Pike, he feels like a King. A lost king or the one that should have been leading the train, when the Tail took over. All of it was put on Layton's shoulders, while he managed the business with the people, whoever they were. You could claim that he's the XO of this train we are taking every week for about fifty minutes and hope that they'll reach a station.
But when you think about all that he has done in the past, mostly invisible to the camera's eyes, it's no wonder why he's feeling disgruntled. It's as if obeys to him, but not show respect, while with Mr Wilford, it was all about glory and fanfare.
At the same time he's going through phobias, battling with the past ghosts with no relief in the sight. It's sad that it has made him paranoid and unable to see the reality around him, because if he'd take his place and enjoy the life, they could ride to the New Eden just fine.
The question is, when is he going to crack and release the beast?
He calmly watched as Layton struggled to come up with the right suspect. Trying to blame Wilford instead of using that brain and skills.
Ruth, Pike's Queen. She feels like the peg that is holding the barrel that is Mr Pike from spilling out in the most drastic way possible. She is the mother or should I say a Matron mother for all that is left and when she's gone, nothing is going to stop them from going to hell. So as long as she's fine, we have hope ...
... from her PoV the train is not fine. Everyone are in need of RnR and some time off. A big siesta on a sunny, warm beach with nothing to worry about. I love that she still tries, even by giving orders and not caring about the moment, because things are needed. Roche included.
She most certainly did the right thing by leaving him the padded cell. Carly wasn't having none of it. But curiously she got through to her old man. Made him talk, confess to his emotion, while Ruth just put up the wall.
Till, the new detective. I have to say that she's a bloodhound, as you set her on track, she won't let go. I expected her to make connections sooner than Layton voicing it. If she'd been smart, she would have come in quiet, instead of allowing Mr Pike run all over the train. In places, she feels like a yes-man than a privileged passenger or even a detective.
She stood by Layton's side while they announced to the Tailies that Pike was not be trusted. All while Pike was digging the ground from under Layton's New Eden deal. Why does she have to show other dog like qualities, like guarding the master after the scent had gone cold.
Why could she not follow Ruth, when she revealed that Pike and her are close. Could she not made the connection, not that Layton could do it either with his extensive real world experience. Follow the love and you'll find the man.
At least she went to Layton, with "corner a desperate man," excuse as soon as she realised how much was in stake. She definitely loves he man, but she loves the life more and all people in the train.
"Where he would go next?" Layton asked.
Ruth rolled her eyes. "He know ever corner and cupboard on this train. If he want to stay hidden, he will."
The surprise twist was with the Tailie tradition. It was an easy solution, instead of searching the whole train from Tail to Engine. The thing that didn't surprise me was the fight-to-the-death clause, because as soon as it was said, it was already set.
It's weird that while this happened, Wilford was finding the tree pictures. Pike wanted to go for the fight from the beginning, while Layton, Ruth and all the others wanted him to come clear and smell the coffee. Although the only truth was coming from Pike as he told "I felt being just an errand boy," instead of XO. But a man like Mr Pike, would he really want a title, when he's already so deep in the anarchy that you could say that he's a punk.
Andre confessed to everything and claimed that everything was behind them, but all Pike wanted was the knives. It is an exit. A death wish. The end or everything.
"Look at the power you have," Pike sneered. "You just offer me the world now."
Layton chuckled, nervously. "We have come a long way."
"And yet here we are. Back in the Tail. Now you can dangle the luxury of change, but the Tail needs justice. And what can Pike offer to Layton?"
He is so willing to paint himself in the corner that you have to wonder if he loves being in the misery?
"I want you to be godfather to Lianna. I'm serious. You want respect? Pike, that's family."
"I don't want respect."
Layton pulled out Ruth card and smeared it on King Pike's face. I loved that the reply was "The New Eden" fabrication. It is so human, but also logical to question the story, when there is no solid evidence to back the claim.
For being smart man Layton realised that the only solution to keep the "hope" going was to commit to the fight.
A king is dead. Long live the king Layton, with all his worries and sorrows. King Pike was a good, bad man. He was a fighter and a leader. It's damn shame that he had to die for Layton to see his trees again.
arstechnica.com
