MIDST | Ascendancy | Season 2 Episode 2 

Did...did they just make Spahr out to be a likable person suddenly? SPAHR?

Oof, the way Imelda just deflects all of what Weepe has to say makes my blood boil. She knows what she did and she did it on purpose but she’ll never admit that to anybody

Not only Im starting to feel bad for Spahr of all people, Im starting to think that Imelda is the true villain of this whole story.

Weepe's getting extra growly and raspy. Props to Xen for their work making such a subtle but noticeable shift.

This woman is more dangerous than any Blinding

"Most of the company is here... except for some guy" Why'd you do that to poor Phineas? The guy's been through enough as it is... and it's probably about to get worse

I am liking Imelda less and less as time goes on. She is pure ice. Well done on another excellent episode.

I went from finding Imelda an entertaining grandmotherly figure to having the most visceral fight-or-flight reaction whenever she starts talking... You guys are really killing it with this character writing. How I wish this episode was longer! Fourteen minutes is not nearly enough to satisfy me for a whole week - I need moreeeee

people who didn't clock Imelda as the bad guy by the middle of S1 have never had an abusive parent. Which I'm happy for you! But the signs are STRIKING. Lady was throwing the most rancid red flags.

Spahr, S1, to Phineas: "Deal with your issues yourself somehow, and I don't care that your freedom was within your grasp, but got snatched away again" Spahr, S2: *pikachu face*

I'm glad we can know for sure Spahr truly cares for Phineas, i thought perhaps he had something more terrible hidden underneath- but it seems just like Phineas, Spahr is part of a long chain where he can't really get out, unless he wants something bad to happen to him.

If this poised and manipulative behavior is coming from just one notary of the trust. Imagine what those above her are like

After everything, I can't believe you made me sympathize with Spahr AND Weepe. I shudder to say it, but I'm afraid you'll turn around and do the same with Imelda in another episode-I fully believe you could. Brilliant storytelling as always!

I love how Imelda and Weepe are playing each other but only one of them knows it

I must be a goblin is being comanded to do vile acts by an opressive and comanding evil figure because everytime Midst drops I start giggling in excitment.

this is likely obvious to virtually everyone listening, but the sound design really makes this podcast. I don't even notice it's there most of the time - which is a testament to how good it is.

Ahhh Fuck me, I want more. I ALSO WANT Goldfinch to get thorwn off the ship so BADLY!

Imelda is an absolute MENACE, the way she just deflected everything Spahr has said and turned it against him is just... dreadful

Imelda has always rubbed me the wrong way, but this episode... She's downright dangerous. Can't wait to see what comes next

God the further in these episodes get the more tense everything becomes

Not us empathizing with Sphar!

Imelda has always given me Delores Umbridge vibes. This episode continues to prove that saccharine sweetness of hers hides a calculating and manipulative nature.

I gotta say, in season 1 I assumed that Spahr is just one of the lucky few who got out of debt and now just embraces Trust ideology and doesn't give a fuck about the less fortunate. But his worry for Phineas and his guilt are very touching. It's good to have someone to root for on this side of the moon crash beside the diabolical bastard.

I don't understand why people are suddenly surprised that Spahr is not an evil person. I thought it was clear from his first appearance that he was a good man who tries to help and do the right thing and "just" so happens to be completely indoctrinated. Also Spahr-Weepe is a duo I didn't know I wanted but now I desperately need. Unexpected allies!

Love that Imelda is more of a monster than Weepe ever was saw that a mile away but its nice to see it in full

The ship swooshes unwards. I like that, that was clever.

the art is so amazing and it keeps getting better! and imelda scare me sooooo much! im so interested in what she might know and do!

My suspicions of Imelda’s idiosyncrasies are steadily coalescing into certainties. Weepe is a bad person, there’s a plethora of evidence highlighting that, but the subtleties in Imelda’s villainous actions are far more terrifying and sinister. Now she’s got a member of the Upper Trust who she can control- oops, accidentally outed Weepe as a traitor to his community, that’s a shame, he’s isolated now. Well, fortunately he has this new society to mingle with- because he loves The Trust, right? After all, if he didn’t betray his business for altruistic purposes, if somehow what he did was just for personal gain, well, that wouldn’t be very Valorous(TM) would it? Why, someone like that would be drowning in caenum for the rest of his opalescent life. She’s incredible at making unethical, yet unarguably practical, statements. “Disaster happening? Sure, it’s sad- but the exchange rate is more important than these people’s lives. The truth can’t get out.” “It’s a shame about having to fire/abandon/repudiate Phineas (and potentially Pom, judging by her remarks in this episode), but after all, they were so irresponsible and it would be just awful to see someone upstanding like Spahr get dragged into their mistakes.”

This is easily one of the most engaging stories I’ve ever listened to.

It's not too late to throw her off the ship.

Moc is such a terrible person...but...I love his character. Probably my favorite character right now, he's just got so many secrets

Ahh that's some nice twisting of the knife and plot. Weepe reverse blackmails himself and accidentally secures a position with the Upper trust crust when he just wanted to strike it filthy rich. He's stuck with the Trust for good, unless he tries to breach and become a criminal (well, more than before ya know) just like how Saskia was helping people escape the trust. Imelda takes this whole moonfall in her stride as she does everything. Lol it's hard to tell if she was in on it or if she is just that unflinchingly devoted to the trust.

How is it possible for this already near perfect show to be getting BETTER by the episode?

I am in absolute awe of Imelda Goldfinch. It may all still go horribly, horribly wrong for the Trust (not loving this press conference idea with two (!!) loose cannons, though I get why she's doing it, and doing it *right now* ), but if it falls, it won't be because Imelda didn't do *_her absolute best_* ... and her "absolute best" is a bloody force of nature. It was hysterically funny to hear Spahr consider her "a mere Notary". Pretty sure she's an *extremely* high-ranking Trustee purposefully (or at her own request) kept at a lower level to keep the reins on (possible) loose cannons (like Spahr) down there where the openly high ranks don't go and never see. But someone as good and as 'on the ball' as that -- in the middle of multiple disasters, no less -- is not someone who has gone unnoticed by upper management. Her (extraordinary) skills have undoubtedly been noticed and are being utilized. ..... There's an Upper Trust? (Of course there is.) And Weepe's now a part of it, with "voting rights" or whatever? Just a couple more moves and Imelda should have him bagged and turn him whatever direction she sees fit. As long as we can keep that medical issue in hand, of course. Just a _little_ wildcard. Poor old Spahr. Hope the big corporate gears that are turning don't grind the rest of the simple humanity out of him, but maybe it would be best if they did. He might be more effective 😂.

This is just so good. I'm fully obsessed with everyone's voice acting, the ambiance, the story. This episode is particularly amazing. Just, wow

To be fair... Weepe still has much more money than anyone else in society. Even if the money is worthless, he has more of each valor than others, so it makes sense that Imelda's spinning him as an Upper Trustee. Also, I wholeheartedly love that Sparr and Weepe both now realize how slippery Imelda is, and despite probably helping her to save themselves, they might one day be able to turn on her. That would be so satisfying.

Ahhh, the plot thickens like I'm wading into a pool of quicksand that I welcome sinking into! From one narrator to you all, thanks for this amazing ride so far😀

the updating art as the story is told helps a lot

Come on a journey of thought with me. Imelda's first action has always been to look for a wealthy member of midst inner society and invest them in the trust. This seems standard for a notary, but subtle signs indicate her angle of attack is pointed toward her own interests rather than any faith in the religion. This is not the actions of a fully-faithful first contact to evangelize. She was high up, and sent herself to this backwards dirtball to take advantage of the opportunity. What opportunity? If she could find someone gullible enough (weepe) to buy in at just the right moment, she could set things up to create a upper level trustee. Once he is embeded, she will show the paperwork proving his elevation was unwarrented and have power in a i made you i can unmake you setup. What follows after is a stalin general secretery becomes supreme ruler through controlling things behind the scenes.

Love how the art for the ship....is a paper airplane! I can't unsee it! lol

I'm just wanting the poor little girl to have both her parents back...

Imelda is more and more getting a spot on my dislike-o-meter, that VERY few female characters reach - up until now only Dolores Umbridge and Cercy Lannister.

Oh boy, it’s noon! 🎉

Wow, Imelda is even more of a diabolical bastard than Moc Weepe

Another a good episode, as always. I love this form of story telling.

Is Spahr the newest protagonist to join this motley crew of monsters and bastards and ne'er-do-wells. Welcome to the club, the Midsties are ready for more complicated emotions.

I had the hunch that Lark, is the most moral character of the trio. She has got herself in a variety of trouble becuase of it.

I'm starting to truly hate the whole being under the name of Imelda Goldfinch. Can't wait to see what she'll do next

Amazing! I wonder if the power Imelda thinks she has over Weepe will stand its ground when he's given the opportunity to stir things up in front of the media.

Imelda is one of the best villains I've come across in a long time. Bravo!

That was incredible... I was hanging on the edge of my seat.... I need more....

Oh, dude, this is so short T_T by the way, does Weepe's voice seem a bit... Weak and unhealthy? It can't be just bad voice acting, Weepe must be going through something tearror-y? Also, the line when Imelda kinda recruits him to do administration is brilliant and cracked me up for good xD

God I love this series please never stop making it!

You're not kidding that Season 1 was essentially set-up for the REAL story. I'm equal parts mystified and eager for the find out more. Well done, all.

It's heeeereee! I was waiting the whole week

Somehow the detail that caught my attention most was that medical case Weepe is still holding on to. What's that thing for, exactly? Why is it so important for him? What will happens if (when) he eventually looses it? Where did he send the samples of the black stuff to last season and for what purpose? So many unanswered questions surrounding that little medical case.

Yusss! MIDST is so good!

it took me a while to warm up to Midst, but holy hell, its so fucking good now. im gonna go buy something from their shop!

And silence grips our morality as we are only witnesses to the dramatic unfolding of what if and oh my gosh what else... we can only listen... and imagine... what a glorious place to be lost in thought!

Thank you , l am really enjoying this on my subway trip to and from work.

I wonder if Weepe's voice is getting messed up because he's now being exposed to so much micro mica in the air? All of that getting into his system might be causing a ton of mini-tearors throughout his body.

I love Spahr's design, and character designs in general. Incorporating valor beads into trustees uniforms is genius 🤠 Edit: the parallels between him and Phineas... Ow. Well written characters

imelda=umbridge. the moment i first heard her i knew she would be trouble

Oh fuck. I just caught up after binging since the release of the Sam & Marisha Q&A. Now i have to wait for weekly releases? Drop it all on me like the moon. I NEED more Midst

Good stuff! I wish it was a little longer, though.

I did not think I could despise someone more than Dolores Umbrige, but here we are.

So any suspicions that the cruise ship from the first episode wasn't attached to any random Mica shard? But maybe Midst's moon?

How do they keep creating masterpiece after masterpiece every single episode. Like normally the sequel or the second season of a show or movie has the trope of being bad. But literally every single episode just gets better than the The one before

Oh! what a tangled skein we have here!

Weep gonna be weeping

Great story

Imelda was a menace from minute 1, but seeing her in this episode, you can tell that she isn't the best at playing the game. She IS the game.

😳 I can say listening to this while driving may cause other drivers to look at your emotional outbursts oddly. 😅

Imelda is new lead villain. Huge Prof Umbridge vibes from Harry Potter. Villain power struggle and she barely flexed.

Desire to put emilda on a spike, rising

"... what the people needs to hear" said no propagandist ever

MORE I WANT MOOOOR

I saw someone say it once but ill say it again. Imelda gives full Umbridge vibes.

People like Imelda terrify me

That woman is the devil, Bobby Boucher!

Anyone else notice the background music is louder this season?

IT'S SO SHORT

This gets some getting used too, but it gets there.

Imelda is a master manipulator and now Spahr and Weepe know it. Imelda was giving Umbridge vibes before, but now is so much more dangerous. Umbridge was a tool, Imelda is a wielder of tools.

Well...those lines got jumped pretty fast. Thought I had a good grasp of the various villains. Who knew everyone would be switching sides to the point I don't know who's good, who's bad, & who's ugly!?!

Yes!!!!!!!

Midst to infinity

Imelda is like that Karen chick from Harry Potter. I can picture her wearing that blue, Clinton looking, pantsuit.

Sphar could fix it by showing Imelda a short walk to a long drop and claim she died on Midst..

Question to those that listened to Midst already: How far along was the story? Up until the end of season 2?

I was thinking it for awhile, but this episode solidified that Imelda is basically the Umbridge of Midst. And I hate her :)

TBH, I would have thrown that evil Ismelda off the ship, plummeting to her death. "She tripped."

From the moment we met Emilda, I knew that she was going to be a problem. And here we are.

Umbridge.. i mean imelda is definitely the big bad

Imelda us the most scary figure. Brrrr

Just gonna scooch on past ya...

This is incredible. Also First

So who do you resonate with the most rn? (No expo needed, but welcome if need be) For me, its Spar. Y'kno, just to be fair. 😊

✌✌

The money that was converted into valor? Oh, it's all gone now. Dollars turned to pennies (if they're lucky) during the Valor crash. Edit: I'm currently still enjoying Imelda... BUT... she's drifting toward Dolores Umbridge territory.