Beltalowda – 302 – IFF

A.Ron and Jim can feel the g-forces as the latest episode of SyFy’s The Expanse continues to accelerate in “IFF”.  More awesome, clever space action sequences, some great character development with Prax, Bobby, and Chrisjen, and a deft introduction to a new character, Anna, combine to entertain and intrigue. Is Errinwright about to be at the end of his rope? Is Mao more of a softy than he initially let on? Will the combined crews of the Rocinante and Razorback be able to turn the tide of war?  Find out with us next week!

Watching Dead – 816 – Wrath

Jim and A.Ron put AMC’s The Walking Dead to rest at the end of it’s eighth season, with the finale episode “Wrath”.  It’s not the worst episode of TWD, but it certainly isn’t a good one, and it ends on a puzzling conspiracy against Rick perpetrated by his closest friends.  There are crazy character flip flops involving Morgan, Eugene, even Jesus and Daryl get caught up in it, and we say, enough.  We’ll be back next week with a Podcast Fiesta Wrap Up Extravaganza with some of our fondest memories of the show, and this podcast we’ve been doing for the better part of a decade.  Want in? Send us an email or hit up the rocking and rolling wrap up thread on our forums.  

Watching Westworld – Season Two Preview!

The long awaited sophomore season of HBO’s Westworld returns this weekend, and we’ve been champing at the bit.  We discuss the open questions from last season, the tantalizing glimpses of the future we’ve seen from the trailers so far, and discuss upcoming format changes and our policy on spoilers and speculation. Why is William’s past still relevant to the story? What is the door, and how are we supposed to find it? Are Dolores and Maeve running diametrically opposed armies? What is Delos up to with their secret project? Is a robot searching for it’s artificial daughter any more sad and pointless than anything we do in our day to day lives?  Why or why not?  These and many more questions are entertained as we await answers!

Beltalowda – 301 – Fight or Flight

Jim and A.Ron are very impressed with the premiere of the third season of SyFy’s The Expanse, “Fight or Flight”.  Great special effects and even better writing, much depends on the complex balance of politics across the solar system, and between the crew of the Rocinante Pinus Contorta.  Anytime you can mix great drama with spectacular action sequences you’ve got a hit in our books, and we’re thrilled to have The Expanse back in our lives!

Watching Dead – 815 – Worth

Jim and A.Ron discuss the sadness that is an above average episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead that still can’t rise above the weight of the garbage it’s surrounded by.  No offense, Jadis.  For every half-decent book-end device, there is a terrible Gregory or Eugene scene.  For every clever Negan canary trap, there is two seasons of his incompetence making him look like a fool. We’re tapping out. Next week will be the last episode of The Walking Dead that we cover.  The week after, we’re ending the podcast in style, as we reminisce with our fellow fans about the show that was and that will never be.  Favorite moments?  Fondest memes?  Best skits?  Send us your thoughts and let’s do this send off right!

Bald Movies – A Quiet Place (2018)

Jim and I went to see the new horror/suspense film, A Quiet Place, directed by and starring John Krasinski, who is joined by his co-star Emily Blunt.  Both are extremely effective at wringing genuine fear and emotion from the audience as they interact with a cast of really talented young actors.  There are problems we have with the film, some of them big ones, but the bottom line is the movie offers a very unique theater experience, it’s extremely tense and scary, and the parts that have to work really work well.

Beltalowda – Season Three Preview Podcast

Jim and A.Ron talk about the upcoming season three of SyFy’s The Expanse.  We talk about our experience with the show (and Jim’s recent experience reading the first three books in the series by James S. A. Corey) and our thoughts about where we left off last season and where we think we’re headed.  Other topics include our spoiler policy, our favorite characters, the Rocinante’s power level, and much more.

Watching Dead – 814 – Still Gotta Mean Something

Jim and A.Ron are here to, sort of backhandedly compliment the latest episode of AMC’s The Walking Dead. It’s one of the better recent episodes, but the unfortunate thing is all of the moments and beats they come really close to nailing here are ones that have been so worn through mindless repetition to the point we’re incapable of feeling anything but boredom.  But yeah, Andrew Lincoln, Denai Gurira, and Lenni James really know how to act, and work their professional asses off to sell this material. Oh, and Rat-Faced Jesus has a very satisfying character development.  Just two episodes left!  See you next week.

Bald Movies – Hackers (1995)

Max commissioned one of his beloved films from high school (shout out to the Class of ’95!), Hackers.  Directed by Iain Softley and starring Jonny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie, Hackers is a mostly ridiculous look into mid-90s hacker culture that’s core plot is a rehash of Office Space, which is to say it’s a rehash of Superman III.  We discuss the film as contemporary computer nerds and as grown men looking back at the naivety of early hacker culture and the weird prescience the move shows.