YMMV / Twilight Histories

• Alternate Character Interpretation: Was the butterfly from “True Aztec” really just a butterfly or was it Xiuhcoatl’s soul returned from the dead?
  • For what it’s worth Sam McDonald says he believes it to be the latter, but leaves it up to the listeners to decide for themselves.
• Awesomeness Withdrawal: Was quite common during the early days of the podcast. Jordan took on other writers in hopes of averting this trope.
• Catharsis Factor: Given how much abuse he puts you and his wife through, Master Basso’s death in “Mask of the Plague Doctor” serves as this.
• Draco in Leather Pants: Happens In-Universe in “Re-Write!” The audience latches onto Hitler as the bad boy to root for. However, as Washington notes, the very people cheering for Hitler probably wouldn’t be doing so if they actually had to live under his 1000 year Reich.
• Growing the Beard: It is generally agreeded that “Ice Age Misery” is when the show finally found its footing.
• Jerkass Woobie: Kaisa from “True Aztec” is this. She’s bitter, cynical, sarcastic, and seeems to go out of her way to be unhelpful. However, given that she lost her leg serving in the Aztec military, only to be saddled with a badly fitted prosthetic and limited veterans benefits, it isn’t hard to see why. Worse still, she strongly hints that she was on the receiving end of racial discrimination from hospitals, and that she failed to save a friend who was struggling with thoughts of suicide. Makes the scene where Xiuhcoatl gifts her with a proper prosthetic all the sweeter.
• Misaimed Fandom: In-Universe this happens in “Re-Write!” The audience latches onto Hitler, of all people, as the game show’s bad boy.
• Narm: Some of the dialogue in “Cato’s War” can cause this reaction. Jordan Harbour has stated that he felt uncomfortable using the word nigger. As a result, the worst the slaves are called is “ape” or simply “slave.” This is particularly jarring as the episode emphasizes the brutality and inhumanity of slavery.
• Squick: “Mask of the Plague Doctor” gives a detailed look at medieval medical practices.
• Unconventional Learning Experience: Although the podcast is alternate history, and does take artistic license at times, the attention to detail means that it is possible to learn quite a bit about real world history and mythology. This is especially true of the time travel episodes.
• What Do You Mean, It's Not Political?: Sam McDonald expressed corncern that listeners might mistake “True Aztec” as a commentary on modern political happenings, despite the fact that he’s been working on the story in various forms for many years. Thankfully, thus far this has not happened.
• The Woobie: Too many to count, but here are some prime examples:
  • Jingjing from “True Aztec” grew up as the illegitimate daughter of one of the richest men in Fusang and one of his maids. Given Fusang’s incredibly conservative nature, this severely limited her options in life. The other servants were cruel to her, while her father was indifferent at best. Things got slightly better when she moved to the Aztec Empire, but she had to scrub toilets while her papers were being processed. Things finally looked up when she became an Aztec citizen and got engaged to Xiuhcoatl. Then the Japanese invasion happened and Xiuhcoatl was killed by religious extremists.
  • From the same episode we have Tupac who lost his wife and daughter to the Japanese when they invaded Cuzco.
  • Persephone from “The Winged Victory” was never loved by her father due to being born paraplegic and a girl. She also had to deal with constantly being underestimated due to being confined to a wheelchair. Thank goodness she has you in her life.
  • Lucerna from “Court of the Giants” certainly counts after Pomperton’s death.
  • Beatrice from “Mask of the Plague Doctor” is trapped in a loveless marriage with a husband who is physically and emotionally abusive. Then the plague comes to Florence.