Overview of I Have To Talk About The Asmongold Situation - H3 Show #276
Ethan Klein spends this episode bouncing between comedy bits, sponsor reads, office chaos, and a long discussion of gamer drama centered on Asmongold’s reaction to the new God of War announcement. Along the way, the show spirals into side conversations about Mormon “glaze,” Google AI giving contradictory health advice, Tom’s mom accidentally smashing a mirror, FaZe Banks’ new show, Reckless Ben’s Patreon dispute, and a surprisingly intense debate over whether Asmongold’s disgusting room photo shows a “blood wall” or a “booger wall.”
Main Topics Covered
Mormon “glaze” and the coughing-in-your-hand debate
- Ethan revisits his running joke about Mormons having a polished, wholesome “glaze.”
- The crew watches Mormon viewers react warmly to being joked about, reinforcing Ethan’s claim that they’re unusually good-natured.
- This turns into a bizarre but real discussion about whether it is better to cough into your hand or into the air.
- Google’s AI Overviews give conflicting answers, which Ethan uses to argue that AI search is unreliable and overconfident.
- The joke lands that “true knowledge begins by admitting what you don’t know.”
Tom’s mom breaks the mirror
- Tom and his mom stop by the office, apparently trying to be quiet, but their entrance is loud and chaotic.
- Tom’s mom accidentally walks into a full-length mirror and shatters it.
- She insists she was tiptoeing out, saw a reflection, thought it was a doorway, and lost her balance.
- Ethan and the crew joke about how powerful the impact must have been, since the mirror shattered in multiple places.
- The broken mirror becomes an ongoing running gag for the rest of the episode.
Ridge Wallet sponsor segment
- Ethan reads a long sponsor ad for Ridge Wallet and Ridge accessories.
- He demos the wallet, keychain, money clip, and other products, emphasizing:
- compact design,
- durable materials,
- convenience,
- and how useful it is for carrying only what you need.
- The bit turns into a humorous office interrogation of Nate’s wallet, which is packed with too many cards, including a school ID from 11th grade.
FaZe Banks, Twitch, and “Market Bubble”
- Ethan and the crew discuss FaZe Banks’ new financial podcast/show, Market Bubble.
- Banks appears to have gone live despite his co-host being absent and despite the stream being capped at 2,000 viewers, likely because Twitch suspected botting.
- Ethan mocks the awkwardness of Banks’ launch and points out the mismatch between his financial-advice branding and the actual value he’s providing.
- This leads to a jab at high-profile podcast deals, including Jay Shetty’s reported deal, which Ethan says is wildly overvalued.
Reckless Ben and Patreon standing firm
- Ethan gives a quick update on Reckless Ben’s ongoing “McKenzie Manor” series and says Ben is fearless and effective in how he handles the haunted-house/cult-adjacent material.
- The episode then pivots to Patreon’s response to a legal takedown request from Bricks and Minifigs.
- Patreon’s CEO says the platform reviewed the case and will keep Ben’s page up, essentially telling the company to sue if they want to fight it.
- Ethan treats this as a win for Ben and a sign that Patreon is not backing down.
The Asmongold / God of War Drama
The core controversy
- The biggest segment is a breakdown of Asmongold’s reaction to the new God of War game reveal.
- The new game centers on Faye, Kratos’ wife, rather than Kratos as the sole lead.
- Ethan argues the shift makes sense narratively because the previous games already built up this character and her role in the story.
- Asmongold’s complaint is framed as a mix of:
- resistance to female protagonists,
- audience capture,
- and shallow “game should be hot” logic.
Ethan’s counterargument
- Ethan says the new game is not a random “woke swap,” but a continuation of an established narrative.
- He argues that:
- the God of War series has always expanded its scope,
- the previous game already introduced more playable segments as Atreus,
- and a story about Faye can be a meaningful way to explore the lore.
- He says the gameplay itself looks strong and that the change is an interesting creative direction rather than a replacement of Kratos.
The “men are more attractive” tweet
- Ethan also covers Asmongold’s tweet claiming men are naturally more attractive than women and that women need makeup.
- Asmongold uses peacocks, cards, and Greek statues as “science” to support the argument.
- The crew mocks the logic, pointing out:
- the bird comparisons don’t translate to humans,
- many species have dominant females,
- and the claim sounds less like science and more like a bizarre personal fixation.
- XQC’s back-and-forth with Asmongold is also discussed, with Ethan treating it as another example of “gamer brain” debate culture.
Audience capture and inconsistency
- Ethan suggests Asmongold’s take is less an honest critique and more a reaction to what his audience wants to hear.
- He notes that Asmongold seemed to like the trailer until he checked chat.
- The show repeatedly contrasts this with Ethan’s view that the story choice is normal for a long-running franchise and not worth the outrage.
The “blood wall” vs. “booger wall” debate
What happened
- The crew gets stuck on a famous gross photo from Asmongold’s room showing stains on a wall.
- Ethan and some of the crew argue it’s a “blood wall,” based on Asmongold’s explanation that he had bleeding gums and would smear blood on the wall at night.
- AB insists it looks more like a booger wall, or at least something involving nose gunk.
- The debate gets weirdly detailed and surprisingly serious.
Why it matters to the show
- The wall photo is used to illustrate Asmongold’s general lifestyle, room condition, and lack of self-care.
- Ethan says this makes Asmongold’s takes about women less persuasive, because his own living situation is so chaotic.
- The discussion becomes a running example of how gross and unwell the internet’s biggest personalities can be while still holding strong opinions about appearance and attraction.
Other notable moments
Hila calls in during the God of War discussion
- Hila calls in after seeing the live comments and asks Ethan to explain himself.
- Ethan claims he “likes women” and says his point was only about wanting Kratos back.
- The call is mostly light and playful, and Hila ends it by saying she’s in Malibu and having a photo shoot.
Tomb Raider casting and “hot character” discourse
- The crew briefly detours into Tomb Raider and Lara Croft comparisons.
- Ethan and others joke that online gamers want female characters to be both highly attractive and idealized, and they complain when that isn’t the case.
- The conversation also touches on Sophie Turner reportedly being cast as Lara Croft, which some of the crew find disappointing or unconvincing.
Fashion, grooming, and body jokes
- There are many smaller jokes about:
- shower routines,
- conditioning order,
- hair care,
- “homeless-looking” vibes among staff,
- and whether certain people look like dads, bald guys, or homeless rockers.
- These bits are part of the show’s usual office-chaos tone.
Closing and After Dark preview
- Ethan wraps by thanking super chat supporters and reading a few messages.
- He teases the next After Dark episode, mentioning:
- Clavicular getting a nose job,
- an update on the “pee-pee-poo-poo man,”
- and the crew doing the “You Shaved Your Bush Challenge.”
- The episode ends with Ethan passing the show over to the After Dark team.
Key Takeaways
- Ethan’s main thesis is that Asmongold’s God of War outrage is exaggerated, audience-driven, and rooted in shallow “I want a male power fantasy” thinking.
- The new God of War game is presented as a legitimate story choice, not a forced political move.
- The show also reinforces several ongoing H3 running bits:
- Mormon glaze,
- Google AI being unreliable,
- FaZe Banks being cringe,
- Reckless Ben being fearless,
- and Asmongold living in a profoundly grim environment.