Lyra's been taking a lot of Japanese language and literature classes, so this summer Dan and Lyra discuss two recent Japanese movies dealing with World War II. Dan chose Takashi Yamakazi's 2023 Godzilla Minus One, and Lyra chose Hayao Miyazaki's 2013 The Wind Rises. The two debate culpability, self-sacrifice, and the Miyazaki–Neon Genesis Evangelion connection.

Intro and outro music: Joe Hisaishi's score for The Wind Rises.
Mid-show music: Naoki Satö's score for Godzilla Minus One.

Happy Hitchcoctober! Er, Hitchcocktember. Lyra (from her dorm room!) and Dan discuss Vertigo and Psycho, the director as voyeur, possession versus obsession, and Lyra's strong argument that the shower scene is "goofy."

Intro and outro music: Bernard Herrmann's Vertigo score. 
Mid-show music: Bernard Herrmann's Psycho score.

In the final episode before Lyra goes to college (!!), Dan and Lyra discuss David Fincher's Fight Club, David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, movies as puzzles the director wants you to crack, and movies as artworks the director doesn't want you to solve. Silencio!!!

Intro music: the Dust Brothers' score from Fight Club.
Mid-show music: the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" from Fight Club.
Outro music: Angelo Badalamenti's score from Mulholland Drive.

Happy Oscar Season! Dan and Lyra discuss Everything Everywhere All at Once,The Banshees of Inisherin, maximalism, depression, whether mean people make for better drama, dead donkeys, and Raccacoonie.   

Intro music: Son Lux's score from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Outro music: Carter Burwell's score from The Banshees of Inisherin.

Dan and Lyra discuss two revisionist westerns about friendship, love, and the perils of masculinity. Dan chooses Ridley Scott's 1991 inspirational revenge story Thelma and Louise, and Lyra chooses Ang Lee's 2005 cowboy weepie Brokeback Mountain. What does it mean to call a movie feminist? Why can't Jack and Ennis talk to each other? And why did Lyra hate The Searchers so much?  

Intro music: Glenn Frey, "Part of Me, Part of You" from Thelma and Louise.
Mid-show music: Marianne Faithfull, "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" from Thelma and Louise. Outro music: Gustavo Santaolalla, "The Wings" from Brokeback Mountain.

Dan and Lyra discuss two satires of capitalism focusing on unlikely antiheroes. Lyra chooses Mary Harron's 2000 bloodbath American Psycho, and Dan chooses Boots Riley's madcap 2018 Sorry to Bother You. How many Patrick Batemans are there? What's that business card made out of? And what's that whinnying sound?  

Intro music: Huey Lewis and the News, "Hip to Be Square" from American Psycho.
Mid-show music: Tune-Yards, "SIGNS (Detroit's Theme)" from Sorry to Bother You.
Outro music: The Coup and Janelle Monaé, "Whatthegirlmuthafuckinwannadoo" from Sorry to Bother You.

Dan and Lyra discuss two sci-fi epics with very different vibes. Lyra chooses Denis Villeneuve's brand-new hit Dune (part 1). Dan chooses Terry Gilliam's madcap 1985 satire Brazil. What's in the box? Can Lyra use The Voice? And does anyone have a form 27B/6?!

Intro and mid-show music: Hans Zimmer's score for Dune.
Outro music: Maria and Geoff Muldaur, "Aquarela do Brasil."

Dan and Lyra discuss two movies that deal with disability in unique and artful ways. Lyra chooses Naoko Yamada's 2016 anime A Silent Voice. Dan chooses Jane Campion's 1993 drama The Piano. Can Dan appreciate an anime where everyone's emotions are turned up to 11? Can Lyra appreciate a movie featuring coercion, sex, and graphic violence? Plus: colonialism, unforgivable actions, and the fat friend.

Intro and mid-show music: Michael Nyman's score for The Piano.
Outro music: Kensuke Ushio's score for A Silent Voice.

Dan and Lyra have Oscar Fever! Well, Dan does ... Lyra thinks Oscar movies sound boring. Nevertheless, she's chosen Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman, a movie that is not boring. Dan, meanwhile, chooses Chloe Zhao's Nomadland. Which will they like better? Will they agree about Promising Young Woman's ending? Which will actually win Best Picture? Plus: Albanian grocery clerks, the difference between actors and real people, and Bo Burnham.

Intro music: Promising Young Woman composer Anthony Willis' arrangement of "Toxic" for string quartet.
Mid-show music: from Nomadland, Ludovico Einaudi's "Oltremare."
Outro music: from Promising Young Woman, Charli XCX's "Boys."

It's an all-Magical Girl episode! Lyra seizes the chance to make Dan watch all 12 episodes of the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Dan introduces Lyra to Sofia Coppola with The Virgin Suicides. It's quite an intergenerational debate! Honestly, Dan doesn't get it, and Lyra spends a lot of energy trying to get him to understand why she loves this anime so much. Plus: the female gaze, The Wonder Years, and Kyubey, an adorable, interdimensional "little shit."

Intro music from Yuki Kajiura's Madoka Magica score.
Mid-show and outro music from Air's The Virgin Suicides score.