We Need To Talk About Pete...

We need to talk about Pete...

and his crisis in episode 9.

Background

Pete has been shown to have some type of religious awareness

He is also shown as a parallel to La Virgen in episode 7 as he watches over the party as she does. *I'm Catholic, but I'm not even going to touch on this because that is a whole 'nother post.

Questioning Faith

However, in episode 9, when he enters the Buddhist temple, he questions Vegas because the monk was speaking about the first percept - Do not kill.

Pete doesn't understand how Vegas, who just killed Don and Wang, enjoys listening to this sermon on not killing, while Vegas says that it helps him relax.

Pete isn't feeling peaceful or calm but can't figure out why.

Questioning Himself

When Vegas suggests making merits together (because they have both killed together and need to atone), Pete is hesitant, but as always, obedient.

Remember, Pete does not see good or bad, so having to atone for wrongdoing without a punishment could be why he looks so confused. Or it could be that Vegas shows concern for his soul beyond this life.

Up until then, the music is light and ethereal. However, the SECOND Pete agrees to make merits together, the music stops. There is no music at all. Even when Vegas puts his hand on Pete's back, there is no music. You know when the music does start?

The moment Pete has a reaction to the touch is when the music begins again, but it's not the same music as before.

Bonn Fields' "Never Given a Chance"

This is the song ("Never Given a Chance"...uummmm), and it's suspenseful. I'm not a music person, so I can only describe it as being in a minor key with lots of dissonance (lack of harmony between notes/tension/unsuitable elements). And you know where we hear that dissonance ?

After Pete moves away from the touch, he does the same movement he did in the first image while looking at the shrine - he wipes his face and then his hair, but the comfort he felt before in the first image is gone. Dissonance

The next time we hear dissonance is the first time he looks at Vegas after the touch when Vegas asks him to take the water. He is conflicted. He is feeling something different while Vegas is back to the norm of being a superior bossing him around. Pete responds "Yes, sir" but...

When he gets up to leave, we hear lower notes being added as the camera lingers on Vegas.

The last time we hear dissonance is after Pete throws out the water and is trying to reset himself. This time, it's high pitched symbolizing Pete's internal conflict is reaching its climax. He is trying to focus on his assigned duty but is still thinking about the touch.

When the music stops

The SECOND Pete goes back in and sees Vegas is gone, the music stops. It is silent until he picks up the note, and then a quick burst of ominous music begins when he finishes the note about doing it again, so they can see each other in the next life.

So what?!

Pete is not at harmony with himself here (dissonance). He can't find the smiles to joke this away like he normally does. Throughout this whole sequence, he doesn't even smile once. Previous to this, every interaction he has had with Vegas, he smiles through it, but the smiles seem to last less with each interaction. Here, he is experiencing raw feelings that he cannot brush aside, and Vegas touching his back in such a spiritual space in broad daylight while the monk speaks about not killing and his brother is sleeping right behind them has thrown him off. He isn't reacting to the touch, but the way the touch makes him feel regardless of the external elements. Pete is not uncomfortable with the touch and that's why he is conflicted. The music demonstrates this by starting when Pete reacts to the touch rather than beginning when Vegas touches him and ends when Vegas is gone. Even if Vegas is playing with his prey [I already wrote about truly believing he's attracted to Pete], Pete just realized he is attracted to the way Vegas makes him feel (his authentic self) which puts him in conflict with his duties, his loyalties, and his façade. He failed his mission because he was distracted and knows Vegas is playing with him, which makes that realization of attraction even more difficult.

And you know what Pete likes when people fail? Punishment. He says he's going in that house to clear Porsche's name, which is most likely true, but he is also looking for something.