In this episode, Molly and Jack tackle two of the funniest scenes in all of Shakespeare. First, in 2.3, Benedick's friends do some bad improv to surreptitiously inform him that Beatrice likes him. Then, in 3.1, Beatrice's cousin does some great improv to give her the same message about Benedick's feelings! Though they bicker and verbally spar, by the end of these two scenes, Beatrice and Benedick are on their way to being two fuzzy bunnies of love and joy.

Jack and Molly watch Loncraine and McKellen's 1995 adaptation of Richard III for the first time, and marvel at its various wonders: Fascinating directorial choices, devastating POV reveals, and RDJ in a perfect 1930s cream colored suit. Ian McKellen is maybe the best Richard ever, and Maggie Smith dominates as the Duchess of York. And yes, we did work in a reference to The Last Jedi.

Starring Stephen Fry as Malvolio, Mark Rylance as Olivia and Johnny Flynn as Viola, this all star (all male) cast takes Twelfth Night all the way back to its beginnings. Molly and Jack discuss the delightful music, comfortable blocking and hilarious shrubbery scene that make the Globe's original conditions performance of Twelfth Night a side-splittingly funny, deeply felt, and wonderfully joyous must-see.

Jack and Molly close read Othello's recount of the wooing of Desdemona from act 1, scene 3. But who's really wooing who in this speech? Is storytelling a form of witchcraft? They also consult the OED for Shakespeare's definition of pity.

Desdemona: "I wish I knew someone exactly like you."

Othello: "Hey, have you met me?"

How do you make two crowns from an egg? Why are there no more than seven stars? Who can tell why a snail has a house? Who is the coolest fool of them all? These questions and more answered in this character episode of Party Bard on the archetypal Shakespearean Fool, the character only known as "The Fool" from King Lear.

Crows, arrows, the creepiest Lady Macbeth ever put to film, and a fog drenched adaptation of one of the bard's most harrowing works: it's Throne of Blood! Even though Halloween doesn't fall on a Wednesday this year, the excuse to talk about this classic was too good to pass up. Check out the First Annual Party Bard Trick-orTreat Halloween Spooktacular on Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, considered by some to be the best film version of Macbeth ever made.

Jack and Molly hop into the courtroom with Portia, Antonio, and Shylock. They consult the OED for the definitions of Mercy, and Jack fixes the problem in Problem Plays. What is Mercy? What is Justice? Are Antonio and Bassanio in love? (yes.)

Should Malvolio be played by a tarantula or the Dark Lord? What are the similarities and differences between Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and the 2006 romantic comedy She's the Man? Molly and Jack, speaking as completely objective third party observers with absolutely no personal interest in the situation, offer their thoughts.

Jack and Molly introduce a new, rotating category of PB episode: Performance! They're talking Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard's sweeping 2015 film version of MACBETH, and discuss some strong adaptation choices, many of which they love. Also, this entire episode might actually be about Harry Potter. Also, don't worry Lady Macbeth, we're here for you.

Molly and Jack do a close reading of Caliban's The Isle is Full of Noises speech from The Tempest. Along the way they find a number of possible candidates for the 2020 election and many reasons to remain very afeared.