Dark Wings, Dork Words

Episode 15: Science Fiction Act I

This is the first of three episodes where we discuss Science Fiction.  In Act I we discuss different ways to define the genre and before long we are talking about Star Wars and Star Trek.  Remarkably we don't go too far down that rabbit hole and are able to swing the conversation back to other works of Sci-Fi.  We also have a brief featurette where one contributor discusses his love affair with the Matrix, and Molly's Dad checks in after having re-watched Game Of Thrones Season One.

Episode 14: Fantasy

In this MEGA episode Chuck, Molly, Brendan and Eric each came prepared to discuss their favorite three fantasy films of all time.  It's a really great discussion and we cover a lot of ground.  Perhaps due to the nostalgia factor, and because we rule out obvious frontrunners like The Lord of the Rings and The Wizard of Oz, we discovered that all the greatest fantasy films were made in the 1980's.  We also each give the worst example of fantasy we could think of and talk about the few spare fantasy moments in A Game of Thrones Season One.

Episode 13: Conan Vs. Conan

"Conan!  What is best in life?"  "Crap out a screenplay ... film it as ineptly as possible ... and hear the lamentations of the audience."  To which I might add "and discuss it in a podcast that is published 90 days after the disaster leaves the theater". As a lifelong fan of Conan in all it's forms: short stories, comics and the original 1982 film, I had high hopes going into the theater to see how our favorite Dothraki horselord would fare as Conan: The Barbarian.  You'll find out just how disappointed we all were in our latest episode.  We did a lot of research for this one. In addition to seeing the new movie, we had a viewing party to watch both of the 80's films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Plus Molly read some original Robert E. Howard stories, and I looked at the covers of all the Conan novels I read in high school.  Armed with all of this knowledge we discuss the dubious merits of the many incarnations of Conan. EDIT: If you downloaded Episode 13 prior to Dec. 4 it included an audio glitch.  The file has been corrected, so if you re-download you will get the fixed episode.

Episode 12: Cowboys & Aliens

Ok, we know.  This episode is ridiculously late.  We recorded this discussion the week Cowboys & Aliens came out, and when news of the San Diego Comic Con was fresh.  Things just got held up a bit in post-production.  But the important thing is that we're still podcasting.  The episodes are still coming.  Just at an alarmingly slower rate.  Please enjoy this, our first 'between seasons' episode, and hang in there.  More podcasts are forthcoming.

Episode 11: Season One Wrap Up

Just because HBO doesn't have any new episodes of Game of Thrones to air doesn't mean we have to stop talking about it.  Your faithful Dark Wings, Dork Words podcasters are perfectly capable of finding things to geek out about.  Our plan is to podcast once a month in the break between HBO season.  Each of these interim episodes will feature all the production details about the show we can glean from the internet, some probably spoileriffic discussions of A Dance With Dragons and the rest of the books in the series, and something new and fun.  In fact we're all going to go see Cowboys Vs. Aliens tonight, and will podcast about it in our next episode.  But Episode 11 is mostly about reflection on Season One, and speculation about what is to come.

Episode 10: Fire & Blood

In the wake of Ned Stark's death, what will become of everyone else?  This season finale gives all our favorite characters exciting new story arcs to embark upon, and makes for a super suspenseful cliffhanger.  Thrill as the Greatjon proclaim's Rob 'King in the North'!  Feel the lump in your throat as Jon Snow's new brothers say their oaths and convince him not to go AWOL.  Surprise yourself by actually feeling empathy for Sansa as Joffrey taunts her with the disembodied heads of her father and Septa.  Wonder at how things will change in King's Landing with tyrion as the new Hand.  It all wraps up with a glimpse of very cool living dragons, promising great things in Dany's future. We shall return next week with a Season One wrap up and reflection episode.  We'll also make a plan for what to podcast about between now and Season Two.

Episode 9: Baelor

Oh the sadness.  Ned's dead, baby.  Ned's dead.  Arya's fat pigeon? Dead.  2000 of Rob Stark's men?  Dead.  That one Dothraki who dislikes Maegi so much?  Dead.  Khal Drogo?  Not looking good.  The Kingslayer?  Captured!  Tyrion and Bronn? Drunk! Shae? Enigmatic! Lord Frey? Gross! Maester Aemon? Targaryen! Only one episode left in season one, folks.  Stay with us till the bitter end.

Episode 8: The Pointy End

George R.R. Martin scripted this fast-paced episode.  Things happen quickly, and a lot of material from the book is covered efficiently without losing any flavor.  We see the Lannisters sieze power, Syrio and Arya's final dance lesson, Arya's first kill, Rob calls the banners, Tyrion recruits the stormcrows, and Jon fends off a wight attack!

Episode 7: You Win or You Die

Ned confronts Cersei about the father of her children and tries to be merciful by telling her she has one day to flee Westeros, confident that Robert will have his back when he returns from the hunt.  Unfortunately Robert is dying when he returns.  Renly advises Ned to join their knights and men to sieze Joffrey and the Red Keep.  Ned rebukes him, instead seeking to ensure the aid of the Gold Cloaks through a promise from Littlefinger.  Is that the wisest thing he's done since coming to King's Landing?  Meanwhile Jon and Sam swear their oaths to become men of the Night's Watch, and Ghost returns from the woods with an odd souvenir.  All this plus a scene lifted from Caligula, discussed in this weeks podcast.

Episode 6: A Golden Crown

Ned is ready to get the F out of Kings Landing and take his girls back to Winterfell, but gets dragged back into service as Robert's Hand.  Ordered to make nice with the Lannisters, Ned promptly demands Lord Tywin report to court to answer for the Mountain's crimes.  Meanwhile Robert is off in the Kingswood with his vast hunting party.  Bran gets to briefly enjoy his new saddle before he is roughly cut out of it by some well-portrayed wildlings.  We discuss all this and more in Episode 7. Enjoy!