Josh and Kris dissect the trend of gritty TV reboots and the "HBOification" of classic IPs. We criticize Amazon's The Wheel of Time for killing wives and ditching character depth (like Perrin's blacksmith/axe dichotomy). Then, we pitch dark, adult TV series for beloved franchises: a post-apocalyptic dragon show based on Reign of Fire, a politically charged modern Zorro fighting ICE, a cyberpunk Inspector Gadget gone mad from his augments, and a Battlestar Galactica-style Space Above and Beyond/Starship Troopers reboot.

Josh and Kris dissect the Chosen One trope in media, from the TTRPG mechanics of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG's Drama Points to the huge distortions in The Wheel of Time's pattern. We dive into the best (and worst) uses of the trope in Star Wars (Was Anakin really the Chosen One?) and Harry Potter (He's just a guy!). Plus, a deep-dive into how Buffy's secondary characters are systemically made essential.

Josh and Kris roll the dice to create bizarre, twisted versions of classic folklore characters! Hear our takes on a "gross" Selkie that violently tears its way out of its seal form, the melancholic, depressed Santa Claus (inspired by Neil Gaiman) who hates his job, a queer-coded, sequined Baba Yaga with chicken-feet leggings, and Anansi the trickster god as a charmingly fat, retired, domestic dad (like a mystical Nobody). Plus, a detour into the real-life history of the Pied Piper of Hamelin!

Josh and Kris talk about their favorite apocalypses, from Fallout-style nuclear war (and the haunting film The Road) to the underrated movie The Book of Eli and terrible ones like Waterworld and After Earth. The conversation shifts to the ultimate TTRPG challenge: finishing a campaign. They discuss why most D&D groups never finish a multi-year story, the shift from collaborative world-building to "being entertained," and the influence of actual-play shows like Critical Role and D20 on modern player expectations and "doing bits."

Josh and Kris dive into the secret to great storytelling: taking absurd concepts seriously. They discuss the silly anime premise of More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers, the "tits and fight" genre, and how movies like Airbud and the original Star Wars script turned goofy ideas into classics by playing them straight. The segment concludes with advice for D&D DMs on how to ground a ridiculous campaign—like dragon tyrants or a halfling mafia—with genuine emotional resonance and "heart."

TW: SA, bestiality... Yes, really...

Look, this one got away from me for real. I'm an improviser - I'll yes-and anything. But this shit got real weird and stayed in that space for a while. This is the first time I've ever had to put a trigger warning on a podcast episode.

Josh and Kris tackle the viral "100 men vs. 1 gorilla" question by defining the most absurd win condition: achieving sexual dominance over the gorilla. They argue for the terms of the encounter, debating if the fight should allow tools (no!), clothing (minimal!), and whether a coliseum-style arena favors the humans (it doesn't). The hosts settle on a "dominance display" where one human must penetrate the silverback gorilla, and at least one human must survive.

Josh and Kris clash over the "Rule of Cool" in TTRPGs. Josh argues it's a crutch for lazy problem-solving and a logistical nightmare for DMs, leading to player attention-seeking. Kris defends it as a necessary tool to reward player creativity, encourage "big swings," and increase narrative momentum—provided it's negotiated, reserved for unique moments, and tied to real consequences. They debate its history and the problem of canonizing "community stupidity."

Talking about the problem of catching too much loot, or too much of the same loot, or progressing too quickly in RPGs.

Eating monsters! How would you cook them? What would they taste like? Are they dangerous? Poisonous? Does a gorgon have metal blood?

What do you do when the shit hits the fan and it all goes wrong? Let's talk about it!