#both are valid and we won't know which way it swings until the next episode(s)

[masterqwertster]

Ok don’t publish it if you don’t have to but man this weekend is bumming me right out with this “

Yeah, there is certainly some aggression going on against people wishing for resurrection because others find it a poignant narrative that a sacrifice can't be undone, that it lasts and has consequences, that it puts weight to the stakes. And they think that coming back to life after specifically doing something you know will 100% kill you cheapens sacrifice.

Personally, I think that being brought back after you willingly and knowingly and successfully gave your life for others tells a story of how much you're loved. It's your friends saying "Fuck that. You're going to live. We're all going to live. We'll keep dragging each other back until we can't anymore, so fucking be here and fight."

It also adds another level of desperation to be stronger, smarter, to not be caught like that ever again because who knows if you can get them back next time (and however many times you fail after that). Resurrections get harder ever time a person is brought back. This is part of what bit Scanlan's ass right before Bard's Lament: the Revivify didn't take, so the rest of Vox Machina brought in his daughter to call him back during the Resurrection (which he hated) and got the chance to be dicks about bringing him back with the dumb pranks, all of which led to setting Scanlan off. And sure, Bells Hells had that desperation to keep each other alive from the Bassuras fight, but that doesn't mean that the sentiment can't be further sharpened even when you've managed to steal back all the lives of your party members that she took.

Honestly, I think that just having Chet and FCG die against the Murder Machine of Otohan after Bells Hells specifically and successfully went to efforts to get stronger still ups the stakes even if both end up revived. "All our might and we still faced that loss. It would have been all of us if FCG didn't make that play. We still cannot face the enemy leadership head-on as we are. We must get stronger still."

And I really think there's some fun character development to be had in giving FCG a flesh body. Will he actually like what they've envied about the others? How does one handle a completely new body that they're grateful for (that they should be grateful for, otherwise they'd be dead) but is just so different from what they know? Yes, FCG had that last moment clarity that he was in fact already fully alive, but there's definitely some "alive in the flesh" things to explore.

And more faith to explore too. Like, did he get to meet the Changebringer and talk with her in the afterlife? The Raven Queen? Speaking of just being in the afterlife, what about meeting Eshteross again? The other members of the Division of Public Benefit that he killed?

Also, I'm not sure how big a fan I am of the heavy breakdowns that will happen if FCG isn't resurrected. Bells Hells is suffering pretty good as is and I'd like them to have some happiness inbetween all the Moon Bullshit. Conflict drives a story, but you need soft moments to wind it down between heavy moments.

Because truthfully, most of what you get from keeping FCG dead is a bunch of breakdowns in the party without it's most optimistic member who actually advocates for communication, which they all suck at for various personal reasons. And a push towards the Villain Arc path that, honestly, a few are walking just fine without FCG staying dead and/or can still be pushed further down it just by the fact that he decided to kill himself to save their asses when no one wants to let any of the others go.

I do think that as far as martyrdom goes, what FCG did took a nice step away from "giving my life because it's worth less than any one of theirs and I think dying for a cause will give me absolution for the people I rage killed" and into "giving my life because it will save them and I don't know what else to do that will save them." There are certainly posts that get into the distinction between those choices better than I have. Which is where I think the "best ending for FCG" idea comes from, as it happened under the "best" reasoning for FCG to martyr himself. And to a certain degree, people have decided that martyrdom was unavoidable for FCG or that he was just highly prone to it and this was a good time/way to do it.

Still doesn't change that a self-sacrificing character did in fact sacrifice themself, though. Or that it didn't have to be the end that FCG met.

And I understand to some degree how Everyone Comes Back to Life if You Try can feel like it undermines the stakes. Because if no one stays dead, what do you have to fear from walking into mortal danger? Everyone will be fine right? Which is wrong. There is still trauma in dying, even when you're brought back. The realization of mortality, the struggle to steal back a life when it's not just a quick prayer in the heat of battle. And the ever looming possibility that you do it right and it's still not enough to steal them back.

Also, from the wider in-the-game-world's perspective: Resurrection is rare as shit and only people with immense wealth, connections, and/or power even have a shot at it.

Even mechanically it's not easy. You have to mind time limits, expensive costs, body conditions, spell levels and slots, not to mention that the dice can always say no.

So yes, Bells Hells probably needs to go to less effort to Reincarnate FCG than they did to resurrect Laudna because all they're missing is components while they have the likes of Keyleth who kind of owe them for Moon Scouting and killing Otohan and should be able to provide.

#I don't know if this covers it right #but like. there are reasons to leave FCG dead (mostly Sam's wishes) and reasons to bring him back #both are valid and we won't know which way it swings until the next episode(s) #and it's not hating consequences to want FCG back. it's knowing it's possible and wanting that sequence of consequences #like Sam could take FCG back and impose some new limit on them. play “didn't come back right” beyond the new body for consequences #so. ya'know. trust the cast to tell the story and don't get on each other's asses about different hopes for what comes next #MQ&A #critical role #cr speculation #cr spoilers #fcg

[louiseblue1]

Wendy's new interview pretty much confirms olicity aren't reuniting this season. What are the next steps now do you think? If they end this season with them up in the air again, what happens? (It also sucks because now with the writers strike, we might have to wait even longer for a reunion. This reunion feels super dragged out. It's been a year and a half and the pendulum swing won't be happening until possibly a half a year later)

Anonymous said:"She'll have a new understanding and appreciation for where Oliver’s been and what he’s been through. No matter whether they end up together or not — sorry, all Olicity Twitter fans — this is going to absolutely deepen the relationship. It has to. She’s now gone through her own island in a way."-WM about Olicity in the last 5 episodes. That is a direct quote (including the Twitter part) from WM. This makes it seem like Olicity are probably not reuniting in S5. If that's the case, I'm out.

Anonymous said:WM's said in her latest interview regarding O&F, "No matter whether they end up together or not (sorry all Olicity twitter fans), this is going to deepen their relationship." So, do you think she is confirming that they are NOT getting back together or apologizing for not giving fans a straight answer?! I know that WM has said before that Olicity will finish S5 as friends (nothing more) but it seems like this is building to a reunion by 5x23. Are you still feeling hopeful Lou? Thanks!

Anonymous said:Hey Lou. Another interview with WM came out today. It kinda has me nervous. I don't know if you've read it or not, but WM makes it sound like Olicity are just gonna start on the road towards reconciliation in S5 aren't gonna reunite in S5 and they're stalling it until S6. I'm hoping I read it wrong.

Anonymous said:I'm worried now. That new ET interview from Wendy makes it sound like Olicity aren't reuniting this season.

Anonymous said:In an interview today, WM said that Olicity get In a big fight in 519 and in 520, when they're trapped in the bunker, they are in a "really bad place" with each other. This sounds really bad. How are Olicity supposed to reunite with each other by the end of S5 now if they're like this with only 3 episodes left?

Reply: 

A sampling of what I woke up to post a really fantastic and positive interview from WM. At some point you guys are just going to have to work out she’s always going to give interviews that basically say ‘watch and see’ or ‘maybe, maybe not’. She’s been giving these interviews for over a year now. I’m not sure why some folks keep getting all tied up in knots with her not telling you exactly how everything is going to play out. Why does that keep freaking you out and making you second guess things? It’s how she always interviews. And again, why do interviews change what you’ve been watching on screen? 

This was an awesome interview that confirms the re-establishment of Olicity’s communication and the bedrock of their friendship (yay!) and tells us Oliver is going to figure out his legacy and who he is as a man and a hero. And Felicity is going through the same process and they’ll end up in the same place. I’m not sure how much more reassurance you need. 

Basically, if you still don’t believe in the Olicity reunion at this point because you don’t agree with what people like myself and many others are seeing in the narrative, or simply don’t have any faith in the writers, then there isn’t much to be done or said. You just have to do that thing and step out into what feels like the unknown for you. For those of us who are confident of the narrative, there are still vast degrees of the unknown for us. I don’t know if I’ll get all the things I’m hoping for from the last 5 episodes. All I know is I’ll have to watch to find out. And that’s kind of part of the fun for me. The anticipation of whether I’ll get everything I’ve been waiting to see. 

Shipping Olicity is so great because you know you’re guaranteed they’ll always have a love story, but you also have the excitement of never quite knowing how that love story will play out. That’s the pinnacle of fun for me. If it isn’t for you and you need to know exactly how and when everything plays out and have it confirmed from every actor, every writer, in every interview, well, that’s pretty tough for you. Because that isn’t going to happen. The only control you have is relaxing into the ride and accepting you aren’t going to know every little twist and turn and when they are coming up, or wait until it’s over and then you can have someone tell you about all the twists and turns and then watch the last 5 episodes with that knowledge. The first way is thrilling and exciting and your heart might get a little hurt along the way. The second way you reduce a lot of the excitement, but you’re appropriately braced for any heartache. 

Those are your two choices. Both are perfectly valid and no judgement from me for which way you go. I’ve done both. Just depends on the ship for me. But what isn’t an option is reading interviews and expecting to have absolute guarantees of how everything turns out. That is not the point of an interview except in very rare instances. You’ll only burn yourself out looking for assurances in interviews which are meant to raise questions and get you to watch. 

This is the same interview WM has been giving all season - watch and see. If you think this is some kind of confirmation that Olicity aren’t happening this season, go back and read it. She never said that. Just read the words and not overlay it with your anxieties. Everything is perfectly on course for more chapters of the Olicity love story to be told. I’m excited about that. I’ve been patient, and now I get my rewards. The pendulum swings. :D