WMG / Sunset Paradise

Port Aurora has a surprisingly dark secret crime organization hiding in plain sight.

While it seems like Port Aurora seems like a safe and relaxing vacation spot for Meggy, there are points in the trailer where there's quite a bit of criminal activity that she and Auri stand up against. The catgirl we see in the trailer also seems heavily tied to Meggy somewhat, either being a high-ranking mafioso at Port Aurora or a vigilante looking to stop whatever crime organization is situated on the island. Sure this is meant to be Lighter and Softer as opposed to Meta Runner's Darker and Edgier, but something about what has been seen of this seemingly innocent vacation spot seems...off...to this Troper.

• Confirmed. Whisk seems to be working for the good old TV Dude. The Residents are weak, meaning it's really easy to get away with it too. As to whether it's dark... that's still hanging.
  • Very confirmed, and very dark.

The purpose Meggy will find at Port Aurora.

It's highly likely that Sunset Paradise will see Meggy finding where she's supposed to go after her long-desired victory at the Splatfest, but so far, there seems to be multiple candidates for what she wants to be would be already:

• An odd-jobber akin to Yorozuya Gin-chan.
• A fisherwoman. She's a former Inkling, so this is sort of fitting, and with the seaside setting, that seems to be a very safe choice.
• An enforcer of justice. After the events of "Officer Meggy", it seemed like her police career was going in a pretty sweet direction. Lizzie's "illegal" voice clips were undoubtedly borrowed from Hal Monitor, and Meggy's policeman outfit is widely accepted by the GMod and fanart community. Because of this, it seems rather odd that police work was one of the jobs that was crossed out on her blackboard. It felt like that was only the case because of the police brutality going on around that time and no other reason. So, perhaps Meggy's pursuit of the criminals making trouble for Port Aurora will make her realize that, whatever career is next for her, it will involve stopping bad guys from hurting people. I'm sure Mr. Monitor would be glad to have her back on the force when she returns, but if not, then perhaps she'll give that firetruck she "borrowed" another whirl. Just anything that involves doing good and helping people on a large scale. Who knows? They might straight-up make her a superhero.
• She won't find her purpose, and Shadow Meggy will convince her to destroy the Inklings who shunned her for her race, setting up a new arc in the main SMG4 series.
  • Cue Auri showing up out of nowhere in the main series after the finale and screaming to the entire castle that "MEGGY'S GONE INSANE!". Thus begins the arc.
• All Jossed. Meggy decides that she wants to help people who can't help themselves. The following SMG4 episode reveals that she intends to achieve this by becoming a sports teacher.

Meggy will stay in Port Aurora, but still make semi-recurring appearances on the main show

Once her vacation is over, she will return to the Mushroom Kingdom, only to realize she was much happier in Port Aurora as it is where she found her purpose in life, so she decides to move there. But this doesn't mean the end of her run on the main show - she could still come back for visits or cameos, and maybe her friends could come visit her. Isn't anyone the least bit curious about how Mario & co. would look in the Sunset Paradise style, or how Auri Bori would look in the main show's style?

• Or, Meggy goes back to the Mushroom Kingdom, and for Sunset Paradise's second season, Auri Bori becomes the new protagonist after taking several levels in badass. Because Luke and Kevin would get LYNCHED for lying and saying that Sunset Paradise was a Writer Cop Out to semi-retire Meggy's character from the main show and not a way to develop her.

The Spud Buds will have a Heel–Face Turn

The trailer for Sunset Paradise at one point shows the whole cast standing together at the dockside. This could be for promotional reasons, or there could be some subtle Foreshadowing going on here. Maybe the Spud Buds, even their intimidating boss, will realize that what they've been doing is wrong and renounce their criminal ways. This isn't entirely baseless, since they aren't taken quite as seriously as Derek Lucks or Dr. Sheridan, and even their more sinister moments are often Played for Laughs. Or, if that's not on the table, then perhaps it will be more of a Hazy-Feel Turn—still causing trouble, but leaving on better terms with Meggy and Auri Bori, perhaps even considering them Worthy Opponents.

• 25%-confirmed, I guess, would be the best way to put it, so far. Duke was forced to be a part of this gang and was a Heel–Face Revolving Door in episode two and has appeared to stay with Meggy, just jailed. It's Possible he may convince his gang to abandon the underground life as well.
• Episode 10 reveals that the Funky Fource intends to recruit Duke after they finish community service, so yeah?

When Meggy returns to the Mushroom Kingdom, Auri Bori will go with her

Once crime in Port Aurora is put under control and Meggy's vacation ends, Auri won't be able to enjoy his break because of the bond he formed with Meggy. So he hands down his badge to someone else and goes with her, claiming he can help stop crime in the Mushroom Kingdom. Not only will he become a new member of the SMG4 crew, but he'll also have a Good Cop/Bad Cop dynamic with Hal Monitor.

• Likely Jossed. Word of God says that he needs to stay in Port Aurora to protect it.
• Definitely Jossed, as shown in Episode 10.

The boss of the Spud Buds is related to Hal Monitor.

Differences in personality, voice, and career choice aside, the similarities cannot be ignored. They're both hand-drawn faces on computer monitors. We might even be getting an episode in the near-future going into their past together.

• Jossed. He's an egg. Well, cursed to be an egg.

Meggy's suitcase being taken will be a Running Gag in every episode

Meggy and Auri will continuously meet new friends and face off against new villains to reclaim the suitcase. By the time Meggy finally gets back her case, her vacation will have come to an end. Would this have all been in vain? More likely, she will realize that these adventures were the real vacation and what helped her find her true purpose.

• Jossed: She got her stuff (aka a Camera) back by Episode 4.

The Mysterious Voice is not the mastermind of the entire operation.

In truth, the real mastermind behind whatever the plan for the Phoenix Festival is the leader of Killer Ink Squad. Her goal is to torment Meggy into a Face–Heel Turn that will cause her to start massacring Inklings, which Leader can then use as an example of humans being savages who need to be exterminated, leading into a new arc in the main series in which Inkopolis invades the Mushroom Kingdom.

• The Voice could actually be the Killer Ink leader, just with a different appearance and voice through the monitor.
  • Jossed, maybe. Benedict doesn't seem like one to take orders, and he's definitely not the Killer Ink Leader.

In the Season finale, the rest of the SMG4 crew will travel to Port Aurora

In the penultimate episode, something will happen to Meggy, ending off on a Cliffhanger. Her friends will receive some kind of message (maybe a ransom by one of the villains using Meggy's stolen phone) that she needs help and will go to Port Aurora themselves for the big rescue.

• Unlikely for the non-original cast members, but possible for characters like Tari and Saiko.
• Jossed. Meggy and Auri finish the job on their own.

Whisk was displaced due to the events of the Anime Arc's first half

• Whisk may have ended up in Port Aurora after being banned from the Mushroom Kindom for being an anime catgirl. While the ban has long since ended, there may be other, darker reasons for her staying. Maybe those reasons explain her shyness.

Whisk will appear in the main series at some point.

• Presumably as promo for a second season. Could also be an opportunity to have her character traits Played for Laughs a bit more.
• It's theoretically possible, considering that she's the only criminal who hasn't been arrested yet.

Meggy will in fact be brainwashed by the Fource...

• ...but Auri will find a way to reverse it through a "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight kind of dance battle.
• ...or he seeks the help of Whisk, who already got to know Meggy well in Episode 4...
• The photo shown at the end of Episode 4 may be a Chekhov's Gun...
• And it will be revealed the Fource was hired by the leader of Killer Ink Squad to make a villain so she can rally the Inklings against mankind, going along with the above theory that the Mysterious Voice is Leader.
  • While the additional WMGs are still in the air, the main WMG is confirmed in episode 5.
  • First one confirmed (sort of), last three Jossed.

The upcoming Meggy stream will tie into episode 6 somehow.

• Maybe Meggy playing Splatoon is somehow part of the brainwashing procedure.
  • Jossed. SMG4 in fact removed the stream due to the Anachronism Stew.

Meggy and Auri will win by convincing the Goonies that they don't need to follow Benedict's orders

• With how terribly Benedict treats them most of the time, it wouldn't be surprising if the Goonies would join anyone that shows them true kindness.
• Might be Jossed, since they do seem to admire him to the point where they only listen to him, but this might be exploited, as Auri was able to fool them in Episode 7 with a marshmallow that looks like Benedict
• Jossed. They suffer an Uncertain Doom after Meggy blows them up with lamp oil. The ones who weren’t involved in the explosion, however, are now working for Azis.

Predictions for episode 7

• Meggy and Auri will survive the explosion obviously, but they will be in critical condition, due to not being at a safe enough distance to escape completely unscathed. Assuming the Angry Mob pursuing them wasn't close enough to be affected as well, the explosion—and the escaping criminals—will make them realize that the very people whose hanging they were calling for in fact weren't the troublemakers the Funky Fource accused them of being. In atonement for their hostility, they take the two injured crime fighters to the emergency room ASAP. Once the two are all healed, the chase continues as normal.
  • The first one partially confirmed, the rest Jossed. Meggy and Auri survive by sucking themselves into the vacuum cleaner, but the house and everything in it (including Meggy’s camera) was ruined. The mayor is the first to learn that he was tricked, but only after the Funky Force reveals themselves to be on Benedict's side. Everyone else (or at least Azis) figures out that Meggy and Auri aren’t bad people once the real criminals show up to wreak havoc and announce Benedict's uprising.

Meggy will be forced to use Shadow Meggy in some way to defeat Benedict.

• Possibly using Shadow Meggy's powers to tap into a Superpowered Evil Side.
  • Jossed. In the end, she's just the negative part of Meggy's head.

If Benedict's curse gets lifted, he'll decide to get rid of his minions.

• Considering his Bad Boss tendencies. And that he apparently had Whisk steal from her own coworkers. Besides, how long will he keep them around if the curse gets lifted?
  • Coincidentally, Whisk will see the inevitable betrayal coming (since she's the only one who really wants out of a life of crime as soon as she's rich enough to retire), and decide to steal enough money to sustain herself, commandeer the first open transport off the island she sees, and tries to get as far away from Benedict as possible before he starts cleaning house... unless Benedict predicts Whisk to try to cut and run, and decides to leave her and anyone who tries to evacuate the island "parting gifts".

There is a reason for Episode 7 not being a premiere.

Maybe because it's a Wham Episode with a significant title or thumbnail.

• Confirmed. Benedict is close to acheiving his true form, Meggy's camera was destroyed in Episode 6's blast and the town is in disarray due to Benedict's rampage.

The Phoenix Egg itself will be used to defeat Benedict.

Per Rule of Cool, and similarly to a previous WMG, Meggy will have to use the egg's powers.

• In the bloopers, this would also make Melony even more of a Foil to Meggy. While Meggy would have had to go through much physical and emotional hardship in the events leading up to her gaining superpowers, Melony was literally asleep while the Fierce Deity Mask bonded to her.

• With a previous WMG about what purpose Meggy might find, maybe she does go back to law enforcement - albeit a different kind of it.

• Partially confirmed. She takes away the egg in time for it to hatch in the open, resurrecting Auri, allowing the duo to fight Benedict together for one last time.

Relating above, the Phoenix Egg will also bring everyone killed on the show Back from the Dead.

• Jossed. Mayora Bora is still dead.

The Phoenix Egg will play a key role in stopping SMG0.

As a nice way of tying Sunset Paradise in with the main bloopers, Meggy will ultimately be the one to stop SMG0 using the power of the Phoenix Egg to restore him to his original form, which ultimately resolves the entire thing.

• Jossed. A Phoenix Egg only hatches every 100 years, so it's unlikely that Zero will get his hands on another.

Shadow Meggy will compare Meggy's failure to save Auri to her failure to save Desti.

This will happen during the final battle with Benedict, and cause a Near-Villain Victory for the latter once the mention of Desti puts Meggy over the Despair Event Horizon.

• Half confirmed?

There will be a reference to Humpty Dumpty in the series finale.

Yeah, it's easy joke fodder, but considering who we're dealing with here, it would work perfectly. Wouldn't it be great if bad ol' Benedict had a great fall just as Humpty did? Hell, "A Great Fall" might be the title of the final episode, given the running theme of naming their episodes after famous works.

With the WMG about Meggy absorbing powers from the Phoenix Egg, maybe, through the ability of flight, she is the one to drop Benedict as a way to avenge Auri.

• Jossed. There are no Humpty Dumpty references, and the episode is instead titled "Rebirth".

Meggy will destroy Whisk's mask.

• Jossed. Would have been hilarious though.

The Phoenix Egg will be key to giving Meggy a purpose in life.

Maybe Sunset Paradise is Meggy's Superhero Origin.

Jossed.

The second season will star Whisk as the Villain Protagonist.

While Whisk may have gotten out of a punishment by law enforcement, she still hasn't repaid her debts, her mother is presumably still nagging her about community college and the reason why she's a Shrinking Violet is still unresolved.

At some point in this season, Meggy returns and changes the status quo.