just finished the Big O. banger anime, what a mindscrew of a finale. you should go watch this show for real. maybe take a nice long break after episode 13, episode 14 really IS the Season 2 Episode 1 more than it is the Episode 14 after all
i imagine trying to pin down exactly what Really Happens would be folly, but here's what i figure is going on anyway at 4 in da morning (spoilers below the cut)
- the whole thing is fictional within itself? or i guess i figure more that everything is real within the world of The Big O (in-universe production) but they are fictional in relation to the outside world within the- fuck i don't think i'm wording it right. ok so it's like an onion,
- dorothy can still operate after getting the core memory/memory reader bit yoinked because R. Dorothy Wainwright (As In, Her As She Is) developed entirely from her life post-moving in with Roger, and the bit that was yoinked really only held stuff that wasn't so important to who she is anymore. she was just unconscious between it getting pulled and waking up because come on you'd be out cold for that long too
- angel's... the director? and Big Venus? or maybe she's the director self insert kinda?? what is her deal. whatever it is she seems to finally have it handled. good for her.
- 'forty years ago' (however much linear time is worth), gordon hired roger smith to Negotiate with the director et al. for their ability to (continue existing and retain their memories or something, its getting late im eepy), aware of their nature as characters within a work of fiction. then the Thing happened with the tomatoes and the Bigs as the backstory, bammo City of Amnesia. i don't think roger (present) is an android or anything, he just looks young still because he is not technically the roger of 40 years ago, simply the man that is now roger smith. the wack flashes of robot roger while he's having the final freakout while sinking? he's just seeing how the merch in the Real World is made and finally really becoming aware of his nature as Roger Smith The Character after having flashes of awareness prior throughout season 2.
- him having Tomato Flashes was a memory mixup. the kind of thing that happens in paradigm, you know how it is
- the Big O itself? or this one, at least? there to make sure Roger Smith (whoever he ends up being) gets to make those negotiations. always there for him whenever he needs it. knows what priorities should be where. a true homie.
- the open ending? i personally think that roger did it. he successfully Negotiated for everyone's ability to keep pushing into the present and the future, and now life can go on in Paradigm within the hearts and minds and memories of those watching. it isn't a true time loop or anything, dorothy and angel are chillin' together, it's just another day on the job