The Deep Nerd Zone

The Deep Nerd Zone

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WEEK IN GEEK: This week, our hosts are hard at work in the different worlds and in deep space as Andrew watches the first two episodes of the final season of Star Trek: Discovery while D. Bethel has a good time playing a scoundrel in Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds.

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – We survived the eclipsageddon
(02:39) Andrew watches Star Trek: Discovery (Star Trek talk ensues)
(23:06) Dan gives a quick update upon finishing Sea of Stars
(24:10) D. gives first impressions on The Outer Worlds
(37:53) Outro – more eclipse talk.
(39:11) Outtakes

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A Bunch of Empty Sound

A Bunch of Empty Sound

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TO ME, MY X-MEN: Our hosts are joined by the show’s resident on-the-ground-Marvel correspondent, Kyrun Silva (of Taurus Comics) to talk about the first the episodes of the highly anticipated Disney+ animated series, X-Men ’97. WARNING: spoilers, hot takes, and deep lore dives abound in this episode.

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The 2-Body Solution

The 2-Body Solution

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WEEK IN GEEK: Our hosts jump right into it as Andrew gets sucked back into the world of Stardew Valley with their most recent update and D. Bethel taps into the zeitgeist and plays the roguelike, deckbuilding, poker-themed (?!) game, Balatro.

THE SEASON OF REGENERATION: With the release of the trailer for the new series of Doctor Who, it contains all that fans could hope for––action, humor, adventure, drama…and it’s “season 1”?

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Andrew got too distracted to podcast…

(01:37) …because he got sucked into Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 release.

(15:33) D. Bethel can’t stop playing the not poker video game, Balatro.

(28:49) Outro – In May we start Doctor Who‘s…first season?

(31:35) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Love the Stank” (30 December 2016): Where Andrew first dives into the addictive world of Stardew Valley.
  • “States of Play” (30 August 2019): Where Andrew shares his first experiences with Klei Entertainment’s Oxygen Not Included.
  • “Reliable Virtual Helmets” (27 September 2019): Where D. Bethel shares his first experiences diving into the world of roguelike deckbuilding games with Meteorfall: Journey.
  • “Smell the Duke” (4 February 2022): Where D. Bethel discusses the roguelike conversation/combat deckbuilding game by Klei Entertainment, Griftlands.

RELEVANT LINKS:

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FEATURED MUSIC:

The Pain Box

The Pain Box

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THE LENGTH PROBLEM: Our hosts spend a little time up top discussing the question, “What’s with all the long movies?”

MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: After finally having caught up on Marvel’s Echo mini-series and The Marvels, our hosts share their thoughts about the ups, downs, and innovations of these two rather under-the-radar entries in the MCU.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Old men complain about long movies
(04:58) Marvel Studios’ Echo
(23:45) Thoughts on The Marvels
(37:54) Where Andrew and D. Bethel stand on Dune
(40:16) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “The Black Arts of Algorithms” (5 August 2016): Where our hosts discuss the similarly shameful discourse around Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.

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FEATURED MUSIC:

Private Scientists

Private Scientists

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THE AHSOKA PROBLEM: D. tries to watch the most recent Disney+ Star Wars show, Ahsoka, and while he enjoys it he can’t help feeling like he’s missing a lot of important context and information.

“SAY SOMETHING NICE”: D. Bethel proposes a new idea for a podcast or a segment on the show.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Dan really wants to like Ahsoka.
(21:35) A brief sojourn into discussing episodic vs. serialized television
(32:14) Star Wars homework vs. Marvel homework
(43:05) Outro – “Say Something Nice” and Highlander 2: The Quickening
(46:28) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

RELEVANT LINKS:

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Ear Covid

Ear Covid

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AD&D (ANDREW, DUNGEONS, & DRAGONS): Andrew, after years away, gets drawn into a Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Planescape adventure and shares his thoughts on how the game looks after having avoided it for so long.

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – The dangers of COVID broadcasting
(01:35) Andrew’s new D&D adventure adventure
(51:02) Outro – Jon Stewart returns to The Daily Show
(55:16) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “The Space Dog and Bacchus Show” (21 August 2014): Where Andrew first experiments with Dungeons & Dragons‘ 5th Edition open beta, DnDNext.
  • “Some Solid Copy” (31 July 2015): Where our hosts discuss Jon Stewart’s departure from The Daily Show.
  • “Choose Your Weapon” (31 July 2020): Where Andrew discusses the documentary, Secret of Blackmoor: The True History of Dungeons & Dragons.

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Attachment Point

Attachment Point

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WEEK IN SICK: Andrew’s back after being ill and he has some stuff to share! This week, he talks about watching five seasons of the CBS reboot of Magnum, P.I. and how it not only connects with the original show, but how it connects to all of CBS’ reboot shows (Hawaii Five-O, and Macgyver). D. Bethel, who was not sick, talks briefly about starting the throwback JRPG, Sea of Stars, by Sabotage Studio. (Thank you to Kyrun Silva for helping out at the beginning of the episode!)

TOPICS:
(00:00) Intro – Andrew returns and talks about having COVID again.
(05:35) Andrew’s Week in Sick: Magnum, P.I.
(27:12) D. Bethel’s Week in Not-Sick: Sea of Stars
(34:52) Outro – Sausage Update
(39:09) Outtakes

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Mr. Moustache” (21 September 2018): Where Andrew first discusses the Magnum, P.I. reboot.
  • “Wet Shirt Feels” (16 August 2019): Where D. Bethel shares his thoughts about Sabotage Studio’s previous––and very different––game, The Messenger.
  • “Sad News Theme” (28 February 2020): Where Andrew talks about the Macgyver reboot.

INFO:

FEATURED MUSIC:

  • “Hot Pausin'” written and performed by Glenn and D. Bethel
The Full Kyrun

The Full Kyrun

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THE STROMAN ARGUMENT: Kyrun Silva of Taurus Comics and the 4 Tales Podcast joins D. Bethel for this week’s show and they talk a bit about some recent guests Kyrun has had on his podcast.

WEEK IN GEEK: This week, Kyrun dives into Alan Moore’s celebrated run on DC Comics’ Swamp Thing while D. Bethel is awestruck by Godzilla Minus One (though, technically, he watched Godzilla Minus One Minus Color).

Follow Kyrun on the following services:

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Welcome, Kyrun Silva!
(11:20) Kyrun’s Week in Geek: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing
(21:10) D. Bethel’s Week in Geek: Godzilla Minus One Minus Color
(42:46) Outro – A Mini Con Artists
(46:25) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

  • “Godzilla Fhtagn“: an essay about the 2014 American production, Godzilla, and its Lovecraftian overtones by D. Bethel.

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Lunch Talk

Lunch Talk

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PROOF OF LIFE: Our hosts have been absent for a few weeks and wanted to check in and discuss why. They also provide a short Week in Geek with Andrew talking about playing Dungeons & Dragons again for the first time in years while D. Bethel was quite impressed with Max’s animated sci-fi series, Scavengers Reign.

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Day of the Diver

Day of the Diver

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DOCTOR NEW: Our hosts spend a little bit of time discussing the newest episode of Doctor Who, “The Church on Ruby Road.”

FISHING & STUFF: Our hosts talk about the charm, the complexities, and frustrations of the hit video game, Dave the Diver.

THE CALL OF PUBLIC DOMAIN: With the new year brings a new slate of texts into the public domain. While most people are talking about Disney’s latest loss, Andrew focuses in on a piece of cosmic horror that has officially entered public domain this year, H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu.”

TOPICS:

(00:00) Intro – Doctor Who
(03:11) Dave the Diver
(28:59) Outro – New items in the public domain
(32:48) Outtakes

RELEVANT LINKS:

RELEVANT EPISODES:

  • “Quite Easily Done” (08 June 2018): Where our hosts discuss a documentary by the video game documentarians, NoClip, about the history of the developer, Bethesda.
  • “Academic Quality Entertainment” (04 August 2023): Where Andrew talks about his time playing Dredge.
  • “Pleasure Quotes” (22 December 2023): Where our hosts talk about the bigeneration episode that introduced the new Doctor as played by Ncuti Gatwa.

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