The Fall of Shadowstone Park (S2 // Episode 7)

[@bcouce]

"Things didn't make sense when I was small, maybe things will make sense when I'm big" -life basically summed up

[@Biodeamon]

naw that's just the depression talking to truly understand you need perspective. when you've seen both large and small then you can understand your relative size

[@NevTheDeranged]

I've been 6'4" for a while now. Still waiting for things to make sense =(

[@GuitarSlayer136]

I always feel the same size, everything else just gets smaller.

[@wharrbarg]

One of life's greatest fallacies, accepted by billions

[@n_nolace]

probably my favorite episode of this series so far. it's a rare thing when a piece of media can completely recontextualize a character or plot point in such a small yet heartbreakingly tragic way

[@dilo19000]

and in what is essentially a single sentence too

[@qntkka]

You mean like when Iceman was turned gay?

[@doomcurse1986]

"My sins are all someone else's"

[@armchairphilosopher6880]

@@doomcurse1986 holy...fuck

[@Gordion111]

Didn’t notice the first time, but when the thing is talking to Pecan it starts with the same bawks every time, “Can you understand me?” in pelican, presumably.

[@yourethatmantis5178]

It really is amazing how you changed Nil into a tragic character with the addition of just one little detail. Just the idea that his name represents the amount of lives he cared for, and now his name is Nil, which means zero. We don't know what event happened or how that event happened, but we can use our imaginations to fill in what thoughts and emotions led Nil's transformation into the character he is now. Just A+ minimalist storytelling I think.

[@TheCreepyLantern]

There's no end to the river, or the clowns.......

[@ruby2manyfandoms]

I just noticed this detail myself. Came to the comments to see if anyone else caught it. Jason Steele is a genius.

[@theuncalledfor]

I like how Lark took note of that, in a very... subdued manner. Like... "What? ...oh. Nil." With that sadness in his voice.

[@PandaGirl991]

My jaw genuinely dropped at Nil's reveal.

[@TheSadowdragonGroup]

We must wonder if Nil’s dead clown stuff and general malevolence are a result of the severe trauma this episode implies, or rather a revelation of his species true nature.

[@ivanpn6206]

From this I now think that whenever Nil was talking to lark about his failure to help others he was also talking about himself.

[@GuitarSlayer136]

The clown river speech is way more chilling when you consider Nills species highly valued every single life.

[@ivanpn6206]

Alot of Nils words and attitude makes sense now.

[@JewTube001]

it all makes sense now

[@DISTurbedwaffle918]

Poor guy. His entire crew died, and so did he, and the program that was meant to end violence has been twisted into causing unimaginable and entirely senseless violence.

[@Alfapiomega]

I just realized Nil means zero. Oh god.

[@Rick_Steel]

@@Alfapiomega Oh, Nils... ;A;

[@Elementroar]

The way Eva hesitated a bit before saying ‘ghosts’…I’m beginning to wonder if they’re really ‘ghosts’ or more like AI projected copies. The way that Darius kept yelling ‘I’m dead’ in the earlier episode could be cos he realized that the real Darius was long gone and he’s a copy created by the Shadowstone or something. Could also be the reason Gloves can affect his ‘ghost’ form, by just willing it

[@bundo2230]

It also explains why the ghosts don't remember the last 5-10 minutes of their lives, because anything that recent wouldn't be saved to whatever is storing the lives' data

[@n_nolace]

ohh, this is Incredibly Clever!! holy shit

[@meddlingcactus5104]

Spoiler warning: How tf did you guess that so accurately

[@666thecreature]

Congratulations! You're correct.

[@Elementroar]

OMFG I actually called it!?

[@bentonmadsen8359]

Important to note that Nyl’s presentation started by addressing the person he was talking to as “human,” this would imply that before the ship landed the world was more like our own.

[@cjokersl]

Nil is just another word for the number 0 Oh nil...

[@Nanamowa]

Yeah that broke my heart.

[@awkwardllama0509]

His species seems extremely compassionate, two sounded like it nearly broke him :(

[@aawallace98]

it also so sad to see how casual he is about death now

[@a-knifu-is-my-waifu]

Made that connection right at the end of the video. Giggitygoddamn.

[@DISTurbedwaffle918]

@@aawallace98 Well, he's responsible for nothing now. He's lost everything, and died, so he's completely unshackled from responsibility or care for what happens.

[@MathijsBuster]

Something is definitely off. The explanation Lark got at the end would certainly make sense; the stone keeping animals from being their 'savage' selves and Nil having lost all the lives they were responsible for. But why would this particular presentation only be shown to Lark and not Ava or Pecan? It would seem Ava is not impressed by whatever could be said, while Pecan was seemingly offered material offerings in some kind of appeasement. Was the presentation just Lark being told what he *wanted* to hear?

[@hydrashii]

Given what Ava has said in the past, and how she behaved now, she's probably already seen the presentation, or some form of similar information, since she seems to know how to move around the place, where to enter from, etc... Pecan may have gotten a similar presentation, but we've only saw it from Lark's POV because it was more relevant to him

[@MathijsBuster]

@@hydrashii I'll grant that Ava may have gotten the presentation before and Pecan may have gotten it off-screen, but if that were to be the case Ava still does not seem to be impressed at all. Ava does not seem to be convinced that the stone is doing any good - quite the opposite. We also know she isn't alone in thinking so; at the very least the shark Henrietta seems to agree.

[@Everfalling]

remember that the shadowstone is seemingly the only, or one of /very/ few, that landed sticking up lengthwise whereas the others landed flat on the ground. This is likely why all of Nilz companions died and also likely why the process of removing their killing instinct has gone terribly haywire for some of the animals in the park. The message was likely recorded prior to landing.

[@Darvoth]

@@MathijsBuster I have thought of 4 possible explanations as to the differing statements about if the Shadowstone (and the others) are or aren’t good. 1. Ava is wrong, whether intentionally or not, and the Shadowstone is a good thing and simply losing power. (I think this is the least likely answer.) 2. Nil is lying and it is dangerous and they came to earth to end the world. 3. Same as before but Nil was lead to believe they were helping. 4. It was meant to help but something went horribly wrong and it made things much worse.

[@XCATX25]

Or Immortality is the objective? Being able to live forever as ghosts?

[@Center-For-I.E.D.Mismanagement]

"I am ancient and mysterious." Well, at least now we know Nil wasn't lying about it.

[@angeloforcadela2033]

Man that snail so relatable. I thought being open would fill your loneliness. Turns out its just you with an endless need of wants.

[@randomtirtle8071]

I can only imagine the first person (or animal for that matter) stumbling into the shadowstone to be greeted by the colors flashing and the demonic like gibberish in the background. When they spoke, the voice spoke back. Terrified out of their wits, the only thing they could muster the strength to say was “can you understand me?” The stone registered the sentence as the name of who was speaking, and uses it to address anyone who enters. Just speculation though. Thank you for keeping up the great work, and masterfully building a terrifyingly entrancing story.

[@Pillboxing]

I don't know, I think there's probably a more direct implication, similar to nils name. I think "can you understand me" might be substituted for another phrase...l'm having trouble figuring that out though.

[@zerosen1972]

I look at it like it is saying that because it's trying to find the right language to communicate with. Nil referenced in his speech that he and his species had introduced this to other planets before, so it probably has an entire library of alien languages that it has to sort through to find the right one. That's why it switched to the bird language with Pecan. It's the language it can communicate with her.

[@RainyTeaKettle]

Who else is rooting for ghost mouse and snail getting together?

[@lilicat9687]

I now want this

[@undergnomes6248]

I have a wife a husband and a snail fiancee some people don't have half as much

[@ivanpn6206]

Nil coming to the planet must have unintentionally caused the cataclysm that ended most of the world involving Evil Gaia.

[@HeronSight]

My guess is humanity with all its power structures qnd industries wasn't ready to give up eating meat (which would collapse several industries) and capitalist society responded negatively to the change. Once the animals started to speak, global business interests and big governments got together to corrupt the spirit of life to take over the shadow stones to stop what was going on and return society to normal. This had the opposite effect of turning humans into cannibalistic monsters instead.

[@HiSodiumContent]

Wooow. So Nil is really just broken. How could they not be?

[@DISTurbedwaffle918]

That explains Nil's attitude. He's not responsible for anyone anymore, so why should he care too much about what's happening beyond talking with those who can see him? He can't do anything to stop it, even if he wanted to, but he's responsible for nothing, Nil, so now he's just watching his mission fall to pieces, as the unwitting clowns die off and float down the river.

[@znamjana]

I think at this point this is my favorite FIlmcow series.

[@modstin]

Oh my god, that reveal was heartbreaking

[@ivydinosaur]

Im so glad i read the comments. I almost didn’t recognize RobertBenfer’s voice! Im so blown away by Nil’s back story. My little heart. The snail needs to meet up with the old owl king’s ghost. they seem to be going through similar things. Best episode yet!

[@sofalint2905]

I've gotten my siblings into this series. Now its my job to notify them about new episodes so we can gather around my laptop and watch it. Thanks for this lovely series and the opportunity to bond with my siblings.

[@Soooooooooooonicable]

I've missed hearing Robert's voice so much 😄 THAAAT'S OUR ROBERRRRTTT

[@Pillboxing]

Eduardo Spatulahands himself

[@pebuh6706]

I ate your period medicine

[@bowlerhatfilmsandreviews2778]

Oh man how could you make my heart break for Nil like that

[@jayowen4910]

Its so nostalgic to hear Robert Benfer in a filmcow video ❤️

[@insomnoiacsjoy]

I have been a fan since Charlie the unicorn first came out and I was a little girl. 27 now. I’ve watched every one of your videos. This series is my FAVORITE. Incredible. I’m so excited to see more. Mazel toV man

[@Maryxus]

That snail describes the problem I had living alone in NYC

[@Maryxus]

Alright, given that presentation at the end, I think I might see where this is all going. How we got here certainly makes more sense

[@Biodeamon]

or the problem living in any urban area return to monke return to rural living

[@CoolMagmar]

@@Biodeamon Rural is terrible all around and if you didn't grew in the area people would just distrust you, the best place is small city but the more important whatever you live try to do some community services and hobby classes so you will met people in a more relaxed state so is easier for them become your friends

[@JamesTK]

@@CoolMagmar my plan is to move to an inland regional City. Currently living in an inner suburb of a capital city and it feels so lonely despite being surrounded by people

[@MasonJarGaming]

@@JamesTK Suburbia is soul-crushingly isolated from anything that could make an urban environment interesting. Suburbanites stay there all day long. No one in the street, no community, Just everyone with their huge houses surrounded by a vast moat of 2in tall grass staying as far away from each other as possible.

[@awkwardllama0509]

Your style of storytelling is refreshing AF, I can't wait to see more

[@Boohahascaredyou]

It's always nice to see another Filmcow classic! =)

[@TheCreepyLantern]

I love how this series can in the same 7 minutes have me laughing hysterically, and also needing to pause the video 'cause its dropping utterly shocking bombs i need time to process. Bravo Filmcow

[@ryancole3058]

There is no better feeling than when a series of poetic-yet-incoherent words throughout the story finally makes sense.

[@lunarlynx5972]

THAT... was a lot. That was a whole lot of lore all at once. Very exciting. And it's nice to know more about Nil- they're my favorite

[@carolinas.k.1440]

Glad to see Robert Benfer still involved! 🐌

[@voltimand4742]

That's our Robert!

[@pinecone3334]

That’s a throwback

[@agnostichotelsoap6700]

I was 80% sure it was him and sent myself down on a Knoxcast rabbit hole after I saw his name in the credits.

[@Maggot_Digger]

I love your work man, and having episode 7 already is crazy!

[@chronicbrightside8757]

i love this series. i never know what left turns the plot is going to take, and thats rare to find in any medium these days.

[@Alex-gp7wg]

Can't help but notice how Ava briefly hesitated before calling the ghosts "ghosts". If not ghosts, what are they?

[@elitper994]

Saved AI copies of the dead?

[@Alex-gp7wg]

@@elitper994 I've been giving what you said some thought and I think you're on to something. Remember Nil & Darius's conversation in the caverns? Nil says "My sins are all someone else's problem", and when Lark visits Darius under the caverns, Darius says "I shouldn't have gone nosing around, but then again, I guess I didn't, so I have nothing to worry about, I'll never worry again". Sounds almost as though both are aware they aren't their original selves. As though Darius is saying "I (the copy) shouldn't have gone nosing around, but then again, I guess I (the original) didn't, so I (the original) have nothing to worry about, I'll (the original) never worry again". I think Darius is using "I" both to reference his dead progenitor and his simulation.

[@Extinguished.]

Loved it! Delighted to get some answers and even more questions. I'm happy for Pecan to get some development, and she got a lovely breakfast! Who wouldn't love a nice "Bagel, Bread With Holes?" And happy to see the long awaited existential Snail! Awesome backstory for 2,147 and their species. Wonder if Nil was the captain or a crewmember, or a stowaway? Despite the lack of a killing instinct, the existence of a hierarchal structure is intriguing! In their pre-recorded message, they addressed Humans, none of which are part of the cast. Wonder how the Humans reacted to the seemingly peaceful message of these aliens? Probably very negatively! Or was the message more of a demand? How are the "ghosts" involved? The "ghosts" don't have to kill or eat but Nil says they're still not the right shape, so what is the purpose of the "ghosts," that seemingly only exist because of whatever the aliens did? And the skulls! Why are the aliens also Skull Perverts? Does touring the ship motivate living things to shed their mortal coils and become "ghosts?" Where does the rest of the skeleton go? Maybe I don't want to know... Anyway loved the episode, love the series, looking forward to where it goes next!

[@LordCantalo]

Nil was the captain....because "nil" means zero.....He has no crew left...

[@Extinguished.]

@@LordCantalo I initially thought that as well, but because it's such a clear conclusion to make, I assumed it might be a misdirection. After all, there's only a single ghost alien we've seen in the park, so where are the others? If Nil is the captain, why does only the captain get to be a ghost? I'm just speculating that even the answers we think we're getting may not be what they seem.

[@Silverizael]

@@Extinguished. The rest of the Nil crew ghosts probably moved on to the afterlife, but Nil feeling the guilt of everything that happened refuses to.

[@Karnivor-0us]

when the dead owl king asked how Nil could live on knowing, he must have been talking about how Nils crew entirely died, we know they did because there species are the ones who brought the ghost communication technology, meaning he could still guide them after his death

[@MaMastoast]

The owlking appears to have found something after dying... Maybe theres a pit full of angry alien ghosts somewhere unreachable for the living.

[@mr.pastaman]

I have no words for how good this series is, just incredible. Can't wait for the next episode!!

[@kenshokram]

Pecan squinting her eyes at the presents is the best facial animation I've seen in a while, so expressive with so little.

[@kenraves7931]

This was like your best work yet. Reminded me of when I first was getting near the end of Leviathan Falls. Love your writing, hope to see more of your work and Shadowstone in the new year, be safe

[@profxtreme9275]

Did Nil do something to change the process to increase the killing instinct rather than negate it? He wants to reshape things, he is a "fallen god", and told Darius what was coming, etc. Or maybe he has just seen it play out in other places with other ships.

[@MaMastoast]

I think Nil is responsible for their spaceship crashing, hence its upright position.. the crash probably messed up the entire global process

[@Darvoth]

Based on the naming scheme for the nil species and the fact nil means 0 that either means nil’s entire crew died or he never had one to begin. Probably the first one.

[@ShallowVA]

I assumed he was a low-ranking alien, maybe even one of the two that died in this crew.

[@n00bist723]

@@ShallowVA I don't think that's the case, the line about renaming for the loss of 2 crew members doesn't strike me as irrelevant dialog. 2149 becomes 2147 becomes Nil (0)

[@rottenfiggy]

@@ShallowVA Nil is the one giving the presentation. Their name already changed once to accomodate the two dead crewmates, and now again to siginify they lost ALL their crew. The presentation makes it clear only crew captains adopt this naming scheme

[@alexschalk5439]

@@rottenfiggy How do we know its Nil? I mean maybe all aliens of Nils species looks and sounds like that.

[@rottenfiggy]

@@alexschalk5439 Because of the way Lark reacts to the revelation. What sense would it make narratively for it to be a random unrelated alien anyway?

[@DoABarrelRol1l]

Do you understand me? This series is phenomenal

[@virus6891]

Amazing job with this Jason, really enjoying the story you have building up. Nobody can do a story like you can. Always something new and exciting every ep.

[@you2angel1]

That is some beautiful illustration on the snail °~•.☆.•~°

[@josueruiseco4269]

"Can you understand me" is a name? it looks like the demon/machine/IA inside the shadowstone interpretates the phrase "can you understand me" as a name. similar to what happens in Charlie the Unicorn with Nyx.

[@jeffallen55]

I believe you mean Nyx Enn Why Ecks.

[@thomasmascari2453]

Which probably was inspired from the movie ideocracy

[@witchhatter]

I made my own comment about this, but I theorize that it's a programming error. Possibly similar to the Slylandro probes from Star Control 2.

[@laurynk4209]

I can't believe how well written these are I'm addicted

[@Trinst777]

Robert Benfer plays the Snail in Shadowstone Park by Jason Steele. Yes, he does.

[@Asterious_JP]

That snail is what all my coworkers are like...and I'm Ava. Like, I'm just on my way to the restroom, I'm not qualified to guide you through your daily existential crisis Jan.

[@Svalbaz]

Every episode it feels like ive somehow not watched the previous episode

[@cursedGalataea]

That's the FilmCow Guarantee!

[@albatross115]

My love for this series is stronger than my hatred for Henry Kissinger

[@juanse5601]

when the snail said "but when you feel lonely with others" straight got chills, this series i swear

[@s.h.5098]

It is so surreal hearing Robert Benfer voice a serious character

[@riverflowsfreerunning448]

this series is legitimately one of my favorites you have done, theres just something so interesting about the story that i want to know more about, always excited for a new episode!

[@Elementroar]

What a way to round off 2022!

[@THATGuy5654]

I have to say, I wasn't expecting such a sad backstory for the crazy, seemingly deformed ghost. Which, when I said like that, is really my own fault.

[@trash_frog]

I saw episode 8 and checked the channel immediately and was very happy to find 2 new episodes

[@Dragodilian]

I am really excited to see where you take this, and it was nice getting to know a little more about Nil

[@MrHaxorer]

I'd just caught up with these after a couple of months (had last been on ep 4), and man Nil's entire description in the presentation of why he's here hit me more than anything else in the series. Just because it's been such a ridiculous amount of time since I've seen any media where I've connected on that particular level with a character. Reminds me of why I love the disposition and culture of Federation characters in 90s Star Trek so much.

[@darmocat]

I binged all of this is a day. I am obsessed with this story. I have subscribed. Amazing to believe this is the same guy who made Charlie the Unicorn.

[@Suchomimus65]

A new favorite episode! The “can you understand me” bit was great, and I was really glad to hear Robert again

[@OstroGothic]

Phenomenal work, I love this series. From the original run through this one, this is seriously some of your finest work. Great humor, interesting visuals, and a compelling mystery

[@freddywizowski8605]

Your recent videos are criminally under rated

[@pixelkatten]

With every new episode I feel like I understand even less than before and I have to rewatch everything! Excellent writing, I will as always look forward to the next episode!

[@trogdoar149]

This is such a good series.

[@coulettecapalini7928]

Your craft is on full glorious display here

[@LordMuffinToken]

Day 69 in the Ghoststone: Everything is changing. into butts. oh shiiiiiiiit

[@TheNecromancress]

Every single time you drop a new episode I'm always stunned. Mouth agape. I always see the episode length and wonder how anyone could drop so much new mind-blowing information in such a short amount of time and still have the series be amazing. Every show-runner needs a lesson from you.

[@Cheftimusprime]

I'll never regret coming back to this channel.

[@lavendeerpuyotet4813]

Gosh, im loving where the story is going

[@Everfalling]

So is the shadowstone inadvertently causing the animals to randomly develop hyper-aggression as a side effect to the change in how they consume food? A change to remove the killing instinct goes haywire and turns it into an even greater killing instinct? Also what about this new information mean in terms of what Darius says to Lark and Nilz? Do Darius and Nilz know something beyond what the presentation told them?

[@MaMastoast]

The shadowstone in shadowstone park appears to be an alien spaceship.. we know that unlike most others of its kind it is angled up into the air which probably means that this particular spaceship crashed or something... Apparently everything not near one of these spaceship is chaos and carnage... Whats weird is that things in shadowstone park appears to be getting worse as the shadowstone is falling down to a more horisontal position... But then why are the other horisontal spaceships still emitting a peaceful aura?

[@LightDestruction]

These are some flat out amazing sci fi concepts in what started as a kinda kooky ghost show. Bravo Jason, expectations subverted... again❤

[@brandchan]

I am loving this. I loved the original Shadowstone Park when it came out on VRV, but this seems like your best work yet.

[@conicalreason2981]

Brilliant as always.

[@yansa1966]

Looooove to hear Robert’s voice again. I’ll always appreciate how seamlessly you weave clever sci fi plots into your silly videos. Great job

[@JDJeanMichel]

OH MY GOD. I love where this series is going. Actually brings up some interesting questions about whether "uplifting" is that good or noble of an idea...

[@TheArcSet]

Wow, now that is a lot of character development to deliver with one word. Thanks for this.

[@Biodeamon]

i'm beginning to get the feeling the fall of shadowstone might not be metaphorical

[@TazKoltin]

It’s a new years miracle!

[@linkmaxwell]

Seems kinda obvious to say, but that would mean the murders are just animals reverting to normal after whatever Nil's people did to them wore off.

[@charici]

That doesnt explain the rabbits behaviour. They are herbivores yet ate one of their own. The stones positive influence is not wearing off, its turning into something sinister.

[@MaMastoast]

I think its more then wearing off, it appears to be having the opposite effect... Apparently the rest of the planet not near one of these spaceships is pure chaos and death... The other spaceships are landed flat though.. but still emit a safe aura..yet Ava acts as if she has seen the aura turn bad before

[@pacotaco1246]

Instead of creating an "intelligent peace" zone it's creating a "dumb and violent" zone in the park's radius

[@summers526]

Oh my God I kept watching the episodes over and over again everyday and I we were blessed with another one I'm so excited

[@JessmanChicken86]

I adore this series so much.

[@ThinkingFingers]

Thank you for this fantastic gift

[@pisiupo]

I love this so much, thanks for continuing this series!

[@Iamnuketastic]

It took me way too long to notice this one. Always great to see more.

[@quirkyc]

I loved Shadowstone Park when the first episode came out, and it has done nothing but get more and more amazing as it goes, i hope you get to fully tell this fun, funny, intriguing and exceptional story right up till you no longer wish to

[@cursedGalataea]

Nil's speech just gives me chills... That's... I want that so bad.

[@ChaosCounseling]

I love this series so much

[@boxymccutter9623]

So, if Nil believes that 'life is a sin' and he's responsible now for zero people... uh oh.

[@spencerharding1977]

Holy shit, it all kinda makes sense now!

[@chinchillaman1]

Fantastic job, keep em coming! I really hope this gets way more recognition, you certainly deserve it!

[@EhmteaNill]

omg it just keeps getting better!

[@drivebyshrimping7304]

What an absolute lore bomb, had to go back and rewatch everything

[@Stone762x51mm]

Omfg you literally keep this series going! God bless you! Gonna keep liking and commenting on every video!!!! Love them! Been watching your content for so many years!!!

[@Cinemamuffin]

"I don't know why I'm telling you this." "I don't either." Ava you are my favorite character by far oh my god.

[@TwinSteel]

Thank you so much for making more Shadowstone Park ❤👍🏿

[@glossyplane542]

Wow, so nil is called that because all of his men are dead. That’s sad. That’s probably why he’s batshit crazy now. Seems like whatever they did to change humans to help free them of killing made them go feral.

[@WyldeRatttz]

Fascinating! Can't wait for more!

[@TheDarkLordOchinchin]

Nice to hear Robert's voice!