Quote from Captain Arcadia on 13 January 2025, 03:53

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. So like hey, quick question, why? It is our first session back, and you set up Jackson Cade to see his brother on the ferryman's boat? You betray the Jackson and send him to the Underworld to tramuatize him even more? How Dare?

   For real though, the double switch and setup for Sail Away is just an absolute delight. Gravedigger's filling the shoes really nicely of the position he's taken over, and to see him be loyal to Zeus, and then just for extra insult send Jackson to the Underworld to have his brother ferried was just the gut punch of surprise that I absolutely adore that. Just some brilliant work thus far. (I know Laner's done this segment, so excellent stuff my guy!)

2. Night Terrors 1 caught my eye, in how it leans into the horror of it all. The security that gets surprised, the shadowy horrors of Night pursuing after Narcissa really stuck out to me. Someone who's should be a target is being hunted by
3. The Already Dead was a fantastic bit, either a grand farewell of what Tombstone's done as he gets in the door but also a warning that Gravedigger's going to find him down there sooner or later, and then Tombstone's gonna have the last laugh. But how it's portrayed almost felt like reading a Connor promo, and was a fantastic nod to a wonderful character. Absolutely loved it.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

• Will Foley forgive the outburst of Destructo, or is it going to be a fight on two fronts for him?
  
• Will Cade escape from the boat and the Underworld, or be dragged along by the Ferryman to his doom?
• Why is Night stalking Narcissa?
• Who is Nero, and why is he watching Red and Mighty Mighty?
• Why didn't Gemini or El Mariachi Muerte respond to their old teammates?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

Omne trium perfectum takes it for me this week. There was something there in Felix's narration, going through the woes his own team had been through and then making that tie in with the monsters that they're going against in their match resonated. It felt like a proper in character followup for what happened, the age starting to get to Felix really seeping into the promo here. Fantastic stuff.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Oh I absolutely adored the segment this week. Right on cue to try and sway the staff from working with Anton, and then the response of the unified kitchen against the intruder was well written and enjoyable! I think it's going to be a fun little set of investigations and instigation against each other, and I can't wait to see how that becomes a drawback. But with him talking like this, I'm not sure where either Anton Savor or Captain Arcadia falls yet on the Preservationists vs the Seekers, and that's got me curious to see where it goes! Proper startoff for the month!

Quote from Wolf Fang Ayame on 13 January 2025, 08:08

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. The Already Dead, it followed up on one of the major twists of Red Snow and in a way that brought closure (in a sense) to the character of Tombstone. While keeping haunting words for Gravekeeper. great work!

2. Sail Away, When this match was announced there was this looming "oh no it feels like something big is going to happen" kind of feeling around it. And Lo and behold something big did happen. It wrapped around to the beginning real well and left with a big question of "oh what's this going to entail" kind of strong hook

3.  The Security Footage segments I enjoyed. It felt like in that area there was people trying to underhand each other and was overall a shady place. Did a great job of setting up the Red character, but also the club in general.

Bonus 4th one: I Really loved the whole Stories from the civil war stuff. it was great world building and while I know the civil war and it's ramifications were brought up across the show. It was good to see stuff that was going on on the front lines so to say. It makes this feel massive.
BURNING QUESTIONS:

Will Cade be able to not be ferried by Gravedigger?

Who is Nero?

What Kinda favor is Red going to be asking from mighty?

For that matter what kind of sway does Red even have to get him out of his deal with the circus?

What side is Klaus going to choose? perhaps his own way?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

No More Masks If it isn't painfully obvious by the overuse of the wording in my own promos. I love the motifs of masks. And so a whole promo surrounding that concept. how it weighted upon the character and what will continue onwards. Is really good work.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

I'm very fascinated by what's going on with Ayame, I knew that it wouldn't be the last that she saw of the couple. But I didn't expect the antagonism and Near transformation that's going on with her. It's wonderful and I rock with it.

I think as an aside I will also say when I first saw the color scheme I was apprehensive that the yellow would be too much for a reading session, but it actually worked really well. No issues.

Quote from Anton Savor on 13 January 2025, 21:48

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. im gonna just say this is in no order cause i believe that the already dead and sail away were equally as badass and just cool for lack of a better term. ill focus on sail away for this one, because i mean not only was it a very dark, cryptic, and amazing way of ending the show, it kinda pushed the bill forward on warzone 373 being gravedigger’s coming out party i guess or debut as the new and active ferryman. the imagery of the entire scene was cool as was the unpredictability of it all, and now im excited to see what the conversation might be about between jackson and cj on the boat next week. and what the downfall in general will be with gravedigger coming out and marking jackson as his next target.
2. the already dead was an amazing segment. for a couple of different reasons. i mean like i said, it was an amazing introduction for gravedigger as the new ferryman. he stated his reason and motivation for turning on tombstone, whether he was right or wrong. and like it was said above, its like tombstone is content with it all. and even in his “final” moments, he was still as eerie and cold as ever. it was just cool to see the other side of this after the shocking events at red snow between the two. im not sure whats with tombstone but i wonder if he does return, is this ‘the already dead’ like his new moniker? was this a hinting at a possible repackage later on for him? shid maybe maybe not.
3. i honestly did like how the segment went down between wolf fang ayame and eclipse/gravedigger. i would say that it benefited all parties in that eclispe came out looking like the asshole heel in the way that she mocked wolf fang, etc. and then how ayame was kinda elevated to a different level kinda to me with the teasing of her transforming? thats what really did it for me. im curious to see what that transformation actually looks like for her and what goes down next week between those two.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

what happens when wolf fang ayame transforms?

what will jackson and cj be discussing on the boat, if anything?

again, who will be picking what sides? (enjoying the build up for this too)

what's nero up to?

how does felix respond to what destructo did to him?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

i did enjoy no masks for sure. i feel like i see this fire and passion outta destructo every week, but maybe its the new persona or responsibility hes taking on that it hit differently this week. he brought it for sure and i hope see him continue.

i also enjoyed red’s debut promo as well. i know he didnt win but imo, it was a strong beginning piece for him and it does have me excited for his future here. im looking forward to seeing whats put out next by him.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

very interesting developments this week i can say between anton and captain arcadia. i mean captain arcadia is doing what any hero in arcadia might do i would think, and spread the news about the terrible shit somebody’s doing. it was interesting to me seeing how anton’s subordinates quit on him after what captan arcadia revealed to them, because i do like to believe that anton is self sufficient enough that this might not really phase him. unless the entirety of arcadia’s chefs and cooks are turned off from him, then that poses a different challenge and a different story in itself for anton and the future of his culinary empire. thats a development im following for sure. but i do also like the small little tid bits of comments that are constantly tossed around that raises more questions everytime, this time with anton simply saying “its a reason roland isnt here to answer for his part.” it gets me really excited for the progression of this program and the ride we’ll be taken on until we finally reach the culmination of it all. cant wait to see what goes down next.

Quote from Gravedigger on 15 January 2025, 19:25

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. Not to be a mark for my own stuff but The Already Dead had to be the most chilling segment I've seen my character in and he's done/said/ some shit in OSW. I didn't think for a second that we'd see the ferrying of Tombstone but like Arcadia said above, it was as good as a Connor/Tombstone promo in delivery. I didn't think Red Snow would be the end for Tombstone and I'm sad that it is. I am, however, excited for what means for Gravedigger.
2. The Wild Card I and II. These were great! First of all, I didn't expect to see Klaus getting his hands dirty in the moulding of Damien Solus. I thought it was quite neat when Jasper was allowed to "have a go" as well. The story being followed up in the main event is the kind of consistent planning that makes a show pop. Also, Redgrave/Way/Attano for the PPV? Woah.
3. Mara. This just drove me head first into the civil war. I felt it. I wondered how the civil war would impact the writing of the show and the storylines, and if segments like this are the way the civil war really impacts things, that's exciting as fuck.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

1. Will Foley forgive Destructo Boy?
2. What happens next between Jackson Grave/Gravedigger/CJ Thorpe?
3. Which side will Klaus pick?
4. What is Night's problem with Narcissa?
5. Who/what is Nero?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

I thought Snap was a really good promo this week. I really enjoyed the way Jackson Cade utilized the emotion of Red Snow for the theme.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

I'm really excited for the future. This show felt huge for Gravedigger and with the hype graphic on the main page, my upcoming potential match with Jackson Cade feels like a Main Event. I can't thank everyone involved enough for the faith put in me.

Sail Away should have and could have made my top three but I saved it for here. I think Gravedigger became the Valkyrie here, assuming the mantle of Ferryman with ease and slipping into the role seamlessly. It's a huge thing to do and the writer made it look natural.

A shoutout as well to the Eclipse/Gravedigger/Ayame segment that followed on from Red Snow. The only critique I do have is the placement of the segment in relation to Eclipse' match. How did she make it from the segment to the ring? It could, I suppose be squared away by Gravedigger's ability to teleport. I do think the segment was beautifully written though.

A great show overall and a great return to OSW for 2025.

Quote from El Mariachi Muerte on 16 January 2025, 00:12

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. ... I didn't want to choose the closing segment as number one, but that was one of the coolest things I've seen done. The Chokeslam heard all around Arcadia. Then, CJ Thorpe sitting there being ferried, in what once was Tombstone's boat. That's poetic as hell!
2. ... "Come on... Let's get you out of here." The line from Destructo. The thing I really like the most in this is the description of Destructo's eyes. There's so much in there, so much past that he's dealing with. A real tortured hero figure, that's pretty awesome.
3. ... I really like the visualisation of Wolf Fang Ayame, the transformation happening there, the rage. The destruction, and her being goaded on with that howl from Eclipse.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

(What questions has the show left you with?)

• Is Mara going to have a more ongoing role, or was she something just to get the version of Destrcuto over. I for one hope we see more of this story.
• Is Klaus going to side with Redgrave, and if so, are we seeing a new team form here?
• What does Nero want with all of the CCTV he's been watching. I want to see a scene from him now riding on a Segway like Paul Blart.
• What happens with Jackson Cade now? Is he being ferried with his brother?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

(Which promo was your favourite of the week?)

Craft by Grimskull: I love the way Laner crafts (hehe) a promo. You know that he has in his mind what he wants the end to sound like the whole way through. He knows what that final domino will be and works back from there. The twist he adds at the end is great. That idea of not wanting to avoid pain, but to revel in it. What that means is he can almost talk up his opponents, by talking about all the ways they can inflict pain, how they can apply their craft. Then twist the narrative, so that all of the talking up then gives him more power. Bloody clever!

Honourable Mention:

• No More Masks by Destructo: I don't read my opponents roleplays till after I read the show and this was a banger! The analogy of the mask is great. But usually we see somebody merely going for "the mask hides the true identity". What is done here is focusing on the eyes, that was the part that sealed it for me. Because right from the start of the character, I've always said that Sunshine smiles with the mouth but not with the eyes. I've hinted at it in promos, and been careful to never focus on description of the eyes when I say about him smiling. The idea of being able to see the person behind the mask by looking into the eyes is great, because Destructo would have first hand experience with that, and it gives Destructo a space to talk about everything that has happened and how it's worn him down. Just layers upon layers here. Great job.
• Stupid Hoe by Hatchet: This is a really weird choice to like, but there's something about this promo that I loved. I think it's because its the kind of promo I'd never write myself. The back and forth between the characters got a little stale by the end of it, but the premise of Drewitt and Grimskull being like bitches that get used and abused, then discarded was actually pretty good. Then to double down on it by talking about what Hatchet does when the hoe comes back after being tossed away... there's just something like a guilty pleasure about this that I like.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

(How did you like your characters portrayal and what are your thoughts on your current storyline? What, if any, improvements could be made?)

EMM

Quiet night for my guys, but I'm excited about the prospects here. We're seeing a bit of a Apokalypsis showdown, which will be flipping awesome. I love the fact that Gemini and Muerte didn't show, they're not going to bow down to demands. But what does this mean now for Anthesteria?

 

SUNSHINE

Just wanted to indicate that Zac wrote a hell of a promo this week. Love the new direction of Destructo!

 

Quote from Eclipse on 16 January 2025, 10:30

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

1. Stories From The Civil War. I get the feeling these are gonna feature heavily in my top threes going forward, I just love seeing those glimpses of the characters away from OSW, dealing with the world... And the world got a whole lot more interesting. It was also great that it featured Destructo, making clear he wasn't just gonna lay down after what happened to his pops.
2. I dislike putting my own segments here, but Eclipse and Gravedigger offing the wolf and Ayame transforming. Despite there being a new 'power couple' around, it is totally believable that Ayame can bring the fight and then some in the name of revenge. Also a neat way to explain the new poser!
3. That absolute stinger of an ending. It is hard to imagine being chokeslammed into water hurting more than being chokeslammed on solid ground, but old Gravy Baby found a way. I think for most people that would absolutely rip the wind out of your sails, but I expect it will light a fire in Cade and make him even more determined to fight Jasper, Gravedigger and the powers that be.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

• Again, who will take a side? Who will have sides picked for them? Who will stay out of the civil war?
• What is the full extent of the change that has been sparked in Destructo?
• With both 'sides' trying to court Klaus, what will he choose?
• Will we see more of Mara? On one hand I hope so, but on the other hand things never end well for 'Robins' if that is the path things go down.
• Will there be a reconciliation between two of the remaining former Pool Boys?
• I understand EMM, but... Why do Drewitt and Grimskull have beef with Gemini? She wasn't complicit with him or Zeus, just found herself on the other side of that door. I may have missed something
• I believe Tombstone is dead, but I can't help but feel that he'll somehow play a role in Gravy's story going forward... But how?
• With Mighty Mighty being pulled in two different directions, what will he choose to do?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

Old Guitar by Narcissa/Rob. A treatise on the inevitable march of time, how we endeavour to overcome or compensate and a nice little callback to how Zeus sought to dispose of EMM much like those useless, rusty strings. Plus I'm just a sucker for storytimes for kids with lessons thrown in, for some bizarre reason I always find that setting comforting and wholesome (even if Narcissa herself is anything but those things!)

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Hot damn, Eclipse is an utter bitch and I am here for it. Despite a bit of a personal funk I've been in from real life, this has actually made me more excited to write for her as I don't have to go all serious or dark and brooding, I can still hurl insults like the immature little shitlord I am. I actually want Ayame to whup her ass, just... Not kill her. I still got stuff to do with her!

Quote from Reverend Ezekiel Graves on 16 January 2025, 15:00

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

1. The Mara segment was incredibly unique and creative—it felt like a scene straight out of a movie. I could vividly picture the little girl, and what I love most about reading our results is how they draw out raw emotions. As a parent to a little girl, this segment hit me hard. My heart was racing with thoughts especially when the guns went off and she was about to be trampled.

2. I really enjoyed the Night Terrors segment. It was intense, and for the first time, Narcissa genuinely seemed scared and panicked. That added a new layer of depth to her character and made the moment all the more gripping.

3. The entire back-and-forth between Gravedigger and Tombstone in The Already Dead was absolutely brilliant. Starting the new show and season with this segment was a genius move. I loved this particular line, which made Tombstone come off as a total badass: “The Already Dead don’t die, son,” Tombstone warns him, not breaking his stride. “I’ll see you when you get here.” It was such a perfect way to set the tone.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

• When will other characters start choosing sides in this civil war?

• Why is Nero keeping an eye on Red’s establishment?

• Is Tombstone truly dead? Will we see some back-from-the-dead moment?

• Will Destructo become a major force in the civil war?

• Could Red’s “you scratch my back” deal be too much for Mighty, or will it push Mighty to show a different, more ruthless side?

MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

SNAP: I had been eagerly waiting for this promo all week, and it did not disappoint. I wanted to feel the raw pain of a brother through words, and Jackson Cade delivered beautifully. The emotion was there, and it added a lot of weight to the story.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

I’m thrilled that Graves still has his Disciples and how deeply they’ve been integrated into his story. It’s one of the coolest developments for my character and makes me proud to be a part of it.

I’m intrigued to see where his story will go with the attack on Red’s establishment and being watched by Nero. I have a feeling that Red’s “scratch my back” moment might lead to Mighty being sent after Graves which would be cool

Win, lose, or draw, I’m beyond excited for this new season.

And now, for my suck-up moment….Dean, you’re a legend. I’m in love with how Ezekiel Graves looks, and the effort you put into each character is astounding. The updates on the main page to reflect the site’s activity are top-notch, and I can’t thank you enough for the care and time you’ve put into making Graves’ visuals as amazing as they are. You’ve made me feel truly part of the team, and I’m grateful beyond words.

Lastly, the new colour scheme for Warzone is badass. Thank you for everything you do!

Quote from Gemini on 16 January 2025, 21:29

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. The Already Dead was a great segment. Ezra completely controlled the conversation. This was totally in the vein of a father/son combination after the son thinks he's putting his old man out to pasture.
2. The Anti-Hero. This show was a big coming out party for Destructo here. Everyone better keep your eyes on the kid, cause I think he's about to be on the come up in a major way. His nailing Felix added to his rebellious persona, and you can see the anger in him.
3. The Wild Card I & II. Fun set of segments here that popped off what should be a tasty triple threat for the World Championship. Jasper gets to look like the mastermind he is going after Way, and just how the hell is Harold Attano going to try and make peace with Way? Or is he?

BURNING QUESTIONS:

Will Eclipse bite off more than she can chew with Wolf Fang Ayame?

Is Mighty going to be okay with going after Graves? I assume that's what Red is going to demand. And what will Klaus Way say if/when he finds out what Mighty is doing?

How will Captain Arcadia go after Anton Savor's operation next? And how will it involve him walking into another situation where he's outmanned?

MY FAVORITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

Big fan of No More Masks from Destructo. If this kind of energy and vibe can be tapped into every week from Zac, we all better watch out cause the kid's got a rocket strapped to his ass. Great work!

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Grimskull & Gemini - I'll lump them together here since Gem was only brought up in the promo. Grimskull and Drewitt have a very good point to raise about just WTF happened to make Mariachi and Gemini abandon them. Now we know that there was some self-preservation in it for EMM, but Gemini was pretty much only saved at the behest of Muerte. Should be interesting to see how all this shakes out.

Quote from Klaus Way on 17 January 2025, 02:05

TOP THREE MOMENTS:

(Three moments of the show that stood out to you and why.)

1. Stories from the Civil War - this is a really cool idea, and I hope this is the first in a series (having it's own logo feels like it!) as it will really help ground what is happening. Though the Titans are used to this constant barrage of violence, a Civil War is just something the ordinary folk of Arcadia don't see every day. And now they're DYING. What would be cool is if each one involved someone different from the roster too.
2. The Blood Moon - this felt really cinematic. Reading it conjured a really vivid idea in my head of how this would all look on screen, so I had to include this here for that reason alone. That and the fact the segment creates more questions than it answers, which is never a bad thing in OSW, it just means we got some EXPOSITION coming.
3. Has to be Sail Away, right? A very emotional seg as Jackson gets "reunited" with his recently departed brother by Gravedigger. I foresee a show opener that may continue this scene...

   The Chokeslam into the void was kind of nice too.

BURNING QUESTIONS:

• Is this the real end of Tombstone? I get this feeling that he'll be back every now and then to dole out some choice words to the new Ferryman Valkyrie when he needs them.
• What does Nero want with Red?
• What happens next with Destructo? He's clearly been changed by the death of his dad, but will this lead him down a dark path, or just one to inner strength?
• The Night is creepy af. I guess he'll be on the Seekers side if he's after Narcissa?
• YO MIGHTY WHY YOU TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CIRCUS ALREADY MAN!?

MY FAVORITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:

"No More Masks" was a really guttural piece. It felt almost like a shoot interview recorded straight after Red Snow. I think it's been brought up in this thread a lot for good reason. A really good piece from Zac and deserves the plaudits.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

Klaus:
So Klaus is in the title picture now! An interesting trio, and I certainly hadn't considered that Jasper and Klaus might find some common ground. Although it's been hinted at that Klaus isn't exactly all sweetness and light, I think this is the first time we've actively seen him be cruel to his circus mates, and especially in such a brutal manner. Him letter Jasper have a turn was a fun little interaction.

I can't wait to see which side Klaus plumps for (if any) but what I really hope for first is that he strings both sides along and plays them off against each other for his own gain. "The Wild Card" could be a nice new nickname actually.

Drewitt:
Drewitt is FIERY. It's clear he has taken more umbrage with the whole DOOR situation than Grimskull and I kind of like that, as Drewitt was a lot more collected beforehand.