The Babygirlification of the Modern Vampire

[@marinashutup]

Hi friends! I know it's been, like, 27 years since I uploaded a video. BUT I'm excited to share a new video essay that I'm really, really proud of. 
 I started working on this video at the beginning of the year, shortly after I was laid off by the Los Angeles Times (boooo). It's different from the other videos I’ve made in the past, but after years of making short-form content for other publications, this was the first time I’ve been able to write, edit, and produce something long-form that’s entirely for myself. 
 When I was at the height of my post-layoff depression, I was obsessed with playing Baldur's Gate 3, and I was in need of a creative outlet. I was also so obsessed with the game's c*nty little vampire elf that it basically made me regress back into my Twilight era. Working on a video essay, for the first time in years, gave me a reason to get out of bed and write jokes and research and just feel creative again. I got to analyze media I already obsess over and watch a ton of vampire movies. (During this time, I also foolishly purchased a $70 3-vinyl box set of the BG3 soundtrack, but it's so fine!) Making a video essay gave me something to look forward to, and I assumed that I would finish this in a reasonable amount of time and make a cute lil return to KZbin. What I didn't expect is that I would very quickly find a new job. After I left that job, I recently started working as a video producer for Teen Vogue, Glamour, and Them. Yay!

So, somehow, it has taken me nearly seven months to finish making a video essay about depressed vampires. But this is also the most amount of hours I have ever put into a video-and that's by a pretty wide margin.
 Anyway, here's the video literally nobody asked for about the internet's favorite bloodthirsty, 200-year-old babygirl. I truly had a blast working on this, and I hope you like it! 
Marina

[@clsisman]

We would have asked if we thought there was a chance haha.Welcome back, I loved your videos way back when and this is the best ever!

[@TheFrustratedHistorian]

Welcome back.

[@michtales]

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK, I SCREAMED WHEN I GOT THE NOTIFICATION 😭

[@roryh3307]

Happy to see you back, despite the circumstances. Fun video! Looking forward to more, if you are interested of course. I can quench my video thirst and accept this one as the gift it is like Astarion

[@yooriawakened6764]

Wow this video is SO GOOD! You should be proud. Also, as a Bi, lover of both teaching and writing essays and retelling of history, myth and ritualistic magic lore, I applaud you. You have really inspired me to speak with confidents and allow my passion for everything in this world to flow through me when I speak from now on. Ok back to drawing all my gorgeous, tortured fancy man elves, for whom I've been drawing and dreaming up stories , for over 15 years :} p.s. I've had boy friends that were remarkably similar but it was just not the same.

[@Katastr0phic_Katicorn]

"I can't believe I'm a thirty year old woman who got played by a pixel man..." Anders and Solas girlies: "First time?"

[@AmbarGriss]

It's me, i'm an Anders girlie ;-;

[@FeuerblutRM]

Anders ♥️💔😭 Still have my heart broken over him. I would have done whatever he wanted but he still didn't trust me with his plans... Just let me help you, dammit!

[@oldladytrexarms]

Sadly lots of people playing BG3 only just now got into these RPGs meanwhile a lot of of us have been getting played for years and we're like "welcome to the club". >.

[@battyrae1398]

my only complaint with anders is he didnt let me join in. come on, arent we friends? you know I woulda been down!

[@sarawawa8984]

FORREAL

[@azureascendant994]

Ascended Astarion is basically damned to Hell, Which, in the future, will be a worse and torturous slavery than he experienced as a spawn.

[@Louves192]

I like the theory that the ritual's true purpose is for Mephistopheles to be able to return to Toril via a suitably strong vessel. I mean 7k souls are nice and all, but he's an archdevil, that's pocket change for him 🤷

[@azureascendant994]

@@Louves192 Yup, Then Astarion won't be himself anymore, Mephisto will be him.

[@KeitieKalopsia]

@@FeuerblutRM I, uh, think you replied to the wrong comment.

[@FeuerblutRM]

@@KeitieKalopsia yep, my bad 😅 now I got to find the comment I originally wanted to send this reply to. My comment section is so buggy lately, they really need to fix the Brave browser on Android for KZbin newest script changes. 🫣

[@Haexxchen]

Dark Urge kind doesn't care. He's going to Ascend.

[@DivaQuinzel]

The most babygirl of vampires will always be Spike. Him not being in this feels like a crime.

[@marinashutup]

I was trying to keep this under an hour but I do agree!

[@primrosett]

The Lestat -> Spike -> Astarion pipeline is dangerously real.

[@DivaQuinzel]

@@primrosett I would add Damon from TVD to that list.

[@theblackenedphoenix]

There was a clip of Spike when he was being turned.

[@AngelaSmith_1970]

@@primrosettyup 😅 yummy aren’t they 😎🥰🤣🙌🏽

[@keepittoyourshelf]

Astarion is more Lestat coded for me than anything. I was never into Twilight, but The Vampire Chronicles were my Twilight in high school so I immediately regressed into full Lestat obsession as soon as I started playing. Pleeeeease don't lump him in with Twilight. I'm joking, of course. But only a little. And mostly because Twilight was written by a conservative Mormon mother to bascially function as chastity porn. You should try playing the Dragon Age series. I like to say that Fenris from DA2 walked so Astarion could fly. He's not a vampire, but he is a tortured, abused white-haired elf working his way through severe PTSD.

[@TheGirlInFandomWorld]

I'm a DA player as well, the Fenris-to-Astarion pipeline is real

[@megancastle5573]

He's gotta have some Zevran in the DNA as well. It's the "flirty elf hiding a traumatic past who weakly tries to kill you when you first meet".

[@keepittoyourshelf]

@@megancastle5573 100%. I’d say he’s like Zevran’s flirtatiousness mixed with Fenris’s brooding.

[@TheGirlInFandomWorld]

@@megancastle5573 You're right! How in the world could I forget Zevran? (Probably bc my Mahariel romanced Morrigan but shh)

[@FeuerblutRM]

I played DA2 and found Fenris to be annoying as fuck. I don't see many parallels to Astarion. Where Astarion at least has wit, cunning and humor, Fenris is just a bitter, spiteful boy that never changes for the better and stabs your back in the end. Really hated this character. They have similar backgrounds (being enslaved, loosing their previous biography) but Fenris is just handled poorly imo. Even if you try to help him, he stays a bitter, resentful annoyance, unless you romance him (so my Hawke was thinking "you ungrateful little brat! Get therapy!" more than once). And I'm saying this despite DA2 being my favorite installment of the series so far.

[@ufcoque8697]

I was about to comment how some vampires, like Witcher, don't follow these tropes--- before I realized Dettlaff van der Eretein is literally a sad wet cat with mental problems who just wants to be loved and betrayal broke his heart so bad he destroyed a city...

[@Magmakojote]

but you also have vampires like Regis, a pretty well adjusted dude overall.

[@ufcoque8697]

@@Magmakojote Everyone needs a Regis in their lives. Especially these traumatized twinks. 10/10 best character in the books and games.

[@MeraliKönig]

​@@ufcoque8697 So true! (He was one of the main reasons i read these books)

[@DeaDiabola]

@@ufcoque8697 Regis was a banger of a character

[@notpointed]

I don't know why people keep lumping in Astarion with these destructive vampires. He has one week of being feral because he just escaped literal slavely with literal torture literally yesterday and after that he's actually fine and starts being downright heroic in Act 3. Do people not play past Act 1? Do people base their entire opinion of him on his first cutscene and then never update it? The worst things he does are 1. not having self control while eating for the first time when he was starving for 200 years and 2. acting like a feral cornered wolf when you first meet him because he was pissing his very fancy trousers at the sight of you and had to use everything he had (his manipulation tactics) to try and survive. People lump him in with murderers because he makes self-protective comments in Act 1. Comments. He doesn't even act on them, he just occasionally disapproves but doesn't actually intervene or go behind your back. And what a lot of players don't realise: Unless you play an elf he is the ONLY ONE keeping the group safe at night while everyone is asleep. He is half awake in Reverie with his pointy ears perked for danger. Until the player joins up with Halsin and/or Minthara there is nobody keeping watch. Reverie only lasts half as long as sleep and yet all he does in that extra time is eat some badgers and do his hair.

[@EscapedAudios]

This got me to watch Carmilla, god I wish KZbin was still putting out webseries like that. I swear there were more creative people out there actually gaining tractions before youtube got taken over by reaction channels, commentary channels, and Mr Beast clones.

[@shalalala4875]

yes omg I was telling someone about Carmilla a couple months ago and it made me think fondly of how many good web series there used to be. I love long form content videos/deep dives myself, but I do really miss the thriving environment for web series creativity/story telling at that time.

[@Paradoxikaa]

Hello 👋 I just thought I'd mention two youtube webseries I can remember watching other than Carmilla that you can check out. There is a Middlemarch webseries (I think based on an old story of the same name, similarly to the Carmilla webseries? I think the searches will require you to specify it's the webseries you're looking for). I watched it long ago so I don't remember it much. And the other is called The Party that came out just last year if I remember correctly! (Search the title with the words "session zero" to narrow the results, that's the ep1 title.) It's about a group of friends who play Dungeons and Dragons. There's a bonus one I can't remember the name of, that stars Liam Dryden. But that one was left unfinished after the first season 😞 It was supposed to follow this group of people pre- and post apocalypse as agents of a group called the Fallen Angel Network. (edit: This bonus one is called Chronicles of Syntax and the playlist seems to be unlisted and only accessible through their facebook page.)

[@georgethompson913]

The commentsry channels are more an evolution of the review channels. Just without the cringy skits.

[@crazyratlady3115]

As someone who's never played the game all the way through and hasn't really given Astarion much thought, I think the whole scene where the player pressures Astarion into sex and then is forced to realise that it wasn't consensual is so important. Classic media has really brainwashed people into thinking that the chase, the convincing, is a normal part of courtship and seduction. It's good to see the narrative be played out a different way.

[@Foogi9000]

I want more vampires like Dracula from Castlevania. Like he's hot but he's also an absolute villain.

[@georgethompson913]

You mean the games... you mean the games right?

[@thecheck968]

You say nobody asked for this video. But I have absolutely, unironically asked for a video which analyzes modern society's perspective on vampires through the lens of how we got Astarion and his twist on the take. I am grateful you were late to the hype train because I have rode past my exist several times and refuse to get off. Edit: Also, 43:46 IS SUCH A SYSNCT WAY TO EXPLAIN ASTARION REFUSING ASCENSION. I love the epilogue letter Astarion gets from the Gur if he makes this decision. Identifying himself as a victim and survivor helps Astarion's own healing process as well as those who went through similar trauma. Hearing that he's become a source of strength to the community he wronged is so... well, healing.

[@Louves192]

Not gonna lie, the letter from the Gur hit me really hard.

[@thecheck968]

@@Louves192 It’s the most memorable letter by far and encapsulates every way he’s changed. He goes from despising Gur to allying with them, living in fear to living in peace, and being desperate for power to giving up power so that others may heal. Astarion pre-nautiloid would’ve laughed at the letter, if not be straight up offended by it. He’s grown so much and we’re not the only ones proud of our vampire boy.

[@seabreeze4559]

succinct?

[@thecheck968]

@@seabreeze4559 aww

[@edgymegatronus6121]

this has genuinely been one of the most enjoyable watches in a LOOOONG time. I spent 45 mins on the stairmaster with this. So good and in depth ily

[@kevinistired]

Marina?! on KZbin?! I am so ready

[@marinashutup]

I was like “yaaay gonna launch my lil vampire video today ☺️” and then the first thing i saw on the internet was my old coworker announcing a CHILD. I’m thriving.

[@kevinistired]

and the video was amazing! the editing was immaculate.

[@dantealivieri5390]

​@@marinashutupyou gave birth to this video

[@abloodydistraction]

Much like yourself, I also came back to writing fanfiction after a 4+ year break because of Astatrion. I get it.

[@TheJackawock]

You’ve returned to speak on a topic which is my kryptonite. The down-bad of this video is just what I needed.

[@adoresessy101]

OMG, I have been subscribed for a decade now! I'm so glad I never unsubbed bc it was a delight to get this in my notification! Welcome back, Marina!

[@kaylahcrosby8914]

finally youtube is finely attuned to my tastes

[@davidbonar5190]

for me, the vampire trope/archetype in fantasy, fairy tales, modern adaptations etc represents toxic exploitative, even sadistic and life-threatening, relationships and their perpetrators and the stories are warnings. the charme, the predatory nature and uncontrollable hunger, the secretiveness, masking a la wolf in sheeps clothing, the turned subordinate toadies und enslaved lesser vapires, even the warning not to invite them into your house (or life), the nightly activity and the aversion to light, not being able to reflect (oneself) as in having no true self or being unable so the own true self... all together very sociopath-like. Grimms' fairy tale "Cat and Mouse in Partnership" describes such a relationship pretty well. the modern babygirlified vampire is one aspect of the archetype. in this case masked as an ageless adolescent, an adonis, playing ill and in need of help hiding his depravity behind innocent victim of circumstance or whatver, laying in wait for his preferred prey (sympathic naive young women) in some highschool...

[@floridasavannah]

I think it's also this great example of how some people desperately wish to see the good or 'fix' the bad boy type. Making a literal predator just secretly a sympathetic guy you could love in this modern age of dark romance novels. Irl, the idea is dumb, but in fiction, it's a fun idea. Like, we all love Astarion on screen from this safe distance where you can play out romances and even risk death. But if I had to deal with him irl, he's lucky if he doesn't get a stake the moment I find out.

[@TheSim1derful]

As a diehard AMC Interview With the Vampire fan, I asked for this video! It was ME

[@mieroth]

There was a real lack of AMC IWTV in this vid, in that beginning intro I was sure she was talking about Louis, though I guess Astarion being in the thumbnail should have been a clue. 😂 But I love any vampire video essay!

[@TheSim1derful]

@@mieroth it's true, I did expect more lmao. But it was still a great video essays!

[@seabreeze4559]

@@mieroth Well it makes a lot of changes versus the books.... so.... yeah. They're also highly modern and current year.

[@xibalba1am]

marina has returned AND talking about BG3 we are so back 😭

[@xibalba1am]

i just finished the video and I I want to add some speculation about Ascended astarion as well! I also agree that AA is the bad choice and I think the new evil astarion ending kinda reinforces that? iirc we only really see the flashing red eyes in vampire spawn I don't think we saw cazador do that so in that lil sneak peak when astarion is evil and ruling over the city and his eyes glow red I think its possible that its another nod by larian about Astarion's loss of agency to vampirism when he ascends (but this totally hinges on my memory not failing me so consider this with a grain of salt lol)

[@ImpulsiveCreativity]

I got into the AMC tv show version of Interview with the Vampire (excellent btw, highly recommend it!) a couple of years ago and then I read the Vampire Chronicles and I am convinced so much inspiration for Twilight came from those books. But Astarion reminds me way more of Lestat from TVC than any Twilight vamp. Lestat is like the OG babygirl vampire, way more than Louis (in the books). So I think we can all point to Anne Rice for babygirlifying vampires. That being said I do enjoy these babygirl vamps. Especially the queer ones. I am honestly amazed the Interview with the Vampire TV show even gets to exist (and unlike in the books, they do bang in the show).

[@laraspace6139]

For me astarion feels like mix between Lestat and Armand and i love him for it.

[@himalayansalt32]

Except Lestat is overly gay, Astarion looks better with a woman

[@kalebgarden6890]

⁠​⁠@@himalayansalt32 ?????? Astarion is a queer man

[@TheSim1derful]

I think in the show, Armand is SUCH a baby girl vampire. With a serving of "fucking insane" on the side

[@hopekeeley2122]

@@himalayansalt32their both bi/pan

[@cryptig]

Have we seen Cazador's dialogue when you don't bring Astarion along? It's along the lines of Tav defending Astarion and calling Cazador out for being a POS and Cazador replying "You don't understand him like I do. Families hurt each other but we're family so that happens, just accept it". The orginal scene with Astarion is painful but Cazador being frank like that also hurts.

[@Li_Tobler]

I got absolutely insane chills from that scene, because that's exactly what my narcissistic mother had said to me after not seeing me for 2+ years. Word for word. It was as eye-opening as it was terrifying...

[@DeaDiabola]

It's fascinating how different people perceive the character - I have noticed that mostly men despise him, and similarly, despise the women who adore the character. The trap of toxic masculinity causes them to subconsciously see him as one dimensional, weak, and evil. I would see them furiously posting that they were abused and they turned out fine! Sure, Jan. Just because YOU didn't lash out and repeat the cycle, doesn't mean that many, MANY people do. Media literacy is not at it's height right now. Well, as someone with a personality disorder that took decades to get under wraps, I did and said many, MANY horrible things, and I myself never, ever thought I was worth saving. I made that everyone else's problem. I constantly referred to myself as trash and at later points, went from abuser to abuser because of this internalized loathing. All the while I would meet people who would comment on how "confident" and "self-assured" I was. Lol. I was drowning. Suffocating on the rot that had cultivated within me. To say I was angry and depressed and disempowered, would be a massive understatement. I disposed of many good people who got too close because it made me extremely uncomfortable & I was a massive edgelord. Empathy was weakness, yet I expected, on some level, for people to empathize with me. It's a complex issue that is extremely difficult to undo. This caused my disorder to become even worse to the degree that many people refused to empathize with me at that time, because I wasn't ever a perfect victim. I was obsessed with not feeling weak, because that is how I was raised, all while suffering abuse that made me feel weaker and weaker as time went on. It wasn't until my first, primary abuser (my dad) died that the true healing began. Even going no contact, his specter and presence was everywhere. "Cazador, Cazador, Cazador" indeed. Tl;dr Astarion is a perfectly imperfect victim, and I absolutely love the choice of allowing him to become the thing he hated and never have the ability to go back on, or letting him know true freedom, even if it isn't completely ideal, it's the start of something. It saddens me how none of those dudes give him a chance to be rehabilitated. If you start him on that path, he quickly approves of shit like petting the owlbear cub and letting it stay in camp. If you romance him, you can go to the underdark with him and help guide the spawn, which is extremely wholesome. He sheepishly tells you that you're the first person he actually truly cared about, without the calculating looks or tone. He, like Shart, were STILL complete chillers by the end of my neutral good/resistant Durge playthrough. I allowed them full agency, and they thrived. He becomes more neutral in situations that require empathy by the middle of act 3. Literally every single person who suffered years and years of abuse that I know, absolutely adores the bitchy little twink. He's one of my favorite characters in fiction, and being a bookworm, is truly saying something. Larian outdid it self with him. I hope every game they make is this profoundly beautiful. It's actual art.

[@MaryDunford]

I agree with most of this. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, compassion is considered a weakness to many who end up becoming abusive themselves. Yet they expect to receive what they don't respect. As much as I love Astarion's character development in this fantasy, it is just fantasy. Most real abusers are charismatic as Astarion but as irredeemable as Cazador. It should be noted Astarion respects the word "no" even from the outset, and experiences moral dilemma. He can choose to become a copy of the person who made him, or not. By the time we meet such people irl, most of the time, that road has already been chosen. I'm impressed by your self-awareness and strength of character, btw. I don't usually say this, but you seem exceptional. Cheers.

[@Foggfjw]

comments like these are the reason I try to stay away from the comments at all costs. toxic masculinity is the reason people see him as weak, gosh. astarion is peak toxic masculinity, his biggest desire is power. he even has a ending scene where it is said that he will always look down on you. for the record I found him pretty funny. not really deep or something but one of the most entertaining companions by far. tough I didn't like most party members that much except him shadowheart and the gith.

[@thegnome73]

@@Foggfjw toxic masculinity truly isn't one or the other, this is multi-layered. Toxic masculinity is like a self-mutilating Hydra. Astarion demonstrates one of the heads of toxic masculinity, and the guys who hate on his character and story and the girls who love him are just performing another kind. y'all can attack each other's perspective but neither is fully getting at the core issue so more versions of toxic masculinity will just grow out of the stumps.

[@Haexxchen]

How can you not see Astarion as the broken man he is? Astarion gives justice to (sexually) abused men. Gotta be evil to call him weak and stupid to think he is one-dimensional I absolutely romance him for that story, not because of havin ghte hots for him.

[@ethanbaker137]

Heavy agree that he's a very well crafted character that represents what victims can really look like. I will say though don't think it's particularly toxic to dislike somebody and not want to associate them for saying/doing horrendous things to people. Traumatized or not, I think it's pretty reasonable to not want to have a guy in your circle that attacked you in your sleep lol.

[@redmistbluemiss]

This trope has been so drawn out & over done at this point. That it would be genuinely refreshing to see a Vampire in media that actually likes being one. That's why 30 Days Of Night works so well those Vamps weren't tortured angst ridden teenagers they were more like sharks.

[@audreys1842]

I'd say, it would be refreshing to see vampires enjoy being vampires *while not being villains.* True Blood is full of happy vampires, but they tend to be bad guys.

[@redmistbluemiss]

@@audreys1842 That'd be cool too, just happy doing vampire things.

[@SlayerNinaFriki]

What we do in the shadows entered the chat 😂

[@ToplessTopics]

the contrast of bella's piano song playing over the violent descriptions of vampire looks and powers has me rolling on the floor laughing.

[@Anna-B]

Personally, I’m here for the babygirlification of vampires 😂

[@joaquindonoso5481]

No

[@DeaDiabola]

It's nice to see vampires who aren't 100% based on the OG Dracula (the film version) - the undead equivalent of a gay foreigner *gasp* moving to your town. I'm glad they're different now, shit was getting boring

[@HomuraAkemiHQ]

Play the TTRPG Vampire: The Masquerade. You can have an entire team of such vampires!

[@floridasavannah]

I need a good mix of sad himbos and legitimately scary monsters that are horrific to look at, but all the neurodivergent girls would smash 100%

[@Polygondian]

Marina is back and talking about vampires?? Let's gooo

[@Shibasu_]

Return of a legend

[@kirstytaylor7879]

This is my introduction to you, my friend sent me this as my long term devotion to BG3 is now somewhat a running joke among my friends. This is stellar work, and I’m now invested in your future projects!

[@bsummers1386]

And when the world needed her most, she appeared! ❤️❤️❤️

[@thingsarecoolokay598]

24:25 I think it is important to note that Araj doesn’t dehumanize Astarion because he is a spawn, but because she is a Drow. In their matriarchal society, males are dehumanized and given little to no choice in what happens to them, which is perhaps why she has trouble taking “no” for an answer

[@EleiyaUmei]

Video essays like this make me crush on a character I don't even know xD I wanna play BG3 so bad but I can't afford it atm

[@emmahamilton9140]

I'm surprised you didn't mention how ascending also kills his siblings, who he has seen suffer the same as he has. That part really affected me, how easily he could destroy them to suit himself. Anyway, It's good to see you again!

[@notpointed]

A person in a mental health crisis afraid for his life making bad decisions? Oh no, truly this person must be evil and isn't just acting erratic because they are acutely afraid they will go back to literal slavery with literal torture for literal decades. This isn't uwu angsty babygirl, this is a guy who, in the whole game, makes three bad decisions and you can EASILY keep him from doing all three.

[@emmahamilton9140]

@@notpointed EASILY? Speak for yourself, I have negative charisma. And I never said he was evil. I already liked Astarion, and this video made me like him more. I watched the same video you did, I'm well aware he was in a panic state, I just thought this detail would have been mentioned.

[@notpointed]

@@emmahamilton9140 You said he "easily could destroy them to suit himself". Easily killing 7000 people to suit yourself is evil. You didn't use the word, but you called him something that is just one possible definition for evil. And yes, there is a very easy solution: Just don't bring him to Cazador. Put literally anyone else in your team and then tell him afterwards.

[@emmahamilton9140]

​@@notpointedDo you like, get anything out of being passive aggressive to strangers on the internet about video games? I could tell you that I didn't know how the Cazador fight ended when I brought Astarion in, and that I just wanted to do his quest with him, but I think you just want to argue.

[@notpointed]

@@emmahamilton9140 First off: That wasn't passive aggressive, that was just aggressive. Secondly: You brought a severely traumatised man back to confront his tormentor of literal centuries for no other reason that you wanted narrative fulfilment and didn't bring anything to handle his extremely predictable meltdown? And then you are calling him "able to easily sacrifice 7000 lives for his own benefit" because he had said extremely predictable meltdown? Man I hope you only treat video game characters that way and not real life people.

[@theserialcomma]

I'm feeling weirdly emotional watching this video?! Your videos were my first introduction to feminist theory when I was 14; now I'm 26 and doing a PhD about gender online. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that you helped to nudge me on this life path. Suffice to say, I'm excited for your return to KZbin.

[@beccaknight5763]

“Acting like a bunch of scorpios” damn but true 🤣

[@JazzTehHippy]

welcome back mate, hope you've been well, super keen for this

[@Cataphoric559]

Thank you for mentioning Polidori and Byron! I love the fact that the whole modern vampire trope is based on Byron being a fuck boy who went around Europe leaving a trail of broken hearted women.

[@rubyb7252]

"This fussy little f*ck boi" I'm screaming🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mrscarstairs]

I’m so happy to see you’re back! You were one of the first video essayists I ever followed and I loved seeing a fellow wasian woman speak about feminism and social justice. Much love

[@sldaymond]

Watched this last night and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m telling all my friends to watch it because I need to talk to people about all of the points you brought up in here. Maybe I should just watch it again to get it out of my system

[@bowspritely]

I haven’t played BG3 yet, but I’m loving this dive into the romanticism of vampires.

[@amberzoerman9947]

omg I’ve been subscribed to you for forever and you come back to talk about the vampire man I’m ALSO hyperfixated on???? ❤️❤️❤️ thank you!!

[@sockelf]

chat I can't believe this is happening

[@obalderdash]

MARINA?!! 😱😱 I can’t wait to watch this in full to the point that I’ve made myself late for work *hits play* ▶️

[@HelFrostKara]

"video games aren't art" "then what's that?" **points at Baldur's Gate 3** Ma'am, Larian really made a feast with this game. Great video, Marina!! I don't feel good about that ascension outcome lol The balance of giving someone agency but also seeing they aren't in a great place to make a healthy choice. Then again, what gives you the right to dictate what is "healthy" and how do you know you're right without seeing the consequences? Big ole complicated thing they got here.

[@meepabeepy]

WELCOME BACK MARINA!!!

[@welpppppppppppppp]

i was just thinking about how much i missed your online presence!!! thanks for gracing us once again

[@dandybees7695]

THE GOAT IS BAAAAACK

[@WhereItCounts]

I thought I was losing my mind. Welcome back!

[@Aishyo]

Nice to have you back

[@gian323]

WELCOME BACK LAWD

[@hannahm9205]

omg marina?? Let’s go!

[@sweetyft]

I was totally asking for it and I am so grateful the algorithmic gods recommended that video to me.

[@BlancheNeigefan]

Great that you came back! Can't wait to watch it!

[@christabelle__]

You worked with Princess! I love her stuff, and this really reminded me of some of her talks about these kinds of themes! Excellently done. I recommend looking into The Lost Boys...especially with Halloween around the corner! It's really the first vampire media to establish the punk, bad-boy, leather wearing cool-guy vampire. It set the tone in the late 80s...for all the YA vampire fiction to come - and has a banger soundtrack! Thanks for chasing your passion, and providing us all with some entertainment...and helping SOME people with their media literacy, ha! Looking forward to more!

[@frustraceann]

i've never played this game, nor do i plan to, but my god... those asterion scenes you put in this video did something to me.

[@Speilbilde]

So happy to see you back!

[@liliavacyncosplay]

I'm new here but this video is exactly the kind of deep dive into Astarion's lore and its roots in vampire canon in western culture that I was craving. Thank you!

[@Sammowrimo]

What??? I honestly just did a double take! 🎉

[@mildredmelusine6970]

I don’t play this game but I loved your video on it. He does seem like a nuanced character. And hearing his voice actor is open about surviving sexual abuse makes it hit that much harder

[@Zyilus]

Omg!!! Welcome back!!!

[@clairey165]

Marina’s back!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@SilverDragonAcademy]

I also appreciate the choice of being able to free the spawn. As a paladin it did break the oath allowing the undead to live and go free, but it felt right to do? To give them freedom. Also, where is that "olde timey" font from?! I love it.

[@definitelynotashark1799]

Astarion and me moved into the sewers to watch over the vampire children (⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠｡⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♡

[@MT-jx1kz]

I giggled through this entire video. Well done.

[@moeezS]

It's been 4 years, wow! Glad to see you back. Enjoyed your work at Bitch Media, sad to see them go in 2022. Hope you've been well.

[@snowpoler]

I'm so glad (and sort of concerned... but in a nice way) that after nearly 4 years including EA, BG3 - and especially Astarion... - is still occupying so much of people minds and time... Goood, goood, let it flow through you! Lmaoo I can say I am an Astarion fan now even though I was *never* a Twilight girlie, and just no vampires for me before honestly. In primary and middle school I was an active Twilight and any vampire romance media hater... internalised misogyny was probably at play a lot... But seriously, great and informative vid! ❤ I'm probably gonna share this with one of my close friends who I've been pestering with BG3 facts and content in the last 4 months at least, and who also has a soft spot for this "genre of man" 😂

[@DeaDiabola]

I found Twilight horrifying, and definitely not because there were vampires and werewolves in it, though I was a young adult by the time they came out. Bro is a senior citizen nutting over a LITERAL CHILD. Yuuuuck. Much less problematic in BG3, where most races live to be centuries old. A 50 y/o tiefling can make their own decisions by that point. I totally feel your friend, I have a soft spot for any abrasive character with a deep storyline about abuse

[@pagetvido1850]

Oh, I thought babygirlification would be about Twilight and the vegan vampire's. One thing I really like about Astarion and BG3 is how clear the point system makes his blood addiction. He approves of pretty much any situation that results in bloody corpses. His reaction to Carion's room of butchered body parts was hilarious and disturbing. He seemed philosophically opposed to the idea that he shouldn't enjoy blood. Astarion shares little in common the Twilight vegans.

[@DahshonJahzer]

This is a great channel. Thank you for sharing your wisdom; This is gas.

[@abb3rz07]

OMG WELCOME BACK MARINA!

[@heavyrainstorm92]

omg welcome BACK and with a banger video about vampires!!!

[@daviderde]

i KNEW i stayed subscribed for a reason!! great to see you back!

[@AspelShuyin]

I was so downbad for the scene where Astarion straight up kills you that I immediately started writing fanfic of an Astarion expy killing my Pathfinder character in the same sexy way.

[@aele0317]

I see Astarion I click. I’m playing as the Durge, he was soo sweet to me

[@KeitieKalopsia]

I have absolutely been hoping that someone would make a video about Astarion and other vampire media and I know for certain that many other people have been waiting for exactly the same thing.

[@JaspersSpace]

Oh, this is so delightful! We might not have asked for this video but I for one am going through a breakup and needed this desperately

[@shalalala4875]

I have been watching your vids for almost 10 years! I was just thinking about you/your channel a couple weeks ago. I am so glad to see you here again. Love your BG3 discourse, and hope you are doing well.

[@issecret1]

I wouldn't call DnD niche. It's like saying Star Wars is niche. It's pretty huge and has influenced most media we consume

[@gnocchi5326]

then you got the joke, congratulations edit: welp, I was wrong. DnD is massive these days so I just assumed calling it niche was done in a joking manner

[@issecret1]

@@gnocchi5326 oh, it was a joke? I'm sorry the delivery was so bad that it seemed serious.

[@marinashutup]

I wasn’t joking! Sure, everyone knows what DnD is and it gets referenced in a lot of media, but it is niche. And it’s nowhere near as popular as Star Wars. The barrier for entry to DnD is much, much higher than watching a movie - from learning how to play, having hours upon hours of free time (if not entire days), and having access to a group of friends or people you know that also know how to play and someone that can be a *good* DM. Like I’d wanted to play DnD for years but never found friends who lived near me who could teach me. Also, the amount of math can be intimidating to people I’m sure lol. That’s not to say it’s bad for something to be niche! A lot of things I love are niche and not everything has to appeal to all audiences.

[@tallyjones8917]

You are so correct for saying this, don’t let anyone gaslight you into thinking otherwise.

[@LilFeralGangrel]

​@@marinashutup i'd argue the biggest barrier for DnD isn't the rules it's getting the time and people to play. Like a good session is going to be four hours at least. Trying to schedule that between a bunch of different adults is really really hard.

[@swisscheeseify]

2:20 I knew I had to subscribe. Thank you from this former teen Twilight girlie, current BG3 fiend. Totally correct about Astarion's first romance scene being Twilight-coded, I never connected the color palette omg.

[@srobotee]

SHE'S BACK, I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!

[@PogieJoe]

Woah! So ready for new Marina!

[@Pixelkvist]

This is suuuch a good video, I never managed to see these sides of Astarion myself or analyze his behaviour as deeply!

[@Anna-tu2zn]

Marina thanks for this! So excited to see a new video after 4 years. I love your analysis of this game I have not played bc it's expensive and my computer literally does not have enough processing power but that I've been hearing about for like a year lol. I will never not adore vampire media analysis and this one is so beautiful

[@restlesscow2137]

Damn, welcome back, content from you is always appreciated!

[@BrigitteEmpire]

Somehow, Marinashutup returned

[@moirapledger9153]

I've been looking for this video for a fckin week! I got the thumbnail when i was at work and couldn't snatch it up. Finally!

[@comradeJS]

Just started vid but wanna say rly quick that it’s great to see u on KZbin again!! Wow !

[@mosasaurusrex1815]

This was so incredible and I learned so much about my own trauma. Thank you so much!

[@typefeisu]

that's my baby girl, that's my wife, my lover, my best friend, the man who gets trauma, my rock

[@mercedeswalt6621]

This analysis was brilliant!

[@sprout_gen]

CARMILLA MENTION

[@Hægil10]

As a vampire i can confirm i am very babygirl

[@ella5452]

O happy to see you back again❤ Hope you keep doing vids on here.i will be watching for sure

[@Shenanakins]

Laezel is the most honest companion. Karlach tells you that she wont tell you anything else about her until you help her kill Anders. Laezel has nothing to hide. everything she says to you is exactly what she believes to be true.

[@neverlandhunter6988]

Mina's sexual purity is /not/ contrasted to Lucy's in the book. Lucy is the embodiment of purity and innocence in the book. She dies as a pure maidenly figure, and THAT is contrasted with the twisted horror of the baby eating monster that she becomes.

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

Though she is portrayed as having more desire than Mina. Mostly signified by the fact that she had three suitors and her wondering why polyamory isn't an option before caling said thoughts heresy.

[@neverlandhunter6988]

@ibrahimihsan2090 I disagree completely. She is kind-hearted and empathic, and in a letter to Mina she expresses how she feels having to say no to Seward and Morris because she feels bad, not because she actually wants to be with them. Her letter to Mina expressly states how she is in love with Arthur before she even knows for sure that he loves her back. She writes to Mina about marrying all three of them so she doesn't let anyone down. The text never makes the statement seem like she seriously entertains the idea, or that she was ever on the fence between the men. She didn't play with their feelings, she never wanted anyone, but Arthur. Lucy in adaptations show a more desirous and independent women. Which is fine, obviously, but it is far far from her book counterpart.

[@DeaDiabola]

@@ibrahimihsan2090 Polyamory is not a moral failing or an indication of an above-average need for sex.

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

@@neverlandhunter6988 Ok, I was mistaken about the desire but I wasn't implying the modern adaptations were fully accurate.

[@ibrahimihsan2090]

@@DeaDiabola Depends on what kind of polyamory you are talking about.

[@mementomori5563]

Astarion is 100% Lestat, not Edward

[@apocalypsator6]

A monster should enjoy what it is without worrying about the judgement of others.

[@missammonoid]

girl after watching this…. yeah you gotta watch the interview w a vampire tv series

[@kayleannagiesinger9415]

This is an amazing video!

[@DeedeeDirt]

OMG MARINASHUTUP VIDEO LETS GOOOOOO

[@vasilistheocharis164]

Okay to point out BG3 was not a surprise success. Larian Studios has a background with RPG games in the Divinity series which is very much are beloved games. It was more that people that didn't know about Larian which is the majority of people.

[@liliavacyncosplay]

The lead developer was literally quoted as saying he absolutely refused to believe the original sales projections for the game when they were given to him, saying it was an "impossible" number and they'd never sell that many copies. Even Larian did not think the game would reach the level of popularity and success that it did.

[@crypticcryptid4702]

@@liliavacyncosplay So maybe it's success wasn't a surprise but the level of it was?

[@Saje3D]

I feel so old. I watched, in my lifetime, vampires go from ONLY monsters to something a great deal more complex. Fred Saberhagen’s The Dracula Tapes comes to mind. St. Germaine. Barbara Hambly. P.N. Enrod, Tanya Huff, Mercedes Lackey, Anne Rice, the World of Darkness, Laurel K. Hamilton, … etc… etc… that’s just the literature I’m personally familiar with, and vampires, regardless of mythos, run the absolute gamut between evil, sensual, and barking mad. And Twilight baffles me. Never seen an author dedicate so much attention to the least interesting characters in the book. EVERYONE else has a more interesting story than Bella and Edward. But they’re the stars. At least we’ve got two truly good actors out of the deal.