Straddle the 12 sided dice - Talking SPN Season 8 Episode 11 LARP and the real girl, and the Dungeons and Dragons Moral Panic, James Dallas Egbert III story.

AI Show Notes

Summary

In this episode, Diana and Liz discuss season 8, episode 11 of Supernatural, titled 'LARP and the Real Girl.' They start by recapping their recent experiences at South by Southwest and a circus class. They then dive into the episode, where Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious death of a man involved in live-action role-playing (LARPing). They meet Lance, a LARPer who becomes their main suspect, but he has an alibi. The conversation also touches on the moral panic surrounding Dungeons and Dragons in the past and the real-life case of James Dallas Egbert III. In this part of the conversation, the pressure tactics used by Riddle to force Peggy to reveal her sources are discussed. The media's narrative shift towards linking Dallas's disappearance to Dungeons and Dragons is explored. The discovery and return of Dallas is recounted, along with the tragic end to his story. The aftermath of the case and the media's sensationalism are examined. The investigation into Moon Door and the Battle of the Kingdoms is detailed. The dilemma faced by Charlie as the Queen is highlighted. The connection between the tattoo and the targeted attacks is revealed. The involvement of the Shadow Orcs and the Fairy King is discussed. The chapter ends with Charlie and Dean's departure to the Black Hills. In this episode, Charlie is sent on a mission to find Sam while Dean and Bultar search for the Shadow Orcs. Charlie encounters a stag-headed creature and is taken to a cottage where she meets Gilda, a fairy who is being controlled by a spell. Meanwhile, Sam and Dean confront Jerry, who is revealed to be Gilda's master. Charlie destroys the book of spells, freeing Gilda and defeating Jerry. The episode ends with Sam, Dean, and Charlie preparing to fight in Charlie's army in Moon Door.

Takeaways

• The media's sensationalism and misrepresentation of the Dungeons and Dragons game contributed to the negative perception and fear surrounding it.
• The tragic story of Dallas Egbert highlights the importance of mental health support and the need for better understanding and acceptance of individuals struggling with their identity.
• The pressure tactics used by law enforcement and the media can have severe consequences for individuals involved in high-profile cases.
• The investigation into Moon Door and the Battle of the Kingdoms reveals the complex and immersive world of LARPing. Charlie's character brings a fun and irreverent energy to the show
• The episode explores themes of identity and self-acceptance
• The importance of teamwork and loyalty is highlighted
• The episode provides a break from the serious tone of previous episodes

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Recap

03:01

Discussion of South by Southwest

09:20

Investigation of Ed Nelson's Death

12:38

Meeting Lance and Learning about LARPing

16:22

Lance's Alibi and the LARPing Community

21:57

Investigation into James Dallas Egbert III

23:29

Riddle's Pressure Tactics

24:22

The Media's Narrative Shift

25:16

Dungeons and Dragons in the Headlines

28:11

Dallas's Discovery and Return

29:13

Dallas's Tragic End

30:33

The Aftermath and Media Sensationalism

33:17

Investigating Moon Door

35:28

Lance's Mysterious Death

36:49

The Battle of the Kingdoms

39:04

Charlie Revealed as the Queen

40:10

Charlie's Dilemma

41:29

The Tattoo and Targeted Attacks

43:17

Investigating the Shadow Orcs

49:05

Fairy Magic and the Shadow King

50:10

Heading to the Black Hills

50:38

Charlie and Dean's Departure

50:54

Charlie wanders through the woods

51:30

Encounter with the stag-headed creature

52:03

Dean and Bultar's plan

52:31

Sam discovers the truth

52:58

Charlie wakes up in the cottage

53:42

Charlie trapped in the cottage

54:01

Gilda reveals her true identity

54:18

Sam, Dean, and Bultar negotiate

55:03

Jerry's backstory

55:39

The orc's concern for the queen

56:09

Charlie and Gilda's plan

57:28

Jerry's true identity revealed

57:58

Fight between Jerry and Dean

01:01:23

Charlie destroys the book of spells

01:04:02

Sam, Dean, and Charlie discuss their next move

01:04:44

Dedication to the fallen soldiers

Research Links

• The Dungeon Master: The Disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III. N.p., Crossroad Press, 2017.
• The Missing Teen Who Fueled 'Cult Panic' Over Dungeons & Dragons | WIRED JON PETERSON OCT 12, 2021 7:00 AM
• The Dungeon Master - Wikipedia
• 8.11 LARP and the Real Girl - Super-wiki
• The truth about the dungeon master who disappeared in the steam tunnels - Boing Boing
• Sep 08, 1979, page 1 - The Independent-Record at Newspapers.com
• Sep 06, 1979, page 2 - The Orlando Sentinel at Newspapers.com
• Sep 05, 1979, page 51 - Arizona Republic at Newspapers.com
• Aug 24, 1979, page 13 - Petoskey News-Review at Newspapers.com
• Yrch! (Tolkien US zine) - Fanlore
• Sep 16, 1979, page 30 - The Idaho Statesman at Newspapers.com
• Disappearances & Dragons: The James Dallas Egbert III Story | The Saturday Evening Post
• Forty years ago in East Lansing: MSU student’s disappearance causes moral panic over ‘Dungeons & Dragons’  | City Pulse