An Outsider's Review of TATINOF
(or how i learned to stop worrying and love the Phandom)
I need to preface ALL OF THIS with saying that for the purposes of this review Mandeh = Dizzy
Now, I want to preface this with saying that I enjoy Dan and Phil. They are the best way to get good Dil (I kid). No, I really enjoy Dan and Phil and DanandPhil but I would say my involvement in Phandom is relegated to a popcorn-munching bystander when I talk with
Mandeh. That said, I was excited to go to TATINOF. I've heard good things of the show both the retooled star spangly one and the original.
Mandeh and I were lucky enough to get VIP tickets and were able to hang out in the lounge before hand. Pretty sure our favourite part was all the candy on the table (we may have swiped a bunch of it for later. That's what purses are for, carrying candy).
For the fellow Old's I want to say, when did the 90's come back around? I didn't really realize that it was back in fashion. Also I didn't get the memo about wearing converse's. I'm not getting my memo's. D:
IN ANY CASE. We went through the line, I admired the fashion, we ate candy and then got to meet Dan and Phil, who are both gigantic gigantor's
(P.S. Mandeh was adorable between them I think she came up to their knees). I wasn't going to make Dan hug me because I know he's not as physically YES LET'S HUG HARD quite like Phil is so I stuck my hand out to have a handshake but OH NO DAN WANTED A HUG. So I gave him a hug to like his waist because that's about as high as I went.
Phil amusingly made a comment about how hot it was (welcome to Texas in June boys) and Dan mentioned that Phil was in danger of melting. Pretty sure Dan only has 4 shirts in his closet as well. Really high priced shirts, but only 4 of them. Dan took a polaroid with
Mandeh's camera because he said he has freakishly long selfie-stick arms (which is true) and Dan made a peace sign because he is a weeaboo.
I wanted to challenge them to a lightsaber duel but that would cost me money as I'd have to go find my own kyber crystals and all I haven't been able to look for them or anything. In any case, I did challenge them to their best air guitar band-ing. Here's us rocking out:
Not quite sure how Phil's hips do that? I think he might be part Gumby. Dan also has A+ faces. I would like to say that I have done quite a few photo-ops with celebs in my time at various cons and the big thing for all of them is that its like picture, go, picture, go, picture, go. You don't have a lot of time to interact with the person because they're cattle calling you through and you just sort of ... know that. But kudos to Dan and Phil for making the cattle call of photos and meetings much better than almost any that I've had. They actually take time to say hi and a picture and don't rush you a long and that's really nice.
(The only experience that really beats it is John Barrowman but that's another story. You can ask Mandeh for that one.)
While waiting for the show to start
Mandeh and I found an alcove to charge our phones, wear our awesome flower crowns (thanks boys) and sing a long to Hamilton (word to the few people who walked by who knew what I was singing really badly). Also enjoyed their shirley temple's. Even more so with the added peach vodka.
>.>
In any case, the pre-show was nice, enjoyed the music, shout out to the mom who sat in front of me who was with her kids and was the only one who knew the words to old school Kanye with me. \m/
As for the show... It was cheesy in that fun way? That I found thoroughly enjoyable though without a doubt the girl beside me shipped Phan as there was so many times she kept screaming OH MY GOD and I HATE YOU which I found to be one of the best things to watch. I think the 7 second challenge may have been one of my favourite parts, that and their reactions to the craft corner as it was fun to watch them react to things.
NO I TAKE IT BACK. DAN'S INTERNET SUPPORT GROUP WAS THE BEST. Because Dan's face when he gets actually trolled is the best in my opinion. I also appreciate how he thinks fairly quickly. I mean, I'm sure there is a lot of crossover with some of the material they use but ... I feel like some of it is at least new for each show? So. Yeah good job at reacting and being funny Dan.
The only thing about the show I'm still unsure about a week later, is how there are significant tongue in cheek moments where it is pretty clearly a wink wink nudge nudge to Dan and Phil being together, specifically the fanfic piece. But after thinking about it that night, talking about it with Mandeh and thinking on it a bit more afterwards, I personally am of the opinion that yeah, it is a bit queerbait-y. The definition of queerbaiting is basically any attempt by creators (Dan and Phil) to woo and appease queer fans with no intention of showing an actual or real gay relationship.
I know that a lot of people assume Dan and Phil are together but there is assuming and there is actually saying it and showing it. And so far, they're not saying it or showing it but enjoying the benefits and fan love of it.
As Hedwig put it so succinctly,
"All the privileges of homosexuality and none of the responsibilities".
I don't think this makes Dan or Phil
BAD people. I think that they are together and they know most of their audience believes that as well, so they're enjoying a thing with their audience. But, not coming out and saying anything about their sexualities either way is still allowing for them to pass because hey like it or not we live in a fairly heteronormative society. So when there is the fanfic piece where they go hey we're gonna have sex *wink wink nudge nudge* and then on their channels they don't address their sexualities or relationship, it's pretty textbook queerbaiting.
This didn't make me dislike the show at all, nor did it make me dislike Dan and Phil. I just think that they need address themselves on their channels or at least on Twitter and not bait fans with a thing they know is enjoyed even if it is done in fun.
Now that was kinda long and a bit bummery-, but really I did love the show. I loved their song at the end and damn do I need one of those spangly jackets really bad. Dil was amazing, if slightly terrifying with the huge head he had but in a way I kinda love how just a random one-off on their channel because such a huge Thing that it was a significant part of their show.
In all, I felt their show was, even with the parts I was
on, a love letter to their fans and honestly that was really the best thing. They acknowledged things from their videos that they know fans will remember and really showcase who they are, what their fans love about them, and how ridiculous they are and how awesome their fans are and I loved that and was happy to experience it.
And I got to pet a dog.
