The Night Before Critmas 

HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing 0:10 Travis’s thing only works for CR 2:30 Intro sequence 3:30 Episode Starts 6:05 Elf momma down 6:35 Taliesin’s character intro 7:05 Travis’s character intro 7:40 Matt’s character intro 8:15 Sam’s character intro 8:50 Marisha’s character intro 9:40 Julie’s character intro 10:30 Ashley’s character intro 12:25 Bixby Quimblerump 13:55 Don’t tease us with action figures unless they’re in the store 18:40 You and your fingers 21:35 Unrecognizable Caleb 24:50 Santa Claus intro 27:15 Kids these days 28:15 Fake yous 29:45 All of the other reindeer 32:05 First map 36:20 Battle begins 40:45 Recognize the alpha 46:50 Fighting gloves 49:05 Marisha fights to maintain the accent 53:00 Wrath of the craftsman 57:00 Yippee!!! 1:10:50 Matt and Marisha talk about the war on Christmas 1:15:30 A gift worse than death 1:22:55 Taliesin finds the joy of being a rogue 1:23:20 HWYLTDT (also Taliesin… really? Always?) 1:24:50 Sam checks the Blitzens 1:27:00 Travis gets some epic loot 1:33:25 Usurping Santa 1:37:15 Hazing the new girl 1:42:35 On Blitzens 1:48:10 The other holiday worlds are a lot less fun 1:49:55 Sam’s whine is getting worse 1:51:45 Break Starts 2:01:50 Break Ends 2:08:00 One day I want to see Travis on a Wheaties box 2:11:20 Matt’s kill count 2:18:55 Technically they both lifted different sacks 2:22:50 The religion of elves is confusing 2:32:40 Half a pot of gold 2:35:15 Marisha is caught in the crossfire 2:40:35 Shout out to The Man himself 2:46:25 Matt is a very naught elf 2:56:30 Travis is the most badass 2:58:10 A legally distinct big bad 2:59:45 The map is down 3:01:30 Battle begins 3:05:00 Julie’s spiritual weapon 3:10:40 Marisha’s spiritual weapon 3:12:55 The dead are tolled 3:21:00 HWYLTDT 3:40:55 Sam is crowning 3:42:25 The king is here 4:03:40 Let’s go save Christmas 4:05:45 Butt Up is definitely Dreamworks 4:08:35 D&D is fun 4:09:00 Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal 4:15:05 HWYLTDT 4:17:20 Recognize that fire graphic. That’s production value 4:24:55 PvP 4:26:00 You fool 4:31:35The rebellion was kinda justified 4:34:10 Matt Earther 4:36:40The legend of Chutney 4:38:10 Episode Ends Live viewership of this episode on Twitch peaked around 14,000 people. The in-game start date for the episode was the 24th of December. Any moments I missed? Feel free to post them here. Is it tomorrow yet, I guess?

“You built the Caleb, but you left out the crippling guilt, so he’s barely recognizable.”

Laura: "So, how'd the game go?" Travis: "I tried to kill Santa."

Who else is here in the year of 2021 because of Travis Willingham being the biggest troll in CR history?

Everyone is making new characters and Travis is giving us a reason to relive the greats hahaha

matt looks like he's gonna sell you drugs behind the macy's and skateboard away when he hears police sirens

"You built the Caleb but forgot the crippling guilt"

travis playing old people is *literally* my favorite thing ever.

I love the implication that Klaus was just murdering people without Santa’s knowledge.

Me: Watching old one shots to escape the crazy times we’re in Liam, immediately: “Everyone has the flu and is incredibly sick!”

Kid: "Dad, why do I always get a wooden toy every Christmas?" Dad: "Because if you don't get one, Chutney will come and take your hands"

Fuck I get it now! Travis is going to keep using one-shot characters to force me to watch all the one-shots! Genius!

I'm so excited to see "Chetney" causing as much chaos as possible.

"You built a Caleb but you left out the crippling guilt." Amazing, A*, give this man a frickin' trophy.

"I haven't thrown down since 1756!" Fun fact, 1756 was the beginning of the Seven Years' War. Which implies Chutney likely fought against either the British colonial militia, the Swedish Royal Army, or the Russian Imperial Army. Possibly all three.

Travis stabbing Santa is one of the funniest player decisions in CR history

Quick reminder to add more fuel to the fire: according to Narrative Telephone, Chutney did in fact get sent to Exandria (specifically Nicodranas) after the events of this one shot.

To me the funniest part is the fact that Matt looks like a goth kid in the most uncomfortable christmas attire ever.

I like how Ashley's frequent absences are part of Nutmeg's character

"Why are none of us playing a fighter class?" And then Liam had an idea.

15:12 "The Grog that you made only has half a beard." Liam reliving his greatest hits.

I like to imagine that when Grog's soul was flung into the depths of pandemonium a familiar scraggly, elderly voice was there to great him "I see you tried to oppose the fatman as well"

Chutney was 100% the MVP of this episode, I laughed at every single thing that came out of Travis' mouth. Arthur was a close second bc Taliesin as a teenage asshole will never not be amazing.

Taliesin turning his candy cane into a shiv is the most on brand shit

Chutney is incredible, but Sam playing a Jewish Christmas Elf is deeply underrated

Nutmeg: "Don't we have some sort of jail system?" Klaus takes no prisoners.

Oh my god I just realized. The first fight was against Lock, Shock, and Barrel from Nightmare Before Christmas. A purple witch, a devil, and a skeleton. That's ingenious.

"The fanfics led to internships" truly a Christmas miracle

I think we all know why we are watching this again and not because its Christmas

I love that when Matt gets to play he just goes absolutely FERAL

"he told me to make vultron out of wood, no one wanted it, he told me to make a game boy, I can't do circuts, he told me to make the little trolls, but the hair didn't move" this is Legit sad. even more so with that delivery from travis

Hold on a moment... the first combat encounter was a Hag, a Demon and a Skeletal figure......... .....did they just straight-up kill Lock, Shock and Barrel?!

Matt fearing a Gelatinous cube by eating it while inside it is the most Matt Mercer thing ever.

How does Tal manage to sound like Every 15 year old boy at the same time

No one rollplays like travis NO ONE ROLLPLAYS LIKE T R A V I S

Klaus's emotionless expression as Santa says of course they don't kill people is terrifying to me

Liam: "fresh cut..." me: "grass?" Liam: "tree." me: "oh... ok"

Marisha: why do none of us play a fighter ever Percival fredrickstein von musel klossowski de rolo III: *looks at the camera like the office*

I remember that bit from GM/DM Tips from Matt, where he says "one-shots are a great way of letting the usual DM play for once!", but I love how he still narrates his actions like he would when DM'ing. That man has the best imagination and narrative skills ever.

"Man thats fuckin, dark... I like it. Steve? Take a seat." I laughed so hard. 😂

why is no one talking about Liam's absolutely genius moment when he combines Oogie Boogie's dice/gambling symbolism with the lyrics "put your fate in your hands. Take a chance, roll the dice!" from "Your Turn to Roll"?? It fits so perfectly! I knew right away as soon as he started describing the circle of trees that this was Nightmare Before Christmas inspired and i was so damn hype! Nightmare Before Christmas is my literal favorite movie of all time!!

"You're a fool Klaus! we can't compete with Amazon!" Holy shit I don't think I could have loved Travis more than I did this holiday special XD

“You built a Caleb but without the crippling guilt.” ...man liam out here *_flaming_* his own character.

Time for the yearly tradition of watching this special for the holidays

Matt is a terrifying player…. He probably knows all his attacks without even looking, and some monster stats too 0_0

Liam (to Matt): What do you think? Matt: It's your game! Liam: Thank you, but WHAT'S THE RULE YOU BEAUTIFUL DM?!?!

if Fjord ever dies I *need* Chutney to be Travis' new character

Matt gets so frustrated when Sam as FCG insists that Exandria is flat, but he started the flat earth jokes. Klaus, at 4:34:00

Man... Chutney really is one of my favourite critrole characters. such a shame that we won't see him after this one shot :(

I like how Matt provides helpful input without being controlling of the game, when Liam asked for help he was glad to give advice. I think that's so cool

Taliesin, in his normal voice: I've always wanted to see someone choke on a lego brick. bless him.

Came here to remind myself of what Travis did with this character and i am a firm believer that after this, he changed his name to go in hiding. x_x

I’m back for my annual screening of this wonderful one shot. Happy Holidays and Merry Critmas critters!

I love that Matt's character (Klaus) is essentially a serial killer or a paranoid security guard with too many guns. I really hope they do this again next year.

Thats what happens when a DM makes a character = Mercer goes beastmode, kicking ass taking names.

3:01:23 Chut and Nut is yelled by Travis and Ashley doesn't acknowledge it. Sam repeats the same line and then Ashley responds and yells it back to him! Travis looks so defeated ahaha

The look of realization and wonder on Talesin's face as he realizes with the trees that its Nightmare Before Christmas is just beautiful.

Matt talking shit about Marisha's natural one, to then immediately roll a natural one, might be the highlight of the show for me

I love Wormsack’s introduction. It’s loud, over the top, it feels like it’s coming straight from Liam’s imagination, and the way he says “roll for initiative” and excitedly runs off to get his map just shows how stoked he is to be running this game.

I think we can also appreciate Taliesin is wearing a Krampus sweater. That’s on brand.

Who else is rewatching after the intro of Chetney?

Julie: "THIS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Welcome to Critical Role!

Liam: Haha, Mercer! You put my cat in a gelatinous cube, I put you in a gelatinous cube. check and mate

Seeing Liam feel accomplishment when everyone chimes into Carol of the Bells. All because Sam bounce on the same page as Marisha

Ah Yes Matts Killing Gloves - also known as his Murder Mittens 😂

When Laura isnt here Travis kills Santa

GAG ME WITH A SPOON MRS HENDERSON

This much exposure to Liam's bright personality and acting Talent is quite a treat I must say

When Travis said, as Chutney Chocolatecane: “Death is just the beginning” He wasn’t lying, so was born the character, Chetney Pock O’Pea in campaign 3.

new york accent "mage armor" is the new texas accent "eldritch blast"

Taliesin being incredulous at how overpowered a class is is pretty funny considering critrolestats puts his maximum damage output as Percy at roughly 800 damage in 1 round.

4:07:58 Travis says "You have to stop me" and starts cracking up while Matt stares at him and pantomimes "I'm watching you." Matt knew DAMN WELL what he was about to do!

It has become a yearly tradition for me to listen/watch this and every year I am shocked and appalled at Chutneys actions 😂

Me: Liam is finally going to DM a wholesome session with a happy ending this will be great Travis: *Obi-Wan voice* Oh I don't think so...

God bless Travis Willingham, that wonderfull chaos-engine

The spontaneous caroling of Carol of the Bells at 3:13:02 was absolutely perfect. Pretty much the most intense Christmas song Marisha could have thought of and actually got me hyped

Liam calling Ashley "Pickle" ❤

Sam: "Be honest with us, is the naughty list a hit list?" Matt: "Well there's the nice list, there's the naughty list, and there's the NAUGHTY list." Ashley: "So there's two naughty lists? How do you know which is which?" Sam: "What if you make a mistake?" Matt: "Well that's only happened twice"

Liam's reaction when everyone started singing after Marisha tolled the dead is hilarious.

Who is here to re-live the greatness of Chutney after his reintroduction ?!

Holy shit Travis. You monster. You absolute troll 40:45 The infamous line was birthed long ago "recognise the alpha"

"I've always wanted to see someone choke on a lego..." -Taliesin, in passing. :-O ?!

Oh man, Travis was on absolute fire this session

I have a strange feeling a lot of people are going to rewatching this episode now

i love seeing matt as a player here, i rarely ever see him break character here and its just so fun watching him brood while everyone takes notes

Me sitting through this wonderful one shot, blissfully unaware: "Huh a witch, a devil, and an undead skeleton man. That's a weird combo but I'm sure Liam has a reason. *Liam starts to describe the circle of distinct trees with different Holiday doors* Me: WAIT A FUCK

We really need Travis playing more sassy old people... Him and Matt were the two best parts of this episode

What's worse than stepping on a Lego? Getting shot by one. Arthur is a genius when it comes to making weapons out of toys.

Critmas = Bells Hells Chutney = Chetney Loves wood = Loves wood Ancient = Ancient Chisel = Chisel Recognise the Alpha = Recognise the Alpha

Matt did 78 damage in one turn. Too bad he's a forever DM.

Not gonna lie, after the video was over I was still waiting for Travis to say that Chutney was covered in blood standing in the forest saying "See you next Christmas". As the next morning every character finds a wooden toy under their pillows XD

Matt sitting and looking like a very sour teenager in the principal's office after most likely doing some kind of vandalism to said principal's car is giving me life. I also love that Arthur is supposed to be super lazy but he's also incredibly skilled at everything because he's played by Taliesin "Anti-Wheaton" Jaffe.

Me in December 2021: I'm feeling festive, I've just watched campaign 3 episode 6, let's watch this silly festive one shot. Liam: a particularly virulent strain of the flu has ripped its way through the population. Me: oh no... Too real...

"Chutney's Revenge" needs to be next year's critmas special.

1:42:36 Sam Riegel: “On Blitzen, on Blitzen, on Blitzen, and Blitzen” Me: * literally chokes on my water *

3:44 imagine being Liam's child, then he narrates stories to you like this. Both ttrpgs and bed time stories. Truly blessed

Okay that Oogie Boogie is absolutely BRILLIANT pure perfection I forget how good Liam is at impressions till he does one and then I’m like Whaaaaat

2:11:10 "I always thought the December Red Snows were a natural phenomenon ..." Oh man Matt and Travis are hysterical together! :)

I absolutely adore Liam’s whole D&D Dad style of DMing. Such an absolute joy to watch.

The way the music stops when Chutney is having his monologue lmao