Pat: The Accidental Hero

Pat is honestly the worst protagonist ever and thats kinda the whole point?? Like, hes not brave. Hes not clever. He just has a magical pocketwatch he doesnt understand and a tendency to wander into situations that spiral into literal reality tears. The show is rly good at playing this for comedy and then suddenly switching to horror.

What makes Pat interesting is that he's not the hero because he's special—he's the hero because Sarah and Matthew are there dragging him along. Matthew literally dies helping clean up Pats mess, and the show never lets you forget that. Pats cluelessness has actual consequences. Like in Ep2 when he accidentally gives Mark the opening he needs, or Ep3 when his pocketwatch inexplicably opens tears in reality and hes just standing there like "uhhh???"

Tbh, a lot of fans were initially mad that Pat wasnt more competent, but Phase 1 makes it clear thats intentional. The story isnt about Pat discovering hidden courage. Its about three ordinary kids getting way in over their heads and paying the price. Pat's confusion and stumbling actually mirrors how random and terrifying the whole situation is.

By the end of Ep4, Pat hasnt changed much. Hes still clueless. But hes learned that his cluelessness affects real people. And the Interdimensional Being warning? Thats gonna haunt him into Phase 2, ngl.