THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2021
- Case ########-17 An examination of mental health care. Audio recorded by the Archivist, in situ. Content warnings: - Arguments - Relationship conflict - Second-person Point-Of-View statement - Hospitals / Mental institutions - Mental illness - Gaslighting - Mental health abuse - Medical / Therapeutic malpractice - Victim blaming - Diminution / belittling language - Name invalidation - Involuntary commitment - Medication (inc involuntary medication) - Suicidal ideation (implied) - Psychosis / unreality - Paranoia - Explicit language - Threats - Body horror - Avoidance of facts - Mentions of: death, police brutality, gore - SFX: screaming, high pitched tones, discordant music, medication, violence.
Thanks to this week's Patrons: Alyssa Rozendaal, heroei, Alexandra DeCarlo, Ruu Weist, Halogen, Jill Flansburg, Peter Lukas' life insurance policy, Taka, Inna Nytochka, Meg Allen, Kamilla Kavmark, Vortex Eclipse, winnfour, Sandra Roorda, Emily, Hila SketchCat Shats, Melanie, Sebrina McCoy, Bee Elderly, Adrian Serrano, evelina, Sloane, Alex James, Kit Lines, PineapplePrincess, a creature built of gears and silver, Callie L Tomlinson, Power Loader, Carolyn McKenna, Frankie Kavakich, Knighthawk, Lex Adams, Grey Aster, Dan Hayes, Jonathan Björklund, Chaotica, Tristan Tinder, Danni Jager, Sydney Bell, Jessica Mattiace, Maya Manzonelli, lionheart091 ., Murdo Homewood, AJ Waitkus, Eliza & Gray, erlkonigin, grippingTraverse, Kyra Marie Maginity, Finn Catterall, Sonja Hansen. If you'd like to join them visit www.patreon.com/rustyquill
Edited by Nico Vettese, Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead & Alexander J Newall;
Written by Jonathan Sims and directed by Alexander J Newall;
Produced by Lowri Ann Davies.
Performances: "Martin Blackwood" - Alexander J. Newall; "The Archivist" - Jonathan Sims; "Basira Hussain" - Frank Voss; "Helen" - Imogen Harris.
Sound effects this week by hja, RoooDyDoooDy, BranRainey, skowm001, edgardomoreno, dansotak, shark510, straget, leonelmail, Nanakisan, Marth8880, bmusic92, BillsFilms, ittou, AlbertCoetser, / freeaudiosounds , sangtao, sagetyrtle, ienba, j1987, SMuntsinger, Benboncan, TheFilmLook, neilsher, altfuture, Eneasz, yottasounds, SpliceSound, avakas, conleec, cognito perceptu, cmusounddesign, tim.kahn, alienistcog, gropkcor, kyles, karinalarasart, Lydmakeren & previously credited artists via freesound.org Music: Blue Sky by Quincas Moreira from TH-cam Audio Library.
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"Not now Helen." - john nearly every episode
It's always "Not now, Helen" and never "How are you, Helen?"
@@amphitritemists4595 That is an extremely Helen thing to say
i'm helen :>
@@nemnyoom we are all simultaneously Helen and not-Helen
@@nikonikoknees4488 i think i meant on my birth certificate
Whenever I heard John expressing Dr. David’s laugh, I can only imagine that Dr. David’s “real” laugh is like Helen’s and Micheal’s
thats possible, the Stranger and The Spiral aren't too far apart, a bit like the Lonely and (choose between The Buried and The Vast), but I personally think its creepier if jon's rendition is what it sounds like. I imagine his face emotionless until he laughs, and it returns to emotionless the second he stops (a bit like Breekon & Hope in the statement given by the *real* breekon)
@@Cheshire5174this is purely Spiral tho
The slightly too long laugh, the calm authority, it’s grotesquely perfect
ah yes, the Spiral. the literal entity of "Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss"
or mansplain, manipulate, malewife !
Jon, Jacob, Jinglehimer
Smith
That’s my name tooooooo
Idk anymore
Ah, so good to have Basira back. I almost started to miss her blazing hypocrisy.
_basira voice:_ why yes, i've had my feelings surgically removed, along with my common sense-
Local absolute goddamn patsy for every single part of Elias's plan Basira Hussein: How dare you get manipulated!
is it just me or do i hate all the characters you're supposed to like and vice versa?
everyone loved Melanie, Daisy and Basira. i hated all of them!
Melanie, my God! i wish i could have ripped her fucking eyes out! her anger always got in the way of EVERYTHING!
Basira always thinks she's got the moral highground but more often than not she has no idea what she's talking about!
Daisy had NO personality. what pissed me off the most was that everyone else loved her.
i swear, i would never want to work in the institute if i was going to have insufferable colleages like them!
Honestly, I could do without.
Almost
Sims really brought his a-game with the voice acting in this one
The man is a fucking icon. This is a delight to listen to.
The evil chuckles especially
indeed
I still can't get over the fact he plagiarized his own name though. Sir did all of this, but couldn't give the mc an original name
@@zinniebug7555 to be fair idk the whole story but I've heard in qnas it was a mistake, also on the magnus protocol pre-launch livestream they were joking about "hey what if we named one of these guys alex so we're even?" and that's very silly
"and you trust him to do that?"
Martin's "yes I do" was SO SATISFYING
shut up Basira
i wanna [EXTENDED SOUNDS OF BRUTAL PIPE MURDER] dr. david
Agreed
Same.
You can just call it “Eliasing”
Same
as someone who's been in the "system", yea, some doctors are like this. and yea, i went 12 years only seeing the same doctor 2 or three times. so i can agree that Dr.David deserves to be - as put it by @daisyhoryujin95 - "Elias'd"
Damn, Dr. Phil survived the apocalypse?
ASGVKDVLUGYDI LITTERALLY WHAT I WAS THINKING (fuck dr. phil)
Dr. Phil, avatar of the asshole?
Checks out
Dr. Phil doesn't deserve jon's voice
Guess he would have a similar domain. One with the Eye mixed in it, for his love of exposing vulnerable people
This is so true lmao
Basira: I want to listen
Jon: *starts condescending and verbally abusing her*
Tbh she kinda deserves it the way she treated him so far. Not the gaslighting or all that shit, but Jon has been way too nice with her, considering she constantly blamed him for everything for months, as if she's a saint or something
@@cyrilltate7065 but "it's complicated" don't you remember?
@@cyrilltate7065Completely deserved.
no one's gonna talk about john going "can we not have a moment?" after sounding like him and martin hugged
Completely unrelated but one of the patron's names Alex reads out at the end is "Peter Lucas' Life Insurance Policy" and I cannot express how much I love that.
by the far the creepiest statement so far...and i'm just picturing Basira standing there, completely unsettled, watching jon cosplay as a spiral doctor, talking to no one :(((
Yeah and this time I also wondered sometimes if Basira can also hear the background sounds, and if she can, if there're really objects moving or if it's 'just' the sounds
@@cupcaketv5673considering how statements amplify the emotions of those around the heart it personally, I assume they can see and hear what Jon’s imagining
Martin stop ! Stop saying "it's okay" when it's clearly not okay! You're saying it all the time ! Spit your guts out! Shout! Be mad!
John doesn't realise there are things he doesn't know anymore. If you say "it's okay" he is going to trust you! You need say things before it is too late and you can't trust him anymore!
I'm worried. I am deeply worried.
That's actually something that they deal with later
@@someoneawesome8717 good to know
@@someoneawesome8717Oh thank god
I really really really hate the spiral. This is a pinpoint of my exact fear.
Yeah me too me too , funky mentally ill spiral avatar time I guess
exactly. irrationality. being unable to save yourself using your own mind.
I'm viscerally terrified of the Spiral, yet so drawn to it. This episode was not easy to get through for just how sharply it hit the scariest concepts of the Spiral.
Like I rely a lot on the word of professionals around me and criticism, feeding on this would be easy here.
Hate hate hate Dr David just. The voice acting is so well done to where Jon's mannerisms, tone, and even laugh are all portraying a character
Literally esp bc it can actually happen. Sure I'm scared of Bloody Mary stalking me with mirrors & ripping out my eyes but if something happens and I end up in an institute this could genuinely happen and has happened in the past to real people I'm sure. The lonely and the spiral feel so real compared to the other fears
Imma be honest I don’t quit get the spirals fear (hasn’t finished episode)
this was a really good episode, and as a nonbinary person who's been in a treatment facility, that was fucked
> Enby
> Named Leaf
Checks out
Oh god I'm glad I'm not the only one it made me shiver
this was literally the first and probably the only episode that got me I’m glad I’m not the only one
“Continually Gaslighting Patients: ASMR”
I like to imagine that Jon is pantomiming the scenes he describes and the sound effects just appear out of nowhere (exept when he's narrating something real time, like the web theatre). That would be extra freaky for for Basira to witness.
Counterpoint: he's making them. Like the world's most talented parrot
@@spawnofheck504 this made me cackle
*my credit card gets declined*
my therapist:
this is a joke btw, my therapist is wonderfully supportive
@@torcaace would be funny if they became your Anti-Therapist or NotTherapist.
3:09 NO! Jon didn't cause this, Jonah did! It was Jon's body, but Jonah's will.
you’re right and you should say it
This is the first episode where I actually had to skip the statement part... I've never actually been in a situation like this but _god_ I only got like 2 minutes into the statement before I just went Nope Nope Nope
Well damn if I knew being uncomfortable would get me a heart from RQ I would've skipped an episode sooner /j
I’ve paused it to come to comments to see just how bad it is. I’m borderline at MH crisis atm and can tell it’s going to be triggering 😂
As someone who has been admitted to the psych ward twice, this one hit home. Like the old saying goes, “if you have a fear, TMA has an episode about it!” As someone with the exact fear this focuses on, I think that RQ portrayed it perfectly. I skipped it on my first watch through, but came back afterwards to see. It was oddly… affirming? Validating? Showing that I’m not the only one struggling with this.
same, i feel like this episodee hits home 100% to me (which is why i skipped it but only now listening to it and i have to say, if my mental health/wellbeing hadn't improved from a few years ago i would've broken down to hearing this (gaslighting + medical malpractise + paranoia...., the works) but that's a giant compliment for jonny he portrayed it PERFECTLY!!)
“Hahahaha. Hahahaha. Hahahaha- 😐 I joke, of course.” Bruhh 😭💀
Doctor Gaslight is a funny villain, I like him. Obnoxious to the core. Well done, Jonny, both for the writing and the voice acting.
(+Helen continuing to be a queen!!!!! We stan.)
This is just gaslighting ASMR & I love it
Statement ends at 21:40 in case you want to skip the gaslighting
Thanks for that. I didn't skip the gaslighting myself, but it had me really close to my tolerance threshold to listen to it.
I'm in the kind of household where mental illness is "made up" until you have a breakdown, and medication for it is "harmful and does nothing." It kind of hurt to hear him read this statement.
Thats really sweet
It must suck that people have been through the worse of this and have to suffer with PTSD afterword
@@karenlinares7541 there's an entire AO3 tag just dedicated to the world putting itself back together
Thank you so, so much for the timestamp. I read to content warnings and was really worried I'd have to skip this episode entirely, but didn't want to miss the character bits.
Cheers mate
YIIIIIIIIIKKKKKEEEESSSSS as someone who's actually been in a ward like that this was very pointy. Not a pleasant listen
yea, fucking honestly. I had a seizure in one after a suicide attempt (they left me in a hallway with flickering lights outside a room where someone was slamming on the door) and I was told to stop being difficult and that the orderly "understood games and wouldn't play along" while it was literally on my record that I have seizures and sudden loud noises and stress are major triggers for them. Plus I was still supposed to be watched for delayed reactions to the stuff I tried to OD on
'Dr David' Jon is probably #2 on the Hot Jon scale, right under 'Fix Your Gaze On This Wretched Thing' Jon.
RIGHT? LIKE HELLO SIR
allo people baffle me
@@timberprospects we are also baffled. Sexuality is hard
@@timberprospects agreed
I do not understand you people anymore I got the ceaseless watcher jon but not this you're all sick sick people
“You always manage to smell bad”, makes me laugh like a mad man.
We don't like the word mad in this house.
This is one of the only episodes that actually upset me. Dr. David is basically just what my thoughts sound like mid panic attack so that's great
I hate this episode in particular. The way mental health is handled outside of the apocalypse is so very unnerving. The fact there is a part of this hellscape that is no different than before it became a hellscape is horrifying.
10:40
" °_°... Is that like a euphemism or?"
I'm dying cry laughing
Yeah, yeah, Mr Sims, you sure are creepy, but you can't escape being my new comfort ASMR.
C...comfort?
@@teaarson ok so there's this asmr genre about kidnapping and-
Yeah I listen to this to go to sleep lmao
The double standard for jon and daisy coming from basira is RIDICULOUS honestly, even before all this
Hm, yes its almost as if basira is in love with daisy or something
"And Michael was rubbish compared to me"
Excuse me, you are half the intimidating, wild card, sociopathic sounding bystander archetype Michael was. I miss Michael....
agreed.
though to be fair, Helen is on the path to becoming like him
mag 101 gave me trauma 💀‼️
She’s way more fun tho
We stan our giggling king
As someone with HARD impostor syndrome this hits too close to home :')
Helens really on that Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss shit lmao
The Gaslighting and Police Brutality episode. What a banger.
Also Martin and Jon hugging after having some good communication and Basira looking at them with annoyance (and Jealousy)
I don't think Dr David has a medical license
Holy shit i did not recognize Jon's voice when he started as Dr.David omg
This is why I love The Spiral, it scares me and fascinates me at the same time. The hospital atmosphere, the unknown medications, just everything is perfect and I want more.
Also I want to marry Helen 😳😏
Same
Jonny still astounds me with his voice acting. Am I the only one who wanted to cry at being reverse-gaslit?
19:44 - The Laugh.
God its SO FUCKING GOOD its so unsettling and weird and NOT RIGHT
Was Jon making all those paper noises and moving furniture??
Now I really wanna see him beatboxing
@@kaayya.k this is the most confusing comment ever but I find it hilarious
@@kaayya.k💀 Thanks for that mental image it's hilarious
20:49 why did it take me this long to make the connection to the name? Wonderland. Like Alice in Wonderland. Dreams and crazy products of your imagination
@@user-kn9zj5eu4v Ironic jokes about not liking the word 'mad' contrasting with the Chesire Cat saying 'we're all mad here'
Huh, I've been scared of statements before. I think this is the first time I've been absolutely livid. Between Basira's downward character arc and my desire to bash Dr. David's head in, this was a fun time
Everytime I hear Helen's voice I'm filled with joy!
Also, the way John tells the "statement" in this episode is so fascinating, such a different delivery from the other ones... lovely!
also who was in charge of the [FLESH PEELING] sounds. i just wanna talk-
i have a love/hate relationship with the soundscaping in this podcast so i guess its doing its job aha.
This statement wasn't necessarily scary but so unnerving and damn damn relatable, Jesus Christ.
“yeah i guess i’m just not very scared by the main topics tma discusses”-
except for tHIS FUCKIGN EPISODE fghjdks
This is another one of those episodes that hits a little too close to home. I haven't been taken seriously by so many doctors (usually men, who woulda thought) so this is ... unnerving
God Frank is a good actor, they really capture Basiras character well
This hit very close to home as someone with mental illness who has been told that I have been making it up or faking it. if you seek real professionals they will understand and they will take you seriously anyone else in a situation like this not to sound stupid but it will get better I promise
The fact that I was tearing up more than terrified as a trans woman with other brain issue is a statement to how close to a litteral nightmare those kind of places can be when real doctor do say those kind of things as some kind of sick test.
This is just American healthcare.
This comment is just underrated.
“Peter Lucas’ Life Insurance” this is why I still listen shout outs through to the end I laughed so loud 😂
"did you cause this?" asks the woman who SENT jon the statement that started the apocalypse
This episode made me feel like my shirt collar was getting smaller
Basira gives me strong Rosa Diaz vibes. Also great episode. A psychiatrist being dismissive of my condition is one of my biggest fears.
I love that the statements vary so much in style. Spices up the apocalypse a bit. Also the mechanical laugh was creepy as hell
That doctor scene hit different if you are trans
I was looking for a comment like this! It is really unnerving and at one point I had to skip through the rest of the statement.
it do tho
The times I've had doctors give me shit, I started grilling them on why they think they know better than the medical consensus on diagnosis and treatment and on what basis they're making their assertions. Back them into corners with yes or no statements. Mention the board of psychiatry.
I'm not very nice about this anymore, lol.
The bits abt names and stuff…shudder
“If that’s what you’d like me to call you, I suppose I can do you that favor”. I thank god I live in a place where I’ve never had to hear that line
Ah yes, my inner monologue being read outloud! I love it! ❤🥰💁♀️👑💎🎉💋💕
[FABRIC RUSTLES] !!!!!!
🤗
I swear, it feels like time is stretching between recordings. Am I trapped in an apocalypse? Oh, all of 2020, and what we've seen at just the start of 2021, that's right.
Jonathan goes gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss with the alias of Dr. David
"You can't hunt a monster you're refusing to see". Is that Jon defending himself and confronting Basira's hypocrisy? I am so proud of our boy.
I'm a little startled at how quickly this got under my skin even with the trigger warnings
Why does he keep doing a stupid little giggle I love this one
YOU! STOP BEING EVERYWHERE.
@@dckmstr DUDE I GET THIS LIKE EVERY DAY LMAO
@@DJSilly9 ITS TRUE?
@@dckmstr yeah lol theres been so many people from different fandoms going "why are you everywhere" and it confuses me to this day
@@DJSilly9 i saw you on a will wood post as well 💀
I freaking love Helen. These have picked up a whole new momentum. I have saved up a collection to run through... let the race begin...
You know the acting is good when you want to punch a character
"everyone legitimately does hate you!" after 177 episodes, this podcast has finally arrived at my one true fear
(6:34)
Jon - "I'm sorry"
Martin - "sighs* It's ok, I understand"
Hugs*
Basira - Rolls her eyes and scoffs*, "Are you done?"
Jon - Still hugging Martin* "Can we not have a moment?? >:( "
The irony of the spiral - the physical manifestation of the fear of going insane - gasslighting you into believing you're making your own insanity up, does not escape me
[CLICK]
[FOOTSTEPS ECHO IN A CORRIDOR, A TANNOY MUMBLES WORDS INDISTINCTLY AND TINNY MUZAK PLAYS FAINTLY]
MARTIN
Look, this is ridiculous, Basira. Can we please just talk?
BASIRA
No.
MARTIN
Why not?
ARCHIVIST
Martin…
MARTIN
[Exasperated] No, John. Enough is enough. It has been hours and not a bloody word! We have been slogging our way through literal nightmares to find you, Basira. There’s been p-plagues and wars and monsters and I- we’ve been worried sick. It has been awful and the least that -
BASIRA
Can’t have been that bad.
MARTIN
I - what?
BASIRA
You look fine to me.
MARTIN
[Indignant] Excuse me?
BASIRA
Whole and healthy with a shoulder to lean on every step of the way.
MARTIN
Basira…
ARCHIVIST
[Softly] Martin, leave it.
Trust me. She’s been through a lot more than we have.
MARTIN
I-It’s not a competition! Christ! I just wanted to talk. That’s all.
BASIRA
So talk.
MARTIN
I mean stop and talk.
[FOOTSTEPS STOP]
BASIRA
I’d love that, Martin. I really would. Unfortunately, you two cost me my only lead on Daisy. And I need to find her before she moves on. So unless you have something useful to say…
ARCHIVIST
[Wearily] Daisy’s not here. She’s already moved on.
BASIRA
What?
MARTIN
See, this is exactly the kind of thing that comes up when we talk -
BASIRA
[Impatient] Martin!
ARCHIVIST
I told you, I know everything now, more or less. I can see her. With my, uh…
BASIRA
…
Magic horrorvision?
ARCHIVIST
Sure.
MARTIN
It’s actually been amazingly useful so far.
BASIRA
So you can control it now?
ARCHIVIST
Yes.
BASIRA
Hmm.
MARTIN
So…
We know she’s not here, and John can find her wherever she goes… it sounds to me like we actually do have a moment to talk. Hm?
…
You might not care but it is good to see you Basira. It has been a long time since we saw a friendly face.
BASIRA
Friendly wasn’t what I was going for.
MARTIN
All I’m saying is, it’s nice to find someone we can trust again. Ever since everything went to hell, it’s just been -
BASIRA
Yeah, about that.
[Pointedly to The Archivist] You caused this, didn’t you?
[THE ARCHIVIST GIVES A HEAVY BREATH]
Don’t give me that look, you know what I mean. Did you mess up the world? Yes or no.
ARCHIVIST
…
Yes.
BASIRA
Goddamnit! I knew it was you! I knew it!
MARTIN
Basira…
ARCHIVIST
I didn’t mean to. Elias was…
We were all playing out this big ritual for him. With me as the lynchpin, the gate.
BASIRA
Oh you didn’t mean to! Oh that’s all right then. Christ! I should’ve known… I… I should’ve just let Daisy take you out at the start.
MARTIN
You don’t mean that.
BASIRA
No?
[Exhales] I don’t know. Maybe. If I had… it would have stopped all this, wouldn’t it?
ARCHIVIST
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
BASIRA
I thought you knew everything?
MARTIN
He can’t do hypotheticals.
BASIRA
And if I killed you now?
MARTIN
What did I just say?
ARCHIVIST
You couldn’t. And even if you could, it wouldn’t be enough to undo what’s happened to the world.
BASIRA
So… what? You’re the immortal god of this messed up little hellscape now?
ARCHIVIST
‘God’ might be stretching it. [Deep breath] But I am more powerful now, yes.
BASIRA
Brilliant.
MARTIN
…
Okay, well since we’re talking, I-I was wondering… I don’t know if, if I missed it, or if you both just assumed that I knew, since you knew it already, but, well…
BASIRA
Spit it out.
MARTIN
What was the deal with Trevor? Why was he… I mean, I’m not really sure what happened back there?
BASIRA
Seriously? You brought him here, and you didn’t brief him, Mr. All-Seeing-Eye?
MARTIN
Oh, he just keeps being vague and ominous.
BASIRA
Well, some things don’t change then.
ARCHIVIST
It was a courtesy. I wasn’t sure what you’d be comfortable with me sharing.
BASIRA
Oh how generous.
MARTIN
Basira…
We want to help you.
BASIRA
…
So, when everything went sideways at the institute, I lost track of Daisy and Julia Montauk. I know Daisy managed to kill her, but I don’t know the details. Didn’t find any sign of them in the Archives, at least.
ARCHIVIST
It was about a week later. They’d been stalking each other through the tunnels beneath the city. Daisy managed to corner her in an old subway access, and tore out her throat. Trevor found the body three hours later.
BASIRA
[Irritated] Do you want to tell it?
ARCHIVIST
Sorry. I thought you’d want me to fill in on the missing details.
BASIRA
I don’t.
Anyway, seems like since then Trevor was tracking Daisy. Wanted revenge, you heard him. I was still in the Institute when everything went to hell outside, so I guess that protected me from the first wave. Once I saw what had happened… that we’d lost…
Didn’t feel like there was anything left worth doing, except keeping my promise to Daisy. So I went looking. Found Trevor’s trail eventually and started tailing him. Hoped I could follow him as he tracked Daisy, but… then you had to blunder your way in as always, and I had to step in.
MARTIN
Sorry.
BASIRA
It’s his fault. He used you to bait Trevor, to bait me.
MARTIN
Wait, I’m, I’m sorry, you used me as bait?
ARCHIVIST
I used us as bait. I didn’t know which one he’d go for.
MARTIN
Yeah, sure, but… only one of us was aware of the plan.
ARCHIVIST
I’m, I’m sorry. I was going to tell you, but then I-I got distracted and… then we were within earshot of him, and I couldn’t say anything and… I-I mean, you would have agreed, right?
MARTIN
That’s not the point, John.
ARCHIVIST
I’m sorry.
MARTIN
…
It’s okay. I understand.
[FABRIC RUSTLES]
BASIRA
You done?
ARCHIVIST
Can we not have a moment?
BASIRA
No, John, we can’t. This is a chase, remember? Time is a factor.
ARCHIVIST
Less than you might think.
So what happens next?
BASIRA
What do you think? You just cost me my only lead to Daisy. All I have now is you, and you owe me.
ARCHIVIST
So I guide you to Daisy.
BASIRA
Is she close?
ARCHIVIST
When did I become everybody’s satnav?
BASIRA / MARTIN
John.
ARCHIVIST
Yeah, alright.
[FAINT STATIC]
No, not really. She was here, but the corridors of this place are… Rushing isn’t going to close the distance faster. It’s more about how we choose to move through these domains rather than our speed.
BASIRA
What does that mean?
MARTIN
I’ve been with him the whole way and I still don’t know.
ARCHIVIST
It means we’ll reach her quicker if you stop tearing off, and let me concentrate on finding a proper path through this place.
MARTIN
Yeah, speaking of, where actually are we, anyway? I mean, I’m happy to be out of the woods, but -
ARCHIVIST
Wonderland House. A, uh… mental ‘health’ facility.
MARTIN
Oh. Oh dear.
ARCHIVIST
Mmhm.
Right. Daisy. Give me a moment.
[LOUDER STATIC]
BASIRA
So… Did you actually walk all the way down here from Scotland?
MARTIN
Kind of. Scotland’s not really a thing anymore.
BASIRA
Huh. London’s still there. Sort of.
MARTIN
Yeah, that’s where we’re heading. Eventually.
He’s been destroying other avatars on the way.
BASIRA
Oh. That’s… good, I guess. How’s he doing it?
MARTIN
He’s getting the Eye to, like… like, look at them? H-He just kind of drinks up all their fear and they, uh, they just sort of… implode?
BASIRA
Sounds satisfying.
MARTIN
Yeah. Not sure how much good it does, though. And one of them was a kid.
BASIRA
John killed a kid?
MARTIN
What? No. No! No, I just mean, one of the avatars we saw was, like, thirteen or so.
BASIRA
That’s messed up.
MARTIN
Yeah. We had to let him go, ‘cause… well, I mean…
BASIRA
Yeah.
MARTIN
Yeah.
BASIRA
…
What’s it like? Being with someone who can see the inside of your head?
MARTIN
Hm? Oh. Oh no, he doesn’t. I told him not to, and so he tries to… look away.
BASIRA
And you trust him to do that.
MARTIN
[Certain] Yes. I do.
BASIRA
…
So what’s your plan?
MARTIN
Long term? Elias. He’s up in that… Panopticon tower thing.
BASIRA
Figured as much. What’s he up to?
MARTIN
John doesn’t know. He says it’s a ‘blind spot’.
BASIRA
A blind spot.
MARTIN
A-Apparently.
BASIRA
Convenient. What about Melanie?
MARTIN
He’s… not sure about her either. He can’t see her or Georgie.
BASIRA
Dead, then.
[STATIC FADES]
ARCHIVIST
No. Not dead. Just hidden somehow.
BASIRA
Back with us, then?
ARCHIVIST
I know the route. Come on.
[FOOTSTEPS START AGAIN]
It… will take us past Daisy’s victim, though.
MARTIN
Victim?
BASIRA
She’s been killing.
MARTIN
What? No, no, that can’t be right. I thought people weren’t even allowed to die any more.
ARCHIVIST
Not permanently, but… Ah.
[FOOTSTEPS STOP]
BASIRA
What is it?
MARTIN
Really? Now?
ARCHIVIST
I’ll try to be quick.
BASIRA
What’s going on?
MARTIN
It’s, it… he needs to make a statement.
BASIRA
Is that like a euphemism or…?
MARTIN
Ew, no! It’s… um, he sort of describes the place he’s in to the recorder and… Look it’s, it’s magic Eye stuff. He can’t help it. He needs to do it and if he doesn’t…
BASIRA
He gets constipated?
ARCHIVIST
Hardly!
MARTIN
Actually, yeah, basically.
BASIRA
Right.
ARCHIVIST
Look if you can both just give me some space, I’d appreciate it.
MARTIN
Fine. I’ll keep lookout.
[MARTIN MOVES AWAY]
BASIRA
No. If it’s information about this domain, I think I’d better hear it.
ARCHIVIST
[Sighingly] If you say so…
[STATIC RISES]
ARCHIVIST (STATEMENT)
[FOOTSTEPS, A TELEPHONE RINGS]
Hi. How are we doing? You can call me Doctor David. I’ll be here to help you out for the duration of your stay with us. Do you have a name? Hm. Hm. Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree with you there. That’s not your name at all.
Now don’t get agitated, I’m sure we’ll get there. Names are… tricky. You know how long it took me to realise I was Doctor David? I mean, neither do I, to be perfectly honest, but the point is names can take a while. And we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.
Hm? Oh, didn’t they tell you when you were signed in? Not to worry, these things slip my mind as well sometimes. You’re in Wonderland House. We’re a small residential mental health facility here to help people like you come to their senses. And to protect the world from all your self-indulgent nonsense in the meantime.
I can, I assure you. I’m your doctor. Doctor David. I’m here to help you, to treat you, to make it so you’re less of a… burden to everyone. And until I’m satisfied that we’ve reached that point, well, there’s plenty here to keep you comfortable. Because obviously, it wouldn’t be responsible of us to let you out into general society. Not in your current state. Hm? No, of course it’s not just them. We’re here to help you. You’re the biggest victim of… whatever little game you’re playing here. And we know just how to help you.
Please do try not to get so agitated. I understand, it’s a distressing time, but there’s really nothing to be gained from… acting out. There are no windows to escape through, all the -
[SOUND OF CHAIR ROCKING]
Yes, as I was saying, all the furniture is very firmly bolted down, and honestly you’re only going to hurt yoursel-
[SOMETHING SNAPS]
Hm. I see. Violence, then, is it? Oh, I assure you there is no way to hurt me. Nothing you could say or do could cause me even a moment’s inconvenience. Your anger is… pointless. Meaningless. Look, see? The only thing you’ve managed to hurt is your own hand. Now, are we finally in a position to listen to Doctor David, you… meaningless little brat? Good.
Now, I believe it’s time for your medication.
[PILLS RATTLE]
Oh, no, that stuff you were on before? Mm, garbage. No, I’ve torn up your prescription for that. It was… poison, I assure you, warping your mind. No, I think we have something far better here.
[PILLS RATTLE]
Go on, take it.
[PILL BOTTLE IS PLACED DOWN]
Take it.
Or do I have to get some orderlies to help you?
[LIQUID SWALLOWING; CUP IS PLACED DOWN]
There you go. Down the hatch. I wonder what it was? Certainly it looked a pretty appealing colour in the medicine cabinet, but you never can tell with these things. Oh, there you go. Well, sweet dreams, I suppose.
Do try to wake up sane.
[EXIT WITH CREEPY LAUGH]
[DOOR NOISES PLUS FOOTSTEPS]
Ah, awake at last, are we? Excellent. Allow me to introduce myself. Call me Doctor David. And you might be? No, I just like to greet all our new arrivals in person and I would like your name, if possible. Okay, well, I don’t think that’s how it’s pronounced, but… if that’s what you’d like me to call you, then I suppose I can do you that favour.
Hm? No, I’m pretty sure I would remember.
No, I’m the only Doctor David on staff at Wonderland House. Goodness can you imagine the coincidence if there were two of us. Hah! Hardly bears thinking about. But no, I’m the only one here. Fact of the matter is, I’m the only doctor on staff. Most days it’s just me and the orderlies. No-one else around for miles.
You’re sure? Well, that is very strange. Would you mind describing this ‘other’ Doctor David. Mmhm? Mmhm? Oh, did he now? Well isn’t that fascinating.
Right, well, I think I’m starting to see what might be going on here and, let me assure you, it isn’t going to work. Oh, I know, I know, I know. It’s just that we have no patience here for your ridiculous lies. Seeing things? Phantom doctors? You really think I’m that much of an idiot? You concoct some half-baked little hallucination, and suddenly I’m stamping ‘crazy’ on your forehead? I’m dreadfully sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not how things work here.
Oh, other doctors did, did they? Mm. Well, that sounds reasonable, let me just have a look at your case file here, a gander at the old medical history. Medication, diagnosis, medication, oooh, hospitalisation. Hm.
Trouble is it’s all lies, isn’t it? Because I’m your doctor now, Doctor David, and I say these people, these ‘professionals’, had no idea what they’re talking about because, well, I understand what they simply didn’t.
You made it all up, didn’t you?
What was it? A plea for attention, trying so desperately to make the world notice you? Some childish attempt to feel special? Or were you just looking for an excuse for the fact that you’re a lazy, unlikeable waste of air?
‘Paranoia’, hm, it’s big word, isn’t it? A big excuse. Because here’s the interesting thing: you are completely sane and rational. Everyone legitimately does hate you. It’s not your brain making up lies, don’t be stupid. No, you’re just a horribly unpleasant person to be around. You make people uncomfortable. You never say the right thing. You somehow always manage to smell bad.
No wonder people talk about you behind your back. Even I hate you, and I’m responsible for your treatment. Isn’t that funny?
[MIRTHLESS CHUCKLE]
Hm? Oh, I’m sure you would like some medication. Yes, I’m sure you would. That chemical safety blanket whispering to you ‘Oh don’t worry you’re just mad. You don’t need to take responsibility for anything.’ You’ll get none of that nonsense here. No. We’ll teach you to stand on your own two feet. And we have all the time in the world to do so.
[FOOTSTEPS, THEN DOOR SOUNDS]
Good night.
[DOOR SOUNDS, FOOTSTEPS. THE DISTANT SOUND OF SCREAMS]
Ah, good morning. How are we feeling today? Hm? Oh, no it’s just me. Call me Doctor David. No, I’m pretty sure I’ve always had this face.
Oh, I see, another of your lies, is it, as though I haven’t heard enough of them in the, what, five years I’ve been treating you now. No matter. Yes, five years, can we please not start that again?
Did you sleep well? Hm? Well, that makes sense I suppose. Nightmares are to be expected from a mind like yours.
Ooh, monsters, you say? You must have gotten a look at Brian the orderly.
[MIRTHLESS, SOMEWHAT MANIC, CHUCKLING]
I joke, of course. You seem fine, though, so I’m sure whatever that silly little imagination of yours concocted, it can’t have been all that bad.
Oh, yes? More ‘hallucinations’? Hm, well, you can describe them to me if you like, I’m certain they’re quite horrible. But on other hand, they didn’t happen, you’re lying, and everyone wishes you’d just stop making a fuss. You remember your mother, what you made her do because you just couldn’t be bothered to pull yourself together?
Yes, of course it was your fault, we’ve been over this quite extensively in our earlier sessions. Or are you still pretending not to remember?
I really wish you’d stop saying that. We don’t really like the word ‘mad’ in Wonderland House. Because you’re not. You never have been. You just need to… Oh do calm down you hysterical little creep. Throwing another tantrum will get you nowhere here.
[SOUNDS OF MOVEMENT, SOMETHING FALLING]
Oh violence, is it? Very original. Just do be careful not to -
[SOUNDS OF MOTION, A SCUFFLE, THEN FLESH PEELING]
[DRIPPING NOISES]
Well, I hope you’re happy. Well, what did you expect to be under my face? You really should stop screaming, you’re only upsetting yourself. Of course it’s real, it’s absolutely real. I’ve told you, you’re quite sane. You just need to admit it, and then we can get on with things.
No rush, though, like I say. We have all the time in the world. And good old Doctor David isn’t going anywhere.
[STATIC SOUNDS]
[DEEP EXHALATION]
ARCHIVIST
Satisfied?
BASIRA
Fuck.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[FOOTSTEPS ECHO IN A CORRIDOR, TINNY MUZAK PLAYS FAINTLY]
BASIRA
No, I get that bit, it’s just… So the guy was mad, or…?
ARCHIVIST
No, it - it… I mean, yes. It’s sort of, like… gaslighting, but in reverse. This place, it’s built on the fear that your mental health problems aren’t actually real.
BASIRA
Wouldn’t that be a good thing?
ARCHIVIST
N-No… I’m not explaining it very well. Uh, it’s… It’s the worry that everything is, is awful, and it’s actually your fault. Th-That you made it up? Um… that you’re…
BASIRA
What?
ARCHIVIST
Bad therapists. Let’s just say it’s the fear of bad therapists, filtered through The Spiral.
BASIRA
That’s.. a lot more nuanced than I’ve gotten used to since everything went wrong.
ARCHIVIST
Yes, well, The Spiral is nothing if not insidious.
MARTIN
[Nervously] Uh… Is that door meant to be open? And… dripping blood.
ARCHIVIST
We’re here.
[DOOR CREAKS]
MARTIN
Oh, Jesus.
ARCHIVIST
Yes. Horrible way to go.
BASIRA
You’re sure this is Daisy’s handiwork?
ARCHIVIST
Positive. She’d been prowling around for a long time, waiting for a gap in the ‘treatments’ And when she got one, she carved through the door like it was paper. He tried to run, but she was so fast. She took his legs first, slicing through the tendons so that he could -
BASIRA
Enough. We get it.
…
Let’s go, then.
MARTIN
Wait, what? That’s it?
BASIRA
What else is there?
MARTIN
Seriously? I mean, who is this guy? Daisy slaughters someone, and you don’t even want to know why? You… What, you don’t care?
BASIRA
[Uncomfortably] We don’t have time.
ARCHIVIST
…
I could tell you.
BASIRA
Don’t bother. I know who he is.
MARTIN
What?
BASIRA
[Sigh] Noah Thomson. Nasty piece of work. Crossed him a few times when we weren’t doing sectioned work. Last I heard he’d dodged a GBH charge Daisy brought him in on. Blinded a guy during a robbery. I guess she didn’t forget.
MARTIN
Wait, wait… so… so, she’s hunting down criminals? People who she thinks got away with stuff?
BASIRA
…
Sure.
ARCHIVIST
Really? As simple as that?
BASIRA
What’s your point?
ARCHIVIST
What, you think he ended up in Wonderland House at random? We’re just going to ignore it, and write him off as a ‘nasty piece of work’?
BASIRA
We don’t have time for this.
ARCHIVIST
Then we should make time. You want to hear how he ended up blinding that man? Because it wasn’t a robbery. He was running away from Daisy, lashing out in a panic. The court believed it. But you believed her…
BASIRA
[Angry] I told you not to look in my head!
ARCHIVIST
I didn’t. And I won’t. But you can’t hunt a monster that you refuse to see.
[TENSE SILENCE]
[SOUND OF AN ELEVATOR ARRIVING WITH A SUDDEN ‘BING’]
[MARTIN JUMPS]
HELEN
Not interrupting anything, Am I?
MARTIN
Christ, Helen, you scared the life out of me.
HELEN
[Insincere] Sorry, darling.
ARCHIVIST
Not now, Helen.
HELEN
I’m sorry to butt in, but I was paying a visit to dear old Doctor David. You know, this place goes through nurses at an alarming rate, and I couldn’t help but overhear your little problem.
BASIRA
Really don’t need your opinion on this.
HELEN
Good to see you, too, Basira. You’re looking well. And don’t worry, I’ve no interest in your little ethical wobbles. No, I mean your issue with a certain feral runaway. I can help you, if you’d like.
ARCHIVIST
No, thank you.
BASIRA
What sort of help?
ARCHIVIST
You can’t be serious…
HELEN
See, John, this is what I like to see! A proactive attitude, keen to work together. Someone really living their best apocalypse.
BASIRA
I asked you a question.
HELEN
You did, didn’t you? I can offer a shortcut. Take you right to that murder machine you call a partner.
MARTIN
Basira, John can’t go through Helen’s doors. We couldn’t come with you.
HELEN
Basira is a strong, independent woman. She doesn’t need you two holding her hand. Anyway, it’ll be dead quick. Two minutes, door-to-door, quick shot to the back of Daisy’s head, and we’ll be home before you know it.
ARCHIVIST
…
You just heard what The Spiral does to people. You can’t trust her.
HELEN
Nonsense! Martin can vouch for me. You and.. what’s-his-name went through Michael’s door, right? And he was rubbish compared to me.
MARTIN
We were in there for two weeks.
HELEN
Exactly! And you’re just fine! Better than fine! Flourishing!
MARTIN
You really don’t care, do you?
HELEN
Alright, be like that. Under new management, anyway. So what’s it going to be Basira darling? Quick and easy?
Or are you looking to take the long way round as a third wheel?
BASIRA
…
I’ll stick with the guys, thanks.
[DISAPPOINTED NOISE]
HELEN
Such a shame. And here I thought you were actually going to follow through. Ah well, good luck. And do give my best to Daisy. If you ever do find her.
BASIRA
You done?
HELEN
Oh, John? Not to sound like a squeaky hinge, but do try to lighten up. Don’t get me wrong, the brooding thing’s a good look on you, but it is starting to get a bit tired. Especially now you’ve got someone else to do the intense, driven thing. I think you might need to get a new schtick.
ARCHIVIST
[Sarcastic] Thank you for the feedback. I’ll try to bear it in mind.
HELEN
It’s all I ask! Anyway, I should be off. Don’t want to be late for rounds. Ciao!
[FOOTSTEPS HEAD OFF]
MARTIN
Is it me or is she getting worse? I think I preferred it when she wasn’t quite so… I don’t know… Chummy?
ARCHIVIST
What? You thought the end of the world would bring out the best in her?
MARTIN
Hmm.
BASIRA
Now, can we just go?
ARCHIVIST
Sure. This way.
[CLICK]
Thanks for being so quick 😁
Me, foolishly not knowing what this comment is: *clicks "read more"*
Me: aw no *two minutes of scrolling later* Jesus Christ, the devotion
when he's doing the statements does Jon do the sound effects manually or do the background sounds also come out of his mouth, like the footsteps etc
oh I'm so afraid of the ending..
This is, by far, the scariest to me. Cause this... this feels to real.
6:42 they were definitely just staring lovingly into each other’s eyes for a moment there
Edit: actually wait did they hug?!? Omg that’s better
THIS ONE IS LEGIT ONE OF MY FAVORITES
Comments: talking about Dr Davids laugh
me: it can't be that bad
David: 19:44
Me: oh that's just wrong
i love how this is just an eldritch fear of gaslighting
funniest part of this season is jon sounding like a little kid who needs to go to the toilet on a road trip and martin being like "seriously? now? you just went!" or "you shouldve gone before we left!" like every time he starts making the noises like he wants to make a statement i just imagine him hopping from foot to foot and giving martin big puppy dog eyes
this episode was so good!! kinda uncomfy to listen to (what with the gaslighting and mental health struggles), but this was written in such a genuinely terrifying way! probably my favorite statement now (even though i keep saying that each s5 statement is my new favorite lmao). i was genuinely stunned when jon/dr. david said he didn’t know what the medication was, i just paused it and sat there processing that for a minute. jon’s too-long, unsettling laugh was also fantastic. time to go listen to this five more times
dr david gaslights you asmr
God the last few domains have been hitting really hard for me, I bet the fears would have a feast on me
I like to imagine Helen in a nurse outfit. Just to really piss them off more. And to be more endearing
Sexy nurse outfit Helen.
head the content warnings y’all!!
**spoilers for the episode**
the statement features extreme gaslighting, in the form of one character attempting to gaslight another character into believing that they don’t have any mental health problems, that they’re just doing it all for attention. unknown medication is purposefully given to that character. the character is heavily belittled, told that everyone hates them and that they’re a waste of air. the statement is also told in the second person, with us as the listeners being in the place of the character. if you don’t think you can handle listening to that, you can skip it! the statement goes from 11:24 to 21:40 !!
Many thanks, my mental state cannot handle this specific episode rn
HELEN JUST SWOOPS IN FROM THE ELEVATORS OMG xD Also ayyyyy gut twisting this statement
Gaslighting is so scary. Also love the evil laugh
im listening to this IN a residential
Oh! Yes! Jonathan Sims antagonist voice acting!
Oh that statement hit way to close to home, im going to go cry in the corner now
Of course Basira of all people doesnt understand why the gaslighting domain is bad
I can’t be the only one who loves Helen! 😭
Damn! Dr. David's gaslighting feels feels so personal hearing it in this way
"Hey, you! You're finally awake!"
Me having an extreme fear of electroshock and lobotomy scanning the content warning list and sweating bullets
I never thought the Spiral could really affraid me. Then we talked about the fear that you're building up your mental condition for attention
This season has to be my favourite just because of all the scenes with Helen. Pure gold every time
The only thing that got me through this episode is imagining the bewildered faces of Martin and Basira as Jon paces around the room shuffling papers, fiddling with doors and occasionally slapping himself like a mime.
As someone who has been told a lot of this from practitioners and therapists as a Disabled Nonbinary person, yeeeea.
I did pause in the middle and take a break. I would probably be stuck in the spiral if I was in the TMA universe.
Who else was answering along like it was an audience participation thing during the statement. But seriously this one really messed me up, no other statement has made my heart beat fast and my hands shake like this one. I never realized how visceral of a fear I had of this before
My father is a doctor, my mum wanted to be a doctor but she was too empathetic. I learned from them a lot about doctors. The most honest and sympathetic smile you will ever see towards someone I know he hates, and fact I never know when he is lying despite knowing him my whole life. I am afraid of doctors, and not because I fear they’ll do something to me, they are just scary people. This episode hit perfectly in my strange and specific fear. I hate Dr. David.
the way my jaw dropped at "everyone legitimately does hate you" it was so funny