on some level is the Admiral

[@amphitritemists4595]

Truly🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jeremymcadams7743]

It's his most admirable quality

[@L_Aster]

@@jeremymcadams7743 You-

[@jeremymcadams7743]

@@L_Aster Me

[@anromeow]

and Sasha but sadly she's not here to put sense on people anymore 😔

[@AnanasVert]

Excuse me but the idea of michael playing tug of war with a skipping rope with an actual child is hilarious

[@midnights2631]

I agree, it made me laugh

[@Mekabear1991]

And absolutely something he'd have done 😂

[@AngelCakes1997]

Imagining him trying to manipulate a little skipping rope with his massive, fucked up hands.

[@julianxamo7835]

Helen said it was before they were Michael tho

[@tylerjseph2547]

The mental image is so funny

[@starberrycupcake]

Sasha #1 would have never behaved like this 🙄

[@koschei4716]

are you talking about how the assistants all hate jon? (except daisy)

[@zaki4418]

periodt 💅 Sasha is literally the best character in this podcast, and she literally died to a frickin’ shapeshifter 🙄🙄🙄

[@achnav3762]

Well either you die young or live long enough to watch yourself become the villain. I feel like it was never more true then in this podcast.

[@starberrycupcake]

@@achnav3762 I don't consider Jon a villain, if that's what you mean, but to each their own interpretation.

[@achnav3762]

@@starberrycupcake from our point of vue, with all the knowledge we have, of course he is not a villain. He's only a victim and we know it. They all are. But from to pov of anyone else in the world, well, he would be someone you give a statement about. And I was more specifically referring to Sasha dying to soon to have the time the become a "villain" herself, making the best person.

[@nanahuatli2144]

If this keeps up Jon's going to get complimentary Lonely avatarship. They're so unfair; dieting is hard.

[@f_mva]

"dieting is hard" i-

[@willowkleman9979]

Peter shows up to hand Jon a business card that just says "Congratulations! You don't have any friends :)."

[@table2.0]

So real and true. He’s trying so hard to eat right and I’m going to assume that live statements feel much better to consume than old written ones

[@shewolfblacklink1062]

​@@table2.0I have 5-6 year old frozen steak in my freezer. Perfectly edible, but quite frankly kinda gross flavor-wise. I think it's the same sort of thing. He's trying to live off old freezer steak.

[@ashcanicall5297]

I'm having a very difficult time seeing things from the point of view of the crew. Ya know The crew that actively enables Jon's problem and then has the audacity to be shocked that he's worse than before as time progresses? Really? Using him for their gain and not thinking about the consequences that has on Jon. Elias must be throwing a party in his cell. This is all really working in his favor right now.

[@toastghost9145]

Basira a few episodes ago: "hey, we need you on *full power* to fight the Dark" Jon: Eats a statement to charge up Basira: *Surprised Pikachu face*

[@Mark-fc7tu]

@@toastghost9145 Dilly, dally.

[@barbara737]

imagine the spiral fighting with a kid for a rope and only winning bc the kid let go in said rope

[@owhwaodwa6210]

Imagine the incarnation of the spiral falling on it's arse back in the darkness because the tension suddenly went...

[@Alsarnia]

I just imagine Micheal with his crazy long fingers struggling to hold onto a thin little rope

[@hazyrory3121]

why are they all being so horrible to jon? daisy literally killed ppl and they forgave her almost immediately and are making excuses for her? why is jon being treated so differently:((

[@jowoelle]

exactly! daisy was being influenced by the Hunt just like jon is being influenced by the Eye, and hes being influenced moreso probably as the Eye’s avatar. wish they would stop blaming job for everything :(

[@neganick]

When anyone in the archives stubs their toe on a coffee table they blame Jon. Everyone here signed the employment contract and they all blame Jon for getting them into this.

[@amphitritemists4595]

Hes just the easiest punching bag since he hardly fights back and he isnt half as intimidating as Elias or Peter Lucas😔

[@Elaizel]

I think that if Daisy represents police brutality and abuse of power, then Basira represents all the mostly-good cops who turn a blind eye to those actions, or even excuse and help hide them. That's why she's way harsher on Jon than on Daisy. Because Jon is an addict, a "criminal," and an Avatar, and if she sympathizes with him that opens her to the possibility that all the other murdered Avatars and criminals she let Daisy kill deserved leniency too.

[@javakat343]

@@Elaizel SPOT ON.

[@stalwartteakettlepotato9879]

At this point in the story all of the cast knows the stakes and half of them are murderers or attempted murderers yet they all get pissy at John for giving a few people nightmares. And I thought Tims bitching was insufferable.

[@achnav3762]

Basira didn't kill anyone did she ?

[@kellanlevi5663]

@@achnav3762 No, but Daisy did. And Basira is much more pissed at Jon for his shit than she is at Daisy for police brutality and extrajudicial murder. At a couple of points, she actively defends Daisy for it.

[@kellanlevi5663]

@@achnav3762 21:51

[@frogpog4315]

I think Tim being angry throughout season 3 wss justifiable, he had every right to be mad at Jon in my personal opinion, considering the whole stalking and trauma from losing his brother, he was probably in such a bad place, everybody else on the other hand-- 👁👄👁

[@tenlongfingers70]

@@kellanlevi5663 that's kinda the whole point of Basira's character. How far should loyalty go? There's a danger to the police mindset of "the only person I can trust in this world is my partner, and everyone else is a threat and a danger." So yes, she defends Daisy, because her loyalty to Daisy is a flaw. She goes after Jon because everyone besides Daisy is a monster, in her mind. SPOILERS SPOILER SPOILERS That's why in season five, Jon has to show Basira that her loyalty is misplaced before they can find Daisy again.

[@abimungunkhet2748]

😞 "there is nothing in the world more reassuring than ignorance which we can mistake for certainty." Jon over here spitting facts

[@rotemsosna8893]

when Daisy freed herself from the Hunt everyone was happy to forget the multiple murders but John is literally in the same exact situation and everyone is treating him like shit for no reason even though his being an avatar of the eye is actually helpful to them because he’s using his powers to stop rituals.

[@virginiaf4117]

Not to mention that he's the whole REASON that she's back

[@SengokuTheGouda]

I’m a first time watcher so I know this is not a timely comment. But I think there’s an elephant I. The room they’re not addressing, which is that they’ve all given a statement directly to John. And now we know what that means. And they’ve been dealing with it for years. Whether or not it’s on a subconscious level or they’re cognizant of it, John is now a representation of their trauma.

[@modrzewek]

@@SengokuTheGouda I'm not completly sure and I'm a first timer too, but I think in one of the previous episodes Daisy said that she went to Elias's office and signed employment papers and then Jon stopped showing in her dreams, so that would probably apply to all the other Magnus Institute employees too

[@marylii04]

@modrzewek another first-time listener here, and yeah, working for the Institute gives you protection from the nightmares. However, between them giving the statements and signing the contracts, there was a period of time they definitely *did* have nightmares. So I think @SengokuTheGouda has a point

[@sela8391]

im about to smack the sense back into Basira. She is literally like i can excuse murder but i draw the line at forcing someone to talk to you. Like tf.

[@thatgirlendy5294]

shes totally being a bitch but the live statements result in nightmares for the subjects

[@Nizati]

@@thatgirlendy5294 Plus Jon is fully aware of those nightmares too as he admitted about the sailor dude.

[@mushmushmush]

@@thatgirlendy5294 still not as bad as murder

[@mjamin9124]

@@mushmushmush honestly, i think it's worse if you die, you're dead. that's it. gone. unless some fear or other entity has a claim on your soul. living for years with trauma-- it's much more painful

[@zaki4418]

Basira is a simp.

[@jiangwanyeehaw]

Michael just screaming at people to open the door and not being able to do anything if they don't is my jam 😂😂😂

[@thestranger4894]

The spiral is so easy to escape compared to the other fears it’s sad

[@lathyrusloon]

​@@thestranger4894*avoid. Easy to avoid. Actual escape hasn't happened yet...I mean Helen escaped...for a while ...

[@ot7biasedmashups]

​@@lathyrusloon I don't believe she ever ACTUALLY escaped. She was already done for

[@neznamkakvoimedastavim2489]

@@lathyrusloon And that one guy from episode 100 who casually walked out of the spiral cause he was late for dinner

[@toomany_bones]

​@@neznamkakvoimedastavim2489Wasn't it a stone spiral like out in the open? I didn't know it was spiral related

[@hollynotholy]

Marcus father was so insistent on his son having a mental health issue that when he finally started seeing doors that Weren't There, his own son, who'd seen these doors his whole life, didn't believe him. This is so sad.

[@SugoiiBaby]

Wrong, you don't listen in sure you're an idiot in school but the DAD was the one holding him down even when he thought he was crazy. Must be a white boy 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@bunnysenpai7471]

The guy who didn't belive the boy who cried wolf being not believed in by the boy who cried wolf

[@FreshSqueezedSlugs]

Helen back when she first started existing: Asked for help, didn't feel good about killing people Helen, after getting yelled at while asking for help: Diet Micheal, now with more Emotional Baggage.

[@klaushargreevesstanaccount8835]

oh wow you treated the known avatar of the eye like shit for months, didn't take any care of him after his transformative coma, left him alone, and isolated him, and now he's eating peoples' memories??????????????????????? i'm ShoCkEd

[@Nizati]

You can hear Helen slowly becomming more of the spiral every time you hear her. Talking more and more like Michael too. jon... you had an opportunity to help her and you blew it.

[@late_prince8945]

When?

[@Nizati]

@@late_prince8945 When she first changed, she went to Jon for help as two just-beginning-to-be-evil-avatars.... She begged him for help and he accused her of 'pretending to be Helen' (episode 115 i think?).

[@zaki4418]

@@Nizati but like... how can Jon help her? Even if Jon helped her, I don’t think that would change her back to normal/Helen.

[@Nizati]

@@zaki4418 Well, no. But she would have been more likely to help, and maybe struggle to keep more of her human traits like Jon right now.

[@F0rsythi4]

yeah when she first became part of the distortion she sounded more like monotone and confused? Serious? Now you can hear some amusement in her voice, and the weird scratchy echo that Micheal had as well.

[@TheBbpeki]

I love how the whole comment section is just:”JON GET BEHIND US LOVE”

[@mrs.han_whitethorn]

I'm like really disappointed with the crew and how they're treating Jon this season,,, poor Jon actually needs a break and helpful friends,,, like Jon NEVER asked for any of this, none of them did, and yet they seem to think blaming everything on Jon is helping anyone?? One of these days he's actually gonna have a mental monster breakdown and I'm scared.

[@mimkyodar]

It's OK. I'm sure next season will be fine for him.

[@koschei4716]

same fucking here, and basira worst of all.

[@Nizati]

At least they are willing to entertain the idea he's being manipulated by the web.... But yeah, they are being mean about it.

[@f_mva]

@@mimkyodar this is... so ominous....

[@mimkyodar]

@@f_mva Nah, its fine. Don't even worry about it. It's gonna just me him and Martin spending lots of quality time together. Maybe a cup of tea, a nice walk in the country. It'll be fine.

[@coraa232]

STOP BULLYING JON

[@cassicorey2545]

I love how almost every comment is a full essay on how everyone needs to lay off Jon

[@toastghost9145]

There's a lot of people talking about the Jon bullying, and that's its own thing, but the that drove me wild was Basira's "fine, I'll go alone." It's pure manipulation, banking on the people around you not letting you intentionally self-destruct. I frickin hate it.

[@lemmetalkaboutthis]

fr, she did it before to convince Jon to go along with her half-baked plan to get rid of the anti-sun, too

[@krishadyn5211]

Serious. Daisy's passive aggressive "IT WOULD BE NICE TO PREPARE" is funny, considering their history.

[@evilcatv]

The staff are all people who have given statements directly to Jon and they sympathize intimately with his "victims". I think they're afraid of him. Sure, Daisy killed people and whatnots but you could always looked the other way, plus she doesn't anymore. Jon, on the other hand, they're trapped with, all the while doing the things that make them afraid of him in the first place. And so being angry at him is how they cope, it makes them feel in control. It's not fair, but this story is not.

[@lemmetalkaboutthis]

I think what most of us get _really_ angry about is that _they_ are also the ones who are still actively pushing John into using his powers, while being horrible to him just because his powers are growing (you know.... From constantly frigging using them) Yes they are also victims, but they're being incredibly hypocritical And even Daisy, who should know better because she was in his place, isn't really standing up for him, or really doing anything to stop them

[@bananaboatcharlie]

I like how you put it.It’s frustrating and terrible, but it does make sense. And it's kind of delicious in an evil way...

[@bulgna]

Gonna be honest here I was not expect to find a nuanced take in this comment section

[@nguyenminhchau9024]

A bit question but I think I know you from Facebook? Tnpl's friend?

[@dull_demon4717]

it makes sense on why their upset, but they aren't much better given (as mentioned in many other comments) how their treating him. Like its basically works like spells and mana, everytime time uses his powers like spells use up that energy from feeding, so he has to feed more to replenish it. Telling him to stop feeding, but still use those powers is like telling someone to cast a spell with no mana- which depending on world, casting spells with no mana has varying effects (doesn't work at all, starts to drain stamina/health instead, Exhaustion levels stacking up, etc). Here using the powers without feeding leads to the Powers draining his health essentially, aka killing him because he can't replenish that energy.

[@damekkoDark]

Michael just casually snacking on a guy for years and then Helen finished the whole meal in one go

[@KeKe-bv8qv]

Basira: Shut up, it's not the same thing at all! Me: Yeah it's not, Jon doesn't kill people, just gives them some nightmares. **starts staring Basira down**

[@_mel_9953]

Yo is it just me or are all of these characters turning incredibly unlikeable. Like they’ve all been treating Jon like shit for YEARS.

[@damianarvizu1095]

I just became aware of this podcast. I am of the opinion that the influence of these gods are altering the characters’ minds.

[@penusbutter4182]

absolutely LOVING hellen's laugh

[@f_mva]

a lesser known power of the avatar of the spiral: lovely laughter

[@lemmetalkaboutthis]

I honestly couldn't give a fuck if they're scared of Jon now because of spooky eye-powers, or scared _for_ him like Martin is Not when they kept pushing him into using his powers at every turn, especially when it was against his will or at gun-point I don't care if they're just using anger as a bad coping mechanism, they're being incredibly unfair, and at least Jon and Daisy are aware of it, even if Daisy isn't really doing anything to stop it They also keep reinforcing his self-loathing, which leads him more and more into thinking he should do the world a favor and off himself (if he could), but then they get angry when he risks his own skin to help someone else, They tell him he should _starve himself_ , and even worse he then actually _does just that_ until he gets _so_ hungry he starts feeding on any random bystander that happens to have the right kind of trauma - and then they get angry at him for that too! Fucking newsflash, everyone needs SOME kind of sustenance, and this is just what happens when you cut someone OFF! What did they _think_ was gonna happen?! That he'd just happily sit in the archives while being eaten up by the Eye until he _actually_ dies?! And this little "intervention" was just a fucking train wreck, because they just used it to tell him that he fucked up and they're angry, and didn't even TRY to come up with a way to prevent any more future incidents, and they _definitely_ didn't do it out of concern for him And then??? They just jump to the next possible topic change they come across! Nobody's even taking that "intervention" thing serious! They've already given up, while literally defending a _murderer_ All _this_ did was push him farther away from any chance at a support system, and also alienate him even more from other humans - and if he thinks he isn't human anymore, well we've all heard what happens then, don't we? That's right, the more he thinks he's just another monster, the more he ACTS like it! Un-fucking-surprisingly Gods every time I re-listen to this season it just makes me more angry at how he's being treated

[@wonderlilane3724]

First time listener here. Do they ever let up or apologize or get called out? Bc the Jon bullying that everyone is doing and getting away with is seriously disturbing me and bringing back some past traumas and I'm considering dropping the podcast.

[@lemmetalkaboutthis]

@@wonderlilane3724 they work it out... Uh. Kinda I mean - Jon will be treated better. Kinder. Let's - well, I can't say much more without MAJOR spoilers. This season is a really rough one, and it also almost made me drop it bc of similar reasons, but I find it worth it sticking through

[@wonderlilane3724]

@@lemmetalkaboutthis Alright, I'll keep at it then. I'm still curious about what's gonna happen, but in all honesty I'm not enjoying listening to the podcast anymore, not least bc of similar personal experiences with bullying. Wish it was in the content warnings for this season at least.

[@calamity2383]

@@wonderlilane3724 did you end up finishing it?

[@wonderlilane3724]

@@calamity2383 Nope. I ended up dropping it after all.

[@l.k.9982]

Goddd the hypocrisy here is killing me...Basira who turned the other cheek at her partners serial killer activities and is now chewing Jon out for things that at least aren't actual murder, Melanie who has apparently no trouble being besties with Helen who still very much eats people, them scapegoating Jon for each and every single thing that goes wrong in their lives, the comparison with Daisy doesn't work either bc Daisy is actively removed from any environment that would encourage her problem (like defending the archives) while Jon is still expected to make use of his powers (even though using them makes the hunger worse), like if you didn't want him to go full monster the time for that would have been right after the coma, instead you actively antagonize and isolate him and write him off as a lost cause thats on thin ice despite not actually having done anything yet and then they have the nerve to act surprised this happened!

[@alyssadeily5137]

At this point it really seems like everyone has gotten into their heads that all of their problems are Jon's fault. I dont think it started off like this but now it seems like they find it easier to just blame Jon rather than deal with things. Hes become a scapegoat for all of them because its easier to blame one person than it is to face the real issues

[@alphalilly8207]

Hmm... what is Jon isnt being controlled by the spider, but its everyone else.

[@luxill0s]

I know I’m coming in years later, but I’m honestly banking on their increased hatred for Jon this season being that they feel as if they have to hate somebody. Elias is in prison and it’s not really like they see enough of Lukas to complain about him. They’re turning their hurt and rage and pain on him because he’s the nearest, as you said, scapegoat. They have no other outlet and I’m beginning to suspect that perhaps the influence of the Eye is making them voice their true feelings a bit more than they would otherwise. Maybe this conjecture of mine will never get answered

[@SengokuTheGouda]

@@luxill0s I’m also coming into it late and I think it’s moreso that they all gave him statements. We already had previous confirmation that he was appearing in Daisy and Melanie’s dreams. Safe to assume he is in Basira’s as well. And now we know that him appearing means them reliving their trauma every night.

[@krishadyn5211]

​@@SengokuTheGoudaThey work for the Eye so wouldn't be seeing him, according to Daisy. The conjecture that they're being influenced to turn on Jon has merit. The Web is all over the Archives. Jon's comment that he thought Elias knew everything but it felt like those events were *orchestrated*..its almost as if Elias is directly working for the Web as well as the Eye. And what happens if Jon's support system convinces him he is beyond hope? He will turn to Elias--I was always struck how kindly and encouragingly he spoke to Jon. Elias and the Eye are set up as the only friends Jon has.

[@shadowfire8063]

Really guys.... The characters have been at this for... What a year or more in the timeline now? They shouldn't be so ready to dismiss jon as a lost cause just because he accidentally feeds on ppl's past. Atleast hes not killing them out right.

[@InsainCat]

The issue is that it brings back the memories long since buried, usually through nightmares. This sort of think has mentioned to lead to insomnia and suicide.

[@jacthing1]

@@InsainCat was the use of the word buried intentional?

[@Nizati]

Plus he feels guilty as hell for doing it.

[@alicepatton3040]

The Spiral had far too much fun with this guy lmao

[@fakenayhn]

Took me way too long to find someone talking about the statement.

[@zGabaz]

@@fakenayhn Has been like this for a few dozens of episodes. People will either talk about anything except the episode or just repeat the same point in the top comments over and over

[@fakenayhn]

@@zGabaz never before has it bothered me when people talk about the characters instead of the story, because most of the time you cant talk about one without talking about the other, but its like tma fans either only care about the characters or gave up on understanding the story or something.

[@zGabaz]

@@fakenayhn Exactly, same with me. And I mean, it is fine talking about the characters because you can say a lot about them in this story anyway. My real pet peeve here is that most comments are just the same head cannons repeated all over again and people just ignore the important information and dialogues in the episode. Nice to see that I was not the only one under this impression.

[@tillmancat]

Why are they so mean to Jon. :/

[@himeow7454]

Why is Jon so mean to Helen :/

[@AmazingAroAce]

my opinion: yes what jon did was bad, and it doesn't seem like hes being directly controlled, BUT one, they still shouldn't treat him like that and two, its a combination of the eye influencing him and what appears to be a literal, partially physical need for statments.

[@savethebees2574]

The crew: _God,_ why can't you just _Know_ everything? Just use you magical stuff, it's not that hard. Also the crew: How dare you feed on a few people!! We don't care if you need it to _survive,_ just-- don't feed it!

[@jaderush4141]

I can't believe I've just said "at least they don't hate him quite *that* obviously these days" right as I was about to start this episode. Sure, Daisy was so different. Oh so very different. And it's not like Jon is trying to save the world or anything. Great how they all just came to judge him. Just great. And Martin. Didn't even want to deal with this himself. I know he has his brilliant plans and schemes in the Lonely or whatever, but this is a pretty low blow. Just leaving a tape for the ladies to tear him apart? Of course they wouldn't have any problems murdering him and mounting his head on the wall, seeing how they all alredy hate him and just need an excuse to attack. I feel like my own mental state is deteriorating along with Jon's. So it's safe to assume it comes to these extreme outbursts when Jon really needs to restore his energy. The whole Melanie ordeal, the Buried, the boat carrying them towards the Dark... These experiences make him vulnerable somehow. I don't think it's the Web, but he obviusly isn't doing this of his own good will. It's his survival instict kicking in, wether he wants it or not. All these suicide missions... I wonder if he can die at all. Or will the monstrous part of him just take over and spit the bullet back out?

[@suzerainty4192]

HELEN 😍 Also I'd really like to hear Basira's explanation for how murder is forgivable but Jon's questions aren't. I liked her so much in previous seasons; it's weird to see her like this

[@elle8058]

I'm glad to know Helen inherited the creepy laugh.

[@thomasderosso5625]

As of this episode, every character but Jon and the Admiral has my full permission to *just* *die.*

[@just_a_cryptid]

And Major Tom! He's just living his life.

[@zaki4418]

I hate these new assistants’ personality, I want my Sasha back.

[@justeundonut-moi.7979]

PLEASE

[@confused-as-ell]

And s1 tim

[@bingbozo6969]

It makes me really happy to see everyone in the comments talking about the main crew being mean to Jon. I feel like we're united against them bullying our poor archivist.

[@birbelle]

I’m *this* close to defenestrating everyone that comes near Jon. LEAVE. MY BOY. ALONE. BUT NOT IN THAT WAY???????????

[@l_a_d537]

I've been terrified watching these, but I feel like this is the first time I've been irrationally angry. The son putting off his dad's fears pisses me off for personal reasons. The crew's treatment of John makes me angry for entirely different reasons

[@kumud9827]

It is sad how bad everyone is treating Jon. I mean I get it that Jon isnt the best person in town but still give the man a break he came out of a fucking coma and The Buried and yet everyone is treating him like shit. And now Melanie and Basira are pouncing on him for forcing statements out of people as if they both are any better humans. I wasn’t fond of Daisy in the beginning but I like her now because she seems to at least understand Jon. She has also owned up to her past wrongdoings and I respect her for that, but it still isn’t fair that Basira has accepted Daisy but not Jon. I get that Daisy and Basira are probably romantically involved or whatever but still not fair. Everyone around Jon expects him to just Know things and when he doesn’t they get so impatient and blame him for everything. Melanie fucking stabbed him and everyone was just okay with that. Now that I think about it, Basira, Melanie and Daisy are treating Jon the same way that Jon treated Tim, not-Sasha and Martin in season 2 and season 3. Well what can I say, as you sow, so shall you reap. Karma. Back in the last two seasons I was a severe Jon bully, because that man deserved a slap on the back of his head with a rolled up newspaper to get back into the world but now it's… different. Jon is becoming more and more human as he gains more and more of his monstrous powers. You know what, that's the thing. Each one of these characters in these god forsaken podcast are selfish and uncaring and fucked up, and that is exactly what makes them all the more likable, relatable and real.

[@sofiakeller5718]

I am so here for this analysis!

[@trucetruce335]

Jon has apparently personally decided that bad things will happen to people on purpose. the way they're reading him anyway...

[@eater_of_grass_beater_of_ass]

"I can excuse murder but I draw the line at giving people nightmares"

[@f_mva]

uh oh... going to hilltop road is probably the worst thing they could do...

[@Ryuzaki4Ever]

At this point? I want Jon to eat everyone except Daisy. They’re so nasty to him and I understand that they’re scared because they’re human but Jon is still trying to hold onto the last bit of humanity he has left. If I were him, then treating me like this would be my final straw.

[@emppu1012]

I feel so bad for Jon...you'd think it's him being claimed by the Lonely and not Martin, seeing how he's being treated. How long will it take that they start locking him up or something?

[@ishner]

YAY! Distortion has it's smile back!!! I love that laugh! :-)

[@imacommenter1255]

God, they all treat Jon like shit. I really want Martin to come back, see how far they’ve pushed him, how they all then blame _him_ for many things he cannot control, and then I want him to yell at them and tell them what for.

[@imbrush]

I think Jon deserves to Snap TM at the others in one of the next episodes, it’s only fair tbh

[@Sheena000]

I’m beginning to feel the call of the slaughter the longer these characters go after Jon. At least he feels bad about becoming a not human despite using his abilities for the greater good of humanity. It’s honestly almost to the point of giving up on the podcast entirely. What’s the point if I’m not invested in anyone?

[@Vi_Vi_1]

You know, I think I've figured out exactly why the crew being so awful to Jon upsets me SO MUCH, and it's because I grew up in a really fucked up and abusive household and learned EARLY that, as scary and painful as it is, if you have others trapped with you, you band together, you do not also turn on one another. Being the oldest kid, I was able to kinda direct this with the younger ones so we were a team, but I've seen other families where they devolved into hatred and it broke everyone else so much more. Which isn't to say it's unrealistic, or unreasonable, or anything like that in regards to them all being scared of Jon--i get the logic, i get the fear, and i get how they've fallen into this. It just. Hurts. Because if you can manage to keep the hope alive at least a little, find ways to support each other just a bit, it helps so goddamn much. Watching Jon become the scapegoat instead of getting the support he needs just...breaks my heart, because they'd ALL fare better if they could see (heh) the true solution to their problems. I know it's not a perfect comparison. They're not an actual family, eldritch horrors, etc. But I just know exactly what it is to live in abject terror, to fear for your life and the lives of those you care about, and I know that while it's hard, staying compassionate through that pays off in huge ways. Just. Sad. I love this podcast but I get so sad listening to Jon suffer alone, devaluing himself and feeling like a monster because no one is there to offer any support

[@faxonii]

i am crying over one (1) fictional man

[@fritss6003]

You know... people are talking about how unreasonable everyone is being, and yeah, they kind of are, but if you see it from their perspective.. than it actually makes sense, which is almost worse. I mean: your boss, who you aren't really friends with and never really were, is literally preying on innocents and causing them to relive nightmares. You yourself are traumatized and looking for an outlet for control and anger, and your number one weapon against the supernatural has now shown himself to be potentially out of control. Now there are two options--either he is being controlled by an outside force (that could hurt you) or he is choosing to harm uninvolved outsiders (what if he chose to feed on you next?). Neither option is a good one. Melanie was already struggling with trusting Jon bcs of nightmares, improv nonconsensual surgery trauma, and displaced blame. Basira is embracing an outlook of needing control over her surroundings and allies, has already shown that she refuses to trust Jon, and desperately wants to treat Jon more like a loaded gun instead of a person to maintain neutrality. Both of them have watched Jon become less human, both of them had their lives ruined bcs of the supernatural, and both of them are trying incredibly hard to find some semblance of truth in a world where it evades them. And yes, we, the audience, can identify with and see from Jon's perspective. WE know that he struggles with his inhumanity, that he becomes physically weakened when not consuming statements, that he is an asshole but an asshole who is trying very hard to be good. We can see how biased and hypocritical the others come across as. But if we were in Melanie's or Basiras shoes, the awful thing is that their reactions make sense. They aren't neccesarily good reactions or even helpful ones, but they aren't supposed to be--this is not an intervention on JONS behalf, it is them doing a check in on the guy who can peel their brains open like tuna cans who they are incredibly distrustful of. They are both using him as a scapegoat and punching him down to assure themselves that he is still under control, that they can influence him. And yes, it is pretty shitty from our viewpoint--but from the viewpoints of those he victimized? It isn't anything all that bad. Idk. Maybe my analysis is all wrong, but while I definitely don't agree with how Jon has been treated I can also understand the logic and thought process behind it. I think a large part of this season IS about that moral ambiguity and the struggle to be ethical in situations like these.

[@consuelomunoz7398]

Daisy is so done with everything I love her

[@maryagrimm8412]

you know what I love helen

[@f_mva]

yes!

[@TheJuliana0901]

thank god the theories about that woman who left the statement about jon being a liar or an avatar for the web or confusing him with someone else werent true. that said... oof

[@namaschu9418]

Helen's laugh just made me miss Michael 🥺

[@teleutenachtigaller2762]

Yes, I miss it too

[@nonapplicable7093]

Damn he got exposed.

[@ajnapalm]

"Sometimes we just have to leave...even if whats on the other side scares you". Oh no.

[@canyousee2578]

this season I'm really seeing the tragedy side of the podcast

[@racoon_in_ankhmorpork]

My gods, I am immeasurably angry at everyone. I can’t believe how badly they’re treating Jon. Sure, what he did wasn’t exactly okay, but they were wayyy out of line accusing him like that and refusing to listen to him. I don’t get why they forgave Daisy if they won’t do the same for Jon, who is both less harmful to his victims AND more useful as he gets more powerful-they’re the ones to ask him to use his powers so often in the first place. It just makes me absolutely livid.

[@leomorris7573]

the gang puts jon on a vegan diet

[@pollux_the_insufferable.]

martin istg where tf are u ?? everybody is blaming jon for their probmels , help ! pls just ..im scared shitless rn , i had too much coffe and ahhhh martin pls , jon protection squad needs the president , these are desperate times martin

[@viperv6768]

You know, a simple eating solution would to only read the statements of people who died after giving their statements and/or old people about to die. Then the nightmares won't matter!

[@lightninghedgehog5963]

When Elias was narrating Jon’s coma nightmare, there were only people who gave live statements. It seems like written statements don’t add to the nightmares at all, and I assume the statement givers don’t get the nightmares when they do it that way either.

[@ShadowyKatz]

The Spiral really wanted this one.

[@paigefuentes1055]

Oof so he actually really did do it... But why are ya'll so mean to jon?? Give him the break and support he needs :((

[@MochaKimono]

Maaan, I was binge-listening this show nonstop at first, but as every episode bookends with a conga line of everyone bullying Jon (the man can't open his mouth for more than three words in a row without them yelling at him, seriously! this really isn't great from an audio-listener perspective), I've had to take long breaks between episodes because it's just so tiresome and depressing. I'm close enough to the end now and I'm holding out hope that the ensemble stops being so unlikeable by the finale >_< At least the horror stories hold up, which has always been my primary enjoyment anyway.

[@huntercharleston5812]

I can't tell if I want Jon to completely lose his shit at the others so they realise how shitty they are, or if I want him to become so overwhelmingly depressed that they realise how shitty they are. DOES THIS STORY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING? OR ANY MORE HAPPY BITS? I HAVENT HEARD A HAPPY MOMENT IN SEASONS! WHERE IS THE HAPPY? IM STARVING HERE!

[@emmaliving588]

I just want to give Jon a hug he needs it

[@CalderoHechicero29]

I think all of the characters have been perfectly imperfect in the way the deal with trauma and so so human (are they human? lmao) also Jon being the avatar of the eye means he is literally the enbodiment of one of THE fears (specifically the one that has them captive) so their reactions to him are really good in my opinion

[@brainworm232]

The way Basira deals with the situation about Jon feeding on people's trauma stories reminds me of a certain type of dog owners. The one where a person says that their dog is nice, friendly and never bit anyone ever, while said dog is tearing apart an unfortunate neighbour kid on the background. It's literally the type of relationship Daisy and Basira are in. A dog and a dog owner 👁

[@imalittlelady]

I noticed it’s almost always the corruption which chooses ppl who are starving for love. Most evident example is Jane prentice. Also that guy in MAG102, and maggots crier over here… I just thought I might mention that🐛💕

[@krishadyn5211]

Its because those people feel like garbage, so only garbage could love them. :(

[@imalittlelady]

@@krishadyn5211 I hate how I relate to that :D💔

[@guada2991]

I was so excited bc I love Helen and her showing up was like WOOOO then my excitement died bc of the way the crew is treating Jon. Like I understand it, they're scared and they don't understand what's happening to Jon or what he's becoming but they can totally excuse the way Daisy used to behave? C'mon. "I can excuse murder and abuse of power but I draw the line at making people relive their traumatic experiences" THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY BAD U SHOULDN'T EXCUSE ONE OF THEM BC "they didn't know what they were doing". Anyways I love Helen she's so quirky and fun ❤

[@achnav3762]

What about we just seat down with John and try to help him get through this? This shit goes since end of season 1 ! Martin was the only one to take care of John and now he's gone! Obviously John is losing himself, he's lost and scared. He needs support.

[@windydayys]

HELP THE IDEA OF MICHEAL TRYING OVER AND OVER TO GET THIS PERSON AND FAILING JS SO FUNNY IDK WHY

[@CamilleChauTempsDesCerises]

I remember when I listened to MAG 27 (Marcus' father one). It was a month and half ago. And now I'm here. So much happened in so short period of time for me ah ah. Diving into TMA was the best thing that happened to me this summer (and I had a very good summer)

[@galacticfairypal]

Man I miss Michael so much

[@Mqstodon]

Honestly the one thing i don't like that much of tma is just how- insufferable characters get at points Tim didn't deserve to die but it felt like he bitched for two whole seasons for things that weren't jon's fault, and basira is excusing murder just because she knows daisy from a long time It's not even interestiny to think of their side of the story because they judt become- really annoying, to hear And that's a shame, basira was amazing in s3, then she just became tim2 even blamed jon for people's dearh even though sje literally ran away from the unkowning. Which jon couldn't, because he had to stop it and save everyone including her, and she blames him for what? For not escaping with her?

[@calamity2383]

Personally I don’t think it’s a flaw, I think it’s very realistic. But it does piss me off

[@deafeningoctopus]

Knock knock! Who's there? THE DOOR.

[@petraivan6778]

[TAPE CLICKS ON.] ARCHIVIST Statement of Marcus McKenzie, regarding a series of unexplored entryways. Original statement given September 1st, 2003. Audio recording by Jonathan Sims, The Archivist. Statement begins. ARCHIVIST (STATEMENT) So my dad tells me he’s been bothering you with his nonsense? (sigh) I just wanted to come over and set things straight. Apologize for any of your time that he might have wasted. He’s… just a lonely old man looking for attention and trying to manipulate me into moving back in with him, even though I’ve told him so many times that that’s just not going to happen. (sigh) The doors thing isn’t even his, you know? That’s what he talked to you about, right? Some magically appearing door. Yeah, well, he’s just trying to send me a message. Which has been received, loud and clear. I suppose I do probably owe you some sort of explanation. (big sigh) Right. I’d been living with my parents… a while. I kept moving out, but it never seemed to stick. First was uni - fine, moving in after a degree is normal. Then there was my divorce, back in ‘93, that landed me back in my old room for a while, then my company went bust about four years ago and wiped out all my savings. All told, I must have spent most of my twenties, and not a small amount of my thirties, living in that house with my mum and dad. It was alright, but each time the vibe was worse. My mum was always happy to have me, but she wanted me to move on with my life. But dad was weirdly protective of me, kept trying to keep me around, like he was terrified that the world outside was going to hurt me. I was - quite depressed, back then, and his attitude put me in a really… weird headspace. I think it comes back to the doors, you know? I think he always secretly thought that I had some deep-seated mental illness, even though they did so many tests, and the doors were the only thing that there ever was - aside from the depression, obviously. But they were just specific, weird little hallucinations that have long since stopped. Haven’t had one in… well, it’s not important. But my dad always thought it was a sign of something deeper, something that was - something that was going to destroy me, someday. So whenever I was living at home, he smothered me, tried desperately to keep me around. Don’t you see? That’s what this whole thing has been about; he’s been so lonely since mum died, and he’s been trying to get me to move back in with him. He’s pretending that he is starting to see the doors. He thinks that if he starts to share in my “madness,” as he always calls it, then I’ll be worried about it; I’ll stick around. But I’m not mad, and he’s not seeing any doors. I’m sorry he’s so lonely, truly, I am - I try to see him as much as I can, but - I have my own life, and I can’t be there all the time. And I don’t like being manipulated. I don’t like being lied to. The first door I remember seeing that shouldn’t have been there, must have been when I was five or six. I had a skipping rope, bright green, old and ratty. I made my mum buy it for me at a car boot sale, and I loved it. I could spend hours on the playground, just stood there jumping happily. We weren’t really supposed to bring our own toys to school, but no one stopped me. It was thicker, heavier, than the ones all the other kids had, a proper rope that needed a good bit of strength to really swing. I was fiercely proud of it. So one night - it was during the Christmas holidays, so I must have been six - I wake up. There’s a noise in my room, like something being dragged along the floor. Well, I look over, and in the weak orange glow of my nightlight, I can see the heavy wooden handle of my skipping rope moving slowly across the floorboards and out my bedroom door. I don’t remember panicking. I’m not even sure I was scared, not at that point. But I didn’t like anyone except my friends touching my toys, so I got up and hurried to follow. I chased it sleepily out of my bedroom and down the hall, past the stairs and towards… a doorway I didn’t recognize. I was sure that when I’d gone to bed, it’d been a patch of wall, with a painting of an old sailboat on it. But now it was an open doorway. A small amount of light leaked from around the edges of the door through to my parents room behind me. But it didn’t reach very far at all, and beyond the threshold, it was completely dark. That was when I started to feel scared. I could see the wooden handle of my skipping rope lying in the corridor, its heavy green cord stretching out and into the door, until it disappeared in the darkness. I realized I was shaking. I didn’t want to go through that door. So I picked up the handle, and started to gently pull on it, try to drag it back out again. Instead of moving, the line went taut. Something was holding the other end, and it was trying to pull me. For one, awful moment, I found myself frozen in a tug-of-war with whatever was inside that door, clinging desperately to that rope as it stretched away and vanished into blackness. But I was six, and felt myself starting to lose my footing and fall towards it, so I did the only thing I could: I let go, and I watched my most treasured possession disappear forever as the door closed behind it, and I ran back to bed. I told my parents, of course, but they didn’t believe me. They just thought I’d lost it, and was making up wild stories to cover it up. The wall was the wall again, and the picture of the old sailing boat was back where it should have been. The next time, I was eleven, and that time, the door wasn’t really there. Well, it was, but it was - covered in concrete. It - It was in this old alleyway, about five minutes walk from my house, and one of the buildings was this abandoned warehouse. I - At least I think it was a warehouse. The wooden signs were rotted away, and the windows had all been broken - and the main layer had been covered in a grey layer of perfectly smooth concrete. I passed it on the way home from school almost every day, and something about that blank, grey space where a door should have been always gave me a shiver of unease. Then one day I was walking past, and the door that stole my skipping rope was there. The thing was, though, I couldn’t see it, because it was still covered in that concrete, but I knew it was there. Before, there’d been nothing behind it, but now, I was certain; now in the center of the concrete were five clear marks, as though someone had pressed their fingers into the mixture when it had still been wet. I stood there, staring at it like I had all those years ago. It was playing with me again, but this time, it wasn’t looking to play with a skipping rope. This time, it was a dare. It was daring me to put my own hand on that rough concrete, to fit my fingers into the hollow spaces it had made for me, and open it. It was a windy afternoon, but for that moment the narrow street where I stood was completely still. I could feel the muscles in my arm tensing, preparing to stretch towards it, to accept the dare from a door that had hidden itself so sneakily under all that concrete. Then my friend Luke yelled at me from the end of the street. The fear was gone in a second, and I ran to catch up with him. I did, however, make the mistake of telling my parents about it, and reminding them of the other time it had happened when I was six. This time, they didn’t dismiss it so quickly. First, they checked the alleyway, and took some pictures of the solid, unmarked concrete of the covered entry. Then, they began to make appointments, and sent me to specialists. I was tested and poked and quizzed and prodded all through my teenage years. I never believed I was delusional, not like that, no matter what my father said, and neither, it seemed, did the doctors - at least, not in any way they could prove. Every test, every examination seemed to reinforce the fact that there was nothing medically unusual about me or my mind. The only evidence to the contrary was the fact that I - kept seeing the door. When I was thirteen, it was underneath a railway bridge. It was huge and metal this time, with solid iron bolts sealing it shut and a thick chain stretched across it. The warning stickers had long since scrubbed off, and someone had scrawled in chalk “WARNING: Danger of Death.” As I passed, something heavy began to bang on the side, sending the chain dancing. It pounded again and again, and I didn’t know if it was trying to force its way out, or politely knocking, hoping to be let in. When I was fifteen, I pressed the doorbell for Sandra’s house, picking her up for our first date, and I realized that it sounded wrong, like the doorbell was echoing through a hundred empty corridors, bouncing back and forth and lingering in the air. I looked again at their front door, and realized that it didn’t lead to their house. I heard footsteps approaching on the other side from the far distance, fast and steady, but getting closer. I turned and ran, just as I heard the door open behind me. When I was sixteen, I was stumbling home drunk from a house party, and I found it lying open in the ground in front of me. It was wide, waiting, and I could see a long corridor stretching down and away, at a right angle to the world as I knew it, turning off into an angular labyrinth.

[@petraivan6778]

I was trying so hard to walk carefully, to seem like I wasn’t drunk, that I almost didn’t notice it until it was too late. I stared into it for a long time, my eyes hazy from cheap vodka, and I saw a shape walking calmly along the vertical floor. When I was eighteen, I was driving a group of friends to a concert in Leeds when we pulled into a service station to get some lunch. They didn’t hear the scream coming from the small stone structure just next to where all the coaches parked. They didn’t see the drag marks that led across the tarmac and under the door. I didn’t eat lunch that day. The last time was the worst. It hadn’t happened for almost fifteen years, and when I saw it, I almost wept. It was when I was living in Oxford, up Cowley Way. A few streets over, there was an empty plot of land, just scrubby plants and junk. If there’d ever been a house there, it was long gone. A few of the older residents said it burned down in the seventies, but they were always… real weird about it. I passed it whenever I was heading down to get a drink at the City Arms. The last week before I had to move back in with my parents, I was at my lowest point. I was bankrupt in all but name, the work of almost half a decade flushed down the toilet, and all that remained of my worldly possessions were packed up for yet another return to childhood. And as I passed that empty space of grass, there it was: a pale yellow door, stood all alone, like the entrance to a house that I just couldn’t see. It had no frame around it, but I was sure that if I grasped its handle and twisted, it would still swing open, silent and inviting. This wasn’t like before; there was no playfulness here, none of that malicious joy that I had always felt coming off it. Now there was just a cold hunger, a deep anger, as though I had no right to just stand there looking at it. The street was silent, but I could feel it screaming at me to open it. I just about managed to not to. I was just about able to walk away. I’m… sorry; I didn’t mean to get so deep into my issues. I’m not mad; I know that. It’s just, this door is something else. And my father knows that; it’s why he used it as a cornerstone of his little story, but it’s just - pretend. He just wants me to move back in with him. And I can’t. I just - can’t. Sometimes you just have to leave. Even if what’s on the other side scares you. ARCHIVIST Statement ends. (long sigh) So it seems we did have Marcus McKenzie’s statement after all. I spent so long looking for it, back when I found his father’s and - (long inhale) - no luck. But now I decide to start looking properly into Hill Top Road, and all of a sudden I’m drawn to rearrange a filing cabinet, and what do I find behind it? I never thought I’d miss those days, when I could throw out some half-baked speculation about drug abuse or mental illness and whoosh - away all the statements went. There is nothing in the world more reassuring than ignorance, which we can mistake for certainty. But no. Almost every one of those statements, those - people. That poor old man. Like I can talk. Like I’m in any position to mourn the suffering of the innocent. But there is one thing I know an awful lot better now, than I did when I read his father’s statement: I know an awful lot more about doors. [TAPE CLICKS OFF.] [EXT. HELEN’S DOOR] [TAPE CLICKS ON.] [THE ARCHIVIST BANGS IMPATIENTLY ON HELEN’S DOOR, BREATHS HEAVING, UNTIL HELEN INDEED OPENS IT.] HELEN You rang? [THERE’S A PERSISTENT STATIC IN THE BACKGROUND FROM THE MOMENT THE DOOR OPENS.] ARCHIVIST Marcus McKenzie. Why didn’t you tell me? HELEN Is that name supposed to mean something to me. ARCHIVIST (half laugh, half shudder) No. I suppose it wouldn’t. Just an old man and his son for you to terrorize and feast on. HELEN (all business) Oh, well; the son, I was pursuing long before I was even Michael. And technically, I didn’t eat the old man. He passed away from terror long before I got a chance to open properly. ARCHIVIST His son Marcus - he - he was fine when I read his father’s statement two years ago, but now, suddenly, I can’t get through to him. HELEN No. I imagine not. I decided it was time to finish that game a few months ago. ARCHIVIST You - Why? HELEN Not sure. I suppose Helen didn’t have quite the same attachment to him as a project. I’m not quite as much for decades-long campaigns of subtle terror these days. ARCHIVIST (soft) That’s horrible. HELEN Is it? We do what we need to do when it comes to feeding, don’t we? (pointed) Don’t we, Archivist? ARCHIVIST Yes. HELEN It would be better if you embraced it. ARCHIVIST It’s not - Look, why were you trying to lure him into Hill Top Road? HELEN That? Oh. Well. That was just curiosity. I wanted to see what would happen. ARCHIVIST I don’t understand. HELEN There is something wrong with Hill Top Road. You know it as well as I do. Some strange scar on reality at the center of - whatever it is that the Spider is spinning. When young Mr McKenzie passed, it seemed like a good opportunity for an experiment, to see what would happen if I lured him inside. But it seems I just don’t have the Web’s gift for manipulation. Persuasion. ARCHIVIST Were you controlled? HELEN What a delightful thought. (short pause) I don’t believe so, no. But the Spider’s strings are subtle, so I suppose it’s not impossible. Why? ARCHIVIST I, I want to know: Can the Web control another avatar, one that serves a different power? [HELEN BEGINS TO LAUGH.] ARCHIVIST (CONT’D) Make them do things they don’t want to, make them - [HE BREAKS OFF; HELEN IS CLEARLY GETTING TO HIM.] ARCHIVIST (CONT’D) - find victims, feed - [HELEN KEEPS LAUGHING.] HELEN Oh, perhaps. Perhaps not. Would that make life easier for you? Are you so sure you didn’t want to? [THE ARCHIVIST STARTS BREATHING HARDER AND HEAVIER, AS HELEN ERUPTS BACK INTO LAUGHTER. SHE CLOSES THE DOOR BEHIND HER.] [TAPE CLICKS OFF.] [INT. MAGNUS INSTITUTE, ARCHIVES, ARCHIVIST’S OFFICE] [TAPE CLICKS ON.] ARCHIVIST Been a while since you’ve all come to see me together. I assume it’s not good news. DAISY No. MELANIE (spitting) What the hell have you been doing, John? BASIRA (cold, cold anger) Martin left a tape for us. ARCHIVIST And what exactly is on this t- [HE CUTS OFF; BASIRA’S PULLED THE TAPE OUT, AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, HE KNOWS WHAT’S ON IT.] ARCHIVIST (CONT’D) (exhale) Oh. MELANIE Yes. BASIRA How many? ARCHIVIST Basira… I - BASIRA How many? [SHORT PAUSE.] ARCHIVIST Four. MELANIE Jesus.

[@petraivan6778]

BASIRA Including the one on the boat? DAISY What one on the boat? ARCHIVIST Including Floyd? Five. MELANIE Jesus! BASIRA Do I even want to know? MELANIE I do. [THE ARCHIVIST SIGHS. ARCHIVIST Jess Tyrell, the woman on the tape - (sigh) - she was the fourth. I - I just tried to - I was weak. R-Ravenous, I,I,I didn’t feel - The first was a supermarket cleaner, um, ended up lost for a week in an endless warehouse. [IN THE BACKGROUND, WE HEAR MELANIE SIGH.] ARCHIVIST (CONT’D) I didn’t even - I, I just went in for some shopping, and he was there, and I just - asked. (inhale) The second was… it was after I got stabbed by Melanie. MELANIE You are not putting this on me - ARCHIVIST (overlapping) No, that’s not what I meant. (shaky inhale) I was walking the streets; I - I thought I was trying to clear my head… DAISY But you were hunting. ARCHIVIST Apparently. I,I found a woman who, every year on her birthday, wakes up in a fresh grave, just for her. DAISY And the third was after the coffin. ARCHIVIST A man rejected by all who knew him, (inhale) searching ever-darker places for love. When he told me his story, he started weeping maggots. BASIRA Enough. [IN THE BACKGROUND, MELANIE MAKES A DISGUSTED NOISE.] ARCHIVIST I hope so. MELANIE (exhale) Why didn’t you record them? BASIRA Why do you think? Because he was ashamed. ARCHIVIST (immediately) No; I-I mean, I don’t record anything anymore, not, not really; I just sort of assume they’ll turn on if it’s important. BASIRA Well, they didn’t. ARCHIVIST No, I suppose not. [SILENCE, UNCOMFORTABLE AND TIGHT.] [MELANIE EVENTUALLY BREAKS IT WITH A SIGH.] MELANIE So. What do we do now? ARCHIVIST I don’t know. BASIRA You’re a danger, John. A monster. You’re hurting innocent people. ARCHIVIST So did Daisy. BASIRA Shut up. It’s not the same thing at all. DAISY Basira. He has a point. BASIRA You didn’t know what you were doing. [DAISY MAKES A PAINED SOUND, AS IF TO CONTRADICT HER, BUT STOPS.] BASIRA (CONT’D) And since you did, you’ve spent every waking hour resisting. He knows exactly what he’s doing. ARCHIVIST I don’t - It’s not that simple, i-i-it feels- (pause as he finds his words) I don’t know if I can control it; I don’t know if it’s even me doing it. BASIRA So you say you’re being controlled. ARCHIVIST I-I don’t know. Maybe. Th-The Web, i- BASIRA (overlapping) What, What was the name you said before? Annabelle Cane. ARCHIVIST …Yes, uh, she’s - she’s been watching us, I’m pretty sure of it. MELANIE John, I - I’m not sure that it’s actually the - BASIRA (overlapping) No. No, if he is being controlled, we need to know. And we need to know now. Do you know where she is? ARCHIVIST (struggling) N-Not - Not properly, I,I - I think she has some connection to Hill Top Road. BASIRA Then we go. Now. Unless, anyone has any objections? [LOTS OF EXHALING AND RUSTLING IN THE BACKGROUND. MELANIE BEGINS TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT -] ARCHIVIST Not from me. BASIRA (overlapping) You don’t get a vote. MELANIE Uh, okay, seriously- I’m going to have to be the one to point out that this is a terrible idea. BASIRA (determined inhale) Daisy? DAISY Be better if we could prepare. MELANIE I-I just think - that - we shouldn’t be exposing ourselves like this until we have a little bit more than a hunch. ARCHIVIST She does have a point. MELANIE I - didn’t ask you. [JOHN SIGHS.] BASIRA ‘Kay fine, I’ll go, then. I’ll do some recon on my own, and update you. [AS SHE SPEAKS, SHE PUSHES OUT OF HER SEAT AND HEADS FOR THE DOOR.] MELANIE Wait, hang on! DAISY Basira… BASIRA I’ll tell you all what I find. Don’t let him eat anyone’s brain while I’m gone. ARCHIVIST (sullen) That’s not what I do. [BASIRA OPENS THE DOOR.] MELANIE B- Basira- Come, come on. [BASIRA LEAVES, SHUTTING THE DOOR BEHIND HER.] [MELANIE SIGHS.] ARCHIVIST Well, that was… DAISY AND MELANIE Shut up. [PAUSE.] ARCHIVIST (half a question, half statement) So, we’re going with her. DAISY (sigh) Come on, Mel. I’ll see if I’ve got a stab vest in your size. [MELANIE PUSHES OUT OF HER SEAT AS SHE TALKS.] MELANIE Yeah. Sure. [TAPE CLICKS OFF.]

[@islaridland]

Thanks :3

[@petraivan6778]

No problem :)

[@thistleywistley681]

Petra Iván jon being treated like shit by people instead of avatars? ): also thank youuuuu

[@vannieleigh]

They either all suck real bad or the lonely is working over time to break up the Scooby gang.

[@rivermaxwell3834]

Daisy kills people: perfectly fine Jon gives a couple of people nightmares: horrific and unforgivable.

[@arifhossain9751]

RIP Jon's respect

[@alpha_wolf220]

respect to the kid who was clearly facing some horror movie BS and was fighting with it

[@ErrorNotFound-nl1sh]

I was kind of holding on to hope for Basira this long because she's just as distraught and traumatised as everyone else but... oh come on now, why would you do that? Sigh. Is she being controlled by something too, the way Elias kept insisting on calling her Detective? Or is she just putting all the blame on Jon because she needs someone to be guilty...

[@alphalilly8207]

I was thinking. Is Jon also marked by the spider? And he has some sort of ability because of it. But because it works so well with the ability he gets with the eye we cant tell the difference?

[@draconiccurmudgeon]

i don't tend to comment much, but i thought i'd leave my thoughts here- this statement made me so sad, but also blew my mind with how the son was discounting his father's statement as nothing but the ramblings of a lonely man. it's fantastic how this podcast makes the listener consolidate multiple perspectives and tellings, and what dynamics emerge from that

[@amandanaoexiste]

jon should just feed on everyone at this point

[@Methus3lah]

A few things: 1. I’m under the impression that Jon could just as easily (if not more easily) feed by recording existing statements instead of dragging them out of unwilling people. 2. The people around Jon are understandably horrified at what he’s been doing. 3. Basira continually allowed Daisy’s murders for years, supporting them through her inaction. Why is she so much more upset with Jon than with Daisy? 4. Daisy is starting to grow on me since she stopped using state violence as a means to brutalize people.

[@dimsunstuff]

Helen is starting to sound more like Michael did, i like it. Also im very tired of everyone trating Jon like shit. hes gonna snap and ill stand behind him

[@cyrilltate7065]

First time I feel the need to write a comment on a TMA episode, we're gonna be here a while TL;DR: The fact that they're all scared is acceptable, but taking it out on Jon wheneven he does literally anything is not. Yes I'm fuming with anger because of it, how could you tell? I sorta understand how they're all feeling there. They're all stuck in the Archives, monsters left and right, with the weight of the world on their shoulders. This is one hell of a stressful situation, and the fact that Jon is obviously not human and Knows things is indeed scary (he's sort of a monster himself after all), but their reactions are still too much, dammit! As if they haven't met any other monsters in their time there... Yes, the way they put the blame on Jon for every single little thing really gets me, they found the literal worst coping mechanism and just went with it, but what made me go ham is the HYPOCRISY of all this. 1. Jon is on the same side as everyone. He's trying to help any way he can, he just has some extra powers because of the Beholding. They keep him around for his powers, and they're angry when they don't work, because "WHY DON'T YOU KNOW? YOU SHOULD KNOW" but when he does Know they're angry again, because he must have harvested that information from some poor bastard, right? If Jon does listen to them and stops using his powers and goes mad and dies and eyeballs fall from all his orifices, they'll still be mad at him. 2. On the boat, Jon told Basira that he needs to consume statements to stay strong enough to use his powers, perhaps even to stay alive, and she still gives him shit for it. 3. They told him not to go into the Buried to save Daisy, but he did, and now he's fine and everyon'e SO happy that Daisy's back, and perhaps she wouldn't be if he hadn't risked HIS OWN FUCKING LIFE FOR HER, but nevermind, he's a bad man who only hurts people and they're not gonna miss him if he dies. 4. Daisy did much worse than Jon to lots more people while she was in the police force, but tHaT's NoT tHe SaMe tHiNg because "she didn't know what she was doing". At least Daisy gave Basira a reality check. Not that she listened, or that she would excuse Jon if he didn't know either... 5. HELEN. JUST HELEN. THEY LITERALLY FUCKING ACCEPT HELEN, WHO EATS PEOPLE ALL THE TIME AND IS HELLA HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT JON IS SOMEHOW MUCH WORSE FOR DOING THE EXACT SAME FUCKING THING. 6. It really annoyed me when Basira told Jon to behave like Gertrude (who was a very badass albeit horrible person). Well suprise, he is, he is now sacrificing other people's well-being to save the world (or be in the right shape to save the world), but poor little Basira doesn't like it because now he's a bad person, does she now? 7. They always ask Jon to do all the work without offering any goddamn help, and when he does his motherfucking best considering each situation he finds himself in, they're still angry at him. 8. They're angry at him for literally everything that does and doesn't happen. They don't even try to find what the problem is, they automatically turn to Jon, as if he's some kind of human-shaped stress ball, or they suppose that he caused everything. That's prejudice, if you ask me. 9. They're supposed to work together! They're on the same side! For the sake of the team, they should be even marginally less mean! 10. Also, Melanie! Melanie was taken by the Slaughter for who knows how many months, but she's fine guys, she turned all her anger towards the monsters and if we avoid her then we'll be fine. Bullshit. That was long. I love this podcast, and I love tragedies, but damn me if I don't hate Melanie and Basira's behaviour this season. Fuck.

[@rorygiambalvo2955]

I completely forgot that Jon knew the son's statement was in the Archive back in what, s2? I love how they didn't need to have Jon find it, but he did and we see both sides now! As much as I dislike how mean everyone is to Jon, I do understand. They're all trapped, clinging to humanity and trying to survive while not letting the world end. And their boss is slowly becoming less human and actively hurting people in order to help their survival and success. It's scary and anger-inducing and that anger and blame gives them a semblance of control. At least Daisy tries to defend him.

[@ixisnyx6860]

Jon over here ending evil rituals with her, and pulling her bestie, who wanted to murder him mind you, out of an undying torment. Basira acts like this towards him. And somehow daisys years long kill streak doesnt matter cause it's inconvenient to her hypocrisy. Jon deserves better. For all he's done for them and the world at this point he deserves far far better than being treated like a thing.

[@michaelrobinson996]

So everyone else feed their gods it's fine, Jon starves his and is forced to eat, and he's a bad guy.. worse mates ever

[@epsyblue7714]

Geez. It's been what, 2 or 3 seasons ago? And we're just now getting to this statement.

[@nanailh458]

I've been a silent listener and this is my first time commenting but oh my god the hypocrisy in this chapter is SURREAL. why does everyone act like John is at fault for the whole situation? he's literally kind of destroying himself to avoid the end of the world, Jesus christ...

[@Iquey]

"we do what we need to do" YEAH JON. Wanna talk about the girl at the Cafe bro!? Grocery store clerk... He went to the sad grocery zone.

[@krishadyn5211]

But that girl is alive. Helen's victim is dead, she said.