KayFabe is Dead, Long Live Kayfabe

I have a little bit of a rep for getting in the know about good tv shows before they really pick up steam. Mostly because I have just about every streaming service except for Netflix, and watch too much scripted television, especially when it's a new show that's not based on an existing franchise and looks like it's going to do something interesting with genre conventions. Earlier this summer I got the beat on Widow's Bay back when it was just 'coming next week' trailers, and six weeks later it was the surprise Emmy darling of the season.

So when I saw a new animated TV series on Disney+ that had received no buzz, had an eye-catchingly dark and gorgeous art style, and had dropped 22 full episodes along with special features all in one day at the end of June? My spidey-senses started tingling. Because this felt like the kind of thing they've pulled to hide The Owl House or other shows that they don't really want to promote.

So I watched the first episode without any trailers or googling.

And it's a fucking masterpiece.

The whole story is filled with love letters to classic horror movies and pastiches, set in a tiny town in France that is bursting with as much of its own personality as the Pacific Northwest had in Gravity Falls. Which makes sense. This show was written and animated by a French-American team, which is part of why we've never heard of the people working on it, and why there's so little crossover buzz. Please. Please help the buzz.

The writing is clever, filled with jokes that work culturally in French but translate well, and the story is compelling from the very first episode. The characters are nuanced and you want to know more about the family situation the 13 year olds have going on than the demonic portal in the woods by the end of the first episode, and if that isn't good writing I don't know what is.

It's Funny. It's Dark. The soundtrack Slaps. Did I mention how Colorful and Gorgeous it is? And there are 22 episodes up right now on Disney+. This feels like a show they are trying to bury with minimal fanfare, that they've sat on for 2 years and released in full at the end of pride month with every episode and special feature dumped all at once.

This show is going to get sold to you as a Gravity Falls spiritual successor in what little print media you can find, and I get why. But please, don't let that be the thing that defines it. It is So unique and its own thing I could cry. And yet the elements of 2010s Cartoons like Steven Universe and Gumball and a dozen others are so obvious even to someone like me who didn't watch those shows regularly.

I've only gotten through half a dozen episodes. I only needed one. I have no idea if they'll respond to a sudden outpouring of fans for a second season if it's popular, but I would like it to at least, be popular.

If you want new comfort media, something easy to pick up and consume, even more so than Widow's Bay but in a similar vein this summer? Try This Show.

I must look to the Golden Lovers to ruin things and save me from having to consider the Young Bucks in one of their comfortable married bliss eras vs StrickPage in another Divorce Era where Hangman is actively telling Swerve to stop calling every week.

Propaganda:

The Dogs

-They’re so weird.

Max2

Propaganda:

Tonigel

-When Nigel beefed with FTR to protect Tony, it made me giggle and kick my little feet in the air. I love old man yaoi!!

Bryanmox

Propaganda:

Mox's Sisterwives

-When Renee interviews Eddie, she has serious heart eyes, and he’s not any better. Mox looks at both of them like he would follow them off a cliff. And Eddie and Renee complain about Mox in the most fond way, like “well I married him anyway, what else could I do?” It’s all very sweet.

Strickpage

guy who has seen 1000 wrestling matches: to be fair, you have to have a really good understanding of shakespearian dynamics to understand the nuances of king's road wrestling. the peaks of long broadway matches can go toe to toe with the better dramaturgical innovations of the form

Because Hangman can't challenge for the only title he's ever cared about before, the one he's defined himself by for his entire adult life. The man who needs an audience to tell him he's a good man, a belt to prove it, no longer has a tangible prize to reach for. So something or someone(s) else will need to fill that bottomless pit he has that needs validation.

Like, remember the time the Dark Order begged him to be their new cult leader after their beloved cult leader unexpectedly passed away tragically, and he was... Surprisingly adept at it and only turned it down because of commitment issues?

They sure made him feel good about himself, huh?

MJF just hanged him again, like Swerve as the Fiend did at Full Gear, (they're bonded now, tied together...) and he's resurrected in full.

The Wyatt Sickos are coming home to the Shepherd.

Propaganda:

Shafirakawa

-Marina literally sent Mina flowers and tried to get break up her marriage -Marina gave Mina at least 2 bouquets (we can extrapolate that, at least) AND outright told Toni to her face that she was interested in her wife/looking to pursue her more. Not even Timeless Toni Storm could scare off Marina. -Marina laughing and smiling each time Mina hit her during their No Holds Barred match

CC x JM

Propaganda:

MCMG

-they are literally married your honour -They’ve kissed before!

MxM Collection