Iâm a mostly silent critter who never engages with discourse, and I may just delete this. But I felt the need to say something, and Iâm saying it with love.
2020 has been an absolutely horrific year. So Iâm not surprised that many critters have latched on to Critical Role as one of their (if not, only) source of escapism and happiness during this time. I donât blame anybody for that. Many weeks, Iâve felt the same. What this does, however, is inflate a lot of our sensitivity toward what happens in the game, and bring a sense of desperation for Critical Role to be exactly what we need it to be, to make us all personally feel better.
This is a common response, when our reality in the world right now is incredibly overwhelming and scary. Maybe if this one thing can go right for me, I can feel a little better. Maybe if this show can hit this story point, Iâll feel satisfied. Maybe if this one show allows this relationship to blossom, I can find a sense of comfort in a dark time. Weâve all been there this year.
The issue with thinking this way, however, even in a year that is as difficult as this one, is the pressure that it places on the cast. It is inevitable, itâs enormous, and itâs incredibly overwhelming. While we, as critters, often depend on Critical Role to be what it is for our own sense of comfort, happiness and escapism, the cast needs it more. The game means more to them than anyone else in this world, theyâve said that themselves time and time again.
We shouldnât rob them of that escapism and happiness because we expect their narrative and careful choices regarding relationships to match our own. That is wrong. This is where it becomes more than just âIâm allowed to have an opinionâ, and âIâm allowed to criticise.â May I remind you, you are not criticising a script that has been consciously written and extensively edited, you are criticising a group of friends who make choices in the moment for the sake of their own characters journey. Deeply personal, and in many cases emotional and real responses that mean something to them. Travis finally explored romance in game after being uncomfortable to do so, and we get to watch him take those lovely first steps of a relationship in game with his wife. Marisha cried when Yasha read the letter to Beau, and has been deeply moved by Yashaâs journey and how that has led them to their own relationship too. To take those moments of happiness and emotion from the cast, disregard them, set it on fire and say that its unacceptable by your standards is incredibly sad. Itâs also a sense of entitlement, no matter which way you try to spin it. This game is theirs before it is yours. It always will be. If that upsets you, Iâm sorry that youâre missing out on experiencing the fun that is an improv d&d game with a bunch of best friends who love each other. I guarantee you, itâs more fun to just go for the ride.
