The Lorehounds

John, Elysia, and Steve from Properly Howard Movie Review recap the second episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They talk about lances of all kind, tugs of war, and the meaning of being a knight.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Elysia officially kick of this year's awards-season coverage with their reactions to the 2026 Oscar nominees, including all the new records set by this year's crop. After talking through the headlines (00:11:40), they preview this year's 10 Best Picture nominees (00:30:30.916) before discussing the biggest surprises and snubs (01:29:19:161) and the four acting categories (01:49:33.055). Stick around until the end for a preview of the rest of the coverage plans.The 98th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 15, 2025 at 7 pm ET (on ABC/Hulu in the US) – where it's aired around the world (last year's link)Check how many Oscar nominees you've seen at OscarsDeathRace.com – or with extended stats and access to the animated shorts via DeathRaceTracking.comOscars 2026 coverageNominations + Best Picture preview (this episode)Live-Action, Animated, & Documentary ShortsProduction Design, Costumes, Makeup & HairInternational FeaturesAnimated FeaturesDocumentary FeaturesScore & Original SongCinematography, Editing, Sound, VFXLead & Supporting Actor & Actress, CastingDirector, Original & Adapted ScreenplayCeremony reactions + Best Picture rankingsDeep dives into 2026 Oscar nomineesSinners One Battle After Another – pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3Frankenstein Weapons Shorts: “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” “The Singers,” “Retirement Plan,” and “The Girl Who Cried Pearls”For subscribers: Leiden IFF – WhachaWachin (Sentimental Value, If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, and Arco) Additional awards coverageBAFTA longlisted shortsIndependent Spirit Awards previewBAFTAs previewRevisit Oscars 2024 & 2025: links in these show notesContact 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 lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.Links 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and John buckle up for the beginning of the action in this episode of The Pitt. They discuss fireworks and PTSD, fatherhood, and bedside manner.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Captain’s Pod: Warp 9! Star Trek Starfleet Academy: Kids These Days S1E1 Join Ian and Deneé as they invade the Lorehounds feed and provide a warp speed recap of the latest episode of Starfleet Academy! 00:1:10 - Spoiler free thoughts00:02:51 - Spoiler thoughtsFind Captain’s Pod:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captains-pod-a-star-trek-companion/id1594652949Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/71L5tu5ALuMq0PFMy1Q6TH?si=838316a20a0d4e06For early and ad-free access to the show PLUS other perks:Join the Tea-Flingers at the Ian and Deneé Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/iananddeneeConnect with us!Email: iananddenee@gmail.comDiscord: https://discord.gg/cm4nxyKd2SLorehounds and Prosper!Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

John, Elysia, and Anthony from Properly Howard Movie Review recap the premiere of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. They discuss the drama and the moisture surrounding the most earnest man in Westeros.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jean and Elysia convene to assess the states of both the MCU and DCU going into 2026, pitting them head-to-head across 4 categories. What upcoming projects get them (and you) most excited, and when the votes are tallied, which franchise will they crown the current winner?Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, thoughts to share?Send us an email at comicsvs@thelorehounds.comAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and John settle in for a pretty hilarious episode of The Pitt. They discuss the growing tension between the attending doctors, the character arcs they expect to see, and the level of medical gore in the show.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The awards season is also heating up in Europe, with Round Two of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) voting underway. With the longlists announced, Elysia takes you on a tour of the 16 short films longlisted in two categories – what makes each special, which can you find where to watch yourself, which might you have already seen, and which short has turned up in a Lorehounds episode again, for the third time?Previous episode: 2026 Oscar-Qualified Shorts – Top 20 for LorehoundsFilms discussed this episode:British Short AnimationBrain Space – trailer – infoCardboard – trailer – infoDeath’s Peak – trailer – infoOvary-Acting – trailer – infoSolstice – trailer – info – making ofTwo Black Boys in Paradise – trailer – info – making ofBritish Short FilmDocumentaries:Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites – trailer & infoThis Is Endometriosis – trailer – info – full film*Welcome Home Freckles – trailer – infoFiction:22+1 – trailer – info – full film*Blondi – trailer – infoMagid / Zafar – trailer – info – full film*Nostalgie – trailer – infoThe Pearl Comb – trailer – info – available on Disney+Terence – Letterboxd – Shortverse infoWonderwall – clip – Letterboxd – interview (spoilers)*May be taken down (e.g., if nominated).Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David is joined by Ian and Deneé from The Captain's Pod to discuss the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, premiering January 15th. The conversation explores the show's premise, its place in the modern Trek landscape, and The Captain's Pod's plans for comprehensive season coverage. Ian and Deneé share their excitement for returning to the optimistic heart of Starfleet through the eyes of a new generation of cadets.Contact the Captain's Pod:Email: ian@iananddenee.comDiscord: https://discord.gg/cm4nxyKd2SThe Show: @captainspod.bsky.socialIan: @whittsinned.bsky.socialDeneé: @deneesays.bsky.socialContact The LorehoundsContact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David, John, and Elysia join Anthony from Properly Howard Movie Review to discuss their shared coverage plans and hype levels for Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: smallcouncil@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David, Nichole, and John wrap up season one by exploring Carol and Manusos as parallel characters—one testing the plurbs' capacity for love, the other willing to kill to save. They debate whether Carol was seduced or strategic during her 40-day temptation, discuss Manusos as ham radio expert unlocking hive mysteries through frequency scanning, and theorize about season two solutions including signal jamming and Faraday cages. The conversation concludes with the philosophical question: are the plurbs evil or simply amoral like cordyceps, driven by biological imperative rather than malice—not harm reduction but harm avoidance.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and John are ready for a new shift in in The Pitt. They discuss the parallels between characters, the lack of character growth of Robby, and their expectations of the new cast.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Nichole discuss their reactions to the season finale, grappling with the episode's theological weight and the revealed nature of the plurbs. The conversation centers on the devastating cold open and they explore how Zosia's manipulation of Carol through mimicking Helen exposed the plurbs' ultimate goal: not communion but assimilation without consent. The episode crystallizes the show's deep engagement with questions of individuality versus collective, examining how the plurbs function as both Thanos-like philosophical antagonists and virus-like assimilation threats, while Carol emerges from her temptation in the wilderness ready to face reality with a nuclear failsafe.Note on CoverageThis is our quick vibe check reaction episode recorded after the holidays. We'll return with John for a full analytical season wrap-up where we'll dive deeper into Episode 9 and discuss the season as a whole.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

John and Elysia take one last trip to the Upside Down and discuss the final season of Stranger Things.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jean joins Elysia to discuss Guillermo del Toro's final form of filmmaking – the movie he's been making in his head for 50 years. They break down the book changes, links to the films from the '30s, and inspirations from Del Toro's own life – plus the costumes, casting, production design, and the rest as they ponder the film's many philosophical questions.Learn more about the novel, its writer and other contributors, and the films from the 1930s* in the Wool-Shift-Dust feed.*Featuring Ayesha from Every Single SciFi Film Ever.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.comLinks 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us for a massive Boxing Day celebration as David welcomes co-hosts, affiliates, and friends to share their Top 3 TV shows of 2025! This special episode features six segments with Jean & Marilyn, Mark & Nichole from Nevermind the Music, Aaron K & Richard from Radioactive Ramblers, Ian from Captains Pod, Anthony & Steve from Properly Howard, and Ron & JD from Dungeons and Durags.With nearly four hours of conversation covering the year's best television, this episode is designed for dipping in and out at your convenience. For the complete rankings breakdown and community voting data, visit our blog: The Lorehounds Top Ten TV Shows of 2025Stick around to the end for a very special announcement!Segment Time Stamps:(00:07:47) - Jean & Marilyn(01:03:26) - Mark & Nichole from Nevermind the Music(01:32:11) - Aaron K & Richard from Radioactive Ramblers(02:06:15) - Ian from the Captains Pod(02:46:51) - Anthony & Steve from Properly Howard(03:13:33) - Ron & JD from Dungeons and Durags - Special announcement at the end!Special Thanks:This episode wouldn't be possible without our incredible community. Special thanks to Gregsaw for community survey data analysis, DaveyMac for survey assistance, SubZero for maintaining the 2025 Show Tracker all year, NancyM for communications and show notes throughout the year, Doove71 for writing our year-end blog post, Brian8063 our editor-in-chief and Discord mod, and AaronK for podcast artwork and Discord emojis. And a special musical thanks to Mark from Nevermind the Music for the original compositions used as segment breaks.Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David, John, and Elysia present their personal top 10 television shows for 2025 in this annual tradition released on Christmas Day. The hosts share their rankings, discuss standout moments from the year in television, and reveal the community's collective top 10 list compiled from subscriber surveys. Read the full rankings and analysis on our blog: The Lorehounds Top Ten TV Shows of 2025The episode also previews upcoming 2026 coverage including Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Wonder Man, and the DCU vs. MCU showdown, with a special announcement teased for the end.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Nichole examine an episode bookended by Manusos's journey from Panama to the border, while Carol navigates the blurring lines of manipulation with Zosia and the joined community. The conversation explores the show's masterful use of pacing—allowing scenes to breathe and characters to simply exist together—including a shot-for-shot homage to David Lynch's Mulholland Drive in the diner scene. They dive deep into mirror neurons and empathy science, discussing how our brains require the physical presence of other people to activate crucial neural pathways, and how this connects to both Carol's 40-day isolation and the plurbs' electromagnetic communication. Rich feedback explores AI parallels, with the community drawing connections between different ways people interact with technology and how characters respond to the joined consciousness.Special Note: Episode 9 Coverage The season finale (Episode 9) airs early on Tuesday, December 23rd at 9 PM ET—two days ahead of the normal schedule. We'll record a reaction episode during the holidays, then return after the New Year with our full analytical season wrap-up.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David, John, and Elysia spread some Holiday Cheer and Fear in the start of their action-packed Christmas Elevenses coverage. They discuss David Harbour's entry into the Santa canon with Violent Night. Subscribe in the linktree below to hear their upcoming coverage of Die Hard.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comOr, 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The witches are back! Meaning, of course, Marilyn, Nichole, and Elysia – the trio returns, one year later, to talk about the second and final (?) Wicked musical adaptation: How does it compare to the first? To the second act of the musical? And the books it's based on? And, most importantly, what does it mean to be changed for the better...for good?They begin with a quick spoiler-free comparison with the first movie before their full spoiler breakdown. Stick around after the outro music for an even more spoiler-filled comparison with the Gregory Maguire book.Recommended: Catch up first on Wicked: Part I (2024) – incl. musical & book comparisonsContact Us Questions or comments? Visit us at our website where you can use the contact form or use the voicemail feature. Or, send an email to lorehounds@thelorehounds.com.Links 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.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy