This week the word is recombobulation, and it’s a week of random topics for the nerds, including: Keith’s recent trip to Utah, sodas of unusual flavors, Watergate, apple-picking excursions, Andy’s neck-watch, John Bowman’s catchphrase on Hollywood Squares, Matter-Eater Lad, how to use time travel to steal DB Cooper’s suitcase full of cash, Strange New Worlds vs Discovery, Duolingo, The Godfather, history-based movies, and many other things.
This week the word is cinema and the nerds have a lot of thoughts about movie theaters. Keith tells Andy a little about several movies currently in cinemas, a place Andy is still nervous about going to. Andy talks about seeing Conquest of the Planet of the Apes at a birthday party event when he was 8 years old. Next they each talk about a couple of books they’ve been reading lately. Then they drop the spoiler curtain to talk about a movie called The Endless, the finale of Star Trek Picard season 2, and the debut of Strange New Worlds.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is Carbuncle (again). First, Keith reports on a very successful D&D session he just ran, featuring a carbuncle. Andy recommends that Keith watch a movie called The Endless, and Keith recommends Everything Everywhere All At Once, and also talks about a show called Servant. Then they discuss various late night talk shows they enjoy, and Keith mentions that a mysterious stranger has been sleeping in his car. Then they drop the spoiler curtain to complain quite a bit about Star Trek Picard.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is cliffhanger. The nerds discuss various cliffhangers they’ve enjoyed, or not, and the problems of cliffhangers that end up never being resolved, or worse, having disappointing eventual resolutions, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Twin Peaks, and many others. Then Keith has another word to discuss, which is decoct, after which he talks his next D&D game, and Andy talks about his newest pyramid game, which he’s calling Green Queen. Andy also mentions a Star Trek fan film he enjoyed, called Doomsday. Then they drop the spoiler curtain to talk at length about Star Trek Picard and Severance.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is carbuncle. No, not a painful collection of boils, but the old D&D creature that looks like an armadillo with a gemstone in its forehead, which the nerds were reminded of by a recent meme. The discussion includes other wacky monsters like the Nilbog and the Hell-Cow. Next, Keith gives a report on his D&D campaign, and challenges the assertion that Wheel of Fortune is “America’s Game.” Then they drop a series of spoiler curtains as they spend a lot of time talking about Star Trek Picard and Severance.
This week the word is Consequences. After a quick shoutout to the concept album, the nerds discuss the importance of consequences in games and other forms of story-telling, with particular emphasis Star Trek and Phoenix: Dawn Command. Next Keith yammers about the expression, “Beyond the Pale,” and Andy talks a little about Galactic StarCruiser. Then they continue their discussion of House of Leaves, in particular, Expedition 5. Moving on to other media, they talk about Free Guy and The Adam Project, and Andy talks about playing games on BoardGameArena, in particular, Lost Cities. Lastly, they lower the spoiler curtain to discuss the newest episodes of Star Trek Discovery and Picard.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is Dream. The nerds talk at great length about dreams and dreaming, games Keith has worked on that focus on dreams, various recurring dreams they’ve had, lucid dreams, and so on. They also discuss dream-themed movies, with particular attention given to the Lathe of Heaven. Next, Keith talks about a recent trip to Utah, then Andy brings up some lingering Galactus topics. Lastly, after dropping the Spoiler Curtain, they talk about the most recent Star Treks.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is Memories. The nerds talk about stories and games they’ve enjoyed in which memories are tampered with: implanted, erased, jumbled, and so on. These topics merge into dreams, which they also talk about a lot, which Andy going off on a tangent about bi-phasic sleep. Keith gives a report on his aging mother, prompting Andy to recommend a relevant book by Roz Chast. Andy also talks about starting to plan for Burning Man, and then they discuss some Star Trek rumors. Lastly, after dropping the spoiler curtain, they discuss the first two episodes of Severance.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
Blurb: This week the word is choices. The nerds start by discussing various difficult choices and how creating those is a goal of game designers. Keith talks about recent events in his role playing game that involved 4 chickens. Moving on to media, Keith talks about watching Yellow Jackets, and Andy talks about Station Eleven and Miracle Workers. Next they talk a bit about unusual tarot decks. After dropping the spoiler curtain, they discuss The Book of Boba Fett and Star Trek Prodigy. Andy also describes a scene from My Little Pony.
SPOILER WARNING: contains spoilers.
This week the word is gimmick. The nerds discuss gimmicks seen in games and 3-D movies and various nuances of the term. Next Keith talks about watching movies with a home projector. He gives his non-spoilery thoughts about several films including The Matrix 4, and Andy talks similarly about Don’t Look Up and Get Back. Then Andy yammers about the ending of an obscure time travel movie from 1964, and Keith talks about recent legal proceedings within his current RPG game. Discussions include teenage protagonists from the 80s who are good with computers and are popular. Near the end they discuss House of Leaves and recent Star Treks.
SPOILER WARNING: contains vintage spoilers.