Curtis: I love you, Blob... Spoony: (deep breath) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHH! You know, if the game itself isn't going to take a fucking interest in the storyline then why the hell should I?!
The X-COM reboot. Oh so much. As if his little scream of "BETRAAAAAYYAAAAALLLLL!" upon first seeing it in 2010 wasn't enough, his E3 2011 V-log about it was basically a massive Reason You Suck Speech at the developers of the game.
Boisterous Bruiser: In the Anniversary Brawl ("Roots, shmoots, baby, we are here to RUMBLE!") and Paw's "Top 9 Moments in Gaming" video ("I WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE SOUL!")
Break the Haughty: A series of unfortunate events in 2011 lead to one.
Cuteness Proximity: Gets a minor case of this when he sees a little girl at PAX East at the Pokémon Online table jumping up and down excitedly, while saying that even though he's outgrown Pokemon someone else is certainly excited about it. D'aww.
Depraved Bisexual: A list of the people Spoony has "spooned": The Nostalgia Chick, That Chick With the Goggles, Benzaie, The Nostalgia Critic, Angry Joe, Bennet the Sage and Lord Kat (As punishment for losing a game of Robot Unicorn Attack against 8-Bit Mickey).
In the beginning of the Donation Drive; Critic, Sage and Joe are repeats, while Paw, The Cinema Snob, The Other Guy, Ed Glaser, the Last Angry Geek, and article writer Matt Briner are first-timers. Karma finally bites as his ass as they gang up on him for some retribution.
Pumpkinhead was the game that pushed beyond the brink of no return. Also, expect him to cross this every time he watches TNA.
In particular his 2-9-11 episode of Impact starting when he calls out the Kurt Angle/ Jarett divorce angle (In particular, dragging Angle's children into doing promos for it), which wasn't helped by it immediately following the brain damaged Eric Young wasting everybody's time. Then his responce to the Jeff Jarret Ken Anderson promo.
Hit this in his v-log on the reboot of X-COM when the press release at E3 describes the RPG elements as "just like Final Fantasy Tactics". He seems genuinely shocked and angered by the fact the makers consider it comparable to Tactics, simply because they threw in a few strategic elements by making the game a squad-based shooter.
Determinator: Spoony comments that surviving through E3 with his condition probably had a lot to do with just sheer willpower.
"I mean it's just ridiculous. It's the same thing as blaming violence on video games. I mean, when I kill people, it's purely for sexual reasons... WAIT!"- * video cuts off*
Spoony is very distracted by the rather prominent breasts of one character in Beastmaster 2.
From Howling 2:
Spoony: The sex scene in this movie is metaphorical of showing Sybil Danning's jugs. Okay, so that's probably not a metaphor, but for some reason, I just completely lost focus and... forgot what a metaphor even is.
Bloodwings: Pumpkinhead's Revengeeventually pushes Spoony into AVGN levels of uncontrollable, spluttering, inarticulate rage.
Spoony: If a demon ever wanted to take revenge on this world, he couldn't ask for a better way than this - because this isn't a game... it's fucking punishment! It's the most accurate simulation of a burning eternity in Hell ever made! And you know what? There's a good side! There's a good side! You see this? The people who made this game actually had the balls to put their names in the back of the fucking instruction book - and I swear to God, if I ever find any one of you assholes I WILL FUCKINGKILL YOU!I WILL STAB YOU IN THE BRAIN! And... Th.. This game is FUCKING UNHOLY it's so bad! GODDAMN IT!
As far into insanity as Pumpkinhead takes him, it's nothing compared to the laughter-bordering-on-tears he displays in his vlog on the WWE 2009 Slammies.
Spoony: John Cena and Randy Orton, or as I prefer to call it, AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
His commentary on TNA Impact pretty much pushes the insan-o meter Up to Eleven
Even Evil Has Standards: He may be a snarky bastard, but even he thought Officer Walken in Terror T.R.A.X. was being a bitch by making snippy comments regarding a woman who just had her eyes ripped out.
And again in his "Wrestle! Wrestle!" vlog for August 6, 2010, where he expresses absolute disgust at WWE for spending half the show on what is essentially laughing at a woman for being ugly.
With Final Fantasy X, he goes as far as tell his viewers to hunt down and kill its fans.
His Rebuttal to the Forum Roast is an example of this, although after he doles out the lashes, he quickly responds with warm thanks to his fans.
In a Vlog on Wresting and Final Fantasy XIII, he basically says that anyone who liked Final Fantasy XIII was just fooling themselves, as there was no way that game was good.
In his commentary for the FFX review, he makes it very clear that this is only a trait of his on-screen character, and in real life he feels nothing of the sort.
Also of note is his written review of Turkish Star Wars. He becomes so perplexed by what he's watching, that his thought process in the review slips further and further into madness. As an end note, he then dares the readers to watch the film, which he provides a link to.
His reaction to completing a hard part of the Dirty Harry videogame, only to find himself back at the start of the level.
Spoony': "I HAVE MY RIGHTS, I HAVE MY RIGHTS!!! IT WAS CALLAHAN, THE BIG ONE, HE DID THIS TO ME!!AAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
When Noah discuses the final Laguna flashback sequence in Final Fantasy VIII, he simply sets it up (Laguna is now an actor working on a sci-fi film, when suddenly a real dragon attacks the set), and then just proceeds to laugh uncontrollably.
For his April Fools' Day Episode, his dislike of Final Fantasy VIII catalyzes into a hate of the entire series so much so that it caused him to become Dr.Insano, even though he has admitted to actually liking the other games in the series.
Happens almost literally in his review of Highlander 2. He experiences a Windows fatal error message when he sees the back of the box call it "the smartest sci-fi thriller since Blade Runner." He's also wearing a "Hero" shirt from the Game Heroes.
Heroic Neutral: Most of the fights Spoony gets into are solely because the villain du jour shows up in his house and starts harrassing him.
Kick the Dog: As hilarious as it was, casually blackmailing The Nostalgia Critic with crossdressing pictures of him taken during his drugged-out rape was kinda harsh.
Recently, when words fail him, he utters this: Deep Wang.
Mean Character, Nice Actor: Some of his jokes actually do cross the line. When not in "review mode," Spoony is much calmer and nicer; he explains in one commentary that no, he's not actually going to stab anyone in the brain. He also is on record as (sort-of) apologizing for that "Final Fantasy VIII sucks and you suck for liking it!" line by elaborating that since he's devoted so much time to it, and plays the "song you only listen to if you're a pussy" that he must be a pussy too.
Orwellian Editor: Spoony tends to delete some unconstructive or offensive criticism from his forum and comments section.
It got bad enough on Wrestle Wrestle videos, where Spoony introduced videos made by Sean Fausz and the Critical Marine that he deleted several comments, banned several people, and now neither Sean nor the Marine's videos allow you to post comments.
The comments section of his Kickassia DVD promo has been locked as well.
And, then when he linked to some magic cards someone made for him, and someone else pointed out an entire card deck made for him, well...that update had to go away.
Papa Wolf: There are multiple examples of this trope.
Perma Stubble: He's often unshaven in his videos. Whether or not he's clean-shaven is sometimes a coin-toss.
At the end of the special, after spending a good four or so hours berating the game, he provides a list of incredibly favorable reviews courtesy of multiple highly credible sources. Of course, whether it's this or an expression of extreme disbelief ŕ la Red Letter Media is up to you.
He now has an actual dog to pet.
Phrase Catcher: "You're in my spot sir." "OH FUCK YOU!". Apparently it's second nature, since he says it accidentally during his review of the live-action Tekken.
Sanity Slippage: In his review of Mazes and Monsters, the mother's comment about not going to MIT to become a computer programmer leads Spoony to reflect this upon himself and question what he's been doing with his life for the past 10 years while reviewing games and movies, before he pulls out a gun and goes crazy. The camera cuts out and shows a picture of a ton of white Lego Men tackling another man who's gone crazy, with the caption "We'll be right back. Time for my medicine."
Again in the Nostalgia Critic's review of "The Room", when Spoony interrupts the Critic to tell him that nobody should have to review Highlander 2, only to be told of the actual movie being reviewed.
Smark: Spoony fits many aspects of the traditional smark, pickiness, extensive research, knowledge and love of Indy stars, a deeply cynical attitude towards wrestling, Rooting for the Empire, Spoony is however a lot nicer than the stereotypical Smark and usually has good things to say about almost every wrestler, hell, the man gave John Cena and Hulk Hogan props.
You can tell that while he makes fun of Cena frequently, Spoony does have some modicum of respect for the man, and stated that he's one of the few young guys today that actually seems to care for the business. He's even stated during the Wrestlemania 27 review that Cena does up his game for PPV's, but at the same time shouldn't be depended on to carry a match.
Start of Darkness: Atributed to Microcosm, which comes wrapped in so much turd-polishing, promised so much and delivered so very little that it broke his youthful optimism and made him the bitter, cynical shell he is today.
Used almost literally, though not for being gay: After explaining how finding Rikku attractive is pretty much pedophilia, out pops a picture of an attractive woman/girl cosplaying in Rikku's Stripperiffic outfit, throwing his rant of track untill he snaps back with a "Stupid Sexy Cosplayers".
Too Kinky to Torture: When Angry Joe tries to strangle him at the end of Spooning With Spoony II, Spoony responds by proclaiming his love for erotic asphyxiation.
Spoony: "I call this one the shaken baby syndrome."
Troll: Since the beginning of the Experiment, Spoony has openly revelled in goading fans of many things for the Lulz, most prominently Final Fantasy VIII. He also enjoys annoying his fanbase when he believes they are in the wrong.
Unstoppable Rage: Bloodwings: Pumpkinhead's Revenge drove him to Nightmare Fueling levels of anger, including a Skyward Scream..... which Benzaie heard all the way from France.
Subverted in his review of Garzey's Wing. He is ALMOST sent into an unstoppable rage because of the voice actress of the fairy girl alone. Fortunately, the excellent hotel bathroom attendant was able to calm him down and make him forget that the anime even exists.
Sage:"Damn that guy is good."
Vitriolic Best Buds: Sometimes Spoony's relationship with other members of Channel Awesome can seem this way, especially with Joe. Thankfully this makes for very entertaining viewing.
With Fans Like These: More or less Spoony's relationship with his own viewership.
Regular Characters
Burton the Robot
Orignally created for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 type series that never came to pass, Burton is Spoony's robot. He basically just sits in the background of most reviews. Despite this, he's mentioned in the opening credits.
Shout Out: He's named after Jack Burton from Big Trouble in Little China, Spoony's favorite movie. The other two MST3K robots that never got built would have been named Sorbo (after actor Kevin Sorbo) and Morgan (after actress Morgan Webb). Also, Burton often gets to take on a role related to Spoony's current review:
In his review of the Demolition Man video game, he's the machine that spits out fine notices for swearing.
In his Robowar review, he reappears at the end with the same Stylistic Suck point-of-view shot and "greasy, greasy" monologue as the enemy from that film.
In Phantasmagoria2 he takes on the equivalent role of Curtis' rat Blob.
The Voiceless: Except in the first FMV Hell video, in which he is voiced by John Doe.
Dr. Insano
"I brought science!"A recurring character in both The Spoony Experiment and Atop the Fourth Wall, Dr. Insano is a mad scientist bent on world domination, and the former President of the United States. He's also Linkara's archenemy.
Asexuality - In the commentary for the The Beastmaster 2, Noah says that he always thought of Insano this way, and that back when he planned on the Nurse appearing, she was going to have the hots for Insano but he never noticed because he was too focused on science. Of course, he said this in response to Epileptic Trees fans put forth suggesting that Insano was gay after he pulled out a literal Gaydar and acted defensive when Spoony asked why he had one to begin with.
Asshole Victim: According to the Cinema Snob's Bibleman review he was raped in prison and traumatised so badly he sewed up his backside.
Beware the Silly Ones - Though played for laughs, Insano does have moments where he's actually able to be a legitimate menace, such as discovering the Anti-Comic Equation (Warrior #1), taking control of Neutro (the titular robotic weapon sought after by dozens of mad scientists in the comic Linkara reviewed), and hiring Squall to kill Spoony.
Also takes revenge on Mechakara by saving him from Linkara's BFG... only to torture him to death in retaliation for making him get a haircut.
He's killed thousands with an army of robotic suicide squirrels. (Of course, this might be an Informed Attribute, seeing as his inventions rarely work as planned.)
But that doesn't even compare with his latest bit of cruelty. He fixed a Atari Jaguar CD so Spoony could play it!
Big Bad: Serves as this to TGWTG team as a whole, being the arch enemy of Spoony, Linkara, a recurring foe of the Nostalgia Critic as well as having encounters with Paw and Angry Joe.
Enemy Mine: Linkara quite frequently teams up with Insano to defeat worse villains.
Even Evil Has Standards: Hates that Ferris Bueller is an unmotivated slacker who charms everyone into getting everything he wants. "I may be evil, but at least I'm not full of crap!!"
In his review of The Dungeonmaster, he lists off about a dozen useful functions they have - death rays, telescopic vision, X-ray vision, hypno vision, night vision, flash bang protection, digital photography of "like a zillion megapixels", contain a terabyte of mp3 space, they open his garage door, work as a universal remote for his TV, and are connected to Facebook and Twitter. (though they are largely Informed Abilities).
Go Karting with Bowser: One week, he tries to viciously murder Spoony. The next, he's hanging out on Spoony's couch riffing on kung fu exploitation flicks. Apparently they live together, but Spoony has made Insano promise to stop trying to kill people, "especially me!"
Goofy Print Underwear: The Warrior #4 review shows him in boxer shorts with red hearts when Linkara asks him why he's not wearing pants. Insano replies that it's not important right now.
Mr. Fixit: He managed to get an Atari Jaguar CD working (for just long enough for Spoony to record footage off it before it broke down again), a feat which even The Angry Video Game Nerd and his own technical genius friend had failed at.
Multiple Choice Past: Is Dr. Insano an incarnation of Spoony trapped in a Stable Time Loop? Was he one of the horny and nerdy Schlumper brothers who, after being rejected by his high school crush, turned to mad science in the hopes that he could create a artificial girlfriend? Was he a woman (or possibly a robot) until Linkara punched a hole in the fabric of the multiverse? Was he a split personality of Spoony? Word Of God is that "the origins of Dr. Insano are shrouded in mystery". Also keep in mind that the Rule of Funny applies here. "It's kind of cute how people are trying to come up with some kind of continuity for all this. There's no continuity, there's only Insano."
To add to the confusion, if Kickassia has proven Insano to be an evil split personality, is he the evil version of the original Spoony (who is now a Black Lantern), or the clone Spoony? Or is the Spoony seen in Kickassia, a good version of clone Insano?
Not So Harmless: A couple of examples: when he sends Squall to kill Spoony at the end of the Final Fantasy VIII review and when he gets his revenge on Mechakara in Atop the Fourth Wall.
Villain Decay: He goes back and forth. When introduced, Insano was a hair's breadth away from conquering the world, but was soon reduced to a lonely, pathetic wretch... then he murdered Spoony, but the next episode came groveling back asking to stay at Spoony's house... then he killed Tidus... and the cycle continues.
Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Implied a few times (see his breakdown at the end of Spoony's Street Fighter 2010 review), but played for laughs.
Oreo
Noah Antwiler's Parson Russell Terrier (mix?), a former stray he adopted from a shelter. In the continuity of Spoony's reviews, she was pulled out of a top hat by Simcoe the Magician.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Unintentional example in the "Last Ride of Tandem the Spoony" vlog, when Spoony won't give her the squeaky toy and she seems to stare plaintively into the camera as though appealing to the audience against this injustice.
Camera Abuse: Has a knack for bumping the tripod during Spoony's vlogs, causing the frame to shake.
Creating Life / Truly Single Parent: In the context of the main show's continuity (as opposed to vlogs) she was created from two Oreo cookies and some magic by Simcoe the Magician from Skullduggery.
Dogs Are Dumb: In the Final Fantasy X-2 finale, Spoony orders her to bring him guns... and she comes back with a squeaky toy.
This extends to Funny Offscreen Event - in one vlog, Noah notes that she's having a dream, and wakes her up, which confuses her. In one of the bloopers for Linkara's Mr. T #2, she can be heard chewing on a squeaky toy, which annoys Dr. Insano.
Dude, Where's My Respect?: "I know Humility is one of the eight Virtues, but I'm the God-Damned Avatar!"
Messianic Archetype: He is the Ultima series Christ figure. Though, it doesn't stop him from a being a foul mouthed, lazy, womanizing jackass sometimes, as seen in The Serpent's Isle.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Accidentally ignited a moat full of flammable tar in the Beastmaster review.
The original Spoony One, killed by Squall Leonhart on Doctor Insano's orders and later brought back as a Black Lantern as a side-effect of the Blackest Night. Briefly served as a pawn for Mechakara. This undead monstrosity now seeks to destroy his clone and take his show back going so far as to turn Tidus into a Black Lantern in order to do so. In the final part of Final Fantasy X, the clone Spoony and Black Lantern Spoony ended up being merged into one being by Linkara with his Star Trek technology.
Based on the annoying jester from Ultima VI mixed with the voices of forum trolls (similar to Douchey Mcnitpick), debuted in the review of that game. Spoony laser-blasted him for being a massive prick, so Chuckles accepted a Sinestro Corps ring from the Gate Cleaner to get his revenge.
The nephew of the Gate Keeper character from the Atmosfear VHS board games (played by an unshaven, hooded Spoony). The Gate Cleaner demanded that Spoony review every game in the Atmosfear series on punishment of being banished to the blagole, but Spoony reneged; the Cleaner is currently planning his revenge. We have also seen The Book Keeper (played by Linkara) and The Gate Keither (Bandit Keith from Yu-Gi-Oh! The Abridged Series, voiced by LittleKuriboh). Suburban Knights revealed he is married to The House Keeper, played by a cross-cast Spoony.
My Name Is Not Durwood: Real Life example; Spoony didn't realise Doug wanted him to appear in Suburban Knights for a long time because Doug kept calling the character "The Dungeon Master".
Made of Iron: Trying to take this guy down is a long and frustrating ordeal.
Neutro
Dr. Insano's Humongous Mecha. Originally the product of a short-lived Silver Age comic book reviewed by Linkara on Atop the Fourth Wall, Insano took control of the metal monster to serve his quest for world domination. Although destroyed by Linkara with his magic gun in his first appearance, Neutro has apparently been rebuilt.
Hypocritical Humour: When Spoony is ranting about how he hates characters with spiral eyes and giant robots from Final Fantasy X, Insano drops in to ask him if he remembers where he parked Neutro. We find out later that Linkara stole Neutro as a contingency plan to battle Mechakara
People in Rubber Suits: His latest appearance, with Iron Liz in the suit. Previously he was represented by a 2D animation effect.
Sequel Difficulty Spike: Inverted, "Neutro 2.0" from the Blackest Night crossover review goes down easily.
Played by Noah's brother and only appearing twice so far, he comes running in to stop illegal actions, from (what sounded like) child porn to (Insano) getting up on a float and signing.
Disproportionate Retribution: Beats up Doctor Insano for getting on a parade float and singing. Unless it had more to do with his murder of thousands with robotic suicide squirrels.
Mean Character, Nice Actor: Miles is a nice guy, to the point that Noah gets defensive at any accusation that Miles or any normal police officer condones this character's behaviour. That doesn't stop him from using this as a joke.
A monster with a pumpkin for a head; apparently the titular hillbilly vengeance demon from the Pumpkinhead film series (and the videogame adaptation that Spoony reviewed) despite the visual disparity between the two.
The villain of Final Fantasy VII. Had some brief appearances throughout Spoony's review of X-2, before killing Yuna in the finale... and handing Spoony a copy of Final Fantasy XIII.
The Chessmaster: Has set some scheme into place that involves taking advantage of Spoony's hatred for Final Fantasy and interfering with Burton's programming.
Cruel Mercy: Saves Spoony's life... only to provide him with a new Final Fantasy game.
A fuzzy pink orb-shaped freak of nature created by Doctor Insano from his own splooge.
Badass Adorable: Granted it was Tidus, but it was still pretty awesome seeing him knock someone out.
Fan Nickname: Fanfic writers typically refer to him as "Soi" or "Sonny".
Genius Bonus: Even though Son of Insano being made out of Insano's spooge might just seem like a gross-out joke, it's actually a rather clever reference to the concept of the homunculus, which were thought to either being beings inhabiting sperm cells or an Artificial Human created out of human sperm. invoked
Spoony's version of Doug Walker's Chester A. Bum character, brought in for bum-related jokes. Proved unpopular, so he only appeared in jokes about him being unpopular, and was eventually killed off in the Final Fantasy X review.
BFS: The Gunblade, which can actually shoot stuff outside the game.
Disproportionate Retribution: Dr. Insano would never have been able to afford Squall's services had Squall not offered to kill Spoony for free because of the review.
"Why did I give a walkie-talkie to a guy who speaks in text boxes?"
Hero Killer: He mortally wounds the original Spoony, only to be caught in an explosion.
Terl
A not-at-all-exaggerated version of the alien Psychlo villain from Battlefield Earth played by Spoony. Originally just a one-off role in The Nostalgia Critic's review of that film, he proved popular enough to return in Spoony's review of the Wing Commander film.
His third appearance takes this even further - Terl is tilted in the opposite direction to the chroma-keyed backdrop behind him.
Throw It In: Noah was dissatisfied with the original performance because, thanks to the awkward way he had to film it, Terl often wasn't looking directly at the camera. However, fan feedback suggested this blended seamlessly into the deliberate Stylistic Suck.
A parody of Professional Wrestler the Ultimate Warrior, played by Spoony, who shows up in Linkara and Spoony's joint reviews of his bizarre and horrible tie-in comic, and occasionally in Spoony's other reviews. Somehow gained a Red Lantern ring, and is now working for the evil interdimensional god, the Guardian.
Even The Subtitler Is Stumped: While the real Ultimate Warrior's dialogue is "translated" into much more lucid sayings, the subtitles accompanying this version just reiterate what he's saying.
Disproportionate Retribution: Averted. Spoony initially thinks she's coming after him for giving her game a (mildly) bad review as the other two did, but quickly realizes the fact that he murdered her boyfriend might have something to do with it.
Fan Disservice: It's Spoony with fake breasts and makeup.
The Voiceless: Aside from a couple grunts, says nothing.
Real People
Miles Antwiler
Noah Antwiler's real-life younger brother. Miles occasionally joins Spoony out-of-character for his v-logs to provide a counterpoint for his reviews, as well as acting as a body double in Spoony's reviews.
Foil: Unintentionally makes a perfect foil to his brother—both are snarky and have no problem pointing out flaws in a show or movie. However, whereas Noah is Hot Blooded and prone to Angrish-filled rants, Miles is almost always a deadpan straight man. They highlight each other remarkably well.
Police Brutality: Though actually a nice guy, during the Ferris Bueller's Day Off review he appears and beats the hell out of Insano for singing on top of a parade float without being part of the act. Then again, Insano is a mass murderer. Meanwhile, when Skullduggery has mother-child sex roleplay (both characters are adults), he busts in smacking Spoony for child pornography.
Spoony's former girlfriend was the webmistress, forum admin, and "fan-boy dominatrix" of the site prior to their breakup. Scarlett received sundry shout-outs on Noah's blog and v-logs, and maintains her own review blog here.
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