Hamilton (2020) Reaction & Commentary - First Time Watching - Who Tells YOUR Story?

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Hope you enjoy my first time watching Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton (2020) starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo and Leslie Odom Jr.
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[@jeffnorwood-brown8407]

I'm not into musicals generally, but we had Disney + so we thought 'Let's give it a go. We can switch it off if it's rubbish'. 3 hours later we realised neither of us had moved an inch. Absolutely fantastic. And I'm a Brit.

[@natl5692]

People are not non-musical people They just haven't found the right one yet Hope you've seen in the heights and tick tick boom to stay in the latest Lin Manuel updates

[@andreas.4764]

I’ve always wondered if Hamilton would be harder to enjoy without a basic knowledge of early US history. Did you find the storyline hard to follow? Or maybe it’s even better with a few more surprises.

[@natl5692]

@@andreas.4764 That's the thing about the rest of the world .... We're not clueless about other countries history Most of the world has basic knowledge of what happened in the US, england, the story of china, Arabs wars, south Africa .... The rest of the world studies at least a bit of it even if it's just "so the Americans didn't want to pay anymore, the french sent armies and england just gave up"

[@natl5692]

@@andreas.4764 And for most of the world early US history is not early at all

[@jeffnorwood-brown8407]

@@andreas.4764 No not really. Maybe some of the characters were unknown to me but the story was well told. I found it easy to follow. Not knowing the history helped with the intrigue. I was aware that the US/UK had a bit of a falling out but that was about it.

[@robvanriot]

My wife dragged me to Hamilton in London. I had no interest in it whatsoever. I am an idiot. Guess which one of us was in tears during Quiet Uptown?

[@maliii266]

Same here, my family made me go when we were in London and I ended up loving it 😂

[@JHarris533]

"Dear Theodosia" is particularly gut wrenching when you remember that both of these men would outlive their oldest children: Philip dying in a duel in 1801 and Theodosia's ship being sunk or captured by pirates in 1813

[@suebee0619]

I had read the boat sunk after a storm. They both were literally "blown away" You might be right about the pirates though. It's certainly possible.

[@drewjsnyder3]

Lin said this cast was selected to tell the countries history through the eyes of how the country looks today. Which is why you have Burr, Washington and Jefferson being played by African-Americans. It was an absolutely brilliant decision.

[@jcompton8507]

Also, LMM's intention was to draw a parallel between Hamilton's life and that of many of the Hip Hop/Rap "Founding Fathers." It was a common theme for the Hip Hop artists to grow up poor with absentee parents, and yet they were able to "write their way out" of their humble upbringings and hardships. Lin explains it best when he performed his working draft of the title song, Alexander Hamilton, at the White House in 2009, and it's worth the watch. As for casting, it would have been unauthentic to the Hip Hop revolution for the characters to be white. As Drew said, this was supposed to be America then told by America today.

[@freedomm]

He also said it's as simple as it being hip-hop and R&B music.

[@pinxerata]

It was brilliant in that intention and in the fact that it guaranteed roles for people of color on Broadway. It was not brilliant in the sense that having Jefferson and Washington, Jefferson who had a relationship of dubious nature with his slave (it is unclear if Jefferson and Sally Hemings had a consensual sexual relationship, many people agree that they didn’t, but either way, he owned her as a slave so their power dynamic was severely imbalanced), and Washington who owned several slaves, bore their teeth, and refused to release his slave Hercules Posey after he asked to be paid for his services as a cook, being played by Black men/inadvertently glorifying them feels absolutely tone deaf. Lin definitely did not have bad intentions by casting them this way, it was obviously quite the opposite, but I feel that a more nuanced perspective should be brought up when discussing how people of color were casted to play slave owners that did nothing to give them a place in this country. The casting left a bitter taste in the mouths of a lot of people. hopefully this doesn’t come off as preachy, i just think the whole musical is complicated because it has many liberal ideals while also accidentally being tone deaf.

[@shanemadejlover]

Pretty sure the guy who plays Laurens is Indigenous as well.

[@pinxerata]

@@shanemadejlover he is puerto rican

[@ladrac198]

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this, but Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote literally all the words to this himself. He's also the genius behind In the Heights and the music of Moana and Encanto. Also, just a couple of fun facts: Maria Reynolds later got divorced from her husband. Her lawyer? Aaron Burr. Aaron Burr later in life married a wealthy teenager, scammed her out of all her money, and bounced. Her lawyer to prosecute him: Alexander Hamilton Jr. 😂 These are possibly the two most intertwined and inseparable historical figures of all time.

[@bumblebeeproductions1673]

They can never escape each other

[@alien5520]

@@bumblebeeproductions1673 They keep meeting

[@marahbaker8615]

It's a constant scene of "Aaaah sh*t! You again!"

[@nikoaugustine5415]

They really do keep meeting

[@totalrando3156]

They say the reason it’s called Hamilton and not Alexander Hamilton, because it’s also the telling of Eliza’s story. At the end, her line is “will they tell MY story” so I subscribe to the theory that her gasp at the end is her spirit recognizing that Lin told her story

[@80sGamerLady]

Mind blown 🤯

[@bloodyuk8452]

Realizing that these men were "great" but not necessarily "good" is spot on. I think this is the first lesson I took from this musical, rethinking about history from this prospective. The historical "heroes" were people, humans, and we need to remember this. Daveed Deegs (Lafayette/Jefferson) commented that about Jefferson as well. The man was a "great" man AND he owned slaves. We shouldn't focus only on one of these sides - he was both these things. I love that you commented on that right after finishing the movie. A really strong point. Glad you enjoyed it, welcome to the Hamilfam ;) now go listen to the soundtrack on repeat for couple of months :)

[@Apple-og6gh]

How's your day going?

[@theshadowfax239]

Terrible people can still do great things.

[@sharonmcmurrick3853]

Perfectly stated. In the end, they’re (we) are also products of our environment/time/era.

[@ThatBlackPiano]

Thanks to Hamilton and the song “Quiet Uptown” I realized there was no word in many languages for a parent that has lost their child. There’s a word for those that lose their spouse through divorce or death and be a “widow” and/or a “divorcé(e)”. Now, as of 2009, thanks to Karla F. C. Holloway a professor of English at Duke University who herself lost a child, we have “Vilomah”. In many languages, a parent who has lost a child is simply called an “orphaned parent”, as in the German phrase "verwaiste eltern". To be an orphaned parent swaps the object of orphanhood. Holloway, after losing her child, wrote that she felt “punished by this empty space of language.” Noting that the word “widow” comes from Sanskrit, she decided to look for another word from that ancient language to name her tragic identity. She found “vilomah”, which means “against the natural order.” In response to Holloway, scholars pointed out that the original Sanskrit word does not connote the death of a child, but it does connote the inversion of what is right, the opposition of what is natural. It is the inversion of what is right, the opposition of what is natural that the child should die before the parent. “Vilomah” is a legacy erased, a genetic line extinguished as if it had never existed, oblivion, a reversal of creation itself. Yet claiming a name provides a balm. As Holloway puts it, “the difference between today’s grief and tomorrow’s is that now there is a name; Vilomah - A parent whose child has died.”

[@ralfrudi3963]

I'm pretty sure though that there simply doesn't exist a special word for it because child death was so common that there was no need for a special word. People just played the numbers game. Losing a couple of children when they were still young was to be expected.

[@TheSteviebabes]

When this came out on Disney+ at the beginning of July 2020, I don't think I knew what kind of state my mind was in after three months of lockdown. Hamilton broke me. I was covered in goosebumps from the moment the Disney logo appears with the '10 Duel Commandments' music over it, and I was captivated, enthralled and awed at every moment to finally be seeing the cast from the soundtrack I'd had stuck in my head for four years. But when 'Wait For It' started, I was destroyed. Something overtook me, and I found myself wracked with sobs, almost struggling to breathe through them. This wasn't opening-of-Up tears; it was beyond even end-of-Coco tears. I have never been that emotionally overwhelmed by any piece of art or culture, ever. I don't think I ever will be again. It was like every anxiety, stress, worry, frustration, fear and feeling that had been building up since March inside my head burst out all at the same time. And this happened two more times before the end of the film ('Stay Alive (reprise)' and 'Who Lives, Who Dies...'). Hamilton did something to me that no other film has ever done or may ever do. I watched it three times on that first day. I've watched it once every couple of months since. I still notice new and amazing things. It might be my favourite thing.

[@Kayjee17]

I was naughty and found a bootleg version of the show about a year before it released on Disney + and it "blew me all away". I was expecting it to be cool and interesting but I never expected it to make me cry like it did.

[@kristabelle7625]

I had the exact same response, & have listened to it everyday since. Lin Manuel is a true creative genius, beyond anything or anybody alive today. Everything he does turns to gold! But this musical is next level. I thank my lucky stars everyday that it found me. It’s my go to tonic for stress & everyday worries that we all suffer from. Truly a masterpiece’

[@phoenixwing5133]

For me, it was the moment Phillip died and Eliza's screams of agony. I absolutely broke after that.

[@suebee0619]

In terms of the how, they recorded two performances straight on (maybe 3?) and then had a day of close ups/pick ups. And then Tommy Kail sat with the editors and sliced it together. Jonathan Groff (King George) had already left the show, but flew back just for the filming. As for how it made me feel as an American, well, I felt conflicted. The biggest thing, which was really fantastic, was it took the founding fathers off their pedestals and out of their paintings and made you realize they were just men. Regular, messy, imperfect people just as we all are. And these regular men created an entire country. It's mind blowing. It also made me realize that we're still dealing with a lot of the same things today and we have a lot further to go. As a theatre person? Good God. I went to see it before the cast album came out. Jaded theatre person that I am, my thought going in was "This can't possibly be as good as people are saying." Fifteen minutes in "Hold on... this is... wow. OK, but does it continue? And wait, did they just make a Your Mom joke?" to absolutely sobbing by the end. Between the music, lyrics, orchestrations (Lac is INCREDIBLE), lighting, set and sound designs. direction and choreography, it is the most cohesive piece of theatre I've ever seen, if that makes sense. Also, it has one of the best sound designs live that I've ever heard. The A2 on the show did a podcast interview where she walked through some of it and it is astounding.

[@rachaelkilpatrick9774]

Lac is truly a genius. Great comment.

[@suebee0619]

@@rachaelkilpatrick9774 he’s amazing and doesn’t get nearly enough credit, at least in my opinion. I highly recommend his episodes of the Hamilcast. Absolutely mind blowing. And thank you! 😀

[@chadoakley8505]

It helps that Tommy Kail is not only a brilliant Broadway director but also a great movie director. He understood exactly how to translate the stage to film.

[@chrisleneil]

@31:26 “Honestly, it’s kind of draining” is an introvert’s motto

[@ewebster909]

Remember that all the music is live too - the performers under the stage are every bit as talented as the ones on stage. And I love how hardworking the Company are - there’s no curtain-down, lights-down, scene-shifters - they do it all, in plain sight. Best piece of theatre I’ve ever seen

[@ljmerritt7376]

Leslie Odom Jr. is fantastic ✨

[@mbendorf]

Burr's story after the duel is fascinating as well...and would make a good movie. In 1804 (the same year as the duel), he apparently approached the British Ambassador to the US with an offer to help decouple some of the new Louisiana Purchase from the US and set up an independent country, supposedly with him as President. He was arrested and charged with treason but was ultimately acquitted by the US Supreme Court based on a narrow interpretation of the crime. He exiled himself to Britain but ultimately returned to New York, where he died penniless in 1836.

[@kathyastrom1315]

Don’t orget that he was married in 1833 to a wealthy socialite whose money he siphoned off. She filed for divorce, and her lawyer was Hamilton’s son!

[@Yucana23]

Yes, because he has no believes, like Hamilton says.

[@inheritmyshoes9559]

Well....damn.

[@rachaelkilpatrick9774]

Jonathan Groff (King George) is there for the bow. He is dressed like the ensemble.

[@vly9257]

Look between Jefferson and Madison 😉

[@marsmacl6211]

I've watched this about 16 times and I don't think I'd noticed that before. Wow, still finding something new.

[@wuttatota148]

In my friend group, i was the last to watch Hamilton. They keep talking about it and how great it is, but i really wasn't that into musicals so i doubted if it's really that good. Now guess who has every Hamilton song memorized and i'm not even American i'm southeast asian

[@maryjane89]

"This feels kind of like an Amadeus/Salieri relationship." YES.

[@ARD51306]

This is the reason why I keep my Disney account. So that I can watch this incredible work of art as often as I wish.

[@ajonteampanalo]

Me too, I subscribed when it came out and have literally have not watched anything else on Disney+ but still haven’t canceled

[@rachaelkilpatrick9774]

Glad you enjoyed it, I’d recommend listening to the soundtrack too. The more you listen the cleverer it gets.

[@tfpp1]

22:10 - The technical term for that is called counterpoint. Don’t sell yourself short, you get brownie points in my book for your earlier reference to Amadeus and Salieri, one of my favorite movies of all time. And I’m a classically trained pianist & composer.

[@vly9257]

Thanks for sharing your reaction to "the best rehersed show ever" according to LMM. As for the accuracy, some of the details were changed to tighten the story or dramatic effect but the facts are based on facts. For example, in reality Burr was not Charles Lee's second for his duel with John Laurens but Burr was a popular "second" who had a reputation for getting resolution with no shots fired. But the drama of having Hamilton and Burr as seconds in the first duel of the show was too much to pass up. 😊

[@kristinaschlegel2680]

Everything about this is poetry! And you’re 100% right about the cast demographic - that’s poetry, too. The telling of history through those who would have been enslaved. LMM is a crazy talent! Check out “In the Heights” which he wrote during his sophomore year in college.

[@seanmccabe5768]

As an American: "My Shot" and "Yorktown" are chill-inducing no matter how many times I hear them, and actually feel like they capture the energy of that time better than any other revolutionary art I've seen. For a different perspective on Hamilton AND Jefferson check out HBO's excellent "John Adams" miniseries, where neither comes out smelling like roses and Alex in particular is portrayed as a conniving and power-hungry little shit. John Adams did not get along with ANYONE.

[@yankee04]

They filmed 2 performances and one time without an audience to get the close ups. This cast was amazingly talented. It won numerous Tony Awards and the London production won several Oliviers.

[@phoenixfire124]

Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired by the Ron Chernow biography he read.

[@aimeemarie5462]

Bet you didn't think you'd be tearing up for Alexander Hamilton, huh? Lol don't worry, we've all been there 🤣 I'm an American and I wouldn't say it exactly stirred up my patriotism but I can say that it did give me an appreciation for the kind of human that Hamilton was. Like you said, he was a flawed human being even though he was an integral part and what the country became. I will also say that certain songs about the revolutionary war made me proud that our ancestors were able to achieve what they achieved. Thanks France lol

[@DetroitNickel]

I ❤️the roller coaster of emotion I can see on Hamilton newbies faces!

[@ms_scribbles]

Yep, Franklin was in France, too. He had actually been there for seven years before Jefferson even showed up, alongside John Adams. After the war, Adams eventually becomes an ambassador in Great Britain before coming home in the late 1780s.

[@ms_scribbles]

Other than a bit of tweaking of the timeline and the adding/removing of some characters and an event here or there, or a scene set at a place where it didn't really happen, it's pretty accurate. Like the stuff with Angelica, Eliza's sister, for example. There is plenty of evidence that points to her and Alexander being attracted to one another, but never doing anything about it, as it is in the play. However, she had already been married to the "wealthy husband" she mentions in the play before Alexander and Eliza got married. Also the fact that the sisters did have some brothers, despite Angelica in the play saying her father had no sons. Little things like that. If you want a more full story of Hamilton's life, you should really check out the biography that Lin Manuel Miranda read that inspired him to write what eventually became this musical. It's called "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. I've read it myself and it's one of those rare biographies that are totally engrossing.

[@ms_scribbles]

A lot of the reason you don't know much about Hamilton is because of his enemies. After his untimely death, his political and personal enemies did a lot to try to erase his very existence from history. It's part of why Eliza worked so hard to keep his memory alive, because there were people actively trying to do what the Egyptian Pharos used to do to their predecessors by chiseling their face and name out of every carving on every wall. They wanted Alexander forgotten.

[@videoeditorbloke]

I read that it was recorded over 3 performances with an audience, with some pick-up stuff done separately so they could get closer to the action and get various jib and steadicam shots.

[@margaritapeggyschuylervanr2486]

there were two live performances and one done to get the closeup shots

[@katpiercemusic]

How you shoot it is important. It’s my understanding that they went into this shooting like it was a movie. I believe they storyboarded the entire thing, filmed multiple shows and did a couple of nights without an audience to fill in some things. I’m always impressed with how they shoot musicals because usually you have to do it all live, and getting the visual story telling must be so hard, but this was next level and I think will change how we package and present musicals on film. I’m really hoping more people get to see Broadway shows either like this or with things like Fathom Events (where they show current musicals and operas on limited nights in movie theaters for people who don’t live near Broadway).

[@jakesigalmix]

Had the pleasure of seeing this in person, was dying when Jonathan Groff came out.

[@sarahe1491]

Hamilton! I enjoy musicals but this one is special, I'm obsessed with all the songs. The cast is incredible, so many amazing voices. So glad you watched this one.

[@Chloe-ue5kj]

in the ending,i have a theory. when LMM (lin manuel mirranda ushers eliza to take a walk around, LMM is showing eliza the legacy that was created and the product of her telling Hamilton's story, thats why she gasped she was happy and shocked at the product. breaking the fourth wall for the second

[@amandad401]

I'm not from Britain, but I'm from Denmark and have taken vocal lessons since I was young. My coach specifically taught me to sing with an American accent because it routinely tests as the most easily understood accent for songs in English. It also helps professional singers break into the American market, which is where the big money is.

[@cemerson]

There's some fantastic analysis videos out there delving into all the details, that make you realise just how amazing, self-referential and thoughtful everything really is - every detail is considered, themes that come up, the main theme of not throwing away his shot, and actually throwing away his shot at the end being what got him killed... it really is a stunning show

[@justmelscorner2811]

10:18 One of my favorite little moments. Lafayette must whisper something really raunchy to Peggy in her ear, her reaction is great!

[@jenniferd37]

I think you'd enjoy seeing "In the Heights" when you get a chance. The lead character in the movie - Usnavi - is Anthony Ramos, who is the actor in Hamilton who plays John Laurens in the first act and Philip Hamilton in the second (and - spoiler - is the only cast member to die twice in Hamilton)

[@DnRdancer4ever1997]

Jonathan Groff, the actor who plays King George, was there during the bow at the end, he was in one of the beige soldier costumes :)

[@nayjay468]

The multiethnic cast was amazing and even though we know who these characters are and what they looked like, I didn't notice the color of the cast. The story was very compelling.

[@thepetermullins]

I saw this live in the West End, it was unbelievably moving and such brilliant storytelling. Great to see more people discovering this for the first time, it brings me such joy to see others enjoying something I love.

[@aj71169]

For background, my mother enjoyed theater(so I had to attend) and I came of age with the birth of rap and received a university minor in history, so this was a natural confluence for me. But what makes it special is that it is cross-generational art. Like a lot of people, I was introduced to it by my high schooler, which gave us more music to bond over. And I enjoyed it so much that I was gifted the soundtrack so it was a staple in the car long before we saw the show(which admittedly the rest of the family enjoyed more than I did).

[@yankee04]

So glad you enjoyed it. Lin read Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton while on vacation and was inspired. You should Check out the first time Lin performed the opening song at the White House.

[@Sparklegirl79]

Shortly after the soundtrack had come out, and I was as obsessed with it as anyone would be, I made my sister listen to it with me. We grew up with musicals, and so we drove around and listened to it. We got to Satisfied, and she was like 'Oh, that's so sad' And I said "Oh, my sweet summer child, we haven't even gotten to act 2 yet"

[@alisong826]

If Hamilton was spoken word rather than rap, it would be approx 6 hrs long 🤩

[@lyannastark628]

2020 was the first time I ever watched Hamilton and i've seen it at least 10 times now. But sometimes I forget just how great the voices are. I always remember how quick witted it is, but Leslie Odom Jr and Christopher Jackson's voices are so powerful (Phillipa Soo and Renee Elise Goldsberry too!)

[@freedomm]

The guy that played Aaron Burr won the Tony for best actor.

[@astrovv]

Hamilton is amazing! Lin Manual Miranda (Alexander Hamilton) is so good at songwriting! I’m excited to watch your reaction!

[@ODHDisney]

You should watch come from away. A Canadian musical that takes place in Newfoundland right after 9/11. When all the planes had to land. It’s great!

[@rachaelkilpatrick9774]

What! I’d no idea this was coming. Amazing, can’t wait to watch!

[@karenfostiropoulos917]

This was probably one of my fav Hamilton reactions to watch ❤️

[@EclecticInstinct]

Your reactions were spot on. Great editing also.

[@natl5692]

At Philips death I was like : "why is he not crying? Something is wrong" And then he cried at the end and we all were rassured

[@christinefoster8959]

Shoutout to the Amadeus and Lazy Sunday references!! Love watching people experience Hamilton for the first time. Great video!

[@NeilTalks]

Thanks so much!!

[@80sGamerLady]

I remember on the news watching Lin sing one of the songs to Barack and Michelle. The show was in development at the time so it wasn't completed but he was giving them a preview.

[@ZariDV]

I know you say you don't have a good singing voice, but after listening to your speaking voice I feel like with some vocal training and practice you might discover that you have a lovely singing voice. The tone of your speaking voice is really nice so if you start off in your natural range I feel like it could make for beautiful vocals over time.

[@NeilTalks]

I appreciate your optimism, I really do, but I don't think any amount of training can remedy my tone-deafness. I have learned that if I have to do karaoke, I can do a passable Johnny Cash, mostly because he's more speaking than singing in most of his songs. Thanks for the kind words! :)

[@Sub.Star1]

Omg! First Lost (one of my favorite shows in my life, with Sense8) and now Hamilton! Love it!! I'm so happy... better way to wake up hahaha Now I'm going to watch your reaction 🤗🤗🤗

[@vbvermont]

Loved your take on this. So much fun to re-watch “with” someone who hasn’t seen it before. Your comments on Hamilton’s outspokenness are on point!

[@tylergirl1970]

Term limits weren't instated until 1951 following FDR's inauguration to a fourth term in 1945. Washington just stepped down because he was ready.

[@NeilTalks]

Thanks! I knew that somewhere in the back of my mind, but better to leave me mistaken comments in the reaction, I figure. :)

[@AmberFromVancouver]

Oh I love Hamilton soooo much! 🔥 If you start digging into the BTS of the production I think you’d enjoy it even more. There’s so much going on at every moment across the entire stage you’d need to watch it over and over to catch it all 🤯 The entire cast was perfectly chosen for their roles in the OG cast. I’m sooo excited that the live production is FINALLY coming to the Q.E. in May/June after Covid pushed it back a few years. I’ve got my tickets for both opening and closing weekend!! YAY!!! It is 100% nonstop from the moment it starts. The soundtrack is so good too! Straight fire 🔥🔥🔥

[@theshadowfax239]

Omg Neil! I just woke up and I see your doing Hamilton!!! I'm so excited you're doing this, just waiting on my tea to start watching.

[@andreraymond6860]

You might want to check out two other things in connection to Hamilton. The first is '1776' a musical written in the 1970s about the Philadelphia Congress and the writing of the Declaration Of Independance. It highlights John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The other is 'Mindhunter' a Netflix series starring Jonathan Groff (King William III from Hamilton) in a serious drama. It was created by David Fincher. He also directed a few episodes. It's a brilliant series about some FBI agents starting up the science of criminal profiling.

[@inheritmyshoes9559]

I live just outside of Angelica, NY. Named for this very Angelica. The mansion built for her by her husband, the Belvidere, still stands as a restaurant and museum.

[@Qhartb]

IIRC, they filmed 2 performances and had one non-performance day for additional angles. King George's actor is on-stage for the bows -- he's costumed as a chorus member.

[@martaesexy]

I’m genuinely enjoying your reaction I’m glad KZbin brought me to this video

[@jblkcns]

Great reaction during Burn and Quiet Uptown, we all had the same expression. Gotta hand it to you, we were in a puddle of tears at the end.

[@joslinonyt]

love how many of Hercules/Madison moments you left in! great reaction:)

[@ljmerritt7376]

The Decemberists were approached by LMM to record Benjamin Franklin’s song for the Hamilton Mix Tape but it didn’t make the cut. They still recoded & released it tho, it’s really good!

[@pink_alligator]

"I can't talk over this" That's why a pause button exists and a 10-second rewind so that you can say something but also don't miss anything

[@b_d15]

As an American (and first gen immigrant), Hamilton spoke to both my identities. Sometimes folks forget that Americans can be anyone and not to get too political, it comes from both folks who think America is only for a certain group and immigrants themselves who don’t fully identify as Americans. I think Hamilton teaches all of us that anyone who holds these ideals are inherently American. That makes me very proud.

[@intodaysepisode...]

I was crying when Eliza sang that very last song!

[@xxadunaxx]

This is by far the best reaction to Hamilton I've ever seen ❤

[@karlmortoniv2951]

Don’t apologize. It’s soooo Canadian. 😜😜😜 Your reaction is fine. ☺️ It’s very much worth watching some of the videos that break down how historical this show actually is and how much detail is crammed into it that only extreme history nerds will get. There’s a lot of material out there that dissects all the songs that didn’t make it into the final show and why they were cut. Not every writer is as immediately forthcoming about all that as Miranda has been. My only gripe about how successful Miranda has been lately is that I don’t see how he has the time to write anything else as a follow up to “Hamilton” now. I admit it, I’m greedy. 😌

[@Kayjee17]

He hasn't written another musical, but Encanto can help with your cravings - every song is a bop and also furthers the story greatly.

[@Dan-gi6tf]

I only came here for the Jonathan Groff scenes and I'm out but this reactor is so good that I decided to watch the whole thing lol

[@tyrabrown4524]

In 2020 I got Disney Plus during quarantine. I must have watched Hamilton 60 times and Googled Hamilton, Burr, Hercules Mulligan, and Mariah Reynolds. I was amazed that all of this was true, was historical. Damn, there really was a Reynolds pamphlet. Was Hamilton the first sex scandal in history (Jefferson second?) Lin Manuel Miranda is a genius!!!

[@berenke11]

That was an excellent reaction. New subscriber now !

[@NeilTalks]

Welcome aboard!

[@ashtanner2750]

I love your hair dude

[@annabellaepriestly3357]

Ah hell take my money xD TO THE PATREON! Thank you for doing this

[@georgiesuffell]

I'd recommend having a watch of some other pro-shot musicals, and I'd love to see a reaction to. Sometimes I feel like a lot of the things people praise Hamilton for are true for any good musical (only the genre of music used makes it stand out from the rest/opens it up to more people who would not otherwise watch musicals)... Anyway, here are some pro-shot recommendations: - Come From Away (it's Canadian!) - Into the Woods - Falsettos - Billy Elliot - Rent - Newsies - Les Miserables (the 2020 staged concert is great! or the 10th Anniversary concert) - Miss Saigon

[@jenniferd37]

I haven't heard of a pro-shot of Come From Away, but having seen the show in person twice (once in London), it can only be amazing. The Into the Woods you want to look for is the 1991 one from American Playhouse on PBS, not the movie version (which isn't terrible, but the 1991 is SO good...). I'd also recommend adding Jesus Christ Superstar with Ben Forster as Jesus, Tim Minchin as Judas, and Mel C (aka Sporty Spice) as Mary Magdalane to this list.

[@georgiesuffell]

@@jenniferd37 Yes, of course I meant the 1991 Into the Woods and not the film as it is terrible! The Come From Away pro-shot came out last year for the anniversary of 9/11 -- I saw the show in London and it was probably one of the best shows I've ever seen!

[@__LB_]

Hi-American here. For me, it roused a pride/patriotism toward the American ideals, but stirred something different toward the current system-a distaste/dissatisfaction in a way. It’s a window into “what-could-have-been” (albeit, embellished) but still made me crave the heart of what America was founded for, especially as a marginalized (but still so very privileged) person ❤

[@jfalan]

Excellent reaction 👌🏻

[@jvlw2001]

Great reaction! I’d love to see you react to Encanto, also on Disney+. Lin-Manuel also did the music for it, and it is also superb! Thank you!

[@tyrabrown4524]

So many Tony award winners and a future Oscar winner (Ariana DuBose)

[@jizosupremacy4033]

Ben Franklin and John Adams were ambassadors to France before the war or during it, and I believe that Jefferson was ambassador after the war. I may be wrong about that so don’t quote me on it. Also, great reaction! I love hamilton!!

[@lyannastark628]

Neil did you catch that Aaron Burr, in the end, did not in fact "wait for it?"

[@dawnburris6412]

Hells bells!! Good morning to me!!! Enjoy yourself sir, you are in for a ride!!!

[@intodaysepisode...]

I was WEEPING by the end!!!

[@susanworkman529]

I know you're not going to see my comment as it's April of 2023 that I've come across your reaction. But I just wanted to say that I grew up and lived most of my life in northern N.J. So much of this history happened where I grew up. The woman that Aaron Burr marked was Theodosia Prost. She and Burr got married in her family home just 1 1/2 miles from where I lived. The house still stands today and is an historical landmark called "The Hermitage". Geo. Washington stayed at that house during the Revolutionary war and his troops had an encampment just north of the house, in my town. Our high school was built on that site. Both of the duels were fought on the Palisades that over look the Hudson River'( I think in Hoboken, but I'm not positive) which again is only about 20 miles from my home. There are a couple of references made in jest about N.J. in the play. ( N.J is a beautiful state). But being one of the original colonies, has a treasure trove of history surrounding the founding of our country. One of the signers of the Declaration lived just about a mile from my house and his house still stands. This movie/play is close to my heart. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. You really shoulders it again as you will discover lots that you missed in the first viewing of it.

[@0Quiwi0]

The history in the play is a bit questionable because it had to also be entertaining, but it gives you some idea how things went

[@robwilliamson5082]

I somehow missed the poll and am now upset, grease is iconic but also, in my opinion meh. In the heights or West side story (original film or the new Spielberg adaptation) would have been my suggestion. Even if you don’t react to them for KZbin you need to see see them, they kinda exemplify how to film a musical for today. Grease did a great job of that ,but, I just personally don’t care for the book. Also, “Satisfied” is one of the most satisfying things I’ve seen on on stage. I kinda wish they hadn’t focused on the closeups and just let us experience it in it’s entirety. There are other songs I like just as well, but seeing the staging of satisfied was incredible.

[@Serpe42]

You should check out the musical 1776. Hamilton pulled some inspiration and lines from that musical. namely when he says "Sit down John!" and when burr says "Sweet Jesus!" 1776 is about John Adams and getting the Declaration of Independence created and signed.

[@tamiramos5873]

Incidentally, I absolutely love this musical and I am a history nerd....but one fallacy I need to point out is that when you consider the time frame, Hamilton and Lafayette both were not technically immigrants. Before the war was over, the colonies were still considered belonging to the British just as the Virgin Islands where Hamilton was from. Lafayette did not stay in the states so he was more of a visitor and on a "visa." I believe the more I look into the way the musical portrayed each character, I wonder why the "history" was skewed - even though the musical was based on a biography about Hamilton. I love the comparison to Amadeus and Salieri. Hamilton and Burr, if they were truly portrayed correctly, they had very strong personalities.....that should not have been brought together for fate to deal with. Take the time to watch a few documentaries (and why not? Watch the TV series "Turn.") to get the full understanding of Hamilton's place in history as well as the American Revolution itself. My opinion on the voices of the females are that they sound like Disney princesses. Washington has some pipes! Jefferson might have been the president...but he could not have changed the rules about the VP - that's up to a Constitutional amendment. Burr's daughter ended up becoming a missing person anyway. She is lost to sea 9 years after the death of Hamilton. And she was already an adult by the time the famous duel occurred. In general, the musical is genius. I still ask myself how one person can come up with the total of the songs and storyline.

[@sarahbankstheoriginal9797]

You need to listen to version with Obama talking in one last time with Christopher Jackson & Bebe winans on

[@kittycatmeowmeow963]

I'm glad that they included the French in this play, but I do kinda wish they could have at least mentioned the Spanish and the Prussians.

[@Shale0910]

Great hair!

[@flowerpower32]

the actor who played king george was there at the end too but dress in white like the rest

[@beth-bi9yv]

I cry EVERY damn time.

[@dressmup1]

There's so much to unpack with this - some wonderful websites that help break it all down- I encourage you to keep looking, so much to learn. Just think - how would our US history be different if he had lived??

[@AndrewRoberts11]

the old theatre adaptation of the Horrible Histories.

[@sarahbankstheoriginal9797]

If you don't cry in the last song you have no soul

[@puririiin]

guess i’m soulless 💀

[@sarahbankstheoriginal9797]

@@puririiin ok

[@Yucana23]

Please react to “Adams Administration” because of time they take it out off the play and it is another great song.