It was both what I hoped it would be and what I worried it would be

The narration is literally what I was worried it would be. I'm impressed they got Oney to do it, and I think if they're implying what I think they're implying, then Oney is the voice of the Wayward Vagabond, which is so much funnier than my own casting idea (Tom Kenney). But also, like, I don't want the narration from the comic??? I want this to be a fucking cartoon that tells its story with a modicum of normalcy, and this is literally what both the fan-made homestuck movie script and homestuck the musical did. I was hoping they'd integrate or adapt things like zoosmell and the game mechanics more naturally, which they kinda did. I think the recognition of game mechanics works if they really lean into the acknowledgement of them by the characters: then people will understand that the premise is their universe is basically a video game (which, technically, it is, but the audience isn't gonna know that yet, but this sets it up).

The music was fucking whatever. It's fine. Nothing crazy, just standard cartoon background music... it sounds good. I like Jade's theme.

They did kinda ruin the whole title card thing. Honestly, I was hoping we would start with the Homestuck next to the sun title drop and then descend to the neighborhood and just do the show normally.

Also a big fan of how everyone joked it'd be like Vivziepop's other shows and then the creators were like "Noooo Viv isn't even writing it, it's not gonna be swears every other sentence" and then it's swears every other sentence because it's still homestuck (im so excited for dave to drop the n-word in episode 3).

uhhhh what else, um, OH WAITER, MORE KARKAT PLEASE.

The fight scene was, I think, the best-adapted part of the episode beyond the pesterlogs.

The ending was stupid I think they just should've kept trolls being aliens hidden.

It's a good, fun pilot, but if this is supposed to introduce people to the series or be an alternate, better way of enjoying homestuck's story... well if this even becomes a full series... if someone asked me about getting into homestuck I would still just tell them to get the UHC. I'm hoping that if the series continues, it gives me a reason to change my answer. I like it, if that means anything to anyone (it doesn't because you don't fucking know me), but it could be better.

The inclusion of Oney as WV does fortunately mean Zach Hadel as Sollux is still on the fucking table so ignor everything i just said the pilot is a 413/10!!! wooo homestuck !!!! YEAEAHAHEH!!!!!!!!