Get bonus episodes on Patreon! 600 pages of expertly dramatized philosophy and theology, starring a giant worm with a human face – this book was written for Cam. Our discussion starts with the compounding, echoing relationship between all of the Dune books, before settling on the unexpected Nietzschean flair of Frank Herbert's God Emperor. Alongside the ghola, he's one of the central walking thought experiments that plays out the intellectual curiosities of this world and their underlying and emotional agonies. This series remains a thought provoking and devastating character study. Herbert has managed to pull a fourth rabbit out of the same sandy hat.

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Every Arya chapter is Valjean screaming "Who am I?" at the audience, but this one in particular really is a carousel of futures. Cam examines the half dozen personas explored in these pages and the constant refinements of that central question. Are you your circumstances? Are you your defining characteristics? Are you your vocation? Maggie revisits the Stark children / direwolf relationship for all its prophetic implications. Together, we take a closer look at the Stark family mantras, grappling with the survivability of the lone wolf vs the pack, and debating the utility of "winter is coming".

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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Grab your Leviathan Axe and hop in the boat: we're heading to the Lake of Nine today to discuss Maggie's experience playing (and not playing) the masterful 2018 God of War. Maggie has been going further and further out of her comfort zone with games, and God of War was no exception. But the world and the story gripped her so much that by golly she was going to make it work for her. Join us as we discuss Maggie's unique journey of playing through the game (with a big helping hand), her increasing interest in story-focused games, hopes for accessibility in games, and questions about where to go from here.

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This week we're all the way at the edge of the world, and what do we find? Shakespeare! More specifically, Cam gets to talk about the Old Man archetype, which crops up here thanks to Lord Commander Mormont. The conversation spirals into a theory about omens, ignored warnings, and narrative vindication. Cam presents a relay race theory about Tyrion's role as the bridge between ice and fire, which Maggie reinforces with a callback to Bran's prophetic and ambiguous dreams.

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The Tortured Poets Department isn't "about" anyone. This episode is an interrogation of that painfully wrong-headed way we talk about the biggest artist in the world. It represents an incurious tabloid toxicity and a strange rejection of creativity. An artist's experience CAN inspire their work, but that observation should be the tip of the analytical iceberg, not the entirety of our public discourse. This is an episode about artist's intent and unknowability, the beautiful mystery of imagination, and the humility required to discuss and interpret a work of art.

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Ned just made it to King's Landing, and it's already a disaster. Maggie investigates Ned's first day as Hand of the King, wondering how out of his depth he truly is, and if he has the capacity to learn. Cam leads a close reading that compares the series-long arcs of the Stark clan and the white walkers, illuminates the ice and fire imagery we keep noticing, and reveals the beating heart of the Lord of Winterfell.

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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Let's keep it brief: this season is as bad as the last season was good. On the menu we have ugly robots, boring traps, and a surprisingly long commute. As always, we're not just here to mindlessly praise or bash this game; we love the series and believe this discussion is both constructive and fun. We discuss the state of the game, the seasonal campaign, some class updates (boo sorcerer), and close with some wrap-up questions looking ahead to the future of this consistently inconsistent live game.

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Since Jon doesn't like the 'Lord Snow' nickname, let's just call him the Direwolf of Wall Street instead. Jon's arrival to Castle Black brings with it three subtle narrative interventions. Cam leads us through the quiet parade of second chances given to Jon, some unwelcome Sansa echoes, and a few ghostly glimpses of the White Walkers. Maggie examines the ice and fire dichotomy as it relates to Jon's dual identities. Finally, we trade dueling couplet echoes to help make sense of last week's Catelyn discussion.

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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! "The entire universe with all of its Time is within me." The third Dune novel is not messing around. Herbert dives fearlessly into the further reaches of his creation and consecrates his central critique. The dehumanizing effect of absolute power is made literal. Monsters and gods take the places of previous meddlers. Recurring plot beats speak to an inevitable cycle of power and corruption. All of the time jumps finally pay off as idealistic returning characters move up the generational ladder, only to entrench themselves in a self-serving aristocracy. Finally, Herbert's fascination with ghosts and echoes and gholas reaches horrifying new heights.

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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! If there's any justice in the world, Monkey Man will be the next big thing in action movies. Dev Patel's directorial debut is an unflinching, crunchy, gnarly, creative step forward for a genre still largely living in the shadows of John Wick, Jason Bourne, and Tom Cruise. In this episode we explore that lineage and celebrate the innovations that Monkey Man brings to the table.

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