I had to go back and check because I had a feeling but
Computer... Enhance
My suspicions were confirmed
THAT'S what was filling me with dread this entire time. They not only had the guy who made one of the best horror shorts I've ever seen as a silly character, but as a consultant because they decided they ALSO wanted to do some fucking scary VHS timeloop stuff.
I'm calling it right now, in next week's behind the scenes they're going to comment on the video/audio degradation and intercutting of home movies and be like "there were unexpected complications with the upload but we did our best"
I've only just begun to pull the thread on this sweater, friends
I gotta commend the folks at Dropout, especially for the most recent Game Changer episode, cause I think it's the closest I've ever personally come to feeling like Brennan Lee Mulligan does at the end of these things
GUYS SAM SAID IN THE BEHIND THE SCENES EP THAT HE WAS GIVING OUT WORSE PRIZES THIS SEASON BECAUSE "IT WOULD BE FUNNY" BUT WHAT IF THE REAL REASON IS BECAUSE HE'S ACTUALLY THE EVIL SAMUEL DALTON
Oh ok I finally worked out what's going on with Sam every episode. Every other episode he glances at his hands, because he's the only one stuck in the timeloop.
In the timeloop episode, Deja Vu, he's the only one who isn't stuck in the timeloop.
the season finale of game changer will also be called deja vu, it'll be a gamesamer mishmash of all episodes of the season that end with sam reich being revealed as actually samuel dalton, who will kill the real sam reich unless the players can go answer all questions and do all tasks without a single mistake. i know this, sam reich himself told me
“I’m okay, please don’t worry about me, this is your time to vent, babe. I’ll have mine some other time.”
Kissing her hand, he continues, finally reaching the present hallucinations. “She calls out to me, and I see her constantly… but mainly the accident haunts me most.”
She stands before him, pressing his head into her bosom, “This explains why you pushed me away, but not why you left me standing in the rain. But I can wait until- …”
“No. You deserve an answer and another apology... I went to Cordonia to bring Alina back home. I didn’t have her spied on, but I did have her located. She was being irrational. I had left for business in Paris, when I came back early because she’d been furious with me, I learned that she left me. Things spiraled out of control very quickly there, but we did return together. It just didn’t last. Total honesty. Hand over heart, crossing it, she stops his gestures. “I believe you Sam.”
••••
Eyes Wide Shut…
Babe? Everything… okay?” A brow raised and now standing stationary, his thoughts run away from him, replaced by doubt. “Was she becoming suspicious of him? Is Ethan running through her mind?? This was definitely a mistake bringing her here.” Neither can hide the look of guilt and concern. Arms drawing her into a tight embrace, he allows her to speak first.
“Liam is everything okay? I hadn’t realized that our itinerary included a trip to Boston. Were there last-minute changes while I was sleeping? You didn’t seem to rest very much… deep into your laptop. Was work that pressing?” In the back of her mind, she prays for him to say yes to her question. “No love, it wasn’t. And I apologize for the last-minute change. I just wanted to surprise you, is all.” “Surprise me in … Boston?” “You are going to make me give away my surprise, aren’t you?”
Hell yes, was her thought, but she didn’t want to come across as worried or eager. “If it’s important not to, then no… I won’t make you. It’s just we are here… and I have no clue why…” Easing into a slow kiss, he attempts biding time to handle her inquiry properly; he can’t let her know the true reason for this pit stop. “I’ve read up on this Dr. Ramsey…” Oh hell… here it comes, how are they supposed to discuss that night, to discuss Ethan… the things that he made her feel? Her searching eyes scream for him to elaborate.
“Don’t worry love, I just thought that he could help us with our “barren” situation. He is the best in his field is he not? I have heard that they are starting clinical trials here, and he is heading up one of his own. I have been anxious to find a way to repair all that was damaged in your life as a result of you remaining my wife and Queen,” honesty masking his true reasons and fear of discovery. “Oh, Liam… I- …“ She has totally forgotten to tell him of allowing her sister to run a trial on her. She was praying that she didn’t truly have to until she had news to give that would prevent him from being angry with her for keeping it from him, for not discussing something of this importance with him at all. It wouldn’t matter if Dahlia was the genius of all time, this affected them both, not to mention the dangers of such a trial, of conceiving and enemies learning this.
That discussion would have to come later, she would need to stall, to completely change his focus. “Are you upset with me love?” Now it is Riley who has to bide time, pulling away and walking to the open balcony doors, Liam on her heels in pursuit. This had given her enough time to choose the silent treatment. She wouldn’t have to lie to him, and he would work his way out of this conversation in an effort not to upset the apple cart.
obsessed w the game changer red string board all of us have been making,, also that déjà vu was the episode that finally made everyone have A Solid Theory as the what the actual fuck is going on. like we've all been walking around connecting the dots (we didn't connect shit) but NOW?? now we've connected 'em babeyy
The above are a direct depiction of the editing of the show:
Lou views the wall of evidence with Sam Dalton, and says 'So it seems like it's about Objects. Do we have these things? Do we put them on the numbers? (This is correct to escape the step)
The lore provided for Sam Dalton's disappearance reads: "SAMUEL DALTON PRESUMED DEAD Friends and Colleagues gathered this past Saturday to mourn the passing of Samuel Dalton, who disappeared during his magic act last July. Dalton had encircled himself with household objects over the numbers of a clock when a bolt of lightning struck a magnet overhead leaving behind only his smoldering footprints. He is survived by his two sons, Ray and Bolt Dalton, who have since denounced the magical arts."
Brennan suggests someone goes out to start collecting the objects they need, and someone else "stay in here and see if they exist in this space". Sam looks shocked and delighted, looking offstage at someone, and biting his hand to stay quiet. Brennan notices, and asks "What are you biting your hand about?" suspiciously. Sam dramatically mimes zipping his lip and says nothing.
A couple of things that are not in the editing but personal theory notes:
This editing compared to the fairly clear and concise wrap-up on rewatch, especially Sam's over the top reaction to this bit, and the multiple maintained clips that carefully compare the red room to hell/purgatory (Siobhan calls it Sartre-esque, etc) while we are now seeing a decay makes me fairly sure it's foreshadowing.
Escape the Room aired in March, but if we have a 13 episode season again the finale will be in July, when Samuel Dalton disappeared.
I do not know if the episodes are meant to be in order, or if they're exact #s, but there are many things Sam has given this season (Plant, Watch, Jacket) as either prizes or challenges directly, OR episodes could be more metaphorically interpreted (Ace of Cheetos - the single episode designed to torture the snacker, Two of Pillows for the Newlyweds)
Episodes like 6x03 the Three of Coats for Sam Says 3 with a wardrobe challenge or 6x06 Deja Vu with a with a watch prize and time theme have all of the above etc
The Playing Card Items: Ace - Cheeto, 2 - Pillows, 3 - Coats, 4 - Lint Rollers, 5 - Plants, 6 - Clocks, 7 - Vases, 8 - Shoe, 9 - Fire Extinguisher, 10 - Guitar, Jack - Smoke Detector, Queen - Surge Protector, King - Paper Clip
The Other Items Surrounding Samuel Dalton: Scales, Phonograph, Typewriter, Rotary Phone, Photo Camera, Video Camera, Pocket Watch, Bowler Hat