Not only having one of the most complex characters in CR history, but *that* PC also stumbling into the best romance in CR history, and having someone as talented and fearless as Laura to play off of? Marisha Ray is thriving and no one will ever stop her.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
The way Laura expressed so much emotion with a single word, the way Marisha got plunked down in that chair after WEEKS OFF and did the exact same thing, the way Ashley took 8d10 psychic damage
Obsessed with Marisha's "He? She? They? Yes? All of the above?" and Matt acknowledging the spectrum of Dominix's chosen forms before ultimately not giving Dominix pronouns at all.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Let's talk about the SPACE Imogen gives Laudna here. When Essek mentions recovery she lets Laudna react independently; he asks about her abilities and Imogen lets Laudna answer. She knows that *Laudna* needs to engage with/feel/believe these things herself.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
When a character is hurt and the one whoβs been in love with them all along (either openly or reluctantly) goes absolutely INSANEβ¦ my entire body vibrates at a level that could shatter glass. This is IT. The good shit.
My partner just said to me "Hey, what if the reason why Laudna's ring switched to her left hand is because Delilah was married to Sylas and that's part of her Transformation?" and then expected me to simply go about the rest of my dayππͺ
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
βLet this be a new path to RECOVERY.β That language is so important here and I appreciate that someone NOT close with Laudna recognized and said it to her face. This is a decades-old, complicated, addictive abuse cycle nothing about it will ever be easy.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
GOD now I'm realizing that as desperate and protective as Laudna was in that moment, she still started by telling Imogen "we should go" and then waited for a response instead of just grabbing her and physically pulling her away. THESE GIRLIES AND THEIR RESPECT FOR PERSONAL AGENCY
Laudna waking up surrounded by corpses because Delilah wanted to kill her again vs Laudna waking up cradled in Imogen's lap because she's so fiercely loved and missed. IS IT OCTOBER YET. ASKING FOR A MENTALLY ILL FRIEND
βIβd die for youβ is nice and βIβd kill for youβ is fun but βIβd live for youβ is where itβs really at because isnβt that the hardest one of all
She told Imogen she was struggling! She resisted the shard and immediately walked away from the group! She let out her anger and found the safety she needed and took her time! AND THEN SHE CAME RIGHT BACK TO IMOGEN AND THE LOVE SHE KNOWS SHE DESERVES
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
laudna is SO GOOD. she's got one of the most manupulative, evil persons in her head and she still RESISTS. she's been with her for THIRTY YEARS and she still finds it in herself to LOVE and FORGIVE. i love her so fucking much.
#criticalrolespoilers
I need Matthew Mercer and Laura Bailey to tell me why Liliana Temult is completely covered from head to toe but Imogen is obsessed with sheer clothing, and I need them to tell me NOW
Liliana saying βNothing is more important to meβ and Imogenβs instant pushback, versus Laudnaβs βI love youβ and Imogenβs face crumbling with emotion and exhaustion because she KNOWS thatβs true, because she sees and feels it every single day.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Ep 80: "You can bury your head in my shoulder while I watch what's going on."
Ep 95: "Just gonna hug you and hold the back of your head."
"I'll just bury my face into her hair."
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Orym is struggling with grief. He has full autonomy.
Laudna is struggling with grief and trauma spanning 30+ years, has a literal addition to the abuser in her head, and must continuously fight for self-control.
Do y'all see the difference here?
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
As an anxious autistic hand-fidgeter, I'll never forget what it felt like to watch
@LauraBaileyVO
carry on a full conversation with Laudna while Imogen's body silently acted out its distress. This is only 90 seconds and still some of the best neurodivergent rep out there.
I think next time Orym pulls the "my dead husband and FIL" card, Imogen should mention how Otohan murdered most of Bells Hells (including Imogen's now-girlfriend) not as soldiers in battle, but specifically to traumatize her. She's too nice to say it, but I think she should.
This was βYou donβt have to fight her alone, Iβm here, Iβve got you.β This was extremely tender physical intimacy that said βMy disgust at Delilah wonβt stop me from caring for you up close.β
This was Laudna finally having HELP. This was everything.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
I canβt wait to see what Orym βI have contingency plans to neutralize anyone who's a risk to the missionβ Air Ashari will think of the gods wiping out an entire city just because it contained knowledge that was a risk to their existence.
#DownfallSpoilers
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
I'm starting to notice a really interesting juxtaposition in Ashton STEALING kisses and Fearne & Ashton STEALING each other's things vs Fearne & Chetney GIVING each other kisses and GIVING each other things. Like that's some neat subtle RP.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
i do think itβs funny laudna was a widely loved fan favorite when she was being reduced to surface level βsheβs fun scary!β but once the more complicated and interesting parts of her started being explored people hate her β οΈ
Laudna's biggest trigger is betrayal, and Delilah promised she'd help protect Imogen if Laudna kept absorbing power, and then she was radio silent for a massacre that almost killed Imogen, and maybe Laudna should yell about That Betrayal, maybe
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
You know what I'd genuinely like to happen? Imogen sitting down with Orym. "I know you were scared, but pointing a sword at Laudna won't help. Delilah is her survival mode. You have to DE-escalate. Bring her back gently, with LOVE, not with weapons." And see what he says to That.
βοΈ NEW WAYS TO ADVENTURE πΊ
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Join us for moderated live chat, emojis, and badges, plus instant VOD access after streams on YouTube. Let our own
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fill you in with the details! β¨
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I wish I had enough followers that I could say "the mighty nein's popularity relies a lot on its timing-based nostalgia and probably wouldn't have blown up as much without the COVID shutdown happening smack in the middle of the campaign" and 100 people would reply "real"
Matthew Mercer I am literally begging you to not send thousands of neurodivergent queer people into depressive spirals less than a week before Christmas. Matthew Mercer do you hear me. Are you listening. I know it's probably already recorded but have you considered
Isn't it so crazy how Imogen and Laudna have soulmate-ism armor, which means that they won't break up or perma-die during the campaign, because they simply love each other too much to separate forever. So crazy and true and real. Laura told me on the street just now
And if I spend the rest of my life thinking about how Imogen's voice cut out and they reached for each other automatically and then maintained that touch through her moment of realization, because Laudna's her tether. Then what.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
I'm sorry but it's fucking hilarious that Dorian kissed Chetney and Orym kissed Laudna and Dorym still haven't kissed each other.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Not that I think they'll break up, but I'm pretty sure we'd *know* if they did. Imogen was quiet and sad through that whole conversation, and not anywhere near what she's like when actually faced with losing Laudna.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
To recap, episode 96 was The Shotβ’οΈ and episode 97 was The Chaserβ’οΈ and there needs to be a lot less catastrophizing between episodes because we are in the hands of all time.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Appreciating Essek's willingness to help Laudna is very different from framing Laudna's story to revolve around the M9's relationship with Essek and his character development. No C1 *or* C2 NPC should overshadow a C3 PC in her own arc's climax.
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Laudna seeing Imogen for the first time. Imogen seeing Laudna for the first time. Laudna seeing Imogen see Laudna for the first time. Imogen seeing Laudna see Imogen for the first time. Us seeing Laudna see Imogen see Laudna see Imogen [explodes]
C3 has the most Canon Sapphic Ship content in entertainment history, unrestricted by typical Hollywood rules, core of the story and in no danger of cancellation, and y'all are out there chomping at the bit for two disabled, traumatized, deeply empathetic queer women to fail. ππ
Okay alright it's time to say this on main
Imogen's disgust rankingβ’οΈ is as follows:
1) Delilah
2) herself, for having to say that to Laudna
Laudna: not present on the list at all, actually. come on
#CriticalRoleSpoilers
Laudna: spends an entire combat encounter actively fighting against her abuser, accepts the idea of recovery for the very first time, acknowledges thereβs a chance she can survive without Delilah, dares to hope for her future
Silly people:
Still thinking about Chetney stopping Laudna from running away then tagging in Imogen then clearing out to give them privacy. Peepaw won the trust exercise way before ep80 if weβre being honest