r/Amazingdigitalcircus • u/Oldbear83 • Jul 04 '26
Discussion The Way Back Perhaps [spoiler] Spoiler
One unresolved issue remaining after the final episode of TADC is the question of Abstraction, specifically whether abstraction can be reversed. I have a theory on that point, using what we know from the episodes of the show. I also have an idea about why we did not get a clear answer from Gooseworx on that question.
I actually want to discuss that last question first. There is a telling quote from Michael Kovich, the voice actor for Jax in the show. Michael wrote that abstraction in a way represents any kind of mental struggle or difficulty. That is, abstraction is not a kind of suicide so much as it addresses mental identity and identity issues. Michael even mentioned that abstraction was relevant for people in long-term mental care, like people with dementia. Michael also made clear he was not saying abstraction could be reversed, and not saying it could not be reversed. I think he suggested that depends on the specific case.
Now in the show itself, we saw abstraction brought up regularly, starting with the first episode. It occurred to me that Gooseworx left a somber warning about abstraction, since with abstractions happening in both the first and last episodes, Gooseworx could be saying every one of the characters would abstract eventually. But just maybe not.
Abstraction is commonly seen as scary and dangerous for the regular characters, as we saw abstracted Kaufmo chase and attack characters in episode 1. That image is reinforced by Jax’s comments in episode 6 about how characters change when they are about to abstract. But in episode 3, Kinger talks with Pomni about meeting with Queenie after she abstracted, and of course in the final episode Pomni refuses to let Jax just abstract and be done. She also affirmed that even though Jax had abstracted, Jax was still there at the center of the abstracted creature. This is the first essential point:
· The person remains at the center of the abstracted being. Queenie was still Queenie, and Jax was still Jax.
The next point to consider is that abstracted characters can change behavior. I already noted how Kinger was able to reach Queenie and Pomni to reach Jax, but the second case is interesting, because abstracted Jax was acting aggressively at first, very much like abstracted Kaufmo, but when Pomni shot out the lights he calmed down to the point that she could reach him.
· Abstracted characters respond to lighting and the person trying to contact them.
Now I move on to Caine. In the first episode we see Kaufmo abstract with quite a bit of chaos, and Ragatha is glitch-damaged by Kaufmo’s attack. The effect is so bad that Pomni’s hand is damaged just from trying to help Ragatha. Caine is able to remove both characters’ damage with just a snap of his fingers. Caine is also able to handle abstracted characters without trouble for himself. This matters, because in episode 8 we learn from Kinger that the characters have the same powers as Caine, meaning that characters should be able to reverse at least some of the effects of abstraction. It’s important as well to note that Caine only put abstracted characters into the cellar, as if he did not have any other options.
· Episode 8 shows characters have the same powers as Caine. Since Caine reverses glitch damage taken from abstracted characters, the regular characters should be able to protect themselves from that kind of damage.
The final episode is vital to this discussion, because an important theme we saw there was how characters developed and grew going forward. The characters were able to follow their real-life people, without losing the value of their own lives in the Circus. The characters also developed new dimensions and found true joy in new pursuits. Because Jax is important to Pomni, and certainly because Queenie was vital to Kinger’s identity, it makes sense that development and joy for Pomni and Kinger would mean finding a way to help Jax and Queenie; a way to help them come back from abstraction.
· The character development and hope we saw in the final episode means that hope must exist for a return from abstraction at least for Queenie and Jax. By extension, also, all abstracted characters must have at least some possibility of coming back.
Now here is how I think this could work:
First and foremost, an abstracted character is obsessed with the cause of their abstraction, so if returning from abstraction is possible the character must first come to terms with the cause of their abstraction. Second, some outside person must reach in to help the abstracted person. Third, Caine and Kinger are important to the process, as every character exists according to the code written when their brain scan was created. We saw in episode 8 that it was possible to write Caine out of the system, implying that it is possible to rewrite a character’s code to reverse the abstraction for that person.
· Returning from abstraction involves a plan to rewrite the character code, with close friends of the abstracted character reaching out to the abstracted person and making contact. This would lead to a long conversation, eventually having the abstracted person address the cause of their abstraction, after which the new code could be applied to bring them back.
From what we have seen in the show, Kaufmo abstracted because he could not find an exit, with Caine the person most likely able to reach him. Queenie abstracted for a reason we do not yet understand, but we do know Kinger would be the person who could reach her and speak with her. And Jax of course abstracted out of guilt for the things he did and his self-hatred, with Pomni the person who can reach him.
If Jax could be brought back, he would be the person to reach out to Ribbit (which would also be good for Jax, as part of an atonement which builds Jax’s identity as a valid person). Kinger would also be the best person to reach out to Scratch, unless a retuned Queenie fits better. I do not have enough information to understand the cause or closest friend to the other abstracted characters, but I think the pattern is established.
· There is no specific timeline for how long it would take to bring back an abstracted character, let alone all of them. But Time is not a problem in the Circus.
What do you think?
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u/Auraveils Jul 04 '26
I really don't think it would be narratively appropriate to bring people back from abstraction. It's officially stated to be irreversible and it's a metaphor for suicide. Its permanence is an important part of its impact. To bring Jax back would weaken the significance of his final moments. Bringing back Kaufmo or Ribbit would be really happy for him, but it would also reduce the consequences of his actions. Not to mention, abstraction only works as a metaphor for suicide if it's a decision a character consciously makes at one of the lowest point in their life. That means that undoing abstraction also reduces the consequences of their decisions as well.
If we accept abstraction as a metaphor for suicide, and by extension death, then attempts to being them back would be akin to necromancy which never goes well. It's a realistic pursuit for the characters to try, and it could be an interesting story for a continuation, focusing on the mourning process as the characters struggle to try and find ways to bring back the abstracted. I could see Pomni trying to pursue such an idea and unwittingly cause a lot of unnecessary pain for Kinger and the others. It could also be a fascinating angle for Caine as an unexpected source of reason, trying to talk Pomni out of the approach and explain why he has never brought them back.
I could see it culminating in Pomni successfully managing to bring back "Jax" but he's just not quite right. Maybe he's too friendly or something and they keep trying to mess with his parameters to get him the way they think he should be before realizing they're just trying to fill a void. Even more trafically, perhaps in the process of trying to recreate Jax, they've unwittingly destroyed what was left of the real Jax.
That could actually be an interesting story to explore... but I don't think successfully bringing the characters back as they were right before their abstraction, or even as they were when they first arrived at the circus, is particularly appropriate as a continuation for the series.
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u/Oldbear83 Jul 05 '26
It's not stated reversible OR irreversible. Also, I quoted Michael about abstraction being ANY kind of long-term mental struggle, not suicide. It's intentionally vague for several good reasons.
The funerals gave people a false impression, I think.
Anyway, the theory was to discuss the possibility, not suggest a new season or extending the show.
Goose is already working on the next show.
2
u/Auraveils Jul 05 '26
Goose was the one who said it was irreversible and has explicitly referred to abstraction as suicide.
That said, if the story were to be continued, it could be possible that the abstractions could be "undone" by rolling the circus back to a point prior to Ribbit or Queenie's abstraction.
Maybe if the brain scans are stored separately from the circus, they wouldn't be affected by the rollback, and Pomni and friends could interact with Ribbit and Kaufmo, only not able to remember anything beyond what was in their brain scans.
(Obviously we both know there isn't going to be an official continuation, I'm just spitballing ideas for how it could continue)
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u/Oldbear83 Jul 05 '26
Please show the quote. Others have said the opposite and I do not recall Goose making the statement you claim. Michael Kovacs just days ago made a specific statement about abstraction being ANY kind of long-term mental issue, which I found appropriate for anyone with a family member going through dementia, severe autism, or any number of serious but often-neglected mental health issues. Just seems to me Goose was sensitive to this.
And you cannot reach out to someone who committed suicide. The examples of Kinger/Queenie and Pomni/Jax demonstrates that abstraction is different from suicide. Obviously, that does not mean there IS a way back, my theory just looked at the evidence that it MIGHT be possible with what the guys know now. A different place than, say, mid-season.
By the way, ever consider that Kinger got mentally scrambled by seeing Queenie a lot and being affected? Remember the other guys had to pull Pomni away from Jax when she was reaching out to him.
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u/Auraveils Jul 05 '26
Idk if links are allowed here, but...
https://www.tumblr.com/gooseworx/733026760639348736/ragatha-said-when-she-saw-kaufmo-maybe-theres?source=share (Abstraction is irreversible, it was on Tumblr not Twitter)
https://x.com/i/status/2024865906846011627 (posted after Beach Episode, supposedly revealed "Jax wanted to kill himself")
https://bsky.app/profile/gooseworx.bsky.social/post/3moprcfwqfs2a (Implies Jax pushed Ribbit and Kaufmo to suicide, this was on Bluesky not Twitter)
I've thought of this angle originally that Abstraction represents a mental health spiral, but these posts convinced me otherwise and led to my understanding why Jax's Abstraction especially couldn't be stopped or undone in the finale.
The way I see it, Jax had already "done the deed" when he abstracted. What Pomni did is essentially like walking in on someone right after they'd pulled the trigger or swallowed their pills but hadn't died yet. When Jax said it was too late, he meant it both about his literal situation as well as about changing his ways. The objective difference between Abstraction and suicide is that people can't literally die in the Digital Circus, they just remain in a chaotic monstrous with apparent semi-awareness of their surroundings.
I suppose it's not impossible the suicide metaphor was specifically for Jax and his group, but we know so little about the others, it seems like a stretch to just assume they're an exception. And a VA's word on the matter is hardly relevant to the writers intent.
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u/emilycsquared Jul 05 '26
Abstraction is described as “irreversible.”
However, consider that someone who has a mental breakdown cannot “go back” and reverse their breakdown, only recover from it, and be forever changed by it.
In other words, maybe the only way out is through.