Thread by @kellengoff

Saved my thoughts for tonight. Seemed appropriate.

Diavolo. My greatest challenge to date, but my most rewarding. To say he was fun to play is an understatement.

It was a golden experience. *snort*

And long overdue: my explanation as to why his voice changes in pitch.

(1/?)

To adequately explain this, I have to go through my process when I booked him.

Nov 2019, by coincidence or fate, @SweetBeanAmin was marathonning me through the entire series because I never had the motivation to do it on my own. I'm so glad he did. Love you booboo. 💜 (2/?)

We had talks inbetween about the other seasons and Amin raved about this pink haired guy... I think his name was Dope-O? Idk. But I got hooked on boppio's mental complex. I read up on him and his counterpart extensively, because I'm a Wiki junkie (it's a real problem 😔) (3/?)

As I read more and more, I had more theories about why Soappio and Diavolo were they way they were. (This wasn't the only character I did this for, but he was one of the most interesting psychology-wise.)

And in the midst of it, I got an email. An audition. For Diavolo. (4/?)

Now I don't have to exaggerate when I say how much I wanted this audition to be the best it could be. And with a ton of help from @GeoffBisente and 5 hours of nitpicking, I'm proud to say that it was. Love you, bro. (5/?)

(I'm the one in the helmet)

(Sidenote: Funny enough, I auditioned for Doppio too, but I can't release that audio. It was a lot of fun though!)

Anyhow, I sent that off and forget about it for a bit. Ask my agent if they've heard anything here and there.

Then, ironically as all hell, I was attending a Christmas concert with my family in a CHURCH.

(6/?)

Why was it important to note I was told I got cast as Diavolo in a church? Other than being hilarious to me, it sorta stuck out to me as a sign. One of my theories had to do with Ying and Yang. Angels and devils.

The duality of man.

(7/?)

As the story goes, as Doppio was born, so too was Diavolo. No father. Allegory that coincides with how Jesus was born from a virgin. But bore for two years, twice longer than a normal pregnancy.

But I believe that Diavolo wasn't always the dominant personality. (8/?)

Notice something about the last picture? Those are Doppio's eyes, not Diavolo's.

What I believe is Diavolo was a personality before a person. A near-nonexistent evil, hidden and nullified by the innocence of a newborn baby. A prisoner, and becoming more aware of it. (9/?)

As time went by, separated from his birth parents, he grew up with a priest. Whether Polnereff was correct in his assumption that Doppio was abused is unconfirmable, but I believe what strengthened Diavolo is the power that came with hearing of God. The almighty. The King. (10/?)

Evil is often paired with a lust for power. This dream of ascendence shaped Diavolo into something new. The Boss. One that would be lonely Doppio's friend and guide to status.

The power Diavolo craved most of all, however, was the power to erase his past. (11/?)

As power was Diavolo's reason for living, he despised that he was once powerless. What kind of king could be detained by an infant? It was a humiliating thought. The more he remembered the weaker he felt. Which is why he swore to conquer it. And why he killed his lover. (12/?)

Donatella Una was a light in Doppio's life, but a weakness to Diavolo. One that would only hold him back. And a remnant of the past that could come back to destroy him in a moment of weakness. So he did what he thought must be done. Of course, he didn't count on a child. (13/?)

Anyway, to get back to the point, I'd like to cite the philosophy of Ying and Yang. Good has a bit of bad, and bad has a bit of good. I don't believe that Doppio and Diavolo are 2 COMPLETELY separate personalities. I believe there's bad in Doppio and good in Diavolo. (14/?)

In Doppio's fight with Risotto, we can see murderous tendencies come out in plain view. Moments like this are really the only time we see Doppio become anything but our pink sunshine boy. I believe this is a bit of Diavolo seeping into his personality. And on the flip... (15/?)

Diavolo has a bit of Doppio's personality in him too. This has manifested through the few kind words he's said to worthy foes and mercies he's granted. But I believe it also manifests, indirectly, in his fear. (16/?)

Diavolo only feels fear through his entire appearance when he experiences a loss of control. When did he have the least control? When he was trapped in a baby. And when he felt a loss of control in anything, he felt a loss of control in... himself... hmm... (17/?)

When Diavolo loses control of himself... where does the control go?

Why, to Doppio! The little bit of Doppio's personality in him takes over, making him feel unsure, scared, inexperienced...

Kind of like... a child! (18/?)

Who said the line between Doppio and Diavolo is so finite? If loss of control brings him closer to the first-dominant personality, one stuck in youth, then shouldn't his voice reflect that change?

His voice gets higher because he loses himself to his true self! (19/?)

That's why he sounds so higher pitched when he's losing his status, his power, his anonymity to a mere child. Not only is he losing control, the control is going to someone younger than him, in two ways. He's basically throwing a tantrum!

(20/?)

So that's how I played. Diavolo was never as old in his mind as he convinced himself he was. This evil incarnate was still a child, pretending (very well) to be more mature than he truly was. Always playing the boss. Always doing ANYTHING to stay in control. What a brat. (21/?)

An internal battle between good vs. evil. Delusions of grandeur and a control obsession. Making sure the past never came back to haunt him. But all the while, just a helpless child that would do anything to convince the world he wasn't. That was Diavolo to me. (22/?)

Thank you all for being on this journey with me. I try my best to do justice for the characters you and I love that I'm lucky enough to play. I hope what I did with our favorite octopus-head mob boss here was as thrilling for you as it was for me.

Arrivederci, Diavolo. (23/?)

And to finish this off, I leave you with the song I listened to before every session. Kira said it would get me in the mood to play a 21st Century Schizoid Man and it absolutely did.

Enjoy. Buonanotte. (24/24)

And to tie it all up in a bow: Thank you so much to the brilliant @TonyOliverVA for putting up with my requests for retakes and steering me in the best direction every time. Always love working with you and swapping stories, man. Gonna miss doing this freak with ya, haha.

And thank you infinitely to @mummynyan and @VIZMedia for allowing me to play this psycho! This was a major chance and I hope I met your expectations!! It was a pleasure to be on this show under you kind folks. 🙏

And thank you @TheGriffinBurns for being an ADORABLE Doppio. You're fam forever, mi caro. Amazing work.

@LizzieRFreeman, my talented dotor. I'm so sorry I tried to kill you multiple times. You were amazing and I'm blessed to have shared premiere nights with you!!

And to @RayChase, thank you so much for being so supportive of me the whole way through. You were an incredible scene partner and archetype for an awful impression on my part. Hope we get to do this again soon!!

And to @sonicmega @PhillMReich, @RicepirateMick, and @KyleMcCarley for being the best castmates a guy could ask for. Bros, you rock as always. Thanks for again doing that charity stream with me!!

And @AleksLeVO and @khoidaooo, thanks for always memeing with me on the side inbetween episodes. I'll hold those memories dear.

And thank you all for being the best fans a dope like me could ask for. Your constant compliments and feedback and love got me through all this. I greatly appreciate it, more than I can describe. Arrivederci for real this time!!

And yes, my vocal cords are ok!! 💜