Critical Role 2x45, aka: My Roommate Probably Wondered Why I Was Laughing, Crying, and Screaming

[wrecksahlia]

WOW, THIS EPISODE WAS A WILD EMOTIONAL RIDE.

Here is a random assortment of thoughts, because what else did I get a Dreamwidth for but to yell obnoxiously in longform:

1. I have been waiting for Deborah to guest star for YEARS, ever since the moment I discovered she was a DM, so I feel like my ENTIRE LIFE WAS LEADING TO THIS MOMENT.

 

2. IT DID NOT LET ME DOWN. Watching Deborah was such a delight — it’s so obvious in everything she does, every choice she makes, every outstanding description she gives, how much she LOVES THIS GAME. And watching her engage with it is beautiful, and knowing we’re going to to HAVE A NEW G&S SHOW ON ALPHA WHERE SHE GMS is honestly keeping me going. 3

3. DEBORAH SITTING NEXT TO LAURA FELT LIKE A PERSONAL GIFT TO ME. The entire arc of the Jester/Nott/Twiggy interactions was beautiful, from the immediate best friends to the REPLACEMENT PARANOIA to Twiggy KILLING A DRAGON. (I’ll get to that.)

4. (JESTER USING HER MAGIC PAINT TO MAKE TWIGGY A HAT!!!!!!!! You know you’ve made it when.)

5. The greatest tragedy of all is definitely Caleb existing in a huge ancient library without the time to INVESTIGATE ALL THE BOOKS. (& Nott’s commitment to trying anyway!)

6. No one can break my heart like Laura. Laura channeling her own stress into Jester and Jester’s heartbreak was A Lot. (By “A Lot,” I mean I was a half second from ripping my entire heart from my chest.) I haven’t been this riveted to the screen during combat in AGES, and I haven’t stayed up watching past midnight in even longer. Listen, I may have survived my Friday solely through sheer force of will, but sometimes a girl’s gotta have priorities.

7. I was in genuine tears when Nott took that reaction so Jester wouldn’t. That she made it out with 1 hp is all the proof of the dice gods I need!

8. (Caleb leaving Nott there? Welcome to emotions hell. ALSO LIAM FEELING A LOT ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL A LOT AND NOW I AM STUCK HERE.)

9. TWIGGY’S NAT20/HDYWTDT. I was sincerely both laughing and crying at this point — elation, anxiety finally reaching a crescendo of relief, heartbreak — so if my roommate didn’t sleep through that, she may suspect me of being possessed. But it’s fine.

10. IN SUM: I WILL MISS TWIGGY SO VERY, VERY MUCH AND I WANT TO GIVE JESTER TWO AND A HALF MILLION HUGS. SOMEONE BETTER GO TELL HER THEY LOVE HER ASAP.

As an aside, Sam's D&D Beyond ad intro made me want one gif more than anything, and lo and behold, the internet came to deliver.

 

Comments

[ladymostkind]

I only knew Deborah from Netflix's Daredevil/Punisher so when I heard that she would be on the show, I got really excited. I didn't know she GMs either but she did such a good job this episode that I can see why. She used Twiggy so creatively and tactfully, she was the party's ace-in-the-hole the whole time. I also liked how easy going she was too. A literal ray of shine.

[wrecksahlia]

Yeah, I sort of stumbled across the fact that she DMs when someone posted a picture of the game she was DMing, and since that I had listened to an interview with her discussing D&D, and it turned out to be well worth the wait!! (Also, the only other D&D thing I know of her doing online, aside from a single one shot she ran, was the Force Grey campaign Matt ran for D&D’s twitch, and unfortunately they were playing Tomb of Annihilation, which is the module my DM happens to running at the moment, so I couldn’t spoil myself. So I felt like the the universe was trying to stack the deck against me, ha.)

Anyway, she really did combine tactics and just utter joy.

[ladymostkind]

Oh that's right! I remember Matt saying something about taking her hand? Like during the episode, I guess he was referring to Force Grey. I had watched that before but only the first season. Too bad you can't watch her in it yet!

[wrecksahlia]

Yeah, I figured that must have been the allusion! Sigh, one of these days — if/when we ever manage to make it out of Chult, somehow, haha.

[bboiseux]

I didn't know Deborah from anything and she was just. such. a. joy. It was immediately apparent how much she understood the game both technically and in the roleplay sense. She was amazing and I want her back!

Also, I feel like this was one of the best episodes in a quite awhile. So good!

[wrecksahlia]

Honestly, I know I was primed to enjoy her going in, but definitely one of my favorite-ever guest stars. AND I WAS SO RELIEVED WHEN SHE MURDERED THE DRAGON WITHOUT DYING HERSELF. A future Twiggy guest appearance is officially a possibility!

Anyway, I’m with you — I was so emotionally invested the entire time. I usually start falling asleep as it gets closer to the time I get into bed most weekdays, but I couldn’t even remember what being tired FELT LIKE.

[bboiseux]

Also, can I just say I love your icon. Where is that from!? I need more awesome Laura Bailey pics!

[wrecksahlia]

Ah, thank you so much! It was from a delightful Isaac Sterling photoshoot, but unfortunately I’m on mobile at work right now and don’t have easy access to the original. Here’s her tbt repost of a couple of them on IG, though!: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUQH278FXqz/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=zpz0jc09prby

[bboiseux]

Awesome! Thank you! That's more than enough info to find it :)

[wrecksahlia]

No problem at all! I can think of no higher calling than disseminating Laura content.