History AudioPlay / AVoiceFromTheDark

* InternalDeconstruction: The audio play's usage of BroadStrokes pretty much tears apart the style of BlackComedy that was so prevalent in the previous specials. Rather than the villains and situation being PlayedForLaughs, the monsters and evil within Scarsdale Manor are [[KnightOfCerebus legitimately dangerous psychopaths]] devoted to an EldrichAbomination seeking to destroy the world, and [[spoiler:Linkara's reflecting the behavior of the Nostalgia Critic, albeit unintentionally and for far more altruistic reasons than anything the Critic ever did, very nearly fractures the producers for good rather than being brushed off, and forms a good chunk of the character drama in the story.]]

** By the same extension, they all forgive the host [[spoiler:Linkara]] in the end because the host [[spoiler:he]] never intended any anniversary style antics to happen and this was simply meant to be a fun party, and more importantly, [[spoiler:he]] actually apologized.

* TakeThat: Channel Awesome is repeatedly mentioned (often in backhanded ways) in the dialogue, though the company is never mentioned by name. And if it wasn't obvious enough, there's a blatant moment when Bargain Boy points out that [[spoiler:Linkara]] at least gave everyone an ''actual apology'' for lying and manipulating them, along with having an understandable motivation for it (instead of the ego-driven, single character focus of the previous anniversaries, this was intended as a surprise party slash reunion for the former producers that just ended up backfiring due to an overly specific detail that could be easily missed by anyone).

* WeUsedToBeFriends: While it was strongly hinted at in ''The Clone Saga'' storyline, this audio play revealed once and for all that this is the general sentiment towards [[spoiler: Channel Awesome, with the fallout of the [[RealLifeWritesThePlot real life controversy being reflected in the story itself]], the feelings of betrayal and emotional wounds, and Linkara's own poorly considered plan unintentionally mirroring the Nostalgia Critic's own LackOfEmpathy to the point that the other producers end up breaking into fury for him accidentally opening up old wounds. While Linkara is still friends with many of the other former producers, it's safe to say that Nostalgia Critic is no longer Linkara's friend either.]]

* TakeThat: Channel Awesome is repeatedly mentioned (often in backhanded ways) in the dialogue, though the company is never mentioned by name. And if it wasn't obvious enough, there's a blatant moment when Bargain Boy points out that [[spoiler:Linkara]] at least gave everyone an ''actual apology'' for lying and manipulating them, along with having an understandable motivation for it (instead of the ego-driven, single character focus of the previous anniversaries, this was intended as a surprise party slash reunion for the former producers).

** Though [[spoiler:Linkara's]] intentions were nobler, the older ex-Channel Awesome producers are not happy that he used similar tactics the Nostalgia Critic would use to bring everyone together in the anniversary specials. As opposed to just ''asking'' them if they wanted to meet up and hang out. Additionally, it turns out that managing to get away from the failings of Channel Awesome doesn't suddenly make the emotional scars disappear, especially if something similar occuring just ends up ripping open old wounds.

** Though [[spoiler:Linkara's]] intentions were nobler, the older ex-Channel Awesome producers are not happy that he used similar tactics the Nostalgia Critic would use to bring everyone together in the anniversary specials. As opposed to just ''asking'' them if they wanted to meet up and hang out.

** By the same extension, they all forgive [[spoiler:Linkara]] in the end because [[spoiler:he]] never intended any anniversary style antics to happen and this was simply meant to be a fun party, and more importantly, [[spoiler:he]] actually apologized.

** The host, [[spoiler:Linkara]], simply wanted to get the various former producers of Channel Awesome back together with a ScoobyDooHoax party, but their decision to open up Scarsdale Manor allows "The Voice" the opportunity to trap them there.

->'''[[Website/ChannelAwesome TGWTG Anniversary Crossovers]]''': ''WebVideo/TGWTGYearOneBrawl'' | ''Webvideo/{{Kickassia}}'' | ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'' | ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'' | ''WebVideo/TheUncannyValley'' | ''Script/TheDevilsJesters''[[note]]unproduced script[[/note]] | '''A Voice from the Dark'''[[note]]sequel to the three movies unaffiliated with Website/ChannelAwesome[[/note]]

** When the group are initially trapped in the Manor, Some Jerk With A Camera tries to find an exit, and jokes that "[[Franchise/TheHauntedMansion (his) Chilling Challenge is to find a way out]]!"

*** Nash's group attempt to send the ghosts of Anderson and Emma into the afterlife, and figure they can do so by the stopping the repeating of their GhostMemory and letting Emma get to the attic before Anderson shoots her. [[spoiler:Emma was the herald of "The Voice", and Anderson shot her to prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, so by stopping him, they're setting Emma free to aid "The Voice", her scream allowing "The Voice" to stabilize.]]

** [[spoiler:In other circumstances Maven's intentions to break the repeating GhostMemory and free the soul trapped within would have been the right thing to do and her knowledge of gothic tropes would have served her well in doing so. Here she ends up freeing the Voice's main servant.]]

* LivingMemory: After hearing a woman scream, Nash's group finds a vision depicting two people playing on a loop, the male one shooting the woman and causing her to make said scream shortly before it restarts. Dena relays to Luke that according to Scarsdale's diary, the man was his friend Anderson, and the woman was Scarsdale's maid Emma, responsible for cleaning and caring for the artifacts. Anderson had some concerns about the artifacts they discovered, but upon meeting Emma, he demanded Scarsdale fire her, escalating enough that Scarsdale eventually had to kick him out. He came back one day however, shot the maid, then went to the main hall and [[DrivenToSuicide killed himself]]. Scarsdale never learned why this happened, but theorizes that they two were at one point lovers before they had a falling out. Elisa soon discovers the ghosts react to when they break things in the room and convinces the others to help her make them pass on. [[spoiler:This turns out to be a ''very bad idea'', as Emma is actually trying to free the Voice, and Anderson shot her to prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]].

** Nash, Elisa/Maven, Shaun, Luke, and Dom try to figure out how to help the ghosts of Emma and Anderson escape their GhostMemory and pass on.

* GhostMemory: After hearing a woman scream, Nash's group finds a vision depicting two people playing on a loop, the male one shooting the woman and causing her to make said scream shortly before it restarts. Dena relays to Luke that according to Scarsdale's diary, the man was his friend Anderson, and the woman was Scarsdale's maid Emma, responsible for cleaning and caring for the artifacts. Anderson had some concerns about the artifacts they discovered, but upon meeting Emma, he demanded Scarsdale fire her, escalating enough that Scarsdale eventually had to kick him out. He came back one day however, shot the maid, then went to the main hall and [[DrivenToSuicide killed himself]]. Scarsdale never learned why this happened, but theorizes that they two were at one point lovers before they had a falling out. Elisa soon discovers the ghosts react to when they break things in the room and convinces the others to help her make them pass on. [[spoiler:This turns out to be a ''very bad idea'', as Emma is actually trying to free the Voice, and Anderson shot her to prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]].

* ItsAllAboutMe: [[spoiler:[=MarzGurl=] and [=ERod=] accuse Linkara of getting everybody together not because he missed them, but because he wanted them together and play off being the hero like he usually does. Linkara, of course, denies this, only wanting to get together with his old friends like last time. [[CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot Of course, [=MarzGurl=] points out they all could have just gotten together for a party instead]].]]

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: According to Calluna, during Scenes where a lot of the producers are talking at once, there is a storyline happening in the back ground about Calluna trying to get Suede's sword.

* GenreSavvy: Being the TropeCodifier of the CosmicHorrorStory genre, Lovecraft was fully-aware of the Voice and the reason why the Scardale Mansion's anomalous properties did not activate until everybody was there. [[spoiler:Not only that, but he accurately predicted that it was the massive influx of people entering the house that would empower the house's supernatural properties.]] Unfortunately, he decided to explain this to everyone in [[PurpleProse elaborate poetic syntax]], making everybody think he was just being dramatic about their situation. He also ''never'' thought about any alternative methods.

** Suede, Calluna, Prince Lotus, Yomarz, and Ryan try to navigate through the maze underneath the manor. They later run into the SoleSurvivor of the party group, Sally, as she is being chased by zombies, and are forced to flee with her.

** The events of ''Atop The Fourth Wall: The Movie'' are also briefly referenced -- Nash passively aggressively mentioning that some of the critics got to go to space ''twice.''

* CouldntFindAPen: Diamanda's minion breaks her pencil while copying down an erotic novel, so Diamanda has her use her own blood instead.

* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot:
** If [[spoiler:Linkara]] had just hosted the reunion [[spoiler:in Comicron-1]] then not only would everyone have been spared of the ghosts, zombies, and eldritch horror...but he would have saved himself a bit of money setting everything up.
** If Lovecraft hadn't used elaborate poetry to warn everyone, they might have actually listened to him.

** When [=ERod=] voices concerns that the get together might be for nefrious purposes, Some Jerk tells him to relax.

** The third group consists of [[WebVideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou Nash]], [[WebVideo/VampireReviews Elisa]], [[WebVideo/TheDomReviews Dom]], [[WebVideo/RockedReviews Luke]], and Shaun.

-->'''[[Website/ChannelAwesome TGWTG Anniversary Crossovers]]''': ''WebVideo/TGWTGYearOneBrawl'' | ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'' | ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'' | ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'' | ''WebVideo/TheUncannyValley'' | '''A Voice from the Dark'''[[note]]sequel to the three movies unafilliated with Website/ChannelAwesome[[/note]]

** The first group consists of Linkara, WebVideo/DiamandaHagan, one of her minions (Omega Geek), [[WebVideo/TheBlockbusterBuster ERod]], and [[WebVideo/LeeAndDena Dena]]. [=ERod=] however goes off on his own [[spoiler:after learning Linkara set this up and got them trapped there]], and is subsequently captured by zombies.

** When Erod voices concerns that the get together might be for nefrious purposes, Some Jerk tells him to relax.

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: An interesting variation: immediately after saving Linkara from falling to his death by teleporting, Erod gets called out on not teleporting everyone up the collapsing stairwell. Specifically, this can be explained by E-Rod not knowing the specifics about how his powers are affected by the Voice.

** [[spoiler:Linkara finds himself hanging over a ledge while the building collapses. Rather than let anyone risk themselves to save him, he chooses to let go and fall to his death. Immediately becomes a SenselessSacrifice when Erod teleports down and saves him, pointing out that Linkara seemingly forgot about this ability.]]

* JerkassHasAPoint: Diamanda points out to Erod that [[spoiler:Linkara might have deceived them all to get them to come to the manor and unwittingly bring about the end of the world, but everybody who came took a mysterious, anonymous summons to a haunted mansion with the vague promise of rewards at face value. Just like they did when they were all promised a [[WebVideo/SuburbanKnights free car]].]]

* PetTheDog: Diamanda seems genuinely annoyed when ERod bitches about Linkara's "betrayal."

* ThePowerOfRock: [[spoiler:The group manages to destroy the Voice by performing [[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow The Time Warp]]. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], since the Voice is a being of pure sound, and the song just happens to have the exact frequency to cancel out the Voice's.]]

** Diamanda is more focused on bossing around her minion and reading Scarsdale's porn collection than actually looking for a secret passage. [[spoiler:As it turns out, there's a very good reason for this.]]

* VillainHasAPoint: Diamanda rightfully points out that ERod's resentment towards Linkara is ridiculos.

** [[spoiler:Dr Vivisen notices that Erod has some sort of power within him, but still only restrains him with rope, even when Erod himself heavily hints that he'll regret not using something stronger.]]

* KillerDoll: One named Goofy Gary appears at the end of part two and [[spoiler:tries to kill Welshy]]. Though as noted below in RealityEnsues, once the element of surprise is gone the thing is taken down quite easily, albeit temporarily. It's also made of wood, so [[KillItWithFire quite flammable]].

* RealityEnsues:
** Goofy Gary is creepy and has a knife, but A) he's maybe a foot tall, B) still feels pain even if extremely difficult to kill, C) [=MarzGurl=] has fought far nastier things and D) is utterly fed up with get-togethers with her friends going weird like this. Result: Goofy Gary is soon restrained and helpless.
** Though [[spoiler:Linkara's]] intentions were nobler, the older ex-Channel Awesome producers are not happy that he used similar tactics the Nostalgia Critic would use to bring everyone together in the anniversary specials. As opposed to just ''asking'' them if they wanted to meet up and hang out.
** By the same extension, they all forgive [[spoiler:Linkara]] in the end because [[spoiler:he]] never intended any anniversary style antics to happen and this was simply meant to be a fun party, and more importantly, [[spoiler:he]] actually apologized.

** The absence of celery at the party, and how Linkara is allegdly responsible.