The Lorehounds

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

Elysia and John return to the Ann Rice Immortals Universe to discuss the spy-thriller spinoff that left us whelmed.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

Elysia, John, and Mark wade through the timey-wimey twists of a wintry season finale.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

David and Nichole unpack an episode that mirrors Carol and Manusos through parallel solitary journeys of survival and loss. The conversation begins with thoughtful community feedback about microaggressions and the importance of names, then explores Carol's emotional progression during her 12-day montage of attempting normalcy in an empty world. They examine the profound loneliness of experiences without other people present, the layered symbolism in her choices—from the Georgia O'Keeffe painting to "I Will Survive" on the player piano—and how the episode's rich visual storytelling reveals the gap between togetherness and isolation at the show's core.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

Elysia, John, and Mark watch the Augury unfold in this shocking episode of horror.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

David and Loremaster Bryan8063 are joined by Marilyn R. Pukkila for a comprehensive wrap-up of the PBS Ken Burns miniseries The American Revolution. Marilyn brings her background as a retired research librarian with an MA in medieval Welsh history, while Brian discusses his work in presidential oral history at UVA's Miller Center and previous experience at Monticello's Jefferson Library. The conversation explores the series as more civil war than revolutionary war, drawing on Colin Woodard's American Nations to understand distinct regional cultures that shaped the conflict. The discussion examines Burns' decade-long crafting process, the sobering parallels to contemporary America, and his explicit inclusion of voices from tribal nations, women, and Black Americans. Themes include the mythology versus reality of national founding, the challenges of oral history and reconstructive memory, the importance of uncertainty over absolutism, and how communities find common ground across differences through shared inquiry into history and myth.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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

Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.Letterboxd listsEligible live-action shorts – category analysisEligible animated shorts – category analysisEligible documentary shortsThe RankingsTWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*MERCY – interview – infoJANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – infoJUST THE USUAL – trailer – infoTHE PEARL COMB – trailer – infoPORELESS – trailer – info – full film*THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – infoDALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*HURIKÁN – trailer – infoRETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*TRAPPED – review – infoGIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – infoKOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – infoTHE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*THE SINGERS – trailer – infoLES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*MERCENAIRE – trailer – infoONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & CriterionPLAYING GOD – trailer – infoMUSHROOM DAD – review – info*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).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 and Nichole unpack the most impactful episode yet, examining the major revelations delivered through Carol's two conversations with Diatabé that fundamentally reframe the show's central mystery. The discussion explores the extraordinary filmmaking craft on display—from the intricate details scattered throughout every scene to the mirroring between Carol and Manusos—while grappling with Nichole's reservations about pacing versus David's appreciation for the show's visual storytelling and minimal dialogue.They delve into profound questions about the biological imperatives driving the joined, the ethics of consumption and privilege in our viewing community, and whether this signal from space represents a virus-like species propagating across the galaxy to survive.David's Blog PostRead David's companion essay: Pluribus Episode 6: The Pragmatism of 'HDP' and the Privilege of GriefContact 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

Elysia, John, and Mark send in the clowns to give more backstory to It. They discuss fake music numbers, the breaking of fellowships, and the show's three-season trajectory.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

David and Nichole explore the most visually stunning episode yet, examining the subtle artistry of the cinematography that rivals Severance's most beautifully crafted moments. The conversation delves into the bittersweet opposites at the show's core—joy and poignancy, cleverness and grief, sci-fi premise and deeply human storytelling—as Carol processes Helen's death and navigates eight days of radical transformation. They discuss the fingerprint motif in the title sequence, debate whether this feels more like a coming-of-age story than traditional sci-fi, and analyze how the joined's decision to give Carol space reveals the show's sophisticated understanding of toxic relationships and boundaries.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

Jean and Elysia (with an appearance from David) join Dek and Thia's clan for a full breakdown of the good, the objections, the great, and the Yautja lore of Predators: BadlandsContact 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

Elysia, John, and Mark enter the sewers to explore the growing references to Stephen King's legendarium. They discuss Dick Halloran's powers, the limitations and feeding needs of It, and new possible connections to the original timeline.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

Content Warning: This episode discusses conversion therapy and unhealthy family dynamics. Please listen with care if these topics are sensitive for you.David and Nichole dive into the richest episode yet, exploring Carol's traumatic backstory including her family history and experiences with conversion therapy that shaped her fierce independence. The conversation examines the tonal shift from previous episodes' levity to serious character development, while also introducing the mysterious Manusos in Paraguay and his desperate circumstances. They discuss the healthy discourse happening in their Discord community, compare the show's accessibility to Severance, and analyze how Carol's gradual acceptance of her new reality contrasts sharply with Manusos's extreme resistance.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 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