#cr c4e8

[makosgotmoxie]

brennan takes a fucking lap lmaooooo

[phoenixspencer]

CRITICAL ROLE CAMPAIGN 4

EPISODE 8 - "Fanged Revenge" - Thimble vs Casimir

[daveyjacobsthepotterhead]

Random lines from CR c4 that are just casually way more moving than they have any right to be:

"It is a strange thing how fate moves upon the world. Or if it is only chance, then it is a chance I welcome." (c4e8)

"Does your heart shudder to dream of what might be? Let the world dash your destiny. Don't do it before you even set out on your quest. Aspire to great things." (c4e9)

[amaryllis-sagitta]

The reason I lowkey live for the Wick/ Tyranny dynamic is that their surface level caricatural theme of "The Church Boy and his Demon Girl" reverberate on deeper, subtler levels as we see the layers of their mutual influence. The way Tyranny handles Wick is the definition of grey morality: does she build him up because her survival in the world depends on Wick's attachment? Does she build him up because she is intoxicated by him in a way an abyssal creature might not fully understand herself? A bit of both? A secret third option? What does it really mean when we say Tyranny needs Wick? Is her ominous, darker nature dictating the way she tries to protect Wick from a rude awakening that could turn him into a new, unfamiliar person?

At this point, it's clear that his status and his faith has built him a shelter from accountability, that he's becoming comfortable in being a sore loser. That cowardly self-sabotage that culminates in Wick not being able to put up an act for five seconds and not be painfully obvious to their adversaries? His lasting lack of interest in politicking or in pretending even if his survival clearly requires it? Wick getting himself into life-threatening situations like this only cements his reliance on the mutual codependency with Tyranny. Whenever you think someone will finally snap and go for his ass, Tyranny comes in mitigating his fuckup, saying "He did well BUT", and then immediately sells a piece of advice. In that respect, she's coming off as a toxic helper at the least. But then, the more cunning, practical advice she gives is objectively advantageous in their situation. So it feels like a slightly dirtier persuasion in some way, one that can reach his ears. Tyranny does not seem nearly as sinister as her sisters, even though she won't let us forget about her abyssal nature. Her sisters treating Wick as the tool of House Wicander made her uncomfortable.

Something about her attitude gives "Why are you like this tho" and simultaneously sounds like an admission of feelings? So there's this ambiguous knowledge that his perceived innocence cannot last?

And it's so delicious to watch the inevitable collapse of this sore loser be delayed. When will Tyranny no longer be able to shield Wick from the impact of his incompetence, to interject herself into his fuckups as she has done since Day 1? Because this man needs to be broken out of his Church Boy status to be the best version of himself. Not too soon though. After all, he's so precious and pure and the only innocent thing about his family, and has such pretty eyes. Him admitting he needs to change doesn't sound very convincing? It's like sure, he will say whatever people need to hear from him in the moment, but old habits die hard, and his inhibitions around SIN and impure nature are simply stronger. He's such a good example of how moral "puritanism" with its meticulous gatekeeping from evil erodes the actual moral character.

It's not a coincidence that the adventure rolls on and the Soldiers have barely touched upon the topic of THE shocking revelation about House Halovar keeping and harvesting a literal tortured angel in their basement. If it doesn't seem to phase Wick just enough, it might be because he doesn't really know if it's a bad thing or not, until someone else tells him. The best shield for hypocrisy is a type of character formation that makes moral agents so impressionable they can and will half-assedly subscribe under both contradictory judgments at the same time.

Am I reading into things now? IDK. Some of Wick's mannerisms give me vibes from people I've met IRL, specifically in the context of cult indoctrination and how post-JPII Catholicism has gained this undeniably aggressive, puritanical flavor under a smiling, charismatic, youth-friendly facade?

Sorry if I'm missing something, I haven't gotten to the point of rewatching episodes multiple times, but this episode was SO JUICY omg.

[dont-forget-to-drink-water]

Sometimes, when it comes to noble characters, (like Wick), the impact of their background is lost, but Brennan does a really good job of reminding and showing the noble houses influencing everything, which is very very cool.

Like, being a noble doesnt usually affect combat in dnd, but BLeeM then thinks to ask, "was this you declaring war on Timmony?" Because apparently that's something the noble houses can do???

[leg-is-bald-and-gay]

episode 8 was so fun and honestly a much needed comedic battle with angst peppered in

[makosgotmoxie]

battle map perspectives are actually this serious though

[makosgotmoxie]

Thimble gets her revenge