One Episode Later

I finished the Briarwood Arc last night, right before tuning in for Critical Role's new episode. It felt appropriately symbolic, and also made me appreciate the couple of scenes from the arc I spotted in the fanart reel. But hearing "Welcome to Wildemount" with art that thankfully no longer flashes by way too fast the way it did in the earlier episodes, watching the standard announcements (though lacking a sponsor to shill, Sam did a poem far better than any of that), and seeing that opening sequence was all like coming home. I actually did a little live-tweeting for the first time, and while I went to bed at the break as usual, when I woke up early enough I ended up catching the rest on the midnight rerun. I'd never done that before either, but it's way easier when I don't have to worry about spoilers. Though so far I've haven't looked at the fans reaction much anyway.
But good as it was, I couldn't help but notice a lot of the cast looked a lot more worn, Matt especially. And the way things are going in LA right now, I fear this can only last so long. If this is the beginning of a new story arc, it may be one done in fits and starts. That dragon turtle may be a background menace that lurks behind them for months yet. That would also be all too symbolic, I'm afraid.