Love Never Dies Review

Sing once again with me about the beauty underneath!
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/ bobsheaux
Original Air-Date: February 20th, 2016

[@Maria-B21]

I hate that they make Raoul bad just to make Erik(Phantom) good for Christine.

[@shewolfsiren]

What? You don’t think Raoul could’ve gone bad all on his own? I’ve seen firsthand how both gambling addictions and alcohol addictions can destroy otherwise good people. Combine the two, and it’s basically good night Irene!

[@sharpaycutie2]

It’s called fanfic 😂 but honestly this was for the fans that love erik x Christine ❤I get it’s not fair for rapid but…ion care 😂

[@joshraid1550]

@@shewolfsiren yeah but this isn’t a documentary. this was a deliberate choice.

[@bradwoods8221]

Paint Never Dries

[@aleksandraabrahamowicz9288]

Brad Woods this needs more likes

[@ionceexisted]

As interesting as trying to watch the paint dries.

[@healerofthewaters6508]

If it's oil paint it might seem that way.

[@xkristixx]

Paint never alters

[@PhantoMace2012]

I am so glad this guy loved (and hated) this musical for the same reasons I did. Phenomenal music! Horrible story, and it destroys a ton of character development but its not as bad as people say it is.

[@jaychristiaans2177]

It's actually a kinda good story only sad the destroyed the character yes

[@broadwayking]

if I open LND in baltimore I am definitely going to cut out the whole killing christine thing and instead add a 15 minute silent film which shows the phantom and christine growing old or something

[@thejman5683]

So the Metroid Other M of Broadway, got it.

[@Mathee]

I saw a production of this a couple of years ago. In the production I saw, in the final scene, Gustav runs away again after seeing the Phantom's face, making you believe that he has rejected his father, but then Gustav returns with Raoul in hand and hugs the Phantom, implying that Raoul and the Phantom will raise Gustav together

[@MovieFan1912]

I don’t know if that’s any better.

[@DeepEye1994]

Why would the Phantom keep the freaks in cages (or displays anyway) if he himself was exploited as a freak in a cage when he was younger? Also... WHAT THE HELL?!? What about Meg? We spend this entire friggin musical following her descent to insanity and once she kills Christine... She just disappears, apparently!?

[@Lishadra]

Why do abused people turn and do it to their children? Broken people break things. As for Meg, you got me.

[@TheAtemAndrew]

+DeepEye1994 In regards to that, it appears as though he only lets special, trusted people in, and shows them off as beautiful, as opposed to hideous beasts to be laughed at and exploited. Clearly they can get out and get in on the 'show' (as shown by the scene they're in.)

[@OptimusPhillip]

30:39

[@Bobsheaux]

Thank you. lol

[@DeepEye1994]

Okay, but next time make that defense in the review rather than the credits roll. I know you put small comments in the credits roll in your videos, but when you defend something present everything during the review for everyone to see, I missed that. Though, still waiting for someone explaining me Meg. Big focus of this fanfic, then the moment shit hits the fan she just leaves. Lazy.

[@MagusMarquillin]

"technically your only half hideous, does that mean..." If we believe he's even 1% hideous we have to take it as absolute certainty!

[@tundratrouttheinvincible187]

+Magus Marquillin BATMAN WHY

[@DreamDancer82]

And people wonder why I don't like sequels. My sister said this was basically giving the Phantom/Christine shippers what they wanted, but I feel it didn't really work, considering they had to wreck Raoul's and the Girys' characters. But that's just my own opinion.

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

DreamDancer82 and people said this was better then the original love never dies HA A JOKE

[@manipulatemansplainmalewif6923]

I used to be a phantom and Christine shipper but then this monstrosity was made

[@Dreigonix]

If you have to vilify one of the characters to break up the canon ship for yours, your ship is not worth shipping.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Yeah, the book never got a sequel that was official. Nor the Silent Film. Why the musical?

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@Dreigonix But what if the canon relationship is poorly written or the characters are horrible together. Looking at you Goku and ChiChi.

[@natalieely8555]

The music's good, but I hate the plot way too much.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Bunnies! 🐰🐇 X-3

[@Isa-qz9mb]

Sameeee

[@Isa-qz9mb]

@Grace Drea Meg was such a seeet friend in Phantom...then she turned into a psycho, kidnapped her best friends son, shot her best friend on a bridge because she was in love with the Phantom....like wtf

[@kak4191]

I personally very much enjoy the music and visual and costumes and Let me put it simply I love everything about this show EXCEPT THE STORYLINE The Coney Island Waltz and The Aryie are gorgeous pieces and the vocals of the original recording are fantastic (cough cough Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo), But my goodness the storyline. ALW must’ve been on crack. Love the music and costumes and the new characters and the sets, but the storyline just needs to be redone. As I made mention to a friend, they should rewrite it and turn it into a Cirque De Soleil show, with actual Cirque acts in it. The very original production in London had aerialists, and the Australian has a few, but it could have huge potential to rewrite it for a Cirque-like show. Just get rid of the fan fiction storyline and rewrite some of the lyrics to fit the newer storyline. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind the production if the storyline was better.

[@antifagoat6591]

Alaskan Gamers Not a bad idea at all! You don't need much of a story, but you could make a show with the backdrop of the Phantom being a protector of circus "freaks," reflecting on his love for Christine, and finally coming to terms with that past and his loss with his new "family."

[@KiaraYaniz1]

Alaskan Gamers EXACTLY! The show is visually stunning and the music is gorgeous, but the story is complete and utter trash.

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

I'm in the same boat. I hated, hated, *hated* this show when it first came out because it changed way too much about the characters. Nobody acts like they should, and if they wanted to have the Phantom be a redeemed, changed man, they needed to show it as such in some way. Otherwise, it comes out of left field. But, looking back at the music, the style, the fantastic performances here... I have to give it credit. There's some wonderful stuff visually and musically here, it's just the story that ruins it. In other words, Love Never Dies truly does have Beauty Underneath. ;) On the plot... I think Webber did the best he could do with the material he was given. He adapted this from a book that was basically a fanfiction, and there's only so much a composer of musicals can do with that. I don't blame Webber for the poor characters and the dumb storyline, I place that blame on the source material. I just wish that it would have been adapted better and made to make more sense with the plot of the first musical. I feel like Christine changed as a character here, and the Phantom *almost* changed but didn't get that explained. Raoul, Meg, and Madame Giry's changes were absolutely nonsensical, but at the least Meg and Madame Giry have precidence for it. Raoul does not.

[@bubblesbubbly8525]

@@ThePhantomSafetyPin I know this is an old comment, but I have to reply! Andrew Lloyd Webber's job is NOT to write the script, or even the lyrics to the songs. He's a musical composer, so he'd be responsible for the orchestration - it's instrumental work. He likely had to work with the lyricist(s), but he probably wouldn't have the final say in what the story is or how the characters are. People hire him to make wonderful music, which I think he still did. So while I do have some issues with the story, character regression, etc., I don't think it's fair to attribute those issues to ALW's work.

[@bubblesbubbly8525]

I know this is a really old comment.... But I just came here to say, ALW isn't to blame for the problems we have with Love Never Dies. Unless he was hired for multiple roles on the creative team, he would only have dominion over the orchestration, not the story or lyrics. Even then, there would be adjustments made to help serve those departments and create a (hopefully) more cohesive piece as it all comes together. He wasn't on crack, he just wasn't in charge of every aspect of where this project was going. Issues like character regression, storyline, even song lyrics, would largely be due to other members of the creative team. Maybe he had a bit more influence, but overall I don't believe he was steering the ship.

[@megalodon7916]

This was a terrible idea. The Phantom of the Opera is one of those stories that doesn’t need a sequel. This seems like bad fan fiction. The characters have been changed, Christine having a child with the Phantom makes no sense, and it just seems like a pathetic attempt to change the story to give the Phantom a happier ending. It is an insult to the original.

[@danisnotonchairs3561]

Megalodon it was based off a fanfiction

[@freyrik]

I think the musical should of just had an alternate ending. Why is that not a thing?

[@iusethisnameformygoogleacc1013]

Phantom was basically based on Lord Andy's relationship with the woman he wrote the role of Christine for, with The Phantom as his self-insert character and Christine standing in for Sarah Brightman, except he also made a good story and stuck to the plot of the book, mostly. Before he started writing this, she left him. This play was basically just a self-insert fanfic of a self-insert fanfic where his ex comes back to him, dies, and ends with him being assured of her undying love. It was his way of working through a divorce First, something hoped to be a marketable product a distant second.

[@elsie8757]

"A face as hideous as this is capable of anything!" Sooooo ugly people are obsessive murderous blackmailers? Dang, it's like Cool Cat implying chubby kids with no friends are doomed to be bullies all over again.

[@sleepyspace3819]

The little kid was like fuck this shit I'm out to the phantom

[@EM2003.]

Okay so I haven't seen the movie, but lets get this right. After loving Raoul and marrying him, Christine goes back to that guy who kidnapped her, basically put her in a trance. Killed at least 2 people, and almost killed Raoul. Also apparently Raoul just turns into a total douche... This is literally the worst plot twist I've ever heard of, it doesn't even make sense. Like how did the Phantom get Christine pregnant? In the original, they didn't do anything. The most he got was a pity kiss at the end of the movie. Ughhh this makes me mad.

[@benpatania4319]

Average Girl Actually, music of the night is about them having sex..... and several other lines in Phantom imply this as well

[@EM2003.]

Ben Patania oh... I never realized that thankyou

[@Maria-B21]

@@benpatania4319, it's the "Beneath a Moonless Sky" where they sing about that night.

[@alexandergocotano1012]

Average girl bruh i thought it was a laulaby lol i have fooled myself again thanks for reminding tho😄

[@alexandergocotano1012]

Actually tho i read it but still dont get it

[@Jaceblue04]

The writers pulled a Ron the Death Eater on Raoul. Wow. I'm not even a fan of Phantom of the Opera, and I'm pissed off about that.

[@emmamiller5600]

Ha true!

[@MovieFan1912]

Musical Hell actually acknowledges this trope when Love Never Dies was raked over the coals of Diva’s infernal court.

[@GothicQueen1]

Mr. Y is supposed to be a play on the word 'mystery.'

[@TheAtemAndrew]

+Famousauthor1 I think you're thinking of Mr. E.

[@benpatania4319]

Atem Andrew the sound Y makes it the E sound, so it’s just a more intuitive version of a play on Mr. E

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

@@TheAtemAndrew In French, the letter Y sounds like E, and since all the characters involved hail from France...

[@TheAtemAndrew]

@@ThePhantomSafetyPin Eh, Y can make multiple sounds including a hard 'E' in america as well, was mostly making a scooby doo reference.

[@dragoncatentertainment7462]

Atem Andrew it’s more noticeable when you spell like this: Mister Y

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

I'm also a huge long-term Phantom fan, however, I will say that they could have handled the Phantom/Christine love story dynamic far better than they did in "Love Never Dies". I mean the Phantom leave Christine after she chooses willingly him? The Phantom from the original play and especially the book wouldn't be such a complete moron. Also, the Phantom actually loves Christine for herself, not just her voice.

[@TheBlondeBomb1000]

I agree, but maybe it's to show the progress of Phantom's character to 'selflessly' let her go and not allow herself to be dragged down by his predicament in that moment. He is a fugitive and she would have to 'disappear' from society as well if she wanted to stay with him - that means the potential end of Christine's singing career as well, if she chooses to be romantically tied to the masked guy being hunted by police, that killed two people and terrorized the Opera Populaire. This is before he becomes a big success on Coney Island, so his future at the point they hook up would have looked pretty dark. But I agree, it's hard to imagine the Phantom being this altruistic and thoughtful if he'd been outright chosen by her, given the intensity of his feelings/obsession.

[@alfredsaldana8095]

I've watch love never dies several times. (17 times to be exact) Iknow it's not going change my life, but for me it never gets old. Tickets for the live production go on sale December 1st at pantages. Cant wait to surprise my Mother. Peace all.

[@phantomoffimfiction89]

Music of The Night is my favorite Phantom of The Opera song and Beauty Underneath is my favorite Love Never Dies song but I love pretty much all of them aside from maybe a few.

[@jlbdreamscape2894]

I haven't yet tried to watch this because it was such a stupid plot idea that sounded like a 9 year-olds fan fiction. I just can't ignore the rewrites of all the characters (the Phantom is way too nice here and the Giry's are insane) not even remotely resembling what they originally were to create a romance that didn't exist between Christine and the Phantom even if the music I've heard from is good.

[@TheMsiaddict]

JLBDreamscape POTO was a fanfiction as well. ALW killed Daroga character and merged him with Madame Giry which is weird. You shouldn't be surprised when he made another fanfiction.

[@Jackaxed]

Nope, the Phantom's still exactly the same because he's still threatening the people Christine cares about to force her to obey him.

[@OptimusPhillip]

8:42 sounds like they're just begging to play the Phantom's leitmotif from the original, but are forcing themselves not to.

[@shewolfsiren]

30:55-By owning his own freak show, Phantom can personally ensure that what happened to him won’t happen to the freaks under his care and protection. His show ISN’T just a show--it’s a SANCTUARY for his kind, where they don’t have to wonder when or IF they’ll be fed, and won’t have to be afraid of suffering physical/mental/emotional/sexual abuse at the hands of their keepers.

[@redroofinn7o]

XD the nostalgia critic summed it up best. "A fanfiction." XD

[@Webshooters1]

BAD fanfiction.

[@anarchomando7707]

@@Webshooters1 A a horrible so with writing so bad I swear that even a porno has better than this fanfiction.

[@KopaXTani]

I personally love Love Never Dies. I myself am a PhantomXChristine shipper, but they didn’t have to do Raoul and Meg’s character dirty like that, especially Meg’s!

[@Heavilune]

I do ship Erik and Christine but I wasn’t huge pm Love never dies my opinion

[@StargazerAeons]

A rewrite of the story that COULD have worked better than this 1. Christine and the phantom do still have a child. Basically that aspect is exactly the same. The child becomes the phantom's new reason to live. As soon as he finds out about him, he asks only to support the boy's dreams of becoming a magician by teaching him his methods of smoke and mirrors. 2. When Raul finds out its the Phantoms son, instead of a gambling addiction or whatnot tearing apart the marriage, Christine after the birth of the phantom's son has become barren. She can't bear a child that will ever be Raul's. He loves his wife, but he also needs a child to continue his work at the police department. Remember, in the original he was the Vicomte de Chagny. Its a title that should indeed have a new generation to take over. Christine's life as a performer makes their family unstable. While her son loves traveling the globe, Raul seeks to set up roots. He wants little Lottie, not Christine Daaé. 3. The phantom is now very well off. His works are received by the public and financially he is finally stable. The Giris had to contribute the last of their savings to make it happen. Madame giri being bankrupt shamed her out of any further work in ballet. She's a laughing stock. So yea, shed lose EVERYTHING if the Phantom gave his child his savings. Eventually Raul finds this out. Raul is quick to temper especially towards the Phantom. And so disgusted at the fact his own son is not his own and the Giris lives are ruined, Raul sets off to kill the Phantom, who mind you has yet to do anything wrong in these 10 years. Christine stops him, only for meg who has fallen for the phantom to be shot while protecting him. Giri is heartbroke, angry, and curses the phantom and Christine, leaving to rue in her anguish. Christine realizes that the Phantom is a changed man, but Raul remains not only unhappy in their marriage, but bitter to the Phantom for the birth of their child. Her love for gustov and wish for him to have a father that would nurture his talents and support his dreams leads her to realise it's the phantom he needs, and its Raul she sets free to find the woman who will give him a child and a stable happy domestic proper life.

[@JinlongTheGoldenDragon]

tbh that IS better than remotely anything that is presented here. If we HAD to make a sequel, like some manager/production company forced us under contract, I'd wager this is about the best we'd cook up. However the fact that Cristine's development in the original musical would probably not make her run back to the arms of the man who kidnapped her and threatened to kill her fiancé. Therefore realistically this abomination of a sequel shouldn't exist. But alas if it HAD to exist, this could at least be more tolerable.

[@iusethisnameformygoogleacc1013]

Okay, so this is one of the things that I've yet to see any of these reviews actually bring up, but provides a full explanation behind why this play was made and what Lord Andy was thinking: Phantom was like 70% about his relationship with the much-younger-but-in-his-eyes-a-singing-prodigy woman he wrote Christine for, and The Phantom was his self-insert character in it. He wrote this basically immediately after she left him. It wasn't really about giving Phantom/Christine Shippers the ridiculous high-budget fanfic they always wanted, it was him trying to work out the things he was feeling when 'Christine' left him in a...less than healthy way. The whole thing is actually more than a little gross when you think about it, but that's what *all* of this was always about. The characters, the story in Phantom, the integrity of the setting, none of that was ever intended to be a priority - this was Andrew Lloyd Weber writing a self-insert fanfic of his self-insert fanfic where his ex comes back to him, dies, but ends in an assurance he'd always have her undying love.

[@spaghetti5914]

Soooo we got a guy adding a dynamic where his self insert has relationship drama with an allegorical character of his ex.... To a story about a guy making an opera where he self inserts himself as a character with a weird dynamic with the allegorical character of the girl he's obsessed with Self inception?

[@madisonsellers1714]

This show is the perfect example of how everything can be made almost perfect (costumes, sets, music, actors, the SINGING was amazing especially Ben Lewis) but if the story/characterization sucks hard, it falls completely flat. I just feel bad for everyone (besides the writers) who made the technical aspects of the show outstanding

[@thekungachunga4578]

Love never dies? Well, if you ask me, it will when this movie is watched.

[@thekungachunga4578]

I'll be honest though, I actually really like this musical, despite its flaws. I personally felt that it was a really good continuation of the story.

[@daynacooper1163]

2004 movie with gread butter and Emmy rossum way better than shit

[@juliadietrich3584]

just btw the "night of passion" was not during the original musical. it happened the night before the wedding between christine and raoul. it was after christine left but before madame giry and meg helped him leave.

[@Lishadra]

The first time I saw Phantom of the Opera, it was a high school play. And it. Was. BADASS. I was humming the theme for days and days on end.

[@graciegj63]

Which school?

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

How in the ever-loving fuck did they manage the chandelier falling?

[@ModernMedusa]

I wanted to be Christine (or Meg) since I was 10. My high school did it the year AFTER I left.😡

[@tinkywinky7758]

I somehow agree with you. This has flaws but it's rather enjoyable in the singing, visuals, and acting. Not the best sequel by any means but it nails on the certain aspects. I'm saying this as a rather big Phantom of the Opera fan.

[@Tanyaphantom1223]

Tinky Winky agreed

[@sharpaycutie2]

Yea not terrible but it great I’m just here for the endgame of Erik/Christine 😂

[@CyberSpider35]

So, writer just pulled "Superman Returns"-plot twist out of his ass, just with Phantom insead of Superman. This is... kinda funny.

[@anarchomando7707]

Jon lane Kent is better

[@pandorasangel2747]

Phantom of the Opera is one of my most favorite muscial of all time and I think the Phantom is awesome. But god damn this story throws away the logic an reason why Christine didn't choose the Phantom and then turned it into fan fiction. But the music is nice

[@karahgonzalez3293]

The little microphones are typical stage mics for broadway/professional shows. The audience doesn’t usually see them because they aren’t close enough to notice it.

[@HanaBakemono]

Hey, have you ever read the book this musical is based on? The Phantom of Manhattan, by Frederick Forsyth, who's one of Webber's best friends. It isn't a bad book, I actually enjoyed reading it, but comparing it to the musical, it makes more sense and has a better plot. For one thing, Raoul isn't a drunken douche, and the antagonist isn't Meg or her mom. In fact, Meg is travelling with Christine this whole time and they're still best friends. I suggest reading it, if you haven't, and I'd like to hear your opinion on it. I don't know why Lord Lloyd Webber had to change so much of the original plot as well as the title (which I think is based on the planned sequel to the 1925 movie that was canceled when Lon Chaney Sr. died), but what's done is done.

[@graciegj63]

I read it and hated it a lot. Though it did bring up a good point of money worship.

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

I was turned off by the idea of a sequel to what I thought was already a wrapped up story, so no, I didn't read it. However, if it's true that none of the characters changed that much... then why the hell are they changed here? It's dumb.

[@user-kv5jk5dg5n]

The sequel is not exactly based on this book. Frederick Forsyth was actually working on LND with Andrew LLoyd Webber but their ideas went too far for a show that must be shown on scene, they were just too difficult to perform. So the composer and the writer parted ways, ALW stopped working on this project for some time, and FF made many of his original LND ideas into a book.

[@HanaBakemono]

@@bkbeatty6087 yep. Got shot off chasing a thief, I think.

[@redsoldierhewlett9094]

The phantom of the opera went from being a terrifying villain and became an emo.

[@healerofthewaters6508]

*angsty teen voice* IT'S NOT A PHASE, MOM!

[@lilianamorales490]

CHRISTINE, LET ME USE YOUR MAKEUP TO PAINT MY EYES BLACK UGH IT'S NOT A PHASE

[@ArrowOdenn]

"Were they playing to an empty house or something?" Actually... yes. :) This was shot over 3 days and only 1 had an audience; so applause is saved for Til I Hear You Sing and Love Never Dies. Oh, and the bows.

[@DrGregoryHouseIT]

Did a 15-year-old girl write this? If not, this is unforgivable.

[@mariah351]

I'm a 15 year old girl and I could write better than this dump

[@annietrinity1833]

I wrote this when I was seven!

[@cityman2312]

More likely a 12 year old girl.

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

and if they did?

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

well I forgive it I made a musical parody if it and I quite like it

[@cipher8818]

I honestly loved this just as much as I liked the original. The music composition was amazing, the vocals were beautiful. While it isn't the original it still holds a place in my heart.

[@vivalachestnut8820]

Finally someone who actually loves this as I do! I think it is genius in its own way. Of course POTO will always be the best I think this is amazing.

[@siramaytheshowgundragon]

YAAAAHHHH FINALY PEOPLE WHO GET ME!

[@northmelody1783]

This comment and its answers make me feel safe about my opinion again 👀❤️

[@beckibenz1136]

I really enjoyed it- I’m not ashamed.

[@CraftyCareBear]

I love this show so much!! There are too many things that I could say about, but it would take too long. Let me just say this. AlW is definitely British because this show ( especially the ending) is VERY Shakespearian.

[@xkristixx]

Let's be honest, their little son's angelic voice saved this musical. ❤️

[@Kahran042]

To be fair, Madame Giry is technically correct about Gustav being a bastard. :)

[@Benji568]

Love Never Dies I think would've worked better if it DIDN'T feature Christine, Raoul or the Girys and had brand new supporting characters alongside the Phantom. It could've worked better as just a spin off for the Phantom as a character rather than a full on sequel with his former muse. Lloyd Webber said in interviews that he wanted Love Never Dies to be a standalone piece, I think if they treated it as a Phantom spin-off with the main character getting over Christine and trying to find a sense of purpose in life then it could've worked better if they had left Christine and Raoul alone and not butchered them as characters to make the Phantom look good.

[@tatianarepp9810]

He protecc He attacc But most importantly Phantom’s bacc

[@eswan8900]

"Beauty sometimes goes unseen. We can't all be like Christine." Seriously, Phantom!? DICK MOVE!

[@MovieFan1912]

(Cue Naked Gun Facepalm)

[@kylikuykendall5752]

I think this play shouldn’t have been made. the original story is fine of its own

[@Marylmac]

The stage version in Australia was the masterpiece of all times. It was amazing. the real orchestra with ALW's best music ever...his words.I was in the front row and a few weeks later centre row 6. Breath taking costumes and sets...beautiful music...great actors... great atmosphere. ALW was sorting out filming for the 25th anniversary of POTO in UK, when he was looking at the Aussie version clip of a new line in the revised show in Melbourne and one of the camera men gasped and asked what was the clip about. ALW told him and the camera man said they should be filming that instead of the 25th Anniversary, they were doing. 2 days later they were on a plane to Australia with a 5 camera crew, filmed the actual stage show for 4 nights in Melbourne and flew back to UK. They recorded the real show from go to end and the voices were not over dubbed but recorded on set as they performed.

[@Ichigoisfatal221]

So the the begging of the play/movie, with the black and white, older Raoul and Meg , and the chattered chandler never really happened....I'm confused. Why is Raoul a jack ass and...a gambler? And didn't the Phantom let them go? I'm not sure to call this beautiful shit or just shit.

[@sonic8005]

Well, for the first comment, I have to reply that this story is very heavily inspired by a book The Phantom of Manhattan, which claimed Raoul was incapable of having children because he had previously been shot in... umm, that area... in said book, Raoul had lost his fortune somehow as well but also worth noting that the Phantom had *raped* Christine... Love Never Dies isn't really great in story but at least they got the idea that it's consent down. In the original musical Raoul is doubtful of the claims of this Phantom at first, but he heard the Phantom's voice earlier and thus when he says to Christine "there is no Phantom of the Opera" he's trying to assure her that she is in no danger whatsoever and to get her to pretend it was all "a dream and nothing more"

[@jasontodd6350]

Love never dies.... it simply becomes monstrous abomination of a sequel that no one wanted

[@philipjohnson3225]

I wish this whole thing could have been as awesome as “The Beauty Underneath...” maybe it would have worked better as a story about the Phantom learning to accept himself and showing off the beauty underneath

[@CLAldridgeArt]

I think it would safe to say that I can be counted among the die-hard fans of the original Phantom Of The Opera. I had NO IDEA that there was a sequel developed until a couple of days ago when it was announced that Lloyd Webber's channel THE SHOW MUST GO ON, who has been streaming his musicals free for 48 hours each weekend since the Covid-19 Pandemic forced a global shut down of theaters, would be featuring it beginning April 24-26. 2020. Because last weekends feature was the Ramin Karimloo/Sierra Boggess, Royal Albert Theatre production of the original Phantom, I didn't want to find myself so attached to THAT, that I was unable to enjoy Love Never Dies, so I decided to research it. The first thing I learned was that long before Ramin and Sierra were tapped to immortalize Phantom on film, THEY were the original stars of the London production of Love Never Dies.. so the first disappointment I had to over come is that THIS isn't them.. .the second thing I had to overcome was the implausibility of the plot (which I read on Wikipedia), but I found that the more I studied it the easier it was to separate the two in my mind... Original vs Sequel. Now I think of them as two entirely different stories, which is one of the things Andrew Lloyd Webber was trying to get across to us when he defended against the critics. In much the same way that die-hard fans of Gaston Larueax's original novel absolutely hated the liberties that ALW, Tim Rice and Cameron McIntosh took with the story in the first place, I've allowed in my mind the liberties that this sequel takes. After all, Lareaux's Phantom died and Christine found the body when she went to return the ring... "Phantom's" Christine returned without Raoul to return his ring... so maybe, just maybe she didn't just turn and go feeling awful she had broken his heart.... It is ALWAYS a risk when you take popular characters from one story and plant them in another.. but viewed as a separate animal.. with only a bit of shared history with it's progenitors.. this is a really GOOD musical, with fabulous sets, talented stars and the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber delivered in a whole new way (The Beauty Underneath). Now, I'm totally prepared to see it.. AND love it!

[@Kahran042]

RE: favorite song - for me, it's a tie between The Beauty Underneath from this, and the titular song from the original.

[@Lishadra]

Definitely. They're amazing.

[@graciegj63]

Though the overuse of the word beautiful is a bit much.

[@dollhouse3160]

I’ve been so confused by this whole thing and the introduction just summed the whole thing up for me. Thank you!

[@themaskedmewtwo4320]

Jack Lyall in particular is wonderful in this. I really wish we got to hear him in more musicals. He's a fantastic singer for his age.

[@wacky_writersworld9968]

5:54 That and the fact that The Phantom can help protect his family.

[@stockrice]

I adore the music in Love Never Dies but I’d like to wipe the story completely from my mind

[@kiarastardust]

The north american tour was amazing. Its really evolved over time

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

It certainly has changed a lot and improved from its first run, and become better. If only the plot were fixed it might actually be more than just a musical guilty pleasure.

[@mattmallecoccio8378]

someone just wanted a happy ending for Erik. i think it was Frederick Forsyth. Such a buzzkill. It's supposed to be a friggin tragic story

[@neen3348]

I loved the live show back in 2010 and the dvd.....love this review i laughed so hard lol keep them coming, Bobsheaux! 😁😁

[@Moonbeam143]

I have the book. It's alright.

[@brianfuller7691]

I've seen the Phantom 4 times and it's still one of the greatest musicals ever made. Love Never Dies is very unworthy as a sequel. Everybody else will say it as well but... LND has a major issue. The music is rather good but OMG the story. Characterization?

[@christophercase6042]

You know, this sequel sort of reminds me of a book that was meant to be a sequel to Dracula. It was called Dracula the Undead. I notice a similarity in plots; particuarly the twist regarding the titular characters son. And between the two I gotta say this looks like a better sequel. While I'm not that big of a Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies atleast seems to follow the story of the original and other than a small retcon, seems to keep a consistant continuity, and only bastardizes on character. Dracula: The Undead however, on top of inconsistencies with the original Dracula novel, retcons the hell out of its plot an characters making it seem like a separate story all together. Dracula: The Undead takes more cues from the Dracula adaptations than its source material (and the irony it was written by Bram Stoker's great grandson). This however takes cues from the Phantom of the Opera musical, but was written as a follow up too the musical.

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

+Christopher Case I've read that book: It read like a sequel to the film version with Winona Ryder rather than a sequel to the original novel

[@philipdarrenellwell1994]

satireknight Unless you wanted to read a sequel to the film version. Otherwise, yeah, it was.

[@xFlareLeon]

God that book is atrocious. Character assassination all around.

[@clayton1117]

Great to see this video back up!

[@magnasupreme]

are the mics on their foreheads?

[@catspaw3092]

Yep.

[@sewthernbelle]

It's standard practice for plays and musicals

[@Tanyaphantom1223]

Yes. This is normal for musical performances.

[@juliadietrich3584]

If I know anything from modern culture, which I barely do, it's that female stars tend to keep their maiden names that they became famous with. That's what I attributed to her staying as christine daae over christine de chagny.

[@LittleJoeTheMoonlightCat]

The Dictionary Defines the Word "bastard" as An illegitimate child, (ie) one who's Parents weren't married when they were born, so in a way Madame Giri is right in Calling Gustav a bastard, his Biological parents weren't Married when he was Born.

[@alexa.9923]

I recall watching this in chorus and music class and I remember how much me and my friends thought Raoul was a prick. He was kinda pushy and forced Christine in a manner to perform what the Phantom wanted, getting her kidnapped and possibly murdered for all he knew. He was a slight hotheaded and self serving and prickish. Him being a bad husband and being stifling to Christine's singing career is sorta what I expected but didn't want. He's a fine guy, but he noticed how deeply Christine felt for the Phantom and how much it was in her music. He ignored that she generally loved it, was brought up in it, was raised by another mother figure who coordinated and taught ballet in an opera house, and her father was an amazing artist as well. All he saw was the one who seduced her and gained her heart enough to make her turn back and see him again before they fled. It would cause intense jealousy and a feeling of never living up to whatever she sought in the Phantom. He drowned out such things with addictions. I also imagine Raoul would look at their son and could somehow see maybe the eyes or something of Erik. It only furthered the harboring of toxic envy and contempt. I am pretty alright with the handling of him. Erik... He was done dirty. The effect is Christine got murdered. You fucked the main two and thus this. Not awful, but not where it should've been.

[@eleanorritchie6421]

First positive review I’ve seen so far. I personally did enjoy this musical. There were some significant plot holes but I just can’t stop singing till I here you sing. What a bop.

[@bluecollarden]

I totally have that same dog plushie that's in the background. It used to be my mom's.

[@lillianward2810]

I just love your introduction. Oddly that’s one of my favorite things in Phantom.

[@samuelbarber4154]

Seriously, what happens to his hair when he remove's his mask?

[@JessicasAnimalFriends]

Samuel Barber it’s a wig he takes off

[@leaana1420]

I’m confused as well lien how dose he have black/browns ish hair to a insane grandpa

[@smrutishah516]

Hilarious! You made me snort out my coffee. I too wondered about that German sounding accent and the handsy Phantom

[@micshork]

You reviewed Jack and the cuckoo clock Heart? I wanna see it! Sadly I can't afford patreon.

[@batmankitty8284]

im so glad im not the only one to actually appreciate this musical by the way if they make a movie from this i want Tim Burton to direct it that would just be perfect

[@paulieboy6644]

Batmankitty82 I’d like to see a Tim Burton treatment as long as someone else is in charge of casting. Don’t wanna hear Johnny Depp mumble and growl his way through the Phantom’s songs

[@ModernMedusa]

​​​​@@paulieboy6644Um... What? He was fantastic in Sweeney Todd. Chill out hater.

[@maugos]

Interesting choice for a review. Never seen this one so I'll just take your word for it. lol

[@laynadallas5278]

I enjoyed the soundtrack and the visuals,some of it i did like too. But some of it. Like the plot was kinda confusing.

[@abbycline3095]

I recently saw the play at the Fox theater and it was amazing, it was surprising about how much of the movie was in the play, further more May I just say that Love Never Dies was 98 shades of awesomeness

[@zoeboslet5143]

Jo Harvelle just the music.. right..

[@catspaw3092]

I love Meg's voice when she sings.

[@colleen5100]

0:32 I now have an invisible organ 5:12 YES thank you!!! 12:03 her face is like "How dare you tell me not to touch my child" XD

[@dawsonfoorfour]

I never watched this play watcher watching phantom of the Opera, I never knew that love never does even existed

[@sillymuppet8844]

Well, hell, that voice will do things to ME. Like seriously, both Gerry, and Ramin.

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

Mysterious masked man with a voice that is pure orgasm? Into creepy things? Basement dweller? Musical genius? Absolutely. I don't blame Christine for falling for the Phantom here. *Especially* if he's played by Ramin. That man is the best damn Phantom I have ever seen, he just *nails* the voice, the terrifying side, the emotions, the mannerisms, and the human side of the character.

[@rainskyranger7270]

This reminds me of a Cinemasins Everything Wrong With and I love it!

[@donnyreisch1226]

The mics under the Masks and wigs are common for performers, its an easy way to hide the wire so you don't have it taped to your cheek making you look like a 90s pop star

[@NikkyKicks]

I'm glad I'm not the only on who was really uncomfortable with the seduction song being between a grown man and a ten year old boy. Like you don't even really have to change the lyrics for this to be a more classical seduction. I don't think Weber really thought that through... Like this whole sequel.

[@emmamiller5600]

Yeah the lyrics Sound Wrong

[@christosvoskresye]

This intro really works, by the way.

[@ThePhantomSafetyPin]

Am... am I the only Phan out there whose favorite songs are Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again and Masquerade? I feel like I am. Everyone else has this hardcore hard-on for Music of the Night, which is great don't get me wrong, but... I mean... *points to the Masquerade scene* Come on, guys. It's so fun, how is that not one of your favorites? In all seriousness, I've made peace with this show. I hated this when it first came out, but after some time... it's kinda grown on me and it's certainly gotten a lot better. Sure, it's not great, but the visuals and the performances and the music is good enough that I don't care. It's like the trashy B-movie cousin to Phantom of the Opera nobody asked for, but is still a bit of a guilty pleasure. It will never be up there in my top tens list of musicals, but it's okay for what it is. And if you go in expecting a silly fanfiction, and don't pretend it's a true sequel to the original... it's pretty okay. The problem is, it's *just* okay. It should have been great. This is characters from The Phantom of the Opera, guys, memorable characters. They were great in the original, they should have been great here. They weren't, and that disappoints me.

[@caril.9384]

I agree with Masquerade

[@bubblesbubbly8525]

So I haven't seen anyone mention this, but.... If the affair happened the night before her wedding day, how is it she is so confident that it's the Phantom's kid?? Are you telling me that she and Raoul were having trouble, until Christine realized she was pregnant and then they made it work so he wouldn't be suspicious? Like, holy plot hole Batman! Here and now, we don't have the kind of tech to know the next day like that.

[@MovieFan1912]

21:35-21:48 Either that or a fifteen year old girl wrote this story. Because, as Diva put it, “This is the sort of thing that can only come from a first crush, a LiveJournal account, and a head full of Taylor Swift songs.”

[@JessicasAnimalFriends]

I wish they had recorded the one with Sierra and Ramin. LND is so bad, but Ramin and Sierra pulled it off better.

[@melissalayson7275]

Like they did with The Phantom 25th Anniversary show.

[@juliadietrich3584]

That intro. Well done

[@daralynn4126]

Great review!

[@AvantiHalfhorse]

"... and not tell anyone what happens inside. It'll be our little secret, okay?" Because the first rule of Fight Club....

[@jeremymcclintic9378]

that beginning was awesome.

[@xFlareLeon]

I'm sorry, but for me, production value will never trump character assassination. We're supposed to believe that a guy who genuinely loved Christine and stood up to a murderous psychopath turned into a gambling-addicted drunk? And despite her choosing Raul in the end, she just kinda goes 'lol oops' and fucks the Erik? No. I don't agree with that any more than I agree with Luke Skywalker turning into a bitter old hermit who dies alone.

[@captainimagination1110]

Bobsheaux have you ever watched Transformers Animated before and what other cartoons do you love. Also Bobsheaux what's your favorite shows on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney Channel. Also what other franchises do you love.

[@under_prince2026]

The only part I don’t understand about this sequel is that why would the phantom run a freak show when he was in a freak show when he was younger

[@Bobsheaux]

He came to see the potential for the freak show (for lack of a more flattering term) to be a means of showcasing the strangely beautiful.

[@jasonbowser5754]

I loved it. The only thing I didn’t like was that the Phantom was way to kind from the start. He should have started changing after the big reveal. But I could live with it and I loved the music

[@sophiemazal]

where can i watch the film???

[@sarahcraig4519]

8:40 - 8:44 What I said "*Imagine if you were putting your son to bed and your ex pops up into the room.*"

[@avacornthelastponybender8583]

can we just stop & think about the boy's singing voice?!?! IT'S AMAZING!!!!!!

[@jkgaming2830]

I understand what happened to the characters in LND. Take in consideration that they are no longer in Paris and America's culture changes a lot of people. In POTO, we can see that Meg dreams of becoming famous and when she learned about Erik, she wanted Erik to teach her as well but sadly, his eyes are locked on Christine and Christine alone. This musical is showing a change in culture and as the years pass and change of location there is also a change in the form of entertainment. Can you blame Madame Giry for hating Christine? If it weren't for Christine and Raoul's young love, the Giry's would have still been performing in the opera house. Meg won't be a prostitute. Of course, you'll feel pain as well that after all that the Erik did for her, she denied him as a pay back. For the character of Raoul, POTO is told on Raoul's pov so if there was really something between Erik and Christine that Raoul ruined, it won't be revealed. Raoul is human as well and in 10yrs time things would have changed. Probably, he felt overwhelmed of Christine's fame and the fact that since the Phantom is gone Christine is no longer a damsel in distress thus she needs not her knight in shinning armor foe her voice can carry her. Take into account as well that they had a child shortly after. Having kids bring big changes in marriage which might have driven Raoul to his addictions. On Christine's part, all her life she listned to Erik's music. She fell in love on his music. She must have missed them over the years and knowing that the kid is not Raoul's son must have cause her to to feel guilt and lack as a wife which can also lead to Raoul's addictions. seeing her husband failing as a man due to her deceitfulness, all she can do is to try to rekindle that love to Raoul while forgetting her what ifs. What if she chose Erik instead of Raoul? Would she still be singing 'till now? Would things end differently? Christine loved to sing and instead of Raoul helping her song take flight, she pulled her rock bottom. How great is that? Some of the songs make me uncomfortable but since the plot took place in a different time and place, I have to say that LND captured these changes and the emotions of the characters are very humanly. Meg going loco is sensible like "Hello?!? I sold my dignity just to rebuilt your musical empire. I practiced harder and harder each day. I was there when she left. I was there when you were feeling lost and still all you see ia Christine. And, didn't you also go loco when you thought Christine will love you after all your years of teaching her to sing?" I really find this musical heartbreaking because they are allpast the point of no return 🤣 they've made their choices and it all didn't end well for everybody. But, at least no matter what happens Love Never Dies. Love never falters. 🤣🤣

[@magicamadeye]

ok...the doctor who joke still gets me