Book of the Stranger

We started as a Game of Thrones deadpool, but now, we discuss things from Game of Thrones, to the MCU, to Star Wars. Currently, we're going through each new episode of The Mandalorian, Season 2, as each episode comes out.

Bad Dad Strategy 01/15/2021

Bad Dad Strategy The second season of comes to a close with a much needed rescue mission. How will Mando outsmart his adversaries to rescue the child? Who will have the darksaber? What characters will survive to star in their own spin-offs? This and more we discuss in the season two finale, . Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/17558705

Mustache Planet 12/18/2020

Mustache Planet In the penultimate episode this season, Mando busts his old friend out of jail for one last heist, this time with more plot relevance. Will he escape with his life? Find out as we discuss season 2, episode 7, of , "". Notes: on mustaches in the British Army from 1860-1916 /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/17244464

Chekov's Valyrian Steel Sphere 12/11/2020

Chekov's Valyrian Steel Sphere This week, we look at the delightfully titled episode of , season 2, episode 6, . Things begin so well when Mando takes the kid to visit some old jedi rocks. But, as things so often do, they take a turn for the worst as we're reintroduced to some old acquaintances that we maybe don't really want to have to see again. Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/17153099

Les Derniers Jedi 12/04/2020

Les Derniers Jedi A mysterious figure cutting a path through the night, fighting against tyranny. This is the mysterious figure that Mando must seek out when he wants to meet Ahsoka Tano. Find out if these two can overcome Jedi/Mandalorian antagonism in Season 2, Episode 5, of , . Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/17061179

Space Macarons 11/27/2020

Space Macarons In this week's episode, Mando decides to finally get the full works done on his ship, so he goes in for some routine maintenance and inspection back at his old watering hole. Along the way, he sends his kid to school and runs a few errands with some friends he hasn't seen in a while. Listen in for our thoughts on Season 2, Episode 4, . Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16962062

Another Happy Landing 11/20/2020

Another Happy Landing Mando's going fishing in this one. Fishing for...information, that is. Will he find what he's looking for? Will what he's looking for find him? Will it find him again? All this and more is dicussed as we discuss , Season 2, Episode 3, "". Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16885514

Hagrid's Gonna Be Pissed 11/13/2020

Hagrid's Gonna Be Pissed With a recent revelation playing large in our expectations, we were all of course completely prepared for the next stage of Mando's journey: ferrying a frog across the star system. Here our thoughts on , Season 2, Episode 2, "". Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16794800

Giant Alaskan Bull Worm 11/06/2020

Giant Alaskan Bull Worm After a long hiatus, we're back to discuss the second seaon of . Tasked with a very important mission, Mando goes on a bit of side quest, but, like, not that much of a side quest, so I guess it's understandable. All this and more awaits in the season two opener, "". Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16705298

The Basic Physics of the Lava Monster 10/27/2020

The Basic Physics of the Lava Monster In the season one finale of , our intrepid heroes find themselves in a tough situation from which they must fight to escape. (I think it's a metaphor?) How will they escape? Who will survive? And do the spell casters in our party have enough spell slots left to navigate the dungeon? All of this and more will be explored in . Notes: and/or and/or /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16561769

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong 10/16/2020

Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong In the penultimate episode of this season of , Mando decides that he needs to go back to where this all started and make a deal with Greef because of, um, reasons, I guess? Will this gambit payt off? Will the double crossers become the double crossed? And what are those weird space bats about? Find out in . Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16425080

It's a Heist Movie! 10/04/2020

It's a Heist Movie! The adventures of Mando continue, as his past comes back to haunt him. What does this past mean for him? Will Mando allow a droid to pilot his ship? Does know he's in a Star Wars show? We discuss this and more as we take a look at the next episode of season one of , "". Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/16265609

Wuh Wuh Wuh 07/24/2020

Wuh Wuh Wuh In this chapter of our podcast, we continue following our favorite Mandalorian on the lam as his desparate situation has brought to the galaxy's most wretched hive of sum and villainy. Will he find a job? Who will betray whom? And what kind of currency does a droid use in a poker game? Find out the answers as we discuss "". Notes: (in 1492, not 1496) (in 1453, not 1483) /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/15336842

Mean Kitty 06/17/2020

Mean Kitty With Mando and the kid on the run, where better a place to hide but on a sleepy planet with no population density. Surely no harm will befall our heroes here as we examine what happens in , "". Notes: (italicized because it's a genus of plant, not, like, because it's a TV show) (the URL here is from darthjarjar.com, so you know it's legit) (and this one is from livingmas.com) /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/14856437

Client Sleazebaggano 05/04/2020

Client Sleazebaggano As we continue down the path of the Mandalore, we come to , . But can Mando live with the choices he's made? Can he face his other Mandalorians? Can he pull off a big shiny suit? This we discuss...and more. Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/14267582

Lizard People 04/27/2020

Lizard People Our exploration of the Mandalorian continues with Episode 2, The Child. We ask the important questions about Jawa hate, Mandalorian training, space mummies, and so much more. Will Mando and the kid get off this planet alive? Notes: His are wild Alec is conflating two justices: , who attended but did not graduate from the but was actually appointed by ; and , who did graduate from the school but was a member of the /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/14158526

I Have Spoken 04/25/2020

I Have Spoken With the MCU thoroughly considered, we begin a new adventure, going through the direct-to-streaming television show, . We begin, as is usually fitting (but now always with Star Wars) with Episode 1: "". Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/14139515

Our Biweekly Episode 03/30/2020

Our Biweekly Episode We assume this is the kind of #content people want. Let us know what you think in the comments! And we may be back with more...traditional episodes soon. /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/13755176

MAXO: Avengers: Infinity War 03/24/2020

MAXO: Avengers: Infinity War Dread it. Run from it. Our episode arrives all the same. This is the epic conclusion to our round up of all of the extant MCU movies and their direct-to-video animated Disney movie analogs. When we’re done, half of audience will still be listening. Note that this was recorded a while ago, prior to many of us entering into shelter in place restrictions. We hope everyone is doing well in these challenging circumstances, and that those that aren’t can find a way to make it through. Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/13675274

MAXO: Black Panther 01/06/2020

MAXO: Black Panther It is a tale of epic proportions. The exiled prince has returned, and he has some disagreements with how the kingdom has been absent in his time away. But what if not all of this prince’s ideas are quite on the right track... This week we look at the Oscar®-nominated film . But if a story of the squabbles between different branches of a royal family is not quite your speed, we also take a look at , where, um, oh, well, I suppose this is awkward, but different branches of a royal family squabble. Oh. But at least this time, they are lions instead of people who just put on big cat-inspired costumes. So, there’s that. Note: this was recorded prior to the release of . We probably would have mentioned some things connecting that movie if we’d recorded it later. Notes: (look, I’m just providing the link; if you click on it after reading that title, that’s on you) /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/12629270

MAXO: Thor: Ragnorak 09/04/2019

MAXO: Thor: Ragnorak Finally, the episode everyone’s been waiting for. Believe it or not, despite having discussed this movie at various times in the past, we still have more things to say about Taika Waititi’s magnum opus, . A fresh look at some previously stodgy characters, this fan favorite still has a lot going for it. Meanwhile, Alec has something else wonderful to talk about.... Editor’s note: this episode was recorded prior to the release of Avengers: Endgame (2019). If it were recorded later, that probably would have changed some of the discussion in this episode. Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/11115674

MAXO: Spider-Man: Homecoming 08/26/2019

MAXO: Spider-Man: Homecoming High school can be tough. There are Spanish quizzes to take, homecoming dances to navigate, and occasional supervillains to thwart. We hope you can be our guy in the chair as we look at , the first movie in a new Spider-Man franchise in five years! Meanwhile, we also try to figure out whether we’re a hero or a sidekick hero support with . Never have the stakes been so high school! Editor’s note: this episode was recorded before the release of and , and before it was announced that Sony and Disney would be terminating their agreement to allow Spider-Man in the MCU. Those things probably would have come up if this episode had been recorded later. Notes: - the actual song from Sky High /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/10992278

MAXO Special: Spider-Man: Far From Home 07/14/2019

MAXO Special: Spider-Man: Far From Home Swinging into theaters just this past week, we’ve finally got a new movie featuring everyone’s favorite arthropod-based superhero. (Apologies to Ant-Man, the Wasp, and the Tick.) And we’re back to see how Peter deals with balancing spending his time with his friends and helping out a mysterious new individual with quite the back story. Join us as we explore Europe with Peter in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/10510715

The Iron Throne 05/27/2019

The Iron Throne The series finale is upon us. We kinda forgot to come up with new jokes, but we reflect upon this conclusion and consider how it causes us to think about this season and the show as a whole. Alec is sure he’ll come to a more firm opinion in the fullness of time. Meanwhile, Chris has some creative arguments for how he could get a few extra points. Finally, John is overjoyed to see someone we thought had left us forever. And now our watch is ended. Season 8 final standings: John: 38 points Chris: 34 points Alec: 26 points Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9932639

The Bells 05/15/2019

The Bells Choices are made as we complete the penultimate episode of the series. Chris proposes a few alternatives and determines that reality can be whatever he wants. Meanwhile, John comes to terms with a theory of his not being played out on screen, and Alec is upset that the show kinda forgot about one resident of the dungeons. Season 8 standings: John: 38 points Chris: 27 points Alec: 26 points Notes: - Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe! /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9791828

Untitled Avengers Podcast 05/13/2019

Untitled Avengers Podcast This was...inevitable. It is the culmination of eleven years of Marvel movies, and it brings together our heroes after they’ve come off of perhaps their most crushing defeat. In this very special episode, we discuss . And that is destiny fufilled. Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9755882

The Last of the Starks 05/09/2019

The Last of the Starks With the forces of death efficiently discarded in the last episode, the living are back at squabbling at each other’s throats. Chris is sad that some old friends appear to have left us forever (while still alive). John, meanwhile, has southron ambitions, and Alec is just trying to keep a positive outlook on these things. And they look towards next week where the last war may decide who wins and who dies. Season 8 standings: John: 19 points Chris: 13 points Alec: 6 points Notes: (Warning: TV tropes) /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9712934

The Long Night 05/01/2019

The Long Night They fight. Season 8 standings: John: 19 points Chris: 13 points Alec: 6 points Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9605447

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 04/24/2019

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Another big episode for Alec, Chris, and John, as another episode passes and we consult our lists to see which of the many deaths were as predicted. An old friend returns and two noble houses are made closer than they’ve ever been before. Alec and John take the opportunity to discuss political geography, while Chris is more concerned about one character’s absence. And we’re all sure that these charming reunions won’t presage something more sinister next week. Season 8 standings: Chris: 0 points Alec: 0 points John: 0 points Notes: & /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9510308

Winterfell 04/18/2019

Winterfell Our beloved characters have returned once again to descend upon Winterfell. And hopefully they’ll soon start dying and we can get some points! Alec is afraid we’ve seen one friend for the last time, while Chris is overjoyed at the arrival of a new acquaintance. Meanwhile, John still is still upset at a controversial naming convention. But everyone can agree that this is the episode that truly drives home the importance of having enough daily dosage of Bran. Season 8 standings: Chris: 0 points Alec: 0 points John: 0 points Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9441710

Season Eight Draft 04/11/2019

Season Eight Draft As Game of Thrones season eight approaching fast upon them, Alec, Chris, and John must make some tough decisions. Alec has not prepared particularly well and must stay quick on his toes to not get left behind. John has a carefully considered list to think through his choices. Chris, meanwhile, keeps his own strategy close to his chest. Draft: Last season: Notes: /episode/index/show/bookofthestranger/id/9352967

Book of the Stranger

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