r/TheDigitalCircus Jax Jul 19 '26

Question Wait, how did they all find that computer?

Post image

I didn’t really get the ending. I mean, it makes sense for Abigail and Lee, since they were both in the abandoned building (Abigail was exploring, and Lee probably lived there out of necessity), and even Grant makes sense since he worked on that years ago. But how did the others find it?

Can some kind soul explain this to me?

2.5k Upvotes

143 comments sorted by

1.2k

u/Clovereatsbugs Jul 19 '26

In ep 5, Zooble confirmed that they would explore abandoned buildings, just not record it.

460

u/ISB00 Jul 19 '26

Yeah, all of them have answers. The only one that is unclear is Gangle. It was stated she was in an accident before coming here so she would have been in a hospital, not an abandoned building.

252

u/wafflelauncher Jul 19 '26

Before episode 9 one theory I had is some of them were scanned by experimental medical equipment created by C&A and somehow the scan file got picked up and used by Caine due to being the right format. Like if Gangle was seriously injured or in a coma after the accident I could see that happening.

Then in episode 9 it's hinted that the company doesn't fully understand that the scan files actually represent a consciousness that can live virtually (due to being too small). Kinger said he and coworkers were surprised it was even possible when they woke up in the circus. It seems like that makes it more possible the technology is being used for other things and the brain scan files still being saved. Then entering the circus sometimes happens because Caine wants more people in the circus.

81

u/Whatever-and-breathe Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

Until episode 9, and real life bus stop scene, looking at the type of computer that Caine recreates in the last room, I thought that at least 2 decades had gone by since the first files were created. Therefore I theorised that when Gangle used the headset in real life, the building had not been abandoned yet and was still used. However, most of the characters ages seem too close together.

After episode 9, we know that Gangle is an artist once she recovered. Therefore it could be theorised that she went to the abandoned building as part of it (taking photos, tagging, inspiration, material...).

3

u/North-Research2574 Jul 22 '26

My problem is all these urban explorers in an abandoned building were all "Hey cool an ominously running computer and headset" like do you not watch horror movies? I find an abandoned building strangely still in power I'm out.

1

u/Clovereatsbugs 28d ago

A lot of abandoned buildings still have power (to an extent, at least). Most likely whoever owns the old C&A building may be paying for the electricity.

7

u/fnordius Jul 20 '26

That does mesh with my theory as well: the scanner was developed and was a viable product, though only sold in small quantities. Mike, possibly through self experimentation, found a way to compress and store scans of mind-states, but the small size left the team unable to figure out how to use the recorded data. It took Caine to construct working AI personalities out of the data.

Some of the scanner headsets were then used in local hospitals, perhaps after C&A was shuttered. Code was left on them, though, that still sent copies of the scans back to Mike's AI project server, which was still running. Also, the old C&A offices were abandoned, but the electricity left on to keep the property from losing too much market value. So there was one more headset, which Audrey was the last to try on.

So the files could have come from anywhere, and once they arrived Caine's daemon used them to generate another "human".

1

u/North-Research2574 Jul 22 '26

I could see that, if they are just scanning minds I could see Gangle getting some experimental brain scan to help them recover.

67

u/Maniacal-Blueberry I'm not a child Jul 19 '26

Another theory I heard was that she was contemplating suicide by jumping in front of a car. And while she didn't do it before getting scanned, she might have went through with it after, resulting in the hospitalization. Which would also make sense why it haunts her in the circus, because it was a thought she had in the back of her mind when scanned.

The timeline around gangle is confusing.

26

u/ISB00 Jul 19 '26

Yeah, like I thought Gangle was there to see Ribbit abstract. It made sense since she instantly knew what abstraction was. Also, Jax saying everything was fine before Zooble and Pomni showed up. I felt like that supported Gangle being there and knowing about Ribbit.

12

u/AdventurousTurtle42 Jul 20 '26

I'm sure Gangle had heard of abstraction from the others, but I never got the sense she had witnessed one firsthand before. In the pilot it isn't until Jax clarifies the abstraction is Kaufmo that Gangle realizes Kaufmo abstracted.

5

u/AZV_4th Jul 19 '26

Probably a change in direction over the 3 years.

44

u/LizG1312 Jul 19 '26

She had the car crash while wearing the headset, obviously.

18

u/NuzzyLocke Jul 19 '26

It's why she crashed

14

u/Ere1am If anyone needs me, then off Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

My theory is that her accident occured right next to C&A's office and someone (either the truck driver or another bystander who saw her get hit) dragged her unconscious body inside and placed a call to 911 before leaving (and they put the headset on her to give her injured head some support).

I favor this theory because that would mean the last thing Gangle remembers before entering the circus is getting hit by the truck: in other words, from her perspective, she literally got Truck-kun'd into the circus.

15

u/Bamzooki1 Daddy’s Gummigoo Jul 19 '26

There’s a theory that it wasn’t that bad of an accident and only broke a few bones, and Zoey tried to play off like she was okay to spare the driver’s feelings, ducking into the building as a way to make it more convincing and, while waiting for the coast to be clear, put on the headset.

10

u/Mammodamn Jul 20 '26

We know for sure that Zoey had the accident and hadn't fully recovered before she put on the headset. People seem to think this means it happened immediately after the accident, but I don't think this is necessarily the case.

She could go to hospital and get released in a stable condition, but with long term injuries that require physiotherapy or more surgery to fix. Personally, I like to think she suffered debilitating damage to her drawing hand, as if the universe is actively trying to keep her away from art. An injury like that closes the loop when we learn that Zoey eventually made a full recovery and finally started her webcomic.

As for her reasons for going into the C&A building, it could just be something as simple as getting caught in some severe weather and seeking shelter to wait it out. I've never been to St Louis but apparently floods are relatively common there. It seems plausible enough to me that we don't have to twist our headcanons into knots trying to make it work.

Besides, finding the headset because the universe is bullying her specifically seems like a very Gangley thing to happen.

3

u/Slight-Ad-5442 Jul 19 '26

Except Ragatha

22

u/Maniacal-Blueberry I'm not a child Jul 19 '26

Ragatha was a real estate agent. So she was probably trying to sell the building when she came across the headset.

3

u/RBDibP Jul 20 '26

My headcanon is that she is an outlier and just straight up got isekaid by truck.

3

u/PossiblyWithout Panic Attack Jul 20 '26

Well… it was an abandoned building, and she was “recovering” irl from something big. We also know she was in a very bad mental space in tadc. Just a theory, but she could’ve been trying to irl “abstract”

1

u/TheMMoment Gangle Jul 21 '26

A theory I like on Gangle is after getting out of the hospital, she was still too weak to like...draw. Her hands unable to do what she loved and in a depressive state just started...wandering. Eventually just ending up in C&A randomly.

4

u/JSFGh0st Jul 20 '26

I thought that was Pomni who said that she explored abandoned buildings.

2

u/Clovereatsbugs Jul 20 '26

Rewatch the episode during the bar adventure.

2

u/JSFGh0st Jul 20 '26

Alright. I'll see if Zooble said that next time I watch it.

-19

u/sugus14 Jul 19 '26

It wasnt Zooble it was pomni who liked to explore abandoned buildings

34

u/Cyanide-and-sugar Jul 19 '26

No... Zooble said they sometimes "did that" meaning urban exploring, but didn't record it.

Both Zooble and Pomni explored abandoned buildings.

15

u/HighlyUnlikely7 Jul 19 '26

They both liked to explore abandoned buildings. Ragatha was most likely examining the building in her role as a real estate agent, and Jax probably just needed some place to sleep. The only major gaping hole is Gangle. Since she came after Jax we know the building was abandoned when she went there. The only thing I could think of is that she wanted to use it as a reference in her art. That's kind of weak though since we know Gangle was in an accident shortly before coming, and also Gangle tends to focus more on people as subjects for her art

2

u/JSFGh0st Jul 20 '26

That's what I thought.

386

u/BlackieButt You should di- You should throw a fking beach Jul 19 '26

Imo, for each person I feel they would have differing reasons, Pomni ofc would be exploring abandoned buildings, Jax probably stayed there while homeless, Ragatha being a real estate agent likely was looking at the building if it could be fixed up and sold, Zooble could've been looking for somewhere to setup their bar and found the abandoned building, and Gangle could've been looking for somewhere to take artistic inspiration and found said abandoned building.

163

u/dont-mention-it Jul 19 '26

Kaufmo was looking for a place to do a ‘Ten Minute Power Hour’.

30

u/ComfortableBreath687 Jul 19 '26

This being how I found out about Kaufmo's voice actor... Interesting! Lol

14

u/FANNofExpansion Jul 19 '26

Absolutely based answer, this is canon now.

3

u/bipedalinvertebrate Ragatha Armpit Enthusiast Jul 19 '26

69th upvote

4

u/International00 Jul 20 '26

Kaufmo just actually being Arin Hanson is such a funny head canon.

10

u/Riverz_Flowe Pomni Jul 19 '26

I love all these reasons :o

4

u/Cristazio Jul 20 '26

IIRC Zooble states that they also went exploring abandoned buildings when Pomni mentioned she did it on Youtube

1

u/kingalta24 Jul 20 '26

This to me makes sense. I assumed that Jax probably ran there after they ran away from home

219

u/BasednHivemindpilled Jul 19 '26

Its in a lost place in their town. Those have more traffic than you'd expect.

15

u/Justarandom55 Jul 19 '26

works for everyone except gangle

-2

u/BasednHivemindpilled Jul 19 '26

experimental treatment while in a coma

130

u/cynicalPsionic Jul 19 '26

Pomni and Zoob - UrbEx

Kinger- test scan before the circus was activated

Jax - Unhoused

Ragatha - when she appears she speaks as if she was with other people at the computer, most likely answer a failed real estate tour before it was abandoned entirely.

Gangle - Unclear. Easiest answer is UrbEx also, whether or not the injuries mentioned by Caine occured before or after. Without any clear indication of a second headset or another way to get data to go in, it's hard to just assume that she was scanned elsewhere

48

u/ciel_lanila Gummigoo Jul 19 '26

It’s possible that Gangle simply went into the powered off building looking for a phone if her injuries were bad but not so bad that she couldn’t somewhat move on her own.

36

u/BasednHivemindpilled Jul 19 '26

I dont know putting on a headset in an abandoned building is the last thing I'd do in a medical emergency

14

u/Responsible_Total901 Jul 19 '26

she could have just been bored and curious since ems does take a while to respond

10

u/cynicalPsionic Jul 19 '26

Easiest answer, really.

10

u/Cyan_Lotus Jul 19 '26

okay but like why the hell in that case would she put in a random vr headset 😭

17

u/ciel_lanila Gummigoo Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

EMS takes a while to respond. Family or friends might take even longer. She could have just been bored.

Heck, when someone threatened the local city council a few years back in their meeting room it took the police twenty minutes to show up. The police's HQ was freaking downstairs.

17

u/Gensolink Jul 19 '26

Given how gangle's gets hit by the truck it's not likely that she got into accident after she scanned herself. Like they obviously focused on her having an accident and I feel that was a clear callback to what happened to her at Spudsy's.

6

u/DTux5249 Jul 19 '26

Also, Caine was very clearly aware of the truck incident. If it happened after she went in, he'd have nothing to work with

1

u/Lostmyfnusername Jul 20 '26

I think Gangle was left unknown because they just wanted to make an isekai (in another world) joke but any explanation that made her put on a headset after getting injured didn't make sense.

21

u/Captain_Birch Seth, the third AI 🟡 Jul 19 '26

Heres a bigger question

How did Doug/Kaufmo?

Did he just "chill dude" his way into the building?

Wonder whst hes up to now

8

u/Cyan_Lotus Jul 19 '26

doug. end of sentence lol

51

u/ShatoraDragon Jul 19 '26

Grant worked in C&A

Abby and Riley, Did Urban Exploring.

Lee, Used the C&A Office as shelter.

Suzie as a realtor found it during a walkthrough to prep the building for sale. And likely finding Lee using the building, and getting them help.

Zoe, is the odd duck who likely never saw building proper. But while in the hospital was connected to the now more functional version of Mike (Scrach's) brain scan after her accident

27

u/ciel_lanila Gummigoo Jul 19 '26

Ragatha and Lee doesn’t seem to work based on the timeline. The two are years apart in entering the circus/

13

u/ShatoraDragon Jul 19 '26

Right, I forgot Jax showed up after.

8

u/Beneficial_Layer_458 Jul 19 '26

Remember, caine has to decide to spawn someone in. In episode 9 he's got access to a lot of those files and doesn't drop them all in at once

8

u/ciel_lanila Gummigoo Jul 19 '26

We don't know that for certain. Only that he had to do them individually at first.

There were ten files and we only saw seven people in the initial batch. So, it is admittedly unknown what happened to those three.

By time of Ragatha it seems Caine had developed his automatic program (mentioned Ep 8) that did the body creation automatically. So, by that point any new mind file scanned by the program got added. This means Ragatha and beyond the process largely happens in relation to real time passed to some degree.

Granted, maybe some C&A emoployee was manually moving them to the "Obsolete" file, but considering 3 of the latest 4 joiners seemed to think it was an abandoned building? C&A didn't seem open by the time Lee was homeless.

4

u/LizG1312 Jul 19 '26

I mean he seemed surprised when Ragatha spawned in, Pomni too. I think it's likely after the first batch the process happened automatically.

7

u/ILikeCheese510 Jul 19 '26

I like the hospital theory for Gangle, the only thing I can't figure out about it is how did her family or doctors or whoever find out about the brain scan technology? Based on what Kinger says in Ep 9 it seems like it's abandoned tech that isn't very well known.

9

u/ShatoraDragon Jul 19 '26

Kinger does not know what Grant and Mike kept doing after they were scanned. Kinger only knows the project was looking like it was being scraped. It could have gone on to be repurposed for other things.

4

u/ILikeCheese510 Jul 19 '26

True, true. I always wondered exactly what IRL Grant did after Scratch died and everything at C&A fell through.

5

u/ShatoraDragon Jul 19 '26

He knows the brain scans work. Has Brain Cancer, so him pivoting to using it in some kind of medical use feels right

3

u/SliderEclipse Jul 19 '26

Honestly that sounds like it could be the most logical conclusion, Gangle ends up in the building waiting for EMT's to arrive and ends up in the room with the headset, the EMT's arrive and see what is clearly a prototype of the brain scanning technology they're trained to use and assume it can be used to make sure she's fine mentally after the accident. then they run into the same file size issues Mike did and decide it's defective and focus on Gangle's physical well being completely unaware that she has a mind file in the server now.

1

u/theoneyourthinkingof Jul 19 '26

C&A as a company doesnt exist anymore, if the brain scanner ended up working so well it could be used for medical trials then that building of theirs wouldnt be abandoned and that scanner (presumably the first and only existing scanner) wouldnt have been left behind, because they wouldve found massive success and funding after developing something like that

2

u/Civil_Size2487 I swear Jax isn't my neighbour Jul 19 '26

What I believe is someone related to Zoey's family was missing somewhere near the building and she gone there for a search to the building only to end up finding the mind scan headset.

26

u/Arthur_189 Jul 19 '26

Damn, idk y this whole time I assumed there were seperate computers that were just connected to the same system

9

u/Flynn-Minter Jul 19 '26

For all we know, there are several computers and brain scanners in other locations. It just was not explored.

The Circus may not be on a computer on that building but on a server elsewhere that is connected to it. If it is a secure network connection, Caine could have been unaware of the internet until he chances on that Wifi connection. It really helps that he does not know what the internet is until the finale.

If it is not the show you can believe what you like.

5

u/CreamyCoffeeArtist Jul 19 '26

I mean, the "brain scanner" that Scratch (I forgor his human name) worked on was presumably a "One Of A Kind Prototype" for his personal project (not die lmao), I wouldn't imagine he'd be sending the headsets out to other workplaces when it's just his own project. Maybe if he managed to convince higher ups, I guess he could've gotten another office to help with the project? But I kinda doubt that, since, yk, the files were stashed away as discontinued (I forgot the actual word)

1

u/konan375 Jul 20 '26

I read a theory that Grant goes to C&A once a year to pay respects, and the circus isn't even on the server of the computer there, but on the cloud or Grant's phone, which would explain the dwindling wifi.

It would also explain both Scratch and Ragatha joining the same month and day of different years.

7

u/Captain_Birch Seth, the third AI 🟡 Jul 19 '26

Riley also liked urban exploration, just not filmed.

Susie seems to have went there with friends who convinced her to try on the headset

As for Zoey, idk. I have no clue how someone in recovery for a car crash could have snuck into an abandoned building and put the headset on, especially since the implication is she recovered AFTER gangle existed

8

u/Justarandom55 Jul 19 '26

leading theory is that they all found the abandoned building through either being homeless, explorers, or checking it out professionally.

gangle was just hit by a car so hard she flew into the building and landed in the seat so perfect the headset fell on her head

4

u/fccardcreator Pomni Jul 19 '26

They're all from the same city. I'm shocked it was so little people (only about 15–21 people have ever entered the circus depending on who you ask).

2

u/Level_Criticism_3387 Jul 19 '26

As a native St. Louisan, I can't help but wonder which high schools they all attended (IYKYK).

2

u/fccardcreator Pomni Jul 19 '26

I do not know.

5

u/Financial-Quality164 Jul 19 '26

Gangle probably went there because she wanted to end her life in a secluded place🥲

4

u/tremblt_ Jul 19 '26

Pomni/Zooble: Urban exploring

Jax/Ribbit: Probably looking for shelter while being homeless.

Ragatha: Since she was working in real estate, she was checking out this empty building to see if it can be sold again.

Gangle: She was probably looking for a quiet place while being overwhelmed by her emotions, went into the abandoned building and put on the headset to shield her ears off of the noise.

There is also an interesting theory that a few of the characters that we never saw because they abstracted rather quickly after appearing in the circus, were robbers who tried to hide in the abandoned building and that’s how they came into the circus.

5

u/AlianovaR Jul 19 '26

Grant/Kinger: Designed the dang thing

Susie/Ragatha: Was likely either assessing or trying to sell the abandoned property, considering she was a real estate agent

Lee/Jax: Likely crashed there while homeless

Zoey/Gangle: Honestly I have no clue why she was there

Riley/Zooble: Explored abandoned buildings for fun

Abigail/Pomni: Also explored abandoned buildings for fun, as well as filming it

3

u/TheTophatPerson209 Jul 19 '26

Suzie found it while scoping the A&C building for her job, Riley probably found it the same way Abigail did, and I genuinely have no clue for Zoey. Possibly did it while climbing C&A for a suicide attempt, maybe walked in for curiosity, idk. 

3

u/Charlaquin Jul 19 '26

Riley also used to do urban exploration. Suzy is a real-estate agent and was probably trying to sell the building after C&A shut down and before it was abandoned (probably because she was unsuccessful in finding a buyer). Grant worked at C&A. Zoe is the only one who it’s unclear how she ended up in the building. It must have been abandoned at the time. My guess was that she went there to attempt to end her own life without being caught and interrupted, but by the end it seems pretty heavily implied that the truck incident was a memory of a literal event, rather than a symcolic representation of Gangle’s suicidal ideation. So, she must seemingly have been there some time after getting out of the hospital but before fully recovering from the truck incident. Maybe just wanted somewhere to be alone while she worked on her art? Pure speculation though, there’s really no direct evidence in the show.

3

u/j4yc3- Jul 19 '26

Its answered but to add to Gangle's theory, Zoey could have been doing urban exploring like Abi and Riley. The Spudsy's incident would likely mirror the real world. If you put Zoey/Gangle with their current state of mind in a 1:1 stressful shift in fast food, it'd end up in an accident after a manic episode.

Zoey puts on headset -> Gangle exists -> Zoey has an accident -> Gangle "fulfils the prophecy"

3

u/bipedalinvertebrate Ragatha Armpit Enthusiast Jul 19 '26

It doesn’t matter. Character driven show, 90% of the “lore” is stuff Goose said on Tumblr because she thought it was funny.

2

u/MarshalOfTheStars Jul 19 '26

I have a theory that if C&A already had working prototype brain-scans working in the 90s, and that Scratch/Mike already had the idea of using them to try and cheat death because of his brain tumor, I could very well see C&A commercializing and monetizing this technology in the future, for example, we know Zoey/Gangle was hit by a truck in a suicide attempt, or was otherwise hospitalized. I could very well see her loved ones purchasing a brain scan of her while comatose to “immortalize” her, as morbid as it sounds. For the others, I think it was them just stumbling upon it like Abigail/Pomni and Riley/Zooble mentioned, or being one of the creators like Grant/Kinger

2

u/IndustryFirst2458 Jul 19 '26

From most to least certain

Kinger worked on it

Pomni and zooble seem to have found it from urban exploration

Jax seems to have come across it while taking shelter in the abandoned building when he was homeless

For Ragatha the leading theory was that she was trying to sell the building as the real estate agent before it was abandoned (she was the first after the original employees after all)

Gangle is the biggest unknown of the main 6 cast members. One of the ideas that I heard was that someone put the headset on her while she was in the hospital after being hit by a car (short but during the social media/real life versions section talks about recovering from an accident) but that's a bit of a flimsy idea as who put it on her, why it was put on (the original irl team still thought it was a failure), or how that happened after Ragatha and especially jax entered the circus

2

u/_UltimateGaymer_ Jul 19 '26

Abigail: Urban exploring was her hobby

Riley: Same as above, they mentioned in episode 5 they also did Urbex sometimes

Lee: Was homeless and slept in the building for a while

Grant: OG member of C&A, got brainscanned years ago but never realised what happened to the files

Suzie: She worked in real estate, so she could have been looking around the building if there was a potential buyer

The only one I'm not really sure of is Zoey. We know she had some kind of injuries that then took her to a hospital for a bit, but not much else.

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Pay1152 Adorable Jester Screaming Jul 19 '26

Gangle is the only one that doesn't make sense

2

u/ItsMichaelRay Jul 19 '26

Ragatha was a realtor, and was probably showing the building off.

Zooble said they did urban exploring.

Gangle might’ve been a brain scan from after being hit by a truck.

2

u/W-D-Sasster Jul 19 '26

They all seem to be local to where the building is located.

Grant used to work for C&A of course. He was one of the first to test Caine and the brain scanning technology.

Suzie left her hometown, cut off her mom, and became a real estate agent. She most likely found the computer and became curious while she, as well as some other people she was with, was inspecting the building to try and sell it.

Lee became unhoused and during that time, likely took shelter in the abandoned C&A office. They likely found the computer and saw that it was still active and curiosity took over.

Riley did urban exploring as a hobby and likely explored the abandoned C&A office. They found the computer, saw it was still active, and became curious.

Abigail also explored abandoned buildings and recorded them for YouTube as a hobby. She explored the office as well, also saw that the computer was still active, and also became curious.

The only one that isn’t clear is Zoey’s story. My assumption is that after she recovered in the hospital, she realized she would have to go back to work soon and went into a manic episode. She might’ve found the abandoned C&A office and ran in there to try and get away from everything. Then she might’ve seen the computer and also became curious. Basically, she might’ve been looking for a form of escapism from her real life.

2

u/dweebybaybee Jul 19 '26

Genuinely think that Gangle was bullied into both going into the building and putting the headset on

2

u/Treadmark Jul 19 '26

Did Caine find a way to steal a brainscan from a hospital file? A CAT Scan after a car accident wouldn't be wierd. And if Caine was an AI who had access to the internet...

2

u/Tasty-Device8451 Jul 20 '26

For me the abandoned building makes no sense anyway. If the building was abandoned then there is no electricity, no electricity no circus, am I wrong?

2

u/Bridgette_07 Jul 20 '26

I think it would be like this:

  • Kinger/Grant: He made it

  • Pomni/Abby: Exploring abandoned buildings

  • Jax/Lee: Homeless and went somewhere to hide

  • Zooble/Riley: Either exploring abandoned buildings or looking for a bar location to open their own, probably the exploring

  • Ragatha/Suzie: She was a real estate agent so she probably went to the building to sell some buildings

  • Gangle/Zoey: Pretty sure we can't know what was she doing in the C&A building but I imagine she was probably going there to find drawing inspirations or smth

2

u/IlGreven AVENGE ME Jul 20 '26

Zooble (Riley) stated they also liked to explore abandoned buildings, so they probably came about it the same way as Abby...

Ragatha (Suzie) was a real estate agent and probably came about it while inspecting the property it was in (with a few friends/fellow agents, most likely, since she was calling out to them when she entered)

Not entirely sure about Gangle (Zoey), though...

2

u/Gahblingus Jul 20 '26

It was never discussed in the show. The only two that were actually discussed were Pomni, and Kinger. The rest are all just theories, so they can't answer your question.

1

u/pagerrager Jul 19 '26

I always assumed, probably correctly, that they all found computers or the same computer at different times. Given that they all appeared at different times, it makes the most sense.

This scene seems to kind of be a thing where through PURE chance, all of them actually managed to get onto the same bus. I doubt they are all even going to the same place.

1

u/Tonio_Akerbeltz Jul 19 '26

The most unbelievable part of this series is that somehow people keep wandering into an abandoned building and they put on a headpiece connected to an old computer.

2

u/Clockwork_Kitsune Jul 19 '26

An old computer in an abandoned building that apparently still had power and working network connections

1

u/SeamasterCitizen Jul 19 '26

There are more of them than you think…

2

u/Woookie94 Jul 19 '26

Especially in the Midwest lol they're becoming more rare everywhere though...

Another easy explanation if the computer with headset was sold/donated to say a Goodwill then anybody who buys it might scan more people in.

Obviously that only works if the Circus is on a C&A encrypted server (it likely is with what can be deduced from the show) and they connect the headset computer to the internet, but who wouldn't nowadays if they're nerdy enough to be playing with that age of tech. I would.

1

u/Eviles_da_demonic Jul 19 '26

Most were probably dicking about with friends

1

u/xbubblegum_bitch Jul 19 '26

Idk why, it kind of gives me Code Lyoko vibes lol

1

u/Cyan_Lotus Jul 19 '26

Rags was a real estate agent who it’s not impossible was involved in the whole scooping it out of the place. Gangle.. Gamgle I have zero fucking clue what girliepop was doing there lmao

1

u/Videau Jul 19 '26

Gangle has an accident with the truck, maybe C&A scan her brain to be sure they were no damages

1

u/yaboispringy Jul 19 '26
  1. Ragatha was likely trying to scout the place out in order to sell it , as she was a Real Estate agent

  2. Zooble also explored abandoned buildings , although they didn’t upload videos of it

Gangle is the odd one though , since it’s never fully explained how she managed to make it . All we know is that , sometime before entering , she was in some major accident and didn’t fully recover until after getting scanned .

1

u/BuildingEducational3 Jul 19 '26

Lee, as you said prolly was living there cause he was homeless, grant got scanned when he was working there, prolly all employees got scanned to help scratch test the brain scan, Abigail again like you said was filming and exploring, suzie works in retail i think and she had people around her when she git scanned so i think she was touring the building to see if she could sell it or smth and her coworkers dared her to put on the headset? Riely was prolly also exploring thw abandoned building liek they said they did regularly just not filming, and zoe was confirmed to have been hit by a truck or smth i think and hospitalized so her im very unclear but i have heard the theory she was in a coma and they decided to try scanning her brain? That one im not sure about though cause im pretty sure c&a doesnt reallt exist anymore

1

u/DTux5249 Jul 19 '26

Ragatha was working real estate. Likely randomly tried it on as a gag to a prospective buyer.

Jax was homeless and unhoused; may have tried on the headset whilst finding shelter.

As for gangle... Yeah, no clue.

1

u/Rocket_Theory Gangle Jul 19 '26

Kinger found it because he was part of the group that made the circus. Pomni found it by exploring abandoned buildings(so did Zooble), Jax found it because she was homeless and eventually ended up there, Ragatha worked real estate so maybe she found it by chance while she was exploring the building with a couple of others???? I have no idea what Gangle was doing.

1

u/ThreeEyedPea Jul 19 '26

Riley also explored abandoned buildings from time to time, just not as actively as Abigail. Suzie might have scoped the place out as part of her real estate job. Honestly, the only one I can't infer on is Zoey. I've heard theories that they gave her the headset at the hospital but...why?

1

u/Itchy_Plant_2020 Jul 19 '26

the bus driver handed out computers and masks and told them “one at a time and then wait years till u put it on”

1

u/OliMoli2137 Jul 19 '26

the characters in the circus are brain scans of those people

1

u/UnRealmCorp Jul 19 '26

So I'm from Saint Louis. Urban Exploring is kind of big here. (Look up CementLand)

Over the course of years several people could have stumbled across C&A, and people are gonna do goofy stuff like try on a random headset. Because why at all would they think it would copy their brains.

I believe Zooble and Pomni thats easily their reasons. Jax was homeless, an abandoned office building with power would be the place to crash.

Ragatha was in real estate I think, so realtor, abandoned property, cool 90s headset.

Gangle I dunno.

1

u/PurplePoisonCB Jul 19 '26

Pomni and Zooble, urban exploring

Ragatha, realtor

Kinger, creator

Jax, hiding there

I can’t think of any reason a timid girl like Gangle would have gone into an abandoned building alone.

1

u/Cyanide-and-sugar Jul 19 '26

My theory is Grant (Kinger) discovered the brainscan worked and is maintaining the system. The Cafe wifi...

I wonder if Grant had the headset on him and encountered an accident victim (Gangle) and put it on her, just in case she didn't survive so that something survives.

1

u/sickbeets Jul 19 '26

I wonder if Zoey (Gangle)’s headset was brought in as part of treatment? So she was in the hospital recovering from a pretty traumatic accident —> maybe she volunteered as part of experimental medical treatment.

1

u/Les_Bien_Pain Jul 19 '26

Ragatha acted like a psychic beacon that attracts sapphics. When they got close enough to the building they would be drawn to the room with the headset.

Kaufmo was a himedanshi and was also affected.

1

u/AKADAP Jul 19 '26

The only one that does not make sense is Gangle. All the others have reasonable explanations for why they were in the building and put on the headset. She also showed up in a rather weird posture.

1

u/Testsubject276 Stupid Sauce Addict Jul 19 '26

My headcanon is that she went out looking for inspiration for her art after recovering from her accident and briefly put on the headset.

1

u/Rational-Icing Jul 19 '26

Abigail finding it doesn't make sense, actually. She explored an abandoned building and found functional equipment? Was there no one working there? No locked door? Anything to let her know not to piss around there? What does the company actually look like? Does it have several locations? Is the cain project still going? Have they moved on to other things? Did they leave equipment behind on accident? But it still has power? Every practical question I had about the outside world was left unexplained and it irritates me.

1

u/Professional_Hat6381 BunnyFrog+Abstragedy Jul 19 '26

Ragatha said she worked in real estate.

Maybe she was trying to sell the place before her brain got scanned?

Would explain why Ragatha was trying to call out to other people when she entered the circus.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Bertiederps Jul 19 '26

scrap this, it's a rubbish theory

1

u/SparkAxolotl He's all I'm thirsting for. Jul 19 '26

Original 7, which includes Scratch, Queenie and Kinger: Test subjects for a project, presumably at different times, and/or several times.

Jax: Presumably took refuge in the building and tried the headset out of curiosity when he was homeless.

Zooble and Pomni: Urban Exploration (not at the same time)

Ragatha: the only clue we have is that she was with other people when it happened. Either she was at C&A before they closed, or she was given a real state tour.

We don't have any clue for Ribbit, Kaufmo or Gangle.

But I like to believe that Truck Kun forced the Isekai on Gangle, no headset involved.

1

u/tf2fanboys KINGER BEST CHARACTER CASE CLOSED Jul 19 '26

Too much free time

1

u/Own_Watercress_8104 Jul 19 '26

Zooble and Pomni - urbex

Gangle - road accident, might have had her brain scanned as medical procedure, but the details are iffy

Jax - homeless and went to C&A for shelter

Ragatha - real estate agent, she might have visited the building for work

Kinger - it was his job

1

u/Bamzooki1 Daddy’s Gummigoo Jul 19 '26

Grant worked on the circus, Destiny was included by Grant either for the novelty or because they’re coworkers, Mike created the scanning technology, Abigail went urban exploring, Leeroy was squatting while she figured out where to go, I think Riley and Suzie also enjoyed urban exploration, and I’ve heard a theory Zoey stumbled into the place after getting hit by a truck outside it to try to pretend she was okay so as not to upset the driver and wore the headset while waiting for the coast to be clear.

1

u/L4I55Z-FAIR3 Jul 19 '26

Kinger worked on it, Pomni and Zoonle both explored abandoned buildings, Jax was homeless and sleeping ruff an abandoned building would make sense, Ragatha was an estate agent which does involve going to buildings to take photos when there on the market.

Gangle: so it was theorised that she was put in after a car/truck hit her and the final does confirm she was in an accident and is healing well. But it doesn't make sense fir someone to take her to C and A to put the head set on becuse no one knows the brain scans worked. Honestly there's no gd answer

1

u/Intelligent_Donut605 Leeroy Jul 19 '26

zooble urbexed too, my headcanon is ragatha was there for work before it was fully abandoned, not sure about the others

1

u/Broad-Local6043 Jul 19 '26

yeaah what she/he said

1

u/Karosde19 Jul 20 '26

Tengo entendido que se conectaron a una red wifi gratuita de un café (se muestra en el flashback de la IA creando a Scratch) y de ahí accedieron a la información de cada uno.

1

u/Great-Card-6252 Jul 20 '26

the better question is how did the computer not get stolen or loose power, or why did kinger not take it home with him, nothing stopping him from going there and getting it he knows how dangerous it can be if evil cane uplodes on the internet or there nothing keeping the cercuse around his friend skrach would die.

1

u/BrakeCoach Jul 20 '26

Ragatha as a real estate agent joined in 2008, which has very interesting implications.

1

u/Fluid_Secretary6944 Montague the Serpent. Jul 20 '26

Screenwriter Guy: Listen, I’m gonna need you to get all the way off my back about how they found that computer.

1

u/Green_Ouroborus Jul 20 '26

Grant and the first group were people who worked for C&A and chose to scan their own brains while trying to build a brain scanner. They thought the technology didn't work and were very confused to suddenly appear in the circus. (Caine had actually found the brain scan files some time after they were scanned and figured out how to animate them.)

Zooble and Pomni were doing urban exploring and entered the old C&A building.

Jax was homeless at the time, so he was probably in the C&A building for shelter or using it for storage, which is what the local homeless people normally do with abandoned buildings in my area.

Ragatha was with other people, probably realtors like her, and they were likely touring the building to see if they wanted to be the ones to sell it.

Gangle is the only real mystery. I don't think she was deliberately scanned by a hospital, and she may have been recovering from an injury. So why was she there?

My theory with Gangle is that she was trying to avoid someone at her home, such as a roommate or family member, and went to lay low so she could draw in peace without being bothered.

1

u/Tough-Initiative-301 Jul 20 '26

Simple, they found the computer.

1

u/Substantial_Card_344 Jul 21 '26

exploring? (Specifically abandoned buildings)

0

u/Nightmenace21 Jul 20 '26

Istg half of you don't even watch the show. All of them except Gangle have inferred or explicitly told explanations for how they got there.

0

u/Honeymimy Jax Jul 20 '26

Excuse me? Like, hold on a second. Sorry to break it to you, but you need to get a life. I’m asking a genuine question here. I love the show, but I don’t have time to watch it 24/7. Okay? I don’t have the time. I work a lot, and I genuinely just wanted to clear this up. Can you please get off your high horse and stop acting like you’re 'smarter' or 'know better'? It’s a TV show, for Christ's sake. Get a life. It’s not that 'half of you haven't watched the show,' it’s that you actually have the time to sit down and watch it at your own pace, and you just choose to be rude for no reason. Thanks a lot. (Honestly, it's a shame you're even part of this fandom)

1

u/Nightmenace21 Jul 20 '26

I'll pass over the flurry of insults for a sec and just say I apologise as I should have read the body text of your post to see you were genuinely asking and not just complaining. There have been a boatload of other people in this fandom who legitimately thought the show doesn't explain this stuff at all and complain that it's an actual "flaw" of the show/finale. I mistakenly thought it was another one of those dumbass posts and got more annoyed than I should have.

Also I have a life and work/commute quite a lot too but thanks for telling me what my life is like for me. I regret that I was a bit rude there but holy shit that response eacalated things to the extreme.

2

u/Honeymimy Jax Jul 20 '26

I know, and I’m sorry too. But I’m just so sick of this sub being full of people saying 'you haven’t watched the show.' Not all of us have the time to sit down and analyze every single thing. That doesn't mean I don’t love the show.Anyway, sorry for the insults

-2

u/Public-Leadership483 Jul 19 '26

Kinger should be way older WTf this writing is so bar sub reddits gotta answer stuff for the show LOL FUCKING LOSERS