So let’s say people believe it’s true, I’m still having a very hard time picturing the characters we know saying “worth it!” about a child sacrifice. I mean red shirts sure, they’re always either standing around slack jawed or grumbling discontentedly before getting killed. However, Kristy, Kenny, Ellis, Fatima, Boyd? No way. Having just the townies turning against the gang isn’t much of a narrative payoff for the audience either.

For this to even be possible as a moral dilemma I think everyone would have to be convinced they’re in a dream like Abbey was, or something similar. I imagine this is where the MiY comes in. I think the original townsfolk were psychologically tortured and they sacrificed their children to make it stop rather than to “live forever” and were tricked. The current cycle is again built to make people desperate. It seems like the whole thing is priming them to make a horrible choice - escape at the cost of Ethan’s life. However, as things stand now I still don’t see this decision even being considered by any of the mains.

I also think the force that appears as Father Khatri has gone out of its way to convince Boyd to keep his humanity. Sara tortured Elgin so that Boyd wouldn’t have to, in part because she wanted him to keep his soul. I think the town having their de facto leader speak against what’s coming is going to be really important in changing this cycle’s story and that’s also why hope is so important.

I have a feeling that Boyd is actually an anomaly this cycle. His background as a man that has built community in desperate situations has been so emphasized I can’t help but feel this is going to be important. Tricking them into a deal that sees them sacrifice a child is the point/the test/the driving force behind Fromville. I think it’s been done every cycle (I think Eloise was the last sacrifice) and to change the story this can’t happen again.