I think a really good relationship dynamic is when one partner is an entirely absurd person and the other partner's perpetual thought process is, "I adore you. Why are you like this? I'm going to kiss you at such length and with such fervor that you'll get disoriented and stop being like this for five minutes and I can rest, for fuck's sake."
I’m always a fan of actors embodying their characters, but there’s something so special about watching the Critical Role cast and their deep love and connection to the characters they created.
It’s Liam saying he has synthetic memories of falling in love with Will. It’s Taliesin knowing the library and gardens in Whitestone by heart because he walks them in his mind so often. It’s Laura getting a nose bleed when Laudna dies. It’s Marisha crying as Beau offers the hag her happiness. It’s the cast not sleeping well for days after an intense episode because they can’t stop replaying it in their heads. It’s Dani and Taliesin tearing up together as they talk about Ashton’s chronic pain mirroring their own. Its Liam working through the death of his mother through Vax. It’s the intimate and unmistakable ways that this game of pretend affects their lives and the deep love they have for each other and the game.
It’s falling in love with your friends over and over again in every universe. Roleplaying really is a language of love and I feel so lucky to witness it.
[image description: a full color illustration of Imogen and Laudna from Critical Role. Imogen is gently touching the side of Laudna's face. Her expression is tender and focused. She's been in love since the beginning of the campaign. End ID]
Laura being fully frustrated and exasperated at sam and calling him a dick for doing a bit knowing she was preparing to have a full on confession scene is so funny
As much as I loved seeing Imogen finally admit how much she loves Laudna by kissing her, and with Laudna actually reciprocating by Laudna initiate kissing Imogen for their second kiss, one thing that stood out was how happy and bouncy she was after all of that, with her new outfit and all that.
It would be natural to wonder just what helped Laudna start to heal, and I think there were several things. But foremost among this is Laudna needed to confess what she did to Bor'Dor. She had to admit that not only did she finish Bor'Dor off, she opened the door to Delilah in doing so. More... she is tempted not to fix the latter problem and use Delilah in getting stronger to stop Ludinus.
Imogen was instrumental in this. For all the claims that they're unhealthy for each other, that they encourage bad traits in the other, well, that's nonsense. Imogen understood where Laudna was coming from. She stated that they could fight this - both Ruidus and Delilah.
The other thing that did help was for Laudna to get new clothes. She went through a huge change. She embraced a part of herself that she thought she'd put behind her... and was going to use that aspect to try and defeat their foes. Her old outfit likely just reminded her of Bor'Dor and her feelings of guilt.
This is not to discount the impact of learning Imogen loves her! And honestly... there is a small part of Marisha in Laudna, thinking that she's unlovable. She created a character not meant to be romanced! And she found that part of her loved anyway. It's no wonder Marisha tripped over her own chair after Laura Bailey pulled that card out of her deck. To be someone who thinks you can't be loved because of who you are... and to have someone else say "I love you" anyway... it is one of the most devastatingly wonderful feelings in the world.
I would know. I've been there.
So yeah. Laudna is in a better place right now. She is on a path to healing. But it's not just the kiss. It's the acceptance of Laudna even after she admitted the most horrible thing she's ever done... and knowing she is still loved and accepted. That is what has helped Laudna start to heal.