#cr 3x49

[isagrimorie]

[initial reactions] Critical Role: Bells Hells episode 49

That was such a good episode, I know that the characters were stressed being on board the sky ship, eating up time as the Apogee Solstice creeps ever forward but it was such a great moment for the characters to unwind a bit and talk. I always love their planning stuff despite how many people gripe about it on the chat and reddit, I love their thought process and the way they try to mitigate the damage they do.

I already love Laudna but IMO she was in fine form this episode, finally cracking Ashton open and getting that long awaited talk out of the way. I can see why the dynamic of Keyleth and Percy work so well in C1 and I wish its something they can show more in the animated series. *crossing fingers for season 3 of TLOVM!

It does feel like its a dynamic Taliesin and Marisha want to recreate in a different flavor with Ashton and Laudna, and they're doing so successfully. I love how Ashton and Laudna talk, and call each other's bullshit out but this episode especially, Laudna is showing off the wisdom she learned in 30 hard earned years she's lived.

Orym's also successfully reaching out to people with Dorian and I love how we're getting hints of things in EXU Prime that in their end, things are also very dicey. Opal getting dark???

I am so into that and Fearne's immediate concern is apparent. But also, Marisha knowing the details of the EXU Prime plot is so juicy!

The gang accomplished so much recruiting Ira, finally telling some more people in authority or approximate authority about how dire the situations are. Telling Pike, even though she can't do things, maybe? Possibly? Apparently, things on Tal'dorei are also very dicey, so Whitestone might have its own problems with the Ziggurat.

I'm going to heap more praise towards Laudna because of the interrogative sort of femme fatale honey pot play she did with Ira, getting Ira to talk more about it, tagged teamed with Fearne at the end.

Speaking of, Fearne is very much still ambivalent towards her parents, sure she's nice to them but as she told Nana Morri, her parents feel more like strangers than people related to her.

Also, Thank Goodness, the team's finally equipped but I need Dani to remind the cast that they still have residuum and the bracers of defense!

I feel like there's gonna be some Mad Max shenanigans that's going to happen on the Apogee Solstice, and its going to be heart pounding and epic and so great.

FCG also learned some things about himself, about how he is not alone and Devaxian also stressed how from this point on he is gifted with a chance to own his own future. A future of his own making. (A theme that will be repeated a lot!).

And then there's that moment when Imogen meets with Liliana again and, and, and I am VINDICATED!!! LILIANA IS A TRUE BELIEVER. She might even be Ludinus's real right hand and not Otohan which would be DELICIOUS.

I love that Liliana tried to get Imogen on her side and Imogen genuinely considered it because the vision she painted was tempting, for someone like Imogen who was tormented by her powers that's a siren call.

But of course, Fearne and Orym was around in the dream and they played it as silent observers instead of actively interacting with the dream space like how the others did it. It does feel like Fearne and Orym are still at heart, a unit. In a similar but different way to Laudna and Imogen. I love the talk they had about Imogen, about the possibility of Imogen turning because of her mother. Orym and Fearne will do what's necessary to stop things from happening and it's really fascinating how that will go.

Laura's face was interesting the whole time too.

And then, and then just when the group thinks its hopeless they get a possible help and distraction of the big army with Keyleth coming in, sounding exhausted and heart sick but still willing to help to put Ashari volunteers to help. I hope the group remembers to warn Keyleth about the antimagic that's going to happen.

I feel like Keyleth and the Air Ashari can act as distraction while the Bells Hells, as a strike team can go and take down the Malleus Key. Everyone in the cast looked happy at this development, except for Marisha who looked worried and had her Thinking Face on.

Near the end, Imogen talks to Orym and asked how he can go on after everyone he lost and they have a heartfelt talk. Orym tells Imogen that he believes in her but Imogen is not convinced but doesn't try to read his mind to know if this is true. Instead, at long last, after many episodes.

Imogen goes back to the room she shares with Laudna and finally talks to her. Whatever impetus it was: her fear, uncertainty, or the realization that she shares some similarities with her father and that's the reluctance to talk.

Laudna asks if Imogen is okay, and automatically, Imogen answers she is. Laudna gently tells Imogen she didn't need to lie to Laudna about 'being fine'. And so Imogen opens the conversation with admitting that she's been afraid of really talking to Laudna after she was resurrected, that she had something to tell Laudna.

Laudna asks Imogen what it is she wanted to say but Imogen hesitates and then says something about her fear and god I love how Laudna approached her talk with Imogen. I love that Laudna went about it with understanding because, of course, who more than Laudna hasn't thought what would have happened if life had been different.

Laudna had thirty years to think similar thoughts, to wish a different life than the one she had. She candidly told Ashton she made Patê so she won't lose her mind wandering alone.

But through everything Laudna lived through she is very cognizant too the reason she met Imogen and the other Bells Hells was because of who she is and became. And I think Marisha has her answer to Aabria's question from the 4 Sided Dive a long time ago -- there is a part of her that is a little grateful for Delilah or whatever patron that made her a Hollow One, that she has this powers now and ability to be spooky. Things she enjoys.

It's a little messed up and complicated.

I also love that while Laudna didn't hear Imogen's promise about how Laudna will always have a choice, Laudna unknowingly echoed back Imogen's words. Imogen has a choice. She will always have a choice and having the ability to choose is a power all its own. Its not something gods can take away.

Honestly, I love how Laudna is talking to Imogen from a place of understanding and I think more than anything, this helped Imogen solidify her grasp of why they're fighting. It's not just because its wrong and kill other people. All morally right reasons why they need to stop Ludinus and his group.

It's because every individual deserves a right to choose. And that love also means loving every part of a person, especially the weird parts of them.

Imogen might have lost her nerve to tell Laudna she loved her, loved her, romantic stylez and Laudna might slowly be waking into the part of herself that can access it. But its plain as day they love each other and I'm okay to wait on how long and slow this will cook, but also saying things like:

"I feel so comfortable and bonded with you. We transcend words in our relationship.

"You'll always have me."

"I'll always be there to support you whatever choice you make.

"You're my tether."

"That tether goes beyond this realm and this life."

C'MON. Those words are my ship Kryptonite! If I hadn't already shipped them, this would have definitely tip the scales! And I feel very well fed tonight!

God I love them. I love the Bells Hells.

[utilitycaster]

My unpopular opinion is that Im0dna is a great example of "just because someone knows you the longest, doesn't mean they know you the best". They don't really underwater each other like other people in the party already do

Hi anon,

So the ask meme is done but I don't actually know if this was intended as part of that, as I also have the sort of personality that solicits unpopular opinions into my inbox anyway. (Also I am guessing underwater is a very funny autocorrect mishap for understand; I have been there).

Anyway, yeah. I think my favorite meta I've seen is that what Imogen and Laudna actually ask of each other is just to be there - because it is true that they have both lived incredibly lonely lives. For what it's worth I think loneliness/missing someone is perhaps the most common thread among Bells Hells, with a secondary theme being victims of circumstance/irrevocably altered by events beyond their control, and it frustrates me that a lot of framing of the ship ignores that Imogen and Laudna are not uniquely suited to understand this about each other. But it is true they have experienced loneliness that, in my opinion, is at least partially self-inflicted (also not unique) and that their response has been to be there for each other.

But it also means there's little room for change, because change threatens that status quo, and there's therefore no space to delve deeper. It's a little bit of the classic problem of if you start a romantic relationship with a friend and then break up, you might lose both the romantic relationship and the friendship. But it's more than that - Chetney and Imogen have zero romantic interest in each other and aren't even terribly close within the party, but when Chetney asks Imogen if she's okay Imogen is actually able to answer with some amount of honesty without pretending everything will work out, as she's not worried about making sure he feels comfortable. Deanna, who's known Imogen for less than a week, is able to address Imogen's constant use of psychic powers in a way that's not unkind but is in fact the honest sort of thing a best friend should be able to tell you. Or for another example, FCG's tendency to strongly urge people, including Imogen, to confront their pasts isn't always the most skilled, but it usually comes from a place of good intentions, whereas Imogen and Laudna's relationship feels...unconsciously transactional? I think we saw in the gnarlrock fight that they're just absolutely terrified of being in a fight and don't really know how to resolve conflict in a way that actually moves forward rather than smoothing things over. Like, it's not an unfair relationship - they're both getting the same companionship out of it - but there's not really space for one person to be angry at the other or to feel wronged. There's no room to breathe.

Anyway - I think the party split is really illuminating this! Imogen is benefiting immensely from this arc, as it both spotlights her relationships with other party members and gives her some time to process after being the central focus for so long. While I have to admit that Team Wildemount is the one I'm far more interested in for a number of reasons (fantastic guests, all the main PCs have cool plot hooks to explore, I love Uthodurn and Molaesmyr) I do hope that we get to see Laudna similarly have a chance to branch out (pun kind of intended).

[isagrimorie]

Coming in right after The Legend of Vox Machina with Keyleth just starting out in her journey to become the leader of her people and straight to Campaign 3 with the Bells Hells where she’s now a major world player, a Big Good in the world. I feel so happy and overcome with emotion.

There’s our girl after all her anxiety and self-doubt being a source of good and hope for everyone.

And of course, of course Keyleth will try to be there. Other heroes of the world are also probably as busy staving off the end of the world.

But the wave of hope among the Bells Hells, my little guys, my little adventuring party that could, my brave level 8s facing down an army. It’s something — Keyleth and the Air Ashari can draw fire from the larger army while the Bells Hells become the strike team, going for the heart of Ruby Vanguard.

The main Malleus Key.

I’ve mentioned it before but for me coming from Legend of Vox Machina straight to Campaign 3 (with some detours to c1 Specials and c2 episodes). C3 feels more like a spiritual successor/sequel to LoVM! (C1).

But also I just want to do a play-by-play:

Look at how happy Marisha is!

And then Travis calling Keyleth the Cavalry.

I have so many feelings about this!

That’s my girl Keyleth!

Although, lol, later on Marisha looks worried. Probably worrying that she now has two characters to worry about in the coming battle!

I am so excited and nervous for the upcoming Big Battle!

[isagrimorie]

Sometimes, there are good things in reddit and this is one of them, as reddit user whatisabaggins55 describes the last minutes of episode 49, it’s so cinematic that I really hope we get a Bells Hells animated series… after 10 years.

You can post here:

I love the imagery of the last ten minutes of that episode, where they're all bedding down for the final night before the big showdown. I can picture the scene exactly:

Fearne strikes up Red Moon on her dulcimer. The tune drifts through the near-silent skyship.

It wafts into a bunk room where Imogen and Laudna are curled up together, sharing in each other's company for potentially the last time.

It worms its way into Chetney's bunk, where he whimpers like a dog in his sleep and then turns over.

It sneaks under the door of Ashton's hidey-hole at the rear, intermingling with his drunken argument with some unseen individuals.

It curls around F.C.G. as he quietly ejects his freshly baked profiteroles and prepares them for the morning.

It floats through the area where Orym is lying awake in a bunk, staring out a porthole window with a faraway expression and fidgeting with the Sending Stone in his hands.

And finally, it finds an open door and rises into the night air as the skyship powers through the strengthening aurora around it. Our view pans up and settles squarely on Ruidus as the final notes of the song waver and cease.

Is it Thursday yet?

It’s so cinematic and poetic.

[isagrimorie]

I really love Laudna and Ashton as drinking and accountability buddies. The closest, possibly to a damn good sibling dynamic in the group.

And from what I’ve seen of the Percy and Keyleth relationship dynamic the closest recreation to it Tal and Marisha can reproduce.

From what I understand, Molly and Beau never got to that part, and Beau’s relationship is totally different with Cad.

And by the time Cad became a fixture, Fjord and Beau are established best friends.

I think… with Kingsley Tal is trying to establish a similar kinship with both Beau and Yasha.

In C1 they got Lifetime in a lineage/lineage in a lifetime. And in C3 I’m really glad they finally got into a similar dynamic again.

[isagrimorie]

In addition to my initial reactions to CR 3x49 I forgot to mention and how drastically helpful it is that Imogen sought out Laudna and that Laudna approached their talk from a place of understanding….

Is that it highlights the differences between Imogen and Liliana, for all the similarities between mother and daughter, the key difference between them is that Liliana never seemed to have a single moment of positivity regarding her powers.

The biggest difference in stark colors is that Imogen has Laudna, and on meeting Laudna, Imogen met a group of weirdos with equally weird skills and powers who own and love their weird.

And in all of her travels across Marquet, it seems like Liliana never had that until she fell in with the Ruby Vanguard.

Ludinus sold them a bill of goods and Liliana, alone and struggling in the world because she chose to leave her family behind is unfortunately the perfect target for this kind of cultish thinking.

The belief that just by destroying the gods, throwing all the blame of her misfortune on them, it means everything will be better.

Just like Laudna, I don’t think there’s anything wrong about seeing the appeal in this supposed utopia the Ruby Vanguard are selling.

Imogen is an empathetic person even without the telepathy but also, in some cases the things about doing the right thing and stopping a god eating being can also be nebulous concepts. For someone whose powers tormented her for years, the dream Liliana is selling can be appealing.

And I know I’m going to be repeating myself, but this is why speaking to Laudna was the right choice because more than anyone, she had 30 years to wish the same thing. She probably had so many ‘what if’ thoughts in her head. But when it comes down to it, after everything Laudna’s lived through, I think she would still walk the same path because it brought Laudna to meet Imogen and then the rest of Bells Hells.

And I love because of this, I think Laudna gave Imogen a firmer reason why they’re entering into this fight as LEVEL 8’s, with a 90% chance of failure.

(It also makes Liliana sad, in the end, to be thoroughly bought in —VINDICATION btw, that she’s a True Believer— because she thought she had to walk this path alone. She could have brought Relvin and Imogen with her but she didn’t. She could have stayed in contact with them but she chose not to. Liliana’s all in this sunk cost fallacy, because it has to be worth it for everything she’s sacrificed.)

[isagrimorie]

Ashley Johnson said: The greatest killer of Dangerous Beings/Things— Goldfish!

[isagrimorie]

Blue Moon (acoustic cover) by Izzie Naylor

This is what I imagine how Fearne sounds like singing 'Red Moon by the end of episode 49.

But imagine this animated:

Those of you who are still awake on the deck at night before going to retire for the evening, the network of arcane threads that wrap around the sky over the Hellcatch is a sight few see in their lifetime, and that weight is felt. → And amongst the tension of what's to come, you also can't help but appreciate the beauty of something on this scale, removed from the context of those that wish to abuse it. → And in the silence, just the sound of gentle wind blowing by and the occasional shout of a drunken Ashton, and the beautiful tunes of the dulcimer played across the front of the damaged but holding Silver Sun, the night before the Solstice comes to a close. → (source: Critical Role transcripts)

[isagrimorie]

Characters: Ashton Greymoore, Imogen Temult Fandom: Bells Hells (Critical Role) Author: Gavroche_A Summary: Post-Episode 49/Pre-Episode 50

Ashton’s usually not one for the I understand how you feel talk, considering they know nobody fucking does. But Imogen…it’s fucking close enough, especially since she’s seen inside their fucking brain enough to know what she’s talking about. “How come you’re not wearing the…” they tap their forehead and nod at Imogen to indicate the place where a band of enchanted metal should rest, “circlet, or whatever?”

or: Imogen and Ashton bond about chronic headaches and parents who abandon you to meddle with dark magics

I love this, because a lot of the time Imogen's chronic pain is also forgotten. I love the idea of Imogen and Ashton bonding over chronic headaches and parents.

[utilitycaster]

I keep thinking abt your "'must a story have conflict?' Yes actually hope this helps" posts in the context of laudna and imogen because like. Their shippers keep saying like. "You just don't UNDERSTAND the beauty of their Perfect Relationship, the bond that Traumatized People have that makes them In Tune, so sad how you will never understand love or being with another etcetera etcetera" and it's like. what the hell are you talkinf about (they're usually the kind of ppl with weird and bad narrative ideas re: their traumas so uwu sad everyone is against them). Don't we want this relationship to be healthy and beneficial to both of them? Don't get me wrong, I love Toxic Girl Yuri fucked up tragic relationships as much as anyone else but shippers pretty clearly aren't angling for that kind of story, and neither would the trajectory of the campaign support it. The onscreen dynamic isn't even spicy enough to HAVE toxic codependency it's just. There.

what's funny is that actually my favorite era of their relationship was the "we transcend labels, you and I" thing Laudna said to Imogen. Partly bc personal aro feelings but also because THAT felt like genuine no expectations support to fall back on. The idea that they could just Be and always be It wasn't ASKING for the kind of dynamicism of a romantic relationship such and such, but now with the girlfriends thing, it feels like now there should be WAY more than what's been happening. Does any of this make sense?

Hey anon,

So I largely agree (will cover the one point of not entire agreement below). I do want to note that if you're the person who's sent me other questions recently on this topic please feel free to DM me! I think it's valid to want to voice those frustrations, and I get not wanting to do so publicly (though I think the harassment on Tumblr at least has largely died down) but also to be completely honest I have been fully in a Nein and Candela headspace with a handful of exceptions mostly relating to wiki stuff so I've been answering these anons but I'll admit it's not where my thoughts have been re: CR stuff for the past few weeks.

Anyway, I can understand the desire for a QPR or simply close friends for Imogen and Laudna! I am not aro myself, and I do enjoy a good romantic plot, but I'd rather have a well-executed story with no romance than a good story slightly marred by poorly done romance. However, it's actually really interesting to me (in a good/neutral way) that you recall it as "we transcend labels" because the actual quote (3x49, 4:52:57) is "We transcend words, you and I" and I could not stand that because my frustration has again always been that they spend a lot of time talking, and absolutely none of it communicating; they have never transcended words, they have simply not fucking used them well. More generously, I think a relationship in which a couple is on such a wavelength that they do have a sense of how the other feels without needing to talk (or read minds, in this situation) can be aspirational in real life, though again, I don't think that's actually what's going on here; but even if it were, that is not remotely interesting to watch. I truly do not give a shit in the end if relationships on the shows I watch are healthy or unhealthy provided the narrative knows what it's fucking doing and I think people who are obsessed with unproblematic wholesomeness are frankly suspect, but man, either be toxic codependent yuri or be two people trying to understand each other, instead of two people who seem to only occasionally remember that they are important to each other, and never seem to remember why.

But yes, the fact that virtually nothing has changed despite a relationship upgrade, especially in light of the relationship losing my interest as a platonic thing 30 or 40 episodes prior to them becoming a romantic couple is now thrown into more stark relief because you'd think something would change. Like, that's the thing. There was no romance; there was no plot. While I think the people who insisted from the start that CLEARLY they were already dating are the kind of people who would unironically ship my mop and broom solely on the basis of them leaning against each other next to my garbage can, at least if they had already been dating from the start a lack of forward momentum could be somewhat forgiven. I say somewhat, because Veth and Yeza were married from before the campaign or, for a platonic option, the twins were...twins from before the campaign, and both those relationships were still infinitely more complex and ever-changing and thoughtful over the course of their respective campaigns than whatever Imogen and Laudna were doing; it still, to be clear, would have been dishwater dull. But it would have been forgivably so; I would have simply politely lost interest episode 5 or whenever and moved on without saying much, whereas now there's a series of increasingly lowered bars in their wake.

So anyway, yeah. It sure is There.