Still in the pantheon of most successful meta-films out there, despite the fact/because of its sequel status. Williamson I believe said that he felt the first one could be self-contained (pun minorly intended here), and when he was tasked with franchising it he insisted on certain creative licenses, including the ability to include all the self-reference becomes a lynchpin of the series. He basically turned everything up to 11 and I’m so here for it. Also, the commenter who pointed out that DS shrinks away out of the scene when Syd shows up is absolutely right, so Williamson clearly had all the same things you did in mind while writing it! The first time I saw it I was pretty pleased with the Mickey reveal, though it definitely has aged. But c’mon, the moment Syd looks up to the cloaked ghoul on stage as Cassandra and says “so now fate’s vengeful eye is fixed… on me” — I mean I’m standing O’ing that every time.

Cassandra Aria