Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis—or Raichu evolving from Pikachu—Shirley Curry, the beloved “Skyrim Grandma,” has entered a powerful new form: Oblivion Grandma. Now roaming the lush, sun-dappled hills of Cyrodiil, Curry is exploring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered with the same endearing charm that made her a YouTube icon.
Born in 1936, Curry became a Skyrim content creator over a decade ago. Since then, her warm, roleplay-driven videos have earned her a loyal following—and even recognition from Bethesda. But now she’s branching out. In her first Oblivion Remastered videos, Curry is visibly struck by both the game’s beauty and its quirks.
In her uploads—Learning and Still Learning—Curry shares her early impressions. “I press F and it puts [weapons] away… R used to put my weapon away!” she says in one moment of exasperation, critiquing the inconsistency in control schemes between Skyrim and Oblivion. She’s also not immediately sold on the feel of movement: “Just absolutely ugly movement,” she comments candidly.
Still, it’s clear that Cyrodiil is growing on her. Between moments of confusion and combat frustration, she takes time to admire the world, wandering the outskirts of the Imperial City and snapping screenshots like a tourist discovering Tamriel for the first time.
But not everything is sunshine and Ayleid ruins. In her second video, Curry descends into one of Oblivion’s many dark, winding caves—arguably the worst place to send a newcomer if you’re trying to sell them on the game. The moment she confronts the famously maddening lockpicking system, she lets out a deeply relatable sigh and ultimately gives up, opting for auto-resolve. (Someone should absolutely tell her about the lockpicking cheese.)
Despite the bumps, it’s heartwarming to see Shirley warming to the classic. For fans who grew up with Oblivion, watching her react to the remaster is a nostalgic joy. And for those who discovered Elder Scrolls through Skyrim, she offers a rare perspective: someone stepping backward through the franchise with fresh eyes and open curiosity.
Will she stick with it? Time will tell. But we can’t help but dream: if Oblivion wins her over, perhaps we’ll one day see the dawn of Morrowboomer—the first Let’s Play of Morrowind by someone from the Silent Generation.
