The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals is on the ethereal musical plane - a half-awake video essay

The name’s Anna(it’s actually Autumn but everyone just calls me Anna because it’s easier), I use any and all pronouns! Let’s talk about Starkid and how they broke the ‘musical code’ and created A R T ! WOOHOO!!!
I have been working on this video on and off since March, constantly forgetting I was making it, so I hope y’all enjoy! Any and all feedback is appreciated(unless you are calling me a doodoo head bc wtf)
Also hey! If you wanna watch another rad video essay on another Starkid show, I love this one by Schaffrillas Productions about Twisted. I adore the show and a lot of what he talks about coincides with my video, even if he did beat me to posting this😂
Hey! Got questions? Inquiries? Perhaps a fun little Starkid anecdote? Comment comment comment! I’d love to chat with you! And feel free to subscribe & ring thy bell to stick around awhile! We’re having fun here🤗
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Here’s some Time Stamps for ya!
Starkid History and how it’s a theater enigma: 00:53
Starkid, ✨a new media theater company✨: 3:38
TGWDLM Synopsis: 6:57
How is this show different?: 7:54
How TGWDLM is a perfectly rounded musical in ‘musical standards’: 8:33
A show made for everyone?: 14:40
✨self awareness✨: 20:34
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Find me all over the Internet if you’re craving more! Find my Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, Ko-Fi, Amazon Wishlist, Spotify, Letterboxd, and even some of my articles on my LinkTree!
linktr.ee/annaheartbeat
Tik Tok: @anna.heartbeat
Insta: @annaheartbeat for Cosplay or @autumnharts for everything else
Twitter: @thatoneactress
You can DM me on Insta for Inquiries, I don’t bite😉
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Music:

[@EvanSawyer4]

Don’t apologize for the vibe. It’s so Emma during “Cup of Roasted Coffee” so it’s actually perfect.

[@xkristianx]

I was the guy who didn't like musicals until I saw The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals last year... and it has been a journey of discovery. Would A++++ endorse more of this content.

[@AutumnHarts]

The best kind of musical endorsement right here folks!!🙌

[@eini1422]

This deserves a lot more views! TGWDLM is my favourite starkid show and you did a really good job breaking down why it works so well, loved it!

[@AutumnHarts]

Thanks so much! I know right?! It’s amazing!! 💖‼️

[@seokjinnied]

i love that this show is a straight play utilizing the musical genre as the crux of the plot. its fucking genius.

[@Hamilgoth2002]

This video really speaks directly to my heart. Girl causally talking to her camera alone in her bedroom at 2 am about musicals is literally my favorite genre and you have really elevated it

[@thevictoriawood.]

You’re so right cos I introduced my friend who HATES musicals to tgwdlm and she absolutely loved it

[@pokenerd265]

get apotheosis’ed

[@SeanBoyce-gp]

Cool breakdown. I can't help but agree, save for your point around 14:40 - it's not *reliant* on being a musical, true, but I think that's half the picture. Take it one step further. One of the reasons I think TGWDLM is such a perfect horror musical is because it can't be presented in any other format - it *only* works as a musical. You could make Black Friday as a comedy without any of the music and it would work just fine. It wouldn't be as good, but it would work. TGWDLM makes the format itself the monster and makes us, who are enjoying it, kind of the villain, and it's fun to be the bad guy. That doesn't work in literally any other format - they have to be singing and dancing and we have to hear and feel the music which is both diegetic and not diegetic in order to actually contextualize the scene. I'm not *even* sure it would work as a movie musical (would be willing to be proven wrong by Edgar Wright). So while it's absolutely a musical that doesn't *rely* on being a musical to work up your excitement for all those tropes and expectations, it *does* rely on the form and format to convey the primary emotional experience of its chosen drama - horror. Not fear. You're very rarely afraid in TGWDLM. You're *horrified.* It's super effective.

[@howardlo7548]

I am thankful that I am not alone in a starkid rabbithole during these trying times, very interesting pov, and love your video! I wish you could talk about twisted in the next video(that one is my favourite out of the rest of the musicals)

[@cairozephyr]

This is really cool! I saw the vid had only 75 views when it popped up in my recommended. Supporting small creators is super important, especially when they're really good at what they do. Your ability to articulate your feelings about the excellence of Starkid and The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals is incredible :D

[@AutumnHarts]

Thank you so so much! That means a lot !! I agree, it really is important! Thanks again-you seriously just made my day🥲💖

[@abbyryan7410]

The KZbin algorithm was really in my favor today! I thoroughly enjoyed the video!

[@AutumnHarts]

Thanks so much! YES we love when the algorithm does the dang thing!!😤🙌

[@maizie3921]

labelling the helper as "the general" on the paul map EXCUSE YOU his name is General John Macnamara /lh ON AN ACTUAL NOTE THOUGH THIS VIDEO!!! IS SO GOOD!!!! it puts a lotta thoughts i had about tgwdlm into Actual Words and Sentences and!! AHH this is justa a fuckin banger of a video!! plus yr emma cosplay looks really good :]!! sorry this commetns a million miles long

[@AutumnHarts]

LISTEENNN I only had SOOOO much text space, no disrespect to our mans😂 Thanks a bunch!! I appreciate it SOSO much! You are so kind!

[@ypipie]

I love TGWDLM, watching all of Starkids musicals during quarantine was awesome and I love. the. i love them. everytime theyre brought up i talk about them for like an hour

[@Arkatox]

“Here’s the thing: It’s a musical made for everyone. EV-like, literally everyone.” Me, who has horror triggers, was mildly traumatized by the ending, and took weeks of reflecting to realize that I did, in fact, actually like the show despite how fucked up it is: What the absolute fuck did you just say!?

[@narniadici1976]

Sorry random people who aren't aware of your existence can't cater to your very specific feelings 💀

[@Arkatox]

@@narniadici1976 Hey, I think you missed the point.

[@datzfatz2368]

not trying to devalue any of that or insult/be mean to you, but was it really that bad? I mean i get that the themes and such of the Show are a bit disturbing and slightly heavy hitting (and i am a bit more numbed to that stuff than most people) but i felt that the comedy and overall feel balanced it out pretty well. Again, just curious and interested in your experience, if you want to talk about it that is.

[@Arkatox]

@@datzfatz2368 Triggers aren't necessarily something you can rationalize away. Everyone's brain processes things differently, and what's balance to one person could be tone-deaf irreverence to another. I stand by the ending being peak horror. Incredibly well done (I get Inevitable stuck in my head), but nothing but absolutely terrifying.

[@kinoman7176]

Now I understand how to understand line "KZbin algorithm made you a chosen one!". Great video, like! Good luck!

[@brotemca8020]

holy heckity heck I'm so glad I saw this! totally on-par with the Schaff Productions version :D just the whole fucking 'darren criss' 'darren criss?' 'darren criss' is gold

[@Spirits-n-Giggles]

This review is so incredibly GOOD! Holy shit. I would LOVE to see more Starkid from you. You are awesome!

[@elishaoloughlin3287]

This was really interesting! I love The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals and this video really helps me appreciate it more. Also I love the name Autumn , it's such a cool name.

[@xaviers.a.359]

What about February? The name, not month.

[@beatricefox937]

I’ll forgive your Audrey Plaza vibes for the Audrey Plaza reference- (Also the video was awesome)

[@Virrow]

Really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the musical! I love TGWDLM SO MUCH! 😄

[@justsomegirl862]

13:59 that was a goddamn jumpscare

[@gunyboy007]

great video ! i’m always down for musical talks / breakdowns but then again i’m an aging drama kid who is wayyyyy to gay for star kid productions . also the eye rolls were definitely appreciated lol

[@AutumnHarts]

This is such a mood omg love a mutual eye roll 🤝😤

[@FreyasArts]

I'm propably to blame for at least 500 views of tgwlm 😂 when I discovered this, I was so obsessed with it that for a few months, I played this musical several times a day

[@finn2459]

im so glad i found this gem in my recommended loved it keep up the great work ❤️❤️❤️

[@Phiwipuss]

Oh God that Hamilton reference, thank you so much

[@tedthetoad161]

Please continue making videos like this! I absolutely enjoyed this! You are doing amazing, its really fun to watch and i really enjoy listening to your voice! Thanks for the great entertainment.

[@Shaybay2484]

Sunny D yum yum :) memeing aside, this was a great video! Glad it was in my recommended

[@grandbullo]

I really enjoy this video !

[@AutumnHarts]

Oh my gosh! Thank ya thank ya, that means a lot!🤗💖

[@jacketmash5991]

great analysis and editing!

[@dez6529]

Awesome cosplay and video essay. :)

[@Maccycheez]

Exceptional video!! Keep it up! I agree with what you said at 8:00 , I’ve shown TGWDLM to friends who aren’t big on musicals, and they fell in love with it and now follow the series since they love the characters.Once again, very good video! Keep it up and I’m sure you’ll grow even more in popularity!

[@AutumnHarts]

Hey thanks! I know everybody I’ve got to watch it has done the same haha

[@Arkatox]

Fantastic video, I really enjoyed it! As you might have been able to tell from my other impassioned comment, I strongly disagree that this is a musical made for everyone, although I fully understand what you were trying to say. It simply didn’t account for the fact that it’s horror, and horror is _very_ much not for everyone. I personally don’t like horror, and am genuinely triggered by several common aspects of the genre. One of the biggest things that can make me go from loving a story to feeling like it was pointless (and like it permanently disapparated a third of the happiness in my life) is the “downer ending” trope. The ending of TGWDLM left me genuinely traumatized and upset, to the point that it took me watching like 5 whole other StarKid shows before I stopped expecting them to end in horrible trauma. I’ve struggled with recommending the show to other people, despite knowing they’d love it, due to my own experience. I’ve heard people refer to the post-ending scene as one of the funniest in the show, and that baffles me, because to me it’s _peak horror._ Anyway, my history with horror and not understanding others’ experiences with it is long, has spanned many conversations, and could easily fill its own video essay. I fully understand and appreciate the sentiment that people who don’t like musicals would like this musical, and I agree! But my disabled brain really struggles with how so many people just assume everyone is okay with horror. Especially a story as dark as TGWDLM. Sorry for rambling so long about one nitpick. I know I think differently than a lot of people so I wanted to elaborate my thoughts a bit. I have come to love TGWDLM dearly, and I do think Black Friday and Nightmare Time have helped me feel a lot more closure about the ending, knowing there’s probably a universe out there where Paul and Emma are happy. SPEAKING OF NIGHTMARE TIME, HAVE YOU SEEN YELLOWJACKET!?!?!? AAAAAAADJSHSCSK anyway…

[@CharliHarveyMusic]

"nobody sings out of the middle of nowhere" Theatre kids everywhere: ...

[@AutumnHarts]

Heyo, you are absolutely right and should say it. Sometimes you gotta invalidate yourself in the process because I do that too ngl

[@el_eddy4307]

Randomly got this video in my recommendeds, absolutely love this musical. Also great video by the way, keep it up.

[@skipper-cat]

i love this vid thats all thanks

[@elizeyt]

hey I’m your 200th subscriber! just letting you know so you get the notif xxxx

[@AutumnHarts]

Oh my goodness hey! Thanks for doing so, that’s amazing yay! You are the best!!

[@phospadparadschaa]

thank you SO MUCH this is awesome

[@Hedgekittyy]

This is my favorite musical!! Love this video

[@AlphaPizzadog]

wow i didn't know you liked cosplay? great emma costume

[@amaeliss7827]

Les Mis is adapted from a book and Hadèstown from a myth, so, really, they're also adaptations, not just based in historical events!

[@Arkatox]

Les Mis was a period piece set within real historical events, so 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fakedracula9849]

10:55 More like DEBastating amirite? 🙋🏼‍♂️

[@jotagroovy7479]

THIS IS SOOOO GOOOD

[@sickbeet4219]

Happy holidays

[@ryano.5149]

I watched TGWDLM a total of twice. I remember EVERY. SINGLE. SONG. SORCERY!!! ...or maybe blue alien musical singularity snot? ...or maybe they were all just...show stoppin' numbers...

[@remnants9974]

"people don't think in songs, though" hmm

[@danafah9539]

yum yum

[@nittygritty7034]

SHOW STOPPIN NUMBERRR

[@AutumnHarts]

A REAL SHOW STOPPER !!

[@TheBeanPerson]

A SHOW STOPPIN NUMBER, COME ONNN