#i loved how the tragic backstory became the entire story it was absolutely PERFECT especially for a western

[corporealchaos]

I FINALLY GOT TO WATCH DEATH FOR A DOLLAR AND IT’S AMAZING!!! I HAVE EXACTLY ZERO COHERENT THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW!!! IT HAS RENDERED ME THOUGHTLESS!!! I AM BARELY RESTRAINING MYSELF FROM JUMPING UP AND DOWN, LITERALLY HOW DID I WAIT TO SEE IT FOR SO LONG???

[sylleblosscm]

@inimiicus​:

character meme: ardyn jazz hands

---

Opinions

First impression • I have to level with you guys, as one of those bi of sexuals you’ll hear a lot about this month, I just. When it comes to the over-the-top, super camp, sassy villain who is also genuinely scary, my response is automatic. I see, I love. He was already great. Aspirational. Iconic. An absolute treasure to behold. A gift to my eyeballs. Ardyn didn’t need to be more than that for me to appreciate him, and at first, I didn’t think he would be.

Impression now • Like the great philosopher Cloud once said: hoo boy. You know when a property fucks up a character so severely that they’re kind of obligated to give them a redemption story down the line, and it’s so obviously hamfisted that people respond with, “wOw, tHaT FixEd eVerYtHiNg!”? That, but unironically for Episode Ardyn. Not that Ardyn was especially broken to begin with, it was just frustrating that we never got a full grasp on his motivations or place in the narrative. While giving the villain a Tragic Backstory™©® in order to make them sympathetic is a hamfisted and annoying move most of the time, XV really pulled it off for me. After learning the kind of person he used to be, what was done to him, and the existence he’s been forced into, he doesn’t really come off so bad anymore. Especially if you reject Bahamut at first, and witness the cruel and inhumane lengths he’s willing to go to, to see his own will done. Much like with Regis, I’m left wondering what I’m supposed to be angry about. He’s up against a literal god. And clearly XV isn’t interested in being that kind of jrpg (though it really should have been, salt, salt). Not only do we have context to his behaviour, but it actually shifts the dynamic of the entire cast, world, and story, because the villain no longer seems villainous, and the hero doesn’t feel quite so much like a hero, as much as he does a helpless pawn. (But that’s an entire other rant I may go into someday.) I suppose in the end, all I really want for Ardyn is justice for his character. Not to harp on Dawn or anything, but I really liked that ending for him. He found peace in death or whatever; more important is that he did it on his own terms, regaining his agency in his final moments. He chose how to go, was able to reconcile with his brother, and take his justice from a cruel and unforgiving god that was willing to raise 114 generations of his own blood to slaughter. Honestly, call me captain of the Ardyn Defence Squad, because I’d go to war for this greasy weirdo, Man Of Every Consequence.

Favorite moment • It’s a tie. “For what sins must I atone??” SAY IT AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK. But also, probably the entire talk with Bahamut, because again, that’s the thing that shifts his character from Sassy Villain to genuinely devastating. You really get an image of just how helpless and powerless this seemingly all-powerful man is in the face of his destiny. And it’s all capped off by knowing that he became this way because he wanted so desperately to help others. I just can’t fault him for that. And finally, the moment he kills Luna. I hate that for Luna a lot, but I love how she reaches out and tries to offer her help. You see this perfect, unbreakable facade of carelessness crack, and it elicits one of the few honest-to-goodness reactions we ever see from him. He’s disgusted, afraid, and a little hopeful all at once. All because someone was kind to him for the first time in a couple thousand years. 

Idea for a story • I’m still hung up on anything that lets him and Luna be besties. He needs a friend. I’d also like to see a deviation in canon where he instantly regrets harming Luna and manages to help her somehow, sparing her life and forcing him to reconsider his actions and accept her help.

Unpopular opinion • Honestly, if what I’ve already said thus far isn’t too unpopular, then there’s nothing I can add that would be so. Ardyn began as a great villain and ended as something between that and a sympathetic antihero. I just want more for him. 

Favorite relationship • I really, really wanted to see more of his relationship with Somnus. It was intriguing and nuanced, with neither side wholly in the right or wrong, and their rivalry stoked by forces well beyond them. I like that Dawn gave Somnus the chance to truly apologise, and I like to think that, in kinder circumstances, they could have been an amazing team. 

Favorite headcanon • That, after daylight returns, Ardyn’s rightful place in Lucian history is cemented; not just as the Accursed, but as the man who was almost King, but for his boundless compassion, and willingness to put himself in harm’s way to save others. It’s what he deserves. 

[maddiicake]

Why Both FMAB and FMA03 are good and should be treated as Independent Stories:

I will go on the record of saying that Appreciate and Love FMA as a whole and love both series for what they are. And while it may sound like a broken record saying things like this... there’s still hateful words against those who like one over the other. So, I’m here to make this post addressing that both FMA2003/03 and Brotherhood are great in their own way and should be respected as their own individual stories.

Also warning there will be obvious spoilers.

What I liked about the Original (FMA03/2003) Series:

I watched 03 before delving into Brotherhood, and even before reading the manga. Now, I know Brotherhood and Manga fans are the small minority of the fandom, while 03/2003 fans make up the majority. That being said, many of these people simply can't get used to 03 after watching Brotherhood.

However, for me, I was happy because: A) I got more FMA to watch, and B) The differences in 03/2003 simply made it even more fun to watch, so for it was no trouble getting used to this anime.

But if I were to be specific of what I liked, I’d say I liked the following about FMA03/2003:

Characterization of the Protagonists and all the 'good' guys: The show heavily focuses on the relationship and tragedy of Elric Brothers, and 03/2003 portrays it much better with such a deeper level. The relationship between both brothers is intimate, and it feels like a genuine sibling bond. I also enjoy the fact that the anime shows that even if Ed follows his ideals, he, like any human, can break away from them under severe pressure, which was beautifully shown in the 5th laboratory arc. As for other characters: Scar in this version is a total opposite of his Brotherhood counterpart. He is written realistically in the 2003/03 anime. His absolute hatred for the military is more legit, and he feels morally grey in this anime. Izumi Curtis for me was also portrayed better in this version. Meanwhile, other Characters like Roy, Winry and Alex felt the same to me throughout both versions--so, not much change there.

Worldbuilding: The 2003/03 anime does a fantastic job at portraying the widespread effects of war and politics, Alchemy, etc. and how it has affected the people of the FMA World. For example, in Episode 16, “That Which is Lost”, Ed meet, a guy who had lost his limb while working as a soldier and was reluctant to use an automail prostetic because he wanted to “retain his wound”. Now, this episode itself was more so filler and didn’t really matter to the main plot of the story in itself; however, I feel that it was added to series to portray the depth of the FMA World, and how everyone has different reactions to the events that happened in the 2003/03 anime. Also, many of the events and how they unfold in this anime seem to parallel the middle east, which just makes all this feel realistic and provides some occasional social commentary which is quite nice. I also like how the first few episodes take their time to slowly and, with great subtlety, develop their world.

Thematic Depth: FMA2003/03 is dark, grim and kind of realistic--more so compared to Brotherhood. While, both versions of the anime deal with some important and mature themes, FMA2003/03 takes it to the next level. The 2003/03 series focuses on the Law of Equivalent Exchange, and shows how putting blind trust in it is a terrible thing to do. The show also focuses on how obsession, a denial of reality, and the inability to move on can be a bad thing. Moreover, sometimes life just simply isn't fair, and we should accept it; however, always try to improve what we have. All in all, we have to understand the consequences of our actions. That life is uncertain, and sometimes we don't get everything, and even we pay a price for it. All of these themes mixed in with the meaningful dialogues and the dark tone, made me appreciate this anime. For example, in episode 48, when Roy and Ed talk for the last time, that’s the pivotal point that brings all these themes together.

A Good Start: The Show had a better start than Brotherhood, simply because 1). We have more time with Maes Hughes and Shou Tucker, and 2). The Liore arc. Despite BONES studio and it’s tendency to create anime too early *when the mangaka is barely halfway through their series), they made it work, and, with the material they had, the 2003/03 series was given enough time to bloom. The 2003/03 series was simply immersive and very emotional, especially during The Curtis Arc, as an example.

Soundtrack and The Art Direction: I feel like both are equally good. However, I will go on the record of saying that I don’t think “art style” is what makes a series, nor is it an important factor. It’s nothing more than glorified “eye candy” However, for the sake of argument (especially since the “art style” is the first thing that “03 Stans” mention) I’ll be adding it in here. Both the 2003/03 and Brotherhood series have some amazing and beautiful orchestral OSTs in their respective soundtracks; thus, it added to the immersion of their respective series. In FMA2003/03, the color palette is very unique, sometimes it feels dull but it just suits the dark tone of the series.

All in all, I am impressed by a lot of aspects of the 2003/03 anime series, but as much I love and respect it, there are lot of things this anime messed up and I will note that as well.

The antagonists were... Meh: While I really love and enjoy the direction and depth BONES Studio added to the Homunculi... some of the other antagonists could have been better (or just not added at all imo). For example, Frank Archer... he has no reason being there except for convenient plot device to the point it feels forced. Though, him becoming that weird cyborg always makes me laugh just because of how dumb of a character he became because of it. Speaking of which, him becoming a cyborg was just... weird. It was like the Studio staff were trying to make him “cool” by making him into some crossover of The Terminator and Two-Face from Batman, but it just failed. As for Zolf Kimblee... He is still sadistic and likes making things explode, much like his Brotherhood Counterpart. But... that was it. Other than that, he was just boring. Him and Archer were both just the staple 90s Kids Cartoon Villains; not much to them except “Muahahaha I’m evil”. Now Dante... I’d say that she’s a good villain to an extent. Her as a villain is very subjective within the fandom, depending on who you ask. While I believe that she could have been just as great a villain as Father, her character was rushed and her goals were a bit vague and unexplored. I like how, like with Father, she had ties Hohenheim; however, that backstory and those connections were introduced a little late. So, in the end, she just came across as more of the generic Vindictive Ex-Wife, and just a generic female villain. As for the Homunculi... I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVED their portrayal in 2003/03. They were the “saving grace” of the entire team of the villains within the 2003/03 series. My favorite of the bunch were Lust and Greed--namely Lust, because of her ties with Scar. Envy came at a close second, but only seemed so because of a way to back up Dante as a villain, and the other Homunculi seemed a bit more underdeveloped as characters. 

The Plot's quality drops after episode 35- Okay don't get me wrong. The first 35 episodes for me were 100/100. After that? a 60/100. Why? Because everything after that point feels contrived and feels forced. It's as tho, they are trying to do everything they can, even if it doesn't weave in, to make the brother's life miserable. Archer doesn't die and pops up, with his automail? Alphonse is there to be turned into a bomb, and become a philosophers stone. Okay, but why does this feel so forced? Also, can we talk about Nazi Shit? Now, I feel the brothers being separated is the perfect ending to this anime thematically and I have nothing against it, but A Nazi gate? Why? It was so sudden and pointless. It was never foreshadowed. They just showed it to make it as tragic as possible, because they didn't know of any other way to twist the plot, without convenient and totally forced plot devices. Also, How can Dante make Gluttony Mindless? Why is Juliet Douglass's Secret so obvious, when it can be fatal if leaked? Plot- Holes, Also, why are the Homunculli named the way they are? It just doesn't make sense. Also, FMA's Plot has an air of mystery to it, but it doesn't execute properly. I don't hate the end, I just felt disappointed, because the buildup towards it was terrible.

Now, I give a bit of grace concerning how the plot sort of dropped off and felt rushed halfway through, as well as the characters being underdeveloped and rushed. After all, Studio Bones was making up the majority of the material and took it in their own direction. Some factors to all of these cons in FMA2003/03 could be because of the Studio’s lack of a budget to flesh the characters and plot out more. Or, they had created so much additional material for this series that it became overwhelming.

As a writer, I can attest to the fact that “Character Overload” or “Element Overload” can either make or break a series, depending on how you handle it. That being said, there need to be a balance when it comes to these factors.

However, FMA2003/03 ended around 2004-05, So what we got is what we have.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s get on to the analysis of FMA: Brotherhood:

Characters: There isn’t a single character in this version of the series that I can choose as a “favorite”. Because, honestly? I lile them all. They’re all well developed and lovable in their own way, and have their own demension of depth to them. No, they’re not as deep as they aare in FMA2003/03, but from a writer’s perspective, that helps keep a balance with the overall plot of the stories. Now, some minor characters were just outrageous, but not to the level of boring (like 03!Kimblee and Archer), for example...  Darius and Heinkel. There isn’t a vast difference in Brotherhood’s and 2003/03's cast of characters. However, if I had to note a difference, FMA2003/03′s characters were are more on the edge of realistic and Brotherhood’s were just... Loveable. However, that doesn’t mean that one counterpart of a character is better/worse than another. Both are quite memorable in their own way. Of course, in my opinion Brotherhood's villains are just better than 03's villains. Sure, the Homunculi aren’t given as much depth, but, they have redeeming qualities near the end of their time (i.e. Envy, and GreedLing). When Father was first introduced... his character made me think of how Dante started out, and I was worried that his character would end up just as rushed and he would just be the generic cliche Shounen villain. By the Promised Day Arc, however, I was surprised. Yeah, Father was still very shounen-y villain, but still a pretty darn good villain. I feel his backstory, and how he discarded all his human qualities which led to the creation of Homunculi was well put together, and I felt the concept how he created Alchemy in Amestris, while Hohenhime helped build Alkahestry in the east was well put together, and helped build the world of FMA (literally). To put it simply, his character was much more interesting than Dante, because it was fleshed out more. The Homunculi were awesome as well, Lust did her job, Pride and Wrath were simply awesome, GreeLing's development from an anti-villain to anti-hero was exceptionally well written and not the cliche anti-hero, which I can appreciate. Envy is the character you love to hate. And Gluttony and Sloth did their Part as Well. While I enjoyed 03′s portrayal of the homunculi, I felt like they only fleshed out some for that series (i.e. Lust) while others were just left to fall flat. With Brotherhood, all the Homunculi were evenly balanced out in their characters, not too much depth and not too little. Solf Kimblee was still the sadistic baster, but at least his entire personality was more explored this time, and I liked how they portrayed his psyche as an added affect to why he has his views.

Plot: Bortherhood’s plot was more fluid and weaved in seamlessly. As a lover of all things continuity... Brotherhood did it right, and every time I find an analysis of a teeny tiny subtle continuity detail (i.e. Ed’s gash on his forehead that lasts a few episodes), I get a writer-gasm! Sure, there were few plot devices and filler here and there. But the plot in gneeral wasn’t rushed or choppy, nor did it leave any holes in it. The way Brotherhood portrays it’s plot is to keep you as engaged as possible, adding some silly comic relief here and there to balance out the dramatic intensity every so often. Unlike 2003/03 where is was just one depressing and dark element after another, Brotherhood added in the comic relief points not and again to give it’s audience a break. And, that’s what I really appreciate, and think is a great story writing technique. All in all the Brotherhood series is literal binge-watch material

A Great Shounen: Many Shounen anime have their Arcs for the purpose of portraying the progress of a character, and keep introducing new villains; however, depsite this, there is rarely a sense of mystery, intrigue or a moving plot in a Battle Shounen Anime. What Brotherhood did was just that, except make it more digestible (and not super long like Naruto or One Piece), and added a great thematic exploration. For a shounen it was quite deep, the plot structure was more like seinen, and characters were awesome. In a way, we got everything we could in a Shounen anime that only lasted a little over 50 episodes: Depth, plot, characters in a shounen.

Thematic Exploration: Both FMA 2003/03′s and Brotherhood’s themes are the same, but Brotherhood makes it a bit more lighter. All the while, it also manages to raise questions on additional themes: revenge, truth, knowledge, sacrifice, worth of a human life, and many other things.

Soundtrack and Animation: Same as the analysis in the part of FMA 2003/03, and, once again... I will restate that I personally don’t believe that art style is what’s important to a series. It’s nothing more than glorified “eye candy”. However, for the sake of this analysis, I will be adding it in here. While Brotherhood’s art style and animation is more simplistic, it’s much easier to create those dynamic poses and expressions on an animation level. While FMA2003/03 did have it’s dynamic moments, it was mostly only during battle scenes or the really heavy moments in the series. Brotherhood maintains it’s art style through the series and keeps it a balance, so that some scenes aren’t too much animation but also not too little. And, both FMA2003/03′s and Brotherhood’s OST Soundtracks are beautiful orchestral pieces that really add additional effect to a scene that the respective series are trying to portray.

A sense of conclusion: A lot of Shounen Anime get prematurely cancelled, most Seinen end in a bittersweet manner. That’s why FMA2003/03′s ending with the fate of the Elric Bros was a bit more preferable for those who like a more realistic ending. But, I enjoy a story with a more conclusive ending that wraps all the plot points up together without leaving too many holes. Yeah, the “happy ending” of Brotherhood is cliche, but “happy endings” wouldn’t be “happy endings” if they weren’t. Not to mention, those types of endings are rare, because people really don’t want to write them, and, when they do, they’re rarely done well. Ed’s entire charcter arc wrapping up to where he swallows his pride as an Alchemist and gives up his Alchemy to bring his brother back is both wholesome and satisfying, because, through the show, it shows his progression and growth from beginning to end. And, having an arrogant character obsessed with Alchemy give it up and learn to humble himself because of it.. it’s really uplifting.

Now let's talk about the Cons within the Brotherhood series, they aren't a lot, but still, they did affect my experience quite a lot.

Overuse of Comic Relief: While the use is a nice balance to the already dark and dismal atmosphere of the series, it felt a bit overused. So much so that some emotional moments were inconvenienced by the use of that kind of humor. It was a bit much and created dissonance with the tone the scene was trying to portray. Now, it worked more in the Manga, because of the more visual gag of it, but, sometimes the visuals within the manga don’t translate as well to an animated one.

A Rushed First Half: While FMA 2003/03 began “In Media Res” with it’s first episode and then started a “flashback episodic arc” with the next handful of episodes.. Brotherhood just jumped right into it. While, yes, it was a better balance to not have the characters’ depth right at the beginning (slowly revealing it as the show goes on), the first half of Brotherhood was 0-100 through just the first few episodes. To the point it feels like the audience has to catch it’s bearings. But, once you get on the same page, it’s enjoyable from there.

So what’s the Point of this Ted Talk-esq FMA Post?

I’m sick and tired of seeing 03 Stans  and MangaHood Stans fighting each other over just the smallest detail, especially when 03 Stans decided to bring leftist politics into it for no reason.

Personally, I just appreciate the fact that both series exist, ever since I've got in the franchise, it has become a part of my life, and still to this day is part of my life. Sure, I’m forever going to be part of this fandom.. but, I still see the beauty that peeks through the ruins and ashes of destruction now and then. I appreciate both series. Sure, I do prefer Brotherhood more, and get called a “Nazi” just because of it (ironic considering FMA: CoS was the movie sequel to 03... -__- ) , but 03 was excellent as well in it’s own way. It was very involving while FMAB was engaging. Both shows are something which you can learn something from and get attached to.

All in all, comparing both shows is okay, that's what I did here, but having a debate over which one is better isn’t just inherently bad... it’s TOXIC. Both series have their pros and cons, and they’re starkly different from each other. They’re two sides of the same coin. But, most importantly they are extremely important and impactful, so Pls don't have death battles over which one is better, don't say bad things about any fanbase, be respectful, and most importantly watch both and try to appreciate them. Because trust me liking both is a pretty darn good feeling.

[otome-reviews]

IkeSen: Uesugi Kenshin Route Review [SPOILERS]

“I won’t let you die. I’ll protect you. For all eternity.”

Kenshin is... a polarizing character. There’s a 90% chance you’re gonna either love him or hate him after reading his route. And which bucket do I fall into, you ask? Let’s just say, I have a new top IkeSen bias (sorry Nobunaga!)...

MC meets Kenshin under deceptively “normal” circumstances, after he rescues a restaurant owner and MC from some local bullies the usual way (“Come on! We just...nudged him a little.” “I see. Then I’ll nudge you a little with my sword and we’ll call it even?”). As he and MC get to know each other during his stay in Azuchi, she realizes that his woman-hating, evil reputation may have been overblown: in reality, while he’s indeed war-crazy and has a cold yet intense personality, he’s also noble to a fault. 

But everything changes after Kenshin, who’s been under the impression that MC’s “just a village girl,” realizes she’s an Oda princess. He KIDNAPS her (!), as “spoils of this rotten war,” and locks her up in a cell in Kasugayama! But MC’s no ordinary prisoner: Kenshin has the finest furniture delivered to her cell, and among many other shenanigans, ends up visiting her WITH BUNNIES to try to make her happy (“I’ve heard women like animals. A good military tactic involves using your strengths while exploiting your opponent’s weakness”). We eventually learn that he’s been keeping MC locked up because he’s utterly insane terrified of falling in love/wants to keep her protected, Jumin style.

Things come to a head one drunken night, in MC’s cell (“What are you doing, MC? Why aren’t you fighting me? If you don’t fight me now, then I won’t ever let you go. Ever. You’ll be mine. I’ll keep you here forever. Don’t you see?”). MC and Kenshin confess their love to each other, and he takes her out of her cell and into his room for one steamy lovemaking session. And just like that, MC’s free. Kenshin reveals his (super tragic) backstory, MC reveals her time travel, Kenshin and Nobunaga strike up a temporary alliance for the sake of MC, and our happy fledgling couple eagerly basks in their happily ever after.

...Just kidding. It’s Chapter 9 at this point in the story, and things are never as simple as they appear, are they? It’s one step forward, two steps backwards with this guy. MC starts to get an idea of the true depths of his insanity when he has an entire flower garden removed because MC pricked her finger on one of them (“Are you happy, MC? The flowers won’t ever hurt you again”). And before too long, the God of War’s decided the best way to ensure her safety forever is to cancel his alliance with Nobunaga and live up to his name by conquering the entirety of Japan in battle...

I won’t go into detail about how Kenshin’s ending is resolved - TL;DR it’s a total cheese fest in the Romantic ending. Let’s just talk about plot quality for a second. The first 2/3 of Kenshin’s route is utter magic. It is, hands down, the best thing I have read in IkeSen thus far. And yes, this includes the kidnapping, because that is absolutely a level of crazy that I enjoy in my otome games. But the plot quality definitely starts to suffer after the second or third time Kenshin goes nuts (somewhere in between the flower removal and the decision to conquer Japan). It’s just too much, and I definitely don’t buy that Kenshin’s totally “cured” of his insanity, as MC seems to believe, by the end.

But that’s not really a knock on Kenshin himself. IMHO, Kenshin is a top notch otome character, and definitely definitely one of my new faves. His backstory is excellent, and let’s be real: his sexiness levels pre and post ultra-crazy episodes are simply off the charts. Also, all of the side characters in Kenshin’s route were simply amazing: Mitsunari and Shingen shined especially bright. Overall, if you’re willing to put up with some a metric fuckton of fictional insanity, I highly recommend taking Kenshin’s route out for a spin. You might just end up like me and find yourself a new top-tier otome love. <3

Very long and spoilery list of favorite quotes/scenes:

“It’s almost time for dinner. I thought hunting bandits would help me work up an appetite.”

That time Kenshin walks slow to match MC’s pace ^_^

Sasuke and Yuki’s reaction to seeing Kenshin talk to MC

That time Kenshin RESCUES MC FROM THE BATTLEFIELD and they comfort each other by the fire when Sasuke goes missing

“You saved me tonight, MC. Don’t ever forget that. I’m grateful for you.”

When Shingen flirts his way into making sure Kenshin visits MC’s cell. “You want a surefire way to make sure he visits her cell? Then leave it to me.”

Shingen: “If you were my captive, I’d give you a real room and let you roam the castle while showering you with love from dawn until dusk.” MC: “...Thank god for cages.”

“I won’t be parted from you. If anything tries to separate us, even if it was time, I’d travel 500 years to get you back.”

Shingen’s imitation of Kenshin: “MC is mine now. If any of you touch her, I’ll kill you.” MC: “Come on! Kenshin wouldn’t—“ K: “that’s exactly right.”

“Tell me you’ll forget me, MC. Say it. Or I’ll continue.” “Continue to do what? Ruin a kimono?”

Poor Mitsun, learning what love is

“I want you with ferocious need, and I will for the rest of my life.” <3

Personality: 10/10 otome entertainment value, 1/10 irl datability. Don’t let the loon in your poon, my friends.

Appearance: 10/10. Those heterochromatic eyes are just unfair.

MC: 8/10. TBH I ended up skipping over a lot of MC’s supportive monologuing, but she’s generally likable, intelligent, and shockingly sane for someone willing to put up with Kenshin :)

Plot/Payoff: 8/10. The first 2/3 of this route was absolute perfection. Things became a little less perfect in the final third.

Personal enjoyment: 9/10. But who cares about the flaws in Kenshin’s route? He's my current top IkeSen bias, beating out even Nobunaga!

Masterlist

[terrahistorian]

So I just finished The Adventure Zone: The Balance Arc

This will likely just devolve to spoilers, so fair warning there.

I first heard of it here, on Tumblr, and I was astounded. Every piece of fanart, animatic, and think piece on the plot, spoke to a deep love and adoration, not only on the fandom’s part, but from the McElroys as well. I can’t remember what finally tipped a, “I should get around to that someday,” to, “I will gleefully listen to these four idiots for roughly four days of content,” but I’m so glad it happened. There are certain things I wished weren’t spoiled for me, but that’s the nature of the beast.

I started listening after the story was complete, and I honestly can’t imagine the stress that would have come from listening to it piecemeal. I called each arc my favorite as I listened to them, because they literally just kept getting better. The ingenuity, creativity, and just plain fun that went into every plot point, it all honestly inspires me to be a better DM and storyteller. I was hooked on the story from the first static Tres Horny Boys heard, and there were times I couldn't believe what I was hearing, because it was just so good. When Griffin got in his stride, his settings grew so vivid, I regularly caught myself staring at a wall unblinkingly, because my mind’s perspective was following his words.

Here There be Gerblins was the perfect beginning to this story, absolutely hilarious, with a taste of the scope of the campaign. Moonlighting built further on the scope, while introducing two of the greatest things of the series. The Voidfish, and the Fantasy Costco, both of which I can only call inspired, in their own ways. Petals to the Metal was the first real emotional arc, and man did it deliver. Sloane and Hurley quickly became some of my favorite NPCs of the series. The Crystal Kingdom was... So good. So much. And just, so brilliant and beautiful. The Eleventh Hour was truly indescribable. Isaac’s Journal is a masterpiece, every NPC felt so alive and thriving, and the entire arc was not only satisfying, it was truly fascinating. Many things were spoiled for me going into this, but my jaw dropped the second Magnus realized there was a second Voidfish. The Suffering Game was some of the best roleplaying I have ever heard, hands down.

But my heart truly began to break during The Stolen Century. Each cycle was so ingenious, and so unique. And seeing these friends, true friends, grow, learn, and love, and die again and again, just so the others can live, it was truly beautiful. And I could make an entire other post about Jon. His motivations, his worldview, the vast extreme of destruction by nihilism, and how he was literally and figuratively torn apart by his own hands. I teared up with The Trial Cycle. Griffin’s description of Lucretia’s tribulations, and the affect that year had on her entire character, how this meek chronicler grew to be Madam Director... I felt proud, and also sad. Sad that she spent so long alone, and her time there pushed her farther away in the years to come, but immeasurably proud that despite all odds, despite being the most perilous cycle of their journey, Lucretia rose above.

And then the finale. The ending of this story was incredibly bittersweet. On the one hand, I am sad to see these characters leave, because they have given me so much joy. On the other hand, I literally cannot think of a better way to end their story. The character progression of the Seven Birds is some of the greatest I have ever seen.

Taako, who went from a stoned loner, to a tragically broken hero, to someone happy, loved, and whole. He voiced to Kravitz that he feared that no one else would have him, and he grew to be loved by literally everyone.

Lup, who despite having the least screentime of the Seven Birds, is one of my favorite NPCs, who shared one of the greatest love stories I’ve ever heard with Barry Bluejeans.

Barry, who started as a forgettable NPC with a joke name, and grew to save everyone. His love for Lup drove him to death and rebirth so many times, all in the hope that his path would lead him to her. If it weren’t for Barry, The Hunger would have won, simple as that.

Magnus, who I’d honestly say is my favorite character. Magnus began as a hotheaded fighter with no regard to his own safety, unleashed one of the most tragic backstories in the series, and grew into a multifaceted, kind, loving, protector.

Lucretia, who is one of the most interesting characters in the show. Her arc truly began in the Trial Cycle, where she faced indomitable adversity, unparalleled loneliness, and rose above it. Her motivations, while ultimately made in love, broke their found family, and would have likely lead to a Pyrrhic victory at best. Despite this, her found family found her again, and saved her from this wretched fate, and she truly saved them all.

Merle, such a kind and gentle man, who faced death more than any of them. More than anyone, Merle was a fuckup. A father who ran out on his family, a cleric who couldn’t properly heal his friends, and a man constantly unsure about whether or not his friends merely tolerated his existence. And he grew. It’s not even a, “but,” he never denied those parts of him, even during the Trial. He was a fuckup, and he grew to be the most selfless, loving, forgiving member of the Seven Birds, who became the hero of his children.

Davenport, to me, is the most heartbreaking of the Seven Birds. A pilot whose sole desire and identity was to explore, and see the cosmos unfold around him. A man so dedicated to keeping his family safe, he spent every day thinking of them. The man whose memories were the most linked to the Stolen Century, who probably had the most character growth apart from Lucretia herself. Early on, I laughed at the character choice of having Davenport only say his name. Now, I see it as a tormented cry for help, and it breaks my heart. But even still, he too got his happy ending. A true explorer, he took to the seas, and it warms my heart.

I rarely cry, especially when media is concerned. I recognize when something is sad, when something is heartbreakingly so, but the very idea of crying in a theater is unknown to me, same as to a song. And normally, I would extend that to podcasts. But Griffin proved me wrong with one question.

“How does Magnus die?”

It stunned me. And as it drew on, as the scene was painted around his deathbed, family and friends gathered at his side, holding his wife’s ring in his hand, I felt tears roll down my face. Everything was so sweet, and sad, and perfect for a peaceful death. And then Kravitz took him to the Astral Plane, where that cottage waited for him. The dogs almost got me, I almost lost control there. But then Julia walked out. Their reunion, their love stitched delicately into every syllable they were saying, it was just too much. I had to fight back sobs just so that I didn’t worry my cousin in the other room, and have to pause such a beautiful ending to explain it to him. As they walked into the cottage, as Magnus began regaling her with this impossible story, the words of the Temporal Chalice, Magnus’ own Relic, sprang to mind, just with a slightly different meaning.

“You worked so hard for this. This is the happy ending you earned.”

This story is now incredibly dear to my heart. A tale of love, loss, pain, and heartache, ended with laughter, dancing, loving, and an entire world staring at the apocalypse and refusing to die. A story about the preciousness of life, and just how much is lost when one gives up their will to live. A moral tale about how any quest to rise above life, and the pain it brings, simply makes you lose everything you’re fighting for. A series about a found family, who argue, hurt each other, and break so much between them all, but grow together, forgive each other, and mend all that was broken. But most importantly, The Adventure Zone is the story of four idiots, who played Dungeons and Dragons so hard, they made all of us cry.