The Astonishing (Story and Concept analysis)

[MirrorMask]

Funny that Gabriel's scream in My Last Farewell doesn't damage Xander's eardrums. I imagine it was because of the direction of the scream, so Gabriel has the gift of shooting deafening screams.

In the story description, it says he covers Xander's ears while Faythe is immune because the music from her music player blocks it out.

Which is clever and not forced at all, what I find a bit weird is that Gabriel in seeing at the same moment his brother dead and his love dying, he has the lucidity to cover his nephew's ears because he somehow knows he throws head-bursting screams like Alanis Morrisette's God in Dogma.

[RoeDent]

This time round, I realised that Our New World is sung by Gabriel and Faythe to Xander. "In [Arhys' & Evangeline's] memory we'll build a new world..." Just another little thing.

[Mladen]

Oh wow, I didn't get that. What an interesting bit of story, very romantic and light. Which is incredible considering how dark the mood is just two songs prior to Our new world.

[Hal Incandenza]

The story borrows heavily from Romeo and Juliet for sure, maybe a bit of Jesus story too ("chosen one", reviving the dead etc)
What irked me the most is actually the resolution of the story. Nefaryus going from evil emperor to happy ruler almost on a whim kinda undermines the character I feel.

I think the Biblical story it owes the most to is that of David and Jonathan, with Gabriel as David, Faythe as Jonathan, and Nafaryus as Saul.

David starts off in the court of King Saul as a musician of great talent, the only one capable of soothing the King. After David kills Goliath and performs some other feats, he becomes extremely popular with the people. Saul becomes jealous of David's popularity and sees him as a threat and tries to have him killed. Eventually, he forces David into exile, where the political situation gets super messy.

Meanwhile, Saul's eldest son Jonathan becomes David's closest friend, to his father's displeasure. He is the one who warns David of Saul's intentions before David escapes, and even in the face of talk of rebellion, their relationship stays strong.

The ending is very different, as Jonathan and two of Jonathan's younger brothers are killed in battle (not against David), Saul kills himself rather than facing capture, and David becomes King. And of course, Faythe is female and the romantic subtext some see between David and Jonathan becomes textual.

But I can't stop myself from seeing Nefaryus as Ian McShane from the 2009 series Kings, which was based on the same story.

[twosuitsluke]

Am I the only one who wishes that I hadn't read the detailed synopsis? I am really enjoying the album but having read about the story in greater detail I think there are too many plot holes and I find the story kind of dumb. It's kind of cheapened it for me.

I personally hate stories where things happen so quickly and the characters make decisions that just seem stupid and too reactionary. When characters appear to just coincidentally do things that seem to happen just to move the plot forward it just seems too unrealistic. I known that this is essentially a fairy tale but I personally would have liked the story to have been a little more realistic. Things like love at first sight I can buy if you shown the characters then falling in love over time. But if the characters start a family with an adopted nephew/son within days of meeting it just detracts fro the whole experience. Am I right in thinking that about 4 or 5 days pass during the whole story? It seems ridiculous to me that the characters go through this whole life changing arc in a matter of days.......then live happily ever after. I can't be the only one who feels that there are no believable characters who made choices or decisions that regular people would have made. Maybe I'm in the minority of people who look for believable, realistic characters who are neither clearly good or bad and who make decisions that are clearly influenced by the life they have lead up until the start of the story.

I know that JP had his work cut out with this whole project but I personally wish I had just stuck to reading the lyrics and interpreting the story in my own way instead of knowing all the details. Of course this is just my opinion and fair enough too the people who love the story but with a project that appeared to have so much love and attention paid to it I think the story felt a little amateur (To me!).

[pretorios]

https://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks/#cnt1


READ THIS!

Perfect.

Although I'm reading the description for the "The Gift of Music" and thinking "well that's what the world is like now, in real life..." :z

Yep. Every time a pop star lip syncs, another puppy dies.

[Lax]

I like the story very much, there are great hints and plays to place events (Faythe theme in the walking shadow, arhys/Daryus chat in the house...)

The elements that weren't that clear to me were :
-Gabriel screams, loses his voice and Daryus is deaf. Didn't know that before reading the band guide
-How did the royal family teleport over the dying body of Faythe ?
-How is doing Faythe to recharge her music player ?

[ariich]

-How did the royal family teleport over the dying body of Faythe ?

They were on their way there anyway, to meet with Faythe and Gabriel as agreed at the end of Act I.

[Lax]

Thank you for the info, I didn't remember that this way (translated it wrong actually)

[The Stray Seed]

Maybe I'm in the minority of people who look for believable, realistic characters who are neither clearly good or bad and who make decisions that are clearly influenced by the life they have lead up until the start of the story.

Count me in that minority.

[ariich]

Maybe I'm in the minority of people who look for believable, realistic characters who are neither clearly good or bad and who make decisions that are clearly influenced by the life they have lead up until the start of the story.

Count me in that minority.

Well yeah, same, but that's why I like the characters in TA. Some people have seemed to question why the big baddie turned all soft suddenly, but I like the fact that it's not an obvious good vs evil story.

I also think Arhys' reaction is a totally reasonable emotional reaction. As we know, he doesn't actually go through with it. That's where the rational part takes over. But his emotional instinct is to take the opportunity to give X what he promised he would to Evangeline.

[Luoto]

To bring all the recurring musical motifs to this discussion, I'm pretty sure Nafaryus goes through most of them of all characters. It's pretty cool how his change of heart is reflected through music, concluding with the final Road to Revolution motif.

[Drake_Fury]

Hey guys!

I wanted to know if some of you see the end of "My Last Farewell" the same way I do.

We all know that a scream should be shattering Daryus's eardrums. But, am I the only one thinking that the "AAArrrg!!" at the end is so underwhelming compared to what we know JL is able to do, that it just can't be it?

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

On a different Note, I see a lot of peole thinking that Daryus "kidnapped" Xander, but to me, he was only taking him a hostage for his safety while doing his tempting offer to Arhys. What he wanted was Arhys's attention, nothing more. He never left with Xander.

Food for thoughts.

[Lax]

Hey guys!

I wanted to know if some of you see the end of "My Last Farewell" the same way I do.

We all know that a scream should be shattering Daryus's eardrums. But, am I the only one thinking that the "AAArrrg!!" at the end is so underwhelming compared to what we know JL is able to do, that it just can't be it?

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

On a different Note, I see a lot of peole thinking that Daryus "kidnapped" Xander, but to me, he was only taking him a hostage for his safety while doing his tempting offer to Arhys. What he wanted was Arhys's attention, nothing more. He never left with Xander.

Food for thoughts.

I agree for the scream the way you described it. For Xander, we know he hasn't been kidnapped, since he followed his father to heaven's cove.

[Mladen]

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

I love this thread.

[pcs90]

I never thought of the scream that way and the track descriptions give the impression that JLB's scream is Gabriel, but I think I prefer your interpretation. The actual scream seems more fitting.

[SebastianPratesi]

I never thought of the scream that way and the track descriptions give the impression that JLB's scream is Gabriel, but I think I prefer your interpretation. The actual scream seems more fitting.

Yeah, it seems plausible to me too.
Doesn't Jordan sometimes answer fans' questions on twitter? Maybe someone using twitter could ask him on that?

[Evermind]

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

I love this thread.

I've never even thought of it this way but it actually makes a lot of sense and explains the part I was most underwhelmed by. Thank you!

[MirrorMask]

Count me among those who will side with this line of thought. I understand LaBrie would not want to have to throw an ear piercing, high pitch scream like the one during Octavarium's climax, but I think he would have made it anyway a bit more potent... it's better that the actual screem is not even portrayed ('cause it would shatter our eadrums as well, hehe) and that the scream is Daryus' agony.

[bosk1]

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

Interesting.  I hadn't thought of it that way, and I don't have the lyrics sheet available right now to see if it says whether the "Arrgg!" is Daryus.  But I like your theory.  I guess we will find out soon once the live shows start, since I'm sure there will be something on-screen to tell us.

[ariich]

Personally, I like to think that the super-scream is actually the "Hear my last FAREWEEEELLLLLLL!!!" part and the "Arrgg!" is Daryus screaming in pain.

Interesting.  I hadn't thought of it that way, and I don't have the lyrics sheet available right now to see if it says whether the "Arrgg!" is Daryus.  But I like your theory.  I guess we will find out soon once the live shows start, since I'm sure there will be something on-screen to tell us.

Fairly sure the ARGH isn't in the lyrics at all. So could be either.

I also like that interpretation.

[MirrorMask]

I have the CD here in front of me, I can confirm there's no "aaaargh" in the booklet.

[bosk1]

Still not sure about the theory as a whole though.  It does help somewhat.  But listening to the song again, the "farewell" isn't all that epic either.  I mean, it is great from a sung lyric standpoint.  But in terms of being a magical epic scream, it falls just as short as the "aaaargh!" does.  Again, I think they should have put some sort of effects on it to make it sound otherworldly.  I'm not one to normally be ticky-tack about a band's creative choices.  But since that scream is such a pivotal plot point in the story and is supposed to have such a distinctive sound, I really am baffled by why they didn't do something to make it stand out more.

[ariich]

Good point about putting an effect on it. That would make it easy enough to put the same effect on it live.

[Drake_Fury]

Hey, I'm glad to see my theory made people talk.

Now, I know the farewell is not all that incredible either, but in a lot of songs, you get figures, things that you sing to represent other things. By saying the "hear my last farewell" is the scream, I don't imply that Gabriel would just sing that to make daryus deaf, but since the sound should be deafening, why would the band put the actual sound in the listener's ears?

The scream that comes afterwards sounds much more like someone in pain than someone in rage, if you ask me... Which is why I came up with this.

[Ben_Jamin]

I had that same thought about putting the actual piercing scream. I doubt they want people deaf. But, it makes sense that "Aaaargh" would be Daryus, because after Gabriel sings "Farewell"  it suddenly jumps to it, which the song abruptly ends.

[BlobVanDam]

Still not sure about the theory as a whole though.  It does help somewhat.  But listening to the song again, the "farewell" isn't all that epic either.  I mean, it is great from a sung lyric standpoint.  But in terms of being a magical epic scream, it falls just as short as the "aaaargh!" does.  Again, I think they should have put some sort of effects on it to make it sound otherworldly.  I'm not one to normally be ticky-tack about a band's creative choices.  But since that scream is such a pivotal plot point in the story and is supposed to have such a distinctive sound, I really am baffled by why they didn't do something to make it stand out more.

I'm with the bosk, that the "farewell" is no bigger than the AAARGH. It doesn't even have the grittiness of the aargh to indicate it's any type of scream. Maybe if he sung farewell as an Octavarium type scream.
There are definitely ways you can indicate that it's a deafening scream without it being deafening to the listener. It can sound distant to the listener, very echo-y and drawn out, or some other kind of vocal effect or sound effect to supplement it.
As it stands, imo it doesn't really work at all on its own.

[Lax]

-Does it say anything else?
-No!
Just "Aaargh."
Aaargh.
Do you suppose he meant the Camargue?
-Where's that?
-ln France, I think.
-lsn't there a St. Aaargh's in Cornwall?
-No, that's St. Ives.
St. Ives.
No, "Aaargh." At the back of the throat.
No, in surprise and alarm!
-You mean a sort of a "Ah!"
-Yes, that's right.
My God!
It's the Legendary Black Beast of Aaargh!

Sorry, I was ROFL and had to share the accuracy of this quote with the topic XD

I have a doubt today about the scream...maybe Gabriel holding Xander and Faythe against him does the last scream with heartbreaking pain, his voice turning down and the gift disappearing to a growling voice, that was angelic before.

[MirrorMask]

In The Road to Revolution Daryus sings:

Arhys' time is running out
What will your decision be?
If you still have any doubt
Think about Evangeline

Isn't it a bit weird that he mentions Evangeline? sure, he can take a wild guess that since Arhys is already widowed, he would be inclined to grant his son a life of prosperity, but why would he *exactly* know of the specific promise he made to his wife? 'cause "Think about Evangeline" looks like he exactly knows what he's talking about, which is weird...

[Luoto]

Isn't it a bit weird that he mentions Evangeline? sure, he can take a wild guess that since Arhys is already widowed, he would be inclined to grant his son a life of prosperity, but why would he *exactly* know of the specific promise he made to his wife? 'cause "Think about Evangeline" looks like he exactly knows what he's talking about, which is weird...

Yeah, I wondered about the same thing. It's definitely a gap in the storyline because I can't find it from the official synopsis either. Maybe X rambled about Evangeline to him, kids always echo the truth, you know

[ariich]

Arhys is the leader of the militia - pretty sure the empire will know a lot about him.

[Progmetty]

^ Exactly, and don't forget that the NOMAC's are also used for surveillance.

[Disciple_Kickstand]

So for the most part I'm fully on board with the how the story gas been written.  The plot line, the characters motivations, and actions they take all make sense for the lost part.  I am really enjoying and the family dynamics between the ravenskill clan as well as the royal family. The conflict between them works too.  The one thing I'm just not that invested in, is the romance between Gabriel and Faythe.  There is just no heat there, nothing about the way that romance is presented makes me believe it's real.  It's one of the only plot points in the story that feels to me like it is simply a tool to move the story forward rather than a plot point moved forward by the characters themselves.

Contrast this with the romantic elements of scenes and it becomes more apparent. In that story they really nail the element of romance, passion, desire, and even destiny.  Gabriel and Faythe more or less seem like muses to each other rather than two people infatuated with each other and hearing for a relationship.

[Clancy Wiggum]

First impressions from some initial listens and the live show video is that it's pretty cheesy. Having said that though it has been done properly, so it's difficult to find fault with the depth of the story.

[MirrorMask]

A not so serious detail about the story... in a live, "real time" adaptation, the singer / actress portraying Faythe would have to pretend to be dying for more than 10 minutes. Faythe gets stabbed at the end of The Walking Shadow, then there's Gabriel despairing (My Last Farewell), Nafaryus and Arabelle arriving and despairing as well (Losing Faythe) and Gabriel saying he has lost his voice (Whispers in the Wind). That's 9:34 minutes, and only in the second half of Hymn of a Thousand Voices he brings her back to life.

A long agony, she should have bled out to death by the end