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all 16 comments

[–][deleted] 216 points217 points  (8 children)

Short answer: yes

Long answer: the in-universe implication is that, as the archivist, he enters a somewhat trance-like state when reading statements with the eye compelling him to recreate the story as accurately as he can from the statement to maximise the horror generated from it. The Doyle-ist explanation is that it makes for better story-telling to differentiate character voices

[–]BloodyBaronessCosArchivist 86 points87 points  (0 children)

The in-universe implication are for example:
MAG 39, Jon says "Because when I record these statements it feels… it feels like I’m being watched. I… I lose myself a bit. And then when I come back,"
And MAG 92, Elias: "It is your job to chronicle these things, to experience them, whether first-hand or through the eyes of others."

[–]soft_bumbly_bee 82 points83 points  (3 children)

Jonny also mentioned in an earlier Q&A that it's 90% this and 10% Jon being a drama queen haha.

[–]_EllisInWonderlandNot!Them 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Yes, I wanted to add that as well, Jon is also just a bit of a drama queen hahaha

[–]vexedtogas 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Yeah I believe his words were that “Jon also likes to get a little dramatic” so even before the eye that was already there

[–]doortoriver 21 points22 points  (0 children)

There are so many reasons he’s the Eye’s special little boy

[–]bruicejuice[S] 18 points19 points  (1 child)

I remember that happening much later but it's crazy to hear it happening to him so early!

[–]PatchelockeThe Spiral 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It actually happens with Martin, Melanie, Elias & maybe Basira as well. This is 1 of the more umbrella Eye abilities, though I think it applies specifically to the Archive employees. I doubt anyone else in the institute can tap into it, outside of “Elias” himself.

[–]Oneiropticon 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is what I had figured, but when I first listened, it felt like it was a conceit to make the statements sound better and we were meant to ignore it to keep immersion.

[–]legalgeekdad 46 points47 points  (1 child)

He is channeling the person who wrote the statement. I remember one episode where at the end he realized that the entire statement was in a language he couldn't read.

[–]AQuietVioletThe Eye 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wow, I like the way you stated this :) It's perfect and succinct.

[–]MeiMei91 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If you listen to the season 1 q&a they do touch on that :)

[–]Arualiaa 17 points18 points  (0 children)

As soon as he accepted the role of Archivist, he was already on his way to eldritchhood. Notice how Gertrude never introduced herself as such, but she still couldn’t help but become an Archivist. Jon introduces himself as “head archivist of the Magnus institute, London” from the very start, so it’s no wonder he was already channeling the voices of statement givers. Also consider: he started having archivist dreams from the very beginning too, just convinced himself they were nightmares. Elias says he’s been dreaming of Naomi Herne since she gave her statement, and that was VERY early S1.

[–]Ok_Habit_6783Archivist 3 points4 points  (0 children)

peter lukas voice: "He's a bit... over dramatic"

[–]Oklahom0The Eye 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Based on how the Entities work, I can see everything starting out with normal reasons that slowly became supernatural. So, Jon starts reading the statements similar to us listening it; picturing it in our mind's eye. The imagery is so vivid that it's hard not to imagine it. You'll notice he's very easily pulled out of it, and is trying to convince himself that what he read isn't real. Then he starts being tastefully theatrical in his reading of the statements. I'm not sure if he even realizes that he's taking the voice of the people he's talking about.

I wouldn't be surprised if the dreams started from the beginning, though.

[–]iAmNotArobotHumansThe Flesh 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He thinks it’s silly /j