WX-78 Beta Branch's theme is a waltz, and my interpretation of what this could mean for their character (character analysis)

[DigitalClowns]

 

 

Okay so, I would like to start by saying that I am quite sad hat they removed the Beta Branch music because IT WAS SO GOOD. I've found it around YouTube and have been listening to it because it was really good and it scratches my brain just right, and there was something familiar about its rhythm and tempo that I just liked but just couldn't figure out why.

Then during a random train of thought, it hit me:

WX-78's beta theme is a waltz. A waltz on a 150 BPM tempo, for the record.

And my brain started spiraling, the gears in my head running nonstop (ha, get it? okay sorry I'll see myself out) and I had to get my thoughts on the matter out, and now I'm here posting this.

Now stay with me for a while because I have a LOT to say about this. Mainly I will focus on WX-78, but I will also mention their robotic companions a little.

So just sit down, grab a cup of whatever drink you enjoy and relax as you read the rambles of a nonbinary idiot with too much time while in the metro to overthink about their favorite nonbinary robot and their theme music and what this could mean for their character.

 

So! First things first, I wanna tell you people that I have absolutely ZERO knowledge on music theory and all of what I could write down in here that takes some music theory knowledge was thanks to my friend Annie, who is a huge nerd about the topic and has ranted to me before about Berdly's theme being a waltz as well. Annie if you're reading this, thank you for helping me confirm my suspicions, this ended up on a full damn rant about WX-78's Beta theme being a waltz LMAO.

So, let's begin:

Why do I say that this theme is a waltz? What does it have that makes it qualify like it?

Let's first get the definition of what a waltz is, shall we?

This is what Wikipedia says about it:

The waltz (from German Walzer [ˈvaltsɐ], meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, in triple ( 3/4 ) time, performed primarily in closed position, originating from German-speaking regions of Europe in the 18th century.

 

So, it's a ballroom dance in 3/4 time! Which to put it on simpler terms, it follows a constant "one, two, three, one, two, three" rhythm with a bit of emphasis on the starting note (one).

Now, listen closely to how a waltz rhythm is supposed to sound like.

 

 

And now listen to WX's theme.

 

Doesn't ring much of a bell, right? Yeah, I was not convinced on a start either. But what if instead of a 120 BPM rhythm, we check out 150?

 

 

Now listen to both of them together!

 

You see now where we're headed to?

So yes. This theme is a waltz.

"Okay, cool, we get it. What the hell does that mean?" you might be wondering. Well I am not done here!

You see, this is a waltz. From what I’ve been reading, in narrative terms a waltz is meant to represent freedom, expressiveness, the ability to change and adapt smoothly/graceful adaptability (which is also taken from the fact that you need to adapt to the dance moves smoothly, with grace), character, passion and expressiveness. Which are very interesting concepts to think about when it comes to WX-78

Now, before we continue, I would like to point out that there are two versions of this theme, and I will be addressing both of them.

Version 1 (Beta Branch version):

 

This version will be addressed to as the "Ominous" version.

 

Version 2:

 

 

This version will be addressed as the "Soft" version.

DISCLAIMER: I know this one YouTube video is a fanmade extension made by Fabin, however it takes after the canon version from the short so we'll still address this extension and the short version here. 

Moving on!

 

Skills of graceful change and adaptability

I will focus specially on it representing freedom and adaptability. I’ll start with adaptability and how this relates to the Skill Tree - hell, their very existence -if the Disconnect description is anything to go by- is about progress, change and adaptability! One could infer by connecting these factors that WX has been growing accustomed to this world and adapting smoothly and not necessarily looking for world domination as they so claim, but rather actually adapting to live as part of The Constant.

Let’s take for example their machines, starting by the Roto-Mapper: Scott!

Scott’s function is to scan The Constant and help WX learn about the environment they’re in, slowly amplifying their map- WX learns how this world looks.

This gives room for the next steps, with Jimmy and Drew.

  

We’ll focus on Jimmy first. Jimmy is WX’s main tool for adaptability in this world, being able to scan the creatures of this world and getting data from them, and with this learning and creating circuits all in favor of living and adapting better to this world. What’s funny though, is exactly that: the circuits they craft don’t seem to be focused on helping them take over the world, but rather they’re adaptation tools.

The first circuits we had after the first rework were them learning to adapt to this world- and now after the Skill Tree we could say that now they feel “comfortable enough” in this world yet they keep adapting, again, not trying to take over the world as they claim they wanna do, but rather making tools (circuits and bots) that will make adaptability to The Constant easier not only for them, but for their fellow survivors too.

We move on to focus on the Portable Storage Unit, Drew

Admittedly I’ll make this part shorter but it makes sense for it to be shorter- once they’ve gotten a wide view of the map thanks to Scott, now with Drew they can easily send over required materials to the base or to wherever any fellow survivors are. Initially I believe they tried to convince themself that this was only to make carrying materials for themself (and specially between chassises (?) (is this how you write that?) they have across The Constant) easier, but it turns out they’ve actually used this to help their fellow survivors too. They do care yet are deeply trying to pretend that they do not (and are failing at it).

And we cannot forget the Zaptrocuter!

Albeit this one miiiight be a bit of a stretch, Jules could signify them learning to take a different, more careful approach on the enemies and/or aggressive creatures of The Constant- instead of them directly going for the hit, they are more cautious and decide to strike from a safe distance- maybe even elaborating a strategy with their fellow survivors beforehand which includes them striking while hidden! Even when it comes to attacking, this is still a change -albeit one they definitely took longer to learn and adapt to, as we can appreciate in the Skill Tree short- and they’re still being helpful to the other survivors.

 

Lastly, the new chassis abilities.

Being able to move between different “bodies”, all of them with different (or no) circuits in them and smoothly moving between them depending on the circumstances and what’s required. Come on man, that’s probably the BIGGEST sign of adaptability that we can downright see in game aside from/combined with the circuits. And couldn’t this also count as showing their own character? Which is another thing that waltzes are meant to represent.

Going back to the music with this- I’ve already said that it’s a waltz (3/4 beat) on a 150 Beats Per Minute tempo. Not too fast, not too slow- it has quite a smooth pacing. Both versions of the the theme follow a rhythm which follows a pattern, which feels mechanical and is reminiscent of “factory sequences in a movie” as my friend said, but even in said pattern the constant sounds of machinery, clicking, turning, ticking and other sounds I may have left behind (which are a lot more noticeable in the softer version), feels like they’re constantly creating, changing (and in this case it could be creating their little robots, their chassises and their circuits if we wanna put it more literally) If you interpret this with the aforementioned stuff, they’re gracefully adapting to this life in The Constant- gracefully moving alongside the pace of the waltz.

But I'm getting too stuck on the skill tree. It's time for us to head onto the next part:

 

 

Mechanical freedom: facades, moving on and true-self

Moving onto the Freedom part which is the one that interests me with how mechanical this waltz is, and also the differences between the ominous version and the soft version- the ominous version, as I mentioned to my friend, it’s definitely the projection that WX is trying to portray about themself, that of an ominous, soulless, evil robot who hates organics and is trying to take over this world. But they are forcing themself to depict this image and it’s in fact, not who they really are- they’re forcing an image of themself not only on others, but on themself too and not giving themself the chance to be themself.

Does this look like freedom to you? Because it does not look like freedom to me.

It’s an irony that their theme is a waltz yet it’s so mechanical- they crave this freedom, yet they won’t allow themself to be vulnerable around others. They don’t let the other survivors know they care about them, and won’t let the others care for them as well -cue the Nature short in here, with Wormwood showing they care for them, WX panicking and retaliating with violence because they not only don’t want to be vulnerable, but also won’t allow others to care for them- and this keeps them trapped.

 

 

Letting themself feel, care and be cared for could give them the true freedom they say they have (but don’t actually have and so desperately want) Something else is, they tell themself that they’re free from who they were, from their past but we all know it’s not really like that.

Their memories haunt them, the past and who they used to be haunts them and they want to leave that behind but the fact that they won’t come to terms with it, accept it and move on is keeping them trapped in this mechanical loop- and interestingly! The Ominous version loops every 10 seconds. Much to think about I believe. Specially compared to the Soft version which loops a bit later than this one in- it does keep a looped melody and of course the waltz beat, yes, but the instruments and the composition are vastly different. It’s still mechanical but in a rather different way- I’d argue that this version is more organic, more free, quirky and shows more of them as they really are. It feels more creative too! It’s mechanical in a creative way and if you close your eyes and focus, you can picture them creating their little robot companions.

To me this version feels like it could potentially be their “true-self-waltz”, to say so, it’s still their same mechanical waltz but it pictures them as they truly are. So their beta branch theme being a waltz is, quite fitting, wouldn’t you think?

But for now, we'll have to wait and see what the future holds for our dear "soulless" automaton.

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 08:53 PM by DigitalClowns

[GamePlayer42]

to further this analysis i do think the piece is composed in d aeolian, modes like aeolian are often used to convey melancholy and longing which ties into them longing for freedom. another interpretation could be the full embrace of who wx is as a person which can tie into how youve interpreted the softer version

[DigitalClowns]

3 hours ago, GamePlayer42 said:

to further this analysis i do think the piece is composed in d aeolian, modes like aeolian are often used to convey melancholy and longing which ties into them longing for freedom. another interpretation could be the full embrace of who wx is as a person which can tie into how youve interpreted the softer version

Omg yes!!! That makes complete sense tbh

Also I just realized I placed the wrong link for the soft version- thankfully I placed correctly the clip from the short 😭

But yeeees I love this!!! Nodding nodding I agree