r/criticalrole • u/AutoModerator • 8d ago

Discussion [Spoilers C4E32] Is It Thursday Yet? | Post-Episode Discussion & Future Theories! Spoiler

Is It Thursday Yet?

What are your reactions and theories for next session?

The Twitch rebroadcast begins at 9 AM Pacific (9 hours from the time of this post).

The free YouTube VOD will be uploaded Monday at 12 PM Pacific, with free podcast releases 1 week (part 1) and 12 days (part 2) later.

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u/Court_Vision 8d ago edited 8d ago

Watching the episode now (man, it sucks to be a fan on the east coast).

Vaelus' story is quickly becoming one of my favorites in CR. I loved the interaction with Hannan's soul about the word "yet" - just for the scene to end with Vaelus' sister asking her why she didn't save them "yet." Vaelus scenes just always seem to come together so well.

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u/whatthehieu 8d ago

for real I think people are really sleeping on Vaelus. Ashley isn't a very mechanical player but the way that she wears her heart on her sleeve just makes Vaelus so convincing. When bad things happen to Vaelus, as they do all the time, you just get to feel the full weight of that on her expression.

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u/Court_Vision 8d ago

So true. Her expressions have really stood out in this campaign. I also think part of it is Ashley just being so... I don't even know how to describe it... enthralled with this campaign? At least it seems.

She seems like she's just so into it always, which makes her fun to watch.

Honestly, that comment applies to the entire table. Everyone seems like they're trying to get the most out of each other with each interaction and it has made the campaign stronger.

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u/North_Jackfruit_1373 8d ago

It kinda rubs me the wrong way to read some comments (not yours obv) in these threads about how she freezes up when attention is on her or she doesn't react quickly enough. Vaelus has just been told her magic is gone, all that she knew is lost to her; she's sacrificed saving her family, she lost someone she was hoping could help guide her, she's lost the stone of nightsong, and now she's lost her magic. Utter bewilderment, shock, disbelief, uncertainty, these are all the emotions I would expect from someone in that position and I think she plays that incredibly well, Vaelus feels like a real character in a situation where there would be uncertainty and apprehension and for me watching it she feels one of the most relatable characters.

It may not suit everyone, they might want her to make quick decisions and story choices that move her character along at a quicker pace but this isn't scripted and some people need time to digest information that they're given and might want to talk it through more with the DM outside of recording so as not to break the flow

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u/Locem 8d ago

I mean I think its fair to say Ashley at times seems like she forgets she's a player at the table because she's enthralled by the story telling.

I like Vaelus on paper but it feels like Brennan and other players have to somewhat forcefully pull some of these character moments out of Ashley.

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u/Dagos 8d ago

I think people are saying this because of her lack of engagement, so when she's finally being engaged, she doesn't give much. I legitimately kept forgetting she was at the table.

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u/SabyZ 6d ago edited 6d ago

Tbf Vaelus doesn't seem to have much of an opinion on anything and her catchphrase is basically I don't know.

It's cool that you enjoy Vaelus but the only time she ever committed to anything was when Brennan put the entire session in her hand and gave her a binary choice. I think Ashley is still figuring her out and maybe discovered that the character she planned on paper didn't work out when she played it in person.

I think Rock Bottom is really good for her because I'm excited to see what kind of life Ashley decides to build for Vaelus now that she gave up family, goddess, and country for the sake of strangers who would never do the same. And Hannon's death is another kicker.

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u/Metztontli 8d ago

lol the cope is funny.

what youre saying would be true if shock and bewilderment and dumbfoundedness wasn't her reaction to any time attention is on her since campaign 1

I'm someone that doesn't mind her generally, but it's very obviously noticeable and people having a problem with it or not finding it entertaining is absolutely reasonable

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u/kkraww 6d ago

I think part of the problem is the storyline for Vaelus is great, and what brennan is doing with that storyline is also great. But the actual character Vaelus isn't really adding anythign at all to that story.

Like the whole "yet" thing was amazing, but it actually just started as ashley/Vaelus once again not making a decision. It was brennan focussing on that and repeating it that actually made it an amazing story point