I need your advice.

Interesting and dense. Splitting it in 2 parts would be reasonable.

Esther Barba (Donnagata1409)

It’s probably too late for this video but in case it’s useful in the future, I never have the time to watch your videos in one or two sittings. Between working full time, trying to finish a novel, and insomnia, I have 45 minutes to an hour each workday to watch something. Those are the chunks I watch your videos in and they still work for me and deeply resonate with me. All of that to say that I don’t think splitting a video in half at a point you think works best is going to be harmful to your content.

Erika Friedman

I downloaded the video to my computer and have been watching it over the past several days. It's presently paused at 3:05:06 and I concur with others that the content is heavy enough to warrant splitting it up into (at least) two pieces. This is a lot to watch all at once. It needs to be said, people need to see this content, but given the content, watching it all at once is too much. It's not like your longer Star Trek content that's much lighter in tone; this is serious and emotional, as you said. Definitely split it up.

Luna

I’ve heard that YouTube punishes videos that aren’t watched in full. If that’s the case (never going to be an influencer, and I’m a dummy with a limited knowledge-set), I would suggest splitting it into even more than two segments. Either way, I appreciated the emotionally honest exploration.

Phil

It's tough to answer this question as on the one hand I had to wait until the weekend to be able to watch it due to it's length, but I feel like the intent of the video works better as a whole. Then there's the algorithmic performance to consider, I have no idea if a four hour video can do too well. Maybe the "Part 2 coming later, or see the full video on patreon" might be a decent compromise. I'd lean to two parts only because that seems like the best way to get this out there and have as many people see it as possible. Though part two starting with the car segment could be a pretty heavy opening for a video so a preamble how people should go see part one, or maybe a quick summary of part one if that is indeed possible as you do cover a lot in that part of the video.

WeirdyBeardy

I love it sight unseen. Go ahead with your bad self!

Jay P Hailey

I can never watch the longer videos all at once anyway so if they were released in two parts I'd still get through them about as quickly as I do now.

I think splitting it would be less intimidating. Most of my "I'll get to it eventually" list is made up of videos an hour or longer because my brain nopes out at that sort of serious time investment.

Robyn Moore

You could cut long videos into two or four, and release it in weekly installments (if it’s appropriate to the video). The algorithm would probably like it, and I imagine it would foster a sense of anticipation in people and be good for viewership. I’d personally anticipate and look forward to each installment.

I definitely feel it should be in two parts. There is a lot to absorb and to think about. I like where you are considering ending the first part. I actually took two days to watch. You did an excellent job!!

Dave Fisher

Because of its intensity and my schedule I'm already breaking it into parts. I think it will work

Id say whatever give you the best margins and what you feel is best.

Angerboda