We return to France for King of Hearts, directed by Philippe de Broca and starring Alan Bates and Geneviève Bujold. The suggestion to see this film comes from our own Erika Ensign, who praises its anti-war message, among other attributes. The film is set in a small French town during World War I, after the locals have fled the battle. Residents of a nearby asylum escape and take over the town. The film was made in 1966, in the shadow of French involvement in the Vietnam War.

King of Hearts

Shelly Brisbin with Erika Ensign, Nathan Alderman, Randy Dotinga and Micheline Maynard

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

This early episode contains a disturbing scene of suggested suicide that should probably not have been anywhere on prime-time TV, let alone during a light action-adventure series! And yet “Skin Deep” has a lot going for it, including Ian McShane being very sweaty and shifty.

Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr

Breaking News: that’s the name of this episode of Studio 60. A fact which is not breaking news, because it aired many many years ago. But this is an episode filled with crises: Jordan’s baby is in peril. So is Tom’s brother. And so is Matt. Big ep. Luckily, Brian and Lex are ready. Let’s Sorkin’ in It.

Lex Friedman and Brian Warren

It’s a special edition of Random Pursuit! This week, your host and scorekeeper join in on the fun, trying to answer questions from two editions of Trivial Pursuit sold only in Canada! How many Canada-specific questions will they get?

Random Pursuit XXXVI

Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky with Annette Wierstra and Kirsten Goruk

Rain Main meets Air Bud. Dan McCoy discusses stims and happy endings and Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003).

John McCoy with Dan McCoy

My brother’s newsletter mentioned in the episode.

In this episode, Carlos hears roaring and gurgling, Kat’chka puts the bug in bugaloo, Omlöl likes running toward danger, Regdar runs near danger, Shara doesn’t go around the bend, and Zotasha is yellopathic. Oh, and Scott puts up with all of it.

Eglath's Angels VII, Episode 2

Scott McNulty with Aleen Simms, Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Jason Snell, Steve Lutz and Tony Sindelar

Edited by Erika Ensign.

We discuss the recently concluded (first?) season of the Star Wars series “The Acolyte.” The show offers a mix of stuff we like about “Star Wars”, but the panel’s split on whether it managed to do a good job executing its ambitious agenda.

"The Acolyte"

Jason Snell with Tony Sindelar, Dan Moren, Moisés Chiullán and Chip Sudderth

Tokyo Story is on numerous lists of the best films of all time. It’s in my personal top five. This movie is considered the masterpiece by legendary filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu, and it stars his luminous muse, Setsuko Hara. Tokyo Story is a black and white time capsule of life in Japan after World War II and depicts how the war and Japan’s modernization disrupted its family dynamic. Compared with the boldness of Akira Kurosawa’s movies, it’s sedate and thoughtful, and you may easily find yourself shedding a tear or two.

Tokyo Story

Micheline Maynard with Shelly Brisbin and Nathan Alderman

Get in touch with the show at [email protected] or on the socials.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

Many Weavers (but not Dennis Wheeler or Dennis Miller), some cowboy music, surprising “Star Trek” guest stars, and a plot that goes to some surprising places make this episode a winner.

Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr

Welcome back to the blood-soaked sands of Athas! Door Dash your Pegasus and throw your money on the floor because these weirdos are level 10 now. You might think that means fewer hijinks and less nonsense, but you would be very very wrong.

Eglath's Angels VII, Episode 1

Scott McNulty with Aleen Simms, Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Jason Snell, Steve Lutz and Tony Sindelar

Edited by Erika Ensign.