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Warning: SPOILER for Spy x Family chapter #106
Spy x Familyhas sailed past its hundredth chapter with no conclusion in sight, but recent installments have begun to offer rare glimpses intoDamian Desmond and his family life. The latest chapter is perhaps the most compelling yet mysterious chapter since the moment Loid met Donovan, with the Desmond family patriarch uniting his family for the first time for readers. The Desmond family dinner inSpy x Familyis laden with palpable tension, with a bespoke silence to convey the varying forms of anxiety plaguing the family and the fan theory thatDonovan can read minds.
While there’s plenty of reason to speculate about this possibility, especially with recently resurfacedreferences to Project Apple inSpy x Familychapter #103, this new moment has multiple meanings. The Desmond family is Loid’s ultimate target in Operations Strix to broker peace between Westalis and Ostania,with the notoriously paranoid Donovan as the chairman of the National Unity Party.In this latestSpy x Familymoment, Donovan’s tendencies shine through as readers glimpse his dynamic between Damian, Demetrius, and Melinda for the first time.
Spy x Family Dinner Scene Supports Already Existing Telepathy Theory
Donovan’s Presence Elevates Family Anxiety
InSpy x Familychapter #106, Damian is surprised and nervous to learn that Donovan is joining him, along with Melinda and Demetrius, for a family dinner. The rest of the chapter entails this moment, with the family barely exchanging more than a few words at a time, and Donovan’s taciturn yet uncanny suspicion speaks volumes. When Damian speaks, Donovan grunts in acknowledgment; when Demetrius finishes his meal, Donovan excuses him, and as Donovan stares at Melinda for far too long, his eyes narrow with suspicion. It’sthe biggesthint of Donovan’s telepathy inSpy x Familysince chapter #37.
Donovan used to spend extra time with Demetrius in his childhood, indicating a prior closeness witnessed by Jeeves in flashbacks like in chapter #93.
However,Donovan’s hinted ability to read minds might be shared by Demetrius, whose uncanny, dinner plate-shaped eyes showed prominently as he and Donovan communicated with the fewest issues inSpy x Familychapter #106. While the telepathy theory can only be inferred instead of outright confirmed, moments like these grow more interesting when considering Demetrius' infamously blank thoughts in chapter #93. It indicates that Demetrius, if having a telepathic gift, is close enough to Donovan without having to speak his mind, unlike Melinda, who verbally excuses herself from the table.
Melinda Desmond’s Behavior Could Have a Dark Explanation
The Misunderstood Matriarch in Spy x Family
While Melinda Desmond has shown frighteningly polarized emotions, glimpsed by Anya inSpy x Familychapter #75, her remarkably calm yet unnerved reaction to Donovan joining for dinner was especially noteworthy in chapter #106. WithMelinda living in a separate residence from Donovan,her nervous facial expression while facing Donovan indicates a clear and present fear of her husband. They live in separate homes, yet she is summoned to join Donovan and the family for dinner. This is likely done to keep up appearances, and Melinda is unwilling to participate.
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What’s also noteworthy is that Melinda seems protective of Damian, despite her conflicting internal thoughts about him,suggesting a dread for their mutual home lives, yet still caring for the boy. This is indicated inSpy x Familychapter #75, when Melinda urges Damian not to tell Donovan that she came to see him after the foiled Red Circus attack. Her conflicting thoughts about concern for the boy and seeming disdain for him stem from her marriage to Donovan. While the dysfunction is never spoken aloud, it’s readily apparent inSpy x Familychapter #106.
The Desmond Family Dysfunction Is Powerfully Communicated in the Latest Chapter
Tatsuya Endo Used Deliberate Character Placement at the Family Dinner
As noted in a post that went viral by@_mdmay on X,Spy x Familychapter #106 showsthe deliberate character placement at the Desmond family tableto convey lopsided alignments and emotional distance. Damian sits near the corner next to Melinda. In contrast, Demetrius sits near the corner shared with Donovan, with Donovan surveying the family in sequence, narrowing his eyes similarly to when he met Loid in chapter #38. What’s perhaps equally unsettling is that Damian and Demetrius are not seated directly facing each other, with Demetrius blankly staring ahead at nobody.
@_mdmay also highlights that Damian’s life entails much of this dynamic, with the Desmond family frequently out of sync and often interacting passively with each other through their servants inSpy x Family.Contrary to the telepathy theory, which is still speculation, the more tangible truth is thatDonovan projects potent and fearsome control over the Desmond family, creating tension when he is around. Even though Donovan Desmond expresses delight at a pleasant family dinner inSpy x Familychapter #106, nobody in the Desmond family feels the same, a feeling probably shared by the readers.
Spy X Family
“Spy × Family” is a popular Japanese manga and anime franchise that blends action, comedy, and spy elements. The story follows Twilight, a secret agent tasked with creating a fake family to carry out a mission, unaware that his “wife” is an assassin and his adopted “daughter” is a telepath. The series, praised for its humor, heartwarming moments, and dynamic characters, has expanded to include anime adaptations, a feature film, and various merchandise.
