We've Got WORM - Episode 1: Gestation

[@A.b.b.a.d.d.o.n.]

Anyone else come back here from time to time to refresh their knowledge of Worm or is it just me?

[@keithnphx63]

After almost two years of cajoling, insistence and borderline harassment by my oldest son, I started the audio version of Worm. He was right. I should have started sooner. I apologized for not believing him. He of course laughed at me and said "I told you so!" lol I'm currently on Arc 10 and enjoying the heck out of it. And I keep wondering how this thing is not a TV series, live action or animated. I think it'd be a hit.

[@griffinheld2540]

Mostly the author's hesitance on how good an adaptation would be.

[@andrewjuby6339]

@@griffinheld2540 While that's true, I'm honestly not sure if I'd actually *want* to see a Worm adaptation. So much of the story goes on inside of Taylor's head, I don't know how you'd translate that to the screen without either way too many voiceovers or cutting it down to the point it would be nigh-unrecognizable.

[@drakesacrum8445]

@@andrewjuby6339 Yeah, the thing with a Worm adaptation is that we won't be getting the same POV as the web novel. We will see Taylor how others perceive her and this includes the lack of inner monologues or mental gymnastics Taylor does. I think it would work but all the scenes will need to be changed. Maybe putting more focus in making the swarm of Taylor look horrifying like a horror hive mind kinda thing. It is still horrifying in the book but not the focus.

[@McCbobbish]

Graphic novel would be a good way to adapt it, fitting too, given the intrinsic link between capeshit and comics

[@ravinsaber]

I've listened to we've got worm and ward, and started them up again. You guys are just that entertaining, and your journey through this series is amazing. I love Matt's intros and how Scott slowly learns just what the heck he's talking about on some of them, and Scott's predictions had my jaw dropping MULTIPLE times through the series. Listening to the insightful and deep story analysis is incredibly rewarding. Thank you very much.

[@DoofMedia]

Thank you!!!

[@Sujad]

I know this was posted about a year ago but I thought I'd mention that my reaction to Taylor taking on Lung as she did was due to suicidal tendencies. She didn't even have a name prepared, she was so totally unprepared for it because she wanted to die.

[@botgod6264]

I feel that

[@gabrielegenota1480]

Oh holy shit okay wow-

[@dud3inator]

I'm late as fuck, but I think it's less that she wanted to die, but more that she didn't really care about herself. Her wellbeing wasn't a factor in maybe helping some kids not get shot.

[@Sujad]

@@dud3inator A part of her certainly, I doubt anyone who's in the kind of headspace where thinking suicide is a legitimate choice doesn't have some little voice asking them to turn back but the rescuing of the "kids" was just an excuse to appeal to her martyr complex at the least or to try and validate her desire to be seen as heroic at best.

[@Sujad]

@@hondo8414 It's in the first few chapters.

[@DarkKnight6six6]

Only just discovered Worm recently. Plan on listening to these as I finish each arc. Only finished Gestation but I'm already hooked!

[@DoofMedia]

Enjoy! It’s a hell of a ride

[@mercenery1232]

reading worm was one of the best days i had

[@elshrafactor318]

*Cough*Couple of months*Cough*

[@djcuevas1057]

Yep lol

[@bookworm892]

Well more like two weeks... if you let it consume all your free time... all of it.

[@botgod6264]

2 weeks but it's like crack. You can't stop reading

[@acarroll6842]

@@bookworm892 Lockdowns BayBEE!!!

[@庫倫亞利克]

This might have sounded offensive to Worm readers, but I've never for a second thought that controlling bugs is a power that's in any way lame, "unassuming," or nonthreatening. As someone from the JoJo fanbase, I instantly pin it as some of the top-tier powers the moment I heard about it, and I can't help but feel like there's this deliberate downplaying of the power's lethality both in-text and in the fanbase in order to ramp up Taylor's genius. Don't get me wrong--she is versatile and resourceful. But her power on its own is no way weak. Seriously, I couldn't maintain a straight face when that Merchant thug came at her snarling "I'm not afraid of bugs." I wanted to tell him "Then you probably are too dumb to be left in the gene pool, even if you've never read Worm."

[@gabrielegenota1480]

genuinely tho- I love powerful characters and reading about Taylor's power gives me that giddy feeling. Getting to control the creepiest, crawliest, and most venomous little critters is a power that's terrifying as frick

[@Archetype784]

Well her first enemy WAS a fire manipulating, fire exploding metal dragon man.

[@kaylabjorkman]

I always felt like it was more about Taylor's self esteem problems than it actually being a weak power. Lots of the powers in Worm are weak, and they almost all seem to require ingenuity, excluding the truly broken ones (which often have drawbacks of their own). Like Jack Slash's knife power isn't any better than a gun, really, and Shadow Stalker's 'become smoke, but only for a bit, and don't touch anything electric' power is really bad without her years of training and her general insanity.

[@andrewsauer9669]

@@kaylabjorkman Although technically Jack has a hidden power which lets him slip out of trouble almost every time

[@leviroch]

@@andrewsauer9669 but still you could imagine some meat head fuckwits running around shirtless with a claymore thinking he's the bee's knees just unintentionally carving through historical landmarks by accident coz he didn't truly grasp the benefits of the power like an intelligent psychopath like jack

[@rocet306]

Well, this looks fun! I'll definitely be sticking around to see where this goes. Looking forward to Arc 8. Also, good music choices!

[@randym5824]

The suspicion and brutality probably ties back to the bullying.

[@josephkuforiji9407]

Yupppl

[@Slash_to_your_heart]

That and the fact that one of the bullies was her sister in all but blood

[@johnryu2317]

Knowing what I know, that Armsmaster scene makes sense once we get into the head of Armsmaster

[@katsumaeda5615]

I'd be excited to have this on it's own channel. I'll subscribe here for now, but I'm happy to listen to Scott's thoughts on Worm. I'm thinking about starting another read through because of you guys! As if I needed another distraction, haha. Also, little note, the story starts at the same time the first chapter was published - June 11, 2011- and finished somewhere in November, 2013. So it was a little over 2 years of writing and was completed 4 years ago. And I bring this up because one of you was mentioning that the rate at which Wildbow was churning out chapters. He started with 3 per week, then reduced to 2 per week, plus bonus donation chapters every month.

[@leviroch]

Dude had a better work ethic than 99% of people I've ever dealt with. . . He would make an excellent landscaper lol

[@keeganlowery2856]

It's funny to watch the first episode after getting up to date. They've really improved.

[@danimocannnu111]

15:17 actually, does taylor ever learn why Emma turned on her? Because we obviously do, but i dont remember it being told to us in canon atleast

[@weaving_that]

Nope, she never does.

[@roge2342]

Honestly after like arc 15 that doesn't even matter that much to Taylor anymore, she has 10000 more important concurrent things at any time

[@Waywoah]

It’s unfortunately pretty common among teenagers. As they move to their new high school, many feel the need to reinvent themselves. Some try to do this by putting down others. Emma saw that the popular girls were bullies and decided to use what she knew about Taylor to make fun of her and get in good with her new friends

[@TheKougaxKagome]

I started laughing at 11:10 I am so looking forward to more of this.

[@kieransaul2711]

I loved this video. It was really gratifying seeing a fresh Worm reader react as the story unfolded, and a lot of your thoughts echoed my own. These are the exact kinds of conversations I hope to have with my friends when/if I convince them to read Worm. Also, I can testify that I too fell into the binge-madness the first time I read Worm and finished the whole thing in under three weeks. I love this web serial.

[@RayalaVN]

Just starting Wrom, I am about to start the third act. Thanks for making this podcast too!

[@DoofMedia]

Thanks for listening!

[@dansnell5774]

11:28 "cowardly" -about Skitter People that read Worm: •flashbacks to Khepri• PtrW: •goes to whimper in corner•

[@stripedgillette3580]

What is Ptrw?

[@MostnameD]

P]eople T]hat R]ead W]orm

[@ahobbyist9520]

@@stripedgillette3580 protectorate wards

[@verified_tinker1818]

I just wanted to say I don't usually listen to podcasts, but putting this on in the background while playing chess and sipping warm decaf made for a delightful autumn evening. Thank you!

[@ELkayal2100]

This is very interesting! I really like the style you guys have, keep it up!

[@MindLikeFire]

Never actually sat down to listen to this in spite of recommendations on the subreddit

[@tylerpeterson46]

Just finished arc 27 last night and am going back and listening to all of these episodes over the next week or so

[@mercenery1232]

I caught up to ward felt like revisiting worm again. Felt so nostalgic.

[@igorporfiirio4915]

So happy I found this. I read worm a tiem ago and none of my friends can read it because I'm brazilian and it's in english. I really needed someone talking about it.

[@getmotivated1707]

Holy crap, someone has read worm? I was recently thinking about doing a reread, this is awesome!❤

[@devanthe]

Okay but I cracked at the whole wife left him because of his temper thing. Just standing in a bus trying not to laugh.

[@Dashingsgod]

Wow. It's been about a year since I first listened to this, and... Matt was right about the audio. Testament to y'alls progress

[@Emersq]

I really want the series or book, movie to come i cant waiiit

[@theseafaringtaco]

Coming back here again to brush up on cannon after discovering some really good fanfictions. This time I'll finish it for sure!

[@DoofMedia]

We believe in you!

[@---rm8do]

You have no idea how long I've been waiting to find someone else who's read Blindsight

[@bookworm892]

Wow late to this. As one of the long term fanfic writers for the fandom I have to chime in about that opening statement. Worm might be more realistic than DC or marvel but it’s got lots of issues all it’s own that we’ve dug out and beaten to death in the fan works over the years. Like yeah for sure read worm and enjoy the hell out of it but it’s got issues.

[@Redtornado6]

Is there a list of some of these issues? I really enjoy seeing how things work and how to make it better. When you add elements of a story that are non realistic like super powers, you can probably find tons of plot holes and inconsistencies. I enjoy seeing what they are.

[@DizzyBlackUA]

Spoilers are an interesting concept, because in some way it helps to enjoy the story a lot more when you KNOW and thus can notice all the small details dropped around, events that lead to other events, enjoy it more like a chess game than a surprise party. I like the idea of listening other people discuss the story before actually finishing it, I'll give you guys a try.

[@sobokgaming8476]

Anyone else here while reading ward :P

[@coolcoolercoolest212]

Listening to someone's first reaction to Worm is crazy. Danny having rage issues got me.

[@randomnoobfan2542]

Taylor idolized Armsmaster, when she was a child. When she had Emma as a friend. "What changed?" You might ask... well, she had a brush with death.

[@ryit6249]

Simply thankyou

[@planet_dawsey595]

What is the song at the start?

[@DoofMedia]

It's called Lacrimosa from Mozarts Requiem

[@oofwa]

Ah, Getting into WORM right now for the first time... This is gonna be my white noise.

[@leviroch]

You know what my fully published adaptation was? I printed out all 7000+ pages. . . And went to fucking town drawing a cover for it. . . I know it's probably illegal, but I have legitimately read this story more often than any other, and I always feel if ever I've got it lying around and it piques someones curiousity then I can direct them to the website (you can read it on your phone is annoyingly a massive selling point apparently). . . The day it gets released in hardback form, I will buy a copy for every time I've read it. . . Which would be roughly 18 times by now

[@andrewjuby6339]

It's not illegal at all! In fact, Wildbow has said that he's cool with it as long as you're not turning around and selling it. If you check out the subreddit (r/parahumans) you can find people who have made their own with professional bindings.

[@Slash_to_your_heart]

I find it funny how people think the power to control insects is "lame" we learn later that it is *not* at all lame. Good ol administrator.

[@apelsinbzz]

great! )))

[@zapking5]

Interesting

[@GiubileiFernando]

Why are the arcs named like they are? They rarely seem to have a connection to what's going on

[@MyPetalmouth]

I'd argue they do; Gestation, Shell, and Hive, for example. Without spoilers, I can think of ways all of those titles relate to the contents of their arc.

[@GiubileiFernando]

On a second readtrough I can see their more simbolic meaning. Some titles like Hive made me expect something very different.

[@of5606]

Fernando Giubilei in one specific chapter, Scion, of all things, makes sense of all these names.

[@leviroch]

Very late to the table here, but the arc names generally have 2 meanings, 1) obviously the arthropodal terminology and 2) how that term applies to the stories state. . . Gestation for instance hints at what's coming, like the gestation period from conception to birth, Shell references both an exoskeleton and a developing, maybe unintentional defence being built up around Taylor's emotions and morality. . .

[@DoctorWhoBlue]

​@@leviroch also iirc Shell is the arc with a lot of explosions... Like from an artillery shell

[@TimTheUnlucky]

Just wondering if there’s ever grinds your hi

[@knownparadox8649]

Im probably wrong but when ever I pronounce Taylor's last name, I pronounce it as Hey-Bert, not heebert. Just my pronunciation.

[@Ishamoridin]

Rune calls her a 'heeb' at one point after her identity is publicised, which Taylor briefly thinks might be a pun on her name.

[@miloradowicz]

Ishamoridin it was actually before Taylor's identity was leaked. Though the point I believe to be otherwise correct, since Taylor herself briefly considers the possibility of Rune alluding to her last name.

[@leviroch]

I know the wiki implies the pronunciation is 'hee-bert', but I've always mentally pronounced it as 'heh-bert'. . .

[@FlameHidden]

Is that intro music from HUNTER X HUNTER

[@Tardis5005]

It's 'Lacrimosa' by Mozart, which featured in Hunter x Hunter (2011).

[@FlameHidden]

Wow, I didn't know that, thanks a lot!

[@elshrafactor318]

I thought of Hunter x Hunter too.

[@庫倫亞利克]

H x H Phantom Troupe's theme is basically a remix of Lacrimosa.

[@hdhhhrhr175]

10:30 15:16 24:30 32:44

[@zombielols1895]

Damn

[@hdhhhrhr175]

10:30

[@juliovictormanuelschaeffer8370]

Seriously, people need to be a traumatized psycho or weirdo to be a super in this universe? That sounds... convenient.

[@secretaccount8245]

It's (one of) the central conceits in this work. In X-Men mutants require the mutant gene. In One-piece, devil fruit users must eat devil fruits. In Gone, you must have been within the "bubble". And so on.

[@johnryu2317]

There's a plot reason for that...years later I say.

[@leviroch]

Not if you're 3rd gen+ if I recall correctly. . . Goddamn entire generation of emos with powers

[@enminghee2926]

Taylor Hebert is 萧峰 as a teenage girl. Please like if you get this.