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And Just Like That … we're back in the world of Westeros doing chapter-by-chapter of A Song of Ice and Fire. A Clash of Kings opens with one big metaphor and a bunch of tricky new characters. Maggie's History Corner returns with a jaunt through the British Empire and a quick stop at Halley's Comet. Cam asks if Stannis is the new Ned Stark, and then worries that Davos is the new Lord Varys. We work together to uncover a treasure trove of unexpected parallels between Stannis Baratheon's pathetic host and the bygone Targaryen dynasty. Finally, we revisit our old friend "The Philosophy of Death" to see how GRRM is exploring and evolving his perennial narrative grindstone.

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Iron Lung is a staggering work of indie horror, but we would argue that it's also an unconventional and hyper ambitious Faust fable, restaging the whole drama of Marlowe's classic deal-with-the-devil play inside a claustrophobic submarine stained with blood. In this episode, we're mapping Marlowe's characters onto Markiplier's minimalistic ensemble, laying out the terms of Simon's remixed Faustian bargain, and hunting for his oft-conjured but seldom seen Mephistopheles. It's Lynchian! It's Lovecraftian! It's positively Faustian! And here's the kicker, the film's ending takes on a whole new level of meaning and symbolism when interpreted through this lens! Let's dive into it!

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It's been called "revolutionary." It's been called "game-changing." It's been called "The Worst Game Show in Podcast History." That's right, Trivia Deathmatch is back for Volume 3! Ten rapid-fire questions of the finest fantasy and horror arcanum known to man. The questions are harder this time, but are we any smarter?

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In this episode, we're back in Westeros to revisit the first season of Game of Thrones, fifteen years later. Was this the best Game of Thrones ever got? Is this the best fantasy adaptation of all time? Let's dive in! Topics include: a total reevaluation of Jaime Lannister, the color palette of the Seven Kingdoms, the tension between big budgets and the viewer's imagination, forgotten character crossovers, the secret to great genre casting, grounded drama vs. epic fantasy, and the strange disappearance of chest hair onscreen.

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This episode is a celebration of Heated Rivalry and its refreshing avoidance of anything cliché – in romance, queer romance, and popular fiction in general. Topics include the power and pitfalls of representation, the unique storytelling potential of sex scenes, and the euphoria of narrative wish-fulfillment.

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In this remarkably chaotic episode, we take another crack at making a Second Breakfast game show. Ten trivia questions, arguably zero winners, many more ASMR dice rolls, one contested bonus point — oh, and we completely forgot to keep score. I cannot tell you how much fun these are to record.

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In anticipation of HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this episode is our deep-dive analysis of GRRM's The Hedge Knight, which will serve as the (absolutely fantastic) source material for the show's first season. Topics include: Witcher-esque grim optimism, dream / prophecy analysis, echoes of GOT & LOTR, and the chance for this story to be for fantasy what The Mandalorian was supposed to be for science fiction.

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Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 17-23

The grand finale is here! In this episode, we investigate Sapkowski's searing final word on Faustian bargains, his continued experiments in form, and the conflicted legacy of Preston Holt. Maggie goes deep on the (surprising) return of the law of surprise. Cam argues against the idea that this series is "grim dark".

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As a brand new year takes shape, we're trying something silly and different — a game show! In this episode, we're doing a trivia tussle / deathmatch (depending on who you ask). We've got ten horror questions, ten fantasy questions, lots of ASMR dice rolls, and one lucky winner!

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Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 9-16

Crossroads of Ravens continues to be a fascinating, provocative addition to the Witcher mythology! In this episode, we're investigating the trustworthiness of Preston Holt, the stepping stones that tie this prequel to the core saga, and Sapkowski's latest riff on the franchise-long question about who the real monsters are. Cam wonders if this book is a speed run of the entire series. Maggie ropes in Prometheus and Frankenstein. We work together to analyze Geralt's strategic silences and the sudden onrush of Faustian bargains across the Continent. Oh and there's an evil slime stalking through the countryside.

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