The Boiled Leather Audio Hour

This is special episode. I have been challenged by Kienn Joiaf to defend my assertion that Lyanna Stark is the Knight of the Laughing Tree and to disprove their theory that in truth it is Eddard Stark. That theory is laid out here, but I will summarize it in the episode - and then take it apart. It’s not a kind thing to do that to a Podator, but we are rebels, so we rebel. Or something to that effect. Oh, and here’s the link to all Supreme Court of Westeros episodes.

We’re continuing the story of World War I with the year 1915. From the massive loss of human lives in the big offensives, the Western stalemate and the breakthrough in the East, to technological innovations like aerial bombardment and poison gas to the political sphere, we have it all.

We are finally here: World War I has broken out, and now it’s off to the military history. But not so fast! Before you think we’re down to discussing which caliber of gun is superior to which, let me assure you: we take the big view, and look at how politics and war intersect and why the war isn’t over by christmas, but rather evolving into something else entirely.

Sean and I are on record being huge fans of the German series “Dark”. Their creators now published their follow-up work, “1899”, streaming on Netflix. However, lighting doesn’t strike twice, and the show doesn’t manage to live up to its predecessor. We analyze what went wrong and why it’s still worth the watch.

Greek myths and medieval novels provide a rich tapestry of themes and inspiration that inspire literature for centuries now. Reason enough for us here at the Boiled Leather Audio Hour to go to that well and drink deep. I recruited Mattea Barbagallo for this, who expertly talks about Greek myth and medieval novels and how they pertain to our beloved saga.

The finale is out! We get a funeral, a rom-com between two fascists, a prison break, a child marriage, police shooting unarmed civilians, a terrorist, a failed assassination attempt and I’m sure I’m missing something else - but what does it matter, for all men must die, and I’ve seen Andor season 1! What a marvelous show.

I reviewed Netflix’ adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front” for the Patreon already, but now I want to do an in-depth-look with an expert and see whether my criticisms hold any merit. Aside from the new movie, we talk about the 1979 and 1930 adaptations, critically comparing them, “1917” and “At Journey’s End” and why World War I is so difficult an area for storytelling in general.

What is this? A review of Andor? Isn’t this supposed to be exclusive to the Boiled Leather Audio Moment? Yes, of course. But christmas is coming early! We’re publishing the last two episode reviews of this great show, because we assume everyone should be watching it right now. If you don’t, start right now. And pledge on the Momentalist level to listen to the full back catalogue of BLAM episodes, including all our episode reviews for this great show! Plus, this episode features the announcement of the next big step for the Boiled Leather Audio Hour. You’ll never guess what it is!

It’s been a long time since episode 151, but after the gruelling regime of covering three shows (HotD, LOTRTROP and Andor) simultaneously for weeks on end, we need to get back to our regular, light-hearted fare. This week, Jim McGeehin and I am covering the July crisis, the beginning of World War I. The good thing is that this topic has almost no contemporary relevance whatsoever…ah, shit.

Not only did the Boiled Leather Audio Hour produce a roundtable about the finale, the regular episode with Sean T. Collin was produced as well! If my audio sounds a bit worse than usual, that’s because I had to record on a laptop. Sorry for that!

The first season has come to a close! Before you get to enjoy the final review that Sean and I do together, I have a special treat for you: a roundtable discussion coming live from the “City of Dragons”, Caceres, where the King’s Landing scenes are filmed and where I met up with Elio Garcia and Matteo Barbagallo to discuss what we saw!

The Green Council finally has arrived! People get murdered, smallfolk massacred, a king gets lost, factions betrayed, convictions challenged, all against the backdrop of incredibly sharp writing and great acting. Is there anything more you could want? We don’t think so!

What’s more relaxing than a nice family dinner? Maybe a wedding at the Twins. In this episode, the showrunners manage to make a dinner into one of the most tense scenes on TV in months. This show continues to impress, and it’s incredible how much so.

The newest episode of House of the Dragon is out, and so is our podcast! We’re covering a sad funeral, a nice family meeting, a kid finding a new pet, a grandfather loves his grandchildren. After that, we’re diving into the stupidest discourse surrounding the show: was it too dark? Not thematically. Literally.

It’s ten years since the last episode, but lucky for everyone, only in narrated time. We meet up with new actresses, aged-up actors and a shit-ton of new characters for a very plot-heavy episode that really does some heavy lifting and proves that the high-stakes gamble this show takes is paying off, big time. Trigger warning: There’s a rather intense debate about death in childbirth and its artistic expression near the end.

The fifth episode of “House of the Dragon” came out, and the show is still great. It’s one of the best shows out there right now, no question, and it might break in the pantheon of all-time stars. HBO still has its mojo, and we’re telling you what we got from this episode! Expect some mooning mixed in the serious analysis and interpretation. That the latter are even possible is also testament to the strength of the material. But we discuss that.

Last week we asked whether episode 3 was the best episode yet, and it was at the time. Now it’s been dethroned, and the new heir is episode 4! Sean and I produce our shortest review yet because this was just such a good hour of television that we can only marvel at the many things done right and engage into some details. You will still get a lot out of it, as did we, but when stuff is really good, sometimes you just have to lean back and enjoy.

Is this the best “House of the Dragon” episode yet? Granted, it’s only three episodes in, but this is shaping out to be one of the best shows an air right now. Sean and Stefan really gush about how good it is, what themes it develops, how it works structurally and what seeds it sows for the rest of the story.

We did it! Sean and I coordinated our schedules and join our forces once again to talk “House of the Dragon”. This time, it’s episode 2. Is it better or worse than episode 1? It’s almost a moot discussion since the show remains pretty strong.

The House of the Dragon is finally here! Sean and I have written our own reviews (here and here), but now comes the great synthesis of what we think about episode 1. We’re doing the deep dive: characters, actors, production, violence, storytelling, prophecy, real-world issues - you’ll get it all!

When Bran was thrown out the window by Jaime Lannister, this marked the first real signal that something was different about this series. Today, Sean and I explore as to why this is and what makes this scene special. Plus, we can use the word "defenestration”, which doesn’t get enough usage in common parlance.

The Disney+ Miniseries “Obi-Wan Kenobi” starring Ewan McGregor just concluded its six-episode run. We are talking about why it was a show that exists but doesn’t really rise beyond that. Where does the strange lack of suspense, meaning and emotion stem from? All this, and more, in the current BLAH episode.

We are returing to our new series on our favorite moments in A Song of Ice and Fire. After Sean’s pick of the Tower of Joy last time, this time Stefan chooses The Knight of the Laughing Tree, the most influential and important story in the story that’s told in ASOIAF. What does it tell us about Bran, about the history, about the meta and about so many other things? Who is the Knight of the Laughing Tree? Ok, just kidding, it’s Lyanna. But the other questions are really interesting!

After we followed Bismarck’s delicate attempt at maintaining European balance in the favor of German foreign policy interests, we now watch it all crash down as Kaiser Wilhelm II takes the reigns and infuses some panage into the whole thing. Listen to us discuss why France, Britain and Russia are drawing together - and whether or not it could’ve been avoided.

Sean and I start a new series, analyzing our favorite moments of the series. This week is about the Tower of Joy.

Bismarck famously refused to engage in colonialism, only to do an about-face in the 1880s to create the third-largest colonial empire of the world. It didn’t do much good. A drain financially, utterly indefensible and diplomatically a heavy burden, it weakened Germany, rather than strengthening it. Nor did it bring any good to the colonized; rather the opposite. The first German genocide was perpetrated on Namibian soil, and it would not be the last. Listen to us discussing this dark topic of history.

Bismarck felt, in the colloquial French of the times, the "cauchemar des coalitions", the nightmare of coalitions. He wanted to keep the peace, but a peace on his terms. Was this ever possible, or was Bismarck's artful foreign policy in the end only kicking the can down the road, leading to the inevitable breakdown? Listen to find out!

Amazon produced a gigantic fantasy series in the hopes of upstaging Game of Thrones - or at least its own "Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power". Did they succeed?

I'm talking about the phenomenon of "The Expanse" with Tim Westmeyr.

The first political conflict of the Kaiserriech is upon us! The Kulturkampf, the first and titular culture war, against the catholic church and the suppression of the social democrats are major factors.

We are ten years old! Almost everyone who is someone in nerddom came over to talk to me and say some kind words.

With the Kaiserreich now founded, Jim and I take a look under the hood and dissect its constitutional framework.

To talk about his famous blog series, I invited Bret back over to talk about the myths mentioned in the title.

One of the most popular series right now is "The Boys", which is rather toxic. So what's the whole deal about?

After we looked at the political unification process, we're now looking at the more martially oriented one.

What's this question about? Listen to find out!

Jim and I start a new sub-series on our "history of Germany" bigger series, looking where it all began: in the Kaiserreich.

We continue our series.

I'm bringing back the two political experts to talk about how campaigns go.

We continue our series.

With Bret Deveraux, I'm talking about RTS and their stories. Come back to the Tiberium Wars with us!

After we explored the role that magical creatures play in ASOIAF in episode 131, it’s time to look at other fantastical elements. From magical portals to telepathy, from blood sacrifice to Asshai and the Wall itself, we explore the role magic plays in the greater narrative.

We continue our series on the American presidents.

Do Snarks and Grumpkins exist? Do Squishers? If they did, what would it mean? And what have the Brothers Grimm to do with it? Are direwolves monsters or animals? What's the deal with the Others? And, most importantly, why are monsters in this story in the first place? All this, and more, in the current episode of the Boiled Leather Audio Hour!

It has been a wild week. After all that casting news of “House of the Dragon”, the new bid-budget HBO show on the Dance of the Dragons, we not only got news about a Broadway theatrical play about the Tourney at Harrenhal, but also about three (!) other shows being in development as well as an animated (!) show, all set in Westeros. Do these shows excite us? Maybe? Do we have thoughts on them and the decision making process or the artistic potential? Definitely!

After German history, Jim and I look at American presidents.

I watched Twin Peaks for the first time, and boy was it weird. I'm talking to strangeness expert Sean about it.

We're taking a little holiday from Westeros and talk about how stories are told in political campaigns. I have two campaign experts with me for this.

What lessons can we draw from the fall of the Weimar Republic?

I'm away for the month, so Sean steps in.