Control Theory | The Deception of The Board

Hello everyone. This has been a long time coming, but I think we have ignored The Board on this channel for long enough. I haven't touched upon them in full since we really do not have a lot of information about them other than circumstantial evidence. For the most part I try to avoid pure Theory videos but whatever, let's do it!

I think we can all agree that The Board is more than they claim to be. On occasion we have seen them lie, become defensive, and threaten our characters. Based upon the aforementioned circumstantial evidence this video will attempt to find a cohesive narrative about their history and motives. I will attempt to reveal The Deception of The Board.

Please feel free to have free discussion in the comments section below.

Enjoy!

Music:
Music: Alan Wake OST: On The Run - Petri Alanko

#ControlRemedy #GamingUniversity #Control

[cocogoat]

Though The Board and Former are definitely really creepy entities, they have some of the most interesting interactions in the game. Like that time talking to Former and it just pauses before saying "No". Or The Board getting mad about Jesse taking the other power but then basically saying okay we'll let it slide this time. Whatever they are is probably beyond our comprehension but they seem kinda childish and petty most of the time.

[esteluznante]

Loved this theory! The whole thing about the board creating the cave paintings to deceive about it’s history is really creepy. I also loved the editing of the video, it adds a lot of atmosphere.

[arguekayes]

Controls lore is insane. I love how deep it goes and the world it builds if you read the collectables. Reminds me of Elder scrolls, Fallout, Assassins screed or Dishonored/Arcane games. Where the Devs built a whole universe that is well thought out and makes sense. Remedy definitely did a great job with Control.

[necromancywitch]

Another thing worth mentioning is that it's heavily hinted that the board can control astral spikes, like in the foundation, one of which damages Marshall's protective vest which gets her infected by the hiss.

Another astral spike can be found in the records department in the panopticon, destroying bureau documents. I feel like the board is trying to erase a time when the bureau operated without them.

Also there's a file in the foundation that outright says that the house's lay lines (like from the control points) all lead down to the nail. And the nail is sucking up energy from the house.

I'm also really curious about the locks/keys you have to undo in the foundation. Which are stone slabs with the symbol of yggdrasil carved onto them, which is also used to symbolize the house. Once you destroy all 4 slabs, the former makes it's way into our plane. Makes me wonder if either the former or the board are good for the house.

Also what about the fallen department in the foundation? The game says that the foundation doesn't shift like the house does, which makes me feel like the department was brought down intentionally by the board.

[MoriWillow]

Drawing on the Yggdrasil imagery for the Oldest House, I think that would make the Board Nidhogg in this scenario. A serpent that gnaws on the roots of the world tree.

[mortem]

Just a thought. The board is multiple entities, we know this because of the former. I wonder, while I think the words having multiple meanings, showing how the board views things, could it be possible that you could actually locate individual members of the board, and work out what each says? Like each time the words split is when multiple entities of the board have a disagreement about the exact nature of something (As an example, when it comes to the oldest house, one of them considers it a prision, while another considers it food)

[astinazarafza]

the board is Níðhöggr from norse mythology
serpent who gnaws at a root of the world tree

[vincentsavoretti]

I had a thought kinda parallel to this a while ago now. I don't remember the details anymore, but I remember picking up on something while playing Control. It just kept bugging me until I realized that it was the Oldest House itself- It's alive, it has a personality and it talks to you. It just only speaks through "body language."

Like I said, I don't remember exactly how I got the idea anymore but I do remember I just started realizing the House was reacting to things instead of just changing randomly. After a while I kinda got a feel for the House's "personality" to a point where I could tell when it was "pleased" or "stressed" and it was always, obviously, stressed around The Hiss.

All this time I thought that's where it ended- Just a really deep detail that doesn't mean much but makes the world feel that much more real. But now after watching this and thinking about it again, I'm suddenly realizing that the Oldest House doesn't like the Board either. As a matter of fact, it hates them.

[Hylanvahr]

This makes me rethink the role of the Hiss a lot. Sure, they wanted absolute dominance, but they didn't require worship, they simply conquered like Ghengis Khan and forced obedience. The Board are far more insidious and makes me wonder if they are the root of all the problems in the Remedy-verse. I also wonder about Polaris. Is she really her own entity that Jesse can trust implicitly, or just another insidious agent of the Board. Perhaps she is a Board member herself?

[mikemobius]

The connections between the Surfboard and the Board, as well as the Former and the "smaller" nail are incredibly

Really enjoyed your video!

[DSel]

I think the Board is afraid that humans will become as powerful as them. They keep up the illusion that they are all knowing, but if the collective consciousness can feed them and give power to objects through a focal point, then humans can gain that power too. It's probably why Jesse is so strong, the whole bureau worships her as a savior. One day, Jesse will be as strong as a Board member.

[apexbeats]

Dude it blew my mind when you said the Former was weak and that's why it needed constant worship through the refrigerator. Great video as always!

[stefan]

Thought-provoking and interesting!

Control, and several other games, interacts with and creatively incorporates many psychological concepts that gets the mental gears turning. I always appreciate the ways in which you elaborate on them in detail! Keep it up!

[kenyedaadams]

Interesting. That is a cool theory.

This reminds me of the Fears from The Magnus Archives. Basically, human's fear was nourishment for these entities/gods. By creating encounters with these Fears... humans are feed to them often by formerly human Avatars. The Fears are basically parasites but they lack the slight foresight of the Board. So, they are often just as vulnerable to their Avatars shims as their need to feed. I was fascinated by the World building in the The Magnus Archives but it is a tragedy podcast so I eventually decided it was better for my health to just let it go... but I think you would find it fascinating GU!

[JaDjok]

Due to English not being my native language, I've misunderstood some parts of the story. Your videos made it clear and made the playing process more interesting. Thank you for the resources you've spent making those videos. Remedy created a damn masterpiece with this one. If one takes its time to dive into the story and details, Control offers so much more of an experience, than just an action game with guns, telekinesis, and a superficial story of The Hiss. This is so much deeper; Parautilitarians, Objects of Power, and AWE/Altered Items. Paranatural Entities like Ahti, The Resonance Entities, and The Board. Thresholds and Other Dimensions. So much stuff is happening. We need Control 2 ASAP (but not in the form of Cyberpunk 2077 [Take your time, Remedy]), to satisfy this hunger for more action in this Universe.

[daiklaive]

when you talk to Ahti about 'the janitor's assistant' position he mentions that the House has a 'vermin problem.' at the time we assume he meant the Hiss, but what if he also meant the Board as well?
on another topic: the board's demands for loyalty and Director Trench. He had a family once, and then 'he brought his work home' and his daughter sickened from a paranatural ailment. what if that was given to her deliberately by the Board to sever his link to anything outside of the Bureau and Them?

[chrisdude]

Hey man, I just wanted to say that I appreciate you staying in touch with your community by replying to so many comments, even on your older videos!

[serpenthydra]

Quality content, as usual.






I wonder if the Board somehow drove Trench to his end, seeing as unlike Northmoor he was reticent to be bonded with OoPs and therefore represented a potential hindrance to their position. One might wonder why drive Trench to unleashing the Hiss, a similar entity that relies upon worship and a repeated mantra for power, but I think the Board might have thought itself powerful enough to oust the Hiss without issue. Of course that proved to be incorrect, especially as perhaps Hedron was also working its own angle, perhaps in cahoots with Ahti and the OH. So lots of things to explore in CONTROL 2 (should that ever be a thing...)

I wonder if Former was bonded with the Fridge and the Flamingo far earlier than you thought. Especially as the Fridge probably made its home building collapse when contact was broken, leading to its connection being deepened by the traumatic focussed worship, and the Flamingo seemed to alter the weather...

[andreataccone]

Heyyy, incredible theory!!!
The oldest house it's always besn strange, especially the foundation.
The oldest house has always been on earth while hidden from everyone and seems to be "closer" to the astral plane.
I love to think it as the umbilical scar of the planet, tho it's mostly headcanon.

[rodan]

This is BOARD-ER line insanely exciting to see.

Respect and keep up the epic work.