It’s been a weird few days. As news of COVID-19Opens in a new tab‘s incredibly rapid spread across the world has us terrified, we’re all (or at least we all should beOpens in a new tab) spending tons of time at home. Movie theaters are closed and sporting events are on hold indefinitelyOpens in a new tab. So what’s a group of people to do? Sure, there’s plenty of streaming movies to watchOpens in a new tab; and there are lots of great video games to playOpens in a new tab. But what do you do if you want to follow something more immediate? Something with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? Ah, what about marbles racing?
It’s astonishing how rapt this video actually had me. The tweet from davdchristmas makes the point that, on Day 4 of no sports, this is what we’re turning to. However, I find this video endlessly compelling! Comet takes an early lead and the whole rest of the video is a tense battle of kinetic energy and friction as the marbles careen down an insanely long run on a hill near a beach. There are winding roads and forks and breakaways; if real car racing were more like this, I’d watch every match. Meet? Contest? What do they call a car race besides a race? Regardless.
Jelle’s Marble Runs
The video actually comes from Jelle’s Marble RunsOpens in a new tab, maybe the most addicting YouTube channel of the Social Distancing era. With commentary via the sonorous Greg Woods, this channel gives us exciting marble races week after week. The tracks are more and more complex and employ escalators and elevators to get the combatants back to the start for the second and third laps.
In February, Jelle’s Marble Runs launched Marbula 1Opens in a new tab, an incredibly lush racing circuit with a full season well underway. They even built stadium seating for other marbles to watch the action. I think the announcer really makes the videos; I love the way he makes it seem like the racers all have a specific strategy instead of it all coming down to gravity and physics. But my heavens if it isn’t incredibly watchable, and addicting. Perfect for a no-go-outside kind of year.
Jelle’s Marble Runs has years and yearsOpens in a new tab worth of videos, with one-off races and full seasons, to go through, so this might well be your new binge-watch materialOpens in a new tab.
Featured Image: Jelle’s Marble Runs
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews hereOpens in a new tab. Follow him on Twitter!Opens in a new tab
