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laurelwen · 1 year

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Breakdown and Comparison of the Books in Like Minds

So a careful viewer will notice that Nigel's bible and Alex's bible are clearly two completely different books. As @currentlyonstandbi also pointed out to me, the movie soundtrack underlines this by having two separate tracks titled "Nigel's Bible" and "Alex's Bible". The difference between the two is obvious in the two photos below.

We get glimpses of a few pages inside each of these books, and a side by side comparison will show that while they are different books, there are certain shared images that are suggestive of a few conclusions.

The first commonality is the use of the map insert seen above. Both maps appear to be exactly the same image, depicting the Mediterranean and the Holy Land during the time of the Crusades when the Templars were active. The map in Nigel's book is clearly larger and from the color of the paper seems to be somewhat older. Alex's map seems to be pulled from a different, newer source.

Both books also contain the same image of a man: Thomas Becket. It is hard to tell if this is merely the effect of the difference in lighting in each scene, but Nigel's version again appears somewhat yellowed, as if it was cut from an older book, while Alex's version seems more like a photocopy. Included below is the original of that image, as well as the art added in Alex's version, depicting the murder of Becket.

When Alex returns from his thwarted date with Susan, he throws Nigel's book across the room. It opens to this page, with an original pencil or charcoal drawing of a modern girl, and artwork depicting a skull inside a chalice or grail.

Alex's book also contains the same skull and cup image, but no copy of the sketch. This stands to reason, given that it appears to be an original drawing rather than an image pulled from an existing text. The same difference in paper color between the two versions is noticeable.

When we look at the images of the cover of Nigel's book (as seen in the Maraclea image above) we can see that the spine is smaller and that the pages seem to be full or nearly full. Alex's book seems to have a wider spine, and is clearly only partially filled, with many more blank pages remaining.

Conclusions and Analysis:

There are a couple different lines of thought one can pursue with this information. First: what happened to Nigel's book? We know that Alex can't have gone back to his room after Nigel died and therefore had no opportunity to hide it. We also don't actually know if he returned it to Nigel after reading it. One imagines that it would have been in either his room or Nigel's secret room, but we know from his conversations with Sally that it was found in neither location. It is possible that Alex is correct in his assertion that the Order removed it before the police could find it, or that the police chief (who was a member of the Order) had it removed from evidence.

The other possibility is that Alex was the true mastermind behind the events of the film, and that Nigel's book was an invention/exaggeration based on his OWN book to serve his depiction of Nigel. This seems less likely for one important reason: where was his book when the police investigated? Surely it would have been found, unless he had previously hidden it in some secret location never mentioned in the film.

The simplest explanation is that Nigel's book existed and was removed by the Order to preserve their secret lore, and Alex used the 9 months after Nigel's death to recreate his book from memory. We know from his conversation with Sally that he was completely engrossed by Nigel's book (though he tries to back pedal immediately after that). Obviously, he wouldn't have been able to recall or track down every piece of ephemera used, particularly not the metal badge or coin or the snippets of original documents or rare texts.

He also couldn't include the original drawing of the girl, probably done by Nigel himself and clearly placed next to the skull image as a reference to the Maraclea legend. Was this drawing meant to be Susan herself? Given that the moment this image is shown is almost certainly concurrent with the murder of Susan, it seems clear that a parallel is being drawn by the filmmaker. But unlike Susan in the movie, the hair is braided with bangs (Susan has no bangs and never appears with a braid), and the girl has an open collar showing a necklace with a cross pendant (also not in line with how Susan dresses in the film). We must also consider that this page is closer to the front of Nigel's book, implying that it has been there for a while. It's possible the drawing could have been pasted in later over whatever was on that page previously, or it could have entirely predated his interactions with Susan and Alex.

The end of the film highlights the fact that Alex believes in the Maraclea legend and obviously implies that Susan was his Maraclea. Nigel's 2 page Maraclea spread would have stood out in Alex's memory given the circumstances under which he first saw it and then the events which later transpired. While he couldn't have recreated the same drawing for his book, it is notable that he didn't attempt to create a similar spread with the skull/chalice image using another drawing or picture of a girl, including one of Susan herself.

Why didn't he?

The movie will never answer this question, but I'm firmly convinced it is because Nigel is his true Maraclea.

#change my mind #have i mentioned i'm a big nerd about books especially old school style scrapbooks like this #i yearn to recreate their bible but it's impossible to read most of the text and i'll never find all the images used #like minds #nigel colbie #alex forbes #like minds analysis #nigel colbie x alex forbes #like minds 2006 #murderous intent #maraclea #tom sturridge #eddie redmayne

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mew-the-classic-peach · 1 year

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Nigel Colbie is Alex Forbes’ Beloved Maraclea (you can't convince me otherwise)

Let's compare the scene where Susan's dead body is discovered with Nigel's death scene. Susan was found naked, horribly dissected, in a gruesome setting. Alex's reaction to seeing Susan's body was simply one of surprise - he did not expect Nigel to bring him to see Susan (to turn her into Maraclea). He then felt sadness, but it was a relatively straightforward expression. He couldn't bear to look any longer.

This sadness pales in comparison to Alex's demeanor when he cradles Nigel's lifeless body in the rain. He gazes up at the sky as if beseeching the gods for something, looking at Nigel with affectionate eyes that he had never shown when Nigel was alive. His hands gently stroke Nigel's motionless upper body, devoid of pulse or heartbeat. This signifies the loss of a part of Alex's soul. As for Nigel, although he was shot in the head, the subsequent shots are from a distance or angles that conceal the wound, and the rain partially washes away the blood. The rain symbolizes purification. Furthermore, Alex cradles Nigel's body closely. Due to the presence of an unreliable narrator element throughout the movie, with Alex being the primary storyteller, one can observe Alex's attitude and reaction towards the two aforementioned deaths. In Alex's eyes, Nigel is always in a state of perfect beauty - even in death.

The deep, almost obsessive love that drives one to "consummate the uncompleted marriage," similar to what the Templar Knight did to his Maraclea, could not be directed towards Susan - a young girl whom Alex just took a mere fancy of. Instead, it was directed towards Nigel - someone with whom Alex had complex feelings of love and hate intertwined to the point of torment, someone who possessed a piece of Alex's soul that was taken and engraved into his being.. It is possible that the grave being dug up and the theft of Susan's skull were just a show that Alex created to make fun of Sally. It is possible that in the box that Alex was carrying was Nigel's skull, and his grave was also perfectly reassembled before it was discovered by the police.

Visit my WordPress for a full Like Minds review & analysis.

#like minds #like minds 2006 #murderous intent #alex forbes #nigel colbie #tom sturridge #eddie redmayne #my beloved maraclea #my English is horrible but I tried my best

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theotherrichardpapen · 1 year

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david levithan

#like minds #murderous intent #like minds 2006 #nigel colbie #alex forbes #nigel colbie x alex forbes #having a normal one 🤡 idk just something small #i mean as much as i love clowning on the fact that 0.2 seconds after nigel took alex to the room #the most insane batshit stuff ever just came pouring from his mouth. 10/10 on the flirt game #it is kind of sad when you consider the idea that nigel sees himself as having no inherent worth outside of being something to be used #i mean he describes himself as the pike in the dynamic; the implement for killing #the weapon; the tool to be used #the idea that his only purpose is to serve as an instrument for someone else to achieve their destiny ?#and that night in the trainyard where he decides the best thing he can do is die so that jack can be born?????#are you listening greg ??? because this is exactly why it would've been better for the movie to affirm nigel as alex's maraclea #take notes greg okay #because if nigel positions himself in the role of maraclea?? then it all falls into place and now you've got this guy who thinks #that the best thing he can do. that the ONLY thing he can do. the reason he was put there in the first place #is to die and help alex become everything he was born to be #i stand by what i said on the earlier post that the night at the train yard was their consummation ..that the birth 9 months later was jack #beyond telling greg he can pry this idea from my cold hands #if he wants me to admit i'm wrong he can fight me for it in the car park of an aldi #sorry to anyone who followed me after the cannibalism web weave but this is a like minds blog first and foremost

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currentlyonstandbi · 1 year

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that trope where two lovers are reincarnated over and over with no memory of their past lives but always end up finding each other because they’re destined to be together but with nigel and alex

#here's where i go unhinged because the kicker to this thought when i had it was that the original legend about the lord of sidon is them too #and that as the story retelling trickled down through time it was changed enough that eventually the great love of maraclea was a woman #because the moral fabric of society would not be able to handle the idea that the story was between two men #AND to top it off the ritual with the skull not only granted great power in battle but was also the catalyst for the blessing/curse #of the two being eternally tied to one another by fate. always destined to find one another in any life in any time in any place #even when they're enemies (i.e. the events of the film)#anyway i think i have heatstroke #like minds #murderous intent #like minds (2006)#nigel colbie #alex forbes #nigel colbie x alex forbes #tom sturridge #eddie redmayne

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bloodbathfortwo · 6 months

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Sometimes I'd like to think Nigel and Alex ran away together, Living in Paris with Nigel's family fortune, and picking up a nameless homeless child that Nigel names after his mother, Alex was fully against that but Nigel had already processed the papers. Not only is Alex aware of the nature of Nigel's relationship with his deceased mother but he decided to name this kid after Helen solely because she looked like her and had this tender feeling.

Then the following year, Alex comes home with another stray, bathes her, fed her and dressed her. Helen was absolutely elated that she finally has a sister, when Nigel finally gets home he's perplexed: Why the hell is there a kid in our living room? Nigel marches all the way to the kitchen where he finds Alex and little Helen cooking up a feast.

Nigel questions who the hell is that and Alex simply replies, "Our kid" Nigel is completely conflicted by this but not against it. He believes that this is what fate had wanted them to have. If this is what his unprincipled man wants, then let him be.

They treated the new addition to their family fairly, Helen and her had gone along well and while they were processing the papers Alex did a little bit of editing.

Alex named their youngest Susan, after Alex's Deceased Maraclea. I'm pretty sure there's a reason why Nigel called her a wench, there's a tone of hatred to him and he hates Susan. Nigel was completely against this but Alex was feeling petty and he wanted to get back at him for it.

#murderous intent #like minds 2006 #nigel colbie #alex forbes #I know Nigel said that Susan is Alex's true love but let's face it #Alex was only attached to Susan but there was never sort of attraction to her #Alex realized that his true maraclea was Nigel #Alex who was so blind all this time #I also think they're both petty husbands but they love their daughters very much #Helen is 10 and Susan is 6

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widowswinter · 5 days

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while we are discussing like minds i would like to inform the like minds fandom that i also

got tom to sign the jack of spades

got tom to write “my beloved maraclea”

got sassed by tom when i showed him how to spell it (he spelled it wrong and then said he could spell it. no u can’t babygirl gimme the pen)

got it tattooed onto me 10 minutes later by a tattoo artist at the con

went back and showed tom

he was horrified

then he told me to let him see it

@theoryofwhatnow

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honeybeezgobzzzzz · 28 days

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Ψ M is for Maraclea: Chapter Three

M is for Maraclea: Following an accident you had over summer break, you find yourself in limbo after being legally dead for several minutes. Now an outcast at boarding school, you end up finding comfort in a strange boy named Nigel. As winter draws near and tragedy strikes, your only reprieve from madness comes from a mind much like your own.

Warnings: Death.

To Note: Nigel Colbie x Fem!Reader, NAMED Reader for Plot Reasons, There Are A Lot of DARK Themes.

Word Count: ~2.2k

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You had no idea why Alex and Josh were dragging a boy to the train station, and were even more confused when they got on. You followed of course, your curiosity piqued and mind focused on what they were doing. It was already past curfew for them. They weren’t supposed to be out like this but clearly, by their actions and ease alone, this wasn’t the first time they had done this. You lost them at one point, trying to figure out the schedule of the train to ensure that you’d get back, and took to slowly moving through train cars as it began moving to find them.

Naturally, you got distracted when your eyes caught dark landscape flashing by and you took a few moments to stare out the window. Or perhaps several minutes, the darkness was truly inviting to you. Going to a door at the end of the car you were in, you pressed your palm against the glass and watched the occasional lights flicker by. It’d been ages since you had left the academy grounds, either of them, and you missed the eery silence. The train shook and ratted around, and as you blinked a loud bang erupted in the night and you flinched back from the bright flash of light.

Bloody hell what was that!

Taking a few moments to blink the stars from your eyes, you were more prepared for more of the loud pops that exploded just outside the train. If you remembered correctly, Josh liked to make flash bangs. They must be just up ahead. Leaving behind the window, you entered the next train car and spotted Josh fiddling with one of his flash bangs. Hurrying towards him, Josh’s eyes widened when he spotted you and he turned to the hidden part of the train care where Alex must be. Josh spoke something to Alex and your brother was immediately sticking out from behind the metal wall and glaring at you.

“What are you doing here!?” He yelled. You gazed back, unperturbed by his raised voice and words.

“I could ask you the same,” You retorted, stepping forwards to see who the poor boy that had gotten dragged into Alex and Josh’s games was. The moment your eyes settled on starry blue eyes framed by black lashes you paused in step. His gaze held yours, much like your own. Demured yet something lurked deep within, something that made a spark in your mind and a warmth bloom in your chest. A like mind. You were unable to get in another word, for the train rattled and you were thrown off your feet. Stumbling back, you heard Josh let out a yell, and then a hiss at your feet. One glance down was all you had before a bright flash went off and a painful explosion rang in your ears.

Stunned, you slumped over against hard plastic chairs as your ears rang in deafening silence. With your hearing in a blackout, you focused on your breathing and basked in the peaceful comfort that almost reminded you of your death. Silent. Cold. Pacifying even. Your hearing came back with a resounding ringing in your ears and you pressed a hand to your head. That beautiful silence hadn’t lasted nearly as long as you had liked. Blinking, you saw Josh trying to drag Alex away from the car door. Oh Alex was making a right mess of things.

You had the best luck in calming in down when Alex was in a mood and clawed forwards. But as you reached the three boys, Josh flung Alex away from the door and his momentum was furthered by a lurch of the train. You watched with a passive face as he leaned off kilter out of train, terror on his face. Then he was gone. Smashed into a pole along the tracks. Silence reigned once more, death spreading its touch around you. Blinking you settled your eyes on the boy that was Alex’s latest target.

His nose was bloody, a crimson drip having run over his lips, but you were captivated by his hypnotic eyes. You could have swore that you saw a reflection of yourself within his eyes, haunting pain and a need for that blissful silence. Reaching into your jacket pocket, you pulled out the embroidered handkerchief all girls at your academy had, and offered it to him.

You didn’t go to Josh’s funeral, naturally, if your father had learned that you’d followed Alex he would be ever so irate with you and that would just be a bother. So you simply played the good daughter and prayed with the other girls at mass, and went about your week under the guise of normalcy. It was not a normal week. You couldn’t get hypnotic blue eyes out of your mind. Or midnight hair. Or even the color of his blood staining his nose and lips. Crimson. A pretty shade that matched blue and black.

He still had your handkerchief. You’d promptly left for your dorm room before Susan grew worried and raised alarm to the dorm mother. She still tutted at you for staying out so late, but you reassured her that your brother had been in your company so you hadn’t been alone. It was nearly a week later before you were back on the boys academy grounds. You were walking with the girls in the play, on your way to rehearsals.

Passing by Alex who was painting part of the set, you saw him eye Susan. Peculiar. Alex had never shown interest in a girl before, you wondered how that would bode with his hot headedness. Entering the grand room of the academy, you helped Susan and Eloise into their stage garments as Ethel pulled out her clipboard. Your fingers fussed with Susan’s head piece, making sure that all of her brown hair was tucked away by white fabric.

“The piano was tuned,” Susan softly spoke while attaching the wooden cross necklace around her neck. You spared a glance in the direction of the piano, pleased to hear so.

“Then I shall practice some of the pieces,” You murmured, finally pleased that Susan’s costume was ready. “I am sure Ethel will request that I play the music in time for the scenes you will practice.”

“It would help to speak our lines while you play.” While Susan and Eloise began speaking to each other about their roles in the play, you walked out of the changing area and headed for the piano. Ethel promptly followed you, clipboard in hand. She scribbled something down on a piece of paper and thrust it towards you.

“These are all the scenes we are rehearsing today, find the sheet music for the scenes and play them when I tell you to.” She ordered before striking off to do something else. You almost made a smart ass comment about her not saying please, but held your tongue. Picking up the folder of sheet music, you riffled through the pages and pulled out what you needed. Settling them up on the stand, you uncovered the keys and pressed the ones that had been in need to tuning. Perfect. There was nothing like playing a freshly tuned piano.

You did a few repetitions of your basic warm up to get your chilled fingers to move smoothly. Perhaps you’d get lost in the music and give your mind a chance to think of someone other than the blue eyed boy that consumed your thoughts. So you focused on the rich notes blooming from the piano and the strong voices of the students practicing their lines. Scene by scene, you put up with Ethel’s orders and as things finally wrapped up, you were once again floating in a state of in-between. Cold. Silence. Blue eyes. Blue eyes? Black hair… you were thinking of him again.

“Mind over matter,” You murmured to yourself, looking up at the panes of stained glass. You felt eyes on your body and paused in your shuffling of papers. Looking up, you looked around. No wonder you felt at peace. Pushing back from the piano, you rose from your seat and brushed out your skirt before striding for him. Perhaps you’d finally get a name…

“Hello,” He spoke as you walked up to him.

“Hello,” You echoed, clasping your hands together in front of you. He slowly reached not the inner lining of his blazer and withdrew a familiar looking handkerchief.

“I got all the blood out of it,” He murmured while you kept your eyes trained on his. Such a pretty blue.

“I wouldn’t have minded, it is just a bit of blood,” You answered honestly, slowly taking the handkerchief back. It was quiet for a few moments before you decided to speak up. “How do you know my brother?”

“We were roommates for a short while.” He explained to you. You made a noise in the back of your throat in surprise. Alex had pressed your father into making sure he never had roommates… “My name is Nigel.”

“I’m—”

“The lovely Lady Mary,” Nigel cut you off, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. “You’re the talk among the boys.” Your eye twitched ever so slightly, not unnoticed by him. “Oh don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. Alex is quite protective of you, warned off any boy brave enough to even look at you.”

“Surprising,” You spoke softly. “Given the rumors whispered among the girls at my academy.” It was Nigel’s turn to tilt his head.

“They don’t understand,”

“No, they don’t,” You echoed, looking back at the girls. “But not all of them are cruel. Besides, I find solace and beauty in silence.”

“Is that why you like playing the piano by yourself? Because they are loud?”

“They don’t understand me,” Your eyes caught sight a notebook tucked beneath his arm. “Pardon for prying but you don’t appear to be observing the play rehearsal.”

“I like to draw,” Nigel supplied, shifting his grasp on his notebook. “I enjoy listening to your music while I work on my diagrams.”

“You draw diagrams?” You questioned, wondering what was interesting enough to draw diagrams of. “May I ask of what?”

“Would you like to see them?” Your eyes sparkled, echoing the delight of your interest and nodding eagerly, you took a step closer. Nigel took his notebook and opened it, flipping a few pages until he landed on his latest drawing. It was the anatomy of a bird, cleverly and expertly drawn to show the innards in the most beautiful detail.

“Impeccable,” You breathed, itching to stroke the fine lines of the diagram and trace the neat scribbles of notes Nigel had written in the margin.”How many have you done?”

“Quite a few, it’s a hobby of mine,” Nigel said proudly, turning the page to show you more of his diagrams. You were truly fascinated by the macabre drawings and attention to detail, admiring Nigel’s ability to both capture the artistic look while being scientific at the same time. Rather than stand awkwardly in the alcove at the end of the hall, you and Nigel moved to a bench off to the side. You found that you liked hearing him talk about his passion for anatomy, and that his voice was so soothing to you.

Nigel told you all about the dissections he had done for his diagrams, which easily explained the detailed drawings. He was a meticulous, calculated, and intelligent. Pointing to a diagram of a rabbit, he’d found it after his neighbors dog had caught and killed it, Nigel explained the process he’d done to preserve the body so he could later study it.

“What do you intend to do with all this knowledge?” You asked, fingers drawing down a page in appreciation. “Your work is incredible, surely you have some plan to utilize your skills…” A far away look bloomed within Nigel’s eyes for a moment before he responded.

“My parents want me to become a doctor, or a lawyer, my father even mentioned becoming a banker once.” You took note that he hadn’t answered your question, but simply told you what others expected of him.

“That is what your parents want,” You reiterated quietly, feeling the weight placed upon Nigel’s shoulders. It was similar to the one that rested on Alex’s… and yours. “What does Nigel want?” He stared at you, only becoming more enamored with you. A small smile crept onto his lips.

“I wouldn’t mind becoming a surgeon.” You nodded in agreement, a small smile of your own appearing.

“That makes sense, your eye for detail with these drawings, I’m sure you’ll make a splendid surgeon.” You said, looking up from the diagrams to peer out the widows. It was a rather blustery day. The following week would be even worse.

“And what about you?” Nigel asked in turn, wishing to know more about you, the only girl that had ever really interested him. You looked back to him and softly shrugged.

“I’m not so sure, my father… he has spent most of his time and energy making sure that Alex is built for success. I’ve just been an afterthought. Of course he cares for me, has ensued that I have the best education there is, but I don’t think there is much expectation of me from him. I like music, but I am not sure how I would turn that into a career.”

The future was a daunting thing to ponder. You longed for silence and darkness, that calming feeling washing through your body once more. How odd that Nigel exuded that wonderful feeling. You didn’t mind.

Date Published: 4/1/24

Last Edit: 4/1/24

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#like minds #nigel colbie x reader #nigel colbie

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fingerprint-insurance · 2 months

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like minds rant

I just realized the Grave in Like Minds at the end was not Nigel's and was devastated (I missed that on the first watch and just thought what I wanted to think).

WhY did Greg make the grave/card say ''Susan'' because while it does make sense, it also doesn't. My question is, why set up all this tension and intrigue between Nigel and Alex and have them have such a strange, puzzling relationship, in order for it not to be truly resolved/amount to anything in the end?

I'm just saying, that a (in my opinion) more meaningful ending to Like Minds would have been for both the grave and card to say ''Nigel'' and to prove that Nigel was Alex's Maraclea all along. Then, it would have not only been an awesome twist, but it would also resolve the tension and strangeness of their relationship.

Summary of this post: ''Here's my review, not gay enough.''

so yeah I think Nigel is the true Maraclea reblog and like if u agree :D

#like minds #like minds shitpost #LIKE MINDS 2006 #alex forbes #nigel colbie #nigel colbie x alex forbes #nigel colbie and alex forbes #murderous intent #eddie redmayne #tom sturridge

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whatarewedoingdude · 6 days

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And what if I say "Ptolemaea" by Ethel Cain is Forbie/LM coded??

"you love blood too much, but not like I do"

Very Alex-y, that boy literally punched Nigel so hard he bled TWICE.

Nigel may like blood (death, anatomy) but not like Alex does (violence, inflicting pain?)

"I was there in the dark when you spilled your first blood.

Alex's first "blood"/killing was in fact in front of Nigel, who wasn't necessarily "in the dark", but he witnessed the entire thing in front of him

l am here now, as you run from me still.

Reminds me of the aftermath, Nigel burying his parents and burning the evidence. Alex seemingly refuses to believe Nigel's actions, and is utterly disgusted by Nigel's admission of taking his Maraclea: "What do you think we're here for?". Alex metaphorically and literally runs from Nigel, his actions, and the consequences.

Run then, child. You can't hide from me forever"

Most obviously, Nigel catches up with Alex eventually- he can't hide from him. More subtly though, by the end of the movie, Alex gives in to Nigel and his influence- Alex takes his Maraclea, basically immortalizes Nigel in his Bible (pasting his picture and the news article about him on one of the pages), and starts the cycle all over again by attempting (and possibly succeeding?) to pick up a new partner. Alex stops trying to hide.

Anyways. Shitty analysis for the win🫶

#like minds #ethel cain #alex forbes #nigel colbie #forbie #spotify

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tomothysturridge · 8 months

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Gestalt, Leopold/Loeb, & Like Minds

Once again, Like Minds (2006) is sticky in my brain. This time because if we take the movie’s explanation of Gestalt as a framework from which to view Nigel/Alex and the very clear subtextual comparison to Leopold and Loeb (they come up twice in Sally’s research) then the idea that Alex is an entirely innocent party falls apart entirely and if the writing wasn’t so against a woman being right, Sally should have realized this.

Not to bring up how Alex’s “Nigel’s death was a means to an end” comment should have been a fat clue again but mentioning that in conjunction with Gestalt should have clued her into the fact that what Alex meant was Nigel’s death was a moving part in the larger, more import whole of what they were trying to achieve. At some point before the trigger was pulled, either one or both of them had to have realized that — you could argue Nigel realized it in the moment and Alex only saw it after but in conjunction with everything else it’s hard to believe Alex was that slow to the punch.

This also leads me to another point: Nigel, at least at the beginning of the encounter at Casa Colbie has no intention of dying — he wants his Maraclea, that's why set the whole thing up, so why does he end up dead at the end of the night? If I'm being honest, my little conspiracy is that Alex realized before Nigel did that he had to die. Maybe he realized Nigel was truly his Maraclea (but that’s a topic for another day). Alternatively, perhaps one or both of them realized that they had to “become one” as Nigel puts it in order to be at their fullest potential. It is heavily implied in the film that Nigel is still “haunting” Alex. He can still hear him and feel him. If this is the case, Alex is both the unprincipled man and he has the implement for killing in his head. They can no longer be separated, they are one.

Also if we just map them onto Leopold and Loeb, it’s clear that Alex’s version of events want us to view Nigel as Leopold, the ‘dominant’ partner in the gestalt relationship and Alex as ‘Loeb.” Leopold is the one who believed that he and Loeb had some great destiny BUT if we look at the empirical evidence we are given, Alex is, function wise, the Leopold in the situation. He is the “unprincipled man” where Nigel is just the “implement for killing.” Also the only thing we are told by Alex that Nigel said that it is provable (Sally found the notebook) that he said is that entry on Alex in his notebook in which he accuses Alex of having delusions of grandeur. So let's take Nigel's only actual words at face value here -- If it is true that Alex in fact does possess delusions of grandeur as Nigel said, then that makes him much more like Leopold. Loeb also notoriously saw himself as a “submissive” partner to Leopold and wanted to be dominated by him. Similarly, Nigel seeks direction from Alex and sees himself merely as a “spade.”

All this is to say that I do not believe for a second that Alex is innocent of their crimes because when you dig into subtext of gestalt as presented in the movie and the irl case that the movie is based on, it is so damn hard to believe he is. I think this is the puzzle he wanted Sally to solve but she couldn't because of her bad writing.

This is also all very gay. Leopold and Loeb were very gay but again, that's a topic for another day.

#if you disagree you're not gonna change my mind #just putting that out there #like minds #like minds (2006)#murderous intent #nigel colbie #alex forbes #murder boyfriends #tom sturridge #eddie redmayne #meta #like minds meta

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era-m · 5 months

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If u can't be his Maraclea, become the girl who haunts his narrative

idk why he's so blue ┐(~ー~;)┌

i dont ever post my draws EVER nowhere but this movie has such a hold on me i cant stop thinkin abt it omgg n the fandom seems so small but active i just felt like i couldnt let this rott on my pc

#like minds #nigel colbie #beware!!#DO NOT FLIP THE IMAGE!!!

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laurelwen · 1 year

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Texts in Like Minds: Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods

From the book Freemasonry and the Ancient Gods by John Sebastian Marlow Ward, published 1921 (pages 307-308). According to the director's commentary, this is the specific book from which he drew the Maraclea myth.

#like minds #nigel colbie #alex forbes #maraclea #my beloved maraclea #templars #the director is kind of a numpty though #i said what i said #make the content you want to see #i continue to be unhinged

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mew-the-classic-peach · 1 year

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Nigel Colbie lives rent-free in Alex Forbes's head

Just other random thoughts about Like Minds.

The majority of Alex and Nigel's story is narrated by Alex, adopting the style of an "unreliable narrator." Nigel's parents have all been killed, and since Nigel is a new student, there are very few people who knew him well enough, and only Alex - his former roommate - is thought to have known Nigel well enough to testify about him. Alex is introduced as having an ideal profile - highly intelligent with impeccable achievements, according to his father and even the detective. While many people can describe Alex's personality, only Alex can describe Nigel's. It almost seems as though Nigel only exists in Alex's mind and memories.

Additionally, Nigel frequently appears or stands behind Alex in many scenes. Due to their height difference, Nigel's mouth is at ear level with Alex, creating the impression that Nigel is whispering into his ear. In a sense, Nigel is like a presence that is intimately connected to Alex, and only Alex possesses the ability to hear and feel him most deeply.

Using the same vision as when Nigel approached Alex, Alex also approaches another "target" from behind toward the end of the movie.

Now he's Jack, or more accurately, Nigel's Jack. He had his Maraclea, and they found their eternity.

Visit my WordPress for a full Like Minds review & analysis.

#like minds #like minds 2006 #murderous intent #my beloved maraclea #alex forbes #nigel colbie #tom sturridge #eddie redmayne #sorry for my english #I find Nigel to be more and more beautiful as I watch this movie again and again

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theotherrichardpapen · 1 year

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okay, so anyone who knows me knows well enough by now that i'm more than willing to talk your ear off regarding the relationships both Nigel and Alex have with their fathers. however i've been more or less avoiding taking too much of a deep-dive into the relationship between Nigel and Helen (largely because 1. it means addressing the events at the end of the film which are, less than savoury, shall we say; and 2. because i'm still a firm believer that Greg only threw that ending in there because he needed to drum up some sort of conflict between Nigel and Alex that led to their final confrontation - essentially standing drunk in front of a dart board - and that in terms of narrative, Nigel should have been Alex's maraclea in the end. but i digress). my parents may have raised an idiot but they sure didn't raise a quitter so here i go anyway

moving on from those two issues, the thing that had always bothered me in the beginning was the fact the film has Nigel claim Helen as his maraclea, a title which carries with it an implication of love. and that is a crucial point here; a huge part of the myth rests upon the fact that the girl was loved by the great lord. and we know how important that story is to Nigel! it forms a crucial part of his belief system; it underpins his entire worldview. he wouldn't just hand out that title to anyone who he bore no emotional attachment to, or else it would lose all significance. So Nigel must love his mother in some form or another (whether it be familial or something more; there's enough in the film to imply something else may have been going on between the two but that's up to individual interpretations). how then, if he loves Helen so much, could he be willing to orchestrate her death at the hands of his father?

the answer to that question essentially boiled down to the fact that Nigel simply does not view death the way other people do. It's not a finality to him. Nigel very much so sees death as transformative - what is dead may never die, only through death can one achieve immortality. You can see it with his interest in taxidermy, the idea that something can be preserved forever, and with Alex's admission that Nigel 'got what he wanted' (i.e. eternity) only by taking his own life.

So you have this notion developing that in a way, Nigel sees this as the highest honor he can bestow upon his mother; the greatest gift he can give her. Through death, she'll live forever, and she'll become a part of something much bigger than either of them. A part of something more important to Nigel than anything else.

#Not to mention there's room to argue that this is some misguided attempt to rescue her too #It's not a stretch to think that John who we already know is aggressive and violent would exhibit that behaviour with Helen #(we already saw it when he threatens her with the shotgun that night)#And it's not hard to imagine that Helen wouldn't leave #can you blame her? the movie establishes that John's influence from the Order extends to those inside the police force (eg McKenzie)#would you run? if he tells you there's nowhere to go where he cant find you?#maybe she didnt want to leave Nigel behind either. leave him alone with John #or maybe im finally going crazy #because this is off the rails #feels weird not just dumping this all in tags and actually making a post about it instead #originally this was going to be a webweave but the divine hand of gohd intervened #anyway feel free to throw proverbial rocks at me if you disagree #this is just 1 possible view in a myriad of views #schrodingers characterisation all up in this movie #like minds #murderous intent #like minds 2006 #nigel colbie #helen colbie

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