u/PerkinAlabasta

Sometimes I feel like most of the criticism of the show is a bit superficial and more about wishful thinking. As if people wanted to see a different show and different themes, rather than criticize how it was executed:

For example, there are valid criticisms, such as that the female characters needed to be fleshed out and given more time. That the finale should have been split into more episodes. Jax should have gotten his own episode. More time should have been spent on how the characters react and cope with the revelation that they are mind copies. That Kane's return should have been explained and his redemption.How the characters ended up in the circus should have been explained.

But most of the criticism, to me, is superficial:

1. Most people didn't understand Jax's arc at all, saying, "Why should we empathize with her, forgive her, justify her, why this show gave us her backstory?"

Although Jax essentially contradicts the show's core message, which is to value others, cherish those around you, and cherish memories, even when everything else seems dire. I think her significant screen time shows what people CAN become when they don't accept the help or support they need, and I think that's an important distinction for the show's message, since everyone else gets along well, values, and supports each other.

Episode 9 simply revealed Jax, and how you treat him is up to the viewer. Jax shows how trauma can greatly impact Jax's future life, how a victim of abuse becomes an abuser themselves, and how being closed off, refusing support and help, self-loathing, and self-hatred can have a terrible impact on you.

Jax's arc is needed:

Show people the consequences of a destructive lifestyle (being closed off, not opening up to people, self-hatred, fear of showing weakness and vulnerability, not accepting yourself for who you are, and refusing help and support). How trauma can affect a person. And how a victim of abuse can become an abuser themselves.

So that people who are going through the same thing as Jax can see the consequences of such a lifestyle, begin to reflect, and make changes in their lives.

2. Many people are upset that the characters are copies, and the plot was supposed to be about how they escaped the circus and entered the world. Although this only creates more plot holes, how did the bodies survive so long?

3. Many wanted more lore, even though the show was about the characters (yes, they're not very well written, but it's still a show about them). We were told enough about the creation of Kane and C&A (and even then, because the characters themselves wanted to know about Kane). If they answered all the questions, it wouldn't have affected the characters anyway, and it would have been a completely different show. I also think more lore would have only raised more questions.

4. Many people wanted a depressing ending, although Gooseworx's take on the story's meaning is that, according to her, "The Amazing Digital Circus" about learning to live a monotonous life. Even if it's not the life you expected, it's important to learn to live it and find pleasure where you can. That's why the show has a happy ending.

It reminds me of how people felt about the finale of Evangelion (25 and 26 episodes) when it was released. Everyone was expecting Lore and battles, but instead they got an episode about character psychoanalysis. It was only over time that people began to feel better about the finale.

So do you think that over time, people will watch the show for what it is (without waiting and their wishlist), and will look positively at the finale? Because it seems to me that most people are disappointed that their own ending wasn't shown.

Sometimes I feel like most of the criticism of the show is a bit superficial and more about wishful thinking. As if people wanted to see a different show and different themes, rather than criticize how it was executed:

For example, there are valid criticisms, such as that the female characters needed to be fleshed out and given more time. That the finale should have been split into more episodes. Jax should have gotten his own episode. More time should have been spent on how the characters react and cope with the revelation that they are mind copies. That Kane's return should have been explained and his redemption.How the characters ended up in the circus should have been explained.

But most of the criticism, to me, is superficial:

1. Most people didn't understand Jax's arc at all, saying, "Why should we empathize with her, forgive her, justify her, why this show gave us her backstory?"

Although Jax essentially contradicts the show's core message, which is to value others, cherish those around you, and cherish memories, even when everything else seems dire. I think her significant screen time shows what people CAN become when they don't accept the help or support they need, and I think that's an important distinction for the show's message, since everyone else gets along well, values, and supports each other.

Episode 9 simply revealed Jax, and how you treat him is up to the viewer. Jax shows how trauma can greatly impact Jax's future life, how a victim of abuse becomes an abuser themselves, and how being closed off, refusing support and help, self-loathing, and self-hatred can have a terrible impact on you.

Jax's arc is needed:

Show people the consequences of a destructive lifestyle (being closed off, not opening up to people, self-hatred, fear of showing weakness and vulnerability, not accepting yourself for who you are, and refusing help and support). How trauma can affect a person. And how a victim of abuse can become an abuser themselves.

So that people who are going through the same thing as Jax can see the consequences of such a lifestyle, begin to reflect, and make changes in their lives.

2. Many people are upset that the characters are copies, and the plot was supposed to be about how they escaped the circus and entered the world. Although this only creates more plot holes, how did the bodies survive so long?

3. Many wanted more lore, even though the show was about the characters (yes, they're not very well written, but it's still a show about them). We were told enough about the creation of Kane and C&A (and even then, because the characters themselves wanted to know about Kane). If they answered all the questions, it wouldn't have affected the characters anyway, and it would have been a completely different show. I also think more lore would have only raised more questions.

4. Many people wanted a depressing ending, although Gooseworx's take on the story's meaning is that, according to her, "The Amazing Digital Circus" about learning to live a monotonous life. Even if it's not the life you expected, it's important to learn to live it and find pleasure where you can. That's why the show has a happy ending.

Many criticize the ending for why the characters showed concern and compassion for Jax, even when she was in the abstract. Why Pomni wanted to help and save Jax? Why Gangle cried? Although the whole answer lies in human empathy and compassion.

The characters showed compassion for Jax because they've known her for a long time, understand what it's like to be in the abstraction (and lose people), and how the circus affects your psyche. After all, they themselves said they should stick together because they were the only ones left in the circus and everyone needed help now, not to let despair consume them. Even Zooble told Jax that she was one of them, although she also said that Jax was a piece of shit.

A person can refuse to forgive a bully/abuser, continue to hold a grudge and resentment against them for their actions, and hate them. But at the same time, they can still sometimes (rarely) show compassion and help the one who hurt them. Humans are, after all, empathetic. Some people don't want terrible things to happen to others, even terrible people. I remember having a bully who bullied me. I hated him. But when he lost a close relative, I showed an empathy and little compassion, helped him through it. I didn't do it because I'd forgiven him (I still hate him and harbor resentment), but because I didn't want anyone else to experience the same terrible thing I did. People are complex, irrational creatures with emotions. Empathy can't be turned on and off at will. That's why the guys helped Pomni build a shelter for Jax.

Why did Pomni want to help and save Jax? Because she's a good person who learned why Jax acted the way she did. Pomni is trying to help Jax the most because she's the one who needs help the most. Jax is clearly suffering, but she won't admit she needs it. And the rest of the gang has given up hope. Pomni tries her best to help, because that's her nature. To help in any way she can. And she doesn't even directly say "you're forgiven" or "I approve of what you did"; she simply shows compassion to Jax in her final moment, specifically in the finale. Pomni saw beyond her mask, especially when Jax began to open up to her. Because Pomni saw Jax's good side, Pomni tried first to understand her, and secondly, to help.

A person can fail to understand another because they haven't been in their shoes. The same is true with Gangle. Why did Gangle cry? Gangle didn't initially cry over Jax abstraction, she literally questioned why, but later, most likely, after learning a little about his life, she began to feel sorry for Jax. Does that mean she forgave her? No, but understanding what she had been through in her own life and that her behavior stemmed essentially from the problems of those close to her and herself (using the analogy of masks), she showed compassion and cried. So does that mean she forgave her? No, but she couldn't be so angry at her for bullying her that she couldn't stop crying. And you'd be surprised to learn that this kind of behavior is typical for people who are bullied (the main thing is, not overly severely) and then find out that their bullies are almost dead or even dead.

The theme of "The Amazing Digital Circus" is precisely about empathy, support, compassion, and helping others, about finding your own hope and a reason to live.

In short, the human psyche is very complex. And that's precisely why "The Amazing Digital Circus" is so captivating, because the people on whom the Circus characters are based live in our world. And everyone can identify with this character and better understand why that character acted. And to see how empathy, compassion and sympathy can help people in difficult times

Many criticize the finale (the finale should be criticized for not devoting time to other characters, for Jax deserved a separate episode, and for the other episodes to be about how the characters cope with the destruction of the Circus and Soma) for why Jax's backstory was revealed, why he was forgiven, why he was redeemed, and why the show needs to evoke sympathy. Although that's not the case at all. The worst thing is that because of Jax, many people hate Gooseworks herself and accuse her of misogyny because Jax is her "Self-Insert."

She created Jax, modeled after her own personal flaws and insecurities.

Jax is who Gooseworks would have become if she had suppressed her identity. If everything had gone wrong, Jax is what Gooseworks would have become.

Gooseworks literally shows: "Don't be like Jax." Open up to people, accept help and support, accept yourself for who you are.

The way Jax was written demonstrates the realistic complexity of human nature, because similar stories exist in the real world (Gooseworkx wrote this based on her own experience). I think Jax is a good reflection of the lives of people like him. I've seen many comments where people recognize something of themselves in Jax, having experienced the same thing.

Many people can see something of themselves in him, having been in a similar situation. They will hate him actions, but at the same time understand him and sympathize a little. And for those currently in a similar mental state as Jax, this can serve as a lesson and advice: keeping your insecurities to yourself, not opening up to people, not accepting yourself, refusing help and support is not an option, and it will only make the situation worse.

I think most people are criticizing the show's themes themselves, not how they were executed. It's as if people wanted a completely different show with different themes, not what Gooseworks wanted to convey.

For example:

1. Adequate criticism: Jax should have been given a separate episode (the theme and flashbacks, abstraction) and then proceed to the very finale, where the characters would have dealt with the destroyed circus

Inadequate criticism: Why did Gooseworks reveal backstory of Jax? Jax infuriates me, so he's poorly written. Why should I sympathize with him and forgave him? This ending tries to justify Jax and redeem him.

2. Adequate criticism: Gooseworks needed to spend more time in finale on how the characters react and cope with being copies of consciousness.

Inadequate criticism: The fact that they are copies of consciousness is very predictable and boring; it would have been better if they had escaped the circus and returned to their bodies. Why is there a happy ending? Why didn't the guys escape the circus?

I understand you didn't like some of the themes, but Gooseworks originally planned these themes for the series. Many people want a lot of lore, but the series is primarily about the characters, their connections, their anxieties, and overcoming problems.

Tadc got a happy ending, and Soma theory (there were already many foreshadowing for this canonicity of this theory) because the show's theme is about learning to live a monotonous life (even Gooseworkx said that) and find happiness in there.

Jax got some attention and was fleshed out (he should have gotten his own episode, separate from the finale) because he is an example of what can happen to a human if he keeps everything to himself and refuses help and support from others.

I think most people are criticizing the show's themes themselves, not how they were executed. It's as if people wanted a completely different show with different themes, not what Gooseworks wanted to convey.

For example:

1. Adequate criticism: Jax should have been given a separate episode (the theme and flashbacks, abstraction) and then proceed to the very finale, where the characters would have dealt with the destroyed circus

Inadequate criticism: Why did Gooseworks reveal backstory of Jax? Jax infuriates me, so he's poorly written. Why should I sympathize with him and forgave him? This ending tries to justify Jax and redeem him.

2. Adequate criticism: Gooseworks needed to spend more time in finale on how the characters react and cope with being copies of consciousness.

Inadequate criticism: The fact that they are copies of consciousness is very predictable and boring; it would have been better if they had escaped the circus and returned to their bodies. Why is there a happy ending? Why didn't the guys escape the circus?

I understand you didn't like some of the themes, but Gooseworks originally planned these themes for the series. Many people want a lot of lore, but the series is primarily about the characters, their connections, their anxieties, and overcoming problems.

Tadc got a happy ending, and Soma theory (there were already many foreshadowing for this canonicity of this theory) because the show's theme is about learning to live a monotonous life (even Gooseworkx said that) and find happiness in there.

Jax got some attention and was fleshed out (he should have gotten his own episode, separate from the finale) because he is an example of what can happen to a human if he keeps everything to himself and refuses help and support from others.