SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Dimension 20: On a Bus” Season 2, now streaming on Dropout.
On April Fools’ Day, comedy streaming service Dropout surprised audiences by launching a “second season” of “Dimension 20: On a Bus.”
Unveiled unexpectedly on Wednesday, the single-episode Season 2 builds upon a viral short video from last year, which accompanied an episode of Dropout’s “Game Changer.” This short had pitched a season of “Dimension 20” featuring “Dragon Master” Katie Marovitch guiding players and “D&D” experts Jasmine Bhullar (Little Army Man), Aabria Iyengar (Blue M&M), Matthew Mercer (Lint), and Brennan Lee Mulligan (Hat) on a bus journey from North Hollywood to LAX airport.
Tabletop RPG novice Marovitch, along with “Dimension 20” creator and star Mulligan and Dropout CEO and “Game Changer” host Sam Reich, did not foresee the video exceeding 6 million views. However, once it did, discussions quickly ensued about creating a full-length episode of “On a Bus.”
“We began discussing it quite quickly after the initial two-and-a-half-minute Season 1 aired,” Marovitch shared with Variety. “We didn’t anticipate its popularity. Seeing fans at conventions dressed in my costumes has been thrilling. It naturally led to creating another episode shortly after the premiere.”
Initially not intended as a series, “Dimension 20: On a Bus” filmed its second season in January with the original cast and characters, except for Iyengar’s Blue M&M, “because Aabria kept eating Blue M&M,” according to Marovitch, continuing under Marovitch’s guidelines.
What started as a comedic concept and is now the highest-rated episode of “Dimension 20” on IMDb remains humorous throughout Season 2. However, Marovitch aimed to honor the craft of “D&D” while directing the experienced players.
“It’s a balancing act between parody and homage, as I truly respect the game,” Marovitch explained. “The players are incredibly skilled, much more so than I am. My goal is to ensure it’s entertaining without offending anyone.”
Marovitch admitted she “knew very little” about “D&D” before the original “Dimension 20: On a Bus,” but invested significant effort into planning for Season 2.
“I genuinely prepared extensively. I considered the comedic elements, questioning if they might cross a line or offend Brennan and others, or if they would just be enjoyable for everyone,” Marovitch said. “Being Type A, not studying ‘D&D’ in-depth before starting was challenging. Brennan suggested that knowing less would be funnier. So, while I prepared a lot of my bits, I made sure not to overdo it.”
For more insights from Variety‘s interview with “Dimension 20: On a Bus” star Marovitch regarding Season 2 and future episodes, continue reading below.
When planning for “Dimension 20: On a Bus” Season 2, at what stage did you decide to incorporate additional dice types or expand the game rules?
In the first season, the two-and-a-half-minute format meant I had no plan for the dice system. The “perfect six” was a spontaneous choice. For this longer season, I realized it needed more complexity. There’s a new system now, involving a TI-83 calculator, which might be challenging for viewers. I’m considering creating an instruction manual or book to explain it, showing there are alternatives to the perfect six.
At the conclusion of Season 1, did you have any ideas for where the story might go if it continued beyond that initial concept?
Not at all. I went into Season 1 with no script, only the concept of a bus. For Season 2, I invested much more effort into the pitch. Brennan advised against overthinking the plot, as it complicates the process given the players’ input. Looking back, I barely recall what I said in Season 1, requiring multiple viewings to remember.
How long was the filming process for this season, which took place in January?
Filming took just one day, though we started late, with some team members already on set in the morning. It was a long day, but enjoyable. I was able to bring my baby to set, which was a fun experience managing parenting duties alongside work.
For this episode, did Brennan allow you full access to the prop room, or were there specific suggestions for items to use?
The team was amazing, helping gather props from various seasons that complemented the bits. It was a collaborative effort, with knowledgeable contributors suggesting elements like the Critical Role Vecna, which I wouldn’t have known about. The best bits came from those with more expertise than I have.
During the episode, you mentioned an approach from Critical Role to replace someone on the show. Is that discussion still ongoing?
I like to believe those talks are still happening. I choose to remain optimistic about such opportunities, although the truth of it remains uncertain.
You mentioned to Brennan that the budget for this season was much more substantial than usual. Can you elaborate on that?
I believe I received about three times the usual budget. As you can see, we made full use of it. Just on Cheetos alone, I think the budget was $5,000, and we spent it all.
Do you anticipate the new elements, like the “Mr. Questions” badge and Cheetos-filled dice tray, becoming a standard part of Brennan’s future “Dimension 20” seasons?
I hope these additions will become a staple not just in “D20” but across all “D&D” games. I like to envision them as a permanent feature of the gameplay experience from now on.
At the episode’s conclusion, you recite a well-known monologue from “Dimension 20: A Crown of Candy.” What led you to select that speech for “On a Bus”?
It happened by coincidence; I was speaking from the heart, and the production team pointed out the similarity. It’s uncanny how Brennan and I often have similar thoughts, crafting identical monologues independently. I hadn’t seen it before, so I assure you it was not intentional.
Is this a one-off expansion of the concept, or can we expect more? Is there a “Dimension 20: On a Bus” Season 3 in the pipeline?
I intend to pester Sam and Brennan until they relent. I’m confident we’ll see a Season 3, and I’m boldly predicting Seasons 4 and 5 as well, despite potential PR objections.
Will further installments continue to feature the bus, or could “Dimension 20: On a Bus” evolve into a franchise with spin-offs?
I love that idea. I envision “Dimension 20: In an Uber” or perhaps even in a Waymo. As we think ahead to 2026, the possibilities expand, maybe even to a spaceship or underwater. The potential storylines are vast and exciting.
In Season 2, the story progresses to an airplane. Did you plan for each cast member to take a turn as DM, or was that spontaneous?
That wasn’t planned. I started it with Matt as a joke, realizing it was a clever way to advance the story. Not all turns were fully included, but the best moments were when I wasn’t steering the narrative.
Did you learn from their contributions and incorporate them into the rest of the episode?
Absolutely. You can see my realization moments on screen when they said something brilliant. I knew we needed to explore those ideas further. Whenever I wasn’t leading, I felt like an excited child, thrilled by their insights.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
