As a vegan activist, I endorse this message. In fact, I am actively organizing with various organizations in Montreal in order to mainstreamize the concept of giving animals legal personhood and promote electoral reforms in such a way as to permit the extending of voting rights to children and animals.
ok i truly hate that i saw this thumbnail expecting it be some weird edgy video micro analyzing the mcelboys & then you had the nerve to give me whiplash with this content & then just make me cry like that? with that final closing bit? in my own home? my tears? my gay ass tears? this was wonderful but im still mad
@@qwuzzy well for two reasons 1) as a big TAZ fan, its literally impossible for me to hear griffins narration of story & song without tearing up 2) OP perfectly expresses alot of my own reasoning for loving the mcelroy brothers, & its really encouraging, albeit bitter sweet, to hear someone else so perfectly encapsulate why the mcelroys have the fanbase they have, why both their content & them as individuals make us all feel so safe in a world that constantly dismisses us & punches down in their content.. it was also something like 2am & I was already feeling rather emotionally vulnerable but you didn't hear it from me
Anyone remember when they talked about eating in a Golden Corral with their dad on the first Christmas their mom died? That was a curve ball on a no bummers episode. I wonder if that has anything to do with how in The Adventure Zone, the boys are always saved by a strong woman.
I think that was more a result of the character's ineptitude lol. griffin being the youngest may have glorified his mother more than the others. this could very well have influenced the creation of the characters who saved them but it's definitely subconscious rather than intentional.
@@Bee-gc2do its in one of the live episodes labeled face to face between 1 and 2 years ago. it might be searchable if you search up mcelroys bummers or mcelroys break no bummers rule on your preferred search engine.
I've always thought that their mothers death was a strong motivator, and really shaped all of them. They very rarely talk about it, but when they do it's very clear that it was something that shaped their attitudes and outlooks. At one point in mbmbam they also mention that they started podcasting as a way to stay closer as a family, without any expectation that it would turn into what it has. The subtext I interpreted was that this was also a reaction to their loss. Anyway. Great video, love those sweet boys.
A year late, but I wanted to note that "Sawbones" is much more political than the other shows in their network. It features Justin and Sydney McElroy (husband and wife duo) discussing weird and funny medical history, but they address some pretty dark stuff and more political issues. They've discussed mental health in current political climate, brought on trans individuals to discuss the hurdles they have faced in the health care system, and have made their political views towards the current administration fairly obvious. Give it a go if you haven't and, as always, don't drill a hole in your head.
There's also something to the development of Magnus. Magnus rushes in is an idea of putting others in need before yourself. In the beginning, Travis has said, Magnus wasn't going to live a long life and go down in a blaze of glory. As the story went on, Travis, and in turn Magnus, changed from being selfless and dying young to appreciating the family he had and dying old, surrounded by them. It's a fascinating development, as it happens to both character and player, and it's something I really love about the show.
That’s what I love about the form of story telling in general. The author and hopefully the reader develop from these experiences all the same. Watching the real time human and character development of taz is def a huge draw.
@@glowmilk7948 I forgot I wrote this comment! I think I meant that Travis and Magnus kinda became the same person as time went on, especially since much of later Magnus and also much of Travis was based in the brothers' mom.
That's still the best improved line in the entire thing. I mean, there are so many incredible Balance moments (Arms Outstretched, that incredible Story and Song setup from Griffin, Abra-ca-fuck-you, "you kept Refuge safe" etc) but that one always sends a shiver down my spine.
They also explicitly address their mistakes within the airtime of the show, like with the Bury Your Gays trope. Didn't make excuses, apologized, and made it right. They also support shoplifting and time theft from corporations. Although Clint may or may not believe the moon landing was real I'm still not clear on if he was joking or not
i literally just finished balance and i’m 85% sure it was in that the the adventure zone zone (approx ep 38/39?) but it might have been in the later ttazz where they talk about lup’s name. it was definitely discussed in feed tho, as well as twitter and interviews
i think the "no bummers" thing is cool because its not a one-way-street. its not just that the fans are not allowed to bring bummer questions to the live shows. its also that the mcelroys dont want to be a bummer to anyone listening, and that includes EVERYONE. if they make a transphobic joke, that might not be seen as a bummer by many, since its a joke, but to a trans person it would make them really really sad. "no bummer" is something they ask of their fans, but also something they do themselves by listening and apologizing and correcting themselves, so its also a promise
The McElroy's make tons of jokes at people's expense. Monster Factory is series of video essays on mocking facial differences and body shape, for example - and I've met several people who hate that about it. They definitely don't mean "nothing that makes anybody feel bad", because the DEFINITELY make jokes that make people feel bad sometimes (including me). And they probably shouldn't aim for that, because that's an impossible (and pointless) goal. What "no bummers" lets them do is avoid interfacing with much critically - "it's all fun jokes" is an easy way out of taking a stand for anything (which would threaten their brand and it's broad appeal). Taking a vague stand for "inclusion", when inclusion only means "we don't overtly discriminate against most groups" isn't noble - it's just good branding. FWIW I really enjoy their media and have spent thousands of hours consuming it. I just think it's worth pointing out that they're not moral leaders, they're entertainers selling a personal brand, and because of that we should be careful not to put their behavior on a pedestal.
@@TheyCallHimBun I'm not really sure you can call Monster Factory body shaming. With rare exceptions where the create a character engine is just super limited, I can't think of a single person that looks even remotely like a Monster Factory character. There's a few that might get close-ish here and there, but no amount of outlier genetics is going to make a real person look like a Toucan Man with Bright Red Skin and Neon Blue Hair. You can't really call them out on body type shaming as they've run the full gambit on skinny to fat, short to tall, and atrophied to muscular. They only thing they haven't really done is the absolute middle, because that wouldn't make for much of a show. Still, as someone outside the perfect middle of body expectations, I never really took Monster Factory as targetting "ugly" people so much as just making fun of game engines with overly customizable create a characters.
@@TimeLadyClaire YEAH SJDJDKNF like I'm now imagining monster factory as if it's a series of videos on why men who look like squirtles don't deserve rights sksjfnjf
This video has been showing up in my "suggested" feed since it was posted and I honestly didn't want to watch it at first. I wasn't familiar with your content and wrongly assumed it would be... inflammatory, I guess? Like a callout? And while I certainly don't think the McElroys are infallible, I do think they represent a really important moment in an important cultural shift in comedy and storytelling that I think is more meaningful to uphold than any wrongdoings one might expose when dissecting their content for the problematique. But instead this was a beautifully compelling examination of... exactly that. I think a lot of the humor of the rising generation is characterized by a certain existential absurdity but with a message of hope and unity at its core. Thank you for taking the time to really examine that, and why it's important, not only to the medium and the audience as a whole but to you as an individual. I loved this video. It was well-composed, funny, informative, and as a presenter you are very captivating and charismatic. I definitely ugly-cried through your discussion of TAZ Balance. Thanks again for making this. I don't think I can bring myself to read the other comments because I'm sure there are some doozies in there, but from me at least I think you did an amazing job and I hope you have a wonderful day!
This comment made me want to watch the video, so thank you. I’ve just been too depressed to listen to even very kind and good intentioned takedowns of my emotional-support media. Cheers!
Thanks for all of this insight! I'm bookmarking this video for once I've caught up on TAZ*, and looking forward to watching this! *On The Crystal Kingdom right now, and despite all my cautious efforts to avoid spoilers, I got a major one thanks to a super thoughtless person... 😞 Still loving TAZ though, and dodging all other spoilers as best I can!
When someone leaves your life, those exits are not made equal. Some are beautiful and poetic. Others are abrupt and unfair. But most are just unremarkable, unintentional. - Griffin McElroy
arguably its like 10x more difficult to create good, funny content when playing the 'no bummer' rule. Ask any current popular comedian to make a joke without partially offending anyone and they'd struggle. It's why I'm so impressed with the boys, because they manage to stay hilarious despite the restraints of being 'kind' and 'safe'.
i thought this said “its like 10x more difficult to create god” and honestly i took it as a monster factory reference bc it sounded like something juice would say
@@NZsaltz If you don't mind me asking, who are those? I'm continuously looking for comedians who doesn't punch down, especially after all the "edgy" shits I used to enjoy in high school.
I've been casually listening to Sawbones for almost five years and only recently learned that Justin was involved with any other podcasts - LOL! Sawbones is amazing and definitely not apolitical. Sydnee and Justin frequently discuss why vaccines are good, queer people are valid, and reproductive rights are important. The theme of one of their most recent episodes (Rock Medicine) is explicitly stated loudly and clearly several minutes into the episode as "HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE!!" I think the difference is that Sydnee, as a highly accomplished physician, is an expert on the medical topics of the show.
let’s talk about stuff: intensely eloquent and intelligent rant about how the McElroy brothers depart from traditional, lazier forms of comedy me: i like em cuz they say funny stuff about Home Alone and horses
correction! the totinos sponsorship WAS 100% a paid promotion, they also have a hilarious episode of mbmbam where they are sponsored by totinos and while its mostly played up for a joke they also do take mandatory breaks between their pizza roll goofs to promote totinos social media
@@thefollowingisatest4579 they did know! the sponsorship was a result of a fan who was working in marketing at totinos at the time. it was basically the fan duping their bosses into supporting the thing they liked.
@@letstalkaboutstuff actually, afaik, the mbmbam episode was paid promotion, but the monster factory episode was just them bringing it over because they thought itd be funny
As Justin put it in the episode, "I'd hate to be the executive who has to explain that nothing in this episode is representative of our brand and yes - we did pay for all of it"
i have been in so many fandoms in the past, and honestly there's nothing like the mcelroy/mbmbam/taz fandom. every person i have talked to and met have always been kind, open, understanding, and genuine with me. i feel like the brothers have a huge influence on their fans in this way! and its so refreshing to feel welcomed by a fanbase and not feel like a stranger when going to meet ups/live shows/conventions/etc. the mcelroys made such a welcoming environment with their content and that welcoming, warm nature can be felt in their fans too.
@@PyrokineticFire1 I think it’s also about attracting the right kind of people. i feel like fanbases tends to reflect the thing or people the fandom is for. So many kinda iffy or on the edge of okay RUclipsrs seem to have a really crappy audience. But the Mcelroys and other similar channels (Polygon, Drawfee, Collegehumor maybe) seem to always have a great comment section. I’m sure moderation is probably done, idk how that works on RUclips so I can only assume a lot goes on behind the scenes, but then maybe it doesn’t. Anyway my point is, nice people flock to good faith content, or whatever
Wouldn't say so much as an aside you may have missed: Magnus was a widower because it was how Travis chose to grieve for the boys' mother, whose death he had still not gotten over (he shared on Twitter that his grief eventually manifested into PTSD), and Magnus reuniting with Julia was, effectively, a metaphor for Travis, and the whole family, finally able to move on
This is such a fantastic video. I love how you read between the lines and didn’t just go for the obvious themes in TAZ, but addressed their content as a whole. I’ve always wondered why Monster Factory didn’t feel wrong to me, in the sense that they’re “making monsters”. But this put words to how I feel about them creating something powerful because of its image that is not tied down to our societal norms. I never understood, as a multifaceted queer person, why I felt so at home listening to three cis dudes talk about horses and pizza rolls. But video captured my feelings perfectly. It makes me so happy to see them cultivate this space of diversity and safety. Where it’s okay to be yourself, but also okay to let go of who you are for an hour to connect to people around you having the same odd human experiences. I’m also a big fan of the new motto for 2019, become the monster. It’s so silly but also a great way of saying “fuck it, become the best version of you, regardless what others think or dictate.” This obviously took a great deal of effort, and while I’ve never seen your content before I’m 100% a fan! 10/10 I cried and am sharing with all my fellow gay communist friends
I think an important note about their politics wrt death and choosing joy in what life we have is the affect their mother's life and untimely death probably had on them and these politics. Especially with the explicit statements about it made in the final balance adventure zone zone like Clint saying "Leslie McElroy's fingerprints are all over this." Just that death and what life is and what you can do with it to help others definitely means a lot to them, compounded with everything else you concluded. Definitely loved this video.
This why the Crystal Kingdom is my favorite arc. Ultimately, it's a story of a guy that wants to bring his mom back. I always loved TAZ, but, after that, the show became something more to me - it's a true expression of art.
Its crazy cause my mom passed the same way theirs did and i was around griffin's age. So to get that representation, cause it sucks but alot of people dont have moms and to be able to exhale about it with another person is so cathartic.
I saw this comment at the beginning of the video and thought it was exaggeration but I just got to the clip and now I'm crying too. God, I forgot how emotional that episode was.
And now in 2020 Griffin emails the White House telling trump to HUFF his shorts. Thank you for this wonderful analysis. It put everything I love about these shows into words so elegantly!
you got me crying at that analysis over magnus’ death scene, sis 😭 I loved this video because you perfectly went into detail about why I love the brothers. They make all their fans feel like they’re apart of one huge, ridiculous family that just wants to make each other laugh. And yeah they’ll make mistakes, but as long as you point it out they’ll correct themselves and stop the behavior. They’re a great example of people using what’s given to them to make a welcoming, loving, and inclusive community.
I started listening to Mbmbam on my commute to school/work and it really, really creates such a positive impact on my mood. As someone with chronic, severe depression and anxiety, the way you explained their content as "a rest stop... to deflate some of the tension of being alive" is such a SPOT ON observation
14:40 "Rock The Dwayne Johnson" killed me. This video is incredible, your analyses are fantastic, and my life has been enriched by your work AND the McElroy brothers. Thank you!
I watched this a year ago, partway through redpill rehab. At the time, I was identifying as a centrist with a stubborn right wing lean, so seeing a video like this- analyzing some of my favorite creators in such a radically left viewpoint from my perspective- I rejected it. But I can now say, having had this pop up in my recommendations a year later on a new RUclips account, that my opinions have been greatly changed over that period of time, and I can now appreciate this video in a new, breadpilled light. Glad to see you again, and thank you :)
Also I noticed something occurring a lot (or at least up to the 43rd episode of MBMBAM bc I haven't listen to the ones after yet) is that if the asker talks about someone, even if the asker uses gender-specific pronouns, sometimes the mcelboys will use neutral pronouns Like if some Jessica Beach talks about how she hates that her friend is always home and he never goes out, the good boys will say stuff like "Jessica, your friend is depressed. Check on them and go take them to the movies or I DONT KNOW"
@@bick5601 oh wow, I listen in reverse chronological order. I didn't know they always did that. What's it like all the way back there in the past? And should I time travel to you with some dominos Za'? Yes, that's a mbmbam reference, I only saw the animated.
@@CoryMck I never understand why people do it in reverse! I listen to it in chronological order so I can understand when they make references, I've never like watched a show starting with the last episode and ending with the first one! But you do you Back here, it's nice. They started off at not really that 'woke', like they'd laugh when someone mentions in an ask that either they or a friend is gay, but they'd gotten more accepting Also I don't get references past the 43rd episode ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ What's it like listening to it in reverse? Are they good bois ? Is it weird to listen to references and only get them afterwards?
@@bick5601 I think I always do reverse chronological order because I probably won't be able finish everything in the archive, I assume the later podcasts have better quality and more Improv experience, and I want to get the cultural references when they're still hot out the oven. That way I listen to the new episodes when they come out and can still listen to more if I want.TBH, I don't know how you can start so many years back, but to each their own. As far as I can remember, most references are to their personality, like how Juice asks questions with super obvious answers, or how Travis doesn't "Yes and". Other than that, every year they make a catchphrase to represent the year, and I think that gets a lot of references. If you want to see what I mean, episode 440 is the episode where they decide what to name 2019. The bois are pure wholesomeness right now. I also watch a bunch of their other Polygon videos too, (they got me into Stardew Valley) but I didn't even notice there was comedic philosophy about not attacking 'communities of weakness' until now, I just assumed they were good people, I completly forgot that they had to make a mental effort to screen certain questions. Because they do have vaguely political jokes, but I guess I'll have to start taking note.
@@bick5601 The brothers strongly believe in not starting from they're beginning, they're kind of ashamed of where they started but they really didn't start of that bad and they've grown so much.
This is the first video of yours that I've ever watched, and as someone who has never seen any of the McElroy's stuff, I STILL found it really enjoyable and insightful. Also really, REALLY funny. Good job.
Honestly clicking on this video i was so worried it was gonna be something bad and hidden about them so i just spent the first 3 minutes like _"dont let them be secret fascists dont let them be secret fascists dont let them b_
Larry Mahnken honestly I sincerely believe that makes them all the more impressive. Obviously it would be good if they’d always been wholesome and welcoming, but the fact that they evolved means that they listened, closely, to people who maybe aren’t accustomed to being listened to very well.
@@WalkingTaako42 They were never really problematic. I've started listening to MBMBaM from the very first episode and have never run into anything homophobic, racist, sexist, etc. There were a few off-color jokes, but nothing of that nature.
WHY WON'T YOU LET ME PET THIS DOG ugh this is such an excellent video and also i am INCREDIBLY emotional about taz again all of a sudden. really good insight into why the mcelroys are so comforting and funny also "youre a communist now" Thank you.................
Their politic is LETTING DOGS TO VOTE!!!! ... I finished TAZ Balance today and I'm still crying about it. It isn't fair at all you put a video on the boys TODAY. I will cry AGAIN PLEASE NO I CANT
If it makes you feel any better, I've listened to Balance several times and except the first time I can't listen past Taako's wrapup. Griffin's abrupt question to Travis will make me sob for hours and I just. Can't. Not again lol.
i heard the bg music and gasped... i cannot believe you would do this also edit: what is with the mcelroys/homestuck/lgbtq overlap why are we all gay and the same
as someone who comes from a family like the mcelroys I can sum up their politics in a sentence "leave the world a better place then you found it" that's something that's been drilled into me since I was old enough to speak, and honestly that kind of empathy is hard to teach at an older age, these boys were brought up right, and chose to keep being that.
omggggg what a fantastic video. also playing the 'johann's voice' and 'how does magnus die' clips with no warning is now illegal. that being said... i gotta go relisten to taz now huh
Great video but I did not consent to being shown the “There’s Magic in a Bard’s Song” clip without warning Edit: also “how does magnus die” EXCUSE ME!!!
Taz also makes me cry a lot. I wasn't expecting to cry at just a snippit of its end but holy shit the Magnus bit got me. The first time I listened to taz I was in year 2 after my best friend, my aunt, died. The second time was a week after we had to very suddenly put my dog down. I could barely get though the end of this video coherently. This was beautiful. Thank you.
My mom died when I was a kid, and a man who I describe as my “extra dad” killed himself pretty violently about 3 years later, so my childhood was full of a LOT of death (not even getting into my moms parents and several adult figures in my life also dying in that 14 year stretch). As a result I’m super super touchy about deaths in media, and the least I ask is for them to feel meaningful. The deaths of Johan and Magnus were SO well done and so meaningful they genuinely set a bar for me in deaths in media.
There’s a distinct difference in how I respond to different media surrounding death. Usually I just don’t care much bc I’m a horror fan, but taz did it with such respect and grace that it always is comforting to me. On the other hand there’s an episode of Young Justice: Outsiders that objectively is pretty good but for me it’s impossible to watch without becoming a screaming mess
Hey, just wanted to let you know that I finally got to finish this video, because when you got to talking about TAZ I realized I absolutely had to stop and experience the entire Balance arc. I only just now finished it. Thank you so much for bringing this into my life :).
I have never once gathered the gumption to listen to The Adventure Zone despite millions of suggestions in order to do so, however, your video has changed that, and now I will be watching The Adventure Zone. Thank you.
@@eclate23 agreed! for me, it really picked up around the Crystal Kingdom arc and then I devoured the rest of it as fast as I could. just stick with it, op!
This is such a good video, oh my god. It's amazing how you broke down exactly why the McElrpys' content is something that LGBT people genuinely gravitate to because of their ideas and beliefs reflecting ones that want to keep us healthy seen and safe. Their different personalities, their good natured humor, their familial love, their positivity, and their imaginative and loving content gives us so much to discuss and create from. You made a beautiful and cognitive video, and I appreciate finally having something that can so easily explain and explore why their content means so much to me. And I also call them the McEl-Boys x"D I love you so much Sarah;;!! Edit: I forgot how much Monster Factory makes me so happy, as someone who is fat, trans, and autistic, seeing a complete "monster" be able to beat the game and take over the world, have their narrative be so wildly silly or so wonderfully charming, and have them be loved, welcomed, and embraced by their creators who encourage them to break the entire system.
I swear, I was so scared to click on this video. Glad to be pleasantly suprised by a great video essay and not some kind of callout video. Sometimes, lately, it feels like my faith in humanity hangs by a thread, and that thread is the McElroys. I realize, of course, that no one is infallible McElroy content has been a huge comfort for me this last year, especially since the start of quarintine, but even beyond that. I found the adventure zone last year when I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and it honestly really helped me get through that and there's just something so powerful about the story, I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. Also, "I just want to talk about Lup" Relatable
One of my favorite things said from Griffin is how capitalism is funny except that it is run by ghoulish figures(said in a tweet). I feel like Griffin is the most political of the three in regards to some of his jokes about the world at large. I'm so glad someone is talking so openly about this because I always wondered about this myself. This was a really informative and well thought out video about our favorite silly boys, so keep it up! Subscribed!
"Absurdity is the cornerstone of the McElroy brand of humor." You just summed up for me, so succinctly, why and how I love their content. Absurdity, to put it simply, is my favorite. Good video, friend.
YO THIS IS GREAT! i never caught on to john and the hunger being fascism that’s wild. also in terms of lucretia, i loooove her bc she’s proof of so many things: what being desperate and seeing your friends hurt can drive someone to do, that good intentions don’t fix a horrible choice, that self isolation will never solve anything, that you can see your mistakes and work to better yourself. i never saw what lucretia did as pushing her plan because she knew what was best, but that she couldn’t stand to see her friends hurt. hell, a line that always gets me is the one about her having to erase lup because if lup’s disappearance was tearing her apart, how much was that hurting her brother? her love? lucretia isolated herself out of what she thought was necessity- out of taking her friends’ grief and internalizing it and letting them be happy. and it was a MESS! it didn’t work! hell, none of the six get their happiness and like you said, lucretia’s isolation only hurts her more! she fucked up so badly and in trying to help the people she loves she only puts them through more pain. like you said, individuals bonding to fight back is what saves the world, once lucretia allows others to help her instead of hiding away to protect them like she wanted to the hunger is able to be killed. so. yeah. lucretia rights. she’s just a really well written character honesty ! she’s not evil but she did some really fucked up things, and i think she’s just such a good example of moral complexity anyways great video !!!
"How do you fight fascism? You put three dipshits on the nose of a spaceship with a bunch of weapons to punch it until it's dead!" Hey. I'm willing to give it a try.
The McElroys mess up, and sometimes seriously. However, they *always* listen when others call them out, and they *always* apologize genuinely + change their behavior. I respect them immensely for this.
i relate to magnus so much. my ideal reward is making up for lost time with my brother. out of the 17 years i got with him, barely 7 i feel i was a good sibling. if that. i wasnt around a lot and when we were young i wasn't a nice kid. to see him again would heal every wound.
God, it's so nice seeing fellow trans people that are into McElroy content! Loved the video, teared up in more than a few places (you really hit the nail on the head in a lot of places). Also, can I just say, thank you so much for including closed captions? As someone with ADHD who finds it very hard to watch a video more than 5 minutes without getting distracted, they are always a big help! All around fantastic! Definitely going to go watch more of your videos now! (P.S. I love Lup so much too and in my opinion she is easily one of the best characters despite her short amount of time on the show comparatively)
found this 4 years later and i'm here to bawl in your comments. i've had an exceptionally awful week and was in a pretty deep black hole today. thank you so much for the reminder that life is limited and people can be good. it's hard to remember that these days.
I clicked on this vid expecting it to be a flighty act of masochism on my part since I find a lot of intersectionalist arguments to be poorly constructed and obnoxiously delivered by the vloggers who offer them - I've never been 'anti-SJW' but I definitely went some way down that rabbit hole and am now a bit embarrassed about guys I was subbed to in 2012 (*cough* Sargon *cough*). I don't think I've ever been so pleasantly surprised by a video - you make a comprehensive argument for media to be viewed through a political lens, a thorough analysis that's backed up strongly with excerpts and an excellent description of the issues with South Park's intent (something that I'm realising has always bothered me about the show but I was never able to properly articulate) The personal perspective and anecdotes are used to furnish the argument, not to make it and your delivery is excellent as well. I hope the tone of this comment isn't at all condescending - I'm sure you don't feel the need for vindication from cishet white males who used to read r/kotakuinaction, after all - I just wanted to let you know that you can make cases strong enough to change peoples' minds. May you enjoy the success you deserve.
I’m so glad to have found your channel. I thoroughly enjoyed the video and love how well-articulated and put together it is. Like it makes me wanna get my shit together, ya know? The McElroy family’s podcasts have kept me company and made me laugh through some of the darkest, loneliest shit. Not only are their relationships examples to me of what fun, healthy relationships can BE, but as someone who never really had a childhood, it is a relief to witness them just be their kind, silly, funny selves and indulge their inner child (children?)
Thanks again for the feature ! I definetly feel like the line "how does Magnus die?" Is a very big sucker punch but not only because of its emotional content but because of it's timing. Very often in these huge battle sequences tension is high because any of your favourite characters could be killed. At any point one of main trio or any of the side characters could have been killed by the hunger and be gone forever. So when no one died it felt like for once ,just for once everyone got to live. When we think of these characters that we love and care about we think about all the fun and wacky things they can do. All the adventures they are going to go on in the future. When you watch a TV show and it finishes you don't think "I wonder how this characters going to die" because the mere thought of it is upsetting and it breaks the sort of illusion that these characters can always live on in our memories , they are immortalised in our minds and thus never really die. There's great comfort in magnus' death, from Travis' voice cracking with emotion to the wonderfully peaceful ending of Magnus being reunited with Julia at last and having time to catch up with all the years they've lost together. Even though Magnus has died the story still continues in the same way Johan's story lives on in story and song. I geuss the point I'm trying to get across is that despite Taz having a conclusion and set ending it can still live on, this isn't the "End" persay it's more just a conclusion . And creating such an amazing story that someone like me with a big phobia of things ending and letting go can listen to it and feel calm and content goes to show how far the McElroy's have gone to creating a story that is inclusive and comforting. You summed up the politics of the McElroy's really well here they don't exclude tragedy or try to ignore it's presence but rather embrace it in an honest way, without humour and with a very comforting lens. Taz has loss and growth and tragedy but it follows the McElroy's motto to a T- "No Bummers" . Thanks for an amazing video
I was someone who learned of the Mcelroys through The Adventure Zone first and foremost, and got into MBMBAM much later. When I started listening to MBMBAM from the beginning I was a bit shocked at some of the jokes they would make and language they used, and it made me uncomfortable to hear to be quite honest. But, no one is perfect. We have all said and done things that were insensitive, especially when it came not from a place of maliciousness, but from a place of ignorance, of not knowing better. I know I did. But I think it speaks volumes about them that, when presented with a different perspective, they made the choice to change. Not just for their own gain, because goodness knows that off color or 'edgy' humor still has a fan base, but because they felt it was the right thing to do, because they don't want to knowingly hurt anyone. And I think it says a lot that they CONTINUE to learn and grow in a very sincere way. Their allyship doesn't feel like it comes from a place of performance or obligation, but bc they genuinely want to do right by folks. And for that I am so incredibly grateful to the McElroy family for their willingness to listen and grow and for all the hours of joy and laughter (and sometime tears) that they have brought into my life.
You are being very insightful, clever, and funny all at once, and have a good clip to your talking speed, so I am finding myself continually going back to catch what you just said bc it's all just so good
@@noahhebert3320 Jokes on you, you're indoctrinated by Cappie propaganda. (No I'm not talking Soviet-Style "Communism". There's more than one path to achieve Communism. But you losers are too dim-witted to realize that)
You've done it, you've put the Thing into words, the Thing being why/how the McElroys' content makes me laugh while not also not constantly making me feel like a shoe is about to drop.
I watched this video not knowing at all who the Mcelroy Brothers were, but by the end of it I started looking into MBMBaM. A year later I’m now a full fledged mbmbambino and love those good good boys. Thank you for introducing them to me!!!
I just have to say, I have watched this video at least 7 times at this point, it encapsulates the reasons I love the mcelboys perfectly, and is so wonderfully executed, Sarah you are incredible and have the most wonderful brain
mbmbam's intro is read by bob ball, not clint mcelroy. whoever made this video is a hack and a fraud.
Clint does the intro at live shows quite often, so go gently please.
clint did the one for their tv show and sometimes live shows so be nice to yourself
You said "their dad". Bob can be their dad, too.
I was gonna say
clint does it at live shows i believe, the pause before "what's up you cool babies" is usually a bit longer
The only political issue that matters is that I THINK THAT DOGS SHOULD VOTE!
As a vegan activist, I endorse this message. In fact, I am actively organizing with various organizations in Montreal in order to mainstreamize the concept of giving animals legal personhood and promote electoral reforms in such a way as to permit the extending of voting rights to children and animals.
Don't forget pornography for birds. All animals deserve their needs to be met
My name is Sprite Pepsi and I AM ABSTINENCE UNTIL I DIE !!
@@hiero-green I wanna talk about bird lube! Now!
Well if we allow the dogs with human hands to vote, what about the cats with human heads.
Listen, I don't wanna get political but....
I THINK DOGS SHOULD VOTE
Now now now wait a minute, I’ve got something to say, and you’re all gonna LISTEN...
DOG SUFFRAGE!
Dog👏votes👏dog 👏votes👏
@@salsaroja9740 RUFFERAGE
Dogs exist: existence is important: things that are important matter: things that are matter deserve a vote: dogs should vote.
I'm convinced.
It's not my bimbam, it's the people's bimbam
ok i truly hate that i saw this thumbnail expecting it be some weird edgy video micro analyzing the mcelboys & then you had the nerve to give me whiplash with this content & then just make me cry like that? with that final closing bit? in my own home? my tears? my gay ass tears? this was wonderful but im still mad
God, I thought the same thing. I was super afraid to click
I have only these het tears, but still they flow.
Why'd you cry?
@@qwuzzy well for two reasons
1) as a big TAZ fan, its literally impossible for me to hear griffins narration of story & song without tearing up
2) OP perfectly expresses alot of my own reasoning for loving the mcelroy brothers, & its really encouraging, albeit bitter sweet, to hear someone else so perfectly encapsulate why the mcelroys have the fanbase they have, why both their content & them as individuals make us all feel so safe in a world that constantly dismisses us & punches down in their content..
it was also something like 2am & I was already feeling rather emotionally vulnerable but you didn't hear it from me
@@cherryphobe i havent even watched the video yet but this is making me emotional already
Anyone remember when they talked about eating in a Golden Corral with their dad on the first Christmas their mom died? That was a curve ball on a no bummers episode. I wonder if that has anything to do with how in The Adventure Zone, the boys are always saved by a strong woman.
I think that was more a result of the character's ineptitude lol. griffin being the youngest may have glorified his mother more than the others. this could very well have influenced the creation of the characters who saved them but it's definitely subconscious rather than intentional.
When did they talk about this? What podcast?
@@Bee-gc2do its in one of the live episodes labeled face to face between 1 and 2 years ago. it might be searchable if you search up mcelroys bummers or mcelroys break no bummers rule on your preferred search engine.
I've always thought that their mothers death was a strong motivator, and really shaped all of them. They very rarely talk about it, but when they do it's very clear that it was something that shaped their attitudes and outlooks. At one point in mbmbam they also mention that they started podcasting as a way to stay closer as a family, without any expectation that it would turn into what it has. The subtext I interpreted was that this was also a reaction to their loss. Anyway. Great video, love those sweet boys.
Actually, I believe that Julia was based off their mother, as well as Merle’s “choose joy” philosophy. She’s everywhere in their work, especially TAZ.
A year late, but I wanted to note that "Sawbones" is much more political than the other shows in their network. It features Justin and Sydney McElroy (husband and wife duo) discussing weird and funny medical history, but they address some pretty dark stuff and more political issues. They've discussed mental health in current political climate, brought on trans individuals to discuss the hurdles they have faced in the health care system, and have made their political views towards the current administration fairly obvious.
Give it a go if you haven't and, as always, don't drill a hole in your head.
theyve also talked about medical racism and sexism on multiple occasions
There's also something to the development of Magnus. Magnus rushes in is an idea of putting others in need before yourself. In the beginning, Travis has said, Magnus wasn't going to live a long life and go down in a blaze of glory. As the story went on, Travis, and in turn Magnus, changed from being selfless and dying young to appreciating the family he had and dying old, surrounded by them. It's a fascinating development, as it happens to both character and player, and it's something I really love about the show.
That’s what I love about the form of story telling in general. The author and hopefully the reader develop from these experiences all the same. Watching the real time human and character development of taz is def a huge draw.
Travis fudged his roles. That’s all I learned from Magnus.
I'm confused about how this applies to Travis as well, could you elaborate? It's a really interesting point!
@@glowmilk7948 I forgot I wrote this comment! I think I meant that Travis and Magnus kinda became the same person as time went on, especially since much of later Magnus and also much of Travis was based in the brothers' mom.
i'm not a champagne socialist, I'm a LaCroixmunist.
My name is Sprite Pepsi, I'm Communist until I die!
The McElroys Brothers: No Bummers
Also the McElroys Brothers: Taako saying "Who?"
My God. That line alone is one of my favorites things in any media
It's Clint's disbelieving laughter that really clinches the organic-ness of that moment for me... it's so good.
That's still the best improved line in the entire thing. I mean, there are so many incredible Balance moments (Arms Outstretched, that incredible Story and Song setup from Griffin, Abra-ca-fuck-you, "you kept Refuge safe" etc) but that one always sends a shiver down my spine.
KO I get all emotional when I think about all of those moments
Hey, who gave you permission???? To remind me????????????
They also explicitly address their mistakes within the airtime of the show, like with the Bury Your Gays trope. Didn't make excuses, apologized, and made it right.
They also support shoplifting and time theft from corporations.
Although Clint may or may not believe the moon landing was real I'm still not clear on if he was joking or not
wait i just thought they were messing around with the shoplifting thing
i know this is like a year late but could you tell me what episode they talked about the bury your gays trope? ty :)
i believe it was in the first the the adventure zone zone (or the one closest to the end of petals to the metal)
Tara Moran I’ve listened to taz three times and I don’t recall that at all
i literally just finished balance and i’m 85% sure it was in that the the adventure zone zone (approx ep 38/39?) but it might have been in the later ttazz where they talk about lup’s name. it was definitely discussed in feed tho, as well as twitter and interviews
"I just wanna talk about Lup" - me all day every day
Hey? That zoom in on Garfield’s feet? Haunting. Chilling. Horrible.
i think the "no bummers" thing is cool because its not a one-way-street. its not just that the fans are not allowed to bring bummer questions to the live shows. its also that the mcelroys dont want to be a bummer to anyone listening, and that includes EVERYONE. if they make a transphobic joke, that might not be seen as a bummer by many, since its a joke, but to a trans person it would make them really really sad. "no bummer" is something they ask of their fans, but also something they do themselves by listening and apologizing and correcting themselves, so its also a promise
The McElroy's make tons of jokes at people's expense. Monster Factory is series of video essays on mocking facial differences and body shape, for example - and I've met several people who hate that about it. They definitely don't mean "nothing that makes anybody feel bad", because the DEFINITELY make jokes that make people feel bad sometimes (including me). And they probably shouldn't aim for that, because that's an impossible (and pointless) goal.
What "no bummers" lets them do is avoid interfacing with much critically - "it's all fun jokes" is an easy way out of taking a stand for anything (which would threaten their brand and it's broad appeal). Taking a vague stand for "inclusion", when inclusion only means "we don't overtly discriminate against most groups" isn't noble - it's just good branding.
FWIW I really enjoy their media and have spent thousands of hours consuming it. I just think it's worth pointing out that they're not moral leaders, they're entertainers selling a personal brand, and because of that we should be careful not to put their behavior on a pedestal.
@@TheyCallHimBun I'm not really sure you can call Monster Factory body shaming. With rare exceptions where the create a character engine is just super limited, I can't think of a single person that looks even remotely like a Monster Factory character. There's a few that might get close-ish here and there, but no amount of outlier genetics is going to make a real person look like a Toucan Man with Bright Red Skin and Neon Blue Hair.
You can't really call them out on body type shaming as they've run the full gambit on skinny to fat, short to tall, and atrophied to muscular. They only thing they haven't really done is the absolute middle, because that wouldn't make for much of a show.
Still, as someone outside the perfect middle of body expectations, I never really took Monster Factory as targetting "ugly" people so much as just making fun of game engines with overly customizable create a characters.
TheyCallHimBun Monster Factory being body shaming is one of the coldest fucking takes I’ve ever heard
@@AddictiveSombrero Monster Factory being called a series of 'video essays' is also pretty chilly
@@TimeLadyClaire YEAH SJDJDKNF like I'm now imagining monster factory as if it's a series of videos on why men who look like squirtles don't deserve rights sksjfnjf
This video has been showing up in my "suggested" feed since it was posted and I honestly didn't want to watch it at first. I wasn't familiar with your content and wrongly assumed it would be... inflammatory, I guess? Like a callout? And while I certainly don't think the McElroys are infallible, I do think they represent a really important moment in an important cultural shift in comedy and storytelling that I think is more meaningful to uphold than any wrongdoings one might expose when dissecting their content for the problematique.
But instead this was a beautifully compelling examination of... exactly that. I think a lot of the humor of the rising generation is characterized by a certain existential absurdity but with a message of hope and unity at its core. Thank you for taking the time to really examine that, and why it's important, not only to the medium and the audience as a whole but to you as an individual. I loved this video. It was well-composed, funny, informative, and as a presenter you are very captivating and charismatic. I definitely ugly-cried through your discussion of TAZ Balance.
Thanks again for making this. I don't think I can bring myself to read the other comments because I'm sure there are some doozies in there, but from me at least I think you did an amazing job and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank you for (a year ago) writing the comment that made me decide to watch this when I wasn't sure in September 2020.
Also, same same.
This comment made me want to watch the video, so thank you.
I’ve just been too depressed to listen to even very kind and good intentioned takedowns of my emotional-support media.
Cheers!
Same, I also avoided for quite a while and am now glad I’m watching. 😊
Thanks for all of this insight! I'm bookmarking this video for once I've caught up on TAZ*, and looking forward to watching this!
*On The Crystal Kingdom right now, and despite all my cautious efforts to avoid spoilers, I got a major one thanks to a super thoughtless person... 😞 Still loving TAZ though, and dodging all other spoilers as best I can!
When someone leaves your life, those exits are not made equal.
Some are beautiful and poetic.
Others are abrupt and unfair.
But most are just unremarkable, unintentional.
- Griffin McElroy
Unfair to put that in front me and make me emotional
I am currently listening to the finale of balance and DAMN
This has me fucked up.
This is the same boy who did a big ol chomp on a banana. The duality of man
I just can’t believe this is the same man who wants to talk about bird lube.
arguably its like 10x more difficult to create good, funny content when playing the 'no bummer' rule. Ask any current popular comedian to make a joke without partially offending anyone and they'd struggle. It's why I'm so impressed with the boys, because they manage to stay hilarious despite the restraints of being 'kind' and 'safe'.
i thought this said “its like 10x more difficult to create god” and honestly i took it as a monster factory reference bc it sounded like something juice would say
It's all thanks to the bottomless pit of madness that is (was?) the Yahoo! Answers service.
Perhaps its because instead of relying on edgyness for their laughs, the boys are actually quite intelligent
I know of 3 current popular comedians who can do that
@@NZsaltz If you don't mind me asking, who are those? I'm continuously looking for comedians who doesn't punch down, especially after all the "edgy" shits I used to enjoy in high school.
I've been casually listening to Sawbones for almost five years and only recently learned that Justin was involved with any other podcasts - LOL! Sawbones is amazing and definitely not apolitical. Sydnee and Justin frequently discuss why vaccines are good, queer people are valid, and reproductive rights are important. The theme of one of their most recent episodes (Rock Medicine) is explicitly stated loudly and clearly several minutes into the episode as "HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE!!" I think the difference is that Sydnee, as a highly accomplished physician, is an expert on the medical topics of the show.
i love Sawbones!
It’s also worth noting that sydnee came out as bi a few months ago! I don’t remember if it was on twitter or in sawbones but it did happen
Maggie H it was actually in the podcast she does with her two younger sisters, still buffering! Ngl, deffo cried listening to that one.
Agh! I need to get on listening to that!!!!
@@RampagingPixie yes! I loved the pride episode so much, and then her talking about her experience and then coming out as bi was so awesome to hear
my brother? you mean _our_ brother. **ussr national anthem plays in the background**
Hi again, sibling I never had
Love to kick back and relax to some good ol’ Our Brother, Our Brother and Us.
Comrade McElroy
Out brother our brother and us
@@fredarok579 damn made my joke before i read this
"no bummers?" i thought it was "no middle sliders"?
Bummers are the middle sliders of life.
No no no, that's The Adventure Zone
monster factory my dude
The deep deep love of the McElboys that the fanbase has is just so wholesome
same
let’s talk about stuff: intensely eloquent and intelligent rant about how the McElroy brothers depart from traditional, lazier forms of comedy
me: i like em cuz they say funny stuff about Home Alone and horses
correction! the totinos sponsorship WAS 100% a paid promotion, they also have a hilarious episode of mbmbam where they are sponsored by totinos and while its mostly played up for a joke they also do take mandatory breaks between their pizza roll goofs to promote totinos social media
i never in my life could have imagined that was an actual paid promotion. jeez
Wow...I bet Totino's didn't know what they were getting into, although those Tim n Eric ads make more sense now.
@@thefollowingisatest4579 they did know! the sponsorship was a result of a fan who was working in marketing at totinos at the time. it was basically the fan duping their bosses into supporting the thing they liked.
@@letstalkaboutstuff actually, afaik, the mbmbam episode was paid promotion, but the monster factory episode was just them bringing it over because they thought itd be funny
As Justin put it in the episode, "I'd hate to be the executive who has to explain that nothing in this episode is representative of our brand and yes - we did pay for all of it"
i have been in so many fandoms in the past, and honestly there's nothing like the mcelroy/mbmbam/taz fandom. every person i have talked to and met have always been kind, open, understanding, and genuine with me. i feel like the brothers have a huge influence on their fans in this way! and its so refreshing to feel welcomed by a fanbase and not feel like a stranger when going to meet ups/live shows/conventions/etc. the mcelroys made such a welcoming environment with their content and that welcoming, warm nature can be felt in their fans too.
it's all about keeping the wrong kind of people out... you know the ones
@@PyrokineticFire1 I think it’s also about attracting the right kind of people. i feel like fanbases tends to reflect the thing or people the fandom is for. So many kinda iffy or on the edge of okay RUclipsrs seem to have a really crappy audience. But the Mcelroys and other similar channels (Polygon, Drawfee, Collegehumor maybe) seem to always have a great comment section. I’m sure moderation is probably done, idk how that works on RUclips so I can only assume a lot goes on behind the scenes, but then maybe it doesn’t.
Anyway my point is, nice people flock to good faith content, or whatever
*18:38** Pam didn't become the rules, **_she became the monster._*
_Happy Frankenstein-teen 2019_
ayyyy we see each other everywhere
@@babypurplebat2610
(˵ ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°˵)ﾉ⌒♡*:･。
Gotta show my love for LeftTube
@@CoryMck Fellow comrade!
"Inherently immoral capitalist system" - Justin McElroy at least 3 times in "Sawbones: Yes, More Medical Questions Answered!"
That's my favorite part of Sawbones, every sweet moment where Justin says something akin to "eat the rich"
@@Cohozuner ❤❤❤❤❤
Wouldn't say so much as an aside you may have missed: Magnus was a widower because it was how Travis chose to grieve for the boys' mother, whose death he had still not gotten over (he shared on Twitter that his grief eventually manifested into PTSD), and Magnus reuniting with Julia was, effectively, a metaphor for Travis, and the whole family, finally able to move on
Fuck I’m ugly crying now
bruh the ending made me cry without knowing that and now I can't stop god dammit
This is such a fantastic video. I love how you read between the lines and didn’t just go for the obvious themes in TAZ, but addressed their content as a whole. I’ve always wondered why Monster Factory didn’t feel wrong to me, in the sense that they’re “making monsters”. But this put words to how I feel about them creating something powerful because of its image that is not tied down to our societal norms. I never understood, as a multifaceted queer person, why I felt so at home listening to three cis dudes talk about horses and pizza rolls. But video captured my feelings perfectly. It makes me so happy to see them cultivate this space of diversity and safety. Where it’s okay to be yourself, but also okay to let go of who you are for an hour to connect to people around you having the same odd human experiences. I’m also a big fan of the new motto for 2019, become the monster. It’s so silly but also a great way of saying “fuck it, become the best version of you, regardless what others think or dictate.”
This obviously took a great deal of effort, and while I’ve never seen your content before I’m 100% a fan!
10/10 I cried and am sharing with all my fellow gay communist friends
BECOME THE MONSTER IS VERY GOOD ACTUALLY
let's talk about stuff. YES, I LOVE IT
let's talk about stuff. Also I too could just tell about Lup bc she’s so great
I think an important note about their politics wrt death and choosing joy in what life we have is the affect their mother's life and untimely death probably had on them and these politics. Especially with the explicit statements about it made in the final balance adventure zone zone like Clint saying "Leslie McElroy's fingerprints are all over this." Just that death and what life is and what you can do with it to help others definitely means a lot to them, compounded with everything else you concluded. Definitely loved this video.
there is so much material i left on the floor while making this video. i wanted to include a lot of stuff from ttazz but i kept have to pare it down
This why the Crystal Kingdom is my favorite arc. Ultimately, it's a story of a guy that wants to bring his mom back. I always loved TAZ, but, after that, the show became something more to me - it's a true expression of art.
Cool I didn’t need my heart tonight
Its crazy cause my mom passed the same way theirs did and i was around griffin's age. So to get that representation, cause it sucks but alot of people dont have moms and to be able to exhale about it with another person is so cathartic.
It’s one thing to cry over a video but now I am crying over COMMENTS too. Sarah what have you done.
I love being told I'm a communist now while in the middle of sobbing about the McElroys, it was a very confusing experience
Every single time I hear that clip from "Story and Song" I end up moved to tears
I saw this comment at the beginning of the video and thought it was exaggeration but I just got to the clip and now I'm crying too. God, I forgot how emotional that episode was.
I cried during the Johan clip in this video and I usually only cry at magnus’s death!
@@starmanfriday7309 I legitimately doubled over my sink sobbing when Johan's words of encouragement hit
Fitz MAGNUS DIES?!?!?!
Meg Alyssa ....... she literally talks about that in the video..... you probably shouldn’t have read the comments if you’re avoiding spoilers... 😬
“south park, a bad television show...” got me real good
same sgdjsgdj and she SHOULD SAY IT!!
I had a visceral full body reaction when the Suffering Game music kicked in at 3:30 I’m too conditioned to not get emotional when I hear it.
Caitie Carson SAME
And now in 2020 Griffin emails the White House telling trump to HUFF his shorts. Thank you for this wonderful analysis. It put everything I love about these shows into words so elegantly!
you got me crying at that analysis over magnus’ death scene, sis 😭 I loved this video because you perfectly went into detail about why I love the brothers. They make all their fans feel like they’re apart of one huge, ridiculous family that just wants to make each other laugh. And yeah they’ll make mistakes, but as long as you point it out they’ll correct themselves and stop the behavior. They’re a great example of people using what’s given to them to make a welcoming, loving, and inclusive community.
I started listening to Mbmbam on my commute to school/work and it really, really creates such a positive impact on my mood. As someone with chronic, severe depression and anxiety, the way you explained their content as "a rest stop... to deflate some of the tension of being alive" is such a SPOT ON observation
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that we LIvE iN a SoCiETy
Jane Austen would be proud
14:40 "Rock The Dwayne Johnson" killed me. This video is incredible, your analyses are fantastic, and my life has been enriched by your work AND the McElroy brothers. Thank you!
I watched this a year ago, partway through redpill rehab. At the time, I was identifying as a centrist with a stubborn right wing lean, so seeing a video like this- analyzing some of my favorite creators in such a radically left viewpoint from my perspective- I rejected it. But I can now say, having had this pop up in my recommendations a year later on a new RUclips account, that my opinions have been greatly changed over that period of time, and I can now appreciate this video in a new, breadpilled light. Glad to see you again, and thank you :)
Fucking love that growth man
thank you for letting me know, this really means a lot. take care of yourself!
Redpill rehab is an amazing phrase, I’m going to need to borrow that.
The episode where Griffin says he would have voted for Obama twice if he knew he drank PBR.
And they always assume askers are gender nuetral.
Also I noticed something occurring a lot (or at least up to the 43rd episode of MBMBAM bc I haven't listen to the ones after yet) is that if the asker talks about someone, even if the asker uses gender-specific pronouns, sometimes the mcelboys will use neutral pronouns
Like if some Jessica Beach talks about how she hates that her friend is always home and he never goes out, the good boys will say stuff like "Jessica, your friend is depressed. Check on them and go take them to the movies or I DONT KNOW"
@@bick5601 oh wow, I listen in reverse chronological order. I didn't know they always did that. What's it like all the way back there in the past? And should I time travel to you with some dominos Za'?
Yes, that's a mbmbam reference, I only saw the animated.
@@CoryMck I never understand why people do it in reverse! I listen to it in chronological order so I can understand when they make references, I've never like watched a show starting with the last episode and ending with the first one! But you do you
Back here, it's nice. They started off at not really that 'woke', like they'd laugh when someone mentions in an ask that either they or a friend is gay, but they'd gotten more accepting
Also I don't get references past the 43rd episode
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What's it like listening to it in reverse? Are they good bois ? Is it weird to listen to references and only get them afterwards?
@@bick5601 I think I always do reverse chronological order because I probably won't be able finish everything in the archive, I assume the later podcasts have better quality and more Improv experience, and I want to get the cultural references when they're still hot out the oven. That way I listen to the new episodes when they come out and can still listen to more if I want.TBH, I don't know how you can start so many years back, but to each their own.
As far as I can remember, most references are to their personality, like how Juice asks questions with super obvious answers, or how Travis doesn't "Yes and". Other than that, every year they make a catchphrase to represent the year, and I think that gets a lot of references. If you want to see what I mean, episode 440 is the episode where they decide what to name 2019.
The bois are pure wholesomeness right now. I also watch a bunch of their other Polygon videos too, (they got me into Stardew Valley) but I didn't even notice there was comedic philosophy about not attacking 'communities of weakness' until now, I just assumed they were good people, I completly forgot that they had to make a mental effort to screen certain questions. Because they do have vaguely political jokes, but I guess I'll have to start taking note.
@@bick5601 The brothers strongly believe in not starting from they're beginning, they're kind of ashamed of where they started but they really didn't start of that bad and they've grown so much.
Warily clicked on the video... Just read through many comments, and now, fears assuaged, I am ready to enjoy your content.
I feel the same way, the fact that I can’t pet Zelda dogs is a crime
A wolf will fight to his death for you, but you may not pet it or even be sure he knows he's a good boy.
I found it super annoying because you could pick up cats in twilight princess. LET ME PET BOTW DOGS NINTENDO
“South Park, a bad TV show-“
Someone had to say it.
oh i see that jade harley figure in the background... i see my little girl
she is my trans girlfriend and also my trans me
@@letstalkaboutstuff Your lipstick shade in this video really suits you 😘
All those hamsteaks
She whit her ak-47 and happy eyes.
"No bummers" they said and then went on to create something that still makes me ugly cry whenever I remember it.
This is the first video of yours that I've ever watched, and as someone who has never seen any of the McElroy's stuff, I STILL found it really enjoyable and insightful. Also really, REALLY funny. Good job.
Biggest flaw here is that you didn’t say “kiss your dad square on the lips” at the end
I've never watched one of your videos, but I'm pretty confident in saying this: You're going to be amazing.
She's an incredible creator. You should deffo sub and watch some of her older stuff
@@binkusbonkus Aw man I was right she was amazing and this video is fantastic, definitely subbed and gonna watch some more of her stuff
She’s already amazing
@@binkusbonkus 3 minutes in, I've already laughed so hard and found her so interesting to watch that your comment made me subscribe
Is that a Balance arc reference i see?
I've never actually listened to anything TAZ, because I'm not into D&D, but your video has convinced me that I actually need it in my life.
It's transformative. You'll love it.
...... Did you start it yet?
If so, what are your thoughts?
1 minute in. Please don't tell me the McElroy brothers are problematic. They're the only ones left, have pity.
Honestly clicking on this video i was so worried it was gonna be something bad and hidden about them so i just spent the first 3 minutes like _"dont let them be secret fascists dont let them be secret fascists dont let them b_
They USED to be problematic.
"Please don't listen to the old episodes"
Larry Mahnken honestly I sincerely believe that makes them all the more impressive. Obviously it would be good if they’d always been wholesome and welcoming, but the fact that they evolved means that they listened, closely, to people who maybe aren’t accustomed to being listened to very well.
@@WalkingTaako42 They were never really problematic. I've started listening to MBMBaM from the very first episode and have never run into anything homophobic, racist, sexist, etc. There were a few off-color jokes, but nothing of that nature.
Nobody has no problematic behavior. Kill your idols.
the botw clip is LITERALLY ME. i was SO MAD that they didn't include a petting animation when interacting with dogs :'-(
WHY WON'T YOU LET ME PET THIS DOG
ugh this is such an excellent video and also i am INCREDIBLY emotional about taz again all of a sudden. really good insight into why the mcelroys are so comforting and funny also "youre a communist now" Thank you.................
This is the first time that I've cried about TAZ in a while and I'm gonna have to listen to Balance again.
"WHY WON'T YOU LET ME PET THIS DOG"
no dogs on the moon bud
I'm really confused by that dog pun. Dogs have jaws. Humans also have jaws. All vertebrates have jaws. Why did you wink? What's going on?!
(Seriously, though, someone please explain this.)
@@MisterAppleEsq Hello again, do you remember me? I see you literally everywhere, we must have very similar tastes
@@obliviousotterI You again, geez!
Their politic is LETTING DOGS TO VOTE!!!!
... I finished TAZ Balance today and I'm still crying about it. It isn't fair at all you put a video on the boys TODAY. I will cry AGAIN PLEASE NO I CANT
If it makes you feel any better, I've listened to Balance several times and except the first time I can't listen past Taako's wrapup. Griffin's abrupt question to Travis will make me sob for hours and I just. Can't. Not again lol.
The thing that gets me is the static as tacko forgets.
It was such a coincidence to me!
And really, just thinking about Balance make me emotional now
Excuse me you can’t just bring me to tears and then break it with “COMMUNISM!!” 😂
i heard the bg music and gasped... i cannot believe you would do this
also edit: what is with the mcelroys/homestuck/lgbtq overlap why are we all gay and the same
because there are like six things made that explicitly make space for us in this hell world
as someone who comes from a family like the mcelroys I can sum up their politics in a sentence "leave the world a better place then you found it" that's something that's been drilled into me since I was old enough to speak, and honestly that kind of empathy is hard to teach at an older age, these boys were brought up right, and chose to keep being that.
omggggg what a fantastic video.
also playing the 'johann's voice' and 'how does magnus die' clips with no warning is now illegal.
that being said... i gotta go relisten to taz now huh
Great video but I did not consent to being shown the “There’s Magic in a Bard’s Song” clip without warning
Edit: also “how does magnus die” EXCUSE ME!!!
Taz also makes me cry a lot. I wasn't expecting to cry at just a snippit of its end but holy shit the Magnus bit got me. The first time I listened to taz I was in year 2 after my best friend, my aunt, died. The second time was a week after we had to very suddenly put my dog down. I could barely get though the end of this video coherently. This was beautiful. Thank you.
"There's power in a bard's song" and "How does Magnus die" get me EVERY DAMN TIME
My mom died when I was a kid, and a man who I describe as my “extra dad” killed himself pretty violently about 3 years later, so my childhood was full of a LOT of death (not even getting into my moms parents and several adult figures in my life also dying in that 14 year stretch). As a result I’m super super touchy about deaths in media, and the least I ask is for them to feel meaningful. The deaths of Johan and Magnus were SO well done and so meaningful they genuinely set a bar for me in deaths in media.
There’s a distinct difference in how I respond to different media surrounding death. Usually I just don’t care much bc I’m a horror fan, but taz did it with such respect and grace that it always is comforting to me. On the other hand there’s an episode of Young Justice: Outsiders that objectively is pretty good but for me it’s impossible to watch without becoming a screaming mess
Hey, just wanted to let you know that I finally got to finish this video, because when you got to talking about TAZ I realized I absolutely had to stop and experience the entire Balance arc. I only just now finished it. Thank you so much for bringing this into my life :).
I have never once gathered the gumption to listen to The Adventure Zone despite millions of suggestions in order to do so, however, your video has changed that, and now I will be watching The Adventure Zone. Thank you.
The few first arcs are a little rough, it gets better tough
@@eclate23 agreed! for me, it really picked up around the Crystal Kingdom arc and then I devoured the rest of it as fast as I could. just stick with it, op!
@@sommu2908 "devoured", huh
@@voyagerwitch i vored the mcelroy extended universe
@@sommu2908 AGH... big gulp
This is such a good video, oh my god.
It's amazing how you broke down exactly why the McElrpys' content is something that LGBT people genuinely gravitate to because of their ideas and beliefs reflecting ones that want to keep us healthy seen and safe. Their different personalities, their good natured humor, their familial love, their positivity, and their imaginative and loving content gives us so much to discuss and create from.
You made a beautiful and cognitive video, and I appreciate finally having something that can so easily explain and explore why their content means so much to me.
And I also call them the McEl-Boys x"D I love you so much Sarah;;!!
Edit:
I forgot how much Monster Factory makes me so happy, as someone who is fat, trans, and autistic, seeing a complete "monster" be able to beat the game and take over the world, have their narrative be so wildly silly or so wonderfully charming, and have them be loved, welcomed, and embraced by their creators who encourage them to break the entire system.
This made me cry a lot more than I thought it would. The McElroys are such good good boys.
Amazing video as always Sarah.
I swear, I was so scared to click on this video. Glad to be pleasantly suprised by a great video essay and not some kind of callout video. Sometimes, lately, it feels like my faith in humanity hangs by a thread, and that thread is the McElroys. I realize, of course, that no one is infallible McElroy content has been a huge comfort for me this last year, especially since the start of quarintine, but even beyond that. I found the adventure zone last year when I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and it honestly really helped me get through that and there's just something so powerful about the story, I haven't been able to get it out of my head since.
Also, "I just want to talk about Lup"
Relatable
One of my favorite things said from Griffin is how capitalism is funny except that it is run by ghoulish figures(said in a tweet). I feel like Griffin is the most political of the three in regards to some of his jokes about the world at large. I'm so glad someone is talking so openly about this because I always wondered about this myself. This was a really informative and well thought out video about our favorite silly boys, so keep it up! Subscribed!
Lyric Momo Schatzi kinda but not really compared to Travis who has a whole politics podcast called ‘trends like these’
"Absurdity is the cornerstone of the McElroy brand of humor." You just summed up for me, so succinctly, why and how I love their content. Absurdity, to put it simply, is my favorite. Good video, friend.
guess i'll cry
YO THIS IS GREAT! i never caught on to john and the hunger being fascism that’s wild.
also in terms of lucretia, i loooove her bc she’s proof of so many things: what being desperate and seeing your friends hurt can drive someone to do, that good intentions don’t fix a horrible choice, that self isolation will never solve anything, that you can see your mistakes and work to better yourself. i never saw what lucretia did as pushing her plan because she knew what was best, but that she couldn’t stand to see her friends hurt. hell, a line that always gets me is the one about her having to erase lup because if lup’s disappearance was tearing her apart, how much was that hurting her brother? her love? lucretia isolated herself out of what she thought was necessity- out of taking her friends’ grief and internalizing it and letting them be happy.
and it was a MESS! it didn’t work! hell, none of the six get their happiness and like you said, lucretia’s isolation only hurts her more! she fucked up so badly and in trying to help the people she loves she only puts them through more pain. like you said, individuals bonding to fight back is what saves the world, once lucretia allows others to help her instead of hiding away to protect them like she wanted to the hunger is able to be killed.
so. yeah. lucretia rights. she’s just a really well written character honesty ! she’s not evil but she did some really fucked up things, and i think she’s just such a good example of moral complexity
anyways great video !!!
"How do you fight fascism? You put three dipshits on the nose of a spaceship with a bunch of weapons to punch it until it's dead!"
Hey. I'm willing to give it a try.
“South Park, a bad TV show, ...” This is the only way I’ll have this show described from now on.
HEY MR SHIGERU COME ON THE MODEL IS ALREADY ON THE GAME JUST LET ME PET THE DOG
The McElroys mess up, and sometimes seriously. However, they *always* listen when others call them out, and they *always* apologize genuinely + change their behavior. I respect them immensely for this.
i relate to magnus so much. my ideal reward is making up for lost time with my brother. out of the 17 years i got with him, barely 7 i feel i was a good sibling. if that. i wasnt around a lot and when we were young i wasn't a nice kid. to see him again would heal every wound.
This absolutely rocked my world and was so well put together!! Thank you!!!
From the title I was afraid this was going to ruin my day (let's be honest, year), but you did a Great Job!
God, it's so nice seeing fellow trans people that are into McElroy content! Loved the video, teared up in more than a few places (you really hit the nail on the head in a lot of places). Also, can I just say, thank you so much for including closed captions? As someone with ADHD who finds it very hard to watch a video more than 5 minutes without getting distracted, they are always a big help! All around fantastic! Definitely going to go watch more of your videos now! (P.S. I love Lup so much too and in my opinion she is easily one of the best characters despite her short amount of time on the show comparatively)
what's so great about Lup? they chickened out with the name even!
Sarah I'm crying this is so lovely and hopeful??? I think i'm actually gonna have to start listening to MBMBAM
As SOON as I heard you okay the beginning of Magnus's epilogue I burst into tears, fuck that gets me every single time.
Me: *starts bursting into tears second that one clip from story and song starts playing*
found this 4 years later and i'm here to bawl in your comments. i've had an exceptionally awful week and was in a pretty deep black hole today. thank you so much for the reminder that life is limited and people can be good. it's hard to remember that these days.
I clicked on this vid expecting it to be a flighty act of masochism on my part since I find a lot of intersectionalist arguments to be poorly constructed and obnoxiously delivered by the vloggers who offer them - I've never been 'anti-SJW' but I definitely went some way down that rabbit hole and am now a bit embarrassed about guys I was subbed to in 2012 (*cough* Sargon *cough*).
I don't think I've ever been so pleasantly surprised by a video - you make a comprehensive argument for media to be viewed through a political lens, a thorough analysis that's backed up strongly with excerpts and an excellent description of the issues with South Park's intent (something that I'm realising has always bothered me about the show but I was never able to properly articulate) The personal perspective and anecdotes are used to furnish the argument, not to make it and your delivery is excellent as well.
I hope the tone of this comment isn't at all condescending - I'm sure you don't feel the need for vindication from cishet white males who used to read r/kotakuinaction, after all - I just wanted to let you know that you can make cases strong enough to change peoples' minds. May you enjoy the success you deserve.
Your Monster Factory analysis is absolutely phenomenal. Amazing job!
Im pretty sure ya threw the word “mcelBOYS” in there and im hh
It made me happy regardless of whether or not I was just hearing things
I’m so glad to have found your channel. I thoroughly enjoyed the video and love how well-articulated and put together it is. Like it makes me wanna get my shit together, ya know?
The McElroy family’s podcasts have kept me company and made me laugh through some of the darkest, loneliest shit. Not only are their relationships examples to me of what fun, healthy relationships can BE, but as someone who never really had a childhood, it is a relief to witness them just be their kind, silly, funny selves and indulge their inner child (children?)
Thanks again for the feature ! I definetly feel like the line "how does Magnus die?" Is a very big sucker punch but not only because of its emotional content but because of it's timing.
Very often in these huge battle sequences tension is high because any of your favourite characters could be killed. At any point one of main trio or any of the side characters could have been killed by the hunger and be gone forever.
So when no one died it felt like for once ,just for once everyone got to live.
When we think of these characters that we love and care about we think about all the fun and wacky things they can do. All the adventures they are going to go on in the future. When you watch a TV show and it finishes you don't think "I wonder how this characters going to die" because the mere thought of it is upsetting and it breaks the sort of illusion that these characters can always live on in our memories , they are immortalised in our minds and thus never really die.
There's great comfort in magnus' death, from Travis' voice cracking with emotion to the wonderfully peaceful ending of Magnus being reunited with Julia at last and having time to catch up with all the years they've lost together. Even though Magnus has died the story still continues in the same way Johan's story lives on in story and song.
I geuss the point I'm trying to get across is that despite Taz having a conclusion and set ending it can still live on, this isn't the "End" persay it's more just a conclusion . And creating such an amazing story that someone like me with a big phobia of things ending and letting go can listen to it and feel calm and content goes to show how far the McElroy's have gone to creating a story that is inclusive and comforting.
You summed up the politics of the McElroy's really well here they don't exclude tragedy or try to ignore it's presence but rather embrace it in an honest way, without humour and with a very comforting lens.
Taz has loss and growth and tragedy but it follows the McElroy's motto to a T-
"No Bummers" .
Thanks for an amazing video
can‘t believe I almost skipped this video because I‘m a _coward_
anyway, loved your humor, research and the video in general
I see that jade Harley figure, always love to see fellow homestuck fans across the internet
you're gonna love my next video
@@letstalkaboutstuff oh that's exactly what i needed
The section on Monster Factory is one of the best things I’ve heard examining the McElroy’s. I love it. Thank you.
one of the only long form analysis videos I have chosen to watch completely on my own
did not disappoint
kudos
oh, and of course
be gay, do crimes
I love that you chose the clip of the boy major being thrown out of that club in Second Life to go over when you said “some ideas are bad” 😂
I was someone who learned of the Mcelroys through The Adventure Zone first and foremost, and got into MBMBAM much later. When I started listening to MBMBAM from the beginning I was a bit shocked at some of the jokes they would make and language they used, and it made me uncomfortable to hear to be quite honest. But, no one is perfect. We have all said and done things that were insensitive, especially when it came not from a place of maliciousness, but from a place of ignorance, of not knowing better. I know I did. But I think it speaks volumes about them that, when presented with a different perspective, they made the choice to change. Not just for their own gain, because goodness knows that off color or 'edgy' humor still has a fan base, but because they felt it was the right thing to do, because they don't want to knowingly hurt anyone. And I think it says a lot that they CONTINUE to learn and grow in a very sincere way. Their allyship doesn't feel like it comes from a place of performance or obligation, but bc they genuinely want to do right by folks. And for that I am so incredibly grateful to the McElroy family for their willingness to listen and grow and for all the hours of joy and laughter (and sometime tears) that they have brought into my life.
sometimes the youtube algorithm gives me something so incredibly amazing. thanks
*spends at least 10 minutes playing with emotions to cater to a beautiful moment of understanding and discovery* "so, communisim, ya dig?"
You are being very insightful, clever, and funny all at once, and have a good clip to your talking speed, so I am finding myself continually going back to catch what you just said bc it's all just so good
Jokes on you, I was already a communist.
Don't worry, you'll grow out of it.
@@Demilich23
Jokes on you, a lot of people are growing into Communists.
@@GooglyGook12 jokes on you communism doesn't even work not in a society manner or in a government manner.
@@noahhebert3320
Jokes on you, you're indoctrinated by Cappie propaganda.
(No I'm not talking Soviet-Style "Communism". There's more than one path to achieve Communism. But you losers are too dim-witted to realize that)
GooglyGook12 name one society of people to where it has ever work (by the way you spelt crappie wrong)
You've done it, you've put the Thing into words, the Thing being why/how the McElroys' content makes me laugh while not also not constantly making me feel like a shoe is about to drop.
That simspons comic straight up feels like a dream i'd have as a suburban kid, right down to pincer armed shadow man on the roof
that was a low blow at the end. a rebuilding year makes me cry every time, and pairing it with "how does magnus die?" well.
I watched this video not knowing at all who the Mcelroy Brothers were, but by the end of it I started looking into MBMBaM. A year later I’m now a full fledged mbmbambino and love those good good boys. Thank you for introducing them to me!!!
I just have to say, I have watched this video at least 7 times at this point, it encapsulates the reasons I love the mcelboys perfectly, and is so wonderfully executed, Sarah you are incredible and have the most wonderful brain