Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

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Chapter by chapter fantasy discussions lead us in some very strange directions. In this episode, Maggie does a deep dive into our characters' myopic, almost spiritual interpretations of the comet hanging overhead and then (not ten minutes later) she investigates the symbolism and historical implications of GRRM coding his aspiring kings with an assortment of precious metals. Cam explores the dueling mysticism and metaphor of the series' endless parade of ghosts before tackling the strange structural similarity of these two chapters and what could very well be a sweeping statement about cycles of history, dual identities, and the unavoidably tragic deaths of principled men. Fantasy — the genre that keeps on giving!

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Dolly is a demented and delightful indie slasher, 80 straight minutes of "what the fuck" that totally revitalized the genre for us. In this episode, we're discussing the film through three pointed lenses of comparison: Hansel & Gretel, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Strange Darling.

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Diablo IV's shortest season yet has also turned out to be its most promising. Season of Slaughter is an ode to fan favorite character 'The Butcher,' but beneath all the flash this season represents an exciting reinvestment in the foundational parts of Diablo IV. After a short burst of narrative, Sanctuary opens up with a whole bevy of new and refreshed activities. This is fun factor personified, and it has us feeling incredibly hopeful about the future. Topics include: state of the game, seasonal campaign, a class update exploring all sides of the Paladin, and a look at the forthcoming Lord of Hatred expansion.

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It's rare for a horror movie to divide us this much. Undertone scared the bejeezus out of Maggie, but left Cam completely cold. In this episode, we're exploring both of these reactions in turn as we investigate the question of what makes Undertone so terrifying and divisive. Topics include: invisible creature design, weaponized ambiguity, "downtime" in horror movies, our complicated relationship with genre tropes, and a reckoning with the most strangely overpopulated genre in movies: dead mom stories.

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How extensive is the connection between the Starks and their direwolves? Is it a metaphor about house sigils and "the pack," or is GRRM suggesting something more monstrous and surreal? In this episode, we're chasing the direwolves of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' across space and time, culminating in a brand new theory about the creatures that Cam has dubbed "weirwolves". We also return to Maggie's (increasingly metatextual) Comet Corner and reflect on the brutally contemporary fascism of the Goldcloaks. Finally, we investigate the idea that both the books and the show slowly abandon the story's most surreal and fantastical elements.

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Clip from our latest Patreon-exclusive bonus episode covering The Bride!, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Psycho Killer, and Scream 7!

LISTEN TO ALL 42 VOLUMES OF THE BREAKFAST BUFFET

The world of horror is never dull. In today's episode, we're covering two ravenously bold, fascinating movies and two others that were crushingly disappointing and non-committal. Scream 7 is the Hallmark version of The Rise of Skywalker, an insult to the whip-smart commentary-focused filmmaking that began the franchise. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a gonzo meditation on violence, cruelty, and hope that refuses to make even one easy or obvious narrative choice. Psycho Killer is a genuinely fascinating, puzzling misstep that manages to entirely waste an interesting premise and strong creature design in favor of a Wile E. Coyote-style twist. The Bride! reminds us why we go to the movies, for big swings, breathtaking style, and original, fearless storytelling. Also, for Cam at least, for new and novel stagings of Doctor Faustus -- in this case, what might be the definitive and damningly American version of the tale.

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Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here!

Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here!

In this grand finale of our 'Devouring Dune' series, we're discussing Frank Herbert's much-maligned & misunderstood final novel: Chapterhouse: Dune. Is the endless repetition of character resurrections and plot devices a sign of diminishing returns, or a lesson in pattern recognition that reveals the true ending of the series? Is the famously unresolved ending an indictment of the later sequels or a bittersweet commentary on the cynical nature of history and impossible narrative expectations? Hope into the no-ship and buckle up tight, this episode is getting esoteric.

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Winter Burrow has everything Maggie loves in a game: beautiful art, meaningful story, gut-wrenching characters, talking animals, fun mechanics, and a dash of whimsy. Sometimes a game just hits. Topics include the unavoidable Stardew Valley comparisons, the value of a smaller scope, intentionality in game design, and the chance to furnish your very own Bag End.

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George R. R. Martin has a unique talent for ghost stories. In this episode, we continue to trace echoes and shadows across the blood-spattered halls of power in King's Landing. Maggie investigates the eerie comet hanging over every moment of the action, this time as a proxy for control. Cam sees another Targaryen mirage in the form of Joffrey Baratheon, and dives down a rabbit hole of dead kings and martyrs that totally reframes our understanding of Westerosi monarchs. We take a closer, more critical look at Cersei Lannister as a power player in the titular game of thrones, before finally tracking the ghost of Ned Stark as it doggedly haunts the steps of his similarly idealistic successor: Tyrion Lannister.

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Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here!

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a fantastic season of television, and it's an even better adaptation. In this episode, we're exploring the relationship between AKOTSK and GRRM's The Hedge Knight to find out how this miraculous translation happened. Along the way we'll spotlight six essential changes that the show made to the source material, analyze the half-hour format, and discuss delicate tonal evolutions. After that, we break down the show's revolutionary approach to combat on-screen, consider the state of the franchise, and wrap up with a few thoughts on the future of big budget, genre adaptations. All Hail Dunk & Egg!

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