Watchers (MCYT)

Fan Theory
Fan Theory:	The Watchers
Synonyms:	The Watchers and Listeners, Watcher and Listener Lore, The Ears and Eyes AU, The Eyes and Ears AU
Origin:	Evolution SMP
Fandom(s):	Evolution SMP, Hermitcraft, Empires SMP, Life SMP Series (all subfandoms of MCYT)
Dates:	November 2017 - Present
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The Watchers or Watchers and Listeners or Watcher and Listener Lore or sometimes written as The Ears and Eyes AU is a fan theory and / or trope in fanworks used in several related MCYT subfandoms. It originated in the Minecraft Youtube show Evolution SMP (typically abbreviated as EVO SMP), and has different versions of the basic idea applied to several other SMP fandoms that are related or share creators, namely Hermitcraft, the Life SMP Series and sometimes but rarely Empires SMP. In general, The Watchers are associated in fanworks with wings, the color purple (and occasionally purple and black), and eyes, either having extra or being unable to see out of one's normal eyes, and the "Watcher's Portal" symbol from the original EVO SMP. The listeners have less specific fanon, but are of course associated with hearing and are often, to contrast well with the watchers, associated with the colors gold and or white, or sometimes black.

Evolution SMP

In Evolution SMP, the show followed a group roleplay as a group played through the different versions of Minecraft that had been released at that point, starting with the final beta version, and creating a story while noticing the changes between versions. The Watchers were a element from this canon, who both helped guide characters between Minecraft versions through portals, and also were meant as metaphors for the actual "watchers" or the audience. There was also canonically mentioned a faction called "The Listeners" which had differing opinions from thise whi called themselves "The Watchers" or sometimes opposed them. Both groups would sometimes leave cryptic "prophecies" that could point the group towards interesting sights they wanted them to see.

In canon, the actor/creator Grian had to leave the series early due to other projects and personal issues, so he had an arc near the end of the series, where he/his character went through a series of discoveries and "joined the watchers", explaining his absence from the very end of the series.

The idea of The Watchers and The Listeners were used in fan conversations and fanworks, especially around Grian, and also somewhat less but significantly around Pearlescentmoon ("Pearl"), Inthelittlewood ("Martyn Littlewood") and BigB (B or Bee).

Hermitcraft

Hermitcraft was and is another fandom, but there is significant overlap, in part because of people's interest in multiple Minecraft based series, and partly because Hermitcraft and Evolution SMP shared several arists, leading to increased interest. Some people posited the involvement of The Watchers and Listeners in Hermitcraft and sometimes Empires SMP. This was a small but very steady trope, but became a lot more common with the start of the Life SMP Series. There was also an increase when a piece of fanfiction came out - And The Universe Shifts, a very famous and influential fanfic within the fandom that included this premise.

The fic shows them as a sort of dark or overly rule-following secret society that can control minecraft mechanics and looks in to servers.

Life SMP Series

One of the most popular fan theories if not the most popular fan theory to depict in the Life SMP Series, is the existence and participation of Watchers and Listeners within the world of the series. Since the series is set up as a seto of cosmic death games, in this series, the typical fanon goes that they are usually in some manner responsible for the players being trapped in a series of death games. This has become somewhat canon - what is called "ascended fanon" since both Grian and Inthelittlewood have briefly talked about the idea off of the series, and Inthelittlewood has included a few small snippets mentioning the Watchers and Listeners in his viewpoint of the series and showing their existence. He has not said that any other member should consider it important from their point of view and calls these hints "The Eyes and Ears AU". The "Winner's Circle Theory" or trope, which is explained and elaborated upon more in the main page for the fandom, is also often associated with the Watchers and Listeners trope, as it's often, though not always, suggested in fanworks that those close to the winners, and the winners themselves, often have spooky contact with the Watchers and or Listeners, and the winners may be changed or uplifted by them.

To quote from the Life SMP Series page: "Because Grian's participation in Evolution SMP ended with him joining the Watchers, he is commonly headcanoned as either being one himself or otherwise being strongly associated with them. This is further supported by him being the creator of the Life SMP Series, and thus the one directly responsible for the players' participation in the series."

This portrayal has influenced at least several fanworks, for instance these themes influence the appearance and role of Grian in the crossover fanfic From the Archives by Sixteenthdays.

Tagging Controversies

Using the Watchers trope for a variety of servers is fairly common, though a side activity, however there are also "Evolution SMP Purists" who talk about thinking the idea is best when applied to Evolution SMP only. Though more focus their complaints on simply being frustrated when looking for original Evo content in the tags, as Evo is a much smaller subfandom. Some, though not the most, also have talked about howfrom their point of view, fans using watcher tropes on other series "don't understand what The Watchers were" or don't understand that they were meant as stand ins for the audience.

Some "The Watchers in other series" enjoyers have addressed this conversation. And often point out that "the viewers" in different series may take on different tenors. For one example, in a post by Newworldenderdragon, which is quoted in the comments of the video AO3 sings canary in a coal mine - except it's all life series fanfics: "I see people saying Watchers aren't evil, they're the viewers! As if we're not sitting here listing curses, asking for blood, and betting on Jimmy dying first."

However there still are different viewpoints on tagging, with many who enjoy the trope still thinking there might still be tagging courtesy issues that could use working out, at this time. Overall anger over the issue seems to have spiked earlier and be calmer, but still there to an extent.

Eaxmple Fanworks

Vids

• The Blackest Hand - Watcher Grian Animatic by ezzriin
• Prelude by Mothofprophecy
• Found by Rusty courage, includes scenes from Hermitcraft
• Alice of Human Sacrifice - Life Series Winners Animatic by Astoria_roz
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Watchers AU Animatic Evo by Fabledfaye

Fanfiction

• And the universe shifts by aayaptre
• See the World Itself one-shot by orphan account
• Chancerycraft by Sixteenthdays, partially inspired or drawing on the Nobilis tabletop game

Resources

• Watchers tag on AO3
• Watchers AU (Evolution SMP) Tag on AO3