So, I’ve been thinking about Brett from inside job and one thing is confusing me big time that no one is talking about.
Bret has a sister. It’s very obvious that Bret had a sister, you can see her in this picture. But in the heart wrenching birthday scene that we all know he doesn’t mention her?
She’s clearly in the portrait behind him. But, he only asks the butler about his brothers? His parents are on a trip, his brothers are in military school and rehab, but what about his sister? What happened to her? WHY DOESN’T HE ASK ABOUT HER? Was she already there? Did she just leave? Did she die???? I don’t know. Does anyone know? Am I just stupid? Lmk what you guys think.
It seems like, out of all of his siblings, Brett was the only one to turn out relatively successful, since his older brothers got sent to military school and rehab. This leads me to think that the parents mistreated them, too, but instead of neglecting them like they did to Brett, they might have been victims of psychological or emotional abuse.
In a lot of abusive households, one of the kids is often mistreated to be set as an “example” of what the others will suffer if they disobey the parents. Maybe they were pressuring the older kids into success (especially since the dad said “all of my kids are champions… except for Brett”).
So, for the sister, part of me wonders if she was driven to self destructive behavior… and didn’t survive it. Perhaps drug usage led to an overdose? Maybe she suffered similar psychological problems to Brett and was led to something no worse?
Theory: Season 2 will show that Brett is a sleeper agent planted by JR
I’ve heard people theorize that Brett is a secret agent, but I personally think he’s a sleeper agent, aka, he’s an agent whose been brainwashed into being unaware that he’s a spy.
(Keep in mind: I don know for sure if this is true. These are mostly just interesting things I noticed when rewatching the show and seeing a lot of weird coincidences).
@simplyender it’s crazy that this never crossed my mind when writing this, but yes! It would be a neat parallel to Reagan.
Brett has always been Reagan’s foil, so, when it turns out that the man she saw as her father ended up only using her as a pawn, what better way to demonstrate that similarity in Brett by having his father figure use him as a literalpawn?
Also, I’m gonna descend into madness for a bit here:
In the first episode, we see some new employees watching a training video and seemingly getting a seminar teaching them how Cognito Inc functions. A seminar that Brett, notably, does not attend. So, not only was Brett hired with no prior experience, but he was immediately given a leadership position without receiving ANY kind of training or prep for the job, and his position gives him a disturbing amount of power. Almost as if JR doesn’t expect much legwork out of him. Hmm…
It just struck me that JR emphasizes the fact that Brett is a “co-leader”. Not an intern, but a LEADER. As in, he is in the same level of power as Reagan, and Reagan is next in line to be CEO.
I mean, I get that Reagan isn’t the most social person, but in that case, why not make Brett her ASSISTANT, or her secretary, or her spokesman? That way he still has the same responsibilities, but it makes sense for him to be an unpaid intern while she presumably makes a full salary. Why give him so much power for a role that purely seems to be morale-oriented and speaking to the team in a passionate way? And why does he work full time if he’s not even getting paid?
Brett in episode one even mentions that no one has given him anything to do. Everyone else, while they like him, are probably just as baffled as to what skills he actually has that can be put to good use, which is probably why he had the free time to go get bagels. Episode 2 shows that EVERYONE but Brett has a designated job and station (Gigi is in subliminal marketing, Glenn has the war room, Andre is a biochemist, and Myc has the milking room). Brett has no actual tasks that just anyone else couldn’t do, and, unlike Reagan, he doesn’t have much in the way of specialized skills or accomplishments. Of course, Brett TRIES to be helpful wherever he can, since he’s just nice, but it’s never because it’s his specific role. Perhaps it’s just that he’s an intern, and intern jobs tend to be pretty aimless (I would know lol), but, in that case, why does he need to be in a leadership position specifically? Why would JR give someone with nothing to do that much authority?
But this all makes sense when you consider that JR has Brett put there just in case he needs someone to challenge Team Ridley for the power of the company. Brett and Reagan are both on the same level of authority, and, even though he doesn’t really feel like it, Brett technically has the same potential for getting promoted that she does. JR doesn’t need Brett to be especially skilled or smart or anything, he just needs someone who could, theoretically, take control of the company just in case Reagan or Rand are out of commission, and someone who could possibly sway the black robes into releasing him from Shadow Prison X…
AND ANOTHER THING:
You guys know how in the intro, there’s a bunch of imagery related to different theories? Well, one thing has stood out to me. This:
It’s literally just Brett in some sort of weird kaleidoscope? It’s not even related to any real conspiracy or character moment, it’s just Brett in a weird formation. This is even weirder since none of the other characters are portrayed like this; we see Reagan in a robot version of her own face, Gigi and Andre taking a selfie over Glenn’s surgery, and Myc giving his spores to apes. Brett is the only one NOT given an actual scene to do.
It’s also weird to me that his eyes are white here. It’s a little hard to tell, and it’s possible that it’s just an animation error and his eyes are normal, but it weirds me out because exactly ONE other character also has white eyes.
Jimmy Fallon. You know, a sleeper agent. His eyes go completely blank as his mind is overwritten and he obeys Gigi’s instructions to kill the crisis actor.
Gig mentions that the reason Jimmy laughs so much is because Cognito “broke his damn brain”. In Ep. 10, when Younger Reagan asks Brett if he has brain damage, he says that the “doctors aren’t sure.”Hmm… so Brett went to the doctor for a brain issue and the doctors couldn’t “tell” if he was brain damaged or not?
If we’re to believe that Brett is a sleeper agent, than I think the kaleidoscope formation could be symbolic of the brain damage the sleeper agents are forced to endure in order to be “functioning” properly.
just wanna quickly point something out: brett DOES have pupils in this scene. hes also off model and only has 4 fingers.
Omg you’re right!
I guess I had a pretty bad tv to not see the pupils lol. I really thought they were blank this whole time!
And about the brain damage comment: I don’t mean to imply that Brett’s possible brain damage is explicitly because of the sleeper agent theory (especially since the stuff you brought up is incredibly plausible). I meant that the fact that Brett and Jimmy Fallon (the only names character who is canonically a sleeper agent) both had references to brain damage and I found the coincidence to be possible foreshadowing of psychological trauma. I apologize if my post came across as ableist, that wasn’t my intention and I hope I didn’t hurt any feelings.
In this case, I’ll revise my previous reblog; The kaleidoscope effect in the theme song could still be symbolic of the process in which a sleeper agent is; kaleidoscopes represent multiple facets, and I think that could literally mean that there are multiple sides to Brett.
Theory: Season 2 will show that Brett is a sleeper agent planted by JR
I’ve heard people theorize that Brett is a secret agent, but I personally think he’s a sleeper agent, aka, he’s an agent whose been brainwashed into being unaware that he’s a spy.
(Keep in mind: I don know for sure if this is true. These are mostly just interesting things I noticed when rewatching the show and seeing a lot of weird coincidences).
For one thing, the show makes it clear that Brett, for all intents and purposes, would make a good spy. Not in the same way as Rafe Masters, whose really more of a really showy operative than an actual spy (Reagan even points this out when he breaks through a glass ceiling very loudly and attracts a bunch of attention). Actual spies in real life are meant to be normal looking, boringly mundane, and good at staying out of trouble for fear of blowing their covers.
The show early on points out that Brett is always below suspicion, and the show even goes out of its way to do that to the audience as well. Still, there is a big amount of foreshadowing that Brett is some kind of agent. For example;
His face is “so generic that it can’t be traced by sattelites” and he can literally infiltrate the White House just by bullshitting the guards, which isn’t an easy task even if you are a generic white dude in a suit. Alpha-Beta also proves this when he gets Brett’s name and identity wrong (despite being a super intelligent AI, and Brett coming from what seems to be an incredibly wealthy family, so his information seems to be completely wiped from whatever database AB was using).
Reagan, in episode one, is immediately suspicious of him and thinks he’s too good to be true, and everyone else brushes off her concerns because they think she’s being crazy. The audience might have even been suspicious of him, too, at least before he turned out to be genuinely sweet and her “evidence” was shown to be quite flimsy. There were even some viewers who were genuinely surprised Brett turned out to have nothing up his sleeve, mostly because, when this cliche happens in other shows, the “perfect” person turns out to be actually villainous, while in Inside Job, Reagan seemingly turns out to be in the wrong.
In episode nine, Reagan throws the accusation that Brett is a “sleeper agent planted by Abercrombie and Fitch” and the gang only backs off when he mentions his therapy appointments. It doesn’t really matter too much, but it’s VERY weird that Reagan makes the same accusation in both the beginning and end of a season to the same character, especially since they’re best friends. So, I’m led to believe that, in season two, she’s gonna accuse him again and it’ll be much more dramatic.
JR also has Brett go undercover as a rich guy to trick Bezos into buying the yacht. And Brett somehow SUCCEEDS at it, even though he looks like an idiot doing it. JR also notably pulls Brett to speak in private A LOT, and perhaps only really does it to Reagan as well. It’s possible that it’s because Brett is new, but it’s something that has happened quite a few times.
Brett mentions always wanting to be a spy, even as a child.
Also, as an aside, we know sleeper agents exist in this world, since Jimmy Fallon is one apparently, and references are made to others.
The reason why I think JR is the one who planted Brett as a sleeper agent is for a few reasons:
For one, JR is the one who apparently hired Brett. Even though he already had Reagan in line to get promoted to leader, and he knows she can do it, he still hires an unpaid, inexperienced intern who doesn’t even seem to know how anything in the company works? To LEAD the team on his first day, and not just start at the bottom and work his way up? I get that this is meant to be a joke about the fact that Brett, a cis white guy, gets the same job position as Reagan, a half Asian woman whose put in far more work and obviously deserves the promotion more. But, like, Brett didn’t even APPLY for a job, since he supposedly met JR at a barbecue. It’s pretty funny he got hired despite having 0 qualifications, but it’s also suspicious.
This almost seems like JR is just being shallow by hiring him; but we’ve also seen JR be genuinely intelligent, ruthless, and manipulative when it comes to running Cognito. He’s not really someone to hire some random shithead off the street, but he is the type to deliberately plant a sleeper agent among the gang for later use.
Compared to everyone else, Brett almost feels TOO normal for his job. I understand that that’s part of the joke, that he’s just a regular guy at an insane workplace, but it also seems a bit jarring because he’s just so normal. Almost toonormal, as if it’s on purpose.
So why? What goal could there be for JR to put in a sleeper agent? Well, perhaps it’s just a fail safe for if he were to be knocked from his position. Maybe activating Brett’s sleeper agent status is a worse-case scenario; if JR managed to achieve his goal of getting a black robe, then he could leave the company in the care of Reagan and Brett, and no one would ever know Brett’s true nature. If someone happened to get in his way of getting his promotion (*cough* Rand *cough*) than he has another option open…
So, why do I think. Brett is a sleeper agent, and not just a regular spy? Well, the thing is, a sleeper agent is different from a spy in that they are completely unaware of the fact that they are undercover. While a normal spy is essentially putting on an act, a fake persona to make them seem friendly, boring and harmless, a sleeper agent is basically just a regular person with no malicious intent until they are “activated”. In other words, Brett would have no idea that he’s undercover, which would mean his sweet personality would be completely genuine, not just a trick to garner trust.
This would also explain why Myc wouldn’t know he’s a mole; if Brett were a spy, and his nice personality was just an act to trick people, Myc would have figured it out on day one when he read Brett’s mind. This would fill in any plot holes about his mind getting read and explain why he wasn’t outed sooner.
Reagan:It’s like I became such a good person I almost forgot that I have the capacity to be an actual dictator, a villain, and take over the entire world.
Brett, laughing: Very fun thing to hear from your girlfriend.
Brett:You’re doing great, and I have to admit, you being the CEO is kinda hot.
Brett:It’s kinda like I’m secretly dating the president.
Brett:…
Brett:Not that I ever would have done that.
Reagan:Yeah, no, me neither.
Brett:So, same. Same.
Reagan:All right, I gotta get ready for the next person.
Brett:Well then, I will say good-bye to you platonically the same way a normal worker would say good-bye to their boss.
Reagan: [Pulls Brett in for a kiss]
Brett, worried: Reagan, what if someone had seen us?
Reagan: I’m just going to ask you some basic questions, Brett. What is one plus one?
Brett:Two.
Reagan: What color is the sky?
Brett:Blue.
Myc: What color are Reagan’s eyes?
Brett:Uh… uh, what?
Myc:If you could take Reagan anywhere on a date, where would you take her?
Brett: Sorry, is this part of the experiment?
Reagan:It is now, yes. Please answer the question. And keep in mind, we can see your brain.
Myc: Next question. You are into Reagan.
Brett: That’s not a question.
Myc: So you agree. It’s a fact. Next question is for Reagan. Reagan, are you annoyed at Brett for waiting so long to ask you out?
Reagan: Yes, I am.
Myc: Brett, same question for you. Are you annoyed at yourself for waiting so long to ask out Reagan? I mean, I’m annoyed with you, and I’ve only known you for three weeks.
Brett: Yes, I am obviously very annoyed with myself. Can I get out now?
Myc:No, you can’t. It’ll ruin the science. There’s only one question left, and you gotta ask it, Brett.
Brett:…
Brett: Reagan, would you like to have dinner with me?
Reagan: Wow, that is highly inappropriate.
Brett:Uh…
Reagan: I’m just kidding. Yes, I would. Thank you for asking.
Reagan: Well, in the first 24 hours, he caused the world to erupt into chaos, and then my father made my life’s work evil. It was kind of a rough start.
Reagan: But things calmed down after Brett started helping me learn about being nice and all.
Gigi:Okay, tell me about that.
Reagan: …
Reagan: Well, as you know, I worked with Brett every day, and then Brett got sick of me, so I did some nice stuff to make him feel better. And later, I confessed because Brett was being tortured by guilt, and I just felt awful seeing his little, sweet face all contorted.
Reagan, as Brett: “Oh, Reagan, I want to throw up because of what you did.”
Reagan, laughs: He is such a dork.
Robo Reagan: You know, a lot of people I met feel regret about things they never said… admissions of guilt or anger… or love.
Reagan:…
Reagan: Are you making a move on me?
Reagan: It’s fine… I just didn’t see it coming. Uh, well, hooking up with someone with the exact same name.. And the exact same almost everything, it is kind of a fun, narcissistic fantasy…
Reagan: No, no, Reagan, I… I’m talking… I could be into it.
Robo Reagan: Mm, no, I’m talking about you and Brett.
Gigi:Now, ordinarily, you having feelings for a colleague would be a conflict of interest…
Reagan: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. You think I’m into Brett?
Myc: Yes, Reagan, we do. Because you are.
[A few minutes later]
Reagan: No, no, no, you’re wrong. There are way more things I hate about Brett than like about him.
Gigi: Like what?
Reagan: His stupid Joker smile, his extensive suit collection, oh, and he loves 80s so much. He once talked about Dane Cook for two hours…
Reagan: I timed it. And he only stopped because he saw me timing him.
Reagan:Granted, he laughed, and kind of made fun of himself, it was a nice moment, but still.
Reagan:…
Reagan:He always twitches his eyebrows when he says “absolutism,” and he tilts his head whenever I say anything ignorant, but he never makes fun of me, which is nice.
Reagan:He’s also incredibly patient, and kind, and surprisingly jacked, and-
