Critical Role, Campaign 3: Finding the Magic Again

I’ve been a critter for around 5 years now and I’ve developed rather complex feelings about Critical Role. I got caught up to campaign 1 around episode 80 and I watched live as the campaign reached its close. I loved those characters, particularly Percy and Vex, and I look forward to reuniting with them in the Legend of Vox Machina. I also am tentatively excited about campaign 3 because I liked episode 1 well enough. 

I liked campaign 2 at first, too. When campaign 2 started, I was a closeted genderqueer kid and Mollymauk Tealeaf rocked my whole world. Molly was the first time I’d seen a genderfulid character in anything and I adored him from his first introduction. In those early episodes, I felt campaign 2 was even better than campaign 1 and I couldn’t imagine that changing. 

Then episode 26 happened. Mollymauk Tealeaf died and I stopped watching Critical Role a few episodes later because even thinking about the show would make me weep. I spent over a month feeling like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. It was fiction, Molly was never real, but that didn’t stop my over-invested self from grieving. I can’t watch the beginning of campaign 2 even now; it hurts too much to return to it.

I got back to the show eventually. My devotion to it had evaporated. I like Caleb and Fjord and Beau, but they aren’t Molly. While I may respect Caduceus, he was hardly a substitute for the colorful tiefling I was missing. I remember being irrationally and quietly furious when Taliesin first introduced Caduceus. It was a year or so before I could really see Caduceus’ own merit past the memory of Molly.

I tried to get invested in campaign 2 again and recapture the magic. I tried to find a way to love the show again. Essek helped some, though he was very different from Molly. And Essek wasn’t around much. I never got back to having the weekly excitement over new episodes or that bone deep love of a character. The end of campaign 2 felt like a relief and a let down all at once. It could never be what I dreamed, but it could stop haunting me quite so closely.

Then campaign 3 loomed. I may have loved campaign 1, but campaign 2 left me hesitant about even watching the premiere of campaign 3. I decided to have hope and tuned in despite my uncertainty. At first, I admired the set, along with the new setting of the story, and thought “Oh I can be a casual fan this time around. So far, so good.” Then Taliesin presented a character that knocked my socks off once again: Ashton Greymoore, a punk rock, nonbinary earth genasi barbarian with attitude and cracks sealed with glass and gold. I never stood a chance.

Ashton stole my whole heart and filled the cracks Mollymauk left. They may have low charisma, but this genasi still charmed me in heartbeat. Ashton also filled me with a new kind of fear. Before the premiere, I was afraid I wouldn’t like the new campaign. I was afraid there would be no characters I would love and that the empty feeling from campaign 2 would persist. 

Now I’m afraid of what happens if Ashton dies like Molly did. What if a dozen episodes down the line this nonbinary genasi gets shattered beyond repair? I may like Fresh Cut Grass, but I don’t think the little automaton would be enough to hold me to campaign 3 if Ashton is gone. I like the returning Exandria Unlimited crew fine, but the three of them would be little comfort in the wake of losing the barbarian.

I’ll watch campaign 3 of Critical Role—that much is clear. I’m excited to see what lies ahead and I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. The whole time I’m watching, though, I’ll be braced for tragedy. No one can promise a player character in D&D a happy ending. You love them and they’ll break your heart, but least there’s some magic and joy along the way.

Remembering Country Music

Most of the music you hear on country music radio these days isn’t what I’d call country. The best title of the genre I’ve ever heard is “bro-country”. Real country music is not the empty and performative patriotic/godly music that floods the air waves. Country music is the rich roots of almost every genre of modern music and deserves far more respect than the junk labeled country today. 

If your willing to invest some time to dig into the world of country music, I suggest you watch the Ken Burns Country Music documentary series. It does an amazing job showing the beauty and impact of country music and the people who have made it over the year. It is, however, a massive time investment. If you only have time to listen to an album or two, I have a suggestion: Listen to the Maddox Brothers and Rose.

Image found at here, which also has interesting discussion of some of the best songs by the Maddox Brother and Rose.

The Maddox Brothers and Rose

The Maddox Brother and Rose are an excellent introduction to what country music is at its core. These sharecropper kids picked up instruments, pushed the boundaries, and made a sound that inspired hundreds of artists in the following decades.

The Maddox Brothers and Rose had sharply contrasting discography, including religious standards like “I’ll Fly Away” and songs about cheating and murder like “Philadelphia Lawyer”. Even more interesting is what lies in between the extremes. “I Wish I was a Single Girl Again” may make you laugh, but it is also brutally honest. That honesty what unites the wide variety of music the Maddox Brothers and Rose produced. 

The range of topics contained in their discography is part of why I think the Maddox Brothers and Rose are such a good introduction to country music. Country music is not simply one theme over and over again even if it may seem like that on the radio these days. 

The Maddox Brothers and Rose also had a major influence in the style and direction of country musicians in the decades following their success. The flashy costumes that graced the stage of the Grand Old Opry were originally inspired by the colorful suits of this family of hillbilly stars. Their style matched their music and the Maddox Brothers and Rose changed country music. 

This group of siblings were ahead of their time, creating the inspiration for a number of modern genres, including rock. Don’t believe me? Listen to “Move it on over” and “New Step It Up and Go” and try telling me it doesn’t sound like something Elvis Presley would play. Except they predate Elvis’ Heartbreak Hotel by 5+ years. 

Give the Maddox Brothers and Rose a listen before you give up on country music. They will at the very least brighten your day if not become a new favorite.

Some Love for The Penumbra Podcast

This past week, I stumbled into the Penumbra Podcast through a random tweet in my timeline. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen it mentioned, but this time I bothered to look into it and give a listen. Now, I’m struggling to keep myself from devouring the whole series in short order. Despite my attempt at restraint, I have already gotten a ways into season two and can’t help but listen to multiple episodes everyday.

Hyperion City is wonderful and horrible and breathtaking all at once. I’m a sucker for a sci-fi setting, but the world of Juno Steel is particularly interesting to me in how it portrays the typical faults of a futuristic society in its own unique way. Plenty of futuristic dystopias involve overpowered corporations, nosy and expansive media empires, and the contrast of the haves vs the have-nots, but the Penumbra Podcast manages to include these tropes without making them seem tired. I’m still very early in Second Citadel’s storyline, but I find the world building to be interesting, particularly because of how much they have to communicate through primarily character dialogue. There’s so much information to be packed in about the humans and the monsters and the world they inhabit and, without much in the way of narration, the writing has to clever to get the audience the information they need.

That’s only one of the ways the dialogue in the Penumbra Podcast really shines. It’s fast paced and witty, but the show doesn’t devolve into pithy quips without any depth. The show handles drama and romance and deep existential brooding with the same skill as comedy. Some of this is because of the great writing that produces stunning poetic narration and hilarious exchanges, but the acting plays a key role, as well. The voice acting is strong enough to make those well written words land. The combination makes for a riveting radio play, the likes of which I never imagined existed.

The excellent writing and acting bring the story to life, but what makes these stories so automatically important to me is their unabashed queerness. No one in Hyperion City is straight and it’s never important, expect for in the way it is extremely important for a listener who’s starved for that representation. Personally, I prefer the Juno Steel storyline over the Second Citadel one because the cast of characters and setting in Juno Steel resonate with my own identity and experience more closely. And I love sci-fi. That definitely plays a role, too.

I’ll run out of episodes of Juno Steel before too long, but for now I can take comfort from this queer sci-fi detective story. A genderqueer protagonist fighting crime on Mars is exactly the hero my younger self never imagined having and exactly the hero I’ll always need. I see myself in Juno and that’s strange and new and at times uncomfortable. It’s a good uncomfortable, though.

I hope I can one day make something that will change someone’s life the way the Penumbra Podcast has managed to change mine. It’s been a week since I found this podcast, but I know it will be a touchstone for the rest of my life. Stories have the power to bring light and clarity to a reality that is dark and muddled. I want there to be more stories out there like the Penumbra Podcast to give us some light out here (and I want to make them myself).

Teen Titans and the Artist Who Brought Me Back to Them

Teen Titans is undoubtedly my favorite DC cartoon and it has some pretty tough competition. Image found at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0343314/

I love DC comic books and cartoons with all of my heart. One of the first episodes of tv I can remember waiting excitedly to premiere was the season finale of season 2 of the Justice League cartoon back in 2004. These characters were one of my first obsessions and their stories are part of my core. Of all the DC cartoons, Teen Titans probably was the most formative for me.

The young heroes of the Teen Titans are some of the most relatable heroes in DC canon. They are realistic young characters, making mistakes and growing from them. They are messy and unfinished, but good, determined, and caring. I’d bet everyone can find something of themselves in the Teen Titans line up and that’s what makes the cartoon so compelling.

The stories, of course, are vital to the shows success, as well. I can remember the visceral reaction I had the first time I watched Terra betrayed the team. I remember fear rising in my throat as Trigon rose in “The End”. I remember the burning curiosity I had about who was beneath Red X’s mask. Teen Titans may have been comedic and goofy, but the show provoked strong emotional reactions with well written storylines.

My favorite characters on Teen Titans were definitely Raven and Beast Boy and, like so many fans of Teen Titans, I shipped Beast Boy and Raven hard. They were my first ship and will always be close to my heart. My focus on them had faded into the background as there was little new content that resonated with the vibe of that old precious show (Teen Titans Go! never captured my interest the way the original did).

Then Gabriel Picolo’s art got retweeted into my timeline. My shipper heart took to the old pairing with a new fever. IGN’s recent article I think really describes well why seeing these character get their due means so much to fans like me, but I want to take a bit of time to talk about the guy behind the art involved a bit more. Why? Because Gabriel Picolo is awesome.

I adore every scrap of Teen Titans art Picolo creates. I followed him as soon as I saw those first few pics and absorbed each new one with glee. I can not describe how glad I was to hear he was going to make graphic novels with DC about my favorite characters. The first two graphic novels have not disappointed, and I can’t wait for the release of “Beast Boy Loves Raven”. Gabriel Picolo of all people deserves the honor of helming this ship as it sets sail.

I would normally include some of the art I’m talking about here, but really you should check it out for yourself on DeviantArt, Twitter, and/or Instagram.

Picolo’s Teen Titans related art is amazing. It brings such depth to the characters and the world that surrounds them with hidden details and beautiful, communicative design. I was surprised to discover, though, that I love his other art, too. His originals, like the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor frames and other constellation designs, are breathtaking. What I’ve seen of Icarus and the Sun is lovely (I missed out on the book, unfortunately); I am always for referencing Greek Mythology, as my own writing shows. His other ‘fanart’ fall into many of my other fandoms. Seeing his rendition of Digimon Adventure’s heroes warmed my heart just as the show itself did when I was small. I have a mug emblazoned with his Treasure Planet art because I loved it so much.

In other words, I’m a huge Gabriel Picolo fan. Sometimes people talk about what actors and directors and artists they’d love to meet. I’ve never really had that sort of list for myself, expect for Gabriel Picolo. I’ve followed him on twitter for years now and it seems I’m always discovering that there’s another fandom/interest we have in common. I hope to see so much more his work, mostly because I have no doubt the Gabriel Picolo is making exactly the content I need in my life .

Murder Mysteries for the Uninitiated

I don’t consider myself a huge murder mystery fan. I haven’t read a single word by Agatha Christie or any other famous mystery writer and that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I am, however, a big fan of a few murder mystery tv shows. I’d recommend these series even to the murder-mystery-adverse tv fan because they delight beyond any of my expectations of the genre.

The first I’ll mention of these series is Midsomer Mysteries. It has nothing to do with the horror flick of a similar sounding name; Midsomer is just a fictional region of England where the show takes place. Midsomer’s villages have a tendency toward campy murders and odd characters. For a show about detectives investigating suspicious deaths, Midsomer Murders manages to be humorous, witty, and a generally warm show. If you enjoy this show, there’s plenty to binge your way through. The seasons may short, but there’s 21 (soon to be 22) of them and episodes tend to be about 90 minutes long. The cast of season 21 is entirely different from season 1, but both seasons, and every other in between, contain great episodes. Midsomer Murders may border on ridiculous at times, but it rarely fails to be entertaining.

Promotional photo for a circus themed episode of Midsomer Mysteries, S20E6: Send in the Clowns. Image found at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118401/mediaindex?page=6&ref_=ttmi_mi_sm

Left to right is Lawrence Fox as DS Hathaway and Kevin Whately as DI Lewis on the set of Inspector Lewis. Image found at https://www.thedailybeast.com/inspector-lewis-on-pbss-masterpiece-mystery-tvs-smartest-sleuths.

Next on my tv-murder-mystery-favorites list is Inspector Lewis (or just Lewis if your in the UK). This is technically a sequel series to another tv mystery show called Morse, but don’t worry, you can enjoy it just fine with out that background. I’ve never seen Morse, but I still adore Lewis. This show has a heavier tone than Midsomer Murders, but makes up for that with great writing, deep and interesting characters, and complex plots. They find time between deep conversations and grave discussion of murder for witty remarks, which is my jam. I’m hoping there will eventually be another series as a sequel to Inspector Lewis because I can’t get enough of these characters even though I respect them not dragging the show out for infinite seasons. This show may not be mindless tv for a lazy night, but if you want something to really dig into, Lewis may be for you.

Promotional image from the world’s most wonderful murder mystery series, Murder, She Wrote.

Image from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086765/mediaindex?ref_=tt_mv_close

The final murder mystery I’d recommend is my favorite: Murder, She Wrote. This show is the absolute best of all. It is the epitome of the cosy murder mystery genre, as murder mystery author, Jessica Fletcher, solves cases involving suspicious deaths that seem to follow her everywhere. Jessica is a wonderful protagonist, played by the delightful Angela Lansbury for 12 seasons. This show feels like a warm hug or a cup of tea on a cold day. It’s not as dramatic or mentally taxing, but holds a viewers interest with diverse settings, unusual deaths, and amusing characters. Jessica’s hometown of Cabot Cove is probably the murder capitol of the world and her inability to avoid crime scenes is borderline sinister, but this show is the one to watch out of the murder mystery lineup.

Hidden Treasure

Disney has made many rightfully acclaimed movies, but some of their movies have been overlooked. There’s enough of them that I suppose it makes sense that a few are going to end undervalued and disappointingly forgotten. In my opinion, of these forgotten movies, Treasure Planet has neglected worst of all.

Treasure Planet’s movie poster. Image found https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Treasure_Planet

Treasure Planet was released in 2002, and was a fantasy-sci-fi remix of Treasure Island. It is a masterpiece of world design and complex characters. The backgrounds and settings of the story are breathtaking from the start. The canyons filled with machinery are ripe for exploration and the taste we get in the chase scene only makes me wonder what all that machinery is for and what is hidden in that labyrinth of rock and metal. The Benbow Inn, perched on the cliff, piers jutting out into the air is both charming and intriguingly alien. When our protagonist, Jim Hawkins, does leave his home planet and seeks Treasure Planet, we get to see the stunning moon shaped city, gorgeous space-scapes, and wondrous other worlds.

And this beautiful universe is filled with unique technology I have always longed to get my hands on. Who doesn’t want a holographic storybook filled with the adventures of treasure seeking pirates who sail ships through space? Or a window that changes its view? Or a hoverboard that rockets through the air powered by a glimmering sail? Treasure Planet has technology that hovers on the line between magic and science. All of it feels machine-like, metal and constructed, but has a glow-y, beyond understanding aspect that they never try to explain away with faux science. The design of the technology makes the setting all the more wondrous.

The characters that inhabit this world are also endearing. The various alien species are diverse but fit in the same universe in a coherent manner. The creators walk the fine line of making it clear that theses creatures are not all the same without letting that world building take over the plot. The personalities and motivations of the cast of characters are believable and engaging. From minor pirates to our honorable captain to the adorable blob-like sidekick, all of the characters are memorable.

I’ve kept my discussion vague here intentionally. I don’t want to give so much of the details away that a first watch loses its magic. I can rave about Treasure Planet endlessly, but that will never express every wonderful detail. Do yourself a favor and go watch this under appreciated yourself. I promise you won’t regret it.

Exploring the Stars

Star Trek’s ideals helped form me. The idea of ‘boldly going’ to unknown places in the stars was exactly what inspired 16 year old me to study astronomy. Stories of strange planets, weird space phenomena, and intriguing alien lifeforms were exactly what drew me to studying the vast expanse beyond Earth. Of course, most of astronomy is not like Star Trek at all, but the driving force to explore is still there at the core of both. So, if I had to blame something for my astronomy degree, I’d blame Star Trek.

I was extremely hesitant about Discovery when it was announced. Star Trek was a core pillar of my childhood that I didn’t want tampered with. I was worried what this new series would be like. I’d heard it was set pre-OS, which set alarm bells off in my head because, well, let’s face it, Enterprise was mostly a hot mess. The trailers didn’t convince because they looked so different from what I expected of Star Trek. I wasn’t excited for Discovery and at first I didn’t watch it.

Then, despite my hesitance, I actually watched Discovery. I loved it. The show holds true to the heart of Star Trek. It managed to introduce new material without distorting previous canon, enriching the world of Star Trek. Discovery also has a cast of characters I adore and, after the first two seasons, I was certain I could not love the show more. What I fool I was!

All rights to CBS. Image found at https://www.cbs.com/shows/star-trek-discovery/about/

A Season of Exploration

Season 3 of Discovery was brilliant from the start. The Star Trek world redesigned for a far future century was breathtaking. The technology of a new time built upon previous Star Trek staples in a logical manner and the design of new interfaces and gadgets was coherent and pleasing. I love the sets of this new age of Star Trek, with their mix of clean, futuristic white locations and dark, almost diesel-punk scenes. I particularly enjoyed marketplace of episode one, with it’s combination of high-tech and seedy-ness, the saloon like set on episode two, and the federation headquarters from the later episodes. The design of Book’s ship, both on the outside and interior, was great as well, particularly since some much of Star Trek takes place on massive ships, built to be home to numerous crew members. To see such a small ship was an interesting change.

“The world of Star Trek Discovery in the latest season felt new and familiar all at once and I can’t wait to explore it further next season.”

Micheal’s introduction to this new universe was exciting, sometimes funny, and sometimes heartbreaking. The mystery of where was Discovery in the first episode left me on the edge of my seat and the fate of the federation seemed more unclear than ever. The show portrayed the fall of an empire, destroyed by the Burn, which I find to be compelling. The world of Star Trek Discovery in the latest season felt new and familiar all at once and I can’t wait to explore it further next season.

True Character

What truly made season 3 a masterpiece, though, was the characters. Micheal, always a great protagonist, is even better, changed by her time in the future. She makes mistakes and wrong turns, but through it all I felt like she’d come into her own. Michael seems to fit better here, far in the future, than she did back in her native time. Tilly had so many amazing moments and isn’t stunning to compare who she is now to who she was back in season 1. Character development is a wonderful thing. Tilly proved herself to be a good leader and I we’ll get to see more of that in the future. Saru sort of backslid over the season and I was confused about why he was suddenly less talented at leading the crew, but in the end of the season I understood their direction a bit more. The bridge still had stars, though, as the crew got more time in the limelight and each excelled in turn, particularly in the last couple episodes. Detmer did some great flying, Owosekun was talented as always, and the crew’s teamwork kicks some serious ass in the final episodes of the season. Season 3’s new characters took the cake, though.

Book’s got depths we’ve only begun to see. I always like a character on who’s willing to bend a few laws to do what’s right and Book is a particularly good example of that archetype. I’d love to know more of what happen in the time between Michael’s and Discovery’s arrivals in the future, because Michael clearly knows more about Book and the workings of the new century than the audience ever got to see. Their references to past shared adventures makes me hope for future media to flesh out those tidbits. With Book, of course, comes Grudge. Or maybe I should say the opposite since Grudge is a queen. Grudge scenes never failed to make me smile.

This season’s opposing leaders had some great scenes together. I look forward to seeing what Admiral Vance is doing next season.

Image belongs to CBS. Image found at TrekMovie.com.

The two new leaders introduced were both fascinating new characters. Osyraa ticked all the boxes for a good villain: Ruthless, moral grayness, clever, and powerful. Even with her meeting her demise, I’d bet fragments of the Chain will carrying on her legacy in the coming season. Osyraa has left a mark on the Federation’s future. On the side of the Federation, we have Admiral Vance, who I think showed his best qualities when facing Osyraa. He’s a cautious leader and, while I was initially suspicious of the Federation of the new era, I think he genuinely means well. (Watch him be revealed as a secret conspirator in some evil plot now that I’ve said that.) I hope we get to see more of the Federation’s leadership, including Admiral Vance, between what diplomatic missions Discovery has to rebuild the Federation in season 4.

“I don’t think I could be more the target audience of Adira’s story if I tried.”

Of all of the awesome characters introduced in season 3, Adira Tal was the life-changer for me. I don’t think I could be more the target audience of Adira’s story if I tried. A too smart, 16 year old kid, who doesn’t feel like a ‘she’, in over their head and trying to be an adult about it? I fit that description not long ago, when I was starting college as a high school drop out, two years early. I was determined to study some stars and prove anyone who underestimated me wrong. Adira’s story spoke to me. You ever watch a scene and feel that prickle on your skin like eyes are watching you because you see so much of yourself on screen? It’s uncomfortable and cathartic and consoling all at once. I felt that a lot watching Discovery Season 3. All of the scenes with Adira, Gray, Paul, and Hugh, hit me hard. There’s nothing I could write to explain how I adore these characters, but I’m sure I’ll have a whole post about it in the future.

I could say a whole lot more (there’s a bunch I love about this season I haven’t even mentioned), but the short version is I love Star Trek Discovery. Expect this blog to have many entries on this show. If you haven’t watched it, you should. Discovery holds a special place in my heart not just because it is Star Trek, but because it dares explore the Star Trek universe and tell new stories. Season 3 takes this even exploration further than previous seasons and that’s what makes it shine.

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.