The goal of this essay is to explore the Plague Tale series through the lens of alchemy. While I primarily focus on how alchemy relates to the Prima Macula, other characters will have their arcs treated in a similar manner. The goal is to shed some light on what the Prima Macula is, how it functions, and how the characters in the series orbit around it.
A lot of information surrounding these two games is shrouded in mystery (intentionally and otherwise), so there is quite a bit of conjecture on my part. That said, I hope I provide enough evidence to make anyone who's played the games view them in a different light.
While this video is fairly in-depth, there are a lot areas I don't cover fully and would love to hear what everyone thinks. This video isn't designed to be a "Plague Tale Explained!" type of video; rather, a dialogue with the community on possible interpretations.
https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/a-plague-tale-requiem
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1182900/A_Plague_Tale_Requiem/
00:00:00 INTRODUCTION
00:02:55 THE PRIMA MACULA, ALCHEMY, AND HUGO'S DREAM
00:03:59 Common facts about the Prima Macula
00:05:02 Problems with Vitalis
00:05:50 THE PRIMA MACULA - ETYMOLOGY
00:06:07 "Prima" definitions
00:06:29 "Macula" definitions
00:07:34 Full definitions
00:07:46 Original Sin
00:09:59 THE PRIMA MACULA - HISTORICAL PARALLELS
00:11:54 Is the Prima Macula evil?
00:13:54 THE PRIMA MACULA - LANGUAGE AND INTELLIGENCE
00:14:39 The Dream - Music
00:15:08 Vocalizations and displaying motive
00:16:50 The Dream - Ultimate scene
00:17:26 Beatrice's death from the Macula's point of view
00:18:01 Emotional and situational intelligence
00:19:51 Protector and Carrier bonding
00:20:02 Haunting memories of Basilius
00:20:45 Emotional distress and the Prima Macula
00:21:54 ALCHEMY - THE BASICS
00:22:08 What is the goal?
00:22:32 The four phases of traditional alchemy
00:22:44 Alternate forms of alchemy
00:23:22 Nigredo
00:24:24 Albedo
00:25:21 Citrinitas
00:26:11 The Order's symbol
00:26:39 Rubedo
00:27:38 Alchemy summation
00:28:01 The Phoenix
00:29:15 ALCHEMY - THE DREAM
00:35:31 THE DE RUNES, THE SUN, THE MOON, AMICIA & THE MACULA
00:36:08 THE DE RUNES - COAT-OF-ARMS
00:36:43 The tree
00:38:14 The water
00:39:17 Introduction to the cycle
00:41:13 THE DE RUNES - THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE CYCLE
00:41:58 The Nebula = A crucible
00:42:11 Why is Hugo the Sun?
00:42:32 Sun and Moon symbols
00:42:54 The Prima Macula's life cycle
00:43:30 The physical realm of the rats
00:43:57 Why does the Macula need rats?
00:45:02 The importance of light
00:45:43 Hugo's understanding
00:46:45 How the cycle works
00:48:17 The Prima Macula's alchemical desires
00:49:02 Hugo's death
00:52:52 The Carrier's surrender
00:55:02 Some random thoughts on Beatrice (tangent)
00:55:37 THE DE RUNES - AMICIA DE RUNE
00:56:36 The Macula and Amicia
00:57:22 The Macula's strategy
00:58:12 I hate Vitalis (redux)
00:59:44 Returning to the de Rune estate (tangent)
01:00:00 Why is Amicia the Moon?
01:01:26 AMICIA PUSHES THE CYCLE FORWARD
01:02:24 Hugo's last stand (tangent)
01:03:31 AMICIA COMPLETES THE CYCLE
01:06:02 Aelia and Basilius
01:07:27 The Macula's dream
01:07:52 AMICIA EXPERIENCES THE GREAT WORK
01:08:51 The Nebula
01:09:54 The phoenix statues
01:10:46 Amicia's true nature
01:11:56 The Nebula's dream
01:14:10 Amicia's guilt
01:14:31 Hugo's stolen future
01:15:55 Beyond the horizon
01:16:46 Errata for Amicia
01:17:42 Doomed from the start
01:18:05 My interpretation of the ending
01:19:17 THE PRIMA MACULA - WHAT IS IT?
01:19:40 Cosmic horror
01:20:11 Why it does what it does
01:20:55 The Order
01:21:51 The phoenix
01:22:24 Amicia FTW
01:22:40 Not enough information
01:22:55 SUMMATION AND CONCLUSION
01:23:53 Was this worth it? Yes.
#aplaguetalerequiem #aplaguetale #asobostudio #alchemy #primamacula