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JapaneseTeeth Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing Since: Jan, 2001
Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing
06/14/2013 11:37:47 •••

Its greatest strengths are its greatest weaknesses, and vice versa.

Homestuck is nearly unreviewable. It's so far removed from any form of traditional storytelling that it's hard to say whether anything is a flaw or a feature. Two people can look at the same part and either love or hate it. I'll try to summarize the main points::

The Plot/Cosmology:

  • Good: Hussie is extremely adept at creating a massive sprawling web of plotlines and then linking them all together while avoiding plot holes. There are very few works out there that match the level of complexity while still making sense. The plot is unpredictable, and always surprising.
  • Bad: He creates complexity by pulling new features out of his ass and retconning them to make sense. It creates a coherent story, but also means that any "rule" he establishes can be broken, and any plot point that occurs can be negated. This negates any sense of tension. For an example, character deaths. He's created so many methods to come Back From The Dead that a death has no tension because he can create a new plot point to resolve it. If he writes himself into a corner he'll simply invent a new method and retroactively justify it.

Media:

  • Good: Hussie combines animation, text, and viewer interaction in an unprecedented way, and it allows him to tell the story in a way no one media could. It very often enhances the story, and makes it incredibly memorable. He also shatters the fourth wall a lot to add additional layers of audience involvement.
  • Bad: Hussie has a tendency to do things for the heck of it rather than because it actually serves the story. There are tons of needless scenes and gimmicks that don't serve much of a purpose. The fourth wall breaking also comes across as self indulgent.

Characters:

  • Good: Hussie is good at creating and handling a large cast and making them all multifaceted and well developed. Every character has a distinct voice and personality. None of them seem flat and their interactions are fun to read.
  • Bad: He also has a tendency to introduce characters in groups, and then not use them all. This bloats the story with unnecessary characters who might be well developed, but also have little purpose. They also have a tendency to ramble.

Overall, it's impossible to guess if someone will like Homestuck or not; too much depends on personal preference. Read it, and form your own opinion.


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