In celebration of releasing 10 episodes, Ethan and Sarah enjoy a chill recording to catch up on hobbies. Sarah is back in the Dungeon Master's seat playing D&D with a new group. Meanwhile, Ethan is captivated by the world of Horizon: Forbidden West and the Zero Dawn board game.

Content Warning: Brief language

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

"Bloody Rose" is the sequel to the "Kings of the Wyld" novel by Nicholas Eames. While Ethan reads it Sarah re-reads it, because her memory is terrible. Does it hold up as a sequel? Are the characters as lovable as Saga's band members? Is Cura the coolest character? Sarah and Ethan have some opinions on character deaths, the writing of substance abuse, story crafting, and the Chekhov's Gun that never was.

Contains spoilers for the novels "Kings of the Wyld" and "Bloody Rose" by Nicholas Eames.

Content Warning: Strong language, drugs, alcohol, addiction and substance abuse, mental health, fantasy violence and death.

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! What says "Christmas" more than the postal service and a bitter family rivalry? Sarah and Ethan discuss the unique premise of Netflix's holiday film "Klaus" (2019) and why it especially works for their personal tastes. Director Sergio Pablos and the talented team of writers have created a truly interesting twist on the holiday tropes and Santa Claus mythos. With a little suspension of disbelief Ethan and Sarah walk through the plot, amazing voice cast, characters, and art direction of Klaus. It's a must-see holiday movie!

Content Warning: Strong language, death and loss

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

At long last Ethan reads "Kings of the Wyld" per the recommendation of Sarah and the glowing reviews of his wife (both of whom have impeccable tastes in media). Spoiler alert: he loved it and thus Ethan and Sarah discuss the world, characters, and story that Nicholas Eames has crafted. There's a lot to enjoy with Pratchett-esque humor, a refreshing POV character, and an endless bounty of fantasy genre references.

Contains spoilers for the novels "Kings of the Wyld" and "Bloody Rose" by Nicholas Eames.

Content Warning: Strong language, brief references to drugs and alcohol, fantasy violence and death.

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Peter Parker and Miles Morales are back in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PS5) and Sarah and Ethan are hyped for it! Returning alongside the spider men are a host of familiar villains, many of which are notably reformed and taking a break from crime. Ethan and Sarah dig into how Insomniac handles these characters and their rehabilitation, contrasted by the brutal Kraven, the twisted Flame cult, and the alien symbiote Venom.

Contains major spoilers for Spider-Man 2.

Content Warning: Strong language, fictional violence

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Through his tasteful use of "needle drops" director James Gunn has crafted heartfelt and thematic soundtracks, where each song elevates the story without overstaying its welcome. Ethan and Sarah explore the music of "The Suicide Squad" (2021) and the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy in an effort to showcase and understand these masterful soundtracks. Both hosts bring to the table their favorite OST picks for discussion. Some songs are silly, others score epic fight sequences, and a few are emotionally impactful in deeply personal ways.

Content Warning: Strong language, fictional violence, sexual references, themes of depression

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Transitions SFX © Lloyd Richards 2023 - http://www.lloydrichards.net/transitions

SFX Helicopter sound effect from Pixabay

Featured Music Snippets

Holding Out for a Hero - Bonnie Tyler | Composed and produced by Jim Steinman | Labels: CBS and Columbia

Come and Get Your Love - Redbone | Label: Epic

Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede | Written by Mark James | Produced by Chips Moman | Label: Scepter

Moonage Daydream - David Bowie | Written and produced by David Bowie | Labels: RCA and B&C

Cherry Bomb - The Runaways | Composed by Joan Jett and Kim Fowley | Label: Mercury

Ooh Child - Five Stairsteps | Written and produced by Stan Vincent | Label: Buddah | Performed by Chris Pratt from "Guardians of the Galaxy"

Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra | Written and produced by Jeff Lynne | Label: Frontiers

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac | Label: Warner Bros.

Southern Nights - Glen Campbell | Written and produced by Allen Toussaint | Cover produced by Gary Klein | Label: Capitol

Come a Little Bit Closer - Jay and the Americans | Produced by Artie Ripp | Label: United Artists

Creep - Radiohead | Written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood | Labels: Parlophone and Capitol

No Sleep till Brooklyn - Beastie Boys | Produced and co-written by Rick Rubin | Labels: Def Jam and Columbia Records

Since You Been Gone - Rainbow | Written by Russ Ballard | Cover produced by Roger Glover | Label: Polydor

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + the Machine | Written by Florence Welch and Isabella Summers | Produced by James Ford | Labels: Universal Island, Moshi Moshi, and IAMSOUND

People Who Died - Jim Carroll Band | Produced by Earl McGrath | Label: ATCO

Whistle for the Choir - the Fratellis | Written by John Fratelli | Produced by Tony Hoffer | Label: Drop the Gun

Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody - Louis Prima | Produced by Voyle Gilmore | Label: Atlantic

Happy Halloween! Ethan posits that Halloween horror is a different beast from the traditional horror genre. Exhibit A: "Trick 'r Treat" the 2007 anthology film that takes place on Halloween night. Sarah dives into the movie, intent on dissecting it. Instead, she comes back bewildered. A spooky good time, "Trick 'r Treat" is a strong argument to back Ethan's point.

Content Warning: Strong language, sexual content, fictional violence, and gore

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Transitions SFX © Lloyd Richards 2023 - http://www.lloydrichards.net/transitions

Nostalgia is a powerful, but often abused, tool in popular media. Sarah and Ethan get into what makes nostalgia good and effective and where it goes wrong. Why are the biggest IPs the worst offenders of creating lifeless husks? Why do fans and nerds love to see recognizable characters and references? Does the Scream franchise get it right? Did Star Trek or Star Wars do nostalgia better?

Content Warning: Strong language

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Transitions SFX © Lloyd Richards 2023 - http://www.lloydrichards.net/transitions

Featured Music Snippets

You Snowin' Me? from Star Trek (2009) | Michael Giacchino and the Hollywood Studio Symphony | ℗ 2010 Paramount Pictures

Red Right Hand from Scream 5 (2022) | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | ℗ Mute Records

• Why the Music of The Rise of the Skywalker Felt Misleading - By YouTuber "Sideways" about how the music in Rise of the Skywalker is misleading and capitalizes, badly, on fan nostalgia.

Convinced by Ethan's love of horror films, Sarah finally watches John Carpenter's classic "The Thing" (1982) for the first time. As an iconic movie in the genre there's a lot to unpack, from strong characterizations to the timeless monster designs. Can Sarah and Ethan answer long-standing questions: does a thing remain at the end of the movie? Is that alcohol or oil in that bottle? Did Blair get a chance to use that noose?

Content Warning: Fictional violence, gore, fictional violence against animals, strong language, references to alcohol and recreational drugs, and mention of suicide.

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Featured Music Snippets

Halloween Theme - Main Title (1979) | Produced and Performed by John Carpenter

The Thing - Main Theme (1982) | Composed by Ennio Morricone | Produced and Performed by John Carpenter

Digimon is a sprawling franchise with manga, anime, movies, video games, trading card games, collectible figures, and peripherals. For many, it is a forgotten piece of childhood, yet the fanbase thrives. Ethan, the resident Digimon expert and longtime fan, breaks down for Sarah all the ways a newcomer can get into the Digimon franchise without being overwhelmed.

Content Warning: Strong language

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Attributions

Intro Theme: Game Boy | Written by Andrew Stanton | Produced and Performed by Ender

Outro Theme: Faxel-Hecked | Written and Performed by Matteo Galesi

Featured Music Snippets

Digimon Adventure Opening Theme english dub | Paul Gordon

Butter-Fly | Composed by Chiwata Hidenori | Performed by Wada Kouji