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lara635kookie · 9 months

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I already did Maelstrom so it's time to do the other psycho/sociopath character. Welcome to my Paper Star Character Analysis.

We first see Paper Star talking to Maelstrom (obviously). He asks her to bring him the hat of Carmen Sandiego. She was holding an origami of a sheep and she makes a paper star with it and shoots it to a skeleton, cutting his head off. Then Maelstrom says:"I'll take that as a yes" and the camera zooms on Paper Star's eyes, showing a little bit of her, but still in the dark. We must notice that Paper Star has the longest villain introduction of all the operatives. Usually they just show up, their names appears on the screen with a background and you're done. As for Paper Star, the episode makes a mystery showing glimpses of her in the darkness, creating a climax and a whole vibe of danger just so she could get a more impactful villain presentation than the others. Another thing that proves her spotlight and why she's far away from all the other villains is that she is the only character besides Carmen ("Where in The World is Carmen Sandiego?") that has a theme song(I do not care if It's just a disturbing four melody high-pitched tune, a bop is a bop). Her theme might not have lyrics (besides some la la la la I guess) but the melody and the way she hums it It's absolutely creepy, scary and terrifying, I love it (God bless Kimiko Glenn for her outstanding voice acting). When presenting the Magna Carta heist plan we see the following dialogue:

Shadowsan:Would I be correct in assuming that you have a particular operative in mind for this misdeed, Professor?

Maelstrom:Well, the crime involves stealing paper, does it not? (If I remember correctly he says that and then looks at Doctor Bellum right after, which might be a hint that indicates Paper Star uses some different kind of paper that Bellum modificated its composition or something 'cause how tf paper is so sharp to the point is lethal?) (But apparently It's just normal paper since we often see her running out of her own papers and using regular papers nearby that somehow make the exact same amount of damage)

Shadowsan:She is far from ready.

Maelstrom:Questioning my judgment after my compelling intro, dear Shadowsan? (I think in some voiceovers he asks "Questioning my sanity?" which just makes it even funnier lol Maelstrom you are in fact insane and a threat to society, Shadowsan is right and should question whatever you say or do lmao)

Of course he questions your judgment, Maelstrom. He knows that Carmen can take down any other agent easily but Paper Star would demand more work from her. He knows that Paper Star is just as deadly as you and he doesn't want Carmen dead. Paper Star may be even MORE mortal than Maelstrom 'cause I don't know if that's just me but he passes me the vibe of killing quickly or having someone else killing for him and would just watch the victim die. I just have that impression that Maelstrom wouldn't want to have his hands and his fancy clothes dirty. He would like torture but it wouldn't be mandatory, a point proven as we see him using the crackle rod in the driver and letting Brunt almost die drowned in extremely cold water instead of doing something that makes the victim suffer even more. Meanwhile Paper Star, for having a cutting/stabbing kind of weapon style I think she would like killing in a slow, painful and torturing for the victim kind of way. And the more blood the better. She like big, dramatic and creative deaths, knowing thousands of innovative ways of murder with AND without paper, and some invented by herself(headcanon that you cannot convince me otherwise). I just feel like she would have killed that driver in the most horrible way possible and if Brunt stopped the car almost dying of cold, unlike Maelstrom, Paper Star would have finished the job. Her behaviour being like this is proven by her encounter in Mumbai's "historic elephanta caves" with Le Chevre, in which she tortures him with her origamis and I just KNOW she would have killed him without hesitation if he didn't give her what she wanted. If she did, she probably would call Maelstrom and invent a lie and he would tell her where to escort the papers.

Anyway, skipped ahead too much. So, back to the faculty, Shadowsan HIMSELF aknowledges the fact that Paper Star looks like Black Sheep:Unruly and another word I forgot(reckless?). As we all know all the members in Team Red have an evil villain counterpart, being:

Player:The Troll;

Ivy:The Mechanic;

Zack:The Driver;

Shadowsan:Lady Dokuso.

And logically (and canonically) Carmen's counterpart is Paper Star. So if Carmen is the most skilled person on the good side, it's only fair Paper Star is the most skilled person on the bad side. And it showed. Paper Star is like Carmen's Black Mirror (catch the reference here pls), possibly representing what Carmen would have become if she had forgotten her ethics and morals and fully embraced V.I.L.E.'s ideals. They have a lot in common, like:Both started as the youngest in their class, both showed to be prodigious thiefs with uncommon and distinguished natural talents and skills, both being teacher's pet of a faculty member(Coach Brunt for Black Sheep and Professor Maelstrom for Paper Star), both inclined to not follow rules that don't convey to them, both encounter pleasure in fighting, both with VERY sharp tongue using answers full of irony and sarcastic comebacks, both with high self confidence, both are very clever and possess an extremely high intellect and wits, both are shown to have a quick and strategic way of thinking, both are very insightful, both have very few weaknesses, etc.

So, again with the faculty:majority vote backfires Shadowsan (no one is surprised with it at this point) and Paper Star is sent on the mission, which only reinforces Maelstrom's persuasion powers and leadership over the other faculty members, given it was his idea.

We then see Paper Star singing and jumping(I have a headcanon that she has ADHD and that's why she's so hyperactive and she started origami to improve her attention) and breaking the security camera's screen with her paper shurikens. Then Carmen arrives and right after she says:"Hmmm Papers" (iconic, just like pretty much almost everything she does) she is officialy introduced. The first thing Carmen says after Paper Star is introduced is:"Paper Star, I see you haven't lost your touch." A compliment, instead of a teasing provocation, which is rare for Carmen. And the first thing she says after we officially know her appearance once and for all is:"Red is a smart color for you. It will hide the stains." Literally the first phrase she says after being completely introduced is implied murder.

This girl got so many iconic quotes besides that one, like:

"Mind your own mittens, Kitty Cat."

"Unless you care to find out who here has sharper claws."

"You should run." (Too many implied murder threats to count)

"Nowhere to hide, not very smart."

"In my world, paper beats steel." (It's Paper Star's world, we're just living it it) (Her world is crazy and unpredictable just like her)

"Such a pretty package."

"The more you struggle the tighter it gets."

"Bye bye little Black Sheep."

"But my ears were burning."

"If you insist."

"Guilty as charged, but I never come to a party empty-handed."

"Too bad I shred your pretty glider."

"I told you before:Sheep don't fly. Not on my watch."

"Oh, Is that why you want it so badly, huh?"

"Is there a point here?"

"Hum, sounds valuable."

"What are you hiding?"

"It really should reduce, reuse and recycle." (Environmentalist from the girl that kills trees, how ironic)

"You look like an operative who would get caught." (Amazing judge of character) (Goat Cheese's worst mistake was calling her Pippi Punkstockings) (I laughed tho)

"No need to speak in code." (Her absolute disdain and disrespect for the pattern protocols man) (It's really her way or the highway)

"Perhaps the fish does swim at midnight."

"It will give you a thousand paper cuts unless you tell me the last drop location." (He will bleed too much with these amount of paper cuts, she is totally capable and would have kill Le Chevre there, hands down)

"Your mastery over poison potions is legendary, Lady Dokuso. It would be prudent of me to respect my elders." (Polite Psychotic Princess)

"All this talk about the great Carmen Sandiego but in the flush you're just a paper tiger." (She is literally the only agent that has the honor to say that since, let's be real, it was easy for her, she thought it would be harder and she wanted it to be challenging, that's how good she is)

"There goes Paper Star."

"First one to bag our host wins."

"I know that voice."

"Boo."

"Is that what they say?"

"Oh, such a shame I don't believe in ghosts."

"Puffer fish. Very pointful."

"These brochures are chalk full of...Cutting edge information."

(I think I just listed almost everything she talks is the whole entire show but she is just THAT memorable and deserved more screen time)

Sadistic. Cruel. Maniac. Call her whatever you want but girl knows how to get shit done. They fight for some time("they never protect the face" Paper Star just protected her face, she isn't V.I.L.E.'s five star student for nothing)(Le Chevre, Tigress, Gray, LEARN)(But to be fair she was still at school at that time so the subjects were probably still fresh in her head) but at the end, to everyone's surprise, Paper Star WINS Carmen Sandiego, the only villain to do that so far, at least on that point on the story. She CAPTURED Carmen and stole the Magna Carta and I think y'all ignore the fact that if V.I.L.E. was competent and the cleaners were there with the helicopter, they would have got Carmen to V.I.L.E. and thanks to Paper Star we would have Evil Carmen WAY SOONER. But sadly for Paper Star, V.I.L.E., unlike her, can't do their fucking jobs right (how they survived centuries without getting caught is a total mystery to me) and the cleaners weren't there and as we see Paper Star is the type that likes doing her job by herself, she didn't have a partner and didn't seem to have any way of communicating with V.I.L.E. either so she had to improvise and ring the security alarm because she knew the local authorities would catch her and then she would be transferred to V.I.L.E. by Roundabout. I honestly believe it was pure script protection that made Paper Star, who had Carmen completely unable to move, kill Carmen right there(she made a knife and tried to stab Carmen on the neck eeatly in the fight). She would have had her hat, the Magna Cartas and would be V.I.L.E.'s savior and biggest idol. But she probably wouldn't have the A.C.M.E. card so I let it slide since they showcased how good she was still giving her a hell of a win over Carmen. I don't think she decided to not kill Carmen to obey V.I.L.E. but because she thought the cleaners would take Carmen to V.I.L.E. and she would be able to prove how good she truly was to the faculty. Unfortunately for her, that police waiting gave time to Carmen, allowing her to escape. I think V.I.L.E., even Maelstrom, underestimated Paper Star and didn't expect her first mission to go THAT WELL and didn't sent the cleaners because they didn't expect her to be able to capture Carmen. Shadowsan seemed to be the only one that realized Paper Star was a hidden gem and a rare jewel, like Black Sheep were, and she didn't want Paper Star to harm Carmen.

Much like Carmen and her risky behavior, drawing attention V.I.L.E. doesn't want on them, Paper Star is similar on that aspect, since she leaves a paper mess behind her crimes. And that's probably what made V.I.L.E. want Le Chevre to escort the Magna Carta to safety. Compared to Paper Star, who also like Carmen is a fashion icon and has a very characteristic kind of style that draws unwanted eyes(red for Carmen, neon for paper star) (and both have iconic makeup - red and purple lipstick, amazing eyebrows and eyeliner) (and iconic head things - Carmen's awesome long hair with her iconic fedora and Paper Star's Melanie Martinez hair with her iconic hairstyle), he is much more discreet. But of course Paper Star wants to prove herself and finish the job, making Le Chevre angry saying he had completed more successful missions than her. Yes Le Chevre, but have you ever been the youngest in your class and V.I.L.E.'s youngest operative, at the end of your teenage years, didn't even graduated yet but was so remarkable and gifted faculty gave you special permission to a important mission against an opponent that has defeated a lot of V.I.L.E.'s agents (including you) and not only you could steal it successfully from THE Carmen Sandiego, known for having a massive stealth reputation, but also capture her? No? Exactly. That's the point. Besides, all of the missions you completed were before Carmen. After her, you failed all of them(at least it seems like it). If Paper Star had already a level compared to Maelstrom and Carmen and was BY FAR better than all the other operatives, who unlike her had already graduated and had more experience, and her very FIRST mission was being THAT successful, being something completely unexpected for a trainee with less than one year of training, at THAT age, this girl would be UNSTOPPABLE in no time if she kept that rythm.

Like, we know by Coach Brunt that official codenames are assigned just after graduation. Until there, first names only. Yet we never get Paper Star's real name, even knowing her and Carmen had a few classes together. Also all the faculty members refer to her as Paper Star instead of her real name, which makes me think she got a codename (and probably a stealth suit too) earlier than she should. That's the power Maelstrom holds, 'cause we see Black Sheep being Brunt's favorite and Gray being Bellum's favorite and they didn't have the privileges Paper Star gets. If Countess Cleo or Shadowsan had a favorite as well(Shadowsan always pretended his favorite was Tigress) they would never be able to convince the rest of the faculty to break so many rules for an specific agent, I just know it. Paper Star clearly realized that and knew sticking to Maelstrom was the fastest way of success on that field. In my head, Paper Star always pretended to be Maelstrom's "puppet", pretended to fall for his manipulation and that she was a submissive little girl he could control, so she could win everything she always wanted and eventually a faculty member position that let's be frank Maelstrom would clearly give it to her when he dies/retires. And if he didn't, I can totally see Paper Star going on and taking it either way just because she can. She's the most qualified for it anyway. I think that maybe Maelstrom knew about Paper Star's true intentions, since he's a psichology doctor and psychiatry is his forte, and just rolled with it 'cause both of them bought mutual benefits for one another, each helping the other one to achieve their personal goals. But unlike Paper Star, Maelstrom seemed to be a little bit more aware that he's clinically insane than her.

Anyway, she almost kills Le Chevre, forcing him to tell her where to escort the magna carta and she goes by the name of "Tammy Origami". This name that no one would have in real life just shows how extra she is, just playing around and challenging Carmen to "come and get her if she dared." Unlike Carmen, for Paper Star stealing is a game. She wanted the thrill of the fight to get as many points as she could to win the game. Then Carmen keeps an eye on her on the train(Paper Star making a paper knife to eat was the cutest thing ever, prove me wrong) and then they have the gayest fight ever, almost kissing multiple times. But another thing about this fight that draws attention is how balanced it was, even after Paper Star ran out of paper. As Paper Star is that one villain with a long-range projectiles as a primary weapon, that stops you to get near her, you'd expect Carmen to easily beat her down in a physical fight, since It's not Paper Star's focus. But surprisingly, Carmen took longer in a face-to-face fight with Paper Star than with Tigress, for exemple, that has a close quarters kind of style. I think that happened not only because they were in a train in movement but also because deep down, in their subconscious, even themselves know how alike they are. Paper Star just immediately knew Carmen's fighting style, even having fought her just once, being able to think quickly, awnsering to it, just like Carmen knew Paper Star wouldn't follow the protocol.

So Paper Star jumps on those stairs with the Magna Carta and we don't mention enough that if that thing Carmen took from the train wasn't there, or Carmen hadn't thought about it, or didn't pulled that from its place in time, or had missed the shot, Paper Star would have fully completed her mission. Which means:Unlike all the other missions so far Carmen won out of pure and sheer luck. There were plenty of factors that could stop that improvised cutting boomerang or whatever of hitting its target, such as:Distance, wind power, weight, height, force applied in the arms and on the object itself. Things impossible to calculate in that speed, doesn't matter how good of quick thinker you are. Specially 'cause some of those things are imprevisible:They can change in a second. So, let's be real:Carmen had more chances of missing than actually getting it right.

Also she could have just get on the platform we see a bird on after Carmen's gone, making it even harder to Carmen to shoot that steel circle thingy but whatever, I guess you can't get everything right(My hands are itching to make an angry speech about how Paper Star only lost because Carmen is the main character, she's got plot protection and how that's a kids show so you gotta show good triumphing over evil even if it's not exactly so simple like that on real life).

Back to V.I.L.E. we hear the following dialogue:

Shadowsan:Did you not assure us that Paper Star was ready?

Maelstrom:I never instructed her to break protocol. (Another proof that even with most of Paper Star's and Maelstrom's interests colliding, Paper Star still prioritizes herself and what she wants over Maelstrom and even V.I.L.E. itself)

Paper Star walks in jumping and singing her typical horror movie kid/doll song.

Coach Brunt:Faculty only, Sassy-Pants. (I love how people aknowledge her socks) (Also yes coach Brunt, my girlie is a sassy bad bitch, the baddest badass alive, thank you for noticing)

Paper Star:But my ears were burning.

Maelstrom, standing up:You failed to complete your mission.

Paper Star:Guilty as charged, but I never come to a party empty-handed.

She shows the A.C.M.E. card and throws it on Maelstrom's direction. It's interesting to notice that while Maelstrom doesn't even flinch, Coach Brunt and Countess Cleo slightly go to the side, protecting themselves. It's funny how even faculty is scared of her. They know how powerful she is with paper in her hands(I know that A.C.M.E. card is probably not paper but I'm a firm believer that anything, even the most common things, becomes a weapon in paper Paper Star's hands, like fans, tinfoils, magazines, museum folders, etc).

They are scared like they should be scared. She single-handedly revealed to V.I.L.E. the most secret international organization of modern era. Can you relate, Le Chevre? No, I don't think so. No other operative can relate to her. She's in a league of her own. The only competent agent V.I.L.E. had in a long time.

So I guess Carmen knew that Paper Star was a worthy adversary and wasn't going to give her an easy time, since she stepped up her game on their next encounter. I think she was aware of her luck and tried to guarentee her win easily next time, considering Paper Star had very few weaknesses but using this weaknesses to her advantage in a better, yet more subtle way, that Paper Star won't notice. Yes, Paper Star it's way ahead of it's time and in a more advanced level than most, but she's still young. She's still impulsive, imprudent and has a lot to learn. Knowing that, Carmen does a better job in defeating her in Japan.

Instead of just running away with the sword, Paper Star chooses to hide in its box with it waiting for Carmen for the sake of her presentation. Girl gotta make an entrance. She wanted to fight Carmen and this time around Carmen was more prepared since they met before in a place, when Paper Star shredded her glider and they fought on a rooftop. Back to the present fight, it goes on a little bit with the fans and right when Paper Star is about to use the sword, Carmen steals it from her(still mad Paper Star couldn't use it). Carmen not only did what she did before(getting her out of paper, which works but not alone) she took her to a place the paper that was there was a glue trap that make her stuck. Way to go, Carmen!

Her third appearance was with Tigress on Halloween and I think y'all remember how that went. I don't got much to say about it but let's go. First:Girlie must have something against skeletons. If I had a nickel for everytime paper star cutted a skeleton's head I would have two nickels. It isn't much, but It's weird it happened twice. Second:Can't you see she's dressed as Melanie Martinez anime girl version? Third:You cannot convince me Tigress didn't fought Paper Star 'cause she knew Paper Star had the sharper claws there. Paper Star clearly wears the trousers in this relationship. Paper(Top)Tiger(Bottom). Jokes aside, they also have a mission to complete but if Tigress also wanted it, Paper Star would have killed Tigress right there. Prove me wrong after everything I previously stated(spoiler:you can't). Fourth:We see Paper Star saying she recognizes the chef's voice and Tigress saying she recognizes Carmen, which only highlights so far who's more committed to the mission, even Paper Star being "the plus one", since Tigress was the one that got the party invitation. Fifth:I like how Tigress is the one that sprays him and how Paper Star is the one that catches him when he falls. I expected to be the other way round, considering the fact the chef was a pretty big guy and Paper Star is pretty short and slim. We stan a strong queen. Speaking of which, love how Tigress says:"WE only play with the wicked witches" instead of "I only play with the wicked witches", including Paper Star, already falling for her charms lmao(they are so in love your honor, it makes them look stupid lmfao). Btw they should have worked together more often. I wished both of their characters were more explored, even though I don't like Tigress that much. They fought Carmen really well together. Carmen clearly couldn't handle both of them at the same time. She only won because Paper Star and Tigress mostly attacked her individually, after the other. We see this because the only time they attack together is on the very beginning of the fight. Paper Star shoots her shurikens and Tigress avances, being able to break her broom. If they had a better teamwork as a duo this episode could have had a different ending. Sixth:Paper Star is apparently a sponge 'cause girlie got soaked and then appeared all dried out on the next frame like it was nothing(I know it's just the animation but still, it was funny). Seventh:We got a compensation of the way we were robbed on season two:Paper Star finally used a SWORD! A tinfoil one. Not an ancient one way more cooler but I'll take what I can get. Eighth:Paper Star wanted to stab Carmen so badly. I remember the only other operatives that tried to actually kill Carmen were Spinkick and Flytrap when they followed Shadowsan with the tracker/locator in South Africa and cutted the head of a scarecrow with a red fedora thinking it was her(Gray didn't tried to kill her in the train, only tried to make her unconscious to take her back to V.I.L.E., argue with a wall). And that was on V.I.L.E.'s orders. The other operatives only kill when they have too, when they need, when it's something necessary, but still last case. Paper Star kills for fun. The only persons who tried to kill Carmen a couple of times and almost did it was her and Coach Brunt. Her evil counterpart and her former mother figure. Coincidence? I think not. Nineth:Tigress saying:"She was cramping my style anyway" lol bitch Paper Star's got more style than you. At least she ain't a furry. Tenth:My personal theory is that Paper Star read the recipe on the paper and thought V.I.L.E. could make money with that recipe, since she probably knows V.I.L.E. is going through a financial crisis(that isn't hard to figure), their rice is horrible and everyone loves this guy's secret recipe, so even though that paper had no material value, V.I.L.E. could make a little bit of money out of it so they can at least recover a little bit of the damage Carmen had caused.

Her fourth(fifth if you count her brief appearance in the steal or not to steal interactive special, but I don't because she doesn't appear in all routes) and last apparition was in the last episode, when we see her tied up with red strings in front of a museum. Two years later, Carmen finally got her. The fact she's the last villain we see Carmen capture speaks volumes. The fact she was the one chosen to be in that position instead of any other villain we see in that screen of villains A.C.M.E. hasn't located yet says something. Again, similar symbolism with Chief and Maelstrom. The most powerful hero defeated the most powerful villain(Just remembered Paper Star still owes both Maelstrom and Carmen a hat btw lol).

A curious thing about her character is that we tend to like her and hate Maelstrom(at least that's the case for me). So why that happens? For many reasons, such as:Paper Star, even appearing less than him, we know more about her. She's got more personality. She balances the evil with her cute and colorful style. People tend to underestimate her, like:"How dangerous can she even be?" and she proves them all wrong. Also because she's a very good villain. She's one of the reasons we like Carmen so much, because she makes Carmen not to look like a Mary Sue that wins all the time(I mean, she kinda wins all the time but Paper Star at least gave her more difficulties). With all the others I go like:"Carmen can easily win." With Paper Star(and Coach Brunt, but I also hate Coach Brunt for pretty much the same reasons I hate Maelstrom and Roundabout)(I kinda like Countess Cleo and Doctor Bellum tho)(And I love Shadowsan)I go like:"She can win, but definitely not easily." If Paper Star existed on real life I would hate her and be scared of her but we should normalize liking the villains because they are good villains. Because they move the plot and without them we wouldn't have the story we like so much. Paper Star actually represents a real threat to Carmen. It's good seeing Carmen fighting with an equal, someone who ACTUALLY has chances of winning her. So refreshing and revitalizing because if Carmen just wins easily every time the story gets repetitive, predictable and boring. So the villains are one of the factors that allow the storyline not to fall into boredom. And Paper Star is just so interesting everything she touched became too and we love her for it, so thank you Paper Star.

So, again, why is Paper Star so impressive? Because she had so much potential that was wasted and even still managed to be one of the best characters in the series. And because the first time we see her she didn't even had her graduation day yet, but she was so good and full of potential that they granted her permission to have an important mission and she was not only the closest to defeat Carmen being V.I.L.E.'s youngest operative and at least one year younger than Carmen, and even failing at her mission she still had a victory over Carmen, and a HUGE one:she revealed the most secret organization of actual days, A.C.M.E. We must not ignore the fact that if it wasn't for Paper Star stealing Devineaux's card, A.C.M.E. would still have the advantage of V.I.L.E. not knowing they existed. She successfully was the ONLY PERSON that could steal from THE Carmen Sandiego. That's worth more than the Magna Carta if you ask me(and the wiki I'm using information from agrees with me). And girlie still survived on her own for two years after V.I.L.E.'s take down, what a queen. Everything indicates that she was one of, if not the last villain captured because they show a screen with all the villains A.C.M.E. already captured with a red X and Paper Star wasn't one of them so I believe she wasn't one of the villains who were captured and then escaped but someone who survived without V.I.L.E. two years, proving her superiority. I believe that because they mentioned people who would hide in the dark just doing secret jobs like the cleaners so I believe that was also the strategy Paper Star sticks with. Also, they really missed an opportunity there:Everyone would love seeing an epic battle between these two and instead we just see Paper Star tied up in front like a Museum. Like, C'mon give me more. Carmen is the best but Paper Star got CLOSE. Like too close for confort. She got caught but I believe she's gonna escape just like it's said a lot of villains are doing. A.C.M.E. ain't enough to contain her. And that's it. Let's wrap it up for today. Bye!

#carmen sandiego #carmen sandiego 2019 #a.c.m.e.#paper tiger #paper star cs #paper star #v.i.l.e.#character analysis #yes that's too long and most likely no one will read but I needed to vent about her and decided not to divide in parts #i got carried away

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