What's Up With the Birdcage? | TEST RUN THEORY (Deltarune)

Has Kris pulled out their soul before the game? Was someone else controlling Kris before us? My possible solution: Test Run Theory.
(CAPTIONS AVAILABLE!)
00:00 Intro
00:40 The Birdcage
02:39 Test Run Theory
04:28 Problems + Other Possibilities
06:57 Outro
FOOTAGE CREDIT:
Chapter 1: • DELTARUNE Chapter 1 (F...
Chapter 2: • DELTARUNE Chapter 2 ( ...
Chapter 1 Save Menu: • All Deltarune Gaster L...
Goner Maker Background: • Deltarune Character Cr...
Check out GuiltyFlygon's video that made me think of this theory in the first place:
• Can Chapter 2's Ending...
All songs are from the Deltarune OST
Follow me on Tumblr @infizero

[@astrid9920]

Oooh I like this. Maybe 'quite a few crashes' is more Toby Fox wordplay (but it refused -> the soul fused again, determination -> de-termination, undoing death). Maybe 'crashes' doesn't mean physically crashed, but like a game crash. After all, using the name Gaster crashes Deltarune and Undertale, and, like you mentioned, there seems to be some diagetic tech that Gaster uses to connect us/the soul to the world of Deltarune. Tech that may crash.

[@infizero.mp4]

I didn't even think of that! That's a really cool idea.

[@tsawy6]

TBH when I saw the thumbnail this was my immediate response. The tying to survey program is neat. Still, such a theory demands a lot of assumptions about the nature of the program and how it can induce changes in the world

[@theprinceofawesomeness]

I have no idea how people are able to come up with word plays like this. "Determination" and "De-termination" are so diferent to me it could be compared to a Stone and Waffle. But Toby do do things like this

[@TheSoulCalledZuzia]

It would actually fit. Didn't Undertale secret room did something similar? In a room belonging to Toby there is something (I don't remember exactly what) that needs to get patched (which, obviously, refers to patching the bugs from the game). I may be wrong, tho.

[@milescalimar4356]

I imagine gaster wanted to use Kris originally since they were a human who was already in HOMETOWN, allowing the Player to interact with the world without much suspicion. I wonder what Gaster was planning on doing to have the Vessel blend in with the world...

[@tarvoc746]

In Japanese, the second voice in the Goner Maker segment uses the same honorifics we saw Chara and - at least so far - *only* Chara use. Now I hesitate to insert Undertale characters into Deltarune without evidence that they're there, so I'm not saying it *is* Chara, but it seems to imply a thematic connection. On top of that, Kris is arguably much closer to an AU version of Chara than to an AU version of Frisk, and since we never see them talk, it's a valid hypothesis to assume that they use the same honorifics (or speech patterns in English) as Chara. So what if the one interrupting Gaster's Goner Maker segment *actually is* Kris? If for some reason Kris deems it necessary or appropriate to pull the player into their own body? Who's really controlling who here? Are we controlling Kris with them rebelling against us on occasion, or is Kris the one using us to some end and we're the ones who have to decide whether to go along with their narrative (which seems to be about befriending Susie and banishing Angel's Heaven) or use the limited control they give us to rebel against them (romancing Ralsei or Noelle, Snowgrave, whatever happened in Spamton's basement, etc.)? (Or maybe it's a little bit of both. Gaster is still a factor in this as well after all.)

[@infizero.mp4]

Interesting idea! I definitely agree that Kris is likely the Deltarune world's version of Chara. And I do believe myself that Kris likely wanted us to control them, at least at first. So it's definitely possible!

[@brastionskywarrior6951]

I pray to toby fox that chara never ever appears in deltarune please no GOD PLEASE NO kris being au chara is cool though

[@battery_eater]

​@@brastionskywarrior6951 if chara does appear, it will probably mean that the theory saying deltarune is a post genocide "new world" created by Gaster for Chara and the player is true. And if thats true then deltarune cant have a happy ending. But since chapter 2 it seems to be going in another direction so i dont think Chara will ever appear

[@youyououmf8200]

​@@infizero.mp4i think that kris is chara too ! I also think that the unused human sprite from undertale is chara befor their death

[@DJSlimeball]

@@youyououmf8200 that sprite is an early version of frisk, and it actually doesnt go unused, in waterfall theres a puddle that reflects as that sprite

[@haleyolson8365]

Maybe the reason Gastor didn’t reset, is either so Kris wouldn’t freak out as much when we controlled them, as they have been before, or to make Kris distrust/hate the player as they probably don’t know we are a different entity from the one that was controlling them before.

[@jordynrawrz]

i think we can all agree deltarune is definitely a video game

[@wsurviver8376]

Technically with the Spampton Sweepstakes it’s now a multi media project and not a video game

[@TheSkyGuy77]

It's a video game of all time 😂

[@nick_299]

Real.

[@nicestoriesnottherealstori3006]

Oh yeah, final froggit, Astigmatism, and Whimsalot (components of the reaper bird) are similar to the Ralsei, Susie, and Kris when they are together and have the same battle formation as the fun gang when they are together and found in the core that gaster created, and do not appear to exist in Deltarune.

[@LoadingAndroid]

5:28 Maybe it was the Roaring Knight's voice? After all, we still don't know who the knight is. Maybe the Knight is some sort of ancient evil guy (like Sauron)/eldritch entity who needs it's body to create the fountains? Btw, I like this theory! UPD: 6:14 again, we don't know who the Knight is, but what if Knight wanted to use Kris as it's vessel, but they resisted, so the Knight tricked us to create a new vessel for it? And Kris is probably thinks that WE, the player, are the Knight, who is trying to take them under control again?

[@Aretruehazbin]

I heard that the knight is most likely gaster soo

[@tsawy6]

I like that you're looking for solutions to this from a two entity standpoint. I personally feel that Kris' obvious familiarity with soullessness and possession is the single strongest element in favour of three entity theories. I get not liking it from a Doylist perspective, but I think that it is a story that could be told in an interesting way, especially in how it reflects the three entity state of Undertale: Frisk, Chara, Player, mirroring Kris, ???, Player. A naïve reading of the undertale triangle is that Frisk is good, Chara is evil, and we adjust the balance, but if you take into account the Narra-chara evidence (which is very strong, feels obviously intentional, and makes great thematic sense), it's clear that Chara is at most a neutral being, and ultimately a hurt child. The genocide route is not us unleashing the evil entity, it's us /being/ the evil entity, and teaching Chara that the world is meaningless and hopeless and that death is appropriate. In Undertale, the third person, us, is latent (tho arguably so is Frisk). Obviously present from a logical perspective, but never with attention drawn specifically to it, even as it takes on profoundly evil roles. Deltarune inverts this, the player and their relationship to Kris is strongly highlighted in both chapters, it's asking us to introspect and I like that. But I think a nuanced three entity doesn't need to shit on this, if anything I think it forces us to reflect on Undertale, which I like. Every angst that Kris has about being controlled must ultimately have been felt by Frisk the whole time. Even the last decision in the pacifist route about what Frisk will do in the overworld is made by us; ultimately sits outside of Frisk's control. That's powerful. As for your theory in particular, the idea of prior distinct connections is interesting to me, (even as it functions as a bit of a third entity theory itself!!), but I think we're reaching a lot, as you say, when we try to express precisely what the goals of Gaster, the second speaker after GonerMaker, and what the plans were for vessels, connections, and Kris. That said, I do feel like the connection to Kris had to have been intentional. If SURVEY_PROGRAM was made by Gaster (and it was), then why would he release it with such a fundamental flaw as it connecting us to the wrong person?

[@infizero.mp4]

Totally agree with everything you said about Undertale! I definitely think that Toby could do a really interesting story with a third entity, so I'm not ruling it out entirely. Also great point about the program being released with such a big flaw, I never even thought about that! That could potentially be evidence for the idea that the second voice is still just Gaster, just speaking in a different way. Or that maybe some things about the program are out of his control? Idk! But thank you for bringing that up!

[@oscarsauce739]

I really love this theory, especially since it can explain the visible hatred that Kris seems to have for the soul, it isn't a whole "the player's evil" thing it's just that Kris thinks that we're Gaster

[@VcSaJen]

It's clear that something happened to Kris a long time ago, and the red SOUL has been controlling them ever since. Birdcage being used before + Toriel screaming "NOOOO!" after finding lying Kris with a knife is not a gag, but a flashback (in Undertale fade to white meant a flashback). Whether that means a "test run" or something else, I don't know.

[@UnoriginalJokester]

Yeah, I agree that it's far more likely for that line not to mean anything lore-significant. The subject of the line is about the wagon, with the birdcage being an additional descriptor. When interacting with it in Chapter 2, it talks about the birdcage itself without mentioning the wagon, which makes it more reasonable to assume the "crashes" are referring to the wagon & not the birdcage. If that's the case, then it's unlikely for it to be a hint that Kris ripped out their soul prior to the player's arrival, since the birdcage is the one that crashed & the wagon only moved slightly. You pointed this out in the video, but I'm just expanding upon it. The red stain on the carpet next to it, while I guess it's technically possible for it to be jelly or something, I think is further hinting at Kris' depressing life situation. Souls don't emit liquid as far as we know, so it must be something else. Toriel says that Kris "does this sometimes" when Susie asks why they're taking so long in the bathroom. So in total, Kris often spends a lot of time away (enough for Toriel to be unconcerned), has a strange red stain on their side of the bedroom, and happens to own a knife. It's dark, but Flowey said that he successfully "erased himself from existence" in his first reset during his New Home monologue, so it's not out of the realm of possibility. Also, and this is just a personal nitpick, I disagree that Third Entity dilutes the Kris-Player relationship. While I also don't believe it, I personally think it would just clarify said relationship to be other than what most fans think it is. If anything, Third Entity provides a pretty compelling take on the Kris-Player relationship. Instead of Kris hating the player, Kris would be teaming up with the player to help stop this malicious entity. Again, I don't actually believe Third Entity, but this particular counterargument always bothered me. I'm also a firm denier of the "Second Voice" theory, but that's a discussion I'd rather not get into. TLDR, I think the "second" voice is just Gaster again, and he's changing his speaking style to intimidate the player for an unknown reason.

[@infizero.mp4]

Yeah, I totally agree that the stain on the carpet could be referencing something else; believe me I am painfully aware of what all those details seem to be implying... I also agree that we don't know if souls emit liquid! I should've brought that up in the video, but that's another reason why I stray more towards believing this dialogue doesn't have to do with the soul stuff. Kris doesn't appear to bleed or anything when they rip their soul out, so it's likely blood is not involved in this process. When it comes to the Third Entity thing, I do agree that it definitely could be done well! For a lot of theories even if I personally prefer something else, I try not to solidly believe one single thing and instead keep my mind open. Knowing Toby Fox, he could absolutely make a compelling narrative with a Third Entity involved. Interesting idea about the second voice! Like I said before I try not to firmly believe in just one theory, and like I said in the video I still have no idea what is up with the second voice. So I certainly wouldn't rule that out! Thank you for commenting!! :D

[@jaydenn1160]

Very cool idea here! It’s so cool how even the most subtle parts of Deltarune can stir up completely new theories :)

[@evidence2839]

tbh I dont think the birdcage dialogue is arbitrary but theories are better when theyre fun and silly and not taken seriously (see: sans is ness)

[@TheSoulCalledZuzia]

I disagree, personally. I prefer serious theories that actually try to solve a mystery (or that are educational, like most of Game Theory science videos) than the silly ones that are there just to exist. Unless they actually have a point (like funny similarities)

[@spoode644]

Nice theory! I never really thought about the birdcage too much but this makes a lot of sense! I wonder if, according to this theory, if anyone in Hometown was able to notice any strange behavior from Gaster controlling Kris.

[@GreyVictory1510]

This is one of these theories that just makes so much sense. Yeah, why wouldn't the scientist not run tests on his tech before using it with a third party, by which I mean us.

[@pros_0143]

Kris feels like a blank character who has acquired conscience and knows how the story plays out.

[@FourBloodMoons]

Whilst there's some parts I'm not 100% about, I am with you here. I think this a really good theory and a lot of the aspects about this theory fits quite snug into what the story may bring. The endgame of Deltarune I feel is going to be way more wacky than what we're expecting (either really dark or just really bizarre) especially when in the context of "meta-narrative" so you are on the right lines absolutely and I'd like to see what else you think of the story and how it'll turn out!! (also random absolute crackpot theory i came up with in my head just now which is definitely not true: what if it was Kris who forced the switch and maybe they have way more agency than we first thought, perhaps with their own plans of sort which requires the player).

[@Veecy]

I've long taken this detail to be a hint that we'll get a Chapter 0 at some point

[@shmovinnn]

i’m so with you with your fixation on this game lol, good video + i like the idea!! i can see that being an interesting explanation for why kris feels so bored of and used to the concept of being controlled by the time we come around. keep up the good work 🦉🫶

[@sp1geon]

I actually had this thought a couple days ago! I'm so glad I found this video, cool to see I'm not the first person who's thought of it!!

[@duccthatwaddles]

Assuming Gaster did intend for the player to inhabit the goner vessel, would the goner vessel have replaced Kris in the world? It would seem strange for there to be another human all-of-a-sudden in Hometown, and one that looks just like Kris. Then again, people might assume he's a relative coming to see them.

[@infizero.mp4]

There's definitely a lot of questions to be asked about how the vessel would have originally functioned. I don't know if we can figure out anything right now since we still know so little about the vessel and the goner maker segment as a whole, but it's definitely worth thinking about it!

[@ofconsciousness]

I really like this theory! Liked and subscribed. Looking forward to more!

[@Blastanker]

Great vid. Pretty shocked your subs are so low with this top tier theory fodder and video in general, subbed!

[@DarkBuddhist]

Cool video! I will be watching your career with great interest :D

[@kiwipomegranate]

Yooo I've been thinking about the birdcage and This Game in general like nonstop, this makes so much sense!! Also thank you for providing captions! :)

[@subprogram32]

Ooh, this channel is an instant sub from me! I did have this idea independantly as well, but since I only talked about it in the Mollystars discord, maybe not even two months ago, do not feel bad at all because I certainly did not broadcast my version of the idea very far. XD I called it a 'beta test' (specifically with the inherent assumption that Kris was meant to be the original 'host' I guess) but your theory video here certainly gives a valid reason for why Gaster made the Vessal instead, or at least tried to do so. After all, Kris figuring out how to defy the Soul seems like a Pretty Big Bug to just leave in the system...unless Gaster wanted this ofc, but that's really getting into speculative territory XD In any case, very happy that someone else had the same idea as me! I can't wait for chapters 3 and 4 aaaaaa

[@infizero.mp4]

That's so cool!! Glad I'm not the only person who's thought this could be a thing :D

[@lexy4037]

I think the second entity may be working with Kris to stop Gaster which is why Kris doesnt rebel 'too much' Like if they can rip out their soul you would think they would be trying that all the time but no it only happens every so often, like Kris is going along with it to some extent

[@Dudeman23rd]

Thanks, algorithm! This is a cool hypothesis, and in the current era of all-encompassing "I've figured out the ending" theories, we need more theories like this that just notice an oddity and call attention to it. I also dislike third entity theory and there's more than enough evidence to suggest Kris is no stranger to possession, so I think there's merit to this idea.

[@Superthatguy-dv2lo]

*Hey, Asriel, look at this weird bird cattie got me... Ariel: * Kris...why does it look like a heart. *Heck, if I know , she said she got it from some weird man or something. And wanted me to have it... Asriel: I.. Well, that still doesn't explain what it's shaped like heart kris... Im gonna open it.

[@connorschultz380]

This is super nice

[@Kingsl4yerr]

Perhaps Ralsei was the second voice that interrupted and put us back in control of kris? He seems to know more than he lets on abt the world of deltarune so it could make sense, maybe he knew it would have to be kris ?

[@tsawy6]

Notably, not the same typing voice, but that's not conclusive I don't think

[@softmittens4154]

It's really nice to see someone else who believes that the second voice is actually a second voice and the same voice that was talking before (You know, Gaster), also I love the chao pfp!! It's adorable

[@lennyfacebutnotreally3198]

Big fan of the theory!

[@JayTheProtag]

It's up in the air his true motives, but maybe Gaster doesn't mean any true harm to this world. Maybe the true villain of Deltarune is the second voice trying to ruin his experiment for some reason

[@SenJenko]

This is now my headcanon as well, great job! I don't dosagree wirh any of this and I usually am a very sceptical kind of dudebro lol

[@moonlitaura_]

I've already shared my thoughts in the tags of the reblog on tumblr but a. i wanna comment for the algorithm b. doesn't hurt to reiterate. very well made video! i imagine the voice that interrupts the intro throws a wrench into a lot of people's theories but you handled some possibilities it presents really well, imo! i've been Pondering the birdcage for a while now and this presents a pretty nice theory about why exactly it would be all battered. ive made a post myself that is kind of similar and could tie into kris being controlled before to how barren their room is, maybe in an attempt to save their privacy from an intruder, but i'm not gonna self-promo here :p just saying that if you (or anyone else!) wants to nerd out about lore like that, i'm more than open to that on tumblr under prism-forgone :> (i too think an introduction of the third entity diminishes the narrative struggle between kris and the player, you're so based for that)

[@infizero.mp4]

Thank you!! That's definitely an interesting idea as well

[@zeo4481]

The red Soul IS the player. That has been made abundantly clear in both UT and Deltarune. Why do people still say Kris' soul?

[@TheSoulCalledZuzia]

Because it's easier to understand. A thought shortcut, if you will. Everyone knows what the name "Kris's soul" refers to, so there's no need to change it

[@faer7172]

doesn't every human have a SOUL? It could be that we're controlling Kris through their SOUL. It's still theirs, we just control it.

[@chuckbungus7032]

Could be something has benign as implying that Kris and Asriel used to play with it. Resluting in some damage. Hard to say, but I hope your having a great day :)

[@Kiwolko]

nice video ^w^

[@MothcatAsh]

I like this I'll keep this as my canon

[@marcelolupatini5553]

There I can see some solid assumptions

[@brastionskywarrior6951]

this could help explain why the second speaker shooped us into kris. since it would give precedent for kris being a rebelious vessel

[@UltraCenterHQ]

I don't really care if it's a plausible theory or not. Just the more Deltarune theories running around the internet, the better. (Just look at how chaotic old FNAF theories were) I didn't even realize how low your subscriber count is. The content was that interesting

[@phxcake4012]

ohh cool!! i dont have much to add and this mightve been said before but the person who interrupts gaster mightve done it Because it would replace kris? like instead of the vessel and kris co-existing the vessel would fully replace kris- basically deleting them. though i dont truly know about that. the opening line of “nobody can choose who they are in this world” and how the other person seems to be handling the more story like elements in contrast to gaster who is straight to the point (andrew cunningham had a section in a video about it but chapter 2s menu screen).. the vessel in theory would make a story more fit for escapism, costing only kris. i dont know where this is going i just dont know what motives the person has. anyways cool theory !

[@RedGoner]

I like this theory

[@eltiolavara9]

the stain doesnt even really look like blood, like if it was why would toriel be 100% ok with a giant ass bloodstain in the floor and never bring it up

[@infizero.mp4]

Fair point! Though I will say that Toriel has shown to be kind of passive when it comes to Kris' issues, like how she says that Kris just "does this sometimes" about them locking themselves in the bathroom for long stretches of time. You'd think she'd be more concerned about that too, instead of just accepting it and letting it happen. I do believe the stain likely isn't blood though, since we don't have any evidence so far to suggest that souls emit blood or any other kind of liquid. But it was definitely placed there intentionally, whether it has deeper meaning or is just a red herring.

[@eltiolavara9]

@@infizero.mp4 yeah its definitely here intentionally but i dont think it has a deep meaning or anything (maybe i'm wrong) with how the sprite looks it could even just be a tear in the carpet or something

[@infizero.mp4]

@@eltiolavara9 When interacting with it, it says "It's stained" so assumedly it is a stain 👍

[@eltiolavara9]

@@infizero.mp4 damn i should actually check things ingame before commenting

[@infizero.mp4]

@@eltiolavara9 You're good lol dw!

[@mister_r447]

I like it. It makes sense. But, other then the cage, there isn't much evidence behind it.

[@darkcode404]

Makes sense

[@user-by1xd9sl7u]

honestly i have the unpopular opinion that there was no second person during GonerMaker, the biggest evidence for it being someone else is that that line uses a different typer value than the rest of the sequence. Gaster speaks in typer: 666 while Chara (or whoever else it might be) speaks in typer: 2 but did you know Susie uses typer 2 as well? when she says "your choices don't matter" she talks for that specific line in typer 2. so its probably just a general font that anyone can use in aggressive ignorance. Its possible that nobody interrupted him and that he just made you use Kris because he had already established a control link to him and then took the body that you made for himself.

[@kendallbabbitt1532]

It was probably Kris that interrupts

[@sahilhossian8212]

Lore of What's Up With the Birdcage? | TEST RUN THEORY (Deltarune) momentum 100

[@SmartieLTT]

Maybe Dess disappearance and the ketchup prank mentioned in game have something to do with the test run

[@oceanocean574]

with the amount of times gater crashes the game you should have called it crash test theory smh

[@infizero.mp4]

What do you think? Leave a comment! I also want to clarify that personally, I believe that this birdcage dialogue likely doesn't actually matter. This is just my explanation for if it does!

[@GeoBlitzy]

Real

[@whentheskittlesfightback]

i have an idea as proof fir kris having multiple souls but its pretty stupid and makes 0 sense so unless im right i never even considered it. you donr get to know it btw. cause

[@loganthecoolcatdude4183]

What if undertale was the test run?

[@Waltar100]

We all know the vessel is the knight🙄🙄🙄

[@lqpigmaskpng]

What if Dess is the second voice, and the reason she turned us into Kris or whatever is because she wants to be saved and thinks/knows us possessing Kris will lead to her rescue

[@infizero.mp4]

That's definitely possible!

[@turtle_guy776]

maybe kris is the second voice and they made you posses them

[@infizero.mp4]

It's possible! I am a huge fan of the theory that Kris summoned us willingly, and that could be one way of that being the case