I know there’s been disagreements over how much influence Cal had over B1 Dirk and his treatment of Dave, but I have a theory. The best light we see Dirk in is mostly isolated except for the people he wants to be his best for. If Dirk had grown up in a more loving environment, it’s possible that he could have been less wrought with issues. I think it’s possible that Cal’s influence involved making the worst choices for Bro’s mental health and driving him to be his worst through that. Thoughts?

I don’t quite think Lil Cal had that much of an influence on Bro, specially because the Striders are always wearing Shades too. Dirk himself struggles with his own behavior Post-Scratch, and he has the luck to actually have people in his life he cares a lot about and that care a lot about him, and the whole thing with AR also makes him realize things about himself. As he says, “I can see how someone like me could end up like that if left unchecked”, and it’s part of seeing this and trying to improve himself that makes Dirk so much better than Bro.

Also I mean, Dirk grew up with Cal too, and talked to directly by Caliborn, and he doesn’t seem particularly swayed by the puppet. Although his version IS said to be ‘empty’ too. Hmmm.