Squawking Dead

With Dave & Bridget recording this episode at Spookala, this episode is probably half as short. Up until Tabitha Matthews wound up in the suck-place with Henry Kavanaugh, this episode was becoming reminiscent of Seasons 1 & 2: too much mystery, not enough movement. Instead, the groundwork has layers of pavement laid for story movement for the remaining episodes of Season 3

Talk about devastation: the way characters show up for Tien-Chan Liu's funeral, Ricky He's performance as Kenny Liu, all the way to the extremely thoughtful and intentional writing. Who says bad thing's come in threes? Season 3 is proving to be the show's strongest.

We knew Carol Peletier had baggage, but what was revealing was how deep she repressed the death of her daughter, Sophia Peletier, and how difficult it was to lie to herself (AKA Ash Patel). What is L'Union De L'Espoir prepping Laurent for and will Daryl Dixon have to put a stop to it?

Finally! Our first single episode breakdown of FROM! Which broke some of us! ...for a handful of perfectly valid reasons. Will Boyd Stevens remain unbroken? Tabitha Matthews faces her next challenge as The Cromenockle: being back in the real(?) world. Will everyone in the stuck place even make it through the night?!

While Rachael & Sherrandy play the part of Jim Matthews & Randall (Walsh, respectively) - seeking logical explanations, but still trapped in FROM's Stuck Place - Bridget & Dave further articulate what makes this series so good. What's becoming clear: you don't have to know exactly how this universe works to remark on human suffering and cheer when characters triumph over adversity.

I know it might not sound like it (at first), but the creators/show-runners of FROM have trapped us in the stuck place: and we don't hate it, at all. We go through season 1's lowlights and highlights while shooting buckshot at its growing swarm of mysteries. After listening to this recap, we are definitely going to want your takes in the comments/podcast reviews!

Bridget and Dave rehash key takeaways from the 1st season of AppleTV+'s murder-mystery, layered on top of post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama SILO in prep for it's return on November 17th. Despite describing all the ways in which it excellently wrapped-up it's first season, we were still left with many questions!

Not only have characters shifted positions, but the audience has been moved as well, at the close of House of the Dragon's 8-episode season. Alicent sacrifices her name and son, Aegon Targaryen, to procure freedom for she, Helaena Targaryen, and Jaehaera Targaryen. Daemon Targaryen sacrifices his free spirit to serve the highest of purposes. Rhaenyra Targaryen sets aside The Conciliator, Jaehaerys Targaryen, and becomes Aegon The Conqueror, as all sides - and more - march to total war.

Each character could've easily stepped away and everything would've been fine. Most plowed forward. In doing so, who do they become? Rhaenyra Targaryen proved the lowborn were viable Dragonriders but only after throwing the majority into Vermithor's dragons fire. Daemon Targaryen unprecedently holds his tongue to get what he desperately needs from Lord Oscar Tully. Alicent Hightower is the only one who steps away from it all, but even she returns with renewed resolve.

We went

House of the Dragon reminds us that those who shirk honor/power/glory often have the burden thrust upon them. Both Rhaenyra Targaryen's & Alicent Hightower's collective loss and abandonment run parallel. Aemond Targaryen is hot on Daemon Targaryen's (coat) t(r)ails. We're suspicious of both Daemon & Rhaenyra recent blessings.

Formerly titled Assassination Run, Eric Kripke has finally found his line after doing the Mexican Hat(e) Dance on it for most of Season 4; KUDOS, however: pulling their punches resulted in a worthy close to The Boys' 4th season! Billy Butcher has gone full T-800. More than we imagined, Ryan Butcher may be far more powerful than Homelander. We'll probably see you again to cover Gen-V as we transition into the New World Order before Season 5.

Rhaenyra Targaryen further embraces her inner Jaeharys The Conciliator while Daemon Targaryen embraces his inner Aegon The Conqueror. What do Aemond Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen, and Viserys Targaryen now have in common? Both Rhaenyra & Alicent Hightower learn different lessons at their respective small councils.

Bro. BRO! Plot-lines are accelerating on this hot Christmas special! Kimiko reunites with Frenchie, which is "the bees knees". Ryan Butcher does the right thing on live television. We've got another shapeshifter, but it's not Hughie Campbell's mom!

It's easy to forget how the Game Of Thrones universe works: the characters you don't want to die end up dead (and the ones you thought were dead end up not dead). All the while, we explore the schism in Daemon Targaryen's psyche and what might become of both #TeamGreen & #TeamBlack as a result of this episode.

In a twist of irony, this episode was so gross it turned us all a little conservative! Ashley Barrett is here to stay, putting on quite the show in Tek-Knight's Tek-Cave. Homelander's imposter syndrome and the return of breastmilk kryptonite. Speaking of Mothers Milk, has M.M. been suppressing his powers this entire time?

A noteworthy amount of movement in the storyline and mirroring going on between #TeamBlack & #TeamGreen. Is Helaena Targaryen's dreamer/seer gift/curse like Bran Stark's, only on crack? Might Rhaenyra Targaryen's meeting with Alicent Hightower avert worse tragedy and ultimately yield The Prince That Was Promised?

Joe Kessler plays the diabolical devil on Billy Butcher's shoulder. Victoria Neuman surprises everyone. Frenchie wins the best line award, this episode, despite his guilt-ridden conscience. Homelander is outpacing Billy at Father-of-the-year to Ryan, at the moment.

Reaction: 2024/06/23Breakdown: 2024/06/26 What does love look like in different cultures/houses? Why do we worship royalty/celebrity? Alicent Hightower escapes her reality by way of Ser Criston Cole, defying Otto Hightower's authority and denying her children love: so much so, Aemond Targaryen seeks it in the arms of a brothel madame (who looks strikingly familiar to her).

Oi! We're busting into The Boys universe, too! Covering the first 4 episodes, titled, Department of Dirty Tricks, Life Among the Septics, We'll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here, and Wisdom of the Ages. With it's next season (5) being its last, our full cast of characters are finally becoming much more self-aware. This makes them simultaneously terrifying and fascinating but also, more than anything else, moves them into a far more grey area than we're used to.