I saw an article that had a heading quoting Marisha Ray from Critical Role. It read, "if Vox Machina is the Hobbit then the Mighty Nein is LoTR." Which ya know, as anyone compares anything to LoTR it's bound to drive up talk and views. (Solid move)
I didn't read it. I probably had the notion to do so but at the same time I can just infer what was said. It would start out mentioning all the mundane things that most people who know anything about either topic would know; the reference to J. R. R. Tolkin, Marisha's position in the CR world both behind the scenes in business and as a frontman voice actor player, and of course the release of the 2nd animated series. Then it would go on to compare the reception of each, their following, how they compare...yadda yadda. bleh. I'm more interested in what lies underneith.
First the Apples to Oranges:
Tolkien's works were done with precision, worked over and over with a fine toothed comb placed in written form before becoming the beloved movies we have today. CR's work is a series of slapstick nights with a group of friends having fun with a gaming system that allows for creative collaboration ending up with a rare and remarkable storyline that later became an animated series, podcast and comic.
Surface level these two are not like the other, they're barely close; much like calling Vex, 'little elf girl'. Not exactly a freudian slip.
Tolkien's books have gone a number of transformations; from being translated to...(looking up numbers) over 100 translations in over 80 languages. BUT ALSO there's the animated movie, the now infamous movies, and a number of audio books; it's fan base has grown over the years being passed on from parent to child, teacher to student, as well as a number of individuals discovering the story for their own without personal intervention due to the internet and social media. Accessibility to LoTR is everywhere and so is CR. If you've cosplayed one, you've (probably) cosplayed the other. Collectors shelves are full of their books and POP figurines of Frodo and Sam standing next to Jester and Fjord is not an uncommon place. The themes of determination, being at odds with unsurmountable challenges, finding unconventional allies whom become everlasting friends is the bread and butter of these brands. LIke, DUH, of course these two are gonna be hits. At this point they're like PB&J. Can't talk about one without bringing up the other. Especially when about 95% of the crew & staff was a fan of one before becoming a fan of the other. (Last I heard Sam HAS watched LoTR at least once, whether or not he's seen his own animated series......well)
The most I've heard about inclusion when it comes to J.R.R. Tolkien is when he re-defined the dwarven community to not maintain the sterotypes of the Jewish community that were (projected IMO) displayed in The Hobbit and even bring about a more positive light upon them during LoTR. His personal life is a footnote that includes the number of friends he had who were Jewish and that's about it. There wouldn't be as much discussed on the topic if the books hadn't been published during a phenomonially poignant time. It seems like a projection or a personal wish fulfilled for Tolkien to write about a group of people to triumph over a catestrophic terror such as Hitl....I mean Sauron.
A wish that became reality when Matthew, Liem, (another) Sam, Ashley, Laura, Marisha, Talisen and Travis came together to embody the staple group of diversifyingly (is that a word?) inclusive and soberingly beloved individuals with their own trauma to bound together for the better of the whole. Each one no more special than the next yet individually uniquely representitive of the vast majority of lost souls looking for one thing. Togetherness.
OK!! so that's about as mushy as I'm gonna get. What did you expect me to say love?? nah. That's a pie in the sky series of hope and romantic BS. Sure love CAN be more than that but that's another blog.
CR is still going and still growing; adding more collaborators from (more) non-binaries, to (more) Jews, and (more) women, as well as BiPOC, and trans individuals while shutting down any bigotted phobias and bias by not allowing ANY room for it. Not to mention if they can't cover it, their Bestie D20 has it covered. Or any of the hundreds of Actual Plays that have begun as being inspired by CR.
Not to mention the LIVE PERFORMANCES!!! Does LoTR have that? I THINK NOT!!! In all seriousness, CR is amazing both because it's creators are actively working to make more content and more stories but also because it's fandom is expanding on that content.
(I think I've lost the plot)
So CR2 has a similar layout as LoTR and it took a similar group of people from animators, producers, writers, etc to get an epic tale told in a similar visual media. But make no mistake; CR2 isn't like LoTR. LoTR is like CR2, and we love that for them.
