Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie: Recent Episodes
Cameron Fucile
A chapter-by-chapter exploration of Tolkien's world, hosted by Cam & Maggie New episodes every Friday Join the discussion by emailing us at secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
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What does it mean to call a horror movie a "guilty pleasure"? Why do we caveat our feelings about incredibly entertaining, funny, well-made movies by calling them "trashy "or emphasizing that they are "just a remake"? In this episode, we're not just analyzing but celebrating the glorious 2009 remake of Friday the 13th. Topics include: our glowing second impressions after a rewatch, the power of good lighting, a debate about sexuality / sex negativity / the male gaze, and what happens when you extend a cold open to become something more like a short film.
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00:00 Angry YouTube Commenter 02:23 Camp Miasma 03:57 2000's Period Piece 07:42 Humor & Sexuality 12:25 Puritanical Horror Tropes 14:26 Reverence of the Original 16:39 Remakes vs. Legacy Sequels 17:32 The Power of Lighting 19:19 Memorable vs. Quotable 22:02 Production Design 23:32 The Role of Archetypes 26:25 Runtime 28:13 Rob Zombie's Halloween 31:33 David Fincher & James Wan 32:11 The Original Friday the 13th 34:06 Revolutionizing the Cold Open 36:10 Opening Credits Lore Drop 37:41 Sex Negativity Debate 44:24 Creature Design 46:09 Theory Introductions 47:15 "Trashy" Horror 50:54 "Guilty Pleasure" 58:30 Camp Miasma Tangent 01:00:07 Why We Love Horror 01:01:53 Punctum 01:04:41 Closing Thoughts
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Jane Schoenbrun has done something absolutely extraordinary with their latest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. This is a horror movie by horror fans for horror fans that is also about being a horror fan. The density, the efficiency, the provocation — there is so much to love here, and even more to discuss! This is a fantastic slasher movie just as much as it is a rigorous academic dissection of the slasher genre. It might even end up being our favorite "meta" horror movie ever made.
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00:00 VHS Worship 02:00 Fandom vs. Analysis 05:35 Text vs. Subtext 08:52 Fun Factor 11:15 Metatextual Storytelling 15:44 Curiosity in Horror 20:46 Gillian Anderson 23:00 Closing Thoughts
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Horror has always been a philosophical genre. From Frankenstein and Faustus to The Thing and The Exorcist, the scariest stories have always explored questions of identity, consciousness, death, and the afterlife. Curry Barker's Obsession is a proud addition to that canon. In this episode, we're doing an extraordinarily deep dive into the philosophy of the movie. Specifically, we're looking at the idea of the two Nikkis — the character as she was before Bear made his fateful wish, and whatever she became afterwards. We consider the relationship between Nikki and "Other Nikki" in terms of replacement and possession, with all sorts of clues and monkey wrenches from the text to make things difficult. Expect tangents about souls, teleportation, purgatory, Saw traps, and the off-screen but heavily implied One Wish Willow factory.
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00:00 Introduction / Thesis 05:11 The Two Nikkis 06:30 Replacement 17:23 Possession 30:46 Which Theory is Correct? 35:58 A Clue From the Text 41:25 Closing Thoughts
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King's Landing is full of bad people. In this episode, we're taking a closer look at some of the most dangerous power players in the viper's nest at the heart of Westeros. Is Tyrion becoming the villain of A Clash of Kings? Is Maester Pycelle the worst person in the history of the realm? Why is everyone so afraid of Robb Stark and treating him like a White-Walker-level threat? And why oh why do we hate the Greyjoys more than the rest of them put together?
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00:00 Hating the Greyjoys 02:08 Recap of Chapters 18:15 The Bloody Hand 27:43 A Couplet of Cruelty 32:06 The Stark Threat 46:12 Hierarchy of Evil 54:30 Closing Thoughts
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Jennifer's Body asks the moviegoing audience an important question: what if Regina George was a Deadite? In this episode, we explore the Mean Girls & Evil Dead roots of this movie, before going deeper into its clear influence on modern horror hits like Obsession. Cam makes a detour to investigate the Faustian lineage of most of these films. Maggie explores the innovations that Jennifer's Body brings to half a dozen horror subgenres. We work together to analyze the fascinating choice to make a horror movie's signature creature design just be Megan Fox, which leads us into a larger discussion about both the horror of beauty and even the (often queer) horror of female friendship. Finally, we consider the potential and pitfalls of legacy sequels.
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00:00 Introduction 03:35 Rewatch Impressions 08:17 Mean Girls Meets Evil Dead 10:24 Obsession 16:58 Doctor Faustus 21:58 Subgenre Innovations 32:38 Creature Design 34:45 The Horror of Beauty 43:23 Female Friendship & Queer Horror 01:02:09 Closing (Sequel) Thoughts
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Doom: Revelations is so much more than an expansion. In this episode, we passionately argue that this is in fact the fifth modern Doom game in the last decade, an endlessly inventive, engaging, and replayable game in its own right that officially elevates the modern era of Doom into the same conversation as Halo during the Bungie years. Topics include: an ever-evolving endgame, signature weapons, the challenges of FPS boss fights, the secret to replayable campaigns, and how this game is a sequel to every single modern Doom game at the same time.
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00:00 Thesis / Impressions 04:10 Late Stage God of War 07:13 Destiny 2 (Art Direction) 08:30 Dark Souls (Difficulty) 10:59 The Ethos of Modern Doom 14:02 Signature Weapons 17:03 Uniquely Good Boss Fights 18:51 The Secrets of Replayability 21:25 Endless Endgame 27:18 Sequel to Eternal / Ancient Gods 29:41 Sequel to The Dark Ages 33:47 The Elephant in the Room 37:09 The Successor to Halo 40:09 Episode 666 / Closing Thoughts
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This episode is one of our 'white whales'. Possum is a bonafide masterpiece of indie horror, one of the most haunting, symbolically-dense, and unnerving movies we've ever seen — and we think we're finally up to the task of analyzing it properly. In this episode we're diving deep into every single one of the film's veiled metaphors: what is the puppet? who is the puppet? what does the title mean? We're also exploring creature design, paradoxical runtimes, genre fusions, and a string of outlandish comparisons ranging from The Babadook to Wuthering Heights.
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00:00 Intro / Outline 04:07 Second Impressions 11:56 Paradoxical Runtime 17:29 The Babadook 19:44 The Lighthouse 20:20 Hell House LLC 21:14 Wuthering Heights 23:25 Enemy 24:28 Grief Horror 27:00 Folk Horror 28:04 Classic Monster Movies 29:36 Creature Design 36:06 Who Kidnapped the Kid? 40:30 What is the Puppet? 51:44 What Does the Title Mean? 54:58 What is the Fox? 57:27 Punctum 01:01:47 Closing Thoughts
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We have argued for a number of months now that A Clash of Kings was written in thematic couplets, and that has never been more true than it is in this discussion, which juxtaposes Jon and Catelyn to reveal their striking similarities. GRRM also uses the repeated structure of these two chapters to draw out some shocking implications: equating Stannis with the White Walkers and interrogating Catelyn's treatment of Jon. Maggie investigates the endless blame game that stretches across these pages alongside a worryingly widespread trend of deferred responsibility. Cam revisits our "living ghosts" theory to figure out why all of our would-be kings feel like they've already lost the war.
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00:00 Dunk & Egg 02:20 Recap of Chapters 20:46 Combative Couplets 28:31 Implication & Accusation 35:13 Deferred Responsibility 42:21 A Parade of Dead Kings 45:11 Five Faustian Bargains 50:15 Closing Thoughts
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Evil Dead Burn is one of the best directed horror movies of the year. It's gnarly, it's fast, and it feels like it has something to prove. In this episode, we're exploring every aspect of the gloriously mean-spirited hunger at the heart of this movie, as well as some problems with runtime, fear factor, and creature design. We also work through some unorthodox comparisons, ranging all the way from Krampus to Succession, before forming some theories about "half deadites" and then zooming out to consider the past and future of this beloved franchise.
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00:00 Intro / Outline 02:03 First Impressions 10:07 Horror Sequels 13:25 Fear Factor 13:57 Runtime Problems 20:53 Krampus 22:15 Final Destination Bloodlines 22:53 Ready Or Not 23:41 Succession 25:42 Passenger 26:51 Inside 28:33 Genre Fusion 30:38 Franchise Innovations 33:10 Creature Design Woes 36:26 Will's Final Form 37:55 Theory: The Half Deadite 42:43 Theory: Victim Blaming 47:07 Post Credits Scene 50:05 The Future of the Franchise 52:44 Is This Movie Funny? 54:14 Punctum 58:36 Closing Thoughts
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Live service games are finicky and inconsistent, almost by definition. Unfortunately, this fourteenth season of Diablo IV is a major disappointment that feels consistently underbaked. In this episode, we're doing our full "State of the Game" check-in covering everything from fun factor to the reliquary system, discussing the Helltide-heavy and narrative-light seasonal campaign, revisiting the Barbarian and Spiritborn classes, and then spitballing some ways that Diablo 4 could improve its topsy turvy seasonal model.
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00:00 Intro / Outline 02:28 State of the Game 14:50 Seasonal Campaign 26:41 Class Update: Barbarian 29:28 Class Update: Spiritborn 33:20 Fixing The Seasonal Model 39:08 Closing Thoughts
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At one point during this episode, Maggie calls Evil Dead (2013) a miracle. It's a remake of one of the best and most influential horror movies of all time that has somehow itself become one of the best and most influential horror movies of this century. Topics include: the film's reverential remixes of the source material, the art of ninety minute horror movies, what makes gore memorable / effective, the best creature design since The Exorcist, provocative comparisons to a few modern classics, and some tricky theories about cursed families and talking metaphors.
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00:00 Intro / Context 05:58 Second Impressions 22:55 Runtime 28:35 The Evil Dead 31:29 Terrifier 32:51 Obsession 34:52 Talk To Me / Bring Her Back 36:03 Subgenre Smoothie 38:34 Creature Design 47:34 Theory: Hereditary Possession 51:40 Theory: Addiction Personified 54:08 Punctum 01:01:42 Closing Thoughts
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Wildfire is the central, most consequential plot device of A Clash of Kings, a book that is primarily about death. Does that mean that wildfire is death incarnate? In this episode, we are continuing to evolve our running theories about the "God of Death" in Westeros, the ongoing riddles about real and metaphorical Stark werewolves, and the increasingly conflicted affection that we feel for Tyrion Lannister. Maggie takes a closer look at Howland Reed and discovers some long-buried secrets. Cam investigates the wild contrast between these chapters and uncovers some striking similarities. We work together to ponder the role of the supernatural in this world: how much is magic and how much is metaphor?
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00:00 House of the Dragon 02:00 Recap of Chapters 16:07 The Quiet Couplet 23:08 Wargs & Weirwolves 26:28 The Magic of House Reed 32:31 Magic Or Metaphor? 40:04 Wildfire: Death Incarnate 47:14 Demystifying Tyrion 52:03 Closing Thoughts
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The House That Jack Built is — by a country mile — the most messed up movie we've ever seen. Oddly, it might also be the funniest. In this long-gestating episode, we're finally doing a deep dive investigation into one of the trickiest, densest, and most provocative movies ever made. It's a crime thriller. It's a black comedy. It's an unbearably grisly horror movie. But then again, you could also argue that it's the foremost (albeit nontraditional) adaptation of Dante's Divine Comedy. Topics include: the rudest needle drop of all time, an uncomfortably apt comparison to It's A Wonderful Life, the terror of temporary found footage, the potency of simplistic creature design in depicting pure evil, Lars Von Trier's use of the color red, and the boundless talent of Matt Dillon.
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00:00 Introduction 05:26 Impressions 17:39 Runtime 27:26 Funny Games 29:07 American Psycho 32:02 It's A Wonderful Life 35:37 Yorgos Lanthimos 37:01 Eugene Delacroix 40:24 True Crime 42:57 Crime Fiction 51:03 Horror 55:48 Comedy 01:02:28 Creature Design 01:11:18 Theory: The Color Red 01:18:14 Theory: Misdirection 01:26:00 Punctum 01:33:48 Closing Thoughts
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The Death of Robin Hood is a stunning, hypnotic, and gruesome collage of some of our favorite works of art ever made. In this episode, we're exploring in depth comparisons between Michael Sarnoski's latest film and the work of Robert Eggers, From Software's Elden Ring, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather Part III, and Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher.
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00:00 Pattern Recognition 04:48 Impressions 06:42 Robert Eggers 21:04 Elden Ring 34:28 The Godfather: Part 3 38:26 The Witcher 47:14 Closing Thoughts
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David Fincher's Zodiac is a masterpiece, but it's not that simple. This is more than just a perfect true crime movie. It's also a horror movie that relentlessly denies the viewer any sense of closure or narrative satisfaction. As we argue in today's episode, Zodiac is a spiraling mystery in conversation with everything from slashers and possession movies to journalism stories and the complicated idea of "the great American novel". We also explore the film's unorthodox creature design (handwriting analysis!), its place within the larger David Fincher canon, and the question of whether or not the ending really is "ambiguous" at all.
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00:00 Introduction 02:32 Impressions 22:17 Runtime 30:55 Genre Innovation 48:44 Creature Design 52:55 Comparisons 59:07 Theories 01:07:15 Punctum 01:15:05 Closing Thoughts
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What do we say to the god of death? Well, we say that there's a whole book about him, and that book is A Clash of Kings. In this episode, we are finally able to crystalize all our ideas about ghosts and gods into one simple, overarching theory. Maggie also brings us back to the wide world of bird analysis with a spirited discussion of black swans, and we work together to question the narrative intention behind this book's increasingly rigorous couplet structure.
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00:00 House of the Dragon 03:39 Recap of Chapters 12:40 Mythological Couplets 19:17 Weirwolf Theory 24:14 Maggie's Bird Corner 32:00 Living Ghosts 37:33 The God of Death 44:04 Closing Thoughts
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Summerween continues with an in-depth discussion of the very first Paranormal Activity. How did this landmark horror movie advance so many subgenres at the same time, from found footage to haunted house and horror romance? How does it weaponize almost every single seemingly innocent element of the setting and performances into becoming part of its creature design? And HOW does a movie that we've been watching and rewatching for almost twenty years still keep us up at night? Comparisons include: The Blair Witch Project, Midsommar, Tolkien's fractal introduction of Shelob, The White Stripes song Ball and Biscuit, and maybe ten seconds of Doctor Faustus.
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00:00 A Tablespoon of Vomit 02:16 Second Impressions 10:07 Runtime / Pacing 18:58 Subgenre Innovation 30:52 Creature Design 42:35 Comparisons (Midsommar / Blair Witch) 51:57 Theory: Conspicuous Clues 55:12 Theory: Paranormal Jealousy 01:00:30 Theory: Possession Timeline 01:03:58 Punctum: Watchful Ironwork 01:07:52 Punctum: Unheroic Sacrifice 01:13:16 Closing Thoughts
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This episode was supposed to be a glowing discussion of Destiny 2's controversial Star Wars crossover expansion, but then Bungie announced that Destiny 2 itself is ending. Today's episode is still a celebration and spirited analysis of Renegades, but it is also now a larger discussion about this franchise that has meant so much to Cam for the last decade. Part eulogy, part therapy session, part reflection on the industry, this is our bittersweet farewell to the glorious mess that was Destiny 2.
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00:00 Introduction 02:37 Campaign Impressions 10:13 The Praxic Blade 16:09 Villains 18:15 Story 21:02 Endgame 25:13 The Edge of Fate 26:41 Declining Franchises 32:26 The Future? 35:11 Destiny 3 43:04 Eulogy 44:51 Marathon 45:04 Diablo 4 47:13 Closing Thoughts
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We're kicking off our fifth annual Summerween celebration by taking a much closer look at one of Maggie's all time favorites: The Blair Witch Project. In this episode, we're starting with our impressions after seeing the film in theaters for a second time, analyzing the paradoxical urgency and breadth of the film's 81 minute runtime, and unpacking the mysteries of its suggestive, restrained creature design. We're also investigating some provocative comparisons with Backrooms, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Dante's Inferno that help to elucidate the lethal ambiguity of the film's final shot. In our final two segments, we're exploring the unique genre fusion of Blair Witch and reflecting on the subtle creative choices that provoked the strongest emotional reaction from us.
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00:00 Summerween 2026 03:26 Second Impressions 08:47 Runtime 12:28 Creature Design 17:02 Comparisons 28:27 Theories 49:55 Genre Innovation 57:51 Punctum 01:06:22 Closing Thoughts
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For all the debates we've had about the 'true god of Westeros,' the answer might just turn out to be — Bran Stark? In this episode, we're updating some of our long-running theories as Maggie tackles agency, free will, and feudal objectification and Cam reconsiders concepts like narrative ghosts, puppeteer gods, and Martin's couplet structure. Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie: come for the nuanced literary analysis, stay for the four minute tangent about oatmeal, porridge, and cream of wheat.
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00:00 Oatmeal Tangent 04:30 Recap of Chapters 21:23 Old Wounds 25:35 A Crisis of Agency 29:45 Is Bran a God? 31:28 Reclaimed Power 33:31 Wolf Dreams 36:29 Living Ghosts 38:38 Passive Gods 43:22 The Widow Hornwood 53:41 Closing Thoughts
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Backrooms is a runaway indie horror sensation, but it is also a fascinating smoothie of influences. In this episode, we're cataloguing every touchstone from Stranger Things and Skinamarink to Blair Witch and The Yellow Wallpaper in an effort to understand why this movie is so phenomenally effective. We also take a closer look at the relationship between set design and creature design, the art of subgenre crossovers, and restrained horror endings.
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00:00 Stranger Things 01:30 Skinamarink 03:13 As Above So Below & Hell House 08:37 Terror vs. Boredom 11:33 Genre Hopping 15:49 Iron Lung 16:41 Performances / Writing / Directing 19:26 Creature Design 23:20 Set Design (as Creature Design) 25:12 The Blair Witch Project 27:00 Paranormal Activity 29:49 Goldilocks Endings 32:43 The Yellow Wallpaper 34:27 Closing Thoughts
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Lord of Hatred isn't just the best Diablo IV expansion we've gotten so far, it might be the best story the franchise has ever told. In this episode, we're taking a closer look at every aspect of the magnificent new campaign and freshly overhauled endgame experience. We're also exploring the lethal new Warlock class and performing an exhaustive 'State of the Game' update on all the reworked core systems that make Sanctuary tick. Finally, we zoom out to ask some larger questions about the (bright) future of this franchise.
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00:00 Introduction / Outline 02:52 Time Played 03:25 Overall Impressions 09:12 Campaign (Full Spoilers) 10:00 New Locations 16:17 Fantasy Aesthetics 17:53 Plot vs. Dialogue 20:44 Side Quests 22:12 Villains 28:03 Boss Fights 32:22 Major Deaths 37:51 Returning Characters 40:15 Story Reflections 41:26 Endgame: War Plans 47:20 Class Update: Warlock 57:24 Couch Co-Op Update 59:24 State of the Game 59:41 Skill Tree Update 01:02:08 Gear Stat Update 01:03:06 Horadric Cube 01:04:36 Quality of Life 01:05:07 Charms & Set Bonuses 01:07:52 Fishing 01:10:28 Technical Update 01:12:01 Difficulty 01:13:11 Reliquaries 01:14:02 Pets 01:15:23 Fun Factor 01:18:41 Comparing Expansions 01:23:41 Endgame Ambitions 01:27:19 Future of the Franchise 01:33:48 Closing Thoughts
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Tyrion Lannister might be the most consequential character in A Song of Ice And Fire, so what does it mean when GRRM writes a chapter from his perspective where almost nothing happens? In this episode we're diving deep into the many misdirections of these apparently simple "set-up" chapters to find a litany of hidden prophecies and provocations. Maggie explores the contradictions of Tyrion's dual identity as court jester and power player. Cam continues our couplet comparisons to analyze the nature of combat, the evolving power of sigils, and the recurrence of ghost towns. We work together to question the series' unflinching commitment to side characters and reflect on GRRM's increasing narrative interest in both collateral damage and, more broadly, consequences.
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00:00 Introduction 02:19 Recap of Chapters 12:11 The Aging Fool 23:01 Couplet Curveballs 33:06 Against Narrativity 41:56 Growing Pains 45:05 Closing Thoughts
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This is a clip from our latest Patreon-exclusive bonus episode about horror romance (Breakfast Buffet, Volume 46). Check out the link below to hear the rest of our discussion about Obsession, as well as our thoughts on fellow indie darlings Mermaid and Over Your Dead Body!
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00:00 Impressions 01:45 Who is the Monster? 05:06 Faustian Roots 07:06 (Self) Obsession 09:27 Conscious Cruelty 11:09 What's In A Name? 13:20 Closing Thoughts
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In this episode, we're returning to the always unpredictable world of Destiny 2, now that Cam has finally played the game's controversial Edge of Fate expansion. Let's get into it!
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00:00 State of the Game
03:26 First Impressions
06:04 Combat Puzzles
12:50 New & Old Characters
13:56 Environmental Design
15:55 Reinvestment
18:16 Character Questing
22:33 Comfort Food Loadouts
23:58 The Renegades Question
24:55 The Portal Revisited
27:36 Closing Thoughts
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Every inch of Westeros is haunted, and the two chapters that we're analyzing today both tell stories about exiled Targaryens wandering through ghost towns. Maggie's Comet Corner returns to make sense of Dany's strangely personal identification with the omen. Cam grapples with ghosts (both literal and metaphorical) and considers the novel's provocative navigation through the problem of evil, which includes a fascinating characterization of gods as evil ghosts. Fair warning, this episode contains more than one stupid tangent about camels.
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00:00 Cold Open: Camels 03:48 Recap of Chapters 13:40 Couplet Structure 16:54 Ghosts: Literal or Metaphorical? 24:56 Dany's Comet Corner 36:59 The Problem of Evil 43:59 Gods as Evil Ghosts 51:11 Closing Thoughts
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Hokum is by far the scariest movie of 2026, a rapturously original story that also feels like a thoughtful, whip-smart meditation on the legacy of The Shining. In this episode, we're exploring a dozen similarities and diversions between this modern classic and the most influential work in the genre.
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00:00 Intro / Impressions 01:00 Thesis: The Shining 01:55 Protagonist 03:38 Adaptation 05:37 Hotel Setting 06:24 Hedge Maze / Tie Pattern 07:56 Dick Halloran 10:23 Familial Implosion 11:38 Burial Ground 12:16 Doomed Bartender 12:38 Chatty Ghosts 13:04 Rabbit Suit 14:01 The Old Lady 14:29 Danny's Tricycle 15:50 Closing Thoughts
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In this episode, we argue that Miranda Priestly isn't actually the devil. With the help of the greatest play ever written, Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, we're taking a closer look at The Devil Wears Prada to better understand the movie's classic villain, as well as that strangely hopeful ending.
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With new perspective comes new insight, and we've got two brand new POV characters today! Maggie's Comet Corner returns to help us make sense of Theon's Freudian violence and Davos' prophetic doubts. Cam takes a closer look at Martin's narrative structure and stumbles upon an illuminating Tolkien comparison. We may have our first glimpse of Gondor and Rohan! Finally, we wrangle up all the creeping supernatural elements in this series and finally confront the many gods of Westeros. Are any of them real? How can we be sure? Does it even matter? Finally, we wrap up the discussion by revisiting and revising a few of our ongoing theories.
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What do you get when you combine the dark fantasy of Van Helsing with the horror of old school Universal monster movies — and then sprinkle a healthy dash of Red Dead Redemption on top? Well, you get Evil West, the outrageously fun fantasy horror western hidden gem that is the subject of this episode. Topics include: the ingenious gameplay hybrid of God of War 2018 and Doom Eternal, the power of contrast and saturation in art direction, puzzle piece enemy design, the restraint of a great fight, and the perfect "thrill ride" pacing of the Xbox 360 generation.
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This was a tough episode to record. Our beloved Alamo Drafthouse has spent the last few months systematically destroying everything we loved about it. In this fiery eulogy, we're reminiscing about what the Drafthouse has meant to us over the years, condemning what it has become, and analyzing the vile new mobile ordering system within the larger trend of corporate enshittification.
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Luckily for us, George R. R. Martin seems to have written A Clash of Kings in couplets. And it's not just basic narrative themes or tone that he explores two chapters at a time, there are more explicit structural similarities too. In this episode, we're exploring two strikingly different and hauntingly similar accounts of marginal characters who have been thrust suddenly onto center stage. Maggie is exploring the Spider's riddles and the true nature of power. We're working together to take another crack at our ongoing Stark Werewolves theory. Cam's tracking ghosts through the Westerosi countryside, and stumbling upon an old friend. The discussion culminates in a titanic, brand new Macbeth conspiracy that's even more fruitful and wicked than the one we investigated throughout A Game of Thrones.
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Riz Ahmed's Hamlet is both a fantastic film and a tremendously sharp, fearless work of adaptation. In this episode, we're running through a dozen of the smartest and most provocative choices that make this the definitive modern staging of Hamlet. Topics include: a new twist on Shakespearean doubling, high-speed soliloquies, first person editing, weaponized silences, and a rash of character changes that refresh centuries-old archetypes while retaining the soul of the original text.
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Hunters of Dune is the first mainline Dune novel not written by Frank Herbert. In this episode, we're exploring the markedly different writing styles and narrative priorities that Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson bring to the series, as well as the equally unavoidable and unanswerable question of their fidelity to Frank Herbert's original vision. Cam's also investigating the sudden gold rush of gholas, face dancers, Reverend Mothers, and self-duplicating robots to build out a theory on dissolving personal identities and historical patterns. Finally, we zoom in on the novel's brand new villains, who paradoxically seem to come out of both left field and ancient history. This one's a doozy, let's dive in!
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Chapter by chapter fantasy discussions lead us in some very strange directions. In this episode, Maggie does a deep dive into our characters' myopic, almost spiritual interpretations of the comet hanging overhead and then (not ten minutes later) she investigates the symbolism and historical implications of GRRM coding his aspiring kings with an assortment of precious metals. Cam explores the dueling mysticism and metaphor of the series' endless parade of ghosts before tackling the strange structural similarity of these two chapters and what could very well be a sweeping statement about cycles of history, dual identities, and the unavoidably tragic deaths of principled men. Fantasy — the genre that keeps on giving!
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Dolly is a demented and delightful indie slasher, 80 straight minutes of "what the fuck" that totally revitalized the genre for us. In this episode, we're discussing the film through three pointed lenses of comparison: Hansel & Gretel, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Strange Darling.
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Diablo IV's shortest season yet has also turned out to be its most promising. Season of Slaughter is an ode to fan favorite character 'The Butcher,' but beneath all the flash this season represents an exciting reinvestment in the foundational parts of Diablo IV. After a short burst of narrative, Sanctuary opens up with a whole bevy of new and refreshed activities. This is fun factor personified, and it has us feeling incredibly hopeful about the future. Topics include: state of the game, seasonal campaign, a class update exploring all sides of the Paladin, and a look at the forthcoming Lord of Hatred expansion.
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It's rare for a horror movie to divide us this much. Undertone scared the bejeezus out of Maggie, but left Cam completely cold. In this episode, we're exploring both of these reactions in turn as we investigate the question of what makes Undertone so terrifying and divisive. Topics include: invisible creature design, weaponized ambiguity, "downtime" in horror movies, our complicated relationship with genre tropes, and a reckoning with the most strangely overpopulated genre in movies: dead mom stories.
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How extensive is the connection between the Starks and their direwolves? Is it a metaphor about house sigils and "the pack," or is GRRM suggesting something more monstrous and surreal? In this episode, we're chasing the direwolves of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' across space and time, culminating in a brand new theory about the creatures that Cam has dubbed "weirwolves". We also return to Maggie's (increasingly metatextual) Comet Corner and reflect on the brutally contemporary fascism of the Goldcloaks. Finally, we investigate the idea that both the books and the show slowly abandon the story's most surreal and fantastical elements.
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Clip from our latest Patreon-exclusive bonus episode covering The Bride!, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Psycho Killer, and Scream 7!
LISTEN TO ALL 42 VOLUMES OF THE BREAKFAST BUFFET
The world of horror is never dull. In today's episode, we're covering two ravenously bold, fascinating movies and two others that were crushingly disappointing and non-committal. Scream 7 is the Hallmark version of The Rise of Skywalker, an insult to the whip-smart commentary-focused filmmaking that began the franchise. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a gonzo meditation on violence, cruelty, and hope that refuses to make even one easy or obvious narrative choice. Psycho Killer is a genuinely fascinating, puzzling misstep that manages to entirely waste an interesting premise and strong creature design in favor of a Wile E. Coyote-style twist. The Bride! reminds us why we go to the movies, for big swings, breathtaking style, and original, fearless storytelling. Also, for Cam at least, for new and novel stagings of Doctor Faustus -- in this case, what might be the definitive and damningly American version of the tale.
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Check out Cam's latest novel / audio drama here!
In this grand finale of our 'Devouring Dune' series, we're discussing Frank Herbert's much-maligned & misunderstood final novel: Chapterhouse: Dune. Is the endless repetition of character resurrections and plot devices a sign of diminishing returns, or a lesson in pattern recognition that reveals the true ending of the series? Is the famously unresolved ending an indictment of the later sequels or a bittersweet commentary on the cynical nature of history and impossible narrative expectations? Hope into the no-ship and buckle up tight, this episode is getting esoteric.
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Winter Burrow has everything Maggie loves in a game: beautiful art, meaningful story, gut-wrenching characters, talking animals, fun mechanics, and a dash of whimsy. Sometimes a game just hits. Topics include the unavoidable Stardew Valley comparisons, the value of a smaller scope, intentionality in game design, and the chance to furnish your very own Bag End.
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George R. R. Martin has a unique talent for ghost stories. In this episode, we continue to trace echoes and shadows across the blood-spattered halls of power in King's Landing. Maggie investigates the eerie comet hanging over every moment of the action, this time as a proxy for control. Cam sees another Targaryen mirage in the form of Joffrey Baratheon, and dives down a rabbit hole of dead kings and martyrs that totally reframes our understanding of Westerosi monarchs. We take a closer, more critical look at Cersei Lannister as a power player in the titular game of thrones, before finally tracking the ghost of Ned Stark as it doggedly haunts the steps of his similarly idealistic successor: Tyrion Lannister.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a fantastic season of television, and it's an even better adaptation. In this episode, we're exploring the relationship between AKOTSK and GRRM's The Hedge Knight to find out how this miraculous translation happened. Along the way we'll spotlight six essential changes that the show made to the source material, analyze the half-hour format, and discuss delicate tonal evolutions. After that, we break down the show's revolutionary approach to combat on-screen, consider the state of the franchise, and wrap up with a few thoughts on the future of big budget, genre adaptations. All Hail Dunk & Egg!
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Emerald Fennell's "Wuthering Heights" is two movies at the same time. We begin by discussing the film on its own terms, before bringing in the larger context of Emily Brontë's immortal novel. This one is an absolute heartbreaker — it's not just a bad movie, but a terrible adaptation too. Topics include: endlessly laundering Heathcliff's cruelty, debating whether or not this is a love story at all, inconsistent production design, miscast leads, the strange shadow of Saltburn, all those missing ghosts, incomplete adaptations, and that Charli XCX score.
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And Just Like That … we're back in the world of Westeros doing chapter-by-chapter of A Song of Ice and Fire. A Clash of Kings opens with one big metaphor and a bunch of tricky new characters. Maggie's History Corner returns with a jaunt through the British Empire and a quick stop at Halley's Comet. Cam asks if Stannis is the new Ned Stark, and then worries that Davos is the new Lord Varys. We work together to uncover a treasure trove of unexpected parallels between Stannis Baratheon's pathetic host and the bygone Targaryen dynasty. Finally, we revisit our old friend "The Philosophy of Death" to see how GRRM is exploring and evolving his perennial narrative grindstone.
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Iron Lung is a staggering work of indie horror, but we would argue that it's also an unconventional and hyper ambitious Faust fable, restaging the whole drama of Marlowe's classic deal-with-the-devil play inside a claustrophobic submarine stained with blood. In this episode, we're mapping Marlowe's characters onto Markiplier's minimalistic ensemble, laying out the terms of Simon's remixed Faustian bargain, and hunting for his oft-conjured but seldom seen Mephistopheles. It's Lynchian! It's Lovecraftian! It's positively Faustian! And here's the kicker, the film's ending takes on a whole new level of meaning and symbolism when interpreted through this lens! Let's dive into it!
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It's been called "revolutionary." It's been called "game-changing." It's been called "The Worst Game Show in Podcast History." That's right, Trivia Deathmatch is back for Volume 3! Ten rapid-fire questions of the finest fantasy and horror arcanum known to man. The questions are harder this time, but are we any smarter?
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In this episode, we're back in Westeros to revisit the first season of Game of Thrones, fifteen years later. Was this the best Game of Thrones ever got? Is this the best fantasy adaptation of all time? Let's dive in! Topics include: a total reevaluation of Jaime Lannister, the color palette of the Seven Kingdoms, the tension between big budgets and the viewer's imagination, forgotten character crossovers, the secret to great genre casting, grounded drama vs. epic fantasy, and the strange disappearance of chest hair onscreen.
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This episode is a celebration of Heated Rivalry and its refreshing avoidance of anything cliché – in romance, queer romance, and popular fiction in general. Topics include the power and pitfalls of representation, the unique storytelling potential of sex scenes, and the euphoria of narrative wish-fulfillment.
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In this remarkably chaotic episode, we take another crack at making a Second Breakfast game show. Ten trivia questions, arguably zero winners, many more ASMR dice rolls, one contested bonus point — oh, and we completely forgot to keep score. I cannot tell you how much fun these are to record.
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In anticipation of HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this episode is our deep-dive analysis of GRRM's The Hedge Knight, which will serve as the (absolutely fantastic) source material for the show's first season. Topics include: Witcher-esque grim optimism, dream / prophecy analysis, echoes of GOT & LOTR, and the chance for this story to be for fantasy what The Mandalorian was supposed to be for science fiction.
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Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 17-23
The grand finale is here! In this episode, we investigate Sapkowski's searing final word on Faustian bargains, his continued experiments in form, and the conflicted legacy of Preston Holt. Maggie goes deep on the (surprising) return of the law of surprise. Cam argues against the idea that this series is "grim dark".
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As a brand new year takes shape, we're trying something silly and different — a game show! In this episode, we're doing a trivia tussle / deathmatch (depending on who you ask). We've got ten horror questions, ten fantasy questions, lots of ASMR dice rolls, and one lucky winner!
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Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 9-16
Crossroads of Ravens continues to be a fascinating, provocative addition to the Witcher mythology! In this episode, we're investigating the trustworthiness of Preston Holt, the stepping stones that tie this prequel to the core saga, and Sapkowski's latest riff on the franchise-long question about who the real monsters are. Cam wonders if this book is a speed run of the entire series. Maggie ropes in Prometheus and Frankenstein. We work together to analyze Geralt's strategic silences and the sudden onrush of Faustian bargains across the Continent. Oh and there's an evil slime stalking through the countryside.
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We're back for the sixth (!) annual Brekkie Awards, a celebration of the most affecting and transformative art of the year. In this episode, we're announcing winners, shouting out honorable mentions, and applauding Maggie's ability to cheat in almost every category.
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Discussion of Crossroads of Ravens, Ch. 1-8
Surprise! We're returning to the wonderful world of chapter-by-chapter fantasy discussions with the latest Witcher novel, Crossroads of Ravens. In this episode, we're exploring the narrative paradox of introducing a character like Preston Holt in the ninth book of the series, young Geralt's illluminating / overlapping Faustian bargains, Sapkowski's tricky relationship with giving his characters "thesis statements," and the strange reputation inflation that happens when a franchise gets too successful.
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The grand finale of our 2025 Advent Calendar is finally here, so we thought we'd finally talk about something festive! For this episode, we watched the modern holiday horror classic "Krampus". Topics include: practical / digital creature design, the x-factor of onscreen family dynamics, key cinematic influences, and the existential, dread-inducing, high-pressure shadow of rewatchability that hangs over all holiday films. Merry Christmas!
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In this episode, we're doing some very serious analytical work — creating the definitive tier list of all the worst breaches of theater etiquette we've ever witnessed firsthand. The vibes are frantic, the complaints are petty, and spirits are high. Happy Festivus!
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After the recent disappointment of Black Ops 7, Cam went back to 2017's Call of Duty: WWII in the hopes of finding a simple, competently made FPS campaign. Instead, he found the most impressive, immersive, and profound game in the franchise — a largely overlooked modern classic that feels like a minor miracle in the current gaming landscape.
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We try to mention "fun factor" in all of our gaming episodes. It's a mercurial, tricky concept that is too often overlooked in critical analysis. In this episode, we're celebrating an absolute masterpiece of fun — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. Topics include: arcade difficulty, colorful combat, and mechanical variety.
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This episode is a post-mortem of the shockingly unenjoyable Terrifier game. We're trying to figure out where it all went wrong, and that question will take us through combat expression, enemy variety, core understanding of the source material, and a brief digression into the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
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Somehow, this French indie movie is both the best James Bond movie and best Batman / Catwoman movie ever made. In this episode, we're investigating the endless, delirious style of Reflection of a Dead Diamond. Topics include: the art of rug pull revelations, how to balance realism and surrealism, and the enduring cultural influence of Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns.
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Diablo's latest season is like a box of crayons that has one gloriously beautiful crayon inside of it — but the rest is empty. Functionally, this is a season without a story, and as much as we are adoring the new Paladin class, this episode is ultimately about how alarmed we are by the narrative precedent established by this Season of Divine Intervention. Topics include: difficulty curve, constant bugs, fun factor, the new seasonal powers, underlying systems reworks, the seasonal campaign, a class update about the delightful Paladin, and some existential wrap up questions.
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In this episode, we're exploring the calming, focusing, and meditative power of Powerwash Simulator 2, a game that Cam accidentally dumped fifty hours into — and found some measure of inner peace along the way. Topics include: the immortal attraction of color, what makes a great iterative sequel, and the thrill Maggie gets from pretending to farm.
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Wake Up Dead Man is far and away the best Knives Out movie, somehow managing to be both a great screwball comedy and an earnest drama about faith. In this episode, we're exploring that dichotomy, and Maggie's hunch that this feels like two movies stitched together. Topics include: the boundless talent of Josh O'Connor, the narrative demotion of Benoit Blanc, and the difficulty of ancillary political satire.
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Maggie's journey as a gamer stretches from Baldur's Gate 3 on the PS5 all the way back to clicking away at 'homework games' on the family computer. In this retrospective episode, she's taking us through the top ten titles that define her as a gamer — fascinatingly presented in chronological order. Come for the Barbie shoutouts, stay for the evolution into an ARPG sicko.
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In an act of pure self-loathing, Cam attempted to create a list of the ten games that define him as a lifelong gamer. The first draft of that list had a hundred entries. In this episode, we're discussing his final, winnowed-down top ten. Somehow, none of the Halo games made the list, but don't worry, he found a way to fit in almost a dozen honorable mentions. Come for the obligatory Destiny 2 hand-wringing, stay for the wistful memories of Kirby Squeak Squad.
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Man Finds Tape is a delightful, dread-inducing puzzlebox that deftly combines the found footage and faux-documentary subgenres of indie horror. In this episode, we explore the film's equally impressive high concepts and lo-fi effects by making enthusiastic comparisons to Hell House, LLC., Smile, and The Poughkeepsie Tapes.
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Sisu: Road to Revenge is more than the sum of its parts — and those parts are pretty incredible. This episode is a celebration of what is at once the best John Wick, Mad Max, and Die Hard descendant we've ever seen. Topics include: impossible origin stories, the importance of runtimes, and the marriage of slapstick comedy and deeply sincere drama.
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Forget Diablo, forget Path of Exile — Last Epoch might just be the best ARPG on the market. In this episode, we're diving into this nine (!) act campaign to discuss difficulty, art direction, skill trees, quest structure, class variety, fun factor, meta progression, and endgame activities.
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Besides being a perfect movie in its own right, Hamnet is also almost a one-to-one restaging of Robert Eggers' The Witch — one of our favorite movies of all time. In this episode, we're running through all the similarities and echoes we noticed, from a shared interest in female folk horror to pivotal exorcisms of oldest sons and impossible, undead finales.
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This one's a real head scratcher. Keeper evokes so many of our favorite horror movies — The Witch, Barbarian, The Invitation, The Black Phone — and we love the creative team behind it, but the film just didn't work for us at all. In this episode, we're taking a closer look at the plot, performances, direction, and editing to figure out why.
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In this episode, we make the case that Stranger Things is the American Harry Potter — and more specifically, that Stranger Things 5 Volume 1 is strikingly similar to Deathly Hallows Part 1. Echoes include: victorious villains, dramatic camping, the death of innocence, hive mind lieutenants, and pirate radio broadcasts.
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Popcorn movies. Fun movies. Entertaining movies. These are the types of films that we take for granted. They're not the types of films that we usually give awards to, but that doesn't mean that they're easy to make. Predator: Badlands is masterfully engaging and relentlessly creative. In this episode, we're exploring the concept of a "fun factor" to find out what made this experience such a hooting, hollering good time.
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Does biting satire have to have a nihilistic ending? Do heroic victories undercut commentary about fascism? In this episode, we're taking a look at Edgar Wright's The Running Man, through the lenses of the following films: The Hunger Games, The Long Walk, One Battle After Another, Eddington, Gladiator II, and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning.
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Stranger Things is a remarkable medley of genres we love, but is it more than just a collage of pop culture references and influences? In this episode, Cam argues that the show begins as a work of fantasy before evolving into science fiction and settling into the realm of horror. We trace this journey through the following subgenres: high fantasy, urban fantasy, military science fiction, hard sci-fi, dystopian sci-fi, kaiju sci-fi, apocalypse sci-fi, cosmic horror, body horror, Stephen King, haunted house horror, home invasion horror, and slashers.
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Black Ops 7 is a fascinating blunder, and a major step backwards for gaming's biggest franchise. In this episode, we're working through the ten best and worst features of the campaign. Topics include: narrative surrealism, the future of the genre, weapon balancing, adaptive difficulty, and the unconscionable absence of a pause button.
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There's so much to love about Terrifier: The ARTcade Game, but after playing through the demo a few times, there's a lot that makes us nervous too. In this episode, we're breaking down all these conflicted reactions. Topics include: signature weapons, enemy variety, hit detection, and the always-important fun factor.
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The death of Michael Berzatto is The Bear's inciting incident, but the character remains a regular part of the story through flashbacks and cutaways. What is the narrative effect of these repeated resurrections and deaths? In this episode, we're continuing our exploration of grief art with a discussion of story structure, repetition, memory, and Carmy's frighteningly familiar existential spiral.
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Black Phone 2 is an exceedingly strange sequel: shuffling up the narrative prominence of all the central characters, switching horror subgenres, and tossing out the first film's winning formula. These are all admirably big swings for the creative team to take, but the real sticking point for us is the ending, which breaks the cardinal rule of grief art.
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A year after its debut, we're taking an in-depth look at Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Beneath all the good faith (and bad faith) controversies, there's an interesting, immersive fantasy world here that is worth exploring. Topics include: character customization, combat expression, role playing, conflicting art styles, and the difference between writing good plot and writing good dialogue.
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We're honored to be joined by Hell House LLC creator Stephen Cognetti for this wide-ranging interview celebrating the release of his final film in the franchise. Topics include: ambiguous endings, creative closure, the sequel business, audience expectations, continuing the franchise in a new medium, and fascinating deep dives into the structure and pacing of a good horror movie. Hell House LLC Lineage is available to stream now on Shudder. Happy Halloween!
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For die-hard fans of horror and fantasy like us, Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein might just be the perfect film — and it's also almost certainly the best adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel ever made. In this episode, Cam leads us on a whirlwind tour through the source material's intimate relationship with Doctor Faustus and some of this rendition's most thrilling and thoughtful additions to that proud lineage. We also explore the film's kaleidoscopic structure within the frame of a familiar favorite, analyze Del Toro's sumptuous directorial style, and take a closer look at his (pun intended) Creature design.
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In this time traveling episode of Second Breakfast, we're finally tackling the godfather of the slasher genre, John Carpenter's Halloween. We start with a simple question: why is this the best slasher movie? The answer involves gestural structure and a paradoxical approach to pacing. We also get into a spirited debate about the mysterious motive of our beloved Michael Myers. Is he supernatural? Are his crimes random? What roles do sexuality and cultural puritanism play in this story? Finally, we revisit some of the best analysis of the film that we've done over the past five (!) years.
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This has gotta be the most entertaining film of the year; a bombastic, aggressively old-school high fantasy adventure full of glorious practical effects and tongue in cheek humor. In this episode, we're exploring the fantasy and horror roots of Deathstalker, the boundless joy of episodic structure, and the delicate balancing act that is required to make a movie this relentlessly entertaining.
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Demián Rugna's “When Evil Lurks” is a relentlessly creative and upsetting indie horror film from Argentina. It’s also one of the very best possession movies ever made. In this episode, we’re using comparisons to Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” and Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” to analyze the film’s folk horror reckoning about children and evil. We also examine the film’s paradoxical reliance on excess and restraint by doing close readings of both the most memorable moments of violence and the unnamed monster’s ever-evolving creature design.
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Destiny: Rising is like a phenomenal cover band of Destiny 2, a spirited revival playing all the hits and reminding you of better times. And with Destiny 2 currently in such a dreadful state, it is genuinely remarkable how well NetEase has curated this game as a greatest hits of everything Bungie has ever done well. Does this spinoff mobile game somehow manage to surpass its namesake?
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Him is the most underrated and misunderstood horror movie of the year. In this episode, we’re exploring the film’s boundless thematic depth and striking visuals to uncover a fascinating inverse Faust theory and an unexpected but bone-deep Kubrick homage. Comparison titles include: Whiplash, Fight Club, Doctor Faustus, Midsommar, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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The live service whiplash continues in Diablo IV’s tenth season as the game craters back down to earth. Somehow, this season is as dreadful, buggy, frustrating, and meaningless as last season was flawless. In this episode, we’re discussing the state of the game, the seasonal campaign, and providing a few class updates — while doing our best to avoid reaching a breaking point with this game.
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How do you end a franchise? It’s a question that haunts (and ruins) almost every long-running story that any of us has ever loved, and here’s the thing — it might be a trick question. In this episode, we’re considering three recent ‘finales’ to long-running series (and about a hundred other examples) to see if we can answer this perennial question!
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Ask and you shall receive! Here’s our analysis of The Long Walk through the evergreen lens of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. This one’s got some fascinating remixes: dozens of Faustuses, a rare foregrounding of the lesser demons, and possibly the most unfair Faustian deal we’ve ever seen put to screen.
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This discussion is all about intensity. The Long Walk is the first movie that Cam has ever seriously considered walking out of, and we’re breaking down every element of this film to find out why, from the slasher structure and non-romantic restraint to the empathetic realism and distinctly American contradictions. Comparisons include: The Hunger Games, Mad Max: Fury Road, Inside, The Stranger, Funny Games, It Follows, and Warfare.
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In an era full of tired remakes, what do we make of video game remasters? What is gained or lost when a classic from another time is overhauled to suit modern hardware and sensibilities? In this episode, we’re investigating Gears of War: Reloaded to find out what (if anything) has been lost in translation, and why this game still feels so revolutionary almost twenty years later.
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Rachel Cain’s ‘Somnium’ is a triumph of indie horror filmmaking and sheer creative willpower, but it’s also the most provocative and fascinating exploration of dreams that we’ve ever seen from the genre. In this episode, we’re deep diving into metaphorical dreams, literal dreams, and all the nightmarish ways in which they interact. We’re talking symbolic monsters, ambiguous endings, and class consciousness — with just a touch of Faustus thrown in for good measure.
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The Conjuring: Last Rites is a long goodbye; it presents a medley of curtain calls, family drama, beautiful directing, and uninspired scares. In this episode we examine the final Ed & Lorraine Conjuring movie from three different perspectives: as a character study, as a horror movie, and as the ending of a beloved horror franchise. Our discussion concludes with a reflection on subjectivity, and its centrality to our discussions about art on the show. Plus, Maggie forgets the word “spin-off” about 17 times.
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The Toxic Avenger is unrated, unhinged, and full of heart. In this episode, we’re exploring the explosive color work of unrated horror, Toxie’s fantastic creature design that harkens back to the body horror roots of the genre, the restlessness of successful on-screen comedy, and the film’s folkloric catharsis in the face of cartoonish corruption and cruelty.
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Of all the horror franchises, Hell House LLC might have the boldest and most terrifying sequels. In this episode, we’re discussing them all, while tracking the unique ways in which they complicate and deepen the franchise’s ten-year Faustus meditation.
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The fifth and ‘final’ Hell House LLC film is out now in theaters, and causing quite a stir. We both loved this movie, and in this episode we are responding to the four most prominent criticisms that have torn through the fandom.
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Like most horror movies, The Poughkeepsie Tapes is a mixed bag — in this case, an uneven combination of mockumentary interviews and shaky found footage scares. But Cam’s got a wild theory that this movie is actually one of the most vicious and biting satires ever made of the true crime industrial complex and its relationship with the horror genre.
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Jimmy and Stiggs is what you get when you throw Evil Dead and Saw in a blender, open the top, splatter it all over a laser tag arena, and then shoot the whole thing into space. This is the most gonzo, full throttle, colorful, and splatter crunch crazy movie we have ever covered on the show. It's an absolutely stunning thrill ride, and a genuinely inspiring monument to indie filmmaking.
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It’s time to do a little check-in about the future of the show.
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In a true ‘bucket list’ moment, we got to see My Chemical Romance perform the entirety of their masterpiece “The Black Parade” album live on stage. For this marathon episode, we’re breaking down all new iconography of the band’s “Draag” era, unearthing some provocative connections to The Black Parade, discussing each and every song in the time-traveling setlist, and reflecting on this transcendent, life-affirming artistic experience.
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Eddington is a bold, fascinating, ambitious satire, but it’s also the film that cements certain patterns within Ari Aster’s way of telling stories. In this episode, we’re creating a list of four ironclad ‘rules’ that appear in each of his movies by revisiting Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid — before finally discussing Eddington. This is a celebration of recurring themes and conceptual escalation across one of the most exciting and restless filmographies of our time.
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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s — a sudden influx of life-affirming summer blockbusters? In this episode, we’re taking a look at both Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, to find out why Cam was holding back tears throughout these movies. Topics include: a dozen pointed similarities between these films, our wildly different perspectives & expectations, a bit of backseat editing, comparisons to past inspiring superhero films, the endless importance of romance in storytelling, and a look towards the future of this new trend.
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The Pitt isn’t just one of the best shows of the last ten years, it is an astonishing work of horror — an urgent, unflinching, life-affirming tapestry of hope, loss, life, and death. In this episode, we’re exploring the story’s central ‘real-time’ conceit from four distinct angles: passing time, compounding time, lost time, and impending time.
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When Diablo IV is good, it’s really good. We’ve been dungeon-crawling and monster-slaying nonstop for the last month, and thought it was time to take another look at what we’re affectionately calling “Season of the Dungeon”. Maggie has blasted through the whole campaign with a super-powered Rogue, and Cam is deeper into the endgame than either of us have ever gone before.
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"Oh, Hi!" is not really an homage to Stephen King's "Misery" - it's a companion piece, that dives much deeper into the insecurities and obsession of its characters. Pointedly, this film is also a funny, aching exploration of the female psyche that somehow remains grounded amidst multiple felonies and attempts at witchcraft. This isn't a horror movie. This isn't a rip-off. It's a rigorous, open-ended character study that embraces the messiest and most absurd parts of human nature.
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We’re celebrating Ozzy Osbourne by doing a close reading of the very first Black Sabbath song — which just so happens to be one of the best “Doctor Faustus” adaptations of the past 400 years. In six minutes and only three verses, Ozzy stages all of the play’s essential events and even manages to capture some of Marlowe’s most daring and subversive subtext. The song also happens to feature the most potent rendition of Hell in any artistic medium, and the best adaptation ever done of Marlowe’s layered, knife-twisting epilogue.
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The thing you really notice about Pennywise during a rewatch is the startling, impressive amount of DROOL he’s got going on in every scene. In this episode, we’re revisiting both movies (and the book) to discuss the intangible magic of creature design, the original sin of adaptation, and more than anything — the controversial topic of bad endings.
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Imagine if The Lord of The Rings ended with Frodo deciding to keep the Ring for himself — and the film presented that as a happy ending! That’s more or less what happens in the latest Mission: Impossible film. Let’s explore every side of this strange ending, play devil’s advocate, and once again ponder whether or not a bad ending can ruin a great movie.
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The original Friday the 13th is not only the blueprint for the slasher genre, it might just be the best execution of that tried and true formula. This episode is a critical reevaluation of the classic film and the massive influence it has had on the genre for more than 45 years.
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This might be the Frenchest movie ever made. To describe it at all is to spoil it, but the thrust of this episode is about Titane’s relationship to one of our favorite melancholy body horror freakouts: Rosemary’s Baby.
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Diablo IV is nothing if not inconsistent, and Season 9 is yet another moment of whiplash for the game. In our State of the Game segment, we discuss seasonal powers, the evolving reliquary system, bugs and crashes, difficulty balancing, the latest gear system, and fun factor. Moving onto the Seasonal Campaign, we celebrate the revitalization of Nightmare Dungeons and a narrative that returns to the lingering threads of the base game. In our Class Update, Cam returns to the Necromancer for a brand new shadow / minion build and finds unexpected build synergies. Finally, we close the discussion with a cautiously hopeful look at Diablo IV’s always uncertain future.
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Beneath the roar of the engines, F1 is hiding an intense study of human nature — a pointedly Faustian story of obsession that feels equally cautionary and aspirational. The film asks a simple question about Marlowe’s classic story: how does the infamous ‘bargain’ change Faustus? What does it enable and break within him? Come for the vroom vroom, stay for the rigorous examination of Elizabethan theater!
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This goofy, earnest indie horror movie left us with one big question — why isn’t Frendo scary? Our discussion trails through the pantheon of scary clowns and masked killers into the abstract alchemy of creature design.
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Materialists is our favorite film of the year, and not just because we love Dakota Johnson. Celine Song has basically created The Jane Austen Singularity, remixing and weaving in the best parts of Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Emma into a totally fresh modern classic. We laughed, we cried, we theorized — let’s get into it!
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This is a bucket list episode for us, as we finally discuss one of the boldest, gnarliest, most affecting works of female body horror ever made. As a longtime fan, Cam reflects on this film’s formative role in his love of provocative art and the timeless power of a great ending. Maggie analyzes her first viewing of the film and its blisteringly novel representation of female adolescence, with all the attendant horrors and delights.
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Does a sequel know that it is a sequel? What about a spinoff? How about a successor series? These are the identity crises swirling in the background of the latest delightfully entertaining film "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" -- let's break it all down!
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Once we escaped the boundless oceans that are Cillian Murphy’s eyes, a few things occurred to us about 28 Days Later — namely, all of the fascinatingly direct plot parallels with The Walking Dead. We also zoom out to analyze the titanic differences in theme and metaphor between fast zombies and slow zombies.
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This might be the most fully realized “Faust Fable” we’ve ever discussed on the show. Wes Anderson not only successfully reverses the Faustus / Mephistopheles dynamic, he also inverts the ending and explores the play’s often overlooked supporting cast, implied backstory, and deep sense of yearning. What a picture!
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In a twist that might be even more shocking than this terrifying film, this latest Faust Fable discussion is actually built around one of Maggie’s theories — not Cam’s — as she deep dives into that perennial horror question: why don’t they just run away from the scary monsters? The answer is a wild journey of muffled fragments and out-of-focus breadcrumbs through this found footage Faustian masterpiece! Cam sprinkles in some Macbeth for good measure. All hail found footage!
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Hell House, LLC. is one of the most terrifying films ever made. We have wanted to discuss it for years now, and that day has finally come. In this first of two breakdown episodes, Cam offers a theory about the painstaking way the film presents all those devastating creature designs to game the audience’s memory and so savagely weaponize the power of suggestion. Maggie sprinkles in some Blair Witch comparisons for good measure. All hail found footage!
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Dangerous Animals is a summer horror movie with big scary sharks, but we think it has MUCH more in common with our beloved Saw than it does with Jaws. In this episode, we run through the six essential elements that could make Bruce Tucker the next Jigsaw. Happy Summerween!
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Bring Her Back builds to an almost unbearable fever pitch that evokes both Jordan Peele and Alfred Hitchcock. This episode chases down those comparisons to explore the film’s fractal, fascinating riffs on the theatrical tradition of “doubling” up actors to play multiple roles within the same production.
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We have been itching to do this episode FOREVER, and it’s finally here! Is the Big Mac a work of art? We explore this provocative question and the million questions that follow. In the same way that a painting exists in a museum, and a movie in a theater, where does the Big Mac exist? When is it a work of art — when it’s being made, when it was designed, or when you’re actually eating it? Things get even more tricky from there: who made the Big Mac, both literally and functionally? Has this one immaculate burger transcended the bounds of trademark and copyright to occupy the same cultural space as the American flag or the Statue of Liberty? Join us for this bucket list breakdown of that most special of burgers, all the way from the special sauce to the sesame seed bun, on this very special episode of Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie.
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Season Eight finds Diablo IV in a pretty rough place. This episode is a frank discussion of live service grind, difficulty balancing, aggressive monetization, and the limits of class design. In every way, ‘Belial Rising’ is more and less Diablo IV, and it might just be time to get off the hamster wheel.
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Prepping the notes for this episode was unusually difficult. Cam said that he’s never felt this conflicted about a game before. Doom: The Dark Ages lives in the shadow of multiple, inescapable influences — from Halo to Gears of War to God of War and even the other modern Doom sequels — but it’s also a great standalone game. After discussing all the unfavorable comparisons that those influences invite, we zoom out to analyze Doom: The Dark Ages on its own terms.
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How has it taken us five years to do an episode on an Elder Scrolls game? Luckily, the new Oblivion Remaster has arrived to fix all that. Cam reflects on the heroic fantasy ideal, Bethesda’s charming jank, the pitfalls of modern gaming, accidental vampirism, and the collaborative wonder of a game that makes the audience feel like they’re simultaneously playing, creating, and living the ultimate expression of the fantasy genre.
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We’re diving back into the MCU to analyze Thunderbolts* as an allegorical pandemic-era period piece. This is an unusually personal discussion of mental health, lost time, and the unironic power of friendship.
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What’s this? A polarizing story about art and excess starring the Weeknd that is equally self-indulgent and self-loathing? That’s right, as the world’s foremost defenders of The Idol, we’re back to discuss Hurry Up Tomorrow. In this episode, Cam wrestles with Abel’s self-sabotaging self-promotion, toys with that ambiguous ending, unpacks an avalanche of influences, and breaks down the uncomfortable, familiar sense of embarrassment he felt while watching this film.
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What’s the best Doom game? Well, that might be a trick question. In this episode, Cam argues that ‘The Ancient Gods’ — the overlooked two-part expansion to Doom Eternal — might just be the best entry in the franchise. With massive story implications, fascinating gameplay evolutions, and a running length that rivals all the modern mainline entries, The Ancient Gods is a stealth sequel in the proud tradition of Halo: ODST and Gears 5: Hivebusters. Rip, tear, and spread the word!
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Five years after the wildly divisive ‘Doom Eternal’ was released, Cam has given the game a second chance — and fallen in love with it. This discussion charts his history with the franchise, the frustrations of that first playthrough, and the unique combat rhythm that turned a simple demon killing formula into a wildly addictive white knuckle chess match.
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Don’t believe the marketing, this body horror remix of Cinderella has a lot more in common with our favorite Jane Austen adaptations than it does with The Substance. Our discussion of The Ugly Stepsister centers around the tragic, almost universal sympathy that the film imbues within the central cast. How does this character focus affect the film’s body horror? How is empathy twisted and weaponized throughout the story? How accurate is all of this surreal brutality to the reality of the female experience?
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Revenge of the Sith is not just the most climactic and sweeping and melodramatic Star Wars film, it’s also perhaps the most tragic entry — and that’s where we come in. We analyze the film by tracing it’s roots through three giants in the field, starting with Lord of the Rings and an avalanche of Gollum / Anakin parallels, moving on to Macbeth and the realization that the Jedi masters are the three witches, and finishing with a Doctor Faustus framing that almost redeems Anakin as a lone Faustus in an endless sea of Mephistopheles.
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Rewatching House of Cards in 2025 is a fascinating and uneven experience — because the titular house never seems to fall. This episode traces the Watergate-like ‘Underwood Exposé’ that simmers just below the surface for seventy-three episodes, but never arrives. It’s a reflection on implicit promises to the audience, shifting focus, and botched endings (with some Richard III sprinkled on top).
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Despite their wildly different tones, House of Cards and The West Wing are shockingly similar. We run through ten eerie similarities between the two shows before opening up the discussion to figure out when and why House of Cards became an accidental remake of The West Wing. We then analyze the attitudes and eras that shaped each show and consider them as deeply intertwined, transitional period pieces.
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This grand finale of our chapter-by-chapter coverage of the first A Song of Ice and Fire novel is a deep-dive retrospective of all the major thoughts, theories, and literary analysis we’ve brought to the world of Westeros. We work together to cover each and every POV character and our most fruitful overarching umbrella theories. Grab a crust of bread and horn of ale – and dig in – there’s a lot to get to!
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Sinners is a fantastic drama, a killer horror movie, and a great vampire story - but it's something else too. Cam argues that the film feels almost like a blues biopic, going beyond Sammie's story to chart the story of the genre itself. Using plot analysis and personal anecdotes, we investigate the magic and myth of Ryan Coogler's latest masterpiece.
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A Game of Thrones ends with a massive curveball that threatens to totally upend the philosophy of life and death we’ve been tracking for 73 chapters. We work together to unravel these cycles of life, death, and rebirth and ultimately recalibrate the binary conflict at the center of this series.
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After hundreds of hours, ups, downs, delights, and disappointments, The Light & Darkness saga of Destiny 2 is finally done. Cam is happy to report that The Final Shape is not only a great expansion, but also a great ending to this epic, sweeping, and messy story. Join us for a discussion of character-focused gameplay, staggering art direction, and the overwhelming, emotional, 12-player finale mission, ‘Excision’.
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So many chapters of this book have felt like ghost stories, but this is something else entirely. Cam argues that Catelyn’s final chapter brutally resolves the central conflict between the living and the dead. Maggie questions Catelyn’s capacity to adapt in a rapidly changing world. Littlefinger’s tongue makes an unwelcome appearance.
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The Woman in the Yard is the best Blumhouse movie since Insidious. Why? Its relentless and bold family drama, unflinching negotiation of tough topics, and scrappy, indie spirit that only ever makes it feel more creative and inspired.
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The final Jon chapter poses a challenging question about his direwolf, Ghost: is he a loyal dog, an attentive wolf, or a superior reasoning intellect on the level of Tolkien’s dragons? Cam chases down these provocations while Maggie considers Jon’s larger breaking point as he considers desertion.
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Does a book have to be “necessary” to be worth reading? Maggie explores this idea in our spoiler-free discussion of the latest installment in the Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping. Topics include fan service, recurring narrative structures, the age of legacy prequels, and the trappings of continuity.
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The final Tyrion chapter reads like both a reversal of fortunes and a funeral procession. Cam is tracking five of these eerie coincidences, while Maggie is comparing the inverse mythologies and realities of Robb Stark and Tywin Lannister.
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Everyone’s afraid of something, and nothing scares Cam more than freaky old people. The Rule of Jenny Pen introduces us to a brand-new subgenre: nursing home horror. John Lithgow is more terrifying than any slasher villain you can think of, and this movie might have more to say about mortality than any film in recent memory.
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This chapter features the richest dream sequence of the book so far, and some of the most provocative fodder for our philosophy of death discussions. Maggie explores the mantras emanating out of these kaleidoscopic dreams. Cam considers the three belabored deaths that have defined this novel – Robert, Ned, and now Khal Drogo – for all of their uncomfortable similarities and damning implications.
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We love Game of Thrones, we love The Witcher, we love The Lord of the Rings – but fantasy can be many things, including super silly stylized schlock. In the Lost Lands is the most fun you’ll have with a fantasy film this year.
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What is the effect of the near constant mirage of George R. R. Martin killing off his protagonist? In this episode we examine this question from both the readers’ and the characters’ perspectives. Maggie zooms into Sansa’s disillusionment and disassociation to find her skills of adaptation developing in the margins. Cam realizes that all the heads on spikes are a violent cherry on top of this novel’s endless meditations on Macbeth.
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February’s onslaught of new horror comedies got us thinking about the trickiest and most rewarding subgenre of horror. Despite their modern sensibilities, they all feel like throwbacks or reactions to earlier eras. Are horror comedies always riffing on established tropes and aesthetics? Are there any non-referential modern horror comedies? What is the identity of original horror comedies in the 2020s?
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This chapter has a little something for both of us. Maggie gets to talk about dreams and Cam gets to lose himself in the endless rabbit warren of philosophy. But it all comes down to this: is it really the dearly departed Ned Stark who visits his kids in their dreams? What would this spiritual confirmation mean for the supernatural aspect of this world? Souls, the afterlife, ghosts – it’s all up for grabs now. And what’s all this suddenly about the children of the forest? Are they a way for Bran to process his grief, or a tease of what’s to come in his long and winding journey?
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The fifth Dune novel feels like a master of the craft finishing his central story and then just continuing to explore the world he created. This is another swirling, violent meditation on inescapable cycles of history, with an ever greater focus on the concept of manufactured immortality. Heretics of Dune is both the least essential and the most impassioned book in the series.
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Spoiler alert: Ned Stark is finally dead. The chapter we've all been waiting for and dreading is finally here, and this episode tackles the one question that we're both consumed by. Why does he die in an Arya chapter, instead of a Sansa chapter, or - you know - an Eddard chapter. Lighting our way towards an answer is a whole cavalcade of thoughts, theories, and literary analysis. Let's dig in!
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Billions is the best show you haven’t seen — and that’s either because it aired on Showtime or because you assumed it was a Succession clone. Our mission in this episode is to correct these impressions, because not only is Billions nothing like Succession, it is also the hidden gem of prestige television dramas. Topics include: episodic storytelling, rewatchability, signature dialogue styles, scope vs. scale, and revised comparisons to Mad Men / The Sopranos.
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As we race towards the finale of A Game of Thrones, the supernatural elements are coming out to play. This chapter alone gives us blood magic, fatal prophecies, and dancing witches. Cam follows these threads to finally uncover what might be the root of this novel's constant Macbeth echoes. Maggie takes a look at the curious role that fear plays in this chapter, as it variously induces Dany's labor and separates her from everyone around her. We also consider the continued specter of Jon Snow across these pages.
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Season of Witchcraft is all about ‘fun factor,’ from the campy purple aesthetic to the loot piñata gameplay. The classes are better than ever too, as Maggie rolls her third Rogue and Cam makes his triumphant, dreaded return to the Barbarian. But there’s a tension underlying this season that complicates our experience: the constant, escalating grind through Headhunts. This latest installment of our ongoing Diablo IV coverage zooms out to consider the state of the game, the committed casual experience, and how the game could continue to improve!
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Another week, another battle, another curveball! Cam’s analyzing the subversive, pointedly indirect way that GRRM stages his battles. Maggie takes a look at the ongoing bad luck of the Starks for its historical and religious implications. Are they actually cursed? Have they been forsaken by the Old Gods?
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Happy Valentine’s Day, it’s time to discuss the messiest love triangle of the decade! Cam argues that Challengers is an intricate restaging of Shakespeare’s Macbeth — where no one is allowed to die. This wrinkle presents fresh insights about both works of art, and some creative character mapping reveals an unexpected, revelatory Lady Macbeth hiding in plain sight. Maggie analyzes the strategic deployment of color through the film, as it both clarifies and complicates the relationships between our three characters. She also takes a close look at the film’s music and sound design, arguing that they act as a stand-in for absent characters and unrequited passions.
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Despite winning the battle, the big loser of this chapter is Tywin Lannister. His money, power, and more “civilized” brand of evil undercut his wins and guarantee his family’s losses. Our discussion catalogues these failures and the seeds of mistrust that have broken the house that should easily dominate the Seven Kingdoms. In the chaos of battle, last week’s Dothraki horrors are quietly displaced from Tyrion’s mountain men into his innermost circle.
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Strap in folks, this might be the most disturbing, fascinating, and unforgettable horror movies we’ve ever covered on the show. Our discussion of Red Rooms starts with comparisons to Funny Games before spiraling through audience complicity, weaponized curiosity, the joy of impossible questions, a celebration of uncomfortable art, and Maggie’s personal history with the true crime genre that this film is skewering.
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The fire and ice cross pollination continues this week. Daenerys gets her first Macbeth theory, we reconsider the rules of Targaryen checkpoints, and an uncomfortable but unmistakable line from The Lord of the Rings leads us to entirely reevaluate Dany. Stay after the credits for an old school classic “Second Breakfast” segment, where we discuss our experience at the Candlelight Rings & Dragons concert.
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Move over Diablo IV, there’s a new sheriff in town. Cam has been marathoning Path of Exile 2 since it launched into Early Access, and we’ve got so much to talk about! Massive quality of life changes from the first game (and Diablo), overhauled leveling systems, electrifying boss fights, fantastically tuned difficulty, stunning graphics, and a full breakdown of all six (!) excellent classes await! As John Lennon once sang, “imagine actually being able to pause a game in 2025!”
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The story of A Song of Ice and Fire is perfectly encapsulated in the character of Jon Snow. The conflict, coexistence, and intertwining of these two opposing forces are essential to Jon and his story. This chapter is full of symbols that encourage us to contemplate this struggle of identity within Jon: Maggie examines the contrast between the fiery burns of Jon’s right hand and the shaky but honor-bound duties of his left, while Cam reconsiders the direwolf as the Stark’s mascot, and suggests that the raven might serve as a more truthful sigil. Maester Aemon remains ever-present in the backdrop of this chapter (and throughout Jon’s story) – but as an example, or a warning?
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True to our name, we decided to give Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu a second chance. While we emerged from our first viewing fairly united in our opinions, this second viewing brought us to vastly different places, and this episode is our chance to unpack those together. For Cam, the film felt much more vibrant, both in its visuals (thanks, digital projection!) and in its continuation of Eggers’ favorite themes, including temptation, lust, Faustian contracts, messy relationships, animal omens, and commitment to period. For Maggie, this second viewing seemed to double down on her frustrations with the film. The hollowness that we identified in our first episode creeps in again here, but this time we understand it a little better: through Ellen’s fraught relationship with Orlok, and the way the film directs us to experience it. Our discussion concludes in a fixation on a central question: does Ellen love Orlok?
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Comparison may be the thief of joy, but it makes for a pretty good podcast. Maggie’s investigating a parallel between Catelyn and Sansa that illuminates the lessons and limits of brute force willpower. Cam is rolling up the last four chapters to reveal a recurring structure that lets us peek behind the curtain at the real power players of each storyline. The uneasy similarities between Ned and Robb make us question the sheer survivability of principle in Westeros.
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Star ratings, tomato scores, letter grades, thumbs up or thumbs down – we tend to view most works of art through binary, objective lenses like these. And while reviews do have their value, they’ve never been our goal here on the show. Every week we welcome our listeners with “thoughts, theories, and literary analysis”, and this episode is our chance to dive deep into that mission statement. We discuss reviewers we genuinely enjoy and respect, the pitfalls of reviews as a whole, the value of open-ended discussion and ideas, and what it is we’re trying to do instead. We love doing these conceptual episodes – sit back and enjoy!
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The stars have alighted in this very special episode of Second Breakfast as we accidentally work together to form one massive theory about the avalanche of echoes crushing poor Ned Stark. After we catalogue these eerie similarities, we ask the more important question: so what? What is the point of all these dozens of distillation echoes? The answer takes us to a shockingly simple and powerful place.
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The War of the Rohirrim threads the needle magnificently, bringing something fresh and new to the Lord of the Rings franchise while proudly honoring what came before it. After our initial impressions, we do some spotlight analysis on the film's standout characters, Hera and Helm, and close with a reflection on the titanic expectations we had in the months leading up to this release.
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The King is dead, long live the King. Joffrey’s first day in power leads Cam on a spiraling journey through Macbeth’s ghost of Banquo scene and the Ship of Theseus as he tries to make sense of all the uneasy parallels being drawn between Robert Baratheon and his brutal son. Maggie keys into the missing tapestries in the throne room to decipher the Lannisters’ view of prophecy. Ned rots in the dungeon.
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As the year winds down, it's finally time to crown our favorite works of art from the year that was 2024! As ever, we have two categories: our favorite works of art that released this year and our favorite works of art that we discovered this year. Four awards, two nominations, one blowout episode! See you in 2025!
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Check out our discussions on the works of art mentioned in this year’s Brekkies: The Substance: https://youtu.be/YzmKoP0spcI
Oddity: https://youtu.be/ml7eZp5Df2E
Longlegs:
Episode 1 (“Longlegs Remixes Horror Classics”): https://youtu.be/ipV8lwWsbk8
Episode 2 (“Longlegs isn’t Satan, he’s Mephistopheles”): https://youtu.be/FALrlapZjsY
The Vourdalak: https://youtu.be/EVtgk43tN4A
Jack White’s No Name:
Episode 1 (“Jack White’s NO NAME: A Bootleg Masterpiece): https://youtu.be/l5zJerS_-FI
Episode 2 (“Overthinking Jack White Album Covers”): https://youtu.be/AIVttVIH7DU
Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy: https://www.patreon.com/posts/106504094?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
Fire & Blood series: https://www.patreon.com/posts/103114220?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
God (Girl) of War: https://youtu.be/0-983cMvMoU
God Emperor of Dune: https://youtu.be/X_k6Cc_JL7w
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In this episode, we're chasing one burning question: why didn't Robert Eggers' Nosferatu work for us? The answer takes us on a long journey through editing, cross-cutting, overstuffed ensembles, mechanical villains, and the many challenges of the source material. We also consider the lineage of the original Nosferatu and celebrate this new version's homage to color washing. Cam takes a moment to break down the film's remarkably deft Faustus fake-out, and we work through a cascade of (loaded) echoes from across Robert Eggers' filmography, before closing with some reflections about this month-long retrospective.
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Is Tywin Lannister the 'Big Bad' of Game of Thrones? Is he the series' ultimate strategist and mastermind, and if so, then where does it all go wrong? Why does he never sit the Iron Throne? We're diving into all of these questions today, alongside a long-awaited new installment of Maggie's Bird Corner, Cam's Russian Nesting Doll theory, and more than a little time spent comparing Westeros with the world of Succession. Happy Christmas!
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Our Robert Eggers Retrospective series concludes with The Northman. Revisiting this film after two years, Cam discovers that instead of just being 'Viking Hamlet,' the film is actually a freeform hybrid of Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet, and Doctor Faustus. Maggie tracks the strands of fate that connect these doomed characters, and the stylistic departures of Eggers' third film. Together, we chart echoes from across every project in his filmography and close with a deep discussion of The Northman as a revenge story.
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Our first Stark reunion is as fleeting as it is fruitful. Maggie chases the spoken and unspoken fear permeating this chapter, while Cam explores the uneasy comparisons between Robb’s fledgling campaign and Robert Baratheon’s legendary rebellion in the wake of the king’s death and Ned’s imprisonment.
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A behind-the-scenes exploration of Cam's latest audio drama / novel, Lemon Tarts in Space! In this interview, Maggie interviews Cam about the intricate mechanics of producing an audio drama, from finding the perfect take of each line to developing your instincts as an editor and the overwhelming, delicate work of volume leveling. This is the most daunting step of the creative process, where you have to find all the needles in the haystack and reassemble your initial vision inside someone else's ears. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram
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00:00 Introduction: Post-Production
01:15 Mechanics & Mistakes
08:47 Part of the Creative Process
10:48 Finding the Final Draft
17:03 Trusting Your Instincts
18:31 Foley Work as Subtext
21:46 Fiction From Scratch
23:54 Recurring Problems
26:43 Endless Experimentation
28:14 Authenticity vs. Accuracy
30:51 Exit Interview
34:29 Closing Thoughts
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This is the episode we've been waiting to do since the very beginning of Second Breakfast. The Witch is our favorite film of all time, and today we're going to dig deep and find out why. Spoiler alert: it's a magical medley of the power of suggestion, curveball slasher structure, mutually assured destruction, and a beautifully binary / reversible theology.
Come for the cavalcade of theological grindstones, fresh observations, and echoes from throughout Robert Eggers' legendary filmography, stay for Maggie's absolutely blockbuster theory about the shattering of the ten commandments. And yes, there's a little Doctor Faustus thrown in for good measure, alongside some rumination on The Godfather and The Exorcist.
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Woohoo! Cam's latest novel / audio drama (Lemon Tarts in Space!) is available right now, right here! This is the first Targaryen checkpoint that looks to the past as much as it previews the future. Maggie tracks the theme of cross-pollination to find some surprising parallels between Dany and Sansa, and resolves her running theory of childhood and children’s perspectives. Cam follows the narrowing of scope in this chapter and the broadening of sigils to become almost allegorical – Dany is starting to act like a dragon. We consider the explicit imagery of nostalgic wine being poisoned in terms of homecomings, scattered futures, and denied destinies.
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A behind-the-scenes exploration of Cam's latest audio drama / novel, Lemon Tarts in Space! In this interview, Maggie interviews Cam and Tristan about audio dramas, voice acting, foley work, and the act of directing. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram
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00:00 Introduction: Voice Actors
01:23 Casting Captain Arugula
04:42 Finding Duncan’s Voice
08:35 Finding Frank’s Voice
12:12 The Recording Process
20:24 Creative Evolution
25:14 Directing the Action
26:29 The Story Comes to Life
28:18 Doubling Decisions
30:14 Narrators as Characters
32:57 Theater Adjacent Acting
36:19 Finding the Problem’s Voice
40:39 Closing Thoughts
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To prepare for Nosferatu, we're revisiting all of Robert Eggers' films. These are some of our favorite works of art of all time, so no pressure! We were lucky enough to see The Lighthouse in IMAX a few weeks ago, and it was a revelatory experience. Topics include: impressions five years later, Lovecraftian lust and homoerotic symbology, and a cascade of echoes leading us back through The Shining into Cam's beloved Doctor Faustus.
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Woohoo! Cam's latest novel / audio drama (Lemon Tarts in Space!) is available right now, right here! The breaking of the Stark fellowship has paid dividends for our discussions. This chapter is a thematic echo chamber of the last four chapters, and we’re spotlighting eight of the most revealing echoes and distillations. After that, we’ll zoom out to reconsider the impressionistic theology of Westeros and make a bold claim about the true god of this story.
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A behind-the-scenes exploration of Cam's latest audio drama / novel, Lemon Tarts in Space! In this interview, we break down the many wonders and miseries of the writing process. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram
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00:00 Introduction: Three Interviews
02:06 A Four Year Origin Story
08:39 A New / Old Genre
12:51 Light Science Fiction
17:43 Creative Limitations
23:34 The Writing Process
26:26 Musical Inspiration
30:03 Audio Drama Forever
37:15 Novelization & Adaptation
42:40 The Cancer Allegory
51:03 Art Imitates Life
56:54 Closing Thoughts
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The Shining is a Doctor Faustus retelling, but that's not the headline here. In this brand new theory, Cam argues that The Shining is a wholly unique restaging of Marlowe's original that expands the spotlight to not just focus on Jack Torrance as the current Faustus-analogue, but the legion of 'caretakers' that have come before him. In this framing, Mephisopheles stops being a singular character and instead expands to become the Overlook Hotel itself, a place for him to horde all of his ill-gotten souls.
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Woohoo! Cam's latest novel / audio drama (Lemon Tarts in Space!) is available right now, right here! It’s Episode 450, and the white walkers came back to celebrate. This action-packed chapter made us unusually reflective and contemplative. We’re looking beyond the Wall only to find Dante’s Purgatory looking back at us. The ranks of the narrative undead grow with every passing page. Arya, Benjen, Dany, and even the white walkers themselves have ascended into this messy and metaphysical realm. Cam thinks he’s finally found the “moral of the story” (if there is one). Maggie examines the unexpected virtue of children’s perspectives in an increasingly cruel world.
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Surprise! Cam's brand new audio drama / novel Lemon Tarts in Space! is available right now, right here!
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Diablo IV's sixth season is a mixed bag. The gameplay is great, the underlying systems are better than they've ever been - it's just that there's not that much to actually do beyond the standard endgame grind. Is this even a problem? How could things have been different? And how does the new Spiritborn class evolve through the paragon boards? Let's dive in!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! When in doubt, don’t leave a paper trail. Sansa’s treasonous letters are the latest in a long line of smoking gun documents that have incriminated and condemned our favorite characters. This chapter is all about books and songs and letters – and the stories we tell ourselves. Is Sansa’s idealism a naïve delusion or an aspirational faith in humanity? Is her self-interest par for the course in Westeros or uniquely treasonous? Can we condemn her? Can we forgive her? And what do we learn from this moral stalemate?
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Cam had a lightbulb moment after our latest rewatch of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Franklin is Leatherface. This episode charts Cam's new theory from that initial germ of an idea through a series of Franklin's most conspicuous and recurring resentments before building to a brand new, revelatory reframing of the entire Sawyer family. Eureka!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Can we ever escape our narrative expectations? Can a hero’s defeat ever feel satisfying? This chapter foreshadows an eight-season / seven-book arc for Arya Stark that cannot come to pass. We are forced to challenge our conception of heroes and unshakeable desire for happy endings. At the same time, this story’s central binary of life and death is transgressed and complicated half a dozen times. All of our big ideas and theories just got thrown into the blender. Let’s see what the smoothie tastes like!
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Cam and Tristan go deep on one of the greatest love stories and television miniseries of our time, Normal People. Topics include: narrative two-handers, literary depth, onscreen masculinity, epic structure, viewing habits, the language of color, and the uncertain prospect of a sequel.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The king is dead, long live the king. Joffrey’s ascension surprises us by eerily mirroring Jon Snow’s induction into the Night’s Watch. Maggie tracks some color theory to reveal the power dynamics of the throne room coup. We stop to consider Ned Stark and all of his various principles, shortcomings, and tragedies. When does he lose? Why does he lose? And more importantly, why do the Lannisters allow him to survive past this pivotal chapter?
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The Venom movies are not good or bad, they are fun -- and that's something worth celebrating / discussing. Topics include: Tom Hardy's indelible chemistry with Tom Hardy, comic book pacing, Woody Harrelson's commitment, the ongoing misuse of Reid Scott, and Eddie / Venom shippers. Oh and somewhere in there we take a look at Venom: The Last Dance, which is very not good.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Oh look, even more evidence that Jon is the Prince That Was Promised. Maggie’s got a blockbuster theory that unites all of our outstanding prophecies around Jon Snow in an avalanche of fire and blood imagery. Cam examines this chapter as a complex restaging of the Prologue that elevates the series’ preoccupation with death to new heights.
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The apt comparison when discussing the first expansion of Diablo IV has to be the first expansion for Diablo III, and let's just say this -- Vessel of Hatred is no Reaper of Souls. In this episode, we'll break down this comparison in terms of aesthetic and plot before diving into the new class offered by each expansion. We also discuss some unfortunate technical bugs, the game's sudden hostility to couch co-op, and the more general state of the game in October 2024. Finally, we close with a meditation on the 'fun factor' of this disappointing release, and consider the future of Diablo IV.
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00:00 Introduction / Outline
01:20 The Shadow of Reaper of Souls
02:42 Aesthetic (VOH / ROS)
10:21 Plots (VOH / ROS)
17:36 New Class (VOH / ROS)
25:03 Theory: Choice Paralysis
30:43 Is Spiritborn a New Experience?
35:42 Updated Class Ranking
37:17 Technical Bugs
42:38 State of the Game
46:34 Fun Factor / Closing Thoughts
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Happy Halloween! This chapter is a ghost story. Cam analyzes the death of King Robert in concert with Viserys Targaryen’s death in the last chapter. What sets apart these two failed conquerors who died without an heir? We build to a broader discussion of what defines a character in this series – their memorable deaths or their fateful decisions? Maggie deepens the analysis with a discussion on Ned’s haunted dreams and the many ‘promises’ weighing him down. We close with the next phase of our ‘Prince That Was Promised’ theory crafting.
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Cam revisits one of his very favorite works of science fiction, Halo: Combat Evolved, only to find that the game has changed. This is a conversation about rose-tinted nostalgia, art direction, the heresy of video game remasters, and the enduring magic of Master Chief.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The fifth Targaryen checkpoint is a cornucopia of prophetic symbolism. The Macbeth allusions of the Winterfell era cross-pollinate into Dany’s story. The seeds are planted for a golden Lannister coup. More than one fateful prince is introduced. None of these things are what they seem – and if you ask Cam, somehow all of it is about Dune.
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This is cause for celebration: indie darling Art the Clown has the #1 movie in America, with an unrated, unhinged, and unbelievably great Christmas slasher. After our first impressions, we break down the franchise thesis statement that is the movie’s opening scene, Art’s ever evolving slapstick physical comedy, the overwhelming heart and humanity of this story, and all the wry, innovative nods to classic horror along the way. Cam takes a moment to discuss the fact that Art is officially a demon and do some Faustus analysis. We close by looking ahead to the future of the franchise and theorizing about conspicuously absent characters, suspicious deaths, and Art’s endgame.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! If Ned Stark is playing checkers, this chapter finally shows us who’s been beating him at chess. Cersei Lannister arrives on the scene, but she’s not quite the character we grew to love on HBO. By trying to read this character introduction with fresh eyes, we see her in a whole new light, like a lost Targaryen conqueror falling from the pages of Fire & Blood. Cam revisits the ghost of Ned Stark and the grey soup of immorality he drowned in. Maggie completes her seen & unseen analysis as the omens of good and ill rage in the sky. Also, someone in the book finally looks at the camera and says the title.
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French puppet vampires – if that's not enough to sell you on a horror movie, then I don't know what is! The Vourdalak is equally unnerving and delightful, and this discussion covers our first impressions of the film, the kaleidoscope of influences that it seems to pull from (Sleepy Hollow, Barry Lyndon, The VVitch, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and a deep dive into the miraculous puppetry / creature design.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Ned’s pseudo-afterlife continues to unsettle us. George R. R. Martin seems to overlap Ned’s virtuous right-and-wrong morality system with Sansa’s (understandably) naïve moral binaries. Is this comparison a rebuke of the doomed Ned Stark or a validation of his idealism? In this episode, we’re teasing out hypotheticals, parsing moral frameworks, examining distillation echoes, and working together to lift the veil of metaphor and objectively interpret dreams.
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The Substance is an incredible surprise, a thrilling, ruthless, unflinching body horror satire that gave us the best theatrical experience of 2024. We start things off with a spoiler-free reflection / recommendation before diving into the grotesque smoothie of influences that shape this story. These include: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Cinderella, Black Swan, Tusk, Frankenstein, and -- most notably -- Cam's beloved Doctor Faustus. After that, we dissect all the delightful, inverted Kubrick echoes, from The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, and a full-scale mirror image of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Bittersweet doesn’t even begin to describe this brief moment of seeing Ned Stark on the Iron Throne. Maggie tracks the omens and bloody motifs nipping at Ned’s heels, while Cam tries to understand Ned’s principal defiance as a singular act of sacrificial heroism comparable to the finale of The Witcher series, and the Pilgrim’s ascension to Heaven in Dante’s Divine Comedy.
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What is Star Wars? This question lies at the heart of our discussion, and we think at the heart of every Star Wars project in any medium. Cam has a novel (and possible stupid) new answer to this question, and this episode tracks the cascade of epiphanies about the Star Wars franchise that were sparked by his recent playthrough of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. We’re talking about identity crises and some light color theory, and westerns and space fantasy, but more importantly, there’s a character in the game named Turgle who kinda looks like Maggie. Look it up.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The friendship between Tyrion and Bronn is a fan favorite. In this episode we explore the roots of this relationship: Cam points to the transactional nature of every plot point in this chapter, exposing the bitter corruption and self-interest that plagues Westeros (and especially Bronn and Tyrion); while Maggie returns to her “court fool” theory from a few chapters back, arguing that Tyrion may not be the only fool in this story. Tolkien and Sapkowski come into the mix here, as do shadowcats, the problem of evil, and curious choices of meat.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Final Fantasy XVI gave us something that we've been missing from modern fantasy -- sweeping, romantic, breathtaking heroism. In this episode, we start by introducing the Final Fantasy series and our history with fantasy games before drilling down on the elusive, magical parts of this world that really spoke to us. Topics include: a la carte storytelling, heroic scale, aspirational heroism, role playing, flow states, difficulty modifiers, and our evolving relationship with the fantasy genre. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! After just five chapters, Jon Snow has left a profound impression on us. His story is told differently than any other POV character, and in this episode we make the case that GRRM's sporadic, snapshot rendering of Jon gives him a heroic theatricality. Cam revisits the previous Jon chapters to analyze the character's escalating, revolving door of roles and companions. Is Jon meant to be a character we can believe in, or just another cautionary tale? Maggie elevates the discussion with some pointed Tolkien echoes and we work together to make sense of the relationship between Jon and Ghost as veiled hunters.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Diablo IV is officially great. Last season overhauled the core systems and solidified the game's fun factor, but this season makes some equally vital investments in endgame content and class balancing. Barbarian is finally good! The art direction continues to be top tier! Gold finally matters! Discussion segments include: state of the game, campaign impressions, class update, wrap-up questions, and a reflective, bittersweet post-mortem of Destiny 2. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Here it is, the long-awaited trial by combat chapter! The fight itself inspires a conversation about whether or not 'justice' exists in the world of Westeros. Maggie also dives into the many mysteries of the Weeping Woman (or is there more than one?) Cam reframes our despised Robert Arryn as a kaleidoscopic political cartoon of the monarchy, and we examine the glorious, destabilizing suspicion that GRRM creates as he unravels his inciting incident halfway through the book!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The best movies are the ones that surprise you. Strange Darling was not at all what we expected, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Our spoiler-filled discussion dives deep into everything that made this movie fantastic, from stylized imagery and playful structure to deliciously subverted expectations and wonderfully robust characters. And the parallels to classics like Texas Chainsaw Massacre were delectable cherries on top. This movie feels like a watershed moment for arthouse horror, one whose influence will be felt for decades. Let’s get into it!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! In six ruthlessly efficient pages, George R. R. Martin epitomizes his distinct brand of medieval fantasy. Ned Stark’s turning point becomes a breaking point as the ghosts of his past and horrors of his present force him to confront his bleak future. We break down this purgatorial distillation echo to make the case that Ned has become one of the ghosts in his dreams. We close by reviewing four more Wizard of Ozstyle man-behind-the-curtain reveals that see the author shattering the romantic archetypes of fantasy.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Sing Sing dramatizes the real life story of a theater troupe in a maximum security prison. Not only did the movie absolutely floor us, but it evoked one of the most formative, powerful, life changing movies we've ever seen: Dead Poets Society. This episode explores those remixes and archetypes. We also reflect on the film's powerful, universal message about the power of art. This is a celebration of the best movie of the year.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Tyrion’s treacherous journey through the Eyrie pulls us in wildly different directions. Maggie is inspired to do a deep dive on court jesters and fools, the overlooked and underestimated wild cards of royal life. Cam base jumps into Greek mythology and the myth of Sisyphus, where he finds an eerie number of tragic parallels, not just to Tyrion, but to all the Lannisters. Together, we work to question and decode these theories and better understand the future Hand of the King.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Alien: Romulus isn't just a great horror movie or a great sci-fi movie, it's a fantastic Alien movie, and probably the best sixth sequel ever made. We discuss the film within this specific and storied context, making comparisons to Saw, Star Wars, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Halloween. Then we zoom in to look at the elements of Romulus that feel so wonderfully authentic, and almost make the film feel like a period piece. Topics include production design, practical effects & CGI, old Hollywood scores, and script posture. Fede Álvarez has done the impossible, again. What an experience!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Bran and Dany have always been the two most prophesied characters in this story, but this chapter draws the connections more explicitly than ever before. Their journeys could not be more different, but time and time again these two idealistic survivors keep ending up in the same place. The other major presence in this chapter is Ned Stark, as Bran inherits his father’s ghostly spirituality and existential freefall, while George R. R. Martin zooms out just enough to show us all the tragic cycles and patterns that they’re both trapped in.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Jack White's No Name is officially out in the world, and we're back with another deep dive analysis of this fascinating album. This time, we're exploring symbolism and color theory, dissecting the lineage and tension between the covers of all six Jack White solo albums to ultimately reach a fuller understanding of the provocative, enigmatic No Name.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Our fourth ‘Targaryen Checkpoint’ is an endless barrage of beautiful and tragic omens. We discuss these eulogies of decay as heralds of what’s to come – for Ned, for King’s Landing, for Winterfell, and for Dany herself. Then we take a closer look at all these Targaryen naming conventions: we’ve got “the dragon”, “the true dragon”, “the blood of the dragon”. What does it all mean? (Spoiler: this whole plotline is a cautionary tale about the entitled evils of monarchy). We close with a discussion of Dany’s defiant and doomed idealism.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! House of the Dragon’s second season has come to an end, and we’re back to investigate the finale for all its strange fascinations and inconsistencies. The elephant in the room here is Game of Thrones Season Eight, but we also dive into this episode’s steadfast resistance to character agency, and all those loose threads that have transformed into mysteries. We close by reacting to the news that HOTD will end with Season Four.
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TIME CODES:
00:00 What worked for you?
10:24 Returning Issues
11:33 Worse than Season Eight?
23:04 The Uncanny Valley
25:34 Storytelling Craft
28:28 Setup or Letdown?
31:04 Character Agency in Peril
40:08 Daemon's Vision Disaster
50:11 Struggling with Halaena
53:21 All About the Writing
56:44 12 Abandoned Plot Threads
01:05:51 Two More Seasons
01:14:54 Successor Shows
01:20:12 Pitch: Aegon's Conquest
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Here's our thesis for this episode: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is about vampires, Grandpa is Dracula, and the rest of the Sawyer family are different shades of Renfield. Oh and the hippies are all Quincey Morris. After we finish mapping Bram Stoker's cast onto Tobe Hooper's masterpiece, we track the unusual role of blood throughout the film to uncover all sorts of vampiric undertones and barbecue bombshells!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This chapter feels like the mirror image of last week’s Catelyn adventure. Cam starts us off with eight provocative similarities and differences from our new perspective on the Stark/Lannister rivalry. We then work together to evolve last week’s shadowy nature analysis to include a torrential downpouring of rain and bad omens. Gotta cherish our time with Ned before it’s gone!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This one is fascinating -- Jack White surprise released a new album with no title, only on vinyl, and gave it away for free, for one day. Since then, it has blossomed underground, spreading like wildfire through the music community with the energy of a undiscovered bootleg recording. Oh and it might just be the best work of his career. Our discussion explores the album's exhilarating, non-commercial release strategy, that paradoxically perfect title, and all those glorious throwbacks to the electric early days of The White Stripes -- from lyrical motifs to guitar tones to fearless showmanship and iconic, genre-hopping zeal.
Check out the album here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiMvJylbX3Q
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Seven Episodes into Season Two, Cam has finally seen the matrix — and identified the reason why even this fantastic episode feels so different from Season One. This episode starts with a celebration of David Hancock’s fantastic writing, ranging from GRRM-level one-liners to characterizations so powerful that they feel like full reintroductions. From there, we discuss Rhaenyra’s deliciously slow turn to the dark side and Daemon’s ever-faster descent into madness. We start to close things out with a big ole chat about dragons: how many reptiles would it take to beat Vhagar in a fight? Do riders ever really have control over their dragons? And finally, we revisit Shakespeare to take another look at Alicent / Ophelia.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! George R. R. Martin hits another grand slam home run in this bonanza of literary allusions. Cam charts Catelyn’s treacherous journey to the Eyrie through the lens of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Maggie dissects the many shades and shadows of Tolkienian anthropomorphism in this chapter. And for good measure, we throw in some Sapkowski to make sense of the two characters who feel like narrative preoccupations on every page: Jon Snow and Lady Stoneheart.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Let's not waste any time here: Oddity scared the bejeezus out of Cam, and this episode is his attempt to figure out why exactly his palms were sweating for ninety minutes. There's an alchemy to this film, a strategic evocation of some of our very favorite (and most terrifying) works of horror. Join us as we work through three of those wicked, masterful elements that make Oddity such a tour de force: The Conjuring, The Haunting of Hill House, and Hell House, LLC.
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00:00 First Impressions
02:10 Longlegs Tangent
03:49 Discussion Framework
05:07 The Conjuring
06:18 The Haunting of Hill House
09:01 Hell House, LLC.
11:45 Closing Thoughts
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This season’s giving us whiplash! “Smallfolk” is a fantastic episode, but there’s something creaking under these floorboards. How much does inconsistency affect audience investment / long term payoffs? From there, we look at the ever evolving role that dragons play in this story, before settling in for another thorough analysis of Daemon and the (possible) grand finale of his dreamy side quest. Cam poses a treacherous, lore-breaking question about Alicent’s future — and we close things out with a discussion about Rhaenyra & Mysaria.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This chapter sits at squarely the dramatic intersection of philosophy and politics. Cam chases down George R. R. Martin’s shockingly unvarnished critique of power. As a thought experiment, we call King Robert’s bluff and imagine how the series would have ended if this plot against Daenerys Targaryen had been successful. Cam steps out of his comfort zone and into Maggie’s, and we try to compose a Renaissance-esque painting of this chapter’s heroic deconstruction. Maggie examines Robert’s and Ned’s relationship through the lens of control and choices, and aims to understand the point at which Ned’s failure becomes inevitable.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Cam's swooping in with another mid-week bonus episode! We saw 'Longlegs' again and all of those Doctor Faustus puzzle pieces finally fell into place. He tracks the continuous demotion that sees the seemingly mythical Longlegs character humbled into the traditional Mephistopheles role, before unpacking the film's greatest twist, which splinters and innovates upon the traditional Faustus framework -- which Cam continues to believe is the bedrock of all worthwhile storytelling done in the past 400 years.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Silence is the pervading theme of this episode. Throughout ‘Regent,’ most of our lead characters are ignored, passed over, or lost for words. Our discussion looks at the many shades and colors of this strategic silence to uncover the subtle, insidious shifts happening as we shift into the back half of the season. Then we break out the Freud to unspool whatever the hell is happening inside Daemon’s head and once again manifest our grand vision for a Viserys cameo. Finally, we examine a sharp, unexpected parallel between Rhaenyra and Aegon — and carefully consider Criston Cole’s dire declaration about the future of the war.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The hype around Longlegs has been some of the most intense we’ve seen for a horror movie in recent years. And for the first time in a long time, this movie lives up to that hype. After our first impressions, this is an enthusiastic, spoiler-filled discussion that traces the origins and influences of Longlegs – from some of the more obvious comparisons like Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, and Zodiac, to more unexpected classics like Dracula and A Clockwork Orange. Longlegs perfectly remixes these titans of horror into its own, twisted mess, until it becomes a new, terrifying monster.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We’ve got some peak fantasy in this chapter: dragon skulls, prophetic dreams, climbing through a scary castle – it’s got it all. Maggie starts us off by unspooling Arya’s frightening dreams about the Red Keep, to examine past and future references and ramifications for her character. Cam chases down another curveball Tolkien reference, searching in vain for wizards and Rings that feel conspicuously absent. We close with the kaleidoscopic mystery of Arya’s overheard conspirators.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! House of the Dragon’s mid-season finale certainly delivered the goods. But beneath all the screeching, high-flying dragon combat is a bounty of rich character work and a whole spiderweb of echoes from the long legacy of battle episodes across this franchise. This discussion examines the Battle of Rook’s Rest both within that wider context to find out who really won the conflict, what all those pointed references and inversions mean, and why Cam can’t stop thinking about Stannis Baratheon. We also work together to better understand Daemon’s increasingly surreal side quest and the emerging supernatural element within House of the Dragon!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Our first full-on adventure chapter delivers unexpected heroes, brutal lessons, and deviously ambiguous echoes. Cam examines the sudden Tolkien riffs within Tyrion’s evolution. Yes he’s wielding an axe, but does that mean GRRM wants us to see him as Gimli, or is something more tricky happening between the lines? Maggie takes a look at the newly introduced shadowcats – as omens, as talismans, as embodiments of the grim realities of heroism in this world.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! I swear we’re not trying to be hyperbolic here, but this was the best House of the Dragon episode yet. The show comes roaring back after last week’s stumble, with some of the most gorgeous fantasy storytelling we’ve ever seen, and more rich & compelling character work than you could shake a Valyrian steel sword at. Discussion topics include: Geeta Vasant Patel’s stunning visual revolution of Westeros, the power of suggestion in character interiority, the grand return of the supernatural via Daemon’s vision, and the show’s greatest / most seamless effort yet to dramatize Fire & Blood.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! For a character who’s so often described as “simple”, Ned is proving time and again to be one of the most rewarding to unpack. We start this discussion with different perspectives on Ned’s current position in the titular “game,” and both walk away with a deeper understanding of him. Is Eddard Stark a stubborn Northman who refuses to play the game? Is he a floundering outsider, desperately clinging to any sense of control he can? Or is he playing his cards close to his chest, learning as he goes and cleverly identifying the right allies? We contemplate these questions and more, through the lens of character echoes, clever word choice, and the harsh irony of this world’s political system.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! House of the Dragon is not Game of Thrones, but neither is it the same show that it was in Season One. This uneasy evolution has continued to haunt our discussions, and more than anything, this episode — “Rhaenyra the Cruel” — is a collection of growing pains. In addition to our beloved audience polls (conducted every week on Instagram), discussion topics include: abandoning the Team Black / Team Green framing, reevaluating Blood and Cheese, seasonal / episodic pacing, the Rhaenyra / Daemon duality, and the intricate work of dramatization.
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Time Codes:
00:00 Reevaluating Blood & Cheese
06:09 Propaganda Redemption
15:56 Adding Rhaenyra to the Cargyll Duel
29:24 The Purpose of the Duel
36:05 Rhaenyra Out of Character
41:43 Rhaenyra vs. Daemon: Dialogue Dilemmas
44:58 Rhaenyra vs. Daemon: Victimhood & Duality
53:38 The Problem with Team Black / Team Green
59:57 The Shadow of Game of Thrones
01:04:18 Pacing Problems & Procedural Structure
01:13:16 Make This Into Two Episodes
01:16:44 Expectations & Optimism
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Is emotional vulnerability a fatal mistake or a saving grace? Sansa attempts to perform he way through this chapter as a hundred classical fantasy archetypes explode and bleed out all around her. We track the possible futures that branch off from this moment of enlightenment, following the black-out indulgence of King Robert and the aggrieved nihilism of the Hound. Cam catches a real-time distillation echo, and Maggie pulls back the veil of Sansa’s willful ignorance.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! House of the Dragon is BACK, and we couldn’t be more excited to dive into this world again. Friend of the show Tristan is here to partake in our rousing discussion of the Season 2 premiere. The infamous Blood & Cheese incident steals the show, and we debate the impact of what should have been a monumental moment for our characters. Maggie does a full deep dive into the show’s new intro sequence, comparing it to the medieval Bayeux Tapestry and analyzing the implications of this real-life connection. We examine the looming presence of grief and guilt in this episode, particularly as it affects our two female leads. We do a breakdown of some key characters and their performances, including King Aegon, Larys Strong, and Helaena Targaryen. Our episode ends with a round-up of listener feedback, and we ponder where the show will go from here. Check out the Bayeux Tapestry: https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/ LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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00:00 Welcome Back 01:00 Blood & Cheese: Devastating or Disappointing?
17:25 That Crafty New Intro Sequence
23:37 The Bayeux Tapestry Connection
29:31 Helaena the Secret Narrator
35:08 Compounding Horrors: Guilt & Grief
40:07 Alicent's Isolation & Larys' Elevation
53:24 Reconsidering King Aegon II
01:00:38 Season or Sequel?
01:06:29 Audience Poll Results
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Catelyn Stark might just be the most complex and rewarding characters in A Game of Thrones. This chapter is a cascade of memories and breadcrumbs that simultaneously resurrects the past and animates the future -- of House Stark, House Tully, and even Catelyn herself.
Expect full books spoilers: We're going deep on Lady Stoneheart, generational echoes, poisoned nostalgia, and problem of evil folktales.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Maggie’s biggest gripe with modern games has always been how inaccessible, unapproachable, and challenging they can feel to newcomers. Many games are designed with the assumption that players have already had experience with similar games, and as a person who didn’t grow up playing anything beyond the original Super Mario or games on DisneyChannel.com, she often finds it difficult to get into games that are more “complex” than your basic side-scroller. Hogwarts Legacy completely changed that. This episode is a love letter to the approachability and welcoming nature of Hogwarts Legacy – how it greets players from a wide range of abilities and experiences, how it provides a vast number of adjustable settings and features, and how it constantly aims to reward the player who is passionate about the Wizarding World. This game opened a huge door for Maggie – we hope you enjoy our conversation. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! In the space of a single chapter, Ned Stark has gone from a bumbling amateur detective to Batman -- or has he? In this episode, we look at Ned's unsteady relationship with honesty in a world of liars. Maggie returns to the themes of femininity and unseen power that have complicated our Fire & Blood episodes over on Patreon, this time to examine the relationship between 'whores' and 'bastards'. Cam wonders if parts of Westeros are actually cursed by an overexposure to the problem of evil, and tries to dig deeper into the claim that GRRM's style of fantasy is 'historical'. We work through cycles of history, repeated mistakes, self-sabotage, and the important difference between corruption and the much sneakier, ever-present temptation.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Oh these are our favorite type of episodes: falling in love with a work of art we didn’t expect to care about at all. Shout out to Tristan for bullying us into watching X-Men ’97, and to Maggie for having a perfectly timed hankering for cereal. This is a conversation about reclaiming your imagination as an adult, our histories with the X-Men, the ritualistic experience of watching the show, and the lasting impressions that these stories left on us.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Samwell Tarly joins the narrative just in the nick of time, as an unlikely answer to the existential and immaterial problems threatening Westeros. Cam argues that Sam embodies the hope, forgiveness, and second chances that lie at the heart of GRRM’s supposedly bleak and grim world. Maggie explores the Tolkien feints within this chapter, unspooling the echoes of fellowships, disappearing uncles, and loyal sidekicks. We work together to theorize our way through Jon’s impossibly poignant dream, and close out the discussion by resolving the Doctor Faustus curiosity we introduced a few weeks ago.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Furiosa is massively different than Fury Road. The tone, the pacing, the style of characterization — our first viewing was largely a process of adjustment and recalibration. But on after seeing it a SECOND time, the movie really opened up for us. This episode chronicles the journeys we went on through the Wasteland, our experience watching the very first Mad Max, and the avalanche of echoes that revealed themselves on a titanic IMAX screen.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The question that hung over Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was simple. What can this film offer that is different or better than Fury Road? As it turns out, the answer is Chris Hemsworth’s performance as Dementus - a bonkers, fearless villain who somehow simultaneously evokes Charles Dickens, Jack Sparrow, Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, and the great Ian McShane. This is one for the ages, and we’ve got LOTS to say about Hemsworth’s work in this movie.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Ned Stark may already be dead. In this chapter, Littlefinger eulogizes him to his face, capping off a series of three failed initiations into the world of liars and crooks that is King’s Landing. Cam’s diving into unseen spymasters and unnoticed liars, while also keeping an eye out for Bran Atreides the God Emperor and the conspicuously absent white walkers. Maggie examines the suffocating falsities present here, both on the page and throughout the Red Keep. Pour yourself a glass of iced honey milk, and try not to gag! PS: can you imagine if Ned had a direwolf?
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Oh it feels so good to say this: Diablo IV has never been better than it is in Season 4. Loot Reborn is a full-scale reworking of the game’s core systems. The gameplay loop and recurring activities are stronger than ever, and for once in this live game, all of these great new additions are here to stay. The campaign is short and sweet – incredibly rewarding while trimming the fat of everything we have disliked in the past. The Necromancer has become one of the best classes in the game with multiple viable builds and an electric mix of close- and long-range combat. After doing a power ranking for all the classes, we discuss the ideal time investment for seasonal content, and debate the lifespan of this new and improved Diablo IV.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! In his own words, this chapter had Cam feeling “puckish”. Forgoing all the traditional ambiguities and symbols, he focuses on the character trend that quietly runs through these pages: a devastating comedy of manners and pretense that crushes the spirits of all our major players. Meanwhile, Maggie dives headfirst into the mythology, the metaphors, the dreams, and the complicated relationship between stories and memories. We close by revisiting last week’s Faustian dragons and the ongoing narrative resurgence of the white walkers.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The Fall Guy feels like a passion project about passion -- it's a love letter to stuntmen, artistic craft, and the fading genre of romantic action comedies. It's also the best movie of director David Leitch's career. So why is the entire discourse surrounding the film about box office receipts? Join us for a little 'state of the union' about online film discussion, barometers of success, and the rip-roaring good time that is The Fall Guy.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This third 'Targaryen Checkpoint' delivers a whole new level of prophetic, high-concept imagery for us to discuss. Maggie focuses in on Dany and Viserys as avatars of the House of the Dragon's simultaneous rise and fall, before diving deeper into Viserys' ghostly, almost undead turn in these pages. Cam finds a corollary for all the White Walker breadcrumbs we've been chasing in Dany's fiery dragon dream, which he analyzes through the lens of his beloved 'Doctor Faustus'. We close with an unexpected, possible Dune crossover as GRRM seems to tip his hat to Frank Herbert -- and remind us to always be on the lookout for aspiring tyrants.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! 600 pages of expertly dramatized philosophy and theology, starring a giant worm with a human face – this book was written for Cam. Our discussion starts with the compounding, echoing relationship between all of the Dune books, before settling on the unexpected Nietzschean flair of Frank Herbert’s God Emperor. Alongside the ghola, he’s one of the central walking thought experiments that plays out the intellectual curiosities of this world and their underlying and emotional agonies. This series remains a thought provoking and devastating character study. Herbert has managed to pull a fourth rabbit out of the same sandy hat. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Every Arya chapter is Valjean screaming “Who am I?” at the audience, but this one in particular really is a carousel of futures. Cam examines the half dozen personas explored in these pages and the constant refinements of that central question. Are you your circumstances? Are you your defining characteristics? Are you your vocation? Maggie revisits the Stark children / direwolf relationship for all its prophetic implications. Together, we take a closer look at the Stark family mantras, grappling with the survivability of the lone wolf vs the pack, and debating the utility of “winter is coming”.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Grab your Leviathan Axe and hop in the boat: we’re heading to the Lake of Nine today to discuss Maggie’s experience playing (and not playing) the masterful 2018 God of War. Maggie has been going further and further out of her comfort zone with games, and God of War was no exception. But the world and the story gripped her so much that by golly she was going to make it work for her. Join us as we discuss Maggie’s unique journey of playing through the game (with a big helping hand), her increasing interest in story-focused games, hopes for accessibility in games, and questions about where to go from here. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This week we’re all the way at the edge of the world, and what do we find? Shakespeare! More specifically, Cam gets to talk about the Old Man archetype, which crops up here thanks to Lord Commander Mormont. The conversation spirals into a theory about omens, ignored warnings, and narrative vindication. Cam presents a relay race theory about Tyrion’s role as the bridge between ice and fire, which Maggie reinforces with a callback to Bran’s prophetic and ambiguous dreams.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The Tortured Poets Department isn’t “about” anyone. This episode is an interrogation of that painfully wrong-headed way we talk about the biggest artist in the world. It represents an incurious tabloid toxicity and a strange rejection of creativity. An artist’s experience CAN inspire their work, but that observation should be the tip of the analytical iceberg, not the entirety of our public discourse. This is an episode about artist’s intent and unknowability, the beautiful mystery of imagination, and the humility required to discuss and interpret a work of art.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Ned just made it to King’s Landing, and it’s already a disaster. Maggie investigates Ned’s first day as Hand of the King, wondering how out of his depth he truly is, and if he has the capacity to learn. Cam leads a close reading that compares the series-long arcs of the Stark clan and the white walkers, illuminates the ice and fire imagery we keep noticing, and reveals the beating heart of the Lord of Winterfell.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Let’s keep it brief: this season is as bad as the last season was good. On the menu we have ugly robots, boring traps, and a surprisingly long commute. As always, we’re not just here to mindlessly praise or bash this game; we love the series and believe this discussion is both constructive and fun. We discuss the state of the game, the seasonal campaign, some class updates (boo sorcerer), and close with some wrap-up questions looking ahead to the future of this consistently inconsistent live game. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Since Jon doesn't like the 'Lord Snow' nickname, let's just call him the Direwolf of Wall Street instead. Jon's arrival to Castle Black brings with it three subtle narrative interventions. Cam leads us through the quiet parade of second chances given to Jon, some unwelcome Sansa echoes, and a few ghostly glimpses of the White Walkers. Maggie examines the ice and fire dichotomy as it relates to Jon's dual identities. Finally, we trade dueling couplet echoes to help make sense of last week's Catelyn discussion.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! “The entire universe with all of its Time is within me.” The third Dune novel is not messing around. Herbert dives fearlessly into the further reaches of his creation and consecrates his central critique. The dehumanizing effect of absolute power is made literal. Monsters and gods take the places of previous meddlers. Recurring plot beats speak to an inevitable cycle of power and corruption. All of the time jumps finally pay off as idealistic returning characters move up the generational ladder, only to entrench themselves in a self-serving aristocracy. Finally, Herbert’s fascination with ghosts and echoes and gholas reaches horrifying new heights. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! If there’s any justice in the world, Monkey Man will be the next big thing in action movies. Dev Patel’s directorial debut is an unflinching, crunchy, gnarly, creative step forward for a genre still largely living in the shadows of John Wick, Jason Bourne, and Tom Cruise. In this episode we explore that lineage and celebrate the innovations that Monkey Man brings to the table. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Next stop, King’s Landing! George R. R. Martin’s most curious and contradictory character returns as an appropriate guide through the lions’ den. Cam takes look at Catelyn’s larger role in the story, tracing all the echoes of her previous chapters and the ways that they shape her dual Tully and Stark identities. Maggie questions Catelyn’s instincts. We return to last week’s anthropomorphized crow, closing the couplet with a theory about in absentia spymasters and unknowable power. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We got to watch the extended editions of all three Lord of the Rings movies in theaters after not touching the franchise for years (since we finished our chapter-by-chapter readthrough). 12 hours later, after a lot of tears and popcorn, we have thoughts. Cam thinks he spotted a clue supporting his long-standing theory that Gandalf the White is a reanimated corpse. Maggie’s relationship with Rohan (and Two Towers) has completely changed, and we have an extended discussion about courage, hesitation, and hope in the battle sequences across this story. We didn’t expect to return to Middle Earth, but we’re so glad we did. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! It’s Maggie’s time to shine: this entire chapter is a dream sequence, and in the grand tradition of True Detective, time truly is a flat circle, and everything we see has happened and will happen again. Cam chimes in to this dream discussion with a note on prophecy that ropes in our old pal Paul Atreides as a point of contrast. Is Bran doomed to become a dead-eyed robot god emperor? We compare Paul’s subjective prophecies with the objective truths that Bran is being exposed to, to examine Bran’s overall arc. Just three chapters in, his individualism and humanity may already be slipping away. We close with a discussion of possible identities of the star of this dream: the crow. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Another Dune book discussion means another joyful Shakespeare recalibration. This time, Cam is delighted to find Frank Herbert swerving into Julius Caesar mode, with a renewed focus on history that extends beyond Shakespeare into the modern era. We consider the scope of these points of reference and their effect on Herbert’s larger critique within the series. Without spoiling anything, Cam considers the idea of the ghola as an escalation of our long-standing echoes and ghosts theories into a walking and talking thought experiment. We close with a deep dive into prophecy, free will, religious justification, and messianic culpability – and we ponder the future of our Dune coverage. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This chapter effectively retires two of our ongoing theories: Maggie’s seen & unseen theory undergoes a full reversal in the wake of a quiet Lannister coup, and Cam’s dog/wolf dichotomy meets the harsh self-interested reality of a world without truth or fairness. This is the archetypical Game of Thrones chapter – full of intricate character work, scheming, dishonesty, betrayal, direwolves, and lots of blood. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The day has finally arrived. After months of hints, tangents, and mini rants, Cam’s finally doing a full episode about Destiny 2. This one is about the complicated, difficult relationship that all hardcore Destiny players have with the game – but more importantly, it’s about the game’s future. Cam walks through a whole history of the game’s release and expansions in parallel with the trajectory of the Halo series to make a passionate case against the ongoing travesty that is the Destiny content vault. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Watch the trailer for Invader here We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for an emergency indie horror recommendation. Invader (2024) isn’t just another home invasion slasher; it’s The Strangers by way of Terrifier with a found footage ferocity. Writer/Director Mickey Keating creates an unbelievable amount of tension with his intimate and unexpected camera movements. The 70-minute runtime complements the film’s nerve-shredding simplicity. Invader is lean and mean. It’s grounded and tactile. It’s possible. It’s complete. And even days later, it’s unshakeable. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Ah, to be young and in love. JK, we finally get to meet the true Joffrey in this chapter – and he represents the shattering of Sansa’s idealized future. Cam explores the endearing clumsiness of Sansa’s classism and aristocracy worship in terms of dogs and wolves. George RR Martin both introduces and explodes this contradictory dichotomy in the same chapter. Maggie seeks to understand Sansa’s simultaneous foolish naivete and savvy survival skills through the lens of sight and blindness. RIP to all the characters who are introduced in this chapter who are all going to die horribly! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Cam read Book 3 of Dune in one sitting. This episode is a passionate, spoiler-free whirlwind of reactions, theories, and questions. Our Shakespeare conversation has evolved drastically, moving past Henry IV to welcome back our friends Macbeth, Hamlet, and Richard III. Because of all these pesky prophecies and religious rhetoric, Cam also gets to shoehorn some Problem of Evil into the discussion. But we’re also asking questions with the benefit of hindsight: about Frank Herbert’s dialogue focus at the expense of traditional set pieces, and about Dune’s paradoxical status as both a complete trilogy and the first of six novels. We close with a bit of reflection on the escalating challenge nested within Herbert’s decision to make Paul both narratively irresistible and ethically irredeemable. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This chapter is 8 pages long, but it somehow manages to move almost all the pieces on the chessboard and quietly advance every major storyline since the last Targaryen checkpoint – while also being a one-act medieval hospital drama. Echoes abound through this efficient chapter, ranging from the assassins and meddling witches of Macbeth to the hollow dread of The Godfather. Cam takes us on a detour about the expanded role of the direwolves and their apparent narrative interventions. Maggie draws comparisons between Catelyn and Ned, identifying the ways in which they speak up or remain silent in their respective circumstances – and it’s not looking good for our boy Ned! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Dune: Part Two was an overwhelming work of art. The visuals are relentless and innovative, the script is efficient and reverential – but there are downsides for any overstuffed turkey. Vital character arcs (and entire characters themselves) have to be cut, and even some of our returning favorites have lost some of their intoxicating texture. This extra long discussion investigates the world of Dune with one eye to this adaptation and another to its source material, spiraling through temptation, revenge, color theory, Shakespeare, religion, and the corrosive unknowability of prophecy. 00:00 - The IMAX Experience 03:50 - Overwhelmed & Underwhelmed 07:42 - Oversimplified Returning Characters 22:44 - Herbert's Revolving Door 26:56 - Dazzling Images & Reinventions 35:07 - Color Theory: Harkonnen vs. Fremen 40:21 - When Does Paul Turn? 52:58 - Prophecy as Forbidden Knowledge 58:43 - Adaptation Roundup! 01:05:22 - The Quiet Corruption of Leto Atreides 01:13:14 - Tangible Time & Dramatic Pacing 01:21:46 - Dune Messiah & Closing Questions LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! “A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone.” Our favorite dwarf is back, and brings with him centuries of history, paragraphs of wisdom, and lots of Targaryen foreshadowing. Cam examines Tyrion and Jon’s growing relationship in this chapter, particularly as a model of true male friendship. We both spotted some exciting Dany parallels, and Maggie breaks down a prophetic line in Tyrion’s memory of the dragon skulls in the crypt at King’s Landing: leading us to ask ourselves who the “last of the Targaryen dragons” truly are. We examine Tyrion’s place in the narrative, where Cam positions the dwarf as a kind of “bridge”: between characters, histories, places, and future generations. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! When we tell you that the first book was about sand worms and this book was about water, and that this one was somehow more interesting - you gotta believe us. This episode continues our crash course through Frank Herbert’s Dune. We discuss the evolution of dialogue-first genre fiction into a wold of fractal observations and stolen glances, the dreadful shadow that’s falling over Paul, and the effect of Herbert’s compounding Shakespearean feints. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We’ve officially left Winterfell, and the road to King’s Landing is full of key character moments. Maggie breaks down a new literary device that encourages a deeper look at the relationship between Ned and Robert. Cam sparks a discussion about change, prophecy, and defining character moments that take place in adolescence. We move to a conversation about the gods, inevitability, and the harshness of GRRM’s world. Cam also makes an important connection across the Narrow Sea between Ned and Dany – and we’re left pondering the fates of both. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Remember when we were trying to decide if we were going to read Game of Thrones or Dune? Welcome to our healthy compromise! This discussion covers the first third of Frank Herbert’s Dune, which is, paradoxically, also called Dune. We’ve got lots to discuss as we settle into our new home of Arrakis, including: the Lovecraftian grandeur of the sandworms, the dialogue-first approach to epic storytelling, the irresistible framework of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, and the strange, scandalized feeling of discovering 1965’s Dune long after 1977’s “revolutionary” Star Wars. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Our second Targaryen checkpoint gives us fascinating insight into the past and future of this story. Maggie explores Dany’s prophetic multilayered dream, and Cam tracks the unexpected echoes between this wedding ceremony and our previous POV characters. We come together for another discussion of age, courage, and resilience, and close with a theory about an unexpected spell-caster. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Volume 5 of the Breakfast Buffet brings us four fascinatingly different works of art. We begin with The Zone of Interest and a discussion of disturbing restraint. Next up we have All of Us Strangers, a beautifully intimate indie drama that reinvents the genre with some high concepts and Dickensian surrealism. Then we move on to Anyone But You, the delightful and Shakespeare-indebted romcom that inspires a conversation about comedic set pieces and the lineage of beloved plot structures. Last (but certainly not least) we have The Beekeeper, with its relentless, absurdist escalation and undying dedication to its titular theme.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Hi I’m Guy (Jon) Fieri and we’re roooollin out (of Winterfell)! Maggie’s got a theory about Dany chapters acting as structural checkpoints that makes this chapter something of a “season finale”. Some of our long-standing theories are getting wrapped up with a bow, including death and prophecy, seen and unseen, and the remixed Macbeth. We also take a moment to discuss the tragic ages of so many of these characters and the respect that George R. R. Martin shows them even in the worst moments. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! There’s a proud lineage of deceptive, murderous, homoerotic schemers that goes all the way back through Shakespeare to the best Greek drama. Saltburn reinvigorated this type of story, and today we’re looking at another fabulous incarnation from 1999. The Talented Mr. Ripley is a fascinating point of reference for our favorite movie of 2023. In this episode, we chart the remixes, influences, recalibrations, and callbacks connecting these two thrilling works of art. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Join us in the Winterfell library this week – Tyrion’s here to distill some echoes, complicate some theories, and spark a whole new wave of Macbeth analysis. Shout out to Peregrine and Brother Sameron for their fantastic contributions to this episode. We come together to make sense of this ultimate gargoyle’s long-awaited introduction, and by the end of it, find ourselves wondering if he’s got some vulture in him too. Batman Gargoyle reference: https://www.fascinationst.com/artwork/sku26832 LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! What makes a work of art ‘good’ or ‘bad’? Is it possible to define these terms? Are they purely subjective preferences or is there some objective standard for art? In this episode, we dive into all these questions and more, considering and challenging the answers that crop up so frequently in our modern discourse. Related: Cam offers a spirited defense of the Fifty Shades of Grey. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We’ve been dreading this chapter. It’s the most memorable, shocking, and tone-setting twist in modern fantasy. As it turns out, it’s also the culmination of our ongoing discussions about animal prophecies, seen & unseen, and gargoyle characters. The whole world is being turned upside down in these pages, and we’re left with a new, revealing perspective. Consider this the unofficial return of Maggie’s Bird Corner. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Heading out to the Blood Harvest, do you need anything? Season 2 of Diablo 4 is not only the best the game has ever been, but it’s up there with our favorite experiences from our beloved Diablo 3. The story campaign is great, the challenges keep us engaged, and the end game is thrilling. Oh and it’s all free! But the real headline here is that we finally took Tristan’s recommendation and tried out the exhilarating rogue class. The game’s never been in a better spot, and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate that in this episode. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! This chapter is a cacophony of distillation echoes. In this episode, we're tracking the reverberations of Jon, Ned, Tyrion, and Catelyn across Arya's unfolding journey. We've got quiet couplets, structural secrets, unanswered prayers, and unwanted bastards. Our discussion of prophecy continues to evolve into the cultural / sociological realm, and Cam makes his very first contribution to Maggie's landmark 'seen and unseen' theory. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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The Buffet is back in town, and our January round-up is a doozy! We begin with Poor Things and a discussion about scale, scene-stealers, and the relationship between plot and dialogue. From there, we move to Godzilla: Minus One for a chat about blockbusters, character work, and budgetary priorities. After that, we take a pitstop with Ferrari and consider the power of Adam Driver's physicality and Michael Mann's ethos of bluntness. Finally, we close out the episode with a dedicated conversation about The Iron Claw that spirals through several unusual comparisons to It's A Wonderful Life and the psychology of grief horror. To hear the full episode, subscribe to our Patreon HERE.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Things are heating up at Winterfell. George is carefully restaging – and then pointedly pivoting from – the sexless murder plots of Macbeth. In this chapter, Catelyn and Ned officially evolve past their Scottish counterparts. The Jon and Ned echoes pay off in a tragic structural reenactment of Jon’s birth and Catelyn’s rejection of him. Ned’s blindness stands in stark (teehee) contrast to Jon’s gargoyle perception. Death and prophecy grow ever more intertwined. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Fallout 3 released in the autumn of 2008, just as Cam’s life completely exploded. 15 years later, he replayed a game he thought hated. Fallout 3 is a masterpiece, and this episode tracks the journey of revisiting such a time capsule so many years later. Memories, revelations, sledgehammer metaphors – wandering through the Wasteland again was a fascinating, powerful experience. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Today we’re tucking into a welcome feast – the Great Hall of Winterfell. On the menu: bread crusts, bacon grease, and possibly a brand-new literary device. Cam thinks he’s discovered a new type of echo that uses repetition to boil down imagery and spark revelation. We also celebrate the introduction of Tyrion Lannister by attempting to label the ongoing trend of perceptive outsiders at the margins of this story. We’re breaking out the red string and corkboard for this one to connect characters and themes – and maybe even the odd prophecy. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Who doesn’t love a little pomp and circumstance? Some glitz and glamour to close out a wonderful year of art? 2023 was chock-full of movies, books, comics, games, and shows that we loved (and loved talking to you about). In this episode, the fourth annual Brekkie Awards, we start with a big ole year in review segment before handing out awards in the following categories: best surprises of the year, best horror movie, best comic, best book, best discoveries from the past, and the big one — our three very favorite releases of 2023. Thank you for joining us on this roller coaster of a year! LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Down into the crypt we go! After three chapters on the periphery, we finally dive into the mind of Ned Stark, the daddy of Winterfell. Cam continues chasing death prophecies across three lightning-bolt moments from this chapter, while Maggie resurrects an old, classic theory to better understand the series’ approach to fate and omens. We close by evolving our Macbeth comparison – George is throwing curveballs about Ned and Robert that will blow your mind. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! You guys weren’t kidding, Path of Exile is ENORMOUS. The locations are boundless, the enemy variety is staggering, and the character customization is nothing short of incredible. But the bigger this game gets, the more there is to miss out on. In this episode we consider the idea that there is no one right way to play a game. It’s all up to you – how much you engage with the story, the choice to use build guides, the decision to play end game content at all – these sprawling ARPGs can be whatever you want them to be. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Sail across the Narrow Sea with us this week! Daenerys Targaryen introduces us to a whole new side of George R.R. Martin’s world, and with her come new characters, new places, and new perspectives on prophecy. Echoes, of course, abound here: shades of the Stark children make their way into Dany’s storyline (especially Jon), while the magical power and fated potential of a young girl remind us strongly of Sapkowski’s Ciri in The Witcher series. Viserys’ fierce entitlement strikes us (and the narrator) as pitifully weak, while Dany’s motivations and desires align us unexpectedly with the Targaryens over Robert Baratheon. Plus, look out for Leftovers from one of our listeners. LINKS: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories
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The Buffet is back, and we’re open for business! On today’s menu, we have a discussion of Eli Roth’s glorious seasoner slasher, Thanksgiving; a frustrating reflection on Ridley Scott’s Napoleon and the trouble with director’s cuts; and an enthusiastic chat about the new film adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh’s Eileen and the trend of ambiguous endings in literary fiction. We wrap things up with a wild card: 1997’s Spawn movie, which is loud, ridiculous, grating, and possibly one of the best superhero movies ever made. To hear the full episode, subscribe to our Patreon HERE.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Three chapters in, the themes of death and prophecy are only growing deeper and more complicated. In this chapter they swirl together to provoke an intriguingly incomplete echo of Macbeth. Maggie’s also spotted a trend of opposing forces: the North vs the South, the old gods vs the new, the Starks vs the Lannisters, and more. We dive deeper into this idea with a cultural breakdown of pagan and Christian traditions. We also pause to appreciate and analyze the first happy marriage we’ve ever seen in one of these fantasy book discussions.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! What do you get when a philosopher, an art historian, and a Greek mythology expert watch Emerald Fennell’s new movie Saltburn? Three radically different but equally passionate experiences. In this episode, we work together to unpack the magic and mystery of this fantastic film. Topics include: the sexual subconscious, the reversal of the Greek hero, the Minotaur in the labyrinth, staggering visual symbolism, and a kaleidoscope of Shakespeare and Marlowe.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Who wants to talk about death?? George sure does. Luckily, we are both sickos who just spent a year and a half talking about evil, so this chapter is actually sort of breezy. We’ve got corpses and executions, and a masterfully constructed, intricate tableaux of dead animals that contains prophecies, secrets, and revelations about the Stark family’s tragic and complex future. We close with a discussion on Martin’s style and unique approach to intimate 3rd-person perspective, especially in comparison to Tolkien and Sapkowski.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We’re tackling another heavyweight horror classic today. Cam’s got a freewheeling theory that starts with Faustus and runs through Jane Austen, Thomas Hobbes, Nietzsche, The Exorcist, and The Dark Knight Returns. We believe that this is a story about the problem of evil, about the endless traumatic tension between the state of nature and the social contract. It’s an enthusiastic discussion of philosophy, paradoxes, parenthood, and the slight of hand magic required to stage a stuffy comedy of manners with the Antichrist sitting in the corner the whole time.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The day is finally here: our third adventure in long-form literary analysis has begun. The prologue of A Game of Thrones gives you everything you need to fall in love with Westeros: George R. R. Martin’s immediate interest and unmatched skill for worldbuilding, conversational characterization, and a fearless, brutal, relatable preoccupation with death. His characters are afraid, his dramatic stakes are sky high, and we can’t look away. Winter is here.
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This is a preview of our latest Patreon-exclusive bonus episode. In this clip, we discuss 1989 (Taylor's Version). To hear the rest of the episode, subscribe to our Patreon here!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! 3,191 pages later, we’ve reached the end of our time with The Witcher. In this series-wide retrospective, we look back at our favorite and wildest running theories, from the problem of evil to the shadow of Yennefer, to the definition of “monster”, femme fatales, butterfly effects, Sapkowski the investigative journalist, structural curveballs, Shakespeare, Tolkien – it’s been two wonderful years of ideas and discussions. We also do little wind-sprint recaps of all eight books, and choose a word to characterize each one. Stay tuned until the very end for our grand official announcement of our next fantasy project, which premiers next Friday.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Remember that feeling you got the first time you watched Dead Poets Society? What about the first time you watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Now imagine having both of those experiences at the same time. The Holdovers rides an impossibly fine line, to become the most honest and moving comedy drama of the year. In this discussion we’re taking a closer look at the style of humor that makes this film so special, and the immaculate sense of setting that it creates.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 16-Epilogue
The final Witcher book goes out with a bang – and by bang, we mean avalanche of echoes, questions, and titanic ideas. Is Season of Storms as a whole an epilogue to the series? Is destiny a metaphysical conspiracy or a matter of individual human nature? Why is Sapkowski dropping loads of early Tolkien references? And most importantly, what does that epilogue really mean? Dreams, illusions, resurrections, legends – we cover all this and more in this beefcake finale.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 9-15
We’ve followed the witcher through short stories and novels, but this final book in the series really feels more like a play. In this middle section of Season of Storms, we’re overwhelmed by echoes that double as callbacks and new moments of insight into Geralt’s character. Sapkowski gives us the new final form of his femme fatale, and swaps his journalist press badge for a degree in comp lit. Mountains of subtext, sexual tension, and scheming wizards await.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla is a period piece biopic. David Fincher’s The Killer is a stylish revenge thriller. But if you look under the hood, these films are playing with exactly the same uncomfortable idea: the shockingly dystopian and dispossessed state of modern America.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The latest sprawling adventure from Bethesda has reawakened an old feud. Since the days of Fallout 3 back in 2008(!), Cam has been trying his damnedest to fall in love with one of Bethesda’s worlds. On that front, Starfield is a mixed bag. On all fronts, Starfield is a mixed bag. Join Cam and Maggie for a massively conflicted journey through the galaxy. Topics include: exploration, loading screens, art direction, uncanny faces, procedural generation, story pacing, inventory space, combat improvements, combat shortcomings, skill upgrades, quality of life issues, and open world pitfalls.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Season of Storms, Ch. 1-8
Something has ended. Something is beginning. This final Witcher book is a prequel and a sequel. You could even call it a side-qual – though we would prefer you don’t. Regardless, Sapkowski is back in top form with new structural experiments, echoes of destiny, Dandelion drama, and monsters we’ve never heard of. But there are new wrinkles too: a seductive sorceress whose revolutionary magical practice threatens to destabilize a whole kingdom, the truth about Geralt’s missing witcher swords, and the looming question that hangs over the whole book – is this side story necessary?
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! The day has finally arrived. 160 episodes and many months later, we’ve completed the glorious, hysterical, convoluted death march that is 7 seasons of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. This is the ultimate couples’ show, probably the funniest thing we’ve ever watched, and a genuinely fantastic, fun, and addictive work of art. Join us for a walk down memory lane, remembering The Girls’ greatest adventures, disasters, and detours. Get in loser, we’re going to Rosewood. - A
Watch the Mike’s Mic video that started it all right here
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 12
Here it is: the final chapter of The Witcher saga. Yes we’re sad, yes we’re emotional, but we’re also thrilled. This ending is perfect, poignant, surprising, devastating, and revealing. We get our final word on some of our long-standing philosophical grindstones, like the problem of evil, destiny, and non-intervention. Cam’s got a theory about the pointed flashbacks in these last few chapters and their importance for Sapkowski’s notion of heroism. Maggie explores the cyclical nature of time and the empowering humility of prophecy.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 11
'The Scouring of the Shire' hangs over this chapter like Eeyore's black raincloud. Sapkowski's poignant, hollow homecoming hit us just as hard as Tolkien's did, but we think there's a different point being made here. So much has changed, and so many characters are now reverting to the way they used to be, but is any of it sustainable? This is a provocative, deliberately uncomfortable chapter - and we loved it. Maggie spends some time exploring the chapter's preoccupation with silence and Cam digs into the punishing, iron-clad re-emergence of all our old philosophical touchstones. How is this thing gonna end?
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Diablo IV shouldn’t even be a live service game, but here we are! Cam played through this first season to see what it was all about, and this episode is an exploration of what he and his burly new Druid found out there in Sanctuary. Lots of promise, lots of problems - a proverbial mixed bag. Topics include: story structure, completion incentives, fun factor, seasonal challenges, lackluster rewards, pricing models, and concerns for the future.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 10
Holy Woodward and Bernstein, Batman! Journalist Sapkowski is back to doggedly track the butterfly effects following the end of the war and the “Peace” of Cintra. This chapter is a kaleidoscope of perspectives and injustices, and scurrying through it all are dozens of skeevy power players. The new world is full of Dijkstra, and Sapkowski painstakingly documents the objective horror the human survival instinct, and subjective bias of wartime histories. We’ve got observations, callbacks, theories, and ad ash of Shakespeare for good measure. Let’s dig in!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! We've finally finished Diablo 4, after five months of dungeon crawling, demon hunting, and side questing. This sixth act is quite good, but it is haunted by all the same pitfalls and baffling quality of life downgrades that have made the game so frustrating for us. Our wrap-up discussion begins with the story revelations of this big finale, and then we move into a retrospective of the game as a whole. Topics include: pacing problems, delayed character arcs, padding, future expansions, level grinding, and a final roundtable conversation about our classes. We close with a productive, positive series of suggestions about how Diablo 4 could improve going forward.
P.S. Next week Cam's going to be doing a solo episode about Diablo's first ever season, Season of the Malignant, with a brand new Druid character!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Lady of the Lake, Chapter 9
In three years of long-form literary analysis, we’ve never encountered a single chapter this dramatic or consequential. The sheer number of deaths and revelations is staggering, but as always, it’s Sapkowski’s ideas that really dazzle us. Maggie chases the threads of destiny and determinism through a hundred new curiosities and contractions, while Cam eulogizes the problem of evil and confronts its unexpected successor.
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Sir Michael Gambon died last week at the age of 82. In this episode, Cam takes a look back at Gambon’s challenging, underrated, fascinating performance as Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter film series. Topics include: Why was Gambon considered the ‘angry’ Dumbledore? How did this character evolve over the course of eight films? How did Michael Gambon’s performance build on and compliment Richard Harris’ work in Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets? How does the death of an actor change our perception of their performances?
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Ten weeks and $950 million later, we’re finally ready to talk about Oppenheimer. We’ve been hammering and polishing these ideas over the course of three viewings and an unreasonable amount of time listening to the score. Topics include: what do the black and white sequences “mean”? What happened to Jean Tatlock? What changes about the film upon subsequent viewings? And finally, a big ol’ theory from Cam about Oppenheimer, Prometheus, legacy, damnation, and Doctor Faustus. We’re so excited to finally talk about this one. Let’s see how far theory can take us.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of Lady of the Lake, Chapter 8
The time has come for Sapkowksi to write his version of a sweeping epic fantasy battle – and it’s nothing like whatever you’re expecting. Sapkowski evolves into a war reporter, to lead us through an unending kaleidoscope of tragic perspectives and human atrocities. In doing so, he gives us what feels like his final, most devastating statement yet on the state of nature, the problem of evil, and the essential universality of everyday philosophy. This might be The Witcher’s greatest achievement.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! What if there was a Diablo game with hard-hitting combat, a satisfying skill tree, an easy inventory system, a great map, and a TEN-act campaign? Oh and what if it was free? Path of Exile is almost everything we wanted and didn’t get in Diablo IV, and this episode is Cam’s reflections on the game. Topics covered include: skills, inventory, gameplay, story, and monetization.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Swamps, snakes, salvation, oh my! Just as the game starts to wind down, it’s finally getting great. This act features real character arcs, new mechanics, compelling loot, dramatic stakes, and hacked off body parts. This is the innovative fantasy horror roleplaying adventure that we’ve been waiting for. Listen to the end to find out what the hell the “Christmas Tree of Whispers” is. Get in loser, we’re going on a quest!
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecondBreakfastPodcast We’ve been working on this episode for months. The Idol was transcendent, a whirlwind of traitorous reversals, doomed schemers, a nervously chattering Greek chorus, and a spectacularly haunted lead. But it is also by far the most pilloried and misunderstood mainstream work of art this year, with the media and social media fundamentally (if not deliberately) misconstruing its navigation of sexual agency and the creative process. In this episode, we look at the show and the ridiculous backlash to it in a larger cultural context. Yes, half of this episode is a spirited defense of The Weeknd’s incredible performance as Tedros. The Weeknd was never a bad actor – Tedros was.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecondBreakfastPodcast We’ve been rewatching the Harry Potter movies at Alamo Drafthouse, and Cam developed a theory based on the way Chamber of Secrets teases good and evil versions of Harry. Tom Riddle is the obvious counterpart here, but we think we’ve found another hairier, many-legged, icky version of evil Harry that reveals a great deal about our beloved Hagrid.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon! Discussion of the Lady of the Lake, Chapter 7
We’re jumping back into the multiverse of madness today, as Ciri races through space and time towards the uncertain end of her legend. Maggie leads us on an art historical journey through unicorns and French tapestries, and Cam takes a closer, second look at the ouroboros: the reoccurring symbol that he now believes is a shorthand representation of Sapkowski’s worldview and analysis of the problem of evil. Also happy birthday to us.
Take a look at the unicorn tapestry in question HERE
Check out Maggie’s first unicorn deep dive on unicorns back in our discussion on The Time of Contempt, chapter 6 HERE
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Writer, director, and editor Anthony DiBlasi joins us to discuss his horrifying masterpiece, Malum. This movie scared us silly when we saw it back in April, and we’ve been tinkering with these notes ever since. It is an enormous honor to actually be able to sit down with the man behind the curtain and talk through one of the scariest movies we have ever seen. Topics include: thrill ride horror, Faustus echoes, experiential storytelling, metaphorical shotguns, scaring actors, reimagining religious horror, and the challenge of designing horror movies for theatrical and at-home viewing.
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Get bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecondBreakfastPodcast In all seriousness, this might be the best animated movie we’ve ever seen. The script is wildly and consistently funny, the turtles are believable and painfully sympathetic, the creature design is out of this world, and the art style – the art style – literally made our jaws drop. Oh and did we mention that this movie about turtles has a Trent Reznor score that goes just as hard as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?? Last but certainly not least, Jackie Chan’s performance as Splinter is one of the most affecting and heartbreaking representations of fatherhood that’s ever made Cam cry (three times) in an Alamo Drafthouse.
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Discussion of The Lady of the Lake, Chapter 6
In this chapter we get Sapkowski working with two hands tied behind his back – no Geralt, no Ciri, no magic, no combat. But his signature ideas are all here in full force: destiny, free will, the problem of evil, war crimes, survival instincts, and the nagging feeling that humans are inherently and hopelessly selfish. Maggie’s got some observations about the roles of propaganda and isolationism in this military-themed chapter. Cam caught some Tolkien comparisons and riffs that draw some fundamental differences between these two fantasy worlds. We also chase the ghosts of Geralt and Ciri as they race between the lines of this chapter, and Sapkowski sets the table for his endgame.
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Let’s start with the good news —Tristan is back to chat with us about the next act of Diablo IV. The undercurrent of this episode is the volatility of a game that is so reliant on updates and patches that can wildly alter the gameplay experience. We happened to play this act during the reviled 1.1 patch, which made boss fights and combat feel like - as Cam says during the episode - swimming through peanut butter. Our discussion covers the subsequent patch that fixed things (and actually made the game better than ever), the truly lousy experience we had playing Act Four during the bad times, and the core instability at the heart of Diablo IV. Other topics include: narrative balance and world building, fractal damage modifiers, the tension between world tiers & fun factor, and the tremendous power of legendary drop rates.
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For this week’s Summerween, we’re looking at an all-time classic. Jaws is the ultimate summer horror film, but after rewatching it, we also think it takes a quiet tour through some of our favorite horror subgenres. There’s a horror sensibility running through everything here, from the crafty script that overwhelms you with doomed mentors, to the legendary score and paranoid editing. And at the center of it all lies Chief Brody, who strikes us now as an updated George Bailey from It’s A Wonderful Life, and a shortcut into this film’s similarly glorious anti-capitalist messaging. Last but not least, the shark is terrifying. [As mentioned in the episode] The word "summerween" is not our invention, but one we've seen used across the internet for various Halloween/autumnal/horror content in the summer months. Maggie first heard the term from allisonpaiges on YouTube, who participates in the Summwerween read-a-thon hosted by gabbyreads and and oliviareadsalatte on YouTube. Credit where credit is due! Get bonus episodes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecondBreakfastPodcast LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories Send us your feedback & theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is fantastic for so many reasons, but there was one idea that struck us particularly hard, and we couldn’t let it go. Enjoy this solo column-style episode from Cam, wherein he passionately argues that in making this film, Gerwig has delivered us perhaps the best modern adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost in decades. Ryan Gosling’s Ken is the perfect Satan for 2023, and probably not for the reasons you think.
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An exciting development has arrived, years in the making. The show is about to change forever, but also – not at all.
JOIN THE FUN HERE
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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 about elves, unicorns, the Wild Hunt, and time travel, Cam launches into one of his patented Big Boy Theories – namely, that this chapter is a microcosm and restaging of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, full of telling echoes to Oberon, Titania, Nick Bottom, and a whole bunch of other, pointed references and reversals that keep the runaway surrealism grounded in Sapkowski’s beloved European folklore. Maggie spirits us away into a deep philosophical discussion about determinism, elven kings, and infinite universes. Cam argues passionately for and against free will and determinism.
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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’ve seen in the last few months. There’s so much variety and talent here, from ensemble horror comedies, to classic New York rom-coms, action comedies, 2000s sex comedies, and nihilistic COVID-era farces. This one’s a discussion and a celebration. We’ve never been happier to be wrong.
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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 art history background and Cam’s undying fascination with Faustus, Dante, and literary demons. This discussion runs through the uniquely varied style of found footage employed here, which deftly balances the objective and the subjective. We also work through the film’s commitment to interpreting Dante’s vision of the afterlife – and that’s before we get to the catacombs or the creature design. Did we mention this film is terrifying?
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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 interlude of fantasy, illusion, sexual politics, and self-awareness. We dig deep into Geralt’s subconscious here – Maggie wonders whether his growth has brought him to a place of healthy emotional intelligence, while Cam observes a rather pointed monster metaphor that critiques Geralt’s current and true state. We discuss the complicated relationship between our Witcher and Fringilla, and try to unpack our characters’ many ruminations on destiny.
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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 uneven gear grind and endgame. This episode explores some of the major tensions at the heart of the game. Maggie advances our ongoing discussion of power fantasies, difficulty scaling, and monotony in light of the tidal wave of boss fights peppered through this act. Some of our class builds have become completely nonfunctional, and in that defeat, we learn a humbling, Dark-Souls-esque lesson about dark fantasy. Tristan questions our new villain, Elias, and makes the case that he is neither narratively compelling nor — by the rules of this world — even in the wrong. This opens us up to a larger conversation about simplistic moral binaries and the lack of ethical complexity in Sanctuary. Cam goes full Faustus fanboy when the giant bloody wolf turns into Mephisto.
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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. Three years later, they made the best horror sequel of all time. And now, ten years later, with Insidious: The Red Door, we have a satisfying, startling, gorgeous finale to what might be the greatest franchise in the genre. This episode discusses the films in turn, and the millions of beautiful ways in which they build upon, complement, challenge, and accent each other. At every turn, these movies feel like passion projects. They’ve got the best creature design of all time, and that’s not even what makes us love them. This is a discussion of three movies. This is a discussion of one movie. This three episodes. This is one episode. This is a celebration of Insidious: The Lambert Family trilogy.
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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 thoughtful and refreshingly self-aware, but the art style – or should we say the 1,000 art styles – are deliriously delightful. This is probably the best cinematic experience of 2023.
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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. Sapkowski peels, dices, and pickles this onion/chapter into a slowly unraveling pattern of bad habits and outgrown dynamics. Sexual politics are explored and challenged, Dandelion takes a stand, and Cam gets to drop a Die Hard reference.
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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 Fat Goose Inn and the tragic remains of the Bear Tribe. After working through the story details and surprises, we check in on the progression of our four classes as we start to establish final builds. Ghost enemies push us to a breaking point, difficulty scaling still sucks, and we’ve never made this many poop jokes on the show.
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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 symbolism is so rich, the performances are so incredibly strong, and its insights into the desperation of the creative process are both profound and ever-evolving. As we return to the movie now, older and wiser(?), we have totally different reads on it than we did in 2010. This episode is a conversation between those perspectives, between us and our younger selves, and between this astounding work of art and its titanic creative lineage.
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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 story, he does something like this - introducing a second new framing device, making a colossal time jump, spoiling the end of the story, and spending fifty pages discussing bad endings / Arthurian legend. We’ve got commentary, we’ve got questions, and we’ve got some fantastic listener theories to work through. There’s also a new character named Condwiramurs - and more than a few discussions about butter. Let’s get into it!
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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 to the revamped skill and inventory systems. Cam’s got good news and bad news about the Barbarian and Sorcerer classes, Maggie’s juggling minions with her Necromancer, and Tristan is pirouetting his way through Sanctuary with a Demon-Hunter-inspired Rogue. On the story side, we discuss Lilith’s backstory blood petals, Vigo’s sense of guilt and honor, Neyrelle’s humanity, and the shocking new moral depth of this world. We also dive into the astounding visuals of the cutscenes and the pitfalls of difficulty scaling. Oh and Cam recaps Ralph Ineson’s entire career. We’re big fans.
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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 attack that we were lucky enough to see recently on the big screen. We start with a discussion of the horror genre’s association with jump scares, to try to figure out how this film sustains such agonizing tension without using any of the standard tricks. Then we look at the movie’s poisonous, punishing moments of downtime, and the horrific butterfly effect that ripples through the story. Maggie contextualizes the film within American history, and we consider how the concept of catastrophe has evolved throughout the 21st century.
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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 Monty Python. Maggie’s got the essential context for all of the Arthurian legend littered throughout the chapter, and Cam has more than one hunch about the sudden turn into multiversal storytelling. Where are we, and where are we heading? It all starts (or ends) here.
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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 Tristan — we have spent a startling amount of time in the world of Sanctuary battling demons and tinkering with our skill trees. It’s been eleven years since the game released, and with this somehow being our 250th (!) episode, it felt like it was finally time to sit down and talk about this masterpiece. We’re getting into everything — story, environmental design, art direction, all seven classes, buildcrafting, replayability, and legacy. All hail the Skeleton King!
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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 unicorns, ghosts, dead people talking, and homicidal figure skaters. Sapkowski’s writing has never been more fantastical, and parsing these pages brought us back to our Tolkien days. There’s an incredible amount of resolution in this chapter, and plenty of new mysteries to discuss. Prophecy, metaphor, philosophy, murder - let’s get into it!
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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 (which might be one of our favorite subgenres). In this episode we track the evolution of these films and explore the innovations and triumphs of this newest Dorian Gray portrait of late-stage capitalism.
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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 Is Afraid is the best adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein ever made. Heavy spoilers for both stories, obviously. We have domineering creators; a mildly incestuous bride of Frankenstein; echoes, bookends, and reversals of the book’s signature images and themes; and a brand-new water motif that you could write a doctoral thesis unpacking. Oh and there’s something in the attic that we really have to talk about. Ari Aster has created something totally original here, but he also recalls, twists, subverts, and exposes all of the most powerful parts of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece.
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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 turning out to be a traditional “Chosen One”. Our discussion here is an investigation into Ciri’s latest worrying evolution as Death, destroyer of worlds. Maggie dives into Ciri’s possible futures and competing personas, and Cam feasts upon the greatest buffet of Sapkowski-style Problem-of-Evil-writing we’ve ever gotten. This chapter was brutally dark, though you may find our discussion both pleasant and enlightening. Tee-hee. (Cam’s tired.)
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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 of you - go check out this fantastic film! It's in theaters right now. Our spoiler-free discussion runs through all of the beloved action movies that this film evokes and builds upon - from the first John Wick and Deadpool movies to Inglorious Basterds and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Check out the movie here: https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/sisu
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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 desperate, precarious moment, there’s no work of art we’d rather the talking about than Ben Affleck’s Air. It’s the first release from his revolutionary new production company that prioritizes creative freedom and proper financial compensation for the whole production crew. We run through details of the Writers Strike, break down Artists Equity, and then do our usual sparkling analysis of this miraculous and incredibly well-executed movie. This one’s important.
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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 insights that we wanted to share!
This first episode, Succession: The Many Deaths of Logan Roy, is an eight-echo theory about the bookending of Succession’s first and last seasons. Basically, the first two episodes of the first season are an eerily familiar dress rehearsal of the final season’s big twist.
Our second new episode, Succession Rewatch: The Sitcom Reset, is live right now on Substack! In that episode, Cam develops a theory about the curious connection between the show’s off-kilter episodic structure and Logan’s fickle affection for his children. Subscribe here to listen to that episode: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
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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 elaborate and enigmatic creation: Yennefer of Vengerberg. Cam dives deep into symmetry, both within this chapter and the series as a whole. Maggie returns to Bird Corner (with good reason!). In light of certain revelations in this chapter, we pinpoint the Netflix show’s greatest mistake.
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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, and we’ve got thoughts! Join us for a breakdown of the game’s character classes, abilities, gear, and skill trees. We also explore the graphical evolutions from Diablo III to Diablo IV, along with this game’s unique atmosphere. We discuss quest lines and variety, and share some concerns as we wait for the full release in June.
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Welcome back to Second Breakfast! Today’s episode is a pre-written column in the style of our recent Substack-exclusive bonus episodes discussing Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, 65, and the scourge that is the multiverse.
This time, Cam’s written up his complicated thoughts on Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside, starring Willem Dafoe. It's a celebration of challenging art and black box theater!
Subscribe to our Substack to support the show and get access to exclusive bonus episodes discussing ‘Tarantino Tension,’ Black Christmas, Pearl, Barbarian, and Top Gun: Maverick.
We’ll see you back here on Friday for our discussion of the Diablo IV open beta!
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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 surprises in structure, plot, and character that reveals a growing trend in Sapkowski’s writing about neutrality and self-interest. We develop a working theory of the tension at the center of his fantasy world, and discuss all the curious little cross-pollinations across our backburner storylines. Cam also confuses snakes and the Northern Lights.
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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 confidence and charisma for days, the kind of urgency that turns genre films into classics, and a quiet course correction of everything that tanks modern mainstream movies. This was so much fun!
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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 witcher is reaching the end of his long decline, and tries to chart the devolution of Geralt’s core ideals and abilities. We also dive into our new friend Avallac’h, who teases and torments Geralt with a discussion of prophecy that permanently alters this series’ engagement with that subject. Finally, we stitch together a tapestry of Tolkien echoes and apparent references, before analyzing the purpose of these evocations - and building a theory about Sapkowski’s central diversion from the world of LOTR and the primacy of self-interest in our governing philosophies. But hey, if you’re worried things get too heavy, don’t be. The episode starts with a review of our wonderful, silly visit to a renaissance faire!
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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 preoccupation with infidelity in this movie. Temptation, seduction, and betrayal motivate every movement of the plot, and it serves a centuries-long connection between vampire lore and the archetype of the femme fatale. Join us as we dive into this delightful, goofy, horny masterpiece. Maggie also uncomfortably says the word “copulate” about a hundred times.
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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 stretches the parallels to breaking point and suggests some fascinating distinctions between the two characters that lead us to a revealing conversation about ultraviolence and vengeance. We also advance the Thomas Hobbes state of nature discussion with even more animal-themed characters, and fresh insight into Sapkowski’s commentary on the social contract. Oh and one guy looks like a frog.
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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, and a deeply compelling female protagonist. For Cam, we’ve got the agony and inspiration of artistic creation and the philosophical grappling with religion. Join us for a wildly enthusiastic analysis of this movie, and then shut up and go see it.
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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 contracts and Thomas Hobbs’ state of nature. We also meet a guy named Fulko, who’s basically a funhouse Falka – and a gateway into a discussion on extremism. Maggie tracks Geralt’s uncomfortable relationship with omens and prophecy, trying to figure out if he still believes in destiny. Cam investigates our traveling company for ghosts and echoes of Geralt’s tortured subconscious.
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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 here. Every plot point in this movie is recycled from the last two – but it’s boring now. And unnecessary. None of the characters grow, except Darth Vader (who we never see). Instead, we spend 90 minutes trapped on Endor, where people stand around a lot and recap the trilogy. This film is the unfortunate blueprint for the 40 years of subsequent bad Star Wars sequels. We take a quick look at them all and try to figure out where the franchise could go next. At least Harrison Ford is still dashing? Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
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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-Pooh purist - smiled and cackled throughout this gleefully heretical romp. Let's dive into why this movie works: brutal efficiency, entertaining creature design, a shockingly good sense of structure and pacing, and that timeless / campy style of comedy that doesn't involve a single solitary quip.Oh this one was so much fun!
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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 time, Maggie explores the titular swallow, and draws some connections to the albatross featured in Chapter 3. Cam plays with Sapkowski’s new double pivot in the Geralt/Bonhart comparison, and argues that this chapter signals the beginning of Ciri finally reckoning with Falka’s misdeeds. Together, we reflect on the paradox of adapting the Witcher – it’s simultaneously pedestrian and wildly experimental, and kneecapped by the audience’s expectation of epic fantasy.
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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 the all-time “Game of Thrones” battle episodes, Blackwater and Watchers on the Wall. But before we made the trip to Westeros, he dove into a cave and scared the bejeezus out of us. There might not be a better instance of sustained tension in the history of the genre. Between the cave-ins and the creatures (!) and the flashlight cinematography, The Descent is an hour-and-a-half of death grip terror.
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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 forward hundreds of years as archaeologists discover the remains of our heroes in a museum setting. We’ve got updates and surprises across every major storyline and character, new spies popping up on every page, constant omens of death and danger, and a bird that fascinates Maggie to no end.
Pretty Little Liars video from Mike’s Mic: https://youtu.be/Umjv8AEWaPg
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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 movie in years, a fuzzed-out, ultra low-budget, experimental cascade of nightmarish atmosphere and gleefully opaque storytelling. Messy, provocative, frustrating, admirable - this one’s a doozy. Let’s dive into it!
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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 hearts. And even though 2004's Van Helsing bombed both critically and commercially, it is an absolute delight!Cam and Tristan dive into this forgotten classic to discuss the unique flavor of gothic fantasy, the virtues of standalone genre movies, the role of earnestness in epic storytelling, Van Helsing as an Americanized 'Witcher' movie, and the infectious passion of 'popcorn movies'.
Here's the article we reference during the show: https://bloodknife.com/everyone-beautiful-no-one-horny/
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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 belt as Shakespeare's Henry IVbecomes suddenly and powerfully resonant to the world of The Witcher.But before that, we work through Ciri's latest identity crisis. Who will emerge from Vizzy's swamp, Ciri, Princess Cirilla, or Falka? We wonder how the fate of the Rats will impact her decision. Longtime listener Peregrine helps us work through a discussion about shadow presences and narrative subconscious as we unpack Bonhart's eerie similarities to Geralt. Finally, we try to figure out where all of these menacing 'narrative zoom out' scenes are headed. Are we being watched? Is someone listening in? Let's talk it out!
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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 a dark, stark adventure seemingly born out of a bunch of what-if scenarios that upend and challenge everything that made the first movie great – and somehow make this film even greater.
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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 serving guest star whom we lovingly nicknamed Vizzy da Bomba. But who is this new man? Is he the narrator? The storyteller from last chapter? Sapkowski himself? Geralt? Regis?? Another unicorn?!?! We take a longer look at the new narrative preoccupation in this chapter, with its cutaway zoom-out scenes and underlying struggles with objectivity and the act of narration.
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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 Released in 2022 and Best Work of Art We Discovered in 2022. Get ready for surprises and snubs, honorable mentions, and a bonus little 'Year in Review' segment recapping the 103 (!) episodes that we released this year!
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For all you cheaters out there, here’s a list of everything we mentioned in the episode:
House of the Dragon (2022 TV series on HBO) Barbarian (2022 horror movie, streaming on HBO Max) The Batman (2022 movie streaming on HBO Max) Terrifier 2 (2022 horror movie streaming on Screambox, or rent on Prime) The Whale (currently in theaters) Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (read for free on Webtoon, or order volumes 1-4) Stardew Valley (indie game available for Switch, Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, iOS, or Android here) The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (order here) Fear of the Dawn by Jack White (2022 rock album, streaming everywhere) The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski (available at most bookstores, including here) Hulk: Gray by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (6-issue comic series, see buying options here) Barry Lyndon (1975 Kubrick movie, streaming on HBO Max) Tusk (2014 movie streaming on HBO Max) Funny Games (2007 movie available for rent on Prime) X (2022 movie available on Showtime and Prime) Pearl (2022 movie available for rent on Prime) The Banshees of Inisherin (2022 movie streaming on HBO Max)
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, Mirkwood, Gollum, the light/fire/ash cycle, the narrator question, Helm’s Deep, Weathertop, birds – need we go on? At first glance this chapter didn’t strike us as a “finale”. It didn’t answer any major questions or advance the greater narrative, but upon closer inspection there are a half dozen small, character-focused “finales” and resolutions that evolve our supporting cast. Merry Christmas Eve Eve, see you next Friday for the 125th annual Brekkies!
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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 short story, Wooltide Cheer, which you can listen to here: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
Maggie and Tristan lead a conversation through Cam’s creative process, from the real-life ornament that inspired the idea, the anxiety of finding a happy ending for a sad story, the freedom of writing without a plan, and the joy of finding your own character’s voice. We also tackle the theory that all art is autobiographical, and use the story as a framework to discuss the intense attachment to ornaments that we develop, and our evolving relationships with holiday tradition as we age.
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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 time. We discuss this chapter as an echo and restaging of the conclave, and a continuation of the recent novelistic scope. Yennefer and Geralt’s connection grows stronger as they’re both consumed by guilt. Ciri reemerges from under Falka’s wrath.
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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 an overwhelming sense of wonder and imagination. We discuss this movie as a work of “space fantasy”, in the context of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Witcher, before diving into the narrative tools and magic tricks that make this a masterpiece.
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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 rude bystander. Dandelion receives a flesh wound, and Geralt almost drowns in guilt. Regis is exactly who we thought he was, but we have no idea what to make of Cahir. There’s a delightful soup scene.
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Cam had a night alone and decided to watch a movie - and oh look, it turned out to be a fascinating Doctor Faustusretelling. So here's an episode discussing Oliver Stone's 1987 epic, Wall Street.Is Gordon Gekko an analogue for Mephistopheles or Satan? (Yes, both) How does the "greed" of this story compare to that of Faustus? (Hint: it makes the good doctor even more sympathetic). Martin Sheen also drops in to perfectly execute the Old Man role, and the final breaking point between Gekko and Fox pointedly echoes the homoeroticism of Marlowe's play. There's some discussion of American Psychoas well, and a deconstruction of the movie's ending, which pivots away from Marlowe and sees Faustus strike up a new, last-minute contract that leaves us with a message of hope, not divine punishment.
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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 the whole time? What makes a Christmas movie 'rewatchable'?Will the American fetish for regency England ever die? Find out in this week's thrilling new episode of Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie!
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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 shockingly, unnervingly ordinary. Every twist and turn feels possible, and relatable, and hopeless. It’s a movie about fear, a cat and mouse game that denies you all the tropes and clichés that usually remind you that this is just a movie. Our discussion is an investigation, our attempt to find out what it is that makes this movie so unbelievably scary.
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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 little fellowship and jettisons all the new characters, which sparks a debate about guest stars and the future of the series’ ensemble. Maggie develops a theory about smoke and fire that helps to explain the book’s title. Cam dives into war profiteering, exploitation, collateral damage.
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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 McDonagh’s (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, In Bruges) latest movie. Cam frames this recommendation through a comparison to Shakespeare, because this is somehow the best tragedy, comedy, and history we’ve seen in a long time. No one working today writes a better character study than McDonagh. Stop reading this and go buy tickets.
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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 about his complicated relationship with Benvenuto Cellini’s 16th-century sculpture, Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Cam rounds things out with his journey of finding, outgrowing, and rediscovering Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
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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 on-location intro - and immersive, terrifying late night rewatch - we jump into the film’s unique burned out look and the predatory, restless camera work that is still so unsettling even decades later. Cam tries to puzzle out the suggestive, broken logic of all those bone decorations and twig sculptures. Maggie tackles the idea of TCM as a slasher and celebrates its unabashed passion for the horror genre. We discuss Leatherface in contrast with Michael Myers and break down what is arguably the greatest murder weapon in all of horror. Cam wraps things up with his theory that Grandpa might be a vampire.
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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 philosophies get more complex, and Sapkowski continues to hammer the Tolkien echoes. We don’t just read about isolationism and the suspicion of strangers – he provokes those uncomfortable feelings within us. As Geralt’s mission falters, we discuss the psychological implications of his bad decision-making.
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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 found footage horror. We also look at the unusual production of the movie and how it enhanced that palpable 'realism' on-screen. Cam offers a theory about the film's controversial choice not to show the witch at the end of the movie - spoiler alert, he thinks they kinda did show the witch at the end of the movie. We close with a discussion of reverse echoes to better understand how Blair Witchmight have influenced HBO's True Detective.
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Here are the links to watch / listen to Cam's performance of this short story before you tune in to our discussion:
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5DFzfGxtM
SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3FJKWC1
In just over 400 words, more than a century ago, Mark Twain constructed the perfect fable for our current moment. With a handful of talking animals and a painting that we never actually see, he stages our reactionary, polarized media landscape, the tremendously powerful influencers and tastemakers that dominate our cultural discourse, the unending stream of soulless reboots and unfaithful adaptations that haunt our theaters, the ravages of late stage capitalism - and through it all, even in the darkest moments, the astonishing power of art.
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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 that’s surprisingly difficult to pin down. Our discussion covers all 9 films. Here’s a little recap for anyone who’s a little rusty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7gvPFnej8w
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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 that’s surprisingly difficult to pin down. Our discussion covers all 9 films. Here’s a little recap for anyone who’s a little rusty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7gvPFnej8w
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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. With war waging all around our characters, Geralt’s cold non-intervention is suddenly everywhere. It’s an on-the-ground navigation of the problem of evil that gives us unparalleled insight into his character. We also notice a slow avalanche of Tolkien echoes and pointed pivots that turn the fantasy genre on its ear while reaffirming its foundational humanity. We finally find out what Maggie had for breakfast this morning.
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YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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. With war waging all around our characters, Geralt’s cold non-intervention is suddenly everywhere. It’s an on-the-ground navigation of the problem of evil that gives us unparalleled insight into his character. We also notice a slow avalanche of Tolkien echoes and pointed pivots that turn the fantasy genre on its ear while reaffirming its foundational humanity. We finally find out what Maggie had for breakfast this morning.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 for this week. It’s our tenth episode, which also means it’s the tenth pilot episode. We walk through all the echoes and bookends with the series premiere – crownings, miscarriages, and a rogue Daemon. We debate Lucerys’ death and Aemond’s culpability (since most of our listeners think it was “an accident”). Finally, we try to figure out the exact moment in this episode where the show hit its stride and finally caught up with Game of Thrones. Maggie continues to champion incest, and someone other than Cam finally brings up Faustus.
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Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 for this week. It’s our tenth episode, which also means it’s the tenth pilot episode. We walk through all the echoes and bookends with the series premiere – crownings, miscarriages, and a rogue Daemon. We debate Lucerys’ death and Aemond’s culpability (since most of our listeners think it was “an accident”). Finally, we try to figure out the exact moment in this episode where the show hit its stride and finally caught up with Game of Thrones. Maggie continues to champion incest, and someone other than Cam finally brings up Faustus.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
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Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 second week in theaters. But there's more to this story.
Damien Leone's signature creation, Art the Clown, is not just an inventive modern horror icon and a glorious, singular creative vision - he is a beacon of artistic expression. Art is making art truly fearless and dangerous again. He is a snarling, joyful, deliriously evil antidote to the silly moral panics that genuinely threaten creative freedom, a shining refutation to all those pearl-clutching arguments about 'gratuitous' sex and violence. We celebrate the spectacular success of Terrifier 2 in this puritanical climate and discuss the previous two movies in the franchise, Terrifier and All Hallow's Eve. All hail Art the Clown!
GET TICKETS FOR TERRIFIER 2 NOW: https://www.terrifier2themovie.com/
WATCH ALL HALLOW'S EVE [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/391450/all-hallows-eve?start=true
WATCH TERRIFIER [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/559020/terrifier?start=true
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 second week in theaters. But there's more to this story.
Damien Leone's signature creation, Art the Clown, is not just an inventive modern horror icon and a glorious, singular creative vision - he is a beacon of artistic expression. Art is making art truly fearless and dangerous again. He is a snarling, joyful, deliriously evil antidote to the silly moral panics that genuinely threaten creative freedom, a shining refutation to all those pearl-clutching arguments about 'gratuitous' sex and violence. We celebrate the spectacular success of Terrifier 2 in this puritanical climate and discuss the previous two movies in the franchise, Terrifier and All Hallow's Eve. All hail Art the Clown!
GET TICKETS FOR TERRIFIER 2 NOW: https://www.terrifier2themovie.com/
WATCH ALL HALLOW'S EVE [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/391450/all-hallows-eve?start=true
WATCH TERRIFIER [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/559020/terrifier?start=true
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
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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 expectations and pressures of ‘the big ninth episode,’ and House of the Dragon is no different. We start with some surprising parallels with lesser known GOT Episode 9s. We also discuss the latest format shift for the show, settling into one group of characters in one place at one time. Villains become human and hatred festers before our eyes. We turn to Rhaenys and try to figure out why she spared the usurpers, and whether she had any other option. Maggie continues to find sympathy for Alicent, and Cam and Tristan find an uneasy empathy for Aegon and Aemond. We close with a discussion of Viserys’ absence and the tonal future of the show going into Season 2.
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Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 expectations and pressures of ‘the big ninth episode,’ and House of the Dragon is no different. We start with some surprising parallels with lesser known GOT Episode 9s. We also discuss the latest format shift for the show, settling into one group of characters in one place at one time. Villains become human and hatred festers before our eyes. We turn to Rhaenys and try to figure out why she spared the usurpers, and whether she had any other option. Maggie continues to find sympathy for Alicent, and Cam and Tristan find an uneasy empathy for Aegon and Aemond. We close with a discussion of Viserys’ absence and the tonal future of the show going into Season 2.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 twists and tangles every new development throughout this war. Dijkstra gets promoted from spymaster to chess grandmaster, surpassing even Varys and Littlefinger. Ciri is viewed from a distance as a shadow of Geralt and possible villain. We discuss Philippa’s idea that the world will fall apart without magic. Yennefer is late for the magical Zoom call. Cam doesn’t know how wine works.
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YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie
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Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 twists and tangles every new development throughout this war. Dijkstra gets promoted from spymaster to chess grandmaster, surpassing even Varys and Littlefinger. Ciri is viewed from a distance as a shadow of Geralt and possible villain. We discuss Philippa’s idea that the world will fall apart without magic. Yennefer is late for the magical Zoom call. Cam doesn’t know how wine works.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 him anymore? lol. Well, if Paddy Considine doesn’t win an Emmy for this episode, then none of the Seven Gods are real. We explore this episode as a variation on grief art and discuss the much more harrowing representation of disease and decline versus just death and its ripple effects. We also parse the symbology of Viserys’ gold crown and gold mask to find out why he finally feels like a king here. Next we investigate Daemon’s apparent hero arc in contrast to his impotent past. At the same time, all three of us finally see Alicent’s side in this whole mess. We discuss Rhaenys’ royal past and possible future. Cam concludes his Macbeth investigation by finding a surprise double rug pull in the show’s remixing of Macbeth’s death. We also review the surprising results of some listeners’ polls, and briefly discuss Goodfellas.
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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 him anymore? lol. Well, if Paddy Considine doesn’t win an Emmy for this episode, then none of the Seven Gods are real. We explore this episode as a variation on grief art and discuss the much more harrowing representation of disease and decline versus just death and its ripple effects. We also parse the symbology of Viserys’ gold crown and gold mask to find out why he finally feels like a king here. Next we investigate Daemon’s apparent hero arc in contrast to his impotent past. At the same time, all three of us finally see Alicent’s side in this whole mess. We discuss Rhaenys’ royal past and possible future. Cam concludes his Macbeth investigation by finding a surprise double rug pull in the show’s remixing of Macbeth’s death. We also review the surprising results of some listeners’ polls, and briefly discuss Goodfellas.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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, complicated examples, including Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, Steven King, The West Wing, Winnie the Pooh, and the wide world of Tolkien-related properties. No homework required, this one’s just a podcast.
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Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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, complicated examples, including Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, Steven King, The West Wing, Winnie the Pooh, and the wide world of Tolkien-related properties. No homework required, this one’s just a podcast.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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, while she emasculates him, in a safe fortress, etc.). Don’t worry, Cam explains the connection in passionate detail. As we approach the final time jump the hosts discuss pacing and its effect on our expectations. We also game out various sketchy characters’ loyalties, including stay-at-home-dad Daemon, freaky Larys, and House Velaryon as a whole. We debate the idea that HOTD in itself has become “Team Rhaenyra”. We throw some cold water on Laenor’s happy escape, and explore Viserys’ legacy spread across newly central characters. Finally, we discuss the controversial low lighting of the night scenes and potential artistic and thematic explanations for it.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
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Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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, while she emasculates him, in a safe fortress, etc.). Don’t worry, Cam explains the connection in passionate detail. As we approach the final time jump the hosts discuss pacing and its effect on our expectations. We also game out various sketchy characters’ loyalties, including stay-at-home-dad Daemon, freaky Larys, and House Velaryon as a whole. We debate the idea that HOTD in itself has become “Team Rhaenyra”. We throw some cold water on Laenor’s happy escape, and explore Viserys’ legacy spread across newly central characters. Finally, we discuss the controversial low lighting of the night scenes and potential artistic and thematic explanations for it.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 evolving identity as she adopts a new name taken from the Elder Speech. Cam looks for the continued shadow of Yennefer and comes up empty, before realizing that this chapter is a biting meditation on Geralt. We respond to some listener feedback that leads us into a Tolkien discussion of callbacks, ideas, and imagery throughout the fantasy canon. Speaking of canon, we get another delightful installment of Maggie’s Mythology Corner, this time diving into Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
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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 takes us through a laundry list of echoes to the actual pilot of the show, including grisly childbirths, another set of important deaths, and the merits of short but potent character arcs. We discuss Daemon’s new kind of impotence and what it means for his next steps and potential new allies. We examine the prevalence and repercussions of isolation in this new era of the show, and do a lot of reading between the lines of the time jump. Maggie takes us through the deadly battlefield of childbirth, and lauds the show’s remarkably grounded depictions of the pre- and post-partum experiences. Cam’s Macbeth parallel continues with the play’s prophetic Birnam Wood and “none of woman-born”. Tristan eulogizes Harwin Strong and his uniquely healthy presentation of fatherhood.
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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 Harry Potter. We’re parsing prophecy this week, and a sudden deluge of Tolkien echoes and reversals. Cam continues to develop his narrativity theory, and we analyze Ciri’s split future and the growing importance of free will in this story. Finally, we continue to track Yennefer’s shadow, which hangs heavily over the proceedings. Only one chapter left, and then it’s on to Baptism of Fire!
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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 downfall, his ethics, and his future. We continue last week’s discussion about Daemon’s impotence with some help from a listener. Cam caps off his Macbeth comparison with the appearance of Banquo’s ghost. We celebrate Alicent’s ascension and game out her allies going forward. Tristan goes viral on TikTok.
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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 spiraling smoothie of spellbinding storytelling structures, brilliantly combining short story efficiency with cinematic montages and television editing. We've got a deep dive into Emhyr var Emreis that pointedly echoes and contrasts last week's examination of Vilgefortz, and Cam suggests that these characters are working together as split foils for Geralt. Yennefer manages to jump out of every page too, despite not being in a single scene, thanks to Sapkowski's relentless mysteries and misdirections. We also debate Geralt's declarations about neutrality / destiny and try to figure out if he's really changed his beliefs about self-interest at all, and Maggie leads us through a conversation about evolving Tolkien-isms and the role of recaps in fantasy.
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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 listener feedback starts a discussion about sexual agency and shifting power dynamics. Maggie wonders if Daemon set up Rhaenyra vis-à-vis Otto’s spies. We debate Alicent’s loyalties and future in the wake of her father’s demotion and Viserys’ impending death. We analyze the playhouse dramatization of House Targaryen though the lenses of political cartoons and online comments sections. Cam ends the show with a bang as he evolves his ongoing Macbeth comparison, tracking the shadow of Banquo and the paranoia of prophecy.
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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 Witcher world. But luckily for us, Sapkowski is a lot more creative than that. Shit hits the fan, and every single subplot of the book erupts into a cataclysmic kaleidoscope. Vilgefortz ascends to the top of our magical hierarchy (and maybe above the story itself). Ciri gets a promotion of biblical proportions. Yennefer continues to confuse and arouse both us and Geralt (heyo). We have literally no idea what’s going to happen next chapter – and we love it.
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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 is heavy and provocative in this one, which makes for fascinating discussion. The white hart and the boar provide both questions and answers about our characters and their eventual fates. We debate Daemon’s motivations and plans regarding his attack on the Stepstones, as well as Viserys’ place in history, prophecy, and his own family. We also incorporate some insightful listener feedback, and gush over the MVP of the episode – an unexpected pug.
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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 Sapkowski’s multi-layered dialogue, which reveals a wealth of information about dozens of characters. Old friends and rivals appear, a new villain is introduced, and Yennefer and Geralt’s relationship goes to the next level. The only thing this Gatsby-esque party is missing is Jay himself. Schemers, deceivers, and 1,000-year-old wizards fill the magnificent halls of this chapter – and make us extra nervous for the coming conclave.
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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 this great episode of TV. We take a long look at King Viserys in particular, and try to determine if he’s dishonest, cowardly, or relatable – or all of the above. We analyze Rhaenyra as a predecessor/improvement on Dany. Cam compares HOTD and GOT through a Shakespearean framework. Tristan tries to see the best in Daemon. We debate the choice to reuse the theme music and parse the symbology of the visuals in the new title sequence. Finally, we bring you some new installments of Incest Watch and the Marble Mystery, and speculate about the imminent, ill-advised wedding.
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Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 this great episode of TV. We take a long look at King Viserys in particular, and try to determine if he’s dishonest, cowardly, or relatable – or all of the above. We analyze Rhaenyra as a predecessor/improvement on Dany. Cam compares HOTD and GOT through a Shakespearean framework. Tristan tries to see the best in Daemon. We debate the choice to reuse the theme music and parse the symbology of the visuals in the new title sequence. Finally, we bring you some new installments of Incest Watch and the Marble Mystery, and speculate about the imminent, ill-advised wedding.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod
Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/
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 to take traditional Tolkien-y tropes and flip them on their heads – the Nazgûl, armies of the undead, and weather-controlling wizards to name a few. Our central characters are finally reunited, and primed to move forward on their quest – but where to? We certainly don’t know, and we love it. We also discuss the uncomfortably eerie familiarity of the rising (and increasingly normalized) fascism in the wake of Nilfgaard’s takeover.
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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 to take traditional Tolkien-y tropes and flip them on their heads – the Nazgûl, armies of the undead, and weather-controlling wizards to name a few. Our central characters are finally reunited, and primed to move forward on their quest – but where to? We certainly don’t know, and we love it. We also discuss the uncomfortably eerie familiarity of the rising (and increasingly normalized) fascism in the wake of Nilfgaard’s takeover.
Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
Feedback & Theories: secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
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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 to take traditional Tolkien-y tropes and flip them on their heads – the Nazgûl, armies of the undead, and weather-controlling wizards to name a few. Our central characters are finally reunited, and primed to move forward on their quest – but where to? We certainly don’t know, and we love it. We also discuss the uncomfortably eerie familiarity of the rising (and increasingly normalized) fascism in the wake of Nilfgaard’s takeover.
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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 Thrones spinoff series. Friend of the show (and the Podcast of Life) Tristan joins us for our first full discussion of House of the Dragon. We discuss first impressions, standout moments and characters, echoes and parallels to Game of Thrones, and the complications of having Targaryens as our main characters. We explore the ways in which our new showrunners manage to subvert our expectations, especially after a disappointing ending to the original show. We have a hearty discussion about the show’s female characters, in the context of the Westeros universe and a 2022 audience (vs a 2011 one). We speculate about what’s to come for the rest of the season, and we spend a good amount of time fangirling over Matt Smith.
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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 in his short-story-structure utility belt, while keeping us informed and invested in the larger threads of his story. We get quite a few new characters – including the fantasy version of Saul Goodman. This chapter is all about ramping up: war and death omens continue, prophecies are foretold, spies appear left and right, and the growing mistrust and suspicion among magical races (contempt, if you will) is spreading. We also share a delightful, cheerful, and wonderful anecdote from our home life this week.
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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 unauthorized adaptation. It turns out this film exists in multiple versions – and we dig deeper into the implications and lasting effects of centuries-long games of artistic telephone. Speaking of adaption – Bram Stoker’s novel is not an easy one to adapt, and Nosferatu is no exception. Other versions of this story creep into our discussion, including Bela Lugosi (1931), Gary Oldman (1992), plus a few other horror staples (hello Michael Myers). More than anything, this film’s iconic character design of Count Orlok, combined with the striking imagery and special effects, still made for a visually stunning and rather unnerving viewing experience. We hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s Summerween series! We’ll definitely be back again next year.
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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 Breakfast community. Subscribe for free, or become a premium member for $5/month: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/
GIVEAWAY: All listeners who sign up for the paid Substack subscription within the first week (by Friday, August 19) will receive a free Second Breakfast sticker, plus a chance to win a $25 credit to our Threadless merch store. Yay stuff!
THE CHAPTER: The finale of Blood of Elves was not at all what we expected – but in the very best way. Sapkowski took us on a Tolkienesque journey, catching us up on the characters we’ve been missing, but without wasting a second of our time. We understand more about Yennefer and Ciri than we ever have, and we in turn understand more about Geralt, despite his distinct absence from the chapter. In another Middle Earth parallel, birds and the weather make several appearances, warning us of the dangers to come. We also learn the rules and volatility of magic, and an old metaphor returns in a new light.
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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 familiar actor, and then just when you start to get comfortable, you realize the door is locked and all hell breaks loose. We discuss the ways in which this movie remixes and builds upon the canons of Dracula, Frankenstein, and (of course) Doctor Faustus, and then spend some time breaking down the genuinely troubling, masterful creature design. We also reflect on the film’s remarkably tragic ending (spoiler warnings included).
Special thanks to listener Adam for recommending this one!
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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 them play out in practicality. The merits of self-interest vs larger causes, taking action vs lying in wait, using key players as pawns vs disposing of them – we get multiple POVs playing out these ideas (with remarkable nonchalance), and each zoom in gives us a view of another cog in Sapkowski’s machine. This is the penultimate chapter of the novel, and it shows – things are ramping up in a truly exciting and unexpected way. We also tease a special announcement for next week, along with our Summerween pick for next Tuesday.
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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 of the audience’s thought process, combined with the creative limitation of a deaf/mute protagonist, made for a movie experience that is part puzzle box, part one-act play. We are encouraged to participate in the plot of this film, and our strong connection to Kate Siegel’s character makes it hard not to. The comparisons to other horror classics abound here: Halloween, The Strangers, Sinister, and Funny Games all make an appearance. Thank you to Amanda for suggesting this movie! We had a wonderfully spooky time.
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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 know. Familiar themes and old friends evolve all around us as we’re introduced to Professor Dandelion, Old Man Geralt, and a nasty sea monster. We continue our discussion about tyrannical self-interest and the growing role of magic in this story. We also tease a special announcement of an announcement that we’ll be announcing in two weeks. Stay tuned.
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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 Hollywood Reporter, while Maggie brings us her reactions and brief analysis of the newly released trailer. We discuss the unique challenges of prequels, the importance of visual language in TV and film (especially in fantasy worlds), and the value of having direct involvement from the original creator. Rings of Power comes up throughout the discussion, as do several other fantasy adaptations and genre franchises. We really can’t wait to watch and discuss this show next month. In the meantime, more thrills and chills are coming your way next week!
Hollywood Reporter article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/house-of-the-dragon-game-of-thrones-prequels-1235181929/
Bernadette Banner on Game of Thrones being “historically accurate”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7aBLEio6J8
Cam’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/camfucile
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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 wall like pieces of spaghetti. The ideas that were debated in the abstract in Chapter 3 have come fully into practice as we encounter old friends and new enemies. Our characters debate and test the merits of Geralt’s cold neutrality vs Triss’s idealized activism, and Ciri tries her hand at both. Somehow, the politics and worldviews in this Polish book published in 1994 are ringing remarkably true for this 2022 American audience. If you’re not reading along at this point, drop everything you’re doing and catch up right now – these books are a true delight.
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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. It turns out Ti West’s X and Carrie Cracknell’s Persuasion have quite a lot in common. Join Cam as he brings Maggie along for a bizarre ride while meditating on love, the passage of time, maternal absence, and the consequences of seizing – and not seizing – the day. Both of these films pay beautiful homage to the forebearers of their respective subgenres (Jane Austen period pieces + 70s slashers), yet still appeal to a distinctly modern audience. Stream both of these movies for a truly funky and thought-provoking double feature.
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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 moving character moments and big-picture revelations. Triss continues to flourish as one of our new favorite characters, and her outsider perspective is essential to get Geralt’s forest-for-the-trees attitude under control. We learn a heck of a lot more about Ciri’s magic, and our boy Sapkowski sets us up perfectly for the rest of the story to take off. Plus, we accidentally invented new gross nicknames for ourselves (shh, just go with it).
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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 most unsettling, emotionally gripping, and terrifyingly realistic horror movies we’ve ever seen. Truly astounding performances from Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Ethan Hawke, combined with a remarkable restraint that is rarely seen in contemporary horror, made this a cinematic experience that’s hard to shake. This movie feels like Saw and Stranger Things had a weird true crime baby. Go see it immediately. It's in theaters right now and available to rent digitally this Friday!
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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, as we follow Triss through her introduction to Ciri and her complicated relationship with Geralt. We get to examine the ideas of found family, the limits and cost of magic, strength in femininity, and grappling with prejudice and worlds we don’t understand. Cam also rambles about Downton Abbey, and Maggie makes a really weird comment about Lemony Snicket (don’t blame us, we’ve been sick for 11 days).
(FYI: Maggie got the “Summerween” idea from a readathon by the same name, first hosted in 2021 by gabbyreads and oliviareadsalatte on YouTube. They’re hosting another one this summer! You can learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9_Dru36JX4)
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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, loss, true crime, and our role as consumers of those things. We talk about what it means for a horror film to feel “real”, why we watch true crime, and how subtle special effects can be oh so scary. We spoil this movie here (thanks Cam), so be warned! This discussion pairs nicely with our episode from last week on Funny Games, so give that one a listen too if you have the guts.
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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 Elves hooked us right away, with knockout character moments, thrilling action sequences, powerful author statements, and oh yeah – Yennefer (the real one). This chapter acts as pure hype for the rest of the series, and we can’t wait to continue down this path with Geralt & co. Onwards and upwards, good friends!
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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 centered on a shocking argument from Cam – this movie is a perfect Faustus story (no really, it is). This episode is about more than just a really good, really terrifying scary movie – it’s about theology, Elizabethan drama, true crime, hubris, demons, family, and post-2008 America. This discussion is full of spoilers by necessity, so give this movie a watch if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it (or maybe you will?? Watch at your own risk).
Our original (spoiler-free) discussion of Sinister from April 2021 (begins at 54:19): https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/18743366
For creatives: here's co-writer C. Scott Cargill's encouraging, inspirational Twitter: https://twitter.com/Massawyrm
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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 absolutely blew us out of the water. Geralt’s back to fighting monsters, Ciri is much truer to her book self, and Yennefer is called out for being – well, the way that she is. Structurally, this episode followed Sapkowski’s storytelling pretty closely; and yet there were a few significant changes for this TV adaptation that really worked. This episode, like Episode 3, was what we wanted this show to be, and it made us delightfully hopeful for Season 2.
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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 punch. It is DEEPLY UPSETTING. Michael Haneke knows exactly what he’s doing – he takes the horror genre, flips it on its head, and exposes the true horrors of reality and of our own expectations. We are not entertained; instead, we are disturbed by our own desire for entertainment. We’ve been wanting to watch this movie for years, and it was not what we expected, but it absolutely blew us away. Spoilers ahead, ye be warned. Funny Games was a masterpiece, in the strangest and most unsettling ways.
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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 stalled for about 45 minutes, and we’re taking a lot of time to circle back to moments we’ve seen before. Oddly, much of the material in this episode did not originate from the books, and those bits were actually okay. This show succeeds when it’s not trying to “fix” Sapkowski’s source material. Unfortunately, Geralt is at best a side character this time around, and Yennefer continues to baffle us. But on the plus side, there’s a cute scene where Ciri talks to a horse (Alexa, how do you spell “character echoes”?), and it really seems like Geralt and Ciri will finally meet in the next episode. Plus, only one more week until we dive into Blood of Elves. Good things to come!
Comics By Perch’s video on social commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMBjMriv9QM
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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 to experience it. Part psycho-sexual thriller, part camp horror masterpiece, this film was Rocky Horror meets Evil Dead. Julia was a special kind of protagonist, and the fantastic practical effects made for a stunning visual language on the screen. Cam also managed to once again make this a Faustus story, but it really works this time. This film is especially interesting when considered in its historical context of the 80s: Satanic panic, the AIDS epidemic, and the simultaneous sexual revolution / criticism of sexual deviancy all create a fun ecosystem for this film to thrive in. Our discussion is relatively spoiler-free – we hope you enjoy!
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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 changes made from original story to TV episode and why those matter. Changes themselves aren’t bad (see the definition for the word “adaptation”), but the specific changes here make for a clunky misunderstanding of Sapkowski’s story and characters. Plot changes upend important relationships and genre commentary, overwritten dialogue dehumanizes our favorite characters, and poor pacing removes any sense of tension or investment in our side plots. But don’t despair, dear reader; there are good moments too. Geralt is allowed a great moment of complexity, and his relationship with Dandelion (we don’t accept a “Jaskier” in this household) continues to shine. We want this show to be good, by gosh by golly we really do.
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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 horror masterpiece, The Ritual. Four friends go into the woods and then…bad things happen. This folklore-filled movie is surprisingly grounded and delightfully eerie. The naturalistic dialogue and fantastically terrifying creature design (not to mention an A+ forest that rivals The VVitch), make for a wonderfully spooky good time. Get a group of friends together and pull this baby up on Netflix. You won’t regret it.
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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 one fundamental problem, as we work through the many, many things we love about the character from the books and all of the deeply strange changes that they've made for this adaptation. There's a domino effect occurring through this season as Yennefer's introduction, origin story, and principle relationships are all botched, and therefore all of her subsequent decisions and declarations become nearly incomprehensible.
At least Henry Cavill is still spot-on, and this version of "The Last Wish" is probably the most structurally sound translation of one of Sapkowski's short stories that we've seen thus far. Well, except for the ending and the setting and the relationship chemistry. Look, we're trying here.Once again, we want this show to go be good!
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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, world class music cues, masterful performances all around, and maybe the funniest script ever written. Topics include: "perfect" works of art, the anatomy of great film narration, the importance of Karen's role, self-awareness in art, and the balancing of ensemble casts with all consuming protagonists.
Rest in peace Ray Liotta, you will be extraordinarily missed.
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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 crafted characters and ideas were abbreviated beyond belief, and the dialogue continued to give us “the ick”. The good news is that we get the ranting off our chests at the top, and then spend some time on the few things that were done well, followed by a big ol’ stack of feedback from PBS viewers like you! We ended up finding more things to praise about the show than we originally thought, and your thoughts and messages were delightful springboards for a variety of tangents and small discussions. Thank you as always for being such an enthusiastic audience. We love this community dearly ♥️
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Tatsuki Fujimoto's Chainsaw Manis 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 takes a deep dive into this 96-chapter manga to discuss the series' roots in Doctor Faustus and the classic Universal monster movies, the importance of a consistent creative team and affordability in comics, and the refreshing feeling of fun in an art world poisoned by ironic detachment.
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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 show, and he gets to put on his deerstalker hat and Aragorn pants and actually – get this – solve a crime. The striga is truly terrifying, and the atmosphere in that castle is A+. Yennefer continues to be a fascinating character, and her gritty transformation had us hooked and locked in. Ciri got “demoted” to Daenerys status, and we weren’t mad about it. This episode felt like a proper adaptation, and it got us nice and hyped for the next one!
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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. Join us as we discuss some truly fantastic art across a variety of mediums, including:
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Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
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Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
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The Secret History by Donna Tartt
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All the President's Men by Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein
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Chainsaw Man by Tatsuki Fujimoto
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Falconspeare by Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
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Spider-Man #7 by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
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Batman: The Imposter by Mattson Tomlin & Andrea Sorrentino
Mamma Mia! Treadmill Strut Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73bghq7xwtr6kUOZJ7V5mn?si=55df18894c274b1e
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Discussion of The Witcher, Season 1, Episode 2: “Four Marks”
This episode is a strange cocktail - 3 parts Yennefer, 2 parts Ciri, and maybe just a salted rim of Geralt. We celebrate the great introductions of Yen and Dandelion before diving into the decidedly rocky writing of Ciri's plotline and the extreme abbreviation of Geralt's adventure with the Sylvan. We also discuss the obligations and pressures of adaptation, the incomparable depth and subtlety of Sapkowski's dialogue, and why we still have hope for this version of The Witcher!
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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. Romanticism, atmosphere, beauty, and surrealism unite these two stories, while narrative style and story structure create vastly different reading experiences. Both books feature male protagonists written by female authors, and both unabashedly engage in “the meta” in ways that make your head spin. These two books are a triumph, and we hope you enjoy Maggie’s enthusiastic analysis coupled with Cam’s (insightful but stuffy-nosed) perspective and reactions.
Buy The Starless Sea: https://bookshop.org/books/the-starless-sea/9781101971383
Buy Piranesi: https://bookshop.org/books/piranesi-9781432886578/9781635577808
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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 this description and she’s allowed to hate herself). Our first impressions of Netflix’s Witcher adaptation were mixed (structural problems galore!), but Henry Cavill’s performance more than made up for it. Renfri was fun, Stregobor was cool, and the combat violence was ~ e x t r a ~ crunchy. We think Calanthe was given the short straw here, but hey, maybe we’ll get fun flashbacks of her later?
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We're manifesting Halloween with a dive into this fantastichorror comic miniseries from Skottie Young and Jorge Corona. There's a painter, a haunted house, and a voice in the darkness - what more could you want? Discussion topics include: stylized art, narrative pacing / balance, the weaponization of shadows, the fantasy of creative freedom, The Shining,the muse / artist dynamic, surrealism, villain development, and the universality of isolation.
Buy this book: https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/the-me-you-love-in-the-dark-tp
And join us this Friday as we begin our coverage of the first season of Netflix's The Witcher!
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“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 Sapkowski’s world. How much control does Geralt have of his own destiny? Does "destiny" even exist? Does Geralt not believe in fate / destiny or does he fear the implications of those concepts? Yennefer, Ciri, Dandilion, Calanthe, and Death herself all make appearances in this final Witchershort story. It's a doozy! Plus, Cam admits a mistake (for perhaps the first time in his life) and Maggie can’t pronounce “irrevocable”.
Join us next Friday as we begin our coverage of the first season of Netflix's The Witcher!
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Developed by Andrew Shouldice and published by Finji, Tunicis a plucky, silent, Pixar-style little fantasy adventure that absolutely kicked Cam's ass. In our first ever discussion of fantasy games, we break down the magic of Tunicand all it has to say about the genre. How is worldbuilding achieved? How are tangential side quests and lore handled? How is atmosphere developed? There's a lot to dig into here - tropes are celebrated, Dark Souls comparisons are made, and we find out that Maggie is the only host who is any good at boss battles.
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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 genuinely stunning, providing us with the examinationof xenophobia that Tolkien only ever hinted at. Through action and conversation, we come to understand Lady Eithne's tragic and desperate position as a bitter reaction to centuries of unending colonialism / imperialism.
The concept of stories having hidden morals and lessons is also examined, not just at an academic level, but as an extension of religious belief and the narrativity that underpins any belief in "destiny" or "fate". We also discuss Geralt's more pragmatic definition of free will and the quiet human hierarchies of power and domination. What is "destiny" and what does it mean for someone to invoke that concept as an endorsement for their personal desires? Does Geralt truly not believe in the higher powers of this world or does he simply reject their authority over him? We end with a reexamination of Geralt's unbelief and the fundamental misunderstanding that leads Lady Eithne to call him a "nihilist".
What did you think of this story and the dozens of ideas that it played with? Let us know!
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Recalibration is the name of the game in this third entry of the Fantastic Beastsseries. From the very first scene, the film mercilessly redirects and refocuses the franchise, cutting and demoting multiple main characters and launching into a frenetic, complex new story that Maggie compares to a heist movie. The nuanced exploration of fascism continues as well, with an all-new Grindelwald who evolves the character from an eccentric cult leader into a terrifying, calculated politician. We also discuss the ideal path forward for the franchise and continue to heap all sorts of praise on Jacob. This is definitely the most positive we've felt about a Fantastic Beastsfilm so far!
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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 through the fractal prism of just about every other character in the story! Echoes and pivots - it all swirls around Geralt's head until he realizes he's now on the other side of free will and his infamous "Last Wish" from a few stories back. Elsewhere, Dandelion gets an unexpected promotion in his role as storyteller to become a Samwise Gamgee level narrator / meta-prophet with a plethora of hidden powers.
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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 much more effective than its predecessor. We debate the believability / convenience of "fantastic beasts" being tied to each new development of the plot. Cam analyzes Grindelwald's politics and the vague, veiled, faux-inspirational salesmanship of fascism. Maggie tries to figure out what, if anything, the Leta Lestrange and Nagini subplots accomplished. Then we come together to absolutely, 100% reject the big Creedence / Dumbledore reveal and explain why it's just another chess move from Grindelwald, the guy who the entire rest of the franchise establishes as a "silver-tongued" master manipulator who should never ever be listened to or trusted or believed. Duh.
Join us next Tuesday for our coverage of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore!
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Fascinating and frustrating - this first Fantastic Beastsmovie is probably more fun to talk about than to actually watch. We discuss the tonal and stylistic discordance between the Newt half of the movie and the Grindelwald half, and then try to re-cut the story to make it more satisfying and consistent. Would a Mandalorian-style mini cinematic universe have made more sense here? We also examine the character of Tina and try to figure out why she just doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the story. We close the discussion with our hopes / fears for the future of the "Wizarding World" franchise.
Join us on Tuesday for our coverage of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwaldand again the following Tuesday for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.We're also continuing our lovely little jaunt through The Witcherevery Friday.
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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 Sapkowski at the helm so all of this is done through a breezy, wildly entertaining adventure story that's half Wolf of Wall Streetand half The Thing.Discussion topics include: power, corruption, Tolkien, immortality, echoes, and a rather extensive tangent about slugs. Blame Maggie.
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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 revelations in these pages, as well as a whole lotta nothin' on many of the other pages. Hit and miss,as it were, but Cam has sifted through all of it and found the bright spots! Topics include the horrific, war-crime filled history of Durin and the dwarves' battles with Azog, the story of why and when Sauron created Black Speech, a whole host of updates about the fellowship's lives after LOTR, and then we take a goofy trip into the mind-numbing, pedantic world of Tolkien's linguistic annotations and clarifications that run like a funeral dirge through Appendix F.
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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. Let's just say that we're incredibly invested in these characters now. Love triangles and duels and the limits of magic - tragedy comes to the world of the Witcher and we hope it never leaves! Cam introduces a theory about "nightmare payoffs" and Maggie wonders if Geralt can feel emotion after all. We also break down the "kestrals" as painful, physicalized metaphors.
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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 character's mythology, "what if" stories that explore the butterfly effect of one clever change and reveal something new and profound about the Caped Crusader. After some examples, he zeroes in on Knights of Vengeance,and the stunning volley of gut punches that follow from the choice to turn Thomas Wayne into Batman instead of his son Bruce. The episode ends with a lovely little ode to comic shops and the joy of immersing yourself in art and artistic communities.
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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 Witcherstories. The theological preoccupation of The Last Wishis reframed into a discussion of chaos and order, and that new framework is refracted through a kaleidoscope of characters and perspectives. This story takes us from free will to prophecy to the problem of evil to misogyny to Dracula - we barely had any time left to make fun of Tom Bombadil!
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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 work as character commentary, the power of repeated panels, Batman's place in American folklore, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the blurred line between creating art and commenting on art, and the influence that this story had on the latest Batmanmovie.
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"The Voice of Reason 6 & 7" & "The Last Wish"
The first Witcherbook goes out with a bang! Sapkowski's dark, thoughtful fantasy world expands hugely with a short story about magic and love and a magical love that leaves us full of questions. Cam's got a theory about Yennifer that suggests she's more powerful than anyone we ever met in Middle-earth. (There are some worrying comparisons to Sauron, Gandalf, and Shelob) Maggie's got a whole bunch of concerns about the power of the djinn and the titanic ramifications of Geralt's mysterious "last wish". We also wrap up our coverage of the "Voice of Reason" framing device and consider the bookends and ideas that connected the short stories we've read so far. Join us next Friday for the first short story in the next collection, Sword of Destiny!
Cam also shares a very dumb idea about an easter bunny for adults.
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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 advantages of the comic book medium to tell a tense, efficient, ambiguous, and unfailingly humanstory about the origins of Batman and Jim Gordon - without using any of the classic villains. Instead, the action is propelled by institutional corruption and a thousand gorgeous echoes across storylines. Topics include: structural proficiency and the visual passage of time, Miller's talent for inner monologues and their similarities to Shakespearean verse, characterization through both action and reluctance, and the subtle work of deconstructing "heroes" while still crafting an aspirational story.
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"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 Reformation and one half Tolkien commentary about Gollum being a Miltonian Satan and the rampant isolationism throughout Middle-earth. Oh and it's also a fantastic, wholly original work of fantasy - and kind of a classic western that meditates on the cyclical nature of history and man's neverending quest for purpose.
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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 character, the unique challenge of detective stories, the legacies of Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Frank Miller, the balancing of humor and reality when dealing with costumed heroes, and the profound, dynamic effect of music in this film.
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"The Voice of Reason 4" & "A Question of Price"
Destinyis the centerpiece of this story - what is it, when is it decided, and who can influence it - and so our discussion leans heavily on the characters' various invocations of ethics and religion. Sapkowski is challenging Geralt's "code" in this story from all directions with another brilliant riff on the monster hunter trope. Pivots and curveballs cascade around the witcher - and hey, how does magic factor into all this?
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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 Numenor in the Second Age, the Witch King's brutal connection to the stewards of Gondor, and a tragic, beautiful series of vignettes from Aragorn and Arwen's love story.
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"The Voice of Reason 3" & "The Lesser Evil"
Another Witcherstory, another perfect volley of curveballs and provocations. Sapkowski is an absolute wizard, flipping his monster hunting formula on its head and hammering us with fascinating, complex character drama. Class commentaries abound, "destiny" is weaponized and debated, and everyone's role is reversed at least a few times. These stories have all been barnburners, and perfectly tailored for conversation - he writes fantasy stories that feels a lot like thought experiments. We get to talk about a kikimora andthe problem of evil, in the very same episode!
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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 from the original movie! Discussion topics include: what makes violence "shocking" in a modern horror film, the importance of runtime and pacing in a slasher, Cam almost crying because he was overwhelmed with sympathy for Leatherface, the difference between homages and straight retreads in a long-running franchise, how to nail politics in horror, and the one million billion ways in which this film is superior to the new Halloweenmovies (and kind of makes fun of them along the way!)
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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 and emotional investment, lore and the limited rights that Amazon has to Tolkien's work, and then we take a trip down memory road to remember some other times that beloved properties were rebooted or continued years after the original. Duds, copycats, impossible expectations, demonization of fans - none of this is new!
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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 tone and style. We discuss the gorgeous composition and machine gun editing of this film and try to understand why it feels so relentlessly surprising and fun. Expect a strange but earned comparison to Mad Max: Fury Road. We also take a deep dive into the emotionally devastating dance scene and Cam develops a theory about the film's pointed, rare moments of silence. Happy Valentine's Day!
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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 theories and ideas from the past two years, a compilation of the things that most surprised us along the way, and our updated opinions on the Peter Jackson movies. We also crown an MVP for the series and choose one word to characterize each of Tolkien's four Middle-earth books.
This one was fun and emotional to record, and we can't wait to continue our deep dive into art, fantasy, and ideas next week. Our Witcher coverage will move to Fridays and Tuesdays will continue to be wild card episodes!
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"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. Sapkowski is a master of pacing and pivots, and this story was just a joy for us to read. We discuss the story's quiet, pointed navigation of faith, hope, "monsters" and humanity - and the terrible difficulty of living your principles. There are also some fascinating technical moments where Sapkowski restricts the reader's view and understanding of a situation, feeding us piecemeal provocations and brilliantly guiding / engaging our imaginations. The execution of this story is as fruitful as its messaging, and we get into all of it!
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Lions and tigers and divisive experimental animation styles oh my! We're taking a look at Ralph Bakshi's 1978 Lord of the Ringsadaptation today and neither of us has ever seen anything like it. We discuss our first impressions and take a closer look at the mechanics of Bakshi's "mixed media" approach to animation. There are so many different art styles and directions on screen at any given time that the film develops a delirious, kaleidoscopic, totally unique character. After we finish up with the movie, we work through some of your wonderful and illuminating feedback!
Theresa's Horror Article: https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Fantastic_Horizon.html?id=HG-vjhQqE_cC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=1&redir_esc=y
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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 all the historical and academic context ready to go and Cam's got a laundry list of intriguing, baseless ideas - this is still Second Breakfast.We discuss the painting as a commentary / reaction to the art world's constant, endless demands for naturalism, and then look for signs of VGV's process and develop a theory about whenthe cigarette was added and what that might mean for it's overall message. We think the immediate dark humor of the piece is masking a harsher, more nuanced statement about technique and innovation.
High Resolution image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Head_of_a_skeleton_with_a_burning_cigarette_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
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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 really stand out. This film's editorial work masterfully expands on the book by integrating the scattered storylines to create powerful new echoes and parallels between our characters' movements. The violence is ratcheted up to such an abstract, visceral degree that it can only be described as "crunchy" - there is a visceral horror here that not many films successfully capture. But with those achievements, there comes a stark failing: the absence of The Scouring of the Shireand piecemeal undoing of The Grey Havens. The film seems to aggressively alter Tolkien's message about "home" and growing up, while taking pains to keep the hobbits from maturing and proving themselves. It all culminates with a strange, Frankenstein-ed rendition of the Grey Havenswhere Frodo's departure seems not only confusing, but - somehow - absolutely unnecessary. We break it all down with great aplomb and Cam goes on a passionate rant about ginger snaps.
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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 the ways in which the audience is supremely unsettled by Diana’s experience in the Royal Family. Kristen Stewart shines brighter than all the Crown Jewels combined, as her outstanding performance makes us question over and over what is real and what is imagined. The film features ghosts, hauntings, and characters interacting with their own preoccupations - Steven Knight was definitely wearing his Peaky Blinders hat when he wrote this script. This film challenges our modern view of the Royal Family (particularly that born from The Crown), and is a tragically, horrifically, and devastatingly beautiful portrayal of Diana Spencer.
Leena Norms’s Spencer video: https://youtu.be/0i4-NR94Ujw
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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, ROTKis a story of interpretation and addition. Some characters and chapters are cut entirely, but in their absence we get to see a brand new account of Aragorn's parlay with the army of the dead, an expansion of Elrond's influence, a very different version of the "Scouring of the Shire," and important narrative promotions for Legolas, Théoden, and Faramir. We discuss all of these tweaks and wrinkles, and the larger idea of adapting the spiritof a text even when it results in concrete changes to the story. Oh what a thoughtful adaptation this is!
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Christopher Tolkien is back with the fourth volume of his History of the Lord of the Rings, Sauron Defeated. We discuss the unused epilogue starring a middle-aged Sam updating his daughter on the futures of some beloved characters - and then he gives the most heartbreaking monologue about "Mr. Frodo" that you could possibly imagine. We also get some revelations about the magic cancer than afflicts some of JRRT's most important characters, an outline about Gandalf's possible return to the Shire before the Grey Havens chapter, the original leader of the Scouring of the Shire rebellion, and a tantalizing hint about the Black Riders' role during the Mount Doom climax.
We also read through some fantasticlistener feedback. Join the conversation as we wrap up our Tolkien coverage and prepare to dive into the world of The Witcher!
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Well this one is an emotional rollercoaster - the last Tolkien chapter has arrived, and we finally get a peek behind the curtain! Tolkien gives us a glimpse of Middle-earth's heaven and much more information about the strange magical cancer that awaits everyone who spends too much time with a magical object. Then Sam takes his place as the new historian / protagonist / leader of the Grey Company, the story begins anew, and we finally know the ending of The Lord of the Rings.
Join us next week as we begin to discuss the Return of the Kingmovie and our last installment of Christopher Tolkien's History of LOTR.
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"The Voice of Reason 1" & "The Witcher"
Boom! The first short story of the Witcher universe starts off with a bang. Morality, politics, wizards, violence - this story is teeming with provocations and hints about the world that Geralt of Rivia finds himself in. We work through a dozen of these fascinating mission statements in an effort to find out what kind of fantasy story Andrzej Sapkowski is creating here. It's absolutely electric, steeped in classic fantasy and mythology while feeling startlingly original the whole time. We are excitedto dive into this series, and hope you'll join us for the ride!
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GEE WHIZ this chapter is divisive, and Cam and Maggie certainlyhave differing opinions on it! Join us for a big ole discussion about satisfying story structure, Tolkien's geopolitical commentary, curtain calls, "strong men," wartime leaders - and all the usual stuff about ghosts and echoes.
We also talk about some of yourwonderful feedback and end the episode with a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT about the future of the show! We love you lots, and we'll see you again on Tuesday!
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Join Maggie and Cam as they dive into Maggie's favorite movie of all time. We dig through all the structural / stylistic choices that make this a perfect adaptation of the book, even when it seems to diverge from the source material, including: tracking shots, color palettes, quick zooms, discordant types of humor, and Matthew McFayden's choice to play Darcy as a tragic supporting character trapped in the role of a leading man. Maggie also discusses her history with the book and the idea of "rewatchability" in classic stories.
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Can you go home again? Does "home" change or do youchange? Tolkien meditates on these questions beautifully in this chapter, which feels like a throwback to early Fellowship.Geopolitics and class critiques come roaring back as Gandalf and our hobbits do the fascinating, boots-on-the-ground work of building and maintaining alliances. Also, Bill the Pony's fate is revealed at long last.
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End of the year, time for lists and rankings! Well, we thought it was stupid to rank and number and limit things by genre / medium. So instead, Cam and Maggie have prepared top five lists for the best works of art they discovered this year and then the best works of art that actually came outthis year. Expect twists, shocks, surprises, and then don't be surprised when they completely agree on the #1 work of art made in 2021. Happy New Year!
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Listen to Cam's silly little Christmas fable, The Christmas Donkey: https://cameronfucile.bandcamp.com/track/the-christmas-donkey
Tolkien's 3rd LOTRepilogue evolves some metaphors and further develops his "cyclical" view of time and history. We see a wedding and a funeral. We see new mentors crowned and old ones cast aside. The "Old Man" trope returns and Aragorn's arc ends with the bittersweet resolution of Tolkien's fire / knowledge imagery. A magical illness hangs over the proceedings and an air of cobweb-laced decaylooms large as we approach the Shire.
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Ho ho ho. Today we're covering one of Cam's stories, a silly and dark riff on Christmas classics called The Christmas Donkey.
Listen to the story here: https://cameronfucile.bandcamp.com/track/the-christmas-donkey
We start with a discussion about self-imposed creative limitations before Cam describes the specific challenges that face Christmas stories and his ridiculous production schedule for this project - from idea to finished product, he did all of it in one day (Christmas Eve 2020). We also discuss the innumerable difficulties / pitfalls of political comedy, the importance of "replay value" and original iconography in holiday classics, and why Bernie Sanders should be President right now. Maggie deduces that Santa isn't real.
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Join Cam and Maggie for their continued death march through Tolkien's dramaticized appendices - I mean, Tolkien's endless epilogues - uh, how about quickly tying up loose ends in an increasingly dreary parade of curtain calls - hmm, let's just call it the chapter where everyone finds love. We discuss the accelerated pacingof Éowyn and Faramir's courtship while trying to figure out what she truly wants out of life. Maggie cracks the case when she realizes that this chapter is a Sparknotes of Pride & Prejudice.Cam breaks down Aragorn and Faramir's complicated, mature relationship and Tolkien's nuanced negotiation of masculinity. We sing in unison, like the whos down in whoville, about the solution to every single problem in Middle-earth always being cooperation between diplomatic alliances. It's a fantastic, progressive message - but by golly, we're beating a dead horse at this point. At least that horse isn't Bill the Pony, who is still missing btw.
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Oh boy -a highly stylized, black and white Shakespeare adaptation from A24, that we got to see early, in IMAX? It's like our own personal bat signal was shot into the clouds. This adaptation is fantastic, and we've got the full breakdown for you in this episode. Denzel Washington gives a controversial, unorthodox performance that divides Cam and Maggie, but they are united in their love of for this version of the three witches. Maggie discusses the architecture and style of the production through an art history lens, and then Cam works through a textual analysis that reveals a majorcharacter change in this version. Let's just say that Joel Coen gave a minor character a huge promotion and made himself his own Littlefinger. We also discuss the film's strong statements on prophecy and a dozen perfect, quiet moments in between the verse that have been weaponized for fresh characterization and commentary.
Support this fantastic film: https://a24films.com/films/the-tragedy-of-macbeth
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"The hour of doom" comes to a close as our storylines finally merge back together for the first time since Fellowship.Frodo and Gandalf seem to be powering down now that their Quest is complete, and Cam argues that Gandalf the White has actually merged back together with Gandalf the Grey too. We work through his evidence for that theory and then, just as things get back on track, Maggie suggests that Sam is an eagle. Tolkien's cyclical storytelling also comes roaring back here as the day / night and light / fire / ash patterns re-emerge. We close out the episode by examining Strider's final evolution and the new transcendent mentor of Middle-earth.
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We're heading back into Christopher Tolkien's History of Middle-earthonce again this week for some fascinating insights into JRRT's creative struggles with Book Five. Denethor's cruelty was carefully calculated at every turn, and Gandalf became more of an active player in the story in each successive draft. Cam also finds some precedent for his "eyeball" theory from last week, and we learn more about the magical visions that haunt Tolkien's heroes.
Then we work our way through some of your feedback, covering topics like the role of the artist, the difficult intersection of storytelling and theology, and the many forms that hope takes in Sam and Frodo's journey to Mount Doom. There's also a great bit about how scary and formidable Aragorn is, even to Sauron!
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We’re finally here, at the “end of ends” – Sam and Frodo reach Mount Doom and destroy the One Ring, but is all as it seems? We sure don’t think so. Theology comes roaring back in Tolkien’s writing, but his hobbits have placed their faith in themselves and the quest, not a higher power. Similarly, as they accept the fact that the end of the quest will also probably be the end of their lives, they don’t make any appeal to an afterlife or their own salvation. Then Gollum storms in like Milton’s Lucifer in Paradise Lost, the fallen angel with more humanity and tragedy than any one character should be able to bear, and he pretty much ends the story! What does that mean for the magic / power hierarchies of Middle-earth? Cam also posits a theory about the will of the One Ring and suggests that in this pivotal moment it chooses its own master for the first time. We work together to find Gandalf in the symphony of Sauron’s destruction, only to find evidence of both Gandalfs, which really just confuses the question. Finally, Cam thinks Sam’s breaking through the narrative ceiling and seeing Tolkien’s tricks again, but this time he might be seeing the secret to JRRT’s writing and rising up to join him as a fellow storyteller.
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It's our 100th episode! To celebrate, we're finally taking a dedicated look at the Harry Potter series of books / audiobooks / movies and exploring their titanic, continued influence on our lives. We grew up with this series, and it forever shaped our generation's perception of art and culture. Perspective is the theme through this conversation as we look back on what we see differently now, the moments we never noticed before, and just how influential and prophetic this story continues to be.
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At one point, we compare this chapter to The Revenant. The quest has never been more grim, grimy, or urgent. Cam and Maggie argue that this gauntlet is the first time that Sam and Frodo have ever truly, fully shared the burden of their mission – Frodo carries the Ring and Sam keeps hope alive for them both. We discuss the many loaded structural echoes that contribute to the dread and drama of this chapter, and Cam makes a comparison [shockingly] to Doctor Faustus and the nobility of perseverance in the face of not just failure, but absolutely certain, overwhelming odds. Maggie revisits her theory about the light / fire / ash cycle in Tolkien’s work. Then we take a moment to admire just how terrifying the Black Riders still are after all this time, and ask Santa to bring us a final, bloody confrontation with the Nazgul before this journey is over.
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Well hot damn, is there anything cooler than a sandworm? Cam and Maggie finally saw Denis Villeneuve's Dune, and they are just head over heels for the world of Arrakis. There’s so much to talk about – that rare feeling of falling in love with a brand new franchise, the similarities / influences / comparisons to Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings – and a whole section where we unpack the moments and characters in Dune that George Lucas spun out to create Star Wars. You know there’s nothing we love more than adaptation, and this movie stands on the shoulders of many giants (Cam gets to talk about Shakespeare again). We work through the many titanic themes explored in this allegorical odyssey (can you tell I’m excited?) and the equal importance of Herbert’s original mythology in this grand storytelling smoothie. We also discuss Tolkien’s strong opinion about Dune and try to understand what might have annoyed him about sweet little Paul. Wow – what a movie! See it on the biggest screen you can find.
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Book Six of LOTR starts off with a bang as Sam takes over as Ringbearer / protagonist and Tolkien immediately forces him to re-enact Die Hard. Cam continues to develop his “Grey Company” theory as Sam tries to play all the role of every member of the original fellowship and survive his awful journey through the tower. We discuss the Ring planting visions of temptation in both Frodo and Sam’s minds, and Maggie decides Sam is the best possible Ringbearer in Middle-earth, even more so than Tommy “Dabomba” Bombadil. Then Tolkien makes his timeline all fuzzy and gives Sam a Prisoner of Azkaban moment, which triggers his superpower and breaks the fourth wall! This Tolkien guy, I’ll tell ya – quite the writer when he wants to be!
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Join Cam and Maggie for a rootin’ tootin’ good time as they talk about Chuck Palahniuk’s fantastic Substack newsletter, how good Succession is, and how they definitely didn’t just get back from their honeymoon after getting married live on the podcast in front of a studio audience at the top of the Empire State Building. Oh and I guess Maggie read The Hound of the Baskervilles too, so we talk about how great Sherlock Holmes is and the impossibility of modern murder mysteries being fun or – uh – mysterious. Then we talk about the classics and how they’re not stuffy, difficult, or elite. Cam manages to mention Faustus.
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Nazgûl and orcs and hill trolls oh my! The finale of Book Five of LOTR sees our heroes ride into a trap and parlay with the flaming skull known as the Mouth of Sauron. It’s some fantastic heavy metal stuff, and a piping good chapter of Tolkien. We break down the importance of time jumps in this chapter, and their effect on the reader. Tolkien rallies the reader into a confident sprint before dropping a shocking revelation that fills us with doubt and dread because the chronology has become so scattered. Maggie further develops her theory about the light/fire/ash cycle in the conflicts of Middle-earth, and Cam suggests that the Mouth of Sauron is a mirror for Gandalf’s current position, which has some fun implications for where Aragorn now stands. Hint: it’s somewhere up in the clouds. We end with another scandalous ‘what if?’ about the eagles and the Nazgûl fighting to the death in the sky over the final battle – and Cam fantasizes about the eagles dying pretty horribly. Why can’t fantasy ever end in a graveyard blowout?
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Christopher Tolkien is back again the third book in his History of Lord of the Ringsseries, The War of the Ring. Cam read the first half of the book and collected all the most fascinating, illuminating tidbits (like a truffle pig). He and Maggie discuss them in their usual academic, whimsical fashion. Revelations include: Saruman as a failed wizard, the Palantir's secret origins, Daddy Tolkien's time schemes, "corpse lights," dreadful name changes, the torture of the creative process, and Sam Gamgee's superpower.
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Of all the chapters we’ve covered so far, this one probably benefits most from our close reading analysis. Aragorn gathers the captains for a Council of Elrond redux, but the differences from that first meeting are extremely revealing. We finally, and quietly, learn the limits of Gandalf the White and “doubt” is introduced as the most powerful weapon against enlightenment / knowledge. Tolkien also sets the stage for the sort of graveyard blowout I wanted from GOT’s finale while also kinda re-enacting a classic scene from Macbeth. On the other side of things, we have a glorious reunion between Gimli, Legolas, Merry, and Pippin that is an avalanche of callbacks, payoffs, and bookends. Three types of hype, another appearance / interpretation of the “Grey Company,” and almost every strange little idea or theory we’ve brought up in the past few months. It’s kinda creepy and feels a little like Tolkien has been reading our minds from beyond the grave – or maybe he’s just that good a writer!
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Cam and Maggie recount their experience seeing throwback rock-metal supergroup Fuzz at Mohawk in Austin and discuss their new perspective on the 1978 classic Halloween after seeing it at a drive-in. We also work through some great listener recommendations inspired by the Halloween Special last week, and then read / react to a wonderful email about Tolkien’s callback-laden use of fire imagery, the role of Catholicism in his magic system, and Denethor’s difficult, nuanced position in Gondor. We’re also a great new evil or shithead binary that will show up in future analysis. To close things out, Maggie desperately tries to figure out how lightning works and why all the fish in the ocean aren’t dead.
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Hold on to your helmets, this chapter is all about Aragorn’s rise to power as he leapfrogs past Gandalf the Grey, Faramir, and even Gandalf the White to become the guy everyone trusts to lead them in the fight against Sauron. We’re introduced to the “black shadow,” a mysterious illness that physicalizes all of the imagery that’s been smothering Gondor, and who emerges with the miracle cure for all of our sick and wounded characters? That’s right – it’s Aragorn, who evolves to become not just a great future king but also a wise healer / conjurer on the level of any of the wizards or dark sorcerers we’ve met so far. He ascends so quickly that he even starts to inherit some of Tolkien’s qualities and there’s a hint that he might have “special powers” ala known god-vessel Gandalf the White. We also develop a theory about the importance of names and the strange pattern of people and magical objects that are given numerous, evolving titles.
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Boo! We're in the home stretch of Spooky Season, so today we're looking at a ton of different horror movies. Think of this episode as a bunch of overly specific recommendations from overenthusiastic friends. Cam and Maggie have prepared answers to the following prompts:
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Their personal game changers in the horror genre
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Movies that are better the second time you watch them
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The most haunting, stick-with-you and truly bother you messed up horror they've ever seen!
Happy Halloween, and let us know your answers to these prompts too!
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Well I guess we spoke too soon last week – this battle isn’t quite over yet! Denethor sweeps into the story to battle the ghost of Gandalf the Grey for the Most Disappointing Father Award and then after he dies Gandalf kinda excuses all of his bad behavior by blaming Sauron. Cam is not convinced. We break down the active theological interference of the God of Middle-earth in this chapter and his difference of values with Denethor, as well as Gandalf’s big pivot moment where he has to either make an obviously Gandalf the Grey choice or a “long game” Gandalf the White choice. History is made in this chapter, and then it is edited and actively reframed by its participants. Really thought-provoking stuff that never feels annoyingly meta – who woulda thought?
At some point during the episode, we also stumble into a conversation about Cam’s story Poultrified, which is a very silly ghost story about a chicken. You can listen to it here, and hey, thanks for the support: https://www.audible.com/pd/Poultrified-Audiobook/B0731NHSSH?qid=1632967261&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=GK40M3RAWCR5TYZHFXAG
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The year is 1971: we just went to the moon, Nixon is President (woops), Disney World just opened...and Led Zeppelin is singing about Tolkien. Join Cam and Maggie as they break down one of Zeppelin’s most Middle-earthian songs. Ringwraiths, the Dark Lord, and magic runes abound - and Arthurian legend is thrown in for some spice. This kaleidoscope of folklore and magic imagery eerily reflects the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and encourages us to once again ponder the ways in which legendary moments pass into legend. Galadriel, Gandalf, and Éowyn make their way into the discussion too, along with a special group of Nine (and it’s not the one you think). Plus, Maggie properly identifies a mandolin. Huzzah.
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Oh boy – what a finale. I don’t think we’ve ever been this excited for an episode, even Maggie’s recap feels like a spirited campfire reenactment of the chapter. The Witch King rises to previously unknown heights, eclipsing Smaug and Saruman and almost retaking the power of Tolkien’s almighty fire imagery – but then Éowyn shows up and ruins his whole day. The power of light and gold (and Aragorn) show up, the heroes wrestle control of both fire imagery and water imagery, and Tolkien recedes into the realm of impressionistic metaphor to describe the terrific violence that ends this battle. Éomer also takes charge of a new “grey company,” Tolkien makes his strongest statement yet about history and songs, and we finally see the value of all the geopolitical alliances that our heroes have been building up.
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"Join us!" as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this stone cold classic. Sam Raimi's 1981 masterpiece The Evil Dead is somehow both the funniest horror movie ever made and also one of the most disturbing. We were lucky enough to see it on the big screen recently and oh boy did it give us a lot to talk about. Bruce Campbell's performance (arguably the greatest lead performance in the genre's history) struck Cam as a fantastically nuanced expression of a man's struggle to live up to the masculine ideal, and the terrible self-consciousness he feels when compared to Scotty, who is Ash's best friend and rival who just so happens to look exactly like Harrison Ford. We also discuss the influence of The Texas Chainsaw Massacreon this film, both literally and symbolically, and Maggie leads a conversation about movies that were made under terrible working conditions. We're both endlessly passionate about this movie - it is a scrappy miracle that bleeds excitement and creative hunger in every single scene. Go check it out, and watch it with friends if you can!
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Echoes and mirrors and callbacks – oh my! We’ve got a new Gandalf the Grey and a new Gandalf the White in this chapter, as the mysteriously well-informed Ghân-buri-Ghân appears and Théoden undergoes a glorious promotion. At the same time, we see Pippin’s dread through Merry’s eyes as the Rohan arrive with an answer to the fire imagery that has overwhelmed Gondor. We end the discussion with a striking symbolic discovery – two dead men and two dead horses – and we’ve both got theories about who they represent! Shadows of death and the dead wander through these pages – after all this time, Thorin feels like a constant presence. And Ghân-buri-Ghân is just a fascinating smoothie of ideas, with shades of Gandalf the Grey, Treebeard, and the Shakespearean “old man” prophet that Théoden told us about a few chapters ago.
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TLDR: This comic shows artists who sell their creations to corporations bound and gagged in the seventh circle of Hell as the characters they created (Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, the Hulk, Wonder Woman, the Joker, Wolverine, etc.) are trapped in a prison cell begging for freedom and screaming the word “injustice” into the abyss. Who can save them? Maybe no one, maybe Spawn, or maybe Spawn’s creator – Todd McFarlane!
This comic isn’t just a love letter to the ideas of artistic integrity and creative freedom, it’s a mission statement for Image Comics and the creators-first mentality that rocked the entertainment world in the 90s and hasn’t been repeated since in any artistic medium. Cam and Maggie work through the context of the Image Revolution and its long-term effects (hi Robert Kirkman!) before briefly laying out the premise of Spawn and then walking through the glorious, ballsy events of this one-off issue. Doctor Faustus, The Divine Comedy, and A Christmas Carol loom large over this seven-layer burrito of metacommentary and creative meditation. It is bold, it is rude, and dearie me is the passion of this comic infectious.
Read it, celebrate it, scream it from the rooftops until the rest of the entertainment industry gets their ass in line and starts respecting and empowering creators like Image does! Spawn: Issue #10: https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/spawn-10
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Pippin just might have overtaken Sam as the MVP of Lord of the Rings. He’s certainly braver and more badass than Merry or Frodo now – this chapter sees him literally run into fire and revive hope for all of Middle-earth, with zero friends or allies, against overwhelming odds! Flaming torrents, Nazgûl, the sorcerer Ringwraith King of Angmar, trumpets and hunters and “innumerable” orcs – this battle is exhilarating, and Cam calls it the best chapter Tolkien has ever written. Maggie finds the battle much more uneven, and Gandalf’s deployment pretty frustrating. But hey, she doesn’t write these descriptions, so I can confirm that she is objectively wrong in that assessment! Then we unravel the strange new development where people in power keep mischaracterizing Gandalf the White as his (superior) grey counterpart, and the complex, evolving use of fire imagery to chart the morale of Gondor’s defenders.
Also discussed: more evidence that Denethor can read minds, Faramir initiates a good father battle between Gandalf and Denethor, Tolkien’s restless pacing and battle vignettes, Gandalf the White’s Balrog moment, and the horrifying resolution of Dernhelm / Beregond / “tomb of the unknown soldier” concept that Tolkien has been developing since Two Towers ended.
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Ooh what a strange break from Lord of the Rings! Not really, political intrigue is the back bone of every world-building story, regardless of drama - one of the most frequent Game of Thronesdirectors also directed 34 episodes of The West Wing.And as we get deeper and deeper into the Rohan / Gondor relationship in LOTR, Tolkien's increasing interest in geopoltical intrigue is threatening to outpace all that pesky Ring drama!
So today Cam is taking a look at all three series of the BBC's House of Cardsadaptation, to learn more about trilogies, echoes, reflections, mustache-twirling murders, time jumps, evolving metaphors, decaying humanity, and the power of grand finales in character-focused dramas. Any of that sound familiar, J.R.R.? Oh and there's Shakespeare. Buckets and buckets of Shakespeare, from Macbeth to Henry IV (both parts) and everything in between.
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Merry is our new POV character and Tolkien is marinating us in metaphors! Join Cam and Maggie for a romp through Middle-earth geopolitics and callbacks and echoes but still no Bill the Pony. Our lead hobbit hears a battle song and realizes he’s about to live his own little tune when the group reaches Gondor – where everyone might die! Tolkien shocks us both when he abandons nature and description in favor of largely unknown character. Everyone in every storyline agrees that Aragorn is the new Gandalf the Grey. And Cam sees Smaug, the “winged shadow” of our imminent doom, hanging over every moment of the story! Happy Friday.
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Join Cam and Maggie for a gleeful discussion of James Wan's Malignant. Spoiler alert for the whole episode - don't worry if you don't read the descriptions, we say it at the beginning of the episode. There's so much to talk about with this movie, and by golly it's just nice to see a filmmaker at the top of their game having this much FUN. Cam tracks all the moments of humor and wonderful over-the-top goofiness in Wan's earlier work to find the roots of all this movie's magnificent twists. Maggie has a problem with Gabriel's electricity powers. God, it's hard to write this description without too many spoilers - I'll just list the films we reference in our discussion instead: Halloween, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Invisible Man, Upgrade, The Evil Dead, The Conjuring, Insidious, Saw, The Haunting of Hill House, and Deadpool.
Because we both feel so positively about this wildly divisive movie, we invited our dear friend Tristan to join us for the second half of this episode and share his markedly different reaction to the film. That segment is also full of spoilers, and it was a lot of fun to record!
What did you think of Malignant? Send us your feedback and theories at secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
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What a chapter title! Who is the Grey Company – is it the new, lean and mean fellowship led by Aragorn or is it the parade of metaphorical ghosts and literal corpses that now follows our heroes? Join Cam and Maggie for a spirited investigation of this question and many more. Aragorn really comes into his own here as the one true successor to Gandalf the Grey, and we’ve got quotes and theories galore! He’s got his own Balrog moment, his own Council of Elrond moment, his own Palantir moment, even his own nod-to-a-secret-and-magical-past “Mithrandir” moment!
For Second Breakfast this week, we dive back into Christopher Tolkien’s History of Lord of the Rings series for a gold rush of revelations and intriguing little behind-the-scenes nuggets. Learn about the early draft where Aragorn murdered Boromir, the Balrog’s close ties to Saruman, the identity of the Nazgûl’s winged mounts, and Gandalf’s secret (terrifying) ability to manifest and project his thoughts into the physical world!
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Back to the books! Join Cam and Maggie for their first foray into Gondor, as Pippin takes the reigns of story and Gandalf the White becomes just as much of a disappointment as his predecessor. Oh and hey what’s up with Denethor? Is he a magical, telepathic, wrathful leader or just a terrible father? Tolkien upsets the binary black / white imagery of Middle-earth here with the ominous white tree of Gondor and the moment where Gandalf the White is greeted as a bad omen. Daddy Gandalf also drops a chess metaphor that gives us powerful GOT vibes, and we examine all of Tolkien’s little lessons on power that emerge from Pippin’s grand tour of Minas Tirith. All this Gondor talk makes me miss Faramir – and I mean studly book Faramir, not that weirdo from the movie.
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Join Cam and Maggie for a discussion of David Bruckner's unnerving, masterful new horror film, The Night House. So many of our Lord of the Rings discussions have centered around echoes and twisted callbacks, and this film takes those ideas and runs a marathon with them. As a work of surreal grief horror, the story deftly avoids all the major modern tropes and pitfalls of the subgenre and brilliantly swerves into shocking, satisfying character moments. We spend a lot of time praising Rebecca Hall's knockout lead performance, which elevates the tight, efficient script with nuance, humanity, and a striking, grounded humor that we have never seen executed this well. There's also some analysis of the film's scary-smooth transitions into the dreamworld, and the narrative effect of Beth's restless journey. Reference points include Sinister, Hereditary, The Exorcist, and The Conjuring.
In our spoiler section, we unpack the film's ending with The VVitch as a touchstone, and then Cam goes on another (evidence-supported) rant about another story he likes really being a Faustus story the whole time. Is Maggie convinced? Listen to the end and find out - oh, and go support this movie. Independent, non-franchise horror is the spice of life, and the pandemic box office is pretty brutal right now.
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Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers [Extended Edition] in Glorious 4K!
Join Cam and Maggie dive into the second half of Peter Jackson’s glorious Two Towers adaptation and find a whole host of echoes across the Middle-earth filmography. Théoden goes full Thorin, Helm’s Deep turns into the Battle of the Five Armies, the Ents save the day with water superpowers just like Arwen did in Fellowship, Aragorn has a near death experience mirroring that of Gandalf the Grey – there’s a ton to talk about here. We also examine the big change this adaptation makes, the Scouring of the Faramir. Why is the “Boromir the White” that we know and love from the books so different here? Which characters do the changes serve, and are the filmmakers trying to set up a more dramatic arc for the character going forward? All of these questions and more are answered in this brand spankin’ new episode of Second Breakfast. Also, someone finally calls out the rampant isolationism in this world – not that it makes much of a difference. Oh well.
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Join Cam and Maggie for a technicolor exploration of David Lowery’s spectacular new film, The Green Knight. You know how much we adore A24 folkloric horror and this movie is quite honestly the bee’s knees. Our discussion begins with an investigation into the calm surrealism that Dev Patel’s masterful performance lends to the whole film, before we look at its episodic, almost color-coded story structure and Lowery’s unique, modern twist on morality tales. There’s also a great deal of love thrown to The VVitch and the casting crossovers into this movie (remember Boromir starring in the first season of Game of Thrones?)
Moving into the spoiler section, Cam twirls off the diving board into a big ole pool of Doctor Faustus comparisons. I mean, come on, Green Knight has demon conjuring, delayed consequences, and a purgatorial mid-life crisis – he’s a simple man. We also take a closer look at Morgan La Fay, the person doing the actual demon conjuring. Finally, we return to The VVitch to discuss repressed sexuality, temptation, and cowardice – and then we spend a long time complimenting the ending to this movie. Daring, risky, thrilling, traitorous, shameful, unforgettable.
Support this movie, it is absolutely incredible: https://a24films.com/films/the-green-knight
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Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers [Extended Edition] in Glorious 4K!
Join Cam and Maggie for an hour of Aragon worship and Théoden hate, in equal measure. The first disc of Two Towers is as much of a devastating villain showcase as the book was, and we’re back to break down some new theories, callbacks, and even a call forward to the best moment in the Hobbit trilogy. Maggie is underwhelmed by the trees, but Cam wins her back with some Shakespeare anecdotes. We analyze the movie’s markedly different version of Gollum (this one is still redeemable) and the decision to integrate the book’s scattered storylines into a cohesive narrative. The franchise’s relationship to comedic relief also seems to change in this film, and Saruman gets a lot room to be evil. Oh and there are Nazgûl, riding dragons this time, all sorts of cannibal orcs, a corpse-filled swamp, and that big spider waiting on the horizon. Come on, try to tell me these aren’t horror movies.
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Join Cam and Maggie for a discussion of the fantastic new Netflix anime film, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. Spoiler alert (and there are spoilers throughout the episode) – we loved this movie. As a standalone spinoff, a prequel, and a jumping-on point for the larger Witcher universe, wowza. We work through all the many tropes upended by this subversive movie, from the Han Solo rogue to the violence to this series’ brutal pragmatism. Expect lots of comparisons and fascinating diversions from genre standards like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Cam also explains why he thinks this densely plotted story was perfect for an animated medium, and basks in the new time-consuming agony of creating comics.
Stay tuned for a regular Tolkien episode this Friday (same bat time, same bat channel) covering the extended edition of The Two Towers.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Ten
Join Cam and Maggie for the grand finale of The Two Towers! Viking King Samwise finally gets his day in the sun, and we couldn’t be happier. Cam has a new priori-incantatum-style theory about Sam being the last man standing from the original fellowship, and he thinks he’s spotted the ghosts of Sam’s past companions hidden throughout this chapter. We also look at Sam’s experience putting on the Ring for the first time, and Maggie has a startling realization that might upset the whole magical hierarchy of Middle-earth. We ask each other some provocative questions too, including: Is Sauron a bad leader? Why does Sam narrate his thoughts in this chapter? (or is he talking to Frodo?) Will Frodo come back as Frodo the White? Is Shelob stronger than Smaug? As a special treat to our listeners, we actually have answers to most of these questions.
In our Second Breakfast, we play devil’s advocate and reconsider one of our most confident positions – that loyalty to the source material is an essential part of successful book-to-movie adaptations. We discuss great counterexamples like Annihilation and The Shining before using a more historical angle to try to understand fandom and the vital role of storytelling in human evolution. From soap operas to religious texts, we have always had incredibly strong feelings about the stories we choose to invest in. This segment features more Al Pacino references than you would expect.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Nine
Join Cam and Maggie as they do their best to talk about a big spider for an hour without actually thinking about them. The concept of “grey magic” comes roaring back in these pages to throw off our understanding of magical hierarchies and the power players of Middle-earth. Galadriel and Shelob emerge as transcendent, mysterious forces that could singularly turn the tide of the battle against Sauron. Maggie and Cam debate the divine intervention of Galadriel’s phial of light and the strange elvish voice that speaks through Frodo. Gollum’s latest act of treachery throws a monkey wrench into the good and evil binary of Sméagol / Gollum and might have finally made the character irredeemable. Cam plays out a ‘what if?’ scenario exploring the alternate reality where Shelob kills Frodo and Sam and the rest of the fellowship has to complete their quest. It’s very Game of Thrones and more satisfying than we expected it to be.
In our Second Breakfast, Maggie shocks the world by enjoying a superhero movie. She leads us through a discussion of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad that celebrates the film’s reverence for comics, non-ironic humor, brutal dramatic stakes, and restless plotting. Cam tries to dilute some of Maggie’s hotter takes about Marvel with lots of compliments about Daniel Warren Johnson’s Beta Ray Bill comic run (the one about sad horse Thor, look it up).
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Eight
Join Cam and Maggie for a chapter full of character-driven horror and a role-reversal villain introduction like we’ve never seen. Maggie reaches a conclusion about free will that somewhat bridges the gap between her original position and Cam’s. Sméagol breaks through the Ring’s death grip on him and Gollum long enough for us to wonder which one of them is really in charge, and if we could ever really know for sure. Cam attempts to define Frodo’s heroism as it compares (unfavorably) to past Middle-earth heroes, and we parse the Witch King’s introduction in those terms. This is another week full of twisted echoes / perversions of The Hobbit, and we think the Witch King is Frodo’s Azog. Don’t worry, it makes sense once we develop the idea.
In our Second Breakfast, we return to the concept of “fantasy horror” that we stumbled upon during last week’s discussion of Stephen King. Cam and Maggie work together to define the sub-genre and provide some examples (shout out to Brother Cinnamon) and then we explore the differences between horror and fantasy horror. This gets pretty dumb and silly, with Cam at one point earnestly presenting the argument “What if dragon bad?” Maggie steps in with a reasonable point about aesthetics, and then Cam mucks it all up again with a question about happy endings and speculative fiction that leads us to our greatest Game of Thrones hot take of all time.
Lots of love, see you next week.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Seven
Join Cam and Maggie for a spooky, echo-laden chapter of Daddy Tolkien’s sci-fi epic, Fantastic Beasts and In the Darkness Bind Them. We’re in a good mood this week, it’s a fun episode. Faramir leaves and provokes a new evolution in Cam’s “living ghost” theory. Maggie gets to talk about Gothic architecture and gargoyles and freaky grinning stone heads because Tolkien is officially leaning in with the horror imagery. We also work through a dozen beautiful, weaponized callbacks to The Hobbit and the happier days of Fellowship that Tolkien buries in this pages, and chart the reflections / realizations that they provoke in the reader. Lots of masterful storytelling on deck this week, and more burping than usual. Maggie has a beer and head butts her microphone.
In our Second Breakfast, Maggie leads us through the introduction to Stephen King’s short story collection Night Shift, which is full of Tolkien references. Stevey makes some fun claims about Tolkien’s tendency to drift into horror and his work’s relationship to Middle-earth. Dracula gets dragged into the mix too, and we try to think of a successful work of fantasy horror that isn’t LOTR. Also featured: a conversation about influential speculative fiction, Tolkien’s influence on genres outside of fantasy, and George R.R. Martin’s comments on Tolkien imitators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AofPBrletA&pp=sAQA
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Six
Join Cam and Maggie for Frodo’s Big Day Out. This is a very busy chapter for our favorite Ring-bearer – he commits to Gollum, (possibly) changes his tune on faith, and becomes an active part of the fellowship for the first time. Cam’s theory about ghosts / “middlemen of the twilight” evolves as well, and Faramir evolves to be more like both versions of Gandalf. Maggie and Cam debate Frodo’s pledge of loyalty to Gollum: is it a single moment of mercy, or a shift in his priorities? Meanwhile, magic grows thick as shadows of elves appear and the Ring receives multiple foreboding new titles.
In our Second Breakfast, we take another look at the concept of adaptation, and the ill-fated musical version of Lord of the Rings. Could the story work as a single stage show? Would it be satisfying as a three-part epic? Don’t worry, we do a post-mortem of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and then get all excited about Macbeth. The witches, the blood, the plotting, the character work – oh my!
- Check out our two-part guest appearance on That’s What I’m Tolkien About: https://tolkienaboutpod.podbean.com/ *
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Five
- Video of Andy Serkis performing his new versions of the LOTR audiobooks (coming out this September): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sez-kWSsHr0 *
Join Cam and Maggie for a provocative, character-focused chapter of The Two Towers. The headline of these pages has to be the innumerable comparisons between Faramir and Gandalf the White, being new and improved evolutions (or ghosts!) of two deceased members from the original fellowship, Boromir and Gandalf the Grey. We break down the similarities between these characters, from their introductions to the way they prove themselves to our existing heroes. Ghosts and claims about magic and structural echoes abound – it’s nice when the nerdier stuff pays off. Gandalf the Grey is invoked / conjured back into the story at every turn, and we have fun theorizing about his weather powers and heavenly connections. We also analyze the broken horn of Gondor, Tolkien’s careful balancing act to keep Sam from outshining Frodo, and Frodo’s continuing, worrying adventures through faith, fate, and predestination. Cam forces a Macbeth comparison too, and Maggie drops an Inception reference like it's 2010 and she just discovered "sophisticated" art.
In our Second Breakfast, we reflect on our recent visit to Beyond Van Gogh in Austin, Texas (https://vangoghaustin.com/) We describe the unlikely pitch of the exhibit – an all-digital presentation of Van Gogh’s work without any of the actual paintings – and then spend a lot of time marveling at its revolutionary presentation of even Van Gogh’s most well-known work. This could be something new, a universal and startlingly accessible way for modern audiences to connect with works from an otherwise distant and difficult time. Comparing this experience to a traditional museum visit is like comparing a traditional movie theater to your first brush with IMAX technology. Extremely exciting stuff, with a surprising relevance to our discussion of LOTR and audiobooks. Go figure.
- Check out our two-part guest appearance on That’s What I’m Tolkien About: https://tolkienaboutpod.podbean.com/ *
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Four
Join Cam and Maggie for a fascinating, moody slice of Tolkien. Eyes are watching everyone in this chapter – Sam is watching Frodo, Frodo is watching the Eye of Sauron, Sam is side-eyeing Gollum, Gollum is watching the Ring, the Black Riders are watching everyone from the sky, the God of Middle-earth is looking down on everyone – it’s a busy, paranoid dynamic. Amid the chaos, Cam thinks he might have spotted the ghost of Gandalf the Grey (a few times!). Sam and Gollum have an argument in third person that reveals a subtle bias in the narrator. Frodo throws caution to the wind and doubles down on his worrying new beliefs about fate. Then the oliphants show up and blow the whole chapter apart, and we kinda think Sam summoned them with that little song in the last chapter, which maybe was a spell or another echo of Gandalf the Grey? Jump in and read the tea leaves with us, this was a fun one!
In our Second Breakfast, we read through some feedback about last week’s episode and continue our conversation about honest art and fate, but this time we throw faith into the mix too. There’s some discussion about religious horror, 1984, and the work of Christopher Hitchens, with touchstone artistic examples like Penny Dreadful and Deadwood thrown in for good measure.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter Three
Join Cam and Maggie for a strange little detour through Frodo’s mind. This chapter pauses the narrative as our sterling (and possibly insane) leader mulls over the choice to trust Gollum and take his alternative route into Mordor (which we have dubbed Shelob Boulevard). There is much discussion of “fate” in these pages, and we come out on very different sides of the debate. Frodo’s signature line here is “What good lay in choice?” and that question sparks a spirited conversation about free will and Frodo’s relationship with choice / fate. We also discuss Sam’s weird little Winnie-the-Pooh song about elephants and his unsinkable positivity, as well as the possibility that Sauron is allowing Frodo / Sam / Gollum to march into Mordor and just deliver him the Ring before killing them.
In our Second Breakfast, we consider whether or not any work of art can be called “honest”. We examine concepts like performativity, the ultimately unknowable power of mediation possessed by artists, and why some art feels authentic even if it’s impossible or fantastical. Cam compares the “honesty” of confessional works like A Monster Calls and Ricky Gervais’ After Life, which leads us into a larger discussion about authenticity in art, universal human truths, separating the art from the artist, and the possibility that non-fiction simply does not exist.
- Our first guest appearance on That’s What I’m Tolkien About was released this week, check it out here: https://feed.podbean.com/tolkienaboutpod/feed.xml *
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We are the guests on this week’s That’s What I’m Tolkien About with Mary Clay Watt! Check out her show – it’s wonderful and we had a great time! Our episode comes out Tuesday, here’s the link: https://feed.podbean.com/tolkienaboutpod/feed.xml
When Tolkien is on his game, he’s simply the best. This chapter is pitch perfect LOTR, an efficient and provocative exploration of Gollum and Sauron that gives us a whole lot to talk about. Our long-standing theories about seen/unseen and the connection between fire/enlightenment both crop up in Gollum’s characterization. Sauron inherits qualities from the Black Riders and Smaug and then evolves into his own unique sort of cancerous evil. Scenes from Fellowship and The Hobbit are recreated in heartbreaking echoes. There’s a wonderful undercurrent of religious imagery throughout the chapter too, full of subversive insights into prayer and leadership and the difference between faith and trust that is earned over time and validated by good works. The mists come back, Dante comes back, Les Mis and Harry Potter and A Christmas Carol drop in for visits. Cam brings in some Descartes too and argues that Gollum is the “first mover” of Middle-earth as we try to parse out the hierarchy of this small, uneasy new fellowship.
In our Second Breakfast, inspired by our recent move, we discuss the absence of home and its effect on the surviving fellowship, specifically focusing on Frodo. We chart the hobbit’s long road so far, saying goodbye to great homes and lesser homes alike while constantly losing companions. Mentors, friends, allies, shelter – the ideas themselves become unmoored at some point and Frodo very easily could have become Gollum. We discuss Frodo and Sam’s unique perspective on death and the hopeless nobility of their quest, before zooming out to consider LOTR as a story of struggle and attempting to identify the most effective tools Tolkien uses to hype up his villains while forever kneecapping his heroes.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Four, Chapter One
Join Maggie and Cam for their first Frodo + Sam chapter in eleven weeks! Tolkien takes us back in time to find out what our hobbits have been up to – lots of wandering and backtracking, apparently. Discussions of moral ambiguity abound in a grey landscape filled with grey magical objects, pale grey light, fishy choices, and our favorite fish-loving friend, Gollum. We question the trustworthiness of Gollum/Sméagol, along with the agency of our hobbit heroes themselves. If Two Towers is a book about the villains, who is our villain for Book 4? Cam brings in some fun spider and vampire comparisons, and Maggie asks if Tolkien’s infamous landscape is to blame. Game of Thrones makes an appearance here (you know, for a change), as we break down the structure of Two Towers and the splitting up of characters and plotlines. We also spend a weirdly large amount of time discussing rope. What is this, a game of Clue?
For our Second Breakfast, enjoy tucking into a conversation about binging – no, not on bacon and eggs, we mean with stories. Does binging a book, comic series, show, or movie emphasize or hide the flaws of a work of art? How does the speed with which you consume a story change the way you see it? Should we have perhaps binged LOTR instead of critically reading it at a glacial pace? Maybe that would have helped us deal with Tom F@%#ing Bombadil. We bring in Donny Cates’s Venom series, as well as Iain Reid’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things for comparison.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Eleven
Join Cam and Maggie for – BREAKING NEWS: New Lord of the Rings movie just announced! We start the episode by reacting to the exciting announcement of new anime prequel The War of the Rohirrim. Then we move into discussing this wonderful chapter, the last part of the first half of Two Towers [yes that was a lot of math for me]. Crystal balls are the object of fascination here, as Tolkien pivots hard back to magical objects being the roots of all evil and the main engines propelling the story forwards. This time, it’s Pippin forming an unhealthy attachment to the magical red flag, and depending on who you ask, he’s either falling victim to the will of the crystal ball itself [Maggie] or being possessed by Saruman [Cam]. Gandalf the Grey seems to return, later on, and The Black Riders are back too – it’s like a family reunion. We bask in the gothic aesthetic of the Black Riders and take a moment to side-eye Gandalf the White waxing poetic about magical objects when he sort of is one himself now. At one point, Cam uses the term “reanimated corpse” and we finish by considering this chapter as a concentrated version of Tolkien’s Middle-earth story. Picture an accordion all scrunched up, it’s like that with hobbits.
In our Second Breakfast, we reflect on our recent viewing of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and our brains’ inability to consume any art now without connecting it back to LOTR. It’s exhausting, but you seem to enjoy it. One is sci-fi and the other is fantasy, but they're kinda exactly the same story written around the same time? Cam’s got examples, and Maggie jumps to / spoils his grand finale about thirty seconds into the conversation. Here, I’ll just do it here, why not? What’s the point, you know, like, of anything? HAL is the Ring.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Ten
Join Cam and Maggie for a deep dive into this fantastic chapter. Tolkien is back on his game here, giving us huge character moments, plenty of action, and a fascinating villain-led look at the theology / philosophy of Middle-earth. Gandalf the White asserts his absolute dominance over the existing magical hierarchy and shames Saruman into irrelevance. The conflict between fire and water based magic systems reaches a fever pitch. Dialogue takes center stage and Tolkien carefully describes the tone of almost everything Gandalf the White and Saruman say to each other. This scene runs like the climax of a great play, and that is exactly the sandbox we like playing in! Cam also leads us through the many declarations about free will included in this chapter, and we have a great conversation about the power struggle between Good and Evil (and their respective puppets) in this story. Maggie changes her stance on the humanity of Gandalf the White.
In our Second Breakfast, we briefly revisit our conversation from last week about the death of the artist, to address some curve balls presented by various mediums. These include: studio interference on shows and movies, surprise cancellations of comic books, and corporate market testing. Then we jump to some new revelations Cam has found in his scouring of Christopher Tolkien’s The History of Middle-earth. We have some new insights about the power of Gandalf the Grey compared to the Black Riders, Treebeard’s sinister origin story, and the current whereabouts of Bill the Pony!
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Nine
Join Cam and Maggie for the show’s One Year Anniversary. Tolkien got us a very special present (another mediocre chapter) but as always, we make the best of it. If the last chapter was a strange, depersonalized “history” of the events it described, then this chapter is a character-focused oral history of the assault on Isengard. Pippin dominates the conversation (oh how things have changed since Rivendell) but the real star of this chapter is the many echoes it teases. Deceased characters and classic scenes are conjured in the reader’s mind as what remains of the Fellowship gathers to plan their next move. The Hall of Fire returns, Boromir is briefly resurrected, Saruman reverts to his original characterization, and even Gandalf the Grey seems to make an appearance. There are also a number of new magical objects that build on the strange mist introduced in the last chapter to form a water-based magic system that we contrast with Saruman’s “devilry”. The group discusses the magical creatures of Middle-earth and Aragorn sorts them into a surprising hierarchy. There’s also a strange undercurrent of hypnotic or hallucinogenic magic that we investigate, taking particular interest in the Ent’s mysterious drafts and the Shire pipeweed that the Fellowship unexpectedly finds within Isengard. Cam has a brutally dark theory about this last magical device that we’re both glad not to see actually happen.
In our Second Breakfast, we discuss the death of the artist and its effect on their art – and more specifically, how their art is viewed and experienced. Examples include: Kentaro Miura’s Berserk, Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, all three Nirvana albums, the comedy of Patrice O’Neal, and the comparative careers / receptions of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. We consider the effect of intentional, creator-designed endings on a work’s legacy, the vastly different experience of starting a series after the creator has died, the inflationary effect of grief upon critical reception, and the implication that works only become “classics” after the artist dies. In a challenging tangent to our main discussion, we also consider works of art that were designed to be an artist’s final statement and directly deal with their impending death. Examples include David Bowie’s Blackstar and Christopher Hitchens’ Mortality. At the end, the discussion ties back to Tolkien and we come to a difficult conclusion about the forthcoming version of Lord of the Rings featuring Tolkien’s private illustrations.
Thank you for the support this past year. It has meant the world to us, and we have so much more planned for this show going forward. Lots of love, and we’ll see you next week!
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Eight
Join Cam and Maggie for a terribly strange chapter of Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s style changes wildly here, it’s like he wrote this chapter in Old English. There’s an interesting meditation on history and legacy and myth beneath all of the stilted, depersonalized prose – but it takes a little digging to find it. We’ve got examples and theories out the wazoo (I just wanted to see how that felt to type, can’t believe I spelled ‘wazoo’ correctly on the first try) Gandalf the White suddenly has a lot more supernatural insight, along with a new interest in moral teaching – we take the opportunity to make fun of Aslan here, in addition to considering Gandalf’s status as an immortal mentor. There’s a new sentient weapon in Middle-earth, and this time it’s a corrupted part of nature (the greatest Tolkien sin!) We also dig into the ethical significance of the dead orcs being refused burial after the Battle of Helm’s Deep, and Cam thinks Merry & Pippin might be possessed by Sauron / Satan.
In our Second Breakfast, we look more closely at the stunning lack of good villains in LOTR by examining Grand Admiral Thrawn of Star Wars fame. Cam introduces the character and breaks down the difference between active and passive antagonists, before arguing that Thrawn could be considered both, simultaneously. He’s an incredibly compelling character, who puts Sauron and Saruman to shame. We end the episode by suggesting a few ways that Tolkien’s villains could have been more developed / involved in the story. Oh there’s a fun little idea about Gandalf in the afterlife, it gets me all tingly.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Seven
Join Cam and Maggie for one of Tolkien’s greatest battles. There’s action and fire and terror in these pages, but it’s striking how much Tolkien keeps the emphasis on his characters. He is absolutely in his groove here – there’s so much to talk about. There are some fascinating echoes back to dead and absent characters [Boromir, Gollum, the Black Riders, Gandalf the Grey] and a sense of weaponized juxtaposition that sees Tolkien making grand points about hopelessness and war through his architecture descriptions. Some of the echoes are broken, or twisted, such that the reader notices the stark differences between two characters, or the concerning evolution of an old friend [Cam still doesn’t think Gandalf the White is really Gandalf!] We also consider Théoden’s trustworthiness, and the nobility of his last charge against the orcs. Was he preparing for a heroic death, or did the wizard already have his finger on the scales?
In our Second Breakfast, we discuss the evolution of short films into feature-length movies, and wonder what scene from LOTR would be the most provocative, exciting, and representative short film. Of course, this discussion lets us talk about horror movies, including: Saw and Sinister. Oh and earlier we lovingly point out all of the moments and turns of phrase within Helm’s Deep that show up later in Game of Thrones.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Six
Join Cam and Maggie for a spirited discussion of Théoden and Wormtongue! The Meat and Potatoes Detective Agency (Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli) invade the house of the Rohan in this gorgeous, provocative new chapter. But then Gandalf sort of ruins things and resolves all of the new characters’ storylines in like a paragraph each. We consider Gandalf the White’s status as a Middle-earth cheat code, and wonder what a slow-burn version of this sequence could have looked like. Maggie notices Frodo in absentia and walks us through some of the many quiet nods back to his quest in this chapter. Cam argues that Théoden’s new brand of isolationism reveals something damning about everyone else’s suspicious selfishness (hint: everything is about aesthetics!)
In our Second Breakfast, Cam digs deep into sequels. We’ve all heard of the sophomore slump, but what is it that can elevate a follow-up project beyond the original work? He breaks successful sequels into three categories, cleverly brands this phenomenon “the sophomore bump,” and makes a sweeping claim about The Lord of the Rings! Maggie brings things back to horror and we have a fun old time chatting about franchises and studio meddling and artistic freedom.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Five
Join Cam and Maggie for – shut up, GANDALF IS BACK! Or is he? Cam doesn’t think the Old Man / Gandalf the White is really the wizard we once knew and lovingly resented. He works through his whole strange theory, which involves lots of Dante. Maggie argues that Gandalf was able to return because he never really died. It’s a fun episode with lots of disagreement and even more dumb jokes! Yay, it’s almost one year into this and we’re finally being our real selves. We also discuss the evolution of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli’s new fellowship and the implications of Tolkien’s ever-changing classification of them as “pursuers,” “hunters,” or “companions”. There’s also even more delicious villain hype, because Two Towers is all about the bad guys – and Tolkien throws us a curveball regarding Saruman. Hype! Intrigue!
In our Second Breakfast, we continue our long journey through Christopher Tolkien’s History of Lord of the Rings. This time, we consider a fascinating early outline of Gandalf’s death where he wasn’t killed by the Balrog! Ooh, who was it then? You’ll have to listen, dork. It’s fascinating, and we can only make sense of it by doing a deep dive on Saw III, because we should have just been a horror podcast, I guess. But it’s too late now!
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Four
Join Cam and Maggie in their quest to defeat Tom Bombadil 2.0! Treebeard sings and wanders and babbles and emotionally detaches and brings the entire story to a screeching, pine-scented halt in this endless, miserable, dry chapter – but we have some fun with it. Pippin seems to be the new Chosen One in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, and we wonder what this means for his mortality (hi Gandalf). We also discuss the legend of the Entwives as an echo of Goldberry, and Maggie finds a possible narrative explanation for the strange absence of women in this world. Cam suggests that Treebeard is an evolution of the idea of “sentient weapons” like Smaug and the One Ring. We also mock the chapter to keep ourselves entertained, with specific examples and quotes!
In our Second Breakfast, we consider continuations of stories that aren’t written by the original author. This spirals into a discussion about corporate franchising, fan fiction, timeline independence, and what makes a sequel feel “legitimate”. Examples include Watchmen, Doomsday Clock, LOTR (duh), Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (oh boy), and Game of Thrones. We love you, George! Take all the time you need on Winds.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Three
Join Cam and Maggie for a chapter that celebrates all things Pippin. I guess he’s our main character now, and Tolkien takes great pains to differentiate him from Frodo or Bilbo. The stakes are higher than ever – our new heroes don’t have a wizard’s protection or any survival skills. Merry and Pippin are launched into a great adventure, without weapons or friends or anything but some lembas bread. The orcs are developed into real characters and genuine villains. We learn about the infighting and resentment that plagues Middle-earth’s “evil” characters, and Cam gets to talk about Douglas Adams and his Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Later on, we revisit our discussions about fate and the original sin of Tolkien’s world (spoiler: it’s the fact that people keep torturing Gollum). And then, in the grand finale of our year-long investigation, we finally, definitively identify Tolkien’s narrator. It’s not who you expect it is.
In our Second Breakfast, Maggie leads us back into the world of horror with a breakdown of Insidious and Sinister. The films are explored for their surprising structural echoes of LOTR and Cam slips in a claim that this week’s chapter was horror. Oh no, I forgot, he also makes a Winnie-the-Pooh reference early in the episode. It’s a full-blown regression. We end the episode with a redemption arc for Zack Snyder and his wonderful, loyal adaptation of Watchmen.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Two
Join Cam and Maggie for our first big adventure with the new company – Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas! Their gruff, decidedly un-magical perspective gives us a wonderfully rugged new look at Middle-earth. Mud, blood, and dead orcs abound, but Gandalf still manages to echo through the chapter. Hints of eagles, strange narrative jumps, and the appearance a mysterious Old Man lead us to wonder about Gandalf’s continued involvement – and influence – within this story. Cam develops a theory about Two Towers being the villain showcase of The Lord of the Rings and Maggie leads us through a compare / contrast segment making sense of Gandalf and Saruman. The White Wizard is everywhere in these pages, as a passive threat and possibly another active theological meddler. Legolas even discusses him as being “a will” acting upon Middle-earth, so Cam gets all excited about that. We also break down some fresh political critique in the company’s dealings with the Riders of Rohan and reflect on the progressive streak we keep finding in Tolkien’s work.
In our Second Breakfast, we try to figure just why we hated Zack Snyder’s Justice League so much. On paper, it is an extended cut of a genre epic that follows a fellowship driven by magical objects and threatened by a criminally underdeveloped villain – we should love it! We move past our subjective opinions of the film to have a conversation about genre adaptations, the innumerable pressures placed on fandom movies, and the crushing difficulty of making movies like this comprehensible to viewers who aren’t familiar with the source material. Hey, we even end up bashing Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and all the Marvel movies. Everyone except Peter Jackson, blessed be his name.
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Discussion of The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter One
Join Cam and Maggie for the curious beginning to Two Towers. This is the shortest LOTR chapter yet, and the first one to focus in on just a few members of the fellowship. (All Hail the Three Hunters: Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli!) The new narrative structure expands each of these characters, especially Aragorn, who starts to feel like a hybrid of the curious Bilbo we knew in The Hobbit and Geralt from The Witcher. We discuss Boromir’s death and debate the respectability of his send-off. Is his waterfall funeral practical or indulgent? Why does so much of the action in this chapter occur off-page? We also work through the latest muddy navigation of free will in Middle-earth and try to figure out if Aragorn has Gandalf’s blessing in his decision to rescue Merry and Pippin (instead of Frodo and Sam!)
In our Second Breakfast, we turn once again to Christopher Tolkien’s The History of The Lord of the Rings, this time for some extremely helpful, explicit rules about the magic of the Ring and exactly what powers it would grant to Sauron. Maggie then leads us into a discussion about fantasy adaptations where we consider the lineage, echoes, and diversions between the Peter Jackson LOTR movies and the HBO Game of Thrones show. Specifically, we consider the first season of GOT and Fellowship to better understand each story’s handling of death, mentors, and divergent storylines.
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Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring [Extended Edition] in Glorious 4K!
Join Cam and Maggie in their (our?) continued adoration of Peter Jackson. We watched the second half of the extended Fellowship movie, starting at about 1:24:00 when the gang gets to Rivendell. This film takes every possible opportunity to expand character relationships – and sometimes it even contradicts Tolkien’s version of the story. Galadriel’s gifts are totally different! Gollum’s introduction happens in Moria! Boromir is a much better friend and simultaneously manages to have more red flags than Sauron! The translations and interpretations of the screenwriters are endlessly provocative, though we only talk long enough to convince Cam that the movie is better than the book (and that they are both works of horror!) We also explore the relationship between magic and telepathy and then come to a strange realization about all the wizards rattling around in Frodo’s head.
In our Second Breakfast, we discuss some fascinating lore tidbits about Sauron from Christopher Tolkien’s The History of The Lord of the Rings. Spoiler Alert: there are Voldemort comparisons made, but then Maggie goes on an entertaining tangent about the history of pirates and Vikings and we wonder if Aragorn really is a scruffy bad boy after all. The episode gets rather silly towards the end – join us!
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Ten
Join Cam and Maggie for the last pages of Fellowship. Boromir takes a turn for the worst and Tolkien imbues his breakdown with echoes of Smaug, Gollum, and Sam. We analyze Frodo’s “terror and grief” at Boromir’s betrayal and finally decide whether or not Fellowship was a horror book. Maggie leads a discussion on Frodo’s agency as a protagonist and Tolkien’s confused message about free will. Cam continues the discussion into the vision sequence that positions Gandalf and Sauron as the angel and devil sitting on Frodo’s shoulders. Tolkien’s characterizations are strikingly different than what you’d expect from traditional religious allegory, and we explore his reversal at depth. Cam gets all excited.
In our Second Breakfast, Cam brings us some more notes from Christopher Tolkien’s The History of The Lord of the Rings. Topics include: Tom Bombadil’s purpose, JRRT’s hectic compositional style, and the author’s first sketch of the Rivendell sequence. We also look ahead to next week, when we will watch the rest of the Fellowship movie (the 4K extended cut) and consider a few quieter moments from the book that we hope to see on screen.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Nine
Join Cam and Maggie for this odd duck of a chapter. Expectation hangs heavy over every page. Gollum lingers in the shadows and echoes of Gandalf are everywhere. Mysteries of time and Tom are unveiled, but only if you read between the lines. There’s a terrible orc ambush, but no one dies or even uses a weapon. Tolkien is blocking predictions and unnerving the reader – and it works wonderfully. We work through all the layered echoes and misdirections. Cam catches the first few teases of Gandalf the White and Maggie points out the many shadows of Gandalf the Grey. Tolkien dabbles in numerology and hypes up the number nine, Boromir is becoming more and more like Gollum, and we have an unorthodox reading of the Pillars of the Kings that close out the chapter.
In our Second Breakfast, we reflect on our recent visit to Austin Books & Comics. We have zero experience in the world of comics, but their hospitality and variety blew us both away! It was an unexpected and overwhelming Art Moment, you’ll enjoy hearing us get all excited about it. Check out / support them here: https://austinbooks.com/
Have an observation, comment or theory on this episode? Email us at secondbreakfastpod@gmail.com
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YouTube Exclusive bonus discussion about last week’s chapter, with Maggie’s thoughts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cRsQSQrY30
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Eight
Join Cam and Maggie for a bittersweet farewell to the elves. Galadriel sings at us more than once, and Boromir continues to whine the whole time. Maggie runs through the elves’ gifts to the Company – Cam is less than impressed with Sam’s magical box of dirt. We also compare them to the posthumous gifts Dumbledore gives to the trio in Harry Potter. Who is the worse wizard daddy? Cam reflects on the Lothlorien sequence of Fellowship and compares it to the Tom Bombadil interlude. Galadriel reminds us of Goldberry! Gimli’s unexpected emotional moment leads us to a realization about the Company’s grief and the purpose of their time in Lorien. Cam develops a theory about the fragility of fate in Middle-earth, which Maggie adds to as they descend into a discussion of the elves / magicians and their transcendent, powerful position in this world.
In our Second Breakfast, Cam leads us through some revelations he found in Christopher Tolkien’s The History of The Lord of the Rings. Topics include: the passing of the ring from one bearer to another as “a dirty trick,” Gollum’s relationship and first meeting with Sauron, the terrifying possibility that a ring bearer could turn into an invisible dead wraith at any second, the rules of the One Ring as they were outlined in an early draft of Fellowship, and the relationship between the Ring and “moral will.”
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Seven
Join Cam for a deep dive into Tolkien’s most provocative, magic-heavy chapter yet. Much like Gandalf, Maggie was unavailable this week, but her excellent recap kicks things off and helps us keep track of Middle-earth and all the new elvish names and places. We’re treated to some more prejudice against the dwarves, another unsettling reference to Aragorn’s death, and a brand-new mentor who might just take Gandalf’s place! Cam explores Galadriel’s many revelations, and their profound impact on the philosophy and theology of Middle-earth. Tolkien appears to take a strong stance on free will here. He suggests that magic can be manipulated but also that it is fundamentally unpredictable. There’s a lot to dig into, and Cam still manages to reference multiple HBO dramas while discussing the chapter’s presentations of grief. There’s also an aside about Dante, The Divine Comedy, and Gandalf as the Pilgrim – and a moment of insight into the Ring that might just explain how Sauron ended up becoming a Bad Guy.
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And check out our new, beautifully illustrated YouTube clips page!
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Six
Join Cam and Maggie for a brief respite at the luxurious Elvish Resort: Lothlórien! This “downtime” chapter is the most effective yet. It’s full of callbacks, meditations, reflections (both literal and figurative), and - blindfolds?? Cam questions Aragorn’s leadership skills, and suggests an interesting allegiance pattern for Gollum. Maggie asks if Lórien helps heal some of the divisive wounds between the races of Middle-earth, and posits an interesting theory about mindfulness. The chapter is at once a reflection on Gandalf’s contributions to the Company, and an exercise in moving forward and carrying on.
In our Second Breakfast, we throw it back for a brief discussion of the art we’ve been enjoying lately! Cam takes us through the emotional turmoil of Hulu’s Normal People, along with the thrilling Gillian Flynn ghost story, The Grownup. Maggie compares the slow burn and reflective nature of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones with this latest chapter in Fellowship. We also discuss Peter Jackson’s interest in Sebold’s story for his film adaptation as it relates to his attraction to The Lord of the Rings.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Five
Join Cam and Maggie in saying goodbye to Gandalf the Grey. The Balrog has arrived, and with it, Tolkien has delivered his best chapter yet. Fellowship is a horror book again, and Cam is seeing ghosts everywhere. Ballin’s last words and echoes of The Hobbit radiate through these pages. Maggie worries about Frodo’s prospects as the hero of Middle-earth, and wonders how effective Gandalf’s death would be if you hadn’t read The Hobbit. The wizard’s death brings us to a crossroads in our longstanding “Who’s the Narrator?” discussion, but with a touch of theology we think we can keep the conversation going. Cam and Maggie reflect on the fellowship’s grief and its wonderful representation of trauma bonding and masculinity. Cam gets to talk about Macbeth.
In our Second Breakfast, Maggie lightens things up a little with a Middle-earth Valentine’s Day Match Game Spectacular. Does any character in any fictional universe deserve Aragorn? Probably not, but we try them all anyway. Maggie finds a disturbing match for Gimli.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Four
Join Cam and Maggie in celebration of this exciting, well-rounded hype machine chapter. Tolkien comes back with a bang, rattling off two fascinating drawings, a marathon dwarf song, lots of genuine character development, and even a few flashes of horror! Maggie basks in the presence of “the Gandalf she has always wanted” and Cam mourns poor Bill. We break down a bunch of funky echoes of The Hobbit together and try to figure out if Gollum is stalking our new friends. Cam tries to identify the quintessential image of Tolkien action, and wonders if Middle-earth less mystical here than it was during Bilbo’s journey. There are also lots of Freud jokes.
In our Second Breakfast, Cam leads a discussion on the consumption of art. Obviously, a movie theater is the best way to watch a movie, but what about tv shows? Are some shows made to be binged vs. watched weekly? And what about books? Maggie reads a few pages at a time, like some heathen, but most of her other opinions are pretty reasonable. RIP Game of Thrones / House of Cards.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Three
Join Cam and Maggie for a special late-night episode. The whole Fellowship is together now, and we finally get to know some of our new friends! Legolas seems cool, Aragorn remains the Alpha, and Maggie hates Boromir for some reason. We dive into the first fully-fledged adventure of the book, breaking down the sudden evolution of Tolkien’s nature writing and Elrond’s total uselessness as a mentor. Maggie leads a discussion about the birds and their strange, uncertain role in Middle-earth. Are they Gandalf’s spies, BFFs to Radagast, independent creatures, or servants of the Enemy? Cam has a dumb theory about pee. Actually, we both talk about pee for a while. It’s been a long day.
In our Second Breakfast, Cam waxes poetic about Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. He shotgunned the book this past week and we watched the movie when he finished. The urgent, bombshell pacing of that story provides a sharp contrast for Tolkien’s storytelling, and Flynn’s role as the writer of the original book and the screenplay for the film provokes an interesting conversation about adaptation.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Two
Join Maggie and Cam as they dive headfirst into Tolkien’s longest chapter ever! We meet some new core characters, hear a LOT of information and backstory – and are heartily disappointed that this chapter’s thrilling action is all secondhand. Cam expresses his frustration at the repeated lack of communication between Middle-earth’s factions, and Maggie doesn’t understand how such a good story can be packaged in such a dull way. We continue to question who is really In Charge of the happenings in Middle-earth, and are surprised that the excessive exposition in this chapter still doesn’t give us specifics about who the Dark Lord really is. The worst offense of them all, however, is the number of times Gollum is BTK’d. At one point, Cam refers to him as the "hot potato of advanced interrogation".
During our Second Breakfast, Cam contextualizes our continuing discussion of the One Ring with some notes from Christopher Tolkien’s The Return of the Shadow. Was Frodo always going to be an orphan? What powers did Professor Tolkien give to the Ring in his early drafts? Which sections of The Lord of the Rings gave him the most trouble? At the end, we remain hopeful that this turning point in our story is a sign of more exciting chapters to come.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter One
Join Cam and Maggie as they return to the books – and are surprised by some old friends! Gandalf and Bilbo are both back from the dead, even though Cam thinks one of them might be a ghost. Old School Tolkien returns here – Gandalf feels like narrator, we’re reminded that Bombur is fat, and Frodo is exceedingly polite. We express our growing disappointment with the wizard and his lack of answers (despite apparently having global omniscience). For the first time in any Middle-earth book, the phrase “Lord of the Ring” is used in this chapter. Cam and Maggie have very different understandings of the phrase, and the true identity of the titular “Lord”. We also consider the colorless, peaceful characterization of Rivendell – and what theological implications that might have for Middle-earth’s occupants and afterlife.
In our Second Breakfast, we discuss two very different perspectives in this chapter about heritage and the power of bloodlines. Are all members of certain families fated for greatness, or are great families doomed to produce diminishing returns? Frodo is presented with both views at Rivendell, and we wonder which he finds more sympathetic. This leads to a discussion about Frodo’s identity as a descendent of Bilbo, and we question his desire for adventure.
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Discussion of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring [Extended Edition]
We’re finally here! Join Cam and Maggie for a spirited discussion of the first half (roughly) of the Fellowship movie (For those following along at home, the first hour and twenty-four minutes). We watched everything through what we’ve read in the book, and boy is Viggo Mortensen a total babe. He is more Aragorn than the book Aragorn. Stunning! We break down all the changes from the book and their effects on the story. This movie is an interpretation of Tolkien’s work, but we argue that its writers are also wonderful editors of the source text. They maintain and even occasionally improve the pacing / dramatic stakes of Fellowship. There’s not a single whiff of Tom Bombadil! Gandalf is absolved of his war crimes! We actually cut away from the hobbits to check in on Gandalf – and the Black Riders! – and Saruman! And we even get Arwen early, taking the place of poor Zinfandel. It’s a humdinger of a movie, and we measure it against the book and all of our long-running funky theories about color palettes and narrators.
In our Second Breakfast, we do a quick retrospective on Book One of Fellowship, now that we’re truly done with it. Were we satisfied? Was it a horror movie? If we were just reading this book for fun, would we want to keep reading? Maggie ends with a pretty striking take on the story so far, and then Cam compliments The Mandalorian and asks if Kylo Ren is Snape.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Twelve
Join Cam and Maggie for the grand finale of Fellowship Book One! This chapter has a truly blockbuster ending, and we dig through all the fascinating, provocative details hidden within the confrontation with all nine (!) Black Riders. Strider’s telepathy continues to unsettle Cam, and he’s got an intriguing follow-up to last week’s conversation about free will and Frodo’s subservience to the Ring. We analyze the color palette of this chapter – startlingly grey – and offer a few different theories about what that color means in Middle-earth. (This part of the discussion totally changed how Cam thinks about Frodo!) Maggie tracks the echoes of Gandalf through these pages and we wonder more than once if he has quietly returned to the fellowship (the birds! the mysterious figure in white! the secret markings!) and we work together, throughout the episode, to make sense of Frodo’s strange, corrosive, “evil” wound.
In our Second Breakfast segment, we’re doing a Best of 2020 discussion! Cam and Maggie share their top three (in no particular order) movies, tv shows, albums, books, games, podcasts, and comedy specials from this terrible year. But quarantine meant that we caught up on a ton of older works of art this year too – so we start by sharing our Best Discoveries of 2020. Classic horror movies abound – but there are some surprises in there too. No Winnie the Pooh, sadly. We end the show by each announcing our favorite works of art this year in any category.
Thank you so much for your support this year, and we’ll be back next week with the first half of the Fellowship movie. Obviously, I mean the extended edition. Come on.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Eleven
Join Cam and Maggie for a holiday extravaganza? I don’t know. We’ve got a fun little seasonal skit at the start of the episode. Maggie’s secret talent is her Linus impression – but hey, the episode is good too! Strider continues to ruthlessly alpha Frodo, and this time he throws some shade at Gandalf too. This is the most cinematic chapter we’ve ever read – tons of combat, multiple cuts away from the hobbits, and magic absolutely everywhere. Cam breaks down the explosive finale between Frodo and the Black Riders and its severe implications for LOTR’s navigation of free will and God. His whole opinion on the Ring has changed, and Maggie is totally vindicated just thrilled! They work together to break down the image of fire as enlightenment and Tolkien’s statements about knowledge / the value of the written word in Middle-earth. There are also some fun new developments regarding Gandalf’s spy army of birds, a few unexpected echoes of the long absent Bilbo Baggins, Esquire., and a healthy dollop of slasher references. Fellowship is and remains a horror movie.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Maggie draws some alarming parallels between the fantasy genre and romance stories! We discuss the value of low-brow entertainment v. High Brow Art and the stupidity of value judgments and “guilty pleasures” – all while Maggie desperately tries to avoid actually naming the romance books she’s been reading. Cam vehemently defends The Lake House and appears to suggest that the Regency era and medieval times are the same thing.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Nine
Join Cam and Maggie for another doozie of a chapter. We’re both head over heels in love with Strider, and more convinced than ever that this book is just Prisoner of Azkaban. Dementors were one thing, and prophecies too, but now Strider is exactly the same sort of cool uncle as Sirius Black was! (rip) This chapter is all about Maggie’s seen and unseen theory. The only image is fire and darkness, and it all gets weaponized into a beautiful power struggle between Strider and Frodo – you can guess whose side we’re on there. Cam continues to argue for Aragorn’s telepathy powers and about halfway through the episode, ole Rattlesnake Maggie whips out a theory about narrators that could change our entire reading of LOTR. Gandalf returns to the story, but Maggie’s theory puts him in his place and moves right along. She breaks down the funky little poem included at the end of Gandalf’s letter and Cam does his level best to discuss runes. We also wonder if Frodo is classist and there’s some very serious mustache discussion at the start of the episode.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Cam lays out a bunch of additional information about the 4K LOTR editions, and we discuss the importance and impact of “color grading” in a visual medium like movies. With this new information, we tackle subjects like visual consistency and the power of special effects. This spirals into debates about paperback v. hardcover, matte v. glossy, and all the other incredibly important ephemeral details that shape our consumption of stories before we read the first word. Reference points include True Detective, The Haunting of Hill House, and the work of The White Stripes.
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Discussion of Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Nine
Join Cam and Maggie for the best chapter we’ve read in a Month! The Saga of Tommy Dabomba is officially over, and Tolkien replaces him with the suave and dangerous Strider. Don’t worry, we mostly pretend not to know his real name. Maggie calls this chapter a crossroads, and that label becomes the basis for our discussion. Merry and Pippin return to their original supporting roles, the strong narration of The Hobbit comes roaring back, and we’re poked and prodded with all sorts of magical callbacks and hype. Cam breaks down Strider’s masterful introduction – he feels immediately familiar, but still carries some of the magic and danger of the unknown world beyond the Shire. Maggie analyzes Frodo’s big song – a full two pages of the chapter – and we work together to dissect the pointed Frodo v. Bilbo comparisons in this scene. Cam even spots some interesting echoes of Tom, and we rejoice that he’s finally in our rear-view mirror. Let’s hope he stays there, so we can keep an eye on him. I haven’t forgotten about the bathtubs and the frolicking.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Cam tries to figure out what happens when fantasy authors settle into their magical worlds. Using Harry Potter as a comparison, we look for complications, tests, and questions that can only be explored in sequels – once everyone is familiar with the rules. Expect lots of Prisoner of Azkaban and some scattered August Rush bashing throughout the episode. You know what? I think we totally forgot to talk about horror movies this time. Happy holidays.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Eight
Join Cam and Maggie for (hopefully) the last ever appearance of Tom Bombadil. Oh no wait, Frodo summons him back the second we get rid of him. We struggle through another chapter of nonsense words and third person singing, but this time it is punctuated by bits of action, intriguing symbolism, and – Dementors? Luckily, we just rewatched Prisoner of Azkaban, so we’re in a good position to catch the thirty thousand parallels between this chapter and that book. Oh boy. Cam finds some more evidence that Goldberry is a ghost and Maggie breaks down some of the surreal nature description that Tolkien does here while constantly referencing The Evil Dead (lots of fog and severed arms!) We also work through the many Tom / Gandalf comparisons and try to identify the real Daddy of Middle-earth. Cam stretches himself and attempts to analyze a dream, and he even manages to go a whole episode without mentioning Winnie the Pooh. The conversation grinds to a halt so we can appreciate Tom’s wonderful, portly old horse – Fatty Lumpkin. And then finally, finally, the chapter ends with the journey truly beginning. We celebrate and do some post-mortem on the three-chapter Tom Bombadil saga that derailed the entire book’s sense of momentum and urgency. Does Tom redeem himself with this appearance?
In our Second Breakfast segment, Cam leads us on a jolly philosophical excursion inspired by the newly released 4K versions of The Lord of the Rings. Topics include: when is art finished? When should we stop paying attention to revisions? What is the definitive version of a work of art? We work through these ideas with unkind references to Star Wars, as well as more charitable comments about Saw, It, The Hateful Eight, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Seven
Join Cam and Maggie in this unfortunate Thanksgiving extravaganza. This whole chapter is spent trapped in a “penthouse” with unnerving Tolkien supervillain Tommy Dabomba. He really bounces off the walls this time in a surreal assault of singing, third person references, troubling revelations, intriguing red flag plot developments, and unending references to colors and trees. Yeah, there’s a lot of dung to sift through this week – the man enters the room solely to compliment his wife’s girdle. Because it’s a holiday, Cam decides to commit to the bit and fully argue that Fellowship is a horror book. He leads a breakdown of all the chapter’s interesting developments, which concern magic in Middle-earth, the magical pecking order of this world, and Tom’s true identity. We get some more symbolic dreams to break down too, and Maggie wonders if any of this is really happening. Maybe Tom is dead, or a ghost, or fake – or just boring.
For our Second Breakfast segment, we break down the relationship between coincidences and storytelling. To illustrate this point, we say some mean things about August Rush and Cam asks Maggie lots of leading questions. Why do they feel so artificial and disappointing? Are coincidences always lazy writing? Does fantasy get a free pass by hiding being the thin, vague veil of “magic”? All these topics are more are explored in this Tom Bombadil Blowout.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Six
Join Maggie and Cam in their irrational hatred and fear of Tom Bombadil. He shows up at just the right time and offers our heroes exactly what they need. It’s suspicious – and he speaks in nonsense words and sings about himself in third person. Oh and he might be a wizard, whose convenient little house in the clearing of an evil wood gives Cam some strong Hansel and Gretel vibes. Horrifying. In this episode, we break down all of our suspicions about Tom. We also unpack the numerous similarities between this chapter and the spooky journey through Mirkwood in The Hobbit. That adventure was a highlight of Bilbo’s story for us, but this chapter might be the first dud in The Lord of the Rings. We have a great time investigating all the expectations and echoes that led to our mutual disappointment. This episode gets a little silly.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Cam tries to figure out why some stories can thrill us while being riddled with callbacks and echoes and limiting their scope to just a few characters and locations. To illustrate this point, we talk about a few plotlines on The Office. These comparisons serve to further our main discussion about why Mirkwood works better than the Old Forest, but Cam also develops a theory about “roads less travelled” in storytelling, and the value of teasing out multiple endings. Maggie reflects on this chapter’s surrealism by comparing it to another freaky and unpredictable story she’s been enjoying lately, In the House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt. This chapter was a bit of a stinker for us, but don’t worry – the episode is still fun! Plus, we get more of Terrifying Tom next week. Oh joy.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Five
Join Maggie and Cam for a discussion of Tolkien’s restraint and provocations. This chapter is full of callbacks and echoes from The Hobbit, but it also continues to pivot away from many of the patterns and priorities established by that earlier story. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin slow down and catch their breath following their latest escape from the Black Riders, and in their downtime, we learn a lot more about their group dynamics and decision-making hierarchy. We discuss Tolkien’s growing interest in friendship and loyalty, Frodo’s expectations of his companions, and what he is quietly saying about these hobbits when he has them sing a “bath-song” praising Hot Water. This chapter is less about near-death experiences than it is a series of character revelations, and we dig through each one like a pair of truffle pigs hunting for lunch. In conversation, we make new sense of Frodo’s surreal, symbolic dream at the end of the chapter, and even manage to make some positive comparisons to other fantasy works. There are also, of course, many more horror references and another visit from Pooh.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Maggie leads a discussion about graphic novels that extends into adaptation, visual learning, and our own attention spans, as well as our preferences across artistic mediums. Yeah, I know it is technically “media” but that is a different word that means something else, and language is fake.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Four
Join Maggie and Cam as they attempt to outrun the Black Riders, Old Maggot’s dogs, and updates about the election. This chapter is a sneaky one – lots of character development and atmospheric work, but no huge plot revelations. We discuss all of Tolkien’s quiet declarations here, from the changing nature of danger in Middle-earth to the totally restructured “episodic” nature of this adventure. Echoes and pivots persist throughout this chapter. Gandalf is absent, for the first time, but he might still be pulling the strings. All of the hobbits’ allies in this chapter, from the elves to the farmer, have loose ties to the wizard and his magic. We investigate all of these little provocations while dropping even more references to Midsommar, The Evil Dead, and Halloween. We even spot a “literary jump scare,” and Cam continues to insist that Fellowship is a horror movie. Maggie finds everything she loved about Bilbo split between our new hobbits – Frodo, Sam, and Pippin – and we find some more uncomfortable parallels with elements of Harry Potter.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Cam shares some excerpts from a letter Tolkien wrote to W.H. Auden. Tolkien comments on some of our oldest debates about “children’s stories” and the Ring, as well as providing some fascinating insight into the process of expanding the world of The Hobbit and beginning Fellowship.
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Cam has some new stories out this week - an original political satire about a moose and a spooky reimagining of an Edgar Allan Poe short story. Listen to the audiobooks here:
www.cameronfucile.bandcamp.com
And thank you for the support!
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Three
Join Maggie and Cam for a spirited discussion about this dangerous, thrilling chapter. A hissing, faceless Ringwraith stalks our hobbits through the Shire, we meet some “high elves,” and Tolkien draws a dozen fascinating points of contrast between this story and The Hobbit. The adventure finally begins, and many of our long-running debates are thrown into chaos: does the Ring have direct influence over the wearer’s mind? Is Gandalf secretly the narrator, pulling strings and deploying friends to save our heroes? We also get to peek into the mind of a fox, who apparently speaks English! Frodo’s sale of Bag End leads us to compare him and Bilbo – who is more mature? What are their priorities and motivations? Who does Gandalf trust more? Tolkien is in full pinprick provocation throat-clearing mode here – it’s incredibly fun to parse out. Maggie finds some fascinating callbacks in the chapter’s songs as well, that tie these events very particularly to parts of The Hobbit and further illuminate Bilbo and Frodo’s relationship.
In our Second Breakfast segment, Maggie leads a conversation about art and cultural relevance, inspired by Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. Throughout the episode, Cam also brings in some more comparisons to horror movies – Happy Halloween! The Ringwraith – a silent and depersonalized hunter wielding only a blade – leads us right back to Michael Myers and Halloween. The seductive distractions of the Shire remind us of Midsommar. And everything reminds Cam of Winnie-the-Pooh, but you already knew that. He gets all excited about that talking fox.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter Two
Join Maggie and Cam for this humdinger of a chapter. We finally learn the rules of the Ring and the history of its movements – from its fiery creation through its whole blood-splattered journey into Bilbo’s waistcoat in the Shire. Gandalf takes the reins again as our nearly omniscient narrator to lead us through decades (!!!) of time jumps and a string of character introductions. Aragorn! Mordor! Sméagol! We break it all down for you in this episode, and then the wizard’s insights finally settle some of our most heated debates about the One Ring. The Ring is sentient, the Ring has stated desires – we got some game-changing revelations in this chapter.
Of course, we pepper the whole conversation with horror movie references – Happy Halloween! We revisit our discussion of Michael Myers and Halloween to discuss Tolkien’s concept of “The Enemy” and the River of Evil™ that we first discovered in The Hobbit, but we also bring The Exorcist and The Evil Dead into the conversation. Is Gollum inherently evil? Does Gandalf torture him to get information about the ring? Is the big-hatted grey wizard against the death penalty? Oh, and what is Tolkien saying about fate?
Like I said, this chapter was jam-packed and provocative. Enjoy, and send us some more horror movie recommendations to discuss on the show.
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter One
Join Maggie and Cam as they say goodbye to Bilbo and finally meet Frodo! This first chapter of Fellowship is a fascinating riff on the first chapter of The Hobbit. We break down the similarities and differences between the chapters and investigate Tolkien’s continued interest in class commentary about the Shire. The narrator is less irreverent and involved this time around (much to Cam’s dismay) but characters like Gandalf and Frodo are as important here as Bilbo was to The Hobbit. This episode investigates the big Party’s multifaceted nature – at the very same time, it feels like a funeral, a wedding, and a graduation party. Maggie looks at the Ring’s effect on Bilbo after nearly sixty years and Cam worries about him giving away all of his possessions (again) and getting his affairs in order (again). We close with a discussion of scale and expectations as we head into the enormity of The Lord of the Rings.
In our Second Breakfast, we discuss the difficulties of genre franchising by comparing Tolkien’s Middle-earth books with the various remakes, reboots, and “recalibrations” of John Carpenter’s 1978 slasher classic Halloween. Trust us, it’s weirdly relevant – Michael Myers is Tolkien’s magic system. Cam forces some Shakespeare into the discussion as well, we share our love of Eli Roth, and Maggie can’t stop buying pretty new copies of LOTR.
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(Heated) Discussion of Khee Hoon Chan’s Polygon article, “Games Need to Return to Black and White Morality”
Join Cam and Maggie as they break down a troubling, provocative article related to our last episode and Tolkien’s views on allegory and the motivations / ramifications of storytelling. We respond to claims such as “stories are inherently moral” and the idea that “allowing a sense of moral dilemma over both sides … reinforces the kinds of false equivalencies that might slow down social change”. There is a lot to discuss in this article – we cover polarization, the relationship between activism and art, our current cultural and political hostilities, the human attraction to categories and teams, free speech and censorship, and at one point, skunks.
Article Link: https://www.polygon.com/2020/8/3/21352437/games-morality-last-of-of-us-bioshock-good-bad
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Discussion of The Fellowship of the Ring, Prologue, Note on the Text, Forward to the Second Edition
Join Maggie and Cam as they read through Tolkien’s introduction to The Lord of the Rings. For the first and only time, we get to hear Tolkien’s opinions and preamble on his own work. We explore the implications of his strong opinions on allegory and self-expressed motivations for telling these stories. We also consider the timeline of LOTR’s production (18 years!) and Tolkien’s new judgment of hobbits and their lifestyle. He outlines their feelings on politics and policing, foreign wars and class conflict, and even slips in some provocations about “pipe-weed” that make us think hobbits might be hippies. His recap of the events of The Hobbit include some interesting suggestions about the powers of the Ring that lead us into a renewed argument about greed and corruption. Cam, once again, asks who the narrator is.
Because this conversation went loooong, we will be releasing our Second Breakfast segment as a stand-alone Elevensies episode later this week. It’s a doozy of a discussion about “black and white morality” and morally grey storytelling.
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Discussion of Rankin & Bass’ The Hobbit
Join Maggie and Cam for a psychedelic adventure through time and space and hideous character models. This episode explores the strange animated world of Rankin & Bass’ 1977 adaptation of The Hobbit, which blows through the entire book in an hour and fifteen minutes. We discuss (and describe) all of the weird character choices, from the dwarves’ visible throbbing brains to Bilbo’s Princess Leia hairline. I won’t even tease the evil creatures here – they’re too wild to spoil. We explore the deviations and unexpected book loyalties in this film and have a lot of fun along the way. Enjoy!
During our Second Breakfast, Cam leads a discussion about musical cues and sound effects as they are found in fantasy and science fiction. Maggie educates him because she has played an instrument.
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Discussion of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [Extended Edition]
Join Maggie and Cam for two hours of praising Martin Freeman. This episode explores Peter Jackson’s final Middle-earth movie and its unexpectedly strong acts of interpretation. We discuss the fascinating deviations of tone, scope, and character in this film, including Gandalf’s knowledge of Bilbo’s Ring, the surreal representation of Thorin’s inner turmoil, and Tauriel’s contagious love story. Dwarves finally get some real character development in this version of the story, and Maggie suggests that Bilbo’s big moment is different here. Cam offers theories about bridges, both literal and narrative, and the importance of legacy to Tolkien’s villains. We also celebrate the goats, sheep, pigs, and moose-deer-elk in this glorious film. And Bofur comes back.
During our Second Breakfast, Maggie asks some provocative questions about emotional manipulation, artistic intent, and creative responsibility – inspired by A Little Life, This Is Us, and The Haunting of Hill House.
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The Last Stage [The Hobbit, Ch.19]
Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Nineteen
Join Maggie and Cam for the grand finale of The Hobbit. Bilbo finally chooses a future and resolves his longstanding Took / Baggins internal struggle. Gandalf shows his hand and clarifies the power and role of magic in this world. Multiple songs are sung, and a very unexpected character appears in the book’s final illustration. This episode is an analysis of the final chapter and a retrospective on Tolkien’s many hints and provocations thus far. Some of our theories are confirmed and others are tossed into the woodchipper. We also argue about the ring some more, and Cam finally gets to talk about Winnie the Pooh again.
During our Second Breakfast, we discuss happy endings, sad endings, and strange, precarious, “contented” endings like the one we find here. We also discuss the path forward into The Lord of the Rings and our increasingly complex relationship with Gandalf.
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Join Maggie and Cam for a special mailbag episode. We respond to your comments about our recent episodes – including Bilbo’s role as a burglar, Gandalf’s god-like role in the story, Maggie’s greed theory, and the neutrality of war. In our Second Breakfast, we reflect on our recent road trips across the country and the role of location in the reading experience. Maggie also got to talk to BookTuber Noelle Gallagher on Instagram!
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eighteen
Join Maggie and Cam for a melancholy meditation on hollow victories, tragic deaths, and the outcome of the Battle of the Five Armies! We continue our discussion about Gandalf’s transcendent magical meddling and consider the final resting places of his favorite puppets – Thorin and Bilbo. This episode explores binaries within characters and Tolkien’s unparalleled power of suggestion – this chapter is eight pages long and we spend two hours parsing its many hints about characters’ inner turmoil. Cam draws two to three hundred comparisons to Doctor Faustus.
During our Second Breakfast, Cam notices that this chapter contains a line that spoils all of Game of Thrones. Maggie asks a question about audiobooks vs. print books that provokes a discussion about interpretations and critical reading.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Seventeen
Join Maggie and Cam as they slash and debate their way through the Battle of the Five Armies. This chapter brings everything to a head – Bilbo’s character regression, the recent consolidation of magic back into Gandalf, and Thorin’s emotional turmoil regarding the treasure of Erebor. This episode explores the duality of light and dark in this story as well as the more nuanced, political, global perspective we’ve developed since reaching the Lonely Mountain. We deep dive into a theory Cam presents about Gandalf’s transcendent role in this chapter and the hints of his cosmic power.
During our Second Breakfast, we discuss Peter Jackson’s devastating World War I documentary They Shall Not Grow Old and consider its implications for his on-screen battles. Cam expands on Maggie’s question about retellings from last week to include gender and cultural differences.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Sixteen
Join Maggie and Cam as celebrate Gandalf’s return and analyze Bilbo’s parlay with the enemy. The hobbit’s character growth seems to have come full circle in this chapter, but the idea of regression continues to dominate the narrative. This episode explores the magical hierarchy of Middle-earth and the loyalty / disloyalty of Bilbo’s gamble with the Arkenstone. Maggie questions and explores the chapter’s many Game of Thrones precursors and Cam continues to develop his theory about Tolkien’s parentheticals. We also talk about birds.
During our Second Breakfast, Cam talks about the elements of Elizabethan drama that appear in this chapter and Maggie leads a discussion on retellings and adaptation.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fifteen
Join Maggie and Cam as they head back into the Lonely Mountain – and Thorin’s mind. This episode explores the psychological trauma of the dwarves’ displacement now that they are trapped inside their old home. We investigate Tolkien’s fondness for birds – from the eagles to the ravens and the traitorous thrush. The treasure of Erebor introduces a new perspective on greed in the story and we analyze the concept of regression in relation to the dwarves’ fears and Bilbo’s renewed obsession with food.
During our Second Breakfast, we discuss grief, failure, and isolation through comparisons to The Shining and Peaky Blinders.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Fourteen
Join Maggie and Cam for this discussion of a very pivotal chapter. A dragon is dead, and the survivors are grumbling. This episode explores the book’s hard shift into politics and a global perspective. Maggie continues to develop her theory about ‘greed’ in light of recent events and Cam’s disappointment with Smaug’s death leads to a debate about narrative expectations and subversion.
During our Second Breakfast, Maggie extends her thoughts about duality into ancient Egyptian art and we talk about what’s left in the story without our fire-breathing villain. Cam also references The Walking Dead half a dozen times during the episode.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Thirteen
Join Maggie and Cam as they triumphantly return to the books to talk about magic and ghosts. This episode explores the unnerving similarities between the Ring and the newly introduced Arkenstone. We continue our discussion on the power of sight in Middle-earth amid a chapter blanketed in darkness. Cam offers three working theories about the Ring’s power and influence as a magical object, and Maggie meditates on the concept of “home” in this story.
During our Second Breakfast, we respond to one critic’s strangely abstract praise of The Hobbit as being a “flawless masterpiece”. Maggie suggests that Jude Law should play young Gandalf in the Amazon show.
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Discussion of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [Extended Edition]
Join Maggie and Cam in this special episode, where they question the narrative implications of having Benedict Cumberbatch voice every character in the movie. We discuss the nature of evil and the strange, incestuous relationship between Smaug, Sauron, and the Necromancer. This episode also explores the parallels between the Ring and the Arkenstone, as well as the many callbacks within this movie and the series so far. We also try to figure out who the real villain of the prequel trilogy is - Smaug or Azog? In the face of Maggie's lukewarm reaction to the movie, Cam mounts a spirited defense of it as his favorite Middle-earth film.
During our Second Breakfast, we discuss adaptation and disappointment through the lens of the post-Sorkin years of The West Wing, and Maggie reflects on this year's Reading Rush.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Twelve
Join Maggie and Cam as they finally meet a dragon. Smaug's arrival provokes an extended, heated debate about pride and self-preservation. This episode explores the similarities between Smaug and Gollum as isolated mountain-dwellers who challenge Bilbo and complex characters in their own right. Tolkien pushes us to reexamine the concept of invisibility in the story as well, in addition to our ideas of greed, heroism, and corruption.
During our Second Breakfast, Cam draws parallels to a true crime docuseries that reignited his love of provocative, complicated art.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eleven
Join Maggie and Cam as they finally reach the Lonely Mountain. This episode explores a short chapter that is loaded with symbolism and existential meditation. Callbacks and teasers echo across a bleak landscape. We deep dive into them all and offer some theories about outsider grief and visual storytelling. Cam evolves his Creature of the Week theory.
During our Second Breakfast, we consider the roots of this chapter in the film genres of horror and Westerns.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Ten
Join Maggie and Cam on their weekend getaway to Lake-town. This episode explores the dwarves' relationship with fate and legend, as well as the politics of non-intervention embodied by the Master of Lake-town and the King of the Wood-elves. Songs are weaponized to exploit nostalgia and heroism while quiet greed, calculation, and apathy threaten to derail the dwarves' mission. Cam complicates the idea of "evil creatures" in this world and Maggie defends Tolkien's lengthy nature descriptions.
During our Second Breakfast, Maggie extends her discussion about fate and legend with a comparison to Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Nine
Join Maggie and Cam as they fight off drunken Wood-elves and stuff each other into barrels. This episode explores Bilbo's motivations and subconscious as he works to rescue the dwarves. Tolkien pushes us to reevaluate our "food and shelter" theory from last week. We also debate the power of the ring as both a practical tool and a narrative device. Cam leads a discussion about faith, magic, and luck.
During our Second Breakfast, we consider George Lucas' objectives in making Star Wars, inspired by the documentary "Empire of Dreams".
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Eight
Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter the scariest Creature of the Week so far - giant spiders! This episode explores Bilbo's shocking character development and the new roles that he might be taking in the story. We reconsider our theories about the ring's power and xenophobia in Middle-earth. We also celebrate some long-awaited dwarvish development and unpack the many callbacks and echoes in this chapter. During our Second Breakfast, Maggie connects Cam's new theory about food and shelter to the recently released Hunger Games prequel. We also discuss gender-bent productions of classic stories.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Seven
Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter yet another new creature, Beorn! He's hairy and grim and maybe a way for Tolkien to talk to us about disappointing father figures. This episode explores the chapter's many structural echoes and the value of callbacks. We also debate the power of repeated foreshadowing [hi, Mirkwood] and once again bemoan the lack of dwarvish character development. Cam continues to reference Winnie-the-Pooh, but this time he has evidence.
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Discussion of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition)
Join Maggie and Cam in this special episode exploring the 2012 movie adaptation of The Hobbit.This film covers the first six chapters of the book. Cam and Maggie discuss the film's production history and analyze it as its own work, before digging into the many interesting deviations and creations in this adaptation. This episode explores the expanded prologue and the film's relationship with the larger LOTR universe. We also reflect on the screen representations of Gandalf and Bilbo as they compare to their book counterparts. Later on, we debate whether or not the songs work better in a movie, but we agree that the eagles are still weird. Gollum's eyes are the wrong color.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Six
Join Maggie and Cam as they encounter snarling, red-eyed wolves and eagles who apparently speak English. This episode explores the limits and convenience of Tolkien's magic system. We also debate the ring's hold over Bilbo and continue to question Tolkien's relationship with environmentalism. Cam suggests that the eagles know about Bilbo's secret - and declares that all dogs are bears.
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Discussion of The Hobbit,Chapter Five
Join Maggie and Cam as they meet the slimiest creature in all of Middle-earth - Gollum! This episode analyzes the obvious and unexpected similarities between Bilbo and Gollum, as well as Tolkien's exploration of each character's subconscious. We also discuss the introduction of the Ring and consider the literal and poetic extent of its corruptive power.
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Discussion of The Hobbit,Chapter Four
Join Maggie and Cam as they journey through their favorite chapter thus far! This episode explores a sudden escalation of dramatic stakes and Tolkien's tricky hybridization of narrative styles. We also reconsider our disappointment with Chapter Two and celebrate some long-anticipated dwarvish development. Cam finally enjoys fantastical singing.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Three
Join Maggie and Cam as they continue their journey through Tolkien's Middle-earth. This episode explores the narrator's impatient time jumps as missed opportunities for character development. We also discuss Tolkien's talent for accessible worldbuilding, and consider a few emerging narrative patterns. Maggie leads an aggressive deep-dive into the Elves' songs.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter Two
Join Maggie and Cam as they continue their journey through Tolkien's Middle-earth. This episode explores Gandalf's role as a narrative safety net and Bilbo's shortcomings as an adventurer. We also analyze the tonal shift in Tolkien's nature descriptions and consider a possible occurrence of dwarvish magic.
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Discussion of The Hobbit, Chapter One
Welcome to Second Breakfast! Join Maggie and Cam as they begin their journey through Tolkien's Middle-earth. This episode explores the connection between Tolkien's lyrical narration and Bilbo's voice. We also question the dramatic stakes of this adventure, and analyze Thorin's ambitious breakfast order. Cam confronts his disdain for high fantasy.
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