Monthly Archives: October 2013

The Walking Dead

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In time for Halloween, this episode is all about The Walking Dead! The comic’s recently done its 100th issue, the TV series is back on the air, and the video game’s just posted a trailer for its new season, so it’s a perfect time to talk about the whole franchise. Earl brings Brent back to talk about the zombie post-apocalyptic series, its growing popularity, critique its writing and characters, and how the games deal with the illusion of choice. And somehow, Brent manages to compare the show to Burn Notice. Board up the windows and shamble over to that play button! (Spoilers up to Issue #48, Season 3 of the TV series, and Season 1, minus DLC, of the game.)

Guests:
Brent Peckham

Supplementary notes:
The Walking Dead Game – Season 1 Trailer
The Walking Dead – Season 1 TV Trailer
Bioshock Infinite baptism controversy

Audio notes: (1hr. 6min. runtime)
02:05 – Intro to the franchise and its popularity
17:05 – The Walking Dead video game
25:05 – (Spoilers start here.) Treatment of female characters, and writing
33:50 – Differences between comics and show
35:55 – The game, illusion of choice, and the Season 1 ending
45:15 – Comparing with The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite
52:50 – Nebulous crossovers, and does the series go too far?
59:55 – Connecting with the characters

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The Comedy Boom

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On this episode, we take a look at the growing phenomenon of the comedy boom that’s happened in the past few years. Earl and Tony have recently dived into podcasts, which have led to a diverse discussion about what’s going on with the shows on Comedy Central, Louis CK’s creative and comedic works, how everyone seems to know each other in the community, and what the “democratization of culture” means for comedy. Along the way, they set up jokes with varying degrees of success, talk about some of their favourite podcasts and comedians, and realize how much content is out there.

Guests:
“Danger is my Username” Tony

Supplementary notes:
John Oliver takes on Carlos Danger
Patton Oswalt’s JFL Keynote Speech

Audio notes: (1hr. 1min. runtime)
01:30 – The Daily Show with John Oliver, and The Colbert Report
09:20 – Patton Oswalt’s speech and the comedy boom
12:45 – Louis CK and executing comedian’s style and vision on TV
25:30 – Comedy Central’s shows and “The next Chapelle’s Show”
37:00 – Everybody knows everybody else
38:50 – Online comedians, Picnicface, and Canadian comedy
41:50 – Comedy podcasts, Bill Burr, Aziz Ansari, and Pete Holmes
55:55 – The democratization of culture

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Gravity

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On this episode, we weigh in on the film Gravity, which exploded after its screening at TIFF this year! Earl pulls in Parker Mott to discuss why they’re more reserved in doling out praise for the lauded film, why it’s hard to recommend any movie with a well-oiled hype machine, and what they liked and didn’t like about it. Plus, Earl suggests a possible sequel idea, and Parker recommends another film for those repelled by Gravity’s charms.

Guests:
Parker Mott (@parkermott) – Writer & film critic for The Final Take, Scene Creek, Next Projection

Supplementary notes:
Official Trailer

Audio notes: (34min. runtime)
01:10 – Crash course on Gravity
03:05 – Recommending hyped-up media
06:05 – Music and sound design
08:15 – Long takes and visual structure
10:50 – Script, dialogue, acting
15:55 – Immersion destroys sense of isolation
22:00 – Meaning and emotion in film
24:50 – Film as spectacle, and viewing it outside a theatre
31:15 – Bela Tarr’s Werckmeister Harmonies

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Breaking Bad

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Everyone’s coming down from their collective high now that Breaking Bad is over, which is the right time to start deconstructing the show in one episode! While dealing with coughing fits, Earl blackmails Parker Mott to partner up with him and delve into the finale as well as the whole series. They discuss its structure, visual style, pacing, and whether or not it stayed true to its original mantra. And much like its protagonists, they get off-track by comparing it to Lost and The Wire, and do impressions of bros watching the show. Jump aboard the RV and have a listen! (Spoilers for the whole series.)

Guests:
Parker Mott (@parkermott) – Writer & film critic for The Final Take, Scene Creek, Next Projection

Supplementary notes:
Family Guy on Breaking Bad’s success

Audio notes: (1hr. 11min. runtime)
01:05 – Intro to Breaking Bad (spoiler-free)
07:15 – Mr. Chips to Scarface (spoilers start here)
18:00 – Inevitability, heaven & hell, and being reminded of Lost
32:00 – Mechanical, structured nature of the series
39:50 – Sense of time, and switching between comedy & drama
48:45 – Cinematography, and visual style
54:10 – Glorification of crime & violence, and assessing good or bad taste
62:25 – Favourite moments and monologues

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The World’s End

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This episode is all about The World’s End, Edgar Wright’s new film with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost! Earl bros it out with Tony again, talking about the movie’s take on alcoholism, its left-turn ending, the brawl scenes, and the motifs throughout the Cornetto Trilogy. They also wind up veering off-course, just like any conversation at a bar after four beers, as they discuss alien life, bromance, and Attack the Block. Grab a pint and stay a while!

Guests:
“The Old Familiar” Tony

Audio notes: (1hr. runtime)
02:35 – The ending and the intro sequences
14:55 – Fight scenes, and cast & characters
26:00 – Trilogy motifs, and blood & violence
31:15 – Edgar Wright’s style
35:05 – Alien life and human uniqueness
38:15 – Alcoholism and foreshadowing
42:30 – Character resolutions and “bromance”
49:25 – Spaced, writing partners, Attack the Block, and Ant-man
57:35 – Favourites in the trilogy

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Follow us (@AKOPPodcast or @phillerworks) or email us at akop@phillerworks.com!