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craig's big day
Dec. 8th, 2024 09:45 pmCraig’s Big Day means so much to me. It’s been referenced throughout DHMIS—it was the main 3’s show in episode 2 of the web series, it was referenced in the TV pilot, and the song was referenced in episode 5 of the TV show—so I think it’s an important piece to Becky and Joe, too. Becky and Joe accept the various meanings people draw from their art, and I think they purposefully leave a lot of room for viewer interpretation. I love that about their works; that’s a major part of why I find their art so personal. Most of the subject matter of Becky and Joe’s art is relatable on its own, but I was given room to make it resonate with me by relating it to my specific experiences.
With that being said, I like to view Craig’s Big Day as an autistic man’s depressive episode running its course. There’s no explanation why Craig (seemingly) snapped out of it. Maybe he changed his mind once he was truly given the chance to die with the poison. Like, no matter how suicidal you are, you only realize how dire the verge of death is when you’re close to it. But any depressive episode will eventually run its course; it’s like a flow, and it comes in waves. But when it’s over, you feel big and strong and get cool spikes in your hair.
The poison Craig was going to drink was a gift. I think that’s an obvious metaphor for suicidal ideation. The poison also manifested itself as the sole gift Craig received on his birthday, which I think represents the view of suicide as the only source of escape (Wacky Pig Worm stopped working after a while). Because more than anything, Craig is tired. When you’ve been in an MDE, isolated with nothing but your thoughts, it’s only natural to grow tired of it all. But I like to think Craig pulled himself out of it…!
There is a lot to take away from this little series, but I don’t have it in me to write about all of its intricacies right now. I just want to get this out there since I think the few people willing to read a journal like this can appreciate something like Craig’s Big Day. The clock, the birthday meal, the ending… please watch it yourself and form your own interpretation:
With that being said, I like to view Craig’s Big Day as an autistic man’s depressive episode running its course. There’s no explanation why Craig (seemingly) snapped out of it. Maybe he changed his mind once he was truly given the chance to die with the poison. Like, no matter how suicidal you are, you only realize how dire the verge of death is when you’re close to it. But any depressive episode will eventually run its course; it’s like a flow, and it comes in waves. But when it’s over, you feel big and strong and get cool spikes in your hair.
The poison Craig was going to drink was a gift. I think that’s an obvious metaphor for suicidal ideation. The poison also manifested itself as the sole gift Craig received on his birthday, which I think represents the view of suicide as the only source of escape (Wacky Pig Worm stopped working after a while). Because more than anything, Craig is tired. When you’ve been in an MDE, isolated with nothing but your thoughts, it’s only natural to grow tired of it all. But I like to think Craig pulled himself out of it…!
There is a lot to take away from this little series, but I don’t have it in me to write about all of its intricacies right now. I just want to get this out there since I think the few people willing to read a journal like this can appreciate something like Craig’s Big Day. The clock, the birthday meal, the ending… please watch it yourself and form your own interpretation:
