Podcasts by Second Breakfast with Cam

Barbie (2023): Greta Gerwig’s Paradise Lost from 2023-08-08T10:00

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is fantastic for so many reasons, but there was one idea that struck us particularl...

Special Announcement! from 2023-08-06T10:00

An exciting development has arrived, years in the making. The show is about to change forever, but also – not at all.

Listen

Ch. 5 [The Lady of the Lake] from 2023-08-04T10:00

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 5
 
We’re barreling towards the end of The Witcher saga, and in this chapter we finally get some answers. After we break down revelations abou...

2023: A Great Year for Comedy from 2023-08-01T10:00

Hey, remember a couple months ago when we were whining that they didn’t make any good comedy movies anymore?? Well, they must have heard us. This episode runs through five fantastic comedies we’...

As Above, So Below from 2023-07-28T10:00

This year’s Summerween is bringing the pain. As Above, So Below is once again the scariest movie we’ve ever seen, but it’s also been designed in a lab to perfectly appeal to Maggie’s medieval ar...

Ch. 4 [The Lady of the Lake] from 2023-07-21T10:00

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 4
 
This chapter of the final Witcher novel is the perfect complement to its predecessor. We continue through a messy, empathetic, nuanced int...

Diablo IV [Act Three] from 2023-07-18T10:00

At the halfway point of Diablo IV, we reach a crossroads. The narrative work here can be incredible, but more and more the game seems to be prioritizing the uneve...

Insidious: The Lambert Family Trilogy from 2023-07-14T10:00

Discussion of Insidious, Insidious: Chapter 2, and Insidious: The Red Door

James Wan and Leigh Whannell made the best haunted house horror movie of all time in 2010. Thr...

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse from 2023-07-11T10:00

Never let it be said that we here at Second Breakfast refuse to admit our mistakes. They’ve finally gone and done it: they made a great multiverse superhero movie. Not only is the story here tho...

Ch. 3 [The Lady of the Lake] from 2023-07-07T10:00

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 3
 
At first, this chapter seems like back-to-basics victory lap for our beloved Geralt of Rivia. But as we all know, onions have layers. Sapk...

Diablo 4 [Act Two] from 2023-07-04T10:00

The second act of Diablo IV is full-on heavy metal. We’ve got three-headed beasts, a blood swamp, and a gigantic talking wolf. There are also startling, quiet moments of humanity exploring the F...

Black Swan from 2023-06-30T10:00

For this second Summerween episode, we’re looking at one of Maggie’s most formative horror movies. Black Swan is a movie we’ve been thinking about for thirteen years - the sy...

Ch. 2 [The Lady of the Lake] from 2023-06-23T10:00

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 2

The thing about curveballs is that you can never get used to them. Every time we think we’ve got the reigns of Sapkowski’s ...

Diablo IV [Act One] from 2023-06-20T10:00

Diablo IV is finally here! As we play through the game, we’re going to do a series of diary-style reflections where we reflect on story, gameplay, and progression. In this first act, we adjust t...

Cloverfield from 2023-06-16T10:00

Flip open your Motorola Razrs and grab an Izze; we’re heading back to 2008 and the “epic fail” that was the Cloverfield apocalypse in Manhattan. Summerween 2023 begins with this 85-minute panic ...

Ch. 1 [The Lady of the Lake] from 2023-06-09T10:00

Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Ch. 1
 
Here we are – the beginning of the end. Sapkowski kicks off the final Witcher novel with his greatest curveball yet: a crossover into Mont...

Diablo III Retrospective from 2023-06-02T10:00

Diablo III is one of the most successful works of fantasy ever made, having sold more than 65 million copies worldwide. Between the three of us — Cam, Maggie, and...

Ch. 11 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-05-26T10:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 11

The Tower of Swallows goes out with a bang this week. For one thing, we actually find the tower, but there also...

BlackBerry from 2023-05-23T10:00

From The Social Network to The Wolf of Wall Street to Vice, the 2010s was a golden age of dramatized, real-life catastrophes. 2023’s Blackberry is a ruthless, fantastic addition to that lineage ...

Beau Is Afraid (of becoming Frankenstein) from 2023-05-19T10:00

This is by far the weirdest movie of the year – so we went to see it twice, and Cam built up one humdinger of a theory. This whole episode is him frantically working through the idea that Beau I...

Ch. 10 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-05-12T10:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 10

Wave your red flags in the air like you just don’t care. Ciri’s about to torch King’s Landing or become The Punisher – either way, she’s not tu...

Sisu from 2023-05-09T10:00

Sisu is the best action movie of the year, and we had to come back for a Tuesday bonus episode and talk about it. This whole episode is a full-throated endorsement, a shining bat-signal to all o...

Air + Artists Equity from 2023-05-05T10:00

It’s a really hard time to be a creative. Ever shrinking wages, vanishing royalties, exploitative contracts. Three days ago, the Writers Guild of America officially went on strike, and in this d...

Succession: The Many Deaths of Logan Roy from 2023-05-02T10:00

Surprise! We've got two bonus episodes about Succession out today! Cam rewatched the whole show totally out of order and it gave him some unexpected, funky insigh...

Ch. 9 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-04-28T10:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 9

Buckle up, buttercup. This is probably the most intricate, complex chapter we’ve ever covered – and how fitting that it focuses on his most elab...

Diablo IV [Open Beta] from 2023-04-21T10:00

We’ve been waiting for Diablo IV for over a decade. It’s the ultimate Second Breakfast topic – the perfect marriage of fantasy and horror. Cam and Tristan played the bajeezus out of the beta, an...

Inside from 2023-04-18T10:00

Welcome back to Second Breakfast! Today’s episode is a pre-written column in the style of our recent Substack-exclusive bonus episodes discussing Listen

Ch. 8 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-04-14T10:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 8

Welcome back to Curveball Corner with Cam and Maggie! This is by far the least traditional, least linear chapter of this series – a marathon of ...

Dungeons&Dragons: Honor Among Thieves from 2023-04-07T10:00

What’s more surprising: a great new fantasy action-comedy, or Maggie getting to see Taylor Swift? What about both of those in the same episode?! This movie was a huge surprise for us. It’s got c...

The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 7 from 2023-03-31T10:00

There’s a murkiness running through this chapter’s adventure; a nervous, questioning fear that digs at the very heart of Geralt’s character. Cam argues that our beloved wi...

Bram Stoker’s Dracula from 2023-03-24T10:00

We all know that vampire movies have to be horny – but Bram Stoker’s Dracula takes it to a whole other level. Going beyond the basic themes of desire and sexuality, there’s a unique preoccupatio...

Ch. 6 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-03-17T10:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 6

We’re doubling down on the themes introduced in the last chapter, specifically the comparison between Ciri and Angoulême. Sapkowski stretche...

Emily from 2023-03-10T11:00

A team of the world’s best scientists working 24/7 for years on end could not have created a movie that appeals to us more. For Maggie, we’ve got a sweeping period romance, Gothic landscapes, an...

Ch. 5 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-03-03T11:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 5

Believe it or not, there’s an interesting new bird this week. But we think it serves a larger emerging pattern – one about delicate social c...

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi from 2023-02-24T11:00

Where is the Jedi returning from…? He never left. He never changed. He was never tempted by the Dark Side. Join us for an in-depth investigation as we try to figure out what the hell happened he...

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey from 2023-02-21T11:00

Of all the indie horror splatterfests we've covered on the show, this one is definitely the most controversial - and we had such a good time with it. Even Cam - the famed Winnie-the-Poo...

Ch. 4 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-02-17T11:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4

Now that we’ve thawed out from the Texas Ice Apocalypse, we can get back to what really matters: deep dive research papers about birds. This...

The Descent from 2023-02-10T11:00

Oh look, a crossover between our favorite genres! This horror classic has an important connection to the world of fantasy. Writer / Director Neil Marshall helmed two of th...

Ch.3 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-02-03T11:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 3

You thought all those narrative zoom-outs were a storytelling curveball? In this chapter we dive into Dandelion’s brain and then jump forwar...

Skinamarink from 2023-01-31T11:00

There are 1-star reviews for Skinamarink and there are 5-star reviews for Skinamarink. Nothing in between. This has to be the most polarizing horror movi...

Van Helsing from 2023-01-27T11:00

The early 2000s were a goldmine for epic fantasy on screen, with the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean all lighting up the box office and winning our millennial heart...

Ch.2 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-01-20T11:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 2

We've referenced Doctor Faustus. We've echoed Macbeth. But today we add another work of Elizabethan theater to our tool be...

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back from 2023-01-13T11:00

What’s the recipe for the perfect sequel? Two parts outnumbered chase scene, two parts morally gray supporting cast, and two parts arguing with a philosophical muppet. The Empire Strikes Back is...

Ch.1 [The Tower of Swallows] from 2023-01-06T11:00

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 1

New year, new book, new infographic style! At long last, Ciri has returned – not Falka, but actually Ciri, and she’s got a new single servin...

The 2022 Brekkie Awards from 2022-12-30T11:00

Woohoo! It's our last episode of the year and you know what that means - it's time for the third annual Brekkies award show! We've got six winners across two categories: Best Work of Art Release...

Ch.7 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-12-23T11:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 7

The finale of Baptism of Fire is here, and with it comes the biggest bout of Tolkien crossovers yet. We’ve got Black Riders, White Riders, Mirkwoo...

Wooltide Cheer from 2022-12-20T11:00

It’s the holiday season: a kaleidoscope of presents, tinsel, caroling, food, melancholy, guilt, broken childhood memories – and a sheep with no face. Today we’re discussing Cam’s new Christmas s...

Ch.6 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-12-16T11:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 6

Yennefer is finally back – and she brought all of her emotional baggage with her. The mages gather again, and it goes a little better than last ti...

Star Wars: A New Hope from 2022-12-13T11:00

We’re finally looking at the Daddy of all franchise movies, but this first Star Wars movie is nothing like the films that it inspired. It’s simple, restless, and light on its feet, filled with a...

Ch.5 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-12-09T11:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 5

Is this a chapter, a short story, or 14 scenes in a trench coat? Sapkowski dives into his new fellowship with the same glee as Ciri slaughtering a...

Wall Street from 2022-12-06T11:00

Cam had a night alone and decided to watch a movie - and oh look, it turned out to be a fascinating Doctor Faustus retelling. So here's an episode discussing Oliver Stone's 198...

A Christmas Prince from 2022-12-02T11:00

Well, Maggie has the flu so we're doing a silly episode about one of those dreadful / delightful Christmas romance movies. Why is it so fun to watch bad movies with your friends and make jokes t...

The Strangers from 2022-11-29T11:00

What’s the difference between horror and true crime? The Strangers takes place in a house that you feel like you’ve lived in. Its characters are smart, but not geniuses, and the killers are shoc...

Ch.4 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-11-25T11:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 4

Well, it looks like our freaky new friend is a vampire. But after some discussion, we’re not so sure that’s a bad thing. Sapkowski shakes up our l...

The Banshees of Inisherin from 2022-11-22T11:00

Consider this episode us lighting our bat signal over Gotham. The best artistic experience of the year is here. Our discussion is a 100% spoiler-free, full-throated recommendation of Martin McDo...

DISCUSSION: Art You’ve Changed Your Mind About #1 from 2022-11-18T11:00

This week’s episode is a roundtable discussion about our evolving relationships with art. Maggie kicks us off with Picasso’s 1907 painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Tristan leads a discussion a...

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre from 2022-11-15T11:00

We’re finally discussing one of the greatest horror movies ever made, and to celebrate, we stayed at the inn attached to the original house in Kingsland, Texas. After our ...

Ch.3 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-11-11T11:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 3

Last chapter we were sneaking through a war zone, and this chapter adds monsters and magic to the equation. Our fellowship’s fears and philosophie...

The Blair Witch Project from 2022-11-08T11:00

We're partying like it's 1999 with a classic indie horror juggernaut: The Blair Witch Project. This one's all about the unparalleled sense of immersion and intentionality offered by fou...

DISCUSSION: A Fable by Mark Twain from 2022-11-04T10:00

Here are the links to watch / listen to Cam's performance of this short story before you tune in to our discussion:

YOUTUBE: Listen

Halloween Special 2022 from 2022-11-01T10:00

We’re finally talking about the Saw franchise, and trying to answer the question, what makes a great Saw film? Actors, aesthetics, melodrama, creativity – there’s a secret sauce to these movies ...

Ch.2 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-10-28T10:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 2

Yeehaw! We’re back in the saddle with The Witcher again. This chapter is a perfect cocktail of dwarves, casualties of war, and old man Geralt. Wit...

The Black Queen [House of the Dragon S1E10] from 2022-10-25T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 10: “The Black Queen”

Happy 200th episode to us! And to celebrate, HBO has kindly coordinated the season finale of House of the Dragon...

DISCUSSION: Art the Clown from 2022-10-21T10:00

Indie success stories are the best stories, and Terrifier 2 is a certified, blood-splattered, runaway hit, dethroning Top Gun: Maverick and breaking box office records in its s...

The Green Council [House of the Dragon S1E9] from 2022-10-18T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 9: “The Green Council”

What do you do when your big shocking twist becomes expected? Every season of Game of Thrones faced the titanic...

Ch.1 [Baptism of Fire] from 2022-10-14T10:00

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 1

The world of The Witcher doesn’t have phones, or the internet, or mail, or even owls. So instead, this chapter follows the game of telephone that ...

The Lord of the Tides [House of the Dragon S1E8] from 2022-10-11T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 8: “The Lord of the Tides”

Remember when we were worried that Viserys had been narratively demoted and we weren’t going to see much of...

DISCUSSION: Canon from 2022-10-07T10:00

What is canon, and does it matter? Join us for a wide-ranging discussion of adaptations, sequels, retcons, and franchises. We consider 3 possible definitions of “canon” and a bevy of messy, comp...

Driftmark [House of the Dragon S1E7] from 2022-10-04T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 7: “Driftmark”

This week’s episode of Macbeth is a glorious remix of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth killing King Duncan (with a dagger, whil...

Ch.7 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-09-30T10:00

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 7

We’re closing out another Witcher novel today, with another curveball – no magic, no mentors, and no help on the way. Maggie tracks Ciri’s ev...

The Princess and the Queen [House of the Dragon S1E6] from 2022-09-27T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 6: “The Princess and the Queen”

After a 10-year time jump, we’re viewing this episode as a second pilot of House of the Dragon. Cam ta...

Ch.6 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-09-23T10:00

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 6

Welcome back to Maggie’s Mythology Corner! On today’s episode we’re talking about unicorns, which it turns out were not invented by Disney or...

We Light the Way [House of the Dragon S1E5] from 2022-09-20T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 5: “We Light the Way”

A new wedding in Westeros means a new color that makes us wince. We start with a discussion of Criston Cole: his...

Ch.5 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-09-16T10:00

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 5

After last week's cataclysmic conclave, you'd think Sapkowski might slow down for a chapter, maybe coast for a few pages. NOPE. We've got a s...

The King of the Narrow Sea [House of the Dragon S1E4] from 2022-09-13T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 4: “The King of the Narrow Sea”

Tristan is back this week for a whole hour of our long-running segment, Incest Watch! Some great liste...

Ch.4 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-09-09T10:00

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 4

So how ‘bout that magical conclave, huh? We thought this would be the straightforward centerpiece of this book – the Council of Elrond in the...

Second of His Name [House of the Dragon S1E3] from 2022-09-06T14:57:48

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 3: “Second of His Name”

Mythology, Arthurian legend, and pivotal Game of Thrones moments all flavor this week’s episode. The symbolism...

Ch.3 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-09-02T10:00

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 3

Throw on you party dresses and chug some enchanted wine – it’s time for some palace intrigue! This devious dinner party is a showcase for Sap...

The Rogue Prince [House of the Dragon S1E2] from 2022-08-30T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 2: “The Rogue Prince”

This might be the best hour of fantasy we’ve gotten in years. Join us (and Tristan!) for a winding discussion of...

Ch.2 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-08-26T13:42:36

Discussion of The Time of Contempt, Chapter 2

After what feels like years of teasing, the Wild Hunt has finally made its appearance! And boy is she scary. Sapkowski has managed yet again ...

The Heirs of the Dragon [House of the Dragon S1E1] from 2022-08-23T10:00

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 1: “The Heirs of the Dragon”
 
HOLY MOTHER OF DRAGONS. We were absolutely blown away by this pilot episode for the new Game of Th...

Ch.1 [The Time of Contempt] from 2022-08-19T10:00

The Time of Contempt, Chapter 1
 
Book 2 of The Witcher series started out with a bang (or is it really Book 4?? Don’t ask us). Sapkowski pulled out all the stops by using every tool...

Nosferatu from 2022-08-16T10:00

For the final episode of Summerween 2022, we’re going back 100 years to examine a horror classic. We discuss the charming imperfections of scrappy 1920s production, coupled with the problems of ...

Ch.7 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-08-12T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 7

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Our Substack is live! We’ve put together a new platform that will allow us to analyze more works of art and better interact with the Second B...

Tusk from 2022-08-09T10:00

This week’s Summerween movie is brought to you by Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Christopher Marlowe - and Kevin Smith! Tusk is one of those movies that lures you in with a simple concept and a fami...

Ch.6 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-08-05T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 6

This chapter is all about what we’re calling the “Sapkowski couplet”: after introducing complex, nuanced ideas in theory, we get to watch t...

Hush from 2022-08-02T10:00

Mike Flanagan’s 2016 home invasion thriller was a rip-roaring good time! He and co-writer/star Kate Siegel put together a film that both satisfies and defies our expectations. An acute awareness...

Ch.5 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-07-29T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 5

This chapter is full of echoes – but it’s not just Sapkowski showing off, he’s inviting comparisons, drawing points of contrast, and challenging everything we kn...

House of the Dragon from 2022-07-26T10:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Summerween to bring you a dual-perspective look at the latest House of the Dragon hubbub. Cam breaks down a hopeful and informative two-part article from The...

Ch.4 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-07-22T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 4

This is one of those chapters that you could unpack and discuss for hours. Sapkowski is not afraid to throw contradicting worldviews at the...

Persuasion + X from 2022-07-19T10:00

This week, we were going to take a break from Summerween to talk solely about Netflix’s new Jane Austen adaptation, but instead we’re bringing you the weirdest crossover known to man....

Ch.3 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-07-15T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 3

This chapter is chock-full of what we like to call “big boy” conversations: discussions on fate, destiny, prophecy, trauma, and war all work together to create m...

The Black Phone from 2022-07-12T10:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Summerween programming to bring you a chilling discussion of Scott Derrickson’s latest release, The Black Phone. Our boy has done it again with one of the mo...

Ch.2 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-07-08T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 2

Triss Merigold is the star of the show in this surprisingly special chapter. Sapkowski does it again with his knock-out female characters, ...

Lake Mungo from 2022-07-05T10:00

Joel Anderson’s 2008 mockumentary-style horror film opened the door for a really spooky discussion – not just about ghosts, found footage, and masterful low-budget horror – but also about grief,...

Ch.1 [Blood of Elves] from 2022-07-01T10:00

Blood of Elves, Chapter 1
 
Guess who’s back, back again – it’s Sapkowksi babyyy!!! We’re finally back into the Witcher books and we are over the moon. The first chapter of Blood of ...

Sinister from 2022-06-28T15:35:42

Summerween Episode 4 is a Big Brain Deep Dive into a modern horror classic. Sinister (2012) was a rewatch for us, but we got SO much out of it this time around. The bulk of our discussion is cen...

Much More [Witcher S1E8] from 2022-06-24T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 8: “Much More”

I’m sorry, are we even watching the same show?? In a shocking turn of events, the Season 1 finale absolut...

Funny Games from 2022-06-21T10:00

Are you looking for a fun, scary, packs-a-punch home invasion horror movie?! You’ve come to the wrong place. This movie is not fun, and it is not entertaining. But boy, does it pack a...

Before a Fall [Witcher S1E7] from 2022-06-17T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 7: “Before a Fall”

This episode felt different than the others in this season: there’s no monster of the week, the plot ...

Hellraiser from 2022-06-14T10:00

For our second episode of Summerween, we wanted to tackle a classic horror film. Hellraiser has been a big part of the horror zeitgeist for decades, and we were absolutely delighted t...

Rare Species [The Witcher S1E6] from 2022-06-10T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 6: “Rare Species”

This episode brought more disappointment, so to structure our discussion we’re breaking down the chang...

The Ritual from 2022-06-07T10:00

To kick off our first installment of Summerween (a whole month of horror to manifest the superior vibes of autumn), Cam and Maggie dive into a spoiler-free discussion of David Bruckner’s 2017 ho...

Bottled Appetites [The Witcher S1E5] from 2022-06-03T10:00

We so desperately want this show to be good, and this episode is definitely better than the last one, but they just can't seem to get Yennefer right. Most of our discussion centers around this o...

Goodfellas from 2022-05-31T10:00

Grab your shine box and join us for a discussion of Goodfellas, which has become to Cam what Pride and Prejudice (2005) is to Maggie. It's got echoes, callbacks, punchlines, timelines, ...

Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials [The Witcher S1E4] from 2022-05-27T10:00

Well dear listeners, we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that this episode was a world class disaster. Calanthe was girl-bossed into oblivion, Sapkowski’s wonderfully craf...

Chainsaw Man from 2022-05-24T10:00

Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Man is bombastic, brutal, over-the-top popcorn entertainment - but it's also a remarkable story about poverty and puberty and how much we love our dogs. Cam ...

Betrayer Moon [The Witcher S1E3] from 2022-05-20T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 3: “Betrayer Moon”

After two rounds of disappointment, this episode turned out to be an absolute treat. Geralt is finally the lead of his own ...

24-Hour Readathon! from 2022-05-17T10:00

To celebrate our one-hundred-and-fiftieth episode, we did a twenty-four-hour readathon! That's a lot of hyphens for a jaunty opening line.<...

Four Marks [The Witcher S1E2] from 2022-05-13T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 2: “Four Marks”

Listen

Piranesi + The Starless Sea from 2022-05-10T10:00

Maggie is off-the-walls excited about these two books! Join her as she drags Cam along through the magical worlds that Erin Morgenstern and Susanna Clarke expertly created. Romanticis...

The End's Beginning [The Witcher S1E1] from 2022-05-06T10:00

Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 1: “The End’s Beginning”

Cam is sick this week, yet Maggie manages to be the whiny one (don’t worry, Maggie’s writing th...

The Me You Love in the Dark from 2022-05-03T10:00

We're manifesting Halloween with a dive into this fantastic horror comic miniseries from Skottie Young and Jorge Corona. There's a painter, a haunted house, and a voice in the darkness ...

Something More [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-04-29T10:00

“Destiny alone is insufficient, it’s too little. Something more is needed.” We spent this episode theorizing what this “something more” could be, and what destiny really means in Sapk...

Tunic from 2022-04-26T10:00

Developed by Andrew Shouldice and published by Finji, Tunic is a plucky, silent, Pixar-style little fantasy adventure that absolutely kicked Cam's ass. In our first ever discussion of f...

The Sword of Destiny [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-04-22T10:00

By a country mile, this is the most philosophically / theologically nuanced and provocative piece of fantasy we've ever discussed. Sapkowski's grand introduction to Ciri and the dryads is genuin...

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore from 2022-04-19T10:00

Recalibration is the name of the game in this third entry of the Fantastic Beasts series. From the very first scene, the film mercilessly redirects and refocuses the franchise, cutting ...

A Little Sacrifice [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-04-15T10:00

Mermaids and troubadours are on the menu this week, but the special ingredient is still Yennefer. Sapkowski continues to analyze our favorite mysterious and magical witch from afar, this time th...

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald from 2022-04-12T10:00

It's been four years since this film came out, and rewatching it now - it's great? Our discussion runs through a dozen improvements and recalibrations that make this matured, focused sequel so m...

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from 2022-04-10T10:00

Fascinating and frustrating - this first Fantastic Beasts movie is probably more fun to talk about than to actually watch. We discuss the tonal and stylistic discordance between the New...

Eternal Flame [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-04-08T10:00

A magical creature means a new philosophical thought experiment! This week we're introduced to "mimics" and a fascinating exploration of personal identity and the concept of the soul - but it's ...

LOTR Appendices [Part Two] from 2022-04-05T10:00

Part two of our two-part exploration of Tolkien's appendices, this episode covers the rest of Appendix A as well as the entirety of Appendix B, C, D, E, and F. There are some fascinating revelat...

A Shard of Ice [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-04-01T10:00

This story continues Sapkowski's discussion about free will, but he swaps out the mechanics of the story. Tolkien is out, replaced by relationships and humanity and messy, complicated emotions. ...

Batman: Knight of Vengeance from 2022-03-29T10:00

Holy great initial hook and compelling subsequent plot ramifications, Batman! Cam's taking a retrospective look at all the Batman stories that have really changed and interrogated an element of ...

The Bounds of Reason [Sword of Destiny] from 2022-03-25T10:00

More curveballs, more fascinating evolutions of existing ideas, more genre pivots, more philosophy, more Tolkien remixes - Sapkowski's winning streak continues as we begin his second book of Listen

Batman: Ego from 2022-03-22T10:00

Bat-month continues with Darwyn Cooke's masterpiece, Batman: Ego, which launches us into a discussion about expressive character models and Hades from Disney's Hercules, color ...

The Last Wish [The Last Wish] from 2022-03-18T10:00

"The Voice of Reason 6 & 7" & "The Last Wish"

The first Witcher book goes out with a bang! Sapkowski's dark, thoughtful fantasy world expands hugely with a short story about magi...

Batman: Year One from 2022-03-15T10:00

Holy source material for The Batman, Batman! Today we're looking at Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's four-issue masterpiece. Batman: Year One exploits all of the advantage...

The Edge of the World [The Last Wish] from 2022-03-11T11:00

"The Voice of Reason 5" & "The Edge of the World"

Sapkowski hits another home run this week with a story that is one half theological critique about the problem of evil and the Protestant...

The Batman from 2022-03-08T11:00

Holy shit, Batman! This movie is thunderingly cool and grimy as hell. Strap in, because we’re spoiling all of it during this discussion. Topics include: Robert Pattison’s evolution of the charac...

A Question of Price [The Last Wish] from 2022-03-04T11:00

"The Voice of Reason 4" & "A Question of Price"

Destiny is the centerpiece of this story - what is it, when is it decided, and who can influence it - and so our discussion leans ...

LOTR Appendices [Part One] from 2022-03-01T11:00

Part one of our two-part exploration of Tolkien's appendices, this episode covers the most interesting nuggets and lore extracts found in Appendix A. Topics include the history of Sauron and Num...

The Lesser Evil [The Last Wish] from 2022-02-25T11:00

"The Voice of Reason 3" & "The Lesser Evil"

Another Witcher story, another perfect volley of curveballs and provocations. Sapkowski is an absolute wizard, flipping his monster hu...

Texas Chainsaw Massacre from 2022-02-22T11:00

Now this is a damn good horror movie!

Join us for a wildly enthusiastic breakdown of lean and mean new Texas Chainsaw Massacre and a fun little field trip to the house f...

The Rings of Power from 2022-02-18T11:00

What a calm and uneventful week in the Tolkien fandom! We're back to discuss the Rings of Power trailer and the hyperbolic, useless "discourse" that followed it. We talk about fandom an...

Emma from 2022-02-15T11:00

Autumn de Wilde's 2020 adaptation of this Jane Austen classic is just as magical and faithful to the source material as the 2005 Pride & Prejudice, but it has a strikingly different ton...

Tolkien Retrospective from 2022-02-11T11:00

Here we are, at the grand finale of our Tolkien coverage! To honor the occasion, we've gone through all of our old notes and put together a fun little retrospective, covering: our best running t...

A Grain of Truth [The Last Wish] from 2022-02-08T11:00

"The Voice of Reason 2" & "A Grain of Truth"

Come for the vampires and the silver sword, stay for allusions to classic American literature and brutal refutation of Pascal's wager. Sapkows...

MOVIE: The Lord of the Rings [Animated, 1978] from 2022-02-04T11:00

Lions and tigers and divisive experimental animation styles oh my! We're taking a look at Ralph Bakshi's 1978 Lord of the Rings adaptation today and neither of us has ever seen anything...

Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette from 2022-02-01T11:00

We're switching things up again today to look at a painting - in this case one of Vincent Van Gogh's most provocative works, Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette. Maggie's got al...

MOVIE: The Return of the King [Part Two] from 2022-01-28T11:00

Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King [Extended Edition] in Glorious 4K! 

This finale is so operatic and meticulous that the occasional flaws reall...

Spencer from 2022-01-25T11:00

Holy monarchy, Batman! We were absolutely blown away by this (as the film labels itself) “fable of a true tragedy”. Join us as we dive into the Kubrickian elements of this film and th...

MOVIE: The Return of the King [Part One] from 2022-01-21T11:00

Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King [Extended Edition] in Glorious 4K! 

Maybe more than any of the other Peter Jackson Middle-earth movies, R...