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Middcore t1_j2c1v4r wrote

Reply to comment by Notlookingsohot in Legend of Vox Machina - Worth the watch? by SerGiggles

I wouldn't say it ever totally resolves itself. Basically any time Scanlan is talking or doing anything it's kind of jarring.

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Notlookingsohot t1_j2c2lqx wrote

It gets less jarring tho, and Scanlon tones it down just enough after the first few episodes that the tone clash goes away, at least IMO. Like before then I was seriously considering not finishing the show because the tonal difference was so egregious, and I say that as someone who is totally down with crass humor.

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Quxudia t1_j2cqdve wrote

I think the worst instance of it for me is the song in E3. It's a funny gag on its own but its juxtaposed with a really dramatic sequence and kinda steps on it. I was surprised when I finally saw the original stream that inspired that episode: There was no equivalent Scanlan song or joke in the original dinner-party episode of the stream, that whole sequence post dinner is played as basically straight drama and was surprisingly gripping to see play out despite the shoe string production CR was working with back then. While Scanlan's humor persists through the rest of the season I did feel like it found a better balance after E3 as the real season plot kicked in. Also helps that since I've seen the campaign now I know the fact early Scanlan's a bit of a manchild is only the start of his story and not the single note he's stuck on forever.

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PristineTX t1_j2f3etr wrote

Scanlan is actually a complicated garden. Season 1, you are outside, looking at the wall he built around it.

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Middcore t1_j2fifdi wrote

After season 1, people may not want to get inside.

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PristineTX t1_j2fizsl wrote

This attitude is why the art of screenplay writing peaked in the 1970s. Personally, I have more faith in the audience.

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Middcore t1_j2fvlh8 wrote

Jesus, buddy, we're talking about a character who makes a lot of raunchy jokes in a cartoon based on somebody's DnD campaign.

I watched a large portion of the first campaign of CR and they dialed up Scanlan's obnoxiousness about 1000% in LoVM compared to the way Sam played him then. They made a purposeful decision to use him for a certain type comic relief and "this is a show for adults" signaling in season 1. If you make being a loudmouthed randy attention whore a character's sole defining characteristic, the audience is going to decide whether they like him or not based on that, and a lot of them just aren't going to be interested when later you go "No wait he actually has hidden depths." That isn't a failing of the audience, that's a failing of screenwriting - and it's true whatever the era.

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DrGarrious t1_j2fhd6e wrote

Scanlon was always going to be the hardest character to translate to screen. Luckily the next season will have a lot of development for him.

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