Joe and Todd discuss Stanley Yelnats and Hector Zeroni from the novel Holes. They talk about the structural perfection of the plot and the character arcs.

Todd finally gets to talk about film noir! Joe and Todd are talking about Phillip Marlowe from the classic 1946 film The Big Sleep. They wonder if the plot makes any sense, praise the atmosphere of the film, and debate Marlowe’s motivations.

Todd and Joe discuss The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, one of the happiest comics they’ve read in a long time. They talk about subverting superhero tropes, the whimsy in the series, and the motivations for the character.

Joe and Todd talk about Chuck Bartowski from the TV show Chuck. They discuss the spy genre, issues of technology as explored in pop culture, and the overall charm of the show.

Todd and Joe are joined by returning guest Kjerste Christensen to discuss Ged from A Wizard of Earthsea. They talk about the novel’s place as a foundational text in the fantasy genre, what Le Guin did to make her text unique, and the internal threat Ged faces.

Joe and Todd talk about Conor from the film Sing Street. Topics of discussion include the role of brothers in the story, the nature of inspirational films, the delicate balance of pessimistic realism and optimistic wish fulfillment.

Todd and Joe are joined by Ben Phillips to discuss Benjamin Gates in National Treasure. We delight in the implausibilities of the plot, talk about plot versus character, and discuss judging a film based on what it’s trying to do.

Joe and Todd are joined by special guest Virginia McAlister to discuss the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series. Topics of discussion include paranoia, identity, and leadership.

This week Todd and Joe discuss Myfanwy Thomas from Daniel O’Malley’s hilarious 2012 supernatural thriller The Rook. Join them as they tackle issues of memory, pain, and identity, and marvel at the novel’s many plot twists and fascinating side characters.

Join us this week as we discuss the astoundingly good 1997 film The Apostle, which was written and directed by, and stars, Robert Duvall. We discuss Duvall’s impressive performance, his character’s poor life decisions, and then dive deep into the theme of redemption. Special thanks to listener Lynell for the request.