So currently watching season 2 of critical role and am on episode 14 for the longest time. I want to watch them, but it takes a lot of time to get through one, and the sheer amount I need to catch up on is intimidating. Would anyone suggest just reading summaries and watching highlights to catch back up?
You could, if you absolutely must get caught up. But honestly, I wouldn't worry that much about being behind. Watch and enjoy it at your own pace, whatever pace that may be.
An alternative to reading summaries and watching highlights is the podcast. It's what I used to get caught up with Campaign 1 when I was reintroduced in its final six months. I'd watched the first few episodes, and then somehow lost it until I got back into D&D. You lose something when you're enjoying it through audio only, but it's still very enjoyable and worthwhile. For me, I listened to the podcast while exercising and while working. When I was really getting into it, it was almost two episodes a day.
At the end of the day, you're going to sacrifice something to enjoy the show, it just comes down to what you can still enjoy and be worth it.
Critical Role is best watched live, in my opinion, and I currently do.
You could watch the VODs after they air. You sacrifice that live aspect, but in my opinion it is totally worth it.
You could listen to the podcasts. You lose the visual aspect of the show, but in my opinion it is still worth it.
You could read the summaries or watch the recaps. You lose the show itself, but gain info on the main events that occurred. In my opinion, it is not worth it.
You could just skip ahead, and sacrifice the episodes that have come between. You'll lose some important events and likely be confused for a bit, but can still probably enjoy the show as is nonetheless. In my opinion, it is not worth it.
I can't say what those options would be worth to you, but to me I would rather listen to the podcasts than fall behind.
In your opinion, do you think I will be loosing alot if I did read summaries
I understand. Being behind can feel daunting and like you aren't really as much a part of it as everyone else. As to just keep going or check summaries, etc. it depends on what you are interested in:
If you want to follow the story, you should be able to get the major points enough from the summaries - either from here at D&D Beyond and/or with Dani Carr's Critical Recaps. But a lot of interesting details are left out, of course, but you will get the main story.
If you are interested in the characters and their interactions, then that's the biggest thing you will miss since those are peppered randomly throughout the episodes and are rarely included in the summaries. So if this interests you, I'd recommend just working through them.
If you are interested in being up to date, for example, to be more involved with the community (since I can understand that feeling of being disconnected when you aren't caught up), you could even just skip to episode 48 (from a week before last night's) since that's the start of the latest story arc. Then just watch 15-47 as you have time. Sure, that misses A LOT of story, and some things will be spoiled, but if you want to be current, now is a good point to jump in. The last couple story arcs are relatively, sorta kinda, self-contained. At the very least, you can jump in with #48 and not be completely lost.
If you do jump ahead, there is a massive change between where you are and the current episodes that you might have heard about. But if not, here is a HUGE spoiler:
In episode 26, Mollymauk is killed in battle. Taliesin then creates an awesome firbolg cleric of the grave named Caduceus Clay, who is a wonderfully mellow, tea-drinking, mushroom growing joy.
If you are like myself and sometimes just forget to watch live or have a really busy week(I was 42 episodes behind), the recaps are a wonderful and life-saving way to catch up. They are all typically under 5 to 7 mins long and do a great job at telling you what is going on so you know what to expect. It is a lot of information in a short amount of time however so keeping track of all of the different names and characters can be difficult at times.
So currently watching season 2 of critical role and am on episode 14 for the longest time. I want to watch them, but it takes a lot of time to get through one, and the sheer amount I need to catch up on is intimidating. Would anyone suggest just reading summaries and watching highlights to catch back up?
Depends on what you are into and why you feel you need to catch up with it. The story ain't going anywhere, it will always be right there, so agree with the other posters who say that you should pace yourself. I am thoroughly enjoying the interplay, the gestures, the puns, the tone of their voices, the humour, the banter, the moments of dead silence before something emotional happens, the excitement of "roll initiative", the nuances and subtleties of tone and voice in general. All of which I could never get from a written/ spoken summation of the events. It kills the immersion which is why I watch Critical Role at all. But, hey, different folks, different strokes. Whatever you do, remember to enjoy it :-)
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So currently watching season 2 of critical role and am on episode 14 for the longest time. I want to watch them, but it takes a lot of time to get through one, and the sheer amount I need to catch up on is intimidating. Would anyone suggest just reading summaries and watching highlights to catch back up?
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ModeratorYou could, if you absolutely must get caught up. But honestly, I wouldn't worry that much about being behind. Watch and enjoy it at your own pace, whatever pace that may be.
An alternative to reading summaries and watching highlights is the podcast. It's what I used to get caught up with Campaign 1 when I was reintroduced in its final six months. I'd watched the first few episodes, and then somehow lost it until I got back into D&D. You lose something when you're enjoying it through audio only, but it's still very enjoyable and worthwhile. For me, I listened to the podcast while exercising and while working. When I was really getting into it, it was almost two episodes a day.
Obviously theres the summary articles here on Beyond, but you can also find the Critical Recap videos on Youtube for a quick review.
Perpetually annoyed that Eldritch Knights can't use Eldritch Blast, Eldritch Smite, and Eldritch Sight.
In your opinion, do you think I will be loosing alot if I did read summaries
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ModeratorYes. The sacrifice would not be worth it to me, but I can't speak for you.
Have you tried giving the podcasts a try?
A lot of it is about the emotion and performance. Facial expressions and improv body language is lost through audio, but it's not impossible to enjoy.
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ModeratorAt the end of the day, you're going to sacrifice something to enjoy the show, it just comes down to what you can still enjoy and be worth it.
Critical Role is best watched live, in my opinion, and I currently do.
You could watch the VODs after they air. You sacrifice that live aspect, but in my opinion it is totally worth it.
You could listen to the podcasts. You lose the visual aspect of the show, but in my opinion it is still worth it.
You could read the summaries or watch the recaps. You lose the show itself, but gain info on the main events that occurred. In my opinion, it is not worth it.
You could just skip ahead, and sacrifice the episodes that have come between. You'll lose some important events and likely be confused for a bit, but can still probably enjoy the show as is nonetheless. In my opinion, it is not worth it.
I can't say what those options would be worth to you, but to me I would rather listen to the podcasts than fall behind.
I understand. Being behind can feel daunting and like you aren't really as much a part of it as everyone else. As to just keep going or check summaries, etc. it depends on what you are interested in:
If you want to follow the story, you should be able to get the major points enough from the summaries - either from here at D&D Beyond and/or with Dani Carr's Critical Recaps. But a lot of interesting details are left out, of course, but you will get the main story.
If you are interested in the characters and their interactions, then that's the biggest thing you will miss since those are peppered randomly throughout the episodes and are rarely included in the summaries. So if this interests you, I'd recommend just working through them.
If you are interested in being up to date, for example, to be more involved with the community (since I can understand that feeling of being disconnected when you aren't caught up), you could even just skip to episode 48 (from a week before last night's) since that's the start of the latest story arc. Then just watch 15-47 as you have time. Sure, that misses A LOT of story, and some things will be spoiled, but if you want to be current, now is a good point to jump in. The last couple story arcs are relatively, sorta kinda, self-contained. At the very least, you can jump in with #48 and not be completely lost.
If you do jump ahead, there is a massive change between where you are and the current episodes that you might have heard about. But if not, here is a HUGE spoiler:
In episode 26, Mollymauk is killed in battle. Taliesin then creates an awesome firbolg cleric of the grave named Caduceus Clay, who is a wonderfully mellow, tea-drinking, mushroom growing joy.
If you are like myself and sometimes just forget to watch live or have a really busy week(I was 42 episodes behind), the recaps are a wonderful and life-saving way to catch up. They are all typically under 5 to 7 mins long and do a great job at telling you what is going on so you know what to expect. It is a lot of information in a short amount of time however so keeping track of all of the different names and characters can be difficult at times.
Queen Lanaia
Depends on what you are into and why you feel you need to catch up with it. The story ain't going anywhere, it will always be right there, so agree with the other posters who say that you should pace yourself. I am thoroughly enjoying the interplay, the gestures, the puns, the tone of their voices, the humour, the banter, the moments of dead silence before something emotional happens, the excitement of "roll initiative", the nuances and subtleties of tone and voice in general. All of which I could never get from a written/ spoken summation of the events. It kills the immersion which is why I watch Critical Role at all. But, hey, different folks, different strokes. Whatever you do, remember to enjoy it :-)