Episode Forty-Five: Daddy Issues

In which the father’s house has many mansions. Featuring: fatherhood, and all its implications.

Episode description: For want of a rider, the message was lost.

Episode Overview
A venture in the Rules.

Trigger Warnings

 * Unreality, distortion, discussion of death, discussions of neglect.

Episode Summary
The episode begins with some very loud house noises before Anna speaks to Mabel on a phone she stole from either Lolo or Janet. She asks who stole her from her world and took her from Mabel. We cut to the road trip trio, who have been driving around. While they try to sit down, an Emissary who works for the King comes to speak to them, revealing that Mabel is currently being trapped by the King of the Hill who is trying to keep her safe.

The emissary discusses the webs of the world unraveling should Anna try to get Mabel, and Anna says she doesn't care what happens to this world. Lolo and Janet agree to help her, and the Emissary makes his exit after saying that this world's Mabel was treated like a demon. Janet, who knows the Rules, says that if they treat Mabel like a demon, the road trip trio could attempt to summon her like one.

Continuity
''' Please note that this section contains spoilers for later episodes of Mabel. Continue at your own risk. '''


 * Mabel is apparently once again trapped by the King of the Hill, bringing the cycle of events in her life all the way back around to season one.
 * Anna asks "Who is the author of all this?" This can be read as a meta reference to her writer/voice actor, Becca De La Rosa-- Anna is literally stuck in a trap of her own design, if we're going off Infinity Mirror rules.

Trivia
'''Please note that this section contains spoilers for later episodes of Mabel. Continue at your own risk.'''
 * The description of this episode comes from a nursery rhyme: “for want of a nail, the shoe was lost. / for want of a shoe, the horse was lost. / for want of a horse, the rider was lost / for want of a rider, the battle was lost / for want of a battle, the kingdom was lost, / and all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” It refers to a group only being as strong as their weakest link.
 * The "father's house" is a church.
 * Mabel has been referred to as a demon before; Sally at some point said that she had the devil in her.