Amac Productions

They just killed Gustav.

Like, just straight up killed him.

Which – I mean – makes sense narratively for a show that has a limited amount of time and money to tell this story. And really since Gustav gets locked up and we return to him briefly to pay off his debt because Cad thought it was a good idea. Because Gustav had something more to do with himself.

Something we never learn because we never see him again.

The reasoning is perfectly logical.

Gotta admit it.

Does not mean I took his death well. He was there and then he wasn’t.

On the flip side of my shock, I also came to the understanding that it’s better for the story. With the circus dead, Molly has little reason to not want to go with The Mighty Nein. It didn’t really jive well in the campaign, because Molly was so attached and the circus did carry on without Gustav.

He could have easily gone with them and kept the family together as he wanted. Like he’s portrayed here.

However, with it completely destroyed and there’s nothing left of it. It makes his decision to go with the Mighty Nein make way more sense.

A solid change, I enjoyed.

I also loved how influential Molly was to everyone at the circus.

Like it was Gustav’s circus on paper, but Mollymauk was really the one running the show. I love how more involved he was than in the campaign. Making it all the more devastating when it all comes crashing down.

Leading to that moment when he picks up the two swords. Side note loved the details that they were Gustav’s and not just random swords.

It leads to that moment when he’s just had enough and stands his ground against the monsters with the others.

Here’s a change I did not like – however. Where the f*ck is Yasha?

Yasha is supposed to be with the circus by now. Friends with Molly. Working as a bouncer who also helps hoist the tent up. Where is she? Why is she not here? I truly thought that the absences of Yasha were going to stop with the TV show having so little time comparatively to the campaign.

Nope.

Seems like they’ve decided to make it worse.

Also, if Yasha isn’t here and Molly doesn’t vouch for her. If they’re not already friends for a while like when we meet them in the first episode. His death won’t hit her as hard.

Which is a shame, because Ashley Johnson knocked it out of the park every time she played into that grief with Yasha. Every time.

Don’t take that from me.

It also appears that Yasha might be an enemy when the Mighty Nein meet her, which would also take the moment she runs Beau through with her sword less impactful as well. Like Yasha was crying during the campaign in that moment. She didn’t want to hurt Beau or kill her.

She was forced to.

And because Yasha was in her mind witnessing it all, her body reacted to that and cried.

Cried for hurting her friend. Someone who will one day come to mean so much to her.

Don’t take that away! Please!

Aside from that, the changes don’t really take anything away from the story. They add or make it more streamline for the series. Instead of stumbling into this war, some of them are actively part of it already.

Like Beau.

Except she can’t keep her temper under control long enough not to get pickpocketed.

Or followed.

As the Volstrucker that scares Caleb is following Beau. She has no idea that Caleb is there.

Not to say she wouldn’t do something to him if she found him, I’m just pointing out that she’s not looking for him at the moment. It gives him an advantage that he noticed her first.

I’m sad he didn’t get his beetles.

I’m also sad his spell didn’t work.

Must have rolled poorly. He doesn’t have his luck stone yet.

It probably would have been a heck of spell. Caleb is a powerful wizard when he has all the components he needs. Which is why Nott initially wanted to keep him around.

Although, I think we’re starting to see tendrils of her caring for him more than wanting his power.

She actually cares about him.

Maybe he reminds her of someone…

The circus is actually at fault for the disaster that occurs. Which is hilarious because we spent two episodes trying to convince everyone the circus was innocent. The series is like, nope, totally they’re fault.

They brought a dangerous beast only being controlled by a little girl and some bugs and thought it would be chill.

Nope, instead Jester almost gets swallowed.

Oh, and of course Jester would volunteer.

By the way, someone also said the academy is in Zadash. It’s in Rexxingtrum. The capital of the Empire. At least it was during the campaign. Why did we move it exactly?

That’s a change that’s just freaking odd.

People are turned into monsters. Jester crushes people with a giant lollipop which she used to win a prize at a game and make Fjord look weak. Which is true to their game stats. Jester is strong, as is Yasha, and Beau is probably next in the strength stats.

All the women are the strong ones.

They move the doors. Lift the heavy objects.

Caleb is wet paper, so we don’t ask him.

Lovely running gag.

Also, the freaking giant lollipop is just amazing. I hope it gets it serrated edges next. Very Jester.

Love that we get a hint that Fjord and Jester will end up together when they get all shy around each other. Very cute. Very sweet. Very not subtle.

In other areas, Beau continues to make an a*s out of herself.

Yells at Nott.

Nott pretends to be a little girl. Molly intervenes and Beau does not explain herself well. Which is very Beau.

Out of all the characters, I think Beau is written exactly as prickly as she was at the beginning. Not that any of them are written poorly. They’re all great.

Beau is just the one that seems the most like how she was when we met her.

Like Jester does feel a bit more like she’s been written down on a piece of paper. Whereas before Laura just said whatever came to mind.

Caleb stuttered a bit more.

Molly wasn’t quite as smooth.

Fjord was putting on a show already when we meet him.

Nott might the other one. Just unhinged thieving and drinking.

Both of them feel exactly as they started during the campaign and I love it. But I also love the little detail changes we get too. Because Molly is that smooth. It just took a moment for Taliesin to sink into it after playing Percy for so long.

Caleb comes to stop muttering so much or freaking out or shutting down the longer he gets to know the Nein.

Like we’re coming into these characters at odder times than we were before. But we meet Beau and Nott the same as before. Almost. We meet Nott slightly earlier. But we don’t have her backstory yet, we didn’t see anything we didn’t really know in the first episode of the campaign.

I enjoy that too.

Overall, it’s a fantastic episode.

I love Beau in a bear suit as she tries to get the message stone back. I love Nott just f*cking hating her. Caleb and Nott working out their wire system for sending messages.

Molly smoothly attempting to keep the circus from falling apart. Getting everyone everything they need all the time.

His clocking of Beau. Throwing her out.

The complete chaos that was that fight in the middle of the circus tent, ending with them standing in the middle of the burning tent being held by the Crownsguard.

Because surely no one will think they had anything bad to do with it.

They were merely trying to help.

Eh, doubtful.

I must also confess I missed the scene of Yasha carrying Beau. They better have an excellent make-up for missing out on that gay scene.

Oh, and the Volstrucker’s suck. Gets the info, kills the person. Wonder what the stone said. We may never know. Wasn’t it swallowed?

I lost track a bit in the chaos of the fight.

Because it was crazy.

I have to admit as well, I did not expect the frog toad thing to be so beefy. Damn, was that thing huge!

Tiny detail that you may have missed, but if you watch closely in the mirror scene, you get to see animated versions of Fjord and Jester’s voice actors there. I caught Laura’s and we backed up to see they had done Travis as well. Love that.

Loved the show Nott put on about her leg. Should have won an Oscar.

This show is everything I wanted it to be. Sure, things are different in some places, some make sense now, and hopefully the rest will later as well. But I’m loving watching it and getting to enjoy the ride all over again in a new way that even leaves me surprised at times.

Mostly because – where is Yasha?!

Seriously, I need that answered for me.

Anyone?

Yasha herself maybe?

Sigh.

Aside from a lack of Yasha, I’m enjoying the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next! Can you? In the meantime, please comment and chat with me about what you think of the series so far!

Don’t forget to share it with other Critters too!

Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!