#obsessed with tyr alright | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

americangodstalk · 3 years

Text

Alright, so episode 8 - real opinion this time. Be ready.

Actually, be really ready because this is without a doubt the most detailled review I have given so far of any episode of season 3. I guess it is because I am back in the AG mood?

Spoilers below

I... I am not disappointed because at this point the season is entering uncharted territory and thus I am not expecting anything anymore from there. I am not confused because things are very clear and simple here. I am split. This is the correct word, split.

This episode was... a good episode. For this season. It does not mean it is an entirely good episode, it certainly does not mean it was the best episode, but for season 3 it is one of the good episodes - alongside the two first episodes of the season. But I am split because this episode suffers from what season 2 and 3 of AG suffered. Good ideas and a good potential, but wasted on unecessary elements and hastily made explanations.

On the negative side, I can already tell you that there are a lot of little things that bug me. I need to check the accuracy of the Norse gods costumes in the Backstage, for exemple. There are a few unfortunate and unfunny jokes that ruin scenes that would have been good - the show seems to really try to push forward the comedic aspect here. The backstory of Liam Doyle is bad. A lot of little things like that.

BUT, this time, to balance it, there was a lot of good stuff, surprisingly! The Peacock Inn storyline felt good for me. The character of Tu’er Shen and his introduction scene were nice, the character of Tony the receptionist reminded me a bit of the other transsexual character written by Neil Gaiman I know of, Wanda from the Sandman. Tyr is played by Denis O’Hare, so I am bound to love him, and I have to say there are good ideas here - digging up the mythological relationship between Tyr and Odin (now it makes sense why Tyr isn’t represented as Odin’s son as in some legends), or having Tyr being obsessed about giving justice. Unfortunately it... lacked a bit in development and could have been pushed further (why not show Tyr as a god who became mad like Horus and became obsessed with enacting a twisted justice? That would have rocked).

I really enjoyed Laura Moon here. Seriously, this was without a doubt one of the times where I enjoyed her character the best. A bit too many fuck you maybe (though the joke “Fuck you very much” was brilliant, I laughed at this one), but honestly she and Salim at the Inn felt real and I really liked them.

I am still unsure about where the Tech Boy’s plot is going. I actually think that one of the real reason this storyline, that could have been fascinating, feels a bit damp is because it is much too long. In fact, I seriously think this is the major flaw of this season: ten episodes was giving them too much. They over-developped minor plots that could have been much stronger if shorter (Demeter, or the Johann plots, or here Tech Boy’s fucked up), because the longer they are the more padding you need and to padd you put flat jokes and stupid decisions, which is bad... anyway.

As for the famous “orgy scene” everyone speaks about... I have a lot to say. And I think I will cut it in a separate post actually so as to speak a bit more about it in details.

#american gods #season 3 #spoilers #review #television series

2 notes · View notes

darknessandtentacles · 7 years

Text

Crisis resolved?

So remember me freaking out about D&D? Yesterday was supposed to be a session, but one player couldn’t make it, meaning two of them were left. And I figured, hey, let’s try something completely different. They get to keep their characters, but are ~suddenly~ somewhere else for a one shot adventure. One I had barely prepared. Meaning, I had one page of notes, and had taken out a bunch of tables that I could randomly roll things on. That was it, I made 90% up as I went. And it was awesome. My one story hook: Someone will reverse pickpocket a key into their possession, one that upon a failed WIS save compells them to look for what on earth it opens. The ending: It will lead to something not valuable. That was my idea.

Set in the cold northeast of Kathuraz, Jandar and Nate found themselves in a city in Valyrya called Jarzo, in front of the Icy Beaver tavern. Immediately they made up a “quest goal” they had (”Don’t you remember, we have to find the old flag pole!”), but of course, night was coming and they needed a place to stay. I rolled a name for the innkeeper, randomly rolled for the tavern to have illegal cockfighting in the back, as well as a fighting ring in the middle. Instead of breaking up the cockfight, Jandar our paladin decided to go for a fight against the local dumb-but-strong-Phillip. He lost. The dumb one won. (In retrospect, a CR3 against a lvl 5 character was probably too high. welp, that’s what happens when I make it up). Playing the announcer guy was a hell of a lot of fun as he just suddenly turned out super happy and enthusiastic about everything.

Nate’s PP was too low to notice the elderly male dwarf that gave him the key, so they never got to meet him (also rolled randomly about him). But he didn’t make his save, and the player did play the obsession pretty well. Which only happend after a night’s sleep. Before that they asked around to find out that “Handsome McPrettyFace” had shown up in town with a magical shop. The innkeeper went on and on about how he blocked his way to his favourite bakery (also super fun to play) and how damn pretty he was.

Alright, next day. Nate is obsessed with finding what the key unlocks, Jandar is suspicious, casts Detect Magic. There’s definitely something there, but he’s unable to really figure it out. So they go to Handsome McPrettyFace who they later described as a douche and also awesome (loved playing him too lol). His name is Julian Xartho, warlock extrordinaire, friend to Ezekiel (x), and was not a shop owner until that very moment. I had actually prepared his character sheet and he knew Identify so he did that, revealing there was a piece of a soul in that key. The two buy health potions, but have nowhere near enough to get that potion of invisibility he has. He follows them without knowing (but that never led anywhere).

At this point Nate has a vision of the temple of Valgyrn in the city, one of the creators, the goddes of Light and Life. Naturally that’s where they go, meeting a priestess, Alesia. just before, they actually rolled high enough to end the encounter with some other key-obsessed guys peacefully (Tyr channeling his divine magic through Jandar to stop them). She too can sense the soul, but does not sense anything evil from it, hinting that some souls cling to certain parts of their lives, and helps them figure out to find the place where the vision had originated from, hence the rooftop looking out onto the temple.

Turns out that’s a house that’s currenlty very obviously in mourning, as it’s decorated in the traditional greens. Jandar decides to pose as a cleric to distract the mourners, while Nate (being a thief), tries to figure out where the vision came from. It’s... a bumpy ride, the woman who lost her son almost kicks Jandar out again, but he bullshits his way through. While Nate finds the dead son’s room, but no keyhole that fits (he’s been trying every single one), eventually goes to the roof, sees the temple, and the initials “Z + N” in the chimney.

Another vision hits him then, guiding him the the town’s graveyard, to the grave with the name Nizol (randomly rolled, though keep in mind I made all of this up). Excitedly, Nate tells Jandar, and off they go. As soon as the key touches the grave, it opens up to a staircase leading into darkness, and the randomly rolled dungeon. At first it’s a room with a fireplace in the middle, and stars above (I’m thinking at this point, it’s connected to the soul, this is where it felt at peace). Randomly rolled smoke mephits attack at this point.

The next room is a long, long hallway (I’m thinking and describing how it’s the alley where the soul was mugged and killed, I don’t think they got it), with a needle trap at the end that they successfully circumvent. The last room is full of dancing lights, and a small, ornate box in the middle. They key finally fits.

Except it’s just mementos. Little, ordinary things of Nizol and “Z”, notes, a pretty rock, a ring, a lock of hair, etc, etc. The letters describe that they’re best friends, that they spent almost every day together, and how thankful, how connected they were. A blue wisp of magic turns into the shape of a young human male, who nods at them, and vanishes. The room goes dark, they’re back in the cemetery, there’s no staircase.

Some of the letters actually have an address on them(we’re tired at this point), so they decide to return the box. It’s a pretty well of place, similar to the one before, and it’s also in mourning. A woman opens, she has long blonde hair, she wears a green sash around her waist, she’s also mourning. Her name is Zora. (I put on sad music bc I’m an asshole lol) She’s incredibly thanfkul that they brought this back to her, crying but also happy because they brought her a bit of peace. A bit of her best friend that she’ll miss for the rest of her life. They don’t need a reward.

In the end, Jandar and Nate go to the harbour, to the old flagpole, and have a mug of ale each, toasting the the lost soul.

It was crazy, and silly, and sad in the end, but man it was fun. We all had fun and that’s what matters, and I feel better about the whole thing. Doesn’t mean I don’t get nervous during sessions but hey, at least I know I can bullshit my way through a session without anyone noticing! I won’t say crisis completely resolved, but it’s definitely better.

#dungeonmaster #dungeons and dragons #dnd #critters #about the dm #session diary #thankfully my player don't play zelda so they didn't go huh at the name zora #i had the letter before and only thought of a name on the spot

3 notes · View notes