Dan & Phil Part 1: The Mods are NOT EXEMPT FROM ANY RULES

Our two favourite full time internet nerds who never go outside!
majitzu
angel bean
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:22 pm
Location: South America



I love the video. It was a flash game but it was so funny.

Don't bang me
Image
Image
Image
Don't know about you but I'm going to try this in my next quiz
Image
Image
Image
Image
User avatar
oqua
nose pervert
nose pervert
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 3:05 pm
Pronouns: she/her
Location: California, USA

pixlexia wrote:Honestly I was thinking, "I only made a few recent posts on GG, there's not much purpose in me making a new account just to never post again" but then I found myself constantly refreshing the page on this new site to continue to latch onto other people's opinions. You guys are addicting, I swear.

I'm too in the boat of "I saw the thumbnail and rolled my eyes and then watched it and fell in love." :lol:

I'm beginning to wonder what parts are fanservice and what's just them being comfortable interacting on camera. If it's fanservice, it makes me a bit sad, just because I want everything to be genuine, which is why these days anytime there's an innuendo or maybe they grab hands I'm thinking "is this natural or are you playing this up on purpose?" Hm. :?
I'm glad you took the plunge, we're happy to have you here. :D

Regarding the last bit of your comment, about what's genuine and what's fan service...I fully agree. The more I watch them the more the question gnaws at me! Haha. Sometimes I wonder whether maybe they've reached a point where what they do naturally is basically what the fans want. I think people are prone to exaggerate the "fan service" thing. Like it's all highly calculated. I think if anything they have a deep familiarity with what their viewers like/latch onto, and almost subconsciously play up those aspects of their personality and interactions.

Please not I haven't watched the video yet, lol. These are just general comments.
busy being happy~
majitzu
angel bean
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:22 pm
Location: South America

oqua wrote:
pixlexia wrote:Honestly I was thinking, "I only made a few recent posts on GG, there's not much purpose in me making a new account just to never post again" but then I found myself constantly refreshing the page on this new site to continue to latch onto other people's opinions. You guys are addicting, I swear.

I'm too in the boat of "I saw the thumbnail and rolled my eyes and then watched it and fell in love." :lol:

I'm beginning to wonder what parts are fanservice and what's just them being comfortable interacting on camera. If it's fanservice, it makes me a bit sad, just because I want everything to be genuine, which is why these days anytime there's an innuendo or maybe they grab hands I'm thinking "is this natural or are you playing this up on purpose?" Hm. :?
I'm glad you took the plunge, we're happy to have you here. :D

Regarding the last bit of your comment, about what's genuine and what's fan service...I fully agree. The more I watch them the more the question gnaws at me! Haha. Sometimes I wonder whether maybe they've reached a point where what they do naturally is basically what the fans want. I think people are prone to exaggerate the "fan service" thing. Like it's all highly calculated. I think if anything they have a deep familiarity with what their viewers like/latch onto, and almost subconsciously play up those aspects of their personality and interactions.

Please not I haven't watched the video yet, lol. These are just general comments.
What are you waiting for? Is a good video.. go watch it.

I forgot to post this.

Phil I wanna knkw!
Image
Image
Image
Image
shezza
crusty sponge
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:26 pm

pixlexia wrote: I'm beginning to wonder what parts are fanservice and what's just them being comfortable interacting on camera. If it's fanservice, it makes me a bit sad, just because I want everything to be genuine, which is why these days anytime there's an innuendo or maybe they grab hands I'm thinking "is this natural or are you playing this up on purpose?" Hm. :?
That is always the question, isn't it. I'd agree with oqua in so far, that their 'natural' interactions are what the fans crave. And in this particular instance I think there is less of a 'Phanservice' and more of a "let's just leave this in". In my experience fan service-y things are followed by a stare into the camera (the hand touching in their recent vid, can't remember which), but I think the 'choking' for example, was just a joke that they played out and left in (which 2 years ago, would definitely have been cut). I feel like in general, as has been noted by others before me, they are becoming more and more relaxed with their interactions and (i'm sorry) personas, at least in some instances.
awkwardly
living flop
Posts: 100
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:31 pm

pixlexia wrote:Honestly I was thinking, "I only made a few recent posts on GG, there's not much purpose in me making a new account just to never post again" but then I found myself constantly refreshing the page on this new site to continue to latch onto other people's opinions. You guys are addicting, I swear.

I'm too in the boat of "I saw the thumbnail and rolled my eyes and then watched it and fell in love." :lol:

I'm beginning to wonder what parts are fanservice and what's just them being comfortable interacting on camera. If it's fanservice, it makes me a bit sad, just because I want everything to be genuine, which is why these days anytime there's an innuendo or maybe they grab hands I'm thinking "is this natural or are you playing this up on purpose?" Hm. :?
I hope that part of it is natural although I think part is fanservice
example from the last vid - I honestly think that the impulse to reach for Phil after he made that mistake click was natural :lol: as well as the little tickle. The decision to keep hands close to his neck and yet not to touch him afterwards was probably already for the fans. At least that is how I see it - if it is an impulse (=there isn't much thinking before, they are relaxed and caught up in the moment), it is natural, after that it is probably fanservice (although honestly I believe if they were off camera they would continue - even if is just joke punching each other, they would not guard how much they touch, when they stop before the actual touch, like in the very first games they played before the channel. I miss that). So yeah - to keep the hands so close to 'I'm gonna strangle you' but not to actually touch Phil was probably fanservice-y but the not the tickle. That seemed very natural. ;) I think most of the innuendos are for fans though - idk, it seems that way, at least to me.
~but the golden age is over
Gemini
tol bean
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 4:38 am

Hey, another newbie here. I lurked on GG, but didn't like the idea of posting on a site that was so unreliable. I didn't want to spend ages typing something for it to just be eaten. Plus, I didn't trust the site owner and mods much tbh. This might be long, so apologies.

I watched their gaming video and I have to say I find their relationship a bit like the Impossible Quiz. Are they best friends?
Past boyfriends?
Current boyfriends?
Friends with benefits?
Or is it the hidden answer that makes no sense, just paid actors pretending to be friends this whole time? Kidding.

In the video when they were talking about Phil being on the Weakest Link it sounds like Dan was making fun of Phil for getting something wrong. Did Phil make Dan watch him on it or was this an act of stalker Dan again? LOL.

This thing that fascinates me with Phan is the fact that unlike other ships, (Jaspar for example) you can 100% tell they're not together, even though they've done their fair bit of fanservice type stuff. There's always a massive question mark for me about Dan and Phil, I'm never completely sure one way or the other.

Also, I agree about never knowing if their actions are genuine or fanservice.
majitzu
angel bean
Posts: 1022
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:22 pm
Location: South America

Gemini wrote:
In the video when they were talking about Phil being on the Weakest Link it sounds like Dan was making fun of Phil for getting something wrong. Did Phil make Dan watch him on it or was this an act of stalker Dan again? LOL.
I don't remember the video but Dan said he had watch the Weakest Link and told us what was the question Phil fail while making fun of him. It may have been in a liveshow but I'm not sure. I only remember the correct answer was "llama" and Phil said other animal
Image
trashqueen
ar·tic·u·late
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 1:46 am
Pronouns: she/her
Location: south america

shezza wrote:
pixlexia wrote: I'm beginning to wonder what parts are fanservice and what's just them being comfortable interacting on camera. If it's fanservice, it makes me a bit sad, just because I want everything to be genuine, which is why these days anytime there's an innuendo or maybe they grab hands I'm thinking "is this natural or are you playing this up on purpose?" Hm. :?
That is always the question, isn't it. I'd agree with oqua in so far, that their 'natural' interactions are what the fans crave. And in this particular instance I think there is less of a 'Phanservice' and more of a "let's just leave this in". In my experience fan service-y things are followed by a stare into the camera (the hand touching in their recent vid, can't remember which), but I think the 'choking' for example, was just a joke that they played out and left in (which 2 years ago, would definitely have been cut). I feel like in general, as has been noted by others before me, they are becoming more and more relaxed with their interactions and (i'm sorry) personas, at least in some instances.
i was gonna say something like that, although i think that the 'let's just leave this in' is still fanservice, not the highly calculated 'let's act in some sort of way for profit muahahah' version of fanservice that most refer to when they use the word, but still a 'let's give the fans what they want'

i worded that very badly but what i meant to say is that i don't think fanservice is inherently evil/manipulative and/or fake/acted

although the thing is, i find it very hard to tell w d&p which fanservice-y interactions are forced and which aren't (aside from the obvious, staring-at-the-camera-afterwards ones), and that kinds of ruins it for me? or at least makes it harder for me to enjoy it idk i just like knowing if what i'm watching is or isn't genuine, and tbh even if it isn't genuine i might enjoy it if im aware of it so i don't feel 'cheated', tl,dr: i just like knowing things okay

not sure if im making any sense, soz
Image
Dan Howell wrote:'[someone] just sent me a message saying 'Phil'..... same'
ayane
squish
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 5:24 pm

majitzu wrote:
Gemini wrote:
In the video when they were talking about Phil being on the Weakest Link it sounds like Dan was making fun of Phil for getting something wrong. Did Phil make Dan watch him on it or was this an act of stalker Dan again? LOL.
I don't remember the video but Dan said he had watch the Weakest Link and told us what was the question Phil fail while making fun of him. It may have been in a liveshow but I'm not sure. I only remember the correct answer was "llama" and Phil said other animal

30:51-32:17

It was in the Apple store interview with Caitlin Moran about TABINOF. I have a feeling this is something Dan isn't going to let go of now that it's in the public realm.
jhamba
procrastinator
Posts: 300
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 3:00 pm
Pronouns: she/her

wow, I just woke up and saw that there are so many of you here! thanks, guys, I was partly expecting this forum to flop, lol.

Also, the video was great! They were both so cute, and I loved "Don't bang me!"
Just trying to spread the Dangirl agenda
User avatar
crash[]
butt chair
Posts: 85
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 5:28 am
Pronouns: she/her

Having this board with a prophpbb url is giving me major flashbacks to my early internet years and I love it.

I didn't expect to register, but I've come to terms that I'm addicted to y'all and since I can't talk about D&P to any of my actual friends, fuck it why not. Can I say queer here without being censored? Apparently yes!

Anyway, the new video: Proved what I had been thinking, which is that they don't need to play a good (console, heh) game to make a good video. I'm happy with it, not because it made me laugh, but it gave me some fuzzy feelings, which is just as good. Got some nostalgia from the game and some adorableness via Phil holding Dan's hand (trying to avoid being choked to death, the cutest of hand holds).
alittledizzy wrote:I realized watching this video that there is nothing I love more than Dan having to give Phil props for being clever and better at something than Dan himself is. Phil's mind apparently just operates on an outside-the-box wavelength by default, and I enjoy confirmation of that so much.
Also this, it was great seeing Phil in his element like that. :D
User avatar
Anonymousse
flower crown
Posts: 749
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:20 pm
Pronouns: Any
Location: Eastern Europe

Quoting is a bitch here, but I'm trying my hardest ;)
shezza wrote:missemma
Image

(personally, i thought what he said was cunt, btw.
and kinda ot there is gropecunt lane, and cock lane in london, if anybody's interested)
I thought it was cunt too, because of how casually Dan said it.


Gemini wrote:
I watched their gaming video and I have to say I find their relationship a bit like the Impossible Quiz. Are they best friends?
Past boyfriends?
Current boyfriends?
Friends with benefits?
Or is it the hidden answer that makes no sense, just paid actors pretending to be friends this whole time? Kidding.
I Just imagined doing an impossible quizz on Dan and Phil topics, like an updated bingo board. One of the questions would totally be the what is Dan and Phil's relationship status, and for the answer you'd have to click on all of the options (Best friends, lovers, soulmates.... I can't remember the other ones that were in the Sims video).

But then I'd maybe see Dan and Phil actually play it, and disapprove of my options. :(
This thing that fascinates me with Phan is the fact that unlike other ships, (Jaspar for example) you can 100% tell they're not together, even though they've done their fair bit of fanservice type stuff. There's always a massive question mark for me about Dan and Phil, I'm never completely sure one way or the other.
Well as I've said before, the relationship dynamic and the way they interact reminds me of how I interact with my SO and that is why I ended up searching for answers.
Also, I agree about never knowing if their actions are genuine or fanservice.
Genuine fear tbh.

I was hoping that GG would be up by now, because I wanted to flip my shit, but no.... sad.
But who the fuck am I kidding? I'm mostly just the rotting banana peel at the bottom of the phan trash can who genuinely gets excited over the thought of them snuggling in bed. Idgaf let a bitch live
- Manged

shezza
crusty sponge
Posts: 25
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:26 pm

No, no, I agree trashqueen, I'd also prefer to know what is exaggerated and what is genuine.
And also agree that fan service isn't necessarily 'evil' or meant to be manipulative. Though what I think is important to consider is that if they really were doing it just as 'phanservice', they would've started a long time ago, because surely the same thing would have been just as profitable/marketable 2 years ago.
i feel like i'm doing a bad job of conveying my thoughts; basically what i'm saying is, while it may be a deliberate choice to leave those interactions in now (the 'fan-service'), I think it's coming from a genuine place of them gradually becoming more comfortable [on the internet]- whereas before every tiny touch was made a big deal out of (and mostly avoided).

OT
(just tried to refresh and got an error message :shock: was probably just my computer though)
User avatar
swofro
angel bean
Posts: 1028
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 6:39 am
Pronouns: she/her
Location: asia

'Sup you guys. Just marking my place on the thread while trying to figure out how to use this web using mobile. Will put up my avatar later when my house internet stop being difficult. :D
Love is forever
Image
User avatar
Kathrynxjane
janice from the shop
Posts: 518
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 7:31 am
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Birmingham, England

Hi Found this on the GG comments and had to come straight over. At least we have somewhere that is more reliable to talk now.

First things First, Happy Easter everyone who celebrates it!

I watched the video.. I probably need to watch it again as I was literally falling asleep watching it but I didn't like it. I don't know if it was the game or just they seemed to be over reacting. Like they were trying to make it seem harder than it actually was.
After reading all the comments in here (And everyone like it :o ) I really need to go watch it again.
Anonymousse wrote:
shezza wrote:missemma
Image

(personally, i thought what he said was cunt, btw.
and kinda ot there is gropecunt lane, and cock lane in london, if anybody's interested)
I thought it was cunt too, because of how casually Dan said it.
[/quote]

Yeah I thought it was cunt too because how he said it. Cock street isn't as funny!

Really want a liveshow tonight but I can't see that happening being Easter Sunday. If you give us a baking video, I won't mind as much.

At least we know D& P can't read what we are saying here haha
"You can't just pull it out and put it in without a plan." Dan Howell 2015
gigs
dank meme
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 8:13 am

Wow I've been lurking for 4 whole pages now. I figured it was time to come out of hiding.

....now I just have to figure out how this site works.

Like pretty much everyone else I saw the thumbnail of the gaming video and was prepared to be incredibly annoyed. Because they really seem to be going for the easy flash games that are easy to do and have been done by pretty much every other youtuber.

But I did genuinely enjoy the video. It was fun and their chemistry flowed really easily. There were so many cute moments it was hard to pick just a few to talk about. I really liked that Phil was naturally quite good at this game, almost as much as I enjoyed Dan praising him for it.

They also both seemed to enjoy themselves which helps a lot tbh. When they film a gaming video they don't enjoy it's usually painfully obvious.

I thought the Jack and Dean video was ok. I know a lot of people absolutely hated it. Personally it produced no emotional response from me at all. Which is maybe worse than just hating it.

I loved Phil as jam.
User avatar
DryCereal
koi pond
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 7:59 am
Pronouns: she/her
Location: UK

Anonymousse wrote: 4) Lol, we got married, yes, but Phan is still not real, we are just friends.

5) We got married by accident... Trust me, you don't want to know.
"What happened in Vegas"... :twisted:

Anyway - the impossibru quiz... LOVED. IT. Yay Bantz! :lol: ngl, I wouldn't mind them making a series of this, just to see them raging at later questions (or, also likely, forgetting the answers/solutions to earlier questions and flipping out.). 'Fond" memories of completng this as a group with my uni flatmates. Figured that if we could get through that without killing ourselves/each other we could probably stand getting a house together the following year...!

Today has been a good day so far. I got to see my dog and take her for a "walk" (roll!) for the first time in two months - yesssss!! FREEDOM!!! FRESH AIR!!! getting stuck in a muddy puddle and my friend having to sacrifice her new shoes to drag my ass out... oops. :lol: and when I got back oqua told me about the move here - and it's only 0930. Plenty of time for a baking video. (and a Live Show later, Lester. I need some not-terrifying-creepy-voice-Phil to balance out that J&D abomination.) Come on boys, please. Don't spoil today!!

Right. Avatar time. BRB n'all that.
IckleMissMayhem's evil fic writing alter ego. :twisted:
somelikeitpink
living flop
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 5:24 pm
Pronouns: she/her

Good morning y'all!

Regarding the fanservice: I just don't know.
I personally agree that fanservice always sounds inherently evil and mastermind like, which I think isn't the case with them.
Admittedly I'm phan af but I think 90% of their interactions are both. They start out natural, are possibly stopped or made into a joke midway through and then just left in because they're tired of over thinking it AND know the phans will love it.

I actually think that irl they're much much more extreme and touchy-feely. We'd probably explode if we saw the truth.
internetakeover
lady door
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 8:17 am
Pronouns: they/them
Location: UK

just wanted to start off with a massive thank you to everyone who's been part of setting this up!! the whole mod issues aside it'll be nice to have a (hopefully!) reliable host, too!

much like everyone else I really enjoyed the gaming video, despite not having the highest hopes for it. I was definitely not that good at that quiz as a child, it was actually pretty cool to see just how good Phil was at it, and how he does totally naturally think 'outside the box'. I was very surprised to see their old chairs, as daichii mentioned, I thought we'd probably seen all of those earlier filmed videos by now. I'm dreaming that this means they are getting better at pre-filming/scheduling, and will have things sorted out to upload during the tour, but am aware of just how hopeful that is...

re: the fanservice discussion, generally I consider something that they seem to have actively done 'for the fans' as fanservice, so like, things they don't seem comfortable with/that don't seem natural - which is near impossible to define, but like the first 'feel my pulse' thing with extended camera-eye contact - but it's a good point that just leaving natural things in can be a kind of fanservice too. I agree with shezza on that though, while they might be aware of the reaction they'll gain from it they have to have grown more comfortable to leave things like that in - the increased amount of casual touching in 2016 DAPG vids, for example - and I'm really happy to see that! realistically I'm actually a massive fan of that fanservice, so should probably learn not to treat it as a wholly negative term.
somelikeitpink
living flop
Posts: 116
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 5:24 pm
Pronouns: she/her

Question on that note:
Since when or how did it come that fanservice is seen as bad in the phandom?

Because from all other fandoms I've been in it was always something positive, something people liked because it showed that creators (wether that was film/tv/...) were fond of fans and liked to give them treats.
In the phandom though it's often seen as ultimate evil
User avatar
Anonymousse
flower crown
Posts: 749
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 11:20 pm
Pronouns: Any
Location: Eastern Europe

somelikeitpink wrote:Question on that note:
Since when or how did it come that fanservice is seen as bad in the phandom?

Because from all other fandoms I've been in it was always something positive, something people liked because it showed that creators (wether that was film/tv/...) were fond of fans and liked to give them treats.
In the phandom though it's often seen as ultimate evil
I'm going to be really honest. It depends on what it means and why they are doing it.

If they are doing it because it's funny, they like it or they want to and they are okay with it then go for it.

But if they are controlling over everything and don't enjoy doing it... Maybe even despise doing it..

I find that rather depressing. I'd rather have 0 fanservice than one face flooring Dan.
But who the fuck am I kidding? I'm mostly just the rotting banana peel at the bottom of the phan trash can who genuinely gets excited over the thought of them snuggling in bed. Idgaf let a bitch live
- Manged

gigs
dank meme
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 8:13 am

Fanservice is such a hard thing to define. Because even when people agree on a general definition they often don't always agree in practice. Someone might think one thing counts as fanservice while another doesn't. I suppose you could argue that even uploading a video is fanservice. The fans want it after all.

I don't think that we're going to get an anniversary video or a baking video. But I would really, really, really like to be wrong. Maybe Phil will upload an Easter themed anniversary baking video.

Prove us wrong, Phil. Please.
internetakeover
lady door
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 8:17 am
Pronouns: they/them
Location: UK

somelikeitpink wrote:Question on that note:
Since when or how did it come that fanservice is seen as bad in the phandom?

Because from all other fandoms I've been in it was always something positive, something people liked because it showed that creators (wether that was film/tv/...) were fond of fans and liked to give them treats.
In the phandom though it's often seen as ultimate evil
good question! I'd guess mostly it's from not being seen as genuine behaviour? we talk a fair bit about D&P vs DINOF&AP, and it links to how YT started as just this little hobby of people sharing their lives, and anything that seems to step away from that - fanservice/the bour - perhaps seems disingenuous? (that might be an overly strong word choice, but it was the most accurate I could think of.) I guess it's just the idea of them 'acting' rather than being themselves - though choosing to do that it is a part of them, of course - and people wanting to see them. and anonymousse has a good point about it not seeming comfortable for them, and disliking that, which is a big part of where I might draw a line over what fanservice I'm comfortable with/enjoy too.

also personally i've got a bit of a negative fanservice/queerbaiting association from other fandoms *cough*Sherlock*cough*, idk about anyone else on that front though?
gigs wrote:I don't think that we're going to get an anniversary video or a baking video. But I would really, really, really like to be wrong. Maybe Phil will upload an Easter themed anniversary baking video.
exactly what I'm hoping for! we'll see... *crosses everything*
User avatar
DryCereal
koi pond
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 7:59 am
Pronouns: she/her
Location: UK

I think people equate "fanservice" with the "p-word" - that, and we're all just a bunch of obsessive nosy stalker types who want to over-analyse what's real and what's not... :lol:

Right now I think the only reason that we'll never get a coming out/sexuality/phan!confirmed/phan!divorce (delete as applicable/take your pick!) video is because they're genuinely worried we'll all die of heart attacks one way or the other. Really, they're toying with us to keep us alive. That's pure fanservice for you! :D

Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video Baking video c'mon PLEASE!!!
IckleMissMayhem's evil fic writing alter ego. :twisted:
User avatar
mermaid blood
Moderator Emeritus
Posts: 529
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 6:48 pm
Pronouns: she/her

somelikeitpink wrote:Question on that note:
Since when or how did it come that fanservice is seen as bad in the phandom?

Because from all other fandoms I've been in it was always something positive, something people liked because it showed that creators (wether that was film/tv/...) were fond of fans and liked to give them treats.
In the phandom though it's often seen as ultimate evil

I think you hit the nail on the head - tv, film. fanservice in fictional works is hotly debated when people worry unrealistic character development results and thus cheapens the satisfaction the audience got from watching something that could have realistically represented their inner lives, on a screen.

Dan and Phil are not scripted, though - they're in the business of reality. if what they are is a closeted couple, and what they give us instead is a performance (arguably everything outside your own thoughts is a performance - but that's an existentialist rabbit hole for another day), that ability to find representation feels more hollow. 'reality' tv and personality vloggers/gamers/whatever are in the business of selling you the illusion that you're watching something that could be a snippet from your own life. It goes both ways, though. If Dan and Phil feel represented by looking out into their audience, and they have an audience of people who want to marry them and are turned off by the idea that they're together, that's also not going to feel great to interact with. In that way, I do think they tread an interesting line with mutual satisfaction of 'being themselves' on camera increasingly as time goes by. what ever that phrase means to you, or them.

I still didn't enjoy the rushed mood they were in in the gaming video; I got the pervading sense they were filming something for the stockpile whilst slightly not enthusiastic, at times the energy felt forced. BUT, it was a goldmine of moments to analyse and they had more fun as it went on. like others, the strangling and "don't bang me" moments were highlights for me, i like that the genuine full moments were just left in and not cleverly jumpcutted or negated with an Office-stare. left up for interpretation, as it were. the best kind of hands-off ambiguity. real and sweet, but also mildly uncomfortable in that way you can't quite pinpoint when there's an elephant in the room.

also agree with others that their occasionally grating competitiveness (especially from the Dinof persona) is brilliantly balanced by their respect and fondness for one another - Dan praising Phil's mind when Phil has shown himself to sometimes be a bit of a sore loser during silly competition over the years warmed the cockles of even my cynical flint heart.
art in avatar by lily
Locked

Return to “Daniel Howell & Phil Lester”