There Are Skeletons Within Us

[@Mother_boards]

"Tenacious Dead is not the greatest title line on a skeleton in Magic. No, it is only a tribute." That might be my new favorite Rhystic Studies line of all time.

[@livedandletdie]

All Tenacious D references are much welcome.

[@jdvred9210]

I don’t play video games no more

[@countOfHenneberg]

Similar to picking up on the Mighty Boosh references that Spice8Rack comes out with.

[@lightfut]

Came here to post this

[@yorokobeshitbag4618]

The single best Rhystic Studies line will always be “Life happens in the red zone, and death is the byproduct of time well spent.”

[@ZacLovoy]

I greatly appreciate the respect shown to The Twelve Foot Human Skeleton From Home Depot by using its full title at all times as we all should.

[@Spice8Rack]

Don't you DARE tell me what may or may not be inside of me.

[@collinbeal]

Spice has a mind goblin within it

[@marlonabelsilvarios2566]

"Ok, but we have to take that out" - Spice8rack´s Doctor probably

[@sashalittledemon6766]

Among us there be spooky scary skeletons

[@Bluecho4]

Do not resist, Spicey. You, too, will join the Skeleton War soon enough. It is your destiny.

[@dylanehooverlibrarian7026]

DON'T GIVE UP, SKELETON!

[@princephantom1294]

I can only assume that the lack of any mention of the best skeleton card, Skeleton Ship, is because you are planing a full length video to feature that card exclusively, and I eagerly await the arrival of said video. (It has a skeleton riding a sea turtle!)

[@Kryptnyt]

Aye, sea turtles

[@hndrxmn]

Agreed. Best skeleton-related art in all of Magic!

[@FuryMaster]

i too will be waiting with bated breath, this needs to happen

[@SquareViking]

@@Kryptnyt Sea turtles, Gibbs?

[@renfineout5350]

You misspelled lightning skelemental

[@gabba-hey]

I appreciate how seriously the skeleton has been treated in Magic. I do like goofy skeletons, but I also enjoy their symbolic significance and how a well presented skeleton can be one of the most unnerving images of death which many cards have captured. They do all sound like that Everquest skeleton though.

[@strikermodel]

I agree, the portrayal of skeletons in MTG art actually makes them look spooky in a more intimidating sense. It's a refreshing change of pace.

[@thechikage1091]

​@@strikermodel absolutely. I was looking at the Warhammer 40k printing of Skullclamp recently, and was actually loving how much it unnerved me.

[@ThunderJ16]

5:58 - Rather than a possessed figure, I think that was meant to be a jiangshi, a kind of Chinese vampire (with a hint of zombie characteristics). It doesn't have a paper talisman but the coffin and outstretched hands matches.

[@annevarmint4659]

Good catch! The posture also matches up since jiangshi are typically depicted as hopping, their bodies being too stiff to walk

[@nathanielleon4163]

You love to go to the comments to find someone already did the work for you.

[@Thelegoterrapin]

@@nathanielleon4163But why did I read all those Xianxia novels if not for the clout of correcting people on the internet?

[@ackbooh9032]

​@@Thelegoterrapin You can always try to change the value of your experiences afterwards. You can always try to change the meaning, in the present and for the rest of your days.

[@DemonikDom]

For anyone wondering the song Sam is playing at the end is When Skeletons Live by Coheed and Cambria. I had the pleasure of meeting Sam in Vegas in September and we both gushed about our love for Coheed. This made me so happy!

[@casketbase7750]

My favorite skeletal art is from Unburial Rites. It's unclear whether the subject is fighting to escape or fighting to stay put. Fitting, since its themed around involuntary resurrection. "All crave the Blessed Sleep. Few receive it."

[@danielesse470]

That subtle nod at the end to the skull hidden in Rotting Mastadon...so good, man.

[@meshuggahshirt]

I'd never noticed that before until this moment

[@seanh2785]

I love the concept of skeletons as simultaneously foolish and jester-like, while also being threatening and dangerous!

[@gspoiler]

A deadly joke

[@seanh2785]

@@gspoiler You said it perfectly!

[@WowItsErin]

I can’t imagine how painful it must’ve been to have this script written and an upload lined up, and then Ixalan shows up to do Skeletons Matter for the first time in years

[@ghost_fueled_scarecrow]

Seeing typal actually being used killed me a little inside

[@Zomburai45]

Sam going along and BOO! A SKELETON (type) JUMPS OUT AND SURPRISES HIM!

[@tigerninja18]

What the fuck is a typal

[@BlueNemo3]

​@@tigerninja18new wording used in place of the older "tribal"

[@christophercarson3590]

*tribal

[@snowboundwhale6860]

15:00 It's known that Yugioh started out as a Magic the Gathering reference that grew into it's own thing, but they have some amount of this there as well. One of the earliest undead skeletons in the game is Skull Servant, a weak non-effect monster whose flavour text is "A skeletal ghost that isn't strong but can mean trouble in large numbers." It later went on to get support & became a kinda strong but also very silly deck, collecting skeletons in the grave to empower the boss skeleton(s), who themselves are weak and get stronger for each "Skull Servant" in grave Relentless rats style.

[@AlluMan96]

I'd say it's almost inversed of the effect, where weak bodies are but fodder to the deck's chief, who will discard them to continue it's own existence. Much more in line with the D&D concept of a necromancer or lich, where the horde is merely just window-dressing to the big bad on the scene. Also a card-flavour that feels really funny in hindsight with the way the Skull Servant lore became more about the chillest skeleton dad that doesn't feel like he'd banish his loyal servants and family members to resurrect himself.

[@goldenarmour7975]

The king of all skull servants. Funny that this deck became a deck that turbos out a ~5k beatstick instead of spamming links as the original text suggests.

[@goldenarmour7975]

Yugioh also embraces the sillyness of skeletons with cards like there can only be one where a skull servant and his family are not allowed to go on vacation by the border agencies, one of many silly cards featuring skull servant.

[@Gingerbrute]

Don’t panic, but there’s a skeleton inside you right now

[@lancelot717]

Mmmfffmmmffgggg

[@genzo454]

"Bart, I don't want to alarm you, but-"

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

*_AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-_*

[@bosslca9630]

Thats the title of my faviorites children's book.

[@XaleManix]

Somehow, I was not expecting the When Skeletons Live cover. Even though you are literally the man who taught me to play that and countless other Coheed songs over the years. Well played, Dr. Sam.

[@sadisticsalmon7323]

I was playing dark sentencer whilst watching the video!! It was such a shock to the system 😭

[@LadyGainhart]

I was expecting it to open, not to close!

[@laboratoryrack6488]

Thanks for letting me know what song it was...After your comment, I went down the rabbit hole and found this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5e9lJd9nr-IaNE 🤪

[@janmelantu7490]

“Spooky Scary Skeletons send shivers down your spine Shrieking skulls will shock your soul Seal your doom tonight!”

[@ianfranke1674]

I think the Chinese raise dead at 5:58 is actually a Jiang-Shi (not sure if that’s the correct spelling), a more culturally relevant form of undead on china

[@raymondan4701]

僵尸basically means a zombie.

[@hereticaljake740]

Best Magic: The Gathering content creator on the Tube. Absolute monster of an intellectual. Thanks for the amazing content, Sam! Keep up the good work.

[@askani21]

"Great Yawgmoth moves through the seas of shard and bone and rust. We exalt Him in life, in death, and in between." You scared the shit out of me. As always, magnificent work, Rhystic Studies.

[@moleculeman27]

As ever, probably the most thoughtful Magic channel around.

[@kyleallan8676]

You're videos are always insightful and top quality, but dude it's so cool to see you shred on that guitar

[@bchavez149]

Huge fan of the designer of the Skeleton, stroke of genius is an understatement to say the least. I'm so glad I have my own.

[@Hellrider_145]

9:35 that joke got me good. Great video, I missed this style of videos from you.

[@Kodaxor]

Came to the comments to see how many other people noticed this lol

[@PdrZnt]

gotta give props for the mid riff pich harmonics. vid a banger, as always.

[@RichJMoneyTV]

That “spare ribs” video is my favorite bit of all time. I regularly watch it to improve my mood

[@marquismahan8016]

I keep seeing Skeletal Grimace in scryfall’s randomizer, so when I saw this title, my heart jumped out of my body, taking my skeleton with it.

[@demolisherman1763]

The yearly Halloween update makes it feel like a second Christmas!

[@nicolascamacho7219]

Loving all the references to Coheed lately. Perfect intersection of two of my favorite things 🖤

[@makonevernow]

Sad that my fave card of all time Augur of Skulls didn't make it into the video, its art and flavor text was what pulled me into the game. That bit about Rotting Mastodon was amazing though, drafted KTK so much but I never knew that about it

[@strikermodel]

That's one of my favorite card arts. That, and the painterly bone splinter.

[@ludosgd]

That Rotting Mastodon fade-out sent SHIVERS down my spine. Phenomenal work!!!

[@jaegster1312]

Absolutely badass song at the end there. Thanks for sharing your playing with us.

[@mekklord]

Congratulations on the most ominous title I've ever seen on a Magic the Gathering video!

[@effren]

8:05 the EverQuest skeleton laugh will always have a special place in my heart.

[@zonkodraw3480]

Rhystic coming in clutch for the spook season.

[@lollusk]

I'm so glad you included the EverQuest skeleton laugh. So many ai skeletons killed between that and EQ2. That stock sound effect is forever burned in my mind as what a skeleton sounds like lol, glad to see it represented

[@ChiralWolf]

I think there's also a really interesting element to magic's (and other fantasies) more serious tone for skeletons in how they pose such a tangible threat in a world with necromancers. Real skeletons serve as a grim reminder of mortality but in their harmlessness can also be turned to mock it. When a skeleton can actually stand up again though one might not be so inclined to partake in the same levity.

[@cyrus6236]

Tinybones was actually the first legendary creature i ever owned in magic, and when i saw that magic had some humor to it, i was hooked

[@salvatorenoth2489]

8:05, The EQ Skeleton laugh is iconic.

[@mahtimonni97]

"Halloween clown" is such a perfect thing and perfectly condenses the essence of the skeleton.

[@jaredbanks5606]

When referencing skeletons in other media, I find it criminal that no attention was put on Spinal, from Killer Instinct 2013. That cackle is forever in my memory of what a reanimated bone man sounds like. Still, a great video as always, keep up the good work.

[@proto303]

Can't forget the fact that the round start noise in Spinal's music track is a Tibetan kangkling, a horn made out of a human femur.

[@twarnold14]

15:07 Oh, so like B1 battle droids in Star Wars. Funny (especially since Clone Wars) but deadly in a large group. And they match the skinny aesthetic too. One is even named Mr. Bones!

[@chadjones1266]

Reminds me of a post I saw: Kid "why do I need an xray?" Dad "they're just checking for skeletons inside you. They probably won't find anything. "

[@hugmonger]

My man just said the words "Maniacal Bonish" which might be my favorite pair of words ever.

[@ZackeroniAndCheese]

I never saw the skull in Rotting Mastadon before. Very cool!

[@alexabney7913]

I LOVE the flavor text for persistent specimen

[@annevarmint4659]

Really appreciated bringing up the contrast of skeletons not only as stoic reminders of inevitable death and eventually becoming low-level goons in modern action-combat systems. They take a more hands-on approach to confronting you with your own mortality (i.e. by relentlessly pursuing you and hacking at you with blades), but funnily enough their refusal to yield even when reduced to bone feels like it illustrates much more commitment to life. Historical skeletons don't have nearly as much joie de vivre -- death doesn't need to rush, he's waiting for you to come to him. Sanitarium Skeleton was one of my first favorite cards when I started learning Magic, and every so often I still try to put together skeleton-based sacrifice decks because, much like the bony dead themselves, I cannot give up until I fall apart

[@Titleknown]

I will say, it is impossible to take Manor Skeleton seriously at all with how hard Chorocojo, Zorak & friends ended up memeing him. "NYEH, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BITCOIN!"

[@NotSkywalker24]

He just wants to dry strawberries and mine bitcoin, and he's all out of strawberries

[@lugvantrug5967]

Gotta Give a Shoutout to my Favourite Skeleton which is mainly carried by its 2nd Subtype: The one and only Skelemental

[@korakys]

One of your best videos, and I really didn't expect that to be the case going in.

[@intelligentcounterspell16]

I really wish u had a channel just on occult things , so much occult symbolism in your videos, and symbolism is a form of magic

[@McArRuIzO]

That riff at the end sounds like something Coheed and Cambria would play.

[@johnsabilla5897]

Rhystic Studies videos + coffee = great morning

[@LoxeBi]

Sam waxing poetically about skeletons and then shredding the sickest riff for the credits was not something I was ready for.

[@Verlisify]

Who would have guessed the best analysis on skeletons in art and history would be inspired by MTG

[@jamesevans6332]

RATTLE 'EM, BOYS! The Bad to the Bones Secret Lair was basically an instant buy for me because I do love me some wacky boney boys, and I have been desperately holding out for an dedicated skeleton tribal commander for years at this point. I cannot tell you how hyped I was when I saw MaRo's teaser on Tumblr saying a skeleton lord is going to be in Ixalan, so here's hoping my wish eventually comes true

[@orionfire1947]

In the middle of the table of Hans' The Ambassador is the Universal S, depicted as we all know it now and is yet another reminder that we return to where we were, be it bone or otherwise.

[@nagashizzar3978]

This is my favorite video I have ever watched. Thank you for all the hard work.

[@Transformers4444]

Rhystic Studies video with Skeletal Grimace as the main image? I'm sold lol

[@Maniaco1612]

This is a masterclass for presentation and viewer’s captivation. Rhystic Studies’ videos are just getting better and better. From behalf of the entire Magic community- please don’t stop working, Sam.

[@simonecasolo3122]

I studied at Uni next door to S Bernardino alle Ossa. I talked once to those who were restoring the Chapel. There is a cabinet opposite to the altar wall, containing skulls of 5 criminals, they didn't want to mix them with those of innocent people. Thanks for the amazing video, coming out right while I am building a jund skeleton tribal deck.

[@kapiriasis]

"hid the skull in the painting" meanwhile it's just a massive skull that you can't miss

[@MortonGoldthwait]

This will probably fly over everyone's heads, but my favorite skeleton related anything is the 2001 spoof movie The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. Every time I see a bony grimace, all I hear is "Animalllaaaa... Animalllaaa..." or "Follow me. Climb down these rocks like I do."

[@poenpotzu2865]

Always glad to see another video from Rhystic Studies. I'm not a big fan of the spooky season but a fan of your works.

[@potatogrease2420]

17:18 “there are skeletons within us” *Proceeds to shred harder than the skeleton in skate 3*

[@catoticneutral]

It's kinda cool how the unworthy dead are shaped kinda like vultures because of their posture, and the chins of the two in the background almost look like beaks. pretty sweet art overall.

[@SamundraDarion]

"Art and life remain intertwined" - INCREDIBLE!

[@blackgear98]

Another great video, perfect for the season! Great cover at the end too!

[@theunwelcome]

"There were skeletons back there, Danny!" "I don't know nuffin' about no Skellingtons!"

[@donut_jam]

Love your deep dives and stories on so many things through the use of magic cards. Keep it up

[@ianquick4284]

I love how much work you put into investigating obscure details. Reminds me of Aaron Mahnke.

[@GR20000]

Raise dead is actually a very, very clever one. 5:57 THAT is a Jiangshi, a Chinese folk monster that is somewhere between a zombie and a vampire. They can't bend their knees, so they hop around to get places, and their touch can steal your life force as they hop, arms out stretched, towards you.

[@nathanl8622]

I'd like to make a case for Grim Roustabout. He's a proud Rakdos, dressed in a pile of rags and circus clothes, putting on a flashy pose that highlights his cruel-looking weapons. But for all the bravado, all the swagger... he's an usher. As the flavor text (which is an absolutely abominable pun, a truly wince-inducing dad joke of a punchline) says, it's his job to show you to your seat so the real show can begin. It's a distillation of the Rakdos ethos, the silly theatrics undercut by menace, and putting it on a skeleton brings the whole piece together. Skeletons are Halloween clowns, and if there's anyone who knows a thing or two about laughing at death, it's the Rakdos.

[@cowfighteing]

Banger riff with a susperia tshirt? Hell yeah

[@iannobes4369]

Speaking of bones. One of my favourite built commander decks. Is a Muldrotha the Gravetide list I built that is skeleton tribal. The Bone Zone. It seems weak, but when the bones rise, they hurt!

[@golgariguy]

Amazing video, although I'm a bit sad that the iconic Necropotence skeleton wasn't mentioned!

[@sadisticsalmon7323]

COHEED IN A RHYSTIC STUDIES VIDEO WTF, AND SUCH A BANGER TOO. Your music taste is elite. Sam i love you.

[@alrice738]

30 min till class with a 20 min Rhystic Studies video. I have been blessed.

[@austinsmith8287]

I love these types of videos, cant wait for a video on mirrodin

[@jakabrezavscek969]

Never in my life would I have imagined hearing my tiny country mentioned in a rhystic studies video... You really do your research and your videos are so poeting, pieces of art just like the paintings you talk about

[@tiszach]

The Grim Captain and Uchbenbach are hands down my favorite legends from Caverns of Ixalan because look at them

[@ricolasX]

My father was a science teacher. In the lab space between the class rooms was all the tools and junk used for the classes. Including a real skeleton. As a kid I used to shake hands and dance with it. This duality of seeing the actual remains of a dead person who had a life, dreams, love and the goofy Halloweenesque nature of this skeleton mounted on a wheel rack fascinated me. Nowadays only plastic replicas are allowed. But I'll always keep the memory of this unknown dead person I played with.

[@timsim83]

Ten-D shout out! It is amazing how different fiction can shed light on each-other!

[@camilovarela478]

In skeletal grimace, the skull is peering through the person's mouth...truly horrifying

[@adamzielinski1053]

Cool video & guitar outro. One of my favorite paintings is Ecce Homo by Belgian surrealist Paul Delvaux, he used the elegiac aesthetic of skeletons to paint about the end of religion.

[@danacoleman4007]

Geez o man! That bit at the end! Sam, is there anything you can't do! Really great video, as always!

[@theaeskey2502]

Another great video from Sam. The man never misses. My favorite skeletal cards are surgical extraction and skeletal grimace.

[@David_Symonds]

That coheed cover was a nice treat

[@Frostgiantbutsmall]

Dude, your guitar work just keeps getting sweeter, love it!

[@erikisfat1]

he plays the guitar!!! this guy is epic!

[@textualarc8534]

There is a metal band called skeleton, it has an album called skeleton, the title track is also named skeleton. The outro prompts me to inform everyone of this.

[@thraxus6661]

Kinda forgot that outro song was called "When Skeletons Live" because my friends and I always called it "The Coheed song that sounds like it's off of Sonic Adventure 2"

[@Liteyears11]

"Don't give up, Skeleton!" ~ unknown Dark Souls 2 player

[@hellNo116]

Why does it make so much sense to me that you at an sg. That is one great looking guitar and the tone you captured is on point for the video and the theme

[@scrottilathehun6085]

Great video as always. My favorite part is the guitar riffing at the end, though. There is something very genuine and personal about the display. I would like to request more lol

[@muotes]

First time I've ever sat through the credits. That was rad

[@the_rahn]

This video cured my hangover, 10/10

[@nathanialshicks]

I had already liked the video, but would like it again for the credits jam

[@robertbadgley6291]

I think about Alex Steacy’s character in LRR from time to time, specifically a recurring bit he had about refusing to admit he had a skeleton inside him, and being racist against skeletons specifically. Great bit, great vid!

[@pookygallahad4749]

Damn Sam that ending riff with Mr Bones went hard

[@DJ_CULLEN]

This will be the video that convinces Wizards to buff skellies

[@thstguy8023]

Those pinch harmonics soundin juicy sir