After weeks of dancing around it, we're doing it: a deep dive into one of Willie's favorite video game series, Fire Emblem.

Whether you're only familiar with these blue-haired teens from Smash Bros. (like Amy) or are a tried and true min-maxing turn-based battlefield genius, we've got you covered. Tune in for a discussion of role-playing game mechanics, immersion vs. math, and, of course, our Fire Emblem waifus of choice. 

We also never said how pinball it was. Email us at [email protected] with how pinball you think it is. Do our work for us, why don't you?

This week, we welcome back guest host Bea Miranda for a discussion on Puerto Rico centered around her experience growing up on the island and as a Puerto Rican artist working in the States.

Listen in to hear about the work of Rita Moreno, our collective love of Raul Julia, why it might be a better idea to just stop with the West Side Story revivals, the obvious deficiencies of State-side social studies curriculae, and what role we should expect biographic documentaries to plays in activism (if any).

Also we goof on Lin Manuel Miranda a bunch. That too.

To say we had a good time recording this week's episode would be an understatement.

Listen in to hear us lose our minds over the stonk market, plan for our new art movement based around 80-year-olds, talk about the giant vampire woman from the Resident Evil VIII trailer, argue about angles, and hear Amy reminisce about her brief time working in finance (ah, the life that could have been).

How pinball is it all? HOW PINBALL ISN'T IT?

We're back to basics this week, and by "basics" I mean BOOKS.

Not only are we talking about some classic lit (and how pinball it is or is not) but we're also diving into the cursed world of Latin Duolingo, the importance of egg consumption in art-making, the wrong Last Samurai, and the beauty and horror of the work in bad translation.

After recording this episode of Is This Pinball?, Dylan posted the following to Twitter:

"On this week's show, due to an error in interpreting IMDB, I incorrectly identify who sucks and how and when and why. But it should be enough to know that someone does in fact suck in the ways enumerated and that their sucking is indicative of broader trends."

That's probably the best context for this week's show you could ask for (but in case you want more, we talk a whole bunch about Doctor Who, rule on Peter Capaldi's sex appeal, eulogize GameStop, almost forget to do an intro, come up with the religion/workout crossover the world has been waiting for, watch Dylan unravel about the state of the world.) 

NOTE: this episode has content advisories. See below the description for time stamps.

We've got the whole kit and caboodle for you this week, wherein both the kit and the caboodle are largely about *~*the theatre*~*

That's right: tune in for discussions about Angels in America, how much Amy and Dylan hate Stoppard, a revisiting of CATS the movie the musical, theatre trying to be TV (and why it isn't and shouldn't), Falsettos, Dylan's failed foray into trying to teach Shakespeare to eighth graders, and, uh.... how Old Testament God is basically a teenage magician.

Oh, of course: we also figure out how pinball it all is.

--------

Content advisory time stamps:

Discussion of medieval torture: 24:00 - 27:40

Brief mention of childhood sexual assault: 35:15-35:20

Remember when we said we didn't have an episode this week? Well, Dylan recovered his audio and we're BACK, baby! And this time we actually remember to rate things on how pinball they are.

Tune in this week to hear a deep dive into Mega Man X. That's right: we're talkin' robot morality, robot mortality, goofy robot names, unending cycles of robot violence, and also how Mortal Kombat is actually just the WWE for indoor kids.

Also discussed: which controller is the best controller (and Willie goes full chaos in suggesting that the answer might be the Wiimote) and a preview of our looming Fire Emblem adventure.

WHEW.

We're taking the week off to build up our screamin' juices for 2021 (read: we recorded an episode but had some, uh, audio trouble), but we wouldn't leave you high & dry!

Enjoy this New Year's mixtape, featuring music by friends of the show.

Track list:

Dance Like Kids - Poochy

Losin’ Myself - Judith Horn 

S-W-I-M-M-I-N-G - The Pile

Bar In Ky - Pontac

Yer Dooks - Mondus Mondus

Content advisory: brief discussion of suicide from 2:30 to 3:25

This week, your hosts dive into a topic in which no one has ever had any opinions at any point: Star Wars.

That's right: we're talking all things related to that good ol' space western. And, uh, if you've thought you'd heard us yell about things before, wooooo boy, strap in buds because we're at Bea-checking-in-to-make-sure-Dylan-didn't-hurt-himself levels of feelings. But, like, in a fun way.

Today, we discuss: how Star Wars broke the brains of an entire generation, our favorite corporate oligarchies, the case for fanfiction, why won't Willie stop talking about that MOVIE TRAIN??, and, of course, The Mandalorian.

As you cozy up with a cup of nog and deck yourself out in twinkle lights, we have just the music to keep you company, featuring music by friends of the show.

Songs featured:

Rockin' Around The Christmas Herb - Poochy Jingle Bell Rock - Poochy Christmas is Coming - Corsick/Pontac