My Love Letter for Disco Elysium

[@catloaff]

Okay I admit when I re-checked this video before uploading I had a horrible flu so there were some easily fixable editing mistakes still left 😭😭I'll try smoothing things out in KZbin Editor but since it's such a limited tool I can't fix them all... but thank you all for the love regardless I am so overwhelmed!! At the end there's an explanation for all 4 ex-Disco studios but for some reason the pic is off center so I'm just copying it here: Summer Eternal: Argo Tuulik/Dora Klindzic. Lenval Brown is also involved. Unique because the devs hold the most stakes in the company and the model is co-op crowdfunding, not investors. Currently on hiatus until April 2025 because of reasons I will explain after this. Red Info: Robert Kurvitz/Alexander Rostov/Helen Hindpere. No info yet outside of being funded by a Chinese internet company NetEase. Dark Math Games: Timo Albert. Kaur Kender’s brother is also an investor? But Kaur was involved at one point? If you need a refresher, Kaur was one of the key people that destroyed ZA/UM. Has announced XXX Nightshift. Longdue: Unknown. EVIL. DO NOT INTERACT. REASONS WILL BE EXPLAINED AFTER THIS

[@Soul_Tomato]

Despite you opening with “having nothing new to say” you managed to create a wholly unique representation of a game that every KZbinr, myself not withstanding, has thought about making their big homage video to. You really nailed it.

[@bijtmntongaf]

hi soul tomato

[@SarahHxC]

Omg Soul Tomato!!! I was watching your videos regularly but knowing you're a Disco Elysium enjoyer and (I maybe assume) share the views of this video elevated my opinion of you

[@molnet999]

great choice of kim portraits, too many people beautify him so much when drawing him he stops looking like himself

[@part-thymer9995]

This is the brand of a video essay I actually craved when it comes to DE. Yes, the world of it is so rich and many essayists are so competent unveiling every single aspect of it, but at times you just need a KZbin equivalent of a friend with hyper fixation sitting you down for a movie-length rant supplied with a PowerPoint presentation and several costume changes. Confirming that a piece of media made such a profound impact on someone else the same way it did on you. You’ve put a ton of love, effort and care into this one and it shows, thank you👑

[@brya9681]

this game is something special. Like a once in a generation game that proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that video games is an art form.

[@fufu3624]

I loved your inclusion of Indonesian history. If I were to pick something that makes Disco so special is because it’s a distillation of the human experience, despite how absurd it gets it’s deeply relatable and inspires hope despite the morbidity of the world.

[@dylanadams9817]

I gotta say this video is so cathartic to watch. While every other disco elysium video does contain shades of raw love for the game, this video takes the cake. I love how personal this video is in its presentation and its analysis of the game. Each segment feels like a piece of your own mind was put into media formatting. This has been so wonderful to watch and please, god make that video talking about characters maligned by the fandom. ALSO THE BETTER CALL SAUL CONNECTION??? YOURE ACTUALLY SO GOATED FOR THAT

[@Milorada7375]

My eyes were filled with tears when you discussed the massacres of Indonesian communists. I had heard of Jakarta Method but I was not aware of the true scale of horror. My own home country Yugoslavia was (admittedly imperfect) communist nation torn apart by both foreign powers and internal reactionaries. Now so many of us emigrated, including me, scattered in a wide diaspora losing our ethnic identity. In this way I related to the writers of DE very much, coming from post Soviet countries full of reactionaries

[@FearTheVikingYT]

Macedonian guy here, born just after the breakup of Yugoslavia. DE resonated with me for pretty much the same reasons and also many others. Maybe take some comfort that there are still communists here fighting to retrieve what we lost. The red star has not gone out even in these dark times!

[@TheresNoFreeUsername]

@@FearTheVikingYT How are these communist fighting to retrieve what you lost? Making social media posts? You guys are funny, larping some kind of socialist revolution. It reminds me of The People's Front of Judea. :D

[@FearTheVikingYT]

@@TheresNoFreeUsername Perhaps you are projecting. I'm a member of a communist party that's been gaining popularity and parliament seats every election cycle since it started running. Can't speak for the whole of ex-Yugoslavia but socialism is making a comeback in Macedonian politics.

[@vladys5238]

Although i'd consider myself a leftist i'm apprehensive about people who call themselves communists. Being from Romania many of the people nostalgic for communism have extremely regressive views on the social front as they liked life under Ceausescu (why i don't think life under Ceausescu was good: abortion banned, intellectuals seen as intrinsically burgoise and worthy of mockery, obsession to pay back national debt which led to the famous breadlines and empty shops for which my father had to queue up at 3 am in the winter, repressive state power that led to paranoia etc.) It's honestly hard to imagine how to implement left wing ideas "the right way".

[@LLlap]

Learn your history. Commies occupied you, installed a dictator, shot everyone.

[@user-ry3gm]

WHY DOESN'T THIS VIDEO HAVE 10 BILLION VIEWS AND LIKES!!! this is the most fun and enjoyable disco elysium video ive had the pleasure of seeing thank you for making this

[@farberam]

You realize that , despite the hype and the glamour surrounding the game, all well deserved many times over, you are in a niche. A totally disco niche of super fans adopting finger guns, click click sounds and “the expression”.

[@oliverbohn8861]

Thank you so much for making this amazing video! I did not comment until the last section, as I saw you cuote Vincents book. The Jakarta Method is very good and I am from Denmark, a small nordic country, so I can not talk about it with many people. I did not expect your fantastic video to bring it up, thank you for doing it, it is so important and not well known. I love your ramble and agree with so many of your points! Thank you for all the work you have put into this!

[@brandonmadsen9591]

Hello fellow DE fan, I am also in Denmark! (though I moved here from my US homeland a little over two years ago) Is there somewhere that Danish DE fans congregate?

[@oliverbohn8861]

@@brandonmadsen9591 oh my, I never would think to be contacted like this, how fun! And yes, I live in copenhagen, so I have a specific bar I can go to, where I have a decent chance to find DE fans :D Have you not been able to meet anyone?

[@faisalmuhammad6908]

1:25:56 BROOOOOOO I played this video in the background and got jumpscared by this statement. Instantly subscribing! Kirain gw doang org indo yg main Disco Elysium.

[@odonnellcaleb]

This was awesome. Bonus points because you're the first person I've run across to make the Joyce vs Evrart point I have made in many a youtube comment section. It had seemed impossible to even find someone who would agree that Evrart was more of a morally gray character than just pure evil.

[@margaretetc1524]

What a delightfully embarrassing way to find out that i hadn't even scratched the surface of the plot!! Was too loyal to Kim to even entertain the possibility of losing him lol. Incredible video

[@scrimblo4203]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE DISCO VIDEOS thank you for making this!!!!

[@B1gBadWo1f]

Very well written. Great video. Lots of original takes that shine a new light on the game. well done!

[@TheXaon]

Your worries were unnecessary, this was a fantastic, thoughtful essay. I enjoyed every moment! I especially enjoyed learning some Indonesian history!

[@Diagonnadie]

An insane amount of brainpower devoted to ship percentages holy shit

[@Diagonnadie]

Great video by the by

[@chrismic8087]

Truly a Christmas gift! I love your videos, I love Disco Elysium, this will be amazing

[@tycrane2539]

I listened to your essay while doing some chores throughout the day and really enjoyed your take! One note, there is a line that gets read twice 46:25 regarding the early ttrpg stages of Elysium. It makes me happy to see that this gave has given something to so many people. You have gained a subscriber today

[@LostbyElysium]

This video is the greatest Christmas present we could’ve received. Fantastic work!

[@gimpscam9976]

Thank you so much for acknowledging Harry’s magpie status. It explains a lot.

[@zachjordan7608]

Great video! The sommerton jumpscare both horrified and delighted me

[@Eiseberg]

Hardcore will you sign my steam page with your subway order

[@brentloy131]

Thanks to electrochemistry yapping non stop and my very real hangover, i saw a whole montage worth of an altermate timeline where we were in love

[@n543576]

Theres a fellow youtuber, a small channel known as "Last Minute Essays" that talked quite a bit about his home country Poland and his perception of Communism and you talking about it in your home country at 1:25:57 was fucking fascinating to me. Theres so much about the topic that only so much casual academia can teach me. Your entire video has been exceptional up to this point but the entire historical discussion here peaked the video for me, easy sub I look forward to whatever videos you make in the future. Edit: I just saw at 1:34:42 that you are aware of that video so please disregard my comment shouting him out! Regardless still top 5 video on the subject, I think Disco Elysium is more than just a 1's and 0's kind of game, I went to a fan convention and saw a boyfriend and girlfriend duo dressed as Kim and Harry and I think there's something so beautiful about something as simple as that, as well as deep dive college dissertation analysis videos as this was.

[@lyriordan5024]

Hi! Frodo-a-gogo here- thanks for the shout out. it's always so humbling and surreal when ppl say nice things about my art online. I loved this vid, you are a disco scholar and multiple times I went into a laughing fit. Ill be doing a deep dive in your channel when i get a chance (i love gorillaz too). Insta subscribe xoxox

[@catloaff]

Omg thank youu I'm a huge fan of your work!!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@rosemaryschild]

You know this is incredible, right? You had me at the video and you double had me at the dasha hate

[@chadthunder5551]

For anyone wondering, the song at 1:15 is Altogether, by Slowdive

[@kiena4340]

oh my god, the bit at 24:00 where james somerton shows up and the cut to hbomb killed me THAT WAS SO FUNNY. JAMES SOMERTON JUMPSCARE

[@brandonmadsen9591]

Terima kasih atas video yang luar biasa, comrade! (I've been a Marxist since high school and I majored in linguistics in college and studied the Indonesian language, but that was 20 years ago now so I only remember a few little phrases =/)

[@skippycoulter]

This video is a pure delight and you are an absolute hoot. The Kim section has me cackling and grinning

[@erided9726]

I was surprised but absolutely delighted when seeing this video in my subscriptions. I adored your gorillaz vids so seeing you tackle another of my special interests is amazing. Wonderful video, the kim kitsuragi section speaks to me personally.

[@elastichedgehog6339]

Really well written and insightful video essay. Well done! Keep at it :)

[@jksaavedra5620]

wait that kim kitsuragi section is one for the history books

[@AlexiniMartini]

I love this video! So nice to see a fellow SE Asian - who also cannot be normal about kim kitsuragi - rave about disco. I was just smiling the whole way through with how much I related with your thoughts on this game. (Except for the jean-slander, which I do not accept lol). Thank you for making this, truly. As someone who was also quite late to the DE-train, it made my day to watch someone so eloquently fangirl over it in 2025.

[@KatyStClair-nz7ug]

You made something beautiful here. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@FlawdaFootball]

Movie-length video essays don't always hold my attention, even for games I like, but this video was great. It really speaks to the depth of the experience that Disco offers that fresh, interesting material can be made 5 years after the game was released.

[@meanderingaround6481]

I did truly think you were going to talk about boats in disco elysium for a hot second and got very confused when it was actually about shipping in the fandom sense. (Also! Really great video, love it to pieces)

[@emmajones3653]

I love this video. So well written and delivered. You really articulated some of the things I love most about this game on a heart level.

[@soda8665]

i think i'm in a similar boat to where you were near the beginning of this video. i feel like disco elysium has a thick barrier to entry where i might not understand a lot of what is going on, because i also know very little about ttrpgs, but this video helped me understand why this game has such massive appeal. like, i know people say it's a great game, but your analysis and review of DE made it feel very approachable and not as intimidating as i made it out to be. thank you for this video! happy holidays, i hope you are doing well!

[@martymcflown3707]

This video was DELIGHTFUL. Sometimes KZbin really does just offer me gifts out of the blue.

[@TheBobolicious]

Wish I could like it twice. Your love for the game really shines through. As for the last point about ideology, I highly recommend Kay and Skittles video about hope and Disco Elysium.

[@mimimo6083]

this is so FANTASTICALLY put - you expressed everything i love about disco elysium and opened up new things to love about it to me. thank you for your enthusiasm and for sharing it and your thoughts on disco elysium!!!

[@OxenoftheSun]

Oh shit, a video essay that reminded me why this is possibly my favorite game? Time for that fourth playthrough

[@remy6605]

Oh my lord, I started playing this video thinking that I'd just play it in the background, but I was ENGROSSED. I WATCHED IT IN FULL. Thank you so much for creating this

[@TheBoromirDonkey]

Lovely video. Thank you for sharing all your thoughts, and your love for the game.

[@elmonchis2]

I love this so much. Thank you for making it!

[@HappyStKate]

I absolutely loved your video-it was amazing and totally made my day ❤

[@Cyrent]

Great video, deserve more views for sure

[@cranberrylounge]

the better call saul mention im tweaking out!!

[@goblingore_]

At first, I was empathetic and very trusting of Klaasje, but as I got to know her character, I grew to dislike her. It was a hate at first. I felt betrayed the way Harry did, I felt like I was caught in her web. In the end, though, I feel sorry for her. She isn't really as much of a smart manipulator as I thought, just a self-destructive woman trying in vain to *feel* something. I think she perceives the world as bleak and meaningless, so she wallows in her sorrow without considering the people around her. She excuses bad actions like that of Ellis Kortenaer and takes advantage of good ones, like the grace extended by the Hardie boys. From what I see of her, she just wants to escape the emptiness she feels. She does drugs, has sex, and deals with shady people. And when things go wrong, she flees, similar to how she tries to escape her internal problems. Idk she's super complex, and it's easy to fall into misogynistic modes of hate toward her due to how women like her are perceived. But she's also similar to Harry with her continued self-destruction. The fact that we don't know very much about her save for the possibly untrue tidbits she shares in her testimony makes it even more difficult to understand the nuance behind her actions. Love her or hate her she's a very well-written character. Personally, I'm always bouncing back and forth. I despise her 'woe is me' attitude and her romanticization of the very real abuse, death, and poverty happening to and around her. (Very Oranjese Lit of her) But she is also very relatable to both me irl and me as Harry. When bad things happen, it's very hard to face them. Coping with substances (the way Harry does) or running away and ignoring them (the way I do) are much easier. But also, yeah, she would be torn to shreds by the Moralintern, so, like... One thing I can't forgive her for is how she threw Ruby and the Hardies under the bus... the way she lied about her relationship with Ruby is sickening, like she was trying to appeal to a potential bias Harry has regarding violent lesbian stereotypes. 1:01:48 FINALLY someone talks about the ships! (-sincerely, a harrykim truther) 1:18:58 DUDE YOU HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE HOW MUCH I LOVE DISCO SAPPHICS

[@gonzalo4722]

Didn't expected the James Somerton jumpscare, 10/10 video

[@proyectoslowpoke3127]

I loved ur video! just wanted to comment for the dreaded algorythm

[@schippai3308]

The desire to create is a beautiful thing, never hesitate to, your expression is always new no matter how rehashed as long as it is truly you; even when you tread the same ground, you will always notice the tracks of those that came before.

[@gaetano_kojj]

My friend recommended me this game a year ago and it became my favourite video game of all time pretty quickly. I'm in the process of writing my bachelor's thesis about people's perception of this game's political themes. For a while now I've been hunting for a yt video about the game that would scratch the itch of exploring the game a little further and learning something new that I can link to my friend to talk about for a while. This is the video. You mentioned so many important aspects of the game in such a relatable way. More people should see it.

[@Horisevaharju]

Ohhh I love that there's a fresh essay on the game that has sat on my game library forever. I finished the story 2 hours ago and found this video right after.

[@hypermegadeathaids8409]

I love Everything about this video There Are so many pieces of Media I absolutely love thrown into the mix its incredible Persona,Troye Sivan,Better Call Saul,Fallout New Vegas and of course Disco Elysium This video is like somebody took my thoughts and made them into something other people could understand I‘m very excited to see what video you will do next

[@UNLUCKYCARDER]

Absolutely love this video and I’ve been smiling through the whole thing this might be my favourite disco elysium video ever. I cant wait to rewatch this whole video 20 times! (About the ship section though, one of the most popular ships I’ve seen that didn’t show up in the video is volition/electrochemistry. Ive seen more art of them kissing than id like to admit.)

[@sephirothussy]

this is so cute. i love love letters to games, i love seeing other people talk about how much they love a game, it makes me so happy to see others enjoying games so much they just have to tell everyone :333

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

Only just started the video, but good on you for making this despite feeling like there was nothing new to say.

[@fernwehrene]

yay!! this is so exciting, I’ve been looking forward to this! your videos are so wonderful and always make me smile, thank you so much for returning just in time for the holidays ☺️

[@christiandyer3371]

This is my favorite game and I think you love it for the same reasons. Great video that I will have to rewatch sooner than later

[@dalecummings3]

I have a little picture of Kim at my office to motivate me at work

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

That's cool

[@grimoireweissfan6969]

41:10 The absolute whiplash I got hearing this holy shit my favorite Kims ever colliding

[@xrnoodle]

me watching this and getting jumpscared by my own username (great video! and thank you so much for the shoutout ;;)

[@catloaff]

Omg bless you for the Rene/Gaston art

[@zynboy4118]

Incredible video, thank you

[@agonethetic]

This video finally pushed me over the edge to play this game

[@remaro00]

THANK YOU FOR THIS

[@aVataR_ehyeh]

Thank you for this rant. :) Looking forward to whatever comes next - both from you, and the spirit of disco.

[@youtubeisawebsite7484]

i hit "ultraliberal sans undertale" and my brain just got turned inside out

[@Bee-ys6kt]

Dude SUCH a good video, you seriously made me appreciate the game in a whole new way 🎉 (and you are freaking hilarious omfg, your jokes are genius)

[@GarncarzLizyp]

Amazing video! You constructed it well and brought up an interesting perspective on many aspects of the game I previously disregarded. I also loved the jokes and your energy in general. Subscribed and hungry for more.

[@Narrative_Ink]

This video was amazing. I don't know what you're talking about with Your video not comparing to other analyzes and other videos. This one is fantastic and you did a great job of going over so many solid points about why the series is so good. I'm at the end of the video and all I can say is good job I really appreciate your hard work.

[@shoeagletts]

HOLY SHIT IT’S FINALLY OUT!!! Gonna watch this when I got the time 💪💪

[@IkariLoona]

Good stuff! There are plenty of good DE video essays, but it's rare for someone to go into historical parallels from their own country, so that was refreshing, even if I'm admittedly not too knowledgeable about the finer point of southeast Asian political history, let alone Indonesian specifics (being from Portugal, that was only brought up briefly over here decades ago during the whole East Timor situation...), and while I expect the writers' experience in eastern Europe to color their perspective that made it to the game, your welcome tangent about the 60s in Indonesia made me think about the Portuguese 70s, when its own communist party played a major role in overcoming a right-wing dictatorship - 50 years later, the kinds of mindsets that made that dictatorship possible clearly never really left and appear to be trying to make a big comeback, even trying to celebrate the counter-revolution with some historical revisionism. We still have a communist party (they were never truly in the government and are unlikely to ever make it there outside extended coalitions), but it feel diminished by now, but it still feels like a handy element of a functioning political system, lest the abuses from the other side of the political spectrum go too far. From where I stand, it feels like many other countries politically crippled themselves by lacking or outlawing their own versions, and I worry for that kind of future. Time will tell, and there appear to be no shortage of peculiar things in the days and years ahead to encourage folks to reconsider their outlooks. I'm yet to do a 2nd playthrough of DE, but I gotta try the communist vision quest path when I do...

[@gabrielcoutinho4027]

wow, i just played this game a month ago and didn't expected a video explaining my feelings about the game so well, i just send this video to my gf, i hope it get her to start the game as well

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

I hope your gf starts the game as well 😊

[@maria_wd9292]

What a wonderful video!! I also feel the same way when talking about disco elysium that I'm not "smart enough", so much so that I even asked a friend to play with me in case I got anything "wrong" (of course there is no wrong way of playing disco elysium but I didn't know that at the time. Though even if you felt like you just don't get it like other people do I personally think thats so bullshit!! This video was so fantastically informative and so well analyzed. I learnt so much even in the shipping tangent uwu.

[@weltraumaffe7460]

Great video comerade

[@hannobonanoart]

I'd have a love letter for the game too if i could actually play it. It loads forever now that I've put 2 hours into it, ive tried to olay it two separate times and each time eventually it just starts loading nonstop so. Rip a great experience I was excited to have

[@cristinamotta4471]

This video is absolutely wonderful, never has one catered to me this much

[@elpolloelastico]

Thankfully there is at least one disco Elysium tv show: it’s called true detective season 1.

[@JMoney_TheGangster]

This video is genuinely so good and I must comment to fuel the algorithm. Whoop whoop

[@asstrid_]

I recently played and finished the game for the first time and the brainworms are real. I can't stop thinking about it and this video really scratched that itch!!! You're so funny and thoughtful. Great video!!!!

[@armchairgravy8224]

It's kind of awe inspiring that Disco Elysium so deeply touched people around the world. DE reminded me that "Human, all too human" can be both a curse and a blessing. It is up to me to make sure it becomes a blessing.

[@CattywampusWoods]

I literally got into the game just a week ago, and it's all I can think about. I can't wait to watch this

[@Soudrah]

You deserve the views, disco creating art via you too

[@nyranna_]

Hearing someone bring up the poor little meow meow poll in a KZbin video was such whiplash lol, I will maintain that voter fraud was afoot until the day I die!

[@Little_Shadow_]

Welcome home 💙

[@sleepinthemorningcalm]

I really enjoyed this!

[@jaspern.7702]

I've never gotten into shipping characters and it's not something I do with the media I engage with, but I still found your shipping thoughts funny, entertaining, and insightful. I watched it twice today while cleaning my house. I *will* go out and read The Jakarta Method.

[@gray4269]

came here after seeing you gooner post over kim on twitter

[@ijustsawthat]

Death by lamp. Death by chair. Death by phone. I love this game.

[@safi6749]

great vid

[@capyclara]

STUNNING essay, so so impressively made and gorgeous!!! unsolicited advice - your animated intro REALLY grabbed me and i wasnt expecting it at all, i think putting your little avatar in your thumbnail would bring way more people into this amazing video 🫶 long live kim kitsuragi

[@bjamoliver]

Loved this ❤

[@benzur3503]

I am a simple man. I see a disco elysium video essay and i subscribe

[@LoL12kricki]

Oh this is EXACTLY what i've been looking for when it comes to DE videos, you have such an amazing insight into the game and it's beautiful listening to someone describing the same infatuation with it that I've felt myself, without also shying away from the political aspects of it. Great work!!!

[@fufu3624]

House being eyes caught me so off guard with the rise of House brainrot I see this man everywhere he shouldn’t be it’s simply haunting (in a good way)

[@spacepugss]

Oh my god when i heard you talk i had a feeling you were a fellow indonesian, it was solidified when you mentioned the G30S tragedy

[@redblue5140]

i see video about disco elysium, i click