Elysia, John, and Mark watch the Augury unfold in this shocking episode of horror.

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David and Loremaster Bryan8063 are joined by Marilyn R. Pukkila for a comprehensive wrap-up of the PBS Ken Burns miniseries The American Revolution. Marilyn brings her background as a retired research librarian with an MA in medieval Welsh history, while Brian discusses his work in presidential oral history at UVA's Miller Center and previous experience at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The conversation explores the series as more civil war than revolutionary war, drawing on Colin Woodard's American Nations to understand distinct regional cultures that shaped the conflict. The discussion examines Burns' decade-long crafting process, the sobering parallels to contemporary America, and his explicit inclusion of voices from tribal nations, women, and Black Americans.

Themes include the mythology versus reality of national founding, the challenges of oral history and reconstructive memory, the importance of uncertainty over absolutism, and how communities find common ground across differences through shared inquiry into history and myth.

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Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.

Letterboxd lists

Eligible live-action shorts – category analysis

Eligible animated shorts – category analysis

Eligible documentary shorts

The Rankings

1. TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*
2. MERCY – interview – info
3. JANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – info
4. JUST THE USUAL – trailer – info
5. THE PEARL COMB – trailer – info
6. PORELESS – trailer – info – full film*
7. THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – info
8. DALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*
9. HURIKÁN – trailer – info
10. RETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*
11. TRAPPED – review – info
12. GIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)
13. ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – info
14. KOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*
15. SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)
16. EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – info
17. THE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)
18. MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*
19. THE SINGERS – trailer – info
20. LES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*
21. BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)
22. HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*
23. MERCENAIRE – trailer – info
24. ONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & Criterion
25. PLAYING GOD – trailer – info
26. MUSHROOM DAD – review – info

*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).

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David and Nichole unpack the most impactful episode yet, examining the major revelations delivered through Carol's two conversations with Diatabé that fundamentally reframe the show's central mystery. The discussion explores the extraordinary filmmaking craft on display—from the intricate details scattered throughout every scene to the mirroring between Carol and Manusos—while grappling with Nichole's reservations about pacing versus David's appreciation for the show's visual storytelling and minimal dialogue.

They delve into profound questions about the biological imperatives driving the joined, the ethics of consumption and privilege in our viewing community, and whether this signal from space represents a virus-like species propagating across the galaxy to survive.

David's Blog Post

Read David's companion essay: Pluribus Episode 6: The Pragmatism of 'HDP' and the Privilege of Grief

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Elysia, John, and Mark send in the clowns to give more backstory to It. They discuss fake music numbers, the breaking of fellowships, and the show's three-season trajectory.

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David and Nichole explore the most visually stunning episode yet, examining the subtle artistry of the cinematography that rivals Severance's most beautifully crafted moments. The conversation delves into the bittersweet opposites at the show's core—joy and poignancy, cleverness and grief, sci-fi premise and deeply human storytelling—as Carol processes Helen's death and navigates eight days of radical transformation. They discuss the fingerprint motif in the title sequence, debate whether this feels more like a coming-of-age story than traditional sci-fi, and analyze how the joined's decision to give Carol space reveals the show's sophisticated understanding of toxic relationships and boundaries.

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Jean and Elysia (with an appearance from David) join Dek and Thia's clan for a full breakdown of the good, the objections, the great, and the Yautja lore of Predators: Badlands

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Elysia, John, and Mark enter the sewers to explore the growing references to Stephen King's legendarium. They discuss Dick Halloran's powers, the limitations and feeding needs of It, and new possible connections to the original timeline.

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Content Warning: This episode discusses conversion therapy and unhealthy family dynamics. Please listen with care if these topics are sensitive for you.

David and Nichole dive into the richest episode yet, exploring Carol's traumatic backstory including her family history and experiences with conversion therapy that shaped her fierce independence. The conversation examines the tonal shift from previous episodes' levity to serious character development, while also introducing the mysterious Manusos in Paraguay and his desperate circumstances. They discuss the healthy discourse happening in their Discord community, compare the show's accessibility to Severance, and analyze how Carol's gradual acceptance of her new reality contrasts sharply with Manusos's extreme resistance.

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David and Loremaster Bryan8063 continue their special coverage of the PBS Ken Burns miniseries The American Revolution with immediate reactions to the fifth episode. The discussion highlights Burns' ability to tell previously marginalized stories of women, Black Americans (both enslaved and freed), and Native Americans, connecting scholarship that may have existed in silos.

The hosts explore the British pivot to a Southern strategy aimed at retaining the more economically valuable colonies, the staggering complexity of the North American theater stretching from Montreal to Florida, and the global ripple effects of the conflict. They reflect on missing elements like the Articles of Confederation debates and state-level constitutional work, suggesting the series might have benefited from additional episodes to capture these parallel developments.

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