To mark off the New Year here’s my first ‘Friday’ Review, and as a special End of/Beginning of Year Review, let’s talk about an important part of my life, YouTube.
Gone are the days when YouTube consisted exclusively of cat videos and home movies, in fact, they were gone quite a long time ago. Now yes, while YouTube still has those things (you can see them on Ellen), it’s also home to some quality programming, with some high production value to boot. So, here are my favourites this year:
Best Fictional Web Series: LARPs Season 2:
Geek and Sundry: Just Finished
This series follows a LARP group (Live Action Role Playing for all you newbs) and, well, that’s it. The idea is remarkably simple, but it’s fascinating and funny. The ‘geeks’ are real and aren’t socially inept or any weirder than anyone else, but they recognize how they look to people and even, at times, the dangers of escapism. The people are real, but don’t worry, there’s still a smattering of quirky characters if that’s your bag. Honestly, it’ll make you want to LARP.
Best Tease: Becoming Youtube 2:
Ninebrassmonkeys: Hasn’t even started!
The first season was amazing and asked the tough questions about YouTube, well, the interesting ones. There were unpopular opinions, skits, and as much of the British Diggerati as you could ask for. Its creator Benjamin Cook put out its second season trailer. At the end of the first season, Marvel end-scene style, it said it was returning the summer of 2014. Then our favourite recluse Mr. Cook released trailer 11 months ago which said ‘Coming Soon’ and since then has released a seemingly unrelated short film soo….
Best ‘Non-Fiction’ Web Series: Critical Role (Honorary Mention: Titans Grave):
Geek and Sundry: Continuing
Originally streamed on Twitch, Critical Role is an RPG show which is engaging, hilarious, and at times actually sad. Titans Grave, created by the Geek’s geek and terrible roller Wil Wheaton is shorter and more story driven, but I personally find the characters in Critical Role more engaging and since the party has history, their chemistry is phenomenal, so call me a Critter.
Best Talk Show: Cereal Time
Cereal Time: Ongoing
Created by Hank Green and hosted by YouTube Titans Charlie McDonnell and Jimmy Hill, cereal time is funny and charming. Depending on where you are might not wake you up as it’s supposed to do, but still worth the watch if you want something light and slightly weird.
Biggest Topic: Sex and Consent
This year or so, a number of prominent YouTubers were outed for partaking in, shall we say, ‘questionable sexual behaviour’, which lead to an explosion of videos on the topic of sex and consent. An important topic, more so now than ever.
Best Edutational Show: Film Theory
The Film Theorists: Ongoing
From The Game Theorists channel, its movie-and-T.V focused spin-off is born, The Film Theorists, and it doesn’t break from the formula that made The Game Theorists the fifth most-subscribed YouTube channel, with over 5 million subscribers. Yes, Film Theory is smaller, but it has exactly the same amount of potential as Game Theory, and for that, I’m excited to see where it goes.
Best Podcast: Welcome to Night Vale
Welcome to Night Vale: Ongoing
Welcome to Night Vale now has a YouTube channel and I am elated. Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast that cannot be explained. It’s surreal and absurd and weird and funny and, with the YouTube channel, you get all that plus bonus content like tour videos.
Best Potential: Harley Quinn
Imagination Upgraded: Ongoing
A fan-made web-series centered around fan favourite Harley Quinn, this web-series has its problems. The acting is such that you know they’re acting and the fight scenes are sometimes just there for fight’s sake (there was no reason for Catwoman and Harley Quinn to fight, you’ll see). But the production value is high and any Batman character you want is bound to show up eventually. Couple that with the mystery that’s going on, and it has just enough to keep you interested.
The Rix Fix 