Art by GAO JUNJIE. Joker’s 2022 Character Day Art.

(Note: Just like me, you should all read this while listening to “The Cursed Sun,” “King’s Feast,” and “Hullabaloo” on repeat here.)

When one thinks about the anyone from the Hullabaloo Circus, we tend to think about the Closing Night story that dropped back in November of 2024. Even if you’re a newer player like me who started playing after the event ended, I’m sure you’ve heard plenty about it here and there or even played through the story yourself. Which, by the way, I’d recommend everyone to do especially since I plan to write about each character from the side story.

First one up, however, is Joker. Thanks to one follower who gave me a good list of characters to analyze. Since I also had requests for Mike and Violetta, I decided I would do a piece on Murro and Margaretha as well since it felt a little unfair to leave them out.

Now, I will assume anyone reading this will know about the events of the Closing Night story especially Joker’s role in it as it is so central to moving the plot forward.

But I will provided a short summary of the backstory of the circus troupe and The Closing Night story.

Backstory and The Closing Night Summary

(You can skip this if you already familiar with The Closing Night story and the inciting incident that lead up to it.)

Joker is one of the members of the former traveling cirus troupe, Hullabaloo, a largely popular attraction at Moonlit River Park ran by the ringleader Bernard Morton. Other characters who were part of this troupe were Mike Morton (Acrobat), Margaretha or Natalie or Natasha Zelle (Female Dancer and yes, she has a lot of names), Murro Morton (Wildling), Violetta (Soul Weaver) and Sergi who was Margaretha’s lover.

After a terrible massacre at the Hullabaloo that took the lives of many at the circus including Bernand and Sergi, the popular attraction shut down and never reopened. The only survivors of the circus were Mike, who was out running errands at the time, and Margaretha who either managed to escape into the river flowing through the park or was spared by the killer.

The members of the circus would not meet again until they arrived at the infamous Oletus Manor to participate in a game. This game promised to grant them their most deepest personal desire as long as they performed a little play left for them by the manor’s owner.

As the members arrive one by one, it is clear the animosity and suspicion festered by the Hullabaloo massacre is still rooted deep in the hearts of all, but especially Mike whose sole reason for coming to the manor was to find out the truth of that terrible day.

On the other hand, Joker, shackled by the sins he has committed, arrives at the manor for a different purpose. Is it for the woman he had grown to love despite the fact she was also shackled, haunted by the shadow of a dead man? Or is it because Joker was trying to find himself after playing the part of both happy and weeping clown?

For now, let stick to the obvious. Joker is the one who takes the rhyme written on the playbill they receive as analogous to reality.

The nursery rhyme on the playbill that set in motion Joker’s plan.

Someone must die for the conditions to be fulfilled in order to properly complete the performance. Joker believes this child to be Violetta and promptly proceeds to kill her indirectly by sawing off her prosthetics and leaving her out in the snowy weather. She develops a severe case of hypothermia and dies soon after.

Margaretha ends up suspecting the culprit behind Violetta’s death was Joker as they had had a conversation before implicating him. Thus, despite the friction between her and Mike, it seems that she goes to the Morton brothers with her suspicions and together the three of them end up crafting a little performance of their own to draw out the truth of the Hullabaloo massacre from Joker.

And they succeed, but not without consequences. 3 days after Violetta’s death, it proved to be their final performance. While the truth that Joker was indeed the one behind the massacre came out, his mental breakdown led to him spilling not only his guilt but led him to attacking the others with a chainsaw.

This ended with Margaretha drowning to save herself, Joker soon following her into the icy waters of the river, and Mike blowing himself and the replica of the Hullabaloo Circus up after coming to terms with the whole truth of his once beloved circus. The only survivor standing was Murro (and his trusty companion, Ironhead the Boar).

Joker is More than just the Face of a Murderer

Now, I know it’s really easy to hate on Joker for what he did in The Closing Night story, and naturally I don’t condone what he did but why did it happen in the first place?

While it’s very easy to dismiss him as simply being a fed up but awful human being for targeting the easiest one to take out (and that is quite deplorable when you really think about it), I want to dive into the fact that he was simply a build up of negative experiences and emotions that boiled over terribly. Let’s walk through his life a little, shall we?

Joker was born deformed from the start but to his parents who were circus performers, this was a godsend. They believed their son who was born with a naturally sad face and a missing right leg was literally born for the stage. And this certainly held true when Joker was a hit with audiences due to his uncoordinated limbs and funny face that drew in a large crowd and with it, a lot of income.

This all changed, however, when Sergi and Margaretha joined the circus and attention was turned to the happy smiling clown, Sergi, who brought joy to the audiences with his natural charm. Joker longed to be like Sergi. While Joker now faced the condescending looks and insulting jeers from the audience who sadistically relished in Joker’s pain and misery, he still held some hope he would be able to become similar to Sergi.

He didn’t want to forever be the miserable sad clown and I believe truly wanted to bring genuine laughter to audiences through an act that didn’t require him to lean into his more negative character traits and physical disability that gave him actual pain than happiness at this point.

We learn through his birthday letter last year of an operation Joker had to amputate his leg instead of receiving the conventional care the others at the circus (especially Bernard) had expected him to get. Dr. Rodney, the physician in charge of the operation, told Alice that Joker had come to him in secret to request removing his leg after the painkillers he was using was becoming less and less effective.

While the audience still feasted on his painful and incredibly excruciating performances due to his leg, Joker had reached his limit. Even if this brought on the ire of Bernard who was indeed very angry at Joker’s amputation.

One concluding thought from Alice in his investigation notes caught my attention and seems relevant to put here:

“To endure the real pain or discern the painful illusion. To be a cripple who learned to ‘survive’ within his defect, or a monster who maintained his ‘integrity’ amidst mockery? Joker’s predicament left him oscilating long between these two states.”

Honestly after reading through his backstory, it’s really sad. And this is coming from someone who despises going against Smiley Face in game. Yet, as is the case with many of these characters, their gameplay is certainly not reflective of the fact that too many of them carry such a tragic weight on their shoulders that end up digging deep trenches into their souls.

Perhaps the saddest I’ve seen Smiley Face. His EP along with Joker’s is something I didn’t talk about this time around but hopefully I can in another post.

I’ll at least leave you all with this but the lyrics really are something especially considering this is his hunter identity who feels a little more less sympathetic than his survivor identity. Just me?

Joker is one such person. One of his traits is listed as “inherently kind” which doesn’t seem like the Joker we see in The Closing Night at all.

Joker looking in on the dying Violetta. Yeah, he’s not really helping his case.

But he is when you really look into his character and his not stuck in a terrible situation with terrible people (namely Bernard, Sergi, and an oblivious happy-go-lucky Mike who is looking in all the wrong places).

Just some of his quotes alone over the years convey this.

“Thank you! Ah, I’m happy from the bottom of my heart… It’s just… My face tends to curl up into an ugly smile when I feel happy…” (2022 Deduction Star)

Sorry, I shouldn’t have stained your letter. The words are all blurred…” (2024 Deduction Star)

Thank you for your kind smiles and sincere applause for all this time. They are the greatest affirmations of my performance. Thank you, thank you all!” (7th Anniversary Congratulatory)

“Sorry, the paint smudged again. But this time it’s because I’m happy.” (2026 Deduction Star)

Regarding his anniversary message, I think it’s pretty obvious to those that Joker has an inferiority complex and sought gratification through the praises and cheers he received through his performances.

This is another reason that his act as a clown rather weeping or smiling was genuine despite whichever mask he chose to don at the time. Joker’s love for performance was from the heart which unfortunately became terribly twisted.

And while his treatment at the circus by audiences and Bernard were one of the reasons he was pushed to the brink, it wasn’t until his face was burned by Sergi thanks to a bottle of acid he found in Mike’s belongings that Joker finally snapped. I want to add that this was also on top of Joker’s budding feelings for Margaretha who he still referred to as Natalie in The Closing Night story.

Joker had found out how physically and verbally abusive Sergi was towards Margaretha and when he tried to defend and shelter her from him, Sergi didn’t like that one bit. This led him to tampering with Joker’s facial makeup. And unfortunately for Sergi, that led Joker to finally losing it. The Hullabaloo Circus would then go on to be a center of a tragic loss of life including Sergi’s and Bernard’s.

From Weeping Clown’s Background Story video. The consequences of meddling in the affair’s of a drunkard.

From Smiley Face’s quotes on the IDV Fandom Wiki.

This state of mind followed Joker to Oletus Manor where even there he seemed placid at first. It was only when Joker realized that it was the same old situation in a different place, that he decided it was best to take control of the situation as he saw fit.

From Joker’s 2023 birthday letter.

Because really, none of them outside of Natalie really deserved whatever prize and blessings were in store from them at the end of that final performance.

Yet, naturally this led to consequences even he didn’t foresee. He, along with Mike and Margaretha, would lose their lives by their own hands. Only Murro would be the sole survivor of the Hullabaloo until his life is cut short soon after by Naib in the next game.

The Music of the Hullabaloo Circus

Are you all listening to the songs I recommended above? Thank you to Dũng Hồ Trí for putting all three songs together.

Did you know that with the release of The Closing Night story, a few songs came out that described all the characters in an eerie nursery rhyme-like composition? Well, you know now if you didn’t click on the video link at the beginning of the post!

I would really suggest listening to the songs now if you haven’t already.

One of them, “The Cursed Sun,” is in part in the story when Joker is talking to Margaretha about the first child, the second child, etc. It’s also mentioned in his 2023 letter. The opening lyrics of the song is also what is found in the playbill I showed earlier in the post but there’s more as shown below:

One draws his weapon,
he’s so dying to play.
The second looked away, puts his fear at bay.
The third one says “We’re family; we’ll find a better way”.
The fourth child wants justice, someone has to pay.
The last one passed out while they were making a row.

݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.

That must be the cursed sun, taking a heavy toll.
What’s done is done, just blame the sun,
And let fate play its role.
New life’s ahead, no need to look back,
Four shadows go on their road.

According to the IDV Fandom Wiki, the first child is Joker, the second is Margaretha, the third child is Murro, the fourth is Mike, and the last one is Violetta. That tracks.

The sun, carrying the secret, no longer shines, and when the laughter of the past fades, it also falls into darkness. (From the official design notes)

Interestingly, Weeping Clown’s fit tied directly to The Closing Night is called the Extinguished Sun. I’m not sure if he is supposed to also represent the sun in the song as well but I would be surprised.

Anyways, another song called “King’s Feast” is also very similar to “The Cursed Sun” mentioning the children again who represent the Hullabaloo members.

One laughed and shouted: “Who will walk away?”
The second was quiet, hoping he could stay.
The third one said “We’re family, shall not part our ways”
The fourth suggested they’ve got to send the greedy one astray.
Amidst these quarrels, the last one fell on the ground.

݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚.⋆݁⋆⭒˚
That must be the cursed sun casting doubts around.
The gone is gone just blame the sun, the scapegoat they have found.
Feast in front, no need to waste it,
they start gobbling down.

And lastly, the final song, “Hullabaloo,” is especially eerie as we hear it towards the end of The Closing Night story when we have to watch helplessly as the remaining members take their lives by their own hand. The lyrics describe this well through haunting circus melody and pomp while a child’s voice sings along which only adds to the eeriness of these songs.

I will only include Joker’s part in the song. This time, each character with the exclusion Violetta who is dead (considering the narrative of this last song, it unfortunately makes sense.) Each member of the Hullabaloo is represented by roles typically found in fantasy: the princess (Margaretha), the jester (Joker), the knight (Murro), the prince (Mike), and the king (Bernard).

The jester who can’t laugh,
oddly he waggles.
Bound by his secrets,
he built his own shackles.
Walked down the wrong path,
there’s no turning back.

The king asked: “What do you see?”
The prince said “Stars”; jester said: “Flames.”
The king asked: “What do you hear?”
Prince said: “Laugh sounds so clear.”
The jester said: “A tear,
like a sad song coming near.”

The first two songs appear to describe the events leading up to the final performance that should have taken place at the replica of the Hullabaloo Circus.

The portraits that came out during the event. These portraits symbolizes how each character died with the exception of Murro though he would die in a way after witnessing the deaths of the closest people he had to a family.

The last song describes the circumstances surrounding each character and their demise. Clearly, Joker is still shackled to the crime he has committed. The Hullabaloo massacre he was behind was the incident that shattered the last remaining kindness his soul held.

From the Closing Night side story. Joker’s card showed the word “SHACKLES” along with a noose. Tasteless imagery from the manor staff but apt because Joker truly built his own gallows.

Though I suppose a bit of his kindness remained towards Margaretha and only her. Even then, when he realized he had been tricked by her and the Morton brothers to reveal the truth of that massacre, he became angry with her.

Yet, in the end, despite chasing her, he still loved her. I think, even in that situation and facing her betrayal, Joker’s love never properly dissipated. I mean, he goes after her first and foremost. Despite the whole rampaging act with a chainsaw, I look at it as Joker being more hurt than angry.

Another point I didn’t talk about much in this post but the fact that Margaretha couldn’t separate Sergi from Joker at times due to the drugs effects meant the two were doomed from the start. Joker would never have gotten through to her regardless of his intentions. And yet, the drugs weren’t 100% at fault. Joker’s desire to be Sergi also manifested in such a terribly psychological way that did more harm than good in the end.

But that’s the thing with Joker and similar characters, they retaliate more out of pain than anger. It’s something I’m slowly starting to realize as I read more into these characters.

Yes, anger can be fuel to help perpetuate some particularly nasty acts that these characters do, but intertwined with that is a mental pain and anguish that becomes to difficult to bear at some point.

When Joker has to watch helplessly as Margaretha jumps to her death into the icy waters of Moonlit River Park, he is beside himself with grief and pain. His last words we hear in that story was her name. After he is tied up by Mike and Murro back at the circus tent, he is appears listless. Without her, Joker’s reason to be and part of the reason he did all that felt meaningless.

He would soon join Margaretha into those icy waters when he is able to free himself with, naturally, a broken part of a music box he had on his person.

With that, his last act on Earth ended up being an act of love moved through a sadness that we have all become rather familiar with in these character’s stories.

Indirectly Margaretha’s last gift to Joker that helped him join her in the after life.

Concluding Thoughts

2023 Character Day Art by JR-NETWORK.

I honestly feel I could go on but this is becoming rather long enough. I also do plan on making a separate post on Joker focusing more on Weeping Clown AND Smiley Face for my need-to-be-updated-right-now Identity Switch Series.

Yet, I hope this post provided a little bit more insight to Joker as a character. Again, I admit I’m not an expert on these characters. Indeed, the main reason I started this series was because I wanted to learn more about these characters and highlight the writing and thought process that painstakingly goes into these characters.

In the midst of the current atmosphere of the game where things still remain uncertain, I don’t want us to forget the ones who work on this game that truly do care about crafting art through story and characters.

As for Joker himself, I’m happy to have gained a better understanding of his character. Will it make me hate going against Smiley Face even less? No.

BUT! It has given me a better appreciation of his character. I have seen people despise him for what he did to Violetta and if even after reading all this, you still hate him—that’s completely fine.

Digging his own grave this one…along with the others including his beloved Natalie.

I’m not here to change your opinion of a character though if I do in a positive way, that’s great! I hope I don’t ever do that in a negative way though. I also want to emphasize that this isn’t a deep deep dive into a character. I will naturally miss a few details of a character as well.

Most characters, especially if they’ve been in the game for years will have a lot to them. Joker is no exception as his hunter identity has been in the game since beta!

Still, thank you all for reading all this and thank you again to the one who suggested him. The next part of this series will be on Mike Morton aka Acrobat aka “Hullabaloo” so…another doozy of a post. Stay tuned for that!

Fun Fact: I didn’t have a clue on where to put this in the post but did you know that in celebration of Weeping Clown’s addition to the game, NetEase actually commissioned a fanfiction, “The Moon Behind the Mirror,” to be written for him? You can find it in English here! There is also a comic drawn for it here.

While it’s not canon, I urge you all to read it. You can finish it in one sitting. While it’s not canon, I do think Joker’s personality in it is still quite in line with perhaps the person he once was. Also, as a bonus, a certain photographer is present in his fanfiction as well.

By the way, if you’re interested in more of my character studies, you can find the other ones here!