TLDR;
The video discusses the perceived decline in humor of the YouTube series SMG4, analyzing the changes in animation style, censorship, character additions, overreliance on lore, and the potential influence of Kevin on the show's direction. It argues that SMG4 has strayed from its original comedic roots, offering suggestions for how the show could recapture its former glory, while also expressing pessimism about the likelihood of these changes occurring.
- SMG4's humor has declined due to changes in animation, increased censorship, and new unfunny characters.
- The show now focuses too much on lore and plot, abandoning its original comedic focus.
- Kevin's increased role in writing is theorized to be a contributing factor to the show's decline.
Intro [0:03]
The video introduces the topic of Super Mario Glitchy 4 (SMG4) and its shift away from the iconic humor that initially made it popular. The creator acknowledges the channel's significant influence on his own content creation, emphasizing that the video will focus solely on the reasons behind the perceived loss of humor in SMG4. The video is not intended as a documentary on SMG4's origins or a personal reflection on the series, but rather a critical analysis of its comedic decline.
Peak SMG4 Era (2017-2019) [1:02]
The period from 2017 to 2019 is identified as the peak of SMG4's humor, characterized by episodes centered on Mario's wacky adventures and general chaos. The success of this era is attributed to the combination of meme references, over-the-top violence, witty dialogue, and the use of cheap animations and ragdoll physics. While not every episode was perfect, the consistent presence of quality humor made the show entertaining for a wide audience.
Animation Style Changes [3:00]
The video addresses the evolution of SMG4's animation style from Super Mario 64 gameplay with subtitles to the inclusion of Garry's Mod machinimas and, eventually, full 3D animation. The shift away from cheap animations, ragdoll physics, and Mario 64 models is criticized as a departure from the show's original comedic style. The video argues that while improvement is generally positive, SMG4's animation has lost its unique charm and now resembles generic 3D animation, similar to reanimated scenes from other TV shows.
Censorship [5:44]
The video expresses strong disapproval of censorship in media, particularly the unnecessary bleeping of swear words and censoring of written words in SMG4 episodes. It argues that if the show is going to include edgy humor and swearing, it should not censor them, as doing so comes across as hypocritical. The video dismisses the idea that SMG4 is trying to appeal to kids or avoid demonetization, asserting that the show has never been kid-friendly and that the creators' financial stability makes demonetization a non-issue.
Unfunny Characters [8:23]
The video criticizes the addition of new female characters to SMG4, arguing that they are unfunny and contribute to the show's decline in humor. It contrasts the original Inkling Meggy, who was cool and enjoyable, with the modern Meggy, who is portrayed as an angry sister for Mario. The video singles out characters like Tari, Saiko, Melony, and especially Karen as examples of poorly conceived and unfunny additions to the cast, questioning the creative decisions behind their inclusion.
Over Reliance on Lore [12:31]
The video highlights the shift in SMG4 from episodes focused on Mario doing stupid things for humor to episodes with deeper meanings, lore attachments, and character development. It argues that the show now prioritizes story progression over comedy, with months passing between episodes that focus solely on humor. The video criticizes the existence of SMG4 theorists, stating that the show was never meant to have lore and should instead focus on being a funny show on the internet.
Kevin's Influence [14:16]
The video proposes a theory that Kevin's increased involvement in writing SMG4 is responsible for the show's decline in content quality. It suggests that Kevin is responsible for the addition of characters like Melony and Karen, as well as the Meggy redesign. While acknowledging that Luke still partly writes SMG4, the video questions whether Luke is letting his show get to this point.
How to Fix SMG4 [15:33]
The video offers suggestions for how SMG4 could regain its former glory, including reverting to the Mario 64 models and ragdoll physics, ceasing the censorship of profanity and dark jokes, removing the unfunny female characters (except perhaps Meggy and Tari), and prioritizing humor over lore and plot. It emphasizes the importance of remembering the show's roots and focusing on the jokes and gags that made SMG4 iconic. The video concludes with a pessimistic outlook, predicting that SMG4 will continue to decline and potentially get rid of Mario in the future.
