Scientist & The Formula Theme

Lore & Background

The Scientist is a reclusive genius whose obsession with transcending natural limits drives him to develop the Formula, a substance that can alter reality itself. His laboratory, hidden in a desolate region, is a testament to his relentless experimentation: walls lined with cracked vials, floors stained with iridescent spills, and journals filled with frantic, half-legible notes. The Formula is not merely a chemical compound but a living concept—a volatile idea that can grant immense power at a terrible cost, often corrupting those who seek to control it.

This arc reveals that the Scientist's work is intertwined with the fate of several main characters, as his creations inadvertently shape their abilities and destinies. The Formula becomes a sought-after artifact, drawing factions into conflict over its potential for both salvation and destruction. Through the Scientist's journey, the narrative examines the ethical dilemmas of playing god and the loneliness of genius, making him a tragic figure despite his antagonistic role—a man who lost himself in the search for a perfect answer.

In Their Own Story

In the dim glow of his workshop, the Scientist adjusted a single vial, its contents shimmering with an unnatural light—like captured starlight trying to escape. He whispered to the empty room, 'This time, it will work.' The air hummed with energy as he added the final ingredient, a tear from a forgotten star. The liquid swirled, and for a moment, he saw his reflection—not as he was, but as he could be: whole, powerful, unburdened. Then the vial shattered, and the darkness laughed, a sound that echoed through the hollows of his chest.

Reader's Guide

The Scientist & The Formula arc unfolds across several episodes, beginning with the introduction of the Scientist as a mysterious figure experimenting in isolation. The throughline follows his quest to perfect the Formula, which he believes can unlock the secrets of creation. Key turning points include the first successful synthesis of the Formula (a scene of eerie triumph), its theft by a rival faction (a heart-pounding chase through the lab's hidden tunnels), and the Scientist's eventual confrontation with the consequences of his work. This arc matters because it establishes the metaphysical rules of the TWICE universe, explaining how certain characters gain their abilities and why the world is fraught with instability. It connects to larger arcs by seeding conflicts over the Formula's power, which later escalate into full-scale wars. Spoiler: In later seasons, the Scientist's true identity is revealed to be linked to a major character's origin, reshaping the audience's understanding of the entire narrative—and making that first shattered vial feel like a prophecy.

Did You Know?

• The Scientist's design was inspired by classic mad scientist archetypes, but his backstory was rewritten multiple times to add depth—one early draft had him as a former alchemist who lost his family to a failed experimen
• The Formula's color changes throughout the arc, reflecting its instability and the Scientist's emotional state: a calm blue when he's hopeful, a sickly green when he's frustrated, and a violent red when he's desperate.
• Fans have debated for years whether the Scientist is a villain or a tragic hero, with evidence supporting both interpretations—some point to his cruelty, others to the tear in his eye when he first sees the Formula work.
• The arc's title 'Scientist & The Formula' was originally a working title that stuck due to fan popularity; the showrunners had planned to call it 'The Alchemist's Lament,' but the fandom's embrace of the simpler name mad