Is the Crying Child Cassidy?

Jul 17, 2024

Game Theory: Is the Crying Child Cassidy?

Introduction

  • Topic: Crying child's identity in the Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) series.
  • Highlight: The crying child’s name is Cassidy, proposed by the Dual Process Theory channel.
  • Impact: This theory challenges long-held beliefs about the character.

Background

  • FNAF Community: Theorists have been trying to solve the lore for a decade.
  • New Theories: Rise of new theorists like John FNAF, Ry Toast, ID’s Fantasy, etc.
  • Dual Process Theory: Claimed to have solved FNAF and the crying child's name in their first video.
  • Crying Child's Name: Deduction that the crying child's name is Cassidy, previously thought to be an entirely different character.

Key Points of the Theory

Cassidy's Identity

  • Foundation: Misinterpretation of clues; Cassidy was always the crying child, not separate.
  • Evidence: Mirror message in the survival log book tied to crying child’s depiction.
  • Support Characters: Michael Afton (red pen), crying child Cassidy (altered text), Charlie (faded text helping spirits).

Golden Freddy and Number of Spirits

  • One Spirit Argument: It's me singular indicates one spirit, not two.
  • Game Examples: Characters with multiple spirits use plurals (Stitchwraith, Rosie Porkchop).

Timeline and Evidence

  • Happiest Day Mini-Game: Six children moving on; not enough evidence for two spirits theory.
  • Glowing Eyes in FNAF 3: Only one pair of eyes, indicating one spirit in Golden Freddy.
  • Crying Child’s Death: Speculative explanation of Afton’s reaction and decisions post-bite of '83.
  • Grave Order Sequence (Help Wanted): Aligns with only six children, concluding Charlie last.

Counterpoints and Issues

  • Cons: Potentially overcomplicated explanations (hospital flatline, disappearing children).
  • Debate: Dual Process Theory has strong points, but mixed evidence supporting crying child as fifth missing child.
  • Conflicts: Difficulty in reconciling crying child's public death with the missing child narrative.
  • Loose Ends: Cassidy could still be crying child's name, leaving fifth child identity debate open.
  • **Additional Evidence: Stitchwraith from FNAF books shows two spirits co-existing.
  • Mystery: Some theories suggest simpler explanations—Afton killing indiscriminately.

Conclusion

  • Summary: The theory is compelling but not conclusive.
  • Narrative Satisfaction vs. Practicality: Dual Process theory offers simplified, satisfying interpretations but faces scrutiny and conflicts with established lore details.
  • Ongoing Investigation: Further exploration required, focusing on finer lore points and evidence from new FNAF content.
  • Promotional Content: Mention of related projects like Lofi Girl-inspired mystery series focused on a different character.

Additional Resources

  • LFI Project: Music-based mystery project available on YouTube and Spotify with clues for an underlying story.
  • Promotion of Side Content: Encouraged viewers to check out ongoing projects and hidden clues.

Notable Quotes

  • Matt's Participation: “I know you’re kind of retired and everything, but seeing how Dual Process Theory’s video was a two-person effort and you’re already here, how’d you like to tag team this FNAF theory?”
  • Outro: “But hey, that’s just a theory… a GAME THEORY!”

Study Tips

  • Focus: Review the pinpointed evidence for and against the Crying Child being Cassidy.
  • Cross-Reference: Compare both game and book lore to understand the complexity of FNAF’s narrative.
  • Analyze Gravestone Order: Re-evaluate Help Wanted gravestone sequences for timeline clues.
  • Monitor Updates: Stay informed on new FNAF releases and updates for potential lore revisions.

Questions to Ponder

  • If crying child is Cassidy, how does it reconcile with the established narrative of five missing children?
  • How significant are book parallels in forming game theories?
  • Does simplifying the narrative make it more or less compelling? Why?

Lecture Relevance

  • Understanding Complex Narratives: How to piece together fragmented story elements in long-running series.
  • The Power of Theory Communities: Influence of collective investigation and new platforms.
  • Analytical Thinking: Scrutinizing evidence and addressing counterarguments in expansive lore-rich franchises.

Emoji: 🎮

Note: For the full context, refer to the detailed breakdown of the Dual Process Theory video and related lore content in the FNAF series. These notes aim to capture critical aspects and facilitate deeper analysis of both the theory and the broader implications for the series.