MIDST | Gala | Season 1 Episode 8

[@visbs88]

While every episode has been delightful so far, I am in absolute love with Phineas and his story. It strikes right in the gut, perhaps the most relatable of the three protagonists, and it’s really making the audience /feel/ the corruption and injustice of this world without even being gritty, or dark, or violent. No, it’s all shining pleasantries and no drama, no tragedies… which makes it all the more gut-wrenching to see this young man holding his head high in spite of it, fighting a silent invisible fight. Am thrilled to know where his path will lead him!

[@williwiebe]

The detail of so many people in the image being strung with beads is chef's kiss. Like it could just be art style, but once you know it's Valor you look at it in a whole new light

[@Faith276]

Yeah for sure, and the contrast of the waiters not having any beads at all. In the appendices for this episode, you can also see that Phineas is the only one who has a black Caenum bead. It's such good visual storytelling.

[@majorzipf8947]

It’s such good visual story telling and world building. I especially love the woman in the front right who has them on her poofy sleeves and studded through her hair.

[@0Nightlily]

It'll never not be funny to me that every time Jedediah Pom is mentioned, I frantically try (and fail) to recall who he is until the girl with all the gear is mentioned and then I finally remember. We haven't even learned her name yet from what I can recall, but she's the only thing that reminds me who the hell Pom is lmao

[@hunterwallasus3582]

BACKPACK 😊

[@justin.channels]

"It's a good thing the fatalities have gone down on these things." A portrait camera. Fatalities.

[@kirillsasin]

I hear the photos are to die for

[@christenh359]

TBF, “July 4th” in the US used to be called “bloody 4th” because of the sheer amount of injuries from fireworks displays. And I’m pretty sure early flash bulbs did have *some* injuries… but I don’t remember fatalities.

[@eflarsen]

it's gone down tho so don't worry about it

[@Djaenzee]

Had to think of "A million ways to die in the west"... :D

[@musculusmouse]

reminds me of the discworld books, where taking a picture of a vampire turns them to dust due to the silver in the lense

[@Ironicteachings]

I think I might be using these for a unit in my English class. This is how to create a narrative where you show, not tell.

[@Uber_GoobTube]

That's a good idea. I would be very engaged if this was the subject.

[@ThatLexPlays]

I want to see the final product.

[@bwrightaway2877]

I bet something crazy happens... like the moon falling from the sky.

[@SkyP9812]

​@@bwrightaway2877 or my favorite character dying, but I am sure these people would NEVER kill a named character /j

[@Bluepuertorican5]

This is a great idea

[@LukeOr98]

I swear that I jumped in my seat when I heard the name Imogen

[@igl1997]

Same here!

[@transientanus]

But....why? It's a common name.

[@LukeOr98]

@@transientanus Imogen is the name of one if the main characters in cr campaign 3

[@transientanus]

@@LukeOr98 Well yeah, obviously. But it's also the name of thousands of other people and characters. Do you always jump when one person coincidentally had the same name as someone else?

[@LukeOr98]

@@transientanus ok well maybe it’s because i’m not a native english speaker, it’s not that common for me, in fact those are the first 2 times I heard that name

[@עומרשרייבר-ל4ר]

Just when I think I couldnt love phineas any more he just give more more reasons to love him. What an absolute chad.

[@DragonElixion]

I finished this episode and all I could muster was, "...Fuck." I hate that this only comes out once a week. You're killing me. Every Friday I listen to them all again at work. And every time the first episode starts I keep realising that I've forgotten about the damned moon!!

[@WitchLunaEstrella]

Oooh, Phineas is a powder keg and while we got a little taste of that, I'm personally thrilled to see him fully explode.

[@thallium6754]

_hooo_ boy, just you wait

[@gav7497]

@WitchLunaEstrella I need to check back in, how do you feel about that explosion 👀

[@WitchLunaEstrella]

@@gav7497 It was absolutely horrifying. I foolishly expected him to go off at someone like Moc Weepe or Jonas Spahr.

[@gav7497]

@@WitchLunaEstrella it’s just so much more dramatic if it’s against an innocent man. All in all, I’m enjoying my rewatch, especially thatch’s side, cause I get to see where his breakdown started from.

[@WitchLunaEstrella]

@@gav7497 Oh yeah, love it as a plot point, disturbing as it was. Really adds an extra layer to his life's work being ruined that day.

[@mckennagenullis4620]

I get the feeling that most, if not all, of the people at this gala are not as "Valorous" as they appear to be. They didn't get rich by writing checks, so to speak. Mr. Loxlee seems like trouble, as he tried to pull that with Phineas, like it was routine. Ergo, corruption disguised as virtue.

[@benjaminandrew9057]

almost reflects reality in political rings.

[@dachathwei]

I got the same feeling. Alarm bells rang aloud in that scene

[@dustinwalker6331]

How perceptive 😁. Good man Thatcher

[@hammeroftyr]

I mean that's exactly how it is in real life. Just switch out money for "Valor".

[@williamwall3403]

Bribery as a method of legitimate social positioning is just so weirdly apt to modern times.

[@mckennagenullis4620]

Bribery doesn't seem to be a very Valorous action, wouldn't you say?

[@williamwall3403]

@@mckennagenullis4620 But is not a "donation" to appease someone and in turn put them in your debt not the same thing in all but name.

[@BoojumFed]

Unfortunately, I can't think of a time where it _hasn't_ fit into the upper echelons of social life.

[@AlbertaGeek]

To _modern_ times? Son, welcome to the way things have been since we became a social species.

[@jeohranalfhir8366]

​@@AlbertaGeek true, let's change that tho (yeah I'm an idealistic clown but what do you want)

[@oliveri3534]

Pictured Lark somehow getting stuck at this kind of party and how that would go down like a lead balloon.

[@pyrosianheir]

Gala, party, same basic thing, lol Edit: I've never vibed more with a quote than "This is... going... Fuck." Pretty much a constant state of living like that, for me.

[@ff7pianist]

Watching on here and Spotify (despite being a paid subscriber of Midst) just to boost whatever viewership/ratings I can wherever I can. I love Midst and I'm so glad CR is partnered with them.

[@ThomasUfnalCrowlake]

"This is going... Pffffhah, fuck." Man, I felt that delivery deep in my heart.

[@itwasidio1736]

Imagine you're at a party and someone uncomfortably walks away from you because you have a bead on a necklace. I felt that too, really drives home how truly insane the Trust is, merging economy, church, and state into this corrupt gambling ring where the only thing that determines your character IS the state of your Abacus.

[@mixofreak]

**Spoilers Ahead** Absolutely was distraught at the phrasing of the offer and not wanting Phineas to take it and feel guilty over it, and absolutely pumped my fist when he turned it down.

[@hummingbirdhooligan1481]

This series has been a delightful addition to my Wednesdays! So cool!

[@heavynorse7746]

This is such a cool story, and the way you three tell it is just magnificent! Absolutely love it so far!

[@iaslmf]

phineas is my favorite character. I'm so intrigued by the world he lives in

[@abaddonarts1129]

Hmm... so if the Abacus is a necklace beaded thing where the lighter beads are the Valor and good, and the black is debt, then the imagery on this video is much more impactful, right? Am I wrong in assuming that every single beaded accessory in the scene is them showing off the Valor they have? And Thatch is stuck here, with a single black bead, unable to be at the same standing as them. Ouch.

[@whatsworthonearth8700]

This is my first comment, and I am still admiring the basics of storytelling. The very first episode, though, had me thrown of, by plunging in and out of narrators, who then started commenting each other, or the story, speedily talking, and sudden shifting, - manners, that was hard core narrating! I didn't get much out of what this episode wanted to convey. So I listend to it serveral times, and at ep 3 I got accustomed to it, at ep 4 or 5 I was properly hooked by the development of the story, and here I am, loving the whole package! The, fragmantation, of their, sentences, is fascinating

[@gr1th1n13]

I love these so much. So rich in description I can taste the mica. Please keep these coming ❤

[@laurapace3938]

I can taste the mica😂

[@kluuvien8204]

Great job on the art work for this one, love all the different displays of wealth-fashion

[@IsaacMayerCreativeWorks]

“Imogen being Imogen” eh

[@nordicson2835]

This one was really good , thank you , kept me sane on the subway to and from work. Thank you.

[@patdunn8979]

A steampunk polaroid! 🤣

[@gregorybenson1054]

I love this man, he just expressed how all of us true low socieo economic peasants feel about handouts

[@jimmoriarty9440]

Right? We don't want handouts. We want achievable goals!

[@alphtheor.879]

there is something to the sound design of this to make me feel like I'm in a crowded place swarmed with too many people all talking at onc while alone in my own room, anxious introverts beware, take breaks.

[@thallium6754]

Full offense to Phineas, but if a wealthy philanthropist offered to pay off the last of the debt that I'd been working to clear my whole life, _I would take him up on it._

[@mckennagenullis4620]

Note that it was never mentioned if he, himself, had any Valor, though. Deals like that often come with strings attached. Phineas did good in my opinion, as a bribe, which is exactly what it was, is an insult to his ability to fight his own battles.

[@williamwall3403]

Except that by this action he would forever be in debt to his benefactor. So he would be trading the chains of a valor sniper for the chains of another sort.

[@littleleakyleakythere]

@@williamwall3403 i think it's the exact opposite though. he never mentioned being in debt to flight even though flight gave him a donation when he balanced him. right now he owned, in debt, and if it was cleared via donation, which has been mentioned to be a fully valid form of accruing valor he would be free. i think for him its less of a thing of being in debt and more than the idea of earning his freedom and not being given it is so important to him

[@thallium6754]

​​​@@mckennagenullis4620 It's definitely possible that it was a bribe, and Phineas evidently saw it as one, but it actually didn't necessarily read that way to me. Between the existing precedent for donations, and the fact that their conversation wasn't overtly untoward, it's not wholly unthinkable that Mr. Loxlee, someone who has -money- Valor to burn, could've really just been trying to do Phineas a favor in earnest. Even if he weren't, there's no obvious, legal way for him to collect on a debt earned through charity. Compared to having Caenum, which _is_ legally binding, his offer seems like the much better option, even if it is a handout. I think Phineas was putting his pride over his immediate desire to break even - which isn't a _wrong_ choice, per se, but... I'm not sure it's a wise one either.

[@kirillsasin]

"Some of us worked hard to get to the positions that we hold." Season 2 enjoyers, how are we doing?

[@thallium6754]

help, i'm in p a i n

[@DiehardMechWarrior]

Wait, there’s a second season?

[@kirillsasin]

@@DiehardMechWarrior Yes, and it's truly amazing

[@mckennagenullis4620]

To reference Minecraft Story Mode: "Phineas was smart. There's no way he would have honoured that deal. Even if you had taken his offer, he'd probably have placed you in his service, anyway! All while claiming that that was the original deal."

[@PhyreSpore]

Man, every episode is just so gripping! Can't wait to hear where this goes.

[@HaphetS]

compared to the other 2 stories Tatch, I thought, was going to be a snooze fest. never have I been happier to be wrong. guy is an absolute chad

[@trynda1701]

Yes, interesting ending there (no spoilers)! 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@lizzyannseattle5054]

what a "galaorious" flavor to stir into my day!

[@maxn6613]

I love this style of storytelling sm!

[@Syco108]

That was your best ending so far I feel.

[@leonardocruz6715]

Hell yeah. Surrounded by fake ppl, can't forget who you are.

[@Uber_GoobTube]

Hell yeah Phinneus. Stick to your guns and dont feed into the bullshit.

[@ZorgoXorgon]

Phew, I hope Finneus has the confidence to do what he needs to do... It's clear Spar stole the credit for Finn's work (and perhaps has been doing so for who knows how long), so Finn could go one of two ways here: the easy way - politely break off from Spar and set out on his own to do something valorous and break even, or the hard way - prove that Spar has been using him by taking all the credit, and seek to be repaid that stolen Valor. I think he'll pick the second because it's narratively more interesting, but man, there was another way! Haha

[@BluePrimo]

I dont think Spar has been stealing credit for Finns work, i think Spars mere presence overshadows anything Finn accomplishes, stealing would mean an intent, all i have gathered from Spars actions is giving Finn challenges to help him grow out of his biggest flaw

[@musculusmouse]

i don't think he can legally break off from spar or speak against him. i think being an ansecla (spelling?) means he's an indentured servant to spar with no say in what happens to him. in the previous episode when he's unable to break even he says he's "still a slave" inferring those with caenum (again idk if thats the spelling) are a lower caste in this society. until he starts earning valour he has no say in his life. i think he'll break away, but it won't be politely.

[@BluePrimo]

@@musculusmouse Well, his chains are to the Trust, a religion, going against Spar or trying to brake off of his Position as Adsecla (i checked the spelling) would be allowed depending on how he would do it, but it would put him deeper into Caenum(also checked), i think he would do everthing to not be demoted

[@musculusmouse]

@@BluePrimoso i was nearly there with the spelling lol! thanks for checking for me.

[@kaivoid7649]

Smart boy, Finn. If he accepted that offer, he and his descendents would be owned forever.

[@kirillsasin]

It's the exact opposite. It's extremely important to the theme of the episode and of the podcast in general that it's the exact opposite. He *is* owned now, and his descendants, were he to die now and if he had any, would inherit his presently existing kainum and be in breach if they tried to escape. If he had accepted, he would have broken even and been free to do as he pleases, including leaving the Un. Donations, just like the narrators have said this episode, and as Amanda Goldfinch had stated in "Missions", are perfectly acceptable. The 'no strings attached' aspect, the ease with which his freedom would have been granted, is exactly why Phineas refuses the donation: he considers it dishonorable. To him, freedom is earned. What had he been working so hard for up until this point otherwise?

[@kaivoid7649]

@@kirillsasin An offer like that is rarely 'no strings attached '.

[@kirillsasin]

​I understand the impulse to distrust Heronymus here, but I don't want to spoil anything for you, so I'll limit myself to what I have already typed out.

[@pawots6448]

Friggin Amazing series! Love it'

[@kingofroses302]

Its understated how this episode sets up that Mica is explosive

[@trynda1701]

Interesting developments occuring for our main characters the last couple of episodes! 😎😎😎😎

[@watchvids8214]

I missed this yesterday, glad to catch up!

[@marleywolgast7044]

Phineas I feel is one wrong move away from snapping…. Idk he seems to be on the very end of his tether to me

[@mixmastermike2128]

AWKWARD GALA

[@nattacat]

Oh man, relistening after finishing season 2 puts a whole new spin on this episode.

[@FLUXXEUS]

"Imogen being Imogen" when I heard the name I literally did a double take, like TF!? _😂😂_

[@zlatan_2197]

I just realized that one of the narrators (the one that says please rate and review in the end) sounds like narrator of Kurzgesagt and now I can't unhear it.

[@matthewgordon3281]

I love this story

[@mollygrace2666]

God I love these. So excited to get caught up!

[@DauntlessChaos]

YEAH LETS GO, MY BOY PHIN HAS A BACKBONE!

[@NessimaXD]

every episode of you is so cool!

[@obadijahparks]

Never except a handout from someone from a higher station. If there isn't a proper deal, the better will consume the lesser.

[@ronanh.9261]

Fantasticly wriiten

[@MrSHADOWANGEL999]

Glorious

[@regicidalnut]

Oh hell yes Phineas, you go!

[@John-cr7gb]

Sounds like the academy awards lol

[@FuwaNekoNya]

Heckin' big chad energy

[@postbunnie]

Oh sweet. Only one year til i can say "i finally caught up" *But she would never give him up*

[@erikandre5689]

Im starting to really like this Phineus.

[@michaelj.mccall6530]

Oh! I think I like Phineas!

[@hariford8580]

Oofff. Just ooff. That was good!

[@LastDemiurge]

Huh, I think I see what was going on, here. And why a trusted manservant kidnapped his employers child... one of three possibilities here, some of which could overlap.

[@bwrightaway2877]

What happens next!

[@christinevick5622]

Anyone know who they are yet?

[@goodstormsgames9744]

Excelent

[@cammmdoit5693]

Just awkward

[@DSas2300]

Are we in the midst of this series being done yet?

[@jeremysills7350]

This is a cool story but 8 episodes in and I'm still fucking lost. What's this Micah stuff? Just dangerous floating rocks? Hoes it dangerous? What's its properties other than destruction? Wtf is Valor? How did a cult somehow gain all this power? What's up with all this unlight and weird almost tangible darkness? How does it cause things to get all fucked up? I love the storytelling but I'm tired of feeling like I don't understand this world they're describing. Like if someone asked me what this is about I don't think I could tell them in a way that wouldn't sound like an absolute mess.

[@transientanus]

You know, i enjoyed these at first, then they just got tedious. I decided to give it another shot and listened to it all start from finish again and im just no longer enjoying it. It was novel and interesting at first but it gets old really REALLY quickly. Hopefully the CR team vets stuff they decide to take under their banner further in the future.

[@Aleja0000009]

You know ive read a lot of comments from people who didnt like midst, and thats fine different tastes. But yours truly is the funniest, do you think they would have bought the podcast without listening to it and liking it. No, apparently they just put a bunch of names in a hat and just choose randomly

[@transientanus]

@@Aleja0000009 Also there's a difference between "Did they listen to this and like it" and "Is this going to be something with broad appeal enough to be beneficial to add their brand to it" which is obvioisly what I meant. Next time you wanna "Well, actually.." someone, make sure you actually have some clue what you're talking about. Otherwise you're just going to keep being put in your place by your betters.

[@Aleja0000009]

​@@transientanuslol are you for real. "put in your place by your betters" you really are too funny, who actually says that outside of fictional bad guys

[@sabersight908]

i got to say, really "there are parties, and then there are parties, and this party is neither" "it is so over the top we are just not gonna be able to do it justice in description" are some of the laziest writing I've heard. If you make a story and then continue to put some invisible bar on it, making tons of things "unable to be described, because they are indescribable" you should rethink what you're writing, because if you cant described what you made, you clearly are just not bothering with that part of the story. If you would want to make something intriguing because it is indescribable however, then you should not mention it at all and describe things around it like, peoples perspective, peoples feelings, environment around it, how it effects the world around it, instead of just "it cant be explained" that is just lazy. Another thing, a president, a queen and a pope are three very different things, and are looked at very different, so saying a person is all three makes no sense its just confusing, there is now just no clue on how people look or act around them because people don't look or act the same at a president like a pope. Not roasting the series btw, i love this so much, the vibe, the setting, the imagery (even tho one image can become a bit boring at some points), but i just hope it goes on the right path and not be un-interesting because of small mistakes like these that can actually become plot holes eventually.

[@SkyP9812]

But... But they ARE describing these things though! "This party is neither" is clearly a case of intentional hyperbole and even describing certain things as indescribable is a discriptive term in and of itself. Say what you will about H. P. Lovecraft's racism, it is impossible to ignore the cultural impact he and his eldritch monstrosities have had on pop culture. Part of the reason that made his books so compelling was EXACTLY the dichotomy between the mundane and the indescribable. Heck! It has gotten to the point where "Eldritch" and indescribable have basically become synonyms and I have yet to hear people complain about this aspect of his writing.

[@williamwall3403]

If money becomes a religion and the governing principle of a society then the highest position would hold all of the hats. Also saying something is difficult to describe adds mystery to a setting. The narrators are setting a general perception of something that is uniquely alien to our world. If you don't like the concept of ambiguity then I feel like this story type is probably just going to frustrate you more.

[@littleleakyleakythere]

clearly adding pope to that list is meant to invoke the religious side of this society. imogen functions as both the closest thing to a traditional leader, a president or queen, *and* a religious leader, a pope. i think you're getting too bogged down one interpretation you have of things and its affecting your ability to just let the story take you where it will.

[@skulduggerybob1938]

I have to (hopefully politely) disagree, to both points. Describing it as indescribable does describe it if that makes sense, it portrays the eccentricity and the glamour as so amazing you can almost imagine it, however through the vague description it means you have your own spin on it, allowing you to see a party that would intimidate you as this one has our character (whos name despite me watching this just now has slipped by me) allowing you to truly understand the enormity and intimidation, yet it doesn't leave it entirely up to imagination, it uses motifs to guide the image so that it's still the idea they want. Every description in any novel is similar unless it goes into minute detail which I would argue removes oart of the fun of reading (or listening to) books, the only difference here is it directly stated some details are beyond words As for the second point, the description us meant to be disjointed, this is am entirely other world but this gives you an image,it lets you see the similarities between the three and that is what becomes most clear in your mind. Sorry for the ramble and I hope I conveyed my ideas at least remotely legibly

[@sabersight908]

@@SkyP9812 yeah true, i love H.P. lovecraft's stuff, but things are still not just described as indescribable, it is more just keeping the mystery around said thing and not explaining it, then literally saying "it cant be described"