Merle and John's Talk

[@mags9073]

"...are you my friend?" "To exist is horrible" "If we meet somewhere in infinity you can apologize to me and tell me you were wrong" A COMEDY PODCAST

[@DonBurtango]

I get chills everytime I hear that last quote.

[@jacobjohnson2410]

Maggie Bugs I

[@everythingisscience658]

Maggie Bugs he does exactly that

[@hunterlangley8287]

So fucking good though.

[@everythingisscience658]

Nom San if he was on another level in the stolen century then he was on an other planet in the finale

[@MediumDon]

The same man who wrote John's monologue is also the creator or Griffin's amiibo corner and I think we all need to remember that

[@Northychen]

Donovan Phillips what's his name?

[@lavenderscare4995]

@@Northychen Griffin McElroy, he and his brothers (the other two here, excluding there father) did a lot of stuff for polygon, along with other popular podcasts, but have also recently started there own KZbin channel, which is basically just another outlet for there shows and podcasts.

[@Northychen]

Casey Chandler Oh thank you :) but I know that I just thought that maybe they have background writers for some parts or something

[@lavenderscare4995]

@@Northychen oh lol, sorry. thought you might have just found this at random.

[@Northychen]

Casey Chandler ah no I'm actually a big fan of the Amnesty podcast. But thanks for the reply anyway:)

[@clecanadalawexplained6330]

This scene is so perfect for Merle. Whereas Taako and Magnus’ character arcs centre on the concept of loss, Merle’s is about responsibility. To have Merle, someone who ran away from his responsibilities as a father, be confront with an all-powerful force that rejected the most basic responsibility of living is an amazing way to show Merle’s growth. Having Merle whole heartedly reject John’s worldview was great story telling.

[@eternallyexistential1103]

this comment legitimately blew my mind

[@jjju3]

"I don't always do things right, I don't always do things smart, I don't always do a character voice-" I love how he can just make a quick 4th wall break joke during the middle of a philosophical speech

[@Quinn2win]

Nobody but Merle could have been the one to have the talks with John. He's the only one who wouldn't have tried to turn it into a way to get the upperhand or beat him - instead he just talked to him, again and again. It's one of the most beautiful plot threads in TAZ, and the absolute emotional core of Merle as a character is right here.

[@aly2833]

Then 80 years later he made tom bodett step in front of a train

[@heythereadventurer9190]

@@aly2833 😂

[@nessiepace]

This is the deepest dad got into his role in the entirity of TAZ and I love it

[@paurepiccheeseman]

Clint did say that a lot of the whole “choose happiness thing” is directly taken from his own life, and specifically was inspired by the late Mom McElroy, which was wild to find out

[@thecurtains]

Do we collectively call him "dad" now

[@sanjanashanker7960]

yeah

[@Sweetumskitty1789]

@@thecurtains You're not?

[@thecurtains]

@@Sweetumskitty1789 I was surprised cause I do too

[@jackreynolds2178]

Okay so on the chance that nobody here has listened to the re-cap/discussion videos of the adventure zone. Clint actually says that the whole "choose joy" speech is actually inspired by the brothers now deceased mother. Which somehow makes this so much sadder to me.

[@keaton5101]

you can tell griffin has thought about this a lot

[@jabcab4046]

Keaton IKR! I like to not just see this scene as Merle confronting John,the mouthpiece of an omnicidal hive of dissatisfaction. I like to also see it as Clint comforting Griffin over something that was probably bugging him for a while.

[@tailsfox45]

Holy shit I'm an idiot. I always forget that there are people behind these characters and I guess I fooled myself into thinking that Griffin pulled these themes from a hardship he had already overcome and to spread a positive message about it. But now that I think of it, this story was more like putting it to the test. Shit.

[@MidnightBlackSky]

Genuinely, that must have been the case. That Griffin had thought about it. Because I sympathized with John a lot, and I've felt that too. I can believe that if I were on his planet, I would have also listened and been consumed. But Merle is the conclusion I came to. To find joy, because that's all you have. I regret that John's conclusion never came back to that apology he owed to Merle.

[@de_la_Nae]

Well Mirashade, for what it's worth, infinity is a long time to say never for.

[@NoTalentHackJob]

"And the sun drops further, and further behind the sea, and then the final sliver of sunlight is gone..... and so is John."

[@ivysfine]

Curses!! Im crying again!!

[@fandomv6827]

this was the second time that Merle made me cry (first was when he stayed in the Church in the Mushroom world). When he was talking about the things that bringed him joy I was crying my eyes out. Dwarf Dad is the best Dad

[@johnthedork723]

Merle is such an incredible character. Imagine if Taako or Magnus were the ones having these meetings with John. Neither of them would have put up with John. They’d spend this whole time trying to figure out The Hunger’s weaknesses and goals. But that’s not important to Merle. He’s the only person to ever have stood up to and disagreed with John. Merle is incredible.

[@gh0s7-704]

Definitely my favourite scene... John's dramatic philosophy contrasting Merle's more simple life, and the friendly sort of nature between the two of them... That, coupled with this animation, and the detail in John's sort of pleased facial expressions as he explains what he is, putting out a sort of unnerving vibe, as well as this visualisation of the Parlay world's consumption make this video truly great.

[@gh0s7-704]

Also, I just generally _like_ Merle.

[@grubbu7073]

I love how you did the scene because most of the other artists didn't add in the fact that john consumes the parlay world

[@lr-]

I think the best part of how you portray John is how tired he is. He's just been beaten down by it all, and it really shows in a good way.

[@EvilOttoJrProductions]

Probably Merle's most badass moment in all of TAZ. God I fucking love this scene. And this animatic is excellent. I really like the portrayal of the Hunger swelling up on the horizon; that, with the music and dialogue, is foreboding as all hell. Nice work.

[@MalkuthSephira]

this is excellent, and i really love john's facial expressions especially. that kind of strange weary smugness, the sort of sad "it sure sucks how right i am" smiles. im not describing this quite right, i dont think, but the point is i feel like you really hit it out of the park with how expressive he is, especially in kind of a sketchy cartoon art style. merle too, all of it really, but johns expressions stand out to me

[@icarusty6481]

Huh. I feel... sad.

[@huyquach5062]

“And he kill you”

[@newbestfriend5867]

"And he kills you." *o h g o d m y h e a r t -*

[@auds7938]

my favorite scene. especially when griffin was like, gimme a sec im kinda reeling. merle is incredible.

[@spencercollins1427]

Hoestly this was the scene that made me cry, all the people who talk about how awful life is has always made me feel hopeless but Merles answer really made me think more about life and how you choose if you have a good life or not

[@asoaringheart]

"What brings me joy is... Life. I think you can find joy anywhere. I think it's a conscious choice. You choose joy, in life." Clint McElroy This is my senior quote, y'all.

[@phantasmal_detective]

thanks for that idea, i'm totally stealing it :)

[@argella1300]

After listening to the TTAZZ episode about the finale the connection to choosing joy is so much more poignant.

[@Wolfstar26]

"huh.... i feel sad." GOOSEBUMPS EVERYWHERE.

[@crowmessenger9536]

This one made me tear up when talking about joy being a choice, Merle is a character that is like the sun shining through clouds, beams of great motivation and characterization and moments of greatness obscured partly by the granola dad facade. These beams are made all the more beautiful by the clouds.

[@patrickgruner68]

"I think you can find joy anywhere... I think you choose joy..." Aaaaand TTAZZ just punched me in the gut way too hard for the 420th time

[@Matkingos]

Blaze it

[@rosePetrichor]

I think a lot about how Merle is someone who embodies a very beautiful kind of faith. He is always the one who is determined to make something comfortable out of horror, even if it's a comfort he knows has to come crashing down eventually. He built a church in Fungston for the people there, so that they would have some semblance of hope and somewhere to draw together as a community even in the last days before the Hunger came down upon them. And he sits here, listening to John. Enduring his outbursts and many painful deaths for the sake of providing this being, whatever it was, with some comfort in what he knows will, if his friends succeed, be John's last days existing, too. It's a case of finding joy wherever you are.

[@duke__]

I enjoyed this a lot. This scene always stood out to me the most, and I really liked this.

[@codasinger5298]

God damnit, how the hell can they just improvise such great characters like this!?

[@alaina7108]

Okay, real shit?? This. This animation is what pushed me into listening to Taz, and i'm so deeply in love with it, and in debt to you that this is what got me fully interested. I just listened to this episode like yesterday n' I'm dying I haven't finished the final yet.

[@johnsonjohnson3261]

I really think I like this interpretation the most out of the others I've seen of this scene. I think, even though it's pretty, I don't think I John needs to be portrayed as some awesomely handsome individual as he has in other videos. I think I prefer these rather simple designs. I really felt like the emotions come out much more strongly here. Good job.

[@deltaphant_]

I think this here was ultimately the cause of the thing that John did in the latest episode.

[@darmocat]

I want to discuss that episode but I also don't want to leave spoilers on these animatics! :(

[@Darkthoughts-z7r]

Merle is such a dad. Big Dad Energy

[@garasunonamida]

This is my favorite scene in the entirety of Balance possibly. No matter how many times I hear it it gives me goosebumps.

[@JackieFungal]

Such an emotional and like , wow, this scene really makes you think. I love ur Merle expressions!! And the lighting in the end! It's great!!

[@strangehistorian6411]

This was unquestionably, bar none, my favorite scene in Balance - in the whole adventure zone!! This is what sold the entire goddamn podcast, the entire arc for me. There's just something about this - something about Griffin and Clint's wonderful acting - something about the theme and message... It brings joy. It reminds me to choose joy. Great animatic!! John's facial expressions are perfect!!

[@zuul1005]

god that "huh...i feel sad" get me EVERYTIME

[@jackreynolds2178]

This is the part I reference when I explain to people why this podcast is so good

[@giveluminacat10nobles21]

All these boys are so good at improv. When I need a bit of a boost, I listen to Merles speech here.

[@GatesOfAvalon1]

My favorite scene

[@claudiag.9307]

call-me-wdc same

[@claudiag.9307]

You did such a good job covering this incredible scene

[@furiousfurry]

Him: *raises fire fist* Some dude: I can't decide whether you should live or die...

[@yenee94]

This is great!! I love how self absorbed and narcissistic John is. I would like to point out though that the hands are switched sometimes but except that great job!

[@jackstrauss3891]

7:29 John's dreamworks face

[@Dollanganger]

Probably the best scene in the whole campaign.

[@PyroZebra100]

Does anybody know what the song that plays in the background of the Ascendant monologue is?

[@kittens4jc1031]

Everyone should listen to this podcast!

[@phoenixshipper4543]

The look on Merle’s face when he ask if there friends is 🙌👏

[@uhoh2825]

Honestly, this whole thing really convinced me that the Hunger is a giant collective lich kingdom.

[@NurbedUp]

Basically yeah. It's the amalgum of an entire plain, and its source of inspiration is the disappointment of life continuing for eternity. That also leads into how it is a beatable thing. It's just one plane, mashed together into a collective consciousness, as well as some of the other plains it's consumed. When it attacks, it separates the newly targeted plane system (the deities and gods can't connect to their followers. The land of the dead is unable to connect to the land of the living. etc.) then attacks each one, separately. Gods, as well as the checks on the dead vs living are unable to be used to amplify those on the living, physical plain. In other words: people who are alive can't multiply their powers by asking the gods or the dead, or whatever else lies beyond the physical plain. The same is true if the gods get their power from some other plain, like their followers, or the spiritual plane, or wherever else. Such understanding AND manipulation of such important connections of life, death, and other stuff is definitely up the alley of a litch, since their entire schtick is mixing their soul with raw magical power, two things from two plains that are greatly separated under normal circumstances.

[@Tank10995]

I love your work!

[@sepiasmith5065]

in this moment I loved Merle

[@AnomGamerGirlPOTATO]

This is awesome man!

[@mob6632]

*A Comedy Podcast*

[@peregrinatus]

Going back and listening to this after listening to The The Adventure Zone Zone from 24/08/2017 where they talk about why choosing joy mattered to them. Ugly crying, my people. Ugly crying.

[@mony.mp4]

“you can apologize to me and tell me you were wrong” hits SO hard every single time

[@LasagnaTheArtist]

A Camp Camp animatic of this scene is what introduced me to TaZ. It’s so crazy to watch this after getting the full context.

[@stupidfangirl1969]

Bro, same, I watched that one and was like "this seems cool!" And started listening to the podcast

[@mayhembydesign1108]

YES EXACTLY THE SAME! Oddly enough I didn't know what TAZ or Camp Camp was at hte time, and now they are both my great loves. Rock on!

[@stupidfangirl1969]

@@mayhembydesign1108 that animatic has given us all amazing shows and podcasts to watch lmao.

[@vexations_on_discount]

Me too, that’s crazy

[@vexations_on_discount]

That one video has brought many people to an amazing show and that’s awesome

[@jimbo_13]

Thing is my favorite scene in the whole show (until I change my mind again). Thank you for making this.

[@vazak11]

This was incredible!

[@lockskelington314]

This made me switch my otp from Kravits and Taako to Merle and John

[@sepiasmith5065]

I want to know what The Answer is.

[@RickyKingProductions]

this is so good!

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

I like how roleplay gamers and GMs dialogue stuff.

[@rkjlange3810]

Where is this elusive episode 63 someone tell me

[@rkjlange3810]

I want to find the original episode but I can never find it EPISODE GODAMN SIXTY THREE ITS NOWHERE

[@Almeow]

www.maximumfun.org/adventure-zone/adventure-zone-ep-63-stolen-century-chapter-four Here's the link to it on maximunfun

[@c.d.s.4930]

holy SHIT this is INCREDIBLE

[@itsmeanunoriginaljoke431]

What music is used at the end?

[@ThomasJefferson-xc8wg]

THATS GODDAMN WHAT THE VOICE WAS FROM

[@City_seventeen]

Okay, I was listening to this from some other place and I tenuineky thought that somebody was mentally displaced and so they thought they'd had lived through all eternity and known everything.

[@martinmercy2835]

What episode is this from?

[@Almeow]

It's from Ep. 63. The Stolen Century, Chapter Four.

[@cryptiecreep]

Can Merle hug me? Please.

[@felbarashla]

What’s the point of owning a million million sunsets if you can’t enjoy them?

[@TyphonHoshiro]

The thumbs are placed wrong at 5:46 . Just a heads up

[@panfriendwholikesasmr5224]

Oh my god. Spoilers John doesn’t Believe in friends and yet he gets beaten by the bonds they made along the way!

[@hawkfeather5408]

"Are you my friend?" *T R I G G E R E D*

[@slyxh]

i have no idea what the story of this is but john is great even though he seems lowkey a bit murderous, i just love whoever this john guy is. ok bye

[@coyote-bird1801]

hey hamlet, be more chill , its called The Adventure Zone, its a comedy dungeons and dragons podcast. Its a quality story with amazing characters and worth anyone's time

[@orb6144]

He's more high-key murderous. Like he kills a lot of people.

[@de_la_Nae]

Mackysha's description is accurate but really does not convey the sheer numbers. Billions probably doesn't either.

[@TheCheese06z]

"Kill" is kind of a harsh word. They're absorbed into a horrible amalgamation of consciousness

[@Tobarius]

You did a good job! You'll probably want to look into studying hands, as there were times when the thumb was on the wrong side of the hand.

[@thekingshib825]

Occultist much

[@Breadstin]

Not car I toke with you in the live Void

[@Tobarius]

You did a good job! You'll probably want to look into studying hands, as there were times when the thumb was on the wrong side of the hand.