Annotated 36-11
Brother Tom was a bit of a challenge to us as scriptwriters. His arc is perilously close to a line: he doesn’t go through any real changes and, almost without exception, gets everything he wanted from beginning to end. It’d be one thing if he were simply planning to kill himself in a way that he’d get to savor the dying screams of a planet joined with his own: it’s okay for the villain to feel unstoppable if they end up getting stopped. But Tom is even planning on getting a premature climax, so to speak. By the time the heroes foil (some of) his goals, that won’t really be his problem any more.
So Flo gives him an interesting detour here, with a challenge to his faith that briefly startles even him.
That alt text is something to think about, all right.
I know there’s more to it but my first thought was “this man has seen (and caused) some shit and some white eyes is what startle him”.
I found it quite satisfying that Brother Tom, in his moment of triumph, had his faith taken for a spin. Fuck you, Tom! If Arkerra has a hell I hope you’re in it!
I’m not sure if that’s a good wish on him. He’d probably revel on it. This man is murdered by hugs and forgiveness.
I’m thinking that any type of afterlife would ruin his faith and goal of an absolute death, as if there is an afterlife you are never completely dead. I would love for him to spend eternity seeing that his ultimate goal is impossible.
Yeah, any kind of afterlife, good, bad, or neutral would be his hell, death exposed as a temporary interloper, rather than the all-consuming end he wanted.