Thank you so much to our Kickstarter backers for helping to bring this project to life. It’s been 15 years since the Llamas with Hats series began, and nearly 10 years since it ended. Coming back to the llamas after so long, in this new way, has been a joy. I’m proud of what we’ve put together, and I hope you enjoy this new epilogue to the story. If you’re returning to the channel-welcome back! We still release new videos every month, such as: Shadowstone Park-an ongoing series about a cat and pelican attempting to solve various dastardly murders: th-cam.com/play/PLI6HmVcz0NXoK8w682PPy2g-kr8apXhne.html Llamas with Hats 1-12: Re-Cut-An “”“advertiser friendly””” edit of the series: th-cam.com/video/qNeUBeiTRBQ/w-d-xo.html The Table-an hour long audio play about a table: th-cam.com/video/4kZW9RvAB1o/w-d-xo.html Perfect Husbands-A series spun off from the “Charlie the Unicorn” finale, starring Norwell the weasel and an ensouled coat: th-cam.com/video/fRSNardE6bM/w-d-xo.html If you’d like to support our future work, you can do so via Patreon! We don’t do sponsored ads in our videos, so nearly all of our funding comes directly from our viewers. You can get commentary tracks, trading cards, signed ghost drawings, and more: www.patreon.com/filmcow
It's kinda had a hint of surrealism since episode 5, kinda a meta commentary with Carl personifying the series and Paul personifying the audience in a way, about how there was only so many things they could do to one up themselves before the series became repetitive and samey, before it lost its shock value and how we as the audience kinda kept expect more in a way, and end up leaving when we're no longer interested, it's essentially never enough for us as the viewers, and we force the hands of the creators to continue working until there's nothing left they can do, until the series runs itself into the ground into obscurity
"I like my friend, but I've realized I'm bad for their life. I want my friends happiness more than I want to be around my friend, and so I must leave their life."
"Bury yourself in a deep hole, stay there forever" The fact that that's what a Seed does. A seed is a thing that is buried in a hole, and stays there forever. But the seed still grows into a tree, something that whilst silent and unmoving, is able to nourish other things in its passive action. He did, in the end, do exactly what Paul asked of him. For once in his life.
BRILLIANT cant believe this didnt occur to me. its so cool how the framing and point of view completely shift the meaning of that line --- "bury yourself" **feels** like punishment, bringing to mind the sensory experience, the suffocation, the isolation. im sure theres a better phrasing somewhere, but this pov is "selfish" in that its solely concerned with the self i remember the original finale being a gut punch for me specifically because of how carl grieved for paul. throughout the series carl really only related to paul in their immediate interactions, specifically in pauls reactions to the things he did. its clear that he wants paul in some way (saw someone say doomed llama yaoi, havent gotten over that), but paul as a person doesnt matter to carl, or he lacks the ability to understand paul as a person. their relationship is entirely centered around carl. he reenacts their dynamic before he jumps, but hes just calling his own name. that combination of (id argue) genuine grief and complete disregard for anyone outside himself is incredibly compelling in his conversation with the acorn, he answers "tell me about yourself" by talking about his murders: "im a no-good son-of-a-you-know-what." the acorn tells him he should grow into a tree and he responds, "i dont want to. *im carl.*" he reaffirms his identity through violence consistently, but i dont think he internalizes this until finding pauls skeleton. in saying "carl did this" he acknowledges the reality that hes a bad person being carl is no longer an option, so he becomes something else. or rather, he grows beyond himself. if hed been able to do that in life maybe his relationship with paul couldve been salvageable --- probably not, but it wouldve been an actual relationship instead of a half-baked idea of an interaction that made him feel good that one time
Could also be interpreted as an end for the series too. Though we would love to see more of Carl in llamas with hats, for their world it would be better if he stayed there as just a tree
It seemed to me in keeping with his character because the regret was limited to the social etiquette (killing him in anger not realising he was merely quoting him) and not toward the actual conduct of the murder itself
@@Jan31-gv8ll i think the whole dream-death trip is about him, through degrees, that murder and bad behavior is wrong and that Carl(his persona, ego, self) is wrong and to be forgiven (or forgive himself) he must let Carl die to become something else
@@RayOfTruth I didn't notice any sympathy His comments after killing the acorn suggest he merely felt insecure about making a public mistake (very much in keeping with a sociopaths desire to accurately track thier own social reputation and atleast appear accountable) he didn't seem to give a shit about the acorn. Glad you enjoyed yourself though, they really outdid themselves on this one.
The last line hits hard. "As long as you stay away from me" is Carl telling Paul to avoid him in order to not get hurt. "Or I stay away from you" is Carl realizing he can't keep placing the responsibility on others to deal with the consequences of his actions. At the last moment of his life, Carl accepted that responsibility once and for all. Beautifully written
"Maybe we've been here all along, just two llamas in a meadow." "I didn't leave you, Carl. You left the world." "Bury yourself in a deep hole. Stay there forever. Spend the rest of time in darkness and solitude. Free the rest of us from you." "Its a beautiful day, friend!" "Is it?" "Somewhere it is!" Never would I have expected such amazing lines to come from Llamas with Hats.
I remember watching Llamas with hats for the first time in elementary school and thinking it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Now I’m watching the epilogue at nineteen and unexpectedly bawling my eyes out.
This was quite a trippy and thought-provoking episode, but a very fitting ending for Llamas with Hats. Carl wanted everything back. Everything he got rid of. He wanted Paul. But Paul was dead. He was seeking a solution to absolve him of all he did, but he wasn't going to find it. Even with his realization, sometimes we can't get back what we lost no matter how much redemption we want. Sometimes the best thing we can do is accept what we lost and give them what they really need and want. Paul and Carl could never come back together. Carl was too toxic for Paul no matter how much he liked him. That's why him accepting he needed to stay away from Paul is so meaningful. It's easy for someone to try getting away from a toxic person, but it's another thing for a toxic person to realize they need to stay away. By accepting that, that was the greatest act of redemption Carl could get. And in a sense, they are together even while forever apart. That ending can be seen as Paul reincarnating as the moon that Carl associated him with while Carl became a tree. Paul got all the distance he could ever want from Carl, the peace he wanted. And Carl actually got to finally grow, starting as a small acorn and becoming a majestic tree. He can't go anywhere or hurt anyone, but his growth is symbolized there. He may never be forgiven or redeemed, but he finally accepted what he had to do.
Beautiful analysis. There’s also something else I noticed. Carl can’t be redeemed as Carl… but as something else? He doesn’t have to carry that baggage. He can grow and be something new.
Also note worthy, Carl does listen to Paul and buries himself in a hole, Because that's how you plant Seeds! In a way, Paul's attempts to keep Carl away were actually reasonable suggestions, keeping with Paul's nature of the level headed voice of reason.
A good friend of mine passed away unexpectedly last month. We loved this series and would quote it a lot. He was very excited when he heard this was happening, and it really sucks that he's not here to see it. I'm sure he would have loved this though. Beautiful work, and oddly comforting right now. Thank you for this.
I'm right with you. Lost my fiance Wednesday and it's been the most painful experience of my life. I needed the odd comfort this video brought. Something about the atmosphere and nostalgia that brings a moment of peace.
We’re all here to quote it with you, it’s probably the thing my best friend and i quote the most, even having named gaming clans after Carl and his work
11:25 Just now noticed Carl said "stop it" instead of gloating about the suffering he's caused. He's always embraced his violent, psychotic nature around Paul, but when the tube turns the tables against him, he immediately wants out. This is the first time in the series where Carl is the one disgusted and uncomfortable in an argument; the tube is playing Carl's own game and winning. It's just so chilling to see him get verbally beaten down like that. Only this time, Carl chose murdering the tube over running away. Fight vs Flight.
I like to think the tube is an immortal undying entity so it uses these moments to just taunt and mock Carl cause what can Carl do to it that is meaningful
@@victory8928 I like that idea. I also find it interesting that what the tube says in that segment sounds EXACTLY like something Paul would say. Only the tube isn't the one disgusted and horrified, Carl is. It's almost like it knows Carl's thoughts and memories. It knows how to get into Carl's head.
I think the thing that triggered Carl was something else. The tube said "You killed everyone you met. Literally everyone." Guess who is part of Everyone? Paul is. He gets defensive because he denies he killed Paul. That it was his fault.
I just wanted to talk about the brilliance of the Meat Pipe for a second. What it truly was and was trying to do does not matter in the slightest its sole purpose was to remind us of carls innate nature. The moment he meets the pipe he attempts to eat the thing. Watching the live premier you could see the audience go “That’s Carl for you” “peak Carl” “some things never change” Showing that even though Carl feigns remorse things are JUST as the pipe says “you’re not SORRY, you just don’t like things taken from you” to which he kills the pipe again and chases after Paul. The pipe was the perfect way to show us the audience not just TELL us the audience that Carl as he is is beyond redemption. The only path forward for Carl was renewal. Thank you filmcow this really was a beautiful send off
Another small but brilliant thing is the silly dance number between Carl and the Mountain of Faces. Only further cementing how Carl not only isn’t really sorry he STILL continues to revel in his behavior as he dances a tango with them even up until the mountain of bodies crashed down upon him crushing himself with the sheer weight of his own actions. So many nice small moments of pathos which somehow still evokes pity from the onlooker as they see Carl unable to move forward in any positive way.
Carl makes it very clear that he only sees Meat Pipe as... well... a pipe with some meat in it. That the meat is a person who can speak and feel pain doesn't matter. It's just meat. Just potential sustenance for himself. In a way that was how he saw everyone. Just meat in a container. But Paul was different. To Carl, Paul was made of moonlight. Something ethereal that cannot be eaten. Perhaps that was what spared Paul until the very end. Kill and eat a being made of moonlight? What a ridiculous notion. Moonlight isn't meat, so Carl couldn't kill Paul. So he ended up hurting Paul in other ways. When Paul died because of him, that's why he had such a hard time accepting it.
@@thekingtm760I only say this because I just now, because of this video, and subsequently searching for the song, learned what Hasapiko is. So it’s not a Tango he does with the mountain of screaming faces, it’s a Hasapiko; a Greek song/and or dance. Which, of course, I now wonder if it has any implications about Paul or the lore in general, or if it’s just because it’s catchy, or it’s important to Mr. Steele.
I thought of the "meat pipe" as Carl's conscience. Always there, trying to remind him of his "humanity" ("llam-anity"?) but every time he just "pushes it away" by eating it.... "metaphorically speaking". Thank you for coming full circle and finishing this Jason! 13 years and still a great commentary on human behav-er, "Llama" behaviour! :)
Building off of other comments here: In a way, both Carl and Paul got what they wanted and needed. Paul did like Carl. That was obvious from him sticking around after the first 37 murders. Eventually he realized he needed to leave though, so he did. Carl needs Paul, he's obsessed with him. He does want the best for Paul in his own way, which I'm not going to even attempt to moralize about. By becoming a moon Paul gets the distance he needs from Carl but, gets to still see him grow and hopefully change. Meanwhile, Carl has to stay away for Paul's own wellbeing and future. He even has to stay in a lifeless desert for the sake of all beings. But, he gets to be somewhere where he can enjoy Paul's presence, even from an impossible to traverse distance. In a way it can be seen as one small good thing for him in exchange for recognizing that he must stay away from all life.
@@jwilson544 I like that! Yeah, he destroyed the world and ended all life around him (other than the weird thorny flesh vine). It ended with him and it will now start with him, in a better form.
It's quite a fitting finale for something like Llamas with Hats. Carl selfishly wanting everything to go back to the way it was even after everything, only for reality to keep hitting at him until the biggest truth is that his only friend is dead, and it's because of him, and realizing that he's beyond help and hopefully in a new life he becomes something better. And to think this started as a silly dark comedy web series about talking Llamas with Hats. I'll never hear "Carl" the same way again
The friend who originally introduced me to Llamas with Hats passed away a few years ago. I miss him dearly, and it breaks my heart that he will never get to see this.
The water motif is a reminder of how this all started and ended, with Carl in the water. Essentially, his final thoughts are about what led him to jumping off that bridge in the first place, and in the end, he finally understood. Could he have swam? He was still alive, he conceivably could. Though in the end, he realized that the best thing he could do for Paul, the best thing he could do for the world, was to never surface again. He finally grew, though far too little, far too late. There is nothing left of the world. A tree in a desert.
I love how symbolic the act of Carl turning into a tree is. He basically turned into something that could do what he in his previous form never could, grow and change. I also love that, now that he turned into a tree, he is in the middle of the dessert where no other trees or life in general exists near, so, even as a tree, he's now somewhere where he can't hurt or bother anyone else around him, doomed to be completely alone forever. And I love that, despite his solitude, the moon, symbolizing Paul, still keeps him company, watching over him and yet still so far away from him, where Paul always should be.
@@Fidion so true, nobody can be as iconic as them that’s too big of a hat to fill 😔 but they are fs iconic in their own rights, I fw the pelican heavily
Watching this is like seeing a dear high school friend for the first time in years and it's nothing but love and reliving good memories. Thank you Film Cow
Honestly, this is the happiest ending either of them could have gotten. Carl understands that he's not a good person, Paul finally gets the space he deserves, and both of them are finally at peace. Thanks, FilmCow, thanks for making such a heart-felt ending to a wild and crazy series.
the series stopped being as comedic without paul there to react to carl and for carl to bounce off of. and that was the POINT of llamas with hats, it was both of them! and once paul left, carl had nothing that truly fulfilled him. he just engaged in meaningless destruction that we, the audience, don't even get to see, because it's not even interesting at this point. he nuked a city. he made a portal of baby hands. he made a meat dragon. paul was over it, and so was the audience, but carl just wouldn't stop. he was never going to stop. he kept going and going trying to chase the feeling of gratification and companionship that paul gave him to the point of pretending a mask was paul just to have something to bounce off of... until he realized paul was dead, likely killed by one of the many disasters carl set upon the world. carl could no longer go on in the empty world he created, there was nothing left for him to destroy. he has no reason to be alive. buildings and society are nothing but ruins. the sky is choked with smoke and dust and seemingly trapped in an endless blazing vortex. everything was destroyed and nothing will change- not even day to night. so he kills himself, because there's nothing left for him to want. episode 12 is a perfect ending to the story, because there's nothing more to see and nothing more to tell. it was never llamas with hats once paul left, anyways, episodes 6-12 were just showing carl finally realizing that far, far too late. even in death, carl could think of nobody but himself and what he wanted. he wanted forgiveness because he wanted paul back. he didn't want redemption, he wanted to STAY CARL. remain who he is at his very heart and soul. every time he ate from the meat tube, he refused the truths it was telling him and become more and more warped and distorted, more visibly resembling the twisted creature he is, until he is crushed by the weight of his sins and becomes a puddle of gray carl fur and face. it's all about him, what he wants, his whole world- until he finally encounters his memory of paul's skeleton and is drowned in a violent red, nothing but his face remaining. he isn't a person (llama,) he is nothing but the violence and harm he caused. and there's no going back. whenever he tries to go back, "be forgiven." it's always only ever for himself. carl wants to keep selfishly dragging paul towards him, demands paul forgive him. but there's nothing but him. there will never be anything but him. when carl finally understands and accepts that what paul needs is for CARL to stay away, he stops warping and twisting. he stops trying to selfishly force the universe to give him what he wants. the only way forwards for him is complete ego death and rebirth/reformation into an acorn. NOT redemption, NOT forgiveness, because there is none of that for him to have. he has to destroy everything "carl" ever was. CARL killed paul. CARL destroyed everything. and like paul asked, CARL goes into a hole in a desert, far away from anyone and anything he'd ever hurt or destroyed. even still, the living thing he is now flourishes, perhaps content in this new state. it's a sign of life in this empty desert expanse. the sky is clear and a beautiful starry night finally comes, along with the moon that reminded carl so much of paul. to the tree, the moon and the sky are forever unreachable and unobtainable- but still, they're back. the horror and destruction is all over. episode 12 was a perfect ending and perfect way to show that it was all over. and this is a perfect epilogue: it shows something extra after the end. it shows that they've finally found peace. ...but also, it's toxic doomed yaoi
8:47 This right here is my favorite part of the entire epilogue, even if it is all in Carl’s head it’s the perfect final chapter between his friendship with Paul. At the start it seems so innocent, Paul being disappointed at the rain while Carl suggests they can still have fun indoors. Perhaps it’s some kind of memory he had with Paul when they first became friends and before he started his killing spree. Then he hears “Washed away” and can see his memory of Paul doesn’t even have a face, no matter how hard he tries he’ll never be able to completely see Paul the way he wants to, in fact he’ll never see him ever again. Now that it’s raining Carl suggests they play a classic game of truth or dare and Paul picks truth, giving Carl the chance to hear Paul’s side of the story and to test how well he remembers his friend. It is here Carl learns of something he’s never heard of before “A Thread” a metaphysical bond between people that allows others to care for someone else, a way to understand how someone else feels without any words, a soul. Carl then realizes that his destructive behavior was only for his own amusement, all that he ever did for Paul was hurt him and push him away. But Carl still can’t accept that Paul or anyone could be better off without him so he picks dare, he refuses to learn and wants to keep pushing forward despite the fact that he’s already dead. But there is something he can do “Bury yourself in a deep hole, stay there forever, spend the rest of time in darkness and solitude. Free the rest of us from you”. Carl most likely has no idea what Paul is talking about, which is why he is still trapped in this purgatory, but it isn’t until the end we realize Paul wanted to give Carl a second chance. A chance to give and never take again, a chance to never run away, a chance to fix his mistakes and replenish the world with his own labor. He is beyond redemption but that doesn’t mean it’s too late
I am so glad it ends with them being apart, with Carl realizing he needs to stay away. So cathardic to see, since in real life, abusers like Carl really do go put of their way to get their partners back. Its hard enough to escape a relationship like that... its hell when it follows you. I am glad the narrative doesn't force them back together. Doesn't give Carl a redo with Paul. Doesn't have Paul even really come back to speak to him. Paul was truly freed.
It's honestly pretty crazy we haven't seen Paul and Carl have a face to face interaction since Llamas With Hats 6 way back in 2014. The flashback at the start of this epilogue is also the first (and likely the last) time we've seen the real Paul in the flesh with new lines since that episode. I respect Jason's restraint to not have a cheesy reunion out of sync with the tone. When Paul left he really meant it.
9:46 this part is soo good and on my 10th rewatch still strikes harder every time. Its like what ever made this purgatory let paul get his last words in with the most articulated and coldest lines since breaking bad
The Faceless Paul forcing Carl to try and confront himself seems to be a callback and inversion of the Paul Face that pushed Carl deeper until he destroyed everything. Chilling. Beautiful. There was a chance for him to have changed before then, but by the time Carl put together a false image of his former best friend to keep encouraging and validating him instead of thinking to look inwards, it was already over for him, even before he ended the world.
Paul/forgiveness discussions aside, I've noticed that part of the reason for Carl's misery is because of his impulsive desire for instant gratification. Carl claims he enjoys being a violent sociopath, but he really doesn't. Carl doesn't kill people because he genuinely likes the act of killing; he only enjoys the shock, disgust, and horror that comes out of it. So much of Carl's unhappiness could have been prevented if he found passion in the process of doing the things he does, even if it's as evil as killing. Carl believes his happiness is from Paul's reactions and when that's taken away, he keeps destroying and destroying trying to fill that hole inside of him. It gets to the point where he destroys so much there's nothing left to enjoy. Even before Paul's departure, Carl goes for bigger, crazier stunts in an effort to get a bigger rise out of him. It's like when you feed a Golden Retriever and it immediately gulps down the food and begs for more. In a way, we're much closer to Carl than we realize. Many of us have 9-5 jobs we despise because we only focus on the end result; when we get off, our next paycheck, our next day off. We can't sit down and enjoy the simple process of working a job and going through the motions of our day-to-day life. We upload posts on social media and only care about how much likes, views, comments, and attention it gets. Everything needs to be MORE - I need a bigger paycheck, I need more friends, I need a girlfriend, I need a new phone, I need a bigger house. We chase these absurd goals we make for ourselves believing they'll make us happy and feel resentment when they're not met. Everyone remembers the movie Rocky and how good of an underdog story it is, but they forget that Rocky LOST. Despite that, it didn't take away from the time, effort, and will power put into his training. I believe if Carl found fulfillment within himself and not rely on Paul's reactions, the series would have ended much differently. There would still be life left on Earth to enjoy not just for himself but everyone around him. I'm not quite sure if Carl would have gave up killing, but even if he didn't, it would not be to the point where there is nothing left to kill. Carl's entire arc could have been prevented had he learned delayed gratification and simplying enjoying the moment.
He really is chasing the dopamine rush and getting diminishing returns... Maybe if he could find an alternate outlet he'd have been able to sate himself, but no. It was not to be, so he had to restrain himself even further. To ensure he could do no more harm, as he was lethal even as a llama.
My God I love this…we’re discussing the possibility of fleeting pleasure and delayed gratification within life in reference to A FUCKING SHOW ABOUT LLAMAS IN SILLY HATS 😂 Absolute wonder of a comment and series, btw
I love the whole Hasapiko sequence. One of the names of this dance is literally "The Butcher's Dance". Equally silly, disturbing and perfectly symbolizing how Carl is incapable of seeing his acts as anything but as entertainment, even in the face of all it's horror. It's also gotten me down a rabbit hole of listening to traditional Greek music, which is cool.
14:04 When taking at face value, responding "I'm an acorn" can simply be a mindless joke, but I think it goes further than that. If we're to believe that acorns are the souls of evil, irredeemable beings wishing to start anew, this could be the acorn saying that it knows how if feels like to be beyond the point of redemption. Furthermore, the acorn didn't seem to be particularly shocked from Carl's hulahoop shenanigans. It's almost as if these types of twisted killings are just old, fading memories of what the acorn has done in its past life.
In perhaps a trick of the mind could the acorn that he crushed be himself not in a literal sense but in a metaphysical sense in that it took the acorn quoting him to really start grasping the danger he was is and would have proceeded to be had he not changed
@@bobcake8904 I don't think the commenter intended to imply that that's a common symbolic meaning for acorns (the part about them being "souls of evil, irredeamable beings"), but moreso the meaning that this epilogue has given it due to it being associated with concepts like growth and fresh starts.
I think it was more off his last moments before drowning when he througth different methods of his own brain finally realise what he done and what was bad in it and what he need to do next, him jumping down was just a sign of Madness, but him dying there, not trying to swim up, was a sign of wisdom.
i only now saw this despite being subscribed, and this was an insane watch at 3 am, llamas with hats meant so much to me so many years ago thank you so much for such a wonderful experience
I gotta tell ya, after watching this series for well over 13 years I didn't expect a man eating psycho like Carl to turn into an intergalactic space tree. Looking forward to seeing more of your projects!
Idk why, but this comment made me think of "this is an Aspen, you can tell it's an Aspen because of the way it is." And now I'm thinking "This is a Carl, you can tell it's a Carl because of the dangerous sociopathy and history of violence." ("And the ethereal glowing green hat.")
I don’t know. Evangelion got pretty weird towards the end. In fact, this whole sequence probably would have seemed pretty normal in the finale of Evangelion if they just sandwiched it in between some of the other characters’ psychedelic depressive trips.
@@paradoxlaboratories8005I’m guessing that was probably the original joke. There are no mechas in this episode, so the green fields and abstract reflective writing are really the only proper setup for the joke.
this is. honestly amazing. it fits the characters so well, while also taking the story in a new direction. carl doesn't GET forgiveness, because he doesn't DESERVE it. he had his chance - he didn't take it. and now, it's too late.
That was so sad but so fascinating. It's almost healing to see Carl finally see the danger in himself. I almosh wish there was more but this was worth every minute! I'm almost never going to stop thinking about the comment I read that said 'doomed yaoi' fuck
I doubt I'm alone when I say you singlehandedly started my TH-cam journey with Charlie the Unicorn in 2006. Now that I'm almost 30, the fire to make my animations still burns bright. I always admired how you were able to share such complex ideas through simple animation, and made it funny as hell along the way. Love to see you reigniting the series that seemed to resonate with a ton of people, myself included. This has always been true dark humor and I will continue to watch. Your advancements in animation are astounding, stories still chilling, creativity inspiring, all the while continuing to make me chuckle.
The way it still has comedic moments helps keep it connected to the original spirit of Llamas with Hats, while still letting the surreal elements shine. "Well, I don't want all this tube meat to go to waste" absolutely killed me.
I remember 10 year old me crying in his pajamas every night after watching the finale, unable to comprehend it. I'm glad all these years later adult me got to see and understand the closure we've all long sought. I'll never forget this series, and never stop being able to recite it from heart.
Closure? What part of this epilogue is closure to you?😂 this epilogue made that feeling worse for me, more sadness, more questions. I’m not saying it’s bad, I loved it actually
@@bennyindawall| Are you kidding? Carl finally came to understand what Paul had been trying to tell him all along: he was a monster beyond redemption, one that didn't just hurt others, but also himself. The only true path forward was one of rebirth. To start fresh as something new and innocent. And when he does so, there is Paul, looking down on him and offering light.
You really told a captivating story about Carl coming to terms with the crimes he's committed, and we actually got to see how his mindset lead to the killing he did. This epilogue didn't neglect comedic bits, yet remained focused on the goal enough to give Carl's character a serious look. And all the while, you took us through a really bizarre afterlife while explaining nothing, which kept the journey suspenseful and mysterious. 10/10, no notes.
I supported the Charlie the Unicorn special as well as this one. Still bummed I missed out on the Detective Heart of America movie but I'm happy to support this dude in any way I can.
"I always saw you as moonlight," is so much more interesting when you realize at the end the moon seems to be wearing Paul's hat and the Oak tree that Carl became is wearing Carl's hat.
as a backer for that tier on the kickstarter i wasn’t expecting “face mountain” to be that way but happy all the same. honestly even very surprised to see my pup so high up on face mountain too, it’s an honor as a huge fan of this series and animator.
@@Saternalia they are backers of the face mountain tier only to my knowledge, idk how many people bought that tier for sure tbh though. i’d have to check the kickstarter again to be sure just how many backed each tier.
Always been an outsider to this series. Different parallels and such, but I've had friends absolutely rabid about this series. So when i saw there was a new epilogue after 10 years, i gave it a watch. Still not sold on the series as a whole. Not for any personal begrudgery. Seriously, its that i couldn't escape the fandom and hearing the braying voices of a thousand people all whining "Buuut Cooorrraaalll!" For however many years really fractures ones brain after a while. I digress. I watched. I loved. And was thuroughly impressed! Thos was beautiful and perhaps one of the most surreal looks into an abusive situation from the perspective of the abuser of all things. Best thing I'll watch today. Ty for this visit, even if it was at the very end.
My best friend introduced me to film cow and llamas with hats. R.I.P Matthew Terrance Cronin. Even without you here, you're still changing my life. I wish you could be here to see this
I was NOT EXPECTING an epilogue episode 10 years later but I’m so here for it and I love it. Never did I think this series would turn into this, but I love that it did. Brings back so many memories. 😂❤
I have a coworker named Carl. The sheer number of "Carrrlllllll" jokes we make is un-freaking-real. You influenced all of us for the better through this goofy, messed up animation series. Bravo, filmcow, bravo.
Fudge- this hit me like a truck. I’ve loved a certain friend of mine for a while and seeing this again made me see myself in Paul and my friend in Carl. I’ve thought about leaving so many times because they’ve never shown enough willingness to change their bad habits to the point where ive had multiple breakdowns, talks, and more hard things because of this leech like feeling I got from em. Only hoping they mature one day and now the distance is the same but time and time again I feel myself begging them to get better, for their sake and everyone else’s. Their personality is also very neutral or chaotic yet their apathy is what hurts the most when they engage in that behavior. I love this art form and message so much. Thank you
I can say I had a friend very similar to that. I lost them this year so I never got to have any type of closure any which way. One moment they were here, and now they're not and I've had to deal with that.
Damn. Filmcow is the epitomization of growing up. The videos 15 years ago were goofy and funny but as time has passed and weve all grown older so has our perception of the universe. Filmcow exemplifies this perfectly. Sure we still get the funny stuff from time to time, a call back to that easier life, a care free past. But there is a certain beauty in the nightmare that is life and the realization that time waits for no one. Bravo. 👏
It kind of makes me think of all those folktales of various native peoples where a common trope is objects originating from sentient beings transformed into them
@@StuffandThings_ I had this thought as well. Like that one Greek mythology... Orpheus, I think? Where he goes to get his wife from the underworld, but turns around even when instructed not to, which kind of symbolizes the seasons. Or am I thinking of something else? 🤔
@@DarukaEon The Greek story of the seasons was Hades tricking Persephone to remain in the underworld with him as his bride. Zeus said that she can leave every six months, but then must remain another six months in the underworld with Hades. Persephone's mother is Demeter, goddess of the harvest, so when her daughter is locked away for those six months, she becomes sad and refuses to allow plants to grow, bringing Fall and Winter. Then when Persephone is released and Demeter is happy and brings about Spring and Summer where life flourishes again. Orpheus's story was correct, just unrelated to the seasons.
I really appreciate Filmcow coming back to create a new epilogue that had some hope in it. When the original series ended it broke my heart with how it ended. I know that sounds really silly considering the whole plot is a psychopathic llama, but it was an important piece of media from my childhood. So I'm really glad we got this new peaceful ending that satisfies my inner child.
Came back a day later to express how wildly significant this was to me cause its been on my mind non stop. Going down the rabbit hole with carl and experiencing his death/ ego death gave me a conforting feeling, almost like a coming to terms with the inevitability that ill die one day too which makes everything feel more significant, but more than just that i felt like something about carl letting go helped me finally let go of some of my own demons. I loved the symbolism and i feel like i took something away from this series that will grow with me just like a little Edit: accepting your mistakes and coming to terms with them is apart of growth, you cant bring back whats been lost which makes it all the more precious. nothing is permanent and the actions we take especially towards others are significant
carl as a character is composed of only 2 axioms: he loves paul and he kills everyone else. that is all he is built for. hence why the singular regret he feels is hurting paul, even after he dies (he literally only ends himself so he can protect paul). he only leaves the physical world as soon as there are no subjects for either of those axioms - no paul and no everyone else. the reason he’s beyond redemption is that such a concept is literally outside of the logic his existence; for him to be confronted with the concept of it is to physically bend him out of his original shape, and for him to be “redeemed”, for him to exist outside of the logic of his own world, necessitates that he is replaced with something completely different altogether. i don’t know why he gets the magical hand powers. i guess to actually feel guilt there has to be hands to get blood on; carl exists as a character, something that is viewed, and the concept of responsibility can only come with his violence being viewed as well (which it never was in the series before: only the aftermath of it). i guess that is the first consequence of carl entering a world with different logic than that of his own, is that he has to have some ability to physically move and enact violence. the necessity of this epilogue i guess, if i can assume the creator’s intentions, comes from steele’s desire to kill llamas with hats; as a series it was killed the second entropy set in, Carl’s “work” (i.e. his only function as a character) was complete, and he ceased to exist. but its iconography still existed. Carl still left behind a corpse. to kill llamas with hats as an idea it had to be placed in an environment that was hostile to its existence, and thusly deformed to the point of dissolution. maybe this is why Paul is represented by the moon? he was composed of different axioms than Carl and a world comprised of those axioms suffocated and destroyed him. though at the same time Carl couldn’t live or exist without him.
I think the hands are the forces of the after life. They welcome him in. It could some form of deity, it could a mystical force, it could be paul for all we know. I think the reason he gets the hand powers is that if the spiritual world he's in is making a point about Carl's action and destructiveness, the hands serving him and letting him do what he wants with them will show that more than anything. In the end when Carl experience ego death and becomes a tree, the hands are let go and they remove him from the water landscape back into normal reality and plant into the soil. So carl can have his true punishment and aid the replenishment of life on the planet he destroyed. All in the eyes of the heavens and the awareness - his essence or soul, displayed by his hat- that paul is ever away from him, having ascended or gone to wherever people who die go and he can't follow and never will be able to.
I really like this phrasing, describing Carl as a being without purpose after he exhausts his work. I think that's why this ending feels so satisfying in that regard, the death of a concept, Llamas with Hats, is such a good way to put it. It reminds me a lot of readings of certain things in Undertale or Deltarune, what it means to exhaust a narrative.
Jason Steele didn't make this epilogue to "kill llamas with hat" At least not in the way I think your saying. He gave the series one last hurrah, giving more depth to Carl and telling a well told story about redemption and forgiveness. He did not make this cartoon to shut people up and never touch the stupid llamas again, which is what is implied by saying he killed the series. This was a project of passion for him, not obligation.
A deeply thought-provoking follow-up video to a decade-plus old web-series, surreally retelling the process of reincarnation as a metaphor for moving past toxic relationships definitely was not on my 2024 bingo
That was so touching, its so lovely to see you do something so beautiful and sentimental after all these years. I think this is what ill remember you for and thats saying alot considering how much I've loved your content for most of my life. Just like Carl this will grow into something that will give life in the ensuing decades, for other's to find it, it is our communication to the future. I definitely cried alot btw sjsjsn
I couldn't ask for a better epilogue tonally for the experience I've had with this series. I remember watching the finale of the original when I was only 11 years old or so, crying deeply for Carl, really soaking in the tragedy of the 12th episode... but the reality is that it only comes off so sad when you realize the narrative is from his perspective, he's reprehensible beyond measure. I can really feel this epilogue is trying to rectify that: In so many more subtle ways the demeanor of Carl just feels so much more manipulative, abusive, and self centered, rather than comedic as it is in the main series... it's kind of sickening to watch. Its very ironic how much more sinister he feels in changing his words, and not as much in the countless murders he commits, all just due to the tone of the respective scenes, I suppose that dichotomy and hypocrisy is the entire point of this epilogue. That being said, there are still scenes here still that make you feel sympathy for Carl, like the meadow, or the ending when he realizes who he really is... but a healthy distance is placed between sympathy and any shred of forgiveness. I just adore how much this, and really all of your work, feels very in tune with the audience you've cultivated, I have no doubt the idea from this came from how many people felt like I did back then, commenting about how sorry they felt for a mass murderer x100000. Watching your storytelling style progress has been such a treat, I don't know what my expectations for this were but they were surpassed! I could say so much more about specific pieces of symbolism in this but I'd be writing all day.
It's honestly giving BoJack Horseman vibes in the subtle nod of "No wait, just as a reminder, Carl is terrible." without beating the audience over the head with the message with a seeming seething contempt for the audience who felt bad for Carl. Though, given what spurred Bob Raphael Waksberg to consider what show he was putting out and the social climate of the time, I understand why he felt like being a little heavy handed with his approach.
A lot of emotions and things I don't understand yet about the epilogue. But what I can take away from it, Carl ending himself was the only type of redemption he could get, if you can even call it that. His very existence is violent, psychotic, and evil and he proudly admits it. He has done far too much damage not just to Paul but to everyone he has ever interacted with. Even with a simple tube who did no harm, Carl's first thoughts are kill it and eat its insides. A lot of people wanted to see Carl have a happy ending (preferably with Paul), but he doesn't deserve one. It's literally impossible as he destroyed everything that he had ever come across. Sentience is a gift and all Carl has used it for was to take away the lives of others. If he could find a way to mass murder single-celled organisms and make them feel pain, he would. Carl CAN'T be with Paul - he killed him. He's dead. No amount of flesh portals, meat dragons, and blood vortexes can change that. Even if Paul were somehow still alive, Carl would still have nothing left to enjoy. What's the point of killing people in cruise ships and South American countries if there aren't even any to begin with? If there were a way Carl could be "redeemed", it would be by erasing his entire existence and reincarnating to a form that cannot harm anyone, one that even brings life. At the very least, we know by the ending's presence of trees that nature is rebuilding itself from Carl's absence. Carl may not want to openly admit it, but I suspect he knows deep down that the only way for life and reality itself to heal is if he eradicates the disease - himself. EDIT: Holy cow I think this is the most likes I've ever gotten. Thank you all. hahaha
My interpretation is the ending with the flooding water is Carl coming to the conclusion you pointed out and in doing so he embraces ego death. He still "exists" in a fundamental sort of essence kind of way, but the weight of his sins and horridness he's made of everything we can conclude to make up a person is a lost cause. It feels right, that whatever this afterlife force is, nudge him towards being an acorn through that realization. Starting from scratch and being a non-entity that serves the lowest rung of life on the material world. The rebuilding starts with carl's end. Which is poetic and while he may not be worthy of redemption...embracing his ego death and being the tree allows, by whatever this force is. Some vague...potential hope...that serving this way and with his acknowledged self deletion that maybe....maybe...after serving in this role and cycle after millions...if not trillions of years of being a part and aiding new life coming in. That some type of redemption and second go can be formed. But for now...carl is stuck as a tree, here on the planet he destroyed. Existing at the bare level with no movement, thought or sense of true self left. While Paul has ascended and watches from the heavens - signified by the mono having his hat - And if he is truly beyond redemption even after ego death and many cycles of being the lowest servant and aid to the cause of new life. Then it gives him that impresses that vague hope on whatever is left of his essence...knowing the heavens will be forever out of reach yet still awaiting some potential bell to ring that says he's allowed to start anew is a rightful punishment. Notice that it's the hand that welcome carl to the afterlife. He gains the hands not because its his power, but the hands of the divine were abiding his wishes. Knowing that carl own actions and wants will show him his horridness more than anything. In the end, it's the same hands that push acorn carl into his new penitent role as a tree.
Not sure if it was intentional or not, but the idea that Hell is the absence of God, or our source of love, is the main motif in this video. Our suffering is prolonged by our pride and unwillingness to accept responsibility for our actions. Brave video
@@carlosregente3472it would be one of these songs: “Sax of Silver" Per Boysen "Hasapiko" Marios Georgiades "Green" Elijah Akindolie ft. Bethany Tetreault & Jack Otis "Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata Jazz" Dmitriy Lukyanov / Lynne Publishing These are from the end credits
@@carlosregente3472 some sort of jazz rendition of moonlight sonata 1st movement i think. I am dumb, names of all the songs are in the credits at the end see - 18:39
I'm now calling both Master Hand and Crazy Hand Carl from now on. Either that or I'll call Master Hand Paul, both to avoid confusion and because Carl would probably appreciate his inclusion.
Mr FilmCow, I just read the Llamas With hats: Babies book for the first time. Wow. I thought Paul and the moon was random but everything is pieced together just right. This is incredible.
I always connected with the series in a weird, unkown way when I was younger, and the way it turned out always left me feeling depressed. Now that im aware of some of the things wrong with me, im realizing why it was all so profound. With this "good" ending, it is once again profound, but it has genuinely given me a lot of peace. Thank you, for all of it.
I watched the og lamas with hats when I was like 11. Now I’m 20 and this actually hits really hard. Thank you for doing this, the series was and still is a big part of my life
I think the tube meat, the acorn, the faceless paul, and even the hands are the same entity. All working towards getting carl to stop being carl. Carl can try and kill it all he likes, but it just keeps coming back in one form or another. Working with him until he finally gets it. The echo of Paul calling for Carl is probably him, but more calling him to tell him to go away. He's in a better place than Carl, which may not be saying much. The only reason Carl can hear him is because the multiple form entity knows that's what Carl needs. Whatever it takes for Carl to be acorn and let life happen again
Never did i think that a series about a murdering llama and his friend would get me all choked up 🥺 I grew up watching llama’s with hats and still quote it all the time.
RIP to the homie Brian Crawford from Muncie, Indiana! We used to watch these all the time growing up...I'm almost 32 now and still love it...hope they have youtube wherever you're at bro.
I love how Carl never comes to terms with the full extent of what he's done. Arguably, nobody can. Not Carl, not us, I'd argue not even filmcow, because who can wrap their head around 8 billion people and countless animals killed and eaten by a single llama? But none of us need to. Carl didn't need to come to terms with all that he'd done, just Paul, because arguably Paul was the only one who was real to him. Paul was his friend, he was the one he talked to, he was the one who stayed, until he didn't. The rest of the world was just a source of meat, a thing to take care of, but Paul was real, and Carl was convinced he couldn't hurt him. The world was leveled by nuclear blasts and Carl never bothered to check that Paul wasn't hurt. But the fact he did kill Paul was the thing he couldn't understand, and the only thing he even needed to come to terms with. Because if Paul was the only real thing, then Carl's world only really ended when he found Paul's bones
Wow. I never thought Llamas with Hats would ever make a return, and for 20 minutes no less, but here we are. This epilogue was amazing and I'm glad that it caps off the series on a more hopeful note. Even if Carl could never be redeemed, he could at least gain some closure on who he really is, what he's done, and what needs to happen.
![[#2024MAMA] ROSÉ (로제), Bruno Mars - APT. | Mnet 241122 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dgGqD28J6aQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much to our Kickstarter backers for helping to bring this project to life. It’s been 15 years since the Llamas with Hats series began, and nearly 10 years since it ended. Coming back to the llamas after so long, in this new way, has been a joy. I’m proud of what we’ve put together, and I hope you enjoy this new epilogue to the story.
If you’re returning to the channel-welcome back! We still release new videos every month, such as:
Shadowstone Park-an ongoing series about a cat and pelican attempting to solve various dastardly murders:
th-cam.com/play/PLI6HmVcz0NXoK8w682PPy2g-kr8apXhne.html
Llamas with Hats 1-12: Re-Cut-An “”“advertiser friendly””” edit of the series:
th-cam.com/video/qNeUBeiTRBQ/w-d-xo.html
The Table-an hour long audio play about a table:
th-cam.com/video/4kZW9RvAB1o/w-d-xo.html
Perfect Husbands-A series spun off from the “Charlie the Unicorn” finale, starring Norwell the weasel and an ensouled coat:
th-cam.com/video/fRSNardE6bM/w-d-xo.html
If you’d like to support our future work, you can do so via Patreon! We don’t do sponsored ads in our videos, so nearly all of our funding comes directly from our viewers. You can get commentary tracks, trading cards, signed ghost drawings, and more:
www.patreon.com/filmcow
Thank you filmcow, you are a true legend of the internet! Happy to support this and anything else you got planned! You're the best!!
Perfect Husbands is a gem
@@filmcow ☺️ I’m glad to have spent 50 on this project
Love you.
Super excited!!
an Epilogue longer than the whole series is wild.
This is our Avengers Endgame
And it also kind of explains what happened to Carl at the end of the series he didn’t die like we all thought.💭
Yet strangely fitting…🤷🏻♂️
Pretty sure he died & got reincarnated as an acorn.@@Smiththeinspiringanimator
Wasn’t it the same with Charley the unicorn
You hear that? That’s the sound of forgiveness. Screaming and then silence.
That’s the sound of Carl drowning, people
@@clodolcmidnights837 You mean the sound of Carl drowning people?
That's my go-to whenever I hear screaming
@@CircusRope001 not this time
It really is
Turning fucking llamas with hats into a surrealist art film is crazy
It's kinda had a hint of surrealism since episode 5, kinda a meta commentary with Carl personifying the series and Paul personifying the audience in a way, about how there was only so many things they could do to one up themselves before the series became repetitive and samey, before it lost its shock value and how we as the audience kinda kept expect more in a way, and end up leaving when we're no longer interested, it's essentially never enough for us as the viewers, and we force the hands of the creators to continue working until there's nothing left they can do, until the series runs itself into the ground into obscurity
Is that not what it’s always been?
I like i can't deny lol
@ I’m glad we got a sense of closure with this final episode. Is more satisfying.
I mean, wasn't it always a surrealistic art film in a way?
"I like my friend, but I've realized I'm bad for their life. I want my friends happiness more than I want to be around my friend, and so I must leave their life."
Deep down we all know it was something more than friends
Leaf their life
“I always thought of you as made of moonlight”
*Paul turns into the moon*
That's rough buddy.
@@Red_MOON187I was literally going to reply the same thing 😂. Sucks that nobody understands the reference
@@aerobear4895 atla.
@@aerobear4895 my guy is not an obscure reference
@aerobear4895 so many people understand the reference 😂
"Bury yourself in a deep hole, stay there forever"
The fact that that's what a Seed does. A seed is a thing that is buried in a hole, and stays there forever.
But the seed still grows into a tree, something that whilst silent and unmoving, is able to nourish other things in its passive action.
He did, in the end, do exactly what Paul asked of him. For once in his life.
BRILLIANT cant believe this didnt occur to me. its so cool how the framing and point of view completely shift the meaning of that line --- "bury yourself" **feels** like punishment, bringing to mind the sensory experience, the suffocation, the isolation. im sure theres a better phrasing somewhere, but this pov is "selfish" in that its solely concerned with the self
i remember the original finale being a gut punch for me specifically because of how carl grieved for paul. throughout the series carl really only related to paul in their immediate interactions, specifically in pauls reactions to the things he did. its clear that he wants paul in some way (saw someone say doomed llama yaoi, havent gotten over that), but paul as a person doesnt matter to carl, or he lacks the ability to understand paul as a person. their relationship is entirely centered around carl. he reenacts their dynamic before he jumps, but hes just calling his own name. that combination of (id argue) genuine grief and complete disregard for anyone outside himself is incredibly compelling
in his conversation with the acorn, he answers "tell me about yourself" by talking about his murders: "im a no-good son-of-a-you-know-what." the acorn tells him he should grow into a tree and he responds, "i dont want to. *im carl.*" he reaffirms his identity through violence consistently, but i dont think he internalizes this until finding pauls skeleton. in saying "carl did this" he acknowledges the reality that hes a bad person
being carl is no longer an option, so he becomes something else. or rather, he grows beyond himself. if hed been able to do that in life maybe his relationship with paul couldve been salvageable --- probably not, but it wouldve been an actual relationship instead of a half-baked idea of an interaction that made him feel good that one time
Could also be interpreted as an end for the series too. Though we would love to see more of Carl in llamas with hats, for their world it would be better if he stayed there as just a tree
And the ending shows how he truly had grown, rather than his first "attempt" staying in a hole where meat pipe said he was on the wrong track
Jesus that's deep
@@onionchunks That's a beautiful reading of this epilogue.
Carl realizing the mistake after killing the acorn is likely the first time he's ever felt non-selfish regret.
It seemed to me in keeping with his character because the regret was limited to the social etiquette (killing him in anger not realising he was merely quoting him) and not toward the actual conduct of the murder itself
@@Jan31-gv8ll but for Carl's low standards, that's still the most sympathy he's ever given someone and I find that amusing.
@@Jan31-gv8ll i think the whole dream-death trip is about him, through degrees, that murder and bad behavior is wrong and that Carl(his persona, ego, self) is wrong and to be forgiven (or forgive himself) he must let Carl die to become something else
@@kobold7466 after all, why would anyone want to be him?
@@RayOfTruth
I didn't notice any sympathy
His comments after killing the acorn suggest he merely felt insecure about making a public mistake (very much in keeping with a sociopaths desire to accurately track thier own social reputation and atleast appear accountable) he didn't seem to give a shit about the acorn.
Glad you enjoyed yourself though, they really outdid themselves on this one.
The last line hits hard. "As long as you stay away from me" is Carl telling Paul to avoid him in order to not get hurt. "Or I stay away from you" is Carl realizing he can't keep placing the responsibility on others to deal with the consequences of his actions. At the last moment of his life, Carl accepted that responsibility once and for all. Beautifully written
"Maybe we've been here all along, just two llamas in a meadow."
"I didn't leave you, Carl. You left the world."
"Bury yourself in a deep hole. Stay there forever. Spend the rest of time in darkness and solitude. Free the rest of us from you."
"Its a beautiful day, friend!"
"Is it?"
"Somewhere it is!"
Never would I have expected such amazing lines to come from Llamas with Hats.
"I always thought of you as made of moonlight" what is this, Shakespeare 😭😭😭😭😭
If anyone I truly despise ever asks me, what do you want from me? " Bury yourself in a deep hole..." Will be my response.
We all left the world. Its time to come back and restore happiness.
its time to be an acorn
You never feel bad when you're ripping things away from everyone else.
If written several thousand years ago, this would be studied in schools as some philosophical tragedy.
The Ancient Greeks never saw a llama.
That's the _real_ tragedy here.
Yeah…
Give it time
In a thousand years, maybe it will be
@@normanclatcherI absolutely read this in Carl’s voice 😂
I laughed, I wept, I ate the person next to me.
I was the person they ate, I would not recommend.
*CAAARLL*... did you at least cook them first...wait
I don't think I make a very good Paul 😂
CAAAARL! Why would you do that?!
I hope you washed your hands. Hygiene is important, you know.
leave their hands to me please
I remember watching Llamas with hats for the first time in elementary school and thinking it was the funniest thing I had ever seen. Now I’m watching the epilogue at nineteen and unexpectedly bawling my eyes out.
Shit dude, I was around 19 when I first watched this. Now I feel really old.
me too. I first saw this in 5th grade as a little tot. now I'm 19 and sobbing at the symbolism and how beautiful an ending this was
I don’t know when the og episode came out, but I’m 28 now. Thanks buttmunch now I feel old lol
DUDE SAMEE
This was quite a trippy and thought-provoking episode, but a very fitting ending for Llamas with Hats. Carl wanted everything back. Everything he got rid of. He wanted Paul. But Paul was dead. He was seeking a solution to absolve him of all he did, but he wasn't going to find it. Even with his realization, sometimes we can't get back what we lost no matter how much redemption we want. Sometimes the best thing we can do is accept what we lost and give them what they really need and want.
Paul and Carl could never come back together. Carl was too toxic for Paul no matter how much he liked him. That's why him accepting he needed to stay away from Paul is so meaningful. It's easy for someone to try getting away from a toxic person, but it's another thing for a toxic person to realize they need to stay away. By accepting that, that was the greatest act of redemption Carl could get.
And in a sense, they are together even while forever apart. That ending can be seen as Paul reincarnating as the moon that Carl associated him with while Carl became a tree. Paul got all the distance he could ever want from Carl, the peace he wanted. And Carl actually got to finally grow, starting as a small acorn and becoming a majestic tree. He can't go anywhere or hurt anyone, but his growth is symbolized there. He may never be forgiven or redeemed, but he finally accepted what he had to do.
Beautiful analysis. There’s also something else I noticed. Carl can’t be redeemed as Carl… but as something else? He doesn’t have to carry that baggage. He can grow and be something new.
that and in liamas with hats babies which is a epilogue happened at the same time as the epilogue Paul became the moon
@@NicolasSorzano-nm3uwyes. You can’t be forgiven sometimes, maybe you don’t deserve redemption for who you were, but you can grow into something new.
Also note worthy, Carl does listen to Paul and buries himself in a hole, Because that's how you plant Seeds! In a way, Paul's attempts to keep Carl away were actually reasonable suggestions, keeping with Paul's nature of the level headed voice of reason.
Why was Paul dead? What happened? Did I miss somethin?
A good friend of mine passed away unexpectedly last month. We loved this series and would quote it a lot. He was very excited when he heard this was happening, and it really sucks that he's not here to see it. I'm sure he would have loved this though. Beautiful work, and oddly comforting right now. Thank you for this.
I'm right with you. Lost my fiance Wednesday and it's been the most painful experience of my life. I needed the odd comfort this video brought.
Something about the atmosphere and nostalgia that brings a moment of peace.
We’re all here to quote it with you, it’s probably the thing my best friend and i quote the most, even having named gaming clans after Carl and his work
You have my condolences man
Carrrl ❤ sorry for your losses friends.
I'm sorry for your loss
11:25 Just now noticed Carl said "stop it" instead of gloating about the suffering he's caused. He's always embraced his violent, psychotic nature around Paul, but when the tube turns the tables against him, he immediately wants out. This is the first time in the series where Carl is the one disgusted and uncomfortable in an argument; the tube is playing Carl's own game and winning. It's just so chilling to see him get verbally beaten down like that. Only this time, Carl chose murdering the tube over running away. Fight vs Flight.
I like to think the tube is an immortal undying entity so it uses these moments to just taunt and mock Carl cause what can Carl do to it that is meaningful
@@victory8928 I like that idea. I also find it interesting that what the tube says in that segment sounds EXACTLY like something Paul would say. Only the tube isn't the one disgusted and horrified, Carl is. It's almost like it knows Carl's thoughts and memories. It knows how to get into Carl's head.
I think the thing that triggered Carl was something else.
The tube said "You killed everyone you met. Literally everyone."
Guess who is part of Everyone?
Paul is.
He gets defensive because he denies he killed Paul. That it was his fault.
The first time was in an argument with the Paul mask when Carl insisted he was done and the mask told him to continue
@@devildogkogg8353 I forgot about that actually, good point. hahaha
watching this a child and then youtube giving me this epilouge to sit through is the most surreal thing for me this year
I just wanted to talk about the brilliance of the Meat Pipe for a second.
What it truly was and was trying to do does not matter in the slightest its sole purpose was to remind us of carls innate nature.
The moment he meets the pipe he attempts to eat the thing. Watching the live premier you could see the audience go “That’s Carl for you” “peak Carl” “some things never change”
Showing that even though Carl feigns remorse things are JUST as the pipe says “you’re not SORRY, you just don’t like things taken from you” to which he kills the pipe again and chases after Paul.
The pipe was the perfect way to show us the audience not just TELL us the audience that Carl as he is is beyond redemption. The only path forward for Carl was renewal.
Thank you filmcow this really was a beautiful send off
Another small but brilliant thing is the silly dance number between Carl and the Mountain of Faces. Only further cementing how Carl not only isn’t really sorry he STILL continues to revel in his behavior as he dances a tango with them even up until the mountain of bodies crashed down upon him crushing himself with the sheer weight of his own actions.
So many nice small moments of pathos which somehow still evokes pity from the onlooker as they see Carl unable to move forward in any positive way.
Carl makes it very clear that he only sees Meat Pipe as... well... a pipe with some meat in it. That the meat is a person who can speak and feel pain doesn't matter. It's just meat. Just potential sustenance for himself. In a way that was how he saw everyone. Just meat in a container.
But Paul was different. To Carl, Paul was made of moonlight. Something ethereal that cannot be eaten. Perhaps that was what spared Paul until the very end. Kill and eat a being made of moonlight? What a ridiculous notion. Moonlight isn't meat, so Carl couldn't kill Paul.
So he ended up hurting Paul in other ways. When Paul died because of him, that's why he had such a hard time accepting it.
Its actually kinda like Bill from Gravity Falls, according to the book. His only path to freedom now is to stop being himself.
@@thekingtm760I only say this because I just now, because of this video, and subsequently searching for the song, learned what Hasapiko is.
So it’s not a Tango he does with the mountain of screaming faces, it’s a Hasapiko; a Greek song/and or dance.
Which, of course, I now wonder if it has any implications about Paul or the lore in general, or if it’s just because it’s catchy, or it’s important to Mr. Steele.
I thought of the "meat pipe" as Carl's conscience. Always there, trying to remind him of his "humanity" ("llam-anity"?) but every time he just "pushes it away" by eating it.... "metaphorically speaking".
Thank you for coming full circle and finishing this Jason! 13 years and still a great commentary on human behav-er, "Llama" behaviour! :)
Building off of other comments here: In a way, both Carl and Paul got what they wanted and needed. Paul did like Carl. That was obvious from him sticking around after the first 37 murders. Eventually he realized he needed to leave though, so he did. Carl needs Paul, he's obsessed with him. He does want the best for Paul in his own way, which I'm not going to even attempt to moralize about. By becoming a moon Paul gets the distance he needs from Carl but, gets to still see him grow and hopefully change. Meanwhile, Carl has to stay away for Paul's own wellbeing and future. He even has to stay in a lifeless desert for the sake of all beings. But, he gets to be somewhere where he can enjoy Paul's presence, even from an impossible to traverse distance. In a way it can be seen as one small good thing for him in exchange for recognizing that he must stay away from all life.
That is such a good analysis of the final scene wow.
I think its also a desert of Carl's own making, what with the state of the world he left it. And in a million years, it can slowly be a forest
This could be looked at as relationships.
Sometimes you're just not meant to be together, but you can still love from a distance.
@@jwilson544 I like that! Yeah, he destroyed the world and ended all life around him (other than the weird thorny flesh vine). It ended with him and it will now start with him, in a better form.
Why did Carl say "Paul is dead, I did this" or "Paul is dead and it's my fault"? Is there something I missed?
Carl's friend turned into the Moon. That's rough, buddy.
He is not the princess bro.
@@nathansongsnob7335 Whoa, joke went over your head? That's rough buddy
Damn it, came to make this comment. Kudos!
@@TheStarMachine2000 I mean...they clearly got the joke, to mention a princess.
@ChibiTails: clearly they got the reference, but not so much the joke
It's quite a fitting finale for something like Llamas with Hats. Carl selfishly wanting everything to go back to the way it was even after everything, only for reality to keep hitting at him until the biggest truth is that his only friend is dead, and it's because of him, and realizing that he's beyond help and hopefully in a new life he becomes something better.
And to think this started as a silly dark comedy web series about talking Llamas with Hats. I'll never hear "Carl" the same way again
The friend who originally introduced me to Llamas with Hats passed away a few years ago.
I miss him dearly, and it breaks my heart that he will never get to see this.
I'm not sure what your beliefs are in the Afterlife but I'd like to believe they get to see it. Even if not as their soul, then through you
He’d be glad you got to see it for him ❤
Dude, he’s on the other side WITH Carl. 💯
You mean llamaly
Sorry for your loss.
The water motif is a reminder of how this all started and ended, with Carl in the water.
Essentially, his final thoughts are about what led him to jumping off that bridge in the first place, and in the end, he finally understood.
Could he have swam? He was still alive, he conceivably could. Though in the end, he realized that the best thing he could do for Paul, the best thing he could do for the world, was to never surface again.
He finally grew, though far too little, far too late. There is nothing left of the world. A tree in a desert.
We got a new llamas with hats before silksong, it’s over
It's so joever 😭😭
This caught me off guard oh my god
Fuck me
A new episode before GTA 6
Got a new llamas with hats before gta 6
I love how symbolic the act of Carl turning into a tree is. He basically turned into something that could do what he in his previous form never could, grow and change. I also love that, now that he turned into a tree, he is in the middle of the dessert where no other trees or life in general exists near, so, even as a tree, he's now somewhere where he can't hurt or bother anyone else around him, doomed to be completely alone forever. And I love that, despite his solitude, the moon, symbolizing Paul, still keeps him company, watching over him and yet still so far away from him, where Paul always should be.
"I didn't leave you, you left the world." Didn't expect to get such a hard line from this series
15 years.
15 fucking years.
Holy shit, baby. We’re back.
You should watch Shadowstone Park. Let it cook, the characters aren't as iconic as the llamas but it has some FURE twists and turns
@@Fidion so true, nobody can be as iconic as them that’s too big of a hat to fill 😔 but they are fs iconic in their own rights, I fw the pelican heavily
Yep. Here's to many more episodes. Wait.
FACTS 💯
No.
7:45 "I always thought of you as made of moonlight" hits so hard
17:48 oh my god they're together in the end. Carl is the tree and Paul is the moon! 😭😭😭
@@neolibtears holy shit I didn't even notice till now 🤯🤯🤯
@@neolibtears This feels like some ancient folktale
Plus the Moonlight Sonata tie in
It’s even nicer noticing that last song sounds like a re-imaging of the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Watching this is like seeing a dear high school friend for the first time in years and it's nothing but love and reliving good memories. Thank you Film Cow
Honestly, this is the happiest ending either of them could have gotten. Carl understands that he's not a good person, Paul finally gets the space he deserves, and both of them are finally at peace. Thanks, FilmCow, thanks for making such a heart-felt ending to a wild and crazy series.
He does indeed get the space he deserves
But we all understood this is what happened as Carl jumped off the bridge, this video is just a nostalgia trip.
@@misteral9045 And a happy trip to memory lane.
Since Llamas with Hats is Charlie The Unicorn on drugs.
@@lunarskygacha9036 I'd rather not abuse my early memories to get a hit of dopamine in the present.
@@misteral9045Pack it up, guys, Misteral9045 doesn't want to enjoy things
Man, it's genuinely hard to imagine how much time had passed between then and now. The end of an era. Incredible work
13 years. From middle school to married with kids.
Someone who was 3 when the first episode came out would be a legal adult now
@@Berilia yeah that's me LMAO
the series stopped being as comedic without paul there to react to carl and for carl to bounce off of. and that was the POINT of llamas with hats, it was both of them! and once paul left, carl had nothing that truly fulfilled him. he just engaged in meaningless destruction that we, the audience, don't even get to see, because it's not even interesting at this point. he nuked a city. he made a portal of baby hands. he made a meat dragon. paul was over it, and so was the audience, but carl just wouldn't stop. he was never going to stop. he kept going and going trying to chase the feeling of gratification and companionship that paul gave him to the point of pretending a mask was paul just to have something to bounce off of... until he realized paul was dead, likely killed by one of the many disasters carl set upon the world.
carl could no longer go on in the empty world he created, there was nothing left for him to destroy. he has no reason to be alive. buildings and society are nothing but ruins. the sky is choked with smoke and dust and seemingly trapped in an endless blazing vortex. everything was destroyed and nothing will change- not even day to night. so he kills himself, because there's nothing left for him to want. episode 12 is a perfect ending to the story, because there's nothing more to see and nothing more to tell. it was never llamas with hats once paul left, anyways, episodes 6-12 were just showing carl finally realizing that far, far too late.
even in death, carl could think of nobody but himself and what he wanted. he wanted forgiveness because he wanted paul back. he didn't want redemption, he wanted to STAY CARL. remain who he is at his very heart and soul. every time he ate from the meat tube, he refused the truths it was telling him and become more and more warped and distorted, more visibly resembling the twisted creature he is, until he is crushed by the weight of his sins and becomes a puddle of gray carl fur and face. it's all about him, what he wants, his whole world- until he finally encounters his memory of paul's skeleton and is drowned in a violent red, nothing but his face remaining. he isn't a person (llama,) he is nothing but the violence and harm he caused. and there's no going back. whenever he tries to go back, "be forgiven." it's always only ever for himself. carl wants to keep selfishly dragging paul towards him, demands paul forgive him. but there's nothing but him. there will never be anything but him.
when carl finally understands and accepts that what paul needs is for CARL to stay away, he stops warping and twisting. he stops trying to selfishly force the universe to give him what he wants. the only way forwards for him is complete ego death and rebirth/reformation into an acorn. NOT redemption, NOT forgiveness, because there is none of that for him to have. he has to destroy everything "carl" ever was. CARL killed paul. CARL destroyed everything.
and like paul asked, CARL goes into a hole in a desert, far away from anyone and anything he'd ever hurt or destroyed. even still, the living thing he is now flourishes, perhaps content in this new state. it's a sign of life in this empty desert expanse. the sky is clear and a beautiful starry night finally comes, along with the moon that reminded carl so much of paul. to the tree, the moon and the sky are forever unreachable and unobtainable- but still, they're back. the horror and destruction is all over.
episode 12 was a perfect ending and perfect way to show that it was all over.
and this is a perfect epilogue: it shows something extra after the end. it shows that they've finally found peace.
...but also, it's toxic doomed yaoi
Toxic llama yaoi… and we didn’t realize it until it was too late.
You did a great job explaining this, you should do video essays lol
This writing was immaculate you should post stuff since your so good at explaining things
Wow, thanks for this in depth reflection!
Very well written, couldn't have summed it up better if I tried
8:47 This right here is my favorite part of the entire epilogue, even if it is all in Carl’s head it’s the perfect final chapter between his friendship with Paul. At the start it seems so innocent, Paul being disappointed at the rain while Carl suggests they can still have fun indoors. Perhaps it’s some kind of memory he had with Paul when they first became friends and before he started his killing spree. Then he hears “Washed away” and can see his memory of Paul doesn’t even have a face, no matter how hard he tries he’ll never be able to completely see Paul the way he wants to, in fact he’ll never see him ever again. Now that it’s raining Carl suggests they play a classic game of truth or dare and Paul picks truth, giving Carl the chance to hear Paul’s side of the story and to test how well he remembers his friend. It is here Carl learns of something he’s never heard of before “A Thread” a metaphysical bond between people that allows others to care for someone else, a way to understand how someone else feels without any words, a soul. Carl then realizes that his destructive behavior was only for his own amusement, all that he ever did for Paul was hurt him and push him away. But Carl still can’t accept that Paul or anyone could be better off without him so he picks dare, he refuses to learn and wants to keep pushing forward despite the fact that he’s already dead. But there is something he can do “Bury yourself in a deep hole, stay there forever, spend the rest of time in darkness and solitude. Free the rest of us from you”. Carl most likely has no idea what Paul is talking about, which is why he is still trapped in this purgatory, but it isn’t until the end we realize Paul wanted to give Carl a second chance. A chance to give and never take again, a chance to never run away, a chance to fix his mistakes and replenish the world with his own labor. He is beyond redemption but that doesn’t mean it’s too late
Can't wait for Oak Trees With Hats 1!
New Series Oak tree and the moon
@@BlitzerXYZ I can't believe the unicorns end up blowing Paul up 😔
"CAAARL! There's a person hanging from your branch."
"OH! How did that get there?"
One oak tree in the desert 1
@@truepickle4956Caaaarl, what did you do?
I am so glad it ends with them being apart, with Carl realizing he needs to stay away.
So cathardic to see, since in real life, abusers like Carl really do go put of their way to get their partners back. Its hard enough to escape a relationship like that... its hell when it follows you.
I am glad the narrative doesn't force them back together. Doesn't give Carl a redo with Paul. Doesn't have Paul even really come back to speak to him. Paul was truly freed.
Can confirm it is in fact hell. I wish Carl’s realization was the norm
do carl and pall gay??
@@Kukadin Well not really but it can be seen as an allegory for toxic relationships, romantic or otherwise.
It's honestly pretty crazy we haven't seen Paul and Carl have a face to face interaction since Llamas With Hats 6 way back in 2014. The flashback at the start of this epilogue is also the first (and likely the last) time we've seen the real Paul in the flesh with new lines since that episode. I respect Jason's restraint to not have a cheesy reunion out of sync with the tone. When Paul left he really meant it.
I needed to hear that second paragraph, thank you.
The scene where Carl remembers Paul is dead and the water starts to wash away the blood is gorgeous.
Masterpiece.
9:46 this part is soo good and on my 10th rewatch still strikes harder every time. Its like what ever made this purgatory let paul get his last words in with the most articulated and coldest lines since breaking bad
The Faceless Paul forcing Carl to try and confront himself seems to be a callback and inversion of the Paul Face that pushed Carl deeper until he destroyed everything. Chilling. Beautiful. There was a chance for him to have changed before then, but by the time Carl put together a false image of his former best friend to keep encouraging and validating him instead of thinking to look inwards, it was already over for him, even before he ended the world.
Please remember to wear your finest hat when attending the theater.
Holy shit you're right, I need to get my hat
I am going to wear my best hat
Top hat time.
Mine is made from dead kangaroo. I’m wearing a kangaroo on my head. I feel I am ready to not be ready.
And bring some white baby hands
Paul/forgiveness discussions aside, I've noticed that part of the reason for Carl's misery is because of his impulsive desire for instant gratification. Carl claims he enjoys being a violent sociopath, but he really doesn't. Carl doesn't kill people because he genuinely likes the act of killing; he only enjoys the shock, disgust, and horror that comes out of it. So much of Carl's unhappiness could have been prevented if he found passion in the process of doing the things he does, even if it's as evil as killing. Carl believes his happiness is from Paul's reactions and when that's taken away, he keeps destroying and destroying trying to fill that hole inside of him. It gets to the point where he destroys so much there's nothing left to enjoy. Even before Paul's departure, Carl goes for bigger, crazier stunts in an effort to get a bigger rise out of him. It's like when you feed a Golden Retriever and it immediately gulps down the food and begs for more.
In a way, we're much closer to Carl than we realize. Many of us have 9-5 jobs we despise because we only focus on the end result; when we get off, our next paycheck, our next day off. We can't sit down and enjoy the simple process of working a job and going through the motions of our day-to-day life. We upload posts on social media and only care about how much likes, views, comments, and attention it gets. Everything needs to be MORE - I need a bigger paycheck, I need more friends, I need a girlfriend, I need a new phone, I need a bigger house. We chase these absurd goals we make for ourselves believing they'll make us happy and feel resentment when they're not met. Everyone remembers the movie Rocky and how good of an underdog story it is, but they forget that Rocky LOST. Despite that, it didn't take away from the time, effort, and will power put into his training.
I believe if Carl found fulfillment within himself and not rely on Paul's reactions, the series would have ended much differently. There would still be life left on Earth to enjoy not just for himself but everyone around him. I'm not quite sure if Carl would have gave up killing, but even if he didn't, it would not be to the point where there is nothing left to kill. Carl's entire arc could have been prevented had he learned delayed gratification and simplying enjoying the moment.
He really is chasing the dopamine rush and getting diminishing returns...
Maybe if he could find an alternate outlet he'd have been able to sate himself, but no. It was not to be, so he had to restrain himself even further. To ensure he could do no more harm, as he was lethal even as a llama.
He should have tried painting.
Yeah, he is doing it for the reaction of Paul
Absolute peak comment
My God I love this…we’re discussing the possibility of fleeting pleasure and delayed gratification within life in reference to A FUCKING SHOW ABOUT LLAMAS IN SILLY HATS 😂
Absolute wonder of a comment and series, btw
I love the whole Hasapiko sequence. One of the names of this dance is literally "The Butcher's Dance". Equally silly, disturbing and perfectly symbolizing how Carl is incapable of seeing his acts as anything but as entertainment, even in the face of all it's horror. It's also gotten me down a rabbit hole of listening to traditional Greek music, which is cool.
14:04 When taking at face value, responding "I'm an acorn" can simply be a mindless joke, but I think it goes further than that. If we're to believe that acorns are the souls of evil, irredeemable beings wishing to start anew, this could be the acorn saying that it knows how if feels like to be beyond the point of redemption. Furthermore, the acorn didn't seem to be particularly shocked from Carl's hulahoop shenanigans. It's almost as if these types of twisted killings are just old, fading memories of what the acorn has done in its past life.
Yeah. That sounds about right.
In perhaps a trick of the mind could the acorn that he crushed be himself not in a literal sense but in a metaphysical sense in that it took the acorn quoting him to really start grasping the danger he was is and would have proceeded to be had he not changed
I think it was just meant to be a "we can't change what we are" piece. Since he said "i'm not an acorn, i'm carl" and the acorn stated what carl is.
I’m curious! I’m not familiar with that legend of acorns. Where is it from?
@@bobcake8904 I don't think the commenter intended to imply that that's a common symbolic meaning for acorns (the part about them being "souls of evil, irredeamable beings"), but moreso the meaning that this epilogue has given it due to it being associated with concepts like growth and fresh starts.
So this was basically Carl having a cosmic intervention and realising what a monster he truly is.
Your PFP is frickin' MM9 Galaxy Man
@@kikiretzorg1467 yes it is
while drowning glub glub glub
I think it was more off his last moments before drowning when he througth different methods of his own brain finally realise what he done and what was bad in it and what he need to do next, him jumping down was just a sign of Madness, but him dying there, not trying to swim up, was a sign of wisdom.
I’d like to think that he’s currently in hell and his soul is getting judged, cut for brand consciousness does label him as the sinner.
i only now saw this despite being subscribed, and this was an insane watch at 3 am, llamas with hats meant so much to me so many years ago
thank you so much for such a wonderful experience
I gotta tell ya, after watching this series for well over 13 years I didn't expect a man eating psycho like Carl to turn into an intergalactic space tree.
Looking forward to seeing more of your projects!
Llama instrumentality.
@@baltakatei nice one
I saw it coming 15 years ago
Idk why, but this comment made me think of "this is an Aspen, you can tell it's an Aspen because of the way it is."
And now I'm thinking "This is a Carl, you can tell it's a Carl because of the dangerous sociopathy and history of violence."
("And the ethereal glowing green hat.")
“I always thought of you of made as moonlight” I should not be this upset over DOOMED LLAMA YAOI
DOOMED LLAMA YAOI
DOOMED LLAMA YAOI!!!
I think you’re perfectly justified. WE WANT THE LLAMA YAOI!
@@oharehatmancaleb7 yknow what yeah you’re right
That's the most accurate statement ever.
This episode of Evangelion feels weird.
Bojack Horseman looked more different than what I remembered it being.
Shadowstone park also reminds me of nge
I don’t know. Evangelion got pretty weird towards the end.
In fact, this whole sequence probably would have seemed pretty normal in the finale of Evangelion if they just sandwiched it in between some of the other characters’ psychedelic depressive trips.
I was just saying that this was giving End of Eva and BoJack LOL, you guys read my mind
@@paradoxlaboratories8005I’m guessing that was probably the original joke. There are no mechas in this episode, so the green fields and abstract reflective writing are really the only proper setup for the joke.
How does a series that has to do with a llama in a hat doing terrible things make an ending so profound? Actually incredible. Thank you FilmCow.
this is. honestly amazing. it fits the characters so well, while also taking the story in a new direction.
carl doesn't GET forgiveness, because he doesn't DESERVE it. he had his chance - he didn't take it. and now, it's too late.
Exactly! This video helped me see that about other people that used to be in my life that I still struggle not to go back to
That was so sad but so fascinating. It's almost healing to see Carl finally see the danger in himself. I almosh wish there was more but this was worth every minute!
I'm almost never going to stop thinking about the comment I read that said 'doomed yaoi' fuck
Im happy someone else said it LMAO
I am not gonna like this comment cus it's at 69
Just to spite you about the yaoi
THE DOOMED YAOI COMMENT APPEARED UNDER YOURS FOR ME
O😊
FUCK THEYRE SO RIGHT
"Let's agree to disregard what you said because you're wrong" 😂😂😂
I doubt I'm alone when I say you singlehandedly started my TH-cam journey with Charlie the Unicorn in 2006. Now that I'm almost 30, the fire to make my animations still burns bright. I always admired how you were able to share such complex ideas through simple animation, and made it funny as hell along the way. Love to see you reigniting the series that seemed to resonate with a ton of people, myself included. This has always been true dark humor and I will continue to watch. Your advancements in animation are astounding, stories still chilling, creativity inspiring, all the while continuing to make me chuckle.
The way it still has comedic moments helps keep it connected to the original spirit of Llamas with Hats, while still letting the surreal elements shine. "Well, I don't want all this tube meat to go to waste" absolutely killed me.
I remember 10 year old me crying in his pajamas every night after watching the finale, unable to comprehend it. I'm glad all these years later adult me got to see and understand the closure we've all long sought. I'll never forget this series, and never stop being able to recite it from heart.
Reading that you were crying cause you couldn’t comprehend something is a bit disturbing
Closure? What part of this epilogue is closure to you?😂 this epilogue made that feeling worse for me, more sadness, more questions. I’m not saying it’s bad, I loved it actually
@bennyindawal ..I- Are you seriously gatekeeping EMOTION.
@@bennyindawall| Are you kidding? Carl finally came to understand what Paul had been trying to tell him all along: he was a monster beyond redemption, one that didn't just hurt others, but also himself.
The only true path forward was one of rebirth. To start fresh as something new and innocent. And when he does so, there is Paul, looking down on him and offering light.
@@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth Thank you, I couldn’t have said it better. Some people just don’t understand the art or Llamas with Hats. 🙏 lol
Crushed by a mountain of his past after dancing with death for so long (the music section before the acorn).
literally the weight of his sins weighing on him
Do you know the name of the music?
You really told a captivating story about Carl coming to terms with the crimes he's committed, and we actually got to see how his mindset lead to the killing he did. This epilogue didn't neglect comedic bits, yet remained focused on the goal enough to give Carl's character a serious look.
And all the while, you took us through a really bizarre afterlife while explaining nothing, which kept the journey suspenseful and mysterious.
10/10, no notes.
My first ever kickstarter project I have ever backed. I'm very happy about that fact.
Same here.
First kickstarter that actually delivered XD with this was my first one, the only kickstarter that matters
I supported the Charlie the Unicorn special as well as this one. Still bummed I missed out on the Detective Heart of America movie but I'm happy to support this dude in any way I can.
@@dinofreak222 damn, that was before my time on Kickstart
SAAMEE
Crazy to think that my Nintendo 3d’s introduced me to Llamas with hats all those years ago
Same here
Aw man all mine had was Dinosaur Office lol
@@kelsiumintake9520 Hey! Dinosaur Office was peak too!
@@kelsiumintake9520I got dinosaur office and bravest warriors
What? How the hell is Llamas with Hats in the 3ds? I'm curious XD
This was one of a bitter sweet moment to my childhood. Thank you for the love and laughs shared between my friends and I.
"I always saw you as moonlight," is so much more interesting when you realize at the end the moon seems to be wearing Paul's hat and the Oak tree that Carl became is wearing Carl's hat.
I’m so happy that this series got the ending you wanted, and the ending it deserved, Carl and Paul will forever be remembered as internet legends
A screaming flesh pyramid musical number. It's all I could have ever hoped for
as a backer for that tier on the kickstarter i wasn’t expecting “face mountain” to be that way but happy all the same.
honestly even very surprised to see my pup so high up on face mountain too, it’s an honor as a huge fan of this series and animator.
its all carl could have ever hoped for, and as it turns out, it didn't make him happy.
@@MaskedKittyYTholy shit, those are all backers??
@@Saternalia
they are backers of the face mountain tier only to my knowledge, idk how many people bought that tier for sure tbh though. i’d have to check the kickstarter again to be sure just how many backed each tier.
That scene disturbed and gave me chills. So grotesque 😱
Always been an outsider to this series. Different parallels and such, but I've had friends absolutely rabid about this series.
So when i saw there was a new epilogue after 10 years, i gave it a watch.
Still not sold on the series as a whole. Not for any personal begrudgery. Seriously, its that i couldn't escape the fandom and hearing the braying voices of a thousand people all whining "Buuut Cooorrraaalll!" For however many years really fractures ones brain after a while.
I digress. I watched. I loved. And was thuroughly impressed! Thos was beautiful and perhaps one of the most surreal looks into an abusive situation from the perspective of the abuser of all things.
Best thing I'll watch today. Ty for this visit, even if it was at the very end.
a moment of silence for all the souls that have been lost before they knew this would ever happen....
I had a friend who watched Filmcow pass away in 2023 from cancer. Wish she could see this.
That's so dystopian to realize
Rest in peace
That bittersweet reminder of our own mortality.
@@SealyTheSeal im sorry for your loss, but is she fully gone a part of her is with you watching at the same time never forget that
My best friend introduced me to film cow and llamas with hats. R.I.P Matthew Terrance Cronin. Even without you here, you're still changing my life. I wish you could be here to see this
The music in this episode was immaculate. Very calm and surreal to listen to. It really brought the scenes together
I was NOT EXPECTING an epilogue episode 10 years later but I’m so here for it and I love it. Never did I think this series would turn into this, but I love that it did. Brings back so many memories. 😂❤
My daughter who died 7 years ago loved Llamas with hats
Sorry for your loss
My sympathies
My condolences to you 🫂
I have a coworker named Carl. The sheer number of "Carrrlllllll" jokes we make is un-freaking-real.
You influenced all of us for the better through this goofy, messed up animation series. Bravo, filmcow, bravo.
as long as he never makes a Carl Jr…
then he’d have to sell sub-par chicken
Fudge- this hit me like a truck. I’ve loved a certain friend of mine for a while and seeing this again made me see myself in Paul and my friend in Carl. I’ve thought about leaving so many times because they’ve never shown enough willingness to change their bad habits to the point where ive had multiple breakdowns, talks, and more hard things because of this leech like feeling I got from em. Only hoping they mature one day and now the distance is the same but time and time again I feel myself begging them to get better, for their sake and everyone else’s. Their personality is also very neutral or chaotic yet their apathy is what hurts the most when they engage in that behavior. I love this art form and message so much. Thank you
The EXACT stuff happened to me, that is why I resonate with llama's with hats so much.
@@hank05-1You ate people's hands and the meat from their copper tubing?
@@Unstopappleyes
I can say I had a friend very similar to that. I lost them this year so I never got to have any type of closure any which way. One moment they were here, and now they're not and I've had to deal with that.
Damn. Filmcow is the epitomization of growing up. The videos 15 years ago were goofy and funny but as time has passed and weve all grown older so has our perception of the universe. Filmcow exemplifies this perfectly. Sure we still get the funny stuff from time to time, a call back to that easier life, a care free past. But there is a certain beauty in the nightmare that is life and the realization that time waits for no one. Bravo. 👏
10:52 “Lets agree to disregard what you said, because you are wrong.” Had me dying lol!
Paul becoming the moon and Carl becoming an oak tree is the most bittersweet thing ever.
I think Carl being in a middle of the desert is also his way of being far from anyone else.
It kind of makes me think of all those folktales of various native peoples where a common trope is objects originating from sentient beings transformed into them
@@StuffandThings_ I had this thought as well. Like that one Greek mythology... Orpheus, I think? Where he goes to get his wife from the underworld, but turns around even when instructed not to, which kind of symbolizes the seasons. Or am I thinking of something else? 🤔
@@DarukaEon The Greek story of the seasons was Hades tricking Persephone to remain in the underworld with him as his bride. Zeus said that she can leave every six months, but then must remain another six months in the underworld with Hades. Persephone's mother is Demeter, goddess of the harvest, so when her daughter is locked away for those six months, she becomes sad and refuses to allow plants to grow, bringing Fall and Winter. Then when Persephone is released and Demeter is happy and brings about Spring and Summer where life flourishes again.
Orpheus's story was correct, just unrelated to the seasons.
Treeeee, there is a dead human in our house!
I really appreciate Filmcow coming back to create a new epilogue that had some hope in it. When the original series ended it broke my heart with how it ended. I know that sounds really silly considering the whole plot is a psychopathic llama, but it was an important piece of media from my childhood. So I'm really glad we got this new peaceful ending that satisfies my inner child.
Came back a day later to express how wildly significant this was to me cause its been on my mind non stop. Going down the rabbit hole with carl and experiencing his death/ ego death gave me a conforting feeling, almost like a coming to terms with the inevitability that ill die one day too which makes everything feel more significant, but more than just that i felt like something about carl letting go helped me finally let go of some of my own demons. I loved the symbolism and i feel like i took something away from this series that will grow with me just like a little
Edit: accepting your mistakes and coming to terms with them is apart of growth, you cant bring back whats been lost which makes it all the more precious. nothing is permanent and the actions we take especially towards others are significant
carl as a character is composed of only 2 axioms: he loves paul and he kills everyone else. that is all he is built for. hence why the singular regret he feels is hurting paul, even after he dies (he literally only ends himself so he can protect paul). he only leaves the physical world as soon as there are no subjects for either of those axioms - no paul and no everyone else. the reason he’s beyond redemption is that such a concept is literally outside of the logic his existence; for him to be confronted with the concept of it is to physically bend him out of his original shape, and for him to be “redeemed”, for him to exist outside of the logic of his own world, necessitates that he is replaced with something completely different altogether.
i don’t know why he gets the magical hand powers. i guess to actually feel guilt there has to be hands to get blood on; carl exists as a character, something that is viewed, and the concept of responsibility can only come with his violence being viewed as well (which it never was in the series before: only the aftermath of it). i guess that is the first consequence of carl entering a world with different logic than that of his own, is that he has to have some ability to physically move and enact violence.
the necessity of this epilogue i guess, if i can assume the creator’s intentions, comes from steele’s desire to kill llamas with hats; as a series it was killed the second entropy set in, Carl’s “work” (i.e. his only function as a character) was complete, and he ceased to exist. but its iconography still existed. Carl still left behind a corpse. to kill llamas with hats as an idea it had to be placed in an environment that was hostile to its existence, and thusly deformed to the point of dissolution.
maybe this is why Paul is represented by the moon? he was composed of different axioms than Carl and a world comprised of those axioms suffocated and destroyed him. though at the same time Carl couldn’t live or exist without him.
I think the hands are the forces of the after life. They welcome him in. It could some form of deity, it could a mystical force, it could be paul for all we know. I think the reason he gets the hand powers is that if the spiritual world he's in is making a point about Carl's action and destructiveness, the hands serving him and letting him do what he wants with them will show that more than anything.
In the end when Carl experience ego death and becomes a tree, the hands are let go and they remove him from the water landscape back into normal reality and plant into the soil. So carl can have his true punishment and aid the replenishment of life on the planet he destroyed. All in the eyes of the heavens and the awareness - his essence or soul, displayed by his hat- that paul is ever away from him, having ascended or gone to wherever people who die go and he can't follow and never will be able to.
This comment makes me feel good, because it is a very good comment. Impwolf is a good commenter.
I really like this phrasing, describing Carl as a being without purpose after he exhausts his work. I think that's why this ending feels so satisfying in that regard, the death of a concept, Llamas with Hats, is such a good way to put it. It reminds me a lot of readings of certain things in Undertale or Deltarune, what it means to exhaust a narrative.
“To actually feel guilt there has to be hands to get blood on” goes so exponentially hard omg.
Jason Steele didn't make this epilogue to "kill llamas with hat" At least not in the way I think your saying. He gave the series one last hurrah, giving more depth to Carl and telling a well told story about redemption and forgiveness. He did not make this cartoon to shut people up and never touch the stupid llamas again, which is what is implied by saying he killed the series. This was a project of passion for him, not obligation.
Wow it’s so cool to see my music featured. Thank you for using it
A deeply thought-provoking follow-up video to a decade-plus old web-series, surreally retelling the process of reincarnation as a metaphor for moving past toxic relationships definitely was not on my 2024 bingo
That was so touching, its so lovely to see you do something so beautiful and sentimental after all these years. I think this is what ill remember you for and thats saying alot considering how much I've loved your content for most of my life. Just like Carl this will grow into something that will give life in the ensuing decades, for other's to find it, it is our communication to the future.
I definitely cried alot btw sjsjsn
I couldn't ask for a better epilogue tonally for the experience I've had with this series. I remember watching the finale of the original when I was only 11 years old or so, crying deeply for Carl, really soaking in the tragedy of the 12th episode... but the reality is that it only comes off so sad when you realize the narrative is from his perspective, he's reprehensible beyond measure.
I can really feel this epilogue is trying to rectify that: In so many more subtle ways the demeanor of Carl just feels so much more manipulative, abusive, and self centered, rather than comedic as it is in the main series... it's kind of sickening to watch. Its very ironic how much more sinister he feels in changing his words, and not as much in the countless murders he commits, all just due to the tone of the respective scenes, I suppose that dichotomy and hypocrisy is the entire point of this epilogue.
That being said, there are still scenes here still that make you feel sympathy for Carl, like the meadow, or the ending when he realizes who he really is... but a healthy distance is placed between sympathy and any shred of forgiveness.
I just adore how much this, and really all of your work, feels very in tune with the audience you've cultivated, I have no doubt the idea from this came from how many people felt like I did back then, commenting about how sorry they felt for a mass murderer x100000. Watching your storytelling style progress has been such a treat, I don't know what my expectations for this were but they were surpassed! I could say so much more about specific pieces of symbolism in this but I'd be writing all day.
It's honestly giving BoJack Horseman vibes in the subtle nod of "No wait, just as a reminder, Carl is terrible." without beating the audience over the head with the message with a seeming seething contempt for the audience who felt bad for Carl. Though, given what spurred Bob Raphael Waksberg to consider what show he was putting out and the social climate of the time, I understand why he felt like being a little heavy handed with his approach.
@gregvs.theworld451 the similarities with this and "The View From Halfway Down" are kind of unbelievable, even down to the water and final shots
A lot of emotions and things I don't understand yet about the epilogue. But what I can take away from it, Carl ending himself was the only type of redemption he could get, if you can even call it that. His very existence is violent, psychotic, and evil and he proudly admits it. He has done far too much damage not just to Paul but to everyone he has ever interacted with. Even with a simple tube who did no harm, Carl's first thoughts are kill it and eat its insides. A lot of people wanted to see Carl have a happy ending (preferably with Paul), but he doesn't deserve one. It's literally impossible as he destroyed everything that he had ever come across. Sentience is a gift and all Carl has used it for was to take away the lives of others. If he could find a way to mass murder single-celled organisms and make them feel pain, he would. Carl CAN'T be with Paul - he killed him. He's dead. No amount of flesh portals, meat dragons, and blood vortexes can change that. Even if Paul were somehow still alive, Carl would still have nothing left to enjoy. What's the point of killing people in cruise ships and South American countries if there aren't even any to begin with? If there were a way Carl could be "redeemed", it would be by erasing his entire existence and reincarnating to a form that cannot harm anyone, one that even brings life. At the very least, we know by the ending's presence of trees that nature is rebuilding itself from Carl's absence. Carl may not want to openly admit it, but I suspect he knows deep down that the only way for life and reality itself to heal is if he eradicates the disease - himself.
EDIT: Holy cow I think this is the most likes I've ever gotten. Thank you all. hahaha
“If he found a way to mass murder single celled organisms”
Disinfectants: “Allow us to introduce ourselves”
A perfectly ironic ending to such a mind murdering comment 😁
What if he built a organ time machine
Would have been nice if he went back and stopped himself from killing at all, but that's just not who he is.
My interpretation is the ending with the flooding water is Carl coming to the conclusion you pointed out and in doing so he embraces ego death. He still "exists" in a fundamental sort of essence kind of way, but the weight of his sins and horridness he's made of everything we can conclude to make up a person is a lost cause. It feels right, that whatever this afterlife force is, nudge him towards being an acorn through that realization.
Starting from scratch and being a non-entity that serves the lowest rung of life on the material world. The rebuilding starts with carl's end. Which is poetic and while he may not be worthy of redemption...embracing his ego death and being the tree allows, by whatever this force is. Some vague...potential hope...that serving this way and with his acknowledged self deletion that maybe....maybe...after serving in this role and cycle after millions...if not trillions of years of being a part and aiding new life coming in. That some type of redemption and second go can be formed. But for now...carl is stuck as a tree, here on the planet he destroyed. Existing at the bare level with no movement, thought or sense of true self left. While Paul has ascended and watches from the heavens - signified by the mono having his hat -
And if he is truly beyond redemption even after ego death and many cycles of being the lowest servant and aid to the cause of new life. Then it gives him that impresses that vague hope on whatever is left of his essence...knowing the heavens will be forever out of reach yet still awaiting some potential bell to ring that says he's allowed to start anew is a rightful punishment.
Notice that it's the hand that welcome carl to the afterlife. He gains the hands not because its his power, but the hands of the divine were abiding his wishes. Knowing that carl own actions and wants will show him his horridness more than anything. In the end, it's the same hands that push acorn carl into his new penitent role as a tree.
Paul became the moon, carl became a tree. Damn, its giving "do you think we're together in every universe?"
and then its paul saying "i hope i never met you in every other universe"
Not sure if it was intentional or not, but the idea that Hell is the absence of God, or our source of love, is the main motif in this video. Our suffering is prolonged by our pride and unwillingness to accept responsibility for our actions. Brave video
thank you filmcow
Sad catharsis.
Unironically the waiting music is amazing
Agreeed!
What's the name of the song?
The waiting music is amazing and I wonder what the full song sounds like.
@@carlosregente3472it would be one of these songs:
“Sax of Silver"
Per Boysen
"Hasapiko"
Marios Georgiades
"Green"
Elijah Akindolie
ft. Bethany Tetreault & Jack Otis
"Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata Jazz" Dmitriy Lukyanov / Lynne Publishing
These are from the end credits
@@carlosregente3472 some sort of jazz rendition of moonlight sonata 1st movement i think.
I am dumb, names of all the songs are in the credits at the end see - 18:39
So, in essence, Carl has become Master Hand and Crazy Hand at the same time.
Carl for Smash confirmed.
I'm now calling both Master Hand and Crazy Hand Carl from now on.
Either that or I'll call Master Hand Paul, both to avoid confusion and because Carl would probably appreciate his inclusion.
@@ShootingStars1624 he would be more overpowered than melee fox ultra instinct
@@Eva-uw6uo
The Hands of Carl
A sweet fever dream of a n epilogue with a nice bittersweet ending. Loved this series ❤
After 15 years is crazy. I remember first watching this with my brother. I'm in tears; this is a beautiful work of art.
Mr FilmCow, I just read the Llamas With hats: Babies book for the first time. Wow. I thought Paul and the moon was random but everything is pieced together just right. This is incredible.
Where can it be read?
@@midnight-fox7456 On filmcow's Etsy, and if you were a Kickstarter backer you got free downloads of the book.
I always connected with the series in a weird, unkown way when I was younger, and the way it turned out always left me feeling depressed.
Now that im aware of some of the things wrong with me, im realizing why it was all so profound.
With this "good" ending, it is once again profound, but it has genuinely given me a lot of peace. Thank you, for all of it.
I watched the og lamas with hats when I was like 11. Now I’m 20 and this actually hits really hard. Thank you for doing this, the series was and still is a big part of my life
I think the tube meat, the acorn, the faceless paul, and even the hands are the same entity. All working towards getting carl to stop being carl. Carl can try and kill it all he likes, but it just keeps coming back in one form or another. Working with him until he finally gets it.
The echo of Paul calling for Carl is probably him, but more calling him to tell him to go away. He's in a better place than Carl, which may not be saying much. The only reason Carl can hear him is because the multiple form entity knows that's what Carl needs. Whatever it takes for Carl to be acorn and let life happen again
Never did i think that a series about a murdering llama and his friend would get me all choked up 🥺 I grew up watching llama’s with hats and still quote it all the time.
llamas with hats 12 felt like the perfect ending at the time, but ten years later... yeah. Yeah, this hits better.
RIP to the homie Brian Crawford from Muncie, Indiana! We used to watch these all the time growing up...I'm almost 32 now and still love it...hope they have youtube wherever you're at bro.
Caaaarl, that revives people!
Oh! That - I didn't know that.
@thatoneguy609 How could you not know that?
That's on me
Yeah I'm in the wrong here, I suck.
What happened to their hands?
It took us 15 years to learn that Carl is the president of the PTA, which suggests that he and Paul have a kid in Llama school
*had
@@sleitgeb9895 bro you're right
@@lembastoast2247I not gonna question logic for the sake of this classic finale
Paul is a guy, don't think they can have kids.
@@Laroac don't...
I love how Carl never comes to terms with the full extent of what he's done. Arguably, nobody can. Not Carl, not us, I'd argue not even filmcow, because who can wrap their head around 8 billion people and countless animals killed and eaten by a single llama? But none of us need to. Carl didn't need to come to terms with all that he'd done, just Paul, because arguably Paul was the only one who was real to him. Paul was his friend, he was the one he talked to, he was the one who stayed, until he didn't. The rest of the world was just a source of meat, a thing to take care of, but Paul was real, and Carl was convinced he couldn't hurt him. The world was leveled by nuclear blasts and Carl never bothered to check that Paul wasn't hurt. But the fact he did kill Paul was the thing he couldn't understand, and the only thing he even needed to come to terms with. Because if Paul was the only real thing, then Carl's world only really ended when he found Paul's bones
Holy shit, I have never cried this hard from a TH-cam video. Really great work🥹
Wow. I never thought Llamas with Hats would ever make a return, and for 20 minutes no less, but here we are. This epilogue was amazing and I'm glad that it caps off the series on a more hopeful note. Even if Carl could never be redeemed, he could at least gain some closure on who he really is, what he's done, and what needs to happen.