Nihil as the embodiment of the tendency to escapism

I really dislike this character, but I will try to be impartial as much as possible. So, Nihil is an illustration of a severe escape from reality, a desire to bring back the past, to stop time. In the era of the Third, he brought back the Middle Ages as Papa Zero. In the Cardinal era, he was slipping his old records onto store shelves (so people would know about them? Or rather to create the illusion that they were for sale again?) and regretted not being allowed back on stage as a frontman. Hence his envy of Copia, his constant belittling of him, emphasizing that he hadn't achieved some results and comparing him to himself. Nihil felt that this place legitimately belonged to him, with no regard at all to his health capabilities. Eventually, he got three of his old songs performed in the era of his successor.

Escape into illusion is the main way Nihil interacts with reality. Immersing himself in his enchanting fantasies where everyone is young and beautiful again, he overlooked a fateful decision and allowed his sons to be killed. The illusions are like a membrane through which he perceives the world around him. Sister got him to appoint Cardinal as frontman because from the depths of his erotic fantasy he answered ‘yes’ to her and that became an answer to her question. In fact, he did not make any decision.

Maybe inhaling oxygen from the life support system is having that effect on his brain. Sometimes I think it's not just oxygen, but something else mixed in. He takes a breath from the tank when he sees Sister wrapped in bandages and confined to a hospital bed - and the semi-darkness of the room immediately turns to sunlight, everyone becomes beautiful and happy, and Sister flirts with him instead of wheezing. Reality becomes bearable. We also hear the sound of breathing into an oxygen mask (similar to Darth Vader's breathing) in the background of the scene in episode 7 when Nihil sees the 'ghosts' of young Sister and himself. Perhaps all that is happening is his hallucination caused by inhaling ether. 

Nihil is so incapable of accepting his current moment of existence that he always keeps his oxygen mask at the ready. He probably sees Sister as the strong, active person who will contact reality in his place while he enjoys his fantasies. We know what Sister is doing behind his back: killing his children and promoting her son, giving him as much patronage and privilege as she can.

Eventually, in the RHRN movie, Nihil seems to finally become able to make contact with reality: he is already a ghost and no longer uses a breathing support system. Sister makes him remember his paternal duties, and he gives parental guidance to Copia. Along the way, he realizes his place in life, in his family and at work. He is finally here and now, not in his fantasy world. It took him dying to do it.

Well, better late than never.

How do you like the idea that each new era is a reboot of the lore game rules? For example, in era two it was said that the Papas are chosen from among the pretenders and they sign treaties, and in era three we are introduced to the family line.

The genre changes as well. The third era, its plot, music videos and summonings, were done in a grim-heroic and horror style. The more epic Papa is joined by a more evil version of Sister Imperator and the truly chthonic Papa Zero. Once we move into the fourth era, the sitcom genre begins. The dour Zero is replaced by the goofy Nihil, the image of Sister becomes more affable, and Papa becomes funnier and more naive. The grim and anxious Terzo in his black shirt seems like an anachronism in this ridiculous world and he soon leaves the stage with his brothers. I wonder if this was taking place in the third era, would it have been wine and poker instead of coffee and UNO?

It's generally accepted that Nihil is the father of Primo(?), Secondo, Terzo and Copia. But by that logic, Terzo got a more cruel father, Zero, and a more cruel Sister Imperator, played by the first actress, than Copia.

Here are shots from the first (unpublished) and final version of Chapter 1. Here you can clearly see the difference between Zero and Nihil. Also note the Hellriser-like style of the early version and the lighter style of the second version. The world of Terzo and the world of Copia...

My friend and tarologist Ariadne Hawkins has made her variant of Tarot reading interpretations. I've tried to translate it to English.

In the first photo, we can see a gift for which a sacrifice was needed that radically changes the personality. It takes almost death to go to another state.

In the second - the deceit of someone who trusted you for the sake of your own goal. And in connection with this - pangs of conscience.

The third is very difficult to interpret without understanding the questions on the positions. This is probably about children - we can see their 4 cards on the right. The first is full of passion and fire, he is used to solve problems through blind rage. The second looks cold and calculating, he only seems objective. In fact, it is a manipulator. The third is a new beginning, the unknown, a jump into the abyss without thinking about the consequences. The fourth flies ahead, however, seeing at the same time a very clear goal.

Perhaps the last 4 cards carry the symbolism not only of the Tarot, but also visual. The abyss, the white horse… the attributes of the Third and Fourth Papas. Symbols of the Nihil's sons.