VisionQuest - S01E01-02 - No Strings / Theseus

David, John, and Marilyn recap Season 3, Episode 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video. They discuss the changing battle lines in the war with Sauron, the corruption of men, and the brewing tensions among dwarves.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to [email protected] up for the One-Time Rings of Power Season Pass:TRoP Season PassLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Stewart (Doove71) mark forty years of James Cameron’s Aliens, a foundational text for Eagle Eyes, with a spoiler free briefing followed by a full spoiler deep dive into the film that turned a monster movie into a war movie. David traces the making of Ripley through the forms of power at work in the film, arguing that she is the ultimate badass because her strength makes the people around her more capable. Stewart brings his own military experience to rank, competence and mission command, from Gorman freezing to Hicks stepping up. They also weigh the theatrical cut against the special edition, run the film through the Lorehounds frameworks and score it on the Rounds on Target scale before wrapping up with community feedback.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Just in the nick of time for the finale, Jean and Elysia catch up on episodes 5, 6, and 7 of VisionQuest: "Firewall," "Deadlock," and "Immolation." Tracking the characters across the real world as well as multiple mindspaces, they untangle the web of doppelgangers as the characters explore the layers of their own identities in their quests to cross the Valley of Grief and make it out the other side to build something new.Join us on this journey to the center of the synthezoid soul as we ask... Who is the Client really, and exactly how many characters are in love with our Butcherbird Jocasta now?Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David, Lisa, and Bryan complete their Catherine O’Hara cycle with a deep dive into Best in Show, the community’s overwhelming choice in the listener poll. Christopher Guest’s 2000 mockumentary about competitors at the fictional Mayflower Kennel Club dog show was built from just a 15-page outline, with nearly all the dialogue improvised by a repertoire company that had been working together since the SCTV years.The hosts break down each couple and their canine counterparts, from Cookie and Jerry Fleck’s endlessly resurfacing romantic history to the Swans’ therapy sessions with their Weimaraner, the easy warmth of Stefan and Scott with their Shih Tzu, and the competitive edge of Christy Cummings and Sherry Ann Cabot with their championship poodle. Special attention goes to Fred Willard’s legendarily obtuse color commentary alongside Jim Piddock’s unflappable straight man, and to how the film quietly normalized gay relationships years before marriage equality.David watches the film for the first time and discovers a comedy classic hiding just inside his cringe tolerance, while Lisa and Bryan reflect on how this ensemble of improvisational geniuses shaped the landscape of modern comedy from SCTV through Schitt’s Creek and beyond.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David is joined again by Nathan Ledbetter, Instructor of Asian History in the Department of Humanities at Rider University and Lorehounds Community Co-Host, for the second part of our three part series ahead of Godzilla Minus Zero. This installment is a full spoiler discussion of the 1954 original and Godzilla Minus One (2023), with some commentary on the 1956 American version, Godzilla King of the Monsters. Please note that the conversation also covers trailer observations and speculation for Minus Zero near the end, so skip the last section if you want to go in completely fresh.They begin with the postwar context behind the 1954 film, including the American occupation, Article 9 of Japan’s constitution, the Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, and the creative team of Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya. From there they walk through the story and its themes of scientific hubris and self sacrifice, along with the changes made for American audiences in 1956. The conversation also includes clips from Yuki Miyamoto, professor of religious studies at DePaul University and an ethicist whose work focuses on nuclear discourse, featured on the Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever podcast. She offers insight on Lucky Dragon No. 5 and on the themes of Godzilla Minus One.The second half turns to Godzilla Minus One and what it does differently. David and Nathan explore survivor’s guilt, forgiveness, collective action, and the contrast between sacrifice in 1954 and the message of survival in 2023, along with the film’s historical backdrop and the plot choices that did and did not work for them. Part 1 covered the history and context of Godzilla and the morphology of his body, and Part 3 will be a regular movie review of Godzilla Minus Zero once the film is in wide release.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeGodzilla Minus Zero (2026) - Part 1 of 3 - The History and Context of GodzillaEvery Single Sci-Fi Film Ever: Godzilla in 1954: Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi LegacyThe Semiotics of Godzilla: How to Read a Monster’s Body (David’s blog post)Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This year’s Elevenses film club Spooktober special goes deep into the first horror film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture: The Exorcist (1973). Elysia, David, and John bring their range of experiences – from lifelong aficionado to first-time watcher – into a discussion delving into the special collaboration between book author / screenwriter William Blatty and director William Friedkin, and how this movie helped to define their already exceptional careers. Along the way, they discuss the franchise as a whole, the alleged “curse” behind the production, behind-the-scenes stories, and what’s coming next in The Exorcist universe.The Exorcist franchise:The original trilogy: The Exorcist (1973), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), Exorcist III (1990)William Blatty’s Trilogy of Faith books: The Exorcist (1971), The Ninth Configuration (1978) [1980 film adaptation], Legion (1983, adapted into Exorcist III)The dueling prequels: Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) vs. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)Alternative sequels: The Exorcist TV series: (2016-2017, 2 seasons, 10 eps ea.) vs. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)The Mike Flanagan “reboot” (partial sequel to Exorcist III): The Exorcist: Martyrs (2027) [trailer]Other key links discussed:SNL parody: The Exorcist 2 (feat. Richard Pryor)Documentaries about the original film: The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) and Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)The Exorcist II documentary: Boorman and the Devil (2026) [trailer]Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected] to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lorehounds Host David and Lorehounds Community Co-host Stewart (Doove71) bring the full weight of the Special Relationship to bear on two of 2026’s most talked-about spy television seasons. The conversation covers Lioness Season 3’s gloriously over-the-top CIA special operations world and Slow Horses Season 6’s return to form, comparing and contrasting how each show represents the transatlantic divide in spy and intelligence storytelling.Along the way they deliver their Rounds on Target scores, dig into season-ending shocks, and debate whether Taylor Sheridan’s muscular brand of jingoism and Mick Herron’s Cold War-haunted civil service drama are actually telling the same story from opposite ends of the spectrum.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jean and Elysia explore VisionQuest episode 3 and 4's character building a bonding, unexpected disintegrations, and recurring themes of longing for legitimacy, from Paladin's to synths to newly rediscovered sons – and why fearlessly facing one's own demise might be easier for some Marvel heroes than coping with the loss of another they love. Plus, of course, all our latest musings (not predictions!) on this mysterious client and Jocasta's biomarker-key-collection goals. Not to mention tracking the latest in Pepaw's whiplash-inducing dance of face and heel turns.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David is joined by Nathan Ledbetter, Instructor of Asian History, Department of Humanities, Rider University, and new Lorehounds Community Co-Host, to begin a three part series ahead of Godzilla Minus Zero.This first installment explores the history and context of Godzilla, from the 1954 original and the nuclear anxieties that shaped it to the legacy that followed, before turning to the morphology of the monster’s body and what its physical design communicates. The conversation is completely spoiler free for Godzilla Minus Zero and for any other movies discussed, so it is safe listening whether or not you have seen the films.In Part 2, David and Nathan will take a full spoiler discussion of the 1954 film, with some commentary on the 1956 version, and compare it with the 2023 film Godzilla Minus One. Part 3 will be a regular movie review of Godzilla Minus Zero once the film is in wide release.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeEvery Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* PodcastGodzilla in 1954: Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi LegacyLorehounds Blog PostThe Semiotics of Godzilla: How to Read a Monster’s BodyNathan Ledbetter’s Academic Pagehttps://princeton.academia.edu/NathanLedbetterContact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The first two episodes of VisionQuest have given us a new surprisingly lovable Peepaw, his murderbot Frankenstein of a son, and a human grandson with a split personality – and Elysia and Jean are here to dissect it all. From Ultron's most quotable moments to all the shades of moral gray, not to mention teases of new mysteries percolating in the background.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: [email protected], send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Uncommon Goods and use the code uncommongoods.com/LOREHOUNDS for a great deal: https://www.uncommongoods.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy