But seriously. G was the star of this chapter for me and not just because they were the most prominent RO this time around. There’s something extra compelling about MC’s slow disillusionment vs. G’s increasing interest. The more MC detaches, the more G wants to hold on. G clinging desperately to this one person that feels real and theirs, but their support being what destroys them? Beautiful, tragic, doomed by the narrative.
29 Likes
“Griffin makes a face—one you can’t exactly read—but he sputters out a laugh. You can’t help but notice how hollow it sounds. Riiiiight…”
I wondered if Griffin was just wishing his wife would be jealous of him. Even if Griffin and I were having an affair, would Victoria really care? (Media and fame aside.) We can speculate that Griffin has slept with others, but I wonder how Victoria will react to G’s attraction to us when we are new to this industry? And if we did decided to pursue this relationship a longer period.
3 Likes
You get it 
it was so good to see them react to genuine acts of interest so to speak, not to mention it’s pretty clear now why they behave the way they do… G they could never make me hate you
9 Likes
@vera
Oh, it’s not. You can have a low score with the LI and still romance them. Amy said it will just go down differently and you’ll miss scenes that a higher-scoring MC would get. My guess is that this means you can romance them… and it won’t end well. Whether that’s with 7, G, Vic, or whoever, I think that’ll be the case.
I’m not Russian, but if you rewrite it, I’d love to read it. Infamous wouldn’t be hard to tweak in a way to make it more satisfying and to give the MC a happy ending. That isn’t so with Wayhaven… I am ending up rewriting the entirety of b3, because the overall plot was so bad. I’m about 60% done, but only for M’s route. I may do A’s, too, if I have the energy.
Well, they made the MC a character, but the sole purpose is to use them to tell the stories of the characters they like and to serve as a punching bag for the narrative and other characters.
Right. I mean, most IFs where it’s just about raising stats so the MC can victoriously stomp everyone in the ground like they’re on god mode tend to be shallow, with little character building, virtually no real “relationships” with NPCs or LIs, and the MC’s character arc boiling down to winning or losing. That, to me, isn’t fun in an IF. But it’s also not fun to just have the MC be constantly shit on and have no recourse for satisfaction. That’s why I think the MC dying of an overdose would be perfect for this game. Then show what utter pieces of shit everyone else is when they don’t give a damn, after they basically tormented the MC until they went bonkers.
Oh, it’ll get worse. Much worse. Remember, this was the most lighthearted chapter of all. It’s about to get seriously dark for the MC, now that everyone is on the “hate MC” train for being a cheater now that there’s “proof”.
Because the power fantasy part of having a rockstar gush over you is turned on its head when said rockstar ensures everyone hates you, the showrunner wants you ruined, and you have to constantly deal with one person trying to destroy you to prove a point and your ex-bff or ex-LI practically fucking someone in front of you on a daily basis. Nothing is easy, and any “good” that comes to the MC is immediately yanked out from under them so the narrative can kick the shit out of the MC and leave them in an emotional bloody heap. That’s not power fantasy. It’s masochism. I just want to be able to embrace it fully, since I can’t get anything happy or fulfilling.
Well, I do think that there had to be someone or something Seven latched onto once they dumped the MC. It fits their character. I just hate the fact that it’s Avina. Someone who is more directly a cunt instead of being a conniving cunt would’ve been more fun to play with. Avina is just… I fucking hate them and, if there is a path to destroy their lives–even if it means destroying the MC in the process–I’d make a MC for it because I want to wreck them and wipe that fucking saccharine smirk off their face.
I can’t make narrative sense of Blake and Dakota yet. With G, it kind of makes sense (Dakota has that attitude with G of someone who is stuck with a family member who annoys the hell out of them constantly). If it’s Blake… there would’ve had to have been a falling out between them, I’d think, but I can’t figure out how that would go down. Granted, I haven’t tried very hard to connect the dots, so that doesn’t mean squat.
If I was the MC, I would’ve been going for LA right out of the gate. The rest of these LIs are either batshit crazy, evil, too manipulative, boring, or not a guy. LA seems like someone who would be a nice break from it all.
Same, but allowing that romance to progress is going to be the biggest train wreck in this game. MC is screwed. If there’s a way to actually end up with G and be happy, even if it means losing the damned competition and any shot at a career, I think I’d play it. MC can write G’s songs and sing with them at home.
The poly is a no-go for me, though. I thought about making a bi MC but I’m not wasting a MC on being a third wheel to a happy couple. No thanks.
7 Likes
No, like, it’s totally okay. They can ruin my MC’s career, I don’t care about all that
No, but seeing G be so taken aback by and unprepared for the force of genuine feelings was so… sweet and sad in equal measures. The blossoming of new love, killed before it can ever take root.
15 Likes
Yeah, it’s the kind of dynamic I’d see people posting about anonymously in polyam groups looking for advice. Stay away, stay away.
4 Likes
Should I be scared
1 Like
No, I’m just dramatic 
2 Likes
I really enjoyed the G scenes in ch 3 - I was honestly quite pleasantly surprised.
They’re clearly um. Going Through It. But the one on one moments can be surprisingly tender.
3 Likes
I’m a little sceptical about this. Why would someone who is happily married start flirting with us and not even (hell he could even pretend to be) professional at that or come to us when we are alone? It’s weird ngl
I just wish there was a way to free G from Viktor’s clutches. I want G to be able to be happy, instead of being constantly abused by that asshole.
Edit:
Can you imagine how much better G would do with someone like O as their manager? O would make them straighten up, but wouldn’t shit all over them in the process.
6 Likes
Oh, you and me both. I want to make Viktor miserable.
3 Likes
I agree 100%. This competition is like Hunger Games 2.0. You get eliminated, you fail. You win, you… fail? Like no, I don’t want to host a podcast next year. My God. The entire thing is a trap and slavery, that’s why you need to read contracts, kids
14 Likes
For real. I grew up watching America’s Next Top Model and like… how many of those poor teens/young adults actually became a household name level supermodel?
5 Likes
The juries were awful 
one of the model was asked a question about why they didn’t cry huh whaaat?! Unbelievable
1 Like
They were very genuine! You see G’s façade pulled back. I think those little moments with MC are probably some of the few moments they feel truly seen.
5 Likes
Oh my god, I remember that. There was also the contestant who was being sexually harassed on set and was told to suck it up when she tried to get help. The stories those former contestants share are rough.
Oh, don’t make me cry in the middle of the afternoon lol. I agree.
3 Likes
Reality TV shows are the kiss of death, tbh. People in the industry don’t take reality stars seriously. They’re less respected than influencers.
If you wanna stick to just singing competitions, look at The Voice and The X Factor. Like, very few of those people went on to find lasting success, even with a recording contract, lmao. But then you have people like Zendaya, whose career was bolstered by being on Dancing with the Stars. It takes careful maneuvering to come out unscathed.
8 Likes
This is exactly why I don’t take winning BOTB seriously as a good outcome. Especially with so much controversy following the MC into the competition and the producers trying to capitalize on as much of it as possible.
You would have to be very smart and outrageously lucky for that not to stain your rep post-competition. Win or lose, I suppose.
9 Likes
Suffering through life I would say
2 Likes