We Need to Talk About Pete (Ep. 7) | The Unsleeping City

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Pete's magic surges divide the group. Ricky makes a name for himself. Kingston runs into an ex.
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[@dimension20show]

Don't forget to check out our sponsor for this episode, reroll.co/

[@dlvnmedia]

I have to ask - who did the intro music for this because it is pure excellence

[@catsaremyfavorit6514]

Murph doesn't like superheroes yet he loves doing this

[@beaugantz4888]

that's a good app right there

[@Confederation1867]

​@@beaugantz4888 Jenn

[@essielayn]

Since I’ve just discovered you, I am INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED by the fun of this game, and I love the teamwork and wit of everyone at the table, but the MOST impressive part of THIS episode is the acting between Brennan (“Liz”) and Lou (“Kingston”). That repartee was so STUNNING that I saw those characters manifest! Award-Winning Talent!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Xohadarc]

My favourite Brennan Lee Mulligan trope is "Huge Macho bros who are also woke as hell!"

[@steveoconnivo9666]

I kept waiting for one to be like "hows the tits bro?" But they're basically the PC frat from South Park only all Johns lolol

[@nova5303]

In my experience bodybuilders are really pretty cool actually

[@danielalencar7284]

the best firefighters

[@zoosmell_egbert]

I was about to comment this exact thing, they make me so happy

[@canthandlethislol]

Mine is straight up whatever the cat would be

[@z_movie_dan]

Ricky has his best day while everyone else has their lives continually fall apart.

[@mistamemewide]

The Good Boy is having the best day.

[@wyattlohr8199]

This is highly inaccurate to real life but then again it's Ricky Matsui and there is magic so no complaints here.

[@donovanfaust3227]

I mean Sophia's day turned out pretty good too. Training at a monastery all day and gaining a master feels more like she's putting her life back together while everyone's falls apart. While Ricky's day just seemed like it was a normal Ricky kind of day, other than getting a new dog, which I guess still makes it the best.

[@endorolfgreenwolf5265]

Even when Ricky has a bad day, it seems like he has a great day.

[@user-vl8ws4wd7o]

@@endorolfgreenwolf5265 unless a certain mall goth is involved

[@thewarlocky]

Pete micro-dosing while people try and teach him important lessons is one of the best running jokes ever.

[@taylorforsyth4278]

"I'm not microdosing, it was a full dose."

[@downstairschannel6582]

What about "Are you my Dad?"

[@axolotl0424]

"I've got an open room Oh? Where do you live? Staten Island Aaanyway, what was that about the tiny one room apartment?" Is prolly my fav running joke

[@kitten-inside]

That's not a joke. "High" is Pete's level of coping.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@kitten-inside But it is a joke…

[@belindaluna2067]

I gotta say, Pete's got his problems, but if some troubled kid develops the ability to manifest dreams into reality and you don't tell them that's what can happen or help them learn how to control it.... you're gonna get bugsters.

[@laytonlolo7774]

That's exactly what I thought

[@EasilyBoredGamer]

thats one of the really good things about this series, you can completely understand both sides of this

[@victorian298]

I love how well the roles are acted. It would be unrealistic for Pete to suddenly do a 180 just because he finds out there’s magic and he’s the vox phantasm. If anything, it would be in character for him to not want to deal with the enormous responsibility which seems to come with this “gift” he didn’t ask for. The others are also relatable in expressing their feelings as their characters since for Kingston and Alejandro, they are concerned with the back to back major incidents that coincided with the arrival of this unpredictable person that they do not trust. Sofia being the heart of this campaign and speaking up to give Pete a chance is absolutely warming...

[@PuckeredMeatball]

i mean at that point you're just asking for bugsters

[@Mrbiggunsomally]

"Do you want roaches!? Because this is how you get roaches!"

[@TheBlackWaitress]

I love how Sophia always ends up being the favorite of all these magical animals and statues and what not. Kingston may be the vox populi but sophias like the embodiment of the random acts of kindness in the city

[@rhys7877]

She's the random drunk woman in the rest room who compliments you on your outfit and gives you a bit of her perfume to touch up.

[@wyattlohr8199]

What would she be as a Vox, is my question

[@rhys7877]

@@wyattlohr8199 Vox Clementia, the voice of compassion to whoever needs it

[@MuhammadIrfan-oe5su]

@@rhys7877 now that's got a nice ring to it

[@blazerheata6479]

Kingston the Vox of the people of New York, Pete the Vox of Dreaming and magic; Sophia the bridge to both.

[@MidLa23]

BRUH. The transition from Murph's PC having a dad who mysteriously disappeared/died, to now BEING the dad who mysteriously disappeared/died 🤯😭

[@bonecharm]

Wait stop, take back this realisation my heart can't take it 😭

[@Glmorrs1]

Oh my god, you’re right! Such a role reversal. What I wouldn’t give to play a campaign with this group.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Die the accidentally abandoned kid or live long enough to be the father

[@Virtual-caveman]

Wait I thought that was established two episodes ago but this is my second time watching so maybe I’m wrong

[@meganjones3427]

I think they're talking about from fantasy high to this one.

[@katherinegrace9724]

“You can’t do a campaign about New York with out people being truly fucking miserable” that hit home

[@rachel7815]

That's just what New York is like

[@alastor2079]

"Greatest city in the wirld*

[@camrynsingsandreads8614]

1:02:40 if anyone is curious

[@justanotheranimeprofilepic]

Except for Ricky. The most handsome blessed man in all of New York

[@pallasproserpina4118]

Sofia’s story is the story of a woman who really wants to do something and gets constantly derailed

[@hariodinio]

I just wanna give her a hug, but that would probably derail her plans

[@Harrowed2TheMind]

The worst part is that she technically had one week of downtime to talk to her brother! XD

[@Grandtheatrix]

"Sofia's story is the story of a woman" and you can basically leave off the rest, it's redundant.

[@thetruephoenixful]

Kingston’s “I was faithful” line actually sent shivers

[@davetoms1]

Totally. And I thought he was about to say "And I have _been_ faithful ever since!" or something

[@kingofpoliwhirls7464]

The preview for this episode made it seem like Kingston's loyalty to New York was being questioned with how serious he said it, at least that's what I thought was going to happen.

[@kevinwillems8720]

I feel, not nervously called out, but seen from this line.

[@nicksterk1702]

This was a great scene of role playing. Both of these guys played it so well, had me smiling.

[@kevinwillems8720]

Like, I feel acknowledged. Like Lou described my exact feelings towards my ex.

[@PrimRooks]

I’m so in love with Brennan’s interactions with Lou as Liz and Kingston, they’re just crazy in-sync as bitter exes.

[@castlegarden2999]

I was doing chores while listening to this episode and when they started yelling at each other, when Brennan threw the first "FUCK YOU", I was taken aback like "WHOA" I nearly dropped a glass 🤣

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

@@castlegarden2999 I love the stuff on the subtle side the most like how the whole group went like :0 when Kingston said "... and please, don't call me Mr. Brown" and Liz turns on the recorder and says "Mr. Brown, thank you for your time." The amount of improvisational prowess on display is Wild.

[@kingofpoliwhirls7464]

It says a lot that, for a moment, I forgot that they weren't the characters they were playing as

[@user-gk2sc4ky4i]

i was blown away with that performance it was so good

[@flippinkamikaze8738]

@@user-gk2sc4ky4i the indignant tone in Lou's delivery of "I AM faithful! I WAS faithful! I would have CONTINUED to be faithful!" And the waver in his voice as he gives his resigned apology\confession of regrets is masterful.

[@evasterup]

I can’t believe Brennan invented the Everything Bagel before everything everywhere all at once

[@jedinxf7]

invented?

[@amarskie]

was just about to comment this haha

[@donovanfaust3227]

​@@jedinxf7yeah I'm pretty sure he patented it a few years ago.

[@meala23]

Zeitgeisty!

[@SmudgedSketch]

I know!!! I watched that movie and was literally like “holy shit d20 reference”

[@combogalis]

They're always great but god the role-playing this episode was just phenomenal. Kugrash reading the letter; Sofie breaking down in the drug store; Kingston bickering with Liz; Pete putting up a front for his ex. They're so deep in-character it's just amazing to watch.

[@YeetSpace]

And then there's just Ricky having a great time, and I am here for it

[@adrianrandom3448]

@@YeetSpace having a great time with his jacked firefighter bros just talking about life, and drinking their respect woman juice. i want a John for myself :[

[@DaemonInWhite]

the monastery being on Staten Island fucking sends me every time

[@andrewdiaz3529]

Right across from Spaghetti's

[@DocFleg]

Weird fact: there is actually a Tibetan Buddhist museum at the highest point of Staten Island, which is a recreation of an actual Tibetan Buddhist temple.

[@bryce8554]

@@andrewdiaz3529 Spaghetti’s the bakery, that bakes pasta.

[@notoriouslypeaceful4621]

I love the "Everyone doesn't want to go to Staten Island" is the best running gag.

[@Yeahyankee]

@@DocFleg Came here to say, this, thank you friend.

[@juulgreetjelindeboom1852]

Its nice how the groups just does some roleplaying while Brennan is looking something up on his laptop

[@ChrisCox-wv7oo]

So important. Having a cohesive group who can keep the energy up while the DM ducks out is gold.

[@gdf40]

I absolutely love when my players do that. It gives me the perfect cover to look ahead in the adventure that I picked up like an hour before the game started.

[@pattyofurniture694]

Yeah, this group absolutely rules

[@mr.citrus2614]

What’s the time stamp?

[@bleysmcnutt5500]

@@mr.citrus2614 42:31

[@pointynoodle]

Brennan, I’m trying to tail the car, but I’m dummy thicc and the clap of my asscheeks keeps alerting the drivers.

[@smilesfordays]

I’m dying

[@pointynoodle]

@@smilesfordays I'm sorry for your loss, your mother must be devastated.

[@pixelpixel499]

The line: "I'll leave the letter, *because I'll remember it.* " Kills me even after all this time. Because he wants to be a good father, he wants to be there, he wants to apologizie. But he can't. So his child is right about everything he wrote and how is he even supposed to argue with that?? The lil rat man just has to take it and feel *reeeal* shitty.

[@amycox5733]

To anyone looking, the line is at 47:25

[@roj6895]

i love that esther still always replies to the how are you part of rickys texts

[@uhkingdom]

“Hey, I’m fighting demons from hell lol how are you? -selfie-” “I’m fine Ricky, what the hell are you serious???”

[@CaribbeanCitizen]

Kingston slapping the guineas out of Pete's hand was very Fabian

[@roelofvredeveld5470]

Guinness*... unless they had old English money again :p

[@cooterjesus]

@@roelofvredeveld5470 I thought he was holding two small rodents

[@delaneyklutes5579]

The “I didn’t create demand , people did” line getting turned back around at Pete was INcredible

[@A_T216]

I love that I read the INcredible in Brennan's voice lol

[@antoningilbert1615]

I kinda feel like there's a message about prostitution here, though I'm not sure...

[@lordfelidae4505]

@@antoningilbert1615…no.

[@abithefallenhuman921]

​@@antoningilbert1615you have a strange understanding of sex workers

[@myfirstchannel2076]

We all need a cry booth in every place open to the public. This is the exceedingly unofficial and lazy petition to start one.

[@liriodendronlasianthus]

Yes

[@joeyfromschool]

Yes

[@steelmore5598]

Yes

[@aduckinlingerie]

Absolutely

[@freedomsavage2668]

Yes

[@ilovedogsilovethem]

Ricky being too hot to be stealthy is giving me life

[@toddchristiansen1441]

Came to this way late, but by FAR the best moment of this series so far is Kingston yelling at his ex-wife, "She's a GOD DAMN CENTAUR!"

[@Kaanfight]

*click* “FUCK YOU” is also a great part

[@urktheturtle2988]

this show is amazing, and Kingston and Petes relationship is one of the most organic and interesting relationships I have ever seen in a work of fiction.

[@pattyofurniture694]

Absolutely!

[@Fairy_Teeth]

Kingston has always been my favorite character in this campaign, Pete one of my least favorites (still love him ) but as soon as they moved in together I decided that their relationship gives me a reason to live

[@endersquid1132]

They really feel like found family, it's a dynamic somewhere between father/son and brothers and they play it so well and naturally

[@sbboh-kcin]

The second Brennan said the monastery was very difficult to get to, I KNEW he was gonna bring back the Staten Island bit

[@rikimaru700]

Lou and Brennan really love playing dysfunctional couples lol

[@jogailejurkonyte4746]

I still can't get enough of Misty... Her obsession with caves brings me joy each time I watch these! It's crazy how Siobhan mastered BOTH a teen with anxiety and the most charismatic elderly lady I've ever seen.

[@liriodendronlasianthus]

She's amazing.

[@burntrosechick]

I am also in love with Misty, and the cave bit had me dying laughing. Specially with the Merlin thingy.

[@Glmorrs1]

I love the scene where her assistant says, “It won’t happen again,” and how fast Siobhan responds with, “No. it won’t.” It’s such a perfect exchange.

[@zufallrap]

I feel like she used to be the one (just an assumption, many teens are anxious) and she will be the other one day.

[@reihino7582]

Okay but thinking about how if Kug was still human he could’ve been apart of his family’s life without watching from the shadows kinda breaks my heart

[@shifusdad]

And how his son thinks he’s a deadbeat and terrible guy hurts

[@EpicEvilMonster12]

Yeah by far the saddest thing I've seen in such a long time

[@dragoes9]

I mean the saddest part is that if he was still human he probably wouldn't be part of his family's life. He was punished for a reason and didn't get to be a better person until years after his transformation. Chances are he'd be the deadbeat guy who David was writing too

[@emmajenkins4732]

@@dragoes9 oof that's probably true but I didn't need to feel those feelings today

[@taylorforsyth4278]

I love how the PCs invented a bakery and now Brennan has to accept it as canon

[@jenconte6912]

Lou arguing with every single one of Brennan's NPCs is *chef's kiss*

[@mags_life6511]

1:21:30 “There’s a cry booth?” “That’s really nice but I actually wasn’t gonna fucking cry” “Where’s the booth man” This whole fucking thing lmao I’m dead 😂😂😂😂👌🏼👌🏼

[@Glmorrs1]

That was some incredible role playing and improv. I love Pete so much, and I’m pulling for him.

[@lordfelidae4505]

I think cry booths should be more of a thing. That dude was so god damn wholesome.

[@kevinwillems8720]

@@lordfelidae4505 I used the anechoic chamber in my college as one when I was studying in the acoustics room and it was so fucking good.

[@srishtis6209]

I am so late to comment but the part where the five discussed the situation with Pete is so cool because like everyone is saying their bit from the unique standpoint of their character and not just echoing each other's opinion. Like Lou as the voice of the people and the city, Siobhan as someone who has vested interests in the city's well-being, Murph as someone who has a second chance to be a good father and Emily as just a sweet, empathetic woman who is in the same boat as Pete. And yes, Sofia and Kugrash defending Pete was really heartwarming but what really did it for me was Ricky- "I'm all for keeping New York safe. But that includes Pete in my mind." I love this sweet fictional man with all my heart. And you could see he was a little taken aback when Esther said she agreed with Kingston too. Like it was one of those moments where you realise that someone you love has a very different opinion on some really important stuff than you and you don't hate them for it but just see them in slightly different light. So good.

[@jackattack8472]

Kingston stepping on the security goblin’s joke was great

[@smilesfordays]

It honestly show how much these players under Brendan as a DM are as amazing at improving as he is.

[@TheGrumbleduke]

And then later Sophia stepping on the monk's Staten Island joke. They players know each other so well.

[@hannahwilson6778]

"what you did to wally i can never forgive. becuse he needed you." SOBBING SCREAMING CRYING ON THE FLOOR

[@Marrbbles]

Brennan doing that little smirk at the end of that absolutely INSANE letter, he was way too satisfied with himself and im not okayyy 😭 like that was BRUTAL

[@adridaplague-boi9382]

I was so like "who's Robert?" And then I heard him say "Mr. Moses" and I was like. No way is this Robert Moses, Urban Planner and serial systemic racist

[@nacht6747]

honestly the best reference Brennan chose to make as the final antagonist (i'm still watching this series for the first time atm) and I'm all for it fuck that racist prick up!

[@arminrichard1836]

I fully expect Brennan to have read the Power Broker 😅

[@ButtWeasel101]

"You know how rats can fit through any space that's at least as wide as their skull because they're cartilaginous" HOW does Brennan know so many animal facts

[@downtherabbithole8325]

Is this not a well-known fact? I guess experience really does shape everything in a person

[@fidgetelftree9432]

I think they also can compress their ribs? And hold their breath pretty well. There’s a reason there’s problems with them coming up the pipes

[@voidify3]

Not exactly, all mammals have bones, the thing is that they have no collarbone so the skull is the widest part. Cats also have no collarbone that's why they're liquid

[@peeeeeeemp]

I mean it’s kinda nonsense - that’s not at all what cartilaginous means: rat skeletons are not that different from any mammal

[@lavenderwalrus9875]

he used to sit under a tbale at lunch and read animal fact cards apparently

[@AlejandroGarcia-gm9bf]

56:25 - Can't believe he missed the opportunity to refer to it as an excremental

[@heathers2581]

BRUH YES

[@scz1770]

Damn even geniuses miss sometimes I guess

[@Cheerwine091]

The firemen had no right to all be lovable himbos. And yet, here we are.

[@leviqueen1504]

There's a reason there isn't a song called fuck the firefighters

[@eggperson1794]

​@@leviqueen1504 It all depends on context...

[@doctorstaples4947]

God, Lou’s speech about putting Pete down was the greatest bit of role playing. Until ACOC at least.

[@erwinl.3817]

Sorry, what does ACOC mean?

[@doctorstaples4947]

@@erwinl.3817 A Crown of Candy

[@benjamindunne8132]

@@erwinl.3817 It's a crown of candy and it's SUPERB

[@giannidescalzo2101]

He's really amazing with the roleplay. Kingston is exhausting already, and I was so disapointed in him at that moment, and at the same time in the edge of my seat. And the whole exchange with Liz!

[@ryanjones_rheios]

@@giannidescalzo2101 Wait, disappointed? I thought he was talking the most bare-bones sense. Dude has a job protect the people of the city from as much danger as he can, especially from the dream world. Everyone else was muddying the brutal truth with their wishes and hopes - which shouldn't be altogether discounted but the worst was being asked about. If Pete starts summoning every fucking nightmare into the waking world and potentially killing even *dozens* of people? You have to kill him, but I don't imagine Kingston relishing it or something.

[@spectranwolfinfusion]

The zoom in on Murphy's "wtf face" during Sofia's interaction with the cat at the beginning was genius! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bubblesmeow7172]

Shiobhan's face after she says "I'm kidding I'm not that old" at 37:33 is fucking priceless

[@alecLogan]

Just remembered from that, that fae tend to have a ‘thing’ about outright lies and am _very_ confused how Misty functions.

[@benjamindunne8132]

Just for the future, the name is spelled Siobhan.

[@bubblesmeow7172]

@@benjamindunne8132 Oh sorry, thanks for the correction :D

[@chrismanuel9768]

@@alecLogan She's not /that/ old. She's not exactly 800. 814 isn't 800. There's no lie there.

[@liamross340]

@@chrismanuel9768 she also then makes the face and laughs again so it sort of leaves it ambiguous. of course no human in new york would believe her and just assumes she’s joking but there’s a second part to the joke where her facial expression is like “haha maybe i am that old” is it’s very ambiguous

[@theMOSKTO]

I'm all for Sofia defending Pete for being new at magic i just love it so much

[@drewg2294]

I don’t see enough people talking about Kug’s story. One of the most genuinely sad storyline in this campaign

[@wisdom7165]

the fact we went from "im staying with a mentor and friend thats really good for me :)" to "Now if you're asking me to choose between New York City or Pete? 10 out of 10 times I choose New York City." is so . (no spoilers please this is my first watch)

[@strayble]

I love how Ricky is equally awkward as he is charming

[@andreymontag]

The fact that Sophia is constantly more inebriated than Pete is hillarious

[@hariodinio]

Kingston broke my heart this episode. He was not even hesitant in what he said. I still quite like the character but sophia is definitely my fave at the moment. Pete's seemingly undying belief in kingston despite his words is heartwarming.

[@samreid6010]

It makes sense for his character. He lives for the city and the city lives for him. Pete has acted as a source of anarchy even before becoming the vox phantasma. Though I’m sure Kingston would be completely destroyed by having to kill Pete, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it if it meant preserving the lives of the people in his city

[@chrismanuel9768]

@@samreid6010 Pete is a people in his city, and there's hundreds more like him. Anarchy is part of the city. Killing off every person that doesn't fit your mold eventually leaves you with nobody. Just you and the mold you made for yourself. Kingston wants to protect the city? That means protecting Pete.

[@samreid6010]

@@chrismanuel9768 he accepts all the misfits of the city. That’s plenty clear from how he treats Pete. What differentiates Pete from everyone else is that he is screwing around with a power that could easily wipe the city off the map. Kingston doesn’t want to even have to consider taking such drastic action, but when you are so deeply connected to something like Kingston, you have to take all threats to it seriously. I think it’s telling that from the reactions of those who have known Kingston for years that he has never before had to consider such drastic measures. That’s how much of a threat Pete represents

[@sumitrana2420]

@@samreid6010 yeah

[@eastereggggg]

@@samreid6010 I feel like a lot of this could be solved if Pete actually knew what was going on with his powers. He found out that magic even exists maybe a week ago. When he accidentally let out the nightmare bugs because he had no clue any of this had consequences because _no one told him,_ he was reprimanded and had to fight for control of the magic that has already killed people. I don't understand why Kingston or Alejandro haven't just sat him down and talked to him yet. They're clearly worried about him (and what might happen with his magic).

[@raelea5244]

The little twitch of a smile and flash of the eyes from Brennan at 47:18 after delivering that improvised letter was just fantastic. YOUR MOVE MURPH! XD

[@ChrisCox-wv7oo]

Was it improvised? If so, amazing. I thought it was just cut to look like he wasn't reading it.

[@libertystanavage5917]

As a woman in academia, the advice from the Johns for Ricky was so amazing. Love the deep cuts and sympathetic understanding in these.

[@BestBetterBestest]

You've heard of men writing women. Now get ready for Feminist writing dude bros!

[@baconboi4482]

As a women in academia, how do you like all the cards stacked in your favor?

[@minam8022]

literally 2 years late but i still wanted to say the robert moses reference was very much appreciated and such a good touch. for people who don't know, robert moses was indeed a hugely influential urban planner in new york city history who had complete control over bridges, tunnels, roads, etc. he was never elected to any public office, but he still had power over the city design itself. in reality, his designs were purposefully targeted at limiting the role of public transport, particularly in black communities where he designed the bridges to be low enough so buses could not pass underneath. i guess in this fantasy land, his designs were also interfering with the magical world. this fantasy new york is so well thought out, the fantastical mixing with the historical mixing with raw human emotions. i'm addicted to this series :)

[@ginnmannn]

it breaks my heart that pete says so genuinely that he's living with a friend and mentor and at the exact same time kingston is talking about putting him down without a second thought. boy actually has a support system and theyre talking bad behind his back :(

[@Teriyaki-BoyXV]

U got to understand him, his behavior, immaturity, addiction to substance and emotional mess is a danger to himself and others, they are trying to help while knowing what to do if it gets out of control (which is a lot more than most people concerned with their own and the city's wellbeing are willing to do instead of just putting him down. Imo Winston is doing the best possible thing. Trying to train and contain Pete while developing countermeasures.

[@doktorphlog2143]

@@Teriyaki-BoyXV but they have done absolutely nothing to actively try to help him through this transition. He's a guy who's life has been upside down now turned inside out, and they haven't put him in a safe space or a position to actually learn about his power or how anything in the Unsleeping City or the 6th Borough, instead just having come down directly on his head. I'm not saying Pete doesn't need a stern talking to, however they've been straight up attacking him and OF COURSE he's gonna freak out. You can't tell me there aren't resources Alejandro could pull upon to help him control the power of the Vox Phantasma, and he has done nothing remotely helpful that isn't also self serving or purely for the protection of the city. Not to say that Pete isn't a danger, but Pete himself also needs protection, he is an integral part of the city too.

[@Teriyaki-BoyXV]

@@doktorphlog2143 I mostly agree with you, i think both our pov stand true

[@doktorphlog2143]

@@Teriyaki-BoyXV oh yeah, the nuclear option should always be considered, the worst possible outcome is a possible outcome, but nobody there had any plan to get his problems figured out was the main problem I had with the convo.

[@khristopherkhrist1385]

@@doktorphlog2143 What I don't get is, Alejandro TRIED to put Pete to sleep and TRIED to activate his powers to study them with apparently zero safeguards in place and then BLAMES Pete when he......goes to sleep and activates his powers? They've literally told him nothing and not a single one of these ancient supposedly smart beings have even thought to teach him lucid dreaming techniques let alone mention a single piece of advice about how to approach dreaming now that he has these powers. Honestly I kinda wish Sofia would punch Alejandro and tell Kingston that just because he's the voice of the people doesn't mean he gets to speak over everyone else.

[@aldar8240]

I'm really enjoying the trend of Kugrash just *acing* his Investigation checks repeatedly, like the spirit of Riz Gukgak has inhabited his soul since Fantasy High ended and has been storing Detective Power™ since then

[@MissingNovice]

I thought that thing about the L going to the 6th burrow was just a throwaway gag from Misty, but to see it brought back now is like... props to Brennan as a DM for just allowing additions like that and so quickly adapting on the fly for them to be canon!

[@Arroyo2099]

I love Misty mentally torturing her assistant, I also love Kingston and his x’s fight

[@bluesprucenyc]

Big props to Brennan for (among everything else) making Robert Moses one of the biggest villains in a campaign set in NYC, which is his rightful place in the history of New York. I wish Kugrash has rolled higher on his history check so that more could have been revealed about all the truly terrible things he did. Unrelatedly, I absolutely love everything about this campaign - the story, the plot, the characters, the roleplaying, the conversations, everything is so well done.

[@shaeflatt8428]

what did he do? i searched him up but all it said was that he built a lot of high ways

[@bluesprucenyc]

@@shaeflatt8428 What he did was extremely calculated and exacting in a way that would make it seem in the history books that what he did was innocent enough. The reality of it was that he was a city planning commissioner for NYC who used his title and carefully-worded contracts so that he could profit directly from municipal projects that should have been allocated to the city. For example, he made a fortune from the tolls collected from the Triborough (now called R.F.K.) Bridge, which became a crucial artery in the flow of traffic between three boroughs. Because of the language he used in the contacts that were signed by the city, he was essentially in complete control of the operations of the bridge outside of his official role, and was able to funnel that money and the power that the bridge granted him to force the city to sign off on other major projects that he dreamed up. Some of these projects had some benefit to New York, but more so than anything else he designed everything in a way that benefitted the wealthy and specifically those with cars. He was a racist, and this became evident in the way he planned his projects - the Cross Bronx Expressway, for example, saw the demolition of hundreds of apartment buildings in African American and Hispanic neighborhoods, displacing tens of thousands of lower-income people who were forced out of their homes with little warning and made to try to find other places to live, and destroying their communities and neighborhoods in the process. All for a highway that has been so congested and clogged with traffic that it is one of the worst roadways in the city. Some of his other highways were built along the edges of Manhattan, effectively cutting off dozens of neighborhoods from their waterfront parks and potential community expansions. When he built highways farther out in the other boroughs that led to the 'public' parks and beaches he created, he specifically designed the bridges that spanned over them to be too low for buses to be able to go under them. Why? Because buses could bring lower-income people (people who didn't have cars) to these parks and beaches, and he saw them as a blight to his imagined 'perfect society'. Additionally, not all of the funds he used for these projects came from the wealth he generated. He reallocated millions of taxpayer dollars that were supposed to be used toward improving and maintaining New York's aging public transportation infrastructure for his whims, which have had a ripple effect that negatively affects the subway and bus system to this day. I suggest reading the book "The Power Broker" to learn more. It's a massive book, but an important read.

[@chrisbrown6952]

@@bluesprucenyc There’s also the thing he did with the public pools in Harlem; keeping the water temperature deliberately low. The destruction of the ferry dock while the ferry was out was peak cartoon villainy.

[@libby9047]

@@bluesprucenyc whoa thank you for all the information, wikipedia wasn’t as straight to the point as that.. what an awful evil guy

[@kevinwillems8720]

Not just that, his magical plan is essentially a metaphor for what the real Robert Moses did to New York City. I learned this listening to the Behind the Bastards episode on Moses.

[@joshschwarz9750]

Can we talk about how Ricky just turns into The Flash a bit before the 28 minute mark?

[@GradientGuyProductions]

It feels so good watching Murph roll well during this campaign.

[@dominickbrock9849]

I love how Zac almost always has a romantic subplot going on in the background. Like it brings out an amazing wholesome aspect of his characters

[@synthster7416]

It's almost impossible to pick one but this is probably my favourite episode to rewatch. Just so many amazing moments. The bit with Ricky and Kugrash, Kingston being true to his character about Pete as well as the scene with his ex, Kugrash being the public defender to a pile of shit... So fucking good!

[@apolimeow]

Kug trying to keep up with ricky and frantically insulting and complimenting him while dying 😭😭😭

[@yashvardhanraju8052]

1:10:32 the SECOND Brennan said very difficult to get to, I burst into laughter, I dropped my phone and began rolling on the floor, because I knew he was gonna say Staten Island

[@perryh.-r.4419]

Same, fam. I was going " Staten Island, Staten Island, Staten Island? Yessss!" under my breath 😂

[@undeniablySomeGuy]

my favorite part of this is how Kugrash rolls like shit and also roleplays everything as busted up and covered in trash

[@MeonLights]

Kingston slapping things out of Pete's hands is becoming a trope by now, huh xD Also, Ricky's steed being a dalmation is perfect. Firehouse dogs!

[@flandomaltrizian4603]

HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing 0:55 ‘Previously On’ Ends 2:15 Recap ends, time for a Guinness 3:15 Ricky lays some hands 4:10 Murph’s perfect reaction to Emily’s nonsense 4:55 Oh no, Sofie is a cat lady 6:55 Everything Bagel 8:40 1000-hour energy 9:05 Kingston actually pays for his magic artifact 9:55 Golden grill 11:25 Pete doses during a scolding 16:00 Ricky summons a good boy 17:25 Kugrash the ugly boy 19:00 Alejandro and Kingston 20:15 Remember when there was a big pod controversy? So long ago 22:50 Pete devastates Sofie 24:55 Kugrash is out of shape 25:55 Ox 26:55 Ricky is too hot and kind to be stealthy 29:30 Smells like death. How are you? 31:05 Pete’s not a part of your system 33:55 Misty crushes her rehearsal 36:30 Alyssa gets absolutely devastated 39:15 Kugrash is so proud of his family 45:15 Brennan writes a letter specifically to make you cry 48:45 Even NPC’s have Ricky ships 51:30 Kingston has an intercultural conversation with a centaur 53:20 Security screening humor 55:00 Everyone’s favorite new character: Buddy 56:55 Kugrash, poop lawyer 57:50 Liz Herrara 58:50 Kingston gets back at his ex 1:00:40 Liz is not cut out for the magical world 1:02:25 Everyone’s lives are awful 1:04:05 Jackson 1:07:50 Sure, I’ll fight this weird old man 1:10:25 Goddammit, it’s Staten Island again 1:14:25 Spaghetti’s bakery 1:17:10 Such a cool tattoo 1:18:55 Priya and Pete 1:21:10 Emotional health barista 1:24:30 The art world is truly wild 1:25:40 Kingston knows not to trust a cop 1:28:05 Ricky and the Johns respect women and gains 1:33:20 Sofie is a master 1:36:00 Voxes Phantasmus 1:36:55 The talk about Pete 1:38:35 Misty’s cave plan 1:46:30 Pete talks to the youths 1:48:05 Pete gets picked up 1:49:00 Pete and Rob 1:55:40 Nod in the flesh 1:57:35 Nod-bound train 1:59:30 The most powerful magic is chronomancy 2:00:20 The cops are here 2:01:25 Episode Ends I’ve been here the whole time! Any moments I missed? Feel free to post them here. Bye intrepid heroes.

[@lucieolantern4204]

Not only are these useful as hell, these titles had me wheezing-

[@graysamsung8983]

These titles are seriously good

[@fatoye]

once again, flando's coming in clutch 😌

[@pedrorenteria9428]

+

[@lillianwyckoff4022]

Omg "the most powerful magic is chronomancy" you are a GENIUS

[@TheClassyArchitect]

It’s fitting that Robert Moses is one of the main antagonists. In fantasy as in life.

[@JamScamly]

the way Ally has to just sit there silently while everyone discusses getting rid of Pete... brutal

[@beck4557]

their facial expressions….

[@A_Oda27]

When Robert Moses offered Pete a cubano, I thought that he was offering him a sandwich.

[@hudsonstange4507]

"I take more acid to quiet the voices" is the epitome of a Beardsley quote.

[@amatalefay]

I really appreciate how Brennan incorporates characters from the actual cultures that inspired elements of DnD (Willy the Golem being Jewish, Jackson Wei being Chinese). It really goes a long way towards addressing cultural appropriation while still giving the players the freedom to make characters of whatever background they want.

[@TrueMiz]

Its not just that, its *NYC*, New York is the city of Immigration. Like, nowhere in the rest of the USA has as many different cultures rubbing shoulders like NYC.

[@ZigGG]

Jackson is just Phil from the Hercules Disney movie. The way Brennan plays him makes him sound so much like Danny DeVito. "USE YOUR SWORD!"

[@latalaudin6611]

More like master shifu to po from kung fu panda 🤣🤣

[@nvfury13]

The grumpy old master + NYC = Danny DeVito. Checks out.

[@kevinwillems8720]

If Phil trained the Wu-Tang Clan yes.

[@drakeydrake1324]

As someone that has only ever played D&D once, it truely amazes me how creative this whole series and how many stories there are within stories in an imaginary world... Wild

[@ThePa1riot]

Or the DM’s ability to project an imaginary world on to the real one.

[@thorodinson5235]

It’s easier than it looks. I have 2 sessions a week

[@Glmorrs1]

@@thorodinson5235 Oh, yeah right! Two sessions a week? And everyone shows up? And I can’t even get a monthly game going. If you’re being serious, please, I beg you! Tell me your secret! You’d think during a pandemic it’d be easy to sync everyone’s schedules for some Zoom gaming but somehow it just got harder!

[@flask223]

I love Kingston asking mildly insensitive questions to the magical creatures of this world

[@tuesday9670]

Kugrash yelling at Ricky while they run to chase the vehicle is still the funniest thing I've seen this week

[@rydertheashen1722]

"You can't do a campaign in New York and not make everyone's lives truly fucking miserable" xD

[@user-fh5ov4tu2j]

Kugrash just cussing and complimenting Ricky is so funny lol

[@cheshy8]

I'm starting to see how this is a metaphor for American capitalism.

[@lordbuss]

This is not a metaphor at all.

[@lordbuss]

@@ellawanless641 The former. This is not a metaphor for American capitalism, but a story directly about American capitalism.

[@ellawanless641]

@@lordbuss ahh, well then yeah- but you can see how a person who hasn’t seen the whole season and but heard that it’s about American capitalism might assume that it must be metaphorical. Or just not think that hard about the specific language of their KZbin comment ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@lordbuss]

@@ellawanless641I haven't seen the whole season, but when Robert Moses is secretly alive and explains about the supply and demand of blood for vampires (btw, his explanation is right, see my other comment)...

[@thevoid3010]

@@lordbuss you know it can be obvious and still be a metaphor

[@josukegappyhigashikata6537]

Did anyone forget that Ricky was just dead on completely naked from the dog transformation spell in the bodega?

[@alecLogan]

Think that offhand statement was either non-canon or he got dressed after combat ended.

[@leviqueen1504]

That's why he had the disadvantage. Who wouldn't be staring at that absolutely beautiful penis lol

[@Religion0]

Um, actually (ref to that Dropout show), there's a thing called EponaShoe, which are polyurethane horse shoes that don't have to be nailed on, so they kind of act like horse sneakers. Didn't actually expect you guys to know, just thought it was fun. I met a farrier some years back who always put rubber shoes on his trail horses, because he said they didn't get worn smooth like metal shoes would. So, y'know, it's an option that's out there if Officer Epona is interested.

[@donovanfaust3227]

I love how Emily keeps multi-classing into warlock with her characters so far, especially since this series began and she was the only one who couldn't use magic but really kept trying no matter what.

[@howplaythisgame4488]

I absolutely love that everyone else is finding out Murphy's character's backstory as they go along

[@bryanprice5867]

Misty is a fucking animal. "I promise it'll never happen again." "No, it won't."

[@lisacarlivati1070]

1:18:26 Fun fact, the tattoo gun sound effect here is from Ally actually getting a tattoo (they talked about it on Adventuring Party once)

[@lynx1717]

Fantasma is actually Spanish for Ghost, so it works!

[@nexdubius5290]

Yay lol somebody get this to the top

[@sammackley-ward4668]

i have a lot of favorite Dimension 20 moments but a panting Kugrash screaming at Ricky that he's a beautiful boy before telling him to go fuck himself is easily the best. it makes me cry laughing

[@wol5fe]

God damn, just... the fucking acting in this show is off the damn wall I want this to be a real tv drama so bad because these people deserve so much more recognition even beyond what they already have.

[@brennanperry8001]

I like how they turned a passing joke with the L train into a plot point.

[@skywarddragongaming9038]

Gotta say, as a dude on my first watch Im way on Pete and Soph's side. Petes already got a shit life, is on anti psychotics, lost his house and found by his transphobic dad, and suddenly he nearly kills him on this giant trip where a demon baby goes free, gets bitten by a zombie, learns magic is real and he has to control it with no explanation or everyone dies. Plus Alejandro has done not much but fail to watch Pete, yell at him, and launch multiple spell attempts. I'd be mad too, especially when mechanically Pete Can't control the magic.

[@brynnamoran4320]

Especially when you see how Sophia and Pete are such similar characters at the beginning (Recently out a relationship, impulsive messes with substance abuse problems) but Sophia doesn't have the responsibility that Pete does so she gets all the grace and patience that Pete doesn't.

[@PokeTimelordPatronus]

@@brynnamoran4320 Exactly, Sophias as close to crime and "evil" as Pete was, but no one was going at her every life choice, or casting spells as they tell her to chill out. Alejandro fails to explain to Pete, falls asleep, and then is mad he was clueless? Like dude You put yourself in charge, and clearly understood specific consequences you didnt let Pete in on. Pete has separately made a few dubious choices, but like so have most of them (not Ricky cause he's an angel but the others lol).

[@blazerheata6479]

That's the reason why this campaign is so great, just like how actors are in movies, we see sides of a character that the other characters don't see. While these people saw Pete's introduction and what transpired, they play their characters so well as to follow through the information they know and don't know. Very easily they could meta-game and sympathize with Pete but story wise, their characters don't know that about him so they play it so. Its so great! (・∀・)

[@nvfury13]

@@PokeTimelordPatronus It very much is Powerful Wizard:”This dude could end the world with a screwup…I’ll tell him about all this stuff later.” *screwup happens because the dude is new and doesn’t know something nobody told him* Powerful Wizard: “What is wrong with you? This is very basic obscure knowledge! Everybody with thirty to forty years experience in this stuff should know this! Why don’t you know immediately on your first week?” I understand not wanting to lore-dump, but it can be done with a simple “So, you are taken aside and talked to about this” and then just giving the player relevant info from that “talk” as things come up.

[@Kain128]

If I didn't know any better, I would've thought Lou and Brennan were exes with how well that Liz scene was acted out.

[@alanguillermo3145]

47:18 That's the look of GM satisfied with the emotional damage he's inflicted on a party member.

[@blackreign92.]

Kugrash is my spirit animal lol him trying to keep up with Ricky had me in tears.

[@scz1770]

Oh word? When did you go on your vision quest to find your spirit animal?

[@raphaellederechniewski289]

The end of this episode was mad. "I knew i chose right" as Pete is grabbing the baby. It 's like he doesn't even know how he feels about being the vox but he didn't hesitate a second to protect the child. And all this right after seeing a video of his mentor just saying he'd kill him for having these powers he doesn't understand yet. It's fair from the vox populi point of view but god damn the emotions! so intense!!!

[@luckypeanut9943]

Hearing Brennan call my hometown as a Peter Parker kinda neighborhood has me emotional

[@eosatwood1770]

THE GREATEST MAGIC IS CHRONOMANCY

[@WardNightstone]

i REALLY want someone to film or animate the drugstore fight

[@RoryBecktar]

The bit about live theatre struggling in uncertain times hits different now

[@marky7110]

Brennan's "yes and" is truly amazing

[@ameliajulia7764]

1:57:42 - Brennan's face when Misty asks which stop they're going to and he suddenly remembers the little joke she made earlier is so amazing. He worked that in almost flawlessly and it's such a great addition

[@paulp8028]

The nerd in me made me fall into a rabbit hole about Robert Moses and oh boy, I can't wait to flaunt all of my new knowledge to my urban planning teachers about what Jane Jacobs thought about him! Never thought that dnd would help me in architecture school but here we are!

[@edwardfeves3239]

Can I recommend the book; The death & life of great American cities by Jane Jacobs. Great book, really helped shape my understanding of urban planning

[@RichardMatsonDaley]

1:21:10 - Ragh Barkrock opened a coffeeshop?

[@YeetSpace]

I thought the exact same thing my gamer