TL;DR: Dimension 20: Gladlands is the newest season of Dropout’s massive tabletop RPG hit. Think "Mad Max" meets "Care Bears"—a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the main characters are trying to be aggressively polite and helpful. It features Vic Michaelis in their "dome" debut as a character named Hugi. It’s high-quality improv, great for teens (Ages 13+), but expect some swearing and typical Dropout chaos.
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or YouTube lately, you’ve probably seen clips of a person in a sharp suit interviewing a giant sentient slug or a deranged step-grandmother. That’s Vic Michaelis, the host of the viral hit Very Important People.
But as of January 2026, the conversation has shifted. Vic has finally entered "The Dome"—the iconic neon-lit set of Dimension 20. The new season, Gladlands, just premiered, and it is exactly the kind of weird, wholesome-yet-violent content that defines the current Dropout era.
If your kid is asking for a Dropout subscription or talking about something called a "Bummerometer," here is the parent-to-parent breakdown of what’s actually going on in the Gladlands.
Dimension 20 is an "Actual Play" show. This means a group of professional comedians sit around a table and play a tabletop role-playing game (like Dungeons & Dragons), improvising a story based on the rolls of their dice.
Gladlands is the 27th season, led by legendary Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan. The setting is a "world gone glad." It’s a dusty, irradiated wasteland where survival doesn't depend on how many people you can kill, but on how much community you can build. The main characters travel in a "Carer Van," delivering mail and performing acts of service.
It’s being called "Glad Max." It has all the high-octane energy of a desert chase movie, but the characters are obsessed with manners, kindness, and "Good Goo" (a literal mechanic in the game that measures harmony).
The Cast
- Vic Michaelis as Hugi: Vic is the big draw here. After years of hosting Very Important People, seeing them actually play a character in a long-form story is a huge deal for fans.
- Kimia Behpoornia as Tess Tube5: A newcomer to the dome alongside Vic, bringing a chaotic energy that fits perfectly.
- Returning Favorites: You’ll also see Dimension 20 veterans like Zac Oyama, Ally Beardsley, Oscar Montoya, and Jacob Wysocki.
The "brain rot" era of the internet—think Skibidi Toilet or endless Roblox obbys—is often about passive consumption. Dropout content is the opposite. It’s "brain food" disguised as comedy.
Teens love Gladlands because:
- The Stakes are Real: Even though it’s about "being nice," the game has a mechanic called "Apocalyptic Mayhem" where rolling a 1 can mean instant character death.
- Vic Michaelis is a Star: Vic has that rare "cool older sibling" energy. They are non-binary, incredibly sharp, and represent a brand of comedy that is inclusive without being preachy.
- It’s a Social Experience: These shows are meant to be dissected. Fans spend hours on Reddit and Discord discussing the lore, the "Adventuring Party" (the talkback show that follows each episode), and the specific character builds.
Screenwise generally recommends Dimension 20 for Ages 13+. Here’s the "no-BS" breakdown of what you’ll find in Gladlands:
[Manners & Profanity]
The irony of Gladlands is that while the characters are "hyper-polite," the comedians playing them are... not. Expect a fair amount of swearing (F-bombs are common). However, unlike a lot of "adult comedy," it’s rarely mean-spirited.
[Violence]
It’s a post-apocalyptic world. There is "combat," but it’s described through narration and sometimes illustrated with minis or digital art. It’s more "theatre of the mind" than graphic visual gore.
[Complexity]
This isn't a show you can half-watch. If your kid is into it, they are likely following a complex web of rules and character arcs. It’s a great workout for the imagination and a fantastic gateway to playing board games in real life.
The "Dropout" Ecosystem
If your child is watching Gladlands, they are likely also watching Game Changer and Make Some Noise. Dropout is a subscription service ($5.99/month or $55.99/year). It is one of the few platforms we actually feel good about recommending. It’s ad-free, creator-owned, and emphasizes talent over algorithms.
Vic Michaelis and Representation
Vic Michaelis (they/she) is a prominent non-binary performer. For many Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids, seeing diverse identities normalized in a "cool" comedy context is significant. If your family isn't used to they/them pronouns, this show is a very natural way to see them in practice.
The "Bummerometer"
In Gladlands, if the players fail a roll by 5 or more, they add a "Bummer" to the Bummerometer. If it hits the red, things go south. It’s actually a pretty great metaphor for emotional regulation and community health—something you could even reference at the dinner table. "Hey, I'm at a 4 on the Bummerometer right now, can we talk about chores later?"
If you want to connect with your teen about Gladlands, don't ask "how the game works" (you'll be there for an hour). Instead, try these:
- "I saw Vic Michaelis is in the new season. Are they as chaotic as they are on Very Important People?"
- "What’s the current status of the Bummerometer?"
- "If you were in a 'world gone glad,' what would your job in the Carer Van be?"
Dimension 20: Gladlands is top-tier digital media. It’s creative, collaborative, and genuinely funny. While the subscription cost is another "parent tax," the quality of the content is miles ahead of the junk they might find on YouTube for free.
If your teen is into storytelling, improv, or D&D, this is a win.
Check out our full guide on Dropout.tv parental controls
Next Steps:
- Watch the first episode of Gladlands with your teen (the premiere is usually free on YouTube).
- Check out Very Important People if you want to see why Vic Michaelis is the internet's current favorite person.
- If they get hooked, consider looking into a local Dungeons & Dragons group to take that screen time into the real world.