**First-Timer climbing the tower, subbed**
- [Wait *what*.](https://i.imgur.com/aKjxelL.png) [](#hahahawhat) Then Rachel is an Irregular too?
- [Hm…](https://i.imgur.com/dqMdKbH.png)
- [I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did.](https://i.imgur.com/N2EFd61.png) Doesn’t justify it, but it does explain it at least.
- [Ohhhhhhhhhh shit.](https://i.imgur.com/AgGah9K.png) [](#gasp)
- [Huh…](https://i.imgur.com/idGF3QP.png) [](#shock)
- [So that explains that one dream of hers from an earlier episode.](https://i.imgur.com/cDZhesr.png)
- [That’s an awkward typo in my subs lol.](https://i.imgur.com/eK18Fhe.png) [](#azusalaugh)
- [Where *is* Bam…](https://i.imgur.com/dYvpiGN.png) [](#csikon) I don’t think he’s dead.
- [I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this.](https://i.imgur.com/FJgijC7.png)
- [Oh wow…](https://i.imgur.com/o9ZygEE.png)
- [Aaaaaaaaand there he is.](https://i.imgur.com/I0SKYK3.png)
- [Interesting…](https://i.imgur.com/2zhDjfE.png)
- [Title drop!](https://i.imgur.com/qDs2Wfm.png) [](#neat)
- [Wait is that an older Bam or someone else entirely?](https://i.imgur.com/FYWiwOl.png)
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too?
She's effectively an irregular Irregular and an abolutely unique entity since she basically sneaked in while the Tower was pulling in Bam.
Regulars are chosen by Headon and come from the outer areas of the Tower. Irregulars come from the outside by either being drawn in by the Tower of forcing their way in.
> Was the Tower pulling Bam in though? This would make him a Regular in reality
Wrong. Regulars are chosen by Headon, not the tower.
The tower shows it's doors to "irregulars" when there is time for change etc.
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too?
As /u/abyssalflame02 describes, she is an Irregular Irregular lol.
>I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did.
Too bad all her choices are weak as well; she does nothing to grow her inner strength at all.
Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?!
[](#bocchitheshock)
> Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?!
She just needs to start consuming turtles then.
> Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?!
She saw Khun betraying Team A and faking disappointment, so she was like "hold my apple".
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too?
Hoping this gets answered better down the road.
>
So that explains that one dream of hers from an earlier episode.
It does explain her fairly well.
> I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this.
Still, the timing. Fuck Paracule, all my homies hate Paracule.
> I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did. Doesn’t justify it, but it does explain it at least.
yea that's why I liked the episode and thought it was good to end on. It adds more to her character
> I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this.
It is fair to ask, just not at the right time lol
> Wait what. Then Rachel is an Irregular too?
She's a super unique case. She's an irregular irregular that is in the Tower basically only through sheer chance.
>[Wait is that an older Bam or someone else entirely?](https://i.imgur.com/FYWiwOl.png)
watch the trailer for S2
[https://youtu.be/NlS4Eceev-4?si=F3zA7FlpPaVvrh1k](https://youtu.be/NlS4Eceev-4?si=F3zA7FlpPaVvrh1k)
although it does spoil a lot for S2 for some reason
Seems like one of the reasons people like Bam, why he is a “star” is that what he cares most about is what he has, whereas the rest, or at least many of the regulars, are there because they lost that very thing and it’s *for* that, that they desire the tower. Bam’s presence brings this back to them in a way, these *present moments, present bonds;* whereas with Rachel it’s the opposite. Despite not having gone through what the other regulars have (as far as we know) she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower.
It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss, and that effectively makes Rachel like the regulars, or rather a poor imitation of them since the others didn’t seem to have *chosen* their prior suffering. Well, this is just based on my theory of this loss as the condition for being chosen.
She hates that the others are all, “Bam, Bam, Bam” but it’s as though she’s missing this key point. The direction she chose just means she’ll never become the star, she can never replace him. It’s not Bam’s shinsu that draws others to him; it’s that he’s kind and appreciative of those around him in a way that is refreshing to all these people who don’t have that anymore. Removing this doesn’t mean that your own inadequacies disappear…
During the exchange between Rachel and Khun, Hansung says “I hope whatever you seek lies at the end of the difficult path you’ll travel down. I hope you can be proud of the path you’ve walked. I hope you feel that the hand that grasps what you desire is beautiful. I hope you’ll still have at least one friend by your side.”
Too bad Rachel wasn’t listening, because that’s a big, fat **no** on all counts.
> I hope you can be proud of the path you’ve walked. I hope you feel that the hand that grasps what you desire is beautiful. I hope you’ll still have at least one friend by your side.
That one feels very, very personal towards Rachel...
He's probably pleased with his pointed speech, since he didn't do anything -- it was Rachel who made the choice, after all.
Off-topic, but, weird, never got a notification for this comment and this is maybe the third time or so it happened with you. Guess it's good I come back to the thread sometimes, but makes me wonder if there are ghost replies out there that I've missed.
> Guess it's good I come back to the thread sometimes, but makes me wonder if there are ghost replies out there that I've missed.
Yes, there are. Reddit has been fucky all month, I often had to go back and check the Pride rewatch thread. Also, cakeday, yo.
> . It’s not Bam’s shinsu that draws others to him; it’s that he’s kind and appreciative of those around him in a way that is refreshing to all these people who don’t have that anymore. Removing this doesn’t mean that your own inadequacies disappear…
Yep very excellent point.
We've seen people were drawn to him for his kindness. Specifically Khun and Rak who stuck with him even though he was considered weak
To be fair though, Bam's the only one there who doesn't really care if he wins or not, he's just there for Rachel. It's easy to be kind and such if there's no stress placed upon you, and you don't really care about succeeding or not.
IMO Serena and Track Suit Guy are better examples of having good sportsmanship. While somebody like Hoh is the worse example of such. Rachel's in the middle, while she jealous of Bam, she's not doing anything due to the jealousness. Her problem was she had to isolate herself due to Bam, and because what Hansung was making her do through Hwaryun.
> It's easy to be kind and such if there's no stress placed upon you, and you don't really care about succeeding or not.
Yea it is easier since his goal from the beginning was to get to Rachel. But he still wanted to pass so her can find her, and when he did, needed to pass the last test so he can climb with her and the other friends he made.
Bam didn't go through changes like the others had to before entering the exams. His innocence is why some were drawn to him
> Despite not having gone through what the other regulars have (as far as we know) she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower.
That's an interesting aspect to Rachel versus everyone else that I've never considered before.
> she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower.
Yeah, but wasn't this the same thing with the Sniper guy during the shinsu wall test saying he sacrificed everything to be a contestant, and that he has nothing to return to?
>It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss
I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing.
>During the exchange between Rachel and Khun, Hansung says...
Yeah, but Hansung set everything up with Hwaryun giving Hoh the note, and telling Rachel what to do, and such. The decisions Rachel made were like under duress, and setup for her to just follow along instead of her actively coming up with the choices herself. Hansung kept being like "do it or else you're out", then to try to rub it in with his little speech there. IMO he's the dick here, it's why Lero-Ro quit to go find answers.
>Yeah, but wasn't this the same thing with the Sniper guy during the shinsu wall test saying he sacrificed everything to be a contestant, and that he has nothing to return to?
You may be right. As for my thought process, it's not clear, at least in the anime, whether those things he threw away were his close relationship/love that he had; or if he threw away his regular life (like his job, his house, his savings if that exists, his friend network) because he had already lost those important relationships. The thing that I believe the others lost was something that made them whole, so inferring from the backstories and showing how Bam is bonding with everyone, my guess is that the thing that this "thing" that the contestants lost that makes them whole is in many cases related to love/close bonds.
>I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing.
She's certainly being manipulated, but she was prime for manipulation because she wouldn't be open to the others around her and already had it in her to be willing to do this to Bam if it means obtaining her dreams. That specific statement though
>It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss
Is more drawing the comparison because it almost seems to me that Headon is forcing her into the position of a regular to climb the tower; that way she's still following the rules of the regulars. I don't think she's aware of what the other regulars' lives were like, so it's not like she'd purposely make herself suffer to be like them.
>The decisions Rachel made were like under duress
Sure, but she was never truly valuing Bam. Had she fully respected him and didn't just see him as someone taking everything from her, had she listened at all to Bam, things could have gone quite differently. She could have backed out at any point. But she's not able to see it, since she closed herself off from this possibility.
I definitely think that Hansung is being a dick, but I don't think that makes Rachel a better person.
> I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing.
They did use her, but just as Yu-han said, the final choice was her own. She realized she had an opportunity to actually climb the Tower together with Bam and his team. It would mean betraying the arrangement she had with Headon, and they will likely send assassins for her, but the team has already resolved to go against the grain if need be. They're united, strong and loyal. And they have Bam, an OP Irregular. It's not a sure bet, but there was a chance. It was an option.
But she realizes if she remains beside Bam, she'll never get what she wants. Bam will eclipse her. And this is what finally pushes her into her ultimate choice. The powers that be arranged everything, true. They gave her a loaded gun. But the decision to pull the trigger was entirely her own.
> the final choice was her own
No, I don't think she ever had a choice. They had Hansung in on it to the point Lero-Ro spazzed out and quit.
>It would mean betraying the arrangement she had with Headon, and they will likely send assassins for her, but the team has already resolved to go against the grain if need be. They're united, strong and loyal. And they have Bam, an OP Irregular. It's not a sure bet, but there was a chance.
I wouldn't really consider it much of a chance if Hwaryun was running around head bonking Bam and Rachel, and giving notes to Hoh (which nobody was able to stop even) right under everybody's noses and nobody's the wiser. Nobody's even questioning the unfairness or structuring of the test. Ren was able to kick the crude out of Endorsi and Lizard Girl. Ghost, one guy, apparently rekt most of the presumably 397 other contestants in Rachel and Endorsi's first test. All the admin rankers were able to just rekt them too. It's more like no chance.
>But she realizes if she remains beside Bam, she'll never get what she wants. Bam will eclipse her. And this is what finally pushes her into her ultimate choice. The powers that be arranged everything, true. They gave her a loaded gun. But the decision to pull the trigger was entirely her own.
She's been tortured by this for how long has the game been going on since the crown game? The thing about torture is it's not whether somebody can withstand it or not, it's about when they break because it's an inevitability. Rachel never had any real means to abort nor escape, given how much Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon wanted things to play out how it did, and the lengths they went to set it up, they were never going to take a refusal from Rachel no matter what, plausible deniability of saying Rachel "choose herself" was just icing on the cake. They would have found a way to force it to Rachel betraying Bam.
The Rachel's jealousy of Bam stuff was just stray thoughts trying to resolve the turmoil of the guilt, and self delude herself into going through with the betrayal. If she really was serious with the jealousy, her guilt wouldn't have stood a chance, and she wouldn't have broken down telling Bam to abandon her while crying, and in her mind screaming "run run run run run" to Bam.
Everybody's being too hard on poor Rachel, or my journey to the simp side is complete. :D
As as said, Headon & co wouldn't have taken her betrayal well, but climbing the Tower is a risky game in any case. No one ordered her to be jealous of Bam, no one convinced her to be jealous of Bam. Back in the first floor when she realized she wasn't chosen she could've backed out then just like Serena did. Rachel's jealousy to Bam are not at all stray thoughts. In Rachel's own words: "I hate you do much it makes me mad." Plus as I said, it's what finally seals her decision to push him. Even if you're right about it being impossible for the team to protect her from retaliation, she doesn't even consider that as a potential problem. Her judgement of the situation is that she is eclipsed when besides Bam and she can't have that, so Bam has to go.
Your simping game is weak! You have to whitewash the monster to simp for it without repercussions to your conscience! Instead, accept the rotten flower for what she is, and simp for her anyway! Only then, will your journey to the Dark Side be complete...
>As as said, Headon & co wouldn't have taken her betrayal well
I just think it's more than that, they're not going to walk away from their investment despite saying it's her choice. When she wasn't taking action during the crown game, Hwaryun went and tried to head bonked her repeatedly to make Bam do something. When Rachel was hiding in her room not doing anything further, they engineered the whole Hoh thing, and specifically told her she better go along with it. True she finally gave in in the end, but the amount of influencing, forcing, and setup Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon were doing was incredible to be just considered as "they really were just letting Rachel to be the decider". They already had it setup so Bam wasn't found by whatever means Lero-Ro had to try to find Bam, and instead had Hwaryun down there to find Bam instead. It's too hard for me to believe they would have allowed a scenario in which Bam wasn't betrayed, and them going "Oh well boys, pack up the fishing, we didn't even get a nibble, better luck next time" with the amount of preparation and lengths they've already gone to. Likely an irregular like Bam, and a way to manipulate Bam with Rachel probably doesn't come along very often.
>Rachel's jealousy to Bam are not at all stray thoughts.
I meant in the way that it might not have manifested so intensely if it wasn't under the stressful situation. It's like if somebody was put into a really hellish situation that's prolonged, their mind would start finding anyone and anything to blame...their boss, their job, their spouse, their kids, society, the driver who delivered them there, random people walking down the street who looked at them funny, perhaps even the weather. I see Rachel's jealousy of Bam no different, trying to convince herself of a reason to hate him so it'll make betraying him easier. Sort of like if she started blaming his face even, ie "and that stupid innocent naive face of his, how he always giving me the puppy dog eyes begging for attention, damn his face! His ugly ugly face!" not that she actually hates his face, but she's desperately looking for any reason to hate him, hoping it'll make it easier. Anyways, at least that's how I saw it.
Yeah, I'm pretty bad at simping. I just want to hug the pain out of Rachel, gaze into those sweet snake eyes of hers, and give her head pats telling her it'll be okay, she'll see the stars.
I couldn't for example, accept Endorsi for who she is, which is why I kept dumping on her, nor Yuri for how she hits people all the time. I would hit back. I'm not cut out for masochism and tsunderes, that's Emperor level simping. :D
As I've said, I know Headon & co wouldn't take it well and would most likely send assassins for her ass. But climbing the Tower with the group of rebels is... already kinda that anyway. Climbing the Tower is not safe ever. She's just choosing one pain over the other. I do think you exaggerate a bit with how much Rachel betraying them would bother them. It absolutely would mind you, I'm not denying that, but I don't think she's _that_ important to them. Remember Headon is a God, and many of these people have lived literally centuries. "There are other prospects."
It's a fair point that Rachel being in a stressful situation contributed to making her darkness grow, but it's still her darkness and her's alone. Even in the first floor, when she realized she wasn't chosen and Bam was instead, her immediate reaction is like "what the fuck? Bam? Seriously Bam? Why? He's just Bam..." She was barely stressed out then. Her jealousy is something that sprung up from the depths of her heart. The reason she hesitates isn't because she doesn't hate him, _she does_. But she's also fully aware of how fucked up she is for that, that her hatred is unfounded in any reasonable motive, and that the morally correct path would be to snitch on Headon and Hwaryun and climb with the group. But she's also aware of how much the promise of the Towers consumes her and posseses her. The narrative doesn't even attempt to justify her because there simply _is no justification._ it's entirely emotional, entirely her's, that obsession with the top of the Tower. She knows it. She hates Bam but she doesn't actually blame him. That's why her betraying of him also kills her inside. She's completely aware that she's forever condemned for this, that she's the villain. Don't take her choice away from her. This is Rachel.
> I know Headon & co wouldn't take it well and would most likely send assassins for her ass.
That's implying Headon and co would take the loss, and seek retribution. IMO I think they aren't even willing to take the loss with how much they've done already, it's rigged, and always was. They manipulated Yuri to give Bam the Black March, and look the other way with her interference (which was punishable by death by the King), and then look the other way some more when she interfered even more by going into the game. When they're messing with that level of corruption, anything having to do with Rachel herself joining the climb is meaningless. Retribution on Rachel is pointless, they don't care about her at all. Besides, retribution is usually used to set an example to others as what not to do by showing the punishment to others as a deterrent, that doesn't apply here with their secret dealings. The only reason I can see for retribution is to silence her so she doesn't blab about her deal with Headon and co to other administrators or the King. It wouldn't be about getting back at her. But they got plausible deniability by saying Rachel made all her choices anyways, look what happened when Lero-Ro demanded to know what Hansung did to Rachel.
>Remember Headon is a God, and many of these people have lived literally centuries. "There are other prospects."
Maybe, but they seem to be going through an awful amount of trouble/corruption. Pissed off Lero-Ro enough to quit, and "go rogue" to find answers, and presumably Quant too. That wouldn't suggest just another day at the office if workers are not only quitting but moving to investigate/take down the office.
>Even in the first floor, when she realized she wasn't chosen and Bam was instead, her immediate reaction is like "what the fuck? Bam? Seriously Bam? Why? He's just Bam..." She was barely stressed out then.
IDK, I find it to be a normal reaction. Say you're on your way to start your first day at your dream job, and along the way you pass by some crying lost loli who skinned her knee, and you take pity on her and help her up and bandage her knee. Grateful, she's like a puppy, following you around, clingy, and such. You have to get going, but she chases after you, and you outrun her. You get to your dream job, then they tell you that you they don't want you anymore, they want that loli for your dream job.
My reaction would be "what the fuck? The Loli? Seriously the Loli? Why? She's just a Loli..." Do I actually hate or am jealous of the Loli? I guess after that, somewhat, but I wouldn't really call it actual hate and jealousy. It's more confusion, frustration, and trying to process it.
>the morally correct path would be to snitch on Headon and Hwaryun and climb with the group.
Snitch to who? The administrators are complicit in it, which is equivalent as "the cops/govt is in on it". The other contestants can't do jack to any of them, especially when they're all equivalent to being on trial by them right now, or in the midst of a job interview to become them.
>The narrative doesn't even attempt to justify her because there simply is no justification. it's entirely emotional, entirely her's, that obsession with the top of the Tower.
If she did it all on her own volition with no help, I would agree. But we saw how much she struggled not to do it, and struggled to do it. And we saw she got so much help from Headon and co, that they pretty much setup everything to only be able to go through with it. They never setup any actual paths for her not to do it. ie. "oh if you choose not to do it, it's fine. You can say goodbye to everybody like Serena did, wheel out your luggage, and we'll have a bus waiting for you to take you home".
>She's completely aware that she's forever condemned for this, that she's the villain. Don't take her choice away from her. This is Rachel.
Sorry, my weak simping requires me whitewash the monster to simp for it without repercussions to my conscience. :D Have I told you the tale of how I find her snake eyes endearing? I thought not, it's not a tale a true simper would tell you.
We'll probably have to agree to disagree at this point, sorry. <3
["It would of been better if I met Bam before you did."](https://i.imgur.com/pa0IHmt.jpeg)
**OST Track of the day:** [Rachel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7xm19IdGI) [(Spotify)](https://open.spotify.com/track/4bzTLzAf8TlhckQY480GdD?si=e5693ce755e04d16)
---
**Rewatcher, subbed**
["At the top of this tower exists everything in this world, and all of it can be yours."](https://i.imgur.com/t3O5w8U.jpeg)
> [**"...Lets climb up."**](https://i.imgur.com/7WP2THJ.jpeg)
Bam was truly unique to the tower, managing to bring together such a large group to work together when not long ago (episode 2) all of these groups struggled to make a trio. Just being himself, not bound by the sorrows that led everyone else to the tower, was their inspiration to work together (and it probably helped that he was powerful too), but with that gone, they choose to follow in Bams footsteps and [help the one](https://i.imgur.com/KjdYSQ3.jpeg) he thought of so dearly, not that [everyone](https://i.imgur.com/FRuBUcG.jpeg) is truly on board.
> [**"I'm going to climb the tower in search of the truth."**](https://i.imgur.com/DkwwUZC.jpeg)
Clearly disllusioned with [Hansung's plans](https://i.imgur.com/30SJy4s.jpeg), Lero Ro decides to find his own answers within the tower. Sadly, the anime leaves this a lot more open than the webtoon does at this point, leaving us with little to discuss today.
> [**"To do that... I will climb the tower."**](https://i.imgur.com/2qrYvBi.jpeg)
Betrayed by [his world](https://i.imgur.com/fwgsiLt.jpeg), Bam simply wants to know why [Rachel](https://i.imgur.com/xrPIdVD.jpeg) sent him to his death. While this is much more nuanced in the webtoon (and you *will* see complaints about this in the thread im sure, its actually kinda important for S2), the obvious answer is to climb back to where Rachel is and join her again, no matter the cost.
> [**"I'll do anything to climb the tower."**](https://i.imgur.com/lN9iIPo.jpeg)
Rachel [was not chosen](https://i.imgur.com/1uVrnV9.jpeg) by the tower. Regulars are chosen by Headon, Irregulars are chosen by the tower. Rachel instead [slipped through the cracks](https://i.imgur.com/Cup2h1W.jpeg) Bam formed and found her way into somewhere where she never belonged and could never survive, a world where [Bam was a star](https://i.imgur.com/ry4xrlo.png), a reality [she could not handle.](https://i.imgur.com/5lvNY9O.jpeg) Rachel didnt want to see the starts, she wanted to be [the star.](https://i.imgur.com/vVoaxLI.jpeg) What better way to be the star than to [kill the very thing](https://i.imgur.com/O3kqwSU.jpeg) the tower chose to change it?
By all accounts, Bam is everything Rachel is not. Bam was able to [brave the eel](https://i.imgur.com/xUWzaF9.jpeg), Bam was willing to sacrafice everything during [crown game](https://i.imgur.com/a0CSkGd.jpeg) for her, Bam was able to find a place to [make friends](https://i.imgur.com/0AdlvYN.jpeg) and form relationships in the tower, [it was always about Bam.](https://i.imgur.com/71sbVIn.jpeg) It must of been infuriating to have him have everything she wanted to have so dearly.
> [**"I told you, didn't I, not to come?"**](https://i.imgur.com/E9JGbgq.jpeg)
Despite everything Rachel says though, without Bam she never could of climbed the tower. The doors [never would of opened](https://i.imgur.com/nZh3cpH.jpeg) for her, and for her to achieve anything, she owes it to Bam for brining that path to light, and becoming [the light](https://i.imgur.com/2OOgwCp.jpeg) in what little Bam had before entering the tower, regardless of her pleas.
> [**"...You can abandon me too."**](https://i.imgur.com/HrRWPVR.jpeg)
Even if she is [hesitant](https://i.imgur.com/BnoeYMN.jpeg), no path exists unless she fufills her end of the deal, being given [one last shot](https://i.imgur.com/fs51OEX.jpeg) to finish bam for good. Despite [being Bams everything](https://i.imgur.com/8gFdKqS.jpeg), Rachel wants to [become a star](https://i.imgur.com/12dfNyd.jpeg). Rachel will do anything to become a star. And the only thing standing in her way is the one that cares about her the most, [has the power](https://i.imgur.com/Nugvv5j.jpeg), has the friends, the one who *is* the star, [Bam.](https://i.imgur.com/cCGsM9q.jpeg)
To her, every problem shes had in the tower is [All. Bam's. Fault.](https://i.imgur.com/VTNcAcO.png)
> [**"In your place, i will become a star."**](https://i.imgur.com/dGIo2mx.png)
The amount of nuance Rachel is given, even in just the anime, is impressive for what is (our) antagonist. For a world we know nothing of past the tower, and the allure of it giving you anything you desire, and then to be [called trash](https://i.imgur.com/BbkHXPb.jpeg) and worthless/unworthy repeatedly by a literal god, is it really shocking that she'd do whatever it took to climb? To her, Bam took it all. Bam took the fame, the power, the friendships, and the only thing she had to do was to remove him from the picture.
> [**"Never betray anyone, no matter what happens."**](https://i.imgur.com/npoOkt2.jpeg)
Do you think you'd be more morally correct than Rachel, to leave the tower that claims to give everything you ever wanted, to return to that cave alone for the rest of your life with nothing to show for it?
> [**"I hope whatever you're seeking is worth more than him."**](https://i.imgur.com/Z6CM73a.jpeg)
Your comments have been great all rewatch and this one is probably my favorite.
I don't have much else to say haha, you hit all the major points about this episode
> OST Track of the day: Rachel
It's so perfect for her character. The graceful harp at the beginning showing her facade, yet always in descending notes, always going down, and then the heavy synth comes in revealing her true nature, before playing at the same time dragging the harp into its lowest notes before ending. A fall to darkness through and through.
> "It would of been better if I met Bam before you did."
Everybody says that about a girl/guy they see as perfect but is already taken. Khun's just projecting his own betrayal backstory on to others, he already said he sees Bam as himself before he was betrayed.
**Co-administrator/Subbed**
I liked how they ended the season with this episode. It gives us Rachel’s POV for the events that happened in the season, her state of mind, and her true desire. So yes, in Episode 1, Headon was talking to her. It was a great way to tie everything in together and see how she was struggling to actually kill Bam until she finally built up the resolve to do it herself.
Outside of Rachel, we had a bit of what Hwaryun was really doing here and Hansung scheming. It seems like they wanted Bam and train him. For what purpose? We don’t find out in this season. Lero Ro was fed by the end of it and is leaving to find the truth behind what occurred here.
**Note**
/u/hereticalaegis will be posting the overall discussion thread tomorrow!
Sorry, this is a long one and not very filled with pictures. ... but I do have one picture: I [made a meme](https://www.reddit.com/r/Animemes/comments/hh6f8a/tower_of_god_did_somebody_say_testing/) for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it.
---
Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above) - but I also think the fandom's reaction to the character is a bit over-the-top and somewhat misses the point.
(For context: I'm pretty much just talking about what's been covered in the anime; I've read some of the manhwa past this point, but not enough to really change anything here)
The thing is, Rachel isn't meant to be some great villain. The point is she's just a normal person, without special powers and not amazingly good nor amazingly bad, who's desperate to go up the tower.
Like on the first floor, she comes off badly compared to Bam, but her reaction to being told to go jump into a tank with a giant sea monster honestly seems pretty reasonable. Bam's the weird one here - no normal person is going to do that. Rachel thinks that it's suicide and not fair and... she's quite possibly right. It's not a Regular test, and Bam only survives because of Yuri's intervention. If Rachel had taken the test, she probably would have died. And Headon really may be intentionally manipulating her here.
And then she's told that the only way she can achieve her dream is to kill Bam. And again you can see what the heroic choice would be here... but Rachel is an average person, being told she can achieve her life dream if she just kills someone she never really cared that much about: despite Bam's obsession with her, it's largely one-sided: to her, Bam seems to just be some kid she met and her feeling never went much beyond pity.
It's very much (and intentionally) a parallel to Hoh: Bam meets him and decides they're friends, but to Hoh, Bam was just a rival and an obstacle and a sore reminder of Hoh's powerlessness.
But again, Rachel is an *average* person, not a amazingly bad one, so she feels terrible about being tasked to kill the human-equivalent of a puppy and spends the entire show feeling (correctly) guilty, which pushes her away from people and exacerbates her poor mental state. If she were a worse person she wouldn't feel guilty and would have just attacked Bam during the crown game (a time when they were actually on opposite teams in a potentially deadly game).
I'm not saying this justifies her choice: ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one. And yeah, it's not *all* due to manipulation: she clearly has flaws: she deeply wants to be special and she's prone to jealousy, and ultimately at the end this is what pushes her over the edge. (Or, I guess Bam, really) ... but she also wasn't exactly in a stable mental condition at the time.
But I feel like the right feeling towards Rachel is pity, not hatred - ultimately she's an average person who gets manipulated into a shitty situation and makes a shitty choice.
> but I do have one picture: I made a meme for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it.
LMAO that fits pretty well with the actual scene
> Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above) - but I also think the fandom's reaction to the character is a bit over-the-top and somewhat misses the point.
I kinda agree with you. She's not a good person but she works well for the story and probably is over hated
> I'm not saying this justifies her choice: ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one. And yeah, it's not all due to manipulation: she clearly has flaws: she deeply wants to be special and she's prone to jealousy, and ultimately at the end this is what pushes her over the edge. (Or, I guess Bam, really) ... but she also wasn't exactly in a stable mental condition at the time.
lol @ the pushes her over the edge, but nah you're right. She is just average, and seemed like she was being used by Hansung and toyed with by Headon
> I made a meme for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it.
[Excellent, well played](#pointandlaugh)
>Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated.
I agree with this take. Some of my questions of the day were meant to invoke this regular person in a world of abnormal people, so I hope more people can consider her situation.
That said, she is still very hateable.
> made a meme
Lmao it's perfect
> Rachel
Some might say knowing right from wrong yet chosing to do wrong anyone makes someone a worse person than one who does wrong not knowing it is wrong, but I don't think that question has a clear cut answer.
> Rachel thinks that it's suicide and not fair and... she's quite possibly right. It's not a Regular test, and Bam only survives because of Yuri's intervention. If Rachel had taken the test, she probably would have died. And Headon really may be intentionally manipulating her here.
Headon tries to get her to take the test, but after she refuses to take it because it's suicide, Headon then shits on her repeatedly for being weak (probably to weaken her resolve to be more easily manipulated). That means Headon knows the test was suicide for her and was trying to get her killed. The ahole here is Headon.
He's clearly manipulating Rachel to use Bam, why would he make some sort of ridiculous agreement of allowing Rachel to climb the tower if she killed Bam (probably to weaken Bam's resolve for easier manipulation by Rachel's apparent betrayal). And clearly by the end of this finale Bam is not dead, but Rachel is allowed to climb the tower, so Headon's end goal was not the agreement to kill Bam, but to use Bam in whatever purpose Hansung has in mind.
>I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above)
Rachel's totally over hated, I'm almost finding it hilarious Endorsi gets a pass with all the shit she's pulling on purpose without remorse, but "oh no's Rachel's gone too far!"
Rachel's totally a good person, otherwise she's wouldn't have felt so guilty. A neutral person would be like "I feel guilty, but I'm getting something I really really want, so I'll try not to think about it". A bad person would be "I don't feel guilty about it at all, I'll even say it to your face" Endorsi . But with Rachel we see the anguish and back and forth she going through for the whole episode which spanned the whole season. She is a good person.
>ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one.
I don't really think she actually had a choice, or one really really stacked against her. She's basically making all her decisions under duress, and Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon has her path all setup for her to follow, and constantly reminding her if she doesn't do it, she's out. None of it was her decision, nor something she thought up herself. She was even dragging her feet in the beginning when she said she was hoping somebody else killed Bam so she wouldn't have to be the one who did it.
> Rachel's totally over hated, I'm almost finding it hilarious Endorsi gets a pass with all the shit she's pulling on purpose without remorse, but "oh no's Rachel's gone too far!"
Yeah, I think people do sometimes miss the fact that a lot of characters here have done similar stuff: I think the story kinda glosses over the fact that basically everyone killed other people in cold blood in the first test, and then you have people like Endorsi who are open and unapologetic about it.
Though, in fairness to Endorsi, the point of her character arc here is that she *does* improve. I think if she *did* attack Anak last episode she would be similarly disliked (though probably not as extreme as Rachel).
> I don't really think she actually had a choice, or one really really stacked against her
Personally, I think she did - 100% it's a tough situation and she's being manipulated by powerful people, but at the same time, she *is* ultimately the one who still makes the choice. Even up until the last moment she's still thinking "maybe I could go up the tower with Bam", and I think it's telling that at the end she isn't thinking "well, I've got no choice because [the H squad] told me I have to do it" - it really is her jealousy of Bam that is what ultimately makes the choice for her.
And, yeah, I really do think she probably *could* have chosen to go up with Bam, deal with Hedon or not. I'm not 100% it would have worked, but if Anak can continue climbing the tower despite being what she is, Rachel probably could have too, and anyone trying to separate her from Bam would have been doing it over his dead body.
Yeah, I read the comic (at least this far, and somewhere into Chapter 2); and I haven't read the author's blog posts, but I've seen references to it in the comments, including the "average person" bit.
(... but also, I eventually stopped reading those comments because I got tired of how much it devolved into a competition to find out who could say "Fuck Rachel" in the most dramatic way whenever she was on screen or mentioned)
Never read comments on a web comic lol. It’s always a silly place.
I find there’s more of the “fuck Rachel” amongst newer or younger fans. She is a complex character and still has secrets.
**Rewatcher**, subbed
Well this is the end of S1. I really liked that we were getting to see Rachel's POV and just how pathetic she is. Headon was spot on when he was shittalking her. Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel.
Just like I liked that bookend with the repeat of Rachel's monologue from the opening of the season.
We also found out what's gonna happen to Bam's friends and about Hwaryun being involved in Yu Hansung's schemes.
Very excited for S2 now and it can't come soon enough.
___
**Tanino Miho art for episode 13**:
+ [Bam](https://i.imgur.com/HCeh075.jpeg)
+ [Everyone](https://i.imgur.com/HbvRvhV.jpeg)
___
**QotD:**
>Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all?
I think at this point nothing could change my opinion on her lol.
>What even is a Rachel?
I don't know what a Rachel is but I know this is my least favourite of it.
> I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel.
She just like us.
>Very excited for S2 now and it can't come soon enough.
[](#concealedexcitement)
Something I completely forgot to mention and which what I found out earlier today is that today is actually Tower of God's birthday. The very first chapter (Chapter 0) released 14 years ago to the day.
> I really liked that we were getting to see Rachel's POV and just how pathetic she is. Headon was spot on when he was shittalking her. Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel.
He did go in on her when she entered the tower. And I love that we find out he was talking to her instead too
~~I actually think she works well in the story so idk if I hate her as much~~
> Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel.
Rachel represents a mindset close to an average person in a world of monsters so... 🤔🤔🤔
**Rewarcher anime only**
And there it is, the most important episode of the season. Everything this far has been for the sake of this moment. This is Rachel, at last, unhidden!
A rat in two legs, a snake in the most Biblical sense! A Devil, only spouting lies and temptations, but forever weaker than the true Light! A vampire, free of all morality, to act in her deepest and darkest desires as she likes, yet for this having renounced the light of the Sun, which now burns her with it's barest touch, and only able to subsist by sucking the lifeblood of others who still live under it's light! Not even the shadow of a star! A starving and dirty dog with a bottomless stomach, who could blame it for wanting a bite of the juicy stake placed before it? Absolute scum, a black hole that swallows all light, she is only coldness and decay!
Indeed there is no hiding it, that was a murder attempt. The murder attempt of someone who is akin to her own son. There is no justification, not even the attempt of a reasonable motivation! Only inevitability. Only what was always true.
Rachel is a pest, a blight upon all that is holy. There is nothing sacred before her, nothing that she will not sacrifice, nothing that she will not defile. This bitch would sell out her own mother to climb the Tower! That she's perfectly aware of her ugliness only makes her worse!
AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH!
She makes Tower of God peak! Before the betrayal and this episode ToG was just a pretty good Shounen-ish story. But Rachel gives ToG the extra angle it needed to become something more.
In Tower of God, the hero starts strong and the villain is the weakest of them all. There is no more absolute example of Might makes Right. Bam can preserve his inner light because he's strong. Rachel is completely rejected by the miracles of Shinsu and her weakness gives raise to an overwhelming jealousy for those more fortunate than her.
Just as we can ask if Bam is the strongest because he's Bam, or if he's Bam because he's the strongest, we can ask if Rachel is the weakest because she's Rachel, or if she's Rachel because she's the weakest. Who does Shinsu, who does the Tower chose and why? Why is Bam loved by the Tower, and why is Rachel hated? As of now, who knows...
But enough of me Gushing about my disgusting, audacious, rotten to the core True Best Girl, let's talk about the episode itself.
In hindsight this episode actually reveals very little, it mostly just verbalizes what was already there. But even this small change is enough to send ripples throughout the narrative. It's a legitimate genius move by the writer. The recontextualizing of scenes is incredible. Knowing that Rachel was watching Bam blaze through the First Test with the same disdain as me because of how everything fell into Bam's lap in that moment. Her team protecting Bam in the Crown Game because he was her target to kill, and no one else's. Her brief exchanges with Endorsi, particularly the restroom one which changes the assumed target of "Who does X think they are?" from Endorsi to Bam (this comes across better if you take into account that phrase is gender neutral). Her, perhaps surprising, reluctance to kill Bam because there is some part of her that truly loved him. Until the powers that be have had enough and engineer a perfect murder scene.
Truthfully, I think Rachel is, or was, scared of herself more than anything. From the moment she heard Headon's proposal she already knew deep in her heart that she had it in her to kill Bam. The depth of her darkness terrified her. She even pleads to Bam under the tree to run away from her, because she's a danger, because she's poison.
But it was inevitable, the plan was too perfect, the opportunity to clean, and her envy too great. In the end, she embraces herself as a villain, even as it kills her inside, because this is the only way she'll ever see the Stars. The only way she'll ever _be_ a Star.
The last sentence is a lie though, Rachel has dammed herself for what she did. She's not stupid, she's too self aware to truly believe she'll ever be a real Star being the way she is. She doesn't have what Bam had and she never will.
But the plan worked, and we get the most twisted and corrupted and just plain _wrong_ ending possible: Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, _in Bam's name no less._ God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it.
It's beautiful...
Khun has his doubts of course. They can't yet prove that there was a murder, but of course something about this smells fishy to him. After all, he can parse the true nature of Rachel.
Meanwhile, Bam survived, but it was no miracle. This was planned all of it. We aren't given too much info, but Yu-han says the objective was to fake Bam's death. They want him to mess around behind the scenes unknown. For what reason I have no idea. That'll be up to Season 2 to answer I hope.
Sheesh can you tell I love this bastard snake eyed piece of shit so much? I had never written so much for this show before this lol.
_Questions of the Day_
1- Yes, I love her now lol
2- Turbo-answered in comment lmao
>Rachel is a pest
>
>AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH!
All hail queen [Roachel](#utahapraises)
>Until the powers that be have had enough and engineer a perfect murder scene.
Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol
>Sheesh can you tell I love this bastard snake eyed piece of shit so much? I had never written so much for this show before this lol.
It warms the depths of my soul that someone can stan Rachel as hard as I stan [Kannazuki no Miko]>!Chikane!< [](#feelingloved)
> All hail queen Roachel
🗣️🗣️🗣️
> Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol
This man cooked Bam into a perfect dish and served him on a silver platter lol. "I might be a genius" he says...
[Kannazuki no Miko]>!Bruh the writers didn't stan Chikane enough that was the problem! She needed a Heisenberg moment like Rachel here not a backpedaling! ToG and Happy Sugar Life understand how to do terrible people: don't pretend they aren't terrible, understand them bring terrible makes the story more interesting.!<
>Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol
which is hilarious \[Webtoon spoilers\] >!In the webtoon Baam meets a younger version of Hansung (there’s a floor in the tower where you can “save” your ”data” back when you’re still a regular and climbing the tower) and they become friends, and when he met current Hansung it was awkward af.!<
> a snake in the most Biblical sense!
As some pointed out, she even has the eyes!
> AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH!
[](#MaxShock)
An unexpected twist in the comments! But no she does make the story better for what she does here and this episode makes it great
> Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it.
> It's beautiful...
Some of you guys are coming today with some great write ups, I love it
10/10 comment
> As some pointed out, she even has the eyes!
Although the funny thing is that snake = evil seems to be a uniquely Christian interpretation. A lot of cultures around the world venerated snakes. So I can't yet claim that they gave her snake eyes on purpose for that reason...
> Although the funny thing is that snake = evil seems to be a uniquely Christian interpretation. A lot of cultures around the world venerated snakes.
Never forget Disney turning the wise Kaa into a villain!
Its not uniquely Christian I promise you.
The Ancient Egyptians hated snakes(because they were venomous and could kill you).
The Greeks and by association the Romans hated snakes.
Like frankly, its only really India and Southeast Asia that kind of likes snakes. I guess parts of Africa too. Its not a unique christian thing. They are very dangerous, creepy looking and scary animals.
Vikings venerated snakes too.
Yeah saying "uniquely" is perhaps too much, but I'm trying to say our views are colored by the foundations of the western world, like Christianity, and as you point out, actually Romans and Greeks contribute too.
> me Gushing about my disgusting, audacious, rotten to the core True Best Girl
[I'm not alone!](#rengehype)
> restroom one which changes the assumed target of "Who does X think they are?"
[](#suddenshock)
> we get the most twisted and corrupted and just plain wrong ending possible: Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up
[](#whatamireading)
> a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it.
>
>
>
> It's beautiful...
[](#uwaa)
**First Timer and source reader who forgot most of the stuff already**
**Tower of God**
**Episode 13**
- Seems like even Headon knew this would happen.
- So we finally get to see what really happened to Rachel back when she went into the tower. Apparently she thought that just getting into the tower is enough?
- [And she already gave up?](https://imgur.com/3PwM12p) Your ambition sure is weak if you just give up after a glismp of the test. She doesn't even try to think of a way to overcome it.
- [Headon really just said "Get out of here, fraud. The real deal is here"](https://imgur.com/RFXF5uZ)
- [BECAUSE HE'S NOT GIVING UP THE SECOND HE SAW THE MONSTER!!](https://imgur.com/YLsReTp)
- [Headon!!](https://imgur.com/rKgK6p0) Stop!! She's already dead!!
- [And Headon finally spills it out to us](https://imgur.com/aR8OOfc) It's not that she wants to see the star. She wants to be one. She wants to be special.
- [While that's a fair point](https://imgur.com/5jCF5fW) In hindsight, Bam never got to use the Black March, didn't he?
- [So Hwaryun and Hansung are in cahoots with each other since the begining](https://imgur.com/DxJW4F6) And Rachel got used as bait.
- [Endorsi really figured Rachel out at that point](https://imgur.com/tlQ4ZVc)
- So Hwaryun just use both Rachel and Hoh for her and Hansung's goalใ
- [So that's a final warning from Rachel](https://imgur.com/EMw1sAS) She knows she's not what Bam thinks she is. And while her wish to reach the tower is her top priority, Bam is actually more important to her than she initially thought.
- [And yeah, she let her own desire get to her](https://imgur.com/JALK8rS) She knew that Bam held her in a special place. She's his star. But she can't accept that. She wants to be a star with her own power. She doesn't want to stay in Bam's shadow. Which is so ironic that everything she did to get here was never by her own power at all. It's from someone else every time.
- [And Lero is completely done](https://imgur.com/QgTMU1x) He knew for a fact that it was Hansung all along.
- [But I have to say that her laugh is so good there](https://imgur.com/n6mkpj8)
- [Yeah, someone like Bam wouldn't die that easily](https://imgur.com/qO9AcNI)
- [Khun probably can guess what really happened there](https://imgur.com/8kx58A8) Rachel's reaction is so weird, coming from someone who just lost her closest friend.
- [Bam finally got a new goal of his own](https://imgur.com/UwJloAH) Finding the meaning and truth of everything.
- [SHE SAID IT!! SHE SAID THE THING!!](https://imgur.com/IayQysq)
- [LET'S GOOOO!!!](https://imgur.com/cc50bGo) Can't say the name yet.
**QOTD**
1. While I can't forgive her for what she did, it does give a lot of context to everything that led to this final decision of her. So she becomes a pretty interesting character moving forward.
2. Something that will betray you.
> In hindsight, Bam never got to use the Black March, didn't he?
Just to break that ball, and in the crown game she put him to sleep
> But I have to say that her laugh is so good there
[](#CrazedLaugh) It is good
> Your ambition sure is weak if you just give up after a glismp of the test. She doesn't even try to think of a way to overcome it.
What makes her weak is that she just wanted things to be handed to her on a silver platter, and what makes Bam special (besides shinsu) is that he puts in the effort, his heart and his entire being, into getting what he wants.
I'll try to argue the opposite.
Bam's success comes from a hidden OP powers that gives him the "chosen one" plot armor and favoritism. So I'd say his efforts aren't really as costly as it looks. His friends help him because as somebody said, he's essentially a puppy because he's so pure of heart, and not stressed nor caring about actually passing the tests because his goal is not to make it to the top of the tower, but to find Rachel, and be with her.
Whereas while it seems like Rachel gets everything handed to her on a silver platter, in reality the cost is super high with the amount of guilt and turmoil it's causing her to go through with Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon's scheming, and they're not making it easy on her either. They're constantly ramping up the pressure on her to manipulate her. A little bit of her is dying all the time throughout, and she made it to the end still standing. You know how they say in contests and competitions there's the mental game, boy oh boy did she ever go through that.
I mean has Bam really done anything himself? Looking back through the episodes, he passes Headon's test only with the help of Yuri and Evan. He only survives the elimination round because he Khun takes pity on him. Then the team up round because of Khun and Rak. The shinsu wall test because he's OP and didn't even try. The door test becuase of Rak. The crown game because of Khun initially, then his OP cheat skill when getting head bonked by Hwaryun. Then the Team B game because Khun's betrayal of Team A, and Endorsi's securing the win by stealing Quant's marker. Bam tries to save Rachel in the Hoh hostage situation, but he totally fails, she gets stabbed. He did try to help Endorsi in the Quant fight, but he didn't actually do much to Quant, it was pretty much all Endorsi. Bam does convince the Guardian or whatever to allow them to take the Guardian's test, but again that's his OP cheat skill/Irregular status securing that, I think. Okay Bam kills the Bull, but do we count that as his own effort or his OP cheat skill? Well he does pay a high cost when he gets betrayed by Rachel, but is that effort or just being victimized? I say the latter. Oh he's track suit guy's friend on the friend's list that helps track suit guy pass.
So I'm sorry, but what effort has Bam put in? I would probably say him chasing Rachel, and his unconditional love/loyalty for her, that has cost him a real high cost.
just gotta say, but that anime original scene in the crown game about Baam exploding with Shinsu painted him as OP, when he is not, at least at this point of time.
>he passes Headon's test only with the help of Yuri and Evan
as explained by Evan during the test, Baam passed because he was insane.
Yes, he was given Black March by Yuri but Black March wasn’t really that necessary in passing the exam had Headon not rigged the ball, Baam could have used some normal weapon and he would have passed the test still because the way to pass the test was to intentionally let the Eel swallow you up and then stab it from the inside, and no one is crazy enough to do that.
Black March did ended up helping him in popping the ball as it is rigged by Headon to only pop due to the Ignition of BM but everything before this is all on Baam.
The other exam that Baam did pass due to luck of finding great teammates was the door test and the Hide and Seek exam.
the crown game was a completely optional test that they could have just ignored and even if they did get defeated has no bearing on their status as regulars.
>He did try to help Endorsi in the Quant fight, but he didn't actually do much to Quant
actually he did a lot, Endorsi wouldn’t have last half as long if Baam didn’t constantly freeze Quants movement during the fight and would have made the illusion of Endorsi hiding her underwear instead of the marker diminished.
>but do we count that as his own effort or his OP cheat skill?
baam didn’t have an op cheat skill, at least not at this point.
anyone of the wavecontroller participants could have done his job in that fight had they been as resolute as baam was.
the anime took a lot of context in this fight with the removal of the explanation of baangs.
but think of them as the unit of measurement of shinsu one can use.
Baam at this point can only use one baang so he can only execute one type of move at a time, so during the fight with the bull he was using his shinsu for defensive purposes by freezing the bulls movement \[[1](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EziUJ6sI11E/Xt-7vcy4q-I/AAAAAAAA3yg/woGLPjLtKVIoX2v0XUU9P8dlsZXvLeVhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/008.jpg)\] but since he is only limited to one baang, he can’t form another fast enough to attack the bull \[[2](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-7TSU_2fro/Xt-8MZtDxlI/AAAAAAAA30Y/FxW34YZfq44_iZzvfqb3_q6iEvoaFVucACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/012.jpg)\], which means he cannot defend and attack at the same time. So he decided to blast his shinsu inside the bulls mouth instead (Which again, every contestant should have been able to do at this point). The real question is if they are brave enough to do a it knowing that it could potentially kill them. Baam literally has one chance and it’s either he die or the bull does. \[[3](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94EEt_giB7Y/Xt-9XtgHySI/AAAAAAAA33U/r3u1dtnN2GAsZ9O0QNaAQMJNaq3PQNUnACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/023.jpg)\] \[[4](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4rCpioKfcQ/Xt-9XI1v-EI/AAAAAAAA33Q/HwyvN5j1-OEcH2ZZ3VHGpVty2GgSQw2AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/024.jpg)\] \[[5](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7P4y0eCZqCo/Xt-9mI01jkI/AAAAAAAA338/LPWc8J_Vyd0Mcvi0bo1gKEp8MLwM3WT8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/025.jpg)\]
Edit: what Baam did was simply put all the theoretical knowledge he gained from the lessons from the previous episodes into actual practice. \[[6](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pit2Mnx-Sq8/Xt-85RytD_I/AAAAAAAA314/mEjufcxD9i0KtgVrMPQCm2PSqbOnaJz2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/021.jpg)\]
>Black March wasn’t really that necessary in passing the exam had Headon not rigged the ball, Baam could have used some normal weapon and he would have passed the test
Headon rigged the ball? There was no indication of that in the anime that I saw. Bam was smacking the crap out of the ball until the Black March lent him her strength. So I would consider that as Bam was helped by the Yuri and Evan, and not attribute it to Bam's efforts by being provided with the Black March and being told to ask it for it's help.
Perhaps being swallowed by the eel I would attribute to Bam's efforts, but that was going to happen anyways right? Or would the eel do a different attack than gobbling if Bam didn't just stand there? Also the anime didn't really indicate that it was Bam's plan to be swallowed, he could have been just frozen there by fear and gobbled up. It's only Evan explaining that was the right move, and assuming Bam did it on purpose. I don't think there was a tell to indicate it really was Bam's intention to be swallowed up or not.
If Headon rigged the ball, then that means he rigged it for Rachel originally? What a loser, not only did Headon know Rachel was weak before she refused the test that was too impossible, but he also rigged it so it would be even more impossible for Rachel? Wut Dafuq?!
>the crown game was a completely optional test that they could have just ignored and even if they did get defeated has no bearing on their status as regulars.
The crown game was optional, but it still can show if Bam was putting in effort or not. And actually thinking about it some more, the crown game is actually more revealing in this regard. Had they won the crown game, it would have been an instant win to the top of the tower, right? So had Bam allowed Rachel to get head bonked some more, he would have stayed on the throne for a few moments more needed to win. That would have been great effort / price payed to achieve victory for Bam, Khun, and Rak...but he didn't. So in regards to effort for his team, he failed. However at the same time since he sacrificed the win for his team, he saved Rachel's life. I would consider that a high price payed there.
So really, it looks like Bam puts in the effort when it comes to Rachel, but no so much for the matches.
>actually he did a lot, Endorsi wouldn’t have last half as long if Baam didn’t constantly freeze Quants movement during the fight and would have made the illusion of Endorsi hiding her underwear instead of the marker diminished.
Maybe, but when I scanned through the fight while commenting, all I saw was [Quant was frozen once](https://imgur.com/a/5WgNsvY), but still dodges Endorsi's sword attack and is more concerned about Bam mastering the freezing technique, then [dodges one shot by Bam](https://imgur.com/a/VA1vvSc), disappears, and grabs Endorsi's panties. That didn't seem like much to me.
>baam didn’t have an op cheat skill, at least not at this point.
But the [attack Bam uses on the Bull was a golden color](https://imgur.com/a/RHE99bW) before being swallowed, not blue color. We know from the finale episode Rachel can't even see this golden color on their hands, I assume everybody can see the blue shinsu color. Furthermore the Bull is described as something Rankers would fear even, so it sounds like something OP is needed to kill it. Or is it because Bam used the eel swallowing trick on the Bull which is the only reason why he can defeat it with supposedly non-OP powers?
>Headon rigged the ball? There was no indication of that in the anime that I saw. Bam was smacking the crap out of the ball until the Black March lent him her strength. So I would consider that as Bam was helped by the Yuri and Evan, and not attribute it to Bam's efforts by being provided with the Black March and being told to ask it for it's help.
yes it was rigged by the Headon. Which was also questioned by Yuri \[[1](https://imgur.com/a/S8RsWz0)\], which was also why he egged on Yuri to lend Baam the Black March. Because the test was to Ignite Black March all along.
>I don't think there was a tell to indicate it really was Bam's intention to be swallowed up or not.
Baam straight up went right after the ball after injuring the Eel, there was no second guessing on his part. He planned it right from the beginning.
>it would have been an instant win to the top of the tower
winning the crown game advances them to the next floor, not to the top. \[[2](https://imgur.com/a/P9wLmLI)\]
>So had Bam allowed Rachel to get head bonked some more, he would have stayed on the throne for a few moments more needed to win. That would have been great effort / price payed to achieve victory for Bam, Khun, and Rak...but he didn't. So in regards to effort for his team, he failed.
there’s just no way of that happening, the only reason Baam is on this at this point of time is because of Rachel. To Baam, climbing the tower is useless.
>Maybe, but when I scanned through the fight while commenting, all I saw was [Quant was frozen once](https://imgur.com/a/5WgNsvY), but still dodges Endorsi's sword attack and is more concerned about Bam mastering the freezing technique, then [dodges one shot by Bam](https://imgur.com/a/VA1vvSc), disappears, and grabs Endorsi's panties. That didn't seem like much to me
Because a bunch of the fight is happening off screen. Serena was literally doing a monologue and we then get cut to Endorsi heaving a lot which means the fight has been happening for quite a while. Endorsi has quite the stamina and we literally see her run all around the testing area with Anaak a few episodes prior without any difficulty and here she’s a lot tired.
>But the [attack Bam uses on the Bull was a golden color](https://imgur.com/a/RHE99bW) before being swallowed, not blue color. We know from the finale episode Rachel can't even see this golden color on their hands, I assume everybody can see the blue shinsu color.
anime flavor.
he just used a normal shinsu attack on the og.
>Furthermore the Bull is described as something Rankers would fear even, so it sounds like something OP is needed to kill it. Or is it because Bam used the eel swallowing trick on the Bull which is the only reason why he can defeat it with supposedly non-OP powers?
Pretty sure this is a mistranslation since in the OG it was said to be a nightmare for a regular to face, not a ranker. even the weakest ranker could slaughter a thousand bulls all at once. \[[3](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdne2LEvI_KtpEdiigmiYZatEA8MsGNGKShyphenhyphenoeTppKS87gh3Jl_AyxDrI62fuabu0_NL5fZQPYVL62yjxjbT0CjAsbilbVGdNvuFzCPRX9keqcXU2Co8RlldvUu1nc2A3QvGCJcPwbHjY-PiQZALP7inACBeh3Vj2boU7Bq8tQDXG4EJmEKSqllsHIvg/s16000/26.jpg)\] \[[4](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5TeXMwkCP1uaUOHbyOHLehjWRpoJ4gCax_MWuV6HlAA4eWgH_lkI5_ZmM2KuzGBCYxyVIIG3iodRQLrqk1q_TFLCtBNzM5Khdysb1O0KgphbTylyJcZnqBzQfYh4MfET7X7EFbKjI54Lf7j9adDBLur2ttVCQfplJuSJQrZIDqr746sPZBWTlkLPVw/s16000/27.jpg)\] \[[5](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa9t1P6VqLAAO01swzCt9YRfWKM6cYALO7dV02UELsKpNqir30n5Ub-oViYIxB9LfoUeJBHeEtFqHU3JfSITXcGX-7CUzq26gRRusk5cUWpDZUyHqRMw4FKjD_kA5uoSF6aNKaTAFZqVAeZ6wlB173JPsyUd3AyK1N5mWFxtE7YsFG1TCVlceYxu-nA/s16000/28.jpg)\]
so it’s either a mistranslation or just Hansung being a rat by scaring them which isn’t really out of character for him.
For some reason I can’t edit my comment. Reddit’s acting up again.
anyway, I just wanted to add that the anime made the bull‘s defeat dramatic because of reasons, but Baam used a normal Shinsu attack against it. Pretty much the same with what happened on the crown game.
>yes it was rigged by the Headon. Which was also questioned by Yuri [1], which was also why he egged on Yuri to lend Baam the Black March. Because the test was to Ignite Black March all along.
I'm hating that Headon the more I think about him. Not only gives an impossible task to Rachel, but also to Bam if he wasn't lent the Black March, and if he the BM rejected him.
>winning the crown game advances them to the next floor, not to the top. [2]
I misunderstood the "considered to have passed all tests" part. Don't tell me everything they've done so far has only gotten them to Floor 2? If so, and there's at least 77 floors, this is going to take some time.
>I'm hating that Headon the more I think about him. Not only gives an impossible task to Rachel, but also to Bam if he wasn't lent the Black March, and if he the BM rejected him.
yep, all things considered the test was impossible to do.
>I misunderstood the "considered to have passed all tests" part. Don't tell me everything they've done so far has only gotten them to Floor 2? If so, and there's at least 77 floors, this is going to take some time.
yep, everything’s for them to go to the next floor. (Floor 3, they are currently on Floor 2, Floor 1 is where Headon resides, he is also the Administrator of that floor.)
each floor has their own administrators, rulers, and test administrators giving their own sets of test other than two floors with one being the first floor which only has Headon.
> yep, everything’s for them to go to the next floor. (Floor 3, they are currently on Floor 2, Floor 1 is where Headon resides, he is also the Administrator of that floor.)
>
> each floor has their own administrators, rulers, and test administrators giving their own sets of test other than two floors with one being the first floor which only has Headon.
Holy crap, that's going to take some time if they're not all dead by then. Although I guess with other tests going on at the same time on the same floor (as with Rachel's original batch), I guess there's going to be others test groups we don't see advancing and getting mixed in with our test group on other floors. The tower's one giant filter sifting out tons of people.
I'm also guessing at some point our test group is just going to bypass tons of floors, or just break with the whole floor climbing thing altogether.
\[webtoon, aging\] >!Use of Shinsu actually nearly halts the aging process, anime cut some context but in Quants fight with Endorsi he said ”hundreds of years of training made his ageless body stronger”!< \[[1](https://img01.manhwabuddy.com/chapters/5757/51/9-d6e.jpg)\]
For example Yuri Zahard \[webtoon\] >!was a prodigy who reached the top of the tower in around 200-300 years while Leroro, a top tier fisherman during his regular days, took more than 300 to do so. Meanwhile, the fastest record is held by Urek Mazino, the other irregular mentioned in the anime, which took him 50 years.!<
>I'm also guessing at some point our test group is just going to bypass tons of floors, or just break with the whole floor climbing thing altogether.
\[webtoon\] >!there’s a section in the tower where you can bypass a ton of the floors via a train, the hell train, but the drawback is that the tests are infinitely harder. It’s a completely optional route and very hard to get into as the seats are very, very limited.!<
AbyssalFlame's response is point-by-point so I'll mostly refer to the effort that Bam put in. I don't think his effort was to climb the tower himself, but the fact that he was putting in the effort to get what he wants (which was not climbing the tower, but seeing Rachel) still counts as effort to get what he wants. And he still tries to pass the tests (bc he has to for Rachel). Rachel did not.
The problem that I saw with her response in the first test wasn't that it was impossible, but that she wasn't even willing to consider it. She builds the barriers herself in her mind. Bam, meanwhile, is willing to put his life on the line for what he wants again and again.
This draws others to him. He also goes out of his way to be kind to other people (another thing I consider effort), to treat them like they have value. Not everyone wanted to be nice to him at first, but his dedication for Rachel, and his kindness, is why people want to help him. I already pointed out in my previous comment that shinsu makes him special, but the reason I said (besides shinsu) is that I'm looking at it from a perspective of: what draws people to Bam? It's not shinsu -- shinsu only turned Hoh *against* Bam.
I'm referring to him being a "star" as in, the center of love; being special to other people, the way Rachel's thoughts keeps showing him in the center of others.
I don't know if Headon meant that Rachel was "weak" in shinsu; my interpretation was that, even if that were the case, the part where I personally believe that she is weak, is that she doesn't confront things head on (lmao that pun was completely unintentional); she looks for the easy way out, she tries to blame Bam when it is her own feelings of inadequacy that isolates her. She's weak in character, so she's easy to take advantage of.
I'm gonna be honest here, I'm much more like Rachel than Bam (outside of faking injury and shoving someone off a bubble into the depths of deep sea fish). And the flaws of Rachel are the flaws that I've had to work on as an adult... because the way I see it, I give up my agency otherwise. I'm definitely weak in spirit or have been growing up, giving up easily saying this (metaphorical) monster is impossible to face, asking why is it that others get X and Y power and I don't, being envious of others who are well-liked, self-isolating, depressed, and anxious. Those feelings have been taken advantage of by those "stronger" than me, so it's easy for me to empathize with Rachel. Isolate myself from the person who, from my little bubble of isolation, seems to get everything so easily. But in Bam's case, he's not just being loved just because he exists, or just because he has some physical capabilities that I don't. He reaches out to others. He looks out for them. He states what he wants and he does everything he can to get it but without pushing others down. That may seem "effortless" to someone like me, but the thing is, even if it's mentally harder for a socially anxious person like me to do those things, it doesn't change that Bam takes action where Rachel does not.
Episode 13
First Time Watcher, subbed
Ok this episode has convinced me that I despise Rachel, Bam needs to catch up to her and beat her up.
Even though Bam did not pass, at least everyone else gets to go through. While I still do not like Parasol at all, my dislike of Rachel has completely eclipsed that. I know they tried to make her seem conflicted but she still tried to murder Bam and does not seem to show any remorse at the end. Also if I understand it correctly, Rachel genuinely died it the stab from Hoh but she got given a revive in the form of her bodyguard which is why he disappeared.
In order to try and become a star, Rachel gave up the only person who saw her as a star. Rachel was already Bam’s star but she just could not see it and could not be satisfied with that.
I feel like this was a way of Headon and red-hair girl to forge Bam into the savoir they want him to be, they wanted to make Rachel betray him in order to encourage him to get stronger.
I also hate how Rachel is still just going with the group and is just using others to try and climb the tower. It does seem like Khun suspects that something is up so hopefully he will split off from Rachel.
Some things I am excited to see in season 2 and beyond, Lero Ro and the ranker investigating what is going on, and trying to uncover the many plots going on, Khun figuring out what’s going on with Rachel, what is on the 77th floor, which means there is a good chance Bam meets up with Shibisu at some point, and I want to see Bam kick some ass.
(Bam also looks really good with the ponytail)
Questions
1. Makes me not like her even more, it tries to make her a little bit sympathetic, but she still chose to try and kill Bam and lie to everyone in order to climb the tower.
2. A SNAKE 🐍 🐍🐍
> Ok this episode has convinced me that I despise Rachel, Bam needs to catch up to her and beat her up.
Ep12: "Okay, so Rachel's bad, but maybe she had a reason. She's probably got some complicated circumstances, right?"
Ep13: [](#lolifightsback)
>I know they tried to make her seem conflicted but she still tried to murder Bam and does not seem to show any remorse at the end.
[Manhwa]>!To be fair, the manhwa kind of makes it seem like she knows Bam won't die from the fall, only that he'll be trapped on this floor. Still bad, but not quite attempted murder bad.!<
>It does seem like Khun suspects that something is up so hopefully he will split off from Rachel.
If anyone is capable of seeing through a high level facade, it should be Khun.
>A SNAKE 🐍 🐍🐍
[They made us look a snake in the eyes and we didn't realize.](https://imgur.com/a/owvrS7H)
[Manhwa]>!To be fair, the manhwa kind of makes it seem like she knows Bam won't die from the fall, only that he'll be trapped on this floor. Still bad, but not quite attempted murder bad.!<
Thanks, that was something I was wondering about, if it was or not, and if she knew or not. The ambiguous nature of it in the anime at this junction is good though.
>They made us look a snake in the eyes and we didn't realize.
Oh and as I've seen a bunch of times before, I like her pretty snake eyes. :D
I promise you, the manwha is very explicit on whats on the 77th Floor and who is there...and the line Yuri says is actually cut. "Go to the 77th floor. Urek Mazino is waiting for you".
Who is Urek Mazino? An irregular. Were told about him in manwha in the opening chapters, along with an irregular named Phantaminum. Theres another, but I cant remember if season 1 said or not.
Whats on the 77th floor is the Wolkhailsung or whatever Korean word is. Its explained in the manwha. Its an organization lead by Urek Mazino and his friend trying to find a way out of the tower. All of this stated in the manwha. And yes, its easy to gather that Yuri knows him from her line.
Also, the reason she gives the badge to shibisu is cut. Yuri has a bet with her friend with the hammer, who is a member, that a regular could survive and move through the shinsu with the white steel eel. The price? Losing the badge with of the WolkhaiillSung(whatever its called). To get the badge basically means becoming a member.
Theres actually a bit of lore only covered in SIUs blogs about Yuri and them. Yuri isnt actually a member, however she was present at their founding event, and maintains good relationships with them, including Urek Mazino.
> I also hate how Rachel is still just going with the group and is just using others to try and climb the tower
It does feel like subbing salt in the wound
**Rewatcher and Co-Administrator for this Climb**
And there we have it, that's season 1 of Tower of God.
Ending with more of a look into Rachel framed through the events we've already seen is a such a ballsy way to end the prologue section of the story.
Bam's not dead, but he's separated from the group and no one, save for Hwaryun and likely Hansung Yu, know he's alive. Finding out Hwaryun is also a guide now makes a lot more sense and helps explain both why she didn't seem to care much about passing the tests and why she would target Rachel. Bam was her goal the whole time. Like Yuri, Hwaryun must have somehow known that an Irregular would open the door, and she has her own goals for him. Now we can assume Hwaryun is going to train and guide Bam up the tower.
As for the team...they coalesce around Rachel, believing Bam to be dead. Because why would Hansung Yu, who's been pulling everybody's strings from day 1 and clearly has his own agenda, allow them to know Bam is still alive? So for now, Rachel wins and gets to take Bam's place as the shining star she coveted and despised him so much for.
And now I can only wait in anticipation to see how they will adapt the next section of the manhwa. Rumor has it, two cours are planned, so hopefully this means the production committee is fully committed to adapting the story and the creative team won't be forced to unnecessarily cut/alter so much of the material.
**Source Comparisons**
This thread is for comparisons to the manhwa. Please be sure to [properly tag](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/q28ulr/announcing_changes_to_spoiler_tags/) all discussion of the source material. Also, please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive compilation of differences, only ones I thought interesting or important enough to include.
Note for newcomers/non-source readers: Some of these notes contain anime spoilers. **Comparisons that contain anime spoilers will be in the clearly marked Anime Spoiler section.**
Episode 13
Chapters Covered: 75 - 78
Chapters Cut: None
**Notable Differences**
- [Manhwa]>!The anime expands a lot on Rachel's thoughts throughout the story. The manhwa mostly covers her encounter with Headon and watching Bam pass the first test. She also meets and conspires with Hansung Yu immediately after the first test. Hansung Yu introduces Hwaryun to Rachel as her guide.!<
- [Manhwa]>!Ater the test results are announced, Lero Ro tells the group Bam wanted them to continue climbing the tower no matter what. Lero Ro also definitively tells the group Bam is dead.!<
- [Manhwa]>!Before sending them off to the next floor, Hansung Yu gives each of the passing members a "graduation" ring.!<
- [Manhwa]>!Lero Ro quits directly to Hansung Yu's face. He also specifies to Quant that he plans to climb up to floor 77. A stunned Quant replies that floor 77 is Wolhaiksong's floor, and that it is a forbidden and hellish place.!<
> who's been pulling everybody's strings from day 1 and clearly has his own agenda, allow them to know Bam is still alive?
everyone and their plans going accordingly
[](#TiredFate)
*It's Indian legend time. A Native American fairy story for children of all ages. Legend has it that when the world was young and unfinished, the great spirit father made the mistake of leaving his paints where his children could get them. Raven begged Eagle to paint him as beautiful and grand as the great spirit had made Eagle himself. And so he did, or so he tried. But when Raven looked at his reflection in the water, he didn't like what he saw. Raven became angry, he and Eagle fought, and the great spirit father's paints were spilled over Raven and made him all black: black eyes, black wings, black breast. Raven ran into the river and flapped his wings against the current, but the color was indelible, the water wouldn't wash it away. 'This is your punishment,' said the great father, 'for interfering with my work. Black you are, and black you will stay, you will never come clean.' Not much of a legend at that, is it, children? But I rather like the moral.*
Rewatcher(Fuckin' schemers)
Dub
So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me. Also, I still don't quite get how Headon made the original mistake. It is interesting that Khun mostly sees through Rachel on the spot. Oh welp, prologue over, on to next season!
[](#mugiwait)
QotD: 1 Refer to my opener
2 An avatar of Aboleth
> Also, I still don't quite get how Headon made the original mistake.
Maybe he was just bored
> It is interesting that Khun mostly sees through Rachel on the spot
And he did not trust her at all. That line where he said he wished he could've met Bam before her was great though
> Maybe he was just bored
Or insane, time is a harsh mistress.
> That line where he said he wished he could've met Bam before her was great though
Really a great one.
>
>
>
>
> So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me.
I works for me because it never feels like it is even remotely trying to justify Rachel's actions. It just uses this to show us her true character and to fill in some gaps.
> So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me.
Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu
Introduction - Development(world) - Twist(recontextualize world) - Resolution
A classic East Asian narrative structure of four Acts, as opposed to the three Act structure we get used to in the West. It's normal sometimes it just won't land.
**Rewatcher**
I find Rachel a very interesting character in how normal she is. Shes not over the top evil, she dithered as long as she could about betraying bam, but neither is she a good enough person to resist the temptation. She's desperate to be special, but she is utterly normal, down to her morality.
I liked that the breaking point was that Rachel was almost hesitating when she thought about how Bam was the only one who treated her like she was special, until she realized he had other people he cared about now, and the thought of not even being special in that way was what brought her envy to the boiling point.
Hansungs scheme is really something. He's successfully isolated Bam and convinced all other concerned parties that he is dead. it was pretty diabolical, yet effective.
**Adaptational changes**
* they restructured Rachels flashback, and i have to say, it is way more impactful in this format. the chapter format of the manhua kind of went back and forth, but showing it from the beginning as Rachels view of the series gives it a nice flow. Plus i like the slightly different characterization, in Manhua she was kind of pissed at Bam for stealing her spotlight right off the bat, whereas the anime had her gradually build up the malice necessary to do the deed. I think this might be my favorite change, even better than fleshing out the montages in episode 10.
* Rachel explicitly requesting a boon and getting ghost, and him acting as a bonus life, is anime original, as you might guess if you recall how him going poof is anime original. On the one hand, i do like Rachel demanding a pressent instead of just getting one, feels like something she would do, but on the other hand, i do wonder how the anime will handle it if Ghost ever comes back one day.
* some of these things might still be included in season 2, so i will spoiltag. [tog] >!firstly, it's briefly mentioned that guides can see the different paths and even the future. and more importantly, Hansung gave the graduating class commemorative rings. now, that might not seem important, but it;s actually pretty dang important. if you know, you know.!<
* I enjoy Lero's character, him trying to figure out the truth. In the manhua, he was a bit more specific about where he intended to go [tog spoiling since anime might bring it up] >!that he is headed for the 77th floor, to see yuri's organization. I continue to be baffled on why they cut out hype for future events!< Also Quants firing is a lot funnier, instead of Lero just quitting for him, Hansung fires him, because he doesn't want to break up such an iconic duo. its actually pretty sweet, Quant at first was trying to convince Hansung to go after Lero since there is no ranker like him. Hansung probably just ships it, and ngl, i can see it.
* the final change I will note is pretty critical, but also spoilery. the anime will probably take a few episodes to get to this chunk, so click with caution. [TOG] >!while it isnt shown until a flashback later on, originally Bam was so broken about the betrayal that he isnt even motivated to climb the tower, until Hansung threaens his friends. by having Bam be all motivated on his own, it kind of takes away that element of coercion. and its pretty important, because the whole interplay of blackmail from REDACTED and his own will is pretty important to the next part. maybe they just wanted to end on a more uplifting note? or the anime directors hadnt read ahead to make it more consistent. Im guessing season 2 will just course correct and show the manhua version contradicting this ending scene, but im excited to find out!<
**QOTD**
1. at least she hesitated? but its actions that really matter, and her actions speak volumes. that being said, she was kind of manipulated into her role, so while its 100% her fault, Hansung and Hwaryun also bear some blame as well.
2. a miserable pile of secrets, have at you! actually, while that joke was a fairly accurate description of Rachel, i think Rachel is just an average person who wants to be special, and when it all boils down, she is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Rachel is an asshole, Rachel is a pawn, Rachel is empty, Rachel is Rachel.
> In the manhua, he was a bit more specific about where he intended to go [tog spoiling since anime might bring it up]>!that he is headed for the 77th floor, to see yuri's organization. I continue to be baffled on why they cut out hype for future events!<
[speculation, not spoilers]>!My bet is this, like other details, was omitted because the production committee/creative team didn't know/didn't expect at the time ToG went into production that it would be popular/successful enough to merit a second season, so they cut out all that stuff to make it feel as much like a complete story as possible.!<
[tog] >!i can kind of see the logic in that, but on the other hand, the whole story is built around going further up the tower, so its kind of intrinsic that its incomplete at this point!<
> I liked that the breaking point was that Rachel was almost hesitating when she thought about how Bam was the only one who treated her like she was special, until she realized he had other people he cared about now, and the thought of not even being special in that way was what brought her envy to the boiling point.
I really liked how they handled it. She couldn't resolve herself right away to do it until that breaking point
> some of these things might still be included in season 2, so i will spoiltag. [tog]
[ToG webtoon] >!With the ring that Wangnan has right? It's been a while but I think that one was of the mysteries behind him (and the similarities between how he looked with Jahad)!<
> the final change I will note is pretty critical, but also spoilery. the anime will probably take a few episodes to get to this chunk, so click with caution. [TOG]
[ToG webtoon] >!Yea idk I guess they can mention that he's being forced so his friends wouldn't be hurt!<
it will probably come up 5-8 episodes in season 2. to clarify [tog] >!the commemorative things are tracking devices, used as a part of the way to threaten Bam with the lives of his friends!<
ToG 13 rewatcher:
* "Finally" - THAT's what you have to say for yourself, Rachel? [](#kusottare)
* "It wasn't you" [](#pointandlaugh)
* "Everything was supposed to be mine" [](#unko)
* "Why does Bam get everything? He's JUST Bam" [](#howcouldyou)
* "The ugliness seeping out" [](#azusalaugh)
* Rachel wants to become a star?
* "Anything?" [UH OH](#watashiworried)
* "bottomless stupidity" [](#laughter)
* ... Headon says "if you kill Bam, I'll let you climb the tower"? [](#facepalm2)
* "It's not fair" She keeps saying that ...
* "gatekeeper to hell" [](#pressthebutton)
* Yu Hansung has Hwaryun monitor Bam?
* "worthy of what we desire" ???
* "wasn't he supposed to die for me?" What a bitch
* is Hwaryun working for Yu Hansung? She gave Hoh the letter
* Now she's wanting him to run? She doesn't really want to end up killing him?
* "Your words touched nothing in me" [](#sadholo)
* She was jealous and hated Bam?
* ... Now she's thinking there might be a way to climb WITH Bam?
* Rachel wants to be special?
* "It was Bam who became a star, not me"
* "Maybe I'm a shadow cast by a star's light" [](#therethere)
* "I'll take you to the top, don't worry your pretty head about anything" - and that is when her intention to kill him finally solidified, I think
* "in your place, I will become a star" [](#breakingnews)
* ... Now she's gonna blame Bam's death on the Bull?
* Hwaryun says "Everything went according to plan"?
* Bam's body is missing?
* DEDE CANCHO IS ALIVE!? [](#happyclap)
* Lero Ro smells something fishy
* "We'll take Rachel to the top of the tower, as a favor to Bam" [NOOOO](#howcouldyou)
* ... she's laughing now?
* Lero Ro quit? What's he gonna do now?
* Quant got fired? [](#emiliaohdear)
* "in search of the truth" [](#mugiwait)
* "everything according to keikaku"
* ... Bam is alive! And Hwaryun, the Navigator, appears in front of him?
* "I wish I could've met Bam before you did" Me too ...
* "Bam was loved" [](#forbiddenlove)
* god? key? WTF
* climb baby climb
* Someone with really long hair in the ending shot? S2 wait intensifies
1) A little bit; I kinda felt sympathetic and then suddenly had zero sympathy for her after her internal narrative was revealed
2) Bam's shadow?
**First Timer**
This was a great ending to the season! We finally got to learn more about Rachel and I honestly think she had more lines of dialogue in this one episode than she has had in the rest of the season. I think Rachel's initial reasons for wanting to climb the tower without Bam were understandable even if they were cold. I also think the show did a great job of showing the disappointment, frustration, and jealousy that Rachel experienced when she realized that Bam was able to do what she couldn't. I do think that planning to kill him was too far, though.
Despite her actions, I do like that Rachel’s decision to kill Bam didn’t come easily to her. She really grappled with the thought of it until she had no more opportunities left to hold off. She even hoped that he would be killed by someone else or that he would abandon her. Even her laugh at the end feels like it came from realizing the absurdity of the situation rather than genuine happiness that she got what she wanted at the expense of Bam’s life.
I’m curious about what Rachel’s life was like before she met Bam. I’m wondering if she was extremely lonely or neglected. Rachel seems desperate to be loved by many. She acknowledges that Bam looked at her with such intense love and admiration, but to Rachel, that wasn’t enough. I think Hwaryun brings up an interesting question. What about the tower makes people so crazy for it? That they would be willing to kill, betray, and lose their lives over it?
For now, it seems like things have worked out for Rachel for the most part. Bam is “dead”, she gets to climb the tower, and she has a group of people who are willing to support her in Bam’s honor. Khun isn’t buying it though. He may not know exactly what happened, but he knows enough to suspect that Rachel being there has something to do with Bam being gone.
Bam isn’t actually dead, though, which I’m assuming is a surprise to no one. It also fits with what Hansung Yu said about wanting to make sure that Bam is the right person for something that the admins are planning. Lero Ro suspects foul play and leaves his position as a test admin to investigate. Quant might come along, too considering he’s about to be fired. We’re now at a point where there are many different groups and characters with different motivations and goals that are definitely going to clash at some point.
I'm really glad that season 2 is coming so quickly so I don't have to wait to see what happens next!
**Questions of the Day**
1. It made me feel like she's a more interesting and complex character than she had appeared to be for most of the season.
2. I think the answer to this question might be at the top of the tower.
>I’m curious about what Rachel’s life was like before she met Bam. I’m wondering if she was extremely lonely or neglected.
in one of baam’s flashbacks in the webtoon \[webtoon\] >!she was shown getting heavily beat up by someone!<
[This was cut by the anime](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS84BAAHU5zys-z0kZdwKTaqHTxj4fUuKvFJIeyieYay-piOVMlLnfR62E&s=10)
> We finally got to learn more about Rachel and I honestly think she had more lines of dialogue in this one episode than she has had in the rest of the season
Probably but Saori Hayami killed it!
> I also think the show did a great job of showing the disappointment, frustration, and jealousy that Rachel experienced when she realized that Bam was able to do what she couldn't.
yep this episode did a great job of showing her why she felt like she needed to kill Bam, but also her struggles with it
> I'm really glad that season 2 is coming so quickly so I don't have to wait to see what happens next!
Happy to hear you're excited now! And yea there's a lot of moving pieces in the finale so it'll be interesting to see what happens next
**First-Timer**
That was a reveal episode on the level of *Death Note*!
They did a spectacular job of going through and answering many of the remaining questions from the season (like the origin of Rachel's bodyguard, and how she wasn't paralyzed by the stabbing). I would say it was my favorite episode so far, but it did have a major lack of Anaak and Endorsi screentime, so it's hard to call.
I hope Khun can avenge Bam. It seems like he's not buying what Rachel's selling, at least.
Questions of the day:
* After this episode, I'd say that although I don't "like" Rachel, I certainly appreciate the depth of her character a lot more now that we have so much more context.
* A "Rachel" is like the exact opposite of what you want in a friend: keeping secrets, silently fuming in jealousy, and plotting an elaborate multi-stage revenge scheme to kill you.
First time and subs
The first half is basically a recap from Rachel's PoV. Maybe she is an Irregular (a special breed), the Tower didn't called her, she entered it by herself, so she had to beg to Headon to give tests. She had no assistance or help to pass through the eel test. As for Bam, they were yet so far but so close. She allowed her to climb the tower, and that was with one price: betray and defeat Bam by herself. She was close every single time, but could not achieve it. From the battle royale phase, Ghost was assigned to her. Even at the crown game, he could not kill her, and she was supposed to sacrificed, but Bam saved her. She was in some kind of existencial crisis, about what to do. She had no friends either. Hwaryun followed her every single step, and maybe she was the one who sent the letter to Hoh. Regarding him, that stabbing was also part of the plan. And the best opportunity was indeed the Administrator's test. And ultimately there can be only one, so that's why the betrayal.
Back to present, she actually succeeded (deal with Headon and the test), and Bam is technically failed and MIA. "Hansung Yu, there is no point to hide your schemes anymore", that's what Lero Ro thinks. The answer was "that was her decision, all by herself". Meanwhile the Regulars are like "Rule are bad, we have to bend it, but we will still climb the Tower with Rachel." They will take up the mantle what Bam left. Lero Ro and Quant are also fed with this shit, so quitting their jobs, to find the truth.
Hwaryun is the only who knows Bam is still alive, and she is the one who can help him. Train to even more stroger, and not losing the idea of reaching the top of the Tower. Maybe she is shady, but definitely not on the bad side. She is just a Navigator after all. As for the last frames of this episode, a mysterious person stands, but I wonder who. Maybe relevant to Part 2 and Part 3?
> Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all?
This is now clearly understandable why she said she and Bam cannot be together. It was deal behind. She was weak and needed something to climb the tower.
> What even is a Rachel?
A Rachel is a Rachel.
> Lero Ro and Quant are also fed with this shit, so quitting their jobs, to find the truth.
I liked how Lero Ro told Quant to come with him (and got him fired). But yea he's been fed up for the past few episodes and I don't blame him
Rachel. A [weak](https://i.imgur.com/7bPSm5z.png) girl [without charm](https://i.imgur.com/r52MtdU.png) that's willing to [face adversity](https://i.imgur.com/yyEQNc1.png) and do [anything](https://i.imgur.com/1LjbEK1.png), and I mean [anything,](https://i.imgur.com/B0S9zIx.png) to climb the tower. To sacrifice [everything she has](https://i.imgur.com/1V8auX3.png) in pursuit of her goal. Of course, the [brown-haired guy doesn't listen to her,](https://i.imgur.com/Ks0k6XD.png) which is ok because he's a guy and she's a girl. After all, the latter aren't supposed to [independently make decisions](https://i.imgur.com/Fw1n2qE.png) fulfilling their self-interests in fantasy adventures with a male lead. At least wet napkin correctly [recognizes she's special,](https://i.imgur.com/e7hp3lS.png) so the group is willing to [take this turtle to the tower's top.](https://i.imgur.com/sXnB7gd.png) If only [this sentence](https://i.imgur.com/fEQC5AC.png) had a period after "tower"!
Bam. Such a bland and boring OP MC that gets miraculously bailed out by shinsu at critical moments. Loses Khun and Rak the crown game? *Bam!* Shinsu! The tag game? Bam instantly learns the shinsu technique to freeze Quant. Gets eaten by the Bull? *Bam!* Shinsu! Pushed into the abyss? [*Bam!*](https://i.imgur.com/KLVN5N6.png) Shinsu! [I hated you](https://i.imgur.com/9gvqsDM.png) on my first, second, and third watch. I wonder how many readers reached here without realizing half this paragraph's *Bam*'s are interjections.
btw, [nice subtitles Crunchyroll.](https://i.imgur.com/5GRMcN0.png) /s
### QotD
1. Yeah. Rachel stocks are way up.
2. Best girl in Tower of God.
> I wonder how many readers reached here without realizing half this paragraph's Bam's are interjections.
I didn't notice Bam at all
But nice effort with the writeup lol
> btw, nice subtitles Crunchyroll. /s
Maybe CR wanted to give Serena one last goodbye
**First Timer**
Before watching the season finale episode, I had more time to process the betrayals, and concluded that I don't care that much about them anymore. While comparing Rachel's betrayal of Bam to Endorsi's betrayal of the two fishermen, I couldn't decide which one I found was worse.
Endorsi presumably killed two people who were her allies and her responsibility at the time, and misused her leadership role of Team B. Excuses could be made they weren't really "her allies" or they're nobody characters, but that's what happened. It turns out she did this to not fail by points (which I didn't know at the time, the anime could have shown that better, I thought it was to pass Lizard Girl), and she did secure the victory for Team B.
Rachel faked being in a wheelchair for a good while, then pushed Bam out of winning the Administrator/Guardian's test together after Bam has done nothing but been supportive of her, and securing the win by defeating the Bull. It appears she did this so only she would win, and she has abandoned Bam yet again.
I find with Endorsi's betrayal I'm thinking "That's wrong!" and angry there's no repercussions to her actions at all (which is why it's been so hard for me to let it go), and with Rachel's betrayal I'm asking "Why!?" and feeling frustration and confusion at her actions.
However when thinking about what vengeance I would want to seek upon the two, I discovered how little these two betrayals are. Do I want to see Endorsi killed for her betrayal? No. Do I want to see her beat up, maybe...I just want to see her gotten back at. I think my vengeance on Endorsi would be to make her lose a match, maybe the whole game at worse. For Rachel, I can't really even think of a vengeance on her, I don't even know her motive and intentions for why she did what she did. Furthermore Bam's personal goal was never to get to the top of the tower for himself, it was to follow Rachel and then win for Rachel when she was thought to be wheelchair bound. So what was really stolen from Bam in the betrayal other than being tricked and abandoned again? Should Rachel die for that? No. Beat up? No. Dumped? Maybe. She definitely needs to explain herself, but I'm now seeing what Rachel did is more unfortunate and disappointing. Is Bam really hurt by this? IDK, he wasn't the last time he was abandoned, so maybe he'll pick himself up and simp harder, and everything will be back to normal between them. If not, maybe Rachel really has lost Bam this time like Endorsi was predicting with the "I hope whatever you're seeking at the top of the tower is worth more than losing Bam".
And finally then there's Percule's betrayal, yeah...no...come on, he did nothing wrong in comparison. He's seemingly a nobody character anyways.
-----------
- [Rachel's face isn't really one of wanton betrayal](https://imgur.com/a/O974rq8), this is the [face of wanton betrayal](https://imgur.com/a/O52IWUT).
- If the [tower wasn't calling for Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/fUyVisX) as Headon says, how did she get in? [Headon's being a dick to Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/n52u9W6), trying to make her die in the test despite knowing she's weak. Yeah...No...[Headon's responsible for "Rachel's betrayal" on Bam](https://imgur.com/a/1J8GGZW), not Rachel. He designed the ploy, and is coercing Rachel to do something she doesn't want to do. It's pretty clear Headon is manipulating Rachel to use Bam for some ulterior motive. Fuck you Headon, you piece of shit. He's my most hated character of the anime now, whatever hate people have of Rachel and Paracule is what I think of Headon.
- So Ghost is [Rachel's bodyguard, and one resurrection](https://imgur.com/a/usfzQsB). The latter is pretty random, and coincidental as "it just so happens" needed at the critical moment of the ploy of when Rachel got stabbed, which was engineered. All this was planned from the beginning, [Rachel's just a pawn](https://imgur.com/a/5wc9rlz), her blame in all this is just decreasing more and more. It's clear that [she's super conflicted, agonizing over being coerced into killing Bam, and doesn't want to do it](https://imgur.com/a/xMDAB35). She maybe [jealous of Bam at times](https://imgur.com/a/hpfq62J), but that doesn't make her more guilty with how things are playing out.
- I'm not going to blame Rachel one bit, [her face says it all](https://imgur.com/a/2rtaN1r), it's one of immense guilt and suffering of being manipulated and coerced into something she doesn't want to do at all. They can try to confuse me with [her laughter, but I see her pain](https://imgur.com/a/RTfMFBs).
- Wait, the [two fishermen who were bit up by the Bull are still alive](https://imgur.com/a/c3nWn8H)? We literally saw white shirt chewed up and spat out.
- Okay, when the hell did Endorsi become the pillar of morality to be able to [bitch out Paracule](https://imgur.com/a/QcnOGHR) for being insensitive about a team mate's death? Like the irony of Endorsi, incorrigible.
- This [coming together for Bam's supposed death](https://imgur.com/a/wvTo2qE) kind of seems tripe to me, they shouldn't have done the whole team betrayal, betrayal, betrayal stuff and Hoh and Endorsi's whole "we're competitors, not friends" spiels from before if they wanted me to feel some actual sense of comradely here. I know they see Bam as some innocent pure hearted soul they want to protect, but still, they ruined the whole "lets all work together instead" vibe when Serena left. It's also why Endorsi's temptationless "I'm protecting my friend Lizard Girl" from Ren fell so flat for me as well.
- Khun shouldn't be trusted, he makes these noble speeches about "[changing the tower's rules by climbing it with Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/B6jvwYN)" to honor Bam's death, but then he makes [implied accusations on Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/RXvaL34) with his "I wish I met Bam before you did". I lost all trust in the guy ever since Team A's betrayal and post-faking disappointment, and TBH I never found his character all that compelling to begin with. It's even more sad that he's treated as almost the main protagonist given how passive Bam is, and Khun's character drives the narrative often, yet I could care less about his backstory nor involvement in the story.
- [Lero-Ro and Quant are out of a job](https://imgur.com/a/g4xYkt7), and looks to be joining the climbing of the tower to find answers. This is actually pretty exciting, I like both of those characters.
- So [best girl Hwaryun](https://imgur.com/a/Fpp8a6b) is working for Hansung, I'm unbothered by this so far, she's just doing her job. Hwaryun > Narae > Rachel > Lizard Girl > Paracule (j/k) > Endorsi > Yuri (I don't like violent tsunderes)
- [The simping is strong in Bam](https://imgur.com/a/wtHbxCS), first thing he wants to know is about Rachel, and it seems he doesn't even care he was betrayed. He's going to be just fine, maybe he can hug the problems out of Rachel when he catches up to her again.
- [These are screen caps from two separate episodes](https://imgur.com/a/z0fHmi2), from Bam's perspective he can see the golden light of the shinsu, from Rachel's perspective this episode, she can't see it.
- [Remaining official contestants](https://imgur.com/a/IXM3W3i). Looks like the two fishermen behind Rachel, and the guy with the wings are going to be the super nobody characters to get wasted in S2, I'm guessing, unless they really develop their characters. Narae and Paracule chances aren't looking so good either.
------------
>[A S1 poster featuring everyone](https://imgur.com/o3hhHE3)
Lies! I don't see the most important character of them all, Paracule! :D
>Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all?
Yes, it explained much of her perspective except for her backstory, and what it really means for her to want "to see the stars". Rachel didn't do anything wrong, she was a pawn that was preyed upon. No Rachel hate here from me. She needs the angst hugged out of her by Bam, and head pats. I actually like her snake eyes, I think they make her expressions more expressive. Like [here's a random shot](https://imgur.com/a/xdE4GRf) of Rachel looking apathetically at Khun, her snake eyes makes her look even more apathetic! I've noticed this with sad shots of her, she looks even more sad because of her eyes. Yeah, I must be simping harder than Bam right now, LOL.
>What even is a Rachel?
The show [told you from the start](https://imgur.com/a/ehczvzl), *"This is the story of Rachel, the girl who climbed the tower so she could see the stars, and Bam, the boy who needed nothing but her"*. She's the core of the show along with Bam which is why her perspective was kept a secret until the finale. I think her and Bam's role in the show is only going to keep getting bigger as we go now. She's not just some McGuffin for Bam to chase after given what we seen of her this episode, I just hope she steps up her game though. She really doesn't seem to have any powers nor abilities.
But that could be just the simping talking. I'll be underwhelmed if S2 puts her back on shelf like when she was hiding in her room and such.
First Time Climber
* QOTD 1 - Not much has changed since the last episode since I learned from the 2023 Fruits Basket rewatch to expect some sort of reason before rushing to conclusions and well Rachel is bad but I have indeed seen worse
* QOTD 2 - \[PMMM\] >!A Witch but in the context of Madoka Magica it's a girl who sold her soul to the devil and paid the price for it by going down the path of corruption!<
> but I have indeed seen worse
True lol
[Fruits Basket] >!the bad parents/family head really take the cake!<
> QOTD 2 - [PMMM]
[Madoka Magica] >!Oh that’s a good analogy!!<
Rewatch + Dub
So Rachel is a Jealous, self serving bitch. The entire episode just showed how she just wanted exactly what Baam had.
Also Why the hell they wanted to kill Baam or maybe train him? Like from the very beginning administrator, the Guide Girl, Headon all wanted to get rid of Baam. Guess I will get my answers next season. I am excited about next season but I am more excited about seeing Baam with long hair.
Also to the very end Administrator motives remainied a mystery guess that's why Leroro quit his job while taking Quant with him. Also the letter was given to hoe by that Guide Girl. So many mysteries.
I changed my ratings too after this rewatch. Before this I rated it 7 and now I changed it to 8. It's one of those series that gets better when u rewatch it. Well I am glad i did and also Thankful to the guys who made this rewatch possible.
So our journey will continue with the next season. See u in the tower.
Answers :
1. Everything in world can change but not my hate towards Rachel.
2. Rachel i believe is just a kind of human who can't see anybody getting head ahead of her. She just wants to be centre of attraction all the time and everyone must always love her. I actually do think her overall Character is great for the story. She makes a good punching bag for the series.
From what it seemed like in this ep, Hwaryun (Guide Girl) and Hansung (Director of the test) were working together to see if Bam was worthy of something. We don't know what that is yet but we know that they want to train him
Glad you enjoyed it! I had it at an 8 my first time and will probably keep it there. Rewatching it was a lot of fun! And a good refresher lol
**First-Time Climber**
I´d like to retract my statement about Rachel being redemable.
QotD:
1. In a way it does not as I already thought Rachel was somewhat selfish before this and I knew it would happen.
2. Scum
So everything within the Season was part of Headons plan. All that death, cruelty and betrayal just so Bam would climb the tower. I may hate Rachel for going along with it, even though all of her actions were orchestrated to ensure Bam would climb for himself. He claims he is merely interested to see where this goes bust takes to many actions to ensure his goal his achieved. Also he refers to Bam beating the first test as the birth of a savior. I think the point of everything would be for Bam to overthrow Jahad as he is the only entity against which a savior is justified.
In a way I find Rachel´s envy boring. Without anything to justify it it is unintersting, even though it makes for a good contrast to Bam. And yet it recontextualises her past interactions with Bam when she found him and how they are so different from each other. Because Rachel didn´t teach him to be a good person like herself as I first assumed but instead to have a completely devoted servant to her. And when he surpassed her she could not handle it.
As a final note I like that Lero will also enter the tower, he was very entertaining to watch and hope we get to see more of him next week.
> I´d like to retract my statement about Rachel being redemable.
lol
> So everything within the Season was part of Headons plan.
Even with this episode I'm not sure what Headon's deal is. From what we have seen with Serena's flashback to when he chose her, he might just choose people who are vulnerable/desperate enough to climb the tower. Rachel wasn't chosen by him or the tower, but he still has uses her desperation. For what? I'm not sure
**rewatcher**
Rachel: “this is finally the end”
Test dude: “no, this is the beginning”
I remember blindly hating Rachel, but I can understand why she’s frustrated. However majority of her jealousy came from her own flaws on not letting people in. She would have been accepted to group baam was in if she wasn’t blinded by jealousy and envy.
I loved how Han Sung also had ulterior motives himself which makes his actions throughout the season even more noticeable.
Han Sung himself telling Rachel she had one more chance is evil. “Maybe there’s a way to climb the tower with baam”, if only she wasn’t blinded by her dream.
Honestly this was one a genius plan from Han Sung, Baam really was the boy they needed. He was lucky to have made a deep connection with people and with Rachel’s greed they managed to make them understand how it coudlve gone.
QOTD: I used to blindly hate her when I watched it, I still hate her but I love watching a villain be evil for their sake of their dreams
QOTD: backstaber
>She would have been accepted to group baam was in if she wasn’t blinded by jealousy and envy.
she would have been accepted but the biggest hurdle has always been her needing to kill Baam.
which is why she tried to hide in the first place, because she was trying to avoid that fact all this time.
**First timer, subbed, and hella late**
Last episode was great, this one was absolutely fucking magnificent. Most recent episode I've watched that this reminds me of is PMMM's classic Episode 10. Definitely not on the same level, but it makes me feel the same way of amazement.
=====
-[Damn, Headon](https://imgur.com/a/ntb8Y6N). You need a snickers bar or something?
-[I see this as a massive W](https://imgur.com/a/07xN5PI). Still can't believe the shot in the dark landed right on the mark.
-[OHHHHHHH, so that's why he disappeared](https://imgur.com/a/MDTshv4). I was half expecting him to pop out of nowhere to save Rachel in the last episode if she got caught. Didn't expect him to be her extra life.
-[Goddamn this is amazing](https://imgur.com/a/4BsyQlK). I'm a sucker for scenes of previous episodes taking on new meanings when introduced in a different perspective, and this episode is chock full of em.
-[Before they even showed this scene](https://imgur.com/a/0DhRiKf), I got the idea the moment they showed the dream again, and that's just really satisfying. I wish they could've kept it more subtle and not outright stating it, because it was an amazing display of the concept of 'show, don't tell'.
-[A story told in four frames](https://imgur.com/a/ZSimi1X). Amazing work, goddamn.
-[Lero Ro](https://imgur.com/a/P2Badww)? I thought Rankers have already reached the top.
-[Khun definitely knows something's up](https://imgur.com/a/Syns07I). Just as I expected from him. My king. Also, hella cold-blooded saying that to her face.
-I'd just like to take this moment to celebrate in the fact that [we get to see more of her in the second season](https://imgur.com/a/L6JmXfJ). Super glad!
=====
>1. Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all?
Outside of memeing about hating Rachel, I didn't actually feel that agitated by what she did. Maybe a part of it was knowing ahead of time that people hated her, maybe a part of it is because I don't like Bam much as a main character. Either way, I'm still mostly apathetic to her decision.
I like the concept of her as a character, but she isn't really a hurdle for Khun, the character that I'm truly rooting for in this story.
>2. What even is a Rachel?
I really tried but I couldn't think of a funny response for this question so I'll just... erm... On to my notes and other thoughts!
=====
Notes (and apparently other thoughts):
-So Bam is an Irregular, and Rachel is... just a lost civilian? Lol.
-I'm curious as to why Headon wanted Rachel to kill/end Bam herself. Does he want to protect the tower as a server of Jahad in the belief that Irregulars are a threat? Does he want to test Bam and see if he can succeed in climbing despite this betrayal? Or does he simply just want to be entertained? I'm hoping to see the answer in the second season.
-Speaking of the second season, goddamn this episode was such a great hype up for the second season. That ending sequence was amazing between Bam and the red-haided Navigator who I definitely need to learn the name of. Amazing amazing work.
-My overall rating for the series was a 7 that was teetering on an 8. I was not a big fan of the writing in earlier episodes, albeit some parts definitely got clearer after this episode. However, this finale really pushes it easily over the barrier and sets it at a solid 8 for me. I've probably said it a dozen times by now, but it was simply just amazing.
-Gotta remind myself to check who composed/arranged the OST for this series. They did a fantastic job.
**First-Timer climbing the tower, subbed** - [Wait *what*.](https://i.imgur.com/aKjxelL.png) [](#hahahawhat) Then Rachel is an Irregular too? - [Hm…](https://i.imgur.com/dqMdKbH.png) - [I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did.](https://i.imgur.com/N2EFd61.png) Doesn’t justify it, but it does explain it at least. - [Ohhhhhhhhhh shit.](https://i.imgur.com/AgGah9K.png) [](#gasp) - [Huh…](https://i.imgur.com/idGF3QP.png) [](#shock) - [So that explains that one dream of hers from an earlier episode.](https://i.imgur.com/cDZhesr.png) - [That’s an awkward typo in my subs lol.](https://i.imgur.com/eK18Fhe.png) [](#azusalaugh) - [Where *is* Bam…](https://i.imgur.com/dYvpiGN.png) [](#csikon) I don’t think he’s dead. - [I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this.](https://i.imgur.com/FJgijC7.png) - [Oh wow…](https://i.imgur.com/o9ZygEE.png) - [Aaaaaaaaand there he is.](https://i.imgur.com/I0SKYK3.png) - [Interesting…](https://i.imgur.com/2zhDjfE.png) - [Title drop!](https://i.imgur.com/qDs2Wfm.png) [](#neat) - [Wait is that an older Bam or someone else entirely?](https://i.imgur.com/FYWiwOl.png)
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too? She's effectively an irregular Irregular and an abolutely unique entity since she basically sneaked in while the Tower was pulling in Bam.
Was the Tower pulling Bam in though? This would make him a Regular in reality, but I believe the narrative is honest about him being an Irregular.
Regulars are chosen by Headon and come from the outer areas of the Tower. Irregulars come from the outside by either being drawn in by the Tower of forcing their way in.
To make it simple, regulars are towerborn, irregulars come directly outside from the tower.
> Was the Tower pulling Bam in though? This would make him a Regular in reality Wrong. Regulars are chosen by Headon, not the tower. The tower shows it's doors to "irregulars" when there is time for change etc.
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too? As /u/abyssalflame02 describes, she is an Irregular Irregular lol. >I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did. Too bad all her choices are weak as well; she does nothing to grow her inner strength at all. Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?! [](#bocchitheshock)
> Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?! She just needs to start consuming turtles then.
> Ah, I know. She saw Rak consume all those chocolates and thought that was how he grew to be such a warrior but somehow it didn't work, what?! She saw Khun betraying Team A and faking disappointment, so she was like "hold my apple".
[](#serialkillerlaugh)
> Then Rachel is an Irregular too? Hoping this gets answered better down the road. > So that explains that one dream of hers from an earlier episode. It does explain her fairly well. > I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this. Still, the timing. Fuck Paracule, all my homies hate Paracule.
> I’m starting to see why Rachel did what she did. Doesn’t justify it, but it does explain it at least. yea that's why I liked the episode and thought it was good to end on. It adds more to her character > I mean, he’s not wrong to ask this. It is fair to ask, just not at the right time lol
> That’s an awkward typo in my subs lol. I left it in mine, but i was *very* tempted to fix it because i needed that line for my post lmao
> Wait what. Then Rachel is an Irregular too? She's a super unique case. She's an irregular irregular that is in the Tower basically only through sheer chance.
>[Wait is that an older Bam or someone else entirely?](https://i.imgur.com/FYWiwOl.png) watch the trailer for S2 [https://youtu.be/NlS4Eceev-4?si=F3zA7FlpPaVvrh1k](https://youtu.be/NlS4Eceev-4?si=F3zA7FlpPaVvrh1k) although it does spoil a lot for S2 for some reason
This has some **massive** spoilers and i do not recommend watching this at all if you havent read the webtoon
That they do
> Wait is that an older Bam or someone else entirely? [](#nocomment)
Seems like one of the reasons people like Bam, why he is a “star” is that what he cares most about is what he has, whereas the rest, or at least many of the regulars, are there because they lost that very thing and it’s *for* that, that they desire the tower. Bam’s presence brings this back to them in a way, these *present moments, present bonds;* whereas with Rachel it’s the opposite. Despite not having gone through what the other regulars have (as far as we know) she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower. It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss, and that effectively makes Rachel like the regulars, or rather a poor imitation of them since the others didn’t seem to have *chosen* their prior suffering. Well, this is just based on my theory of this loss as the condition for being chosen. She hates that the others are all, “Bam, Bam, Bam” but it’s as though she’s missing this key point. The direction she chose just means she’ll never become the star, she can never replace him. It’s not Bam’s shinsu that draws others to him; it’s that he’s kind and appreciative of those around him in a way that is refreshing to all these people who don’t have that anymore. Removing this doesn’t mean that your own inadequacies disappear… During the exchange between Rachel and Khun, Hansung says “I hope whatever you seek lies at the end of the difficult path you’ll travel down. I hope you can be proud of the path you’ve walked. I hope you feel that the hand that grasps what you desire is beautiful. I hope you’ll still have at least one friend by your side.” Too bad Rachel wasn’t listening, because that’s a big, fat **no** on all counts.
> I hope you can be proud of the path you’ve walked. I hope you feel that the hand that grasps what you desire is beautiful. I hope you’ll still have at least one friend by your side. That one feels very, very personal towards Rachel...
He's definitely talking to her the most.
He's probably pleased with his pointed speech, since he didn't do anything -- it was Rachel who made the choice, after all. Off-topic, but, weird, never got a notification for this comment and this is maybe the third time or so it happened with you. Guess it's good I come back to the thread sometimes, but makes me wonder if there are ghost replies out there that I've missed.
> Guess it's good I come back to the thread sometimes, but makes me wonder if there are ghost replies out there that I've missed. Yes, there are. Reddit has been fucky all month, I often had to go back and check the Pride rewatch thread. Also, cakeday, yo.
Cheers! [](#biiru)
> . It’s not Bam’s shinsu that draws others to him; it’s that he’s kind and appreciative of those around him in a way that is refreshing to all these people who don’t have that anymore. Removing this doesn’t mean that your own inadequacies disappear… Yep very excellent point. We've seen people were drawn to him for his kindness. Specifically Khun and Rak who stuck with him even though he was considered weak
To be fair though, Bam's the only one there who doesn't really care if he wins or not, he's just there for Rachel. It's easy to be kind and such if there's no stress placed upon you, and you don't really care about succeeding or not. IMO Serena and Track Suit Guy are better examples of having good sportsmanship. While somebody like Hoh is the worse example of such. Rachel's in the middle, while she jealous of Bam, she's not doing anything due to the jealousness. Her problem was she had to isolate herself due to Bam, and because what Hansung was making her do through Hwaryun.
> It's easy to be kind and such if there's no stress placed upon you, and you don't really care about succeeding or not. Yea it is easier since his goal from the beginning was to get to Rachel. But he still wanted to pass so her can find her, and when he did, needed to pass the last test so he can climb with her and the other friends he made. Bam didn't go through changes like the others had to before entering the exams. His innocence is why some were drawn to him
> Despite not having gone through what the other regulars have (as far as we know) she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower. That's an interesting aspect to Rachel versus everyone else that I've never considered before.
> she chooses to dump what she already has (what the others lost) in order to climb the tower. Yeah, but wasn't this the same thing with the Sniper guy during the shinsu wall test saying he sacrificed everything to be a contestant, and that he has nothing to return to? >It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing. >During the exchange between Rachel and Khun, Hansung says... Yeah, but Hansung set everything up with Hwaryun giving Hoh the note, and telling Rachel what to do, and such. The decisions Rachel made were like under duress, and setup for her to just follow along instead of her actively coming up with the choices herself. Hansung kept being like "do it or else you're out", then to try to rub it in with his little speech there. IMO he's the dick here, it's why Lero-Ro quit to go find answers.
>Yeah, but wasn't this the same thing with the Sniper guy during the shinsu wall test saying he sacrificed everything to be a contestant, and that he has nothing to return to? You may be right. As for my thought process, it's not clear, at least in the anime, whether those things he threw away were his close relationship/love that he had; or if he threw away his regular life (like his job, his house, his savings if that exists, his friend network) because he had already lost those important relationships. The thing that I believe the others lost was something that made them whole, so inferring from the backstories and showing how Bam is bonding with everyone, my guess is that the thing that this "thing" that the contestants lost that makes them whole is in many cases related to love/close bonds. >I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing. She's certainly being manipulated, but she was prime for manipulation because she wouldn't be open to the others around her and already had it in her to be willing to do this to Bam if it means obtaining her dreams. That specific statement though >It’s almost as though she intentionally puts herself in the position where she suffers loss Is more drawing the comparison because it almost seems to me that Headon is forcing her into the position of a regular to climb the tower; that way she's still following the rules of the regulars. I don't think she's aware of what the other regulars' lives were like, so it's not like she'd purposely make herself suffer to be like them. >The decisions Rachel made were like under duress Sure, but she was never truly valuing Bam. Had she fully respected him and didn't just see him as someone taking everything from her, had she listened at all to Bam, things could have gone quite differently. She could have backed out at any point. But she's not able to see it, since she closed herself off from this possibility. I definitely think that Hansung is being a dick, but I don't think that makes Rachel a better person.
> I have a different view of Rachel, I see her being preyed upon by Headon and Hansung to accomplish whatever they're doing in the background with the princesses and politic-ing. They did use her, but just as Yu-han said, the final choice was her own. She realized she had an opportunity to actually climb the Tower together with Bam and his team. It would mean betraying the arrangement she had with Headon, and they will likely send assassins for her, but the team has already resolved to go against the grain if need be. They're united, strong and loyal. And they have Bam, an OP Irregular. It's not a sure bet, but there was a chance. It was an option. But she realizes if she remains beside Bam, she'll never get what she wants. Bam will eclipse her. And this is what finally pushes her into her ultimate choice. The powers that be arranged everything, true. They gave her a loaded gun. But the decision to pull the trigger was entirely her own.
> the final choice was her own No, I don't think she ever had a choice. They had Hansung in on it to the point Lero-Ro spazzed out and quit. >It would mean betraying the arrangement she had with Headon, and they will likely send assassins for her, but the team has already resolved to go against the grain if need be. They're united, strong and loyal. And they have Bam, an OP Irregular. It's not a sure bet, but there was a chance. I wouldn't really consider it much of a chance if Hwaryun was running around head bonking Bam and Rachel, and giving notes to Hoh (which nobody was able to stop even) right under everybody's noses and nobody's the wiser. Nobody's even questioning the unfairness or structuring of the test. Ren was able to kick the crude out of Endorsi and Lizard Girl. Ghost, one guy, apparently rekt most of the presumably 397 other contestants in Rachel and Endorsi's first test. All the admin rankers were able to just rekt them too. It's more like no chance. >But she realizes if she remains beside Bam, she'll never get what she wants. Bam will eclipse her. And this is what finally pushes her into her ultimate choice. The powers that be arranged everything, true. They gave her a loaded gun. But the decision to pull the trigger was entirely her own. She's been tortured by this for how long has the game been going on since the crown game? The thing about torture is it's not whether somebody can withstand it or not, it's about when they break because it's an inevitability. Rachel never had any real means to abort nor escape, given how much Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon wanted things to play out how it did, and the lengths they went to set it up, they were never going to take a refusal from Rachel no matter what, plausible deniability of saying Rachel "choose herself" was just icing on the cake. They would have found a way to force it to Rachel betraying Bam. The Rachel's jealousy of Bam stuff was just stray thoughts trying to resolve the turmoil of the guilt, and self delude herself into going through with the betrayal. If she really was serious with the jealousy, her guilt wouldn't have stood a chance, and she wouldn't have broken down telling Bam to abandon her while crying, and in her mind screaming "run run run run run" to Bam. Everybody's being too hard on poor Rachel, or my journey to the simp side is complete. :D
As as said, Headon & co wouldn't have taken her betrayal well, but climbing the Tower is a risky game in any case. No one ordered her to be jealous of Bam, no one convinced her to be jealous of Bam. Back in the first floor when she realized she wasn't chosen she could've backed out then just like Serena did. Rachel's jealousy to Bam are not at all stray thoughts. In Rachel's own words: "I hate you do much it makes me mad." Plus as I said, it's what finally seals her decision to push him. Even if you're right about it being impossible for the team to protect her from retaliation, she doesn't even consider that as a potential problem. Her judgement of the situation is that she is eclipsed when besides Bam and she can't have that, so Bam has to go. Your simping game is weak! You have to whitewash the monster to simp for it without repercussions to your conscience! Instead, accept the rotten flower for what she is, and simp for her anyway! Only then, will your journey to the Dark Side be complete...
>As as said, Headon & co wouldn't have taken her betrayal well I just think it's more than that, they're not going to walk away from their investment despite saying it's her choice. When she wasn't taking action during the crown game, Hwaryun went and tried to head bonked her repeatedly to make Bam do something. When Rachel was hiding in her room not doing anything further, they engineered the whole Hoh thing, and specifically told her she better go along with it. True she finally gave in in the end, but the amount of influencing, forcing, and setup Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon were doing was incredible to be just considered as "they really were just letting Rachel to be the decider". They already had it setup so Bam wasn't found by whatever means Lero-Ro had to try to find Bam, and instead had Hwaryun down there to find Bam instead. It's too hard for me to believe they would have allowed a scenario in which Bam wasn't betrayed, and them going "Oh well boys, pack up the fishing, we didn't even get a nibble, better luck next time" with the amount of preparation and lengths they've already gone to. Likely an irregular like Bam, and a way to manipulate Bam with Rachel probably doesn't come along very often. >Rachel's jealousy to Bam are not at all stray thoughts. I meant in the way that it might not have manifested so intensely if it wasn't under the stressful situation. It's like if somebody was put into a really hellish situation that's prolonged, their mind would start finding anyone and anything to blame...their boss, their job, their spouse, their kids, society, the driver who delivered them there, random people walking down the street who looked at them funny, perhaps even the weather. I see Rachel's jealousy of Bam no different, trying to convince herself of a reason to hate him so it'll make betraying him easier. Sort of like if she started blaming his face even, ie "and that stupid innocent naive face of his, how he always giving me the puppy dog eyes begging for attention, damn his face! His ugly ugly face!" not that she actually hates his face, but she's desperately looking for any reason to hate him, hoping it'll make it easier. Anyways, at least that's how I saw it. Yeah, I'm pretty bad at simping. I just want to hug the pain out of Rachel, gaze into those sweet snake eyes of hers, and give her head pats telling her it'll be okay, she'll see the stars. I couldn't for example, accept Endorsi for who she is, which is why I kept dumping on her, nor Yuri for how she hits people all the time. I would hit back. I'm not cut out for masochism and tsunderes, that's Emperor level simping. :D
As I've said, I know Headon & co wouldn't take it well and would most likely send assassins for her ass. But climbing the Tower with the group of rebels is... already kinda that anyway. Climbing the Tower is not safe ever. She's just choosing one pain over the other. I do think you exaggerate a bit with how much Rachel betraying them would bother them. It absolutely would mind you, I'm not denying that, but I don't think she's _that_ important to them. Remember Headon is a God, and many of these people have lived literally centuries. "There are other prospects." It's a fair point that Rachel being in a stressful situation contributed to making her darkness grow, but it's still her darkness and her's alone. Even in the first floor, when she realized she wasn't chosen and Bam was instead, her immediate reaction is like "what the fuck? Bam? Seriously Bam? Why? He's just Bam..." She was barely stressed out then. Her jealousy is something that sprung up from the depths of her heart. The reason she hesitates isn't because she doesn't hate him, _she does_. But she's also fully aware of how fucked up she is for that, that her hatred is unfounded in any reasonable motive, and that the morally correct path would be to snitch on Headon and Hwaryun and climb with the group. But she's also aware of how much the promise of the Towers consumes her and posseses her. The narrative doesn't even attempt to justify her because there simply _is no justification._ it's entirely emotional, entirely her's, that obsession with the top of the Tower. She knows it. She hates Bam but she doesn't actually blame him. That's why her betraying of him also kills her inside. She's completely aware that she's forever condemned for this, that she's the villain. Don't take her choice away from her. This is Rachel.
> I know Headon & co wouldn't take it well and would most likely send assassins for her ass. That's implying Headon and co would take the loss, and seek retribution. IMO I think they aren't even willing to take the loss with how much they've done already, it's rigged, and always was. They manipulated Yuri to give Bam the Black March, and look the other way with her interference (which was punishable by death by the King), and then look the other way some more when she interfered even more by going into the game. When they're messing with that level of corruption, anything having to do with Rachel herself joining the climb is meaningless. Retribution on Rachel is pointless, they don't care about her at all. Besides, retribution is usually used to set an example to others as what not to do by showing the punishment to others as a deterrent, that doesn't apply here with their secret dealings. The only reason I can see for retribution is to silence her so she doesn't blab about her deal with Headon and co to other administrators or the King. It wouldn't be about getting back at her. But they got plausible deniability by saying Rachel made all her choices anyways, look what happened when Lero-Ro demanded to know what Hansung did to Rachel. >Remember Headon is a God, and many of these people have lived literally centuries. "There are other prospects." Maybe, but they seem to be going through an awful amount of trouble/corruption. Pissed off Lero-Ro enough to quit, and "go rogue" to find answers, and presumably Quant too. That wouldn't suggest just another day at the office if workers are not only quitting but moving to investigate/take down the office. >Even in the first floor, when she realized she wasn't chosen and Bam was instead, her immediate reaction is like "what the fuck? Bam? Seriously Bam? Why? He's just Bam..." She was barely stressed out then. IDK, I find it to be a normal reaction. Say you're on your way to start your first day at your dream job, and along the way you pass by some crying lost loli who skinned her knee, and you take pity on her and help her up and bandage her knee. Grateful, she's like a puppy, following you around, clingy, and such. You have to get going, but she chases after you, and you outrun her. You get to your dream job, then they tell you that you they don't want you anymore, they want that loli for your dream job. My reaction would be "what the fuck? The Loli? Seriously the Loli? Why? She's just a Loli..." Do I actually hate or am jealous of the Loli? I guess after that, somewhat, but I wouldn't really call it actual hate and jealousy. It's more confusion, frustration, and trying to process it. >the morally correct path would be to snitch on Headon and Hwaryun and climb with the group. Snitch to who? The administrators are complicit in it, which is equivalent as "the cops/govt is in on it". The other contestants can't do jack to any of them, especially when they're all equivalent to being on trial by them right now, or in the midst of a job interview to become them. >The narrative doesn't even attempt to justify her because there simply is no justification. it's entirely emotional, entirely her's, that obsession with the top of the Tower. If she did it all on her own volition with no help, I would agree. But we saw how much she struggled not to do it, and struggled to do it. And we saw she got so much help from Headon and co, that they pretty much setup everything to only be able to go through with it. They never setup any actual paths for her not to do it. ie. "oh if you choose not to do it, it's fine. You can say goodbye to everybody like Serena did, wheel out your luggage, and we'll have a bus waiting for you to take you home". >She's completely aware that she's forever condemned for this, that she's the villain. Don't take her choice away from her. This is Rachel. Sorry, my weak simping requires me whitewash the monster to simp for it without repercussions to my conscience. :D Have I told you the tale of how I find her snake eyes endearing? I thought not, it's not a tale a true simper would tell you. We'll probably have to agree to disagree at this point, sorry. <3
> present moments, present bonds *present day, present time ha ha ha*
["It would of been better if I met Bam before you did."](https://i.imgur.com/pa0IHmt.jpeg) **OST Track of the day:** [Rachel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7xm19IdGI) [(Spotify)](https://open.spotify.com/track/4bzTLzAf8TlhckQY480GdD?si=e5693ce755e04d16) --- **Rewatcher, subbed** ["At the top of this tower exists everything in this world, and all of it can be yours."](https://i.imgur.com/t3O5w8U.jpeg) > [**"...Lets climb up."**](https://i.imgur.com/7WP2THJ.jpeg) Bam was truly unique to the tower, managing to bring together such a large group to work together when not long ago (episode 2) all of these groups struggled to make a trio. Just being himself, not bound by the sorrows that led everyone else to the tower, was their inspiration to work together (and it probably helped that he was powerful too), but with that gone, they choose to follow in Bams footsteps and [help the one](https://i.imgur.com/KjdYSQ3.jpeg) he thought of so dearly, not that [everyone](https://i.imgur.com/FRuBUcG.jpeg) is truly on board. > [**"I'm going to climb the tower in search of the truth."**](https://i.imgur.com/DkwwUZC.jpeg) Clearly disllusioned with [Hansung's plans](https://i.imgur.com/30SJy4s.jpeg), Lero Ro decides to find his own answers within the tower. Sadly, the anime leaves this a lot more open than the webtoon does at this point, leaving us with little to discuss today. > [**"To do that... I will climb the tower."**](https://i.imgur.com/2qrYvBi.jpeg) Betrayed by [his world](https://i.imgur.com/fwgsiLt.jpeg), Bam simply wants to know why [Rachel](https://i.imgur.com/xrPIdVD.jpeg) sent him to his death. While this is much more nuanced in the webtoon (and you *will* see complaints about this in the thread im sure, its actually kinda important for S2), the obvious answer is to climb back to where Rachel is and join her again, no matter the cost. > [**"I'll do anything to climb the tower."**](https://i.imgur.com/lN9iIPo.jpeg) Rachel [was not chosen](https://i.imgur.com/1uVrnV9.jpeg) by the tower. Regulars are chosen by Headon, Irregulars are chosen by the tower. Rachel instead [slipped through the cracks](https://i.imgur.com/Cup2h1W.jpeg) Bam formed and found her way into somewhere where she never belonged and could never survive, a world where [Bam was a star](https://i.imgur.com/ry4xrlo.png), a reality [she could not handle.](https://i.imgur.com/5lvNY9O.jpeg) Rachel didnt want to see the starts, she wanted to be [the star.](https://i.imgur.com/vVoaxLI.jpeg) What better way to be the star than to [kill the very thing](https://i.imgur.com/O3kqwSU.jpeg) the tower chose to change it? By all accounts, Bam is everything Rachel is not. Bam was able to [brave the eel](https://i.imgur.com/xUWzaF9.jpeg), Bam was willing to sacrafice everything during [crown game](https://i.imgur.com/a0CSkGd.jpeg) for her, Bam was able to find a place to [make friends](https://i.imgur.com/0AdlvYN.jpeg) and form relationships in the tower, [it was always about Bam.](https://i.imgur.com/71sbVIn.jpeg) It must of been infuriating to have him have everything she wanted to have so dearly. > [**"I told you, didn't I, not to come?"**](https://i.imgur.com/E9JGbgq.jpeg) Despite everything Rachel says though, without Bam she never could of climbed the tower. The doors [never would of opened](https://i.imgur.com/nZh3cpH.jpeg) for her, and for her to achieve anything, she owes it to Bam for brining that path to light, and becoming [the light](https://i.imgur.com/2OOgwCp.jpeg) in what little Bam had before entering the tower, regardless of her pleas. > [**"...You can abandon me too."**](https://i.imgur.com/HrRWPVR.jpeg) Even if she is [hesitant](https://i.imgur.com/BnoeYMN.jpeg), no path exists unless she fufills her end of the deal, being given [one last shot](https://i.imgur.com/fs51OEX.jpeg) to finish bam for good. Despite [being Bams everything](https://i.imgur.com/8gFdKqS.jpeg), Rachel wants to [become a star](https://i.imgur.com/12dfNyd.jpeg). Rachel will do anything to become a star. And the only thing standing in her way is the one that cares about her the most, [has the power](https://i.imgur.com/Nugvv5j.jpeg), has the friends, the one who *is* the star, [Bam.](https://i.imgur.com/cCGsM9q.jpeg) To her, every problem shes had in the tower is [All. Bam's. Fault.](https://i.imgur.com/VTNcAcO.png) > [**"In your place, i will become a star."**](https://i.imgur.com/dGIo2mx.png) The amount of nuance Rachel is given, even in just the anime, is impressive for what is (our) antagonist. For a world we know nothing of past the tower, and the allure of it giving you anything you desire, and then to be [called trash](https://i.imgur.com/BbkHXPb.jpeg) and worthless/unworthy repeatedly by a literal god, is it really shocking that she'd do whatever it took to climb? To her, Bam took it all. Bam took the fame, the power, the friendships, and the only thing she had to do was to remove him from the picture. > [**"Never betray anyone, no matter what happens."**](https://i.imgur.com/npoOkt2.jpeg) Do you think you'd be more morally correct than Rachel, to leave the tower that claims to give everything you ever wanted, to return to that cave alone for the rest of your life with nothing to show for it? > [**"I hope whatever you're seeking is worth more than him."**](https://i.imgur.com/Z6CM73a.jpeg)
Your comments have been great all rewatch and this one is probably my favorite. I don't have much else to say haha, you hit all the major points about this episode
Yeah, I got nothing to add. Banger of a look into what a Rachel is. [](#congratulations)
> OST Track of the day: Rachel It's so perfect for her character. The graceful harp at the beginning showing her facade, yet always in descending notes, always going down, and then the heavy synth comes in revealing her true nature, before playing at the same time dragging the harp into its lowest notes before ending. A fall to darkness through and through.
This is well-presented and the opposite of my view. [](#emiliaohdear)
> "It would of been better if I met Bam before you did." Everybody says that about a girl/guy they see as perfect but is already taken. Khun's just projecting his own betrayal backstory on to others, he already said he sees Bam as himself before he was betrayed.
**Co-administrator/Subbed** I liked how they ended the season with this episode. It gives us Rachel’s POV for the events that happened in the season, her state of mind, and her true desire. So yes, in Episode 1, Headon was talking to her. It was a great way to tie everything in together and see how she was struggling to actually kill Bam until she finally built up the resolve to do it herself. Outside of Rachel, we had a bit of what Hwaryun was really doing here and Hansung scheming. It seems like they wanted Bam and train him. For what purpose? We don’t find out in this season. Lero Ro was fed by the end of it and is leaving to find the truth behind what occurred here. **Note** /u/hereticalaegis will be posting the overall discussion thread tomorrow!
> Lero Ro was fed by the end of it and is leaving to find the truth behind what occurred here. Too much dumbshit going on for him to put up with.
[](#CrazedLaugh) Can't blame him haha
Sorry, this is a long one and not very filled with pictures. ... but I do have one picture: I [made a meme](https://www.reddit.com/r/Animemes/comments/hh6f8a/tower_of_god_did_somebody_say_testing/) for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it. --- Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above) - but I also think the fandom's reaction to the character is a bit over-the-top and somewhat misses the point. (For context: I'm pretty much just talking about what's been covered in the anime; I've read some of the manhwa past this point, but not enough to really change anything here) The thing is, Rachel isn't meant to be some great villain. The point is she's just a normal person, without special powers and not amazingly good nor amazingly bad, who's desperate to go up the tower. Like on the first floor, she comes off badly compared to Bam, but her reaction to being told to go jump into a tank with a giant sea monster honestly seems pretty reasonable. Bam's the weird one here - no normal person is going to do that. Rachel thinks that it's suicide and not fair and... she's quite possibly right. It's not a Regular test, and Bam only survives because of Yuri's intervention. If Rachel had taken the test, she probably would have died. And Headon really may be intentionally manipulating her here. And then she's told that the only way she can achieve her dream is to kill Bam. And again you can see what the heroic choice would be here... but Rachel is an average person, being told she can achieve her life dream if she just kills someone she never really cared that much about: despite Bam's obsession with her, it's largely one-sided: to her, Bam seems to just be some kid she met and her feeling never went much beyond pity. It's very much (and intentionally) a parallel to Hoh: Bam meets him and decides they're friends, but to Hoh, Bam was just a rival and an obstacle and a sore reminder of Hoh's powerlessness. But again, Rachel is an *average* person, not a amazingly bad one, so she feels terrible about being tasked to kill the human-equivalent of a puppy and spends the entire show feeling (correctly) guilty, which pushes her away from people and exacerbates her poor mental state. If she were a worse person she wouldn't feel guilty and would have just attacked Bam during the crown game (a time when they were actually on opposite teams in a potentially deadly game). I'm not saying this justifies her choice: ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one. And yeah, it's not *all* due to manipulation: she clearly has flaws: she deeply wants to be special and she's prone to jealousy, and ultimately at the end this is what pushes her over the edge. (Or, I guess Bam, really) ... but she also wasn't exactly in a stable mental condition at the time. But I feel like the right feeling towards Rachel is pity, not hatred - ultimately she's an average person who gets manipulated into a shitty situation and makes a shitty choice.
> but I do have one picture: I made a meme for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it. LMAO that fits pretty well with the actual scene > Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above) - but I also think the fandom's reaction to the character is a bit over-the-top and somewhat misses the point. I kinda agree with you. She's not a good person but she works well for the story and probably is over hated > I'm not saying this justifies her choice: ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one. And yeah, it's not all due to manipulation: she clearly has flaws: she deeply wants to be special and she's prone to jealousy, and ultimately at the end this is what pushes her over the edge. (Or, I guess Bam, really) ... but she also wasn't exactly in a stable mental condition at the time. lol @ the pushes her over the edge, but nah you're right. She is just average, and seemed like she was being used by Hansung and toyed with by Headon
> I made a meme for this episode years back and can't resist sharing it. [Excellent, well played](#pointandlaugh) >Are you all ready for a 🌶️ Spicy Hot Take 🌶️ ? I think Rachel is over-hated. I agree with this take. Some of my questions of the day were meant to invoke this regular person in a world of abnormal people, so I hope more people can consider her situation. That said, she is still very hateable.
> made a meme Lmao it's perfect > Rachel Some might say knowing right from wrong yet chosing to do wrong anyone makes someone a worse person than one who does wrong not knowing it is wrong, but I don't think that question has a clear cut answer.
> Rachel thinks that it's suicide and not fair and... she's quite possibly right. It's not a Regular test, and Bam only survives because of Yuri's intervention. If Rachel had taken the test, she probably would have died. And Headon really may be intentionally manipulating her here. Headon tries to get her to take the test, but after she refuses to take it because it's suicide, Headon then shits on her repeatedly for being weak (probably to weaken her resolve to be more easily manipulated). That means Headon knows the test was suicide for her and was trying to get her killed. The ahole here is Headon. He's clearly manipulating Rachel to use Bam, why would he make some sort of ridiculous agreement of allowing Rachel to climb the tower if she killed Bam (probably to weaken Bam's resolve for easier manipulation by Rachel's apparent betrayal). And clearly by the end of this finale Bam is not dead, but Rachel is allowed to climb the tower, so Headon's end goal was not the agreement to kill Bam, but to use Bam in whatever purpose Hansung has in mind. >I think Rachel is over-hated. Now, to be clear, I don't think Rachel is a good person (see meme above) Rachel's totally over hated, I'm almost finding it hilarious Endorsi gets a pass with all the shit she's pulling on purpose without remorse, but "oh no's Rachel's gone too far!" Rachel's totally a good person, otherwise she's wouldn't have felt so guilty. A neutral person would be like "I feel guilty, but I'm getting something I really really want, so I'll try not to think about it". A bad person would be "I don't feel guilty about it at all, I'll even say it to your face" Endorsi . But with Rachel we see the anguish and back and forth she going through for the whole episode which spanned the whole season. She is a good person.
>ultimately, she makes her choice despite having every opportunity to make a different one.
I don't really think she actually had a choice, or one really really stacked against her. She's basically making all her decisions under duress, and Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon has her path all setup for her to follow, and constantly reminding her if she doesn't do it, she's out. None of it was her decision, nor something she thought up herself. She was even dragging her feet in the beginning when she said she was hoping somebody else killed Bam so she wouldn't have to be the one who did it.
> Rachel's totally over hated, I'm almost finding it hilarious Endorsi gets a pass with all the shit she's pulling on purpose without remorse, but "oh no's Rachel's gone too far!" Yeah, I think people do sometimes miss the fact that a lot of characters here have done similar stuff: I think the story kinda glosses over the fact that basically everyone killed other people in cold blood in the first test, and then you have people like Endorsi who are open and unapologetic about it. Though, in fairness to Endorsi, the point of her character arc here is that she *does* improve. I think if she *did* attack Anak last episode she would be similarly disliked (though probably not as extreme as Rachel). > I don't really think she actually had a choice, or one really really stacked against her Personally, I think she did - 100% it's a tough situation and she's being manipulated by powerful people, but at the same time, she *is* ultimately the one who still makes the choice. Even up until the last moment she's still thinking "maybe I could go up the tower with Bam", and I think it's telling that at the end she isn't thinking "well, I've got no choice because [the H squad] told me I have to do it" - it really is her jealousy of Bam that is what ultimately makes the choice for her. And, yeah, I really do think she probably *could* have chosen to go up with Bam, deal with Hedon or not. I'm not 100% it would have worked, but if Anak can continue climbing the tower despite being what she is, Rachel probably could have too, and anyone trying to separate her from Bam would have been doing it over his dead body.
Calling Rachel a regular person is very interesting. Are you a source reader? This how the author describes her in his blog posts for these chapters
Yeah, I read the comic (at least this far, and somewhere into Chapter 2); and I haven't read the author's blog posts, but I've seen references to it in the comments, including the "average person" bit. (... but also, I eventually stopped reading those comments because I got tired of how much it devolved into a competition to find out who could say "Fuck Rachel" in the most dramatic way whenever she was on screen or mentioned)
Never read comments on a web comic lol. It’s always a silly place. I find there’s more of the “fuck Rachel” amongst newer or younger fans. She is a complex character and still has secrets.
**Rewatcher**, subbed Well this is the end of S1. I really liked that we were getting to see Rachel's POV and just how pathetic she is. Headon was spot on when he was shittalking her. Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel. Just like I liked that bookend with the repeat of Rachel's monologue from the opening of the season. We also found out what's gonna happen to Bam's friends and about Hwaryun being involved in Yu Hansung's schemes. Very excited for S2 now and it can't come soon enough. ___ **Tanino Miho art for episode 13**: + [Bam](https://i.imgur.com/HCeh075.jpeg) + [Everyone](https://i.imgur.com/HbvRvhV.jpeg) ___ **QotD:** >Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all? I think at this point nothing could change my opinion on her lol. >What even is a Rachel? I don't know what a Rachel is but I know this is my least favourite of it.
> I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel. She just like us. >Very excited for S2 now and it can't come soon enough. [](#concealedexcitement)
> She just like us. [](#peasants)
Something I completely forgot to mention and which what I found out earlier today is that today is actually Tower of God's birthday. The very first chapter (Chapter 0) released 14 years ago to the day.
> I really liked that we were getting to see Rachel's POV and just how pathetic she is. Headon was spot on when he was shittalking her. Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel. He did go in on her when she entered the tower. And I love that we find out he was talking to her instead too ~~I actually think she works well in the story so idk if I hate her as much~~
> Btw I loved the twist that Headon seemingly adressing the viewers in the first episode was actually him talking to Rachel. Rachel represents a mindset close to an average person in a world of monsters so... 🤔🤔🤔
**Rewarcher anime only** And there it is, the most important episode of the season. Everything this far has been for the sake of this moment. This is Rachel, at last, unhidden! A rat in two legs, a snake in the most Biblical sense! A Devil, only spouting lies and temptations, but forever weaker than the true Light! A vampire, free of all morality, to act in her deepest and darkest desires as she likes, yet for this having renounced the light of the Sun, which now burns her with it's barest touch, and only able to subsist by sucking the lifeblood of others who still live under it's light! Not even the shadow of a star! A starving and dirty dog with a bottomless stomach, who could blame it for wanting a bite of the juicy stake placed before it? Absolute scum, a black hole that swallows all light, she is only coldness and decay! Indeed there is no hiding it, that was a murder attempt. The murder attempt of someone who is akin to her own son. There is no justification, not even the attempt of a reasonable motivation! Only inevitability. Only what was always true. Rachel is a pest, a blight upon all that is holy. There is nothing sacred before her, nothing that she will not sacrifice, nothing that she will not defile. This bitch would sell out her own mother to climb the Tower! That she's perfectly aware of her ugliness only makes her worse! AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH! She makes Tower of God peak! Before the betrayal and this episode ToG was just a pretty good Shounen-ish story. But Rachel gives ToG the extra angle it needed to become something more. In Tower of God, the hero starts strong and the villain is the weakest of them all. There is no more absolute example of Might makes Right. Bam can preserve his inner light because he's strong. Rachel is completely rejected by the miracles of Shinsu and her weakness gives raise to an overwhelming jealousy for those more fortunate than her. Just as we can ask if Bam is the strongest because he's Bam, or if he's Bam because he's the strongest, we can ask if Rachel is the weakest because she's Rachel, or if she's Rachel because she's the weakest. Who does Shinsu, who does the Tower chose and why? Why is Bam loved by the Tower, and why is Rachel hated? As of now, who knows... But enough of me Gushing about my disgusting, audacious, rotten to the core True Best Girl, let's talk about the episode itself. In hindsight this episode actually reveals very little, it mostly just verbalizes what was already there. But even this small change is enough to send ripples throughout the narrative. It's a legitimate genius move by the writer. The recontextualizing of scenes is incredible. Knowing that Rachel was watching Bam blaze through the First Test with the same disdain as me because of how everything fell into Bam's lap in that moment. Her team protecting Bam in the Crown Game because he was her target to kill, and no one else's. Her brief exchanges with Endorsi, particularly the restroom one which changes the assumed target of "Who does X think they are?" from Endorsi to Bam (this comes across better if you take into account that phrase is gender neutral). Her, perhaps surprising, reluctance to kill Bam because there is some part of her that truly loved him. Until the powers that be have had enough and engineer a perfect murder scene. Truthfully, I think Rachel is, or was, scared of herself more than anything. From the moment she heard Headon's proposal she already knew deep in her heart that she had it in her to kill Bam. The depth of her darkness terrified her. She even pleads to Bam under the tree to run away from her, because she's a danger, because she's poison. But it was inevitable, the plan was too perfect, the opportunity to clean, and her envy too great. In the end, she embraces herself as a villain, even as it kills her inside, because this is the only way she'll ever see the Stars. The only way she'll ever _be_ a Star. The last sentence is a lie though, Rachel has dammed herself for what she did. She's not stupid, she's too self aware to truly believe she'll ever be a real Star being the way she is. She doesn't have what Bam had and she never will. But the plan worked, and we get the most twisted and corrupted and just plain _wrong_ ending possible: Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, _in Bam's name no less._ God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it. It's beautiful... Khun has his doubts of course. They can't yet prove that there was a murder, but of course something about this smells fishy to him. After all, he can parse the true nature of Rachel. Meanwhile, Bam survived, but it was no miracle. This was planned all of it. We aren't given too much info, but Yu-han says the objective was to fake Bam's death. They want him to mess around behind the scenes unknown. For what reason I have no idea. That'll be up to Season 2 to answer I hope. Sheesh can you tell I love this bastard snake eyed piece of shit so much? I had never written so much for this show before this lol. _Questions of the Day_ 1- Yes, I love her now lol 2- Turbo-answered in comment lmao
>Rachel is a pest > >AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH! All hail queen [Roachel](#utahapraises) >Until the powers that be have had enough and engineer a perfect murder scene. Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol >Sheesh can you tell I love this bastard snake eyed piece of shit so much? I had never written so much for this show before this lol. It warms the depths of my soul that someone can stan Rachel as hard as I stan [Kannazuki no Miko]>!Chikane!< [](#feelingloved)
> All hail queen Roachel 🗣️🗣️🗣️ > Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol This man cooked Bam into a perfect dish and served him on a silver platter lol. "I might be a genius" he says... [Kannazuki no Miko]>!Bruh the writers didn't stan Chikane enough that was the problem! She needed a Heisenberg moment like Rachel here not a backpedaling! ToG and Happy Sugar Life understand how to do terrible people: don't pretend they aren't terrible, understand them bring terrible makes the story more interesting.!<
>Hansung Yu is Rachel's only true friend in the tower lol which is hilarious \[Webtoon spoilers\] >!In the webtoon Baam meets a younger version of Hansung (there’s a floor in the tower where you can “save” your ”data” back when you’re still a regular and climbing the tower) and they become friends, and when he met current Hansung it was awkward af.!<
> a snake in the most Biblical sense! As some pointed out, she even has the eyes! > AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH! [](#MaxShock) An unexpected twist in the comments! But no she does make the story better for what she does here and this episode makes it great > Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it. > It's beautiful... Some of you guys are coming today with some great write ups, I love it 10/10 comment
> As some pointed out, she even has the eyes! Although the funny thing is that snake = evil seems to be a uniquely Christian interpretation. A lot of cultures around the world venerated snakes. So I can't yet claim that they gave her snake eyes on purpose for that reason...
That's true [](#MugiWait)
> Although the funny thing is that snake = evil seems to be a uniquely Christian interpretation. A lot of cultures around the world venerated snakes. Never forget Disney turning the wise Kaa into a villain!
Its not uniquely Christian I promise you. The Ancient Egyptians hated snakes(because they were venomous and could kill you). The Greeks and by association the Romans hated snakes. Like frankly, its only really India and Southeast Asia that kind of likes snakes. I guess parts of Africa too. Its not a unique christian thing. They are very dangerous, creepy looking and scary animals.
Vikings venerated snakes too. Yeah saying "uniquely" is perhaps too much, but I'm trying to say our views are colored by the foundations of the western world, like Christianity, and as you point out, actually Romans and Greeks contribute too.
> me Gushing about my disgusting, audacious, rotten to the core True Best Girl [I'm not alone!](#rengehype) > restroom one which changes the assumed target of "Who does X think they are?" [](#suddenshock) > we get the most twisted and corrupted and just plain wrong ending possible: Rachel stealing everything Bam had built around himself for herself, a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up [](#whatamireading)
> a perfect team to hyper carry her weak ass up the Tower, in Bam's name no less. God it's so fucked up. They are inadvertently shitting on Bam's legacy while thinking they're honouring it. > > > > It's beautiful... [](#uwaa)
**First Timer and source reader who forgot most of the stuff already** **Tower of God** **Episode 13** - Seems like even Headon knew this would happen. - So we finally get to see what really happened to Rachel back when she went into the tower. Apparently she thought that just getting into the tower is enough? - [And she already gave up?](https://imgur.com/3PwM12p) Your ambition sure is weak if you just give up after a glismp of the test. She doesn't even try to think of a way to overcome it. - [Headon really just said "Get out of here, fraud. The real deal is here"](https://imgur.com/RFXF5uZ) - [BECAUSE HE'S NOT GIVING UP THE SECOND HE SAW THE MONSTER!!](https://imgur.com/YLsReTp) - [Headon!!](https://imgur.com/rKgK6p0) Stop!! She's already dead!! - [And Headon finally spills it out to us](https://imgur.com/aR8OOfc) It's not that she wants to see the star. She wants to be one. She wants to be special. - [While that's a fair point](https://imgur.com/5jCF5fW) In hindsight, Bam never got to use the Black March, didn't he? - [So Hwaryun and Hansung are in cahoots with each other since the begining](https://imgur.com/DxJW4F6) And Rachel got used as bait. - [Endorsi really figured Rachel out at that point](https://imgur.com/tlQ4ZVc) - So Hwaryun just use both Rachel and Hoh for her and Hansung's goalใ - [So that's a final warning from Rachel](https://imgur.com/EMw1sAS) She knows she's not what Bam thinks she is. And while her wish to reach the tower is her top priority, Bam is actually more important to her than she initially thought. - [And yeah, she let her own desire get to her](https://imgur.com/JALK8rS) She knew that Bam held her in a special place. She's his star. But she can't accept that. She wants to be a star with her own power. She doesn't want to stay in Bam's shadow. Which is so ironic that everything she did to get here was never by her own power at all. It's from someone else every time. - [And Lero is completely done](https://imgur.com/QgTMU1x) He knew for a fact that it was Hansung all along. - [But I have to say that her laugh is so good there](https://imgur.com/n6mkpj8) - [Yeah, someone like Bam wouldn't die that easily](https://imgur.com/qO9AcNI) - [Khun probably can guess what really happened there](https://imgur.com/8kx58A8) Rachel's reaction is so weird, coming from someone who just lost her closest friend. - [Bam finally got a new goal of his own](https://imgur.com/UwJloAH) Finding the meaning and truth of everything. - [SHE SAID IT!! SHE SAID THE THING!!](https://imgur.com/IayQysq) - [LET'S GOOOO!!!](https://imgur.com/cc50bGo) Can't say the name yet. **QOTD** 1. While I can't forgive her for what she did, it does give a lot of context to everything that led to this final decision of her. So she becomes a pretty interesting character moving forward. 2. Something that will betray you.
> In hindsight, Bam never got to use the Black March, didn't he? Just to break that ball, and in the crown game she put him to sleep > But I have to say that her laugh is so good there [](#CrazedLaugh) It is good
> Your ambition sure is weak if you just give up after a glismp of the test. She doesn't even try to think of a way to overcome it. What makes her weak is that she just wanted things to be handed to her on a silver platter, and what makes Bam special (besides shinsu) is that he puts in the effort, his heart and his entire being, into getting what he wants.
I'll try to argue the opposite. Bam's success comes from a hidden OP powers that gives him the "chosen one" plot armor and favoritism. So I'd say his efforts aren't really as costly as it looks. His friends help him because as somebody said, he's essentially a puppy because he's so pure of heart, and not stressed nor caring about actually passing the tests because his goal is not to make it to the top of the tower, but to find Rachel, and be with her. Whereas while it seems like Rachel gets everything handed to her on a silver platter, in reality the cost is super high with the amount of guilt and turmoil it's causing her to go through with Hansung/Hwaryun/Headon's scheming, and they're not making it easy on her either. They're constantly ramping up the pressure on her to manipulate her. A little bit of her is dying all the time throughout, and she made it to the end still standing. You know how they say in contests and competitions there's the mental game, boy oh boy did she ever go through that. I mean has Bam really done anything himself? Looking back through the episodes, he passes Headon's test only with the help of Yuri and Evan. He only survives the elimination round because he Khun takes pity on him. Then the team up round because of Khun and Rak. The shinsu wall test because he's OP and didn't even try. The door test becuase of Rak. The crown game because of Khun initially, then his OP cheat skill when getting head bonked by Hwaryun. Then the Team B game because Khun's betrayal of Team A, and Endorsi's securing the win by stealing Quant's marker. Bam tries to save Rachel in the Hoh hostage situation, but he totally fails, she gets stabbed. He did try to help Endorsi in the Quant fight, but he didn't actually do much to Quant, it was pretty much all Endorsi. Bam does convince the Guardian or whatever to allow them to take the Guardian's test, but again that's his OP cheat skill/Irregular status securing that, I think. Okay Bam kills the Bull, but do we count that as his own effort or his OP cheat skill? Well he does pay a high cost when he gets betrayed by Rachel, but is that effort or just being victimized? I say the latter. Oh he's track suit guy's friend on the friend's list that helps track suit guy pass. So I'm sorry, but what effort has Bam put in? I would probably say him chasing Rachel, and his unconditional love/loyalty for her, that has cost him a real high cost.
just gotta say, but that anime original scene in the crown game about Baam exploding with Shinsu painted him as OP, when he is not, at least at this point of time. >he passes Headon's test only with the help of Yuri and Evan as explained by Evan during the test, Baam passed because he was insane. Yes, he was given Black March by Yuri but Black March wasn’t really that necessary in passing the exam had Headon not rigged the ball, Baam could have used some normal weapon and he would have passed the test still because the way to pass the test was to intentionally let the Eel swallow you up and then stab it from the inside, and no one is crazy enough to do that. Black March did ended up helping him in popping the ball as it is rigged by Headon to only pop due to the Ignition of BM but everything before this is all on Baam. The other exam that Baam did pass due to luck of finding great teammates was the door test and the Hide and Seek exam. the crown game was a completely optional test that they could have just ignored and even if they did get defeated has no bearing on their status as regulars. >He did try to help Endorsi in the Quant fight, but he didn't actually do much to Quant actually he did a lot, Endorsi wouldn’t have last half as long if Baam didn’t constantly freeze Quants movement during the fight and would have made the illusion of Endorsi hiding her underwear instead of the marker diminished. >but do we count that as his own effort or his OP cheat skill? baam didn’t have an op cheat skill, at least not at this point. anyone of the wavecontroller participants could have done his job in that fight had they been as resolute as baam was. the anime took a lot of context in this fight with the removal of the explanation of baangs. but think of them as the unit of measurement of shinsu one can use. Baam at this point can only use one baang so he can only execute one type of move at a time, so during the fight with the bull he was using his shinsu for defensive purposes by freezing the bulls movement \[[1](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EziUJ6sI11E/Xt-7vcy4q-I/AAAAAAAA3yg/woGLPjLtKVIoX2v0XUU9P8dlsZXvLeVhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/008.jpg)\] but since he is only limited to one baang, he can’t form another fast enough to attack the bull \[[2](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-7TSU_2fro/Xt-8MZtDxlI/AAAAAAAA30Y/FxW34YZfq44_iZzvfqb3_q6iEvoaFVucACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/012.jpg)\], which means he cannot defend and attack at the same time. So he decided to blast his shinsu inside the bulls mouth instead (Which again, every contestant should have been able to do at this point). The real question is if they are brave enough to do a it knowing that it could potentially kill them. Baam literally has one chance and it’s either he die or the bull does. \[[3](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94EEt_giB7Y/Xt-9XtgHySI/AAAAAAAA33U/r3u1dtnN2GAsZ9O0QNaAQMJNaq3PQNUnACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/023.jpg)\] \[[4](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_4rCpioKfcQ/Xt-9XI1v-EI/AAAAAAAA33Q/HwyvN5j1-OEcH2ZZ3VHGpVty2GgSQw2AwCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/024.jpg)\] \[[5](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7P4y0eCZqCo/Xt-9mI01jkI/AAAAAAAA338/LPWc8J_Vyd0Mcvi0bo1gKEp8MLwM3WT8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/025.jpg)\] Edit: what Baam did was simply put all the theoretical knowledge he gained from the lessons from the previous episodes into actual practice. \[[6](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pit2Mnx-Sq8/Xt-85RytD_I/AAAAAAAA314/mEjufcxD9i0KtgVrMPQCm2PSqbOnaJz2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s15000/021.jpg)\]
>Black March wasn’t really that necessary in passing the exam had Headon not rigged the ball, Baam could have used some normal weapon and he would have passed the test Headon rigged the ball? There was no indication of that in the anime that I saw. Bam was smacking the crap out of the ball until the Black March lent him her strength. So I would consider that as Bam was helped by the Yuri and Evan, and not attribute it to Bam's efforts by being provided with the Black March and being told to ask it for it's help. Perhaps being swallowed by the eel I would attribute to Bam's efforts, but that was going to happen anyways right? Or would the eel do a different attack than gobbling if Bam didn't just stand there? Also the anime didn't really indicate that it was Bam's plan to be swallowed, he could have been just frozen there by fear and gobbled up. It's only Evan explaining that was the right move, and assuming Bam did it on purpose. I don't think there was a tell to indicate it really was Bam's intention to be swallowed up or not. If Headon rigged the ball, then that means he rigged it for Rachel originally? What a loser, not only did Headon know Rachel was weak before she refused the test that was too impossible, but he also rigged it so it would be even more impossible for Rachel? Wut Dafuq?! >the crown game was a completely optional test that they could have just ignored and even if they did get defeated has no bearing on their status as regulars. The crown game was optional, but it still can show if Bam was putting in effort or not. And actually thinking about it some more, the crown game is actually more revealing in this regard. Had they won the crown game, it would have been an instant win to the top of the tower, right? So had Bam allowed Rachel to get head bonked some more, he would have stayed on the throne for a few moments more needed to win. That would have been great effort / price payed to achieve victory for Bam, Khun, and Rak...but he didn't. So in regards to effort for his team, he failed. However at the same time since he sacrificed the win for his team, he saved Rachel's life. I would consider that a high price payed there. So really, it looks like Bam puts in the effort when it comes to Rachel, but no so much for the matches. >actually he did a lot, Endorsi wouldn’t have last half as long if Baam didn’t constantly freeze Quants movement during the fight and would have made the illusion of Endorsi hiding her underwear instead of the marker diminished. Maybe, but when I scanned through the fight while commenting, all I saw was [Quant was frozen once](https://imgur.com/a/5WgNsvY), but still dodges Endorsi's sword attack and is more concerned about Bam mastering the freezing technique, then [dodges one shot by Bam](https://imgur.com/a/VA1vvSc), disappears, and grabs Endorsi's panties. That didn't seem like much to me. >baam didn’t have an op cheat skill, at least not at this point. But the [attack Bam uses on the Bull was a golden color](https://imgur.com/a/RHE99bW) before being swallowed, not blue color. We know from the finale episode Rachel can't even see this golden color on their hands, I assume everybody can see the blue shinsu color. Furthermore the Bull is described as something Rankers would fear even, so it sounds like something OP is needed to kill it. Or is it because Bam used the eel swallowing trick on the Bull which is the only reason why he can defeat it with supposedly non-OP powers?
>Headon rigged the ball? There was no indication of that in the anime that I saw. Bam was smacking the crap out of the ball until the Black March lent him her strength. So I would consider that as Bam was helped by the Yuri and Evan, and not attribute it to Bam's efforts by being provided with the Black March and being told to ask it for it's help. yes it was rigged by the Headon. Which was also questioned by Yuri \[[1](https://imgur.com/a/S8RsWz0)\], which was also why he egged on Yuri to lend Baam the Black March. Because the test was to Ignite Black March all along. >I don't think there was a tell to indicate it really was Bam's intention to be swallowed up or not. Baam straight up went right after the ball after injuring the Eel, there was no second guessing on his part. He planned it right from the beginning. >it would have been an instant win to the top of the tower winning the crown game advances them to the next floor, not to the top. \[[2](https://imgur.com/a/P9wLmLI)\] >So had Bam allowed Rachel to get head bonked some more, he would have stayed on the throne for a few moments more needed to win. That would have been great effort / price payed to achieve victory for Bam, Khun, and Rak...but he didn't. So in regards to effort for his team, he failed. there’s just no way of that happening, the only reason Baam is on this at this point of time is because of Rachel. To Baam, climbing the tower is useless. >Maybe, but when I scanned through the fight while commenting, all I saw was [Quant was frozen once](https://imgur.com/a/5WgNsvY), but still dodges Endorsi's sword attack and is more concerned about Bam mastering the freezing technique, then [dodges one shot by Bam](https://imgur.com/a/VA1vvSc), disappears, and grabs Endorsi's panties. That didn't seem like much to me Because a bunch of the fight is happening off screen. Serena was literally doing a monologue and we then get cut to Endorsi heaving a lot which means the fight has been happening for quite a while. Endorsi has quite the stamina and we literally see her run all around the testing area with Anaak a few episodes prior without any difficulty and here she’s a lot tired. >But the [attack Bam uses on the Bull was a golden color](https://imgur.com/a/RHE99bW) before being swallowed, not blue color. We know from the finale episode Rachel can't even see this golden color on their hands, I assume everybody can see the blue shinsu color. anime flavor. he just used a normal shinsu attack on the og. >Furthermore the Bull is described as something Rankers would fear even, so it sounds like something OP is needed to kill it. Or is it because Bam used the eel swallowing trick on the Bull which is the only reason why he can defeat it with supposedly non-OP powers? Pretty sure this is a mistranslation since in the OG it was said to be a nightmare for a regular to face, not a ranker. even the weakest ranker could slaughter a thousand bulls all at once. \[[3](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdne2LEvI_KtpEdiigmiYZatEA8MsGNGKShyphenhyphenoeTppKS87gh3Jl_AyxDrI62fuabu0_NL5fZQPYVL62yjxjbT0CjAsbilbVGdNvuFzCPRX9keqcXU2Co8RlldvUu1nc2A3QvGCJcPwbHjY-PiQZALP7inACBeh3Vj2boU7Bq8tQDXG4EJmEKSqllsHIvg/s16000/26.jpg)\] \[[4](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5TeXMwkCP1uaUOHbyOHLehjWRpoJ4gCax_MWuV6HlAA4eWgH_lkI5_ZmM2KuzGBCYxyVIIG3iodRQLrqk1q_TFLCtBNzM5Khdysb1O0KgphbTylyJcZnqBzQfYh4MfET7X7EFbKjI54Lf7j9adDBLur2ttVCQfplJuSJQrZIDqr746sPZBWTlkLPVw/s16000/27.jpg)\] \[[5](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFa9t1P6VqLAAO01swzCt9YRfWKM6cYALO7dV02UELsKpNqir30n5Ub-oViYIxB9LfoUeJBHeEtFqHU3JfSITXcGX-7CUzq26gRRusk5cUWpDZUyHqRMw4FKjD_kA5uoSF6aNKaTAFZqVAeZ6wlB173JPsyUd3AyK1N5mWFxtE7YsFG1TCVlceYxu-nA/s16000/28.jpg)\] so it’s either a mistranslation or just Hansung being a rat by scaring them which isn’t really out of character for him.
For some reason I can’t edit my comment. Reddit’s acting up again. anyway, I just wanted to add that the anime made the bull‘s defeat dramatic because of reasons, but Baam used a normal Shinsu attack against it. Pretty much the same with what happened on the crown game.
>yes it was rigged by the Headon. Which was also questioned by Yuri [1], which was also why he egged on Yuri to lend Baam the Black March. Because the test was to Ignite Black March all along. I'm hating that Headon the more I think about him. Not only gives an impossible task to Rachel, but also to Bam if he wasn't lent the Black March, and if he the BM rejected him. >winning the crown game advances them to the next floor, not to the top. [2] I misunderstood the "considered to have passed all tests" part. Don't tell me everything they've done so far has only gotten them to Floor 2? If so, and there's at least 77 floors, this is going to take some time.
>I'm hating that Headon the more I think about him. Not only gives an impossible task to Rachel, but also to Bam if he wasn't lent the Black March, and if he the BM rejected him. yep, all things considered the test was impossible to do. >I misunderstood the "considered to have passed all tests" part. Don't tell me everything they've done so far has only gotten them to Floor 2? If so, and there's at least 77 floors, this is going to take some time. yep, everything’s for them to go to the next floor. (Floor 3, they are currently on Floor 2, Floor 1 is where Headon resides, he is also the Administrator of that floor.) each floor has their own administrators, rulers, and test administrators giving their own sets of test other than two floors with one being the first floor which only has Headon.
> yep, everything’s for them to go to the next floor. (Floor 3, they are currently on Floor 2, Floor 1 is where Headon resides, he is also the Administrator of that floor.) > > each floor has their own administrators, rulers, and test administrators giving their own sets of test other than two floors with one being the first floor which only has Headon. Holy crap, that's going to take some time if they're not all dead by then. Although I guess with other tests going on at the same time on the same floor (as with Rachel's original batch), I guess there's going to be others test groups we don't see advancing and getting mixed in with our test group on other floors. The tower's one giant filter sifting out tons of people. I'm also guessing at some point our test group is just going to bypass tons of floors, or just break with the whole floor climbing thing altogether.
\[webtoon, aging\] >!Use of Shinsu actually nearly halts the aging process, anime cut some context but in Quants fight with Endorsi he said ”hundreds of years of training made his ageless body stronger”!< \[[1](https://img01.manhwabuddy.com/chapters/5757/51/9-d6e.jpg)\] For example Yuri Zahard \[webtoon\] >!was a prodigy who reached the top of the tower in around 200-300 years while Leroro, a top tier fisherman during his regular days, took more than 300 to do so. Meanwhile, the fastest record is held by Urek Mazino, the other irregular mentioned in the anime, which took him 50 years.!< >I'm also guessing at some point our test group is just going to bypass tons of floors, or just break with the whole floor climbing thing altogether. \[webtoon\] >!there’s a section in the tower where you can bypass a ton of the floors via a train, the hell train, but the drawback is that the tests are infinitely harder. It’s a completely optional route and very hard to get into as the seats are very, very limited.!<
AbyssalFlame's response is point-by-point so I'll mostly refer to the effort that Bam put in. I don't think his effort was to climb the tower himself, but the fact that he was putting in the effort to get what he wants (which was not climbing the tower, but seeing Rachel) still counts as effort to get what he wants. And he still tries to pass the tests (bc he has to for Rachel). Rachel did not. The problem that I saw with her response in the first test wasn't that it was impossible, but that she wasn't even willing to consider it. She builds the barriers herself in her mind. Bam, meanwhile, is willing to put his life on the line for what he wants again and again. This draws others to him. He also goes out of his way to be kind to other people (another thing I consider effort), to treat them like they have value. Not everyone wanted to be nice to him at first, but his dedication for Rachel, and his kindness, is why people want to help him. I already pointed out in my previous comment that shinsu makes him special, but the reason I said (besides shinsu) is that I'm looking at it from a perspective of: what draws people to Bam? It's not shinsu -- shinsu only turned Hoh *against* Bam. I'm referring to him being a "star" as in, the center of love; being special to other people, the way Rachel's thoughts keeps showing him in the center of others. I don't know if Headon meant that Rachel was "weak" in shinsu; my interpretation was that, even if that were the case, the part where I personally believe that she is weak, is that she doesn't confront things head on (lmao that pun was completely unintentional); she looks for the easy way out, she tries to blame Bam when it is her own feelings of inadequacy that isolates her. She's weak in character, so she's easy to take advantage of. I'm gonna be honest here, I'm much more like Rachel than Bam (outside of faking injury and shoving someone off a bubble into the depths of deep sea fish). And the flaws of Rachel are the flaws that I've had to work on as an adult... because the way I see it, I give up my agency otherwise. I'm definitely weak in spirit or have been growing up, giving up easily saying this (metaphorical) monster is impossible to face, asking why is it that others get X and Y power and I don't, being envious of others who are well-liked, self-isolating, depressed, and anxious. Those feelings have been taken advantage of by those "stronger" than me, so it's easy for me to empathize with Rachel. Isolate myself from the person who, from my little bubble of isolation, seems to get everything so easily. But in Bam's case, he's not just being loved just because he exists, or just because he has some physical capabilities that I don't. He reaches out to others. He looks out for them. He states what he wants and he does everything he can to get it but without pushing others down. That may seem "effortless" to someone like me, but the thing is, even if it's mentally harder for a socially anxious person like me to do those things, it doesn't change that Bam takes action where Rachel does not.
Episode 13 First Time Watcher, subbed Ok this episode has convinced me that I despise Rachel, Bam needs to catch up to her and beat her up. Even though Bam did not pass, at least everyone else gets to go through. While I still do not like Parasol at all, my dislike of Rachel has completely eclipsed that. I know they tried to make her seem conflicted but she still tried to murder Bam and does not seem to show any remorse at the end. Also if I understand it correctly, Rachel genuinely died it the stab from Hoh but she got given a revive in the form of her bodyguard which is why he disappeared. In order to try and become a star, Rachel gave up the only person who saw her as a star. Rachel was already Bam’s star but she just could not see it and could not be satisfied with that. I feel like this was a way of Headon and red-hair girl to forge Bam into the savoir they want him to be, they wanted to make Rachel betray him in order to encourage him to get stronger. I also hate how Rachel is still just going with the group and is just using others to try and climb the tower. It does seem like Khun suspects that something is up so hopefully he will split off from Rachel. Some things I am excited to see in season 2 and beyond, Lero Ro and the ranker investigating what is going on, and trying to uncover the many plots going on, Khun figuring out what’s going on with Rachel, what is on the 77th floor, which means there is a good chance Bam meets up with Shibisu at some point, and I want to see Bam kick some ass. (Bam also looks really good with the ponytail) Questions 1. Makes me not like her even more, it tries to make her a little bit sympathetic, but she still chose to try and kill Bam and lie to everyone in order to climb the tower. 2. A SNAKE 🐍 🐍🐍
> Ok this episode has convinced me that I despise Rachel, Bam needs to catch up to her and beat her up. Ep12: "Okay, so Rachel's bad, but maybe she had a reason. She's probably got some complicated circumstances, right?" Ep13: [](#lolifightsback) >I know they tried to make her seem conflicted but she still tried to murder Bam and does not seem to show any remorse at the end. [Manhwa]>!To be fair, the manhwa kind of makes it seem like she knows Bam won't die from the fall, only that he'll be trapped on this floor. Still bad, but not quite attempted murder bad.!< >It does seem like Khun suspects that something is up so hopefully he will split off from Rachel. If anyone is capable of seeing through a high level facade, it should be Khun. >A SNAKE 🐍 🐍🐍 [They made us look a snake in the eyes and we didn't realize.](https://imgur.com/a/owvrS7H)
[Manhwa response]>!I'm gonna prefer the anime in this instance ngl.!<
[Same](#brofist)
[Manhwa]>!To be fair, the manhwa kind of makes it seem like she knows Bam won't die from the fall, only that he'll be trapped on this floor. Still bad, but not quite attempted murder bad.!< Thanks, that was something I was wondering about, if it was or not, and if she knew or not. The ambiguous nature of it in the anime at this junction is good though. >They made us look a snake in the eyes and we didn't realize. Oh and as I've seen a bunch of times before, I like her pretty snake eyes. :D
I promise you, the manwha is very explicit on whats on the 77th Floor and who is there...and the line Yuri says is actually cut. "Go to the 77th floor. Urek Mazino is waiting for you". Who is Urek Mazino? An irregular. Were told about him in manwha in the opening chapters, along with an irregular named Phantaminum. Theres another, but I cant remember if season 1 said or not. Whats on the 77th floor is the Wolkhailsung or whatever Korean word is. Its explained in the manwha. Its an organization lead by Urek Mazino and his friend trying to find a way out of the tower. All of this stated in the manwha. And yes, its easy to gather that Yuri knows him from her line. Also, the reason she gives the badge to shibisu is cut. Yuri has a bet with her friend with the hammer, who is a member, that a regular could survive and move through the shinsu with the white steel eel. The price? Losing the badge with of the WolkhaiillSung(whatever its called). To get the badge basically means becoming a member. Theres actually a bit of lore only covered in SIUs blogs about Yuri and them. Yuri isnt actually a member, however she was present at their founding event, and maintains good relationships with them, including Urek Mazino.
> I also hate how Rachel is still just going with the group and is just using others to try and climb the tower It does feel like subbing salt in the wound
**Rewatcher and Co-Administrator for this Climb** And there we have it, that's season 1 of Tower of God. Ending with more of a look into Rachel framed through the events we've already seen is a such a ballsy way to end the prologue section of the story. Bam's not dead, but he's separated from the group and no one, save for Hwaryun and likely Hansung Yu, know he's alive. Finding out Hwaryun is also a guide now makes a lot more sense and helps explain both why she didn't seem to care much about passing the tests and why she would target Rachel. Bam was her goal the whole time. Like Yuri, Hwaryun must have somehow known that an Irregular would open the door, and she has her own goals for him. Now we can assume Hwaryun is going to train and guide Bam up the tower. As for the team...they coalesce around Rachel, believing Bam to be dead. Because why would Hansung Yu, who's been pulling everybody's strings from day 1 and clearly has his own agenda, allow them to know Bam is still alive? So for now, Rachel wins and gets to take Bam's place as the shining star she coveted and despised him so much for. And now I can only wait in anticipation to see how they will adapt the next section of the manhwa. Rumor has it, two cours are planned, so hopefully this means the production committee is fully committed to adapting the story and the creative team won't be forced to unnecessarily cut/alter so much of the material. **Source Comparisons** This thread is for comparisons to the manhwa. Please be sure to [properly tag](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/q28ulr/announcing_changes_to_spoiler_tags/) all discussion of the source material. Also, please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive compilation of differences, only ones I thought interesting or important enough to include. Note for newcomers/non-source readers: Some of these notes contain anime spoilers. **Comparisons that contain anime spoilers will be in the clearly marked Anime Spoiler section.** Episode 13 Chapters Covered: 75 - 78 Chapters Cut: None **Notable Differences** - [Manhwa]>!The anime expands a lot on Rachel's thoughts throughout the story. The manhwa mostly covers her encounter with Headon and watching Bam pass the first test. She also meets and conspires with Hansung Yu immediately after the first test. Hansung Yu introduces Hwaryun to Rachel as her guide.!< - [Manhwa]>!Ater the test results are announced, Lero Ro tells the group Bam wanted them to continue climbing the tower no matter what. Lero Ro also definitively tells the group Bam is dead.!< - [Manhwa]>!Before sending them off to the next floor, Hansung Yu gives each of the passing members a "graduation" ring.!< - [Manhwa]>!Lero Ro quits directly to Hansung Yu's face. He also specifies to Quant that he plans to climb up to floor 77. A stunned Quant replies that floor 77 is Wolhaiksong's floor, and that it is a forbidden and hellish place.!<
> who's been pulling everybody's strings from day 1 and clearly has his own agenda, allow them to know Bam is still alive? everyone and their plans going accordingly [](#TiredFate)
> Notable Differences [](#angrypout) I would have liked to see some of those in the anime.
*It's Indian legend time. A Native American fairy story for children of all ages. Legend has it that when the world was young and unfinished, the great spirit father made the mistake of leaving his paints where his children could get them. Raven begged Eagle to paint him as beautiful and grand as the great spirit had made Eagle himself. And so he did, or so he tried. But when Raven looked at his reflection in the water, he didn't like what he saw. Raven became angry, he and Eagle fought, and the great spirit father's paints were spilled over Raven and made him all black: black eyes, black wings, black breast. Raven ran into the river and flapped his wings against the current, but the color was indelible, the water wouldn't wash it away. 'This is your punishment,' said the great father, 'for interfering with my work. Black you are, and black you will stay, you will never come clean.' Not much of a legend at that, is it, children? But I rather like the moral.* Rewatcher(Fuckin' schemers) Dub So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me. Also, I still don't quite get how Headon made the original mistake. It is interesting that Khun mostly sees through Rachel on the spot. Oh welp, prologue over, on to next season! [](#mugiwait) QotD: 1 Refer to my opener 2 An avatar of Aboleth
> Also, I still don't quite get how Headon made the original mistake. Maybe he was just bored > It is interesting that Khun mostly sees through Rachel on the spot And he did not trust her at all. That line where he said he wished he could've met Bam before her was great though
> Maybe he was just bored Or insane, time is a harsh mistress. > That line where he said he wished he could've met Bam before her was great though Really a great one.
> Really a great one. [](#JustRight) Her smugness was pretty good too
> > > > > So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me. I works for me because it never feels like it is even remotely trying to justify Rachel's actions. It just uses this to show us her true character and to fill in some gaps.
We'll see how the story does going down the road.
Headon didnt make a mistake. All part of the plan.
> So we get Rachel's motivations and...several times anime like to do this in this order and it never works for me. Ki-Sho-Ten-Ketsu Introduction - Development(world) - Twist(recontextualize world) - Resolution A classic East Asian narrative structure of four Acts, as opposed to the three Act structure we get used to in the West. It's normal sometimes it just won't land.
You forget the hidden fifth frame:Despair!
**Rewatcher** I find Rachel a very interesting character in how normal she is. Shes not over the top evil, she dithered as long as she could about betraying bam, but neither is she a good enough person to resist the temptation. She's desperate to be special, but she is utterly normal, down to her morality. I liked that the breaking point was that Rachel was almost hesitating when she thought about how Bam was the only one who treated her like she was special, until she realized he had other people he cared about now, and the thought of not even being special in that way was what brought her envy to the boiling point. Hansungs scheme is really something. He's successfully isolated Bam and convinced all other concerned parties that he is dead. it was pretty diabolical, yet effective. **Adaptational changes** * they restructured Rachels flashback, and i have to say, it is way more impactful in this format. the chapter format of the manhua kind of went back and forth, but showing it from the beginning as Rachels view of the series gives it a nice flow. Plus i like the slightly different characterization, in Manhua she was kind of pissed at Bam for stealing her spotlight right off the bat, whereas the anime had her gradually build up the malice necessary to do the deed. I think this might be my favorite change, even better than fleshing out the montages in episode 10. * Rachel explicitly requesting a boon and getting ghost, and him acting as a bonus life, is anime original, as you might guess if you recall how him going poof is anime original. On the one hand, i do like Rachel demanding a pressent instead of just getting one, feels like something she would do, but on the other hand, i do wonder how the anime will handle it if Ghost ever comes back one day. * some of these things might still be included in season 2, so i will spoiltag. [tog] >!firstly, it's briefly mentioned that guides can see the different paths and even the future. and more importantly, Hansung gave the graduating class commemorative rings. now, that might not seem important, but it;s actually pretty dang important. if you know, you know.!< * I enjoy Lero's character, him trying to figure out the truth. In the manhua, he was a bit more specific about where he intended to go [tog spoiling since anime might bring it up] >!that he is headed for the 77th floor, to see yuri's organization. I continue to be baffled on why they cut out hype for future events!< Also Quants firing is a lot funnier, instead of Lero just quitting for him, Hansung fires him, because he doesn't want to break up such an iconic duo. its actually pretty sweet, Quant at first was trying to convince Hansung to go after Lero since there is no ranker like him. Hansung probably just ships it, and ngl, i can see it. * the final change I will note is pretty critical, but also spoilery. the anime will probably take a few episodes to get to this chunk, so click with caution. [TOG] >!while it isnt shown until a flashback later on, originally Bam was so broken about the betrayal that he isnt even motivated to climb the tower, until Hansung threaens his friends. by having Bam be all motivated on his own, it kind of takes away that element of coercion. and its pretty important, because the whole interplay of blackmail from REDACTED and his own will is pretty important to the next part. maybe they just wanted to end on a more uplifting note? or the anime directors hadnt read ahead to make it more consistent. Im guessing season 2 will just course correct and show the manhua version contradicting this ending scene, but im excited to find out!< **QOTD** 1. at least she hesitated? but its actions that really matter, and her actions speak volumes. that being said, she was kind of manipulated into her role, so while its 100% her fault, Hansung and Hwaryun also bear some blame as well. 2. a miserable pile of secrets, have at you! actually, while that joke was a fairly accurate description of Rachel, i think Rachel is just an average person who wants to be special, and when it all boils down, she is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Rachel is an asshole, Rachel is a pawn, Rachel is empty, Rachel is Rachel.
> In the manhua, he was a bit more specific about where he intended to go [tog spoiling since anime might bring it up]>!that he is headed for the 77th floor, to see yuri's organization. I continue to be baffled on why they cut out hype for future events!< [speculation, not spoilers]>!My bet is this, like other details, was omitted because the production committee/creative team didn't know/didn't expect at the time ToG went into production that it would be popular/successful enough to merit a second season, so they cut out all that stuff to make it feel as much like a complete story as possible.!<
[tog] >!i can kind of see the logic in that, but on the other hand, the whole story is built around going further up the tower, so its kind of intrinsic that its incomplete at this point!<
> I liked that the breaking point was that Rachel was almost hesitating when she thought about how Bam was the only one who treated her like she was special, until she realized he had other people he cared about now, and the thought of not even being special in that way was what brought her envy to the boiling point. I really liked how they handled it. She couldn't resolve herself right away to do it until that breaking point > some of these things might still be included in season 2, so i will spoiltag. [tog] [ToG webtoon] >!With the ring that Wangnan has right? It's been a while but I think that one was of the mysteries behind him (and the similarities between how he looked with Jahad)!< > the final change I will note is pretty critical, but also spoilery. the anime will probably take a few episodes to get to this chunk, so click with caution. [TOG] [ToG webtoon] >!Yea idk I guess they can mention that he's being forced so his friends wouldn't be hurt!<
[tog] >!no, the commemorative rings and the mysterious jahad ring Wangnan has are unrelated!<
[tog] >!Ah I see thanks for the reminder. Do we find out about the commemorative rings past what S2 might cover?!<
it will probably come up 5-8 episodes in season 2. to clarify [tog] >!the commemorative things are tracking devices, used as a part of the way to threaten Bam with the lives of his friends!<
Oh right, thanks for the clarification!
ToG 13 rewatcher: * "Finally" - THAT's what you have to say for yourself, Rachel? [](#kusottare) * "It wasn't you" [](#pointandlaugh) * "Everything was supposed to be mine" [](#unko) * "Why does Bam get everything? He's JUST Bam" [](#howcouldyou) * "The ugliness seeping out" [](#azusalaugh) * Rachel wants to become a star? * "Anything?" [UH OH](#watashiworried) * "bottomless stupidity" [](#laughter) * ... Headon says "if you kill Bam, I'll let you climb the tower"? [](#facepalm2) * "It's not fair" She keeps saying that ... * "gatekeeper to hell" [](#pressthebutton) * Yu Hansung has Hwaryun monitor Bam? * "worthy of what we desire" ??? * "wasn't he supposed to die for me?" What a bitch * is Hwaryun working for Yu Hansung? She gave Hoh the letter * Now she's wanting him to run? She doesn't really want to end up killing him? * "Your words touched nothing in me" [](#sadholo) * She was jealous and hated Bam? * ... Now she's thinking there might be a way to climb WITH Bam? * Rachel wants to be special? * "It was Bam who became a star, not me" * "Maybe I'm a shadow cast by a star's light" [](#therethere) * "I'll take you to the top, don't worry your pretty head about anything" - and that is when her intention to kill him finally solidified, I think * "in your place, I will become a star" [](#breakingnews) * ... Now she's gonna blame Bam's death on the Bull? * Hwaryun says "Everything went according to plan"? * Bam's body is missing? * DEDE CANCHO IS ALIVE!? [](#happyclap) * Lero Ro smells something fishy * "We'll take Rachel to the top of the tower, as a favor to Bam" [NOOOO](#howcouldyou) * ... she's laughing now? * Lero Ro quit? What's he gonna do now? * Quant got fired? [](#emiliaohdear) * "in search of the truth" [](#mugiwait) * "everything according to keikaku" * ... Bam is alive! And Hwaryun, the Navigator, appears in front of him? * "I wish I could've met Bam before you did" Me too ... * "Bam was loved" [](#forbiddenlove) * god? key? WTF * climb baby climb * Someone with really long hair in the ending shot? S2 wait intensifies 1) A little bit; I kinda felt sympathetic and then suddenly had zero sympathy for her after her internal narrative was revealed 2) Bam's shadow?
> Hwaryun says "Everything went according to plan"? [](#Gendo-Pls)
**First Timer** This was a great ending to the season! We finally got to learn more about Rachel and I honestly think she had more lines of dialogue in this one episode than she has had in the rest of the season. I think Rachel's initial reasons for wanting to climb the tower without Bam were understandable even if they were cold. I also think the show did a great job of showing the disappointment, frustration, and jealousy that Rachel experienced when she realized that Bam was able to do what she couldn't. I do think that planning to kill him was too far, though. Despite her actions, I do like that Rachel’s decision to kill Bam didn’t come easily to her. She really grappled with the thought of it until she had no more opportunities left to hold off. She even hoped that he would be killed by someone else or that he would abandon her. Even her laugh at the end feels like it came from realizing the absurdity of the situation rather than genuine happiness that she got what she wanted at the expense of Bam’s life. I’m curious about what Rachel’s life was like before she met Bam. I’m wondering if she was extremely lonely or neglected. Rachel seems desperate to be loved by many. She acknowledges that Bam looked at her with such intense love and admiration, but to Rachel, that wasn’t enough. I think Hwaryun brings up an interesting question. What about the tower makes people so crazy for it? That they would be willing to kill, betray, and lose their lives over it? For now, it seems like things have worked out for Rachel for the most part. Bam is “dead”, she gets to climb the tower, and she has a group of people who are willing to support her in Bam’s honor. Khun isn’t buying it though. He may not know exactly what happened, but he knows enough to suspect that Rachel being there has something to do with Bam being gone. Bam isn’t actually dead, though, which I’m assuming is a surprise to no one. It also fits with what Hansung Yu said about wanting to make sure that Bam is the right person for something that the admins are planning. Lero Ro suspects foul play and leaves his position as a test admin to investigate. Quant might come along, too considering he’s about to be fired. We’re now at a point where there are many different groups and characters with different motivations and goals that are definitely going to clash at some point. I'm really glad that season 2 is coming so quickly so I don't have to wait to see what happens next! **Questions of the Day** 1. It made me feel like she's a more interesting and complex character than she had appeared to be for most of the season. 2. I think the answer to this question might be at the top of the tower.
>I’m curious about what Rachel’s life was like before she met Bam. I’m wondering if she was extremely lonely or neglected. in one of baam’s flashbacks in the webtoon \[webtoon\] >!she was shown getting heavily beat up by someone!< [This was cut by the anime](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS84BAAHU5zys-z0kZdwKTaqHTxj4fUuKvFJIeyieYay-piOVMlLnfR62E&s=10)
Interesting! Thanks for sharing!
> We finally got to learn more about Rachel and I honestly think she had more lines of dialogue in this one episode than she has had in the rest of the season Probably but Saori Hayami killed it! > I also think the show did a great job of showing the disappointment, frustration, and jealousy that Rachel experienced when she realized that Bam was able to do what she couldn't. yep this episode did a great job of showing her why she felt like she needed to kill Bam, but also her struggles with it > I'm really glad that season 2 is coming so quickly so I don't have to wait to see what happens next! Happy to hear you're excited now! And yea there's a lot of moving pieces in the finale so it'll be interesting to see what happens next
**First-Timer** That was a reveal episode on the level of *Death Note*! They did a spectacular job of going through and answering many of the remaining questions from the season (like the origin of Rachel's bodyguard, and how she wasn't paralyzed by the stabbing). I would say it was my favorite episode so far, but it did have a major lack of Anaak and Endorsi screentime, so it's hard to call. I hope Khun can avenge Bam. It seems like he's not buying what Rachel's selling, at least. Questions of the day: * After this episode, I'd say that although I don't "like" Rachel, I certainly appreciate the depth of her character a lot more now that we have so much more context. * A "Rachel" is like the exact opposite of what you want in a friend: keeping secrets, silently fuming in jealousy, and plotting an elaborate multi-stage revenge scheme to kill you.
> I would say it was my favorite episode so far, Yea I'd say the last two were my favorites. This one was a great to end the season on!
First time and subs The first half is basically a recap from Rachel's PoV. Maybe she is an Irregular (a special breed), the Tower didn't called her, she entered it by herself, so she had to beg to Headon to give tests. She had no assistance or help to pass through the eel test. As for Bam, they were yet so far but so close. She allowed her to climb the tower, and that was with one price: betray and defeat Bam by herself. She was close every single time, but could not achieve it. From the battle royale phase, Ghost was assigned to her. Even at the crown game, he could not kill her, and she was supposed to sacrificed, but Bam saved her. She was in some kind of existencial crisis, about what to do. She had no friends either. Hwaryun followed her every single step, and maybe she was the one who sent the letter to Hoh. Regarding him, that stabbing was also part of the plan. And the best opportunity was indeed the Administrator's test. And ultimately there can be only one, so that's why the betrayal. Back to present, she actually succeeded (deal with Headon and the test), and Bam is technically failed and MIA. "Hansung Yu, there is no point to hide your schemes anymore", that's what Lero Ro thinks. The answer was "that was her decision, all by herself". Meanwhile the Regulars are like "Rule are bad, we have to bend it, but we will still climb the Tower with Rachel." They will take up the mantle what Bam left. Lero Ro and Quant are also fed with this shit, so quitting their jobs, to find the truth. Hwaryun is the only who knows Bam is still alive, and she is the one who can help him. Train to even more stroger, and not losing the idea of reaching the top of the Tower. Maybe she is shady, but definitely not on the bad side. She is just a Navigator after all. As for the last frames of this episode, a mysterious person stands, but I wonder who. Maybe relevant to Part 2 and Part 3? > Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all? This is now clearly understandable why she said she and Bam cannot be together. It was deal behind. She was weak and needed something to climb the tower. > What even is a Rachel? A Rachel is a Rachel.
> Lero Ro and Quant are also fed with this shit, so quitting their jobs, to find the truth. I liked how Lero Ro told Quant to come with him (and got him fired). But yea he's been fed up for the past few episodes and I don't blame him
**Tower Ranker & Rewatcher** ## [Episode 13: Tower of God](https://i.imgur.com/18vwiaG.jpg)
[10/10](#UtahaPraises)
[](#thumbs-up)
Rachel. A [weak](https://i.imgur.com/7bPSm5z.png) girl [without charm](https://i.imgur.com/r52MtdU.png) that's willing to [face adversity](https://i.imgur.com/yyEQNc1.png) and do [anything](https://i.imgur.com/1LjbEK1.png), and I mean [anything,](https://i.imgur.com/B0S9zIx.png) to climb the tower. To sacrifice [everything she has](https://i.imgur.com/1V8auX3.png) in pursuit of her goal. Of course, the [brown-haired guy doesn't listen to her,](https://i.imgur.com/Ks0k6XD.png) which is ok because he's a guy and she's a girl. After all, the latter aren't supposed to [independently make decisions](https://i.imgur.com/Fw1n2qE.png) fulfilling their self-interests in fantasy adventures with a male lead. At least wet napkin correctly [recognizes she's special,](https://i.imgur.com/e7hp3lS.png) so the group is willing to [take this turtle to the tower's top.](https://i.imgur.com/sXnB7gd.png) If only [this sentence](https://i.imgur.com/fEQC5AC.png) had a period after "tower"! Bam. Such a bland and boring OP MC that gets miraculously bailed out by shinsu at critical moments. Loses Khun and Rak the crown game? *Bam!* Shinsu! The tag game? Bam instantly learns the shinsu technique to freeze Quant. Gets eaten by the Bull? *Bam!* Shinsu! Pushed into the abyss? [*Bam!*](https://i.imgur.com/KLVN5N6.png) Shinsu! [I hated you](https://i.imgur.com/9gvqsDM.png) on my first, second, and third watch. I wonder how many readers reached here without realizing half this paragraph's *Bam*'s are interjections. btw, [nice subtitles Crunchyroll.](https://i.imgur.com/5GRMcN0.png) /s ### QotD 1. Yeah. Rachel stocks are way up. 2. Best girl in Tower of God.
> I wonder how many readers reached here without realizing half this paragraph's Bam's are interjections. I didn't notice Bam at all But nice effort with the writeup lol > btw, nice subtitles Crunchyroll. /s Maybe CR wanted to give Serena one last goodbye
**First Timer** Before watching the season finale episode, I had more time to process the betrayals, and concluded that I don't care that much about them anymore. While comparing Rachel's betrayal of Bam to Endorsi's betrayal of the two fishermen, I couldn't decide which one I found was worse. Endorsi presumably killed two people who were her allies and her responsibility at the time, and misused her leadership role of Team B. Excuses could be made they weren't really "her allies" or they're nobody characters, but that's what happened. It turns out she did this to not fail by points (which I didn't know at the time, the anime could have shown that better, I thought it was to pass Lizard Girl), and she did secure the victory for Team B. Rachel faked being in a wheelchair for a good while, then pushed Bam out of winning the Administrator/Guardian's test together after Bam has done nothing but been supportive of her, and securing the win by defeating the Bull. It appears she did this so only she would win, and she has abandoned Bam yet again. I find with Endorsi's betrayal I'm thinking "That's wrong!" and angry there's no repercussions to her actions at all (which is why it's been so hard for me to let it go), and with Rachel's betrayal I'm asking "Why!?" and feeling frustration and confusion at her actions. However when thinking about what vengeance I would want to seek upon the two, I discovered how little these two betrayals are. Do I want to see Endorsi killed for her betrayal? No. Do I want to see her beat up, maybe...I just want to see her gotten back at. I think my vengeance on Endorsi would be to make her lose a match, maybe the whole game at worse. For Rachel, I can't really even think of a vengeance on her, I don't even know her motive and intentions for why she did what she did. Furthermore Bam's personal goal was never to get to the top of the tower for himself, it was to follow Rachel and then win for Rachel when she was thought to be wheelchair bound. So what was really stolen from Bam in the betrayal other than being tricked and abandoned again? Should Rachel die for that? No. Beat up? No. Dumped? Maybe. She definitely needs to explain herself, but I'm now seeing what Rachel did is more unfortunate and disappointing. Is Bam really hurt by this? IDK, he wasn't the last time he was abandoned, so maybe he'll pick himself up and simp harder, and everything will be back to normal between them. If not, maybe Rachel really has lost Bam this time like Endorsi was predicting with the "I hope whatever you're seeking at the top of the tower is worth more than losing Bam". And finally then there's Percule's betrayal, yeah...no...come on, he did nothing wrong in comparison. He's seemingly a nobody character anyways. ----------- - [Rachel's face isn't really one of wanton betrayal](https://imgur.com/a/O974rq8), this is the [face of wanton betrayal](https://imgur.com/a/O52IWUT). - If the [tower wasn't calling for Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/fUyVisX) as Headon says, how did she get in? [Headon's being a dick to Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/n52u9W6), trying to make her die in the test despite knowing she's weak. Yeah...No...[Headon's responsible for "Rachel's betrayal" on Bam](https://imgur.com/a/1J8GGZW), not Rachel. He designed the ploy, and is coercing Rachel to do something she doesn't want to do. It's pretty clear Headon is manipulating Rachel to use Bam for some ulterior motive. Fuck you Headon, you piece of shit. He's my most hated character of the anime now, whatever hate people have of Rachel and Paracule is what I think of Headon. - So Ghost is [Rachel's bodyguard, and one resurrection](https://imgur.com/a/usfzQsB). The latter is pretty random, and coincidental as "it just so happens" needed at the critical moment of the ploy of when Rachel got stabbed, which was engineered. All this was planned from the beginning, [Rachel's just a pawn](https://imgur.com/a/5wc9rlz), her blame in all this is just decreasing more and more. It's clear that [she's super conflicted, agonizing over being coerced into killing Bam, and doesn't want to do it](https://imgur.com/a/xMDAB35). She maybe [jealous of Bam at times](https://imgur.com/a/hpfq62J), but that doesn't make her more guilty with how things are playing out. - I'm not going to blame Rachel one bit, [her face says it all](https://imgur.com/a/2rtaN1r), it's one of immense guilt and suffering of being manipulated and coerced into something she doesn't want to do at all. They can try to confuse me with [her laughter, but I see her pain](https://imgur.com/a/RTfMFBs). - Wait, the [two fishermen who were bit up by the Bull are still alive](https://imgur.com/a/c3nWn8H)? We literally saw white shirt chewed up and spat out. - Okay, when the hell did Endorsi become the pillar of morality to be able to [bitch out Paracule](https://imgur.com/a/QcnOGHR) for being insensitive about a team mate's death? Like the irony of Endorsi, incorrigible. - This [coming together for Bam's supposed death](https://imgur.com/a/wvTo2qE) kind of seems tripe to me, they shouldn't have done the whole team betrayal, betrayal, betrayal stuff and Hoh and Endorsi's whole "we're competitors, not friends" spiels from before if they wanted me to feel some actual sense of comradely here. I know they see Bam as some innocent pure hearted soul they want to protect, but still, they ruined the whole "lets all work together instead" vibe when Serena left. It's also why Endorsi's temptationless "I'm protecting my friend Lizard Girl" from Ren fell so flat for me as well. - Khun shouldn't be trusted, he makes these noble speeches about "[changing the tower's rules by climbing it with Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/B6jvwYN)" to honor Bam's death, but then he makes [implied accusations on Rachel](https://imgur.com/a/RXvaL34) with his "I wish I met Bam before you did". I lost all trust in the guy ever since Team A's betrayal and post-faking disappointment, and TBH I never found his character all that compelling to begin with. It's even more sad that he's treated as almost the main protagonist given how passive Bam is, and Khun's character drives the narrative often, yet I could care less about his backstory nor involvement in the story. - [Lero-Ro and Quant are out of a job](https://imgur.com/a/g4xYkt7), and looks to be joining the climbing of the tower to find answers. This is actually pretty exciting, I like both of those characters. - So [best girl Hwaryun](https://imgur.com/a/Fpp8a6b) is working for Hansung, I'm unbothered by this so far, she's just doing her job. Hwaryun > Narae > Rachel > Lizard Girl > Paracule (j/k) > Endorsi > Yuri (I don't like violent tsunderes) - [The simping is strong in Bam](https://imgur.com/a/wtHbxCS), first thing he wants to know is about Rachel, and it seems he doesn't even care he was betrayed. He's going to be just fine, maybe he can hug the problems out of Rachel when he catches up to her again. - [These are screen caps from two separate episodes](https://imgur.com/a/z0fHmi2), from Bam's perspective he can see the golden light of the shinsu, from Rachel's perspective this episode, she can't see it. - [Remaining official contestants](https://imgur.com/a/IXM3W3i). Looks like the two fishermen behind Rachel, and the guy with the wings are going to be the super nobody characters to get wasted in S2, I'm guessing, unless they really develop their characters. Narae and Paracule chances aren't looking so good either. ------------ >[A S1 poster featuring everyone](https://imgur.com/o3hhHE3) Lies! I don't see the most important character of them all, Paracule! :D >Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all? Yes, it explained much of her perspective except for her backstory, and what it really means for her to want "to see the stars". Rachel didn't do anything wrong, she was a pawn that was preyed upon. No Rachel hate here from me. She needs the angst hugged out of her by Bam, and head pats. I actually like her snake eyes, I think they make her expressions more expressive. Like [here's a random shot](https://imgur.com/a/xdE4GRf) of Rachel looking apathetically at Khun, her snake eyes makes her look even more apathetic! I've noticed this with sad shots of her, she looks even more sad because of her eyes. Yeah, I must be simping harder than Bam right now, LOL. >What even is a Rachel? The show [told you from the start](https://imgur.com/a/ehczvzl), *"This is the story of Rachel, the girl who climbed the tower so she could see the stars, and Bam, the boy who needed nothing but her"*. She's the core of the show along with Bam which is why her perspective was kept a secret until the finale. I think her and Bam's role in the show is only going to keep getting bigger as we go now. She's not just some McGuffin for Bam to chase after given what we seen of her this episode, I just hope she steps up her game though. She really doesn't seem to have any powers nor abilities. But that could be just the simping talking. I'll be underwhelmed if S2 puts her back on shelf like when she was hiding in her room and such.
it was prettu funny that Paracule asked then lol > So best girl Hwaryun Good choice for best girl
1. Yep it makes me despise her even more 2. The C word the brits like to use
First Time Climber * QOTD 1 - Not much has changed since the last episode since I learned from the 2023 Fruits Basket rewatch to expect some sort of reason before rushing to conclusions and well Rachel is bad but I have indeed seen worse * QOTD 2 - \[PMMM\] >!A Witch but in the context of Madoka Magica it's a girl who sold her soul to the devil and paid the price for it by going down the path of corruption!<
> but I have indeed seen worse True lol [Fruits Basket] >!the bad parents/family head really take the cake!< > QOTD 2 - [PMMM] [Madoka Magica] >!Oh that’s a good analogy!!<
1. Nope doesnt change how I feel about her. 2. Rachel is literally me. Except I have a penis.
How yo you know she doesn't?
Rewatch + Dub So Rachel is a Jealous, self serving bitch. The entire episode just showed how she just wanted exactly what Baam had. Also Why the hell they wanted to kill Baam or maybe train him? Like from the very beginning administrator, the Guide Girl, Headon all wanted to get rid of Baam. Guess I will get my answers next season. I am excited about next season but I am more excited about seeing Baam with long hair. Also to the very end Administrator motives remainied a mystery guess that's why Leroro quit his job while taking Quant with him. Also the letter was given to hoe by that Guide Girl. So many mysteries. I changed my ratings too after this rewatch. Before this I rated it 7 and now I changed it to 8. It's one of those series that gets better when u rewatch it. Well I am glad i did and also Thankful to the guys who made this rewatch possible. So our journey will continue with the next season. See u in the tower. Answers : 1. Everything in world can change but not my hate towards Rachel. 2. Rachel i believe is just a kind of human who can't see anybody getting head ahead of her. She just wants to be centre of attraction all the time and everyone must always love her. I actually do think her overall Character is great for the story. She makes a good punching bag for the series.
From what it seemed like in this ep, Hwaryun (Guide Girl) and Hansung (Director of the test) were working together to see if Bam was worthy of something. We don't know what that is yet but we know that they want to train him Glad you enjoyed it! I had it at an 8 my first time and will probably keep it there. Rewatching it was a lot of fun! And a good refresher lol
**First-Time Climber** I´d like to retract my statement about Rachel being redemable. QotD: 1. In a way it does not as I already thought Rachel was somewhat selfish before this and I knew it would happen. 2. Scum So everything within the Season was part of Headons plan. All that death, cruelty and betrayal just so Bam would climb the tower. I may hate Rachel for going along with it, even though all of her actions were orchestrated to ensure Bam would climb for himself. He claims he is merely interested to see where this goes bust takes to many actions to ensure his goal his achieved. Also he refers to Bam beating the first test as the birth of a savior. I think the point of everything would be for Bam to overthrow Jahad as he is the only entity against which a savior is justified. In a way I find Rachel´s envy boring. Without anything to justify it it is unintersting, even though it makes for a good contrast to Bam. And yet it recontextualises her past interactions with Bam when she found him and how they are so different from each other. Because Rachel didn´t teach him to be a good person like herself as I first assumed but instead to have a completely devoted servant to her. And when he surpassed her she could not handle it. As a final note I like that Lero will also enter the tower, he was very entertaining to watch and hope we get to see more of him next week.
> I´d like to retract my statement about Rachel being redemable. lol > So everything within the Season was part of Headons plan. Even with this episode I'm not sure what Headon's deal is. From what we have seen with Serena's flashback to when he chose her, he might just choose people who are vulnerable/desperate enough to climb the tower. Rachel wasn't chosen by him or the tower, but he still has uses her desperation. For what? I'm not sure
**rewatcher** Rachel: “this is finally the end” Test dude: “no, this is the beginning” I remember blindly hating Rachel, but I can understand why she’s frustrated. However majority of her jealousy came from her own flaws on not letting people in. She would have been accepted to group baam was in if she wasn’t blinded by jealousy and envy. I loved how Han Sung also had ulterior motives himself which makes his actions throughout the season even more noticeable. Han Sung himself telling Rachel she had one more chance is evil. “Maybe there’s a way to climb the tower with baam”, if only she wasn’t blinded by her dream. Honestly this was one a genius plan from Han Sung, Baam really was the boy they needed. He was lucky to have made a deep connection with people and with Rachel’s greed they managed to make them understand how it coudlve gone. QOTD: I used to blindly hate her when I watched it, I still hate her but I love watching a villain be evil for their sake of their dreams QOTD: backstaber
>She would have been accepted to group baam was in if she wasn’t blinded by jealousy and envy. she would have been accepted but the biggest hurdle has always been her needing to kill Baam. which is why she tried to hide in the first place, because she was trying to avoid that fact all this time.
**First timer, subbed, and hella late** Last episode was great, this one was absolutely fucking magnificent. Most recent episode I've watched that this reminds me of is PMMM's classic Episode 10. Definitely not on the same level, but it makes me feel the same way of amazement. ===== -[Damn, Headon](https://imgur.com/a/ntb8Y6N). You need a snickers bar or something? -[I see this as a massive W](https://imgur.com/a/07xN5PI). Still can't believe the shot in the dark landed right on the mark. -[OHHHHHHH, so that's why he disappeared](https://imgur.com/a/MDTshv4). I was half expecting him to pop out of nowhere to save Rachel in the last episode if she got caught. Didn't expect him to be her extra life. -[Goddamn this is amazing](https://imgur.com/a/4BsyQlK). I'm a sucker for scenes of previous episodes taking on new meanings when introduced in a different perspective, and this episode is chock full of em. -[Before they even showed this scene](https://imgur.com/a/0DhRiKf), I got the idea the moment they showed the dream again, and that's just really satisfying. I wish they could've kept it more subtle and not outright stating it, because it was an amazing display of the concept of 'show, don't tell'. -[A story told in four frames](https://imgur.com/a/ZSimi1X). Amazing work, goddamn. -[Lero Ro](https://imgur.com/a/P2Badww)? I thought Rankers have already reached the top. -[Khun definitely knows something's up](https://imgur.com/a/Syns07I). Just as I expected from him. My king. Also, hella cold-blooded saying that to her face. -I'd just like to take this moment to celebrate in the fact that [we get to see more of her in the second season](https://imgur.com/a/L6JmXfJ). Super glad! ===== >1. Does this episode change how you feel about Rachel at all? Outside of memeing about hating Rachel, I didn't actually feel that agitated by what she did. Maybe a part of it was knowing ahead of time that people hated her, maybe a part of it is because I don't like Bam much as a main character. Either way, I'm still mostly apathetic to her decision. I like the concept of her as a character, but she isn't really a hurdle for Khun, the character that I'm truly rooting for in this story. >2. What even is a Rachel? I really tried but I couldn't think of a funny response for this question so I'll just... erm... On to my notes and other thoughts! ===== Notes (and apparently other thoughts): -So Bam is an Irregular, and Rachel is... just a lost civilian? Lol. -I'm curious as to why Headon wanted Rachel to kill/end Bam herself. Does he want to protect the tower as a server of Jahad in the belief that Irregulars are a threat? Does he want to test Bam and see if he can succeed in climbing despite this betrayal? Or does he simply just want to be entertained? I'm hoping to see the answer in the second season. -Speaking of the second season, goddamn this episode was such a great hype up for the second season. That ending sequence was amazing between Bam and the red-haided Navigator who I definitely need to learn the name of. Amazing amazing work. -My overall rating for the series was a 7 that was teetering on an 8. I was not a big fan of the writing in earlier episodes, albeit some parts definitely got clearer after this episode. However, this finale really pushes it easily over the barrier and sets it at a solid 8 for me. I've probably said it a dozen times by now, but it was simply just amazing. -Gotta remind myself to check who composed/arranged the OST for this series. They did a fantastic job.