My one problem with TPOT 24
Ok so, I really liked TPOT 24. It had some minor narrative issues (like the entirety of BFDI) but I wouldn't be watching if I weren't okay with that. The episode had lots of very cool moments. However, there is One (hehe) major problem that I don't think I can ignore.
So, some context first:
This episode revealed two things:
Number One:
Pencil was not sent to the past in TPOT 19, but rather, to a simulation set up by One that she can reset as many times as she wants. After at least 3820 attempts, she realizes her problem and gives up. Eventually she escapes the simulation and reunites with Match. We see that times passes incredibly slowly inside the simulation, because Pencil lived through thousands of years' worth of attempts, while only 5 months passed outside.
The episode then cleverly attempts to use this very concept to solve a different unexplained issue.
Number Two:
One used the simulation device before Pencil did, in an attempt to experience every possible scenario, to figure out what she should do next. This is used to justify why One is so hellbent on stealing all the power, isolating everyone and saving Three on her own, and why she has no qualms in hurting others to do so. The answer is simple: everything else she tried didn't work. This answer actually makes sense, she didn't resort to evil for no reason, she did so after exhausting all other ideas.
But therein lies the problem.
ONE HAS A SIMULATION DEVICE
This completely breaks everything that's happened since, like, TPOT 15!
How is One not completely outplaying everyone every single second?!
- Leafy and Donut shouldn't have been able to refuse One's deals and stand up to her, because One has the ability to live out every possible scenario and anticipate their actions.
- Liy shouldn't have been able to prevent One from stealing X's power, because she has the ability to experience every single possibility and anticipate her actions!
- If One hasn't figured out how to use her new powers effectively, why hasn't she gone inside the simulation where she'd have thousands of years to experiment and learn without outside interference?
- Furthermore, if One hasn't figured out how to win yet, why did she leave the simulation in the first place? Why not keep resetting it until she gets an attempt where she achieves victory and then carry it out in the real world?
I really think that in an attempt to explain why One resorted to evil, they have created a way bigger issue than the one they were trying to fix.