The Bare minimum king

[@frognation_]

I made a love letter to the intrepid heroes. Do check it out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqi5i5qQiNyYfJo

[@theorybox3094]

I can’t believe Sam figured out a way to make Brennan hate winning more than losing

[@JSG-YT]

Holy shit i knowww i love it

[@radicaladz]

"What's happening is wrong." 😑

[@alexskelton4150]

Brenan looking back at them failing to synchronise an incredibly easy dance, before looking at the camera and saying 'fucked up clown festival'.

[@benjaminoechsli1941]

Their failure to synchronize made it all the better. 😂

[@bloodbond3]

"bizarre, fucked-up, clown festival" absolutely killed me 😂😂

[@misteraskman3668]

They failed, but just when Brennan looked, they actually hit it right, and then continued to go wrong. That is hilarious for me.

[@tonoornottono]

this comment is making me laugh so hard because i didn’t think anybody else had noticed how badly they were synchronizing 😭

[@crow_2772]

"Brennan, the king of trying just enough." That line is gold

[@KaelWrit]

they brought Ally on JUST to roast Brennan

[@lanceelliott2504]

Cannot overstate how much I love the choice to have ally in this episode

[@spiciest_mochi]

Its silver

[@gametheus1306]

@@KaelWrit Even Oscar was getting in on it, the end of the Price Is Not Quite section was hysterical

[@dansmart3182]

The second place podium is great as well!

[@EllieC130]

I'll be honest, when that piano cue started, there was 100% a moment I thought Brennan was going to start singing.

[@saqvobase4301]

It would be the perfect time for a musical number

[@lanceelliott2504]

I also thought this

[@airsoftguy0099]

He was thinking about it

[@carinag.5374]

I just almost spit tea all over my keyboard 😂 Would have been an epic musical number, though!

[@veniankween130]

I would NOT have been shocked.

[@Joel-cc6hx]

my favourite part about brennan's out-of-pocket monologues is that if you listen closely enough, the mics never fail to pick up just a hint of the rest of the cast and crew absolutely losing it behind the camera

[@AkuraTheAwesome]

People will claim they're scripted but he's a genius drama kid, he obviously improvised every single line and beat. We love Brennan.

[@Tensen01]

@@AkuraTheAwesome He's said before that it basically takes all his will to not talk like this all the time

[@AdaDenali]

I love production failing to keep it together

[@cybren3003]

Out of pocket?? It was entirely appropriate

[@dumbtomato2751]

They're my favorite. I actually did an audition with "I know what's going on here"

[@sillyYata]

THEY DID IT, THEY FINALLY ATTACKED SAM PHYSICALLY

[@KaelWrit]

I liked how they did it in a VERY Trained Improviser way. Just a gentle bear hug, "Im absolutely not going to hurt you", and fake struggling, careful kicking, then basically just holding him up w Ally spotting. Total pros.

[@redbeard5939]

​@@KaelWritthe only critique I have is that Brennan should have given Sam a noogie

[@crimson-cloud]

Hard drive are gonna have to update their list

[@westofley]

@@crimson-cloud what list are you referring to?

[@crimson-cloud]

@@westofley the website hard drive (think the onion for specifically games and online media) did a list of gamechanger episodes where the cast were closest to rising up against Sam. I think this one counts

[@Lankie]

"Sam has built a monument to devilry and chaos." - Brennan Lee Mulligan, 2024, describing a game where you win by getting in 2nd place.

[@owenangleton8032]

I feel like Trump beat him to it by a few years.

[@alejandrinos]

@@owenangleton8032 Why are TDS babies popping up so soon? November is far away yet.

[@julsjgreen]

@@owenangleton8032and John Quincy Adams beat both of them by 200 years. 😅

[@finnshavocado3031]

Right after winning by getting second place lol, which is the best part 😂

[@littleoldmanboy]

Did you just realize that democracy doesn't work@@owenangleton8032

[@Trollkiller]

The face drop when he realizes he actually won is just priceless. I don't think I've ever, even through all d20, seen Brennan so defeated in a lighthearted way.

[@IunaIia]

I personally loved the face he made after Ally's smartass answer to who could make the loudest gong noise

[@KaelWrit]

there's a point where you can see him trying not to break though so it's at least a little bit exaggerated

[@Tensen01]

@@IunaIia his little 'Oh no' when he thought the game had fundamentally changed

[@mackenziejohnson5200]

I feel like at some point leading up to this he did realize that whoever came second in points would be deemed the winner (when he talks about how "there is still the question" I think he meant "Does second place get crowned the winner?"), and bid negative infinity because of course it also meant that he wouldn't lose points regardless of other bids (which is part of why he asked Sam about it).

[@archbound6224]

A great many of the game changer games sam has Brennan participate in are elaborate schemes to see how much he can upset Brennan and I love it lol

[@stevenboelke6661]

I like how Brennan turned this into an afterschool special.

[@KaelWrit]

this all had a LOT of camp counselor energy. I can see him pumping up a kid who came in last despite trying really hard

[@emmakane6848]

A lot of people make fun of his almond speech, but it's literally just an unhinged way to say "keep your blood sugar up, and don't let anyone make fun of you for worrying about your health/happiness." He does this shit all the time.

[@KaelWrit]

@@emmakane6848same man who walked on stage eating a banana, which he continued to casually eat not as a bit but for the snack.

[@doublejoywilson]

legit i felt like i was watching mr rogers when he was taking off all the medals etc

[@r.pizzamonkey7379]

And then ended with "I'm gonna get him"

[@haphazardlark1502]

“And I’m gonna get him” holy shit I didn’t see that coming the monologue was a feint GET OUTTA THERE SAM-

[@bertoandon9681]

First and last ep of season 6, don't know that Sam can recover from that pounce

[@thomaslee4482]

The monologue is ALWAYS a feint.

[@lordfelidae4505]

He knows the genres. Monologues are always a feint for him.

[@imranicanovic1154]

Hey man Monologue Feint into Pounce is true combo. Touch of Death in the pro leagues even.

[@sambrown9475]

​@@imranicanovic1154🤣🤣🤣

[@natmanzoccothriftdiy1222]

brennan: sam has built a monument to devilry and chaos beardsley, oscar and sam: 💃💃💃

[@monkeyking9863]

there was an interview with a runner who placed third in the olympics, they asked him "do you feel bad about winning 3rd place?" and his response was "why should i? it means that out of everyone in the world there are only 2 people faster than me"

[@Blueeyesthewarrior]

I think there were a few studies done that show people who earned silver are less happy than those who earned bronze because they were so close to getting gold, but bronze is just happy to have placed.

[@Mariocraft97]

​Yeah that doesn't even need a study. Watch enough medal ceremonies and you know who is happiest between silver and bronze.​@@Blueeyesthewarrior

[@stacey4758]

Not necessarily though. Bradbury one gold speed skating because everyone else fell over. He only didn't fall because he was that much slower, to not get caught by them.

[@nouveau_nouveau]

​@@stacey4758he's just that good a skating. The universe bends to his will.

[@ser_igel]

@@stacey4758 but that also means he knows his abilities and his safe speed, unlike others who didn't know and failed it's like rally drivers who drive 95% of the speed they actually can to not die

[@DaBezzzz]

Next D20 villain is the concept of Coming In Second

[@noahdavis7847]

In Fantasy High junior year the rivals are trying to win the game without ever challenging themselves

[@gaysarahk]

Like the Bronze Kneecap, but silver

[@NinjaMinkzx]

How about 3rd, but the villain is all right with it, he judt wants to live a quiet life.

[@boppy9617]

This episode really felt like a muppets movie with Brennan being the only human

[@sarah.s.flanagan]

I adore this comment

[@kieran.grant_]

Ha! That's exactly it. I don't usually care for Ally, but they were the _perfect_ antagonist for Brennan in this episode, constantly lighting him up with quips and comments to piss him off. And I like Oscar, I don't mean to be rude, but he definitely has Muppet energy

[@tessm6616]

@@kieran.grant_it’s the gonzo adjacent fit

[@MysterySteve]

He'll sacrifice anything for points, but if the competition is done and verdict is given, he stands on airtight principles, even when they starkly contrast what you'd expect him to display given his attitude and habits *during* the competition. Class personified

[@jking1226]

I love that he knew that second place was going to win the game in the end the whole time. It's why he lost the early rounds under the cover of purposefully throwing, because being ahead on points gives you the least agency to come in second at the end of the game. Maybe a slight tactical error sabotaging Oscar instead of Ally as he needed Oscar to sacrifice the correct points in the end, but I could see him thinking that staying closer to Ally in points would give him more agency for the final prompts, as I don't think he predicted the sacrifice points game.

[@Pixelusually]

He'll sacrifice anything for points, but won't sacrifice points for anything

[@artsyscrub3226]

@@Pixelusually This is brennan "there's no corner of my heart i won't turn for 5 points" lee mulligan

[@msthecommentator2863]

"I don't like winning...I just don't like to lose" 😂

[@regrettablemuffin9186]

After all Sam’s attempts he’s finally nailed down the nature of Brennan’s competitiveness. It’s not winning that he cares about, it’s trying his absolute best, and since other people aren’t always doing that it means he looks super competitive in comparison

[@crstph]

it’s so true; you can see that he’s always fair and happy for other contestants when they do well, he just needs to be doing the absolute best he can be at all times. and no one else is doing all that

[@kieran.grant_]

That's the kind of playground statistic that most of us could only dream of

[@ericherde1]

Yeah, I remember some Um Actually episodes where he gets almost as mad on behalf of an opponent as he does on his own behalf, if he honestly believes the other person got cheated out of a point.

[@Mclarenboy100]

"This..." **looks behind to see oscar, ally and sam dancing like how a 5 year-old would to 'look cool' on camera for their friends.** "...bizarre, fucked up clown festival"

[@honeyhannijung]

I can't WAIT for the DeepBlueInk animation of this one

[@StBurkeINC]

this was my second thought

[@kjj26k]

Brennan will be speeching from the steps of The Capitol for sure.

[@sarah.s.flanagan]

@DeepBlueInk can we summon you?

[@GeekOfArabia]

DBI is on job!

[@anthonystaton3740]

We have to draw his face on the ground like how drawfee summoned him

[@talia_al_gabagool]

i gotta say: Brennan definitely knew this from the start. The absolute mastermind was theory crafting all the ways he could "win," he knew from game 2-3 that the second place point holder will actually win. He did the math, he was doing the dozen or so monty hall problems in his head in deux or no deux, he saw how Sam will grade the dance competition, he knew he need to win some games and actively lose others.

[@AdmiralWinfrey]

I dunno, i feel like Sam rigged it so Brennan would end up the "winner," because stuff like this messes with Brennan's head and Sam is a sadist.

[@mathmaniac3033]

@@AdmiralWinfrey There can exist a world where both of these scenarios are true lmao

[@LouieSloven]

This is correct. Just before the start of this clip, Brennan responds to Sam with something like "and then there's *the question*" and he definitely knows.

[@DrZaius3141]

Nah, Brennan had to rely on Oscar and Ally completely messing up the final game. The actual best strategy was to start out getting as many points as possible (he threw away any chance with the pie eating and push ups) and later on play to get to second. He was behind the entire time and only started scoring points when he was too far behind. Again, Oscar would have "won" by betting 1 or 2 points. Ally would have "won" if Oscar had bet 4 or 5. Oscar betting 6 would have seen both Oscar and Brennan in 2nd place. With 7 or more, Brennan would have "won" again. Funnily enough, it was also the only outcome in which technically, nobody finished 2nd. Because two players had more points than Brennan, so he was third. It's how maths works...

[@angelaphsiao]

That’s the beauty of improv comedy- they both knew that the funniest possible outcome would be Brennan winning by getting second place

[@CM28277]

Oscar's little "What the?" is too perfect.

[@jacosparce9839]

Oscars “you dropped this” is so funny

[@mauri-mattiaslaanesaar5305]

I was looking for this, absolute gold

[@dandelion2912]

love how brennan managed to get first, second and last all at the same time lol

[@richardlindquist709]

As soon as Sam started the final point comparison, you could see that Brennan immediately knew what was going to happen and hated the idea. Truly could not have been written better. 😂

[@nhart4325]

While I was watching this entire episode about 2/3rds of the way through, I thought, no way the twist at the end is that the second place is the actual winner, and here we are.

[@davidmarquette9268]

oscar's "you dropped this" was a sleeper joke that took me out lmaooo

[@ImShinypokemon]

Ally, earlier in this episode: "You are the Perfect American" Brennan, after describing this game: "This is the sickness at the core of America" . . . Ally should have won best compliment, and Brennan agrees

[@itoaseik]

Likewise, I think "monument to devilry and chaos" is the best compliment Sam could ever receive. XD

[@Juice1984]

That fact that people forget he is a camp counselor during his time off work. 😅

[@wanderlapsed906]

His monologue felt like a PSA

[@rttrttyan]

I love how there are so many people saying that Brennan didn’t come in second place as there was a tied first place so nobody got second. Clearly in this game, the game that Sam controls all the rules of, Sam said if there is 2 people tied for first place they are actually both in first place and there is a second place finisher.

[@frognation_]

Exactlyyy

[@koshi6505]

The hosts of the various shows will gladly augment the rules if it means disappointing Brennan.

[@kitschking]

well said

[@rttrttyan]

@@koshi6505 Sam is the only host of “Game Changer”. He makes the rules.

[@rttrttyan]

@@jessiec2220 TBH I don’t know. I just decided I wasn’t going to make a comment arguing with them about something I didn’t fully understand so I stuck with talking about what I did understand.

[@Unagodd]

Brennan: Devastatingly Adequate

[@Claire-tk4do]

Love this

[@benajahtbaskin]

The fact that if he had answered one or two he would have won just the same. But doggone it, he lives and dies by the bit.

[@stinkertonpotts1112]

easily the most wholesome clip i've watched in months... the way they start dancing together, brennan's classic monologuing, "getting him" being a big ol' bear hug, the way they all join in fucking with sam at the end, the music... it's just so lovely. made my whole day

[@Panda-xd5ey]

The most insane opener to a game changer season imo

[@TBoring]

What I love about this episode is at some point Brennan starts taking it really seriously and strategizing and most of his decisions become really tactical. I’d even wager he predicted the twist that 2nd place was going to be the true “winner” of this episode and made tactical choices to ensure he was in 2nd at the end.

[@Prince_Luci]

Brennan is the Zoomer Mr. Rogers

[@Nortarachanges]

I can think of no greater compliment

[@LookItsBaz]

Okay but can we have that? You hear me Sam!? Give it!

[@stacey4758]

He's a millennial

[@LookItsBaz]

Fred Rogers was 40 when Mister Rogers' Neighborhood first aired - he was himself for boomers and millenials as the show produced new episodes into 2001. Who better to be the 'Mister Rodgers' to zoomers and gen alpha than BLeeM?

[@Prince_Luci]

@@stacey4758 yeah i was implying the audience were zoomers. And he was our Mr. Rogers.

[@huhneat1076]

The music's crescendo at "what I can only describe as the sickness at the core of America" is amazing

[@BBBness]

If it wasn't Brennen I would be 100% sure that speech was planned from the get go. But now I can never know.

[@nathankempf1990]

As soon as they all understood you had to be second best to win this episode, I immediately knew Brennan would lose it. I laughed the entire way through.

[@Elnis888]

Making a show where the goal is to end up in second place, and therefore simultaneously being in first place, blows my mind. Sam Reich is my damn hero.

[@XSkittles90210]

I genuinely thought no one was going to win this episode since Ally and Oscar tying for first technically means that Brennan got third. However, his reaction was priceless XD

[@maevem316]

It was really the perfect ending

[@manofcorn5930]

Brennan: Preaching about how Ally and Oscar unfairly lost Ally and Oscar: happily dancing in the background

[@thecatofnineswords]

That speech by Brennan was strangely touching, and I needed to hear it today.

[@samandom8772]

Moral of the story: always try your hardest And get Sam

[@meganr6488]

I love how much "if you ain't first, you're last" lives on in the collective millennial consciousness

[@mauricioMachuca]

Second place aka first of the losers

[@lillyimaginator]

I like how the whole point of this episode is to put brannen, who only wants to win, into a game where the winner never wins, yet brannen still won 😂

[@octodaddy1602]

We stan a king who comes in first, second, and last all at once

[@tehm-tpc]

That glare at 0:34 -- I could well be reading too much into it but I SWEAR you can see the gears turning as he hears what Sam said and thinks "Now hold the phone; infinity isn't a number... But he said to wager a number of points... Damnit I've lost."

[@AvaDiBenedetto-p3l]

1:17 This feels like a public service announcement or a commercial for a medication!😂😅❤

[@Aspidden]

At the start of this episode I expected a fun Game Changer episode, but not one I’d have picked for the season opener. After finishing it’s one of my favorites. Really excited for more season 6

[@JeremyBearimy913]

This was an all-time episode of Game Changer

[@bees2304]

King of literally not even caring and costing by 💅💅

[@Alex-kf4zf]

This is such unhinged Brennan fuckery. I love it so much.

[@zachnoland155]

This episode was a gold mine for brennan monologues

[@X_Potato]

1:09 the music here reminds me of a dream theater song i just cant put my finger on which one

[@ukrytaopcjahajducka]

It has to be "The Spirit Carries On"

[@suseal]

at 1:30 i fully expected "my name is Brennan Lee Mulligan and this is my masterclass" or some shit

[@Wolfencreek]

Ally is looking good

[@deathbykonami5487]

They look like a Ghostbusters recruit.

[@seaborgium919]

Ally looks SO good. I gasped when they came out on stage

[@math9172]

​​@@seaborgium919I know right ! I wasn't the biggest fan of their haircut in fantasy high junior year, but damn this look here suits them perfectly.

[@advanceringnewholder]

The glasses fits em perfectly

[@RickGladwin]

What a privilege to be along for their journey over the last few years.

[@imakevideossometimes3908]

1:51 This will always be the most fever dreamy out of context moment for me Brennan rambling on about darkness and sickness and chaos while Oscar Ally and Sam just dance in the background is WILD

[@finleyforevermore]

"The sickness at the core of America" and "This bizzare fucked up clown festival" being accompanied by Sam, Ally, and Oscar dancing is absolutely hilarious 🤣

[@seaborgium919]

I love how long it took Sam to get into rhythm with Oscar and Ally.

[@sithdowell3788]

I love the way Brennan took a beat to appreciate his place on the podium, then used the chaotic mischief Sam wrought upon him, to make a speech about trying your damn hardest regardless of the outcome. Someone give the man a damn cape, or at least make him president of somewhere.

[@Vadigor]

01:56 "The sickness at the core of America" is a whole fucking mood and a half.

[@TheMidnightPhil]

1:32 Sam cackling off-screen after Brennan's line about devilry is just perfect.

[@utbefan89]

He always does just enough

[@josefzalusky7307]

I feel that speech, though. I ran track in high school and got 5th place in the state for the 4x800 relay, which was a bummer until my dad reminded me that 5th in state put my team above all but just a few highschoolers. That was a good feeling.

[@bobcrye9502]

How in the 7 hells did Brennan not immediately piss himself laughing when he turned around to see them smooth dancing?

[@KarenPautz]

This was a perfect episode.

[@tableofteaspoons]

seeing the shorts for the gong prompt and then being able to see this is so funny, brennan finally wins. he did it. holy moleh.

[@little.chillax]

1:12... Why did I think that Brennan was going to belt into song?

[@Z3DT]

The best part about this is that if you do the math, Brennan came in first, second _and_ last all at the same time. He came in second First place was a shared place between two out of three people meaning Brennan got last Being second made him win, so he was also in first place.

[@TwentySeventhLetter]

This episode really deconstructs the concept of "winning" in a game and I find that fascinating

[@katetrout5172]

0:55 I absolutely love the big shit-eating grins on everyone else (including the production crew) as Brennan is forced to accept the medal lmao

[@buddabudda]

1:57 - The meme potential of this clip cannot be overstated!

[@ehname1]

I was listening to dramatic lo-fi music when I started this video and Brennan's monologue sounded like a sample in the song

[@lionguy4107]

the other two joining in to gang up on sam is so fucking funny

[@TheKrostiman]

Haha Brennan realising he didn’t have a good ending to the monologue, so he just audibles his play, is amazing

[@Soviniy]

I want this kind of friendship for D&D. And in general.

[@alexskelton4150]

They do look so happy

[@Shrooblord]

Gotta love working in a place where you can just tackle your boss and everyone's having a good time with it

[@NoriMori1992]

I think I spy Brennan trying not to laugh after he turns around and sees them dancing 😂

[@leonwinchester9865]

Brennans ability to just soliloquy out of knowhere is amazing. How does he always have something.

[@orlin123456789]

I just love Brennan rage at how counter to his very core winning by losing

[@LillyKTheArtist]

It's the "what's happening is wrong" for me 😂

[@chojay13]

"what's happening is wrong" he says, while he 100% strategized to win that friggin' game.

[@kieran.grant_]

This is one of the best game changer episodes of all time, if not _the_ flat out best. The fact that it's the first episode of season 6, and not the season finale, well words just can't describe how much I anticipate seeing what comes after this!

[@kaitownsend8282]

Why have I not seen the take that Brennan stood on business and did his best every single time and it paid off. He actually won!

[@DavidDarnes]

Oscar’s reaction when Brennan kicks into monologue mode, “What the??”

[@8BlackBart8]

There is no good content like improvised good content. It comes from the very inspirational and creative core that each of us know when we feel the most alive and the most human.

[@saskiascott8181]

Ally's trolling was my favourite part. "Brennan the king of the bare minimum"

[@skylaroconnor2903]

I wasn’t expecting him to turn it into an after school special speech but it was perfect 🤣🤣🤣

[@zelly4914]

That ending speech plus background dancers was just **chef's kiss**

[@Grimm-A]

Something im noticing on my 20th watch is thst the camera work and the angle that brenan stands on while finishing the argumment, while not perfect, is really fucking good for a improv situation, really sells the bit and makes it way more funny than if brenan stayed monologuint looking directly at the camera Extra points to how slowly and subtle the movement on brenan's side is, you almost dont notice the 2 small steps he takes to the side from the main chamera to let ally be on the center, just, great

[@demonhunter2282]

That was some mr Rodgers speech at the end. loved it

[@matiassanchez1362]

-∞ should still be a valid answer since they disqualified negative NUMBERS and infinite is a *CONCEPT* but not a number

[@crazyscarecrow8136]

He would still be disqualified because the instructions were to write down a number

[@redtaileddolphin1875]

Love when I get recommended straight up the end of the most recent episode of a show I like without literally any other context to warn me

[@PokeRedstone]

Love the moment earlier when he brings up the “question at the heart of this episode.” It was such an “OH FUCK” moment for me cus I knew in my heart that he was right.

[@ActualLiteralKyle]

The dancing that comes during “this bizarre, fcked-up clown festival” is so truly perfect I cannot speak

[@ssharkiggo6432]

One thing I love about game changer is the crew behind the camera are laughing along with jokes. Instead of a laugh track they use for sitcom or something, the laughter comes from actual live humans who are enjoying the show with you

[@profgm1]

the absolute joy in Sam's voice when announcing Brennan as the "winner"

[@jordan869]

Infinity is not a number, and neither is negative infinity. Give the man his points!

[@HeyitsLeaAnn]

This was the greatest episode of a show (and spin-off) that has already given us endless television perfection. I think I scream laughed at several places.

[@JCShadow0202]

Brennan Lee Mulligan, the only man who can get third place, second place, and first. Truly a god amongst men

[@alexmae4125]

This made me smile so hard omg I love them so much

[@inferxan]

Ally Beardsley is a comedic demon xD they knew just the right comments to just rub it in a lil extra for Brennan. "Brennan, the king of trying just enough."