Warzone #388
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1.
2.
3.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
HAVE YOUR SAY:
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. So this is cheating technically, but I'm putting Ares I-III here. While Ares has been a force in Arcadia for an age and a half, we got to see who he was and how he came to become who he is for all of this, and I do have to say that it's an absolutely fascinating and fun read for this week. Really gives the sort of depth to a character that's been needing it, and is fantastic overall for a show named after the guy.
2. Origins: Carnage and Conclusion Revenge put a massive spotlight on the Ringmaster, and I gotta say it's eerie seeing him take so many lives and then strike back at the ones who betrayed him. Makes him feel much more sinister, a more broken man than any of us have realized and the depravity he'll go to to get that revenge he's seeking against Ajax and Damian Solus. Roll up, roll up indeed.
3. Answers II was just surprising to me, and that maybe a certain someone isn't dead? And while we don't know exactly who the mysterious woman or the man working with her is, the questions and possibilities had me spiraling when going through the show. Like hot damn, Dean's got me hooked on another mystery again!
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- What did Narcissa tell The Night?
- Who will survive the return of the Ferryman?
- Who's going to get shot first in the three way standoff?
- What's going to happen when Zeus and Felix meet?
- Where is Lucien?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
The one that caught my eye is The Storm. Something about the theming, the comparisons and the tie in back and forth with Sunshine was just the creme de le creme for me for this week!
HAVE YOUR SAY: Forced to learn that you can't do it alone huh Cap? Absolutely adore that segment, that he's forced to deal with the devil or face the evil of the Sunshine Club alone. You've done a fantastic job this week, and I loved it.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. Ignorance is Bliss: This was a intense read. At first, I didn’t think Destructo would actually go through with it—but the more I read, the more I believed it could happen. A wild ride of emotions that left a lasting impact.
2. Ares I: The Birth of War, Ares II: Loyal to a Fault, Ares III: Only Ares Can: Amazing storytelling across all three segments. Even though Ares is an NPC, the depth and emotion in these scenes made me connect with him on a new level. I came out of this show a bigger fan of his than ever before. Dread Clothing shirt???? Huh huh???
3. The Chainsaw: As Hatchet’s opponent, this segment hyped me up in the best way. It was quick, intense, and hit like a sledgehammer. Hatchet’s transformation into something even more monstrous was powerful and that roar? You could feel it.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
• Who has C.J. Thorpe’s body hooked up to an IV?
• When will it be time for “I know exactly when to say it”?
• Is Lucien okay?
FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
Vessel: Always an honour to face Jordan. You tell an incredible story every time.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Another amazing episode of Warzone. The show was jam-packed, but never felt rushed or bloated. It flowed perfectly and built hype for Ring of Dreams in all the right ways.
There are so many badass storylines heading into the show that it’s hard to pick what I’m most excited for. But I’ll be honest I’m nervous for my two matches. A fun nervous, though. Win or lose, I’ve been lucky to have Graves become a main event player. Between the awesome Discord community and the quality of storytelling, OSW is hands down my favourite e-fed I’ve ever been a part of.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. Dangerous takes the top spot for me. Holy shit, Zeus ain't fucking around with Foley. Not that I can blame him, what with the Puppeteer being the one to bomb him and the rest of the House of Sovereigns, but the viciousness in his voice is like gasoline to a flame. You can really feel the raw hatred in the Baron's voice and believe that whatever he has planned for Felix, he's going to fucking die for it. We don't know when his reckoning will come, but we know that whenever Zeus will strike, it will be without Scissors to fall back on.
2. All of the Ares segments will go here. Way to make us feel bad for a real piece of shit like the God of War. Being taught at a young age that showing humanity means death is a tragic way to grow up, and being groomed by one's own father to be the perfect soldier for Zeus hits that much harder. The trio of segments are setting up for something, I'm sure of it. But will that something come to fruition, or am I just imagining things that won't happen? Only time will tell, I suppose.
3. Conclusion: Revenge will take the final placement. While the earlier segment involving Klaus showed why the Ringmaster deserved to be betrayed by his freaks, this one cements how much he deserves a beat down that will probably never come. Not while he has his father's whip, anyway. Ajax and Damien have made a massive mistake by turning on their master while the rest of the freaks are still under his watch. They're gonna pay not just with their blood, but with their lives. I hope I'm wrong and they manage to get out of the Circus with their lives with the rest of Klaus's employees, but I highly doubt it.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
What exactly is up with CJ's body that has the unknown man so shaken? What was the machine that the corpse is hooked to? Does it beeping mean anything of significance, or is that something to lead us to a red herring? What are the answers the woman is talking about and when is he going to give them? So many questions arose from a segment entitled Answers, and I dunno if we'll even get them!
How long will this alliance between Captain Arcadia and Anton Savor last? Can it even last, given the match is a triple threat? Interested to see.
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
How to Trust takes it here. Jackson's being very kind to Harold here with this promo, but I feel like he needs to be, given how much the man's been through. He's lost his daughter, his protege doesn't like him anymore, and Jackson's the only one that's willing to give the guy a second chance. He admits that despite knowing that he's trying his best and willing to help him up at the end of their match, he's going to push their trust to the absolute limit. Absolutely lovely promo from Daws.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Night: Love the accidental Symphony of the Night reference in the segment. Surprised that Night and Attano didn't come to blows again this time around. Guess they had some form of restraint since they were in front of Narcy's house. Wonder what it was that Hera told him and why these former brothers in arms are crying over whatever it was that the Enigma was fed. I want to find out, but I don't think we're going to at Ring of Dreams if they're getting this emotional about it.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. Ares I-III – Jesus this was a lore dump that never knew I needed. Seeing where Ares started as just Aaron, his father building him, then pointing him to Zeus making him the perfect bodyguard for the Baron. It explained the relationship, the dynamics of Zeus and Ares. It was all so well executed.
2. Carnage – Just what the hell is Klaus’s body count. His life built a killer, the fire that took his family, but the destruction of Zephyr’s show. Did he also take Zephyr too? That’s what I want to know.
3. Answers II – I am getting an idea why CJ was dug up and I hope I am right. But also if I am I wonder if the old Pet Cemetery saying will be true… “Sometimes dead is better”. If CJ is brought back, will he be the same person?
BURNING QUESTIONS:
Are they trying to bring CJ back from the dead, and if so will he be the same CJ?
How depraved is Klaus Way, how deep does that river of hate go?
What will happen when Foley is alone? What will the ramifications be?
Can Destructo truly put down Nox?
Also what the fuck has Nox made? Are Scissors and Hatchet all a plan for Nox to capitalize on his experiments and Supercharge himself?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
How to Trust – Dawson has been putting together some great work recently. I like the analogy here, the pieces he tied in from Michaela to Night. Just great work.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Harold – Just hell this man cannot buy a break (unless it’s heart break). I love the fact he’s trying to go to the source of the bullshit and seeking out Narcissa but just fucking hell Night’s words were cutting. I want to see how this resolves at R.o.D. so badly but it’s not Saturday yet.
Nox – Man Destructo’s turned the tables. Damaging Nox suit and storming his lab. This is a perfect story beat to set up Ring of Dreams. I am quizzical as to wonder where this goes from here and how this will merge with Scissors and Hatchet? Will Nox supercharge himself?
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
- ORIGINS - CARNAGE - I've been loving these Origins segments, it gives us such a picture into Klaus. this one really takes the cake though, in such a brutal way. But add in the "roll up, roll up" line at the end and you really get a sense of the heartless bastard that Klaus is. A great job of the writer getting the hatred for the character over.
2. NEW CHAMPS - This was a moment that needed to come, and it was executed so well. Adding George into the scene here was a great move, but the moment that stands out above it all was this.
'George bends down. Amidst the wreckage, his fingers close around a small vial that had slipped from Jackson’s neck during the fight.
The vial containing C.J. Thorpe’s blood.'
I have a feeling this is going to be a big thing, the importance of that vial and what it means. George clearly understands something that he keeps quiet at the end of this segment too.
3. ARES - The moment where we see Ares' father on his deathbead was a really nice touch. It showed such a contrast to the drillmaster we saw earlier in the night, and to see the loyalty that Ares has for his father that he'd so loyally follow his dying wish made so many things click into place. The moment that we saw his dad feebly reach out his hand, that was a hell of a moment given the man he was earlier in his life. He made Ares what he was, but even he cannot beat time.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- What is the importance of the blood of CJ?
- Is Klaus way finally going to have his freaks dish out every ounce of punishment that he deserves?
- Tombstone with the chains gone is scary... Is Gravedigger going to survive this?
- Is Zeus going to help Foley get rid of Scissors, only to kill him?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
Vessel - There's something poetic about the way this is presented. A hairline crack that is exposed by its leaking. Calling a religious zealout a vessel is the perfect way to capture their essence, as that's exactly what they would call themselves. But then pointing out the flaws in said vessel is great. He doesn't attack the message, only the thing that the message is carried in.
How it's broken.
He talks about what the vessel could have done if it operated properly, and then pounds it in at the end with the idea that he's come to expose the leak, not shatter the plate. Nice stuff!
HAVE YOUR SAY:
SUNSHINE
I love the head that these three have come to. A fractured alliance that exists only because it has to, Sunshine and his crew that exists as this ever-present threat. The rainy days analogy suits really well and it's suitable chilling while maintaining that somewhat happy-go-lucky vibe which is a great balance to strike.
EMM
This was a great place to leave the writing. The moment here that we see is so dripping with emotion, where each of these guys has reason to act... but any action is going to speak volumes. It's great writing, with a great reason for all of this to come to a head. I have no idea what's about to come, but I'd say that an Apokalypsis reunion tour is off the cards if one of those guns goes off.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
- Ares I, II, and III were all fantastic segments but the reason they take this spot specifically is because I appreciate getting any background and lore on Ares. We get to see him rise slowly but surely, from his beginnings to when he was sent to Zeus to now. For someone who's so mysterious and such a constant presence in this volume, I have to say it's interesting to learn anything about him, no matter how small.
- Answers, II has me frothing at the mouth, actually. Like, who the fuck dug up CJ Thorpe? What the hell is going on with the fact that there's something up with the vitals of a CORPSE? Answers, II did the exact opposite and left me with nothing but questions.
- The Chainsaw is the ultimate payoff to what we saw set up last week. This is me being biased but I loved this segment and all that it implies. Hatchet, or maybe he's Chainsaw now, has butchered the WHOLE gathering? I'll go on more about this below but god damn, dude. Fantastic segment.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- What is George doing with CJ's blood?
- What is going on with CJ's corpse?
- What is Zeus going to do to Felix?
- Is Klaus going to kill the Freaks?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
I really liked The Storm this week. The imagery with this promo was really strong and I think that played real heavily in its favor as Rob tied everything together there at the end.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Jackson Cade: I love seeing Cade finally get the chance to tear up Jasper, if only for a little bit. Add in the intrigue with not only the vile of blood from around Jackson's neck, as well as what's going on with Thorpe's corpse, and I'm looking forward to whatever crazy shit Ring of Dreams brings.
Hatchet: This scene felt very akin to an old school Smiley segment in a way that just makes me so happy. Hatchet's off the deep end and I'm not sure if we should call him Chainsaw or not, but I'm VERY down for if we do. I just have to wonder what this means for him now that his Gathering is dead at his own hands.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. Ares 1,2, and 3. It was great to see the background of a character we've seen from the beginning but didnt know much about. From a child to a sword to the man we all know now. This was great especially the Zeus and Ares friendship truly shown in the end.
2. Chainsaw, it wouldn't be right for me to not mention a segment with this title but its a killer way to show off the monster Hatchet has become. You have to think Charlie did not escape this room and became the last victim.
3. The Ares vs Gravedigger match, We don't often get to see Ares in a match and it was awesome to see. Over the top strength and brutality that we haven't seen with many if the characters in this volume and I won't lie missed a true powerhouse just wrecking shit.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
Who was Ares' father?
How much has Hatchet changed?
What is Klaus Way going to do at Ring of Dreams?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
I wasn't able to get to read enough this week to have a true say in this.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Was fun to just see Narcissa mess with Gemini like the classic Mean Girl she is. It felt more old-school than plenty of other segments and I really liked that. Writing a message with lipstick feels more signature than writing a simple note and it inspired my promo for sure between the theme and choosing the font color based on Narcissa's signature lipstick.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
1. Lipstick - Narcissa turned the mirror into a weapon this week - tearing through Gemini’s dressing room and leaving her shaken - uncertain whether she’s being gaslit, exposed, or both. Their psychological war is reaching boiling point, and after this latest confrontation, Narcissa seems to holds the upper hand.
2. Dangerous - Felix Foley’s summoning before Zeus was a huge turning point. Accused of planting explosives beneath the House of Sovereigns, he barely opened his mouth before Zeus shut him down. But a big element of doubt lingers in the air for me, however. Is Foley truly guilty - or is Zeus simply chasing shadows?
3. Ares I/II/III - The Ares backstory really hit hard this week, watching him shaped by a dying father’s final command - serve Zeus, no matter the cost. Time’s hardened him into Zeus’ deadliest weapon, but that loyalty now feels more like a leash. As Zeus pulls strings behind the scenes, Ares is beginning to look less like a sword, and more like a fuse.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- What secret is Narcissa holding over Gemini?
- What is the truth that Nero believes will bring Ezekiel Graves down?
- Did Felix Foley really try to kill Zeus?
- What is Hatchet becoming - and can anyone stop him before his transformation is complete?
- Is Ares blindly loyal to Zeus - or is his loyalty about to become the thing that breaks him?
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
Nothing from me again this week, unfortunately. Should be back in rhythm again after the two-week break.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Power structures are crumbling, truths are falling apart, and personal vendettas are exploding into public warzones. Everyone seems to be carrying a secret, a grudge, or a ghost, and this final Warzone before Ring of Dreams was the perfect go-home moment to light those fuses.
Gutted to be missing the live show, but can’t wait to read/watch these stories reach their conclusions Saturday night.
TOP THREE MOMENTS:
- Ares I - III. Didn't think I'd find myself feeling sorry for that fucker, yet here we are. Homie had no choice in who he was going to be, he was beaten into a shape chosen by someone else, like a smith beats iron into a sword. Wonder how his pathological need to fight will clash with his loyalty to Zeus, since those two previously aligned motivators now seem at odds considering Arcadia is considered to be at peace.
2. Answers II. As mentioned by others, meaasuring the vitals of a corpse? I'm wondering if whatever brought EMM back to life was attempted, but the longer time period between death and attempt caused... Complications. Regardless, I'm still intrigued as to WHO dug him up/has him, why, and what will happen with CJ. Not to mention what Papa Cade knows about all of this!
3. Carnage. You know, every time it feels like Klaus is actually the victim rather than the perpetrator, he comes along and pisses on some orphans to throw it all back into doubt. Were Zephyr's freaks even the same one who killed his parents, or is he just lashing out at everyone now? Regardless, I love these deep dives into the histories of characters - Klaus, Ares etc. I'm down for more of this.
BURNING QUESTIONS:
- What happened to Gravedigger when he died or came back, and why? Is it reversible?
- Just... What the fuck is going on with Destructo? Was the self-harm due to Nox or just due to how messed up he is? As for the talk about a blade tasting blood, is he just talking about Nox or is homie about to go on a spree? The blade was used to cut a gas mask tube on Nox, but there was no blood... Maybe he was speaking metaphorically, but I'm worried nonetheless.
- Whatever Narcissa told Night, he believes it... But what was it? Was it true? I would have thought it was about the bomb in the red light district, but he's out for Attano instead of Gemini which has me doubting that.
- Even now they've teamed up, can the twosome of Captain and Cook hope to stand against the numbers (and straight up evil) of the Sunshine Club?
- Why is Zeus so certain that it was Foley himself and not Scissors who bombed the Pantheon? I am getting a faint whiff of Doom and his machinations.
- Now Ayame's mask from Caido is gone, will we see the old Ayame or is there some dragon left in her?
- How did the Apokalyptican Stand-off end?
- Can Nox even control the monster he has made in Hatchet? I'm not sure at this point that ANYONE can.
MY FAVOURITE PROMO OF THE WEEK:
As per usual, I haven't pulled my weight with reading this week. Admittedly my excuse is a lil better this time - allergies have been a bastard and my eyes are all gammy.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Eclipse is continuing to be a spiteful, unrepentful bitch and I am here for it. If someone isn't set alight at Ring Of Dreams, I'll be stunned! Lord knows at this point Eclipse deserves it. Maybe I shouldn't be since I handle Eclipse (and hey, who doesn't like winning?), but I'm kinda rooting for Ayame here.