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A Relaxed Schedule

A Relaxed Schedule

WEEK IN GEEK: This week, Andrew finally learns the basics of Sex Education while D. Bethel is pleasantly surprised after being very turned off by Cyberpunk 2077.

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Two Matching Ties” (23 October 2015): When our hosts discuss “Back to the Future Day,” the day when reality caught up with the dystopian future portrayed in Back to the Future, Part II.
  • Mama Knight” (21 July 2023): Where our hosts discuss the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike.

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Again For the First Time

Again For the First Time

ON A VOYAGE: A quick Star Trek check-in as D. Bethel finds an appropriate point in his Deep Space Nine watch-through to start watching Star Trek: Voyager.

WEEK IN GEEK: Andrew is unimpressed with the most recent installment of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers on Netflix: Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury. Unfortunately, D. is equally unimpressed after finally giving a go to Netflix’s Castlevania series.

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Nerd Business” (31 July 2014): Where our hosts discuss the impact and legacy of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
  • The Unpop Culture” (28 July 2017): Where D. Bethel tries Netflix’s Castlevania for the first time and can’t get past the first episode.
  • Films in Quarries” (18 June 2021): Where Andrew starts investigating the confusing origins of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.
  • Doctor Ennui” (27 August 2021): Where Andrew dives deep into the Super Sentai pool.

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Extra Obnoxious Protocol

Extra Obnoxious Protocol

COVID-INDUCED ANIME: There was no episode last week because D. Bethel got sick with the new strain of COVID. Though his symptoms were mild, the biggest side effect was probably the most troubling: he watched anime. Specifically, he watched the 12 episode series, Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (available on Hulu Plus) and realized that mechs are cool.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: A very strange news story happened in the comics world this month when Fables creator and writer Bill Willingham announced that, due to the frustrating relationship that had developed with DC Comics over how they were handling his creator-owned property, that he put Fables into the public domain. Our hosts discuss what exactly that means, how it works, and if it’s even possible.

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Privilege of Ubiquity

Privilege of Ubiquity

STALLED ENGINE: Creators of the popular game engine, Unity, made some disquieting news this week when it announced some changes to its licensing policy for developers. Andrew and D. Bethel do their best to break down the changes and examine some of the response from developers.

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Fair Point, Dude” (1 June 2018): Where Andrew discusses his dabblings with game development in the Unity engine.
  • An Optimistic Dystopia” (12 August 2022): Where D. Bethel shares his thoughts on his initial playthrough of Stray.

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Guilted into Gaming

Guilted into Gaming

STAR TREK DAY 2023: Though our hosts recorded this episode before any announcements were made on September 8 (aka “Star Trek Day”), they did discuss some recent––and intriguing––Star Trek-based announcements in the meantime.

ON THE HUNT: Andrew finds himself playing asymmetrical online horror games with the immensely popular Dead by Daylight capturing his attention lately.

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • A Sense of Place” (30 November 2018): Where Andrew shares his thoughts with the last online multiplayer game he played, Fallout 76.
  • Beware the Harp Ladies” (10 September 2021): When our hosts covered the last big Star Trek Day event.

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The Soundness

The Soundness

A LESSON IN SURVIVAL: Our hosts are going to take it easy this week, but they’re stopping in for a quick look at what’s been drawing their attention. Andrew gets frustrated by the difficulty to be found in Green Hell while D. Bethel dips a toe into the wildly popular independent game, Vampire Survivors.

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Where the Hands Touch” (13 January 2017): Where D. Bethel first discusses the video game documentary YouTube channel, Noclip.
  • It’s Always a Game” (8 February 2019): Where Andrew shares his impressions about Subnautica.

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Smoke Time

Smoke Time

WEEK IN GEEK: Our hosts try to keep it short but, instead, keep it real as they talk about their respective Weeks in Geek. D. Bethel starts by talking about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny before Andrew shares his thoughts about the first two episodes of the new Disney+ Star Wars show, Ahsoka. D. Bethel wraps it up with quick thoughts about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Our Best Work” (14 August 2014): Where D. Bethel shares his thoughts about the 2014 live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

RELEVANT LINKS:

  • The tweet that started the joke Andrew and Dan make in this episode:

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FEATURED MUSIC:

  • Audio from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) captured from D. Bethel’s personal collection.
Bedroom Heat

Bedroom Heat

EVEN STRANGER: This week, our hosts reflect on the recently finished second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and, to no one’s surprise, have nothing negative to say about it.

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Aggressive Modulation” (4 November 2022): Where our hosts ponder the influence and impact of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
  • Klingon Time Lords” (15 July 2022): Where our hosts share their thoughts about the very compelling and referential season one finale to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

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Comma Dong

Comma Dong

W-AI-ZARDS OF THE COAST: With the publishing of Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants! people noticed that some of the art looked…suspicious. It was revealed that the artist in question had used AI-engines to “enhance” the art they created for the book. Our hosts dive into this discussion and branch out from there.

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Don’t Pull Out Your Deck” (14 July 2023): Where our hosts cite the tweet from a VFX artist on Flash who discusses the extreme conditions they are forced to work within.
  • Mama Knight” (21 July 2023): Where our hosts cover the details of the various entertainment strikes.

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Academic Quality Entertainment

Academic Quality Entertainment

WEEK IN GEEK: It’s all about indie video games this week as both of our hosts have been indulging in new ludic adventures. Andrew participates in the eldritch fishing adventure of Dredge while D. Bethel has been having roguelike RPG fun with Star Renegades.

RIP PEE-WEE: Paul Reubens died after a long bout with cancer on July 30; our hosts spend a bit of time memorializing his work.

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • Baguettevania” (24 August 2018): Where our hosts discuss the roguelike Metroidvania, Dead Cells.
  • Hobbit Seasons” (24 June 2022): Where Andrew talks about the iterative awesomeness of Rogue Legacy 2.
  • Tentacles or Bust” (12 May 2023): Where D. Bethel shares his experience with the Lovecraftian adventure game, Call of the Sea.

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