I was originally hooked by season one but am on episode 4 of season 2 and it’s just getting so weird. The scene where they are in the goat pasture and she asks them if they can see their bellies and now the whole winter trek theme. I had to turn it off. I think I’m a tad bit of an abstract thinking but this has got me flummoxed lol. Is it worth it to continue? I’m genuinely interested in the characters but not too sure about the plot lol
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It’s bc management spread rumours about the different departments . Macro data management had rumours spread they weren’t human. Hence why she asked .
This comment may the most helpful framing for OP.
When explained this way you can see how management is capitalizing on the whole “Plato’s cave” concept - the innies are so limited in their experience that they’re easily subject to any manipulation. Really shows not only how vulnerable and helpless the innies are but also shows how absolute and corrupting Lumon’s power is, the levels to which a corporation would dehumanize their workers if given the opportunity. Not to mention the whole direction that the goat sub plot goes.
It’s not supposed to be weird for the sake of being weird. The “weirdness” is to illustrate how far removed from regular reality things become when power dynamics are so fucked.
Management intentionally makes the departments dislike each other - divide and conquer. What's hilarious is that one guys sees there are no pouches and says he's still not convinced. We know how persistent conspiracy theories are.
I’m not sure OP is tracking well enough to appreciate this. It may just not be their show.
The show is supposed to be surreal. All these little details are supposed to have you second guessing everything you know.
That's why they're putting a field of goats in an office room. You're supposed to feel like you're in a dream.
If you're not into manipulative mindfuckery this might not be the series for you.
Asking to see their bellies is just proof of the rumor that people from macro data have pouches, which was mentioned in season one.
The “winter trek” is just expanding on the lore/cult background of lumon
I can’t say whether or not this show is worth continuing for you, but if you “had to turn it off” then I think you already have your answer.
oh it's so weird. It's just so weird.
expand your mind
It’s really not difficult to follow.
I don't think they had a plan for where they were going with the whole goat thing. I guess one place is to go is over the top, but that didn't work for me. I was hoping it actually meant something.
they're a cult. they raise goats to sacrifice them because that's a satanic cultish thing to do. I really don't think it has to be any deeper than that, it's just an evocative piece of imagery essentially
I like it because it's fun and it contrasts well with the dry corporate facade they maintain as their outside image
Maybe, but maybe not. The series isn't over yet so we might have been intentionally mislead
I'm hoping that's the case.
I figured it out. The goats lay the eggs.
It all makes sense later. Just persevere.
Thanks so much for your insights. I shall persevere!
Not sure what your issue is.
The goat scene was my least favorite. I think that was included specifically for the fans that can't get enough of the goats for some reason.
Keep going, though. It's worth it.
Yeah it feels pretty clear to me that their original intent was "the goats are a weird surreal thing they encounter that isn't important and never gets explained," but then "what on earth is with the goats???" became like the #1 mystery that casual fans latched onto from season 1, so they felt like they had to bring them back and explain them. But the explanation was so self-contained to the goats that it felt like they just tacked it on and came up with it due to public demand for goats, without upsetting their core plans for the season and core series mysteries. Like...nothing really mechanically changes about the final episode if there isn't a goat sacrifice and Lorne doesn't exist, just different Mark/Drummond fight choreography. And we don't really learn anything new about Lumon from the goat sacrifice other than "hey look yet another example of Lumon acting like a weird cult."
There was nothing wrong with the goat scenes, they just didn't add a ton.
I feel like among all our hyperanalysis and trying to tie everything together, we have to allow the show a few "this is just a strange and unexplained thing that exists in service of one scene, enjoy it for what it is, it's not that deep" moments. My pick for that from season 2 is the airplane crash room on the testing floor. I don't think it indicates that Lumon posesses crazy physics-bending capabilities. I think it indicates that Dan Erickson really, really wanted to make as overt a Lost homage as he could get away with.
Exactly. Very well said.
I mean, the goay thing comes back later right? It serves a purpose.
The goats were introduced earlier. We didn't need the additional goat scene to set up what is to come.
that episode literally sets up an emotional payoff that gets resolved at the end of the season
Imagine not liking one of the core principles of this show: weirdness.
IMO there's a lot of subtext that references other works (homages to directors and visual matches) along with the odd/strange world building. If your media literacy limits you to just the surface story, then maybe this show isn't your cup of tea.
I'd say tough it out, now knowing that there's a lot more to this show; much satire and nods to works like Coppola's "The Conversation", Bergman's "The Serpent's Egg", Seinfeld series, Popeye, Dante's "Divine Comedy", etc. and knowing that might be helpful to get you past the "WTF" stage and put the show in a different perspective.
If it was just a plain twisty Sci-Fi/Mystery without all the subtext, it might have been easier to wrap your head around it. But the writing seems to me leaning more towards prioritizing the satire. Pointing out the divisions (severances????) between socio-political factions in modern day society. IMO the urgency of making that important social commentary via the satire makes it much harder for some of us to take in.
If anything, you won't be in the dark around the conversation at the water cooler. ;-)
If you can't handle that this might not be the show for you
Everything isn't for everyone. Personally, the weirder it gets, the more I like it.
Episode 4 of season 2 is the peakest of peak
The first 4 episodes of Season 2 are a waste of time. The season gets back to form in episode 5. You’ll like it again then.
thinking any episode of this show is a waste of time is wild lmao
I'd say season 2 is not as strong as season 1. Despite having some crazy peaks later in the season, the first episodes can be hit or miss tbh (Not saying bad of course)