★★★★ Review: The TFiOS Bench - Amsterdam

VidCon EU was amazing, so special and beautiful. And Amsterdam / The Netherlands is freaking gorgeous and the people are so damn nice. I want to stay here and make videos for months!!
But here's the video I couldn't help but make, I hope you enjoy.
The song in the beginning is Brodyquest by Neil Cicierega:
• BRODYQUEST
----
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Hank's twitter - / hankgreen
Hank's tumblr - / edwardspoonhands

[@vlogbrothers]

ah jeez, Hank. That made me cry. -John

[@TheLetterFifteen]

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[@howtubeable]

Why?

[@TroubadourTim]

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[@aliciapaglia9440]

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[@ThirdEdit]

Knowing you cried makes me want to cry

[@twentynineducks]

Best review of a bench. 10/10

[@laurelbayless1804]

Best review of a review of a bench. 5/5.

[@elibodin1406]

Best review of a review of a review of a bench. 100/100.

[@indibindylou]

twentynineducks +

[@karlairene505]

twentynineducks 5 stars

[@laurelbayless1804]

Eli Bodin so meta

[@doddleoddle]

"it's bench. That's it" is my new favourite phrase

[@madeleinejamieson1388]

doddleoddle i was cry laughing at your snap chats, i had to watch the video... im still cry laughing

[@felix-cf8qx]

doddleoddle "hey dave how was tfios bench?" well bob, It's bench, that's it.

[@felix-cf8qx]

Madeleine Jamieson me too😂

[@christa.mp4]

doddleoddle ITS BENCHTHATSIT

[@christa.mp4]

dodie im fucking crying

[@carriegregory1]

"People- we aren't much, unless you know our story." I really enjoy knowing your story, Hank and John.

[@N3rdfightermom]

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[@tara.5986]

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[@evercuriousmichelle]

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[@humanity3.090]

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[@racegirl518]

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[@k54ltyd28]

Can you imagine going to see the Fault in Our Stars Bench and while you're taking a selfie with it you look across the canal and there's Hank recording you...

[@fossilfighters101]

Woah.

[@beckybrooks654]

Except none of us (from the second group in the video) noticed Hank cause we were too busy trying to find the right bench for John's scavenger hunt. XD

[@enycha22]

Becky Brooks oh my god I KNOW the second one looks familiar

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

Remember, the Hank is just as scared of you as you are of the Hank. P:

[@elinobenjamin]

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[@krzysztofprzybylski2750]

Clogbrothers!

[@tara.5986]

LOL

[@Nic33rd]

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[@ameliorated]

Krzysztof Przybylski haha

[@ameliorated]

Krzysztof Przybylski haha

[@hotchocolateprofessional13]

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[@hellosaera]

never teared up at a google review before... neat. (i have, however, teared up at a bench)

[@N3rdfightermom]

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[@PeoplepersonOG]

hellosaera +

[@danayousef5418]

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[@TheLetterFifteen]

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[@IrisGlowingBlue]

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[@girlq6494]

That was the most elaborate review of a bench I ever heard. Maybe you should write a book Hank. I hope it is about giraffes and pizza.

[@Razbeariez]

I do believe he is working on a book! Though I thought it was about robots.

[@Roll587]

Girl Q +

[@laurendesousa8119]

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[@amandawindsor8742]

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[@littleboylost1o1]

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[@rebecamartins706]

We need more Hank's travels videos *like... right now*

[@elinobenjamin]

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[@MsMangoChan]

Rebeca Martins +

[@zvign7554]

Rebeca Martins +

[@isabellalen652]

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[@RithSV]

3:12 - "and here we find Nerdfighter scavenger hunters (scientifically known as 'Tuatarians') in their natural habitat"

[@beckybrooks654]

Simon Vin haha Rith XD

[@maeram95]

I feel sorry for the bench next to it. If I go there I'm going to sit on both 😂

[@HouseMDaddict]

Mram26 aww that's sweet of you!

[@luciabee]

Mram26 +

[@nemoforvermore8085]

I thought so too :'D

[@MilenaMeyer]

Not a single moment I imagined for you to read my review when I visited Amsterdam :D But here we are, one year later where you, thousands of viewers and John, the man who inspired me so much saw it and that, for some reason... makes me really happy ☺️ Thank you hank!

[@shivaniamin7001]

I love this video so much. I love how deeply you've thought about this. It makes me all happy. I don't know how to put this is into words. And the fact that people can create so many memories, stories, ideas based off a bench that no one else could possibly (Or rather is not likely to) imagine is wonderful and lovely. So, thank you.

[@adityakhanna113]

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[@mariasheerani]

Shivani Amin I agree, this video made me so happy. The type of vlogbrothers content I really love

[@stephpiano2908]

I second this

[@shivaniamin7001]

Maria Khan EXACTLY!!

[@michellew5326]

I went over to Google maps just to read your review again

[@N3rdfightermom]

Me too! DFTBA

[@Fs3i]

It seems gone now?

[@august5923]

The fault in five stars

[@JSBulldog89]

This is oddly one of my favorite weeks for vlogbrother's videos. The way John can take the largest ball of paint and apply it to the meaning of life and then somehow Hank relates that to a random bench in Amsterdam. All while being an enjoyable 8 minutes of my life.

[@TheFanGirlMichelle]

I love this so much. Thoughts from Places will always be my favorite genre of vlogbrothers videos.

[@kayleee1020]

I downloaded Google maps just so I could read your review. I love the contrast between yours, and the one that gave one star and said, "it's a bench." This is funny, but true in a way; the bench isn't special, it's the meaning we assign to it. But also, I think it deserves more than one star because it just looks like a nice bench.

[@hotchocolateprofessional13]

The bench is rather like a paper town, style Agloe, NY.

[@kporter002]

Hank your thoughts from places videos are getting better and better. Keep it up, those are always my favorite VlogBrother videos.

[@amy8144]

This is certainly one of the best vlogbrothers videos of all time! Sweet, goofy, serious, and everything I needed today!

[@avagreen9060]

Hey Hank!

[@tara.5986]

lol hank not replying to you just made the "forgotten brother" thing funnier.

[@avagreen9060]

One of these days...

[@Neha71580]

Hank named a fish balloon after you and donated the money to increase Awesomeness. How do you feel Sir?

[@avagreen9060]

Pretty good, but until he purposely acknowledges one of my comments I will never be satisfied.

[@stephpiano2908]

NEVER BE SATISFIED

[@ChrisBryer]

I was reading your review as you spoke it in the video. It was heartwarming. And that's alot coming from me. Thanks.

[@luciabee]

Chris Bryer +

[@melina9614]

I can't even express what that video makes me feel like, it brings back so many memories. I was in Amsterdam with my friends 3 years ago. At that time we were totally obsessed with TFIOS (and still are). We searched for this bench for hours and were sooo happy to have finally found it. We took a million pictures and went back to it for 3 times. It's weird how something like a simple bench can make you feel more connected to the wonderful story we love and can make someone feel unbelievably happy :)

[@ciarakfralek3855]

This was beautiful!! Thoughts from places videos are the best and this one was one of my absolute favorites.

[@sannahafiz7872]

the emotions of TFIOS just hit me at once all again...it was the first book and movie that made me cry and after even a week I still cried and wanted to be alone and just cry..I went to skl and the only thing I was talking about was TFIOS...omg if u make a part 2 I will die out of happiness

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

Have a good weekend, everyone. I love tiny places like this, roadside attractions & points of interest. They're beautiful.

[@N3rdfightermom]

You too!!

[@adioshra]

this made my heart sing. it was beautiful, hank. i freaking love ya. and i love nerdfighteria so much. i'm a nerdfighter for few years now. i've seen what the success of John's books and then movies did. but is still feel like in this community's core, in its DNA, there's a warm soft mush that is vulnerability. i love it to bits. every time this world is hard on me, and by that makes my soul a bit harder, all i need to do is just connect to my family here and i feel more like the myself i want to be. 10\10 vid. will watch again. ecpacially when my soft mushy center needs some hugs.

[@philiptouw3623]

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[@mackenziewardlow6214]

About a month or so after Fault in Our Stars movie came out, I was in Amsterdam with some friends who had all loved the book. We all rented bikes and broke off from the main group and went to go find the bench (which was hard, given there was no Google map location for it at that point.) After wandering for a bit through canals that all looked the same, we finally found what we thought was the spot, except there was only one bench on the right side of the lamp. We talked to the woman who lived in an apartment right behind it about how there was a filming crew there about half a year ago and she sees lots of tourists wander through now, but the bench wasn't there any more. Slightly disappointed, we still took picture of the other bench and eventually left. Then three days later we were in Germany and Ansel Elgort tweeted and article about how the bench was stolen. Despite never actually taking a picture with the bench, I think taking a picture of the brief period time when there was no bench was actually the coolest thing we could have done. Also it prompted my friend to send this video to me with "THAT'S NOT THE REAL FUCKING BENCH HANK."

[@mfk5533]

It's awesome to have such a nice comments section :)

[@hotchocolateprofessional13]

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[@shailpacholi9080]

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[@furkantoprak716]

Other people: oh cool a [bench, ball of paint, etc] vlogbros: [tear-inspiring monologue]

[@Zeyev]

More and more reviews are coming in because of your truly inspirational review. Well played.

[@rosewalsh9840]

Hank's been super philosophical and just deep in thought during his videos lately, and as much as I try to avoid feels trips, it's also really appreciated

[@TheLetterFifteen]

This was a lovely video. I hope to go to Amsterdam one day so I can squeeze bikes and sit on this wonderful bench.

[@tara.5986]

TheLetterFifteen Heyy! I just saw your video on The Road to Nerdfighteria! It was cool.

[@TheLetterFifteen]

Thanks Tara! I appreciate it.

[@brij5778]

Did anyone else go to Google maps to find Hank's review?

[@adityakhanna113]

I did and found it!

[@Antropovich]

no, i just heard Hank read it. why would you go to google maps?

[@susumnasen4783]

Bri J yep found it!!!

[@CrissyHeartsZombies]

Antropovich to see if he actually posted it.

[@andywood8776]

it now has 117 reviews.

[@johnnyvvlog]

Finally I had the privilege to visit it 2 days ago. Finding it sitting there all alone alongside the canal. I sat on it for some time watching the boats go by with tourists who probably have no clue about this seemingly ordinary thing. To me this bench felt like it condenses the whole story of Gus and Hazel into a single piece of furniture. It lives and breathes the story. It connects people from all around the world. It was a wonderful experience and at the end I had to shed a tear cause this bench really is okay.

[@jenniferchiem7056]

One of my most favorite videos as of yet! 10/10 would watch again!

[@DOPEorNOPE]

I seriously enjoyed this video.

[@sstbmckean]

Oh my god, one of those shots is of Becky and Jonathan from Tuataria!

[@beckybrooks654]

TheScienceofQuantity Hi Quan! :D also yes wow that is a thing

[@fashbaz4282]

I'm adding this bench to the list of things I want to visit someday.. also for some reason the song from the part of TFIOS in Amsterdam is now stuck in my head. thanks Hank.

[@Micas_]

I love how y'all look so much deeper into things ❤

[@mariamakarova8329]

I'm genuinely disappointed you didn't use Emma's amazing thumbnail :D It was epic, Hank!

[@vlogbrothers]

I know! But I was already working with someone else to get this one made!

[@Ostebrix]

guess he didn't wanna pay $200 xD

[@mariamakarova8329]

It's OK, Hank, we forgive you :)

[@mariamakarova8329]

I guess not haha :)

[@caroline2095]

IT'S BENCH THAT'S IT

[@KVTBoed]

I'd never have thought there would be a week during which benches would play such a central role in my life. What a strange, wonderful few weeks it has been. Thanks for bringing this community together and organising an amazing VidCon Europe. DFTBA. - someone who walked through Amsterdam looking for a bench on Tuesday for John's scavenger hunt (and somehow missed Hank filming his group a few metres away, damnit :D)

[@Naiyelli]

This review just made the bench significantly more important and special to me. Thanks, Hank. Thanks, John. Thanks, Nerdfighteria.

[@stephenspaulson]

I lived in Amsterdam for a year in 2015, Someone stole the TFiOS bench and they had to replace it!

[@striga3810]

IM IN A PUBLIC PLACE WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME CRY

[@N3rdfightermom]

I am safely at home, crying with you! Over a silly bench I guess.

[@rebeccaelizabeth8362]

This is by far the best video I've seen all day. It's so captivating, all for just a metal and wood structure

[@KathyTrithardt]

Stories are so powerful, and I love interacting with the ones in and around Nerdfighteria.

[@Illana777]

Later this year I am going to Amsterdam to sit on that bench no joke

[@N3rdfightermom]

I am very excited and a bit jealous! DFTBA

[@annavandergriff6960]

Just passed you walking down the street with your very cute baby! Hope you enjoy Amsterdam :)

[@kaitlynarvetta2571]

This past weekend I was able to sit on the bench, although it's just like any other bench in Amsterdam, there was something about sitting there and remembering Hazel Grace and Gus that made it special. John Green took something, like a bench, and made it special. To be able to sit on it, take pictures and look out on the beautiful canal, was so worth the time spent looking for it! If you are ever in Amsterdam I would 100% recommend finding the bench!!

[@bengutteridge2841]

this is immediately one of my favourite vlogbrothers videos ever made. wowie

[@elyscehastiehastie4504]

Has he written any books cause he seems good with words if not he definitely should

[@vgfbestuur9565]

Elyscehastie Hastie he is in the progress

[@elyscehastiehastie4504]

Charlie S_ good lol

[@sheaelliott942]

The value of something is not inherently there; it is given by humans. The value of human life is the exception, and it should be valued from conception until natural death. This comment is not about that, though. In and of itself, the bench is really not very special, except that it was used in a very popular movie. It was just a movie, wasn't it? No. To many people, this movie transcends normalcy and has changed their lives in some way, whether small or large. This bench may mean nothing to one person but the world to someone else. Everyone places varying degrees of importance on different things, because everyone is different. Yes, the TFiOS bench is just a bench. But in it being a bench, it's existence has allowed people to bond across the world, which is incredibly beautiful. DFTBA.

[@humanity3.090]

You guys lead pretty uniquely amazing lives. Thank you for doing good with it.

[@JakeJarvi]

The last minute of this is soooooo unbelievablyyyyyyyy beautiful. Beautiful, Hank. Beautiful.

[@kevinr9525]

dodie sent me. It's bench. That's it.

[@MorganEatsYou]

Still think you should have gone with Emma Blackery's thumbnail

[@harshadkulkarni5874]

Hank, I can't say I am an old school nerdfighter, but I love the goofy videos you guys made in early brotherhood2.0 times. This is so much different and I can say I love it just as much. thanks for being awesome! TFBA!

[@MaddieMarvolo]

Not ashamed to say that this made me cry. Thanks for creating a world where a bench can have so much meaning to me, John. And Hank, thanks for understanding that world.

[@GionnyBanana]

I can't see the bench in Google Maps anymore... That's sad :(

[@mynameisiris6345]

Leidsegracht nr 4 amsterdam, the netherlands.

[@namelessfreak99]

Love this reflection, Hank. Simple, yet poignant.

[@littleboylost1o1]

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[@cinthiaelizalde3292]

namelessfreak99 jjskll22q0

[@franclark8189]

That was a one-of-a-kind review. Congratulations Hank on making me ponder more about a bench than I ever have on anything ...ever.

[@noralights3997]

That's really awesome! I feel so proud of John, it's not just a bench, it's more than that.

[@trainerlight9377]

If anyone wanted to put a review of their own, here's the Google Maps link to which you can do that. :] www.google.com/maps/place/Fault+In+Our+Stars+Bench/@52.3674626,4.8861862,21z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x862689680507d6c7!8m2!3d52.3675054!4d4.8862727

[@TheLetterFifteen]

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[@HappyGardenOfLife]

The reviews are gone.

[@magicturtle3541]

WHYYYYYYYYYYYY T-T

[@cheyanne4774]

its a bench thats it

[@TheSisicool]

Why does this fill me with so much joy?

[@slightlysmall]

That is a beautiful review, and a beautiful thing that you all have created. I can only hope to make a fraction of a difference in the world that you two have.

[@Voidmaster05]

Wow, I'm never this early. Cool video Hank, thanks for all the videos you and your brother have made over the years. They've been amazing.

[@mineola_]

He didn't just made a bench famous. There was no bench there! They put one there fr the movie and removed it after, but so many people wanted to see it that they placed it back! Edit: apparently I remember wrong, read other comments for more info. :)

[@N3rdfightermom]

Interesting factoid! Thank you for sharing.

[@flocurlz8069]

Anne +

[@mineola_]

I googled it. Apparently the city of Amsterdam wanted to take it away but hen they noticed the populairty they decided to restore it and put it back. Or it got stolen. It's weird because I found people that worked for the city confirming that they had taken it away and restored it. But also confirmed that it was stolen and they had no idea where it was. So it seems to be a bit of a mystery.

[@LlamaDungeon]

But then that's the wrong book. That makes the bench more like Agloe, New York -- something that only exists because people went to find it -- a Paper Town.

[@SomeKindaSophia]

That's correct. I knew that bench before it was famous.

[@stephpiano2908]

Why am I crying over a bench? Oh right it's the sheer joy and feels that the Vlogbrothers have brought to it, much like they do to me 💕

[@luellalunabjd]

Ah man, that made me tear up a little bit! What a lovely video Hank. So much brotherly love

[@juliathornton7842]

Who else is here from dodies Snapchat

[@CygnusGD]

I don't find fault with stars...

[@CygnusGD]

I also don't find fault with benches. I think they're great!

[@adityakhanna113]

Quantum Tunneling is a fault in my opinion

[@BasementRuthie]

Cygnus Loop Of course you don't. The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves....

[@randythetool]

Probably the best BrodyQuest video I've seen, thanks Hank.

[@HelenRosemarySmith]

Beautiful review - best review of a bench I've ever heard! :D I love the bizarre awesomeness of a physical place (Amsterdam) inspiring a fictional space (TFiOS) which in turn creates a physical space - the bench!

[@shikeimorrison]

Still waiting for Emma's thumbnail.

[@bogrisel3191]

I'm Dutch and really enjoy your videos and they make me happy. But seeing you in Amsterdam on KZbin and snapchat makes me even more happy and it makes me feel even more connected to you and the community. To be honest, I have no idea why. Hope you are enjoying your stay, and if you have time for it, or ever come back, try going outside of the Hollands sometime! Very province is really nice and quite unique ( for a country as small as the Netherlands).

[@kateh7484]

Hank your bench review is most definitely the best google review I've ever read.

[@harmonicgem111]

This has to be one of my favorite videos EVER!

[@Duessa2000]

I stayed at a hotel a few blocks from this bench in August 2015. I made a point to visit this bench as the book which inspired the movie which featured the bench for a short amount of time was special to me. I found the bench graffitied and damaged (though not as bad as it seems now) with a small number of promise locks. I sat on the bench and gazed at the canal, contemplating the days visit to many important WW2 sites, including the secret annex hiding place of Anne Frank. I thought of the fate of Hazel Grace, Augustus, Anne, and all the nameless others who's deaths I'd experienced in a small way that day. I felt immense privilege to be able to enjoy the bench, Amsterdam, a transatlantic trip... A life of freedom and comfort. The bench is a great place to sit, it brought me joy and reflection.

[@LauraIsDaName]

I sat on that bench with my best friend a few years before it became famous enough to actually have reviews on google maps. I'm very proud of how far this bench has come since then!

[@sandeepandhoundiyal5124]

I read a review of a bench, then a review of a review of a bench, then a review of a review of a review of a bench, I would go on, but it would be a bit hard to keep track of the correct number of, "review of"s. This is one of the reasons why I love this community. Also, great reviews, everyone.

[@EliseLogan]

This may be one of my favorite thoughts from places videos. It encapsulates the whole....impetus for the original vlogbrothers for me. Creating a connection between two brothers via non-normative media and letting us, the audience, share in that connection. Thanks, Hank.

[@DukeGusion]

I love poetic hank :) you have a realy wonderfull atmosphere about your writing, hank

[@pestr999]

Beautifully said, I couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed by emotion from the connection to the movie and your words.

[@HannahHodgson]

You have such concise content that always delivers brilliant entertainment. I've just started my own BookTube channel and you are both such inspirations!

[@SophiaHoiseth]

I'm not sure why this made me cry. Maybe because I visited the bench when I traveled to Amsterdam last year and it really was an incredible experience. Interacting with a book that you really love in real life in a real physical space is really powerful. And then love and passion that humans can feel and give to art is really powerful. Awesome video.

[@champking5883]

I swear to God this is the best bench review I have ever seen in my entire life.

[@vickie_l_b]

Hank, that was a beautiful review of the bench!

[@lauraunderwood265]

I got oddly emotional watching this. I miss NerdCon: Nerdfighteria and I love thoughts from places videos. Make as many as you want Hank. Amsterdam seems like a wonderful place and I'm glad you were able to visit, Hank.

[@winsocks7]

This is the thing I appreciate most about you guys, and about my friends, and about the internet and culture in general. We all take such ordinary and unremarkable things and make them... well, remarkable. Thanks for the video, and the remarkable bench. It is defensively a bench.

[@biankavenkataramani1235]

Now I can add "fully teared up at reveiw of a bench" to things I nvr thought I'd do 🙈😂 I loved this so so much it really made my day. In fact I think thoughts from places vids are my fav kind because they just...I dont know...they're a special kind of different. Good different. I really can't wait for your book Hank! If it's half as good as your bench reveiw, we are in for a treat ❤ Loved your reveiw. 10/10 Would watch again (and I did xD) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@thewinterizzy]

Art is what we make it. Not just the artist, but the community. Honestly I think that bench is a good symbol of Nerdfighteria as a whole. I love this video. Thank you.

[@LauraBeutler]

I did not expect this to be so touching, but it was, and now, crying.

[@Generalbok]

That was utterly beautiful and it was just about a simple little bench, next to a simple little canal in a not simple nor little city. Thank you Hank, that was an inspirational review :)

[@alexandral8894]

there was something exceptionally beautiful about this video. I think it was a lovely reminder of how Nerdfighteria is a global community of people who like the same stuff. Thanks Hank

[@heyitssho]

Like other commenters on this video, I too have never teared up before about a Google review until now. This was such a wonderful video. In spite of everything that's happening right now in the world, this video helped me feel like we are all connected to each other regardless of where we live in the world.

[@vatsalamolly]

oh my god.. I can't explain how much I loved this video!

[@SciJoy]

These are my favorite type of vlogbrothers videos.