2019
Key events:
- Plot: The Gang met; then Josh and Lucas joined, creating the Squad
- Fun: Sweet Hangz
- Drama: Carlos’ engagement ended, two squad members started dating, and a bunch of dating near misses (there was an Amber, a John, a Nathan, a Tobi, some intra-Squad attempts, and a whole lotta drama.)
Narrative: Joy and Sofia were recent, close friends. Carlos met Sofia at a coffeeshop and invited her to co-write with him, then eventually go to improv playground with him.
Freddy, Ali, and Nick were all strangers who were regularly attending improv playground.
One day, May 4th, Joy, Sofia, and Carlos stayed to watch Freddy’s Level 1 showcase. After the show, they all talked for a bit before Carlos suggested they go get pizza. While at pizza, they played Carlos’ game Dose, played the Tyrion guessing game, shared stories about arrests and bodycounts, and overall became good friends. The next week, Carlos had organized an event and invited them all to attend. Carlos raced back and forth like a sitcom character with too many plots.
Meanwhile, Josh and Lucas were long-time friends that had recently reconnected. They held a roast for Josh’s birthday and decided they were talented enough to start going to improv.
Over the summer, Carlos left to spend it with his fiancée in Pennsylvania (and also Spain and Norway, briefly). When he returned, the Squad was still hanging out. They hung out at Pignic, improv, and went to carve pumpkins.
Soon, Josh and Lucas organized a D&D One-Shot that brought them into the friend group. It turned out Lucas was dating Tobi, an old friend of Carlos’.
Eventually, they all agreed to a Friendsgiving at Ali’s in November and a Secret Santa at HQ in December.
New Year’s at Carlos’ was supposed to be the best of times, but it only presaged a very difficult new decade…
2020
Key Events:
- Plot: Nick left the Squad, Sofia briefly departed as well, Brendan moved out (who?) and Ollie moved in
- Fun: Trips for dayz! How well do you know Lucas?, tattoos, virtual thanksgiving, and more
- Drama: Sister troubles, Pandemic issues, Poly problems, Is dating friends a good idea?, a sudden death, is dating a friend’s friend a good idea??, is dating colleagues or former students a good idea???
Okay, if we’re being honest, it was a tough year. Carlos was burgled and decided to move out. As the pandemic began, Carlos and Freddy moved in with Sofia and a revolving fourth roommate.
Carlos started organizing weekly hangs on the patio,1 including a movie night or two.
Sofia took a break from the Squad and Nick stopped hanging out altogether. The rest of the delinquents began experimenting with other ways of having a good time.2
Carlos, Joy, Freddy, and Lucas called themselves “the Down Bitches” because they were always available.
Ollie moved in, as Sofia was largely away.
Nick nearly cuts his mom out of his life before pulling away entirely from his friends. Josh suffers a personal tragedy. Zaria is introduced, and begins a brief relationship. Lucas alternated between 1, 2, 1, and 0 girlfriends. Carlos attempted to date, with disastrous consequences. He then starts going to therapy. Two other squad members attempted to date, then both got COVID. Two squad members broke up.3
Josh pulled away from the group entirely and Ali spiraled a bit.
Oh, and there was a pandemic and an election that took a lot of people’s time and energy.
2021
- Plot: Josh reintegrates into the group; Sofia wavers; Ollie prepares to leave; getting back to normal(ish)
- Fun: Joy’s birthday Clashing of the Worlds! Super Friend Bash 2021!
- Drama: Two pairs of Squad members start dating (again!); Carlos and
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Narrative: 2021 started with a bit of a whimper. The OG3 (Carlos, Freddy, and Ali) began sharing their workouts in an attempt at accountability.
Meanwhile, Josh and Lucas each had massive character arcs off screen. Josh’s developed to the point that he felt ready to reintegrate into the group, right around his birthday.
Joy and Freddy begin pursuing their own business and also Christianity.
Carlos tries dating and seems to make the same mistake in every way possible.
Ollie continued being a beacon of positivity, camping over weekends randomly. He even took Carlos to Burning Man and Yosemite.
2022
Key Events:
- Plot: Ollie leaves; Roger moves in; Lucas takes a step back; Sofia continues taking steps back; Emily is introduced; Estefania becomes plot-centric
- Fun: Our first rager! Floating the River! All sorts of subsequent ragers! The Squad takes Level 2 Improv;
- Drama: Karate Nathan comes back with a vengeance; Carlos attempts an open relationship, with disastrous results; Roger dates until he gets back together with his ex; a health scare
In 2022, Roger joined the group as the new fourth roommate. A new dynamic is formed.
Enzo and Alissa become Joy and Freddy’s new couples buddies.
Just then, a huge interruption happens that threatens to upend the whole dynamic.
Lucas briefly dates Freddy’s co-worker.
Parties are the cause of some relationships starting and others ending. Oh my!
People visit!
2023
Key Events:
- Plot: Syd joins the Squad! Carlos travels too much. Several Charlies are introduced.
- Fun: Level 3 Improv! Floating the river!
- Drama: Carlos makes a move; Syd goes back to the familiar; Froy are boring; a Squad couple breaks up; Ali explores and changes
Narrative: 2023 was the year of no bits.4 It was also the year parties started in earnest.
As the crew got more involved in improv, they met a bunch of improvisors, including the new-to-town Syd.
Carlos geared up for sabbatical, only for things to start to fall apart as he was leaving. As the year wrapped up, two final break ups happened, an old relationship rekindled briefly (though it was ill-fated), and a text-based spat caused a friendship to end.
Carlos arrived in time to see the darkest timeline come to fruition.
2024
Key Events:
- Plot: Carlos gets in shape, Roger deals with being single, Sofia continues her arc
- Fun: More parties- the invites get intense; floating the river; Summer Bucket List!
- Drama: Carlos dates all the ladies; a permanent falling out within the group; Roger has relationship drama without a relationship
A permanent falling out occurs, as do a series of long text messages. This website is reserved and a bunch of parties occur.