"The war crimes are fake, the charisma is real." Something along those lines is my favorite explanation of why characters who do bad things are often viewed favorably. Or it was a thing about annoying characters vs war criminals, "The war crimes are fake but the annoyance is real."
Honestly, after seeing all the meta-discussions about Essek? It's more like; The Mighty Nein (Excluding Jester): This guy is a war criminal! The Entire Table: BUT WE LOVE HIM!!!
"You are a broken person. Who had ill intentions, and wandered aimlessly along a path you had no idea how to complete. And yet at some point you found a heart. You sound like *all* of us. Welcome to the Mighty Nein!" And this was the moment my heart broke into a million pieces. I think when I first saw this episode and that part came up, I had to pause it, and just sob for awhile.
"You're not going to betray us again Essek, are you?" _"That depends. You show me a kindness-"_ "We've done nothing but show you kindness..." *oh good lord i forgot how much this line H U R T S*
And it came from JESTER- If it came from anyone else? Yeah, it'd still hurt. But, because it was Jester, you just know that there was *no* malice in it. Just a statement.
@@sugar-high_kitsuneJester is also someone who gives a lot of herself in order to make other people happy, seeing her at her limit is fuckin heartbreaking
@paawan3764 to be fair, the M9 wasn't exactly super moral either lol. More so than Essek? Yeah. But they did some fucked up stuff across the campaign haha. I personally really enjoyed how they handled it and felt it fitting, but you're more than entitled to your feelings too!
@@kairoikki6981 Oh definitely. They were the most fucked up party of all three campaigns but Essek knowingly orchestrated a war that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians. In my book, there's no redeeming that but I understand why M9 did what they did while dealing with him. Personal feelings were involved and that always mucks things up (in the best possible way).
I think of Essek and Caleb in the lines of a quote from a comic artist I used to follow (she has since stopped doing comics and chose to fully embrace christianity and whatever that means to her): "Those who think themselves beyond redemption are those who have never met their forgiver." Caleb is Esseks forgiver.
2 things... really looking forward to seeing our hot boi again - hes GOT to be in on this mission, my best guess is a rescue on Caleb/Beau. They will need another strong caster - I hope Caduceus is there too. More - I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE A JESTER SENDING!!! "ESSEK CALEB & BEAU HAVE BEEN CAPTURED!! YOU HAVE TO COME AND HELP SAVE THEM!!!!!
Unfortunately he wasn’t there but I adored the reference they made that had the mighty nein go feral when their enemy threatened Essek. 😊that was a lovely display of just how protective they are of their hot boi war criminal.
Campaign 1 had the better overall plot/final Big Bad Villain. But campaign 2 had the best cast of characters (ignoring Scanlan, cuz that's just unfair)
true! my theory is that if they are on the moon, the luxon decided to keep whatever deity is on ruidus at bay by sealing themself and the other god there
While I admit it was a very dramatic moment, Caeleb’s “venom in your veins” comment always felt off because Essek didn’t hate anything. He was indifferent. Honestly neither was Ikithon. Neither “hated” anyone. Neither cared for anything other than the expansion of their minds. Though I admit Ikithion had more grandiose goals. But there was no prejudice or hate.
I agree with neither really *hating* and that in the case of Essek the line doesn't work. Just a brilliant man being stifled by the religious practices of his country who made choices he knew would indirectly lead to countless deaths. He had no cruel intent. But, Trent? Horrifically cruel. He'll torture empire citizens for the sake of training, and sentence others to death for those same reasons. Creating the 'perfect weapons' for the empire to wield. Much more willing to actively hurt people, his *own* people, for the sake of progress. That, combined with an inability to empathise? If the venom in question isn't hatred but unchecked and *empowered* cruelty? He *definitely* has venom in his veins.
I think that line refers to 1. how caleb views himself/ has learnt to view himself and 2. is telling essek that while he made bad/evil decisions that had disasterous consequences, bad actions don't make you a bad person. He is not inherently evil/bad bc of what he's done
Thats very untrue. Essek has a TON of hatred. Specifically toward the beacons and the dynasty's obsession with tradition. He committed war crimes and killed countless people to set his own country back by centuries just for scientific/arcane progress. He has much venom in his veins.
"It's going to hit Cadeusus"
"It can't, I'm invisible"
"Oh, right. Then it's going to hit Essek"
"Nooooo, hit Cadeusus!"
Marisha 😂
tbf Cad can take more hits
I love how Matt is like "this guy is a war criminal" and they're all like BUT WE LOVE HIM
I mean... same
"The war crimes are fake, the charisma is real."
Something along those lines is my favorite explanation of why characters who do bad things are often viewed favorably. Or it was a thing about annoying characters vs war criminals, "The war crimes are fake but the annoyance is real."
Honestly, after seeing all the meta-discussions about Essek? It's more like;
The Mighty Nein (Excluding Jester): This guy is a war criminal!
The Entire Table: BUT WE LOVE HIM!!!
Can’t get over the fact Shadowhand Essek “war criminal” Theyless is a support caster, I love himmmm XD
He is the shadow hand not shadow fist
Liam's acting for Caleb in 97 is honestly some of the best he's ever done, he's so stunned and detached for most of the session.
3:24:30 we knew we had character development when this Very Selfish Wizard said the cutiest "...it is fun to say tho. UP!"
45:26 "I'm adopting him."
"Veth, he's a war criminal."
"HE IS MY PRECIOUS SON-IN-LAW AND I LOVE HIM."
"You are a broken person. Who had ill intentions, and wandered aimlessly along a path you had no idea how to complete. And yet at some point you found a heart. You sound like *all* of us. Welcome to the Mighty Nein!"
And this was the moment my heart broke into a million pieces.
I think when I first saw this episode and that part came up, I had to pause it, and just sob for awhile.
Dunamantic Boogaloo was gonna be Essek's title before Shadowhand
Essek "Dunamantic Boogaloo" Thelass
It's crazy how much he's changed from the beginning. I'm going to miss everyone in Campaign 2 so much ;_;
It's okay, "let's do it again !"
Here's hoping Essek lives to make an appearance in Campaign 3!
@@mwhite9298 give him a similar role that Allura has in this campaign
The fact that he was Lawful Evil at the beginning is amazing…. “Maybe you should try friends sometime”….
"You're not going to betray us again Essek, are you?"
_"That depends. You show me a kindness-"_
"We've done nothing but show you kindness..."
*oh good lord i forgot how much this line H U R T S*
And it came from JESTER- If it came from anyone else? Yeah, it'd still hurt. But, because it was Jester, you just know that there was *no* malice in it. Just a statement.
@@sugar-high_kitsune tbf that malice would be completely deserved imo. I'm not a fan of how they let Essek off so easy. But hey, it's their game soooo
@@sugar-high_kitsuneJester is also someone who gives a lot of herself in order to make other people happy, seeing her at her limit is fuckin heartbreaking
@paawan3764 to be fair, the M9 wasn't exactly super moral either lol. More so than Essek? Yeah. But they did some fucked up stuff across the campaign haha. I personally really enjoyed how they handled it and felt it fitting, but you're more than entitled to your feelings too!
@@kairoikki6981 Oh definitely. They were the most fucked up party of all three campaigns but Essek knowingly orchestrated a war that caused the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and innocent civilians. In my book, there's no redeeming that but I understand why M9 did what they did while dealing with him. Personal feelings were involved and that always mucks things up (in the best possible way).
3:46:30 hot boi gets hit and immediately responds with some sick as shit feral casting I love it
The best way to get my Essek fix now that the campaign is over. Thank you for your service!
Hopefully with the promised animated series, we will all get our Essek fix satisfied with campaign 2 over.
I think of Essek and Caleb in the lines of a quote from a comic artist I used to follow (she has since stopped doing comics and chose to fully embrace christianity and whatever that means to her):
"Those who think themselves beyond redemption are those who have never met their forgiver."
Caleb is Esseks forgiver.
I'm gonna simp for essek so hard when he's animated
3:10:00 adventures with Essek and Capeleb
I already miss them all so much
I miss them so much more than vox machina .
Im glad he get to be part of last arc
17:48 if this would happen in front of Bells Hells, Orym could probably see the fucking air moving!
casually forgets that essek is old sdfkdfjkdjfkrekrjekrjekrje 3:29:27
Yet simultaneously very young for an elf
return of the king!!!!
gods work
Welcome to the Mighty Nein. 44:51
ive been listening to this complication most nights while going to sleep, its really helped turn off my brain thank you
First word, world domination?
part TWO!!!!!!!! thank you for doing this
Yessss I’ve been waiting for this post
2 things... really looking forward to seeing our hot boi again - hes GOT to be in on this mission, my best guess is a rescue on Caleb/Beau. They will need another strong caster - I hope Caduceus is there too. More - I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE A JESTER SENDING!!!
"ESSEK CALEB & BEAU HAVE BEEN CAPTURED!! YOU HAVE TO COME AND HELP SAVE THEM!!!!!
Unfortunately he wasn’t there but I adored the reference they made that had the mighty nein go feral when their enemy threatened Essek. 😊that was a lovely display of just how protective they are of their hot boi war criminal.
@@mentalrebllion1270 yeah I was pretty bummed. Who knows it's been a cast of thousands the Boyfriends may just show up sooner or later!!
@@mentalrebllion1270 for now I'll just have to continue reading my smutty fan fics!!!
You might want to watch the latest episode
@@katebennett9572 since my comment was 8 months ago seeker assum I'm caught up....
thank you
3:30:50 Oh... oh no...
Oh, he's sweet but a psycho 😱😘😂
Thank you for this
Best boi essek
There are not enough words in the english language for me to explain how much I love this war criminal wizard
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3:32:24 moment gave me chills
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Campaign 1 had the better overall plot/final Big Bad Villain.
But campaign 2 had the best cast of characters (ignoring Scanlan, cuz that's just unfair)
Agree.The end of campaign 2 felt both outdrawn and rushed at the same time.
This is great! But where's part 1?
good call. th-cam.com/video/Dlu9LTsP0dQ/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=thelittlestgoblin also now added to the end screen.
c3 spoilers up to ep 34
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anyone else think the luxon might be on the fucking moon
It may be possible, but ruidus seems a bit too macabre and...destructive.
true! my theory is that if they are on the moon, the luxon decided to keep whatever deity is on ruidus at bay by sealing themself and the other god there
While I admit it was a very dramatic moment, Caeleb’s “venom in your veins” comment always felt off because Essek didn’t hate anything. He was indifferent. Honestly neither was Ikithon. Neither “hated” anyone. Neither cared for anything other than the expansion of their minds. Though I admit Ikithion had more grandiose goals. But there was no prejudice or hate.
I agree with neither really *hating* and that in the case of Essek the line doesn't work. Just a brilliant man being stifled by the religious practices of his country who made choices he knew would indirectly lead to countless deaths. He had no cruel intent.
But, Trent? Horrifically cruel. He'll torture empire citizens for the sake of training, and sentence others to death for those same reasons. Creating the 'perfect weapons' for the empire to wield. Much more willing to actively hurt people, his *own* people, for the sake of progress. That, combined with an inability to empathise? If the venom in question isn't hatred but unchecked and *empowered* cruelty? He *definitely* has venom in his veins.
I think that line refers to 1. how caleb views himself/ has learnt to view himself and 2. is telling essek that while he made bad/evil decisions that had disasterous consequences, bad actions don't make you a bad person. He is not inherently evil/bad bc of what he's done
Thats very untrue. Essek has a TON of hatred. Specifically toward the beacons and the dynasty's obsession with tradition. He committed war crimes and killed countless people to set his own country back by centuries just for scientific/arcane progress. He has much venom in his veins.
@@sugar-high_kitsune indifference towards the HORRIFIC consequences of giving beacons full of PEOPLE to the literal empire is also an evil act.
and i say this as an essek lover
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