To and for all the Goodbye VLR threads,
This site is a shell of itself. A latent power hibernating, dormant until the breath of spring graces its buds.
As the spectacle that was Champions Seoul has wound down, what remains is a reflection upon the gravity of the whole ordeal.
Is there any gravity to it?
In the grand scheme of things, very little of this event matters to the individual frequenting this site in terms of the impact it has on their personal fulfillment.
However, there is still joy in fandom and fanaticism; the storylines that unfold, the awe of mechanical skill and strategy, and the love of country and region.
So why does this feel so empty? Why does the site die as if nothing happened at all.
Are there any stakes to a Champions victory over a Masters? They are treated all the same in the endless trophy tallies that populate the site in the regular season.
Is it the winner that resulted in a lackluster response? The rise of China?
Or perhaps the generally unenthused crowd for the majority of it?
The failures of highly-touted teams?
The inaccessible air times for the largely western VLR audiences?
No.
None of this matters.
This site didn't die. There is still life in every shitpost, every analysis, every meta-commentary.
The reason it feels this way is because the cycle of rebirth is indifferent to the knowledge of generations past.
The frost will thaw, blossoms shall emerge, and all shall be right for another few months.