king lezzard

I think that post about Matt Johnson's ability to talk his way out of anything (by fluidly tailoring the way he speaks to different situations and public appearances, explaining himself with such earnest eloquence, existing as a well-off white guy) is what makes the dirties so compelling. Like, it feels like an evil magic trick in that you are shown and told very clearly that this fictional high schooler is a racist neurotic and misogynistic angry young man who is going to kill people, humanizes him, and then shows him kill people (the prestige!), and that humanization turn wouldn't work without Matt's eye for talking his way, filming his way, out of anything. Also much like his public image I think the trick itself (not a lie, again he's very earnest, but a magic trick) is so impressive and works so well that it sticks with some people in ways where they miss the forest for the trees

dear evan hansen 2021 got so much shit because it's hard to excuse high schooler dear evan's actions when he looks like an adult man, meanwhile matt is walking around looking like an adult man doing far worse and you feel such an insane range of sadness and recognition and disgust and pity watching it- it's amazing