SUPERIOR FISH BEINGS

In which John discusses 10-year-old Hank's prediction that the year 2012 would feature the emergence of Superior Fish Beings, and what exactly those Superior Fish Beings might be up to.
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[@vlogbrothers]

Hi. 1. This video contains a clue. The clue leads to a secret livestream. Good luck, and I hope to see you there. If you need help solving the clue, visit Tuataria: tuataria.com/join or the nerdfighters subreddit. 2. Some of you will say that the Snorks got their bubble air from here or there but NO IT SAYS RIGHT IN THE THEME SONG THAT THEY DO ALL THEIR BREATHING UNDERWATER okay that is all. -John

[@joshuahillerup4290]

Those bubbles aren't air

[@jobriq5]

I was born on January 5, 1979...

[@kimmykimmie]

Hunt time!!

[@sumayyahhussain6212]

It is possible that the air is a byproduct of digestion. Just like us, they may have bacteria or other microorganisms in their gut that create gas as a chemical byproduct as they help digest and break down the food the Snorks eat. In that case, the nervous bubbles are actually nervous farts.

[@moiradarling97]

I can’t access the tuataria page. Hints?

[@NeuromodulatorNetwork]

*As a Harvard Neuroscientist, it turns out that there are superior fish beings* in the form of zebrafish being used as a model system for elucidating neural circuits underlying goal-directed behaviors. The lab where I did my postdoctoral training was the first in the world to image all of the neurons within the entire brain of a vertebrate (zebrafish) while it engages in goal-directed behavior. Moreover, this work was first published in Nature in 2012. So 10-year-old Hank nailed that prediction regarding superior fish beings back in 2012! Videos coming soon. 🧠⚡

[@Ttyl4356]

That’s so cool! Do you have a link to the study?

[@NeuromodulatorNetwork]

@@Ttyl4356 Sure. Just search "Fish in the Matrix Nature" and watch the video on the Nature Video channel. Our lab has published many more related studies since then as well.

[@rebekkaruffles9]

Wow

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

Thank you for telling us this Aaron!

[@repellomuggletumify]

If anyone wants to get into more zebrafish goodness, check out research by Michelle Marie Adams. She was one of my favourite psychology professors!

[@Liz_Crowley]

Superior Fish Beings: *announce their arrival* John: oh thank goodness, a Real Adult

[@biancar5763]

Take a shot of water every time John says "Superior fish beings" and thereby become a being immersed in water yourself.

[@martijn8491]

That's 19 times in 4 minutes, which is a lot, but you'd still have to take some pretty big shots 😆

[@biancar5763]

@@martijn8491 Hahaha yes!

[@azmodanpc]

I would substitute water for vodka "It means water, right?". Results may vary. After 19 shots you would be trashed.

[@madyndron3107]

@@martijn8491 sorry but its 32 times :(

[@martijn8491]

@@madyndron3107 😨did I miss that many?

[@AaronMcHale]

“It means they have the ability to stay calm and shut up, two talents humanity has shown a limited capacity for”, that one got me 😂

[@martijn8491]

John says the phrase "superior fish beings" 19 Times in this video, which amounts to one "superior fish beings" every 8.4 seconds on average. I'm not sure why, but I rewatched the video to count them, because I needed to know 😆. That's quite a lot of "superior fish beings" though

[@erkindanger]

Choose the strength of beverage involved in your "Superior Fish Beings" drinking game accordingly!

[@johnstonjenny]

Maybe you are like the fish in the fish bowl joke...how long is a fish's memory? 8 seconds. "This is nice. The water is fine. Hello, Scuba man. What a nice tunnel. Wait a second--I'm trapped! This goes nowhere--AAAHHHH---This is nice. The water is fine. Hello, Scuba man..."

[@dgrantvh]

They're just regular fish beings from Lake Superior

[@geekykii]

That was my thought. Decided to check the comments section before adding to it.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

They have a strong rivalry with the Michigan Fish Beings.

[@IJustWantToUseMyName]

It’s the Erie fish beings that are the most disturbing.

[@literally4891]

Lakes don’t have feelings todd

[@ObjectsInMotion]

Aren't those just fish?

[@ezraatlasgay]

IS NO ONE GONNA TALK ABOUT “MANIFEST CATS SEQUEL” WHAT THE EMILY DICKINSON, JOHN

[@JinKee]

It can't be worse than the Taylor Swift CATS

[@Lauren-hinrichsen]

There is only one superior fish being: the Hanklerfish

[@TheGirlChris]

+

[@purcascade]

Ooohhhh... this makes my heart happy.

[@NinjaWatermelon42]

When did the Hanklerfish first get used/named? Maybe it was 2012 all along?

[@Lauren-hinrichsen]

We started associating the anglerfish with Hank when he released "The Song About an Anglerfish" in February of 2011. But the Hanklerfish's first apperance, I'm pretty sure, was when Hank started drawing them in signed copies of The Fault in Our Stars. That was in early 2012. So, actually, we *did* get superior fish beings in 2012. I'm not sure how Hank predicted this, but there is definitely something fishy going on here.

[@charliespinoza1966]

+

[@brendanlorenzo7298]

When John raises his eyebrows, there’s no telling when they’ll come back down

[@miajar]

By the Supreme Fishes, you are right! Truly a miracle, how did I not notice this before?!!

[@thairinkhudr4259]

I can't unsee.

[@LifeEleanorDeathNell]

I've been watching the vlogbrothers since 2008, and this comment made me burst out laughing so hard

[@mikelabomusic7782]

“Rivers and lakes that they’re used to.” I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE JOHN GREEN!

[@goldenscream7917]

I don’t

[@mikelabomusic7782]

@@goldenscream7917 kzbin.info/www/bejne/boiopauAaZKmnpY

[@goldenscream7917]

@@mikelabomusic7782 lol thx

[@mikelabomusic7782]

@@goldenscream7917 Happy to help. DFTBA.

[@BvousBrainSystems]

What's interesting to me is that "superior fish beings" isn't even THAT weird a combination, you'd think SOMEONE would have typed it at least once. Yet it's true. Even when you put it between quote marks (which Google interprets as you wanting those exact terms), "superior fish beings" still only returns this video and references to it. Even Google Trends has nothing to say about it.

[@timmyquinn655]

The superior fish beings have clearly been pruning the internet of any mentions of themselves. But now, with a video posted by a popular youtuber that will quickly get hundreds of thousands of views these superior fish beings can do nothing but watch as the secrecy protecting their utopian society crumbles.

[@BvousBrainSystems]

@@timmyquinn655 Do you think they'll be mercyful?

[@joshbobst1629]

Huh, either Google is really fishist, or we all are.

[@mxmacaroon]

You know John has bright hopes for 2021 when “Manifest cats sequel” is on his vision board

[@vlogbrothers]

It's going to be a long year. But Cat James Corden will help us through it. -John

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

@@vlogbrothers C’mon, Bustopher, save the world why don’t you

[@JamesStoddah]

Superior fish beings more worried about superior cat beings than humans. That's why they are laying low, until humans dumb them down enough.

[@jacobbass6437]

“Use dry erase board on more videos” *check*

[@Heeby-Jeebies]

"Finish book of extremely in depth Yelp review."

[@meowmix16]

This! This is my favorite on the list of things.

[@KaijaSchmauss]

That is such an odd, yet perfect description of The Anthropocene Reviewed. I'm impressed.

[@parisnpink23]

Thank yiu

[@garetr]

+

[@ToDreamOfJade]

"large scale changes to the rivers and lakes the superior fish beings are used to" aha, I see what you did there.

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

+

[@herranton]

I literally lol'd. Had to stop the video.

[@IceMetalPunk]

I know that you're gonna swim up your way or no way at all...

[@MikeSugarbaker]

He went Jason Waterfalls

[@IceMetalPunk]

@@MikeSugarbaker I am SO GLAD I'm not the only one who thought those were the words (for far too many years) 😂

[@CashCatMoney]

John, I don't know how to tell you this, but maybe you are a superior fish being.

[@confusedwhale]

Well, if you want to include sharks in the category of "fish", you have to go so far back evolutionarily that mammals would also be fish. We are, we are the youth of the school fish.

[@carollollol]

DAMN thats deep!

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

The real superior fish being was inside of us all along.

[@sarahlevine2397]

Technically we are because we evolved from them

[@tarabates7088]

+

[@mineola_]

Most aesthetically pleasing vision board of 2021 I've ever seen.

[@RetroYoungen]

Y'know what, I too wish to spend less time staring into the abyss this year. Didn't know I needed it worded that way, but very much appreciated. Thanks, John!

[@francescafrancesca3554]

Yes, I think the same. Thanks for wording it, as always.

[@moirayzabelle5260]

I, for one, accept our superior fish being overlords.

[@36637763]

Ancestor salted fish??

[@AndrewHalliwell]

Even after over20 years, that Kent Brockman line's still a classic.

[@greensteve9307]

@@AndrewHalliwell Is that where it came from? I never knew.

[@moirayzabelle5260]

@@AndrewHalliwell bcbdffj who tf is kent brockman, i wasnt even trying to make a reference to anything lmao

[@rczalathor7968]

@@moirayzabelle5260 I'd like to remind you that he is a trusted TV personality that can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in the underwater kelp caves

[@michellevelez3665]

Definitely excited to see more whiteboard in videos in 2021 🤣

[@JohnCTamayo]

Five days into 2021 and I’m already convinced that “unironic earnest enthusiasm about superior fish beings” is the only way forward

[@RainaRamsay]

+

[@crimeny]

+

[@emilymartin5418]

+

[@tinadorr-kapczynski7480]

"The only way out is through, and the only way through is superior fish beings." -John Green

[@rachaelknudsen8801]

+

[@BombOmbBuddy]

This video was one of the first things that have made me smile this week. Thank you for this and every video you make, Brothers Green.

[@rachelpayne78]

"Spend less time staring into the ABYSS" well that's a whole mood

[@emmag938]

100% agree

[@csn583]

When you stare into superior fish beings, superior fish beings stare back into you.

[@sonja5058]

Funny, my 2021 goal is to spend *more* time staring into the ABYSS

[@maroonedinblue]

I definitely have the Snorks theme song stuck in my head at least once a week. Really glad for some Snorks content. Here’s to hoping for an intervention from SFBs

[@vlogbrothers]

I'm glad I'm not the only one . . .

[@raganstory675]

Am I the only one who thought about chasing waterfalls when John mentioned “rivers they are used to?”

[@Apledore]

I was waiting to see if there would be more, because I figured the reference had to be intentional.

[@tractorsgobrum]

I wondered if it was part of the clue, but I think it was just to warm the hearts of all the tlc fans out there

[@KaijaSchmauss]

I fully expected the next sentence out of his mouth to be somewhere along the lines of "do not go chasing waterfalls".

[@sylvan44]

what an excellent way to trick the masses into unwittingly absorbing your earnestness :) the superior fish beings must already be hard at work

[@inem6474]

The thumbnail for this video is really good. The content is truly great. But the fish beings? Superior.

[@maxwellhart3741]

Does “superior fish beings” necessarily have to imply that the fish beings are superior to humans? Or could they simply be superior to pre-2012 fish?

[@nijnij3988]

That was my thinking exactly!

[@kaitlynlaine]

I am glad you guys are still doing this! Haven't followed closly in close to 10 yrs but ya. Love you both!

[@WenzelSays]

First video of the decade and he's talking about superior fish beings. One if the most vlogbrothery videos of all time

[@musmaddie]

You manifest that CATS sequel, John. Live your best 2021.

[@Ty-vj4wg]

I watched the predictions video earlier after having never heard of this channel. Then I saw this video and was like "Is that John Green?" I never knew he had this channel or even a brother.

[@neeeeves]

A favorite "gotcha" fact of evolutionary biology profs everywhere is that fish are not a monophyletic group, meaning that humans are (taxonomically) SFBs

[@jessicacole8404]

What does that mean?

[@browncoatbrooklyn6511]

@@jessicacole8404 The notion of fish is not reflected in species, genus, etc distinctions used in taxonomy, such that fish is a term that includes several species that are not related to each other. Hence, fish is a term inclusive enough to also describe humans, such that we are the superior fish beings.

[@talltroll7092]

@@jessicacole8404 There's a quote (or probably a misquote) from a very famous biologist, whose name will be provided by someone else, because I'm blanking it, that after a career spent largely studying fish, his main conclusion was "There's no such thing as a fish"

[@bubblewrapfred]

Ok, so, I found this channel today after binge watching crash course...the first video I watched was the 2020 predictions, so this is my first time seeing you and I appreciate you so much “Superior fish brings” should not have been glossed over. This in depth dissection was exactly what my day, nay - my year - needed. I thank you good sir.

[@qwertyman1511]

"Superior fish beings" HAS to have been said by the SCP community at some point.

[@ezra-keto]

I mean that's just the Mon Calamari Me and the bois, vibing at Mon Cala with the superior fish beings🌊🌊🏄🏽

[@AdNoctemMedia]

Well the SCP does have a a multiverse counterpart called the SPC which stands for Shark Punching Center. So maybe those guys have something to say about it

[@KeruuKat]

@@AdNoctemMedia i was literally just going to mention the shark punching center

[@Thatoneguyinlitclass]

Get vaccine into ARM is an entire mood.

[@doctormo]

It's possible an ARM processor could run a vaccine, but big endian or little endian, that is the question.

[@IceMetalPunk]

@@doctormo Big Endian. We want the most significant viral particles or mRNA strands first :D

[@MikeSugarbaker]

I love the capital ARM. As if to say “not the rest of me though! Let’s be efficient about this, I only need one arm to interact with the world!”

[@dfunited1]

Wait wait wait wait. Suppositories don't go in ARM, they go... elsewhere

[@tangerinechase3579]

That vision board is the best thing I've seen all year.

[@shunnothe4371]

This is the first vlog brothers videos I watched, and it got me hooked. Nice job!

[@ibbitysnoosni]

Im gen z but your "snorks" comment just triggered me to a deep memory that I have not touched in over 10 years

[@storyspren]

I really hope we as a community can make "superior fish beings" one of those phrases that we just have and know

[@BrendaBip]

Can both of you write a book about our superior fish beings? I would love to read about this future. Thanks guys

[@alisalarsen9163]

I love this. You brightened my day. Thank you Hank for making this prediction and thank you John for drawing greater attention to the Superior Fish Beings!

[@betsy-xg4ok]

Can we talk about John’s 2021 vision board because it’s a work of art

[@ruthiecarroll312]

++

[@ApequH]

Yes! And Fully suport the upper rigth idea

[@timmallette1888]

It feels so unbelievable that there is anything you could Google that hasn't been written about already.

[@OrigamiMarie]

I have had some lonely evenings of googling technical errors, verbatim errors that were generated by software, that produced no hits. Or almost even worse, one tech forum post from a decade prior, with no responses.

[@JokerCrowe]

John, that dry-erase board visual gag was great! 😂 It was great to pause and read all of it, made my day better. X)

[@gratitudemodestyhonesty]

That 2021 vision board tis a thing of beauty! Incredible video 🙌🏽❤

[@JulieHerrick]

Now, "Superior Fish Beings" returns exactly one result and it's this video. Did I just get a googlewhack?

[@ObviouslyBenHughes]

I FOR ONE WELCOME OUR NEW FISH OVERLORDS

[@ObviouslyBenHughes]

I commented this within the first 15-20 seconds of watching, only to realize THIS IS WHAT YOU SAY AT THE END I’m logging off the Internet now

[@edgehaedjr]

BEN! 🤭🤦🏻‍♂️

[@via1408]

What a wonderful start to 2021

[@patch3002]

The snorks are adorable and I had not encountered them so this is an excellent discovery of 2020 for me! Thanks John!

[@schwaar]

"Use dry erase board in more VIDEOS." I second that sentiment.

[@alexstepp7499]

I fully accepted alien overlords during the monolith video, and I would also willingly accept superior fish being overlords

[@miriamrosemary9110]

Love this video. Love the vision board ❤

[@yuccapalme4577]

Love your 2021 vision board 😅

[@waywardmind]

"Manifest Cats Sequel". Sir, I will fight you.

[@quinterbeck]

I love how you call a whiteboard a 'dry-erase board'

[@BubbaSmurft]

Sure y'all don't mean you love how you call a dry-erase board a whiteboard?

[@espurrlady3397]

This was great, very in depth, and exactly my kind of content.

[@talkalot9021]

I’m SO happy you responded to the superior fish beings bit. This video made me laugh so hard! It’s been a while since I’ve watched you guys and I’m glad to see you both remain faithful to discussing the light hearted goofiness that is this life while being able to take a moment to be serious and make a real commentary on what this goofiness means and how it affects us. Thanks y’all! DFTBA 💖

[@qwertyTRiG]

Unironic enthusiasm feels necessary sometimes.

[@emilyprins9143]

John, your vision to "Manifest Cats sequel" genuinely horrifies me

[@KevinTurner-aka-keturn]

I think there's room for interpretation in the capitalization here. Perhaps we can believe that the vision is to manifest a sequel to humanity's most adorable fuzzy overlords and the second-most-popular subject of videos, the domestic feline. They've had a good thing going for millennia, but after the arrival of superior fish people in 2012, cats will need to roll out an upgrade by the end of 2021 to keep up.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

​@@KevinTurner-aka-keturn Superior cat beings?

[@TheAWesomePerformer]

This is exactly the content I needed today!! Thanks John.

[@samragni8013]

This is going to my list of best top 5 John videos. AAAAAAA.

[@adibferdous826]

This feels like a dear hank and john title, that being said, really looking forward to the pod in the new year. Edit: How could I not mention the glory of the moustache

[@lilyjacobson3662]

Hello! Biologist here! All terrestrial tetrapods (humans included) are in clade sarcopterygii, the lobe-finned fish. We aren’t merely evolved from fish, we *are* fish. Perhaps the superior fish being was inside us all along. Also, is it wrong that I suddenly want to start a punk band called Superior Fish Beings?

[@vlogbrothers]

It is very right. (Also thank yo for this info. The superior fish being was inside us all along!) -John

[@tinadorr-kapczynski7480]

that would be an epic punk band name! I support

[@sour_lemon2692]

@@vlogbrothers I truly hope we are not the "Superior Fish Beings" that Hank was referring to... That reduces much of the excitement, and the endless possibilities.

[@Peter-ri9ie]

Lily, could you pleeease post links to videos and documents on this? Sounds like something great to dive into as we continue to stay indoors bc of pandemic. And also, no, a punk band named that would be great. I’d listen to it.

[@abigailladd688]

I didn't make any resolutions this year so I think I'll steal yours :) Thank you for helping me decide staring into the abyss less needs to be a goal for my 2021!

[@nissimourfali7038]

Only John can make a 4 minute video about SUPERIOR FISH BEINGS. And make it amazing.

[@treymedley]

i love that most of the final words on the wipeboard are capitalized: ABYSS, AND OTHER, VIDEOS, MCOE, ARM, WILL

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

++

[@treymedley]

This is my first time (in the over a decade (wow) I have been watching) to have Vlogbrothers like my comment and I AM ECSTATIC

[@gutspraygore]

"Extremely in depth Yelp reviews." Nice. Looking forward to it. -the Abyss

[@7AngelicEnigma7]

An earnest and thought provoking video about superior fish beings....didn't see that one coming but am pleasantly surprised

[@danielkane8783]

I appreciate John's ability to make a good video out of anything.

[@danielkane8783]

Not that superior fish beings isn't something special. Totally is.

[@joanderson4860]

1:46 the exhaustion in your voice and the pain in your eyes are probably the most relatable things I've seen so far this year

[@sarahrenner8064]

This may be incredibly sacrilegious, but I never thought a video about superior fish beings would come so close to how I feel about God.

[@laineylarsen245]

Same, actually!

[@emilysmith2965]

If the only adult in the room is an adult I can’t prove is there, that’s not going to be enough. I think a lot of people feel this way about God, and they feel it far too much. We still need mortals to do better, regardless of their beliefs.

[@fugithegreat]

This video is the best possible video for this moment in time. Imo

[@guppy8073]

This brought me great joy, thank you

[@the1butterfly]

If Hank doesn't respond with a video about "Manifest Cats Sequel" I will be very disappointed. Not quite as disappointed as if I had to watch it, but still.

[@robzrapid3166]

2020: Hygienic Hyperventilating Hypothetical Hysteria 2012/2021: *SUPERIOR FISH BEINGS*

[@impendio]

Superior fish beings has become my favorite phrase since that video as well.

[@feuilletoniste]

That vision board is GOALS, John!

[@hayleyhorton5480]

so if that exact phrase has never been used before on the internet than this KZbin video must be the first entry! congratulations john!

[@RainaRamsay]

Now it's gonna be everywhere, lol

[@LogicalWaste]

Now I'm going to have TLC Songs in my head all day. thanks John.

[@vlogbrothers]

You're the first person to get close to solving the clue. -John

[@Pajali]

The fact that I had to scroll down this far to find someone who got that reference makes me despair for the younger generations. How are they to know not to go chasing waterfalls? 😭

[@JuliaSkottMakes]

Same! I was expecting more lyrics right after.

[@jimbrookhyser]

What a joy! Thank you for the earnestness and the silliness all in one! I think my vision board needs to include vastly more repetition of earnestly saying out loud those things we fundamentally know to be true, beautiful, and uplifting, since the superior fish beings don't seem to be saying these things out loud yet.

[@ohgeeeznotagain]

The moment John whipped that vision board out from nowhere is the laugh to beat in 2021 😂

[@galpalcentral]

the “manifest cats sequel” on the white board is the last thing i could’ve ever wanted to read. thanks, john.

[@billyalarie929]

FURTHERMORE, i could've lived my entire life without someone having pointed that out in a comment. thanks, katherine.

[@ruthiecarroll312]

i was gonna say the exact same thing asdfghjkl

[@MiddleAgedNerd]

I'm a big fan of "use dry erase board in more videos"

[@fyorarules]

“Spend less time staring into the ABYSS” is such a post-2020 moooodddd. I hope you’re able to accomplish that vision 💕

[@DeWessel97]

WHAT AN EXCELLENT VIDEO JOHN

[@etoile713]

The idea that humanity is in early adolescence and that we could really use an adult gets more relatable the older I get

[@ethanrepublic]

Given that 95% of the ocean is undiscovered means there's a chance, JOHN! THERE'S A CHANCE! ( By the way I can't wait to buy the extremely in depth yelp review book of yours)

[@docnevyn5814]

"So you're saying there's a chance?"

[@ApequH]

Maybe a hanklerfish could tell us more

[@kaceeeddinger6946]

"get vaccine into ARM" is now my favorite phrase (Superior Fish Beings comes to a close second)

[@talltroll7092]

Given the many vaccines in development, what if the one he actually receives requires injection into the butt? Would that count? Or would he have to grow an arm out of this gluteal region first?

[@s.hinzman7728]

It has been so long since I have thought about the snorks and I am thankful for this moment

[@ashtuatara]

I am LIVING for John's vision board I can't pick a favourite

[@Itania333]

My first thought when I saw the title: This must be excellent

[@MatrixTheKitty]

"superior fish beings" meenah peixes would like to know where you are

[@sjhsoccer]

Oh God no

[@jessegrant2749]

I had actual tears in my eyes looking at your vision board 😂. I fully support all those visions.

[@BecWelsford]

What an absolute delight this was!

[@sarahlevine2397]

JOHN. we ARE the superior fish beings!

[@prashantdahiya711]

Aah, I like the way you both think, it's like having a 4D kind of talk, it just connects. Thank you dear Hank and Jhon.

[@jasmeenmalhotra2225]

I missed this video by a day. Just one day, and the whole world feels completely different.

[@carpediEMILY]

John, your vision board is truly inspired.

[@MiddleAgedNerd]

"Superior Fish Beings" somehow makes me think of Inter Ice Age 4, by Abe Kobo.