When I heard there was a fan-made episode of the unproduced finale, Requiem, I set my expectations low. I figured there'd be a lot of static shots from the series stitched together with crappy dialogue. Instead what we have here is a labor of love that actually accomplishes what it set out to do.
I have a theory about why certain stories stick in our guts more than others. I'll call it The Coitus Interruptus Story. Case in point, 1939's Wizard of Oz. American classic. Beloved the world over. Very fine storytelling. But famously missing the victory lap at the end. The scene of Dorothy and friends celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch in the Emerald City and a parade was too expensive and troublesome, and the film worked without it. I claim that the reason why we all watch that movie over and over is BECAUSE that scene is missing. The itch for that celebration is never scratched. Same with Dungeons and Dragons. We never get to see the kids go home or have the opportunity to do so. Of all the 1980s action adventure cartoons D&D is the most special, the one seated deepest in our hearts. Why? Because coitus interruptus. We never came, so to speak, to the end.
This version of Requiem comes albeit long after the fact. But I'm happy and grateful it's here. Presto and Venger don't sound as good as the other characters, but that's small change. Presto's ending is cute. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Requiem's production, because it really is great. It's a shame that the same love and labor didn't find its way into the recent IDW limited series that treats the whole show like yet another nostalgia-berry joke.
I have a theory about why certain stories stick in our guts more than others. I'll call it The Coitus Interruptus Story. Case in point, 1939's Wizard of Oz. American classic. Beloved the world over. Very fine storytelling. But famously missing the victory lap at the end. The scene of Dorothy and friends celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch in the Emerald City and a parade was too expensive and troublesome, and the film worked without it. I claim that the reason why we all watch that movie over and over is BECAUSE that scene is missing. The itch for that celebration is never scratched. Same with Dungeons and Dragons. We never get to see the kids go home or have the opportunity to do so. Of all the 1980s action adventure cartoons D&D is the most special, the one seated deepest in our hearts. Why? Because coitus interruptus. We never came, so to speak, to the end.
This version of Requiem comes albeit long after the fact. But I'm happy and grateful it's here. Presto and Venger don't sound as good as the other characters, but that's small change. Presto's ending is cute. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Requiem's production, because it really is great. It's a shame that the same love and labor didn't find its way into the recent IDW limited series that treats the whole show like yet another nostalgia-berry joke.