#and peso tells tracker to ''just trust himself''.

[octoagentmiles]

What are your thoughts surrounding the Golden Mole episode if you’ve watched it? Personally, I really enjoy it, but I was kind of taken aback by the way Kwazii was acting at the start? His writing at points in A&B in general makes me feel a way, the difference has been a big adjustment. You always tie things together with your character analyzations very well, so I’m curious to know your take on this one! It might even make me feel less thrown off by it :)

you sent this a long time ago I'm so sorry- If your opinions on Kwazii's writing have changed, I'd love hearing any takes you have now- but in the meantime take post 🤲 (note that I talk a lot about Tracker since he is kinda the focus of the episode- ok now let's begin:)

(take an ear-twitchy Kwazii for your patience hfjskd 🤲✨)

I've noticed Kwazii's been written differently too, and I've got theories about it ofc (see closing thoughts), but in regards to the Golden Mole episode I actually think his behavior was pretty in character. I think Kwazii has a fear of rejection (because of how often he is rejected due to being a pirate), and he seems to be very aware of how people view him, and will either over-compensate by toning down his energy (or at least trying to, like in the Puffins.) or try to make himself seem cooler and more capable than he is if he notices someone likes him, like he did with Pinto that one time.

He also did this in The Combtooth Blenny; where he spent the entire time trying to make Peso think he had everything in control, even though he didn't. That's pretty similar to what's happening in The Golden Mole.

The Combtooth Blenny and The Golden Mole are pretty similar episodes overall: Kwazii and Peso stuck on a desert island with no communication vs. Kwazii and Tracker stuck in a desert with no communication, Kwazii desperate to seem like a capable leader type, Peso (implied to be) as a new Octonaut vs. Tracker as a new Octo-Agent, etc.. (cough cough wanna point out UK Peso and Tracker's shared voice actor just because cough cough-)

Analysis time now:

Right away we can tell Tracker thinks Kwazii is cool, just from the way he looks at him (either in awe or nervousness), and is eager to please him. We see this trait of his when we first meet him in Operation Deep Freeze when he excitedly calls them "The Octonaut guys!!! :D" and then shouts "Cool!!" when Barnacles promises to keep him posted. Tracker is a follower by nature, not a leader. He'd much prefer to let ANYONE else tell him what to do, rather than follow his own instincts or take charge. So Kwazii? Octonaut guy?? Perfect person to listen to—definitely not gonna question his judgement at all. Wouldn't dream of it.

...Even when it backfires on them both.

Tracker is very strong, smart, and capable on his own, and he seems to know that—but he's still very insecure in his own intuition; and tends to put others before himself, kind of like how Barnacles does. He says at one point in S2 (paraphrasing here-) that in the Polar Scouts; "they are taught to help anyone who needs it, no matter what." and I think he and Barnacles both indirectly learned their self-worth issues from this (like: “When you see a creature in trouble, it is YOUR duty to help them. Your own safety comes second.” ). He's a great Polar Scout, and he's desperate to be seen as a good Octo-Agent by the Octonauts.

(Octonauts™ at it again with the parallels <3) Tracker has literally never left the Arctic before; another reason why he wants to trust Kwazii so badly. He’s out of his element, but Kwazii’s been around the world, he should know about deserts, right? One way I wish Kwazii had been written differently in this episode, would be him being a bit more worried about Tracker. He knows they're in this situation because he messed up—and Barnacles likely trusted Kwazii to take care of him. So if he had maybe panicked with Tracker when they lost their backpack, instead of just standing there, or if he asked him how he was doing once or twice, that would’ve been better. (In the CombBlenny, he gets visibly frustrated a few times, before putting on a brave face for Peso. In this episode he kinda just dissociates when Tracker freaks out, and it’s a little awkward.)

I do really like this scene at the end where Kwazii reassures Tracker, and gives him his book back. It feels like Kwazii is trying to apologize to him in his own way.

Also I think Tracker would've passed the test no matter what. He was the only agent who got any sort of test. He probably asked Barnacles for one, and it got made up on the spot. He would've passed even if he completely failed, because it was just a confidence booster exercise; like how 99% of Peso's S1 training was just confidence boosting disguised as serious training. Barnacles couldn’t actually train Peso on how to be an Octonaut or a medic, because he was already both of those from the start; he just needed to be taught how to trust himself.

Closing off with more Kwazii thoughts: I think he's being written differently on purpose. There has been a timeskip, and everyone seems a bit more mature now (it's most obvious in Peso and the Vegimals, and Dashi in some aspects). It could just be that he toned down a bit as he got older; but I've noticed that he's written the most weird whenever he's partnered with Calico Jack. He acts more immature and just... off? and in my head it's because he really hasn't seen CJ since he was a kitten, so he isn't sure how to act around him (plus he REALLY wants to impress his granddad). We also know that CJ's been teaching Kwazii stuff, so that could be another factor in his personality/vibe shift. The times I've found where Kwazii acts the most like himself- are the times he's alone with the other Octonauts, and I think that's interesting.

#I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG 😭 my brain did NOT wanna cooperate with me so it's just been chilling in my drafts #operation uncooperation in my brain #hhhhhhhh #octonauts #octonauts above and beyond #kwazii #octonauts tracker #i want tracker to have a cone snail episode moment. he deserves it so much #he's paralleling with peso so hard. insecure but stronger than he thinks ✅ good growth when alone ✅ looking up to kwazii and barnacles ✅ #paul panting (uk) ✅ lol #kwazii has rsd and he just wants tracker to think he's cool. ty for coming to my tedtalk #he also wants his granddad to think he's cool #thinking about on one hand kwazii is hanging out with cj and trying to impress him. and on the other hand hanging out with tracker and- #-trying to impress him #but in different ways. trying to be a cool pirate for cj and a cool octonaut for tracker... #when is he allowed to just be kwazii? #i think an anb episode where kwazii is completely by himself (not even with a creature) would be interesting #also my GOD i need tracker and peso to have a Moment together. #and peso tells tracker to ''just trust himself''. #DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD I WOULD SOB??? BAWL MY EYES OUT?????? I'D NEVER STOP #CRYING AT THIS VERY MOMENT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT #/POS

[octoagentmiles]

hello. even more episodes I think should happen. I am coping with the lack of S3

the fact that the main series never had an episode on sea slugs is a crime actually

they literally threw the fact that Natquik has a twin brother and a little sister at us and left it at that. like um exCUSE ME??? COME BACK HERE–

Calico Jack Messes Up™. no further comment.

I NEED a "Kwazii and CJ"-style episode but with Barnacles and Natquik. put those nerds into a situation.

I want a Peso and Tracker episode, because it's clear to me that Tracker's arc is just the same one Peso went through in the main series; regarding his confidence and trust in himself, etc etc. and I'd love it very much if they made a callback to a Certain Episode. and I think it's funny when voice actors talk to themselves (they have the same uk va)

I think Barnacles, Kwazii, and Tweak all deserve to individually hang out with each other's parental figures at some point. (ie: Barnacles gets an episode with Calico Jack/Ranger Marsh, Tweak gets Natquik/Calico Jack, etc.)

musical episode

I love musical episodes so much and I need a Kwazii/Calico Jack duet SO BAD YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW–

more Min and Inky pls

Barnacles and Tracker. brothers real. put those nerds into a situation 2.

speaking of siblings: I think we as a society deserve more Shellington and Pearl content

also, @/silvergate, we would all like to see a certain family of polar bears, tyvm.

I think Calico Jack should meet Pinto, Koshi, and Peri because of so many reasons actually:

Kwazii definitely gets his love of baby creatures from him

Pinto would be so excited to meet a real famous pirate

Koshi would be able to tell if he lies about anything. she'd take one look at him and figure out his whole deal right away.

Ranger Marsh should meet them too, because he is The Father Ever™ and his instincts would immediately engage upon seeing them, I know this.

#octonauts #kwazii has technically had eps with marsh and natquik but he can have some more. as a treat #octonauts above and beyond #i am standing by the seaside in a blue dress waiting for season 3 #remember when we were waiting for s2 to come out and i was like ''i am going to break the world record for most impatient person'' #that's me again lmao #*all i want for christmas plays in the distance*