being losers surprised me: I never thought I could be so deeply invested in a non-reddie centric work. bl features some of the best individual characterizations (esp ben, bill, and bev) and arcs I’ve seen from any smau out there. it has so much lore! it’s centred on found family!

unsolved is an absolute feat. it captures like none other what it feels like to fall in love w/ your best friend. it tackles tricky themes with care & focusses on relationships. it boast both excellent traditional smau elements and killer, full episode transcripts. we’re spoiled!

there’s slow burn and then there’s marigold. ma has north of 600 posts but they’ve flown by. each character and relationship is afforded an individual story arc and it’s so easy to get caught up in their little lives. it doesn’t shy away from tropes and it always keeps it fun!

super losers is unequivocally the funniest smau out there. nearly every update makes me audibly laugh. the reddie is just delicious, the stanpat makes my heart yearn, and their shenanigans and superpowers are so so fun. cherry on top? it’s a deliciously anti-corporation story.

dsyc is The Comfort Smau. nothing is without a little drama but dsyc isn’t about that—it’s about falling in love slowly, about growing up, but mostly, it’s about family, found and otherwise, and how they support one another. also: understated, nuanced, INCREDIBLE reddie dynamic

you can tell by reading until eternity that kaia has an unparalleled grasp of the source material and its adaptations. it’s spooky, thoughtful, it’s characters & relationships are so good, the edits are amazing. it’s a fix-it that transforms and transcends the canon expertly!

bar crawlers (bar crackers) is a whole bunch of fun so far. I always crave lighter stories and this is light without being simple: the characters each have their struggles and their arcs that are being explored. the reddie dynamic is unique and refreshing and I can’t get enough!

pdau honours its source material while being a whole load of fun. the early updates handled grief and the moral dilemma of the premise beautifully and we are starting to get into the fun. the reddie dynamic is already so so funny and my heart aches for childhood sweethearts!

cts is unique & so clever. its narrative is deep, the lore is incredible, the imagery & symbolism woven throughout is seamless. it gives each character an arc and those arcs are SO good. its themes of identity & the self are enthralling on top of it being a damn good story!

SOS said I was going to read a horror au and be happy about it, and I am. it’s suspenseful while also being tender, the established reddie is heart-achingly good, the voices for the OCs (esp the children!) are so clear and distinct, and the mediums it uses are so thoughtful!

self destruct wasn’t made for me but it hits all my buttons. the character & relationship dynamics are so strong. the suspense/action sequences change the game. the established reddie is delicious, but all the pairings are such unique, incredible interpretations of the dynamics.

deadlight is a blast. vampire reechie. the reworking of a source material into something better than the original. eddie having a supportive relationship with his father. really good character voices. an oc so good (frank) you’ll forget he was named charlie in the movie.

ITD is so fucking cool and really shows off finn’s skillset. it features funky sea creatures, a spooky setting and vibe, incredible graphics, companion art, AI patty, established bike, and a patently delicious reddie dynamic already. it’s gonna scare my pants off, I know it.

derry high is a comfort au that doesn’t shy away from tricky subjects. love isn’t straightforward here or irl but every narrative choice feels so organic and vivid. the reddie dynamic is some of my all-time fave, but all the relationships are so well done. wish it would never end

new guy is a slowburn that feels so thought out & careful. their feelings are clear early on but life, as it does, gets in the way. it’s not founded on miscommunication so much as the reality of navigating adult relationships and friendships. it has some great OCs and it’s so fun

every update of cringefail has something (seemingly, although that’s the talent for you) effortlessly hilarious. the reddie dynamic is unique & enjoyable, the bike is fun. the episodic narrative is fulfilling and a clever way to tell self-contained parts of the story coherently!

fftb is lynnebait: you can’t make a pacrim au with sexy antagonistic reddie with a complex history and not expect me to go crazy. came for the robots, stayed for the reddie which is already making me crazy. the graphics are off the chain and I am so excited for bill’s story arc!

derry u does so much incredibly well, from the dynamics to the character voices to the OCs to the tension. it’s truly masterful at: a) giving each character an arc that matters & b) developing deep themes in layers. it’s such a good one to reread because you see more each time!

TSM is already incredible. the individual character voices are so strong and distinct, the flow of the story feels so organic, the friendships between the characters and their individual struggles are so real and unidealized. I’m a sucker for themes of class esp done this well!

eoaf is my shit. an arrival au written by someone who has done their homework (for the au or a degree? no idea but you’ve convinced me). the reddie is already delicious. the character relationships are good. the eddie voice is so strong. the budding storylines are thrilling.

alternauts is my dream smau. time travel. fix-it. dancing. prose interludes. one of the best eddie voices out there. leslie reinvents romance every time she writes and this is no different. there’s a subtlety and nuance to her reddie without losing any of the original dynamic.

hfog is too smart for me and I love it. talk about mixing mediums. everything about it is incredible from the use of text adventures, the polls, the narrators, the different approaches to the characters and their relationships, the graphics. it’s all so slick and cool and clever!

down the coast is so refreshing. a post-canon smau that isn’t a fix-it (unique!) and is bike-centric, written by an author who absolutely knows these characters throughout their adaptations. the mike-centric storytelling is exceptional and the voices are so clear and distinct!