*How to not cry when listening to Triptych:* You can't. The tears will come. They always come. You cannot stop them - they have too many feet. Oh, and also the teeth. Nobody wants to get bitten by those, after all.
The city is wartorn, nearly impassible I act the lovelorn, dramatically laughable Said you’d come see me here underground Now it’s closing night and you can’t be found I go through the emotions, again and again But you are not here to see them I go through the emotions, again and again And this time I actually feel them I play the heroine, I play to their sympathies I say the sweetest things to come in their empathy I asked just one thing of you: to be here Did I not let it slip that I was sincere? That was my best poker face, trying not to care I watch and I wait, while you never appear The city is wartorn, nearly impassible I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable And though I've been spoiled by pretty privilege, I am no child, throwing a fit Could write the book of disappointment, And you’d be the final chapter of it So you’re a coward, or could never love me Or you have fallen to the enemy I asked just one thing of you: to be here Did I not let it slip that I was sincere? That was my best poker face, trying not to care I watch and I wait, while you never appear All these people came all this way, Faces stained with loss but smiling as they’re crying I would rather see you laugh at my tragedy, Than choke on these tears while I am curtsying So you’re a coward, or could never love me Or you have fallen to the enemy City is wartorn, never impassible I act the lovelorn, I used to be laughable
I watched a video of the singer performing this song live and she said it was about a bad actress who invited her lover to come see her show during wartime. He never showed up and this song describes that bad actress' feelings on closing night of the show. In relation to Triptych, I think this song describes Kevin's feelings as Strex is taking over his radio station and he's realizing Cecil lied to him about Desert Bluffs winning against them. As things got worse with Strex in Desert Bluffs, I imagine the things Cecil told Kevin might have been the biggest source of hope he had to keep fighting. But when those things didn't turn out to be true, he realized that all the fighting he'd done had been for nothing and would have never made a difference. Kevin had been playing the role of a hero of Desert Bluffs and was sure that Cecil's promises would come through but when it really counted, they never did. I think Kevin would have kept fighting for Desert Bluffs even if Cecil had told him it wouldn't work but the defeat hits so much harder because Kevin was given something to count on. If you think about it, that's a really strong parallel to the disappointment you feel when Cecil expects Night Vale to fight back against Strex on Parade Day and they don't. So many powerful emotions and interpretations packed into one song. This is by far my favorite weather and by far the saddest.
+Laura Payne That is exactly how I felt. "Stained with loss but smiling, while crying"..... It gives this bitter, almost nostalgia-like sadness. A desperate attempt on Cecil's part to give Kevin hope. Which only made it worse when it was all destroyed.
Interesting hypothetical: What would you have said to Kevin, given such a loaded question? "Yes" and "No" both feel awful. Refusing to answer would probably give it away unless you said "I can't answer in case it messes up the past," which seems acceptable, but lacks a storytelling punch. You could tell Kevin to run, and take everyone he can with him to Night Vale to hide, but then would Night Vale win as it did by the time Cecil is broadcasting in Triptych? And in any case, we already know he doesn't... Would it be possible to change the past (or more likely, that Kevin's future) by telling him different things--for instance, sending him into an alternate timeline, which is not out of the question for Night Vale/Desert Bluffs? Even if it is, you have no idea whether that timeline would be better or worse... maybe Strex would take Night Vale, too. If not, would Kevin have fought more defensively against Strex if Cecil had told him the inevitable? Would that have caused less damage to the organization, which would have ended up more powerful by the time it got to Night Vale? I find it really hard to blame Cecil for his answer. There's just no good option here and no way to tell how it'd affect things. :(
Cecil actually didn’t lie. They did win, just not in the way Kevin envisioned. It took a lot longer, and Kevin will still be unable to see it for much of the foreseeable future. I see this song as Kevin mourning the death of the town he knew in his final moments as himself, and sadly painting a horrific image of Desert Bluff’s future.
LEAP #ExtinctionEvent Try to think outside the box...not the earthly tv show it is associated with. This is a scientific creation from a feminine source creator. This is the final show as the actual planet under Earths crust rises. Enjoy your day
I disliked Kevin intensely until hints started to drop way back---when he mentioned that he had once been just like Cecil. And it was like, ".....wait...so....what did Strex DO to you, Kev?" We only got hints. And then the horrible things they must have put him through drove him to insanity. And I'm like: Oh, Kevin.........I....I kind of want to hug you. Or something. I dunno.
+sailtheplains I thought that Kevin was creepy at first but with the hints changed my mind about him , He was cecil's counterpart and opposite . He's what Cecil might've become if the smiling God shined on Nightvale and than wham! Triptych happened and now I'm like for Team Rescue Kevin from the Desert otherworld and bring him to his home .It just might change his fate .
How to not cry: 1. Listen to this song 2. Get reminded of Triptych 3. Get reminded of Kevin 4. Cry 5. Cry a lot 6. Die of crying and cherish that you didn't have to earn your death
This is one of my favorite songs in the entire world, and the fact that it hit so hard during Triptych made it a million times better. I cry nearly every time I listen to it. I'm such a sap.
I'm guessing everyone who isn't is finding this to be the most confusing comments section ever. Like, "who is this 'Kevin' dude everyone's going on about?"
I loved Kevin LONG before this episode, my favorite character from the moment I heard his first sentence (like him more than Cecil even). All of the Kevins from the past, present, and future hold a place in my heart but I think passive aggressive, scary Kevin is the best
I always interpreted it as Kevin realizing that Cecil lied to him and Desert Bluffs was doomed to fall. He's been the hero of the town until now; he realizes it's hopeless.😢
+Kyper E. Kamiko Well, 'Triptych' means 3 pieces of art that are supposed to be seen in context with each other. In the episode we see Kevin in 3 stages of his life: his past, present and future.
The convenience store near my college played this song as I rang up. The guy behind the counter said it was totally intentional, and I swear to god I've never been happier!
I don't think this song actually has anything to do with the episode, I think it's just a song for the weather like most of the other songs they play for the weather. it doesn't have to have some deep meaning in context of the episode.
I know you asked months ago, but since no-one answered... Because this recording was taken directly from an episode of 'Welcome to Night Vale', which is basically a weird, creepy, utterly amazing radio play with a large and devoted fan base. The format is that of a community radio show in the fictional town of Night Vale hosted by a guy named Cecil. In each episode the 'weather' is a different song. The 'er' is the end of Cecil saying "and now, the weather." The episode this aired in (#73, Triptych) was a pretty heart-wrenching one featuring a major twist in the backstory of a recurring character, Kevin, hence all the fans commenting here. Hope this was helpful.
This is the turning point where Nightvale got a liiiiiiittle too convoluted for me. Don't get me wrong- I loved the weirdness of the show. But like, it was just going downhill from here. They're trying to make each episode too special. Like, it's supposed to be a community radio. Not every episode has to have some sort of BREAKING NEWS or weird deviation to the show.
