I’ll try to keep this short, as there are many ways in which this show deteriorated over the years, but I think essentially it boils down to an encroaching sense of joylessness. When it started, the show was simple and fun, just a bunch of friends hanging out and riffing on the games they were playing, having a good time no matter if the game was amazing (Red Dead Redemption) or garbage (Harley Davidson Road Trip). But, over time, Fraser – the show’s creator and primary host, and the only cast member who’s appeared in every installment – started to take video games and the show itself more seriously, which slowly sucked a lot of the joy out of it. It didn’t help that he decided to lean into his on-camera “rage-filled man-child scrub” persona, which I suspect isn’t too far removed from his actual personality. While many fans enjoyed it, I found it irritating and off-putting. Later he became even more jaded with gaming, and it was clear he was no longer enjoying himself. Proceedings became more rote and unpleasant, so I tuned out. Through the grapevine I’ve heard that he recently admitted to not being interested in video games at all anymore; presumably he only keeps doing the show out of obligation, which sounds like the opposite of a good time to me. Nevertheless, the first few years of content are genuinely enjoyable and recommended for anyone looking for something light and casual that doesn’t take itself seriously. However, many other lets-players and streamers have cropped up in the years following this show’s debut to fill that niche, and have often improved on the formula, so it’s likely you could find something else just as good or better. Unfortunately, these days those old videos only seem to be good for former fans like myself going on a nostalgia trip. It’s a real shame.
Started out good, but eventually turned sour
I’ll try to keep this short, as there are many ways in which this show deteriorated over the years, but I think essentially it boils down to an encroaching sense of joylessness. When it started, the show was simple and fun, just a bunch of friends hanging out and riffing on the games they were playing, having a good time no matter if the game was amazing (Red Dead Redemption) or garbage (Harley Davidson Road Trip). But, over time, Fraser – the show’s creator and primary host, and the only cast member who’s appeared in every installment – started to take video games and the show itself more seriously, which slowly sucked a lot of the joy out of it. It didn’t help that he decided to lean into his on-camera “rage-filled man-child scrub” persona, which I suspect isn’t too far removed from his actual personality. While many fans enjoyed it, I found it irritating and off-putting. Later he became even more jaded with gaming, and it was clear he was no longer enjoying himself. Proceedings became more rote and unpleasant, so I tuned out. Through the grapevine I’ve heard that he recently admitted to not being interested in video games at all anymore; presumably he only keeps doing the show out of obligation, which sounds like the opposite of a good time to me. Nevertheless, the first few years of content are genuinely enjoyable and recommended for anyone looking for something light and casual that doesn’t take itself seriously. However, many other lets-players and streamers have cropped up in the years following this show’s debut to fill that niche, and have often improved on the formula, so it’s likely you could find something else just as good or better. Unfortunately, these days those old videos only seem to be good for former fans like myself going on a nostalgia trip. It’s a real shame.