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thatgirl4815 · 2 years

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The Pete Effect

~ A Deep Dive into Vegas’s Mind ~

When it comes to Vegas and Pete in Ep11, I think they contained a pretty massive story arc within the 50 minutes. And while I do think this story could’ve been spread out over the course of a few episodes, I do think they managed to offer a view of Vegas that humanizes him but does not necessarily erase or lessen the severity of his crimes. If anything, it puts the cycle of generational violence/trauma in perspective. If the purpose of this episode is to show why Vegas desires hurting people and where this destructiveness comes from, then I think they’ve accomplished that.

**For my take on Pete’s psychological state, see this post: The Vegas Effect

Recycled History

We don’t need to see Vegas’s history of abuse play out onscreen to get the full context of what he’s going through. From a storytelling perspective, it’s pretty standard: abusive father projects own self-hatred onto child. It’s a never-ending cycle of needing dominance to fill the void of never being good enough. We don’t know much about Korn and Kan’s father, but what little we do know indicates that Kan’s relationship with his father is similar to Vegas’s relationship with Kan. At the same time, this line from Korn in Ep10 is interesting:

We haven’t seen Kan directly “taking advantage” of anyone, mostly due to a lack of screen time, but the act of abusing Vegas is ironically upholding this very notion. This line is also notable in that it seems to apply to Vegas in particular, and Kan is reinforcing it by constantly reminding Vegas that he will never be good enough. Korn, master manipulator, likely knows that due to their rivalry, Kan suffers from the same self-hatred that Vegas suffers from. He exploits that with this line, and I have no doubt that Kan was reminded of this very conversation when confronting Vegas.

In this shot, Vegas is experiencing a build up of all these negative emotions: bitter resentment for his father, hate for himself, shame, guilt, rage. Kan tells him he’s failed not only as the heir of the minor family, but as a son—that’s the key point. It’s never about the business, it’s about Vegas as a person. Kan will always find flaws in Vegas because that’s easier than facing his own.

Vegas’s Psyche

What does Vegas do? He takes the gun from Kan, he points it at Pete as if to kill him, but he doesn’t follow through. Why is that? Because, as will become even more appparent later, Pete is a form of rebellion for Vegas. Keeping him—tormenting him—defies his father’s orders, but it also offers Vegas an opportunity to assuage his own feelings of inferiority. Pete is a prisoner, so Vegas’s dominance over him is a certainty. Vegas craves the chance to rip Pete apart piece by piece the same way his father has always ripped him apart (not to mention it also comes with minimal risk).

There’s an element of loneliness to this too. As the VegasPete bandaging scene proves, Vegas has spent his whole life feeling alone in his suffering. But while Pete reveals a similar experience in his own childhood, his imprisonment is also an opportunity for Vegas to impart his emotional pain onto someone physically. Vegas gains a certain satisfaction from witnessing someone else’s pain precisely because it is not his own. It’s a reminder that his father isn’t the only one who can inflict pain. That’s, in part, why I believe Vegas is so satisfied when calling Pete’s grandmother—Kan abuses Vegas both physically and emotionally, so why wouldn’t Vegas want to do the same thing to others?

So…

What stanches Vegas’s desire to inflict pain?

Even before their bandage talk, Pete is making waves for Vegas. We knew from the moment he laughed in Vegas’s face in Ep10 that he wouldn’t be one of Vegas’s regular victims; he presents a challenge, something Vegas can focus on. He’s a distraction as well as an outlet. Because, from a much broader perspective, Vegas’s position is terrible. His plans failed, the major family wants him dead, and he’s locked in a safe house with only Pete and a hedgehog for company.

One of the common critiques of this episode has been that Vegas’s feelings for Pete developed too quickly. I think this moment is where these critiques stem from. But, while there seems to be genuine fear in Vegas’s eyes at the prospect of losing Pete, I think there are two big reasons why:

1) With Pete dead, Vegas loses his outlet. He loses his distraction. And, perhaps most importantly, he loses his rebellion against his father. So long as Pete is alive, Vegas has a place to direct all that internal pain that his father keeps heightening.

2) Vegas doesn’t acknowledge it outright, but I think he knows Pete is a good person. Yes he’s in the mafia. Yes he’s committed crimes for his boss. But at his core, Pete is loyal. He’s self-sacrificing. He’s sincere. He’s as good as someone in this life can be. “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” I’ve seen others point it out, but I want to reiterate it here: Pete is already showing Vegas what it means to be honest about what drives him. That’s what their whole bandaging conversation comes to. It’s a truth that Vegas must face if he ever wants to escape the hole of self-hatred that his father has shoved him into.

As I’ve said, I do think that this storyline could’ve been stretched into two episodes just to really sit in that moment of realization and fear that Vegas has over Pete. But while it did come on somewhat suddenly, I think it makes sense if you consider Vegas’s attachment to Pete in context. I don’t think Vegas fully understands his attachment to Pete much in the same way we aren’t meant to fully understand it.

This kiss. Another manipulation? Another part of the game to lure Pete in? I can see it. I think Pete can too. Pete is smart enough not to trust Vegas, no matter how gentle Vegas might be. But we, as an audience, are fortunate because we see Vegas in moments no one else can. We have reason to believe it’s genuine, because Vegas is gentle at times when he really has no reason to be. He freaks out over the prospect of Pete’s death, he bandages him oh so tenderly because he wants to. He needs to.

Does he need to kiss Pete to give him the pill? Absolutely not. And Pete could resist that kiss—and the pill—quite easily. Vegas knows what he's doing. Pete accepts the pill because the tenderness of the kiss catches him off guard. The way I see it, Vegas goes for the kiss as a way of addressing his newfound attachment to Pete. I’d relate it to KP’s first kiss at the end of Ep3, as Kinn/Vegas and Porsche/Pete are, remarkably, in similar situations. (The amount of parallels between VegasPete and KinnPorsche is honestly insane, and those could honestly be a post on their own.)

As I mentioned above, Pete tells Vegas that he isn’t alone. And it’s the thing Vegas needs to hear most from someone. The thing is, I don’t think he even knew he needed it. But it takes a weight off his shoulders, as we see when he says, “It still hurts. But not as bad as before.”

I want to note that I don’t think Vegas’s sadistic tendencies have miraculously disappeared by the end of Ep11. Pete is a lot of things, but he’s not a miracle worker. I think Vegas has become enlightened, but one therapeutic conversation isn’t going to set him on a path of goodness. Trapped in this little bubble, it’s easy to lose sight of just how cruel and sadistic Vegas really is. It’s almost peculiar how easily I found myself not only sympathizing with Vegas, but blissfully ignoring all the bad things he has done. I mean, he was literally bandaging the wounds that he inflicted on Pete this episode, yet I somehow managed to overlook all of it and see only a confused, miserable mess of a man. And yeah, I felt bad for him. I’ll credit that all to Bible’s acting. He added such a level of humanity to Vegas at the end of this episode. I mean look at this—

...compared to this—

The genuine sweetness in that last smile? The end of this episode is the first time we’re seeing him without the mask.

In conclusion...

Pete has unlocked a part of Vegas that’s been buried by years of abuse. At least in my opinion, he’s set Vegas on a path towards healing and a release of all the anger welling up inside.

I don’t think this means that Vegas will lose the mafia-persona. They are all still in the mafia, after all. Conceptions of good and evil are much less defined in this landscape. But, I don’t think Vegas will need to use torture as an outlet for the pain his father causes him. I imagine he’ll still have an interesting relationship with pain—what with the apparent BDSM content we’ll be getting—but it won’t be used in the same context as before. Meaning that it will be something both Vegas and Pete enjoy.

That’s all for now. As always, more KP meta can be found ➡️ here, and my thoughts on the use of color in Ep11 ➡️ here!

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kinnspocketporsche · 2 years

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VegasPete Communication + Double Meanings

Call it the asexual gaze it is, but I was a lot more interested in the double meanings of VP's conversations than any sexual tension in this episode. Let's take a break from The Horny and think about what Pete has been trying to express about abuse well before he mentioned his own father. And I want you to keep in mind that Pete knows Vegas doesn't put an ounce of trust in words, so it's not just the dialogue we're looking at here - it's every action Pete's taking.

I put an explanation of this at the end, but please go into this post thinking about Vegas's torture of Pete as a reflection of his own experiences with his father. You can read that explanation first if you want, or not at all.

Let's start with Pete's response to Vegas talking to his hedgehog.

P: "Is he crazy?" [read: I know you're talking to me]

V, to his hedgehog: "When you're free, tell him how to be a good pet." A guide for Pete - Vegas communicating that if Pete is good, he'll be treated nicely. Note that earlier Vegas actually apologized to the hedgehog for making a ruckus with Pete - so he is giving him example of a reward. Importantly: These align with the guidelines Vegas' father has set for him. Be good. Do what I say. Mess up and you'll get punished.

P: "Whom is he talking to, me or the hedgehog?" [read: Let me tell you why I think you're crazy - because I'm not a fucking hedgehog] This is also Pete expressing that he wants to have a conversation - a shift from their previous interactions.

V: "Why didn't you eat?" [read: Why didn't you do what I told you? Why did you defy me?] This is not a question that Vegas is looking to have answered. It's challenge. A fight that Vegas wants to start. (Trying not to belabor this point too much, but again, think back to Vegas's dad's "What are you doing?" "Do you know what you're doing?" "What did I tell you?" and especially his "How dare you disobey my order?")

P: "I'm not eating." This is a fun one, because it's meant to be taken exactly at face value. Pete says this very slowly, very deliberately, and with careful eye-contact. Look:

Remember what I said about Pete communicating through actions in addition to words. Every bit of him is shouting "Listen to me! I need you to understand what I'm saying!" But he's conveying complete calmness - and control over his own actions, without threatening Vegas's control in any way.

V: "Do you think you can choose?" [read: You think you can choose not to follow my orders? You have no power here.]

P: "I'm not choosing. I'm just not eating." [read: I'm not fighting you. You want to hurt me and I am just here. It's not my choice and it's not my fault.] And if we think ahead, if we think about the context, he's telling Vegas: "Your father's abuse is not your fault."

Again, note the body language, the continued eye-contact. Coming from Pete! Who in almost every interaction prior to his capture has done his utmost to avoid Vegas's eyes. It's deliberate.

I love it I love it I love it because as a survivor of abuse himself, Pete is showing Vegas, with himself as an example, how to reframe his trauma. Okay, I have more to say so let's keep going.

V: "You know what an untamed pet would get?" [read: Think about the consequences - the punishment. That's your choice.] This is cool, because Vegas hasn't caught on yet I actually don't think Pete expected him to, personally, but that can be up for debate. The intriguing thing is that this dialogue shows that Vegas think Pete hasn't caught on yet, he thinks Pete hasn't understood and he's clarifying for him, but really Vegas is the one who's not understanding. I'm losing my mind this is so good.

P: "Well, I don't like it. I'm not hungry." [read: I hear what you're saying and you're wrong. I'm not choosing this. I don't want it and I'm not fighting you. I'm just not hungry.] Pete's still making eye contact here. His speech starts to speed up, too. Pete has hardly flinched at torture prior to this so I'm not inclined to think that it's fear doing that - I think it's more of this deliberate communication. He's reinforcing his words with his actions. Maybe he's a bit scared, but I'm convinced he's at the very least exaggerating. He needs Vegas to understand that he's being honest - he doesn't want this (and no matter what Vegas's dad has told him about choosing to fail and get punished, Vegas didn't that either). Check Pete's facial expression here, too. We know this man can fake a smile:

V: "I'm gonna hurt you so you'll remember." [I'll train you, the way I've been taught, to do what I want you to do.] But notice the phrasing here. Assuming the translation's good, Vegas's thought process is already changing. He's given up on the idea of Pete learning - which makes sense, because his father's punishments didn't teach Vegas anything other than fear. What he got out of them were memories.

And we're nearing the end here, so bear with me. The last line of dialogue is coming up, but first, the punishment itself:

Pete starts yelling immediately. Thrashing around. He looks angry. Maybe he's worn down and tired out, just releasing some pent up frustrations, but what a contrast from his demeanor throughout the whole conversation. He's not playing with Vegas, he's not trying to fight him and he's not trying to please him. He's taken himself out of the game.

And the last bit of dialogue from this scene that I think we're all familiar with:

V: "You're no fun at all." And Vegas is feeling the effects of Pete's actions. Pete has taken the power out of it all.

This is reinforced by the next scene where Pete tries to escape and doesn't bring a single weapon with him. There are weapons on display in that room. And Vegas knew he would escape - was it a test?

Pete does not want to fight Vegas, he's proving it with his actions again. I almost wonder if Pete thought of it as a test as well, but I don't know, that might be taking it a step to far.

Okay I'm bringing us back one more time. To before all of this. To right before. To the very tiny snippet of conversation we (and Pete!!) heard of Vegas' phone call with his dad.

V: "What am I supposed to do, Papa?"

And that's at the fucking root of it all, isn't it? What is Vegas supposed to do, when he's given his best and his dad hates him anyway. It's heartbreaking. It's also immediately followed by Pete staring at Vegas:

Because that little phone conversation was a key. To us, the audience, to interpret this scene - but also, I'd venture very hesitantly, for Pete. This immediately precedes all the careful conversation that he had with Vegas and because of the timing of it all, and the way Pete kinda froze and stared. It was calculated. Very quickly calculated and enacted. Maybe Pete was just using it as a way to get out - maybe he saw that Vegas had a problem and decided to offer him a solution for his own sake only. I wouldn't blame him. But it could also be that Pete realized Vegas is about ready for a change. Readiness for change is huge - it's everything. You cannot change a person if they do not want to change themselves. But here's Vegas, having already defied his father by taking Pete, now acknowledging and vocalizing that what his father is saying doesn't make sense. He's ready to change.

I fucking love this show. I'm bad at making friends y'all but if anyone wants to chat KP, please don't hesitate. Clearly I have too much to say. My asks and messages are open, always :)

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I think of Vegas's torture of Pete as a reflection of his own experiences with his father. Vegas held a lot of envy towards Pete. Right off the bat Vegas knew Kinn would check on Pete, and he knew Kinn would do it thoroughly (re: telling Grandma to lie to Kinn about Pete's whereabouts). This is Kinn, Vegas's family, who has shunned Vegas* all his life, going all out for a bodyguard. And on top of that, Vegas knows that Pete has made mistakes. A sore spot, for someone who gets punished whenever he "ruins" his dad's plans. Vegas looks at Pete and sees the main family's Good Good Boy who has a tattoo about the virtue of honesty, who does nothing but smile and mess up, who seems naive as anything... but who laughs in his face when tortured.

How does this tie in to Vegas's abuse at the hands of his father? It puts the power in Vegas's hands. Not because he's inherently bad and wants to abuse people, but because he's spent his life feeling powerless, especially in comparison to Kinn. If he went into this thinking that Pete was a naive little toy - and Kinn's toy at that - Vegas wanted to break Pete the way he'd been broken by his father. We'll see more evidence of this when we get into it as well.

*I just had this additional thought that it's not uncommon for victims of child abuse - or any abuse - to feel angry that they weren't helped by those around them. I know there's competition between Kinn and Vegas inherently, but I do wonder if Vegas's rage runs deeper due to way he's been isolated. Abusers tend to isolate their victims intentionally, and I wouldn't blame Kinn for this as an outsider, but I actually think it's unlikely that Vegas wouldn't have felt that to a certain extent.

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Follow-up VP Communication Post

Metaphor Done Right: Childhood’s End in KinnPorsche

Pete’s Escape as a Final Test

#kinnporsche meta #vegaspete #vegas theerapanyakul #vegas x pete #kinnporche the series #pete saengtham #bible sumettikul #build jakapan #biblebuild #kp meta #kinnporsche episode 11 #kinn porsche the series #winnie's words

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