Woaheoahwoahwoahwoah WOAH Woah Holshsuhshavsjbxvakbdhwgs

Oh hey Actual God appeared and he gave you a funny coat and some guns. This means we’ve hit the Sanderlanche.

So we have multiple statements by Jorge Rivera-Herrans that he was inspired by video games in the creation of Epic the Musical. This is pretty plainly seen in the multiple “boss battles” that cap off most albums in the musical.

Two of the most important examples of “boss battles” come from the characters recognized as “monsters” in the canon of the story: Polyphemus and Scylla. These two are important, because they are the only two characters with songs named after them. This sets them apart as unique and special, which is substantiated even further by the impact they have on the wider story of Epic.

“…but wait” you may be asking. “Odysseus has a song named after him as well, no?” That is correct! This is because, like Polyphemus and Scylla, Odysseus is a monster. So much so that there’s an entire song in the Underworld Sage.

Okay so- what does this mean effectively? Well… the final boss of the musical isn’t the suitors. It’s Ody. The song Odysseus has a lot of parallels to Polyphemus and Scylla (the line “keep your head down he’s aiming for the torches!” Being a direct callback to Scylla), but the one I’d like to focus on is the narrative framework of the song.

He’s the antagonist. The song’s narrative is carried by the disparate Suitors as they are hunted by our old king and try to survive. (heh. See what I did there?) The background chanting of Odysseus’s name is even in the same style of how Polyphemus is sung in Survive!!! He’s the FINAL BOSS. (and tbh. He’s a LOT better at murdering everyone who wronged him than anyone else in the story. Polyphemus should take notes.)

So… what does this mean? He kills every suitor. And like- as he should. They sucked. So what? The final boss isn’t defeated in Epic?

…well no. He is firmly defeated in the end. By Penelope. Something very important in the story from No Longer You onward is this division between the “Old Odysseus” and the “New Odysseus”. It’s this Old Odysseus who is a monster, and it’s THIS man who Penelope defeats.

Her defeat of Odysseus is shown in two parts: Lyrically and Musically. The first is very clear. Odysseus argues that he is no longer the man who married Penelope, and she disagrees. She is the only one to effectively trick Penelope, responding to his rhetorical statement of “I am no longer the man you fell in love with” with a trap that ends with Odysseus confirming beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is, in fact, her husband. Furthermore If you payed any attention at all while listening to Epic, Jorge’s love for motif is very clear, and this is relevant in understanding the emotional “defeat” of the Monster Odysseus.

Ody has two key instruments: a soft guitar and a harsh, electric one. These correlate to the two unique Odysseus’s we’ve established. We hear inklings of the soft guitar when Odysseus and Penelope first reunite, but it quickly fades to that harsh electric guitar as they begin to “fight.”

But. Here’s. Where. It. Gets. Fun. Because after he’s deceived and defeated, the soft guitar returns. He is finally, after twenty years, being allowed to return to the kind man he once was. He’s finally, *finally* home.

And that, my friends, is why I conclude, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Penelope tops Odysseus after Epic.

TRUE!! I’m like. I’m like “oh my God no way I actually know what’s happening this time.”

Average Cosmere aware rereading of The Stormlight Archive

okay, Rhythm of War: Complete. That book was awesome.

I’m really worried about Taravangian!Odium, but… well, it could end up fine, maybe. I think I’m gonna detour into Mistborn Era 2 now. I’ve been in the Stormlight Archives for a very long time, so a smaaaallll break to read a five book series is in order :P

Hope you guys stick around for that liveblog as well <3

Ah!!! So neat. Brando Sando has such an excellent grasp on the ability convey character through dialogue. The ink spren talk in definites. “It is.” “This was.” “They are.” Most sentences are structured around a being verb of some kind.

This conveys their nature as beings of logic and fact… so easily?? He doesn’t need to go on and elaborate it, it’s just naturally conveyed!!!

It aches my heart to see people get injured… it’s almost more painful to me than seeing people die in books. She’s paralyzed. It’s… I- it’s so heartbreaking to witness. I feel so much desire to help Rysn, but she’s not even real. Aaghck. Empathy suuucccckkkssss sometimes.

Eeeeeee!!!!! She’s doing the awakened cloak thing to wrap around and strengthen herself!!! Heck yeah heck yeah so COOL!!!!

Oh that’s Vivenna.

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Okay Googled her to see what she looked like again and got confirmation on accident lmfao. Hellllllll yes, so she managed to awaken a sword fully? Proud of her! Suuuuper curious what her command was!!! Aaaaa this is so exciting.

She is OFFEND!!! Boots are required!!!!!

MY GLORIOUS KING HOID WITH THE DEUS EX CHARACTER REVELATION STORY!!!!!! LET’S GOOOOOOOO

oh!!! Eeee!!!! A Seon!!!!! Elantris reference oh my god!!!!!!