All posts filed under “Episode

Episode 279: Vampires vs Zombies

This week the word is Exposition. First, Keith has things to say about Dune. Then the nerds discuss a bunch of their favorite (and least favorite) examples of well-done exposition scenes. Next Keith raises the important question of how vampires would deal with a zombie apocalypse. Speaking of the undead also brings up the subject of Ghosts. Andy also mentions enjoying a film called The History of Time Travel. Next they finally make a decision about what book to read next. They discuss Taskmaster for a bit, then finally, after dropping the Spoiler Curtain, they discuss the ending of Only Murders In The Building.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 274: Strange Rays from Outer Space

This week the word is Zombies. The nerds have a lot to say about zombies, and how they differ from other undead beings including vampires, ghosts, and reanimated corpses. After all that, Keith recaps the start of his Fugue State: Threshold campaign running via Twitch, and Andy again has things to say about Taskmaster. Next they talk about what book they should read next. Behind the spoiler curtain they talk about What If and Lower Decks.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 273: The Cheesy American Version

This week the word is American, specifically the cheesy American version of things created elsewhere, including the American versions of The Office, Taskmaster, Iron Chef, and Ultraviolet. Digressions include the differences between American and English senses of humor, language differences, Doctor Who, and yet more discussions of Taskmaster. Next they discuss the last few stories in Donald Barthelme’s Forty Stories, and then discuss what to read next. After the spoiler curtain, they talk about the third episode of the season of both Lower Decks and What If?.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 271: Are These Porcupines Wonderful?

This week the word is speculation. The nerds talk about various What Ifs and alternate reality stories, culminating (at the end of the show) in their discussion of the first episode of the “What If?” series. Next they discuss Taskmaster again, which Keith told Andy about last week; now that Andy’s gotten hooked on it as well, he had a lot to say about it. Next they discuss a few more of Donald Barthelme’s Forty Stories, focusing mostly on “Porcupines at the University.” Lastly, Keith shares his thoughts about Suicide Squad.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 270: Destroy This Cake — Beautifully

This week the word is Taskmaster, and begins with the nerds talking about what it’s like to be their own taskmasters. Then Keith tells Andy about the British telly program called Taskmaster, and Andy tells Keith about A Very Brady Renovation. Andy shares a few recent findings, and talks about the word findings. Specifically, Andy talks about finally starting to watch The Wire, and Keith shares some thoughts about the Olympics and Mythic Quest. Lastly they discuss another batch of Donald Barthelme stories.

Episode 267: Various Variants

This week the word is Variants. First they nerds discuss media with various variants of the same character: mirror universe versions, evil twins, clones, multiverse crossovers, etc. Moving on to real life stuff, Keith talks about the visit by his mom during the heat wave, and Andy talks about trying to think of something to do with 7 extra cards on a card sheet. Next they begin their discussions of Donald Barthelme’s Forty Stories, starting with the first four. Lastly, they discuss episode 4 of Loki.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 265: The Sandfruit Stew has a Little Too Much Sandfruit

This week the word is cicadas. Andy gives a brief report on the swarms of cicadas, which can be heard faintly in the background of the entire show. Next Keith gives a report on the current status of his Patreon-based D&D campaign. Andy compares the cicadas to Logan’s Run, then talks about re-watching some other classics including Galaxy Quest and Inception. They discuss other dream-walking classics, and Keith talks about Shadow and Bone and Mass Effect. Andy talks about several superhero shows he’s decided to give up on, and Keith talks about putting the brakes on their attempts to read the Dictionary of the Khazars. Lastly, they discuss the final episode of season 1 of Debris.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 261: Legendary Mustaches

This week the word is Palimpsest. After first discussing what the word even means, the nerds discuss a few examples of palimpsests, the most notable of which being the book they’ve been reading, S. aka Ship of Theseus. Other topics include Tig Notaro, recent life issues including vaccinations, online conventions, Lower Decks, Debris, Solar Opposites, TikTok videos, Raised by Wolves, Kong vs. Godzilla, For All Mankind, favorite RPG moments, and Keith’s D&D campaign. Then they discuss chapter 9 of S., and a paragraph that reminded Andy of an old card game called Dark Cults. Lastly, they discuss episode 5 of Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Here are links to the TikTok videos Keith mentions on this show, regarding Cookies, D&D with Ping, and RPG Memories

Episode 260: All the Liquid Nitrogen in the Soviet Union

This week the word is Chernobyl, and the nerds start by discussing various aspects of that and other big disasters. Andy talks about getting his first shot, and the nerds speculate about life after vaccination. Keith talks about Harley Quinn, and Andy talks about Infinity Train. Keith reports on the D&D campaign he’s doing on Patreon, and on the progress of the Kickstarter for Gloomier. He also talks about eating cookies on TikTok. Then Andy discusses the just-announced Wonderland Fluxx. Next come the spoilers, as they discuss Chapter 8 of S., episode 2 of Raised By Wolves, I Am Mother, episodes 2 & 3 of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and lastly, the HBO mini-series, Chernobyl.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.

Episode 258: Significant Skulls

This week the word is Dickens. The nerds discuss a few Dicken-related topics, in particular Great Expectations, and other things for which expectations were great. Keith talks about an interactive experience called Broadway Whodunit, and Andy mentions some favorite moments from re-watching Demolition Man. Then Andy talks about Looney Labs Silver Jubilee events, and Keith reports on the D&D campaign he’s running for his Patreon patrons. Other topics include The Anubis Gates and In & Of Itself. Next they discuss chapter 7 of S., and finally, it’s a no-spoilers-barred discussion of the final episode of WandaVision.

SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.