Ok, I listened to the Balance arc of The Adventure Zone (a BRILLIANT podcast that is a must to listen too! also, SPOILERS) and I finished Amnesty a few weeks ago!! I wanted some time to gather my thoughts.
First off, I loved all the characters. Duck Newton, a forest ranger who ran from his destiny (but is it really his destiny?). Ned Fuckin’ Danger Friendly etc. Chicane, a man who owns a cryptid museum and then gets involved with more cryptids then he knows how to handle (who’s status is “brave” which always makes me cry). Aubrey Little, a stage musician who is actually a REAL magician (with a heart of crystal gold) with Dr Harris Bonkers her pet rabbit. Even when I have personal favorites, they are all such fun characters that I still have such a good time!
What I really loved was the surprise Sci-Fi arc tho (SERIOUSLY, SPOILERS). I have seen some people say it was tacked on, or didn’t really fit, but I think it was amazing. The whole point you think that something in Sylvain is sending creatures to Earth in an attempt to kill humans, but it’s actually someone from behind the scenes the whole time. They have been trying to cause both worlds to hate one another, but it didn’t happen!
Aubrey fell in love with Dani, and with the world of Sylvain! Her character spends more time in Sylvain then anyone.
Ned dies for Dani, and does everything in his power to keep the angry mob from Sylvain!
Duck saves Billy, who is technically a REAL enemy, and that friendship saved them! He also falls in love with Minerva and they get to do what she couldn’t for her world.
We even have Vincent falling in love with Earth movies, Indrid Cold drinking the shit out of eggnog while tries to save people, and Jake Coolice finding friendship with the Hornets (tho it was pre-podcast).
There was so much love that exists even when a malevolent force that has killed tens of thousands of worlds tries to tear them apart! Was the story a little bumpy? Sure. The ending will always have a place in my heart even when all the critiques I see about it I can’t really deny.
But the McElroy’s have a love for stories filled with love, and I think it’s just as evident in Amnesty as Balance.