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Now displaying: Category: episode


Hosted by Charlie Bennett and Christian Sager.

Oct 28, 2016

Filmmaker John Carpenter describes The Thing, Prince of Darkness, and In the Mouth of Madness as his "Apocalypse Trilogy." With the expertise of special guest Jack Bennett, we aim to find out why. It may have something to do with cosmic horror, nihilism, misanthropy and the futility of human existence.

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Oct 14, 2016

PJ Harvey’s latest album is her interpretation of the ironies of war. So why are Washington D.C. politicians criticizing it? And how did its production in a public setting contribute to Harvey’s overall artistic project?

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Oct 7, 2016

Why didn't the dark Marvel superhero Netflix series "Jessica Jones" live up to our expectations? We look at the intersection of corporate entertainment, feminism and creativity to find out. Along the way we uncover the creepy secret of how your binge watching is being tracked by telephone surveillance.

Sep 30, 2016

Every year science fiction writer and futurist Bruce Sterling gives a “state of the world” presentation at SXSW Interactive. We consider his remarks from this year and what they mean for politics, social media and surveillance.

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Sep 23, 2016

We go to the vault in this episode, pulling out our take on True Detective’s second season. Is “it all” Nic Pizzolatto? And if so, do both the blame and accolades lay at his feet?

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Sep 16, 2016

While talking about the dark fantasy comic “Locke and Key,” we get drawn into the complicated media world surrounding adaptations and monetization. Are comics the best engine for creative, collaborative storytelling? We look at Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s partnership to find out.

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Sep 2, 2016

In anticipation of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album “Skeleton Tree” and its accompanying documentary “One More Time With Feeling,” we discuss the tragedy of losing a child and its effect on art, performance and persona. 

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Aug 26, 2016

The 2015 Hugo Awards showed us what happens when science fiction/fantasy fandom turns on itself. A year later we look back at the arguments and manipulations of all the parties involved: Sad Puppies, Rabid Puppies and everyone else. Given how similar this controversy’s rhetoric is to the 2016 presidential election, should we look at cultural moments like this as predictors of larger issues in society?

If you’re interested in how the Hugos went this year, here’s Verge’s summary of the event. 

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Aug 19, 2016

Charlie and Christian examine DC Comics’ latest attempt to reinvent their publishing line. Is it really about defeating despair with hope, as writer/executive Geoff Johns has said? And is this friendly to new readers? We also look at the ethical implications of using characters from “Watchmen” in an attempt to create a shared universe with an emotionally compelling narrative.

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Aug 12, 2016

Looking back on the Batman film “The Dark Knight,” does it stand for anything? Or does it simply soak up whatever morals we bring to it? Christopher Nolan’s intentions remain mysterious, but we do our best to figure them out.  

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Aug 5, 2016

The Elmore Leonard character “Raylan Givens” from JUSTIFIED speaks to Charlie and Christian. For some reason he makes us feel safe and in control. Is he a barometer for the current state of America?

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The Gunslinging Wit of Raylan Givens

The Justified Cast on Raylan Givens, Son of a Bitch

Jul 29, 2016

In an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones' sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes -- and surpasses -- its source material?

n an unusually giddy, slaphappy episode, Charlie & Christian try to understand how Game of Thrones’ sixth season was made. When does an adaptation stop being an adaptation? What happens when it passes – and surpasses – its source material?

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Jul 22, 2016

Is media better when its creators have total control? We look at the first volume of SAGA and explore issues of ownership, censorship and salesmanship with this near perfect comic book.

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Jul 15, 2016
 
Quentin Tarantino's either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it's so damn compelling.
 

Quentin Tarantino’s either an idiot savant or a savvy businessman with his latest film The Hateful Eight. So we cover script leaks, film stock, Black Lives Matter protests, police boycotts and much more about the making of this film to figure out why it’s so damn compelling.    

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Jul 8, 2016
 
Are Radiohead the most accomplished "art rock" band of the early twenty-first century, as the Encyclopedia Britannica claims? Or are they savvy businessmen who've brilliantly marketed themselves for 20 years? Can they be both? In the title fight for Charlie's musical identity, Thom Yorke comes out swinging with every ounce of nihilistic ennui at his command. 

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Jul 1, 2016

"G.G. Allin could have been a Flannery O'Connor character." Charlie & Chris discuss the murderous short story "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" and the difference between an author's intent and a reader's response. Why isn't this considered a horror story? And is it punk rock?

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Jun 24, 2016

What happens when you bring together Maria Bamford, the creator of Arrested Development, and a writer for South Park? You get a brilliant new comedy celebrating mental illness and pugs on Netflix. 

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Jun 17, 2016

Does entertainment have a responsibility to historical accuracy? Christian & Charlie tackle a film about a book written by David Lipsky about an article that was never published about writer David Foster Wallace. We struggle with how to consume media when you object to the portrayal of a real-life subject you may have identified with.

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Jun 10, 2016

Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows' horror graphic novel NEONOMICON is explicit, graphically violent, and filled with rape scenes. But is there something more to this award-winning HP Lovecraft homage/critique? And should it be banned from libraries?

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Jun 3, 2016

"It's important to have a spirit animal who's an actual person," is this episode's pull quote. We discuss the making of Iggy Pop's album "The Idiot," David Bowie's role in its production, and how narratives can change music listening experiences.

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May 27, 2016

Why do we watch trashy television? And why was FOX's The Following something we watched as much as we did even though we thought it was terrible?

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May 20, 2016

Chris and Charlie struggle with their history with, and love for, Steve Albini, and their desire to be decent people. Can music with lyrics hostile toward women be feminist?  

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