Imogen follows Laudna | Critical Role - Bells Hells ep 95

[@Carakaye29]

The deeply devastatingly sad "yeah?" From Laudna, where she's desperately seeking that validation of unconditional love from Imogen. *chef's kiss*

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

Which is even more tragic when you realize that that's something that people with addiction do to their loved ones as well after they "took a hit" but knew they shouldn't have. It's that element of "I know I f*cked up but can you forgive me?" that may or may not actually be sincere. To me the even more devastating part was the "I've never lied to you!" which is what emotionally manipulative partners say when they're caught being deceptive. Laudna's becoming more and more like Delilah, aka her own abuser, and it's absolutely heartbreaking

[@joshuahughes-davies7124]

Laudna saying "I love you" and "yeah?" and "I didn't mean it" begging for affirmation hits so hard, Mariska knows how to tap into an addicts pain and sorrow.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

The thing that makes this so heartbreaking is Imogen finally realizing how far Laudna has backslid. Up until now Imogen has had nearly blind faith in Laudna, but now I feel like that faith has been badly shaken. IMO though, this is probably for the best. Imogen's been unwaveringly supportive of Laudna, but I think what Laudna actually needs is a bit of "tough love," and Imogen couldn't provide that as long as she continued to believe Laudna was "fine." Now Imogen has to start contemplating what many people in a relationship with someone suffering from addiction has to: "Can I truly help this person help themselves, and what's the line where I finally can't take any more?" It's heartbreaking, but it's a compelling story because it's realistic for the situation

[@joshuastrittmatter4188]

I genuinely hope that Imogen soon instigates a couple’s argument between them-if only because I want Laudna to get some sense verbally knocked into her. Like you said, Laudna is now on an extremely scary and dangerous path; she’s becoming more like Delilah and she doesn’t realize it. But, despite how terrifying the odds are (I bear no shame in admitting I’m genuinely scared for her, and by extension her relationship with Imogen), she still isn’t Delilah yet. However bleak the circumstances are, I don't think they're insurmountable. There’s still hope left. And the sooner Imogen calls Laudna out on her flaws and talks about this, the better. Because just maybe, it’ll raise Laudna’s chances for when shit gets real. After all, Laudna does love Imogen. And that moment where Delilah instantly recoiled when Laudna said those words… I like to think that was there for a reason. I don’t know for certain what’s going to happen in the near future…but for all we know, that moment may very well have been the key. Anyways, I hope you have a great day. Peace be with you.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@joshuastrittmatter4188 I'd be lying if I didn't say I still held a sliver of hope for Laudna so I'm right there with you. If Laudna's going to get off this path, I think it's going to have to be with some tough love. Edit: I will possit though that there's another possibility for why Delilah didn't mirror "I love you." It wasn't her recoiling but rather her simply refusing to the say those words to anyone other than Silas, because no matter what that's whom she considers to be her one and only love. Just putting that out there so we don't all pin our hopes on a "Love conquers all!" storyline

[@Slipgatex]

Imogen gave an addict permission just by even broaching the subject of using their darker sides to accomplish their goals. If someone isn't in their right mind, tempted by their addiction, you can't really be upset that they relapse if you essentially tell them "well maybe Delilah's power aka your addiction, could be useful!". "Why'd you give her more power?" -_- What'd she expect? Lol

[@OneNerdyAce]

this whole scene had me in shambles. imogen following in the first place because she doesnt wanna lose laudna again. laudnas form of dread being delilah herself. delilahs voice echoing with laudnas, only for it to fade when she says "i love you". masterful storytelling all around

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

Which a part of me was wondering if that was meant to represent that there was a possibility that Laudna and Imogen's love could overcome Delilah, but then I realized it's far more likely that its because Delilah will only ever have one love of her life and she refuses to say those words to anyone other than him

[@OneNerdyAce]

@@hfar_in_the_sky oooooh i did not think of it the other way around. that makes so much more sense for delilah to do

[@anjelica948]

Having been an addict and having loved an addict, both Marisha and Laura’s roleplay and the dynamic of their characters is SO GOOD!!! And by good, I mean absolutely heartbreaking in the best way.

[@Billejeangirl30]

Robbie thinking that it was just gonna be shenanigans is what we were all hoping for,but sadly that is not happening.

[@karstenmadsen14]

Tal reaching out and gripping Liam's shoulder around the 6:30 mark really mimics how we were all feeling - Matt echoing Marisha was such an amazing move!

[@savingpyro]

Ashley Johnson is all of us during those last several minutes.😳😳

[@mattattack9185]

i like how everyone stood beside her thinking the swords cursed......but oh noooo wait the dead girls cursed lol

[@leonnici5178]

I actually felt the exact opposite. I found it strange that most people simply ignored this major breach of trust and instead acted as if she had a point.

[@ABronzeSoul]

@@leonnici5178 Well with the world they live in and how many cursed things exists and with who had that blade I would also think she had a point to be worried and would want to check it out before letting anyone have it. BUT I personally would not be able to overlook the attacking of Orym in the middle of the night. Even if she didn't mean to hurt him she still did and KNOWING about what we know about her I would immediately point out that its probably not her who truly want the sword. there's a lot of layers to this.

[@bookmarkyourthoughtsblog]

@@ABronzeSoul I truly think the her attacking Orym thing is getting get more and more brought up; I think this whole act and her doing what she did with the dagger shows they can't fully trust her, bc Delilah has more control than they thought. I'm REALLY eager to see how this plays out in future episodes.

[@ABronzeSoul]

@@bookmarkyourthoughtsblog for me eager is not the word I would use I'm thinking dreading for me. I think the only way to stop Delilah at this point is kill Laudna. And I don't like saying that out loud but it's true. Apart from Devine interference I don't see a way to spilt them up AND keep Laudna alive we either split them up and then she just becomes at best a zombie husk or at worst just instantly dies without Delilah. Or we take them both out at the same time before any taking full control of Laudna can happen. I just want everyone to have happy longs lives but with each passing episode I don't think we will get that happy ending like M9. worst part is if we gotta take her out its most likely will be Orym or Imogen which makes it that much worse.

[@Blue_Lunacy]

Saw a comment that said Imogen's blind trust to Laudna was kinda parallel to her mom's relationship with Ludinus.

[@SapphoForAphrodite]

This is some of the most TENSE I've ever felt during CR

[@PartialKredit]

“Don’t ever speak to me about loss again.” Launda says to the centuries old man who has DEFINITELY lost a lot over the years

[@CritRoleClips]

To be fair to Laudna, she did lose her life, her family and her home and now someone very dear to all of them so I think she's pretty valid in saying that - I know Chetney lost his family and probably more that we don't know about but they have all lost a LOT

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@CritRoleClips At the same time though, it's interesting that Chetney was trying to point out that they all of trauma and shouldn't judge each other for it and it was Laudna who made it out like their trauma was a competition and they shouldn't compare themselves to her. So in a way for all her high and might speak, SHE is the one who's judging all their trauma and deeming hers "the worst." Which sadly tracks with someone dealing with an addictive personality, because often their mentality leans in the direction of "I deserve this!" which often also magnifies one's own negative life experiences as a justification. And I think Marisha knows this and is intentionally playing it this way for that exact reason

[@Rumkeez]

@@hfar_in_the_sky no when chetney says "he's lost more than all of us", it's easy to misconstrue that as him ranking their trauma and putting some above others. he's probably referring to the sword specifically while laudna takes it as him saying orym has SUFFERED in life more than her. it's a realistic depiction of gaps in communication and misunderstandings. I also think about fcg casting turn undead several times in the past despite knowing that it's a spell that harms Laudna and how Laudna may have been harboring some resentment for people not understanding her trauma (all of this is worsened by her addictive abusive relationship with her patron).

[@TheTherealace85]

this table is just going through it...

[@Thinkingmakesitso.]

Someone needs to do an animation of this scene! Absolutely love it!

[@Haideraide]

They are going to have to deal with the Delilah of it all before aeor

[@rapaz1997]

At this point Delilah has become to the cast the spongebob meme of "how many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man kuze?"

[@Neurodivergent-j1f]

We are not Laudna. We are VENOM!

[@jessk1683]

i fully refused to watch this far into the campaign until i knew it got sorted out, at least a bit. i don't think i coulda handled sitting on this.

[@joshuastrittmatter4188]

SPOILERS: Coming back here after episode 103. I just KNEW Delilah fading away when Laudna said “I love you” wasn’t a coincidence.

[@Billejeangirl30]

I have a bad feeling that they are gonna have to kill Laudna if Delilah gets too powerful. Or find a way to separate them. 😬☹️

[@skylaralley2465]

Delilah’s the only thing keeping her alive. They separate them, Laudna’s gone.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

Considering the themes of addiction that Matt and Marisha have talked about as it relates to Laudna, I'm not certain there is a way to fully separate them. I think like an addiction, even if they "remove" Delilah there will always be some part of her that will remain permanently mixed in with Laudna

[@Billejeangirl30]

@@skylaralley2465 Then I have a bad feeling that they are gonna have to kill Laudna to get rid of Delilah and I feel like Imogen is gonna have to be the one to do it. God I hope I'm wrong.

[@skylaralley2465]

@@Billejeangirl30 Laura has expressed her desire to make Imogene a villain. That might be her turning point if she has to

[@117darksonic]

I hate to say it but the only way I think this will end is with Laudna dying and I think it should be Imogen that kills her.

[@JDWindtPlaysGuitar]

...and I think THAT was the sad realization that Imogen had when Laudna was asking for confirmation on her love. It's tragic

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@JDWindtPlaysGuitar Didn't get that read initially, but thinking about it I could totally see that being something flashing through Imogen's head

[@WhuttaNerd]

Wouldn't be the first time Laura's had to kill Delilah Briarwood...

[@MordredAngstrom]

That's so boring and overdone.

[@nyxxx7376]

Im sorry but laudna saying dont ever speak to me of loss again. Is imo completely valid. She has always been happy and downplayed her struggles. So chetney saying that orym has struggled so much more. When laudna and her whole family was tortured and murdered. She was forced into undeath. Seen as a witch for years and had a legit maniac ij her brain compelling her at all times. Killed by otohans blade. Her soul trapped inside a shadow dimension by delilah. Laudna has had so many things that could have triggered someone to go off the rails. And its so sad to see her problems getting downplayed by quite a few partymembers now

[@gconnor18]

I don’t think they are being downplayed it’s about the direction they are going now, laudna has embraced the thing that caused most of it whilst Orym continues to fight. That’s the difference.

[@Raina92]

😢