After Lunch

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax gather again to talk about what they've been listening to and reading. And their favorite flowers. Lots of recommendations, but in the process of meandering the conversation occasionally settles into topics like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Fast and Furious movies, and gritty super hero comics.

Michael continues exploring Ian Fleming's James Bond novels with the seventh in the series, Goldfinger. Like with the film version, the novel introduces a lighter tone than had been in the series so far. But is that a good thing or bad?

Michael, Rob, Evan, Pax, Kay, and Robert Zerbe reconvene to see how they all did on their pop culture resolutions and predictions from 2021. And to make new ones for 2022.

Michael continues exploring Ian Fleming's James Bond novels with the sixth in the series, Dr. No. It's the pulpiest so far, but also has big character development for Bond and a surprising thematic connection with Pierre Boulle's novel, Planet of the Apes.

Michael asks Dave, David, Erik, Evan, and special guest Rob Graham to find the hidden connection between A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), Running Scared (1986), and V for Vendetta (2005).

If you haven't seen one or more of the movies, feel free to skip to the discussions of your choice:

00:02:36 - Review of A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968) 00:33:31 - Review of Running Scared (1986) 00:52:25 - Review of V for Vendetta (2005) 01:16:45 - Guessing the Connection

The AfterLunch Star Trek Council reconvenes to discuss Enterprise's attempt at a serialized story in its third season. Michael, Rob, Evan, and Delaney talk about the Xindi, the Expanse, and spatial anomalies in addition to Archer's darkening, Reed's insecurity, and whether there's such a thing as too much time travel.

Michael discusses the fifth Bond novel by Ian Fleming and it's a bold entry in the series. Fleming spends the first half of the book on the villains and their plan, not introducing Bond until halfway through. And then ends the story on a cliffhanger.

One, last Christmas episode of the year and it's about Last Christmas. Michael and Rob talk about Paul Feig's film from a couple of years ago, co-written by Emma Thompson and starring Emilia Clarke, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson, and Henry Golding. And also featuring of course the music of George Michael.

Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax continue their conversation from last episode. They talk about (and unwrap) Christmas presents, break a tie, discuss shows like Hawkeye and Cowboy Bebop, share some Christmas traditions, and address the Bitsy McBitserson in the room.

Just before the Christmas holiday, Michael, Rob, Evan, and Pax gathered to talk about what they've been listening to and reading. As always with these Lounge discussions, the conversation goes its own way, but major topics include how to read short story collections, irritating things about interview podcasts, The Force Awakens and the whole Star Wars sequel trilogy, and of course lots and lots of Christmas music.