r/TADCEp9Spoilers

In a recent con with the cast, Amanda finally confirmed the theory that many fans speculated; Bubble is indeed "Abel"/the blue AI. He was behind held hostage by Caine, just like the cast was. In the end, Caine setting him free finally ended the cycle.

This backs up what Alex Rochan said a few months ago when the finale first dropped, that Caine was responsible for all of his own terrible deeds and absorbing the blue merely gave him more power.

I'm glad because it specifies two things. One, that Bubble is indeed the blue AI. Not an assistant that Caine made. Not a "thought bubble" of Caine's intrusive thoughts. He was "Able" and that is why Caine releasing the blue AI is why he didn't return.

But two, something many fans still can't accept; Caine was the "villain" of the show or at least the closest thing to it.

So many said "Caine was good until Bubble rage baited him", or "episode 9 shows the blue AI was the bad one" or "Jax was the problem because everything got better after he was gone".

But no, as Amanda said, Caine was the source of the problems. He was holding everyone hostage. It HIM changing at the end that makes the circus healthier and better to live in, not Jax abstracting.

https://youtu.be/dhvsuNnuGec?si=Dm1aaWZqWvdmDCi9

This is coming from a trans man, but... if people can accept Jax is canonically transfem because of that one post from Goose despite the text itself leaving room for interpretation, then they also have to accept the fact that, canonically, abstraction = metaphorical suicide.

And, listen. I love hearing all about different interpretations of what it means to abstract, but there are some thoughts I wanna share in regard to this topic.

In tadc, there are many hints that abstraction is supposed to be a metaphor for death (more precisely, commiting suicide):

1. I've heard people say it's a metaphor for a coma or hitting rock bottom mentally, but the way abstraction is presented in and out of the show highlights how it's permanent. No one ever mentions that there might be a cure or a character who will get brought back someday.

2. We can only assume how Caine reacted after he realized he couldn't delete the abstractions. Why didn't we see that shit lol. Even though the characters are made of code and can't die in a human way, abstraction is the closest thing to death they'll ever get. I'm genuinely pissed off because, uh... why the fuck did we see the characters' human counterparts anyway? Why was the PowerPoint slideshow necessary?! Because Gooseworx didn't wanna write her other characters other than her self insert?

It's been a few months, and I'm still so, so bitter about all of this. Jax's abstraction wasn't a consequence for her horrible actions, but her own decision after everything she put the others through. There isn't a redemption arc. Jax doesn't talk to anyone except Pomni, and even then, they don't talk about how she's treated both Ribbit and Kaufmo. Pomni simply hugs Jax, and she abstracts. That's it??? OK sure Goose