The ending of Levitate seemed pretty hopeless-hereโs why?
SPOILERS!!!
The three part story ended with Tyler being dragged away by Blurryface/Nico. And this gives the impression that no matter where you run or how hard your loved ones work to help you get away from your demons, they will always catch up to you in the end. This is a very hopeless ending, although not the first ending to seem hopeless.
(I know thereโs a few references to Car Radio in this song, but the video for Car Radio was also very hopeless and depressing. Levitate seems to say that heโs found his happiness and reason to live, but still ends helplessly Like Car Radio does though.)
It seems that Tyler just gives up, or is so depressed that he doesnโt care whatโs happening to him. This personally hits very hard for me and hurts me in a way that I love because it is so relatable, and also very sad because I know he feels the same way.ย
A lot of people are asking why, after this three pat series, does this video end in such a hopeless way, making us feel like all of the work everyone did was for nothing? It just seems unfinished, like there should be some kind of victory. But the thing is that there is never a true victory. You never defeat mental illness entirely and a lot of times it feels like youโre trapped in an endless loop. There are times when you celebrate a good day or little successes you make, like how they were celebrating saving Tyler.
But then there are days where you turn right back around and it feels like you havenโt made any progress, it feels like youโre right back where you started and youโll never get better. You are in a never ending war with yourself.
I think all of the Banditos are in their own war against mental illness, and I think that WE are the Banditos. I think it is our job to save Tyler, and when we do it makes us feel good and in a way saves us, too. I think this because we see this man sitting here, looking like heโs been in war for years, and he is a battered veteran.
He welcomes the young boy (maybe Clancy?) to Trench. I think Trench is a nod to trench warfare which started in WWI. It was brutal and to those who lived in the trenches, felt like a hell which would never end, only growing worse every day. We wear camo green and cover ourselves, and we live in Trench, so I think itโs safe to say this theory seems likely.ย
I have two theories, and this is my first one. The video was meant to seem hopeless because that is exactly how mental illness feels. The never ending loop, going right back where you started, and feeling that empty, angry, and sad feeling, like it was all for nothing, that is how mental illness often feels for those who struggle with it. I felt it in this video, and in a way, although it is devastating and sad and many people feel let down, I think it was one of the most symbolic and artistic music videos Iโve seen in a long time, because it portrays a feeling which no one has been able to show before, or in some cases is too afraid to.
This video is raw, and I think maybe it was meant to feel like it.
My Second theory?
We know this was the final story in the trilogy for Trench. But if you look closely at the note they put with the third video, you notice the wording is kind of specific.
It sayย โA story from Trench.โ
So what if this is only one story?
Trench is supposed to tall us more about Dema and the people in it. So what if we have different stories from different perspectives?
What if we get Tyler, Josh, Jenna, us, etc.? What if there are more stories and thatโs how they continue this story?ย
I know a lot of people want the meaning of this video to โhave a hopeful undertoneโ (see what I did there?), and the thing is thereโs a good chance it wonโt. But if it does, maybe this is it? Maybe there will be a happy ending. After all, the last song is called Leave the City. Maybe there is a happy ending.
