The Odyssey (2026) | Bronze Age Collapse (1200 BCE)

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has finally arrived and we’ve got a lot to say about it. We start with the film itself — what works, what doesn’t, and how this new adaptation compares with Homer’s epic poem. Then we get into the good stuff, like how a simple concept like hospitality helped spread Greek influence across... The post The Odyssey (2026) | Bronze Age Collapse (1200 BCE) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

(This is part two of a double episode – listen to part one here. We also just released our Guillotine Special bonus episode at patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast Join for as little as 2.5 EUR and get access to dozens of bonus eps!) The powdered parties are over, the pastry crumbs swept aside, and the gates of Versailles... The post Vive la Révolution (1789) | Marie Antoinette (2006) 2/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

(This is part one of a two-part episode. Join patreon.com/reelhistorypodcast to support the show and access part two immediately!) Powder your wig, lace-up your corset and try not to lose your head as we cordially invite you to dine at Versailles and feast on Sofia Coppola ‘Marie Antoinette’ (2006)! Kirsten Dunst mesmerises as the divisive... The post Versailles Vibes (1770) | Marie Antoinette (2006) 1/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Come with us down the pub. This is our longest episode ever – which probably isn’t surprising given that we live in Ireland, the subject matter is close to home, and, yes, a few pints of Guinness helped lubricate proceedings. In this episode of Reel History, we use Netflix’s House of Guinness as a jumping-off... The post House of Guinness (2025) | Brewing Rebellion (1868) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

‘Mulberry Street… and Worth… Cross and Orange… and Little Water. Each of the Five Points is a finger. When I close my hand it becomes a fist. And, if I wish, I can turn it against you.’ – Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting Jeeez…chill Bill, we were only asking for directions. We’re all friends here, so... The post Gangs of New York (2002) | The Five Points (1863) first appeared on Shows What You Know.

William Marshal returns from crusade older, wiser, and with silk burial cloths from Jerusalem tucked under his arm. But death is still a long way off. In part two of our special, we trace Marshal’s rise to power across three reigns — Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, and finally King John — watching him navigate... The post The Greatest Knight | William Marshal 2/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Before he was called “the greatest knight,” William Marshal was nearly used as a human catapult projectile. In the first of our two-part special, we follow the astonishing early life of William Marshal – a man who rose from near-execution as a child hostage during the Anarchy to become a knight of international renown and... The post The Angevin Empire | William Marshal 1/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Hey Reelists! You might be wondering what’s going on with Season 5 of Reel History. Well, wonder no more – we’re here to fill you in! For our first four seasons, we spent a year recording ten episodes, then released them on a bi-weekly schedule in one big history blitz. It built hype and gave... The post Reel History Season 5 Announcement first appeared on Shows What You Know.

In part two of our special on Brian Boru, we chart the extraordinary reign of the most ambitious king in Irish history — from regional warlord to the first ruler with real, island-wide power. (Listen to part one at showswhatyouknow.com or scroll back in the podcast feed!) Brian’s ascent didn’t end with Munster. Through ruthless... The post The Battle of Clontarf | Brian Boru 2/2 first appeared on Shows What You Know.

Surprise! A rogue Reel History appears like a fistful of sand to the eyes! We covered Gladiator in our second episode, almost exactly 5 years ago. Ridley Scott took 24 years to return with Gladiator II and while the Reel History HQ usually operates at a similar glacial pace, we have – thanks to our... The post Gladiator II (2024) | Geta, Caracalla, Macrinus (200) first appeared on Shows What You Know.