mavsfan4ever said:

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This show is weird. I'm not referring to the people (who are definitely weird), but I'm more referring to how it is shot. I would like it much better if it was a true documentary. But they have set it up where most scenes are clearly acted/recreated by the actual subjects themselves. Why do that? It makes everything seem so fake and theatrical, when this is supposed to be a documentary (or at least I thought it was). Is this a documentary or fiction.

The last 10-15 minutes in particular were cringey in how fake/recreated they were, when the general manager and his wife are in Germany and the girl is eavesdropping on the conversation of the popcorn guy regarding buying the fair, etc. I hated that part because it's clearly staged, and more importantly, it makes the whole show seem scripted.

I'm sure the directors/writers will say they did that on purpose because it is an analogy to how the fair is fake, etc. But that was an awful decision.

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Couldn't agree more. I've gone with friends the last 7 or 8 years. I never dress up or get weird, we just go on a pleasant Saturday, enjoy people watching and check out weird **** while drinking and eating.

I was very excited about this when it was announced but the cross between some fake reality show of contestants angling for power, draped in a documentary format is so weird and a let down. I was hoping for a pure docuseries.

Then again, as weird as George is, maybe that wasn't going to be allowed.

mavsfan4ever said:

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This show is weird. I'm not referring to the people (who are definitely weird), but I'm more referring to how it is shot. I would like it much better if it was a true documentary. But they have set it up where most scenes are clearly acted/recreated by the actual subjects themselves. Why do that? It makes everything seem so fake and theatrical, when this is supposed to be a documentary (or at least I thought it was). Is this a documentary or fiction.

The last 10-15 minutes in particular were cringey in how fake/recreated they were, when the general manager and his wife are in Germany and the girl is eavesdropping on the conversation of the popcorn guy regarding buying the fair, etc. I hated that part because it's clearly staged, and more importantly, it makes the whole show seem scripted.

I'm sure the directors/writers will say they did that on purpose because it is an analogy to how the fair is fake, etc. But that was an awful decision.

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Completely agree! I started out really impressed with the cinematography, especially for the B roll stuff. Once we got to the eavesdropping scene in the bar I was like "Wait, what the heck just happened? This is fake af". The effects and drama were well done, but it no longer feels like a documentary to me and I'll be cynical of every scene going forward.

I'm guessing they thought this would be effective since most of the subjects already have a theatre / fantasy type background and it would look more authentic.

Texaggie7nine said:

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Wonder how much it will cover the orgy fest that happens every night after.

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

I always thought a Rennaissance fan would be a big hit for those who are into history.

apparently not!

LMCane said:

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

I always thought a Rennaissance fan would be a big hit for those who are into history.

apparently not!

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If by 'into history' you mean people who wish they lived in the Game of Thrones without the horrible water, lack modern bathroom facilities and actual death and famine, then sure..it's a big hit for people who are into history.

LMCane said:

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

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chainmail lingerie

Bunk Moreland said:

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If by 'into history' you mean people who wish they lived in the Game of Thrones without the horrible water, lack modern bathroom facilities

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Clearly you've never been out to RenFair

LMCane said:

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

I always thought a Rennaissance fan would be a big hit for those who are into history.

apparently not!

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Actual history buffs cringe at these kind of events because they're ahistorical. These are more gatherings for fantasy fans, LARPers, Magic the Gathering types.

javajaws said:

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LMCane said:

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

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chainmail lingerie

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They use to wear these tops all the time until they became more family friendly and made them have bikini or something under the chainmail!

Yeah, after some initial intrigue and buzz, this show sucks.

I've been to RenFest a few times with some friends who do like to go in costume. I've camped there and seen a few wild things that you won't see most other places. As far as the dress up aspect of it goes I wonder if you guys would have the same things to say about folks who do SASS (Single Action Shooting Society).
are these guys weirdos and freaks? or just some folks having fun on the weekend?

https://www.sassnet.com/about-sass/sass-costuming
SASS Costuming
One of the unique aspects of SASS approved Cowboy Action Shooting and Wild Bunch Action Shooting is the requirement placed on costuming. Many event participants gain just as much enjoyment from the costuming aspect of our sport as they do the shooting competition itself.
For Cowboy Action Shooting, minimal costuming requirements can be as simple as a basic pair of pants, a pair of cowboy boots, a basic leather belt, a button up western shirt, and a cowboy hat. Participants may choose the style of costume they wish to wear, but all clothing must be typical of the late 19th century, a B-western movie, or Western television series. For some SASS members, the costuming is can range from extremely detailed Victorian to Classic Cowboy- and everything in between.
In Wild Bunch Action Shooting, all clothing must be typical of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Emphasis is put on period US military from 1900 to 1916 and Edwardian period fashion. Western dress such as Pike, Dutch, Lyle, or Tector in the closing scene of the Wild Bunch movie (e.g., Western style pants with or without suspenders and along sleeve western shirt) is appropriate. Vests are optional. Boots must be SASS legal and Mexican dress is also appropriate.
SASS puts a great deal of emphasis on costuming because it adds so much to the uniqueness of the game and helps create a festive, informal atmosphere that supports the friendly, fraternal feeling we encourage in our competitors.
All shooters must be in costume, and we encourage invited guests and family also to be costumed. Shooters must remain in costume at all match events; dinners, award ceremonies, dances, etc.
All clothing and equipment must be worn appropriately, how it was intended, and how it would have been worn in the Old West or as seen on B-Western movies and television.

I've got a co-worker that does the dress up SASS shooting comps. Totally normal guy, IMO.

AgTrip said:

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javajaws said:

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LMCane said:

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what's the correlation between history buffs and swingers?

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chainmail lingerie

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They use to wear these tops all the time until they became more family friendly and made them have bikini or something under the chainmail!

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Um
I am pretty sure I used to babysit the girl on the left.

I learned she was a regular at the TRF when her pic ended up on the Facebook of another Ren Fest regular

That pic was taken from a Houston article.

AgTrip said:

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That pic was taken from a Houston article.

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I babysat her in Houston.
Our parents were part of a volunteer fire dept.

Tanya 93 said:

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AgTrip said:

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That pic was taken from a Houston article.

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I babysat her in Houston.
Our parents were part of a volunteer fire dept.

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Is she a swinger?

Teddy Perkins said:

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I've got a co-worker that does the dress up SASS shooting comps. Totally normal guy, IMO.

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As are most of the people who dress up and go to RenFest. Just normal folks who like to have a little fun.

Tanya 93 said:

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AgTrip said:

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That pic was taken from a Houston article.

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I babysat her in Houston.
Our parents were part of a volunteer fire dept.

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https://www.houstonpress.com/slideshow/the-foodies-of-the-texas-renaissance-festival-9841584

There's the link Tanya!

Two more episodes out He is weird.

George is definitely a loon but I will echo the thoughts that the way this is shot makes it seem like the storylines regarding selling it and managing it are completely fake. Or at least massively embellished and played up.

I would have tapped that Pope girl's ass before sending her back to SF though

DannyDuberstein said:

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George is definitely a loon but I will echo the thoughts that the way this is shot makes it seem like the storylines regarding selling it and managing it are completely fake. Or at least massively embellished and played up.

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This kind of stuff is always a turn off for me for reality TV. I understand that Movies based on true events get embellished to make them more interesting, but doing it in a documentary style just seems underhanded and really annoys me. It's why I refuse to watch pretty much any "reality TV drama"

Yeah, i used to enjoy a good documentary, but I've soured on all of them. Too slanted, too much bull***** I gave this one a shot because George is a loon and I figured there were enough other loons where they could do something real. Instead they went with this contrived power struggle. It was clear from the jump that Louie just talked out of his ass and there was never going to be any real money

Watching this old dude on his dates is cringey AF. He treats the women like his employees so not surprising he is finding himself dying alone.

Plus I don't think it's just Red Bull and Bang Energy keeping Kettle Corn Louie going, pretty sure he is on meth or Coke too

George's phone call lady checklist may be the best part of the series. For starters, it asks if they have pets before it asks if they have kids. Then right after kids is when it asks if they have natural breasts. It ends by telling them to wear a low cut blouse and skirt

DannyDuberstein said:

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George's phone call lady checklist may be the best part of the series. For starters, it asks if they have pets before it asks if they have kids. Then right after kids is when it asks if they have natural breasts. It ends by telling them to wear a low cut blouse and skirt

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Looks like the only girls that take the bait are goth, maybe he is kinky and is asking them to do painful things to Leonard.

Can confirm it's a big swinger gathering. It goes down at night.

Watching the final episode now and all I can think of is what a missed opportunity. They never once showed the scope and size of the festival while it was going on in any way that would make sense to someone who lives in a different part of the country. The greatest thing about the ren fest is how incredible the infrastructure actually is. Anyone who hasn't attended can't get a sense of it with this.

The other disservice are the fans
/attendees. So much b roll of the workers with nobody else around. Every scene looks like a sad sleepy place when reality is that it's packed to the gills.

Maybe this final episode will capture that but I doubt it.

100%/96% reviews on rotten tomatoes

I'm really surprised at the high praise this series is receiving. I wish it had just been a true point and shoot documentary. The re-enacted scenes/dream sequences were terrible. Were they done as filler to cobble a story together? I could see how filming/having unfettered access to George could be problematic but all the "extras" ruined what could have been a great doc.

I'm amazed at how delusional some of the hanger-on types were in thinking George should just hand them over his successful business enterprise. At least Louie had a plan but the other two seemed to lack any business acumen.

My favorite scene in the series was the random old guy floating around in the above ground pool smoking a bowl and just enjoying life. It really showed the disparity in what most people long for in retirement and whatever George was trying to accomplish.

One last thing, here's a NSFW 20-min documentary showing the after hours party/campground scene at the Texas Renaissance Festival: Ren Faire Gone Wild (2022).

Note: if you make it to the end you'll see a guy check-off seeing a pair of breasts from the ol' bucket list.

Anagrammatic Nudist said:

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Around 2018 I was asked to come out to George's complex to consider proposing for traffic control planning consulting services. Upon arrival, I was toured around the residential property by George himself, and couldn't get out of there fast enough. Craziest human being I have ever encountered.

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Username does not check out

George is such a pathetic sad loser.

Success doesn't buy happiness, that's for sure.

As a family we got to the REN Fest maybe every other year. If it's a nice fall day that's nice and cool, it's a fun day. We go early and leave by 3-4PM so we don't stay for the debauchery!

watched all episodes last night. OMG

so many questions!

it seemed part of that was NOT a documentary but was writers creating what they wanted the audience to see.

King George seems like an idiot savant going through dementia at this point. I do agree with his love for reading books.

why any of those people put up with low salaries to deal with George, that's insane.

why does George who has millions of dollars not fix his teeth and trim his ear/nose hair when "going on a date" with 24 year olds?

why does he go to Olive Garden instead of having them come to his "mansion" (the ugliest property I have ever seen)

why does he care so much about breast augmentation?!

so many questions!!

is the public who attends the Texas Ren Fair middle class or white trash? because the employees seemed to be like the typical "carnies" from traveling county fairs.

it's crazy how insane George is, and yet he is also very sharp about seeing the details of operations like wearing hats and having things set up correctly.

also very interesting editing that they left out the personal background nuggets on George until half way through the final episode.

funny how every time they showed Jeff Baldwin he was eating until he got gastric bypass surgery