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I watched the new episode.. hoooo boy.
LOOK GUYS!!! ITS XPAPYRUS!!! XPAPYRUS XPAPYRUS I LOVE XPAPYRUS!!
ANYWAYS. Papyrus appreciation aside, the new underverse episode was pretty good!! The animation had very noticeable improvements, and the soundtrack mare this episode so much more enjoyable.
I can’t bear to keep my mouth shut, so here’s some of my personal favourite scenes in the episode!
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1. X!TORIEL’S NEW POWERS ARE SOOOOO INTERESTING TO ME. I absolutely loved watching this part auuuugh….
“THE CLOSER TO HER SORROW, THE STRONGER THE ILLUSION HOLDS.”
The fact that she can shape and manipulate the world around her really shows the impact that the loss of her family and her universe has had on her. As a motherly figure to not only her children, but towards the royal guards, she clearly feels a deep remorse over realizing that her loved ones could possibly never feel the joy and innocence of their childhood again.
As stated by X!Toriel herself:
“The sorrow of a mother is one of the hardest feelings to purge from the soul.”
She’d obviously feel compelled to gift just a fragment of that happiness to her family even if it meant creating a purely false reality, because that’s what she believes what her role is as a parent.
As said in the episode, she was compelled by those few good memories from all of the timelines from XTALE, and she chose to keep her eyes closed and to attempt to dissociate herself from the dilemma of her universe and of the present events.
While she is still overwritten by X!Gaster, her instincts as a Queen and her overpowering companion still prevent her from killing others.
And possibly because she views the citizens in this universe as her own from XTALE..
YOUR HONOUR, SHE DOESN’T DESERVE THIS. 💔💔💔💔
2. THIS scene.
I love that Jakei continues to show to us that Cross hasn’t forgotten his duties as a royal guard and that he probably never will. BUTTT I’m not entirely sure if Cross kneeled on his own or if Asgore was controlling him to do so, but I personally think that Cross just did it by himself.
Otherwise, still an awesome scene.
3. FINALLY. MY FAVOURITE. BROTHERLY ANGST!!!!
Oooouh man….
To me, I feel like X!Papyrus had to have been SOMEWHAT present here, even under X!Gaster’s control. Yes, this technically all still a part of the illusion, but, like many of the XTALE characters, X!Papyrus must still have a fraction of his mentality that he’s able to control.
But, like, it’s right here that I think that X!Papyrus shows a trace of legitimate remorse from unknowingly hurting his brother. I love it, but man it hurts.
CONTINUING ON:
GODDDDDD. I CANT. Cross clearly still cares so much for all of his family, especially his brother, considering that he literally erased his entire universe and was trapped in isolation for who knows how long. He’s had to come to terms with his failure as a protector and an older sibling, to remind himself of the blood that stains his hands. EVEN after murdering hundreds of monsters and storing his hollow soul full of hostility, he can’t abide to witness his younger brother conceive in the same acts sinful as him.
ITS JUST HISVUEVUSBINSUSVUNS I WANT TO DIEEEEE (this shot is awesome though)
Ranting aside, very cool episode. It’s probably my favourite one out of season 2 just from the animation alone. I do have a few very very very minor nitpicks, but it won’t stop me from rewatching this again. After this, Jakei definitely deserves the long break that she’s getting, and I’m hoping to see more interactions between the xbros in the future!!!
ALSO, be aware that I’m obviously not a professional analyst, so I’m very sorry if my interpretations on certain scenes feel completely wrong or confusing. I wrote all of this at 2am and I don’t feel like spending any more time on writing this than I already havee..
Okay if I don’t see a bunch of fan art of the papyrus fight after underverse 0.8 I’m actually gonna throw a tantrum. /hj
LIKE. LOOK AT HOW COOL THEY LOOK????
LOOK AT HOW AWESOME XPAPYRUS LOOKS IN THIS SHOT??? AND YOU’RE TELLING ME HE HAS A SPECK OF DUST AS HIS FANBASE??? COME ON!!!! LOOK AT HIM. LOOK.