The Wheel of Time - S03E06 - The Shadow in the Night

David sits down with brothers Asher and Saul Elbein, the journalist duo behind the fascinating newsletter and website Heat Death. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore the intersection of pop culture and politics through two major lenses: Tolkien's orcs and the decline of the Star Wars galaxy.The discussion begins with their viral article "Orc is Man to Orc," examining the problematic nature of irredeemable species in fantasy and how colonial thinking shapes our understanding of the "other." From there, they dive into their ambitious "Decline and Fall" series, which traces Star Wars as an imperial chronicle - weaving together in-universe history, real-world American politics, and corporate IP ownership from Lucas to Disney.The brothers bring their unique perspective as working journalists to bear on everything from anthropological theory to the "enshittification" of modern media. They discuss their approach to cultural criticism, the challenge of finding nutrition versus junk food in contemporary entertainment, and why they believe fiction serves as a crystal facet reflecting every aspect of our culture.Check out Heat Death here:https://heat-death.ghost.io/You can find Asher at his website and on BlueSky:https://www.asherelbein.com/https://bsky.app/profile/asherelbein.bsky.socialAnd, you can find Saul under his byline at The Hill and also on BlueSky:https://thehill.com/author/saul-elbein/https://bsky.app/profile/saulelbein.bsky.socialContact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks 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

10 Syys 1h 39min

Elysia, David, and John are back for part 2 of 2 of their Emmy nominations series – this time looking at the nominees for the biggest categories, including what statues they already picked up at the Creative Arts Emmys, and checking in on how other network favorites fared, who has too many nominations or too few, and who is predicted to win this weekend.Emmy noms part 1: How it works & nominations per streamerLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at empire@thelorehounds.comAny 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

9 Syys 1h 46min

Comics 'Vs – Radioactive Ramblings crossover:Elysia, Jean, and Aaron count up the clues about the real nature of Earth-2, dive into the history of the Sons of Liberty in both DC and the real world, and share their own animal facts as they break down the beats of Peacemaker season 2, episode 3: "Another Rick Up My Sleeve." The DCU so far:Creature Commandos S1Superman (2025)Peacemaker S01E01Peacemaker S02E02The DCEU:Peacemaker S1 recapThe DCEU funeralRadioactive Ramblings (Fallout, Gen V, Ghibli, etc.)Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, thoughts to share?Send us an email at comicsvs@thelorehounds.comAny 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

8 Syys 1h 22min

David is joined by Steve Ausburne and Dr. Anthony from Properly Howard Movie Review to discuss Noah Hawley's standalone masterpiece. The conversation explores the episode's homages to classic Alien films, the Dunning-Kruger effect in corporate leadership, and Moro's complex characterization. They analyze the bottle episode structure, creature intelligence dynamics, and the moral implications of hubris across class lines.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: avp@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

5 Syys 2h

John and Marilyn are glad that nobody overreacted in the latest episode of Foundation.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at empire@thelorehounds.comAny 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

5 Syys 1h 31min

Comics 'Vs – Radioactive Ramblings crossover:Join Aaron, Jean, and Elysia on an adventure of friendship and feelings as they navigate badass birds and interdimensional drunk dials – while also pausing to appreciate Vigilante's famous butt dance and the deadly seriousness of a little-understood condition known as "bird blindness" – in Peacemaker season 2, episode 2: "A Man Is Only as Good as His Bird." The DCU so far:Creature Commandos S1Superman (2025)Peacemaker S01E01The DCEU:Peacemaker S1 recapThe DCEU funeralRadioactive Ramblings (Fall-Out, Gen V, Ghibli, etc.)Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, thoughts to share?Send us an email at comicsvs@thelorehounds.comAny 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

1 Syys 1h 21min

David is joined by community members Stuart (Doove71) and Bryan (Bryan8063) to explore the philosophical depths of Noah Hawley's alien prequel. The conversation examines the episode's exploration of consciousness, morality, and identity through the lens of hybrid beings caught between human and artificial existence. Special attention is given to the grooming dynamics between Morrow and Slightly, the breakdown of scientific ethics, and Hawley's use of philosophical inquiry as narrative structure.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: avp@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

29 Elo 2h 32min

John and Marilyn await the woman from the water planet in the latest episode of Foundation.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateslinktr.ee/thelorehoundsQuestions, comments, and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at empire@thelorehounds.comAny 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

29 Elo 1h 26min