Nearly nine years ago this suspicious countdown timer leading up to A Date With Markiplier saved my life. I was going through hell in school and at home, suffering with things I didn’t even understand or have the language to explain at the time, and I was fully prepared to escape all of it. 

The only reason I didn’t was out of insatiable curiosity of what this god damn countdown was for. I told myself I would stick around long around to see what this secret project of Mark’s was and then I would dip. By the time ADWM actually came out the thoughts had passed and made it through was I now know to have been a depressive episode caused by my schizoaffective disorder. 

I’ve been so grateful for this magical little happenstance for nearly a decade. Every single time that I experience something good, something happy, I remember that day that I almost missed out on all of it, and I remember that the only reason I didn’t miss any of it is because Mark just so happened to post the countdown that day instead of the next day or even an hour later. 

Tonight I saw Iron Lung! I could rant and rave about how much I loved it from a critical perspective but all I feel right now is this overwhelming adoration and maybe some parasocial pride for the guy who used to make skits about popcorn and squirrels in his living room. And now there’s a poster of a movie he made with blood sweat and tears and more blood in my theater next to all the other movie posters! Like fuck it’s so \*cool\*!!! 

It is one of the greatest joys of my life to have seen this growth happen in real time. To have seen the path of the king of the squirrels to Who Killed Markiplier to Iron Lung is so incredibly satisfying, because I loved every single moment in between and I have always known that there would be more. Every time he has a crazy idea I know we’ll see it one day. 

I’m so proud of everyone involved in this project, I’m so grateful to have Mark and everything he creates in my life, and I’m so excited to see more people watch Iron Lung and react to it!! 

Iron Lung is making me emotional (no spoilers)