Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

Tuesdays: thoughts & theories about art (movies, games, comics, shows, etc.) Fridays: chapter-by-chapter fantasy discussions (current project: A Game of Thrones)

The Phoenician Scheme 06/13/2025

The Phoenician Scheme This might be the most fully realized “Faust Fable” we’ve ever discussed on the show. Wes Anderson not only successfully reverses the Faustus / Mephistopheles dynamic, he also inverts the ending and explores the play’s often overlooked supporting cast, implied backstory, and deep sense of yearning. What a picture! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36901900

Hell House, LLC. [Part Two] 06/11/2025

Hell House, LLC. [Part Two] In a twist that might be even more shocking than this terrifying film, this latest Faust Fable discussion is actually built around one of Maggie’s theories — not Cam’s — as she deep dives into that perennial horror question: why don’t they just run away from the scary monsters? The answer is a wild journey of muffled fragments and out-of-focus breadcrumbs through this found footage Faustian masterpiece! Cam sprinkles in some Macbeth for good measure. All hail found footage! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36797020

Hell House, LLC. [Part One] 06/10/2025

Hell House, LLC. [Part One] Hell House, LLC. is one of the most terrifying films ever made. We have wanted to discuss it for years now, and that day has finally come. In this first of two breakdown episodes, Cam offers a theory about the painstaking way the film presents all those devastating creature designs to game the audience’s memory and so savagely weaponize the power of suggestion. Maggie sprinkles in some Blair Witch comparisons for good measure. All hail found footage! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36797010

Dangerous Animals 06/06/2025

Dangerous Animals Dangerous Animals is a summer horror movie with big scary sharks, but we think it has MUCH more in common with our beloved Saw than it does with Jaws. In this episode, we run through the six essential elements that could make Bruce Tucker the next Jigsaw. Happy Summerween! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36856130

Bring Her Back 06/03/2025

Bring Her Back Bring Her Back builds to an almost unbearable fever pitch that evokes both Jordan Peele and Alfred Hitchcock. This episode chases down those comparisons to explore the film’s fractal, fascinating riffs on the theatrical tradition of “doubling” up actors to play multiple roles within the same production. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36800975

Is the Big Mac a Work of Art? 05/30/2025

Is the Big Mac a Work of Art? We have been itching to do this episode FOREVER, and it’s finally here! Is the Big Mac a work of art? We explore this provocative question and the million questions that follow. In the same way that a painting exists in a museum, and a movie in a theater, where does the Big Mac exist? When is it a work of art — when it’s being made, when it was designed, or when you’re actually eating it? Things get even more tricky from there: who made the Big Mac, both literally and functionally? Has this one immaculate burger transcended the bounds of trademark and copyright to occupy the same cultural space as the American flag or the Statue of Liberty? Join us for this bucket list breakdown of that most special of burgers, all the way from the special sauce to the sesame seed bun, on this very special episode of Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36444470

Diablo IV [Belial Rising] 05/29/2025

Diablo IV [Belial Rising] Season Eight finds Diablo IV in a pretty rough place. This episode is a frank discussion of live service grind, difficulty balancing, aggressive monetization, and the limits of class design. In every way, ‘Belial Rising’ is more and less Diablo IV, and it might just be time to get off the hamster wheel. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36659675

Doom: The Dark Ages 05/27/2025

Doom: The Dark Ages Prepping the notes for this episode was unusually difficult. Cam said that he’s never felt this conflicted about a game before. Doom: The Dark Ages lives in the shadow of multiple, inescapable influences — from Halo to Gears of War to God of War and even the other modern Doom sequels — but it’s also a great standalone game. After discussing all the unfavorable comparisons that those influences invite, we zoom out to analyze Doom: The Dark Ages on its own terms. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36698685

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered 05/23/2025

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered How has it taken us five years to do an episode on an Elder Scrolls game? Luckily, the new Oblivion Remaster has arrived to fix all that. Cam reflects on the heroic fantasy ideal, Bethesda’s charming jank, the pitfalls of modern gaming, accidental vampirism, and the collaborative wonder of a game that makes the audience feel like they’re simultaneously playing, creating, and living the ultimate expression of the fantasy genre. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36558250

Thunderbolts* 05/20/2025

Thunderbolts* We’re diving back into the MCU to analyze Thunderbolts* as an allegorical pandemic-era period piece. This is an unusually personal discussion of mental health, lost time, and the unironic power of friendship. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36542195

Hurry Up Tomorrow 05/16/2025

Hurry Up Tomorrow What’s this? A polarizing story about art and excess starring the Weeknd that is equally self-indulgent and self-loathing? That’s right, as the world’s foremost defenders of The Idol, we’re back to discuss Hurry Up Tomorrow. In this episode, Cam wrestles with Abel’s self-sabotaging self-promotion, toys with that ambiguous ending, unpacks an avalanche of influences, and breaks down the uncomfortable, familiar sense of embarrassment he felt while watching this film. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36586145

Doom: The Ancient Gods 05/15/2025

Doom: The Ancient Gods What’s the best Doom game? Well, that might be a trick question. In this episode, Cam argues that ‘The Ancient Gods’ — the overlooked two-part expansion to Doom Eternal — might just be the best entry in the franchise. With massive story implications, fascinating gameplay evolutions, and a running length that rivals all the modern mainline entries, The Ancient Gods is a stealth sequel in the proud tradition of Halo: ODST and Gears 5: Hivebusters. Rip, tear, and spread the word! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36522975

Doom Eternal 05/13/2025

Doom Eternal Five years after the wildly divisive ‘Doom Eternal’ was released, Cam has given the game a second chance — and fallen in love with it. This discussion charts his history with the franchise, the frustrations of that first playthrough, and the unique combat rhythm that turned a simple demon killing formula into a wildly addictive white knuckle chess match. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36381700

The Ugly Stepsister 05/09/2025

The Ugly Stepsister Don’t believe the marketing, this body horror remix of Cinderella has a lot more in common with our favorite Jane Austen adaptations than it does with The Substance. Our discussion of The Ugly Stepsister centers around the tragic, almost universal sympathy that the film imbues within the central cast. How does this character focus affect the film’s body horror? How is empathy twisted and weaponized throughout the story? How accurate is all of this surreal brutality to the reality of the female experience? LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36381720

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 05/06/2025

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Revenge of the Sith is not just the most climactic and sweeping and melodramatic Star Wars film, it’s also perhaps the most tragic entry — and that’s where we come in. We analyze the film by tracing it’s roots through three giants in the field, starting with Lord of the Rings and an avalanche of Gollum / Anakin parallels, moving on to Macbeth and the realization that the Jedi masters are the three witches, and finishing with a Doctor Faustus framing that almost redeems Anakin as a lone Faustus in an endless sea of Mephistopheles. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36440125

The ‘House of Cards’ Never Fell 05/02/2025

The ‘House of Cards’ Never Fell Rewatching House of Cards in 2025 is a fascinating and uneven experience — because the titular house never seems to fall. This episode traces the Watergate-like ‘Underwood Exposé’ that simmers just below the surface for seventy-three episodes, but never arrives. It’s a reflection on implicit promises to the audience, shifting focus, and botched endings (with some Richard III sprinkled on top). LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36341790

When Did House of Cards Become The West Wing? 04/29/2025

When Did House of Cards Become The West Wing? Despite their wildly different tones, House of Cards and The West Wing are shockingly similar. We run through ten eerie similarities between the two shows before opening up the discussion to figure out when and why House of Cards became an accidental remake of The West Wing. We then analyze the attitudes and eras that shaped each show and consider them as deeply intertwined, transitional period pieces. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36341540

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 74 [Retrospective] 04/25/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 74 [Retrospective] This grand finale of our chapter-by-chapter coverage of the first A Song of Ice and Fire novel is a deep-dive retrospective of all the major thoughts, theories, and literary analysis we’ve brought to the world of Westeros. We work together to cover each and every POV character and our most fruitful overarching umbrella theories. Grab a crust of bread and horn of ale – and dig in – there’s a lot to get to! LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36029435

Sinners 04/22/2025

Sinners Sinners is a fantastic drama, a killer horror movie, and a great vampire story - but it's something else too. Cam argues that the film feels almost like a blues biopic, going beyond Sammie's story to chart the story of the genre itself. Using plot analysis and personal anecdotes, we investigate the magic and myth of Ryan Coogler's latest masterpiece. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36250185

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 73 [Daenerys X] 04/18/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 73 [Daenerys X] A Game of Thrones ends with a massive curveball that threatens to totally upend the philosophy of life and death we’ve been tracking for 73 chapters. We work together to unravel these cycles of life, death, and rebirth and ultimately recalibrate the binary conflict at the center of this series. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36021220

Destiny 2: The Final Shape 04/15/2025

Destiny 2: The Final Shape After hundreds of hours, ups, downs, delights, and disappointments, The Light & Darkness saga of Destiny 2 is finally done. Cam is happy to report that The Final Shape is not only a great expansion, but also a great ending to this epic, sweeping, and messy story. Join us for a discussion of character-focused gameplay, staggering art direction, and the overwhelming, emotional, 12-player finale mission, ‘Excision’. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35709870

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 72 [Catelyn XI] 04/11/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 72 [Catelyn XI] So many chapters of this book have felt like ghost stories, but this is something else entirely. Cam argues that Catelyn’s final chapter brutally resolves the central conflict between the living and the dead. Maggie questions Catelyn’s capacity to adapt in a rapidly changing world. Littlefinger’s tongue makes an unwelcome appearance. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36005770

The Woman in the Yard 04/08/2025

The Woman in the Yard The Woman in the Yard is the best Blumhouse movie since Insidious. Why? Its relentless and bold family drama, unflinching negotiation of tough topics, and scrappy, indie spirit that only ever makes it feel more creative and inspired. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/36021135

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 71 [Jon IX] 04/04/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 71 [Jon IX] The final Jon chapter poses a challenging question about his direwolf, Ghost: is he a loyal dog, an attentive wolf, or a superior reasoning intellect on the level of Tolkien’s dragons? Cam chases down these provocations while Maggie considers Jon’s larger breaking point as he considers desertion. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35925295

Sunrise on the Reaping 04/01/2025

Sunrise on the Reaping Does a book have to be “necessary” to be worth reading? Maggie explores this idea in our spoiler-free discussion of the latest installment in the Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping. Topics include fan service, recurring narrative structures, the age of legacy prequels, and the trappings of continuity. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35951395

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 70 [Tyrion IX] 03/28/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 70 [Tyrion IX] The final Tyrion chapter reads like both a reversal of fortunes and a funeral procession. Cam is tracking five of these eerie coincidences, while Maggie is comparing the inverse mythologies and realities of Robb Stark and Tywin Lannister. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35880160

The Rule of Jenny Pen 03/25/2025

The Rule of Jenny Pen Everyone’s afraid of something, and nothing scares Cam more than freaky old people. The Rule of Jenny Pen introduces us to a brand-new subgenre: nursing home horror. John Lithgow is more terrifying than any slasher villain you can think of, and this movie might have more to say about mortality than any film in recent memory. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35638800

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 69 [Daenerys IX] 03/21/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 69 [Daenerys IX] This chapter features the richest dream sequence of the book so far, and some of the most provocative fodder for our philosophy of death discussions. Maggie explores the mantras emanating out of these kaleidoscopic dreams. Cam considers the three belabored deaths that have defined this novel – Robert, Ned, and now Khal Drogo – for all of their uncomfortable similarities and damning implications. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35709690

In the Lost Lands 03/18/2025

In the Lost Lands We love Game of Thrones, we love The Witcher, we love The Lord of the Rings – but fantasy can be many things, including super silly stylized schlock. In the Lost Lands is the most fun you’ll have with a fantasy film this year. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35638285

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 68 [Sansa VI] 03/14/2025

A Game of Thrones, Vol. 68 [Sansa VI] What is the effect of the near constant mirage of George R. R. Martin killing off his protagonist? In this episode we examine this question from both the readers’ and the characters’ perspectives. Maggie zooms into Sansa’s disillusionment and disassociation to find her skills of adaptation developing in the margins. Cam realizes that all the heads on spikes are a violent cherry on top of this novel’s endless meditations on Macbeth. LINKS: , , , Feedback & Theories: /episode/index/show/secondbreakfastpod/id/35638520

Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie

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