After a brief intermission, the AfterLunch Loungers finish their wandering conversation with thoughts on horror movies, DC superhero shows, acting better than you feel, and relationships with technology.

We're trying something different with the latest After Dinner Lounge conversation. Rather than drop another 3+ hour conversation on you, we're splitting it into two, smaller chunks. In this part, Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax talk about what they've been listening to and reading, with the conversation meandering into Dracula comics, film canon, murderbots, and Nerd Lunch's lost Brenda Starr episode.

David asks Erik, Michael, and Dave to find the hidden connection between Fargo, Jingle All the Way, and Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back. If you haven't seen one or more of the movies, feel free to skip to the discussions of your choice:

00:01:24 - Review of Fargo (1996) 00:13:03 - Review of Jingle All the Way (1996) 00:32:09 - Review of Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998) 00:51:05 - Guessing the Connection

Michael goes solo this episode to talk about the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. 

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax gather in the library for another rambling discussion about what they've been listening to, reading, watching, and thinking about, including breakfast cereals, megamixes, musical theatre, and bad office jargon.

Michael and Rob welcome back Chad Young and Jeff Somogyi for another few rounds of throwing improbable contestants into battles and arguing about who would emerge victorious. If our panel can stay on topic, that is.

In the first of a series of James Bond episodes, Michael and Rob are joined by Karen Flieger to talk about Bond's first screen appearance in 1954's Climax! TV adaptation of Casino Royale. How watchable is "Card Sense" Jimmy Bond's team up with Clarence Leiter to take down Peter Lorre? Grab a seat at the table and we'll be glad to deal you in.

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax convene for another meandering conversation about what they've been listening to, reading, watching, and thinking about. As always, recommendations abound and lead into other discussions, this time about perfect albums, anticipation for Shang Chi, method acting, and V’Ger's eternal question.

September 9, 2021 is the 10th anniversary of the very first episode of the Nerd Lunch Podcast.  The original Nerds get back together to talk about it.  And maybe make a quick Movie Menu.

The AfterLunch MCU panel wraps up Phase 1 with an in-depth discussion of the improbably excellent Marvel mash-up film, The Avengers. Among the many important topics are Iron Man's hubris, Black Widow's agency, Hawkeye's archery technique, and Captain America's costume.