This is the conclusion to an ongoing series that focuses on the lore associated with the music produced by the band Twenty One Pilots. Click here to read the first part of this series, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Trench.” Click here to read the second part, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Scaled and Icy.” Click here to read the third part, which focuses on the lore associated with the “Overcompensate” music video. Click here to read the fourth part, which focuses on the lore associated with the album “Clancy.”
Twenty One Pilots are known for the in-depth lore attached to their albums. Here is everything you need to know about the lore associated with their most recent album, Breach.
Before the conclusion of the Clancy World Tour, various letters revealed details about the citizens of Dema and their mindset surrounding Vialism. Letters between various characters showcased the desire for rebellion forming in the minds of those living within the walls of Dema. Other letters showed that while they were excited for change, many were worried about Clancy’s ability to be a leader.
These worries were proven true in the last letter, which was released just before the final show of the tour. Sent from Clancy to Torchbearer, this letter revealed his warped and disturbing outlook on leadership. It read:
The crown is heavy, but I can carry it. This city needs hope, and I alone can give it to them. But the city needs to feel powerful again and snap out of the lifeless obedience they’ve been trapped in. I can give it to them. I gave them hope. I will be their example of absolute power. I feel alive again.
This letter left many fans concerned about the path that Clancy seemed to be travelling down, fearing that he was turning towards a darker side of himself. This idea was explored further during the tour.
During the B-stage section of the show, Torchbearer appeared amongst the crowd and made his way to Clancy while holding his jacket. When Torchbearer handed the jacket to Clancy, he hesitated, initially refusing to take the piece of clothing until the crowd cheered his name. This changed on the final night of the tour when Clancy refused the jacket altogether. Although no one knew it at the time, this clearly foreshadowed the final chapter of the story revealed in the “City Walls” music video.
In “The Contract” music video, the story picks up where it left off with Clancy being attacked by Nico in the tower. The entirety of the rest of the music video then takes place in Clancy’s head. While this song and its visual companion don’t contribute much to the lore, it does feature the moment when Torchbearer offers Clancy his jacket. While it doesn’t show whether Clancy decides to take it or not before flashing back to Clancy and Nico, a darker ending is alluded to.
The story’s final chapter then takes place in the nine-minute-long “City Walls” music video. At the beginning of the video, Clancy resists Nico, fighting against him and his control in the tower. Using his ability to manipulate Clancy’s mind, Nico throws Clancy back through the timeline. This is portrayed using clips from various other music videos such as “Heavydirtysoul,” “Jumpsuit” and “Levitate.” This moment symbolizes the cyclical nature of their fight, showcasing that Nico and Clancy have done this before.
During the fight, Clancy is stabbed by the antlers he was given by the Neds and collapses. In one last show of strength, Clancy rises and defeats Nico with a wave of power that emanates from his hands. This entire time, Torchbearer has been trying to reach Clancy and aid him in his fight but it is only now that he can get to him. Unfortunately, it is too late.
With his back to Torchbearer, Clancy tears a red curtain from the wall and turns it into a red cape, much like the ones the Bishops would wear. Clancy then hands the eight Banditos who entered with Torchbearer red cloaks of their own, each one taking the cape without hesitation. Clancy has become the Nova Bishop. Clancy has been lost.
When Clancy attempts to hand Torchbearer a cloak while refusing to look him in the eyes, Torchbearer denies the offer with a devastated look on his face and leaves the tower.
Back on the ground, Torchbearer packs up his belongings alongside another Bandito, preparing to return to Trench. The unnamed Bandito sighs before stating that he liked “this Clancy,” and Torchbearer replies that he did too. But the man in the tower is no longer Clancy and Clancy is now somewhere else.
For many fans, this reveal was shocking. The character Tyler played was not the only Clancy. Instead, the name Clancy was a mantle taken on by someone new every time the rebellion was sparked again. Torchbearer had fought alongside many Clancy’s before, but they had always lost the fight and reset the cycle, becoming a bishop and ruling Dema with an iron fist. Devastatingly, this means that Nico, their biggest adversary, had also once been a Clancy but he too had lost his fight to Blurryface.
Yet, Torchbearer has not lost hope. He vows to find Clancy and fight again. He will not give up.
While this is not an easy ending, it is a real one.
Mental health is cyclical in nature. It is a battle we must fight every single day for the rest of our lives. We will have good and bad days. We will win some battles and lose others. This is reality. But the most important part is that even when we lose, we must get back up and fight again.
Although this version of Clancy lost the battle to his demons, Torchbearer reminds the Banditos that they must keep fighting. They will always try again, always, until one day they can finally break the cycle. The sun will rise and he will try again.
We must do the same.
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As I conclude this series, I want to share my immense gratitude for all the love I have received over the past year and a half. It has been a great honor to share this story and my reverence for this band with all of you. I feel so beyond lucky to be a part of this community and although this is the end of the story as we know it, the battle against mental health continues in all of us.
I implore you to fight and to break your own cycles. To emerge into the warm sun and finally understand what it means to be free.
Stay strong, live on and power to the local dreamer |-/