Author Archives: bina007

VoK 247: The Tower of Coy aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 8)

Posted on December 20, 2015 | 4 comments

In this episode of the epic linear re-read of Game of Thrones the Vassals cover Cat 6, Ned 10, Ned 11 and Sansa 3, which sees Cat arriving at the Eyrie, Ned’s infamous Tower of Joy reminiscences and Sansa fatefully being told she is being sent away from King’s Landing. The Vassals discussing these chapters are Bina007, Nadia, Matt (Varley), Scott (Shaggydog) and Adam (Drownedsnow). We also have PetyrSlaylish15 chiming in by the power of Grayskull, I mean the power of pre-recording, as well as the lovely Ballad of the Tower of Joy as written by the Podcast Bard, Jed O’White Hart.

This episode discusses the books in spoiler-y detail but doesn’t give spoilers from the show. The aftershow starts at 2hrs in. For listeners playing along at home, the next episode will cover chapters Dany 5, Tyrion 5, Cat 7, Tyrion 6 and Bran 5.

Picture credit: The APOIAF Artbook of Game of Thrones, as drawn by Fishflight. Music credit: The Ballad of The Tower of Joy by Jed O’White Hart.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, drownedsnow, jed o'white hart, Nadia, PetyrSlaylish15, Shaggy Dog, Varley

VoK 246: Star Wars – The Force Awakens (EuroSmug Review)

Posted on December 16, 2015 | 4 comments

The European vassals lord it over their American cousins with an early review of The Force Awakens. There is a very brief rating and ranking of the film which is spoiler-free and then after a musical interlude we move into a deeply spoilery discussion of the movie.

Hosts – Bina007, Eddie (Teddard), Patrick (Ser Patrick The Tall) and Tanja (Scilens).

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Posted in Movies, Podcast, Science Fiction, Star Wars

Tagged Bina007, Scilens, Ser Patrick the Tall, Teddard

VoK 245: Westerosi Spanx aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 7)

Posted on December 6, 2015 | Leave a comment

Join the Vassals as they continue their epic linear re-read of Game of Thrones, focussing in this episode on the chapters covering the Tourney of the Hand.

Timeline: Sansa 2 (2m); Ned 7 (31m); Arya 3 (57m); Ned 8 (1hr 10m); Ned 9 (1hr 30m); Which Disney Princess Would Each Host Be? (1hr 56m); Varley opens his VOK Secret Santa present (2hr 02m); Aftershow (2hr 05m).

Hosts: Adam (DrownedSnow), Amber (Amberrocks), Bina007, Katie (Lady Griffin), Nadia, Patrick (Ser Patrick The Tall), Scott (Shaggydog), and Zack (Alias).

For the listener playing along at home, the next instalment will cover the end of September 298 and the first half of October 298, including the Tower of Joy: Cat 6, Ned 10, Ned 11 and Sansa 3.

This episode discusses the books in spoiler-y detail but doesn’t give spoilers from the show.

Picture credit: The APOIAF Artbook of Game of Thrones, as drawn by Jenn Rose. All new opening music credit for the linear re-read by Alpine Universe. Let us know what you think! End music from the Disney film Beauty and the Beast.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Alias, amberrocks, Bina007, drownedsnow, Lady Griffin, Nadia, Ser Patrick the Tall, Shaggy Dog, Varley

VoK 244: R+P=D aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 6)

Posted on November 21, 2015 | 2 comments

In the sixth part of the Linear Game of Thrones Re-read, VOK regulars Varley, Bina and Nadia are joined by lore-master Scott aka Shaggydog. They discuss the Game of Thrones chapters covering Cat’s apprehension of Tyrion, Sam’s arrival at the Wall and CSI King’s Landing.

Timeline: Ned 5 (3m), Jon 4 (17m), Cat 5 (29m), Tyrion 4 (44m), Ned 6 (50m), R+P=D (1hr).

For the listener playing along at home, the next instalment will cover the Tourney of the Hand chapters: Sansa 2, Ned 7, Arya 3, Ned 8 and Ned 9.

This episode discusses the books in spoiler-y detail but doesn’t give spoilers from the show.

Picture credit: The APOIAF Artbook of Game of Thrones. Music credit: Miss Piggy.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, Nadia, Shaggy Dog, Varley

VoK 242: This is England (Movie and TV Series Review)

Posted on November 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

Oi oi! The Vassals of Kingsgrave welcome all mongs and spazzes, rude boys and skin-heads, for a discussion of Shane Meadows’ iconic movie and TV miniseries, This Is England. Chronicling the adventures of a group of friends from 1983 to 1990, this series is a tragicomic exploration of social unrest, racism, sex, drugs and dodgy haircuts. The discussion is therefore both explicit and full of spoilers. Also apologies for the intermittent background music from the airport lounge in which this episode was recorded.

Hosts: Bina007 and Dagos_Rivers.

Music credits: Billy Bragg, A New England.

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Posted in History, Movies, Podcast, TV Shows

Tagged Bina007, Dagos_Rivers

VoK 240: Varley’s Plea aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 5)

Posted on October 25, 2015 | Leave a comment

In the fifth part of the Linear Game of Thrones Re-read, the Vassals discuss feedback on the previous episode and finish up August 298, covering Jon 3 (12m), Tyrion 3 (28m), Arya 2 (40m), Bran 4 (56m). The aftershow starts at 1hr 15m.

For the listener playing along at home, the next instalment will cover the chapters in September 298 – Ned 5, Jon 4, Cat 5, Tyrion 4 and Ned 6.

This episode discusses the books in spoiler-y detail but doesn’t give spoilers from the show.

Picture credit: HBO’s Game of Thrones. Music credit: The Presidents of the United States of America.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Alias, Bina007, JoThirteen, Scilens, Vakasha, Varley, White Raven

VoK 237: The Iron Bidet aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 3)

Posted on September 23, 2015 | 8 comments

In the third part of our linear re-read the Fellowship of Vassals expands both in numbers and chapters covered. We go through the events of May and June 298 which sees an assassination attempt on Bran, Tyrion go north to the wall, Ned go south with Robert, and Dany visiting Vaes Dothrak. Naturally, the podcast contains spoilers for all works in the Song of Ice and Fire series as well as HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Bran 2 (0m); Tyrion 1 (20m); Jon 2 (45m); Cat 3 (1hr); Tyrion 2 (1hr 17m); Dany 4 (1hr 30m); Ned (1hr 40m); Aftershow (2hr).

For the listener playing along at home, the next instalment will cover the chapters in July 298 – Sansa 1 & Ned 3 – and the first half of August 298 – Bran 3, Cat 4 and Ned 4.

Hosts: Adam (Drowned Snow), Amanda (Middlecyclone), Bina007, Brett (Whiteraven), Calvin (KCenturion), Kelvin (Brum Riverlander), Matt (Varley), Nadia, and Tanja (Scilens).

Picture credit: HBO’s Game of Thrones. Music credit: Johnny Cash.

8 Comments

Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, Brum Riverlander, drownedsnow, KCenturion, middlecyclone, Nadia, Scilens, Varley, White Raven

VoK 233: The Virtues of a 9-Inch Meat Pie aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 2)

Posted on September 8, 2015 | Leave a comment

The second podcast in our linear ASOIAF re-read begins with feedback on last week’s episode focussing on the character of Ser Weymar Royce and Lunar dragons. We then cover the events of April 298, with the King and the Lannisters arriving at Winterfell as news of Jon Arryn’s death reaches Cat. This translates into the Game of Thrones chapters Ned 1 (16m), Jon 1 (37m), Cat 2 (49m) and Arya 1 (1h5m). The aftershow begins at 1hr 15m.

Spoilers: All published novels in the ASOIAF series but neither spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter nor the latest season of Game of Thrones.

Podcast hosts: FTWard (Thomas), Mordion (Michael), Claudius The Fool (Greg), Bina007, Middlecyclone (Amanda), Nadia, Varley (Matt) and Whiteraven (Brett) .

For those of you playing along at home, the next episode will cover the events of May 298, so Game of Thrones: Bran 2, Tyrion 1, Jon 2 and Cat 3.

Picture credit: HBO’s Game of Thrones. Music credit: Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas

Tagged Bina007, claudiusthefool, FTWard, middlecyclone, Mordion, Nadia, Varley, White Raven

VoK 232: Panspermia! aka The Great Linear ASOIAF ReRead (Part 1)

Posted on August 31, 2015 | 6 comments

In the first in a new series of VOK-casts, the Vassals return to their roots with a linear re-read of George R R Martin’s A Song Of Ice And Fire. This episode covers events from June 297 to March 298. This translates to the following chapters in Game of Thrones: the Prologue, Dany 1 (21 mins), Dany 2 (37 mins), Bran 1 (48 mins), Cat 1 (1hr 9m) and Dany 3 (1 hr 18m) in that order. Whiteraven then shares his theory of why seasons change (1hr 28m). In doing this re-read we are hugely indebted to the reddit author who compiled the linear timeline linked below.

Spoilers: All published novels in the ASOIAF series but neither spoiler chapters for The Winds of Winter nor the latest season of Game of Thrones.

Podcast hosts: Bina007, Middlecyclone (Amanda), Nadia, Varley (Matt) and Whiteraven (Brett) with extra podcast goodness from the Podcast Bard, Jed O’ White Hart.

For those of you playing along at home, the next episode will cover Game of Thrones: Ned 1, Jon 1, Cat 2 and Arya 1 which corresponds to April 298.

Picture credit: Jon Neimeister. Music credit: Sammy Davis Jr’s superlative Old Black Magic.

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF ReRead, Books & Novellas, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, jed o'white hart, middlecyclone, Nadia, Varley, White Raven

VoK 231: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (by Douglas Adams)

Posted on August 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

Greetings, Hoopy Froods! Welcome to the Vassals’ chaotic discussion of Douglas Adams’ comic, sci-fi creation, The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. This wide-ranging discussion is mostly harmless and mostly focusses on the novel, and just like Bistromathics, the number of Vassals participating at any one time is a reciproversexclusion. However, they mostly include our host Tania (Scilens), Bina007, Greg (ClaudiusTheFool), Nicole, Patrick (Ser Patrick The Tall) and Zack (Alias).

Edited by Bina007. Running time 1hr 36 mins.

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Posted in Books & Novellas, Movies, Podcast, Science Fiction, TV Shows

Tagged Alias, Bina007, claudiusthefool, Nicole, Scilens, Ser Patrick the Tall

VoK 229: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC miniseries)

Posted on August 15, 2015 | 1 comment

In this episode, Bina007, Augustine (Linecom1) and Shane (EastTexasDirewolf) discuss the BBC miniseries based on Susanna Clarke’s novel set in alternate early 19th century England in which practical magic has made a comeback. After the main podcast ends at 1hr20, Bina then speaks to Michal (Inkasrain) about her reaction the show and book.

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[Hurtfew] A Wiki of Strange and Norrell

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Posted in Books & Novellas, Podcast, TV Shows

Tagged Bina007, easttexasdirewolf, inkasrain, linecom1

VoK 162: Twin Peaks ReWatch (Part 3)

Posted on November 9, 2014 | 9 comments

In this episode Bina007 is joined by three high roller oral surgeons from the Tri-City area, Greg (ClaudiustheFool), Shane (EastTexasDirewolf) and Steven (SJLee) to discuss the final two episodes of the first season of Twin Peaks: Realization Time and The Last Evening. As usual, we will fully spoil all episodes up to this point but will not discuss any material from Season Two, allowing our female long-distance trucker Native American listener to join along at home.

Some corrections: Who shot JR featured as a plot in Dallas in 1981 rather than 1984; viewers had to wait a mere four months between seasons 1 and 2 in the USA. The main show ends at 1 hr 8 mins.

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[VoK 73] Spoiler filled Twin Peaks overview episode

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Posted in Podcast, TV Shows, Twin Peaks

Tagged Bina007, claudiusthefool, easttexasdirewolf, SJLee

VoK 159: Twin Peaks ReWatch (Part 2)

Posted on November 2, 2014 | Leave a comment

What do you get if you cross a Norwegian and a Swede? For the answer to this and other burning questions, tune in for the second part of the VoK Twin Peaks Rewatch. Bina007 is joined by VoK’s own version of The Bookhouse Boys – Sherriff SJLee (Steven), Deputy EastTexasDirewolf (Shane) and Big ClaudiusTheFool (Greg) to discuss Episodes 3, 4 and 5 of Season One – from Rest In Pain to Cooper’s Dreams. As usual, we won’t be spoiling later episodes of the series so you are safe to follow along at home.

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Posted in Podcast, TV Shows, Twin Peaks

Tagged Bina007, claudiusthefool, easttexasdirewolf, SJLee

VoK 156: Twin Peaks ReWatch (Part 1)

Posted on October 25, 2014 | Leave a comment

Prompted by David Lynch’s announcement that his ground-breaking 25 year old TV show Twin Peaks will return to the air, VoK has decided to do a rewatch of the previous two series. Join Shane (EastTexasDirewolf), Bina007, Steven (SJLee) and Greg (ClaudiusTheFool) as they discuss the Pilot and Episodes 1 and 2 of the series in depth.

This episode will NOT contain spoilers for later episodes of the show or Fire Walk With Me, allowing listeners following along at home not to be spoiled. However, those of you looking for an overarching series discussion can tune in to our Twin Peaks episode.

And for all you ladies, a picture of EastTexasDirewolf too sexy to button his shirt.

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Posted in Podcast, TV Shows, Twin Peaks

Tagged Bina007, claudiusthefool, easttexasdirewolf, SJLee

VoK 150: The Anarchy (1135-1154) and ASOIAF

Posted on October 4, 2014 | 1 comment

Join Nadia, Bina007 and Joseph (Ciao.Gamer) for the second in our series examining the parallels between history and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. In this episode we cover The Anarchy – a period of civil war in England and France in the twelfth century. We draw parallels to the events of The Princess and the Queen; ship SanStan and discover that sometimes history ends with a whimper rather than a bang.

Please note that this episode spoils all published works in the Song of Ice and Fire series as well as the prequel novellas.

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Ways to learn more:
[More on the Plantagenets] Historian Dan Jones
[More on Matilda & Eleanor] Historian Helen Castor

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, History, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, Ciao_Gamer, Nadia

VoK 146: Jack the Ripper (Part 2) – It All Leads to Lizard People

Posted on September 25, 2014 | 2 comments

Join Julia (NoTrueLady), Thomas (FTWard) and Bina007 in the second part of their investigations into the Whitechapel Murders of 1888. In this part, they discuss the main serious suspects in the Jack the Ripper case, some crackpot theories, and the cultural impact of the murders.

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Further reading on Jack the Ripper:
[Paul Begg’s book] A concise rundown of the facts with no spurious finger-pointing
[Emily Marsh] The woman who might’ve spoken to the author of the From Hell letter
[The Crawford Letter] The letter that mentions that Druitt’s family consider him to be the killer
[The Kosminski book] The best researched book making the case against Kosminski
[The Devil and the White City] A superb book on H H Holmes and the 1893 Chicago World Fair

Cultural echoes:
[Pandora’s Box] The 1929 Louise Brooks movie in which Lulu is killed by Jack The Ripper
[Penny Dreadful] The contemporary TV show featuring Jack the Ripper as one of many aspects of gruesome Victoriana
[The Crimson Petal and the White] Michel Faber explores everything bizarre about Victorian attitudes toward women, sex and prostitutes

2 Comments

Posted in Fandom, History, Podcast, True Crime

Tagged Bina007, FTWard, No True Lady

VoK 145: Jack the Ripper (Part 1)

Posted on September 23, 2014 | Leave a comment

In the first part of our Jack the Ripper discussion, Julia (NoTrueLady) and Bina007 discuss the social conditions at the time of the Whitechapel Murders and make their observations on the deaths of the victims – claimed and canonical. They then discuss the main members of the police investigation and the alleged Ripper letters. Finally, Thomas (FTWard) teleports in from the future to give us his take on the victims and the Ripper letters.

Warning – this podcast contains discussion of violence and prostitution that some listeners may find disturbing or offensive.

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Posted in Fandom, History, Podcast, True Crime

Tagged Bina007, FTWard, No True Lady

VoK 144: The War of the Roses (1455-1487) and ASOIAF

Posted on September 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Join Nadia and Bina007 as they discuss parallels between A Song of Ice and Fire and the War of the Roses. We discuss whether Henry VI was as mad as Aerys II; whether Edward IV was as drunken a lech as Robert Baratheon; how far Richard III echoes Stannis; whether Elizabeth of York used shadow babies to stop her uncle marrying her; and whether Dany will marry Gendry and reunite the realm just as Henry Tudor did.

Spoiler warning: A Song of Ice and Fire, The Princess and the Queen and The Rogue Prince as well as fifteenth century British history.

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[The Hollow Crown] Dan Jones’ newly published book on The War of the Roses

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, Books & Novellas, History, Podcast

Tagged Bina007, Nadia

VoK 139: Full Cast(le) Recording #8 – The Abridged Princess Bride

Posted on August 25, 2014 | 1 comment

The Vassals perform extracts from the beloved spoof fairytale movie, The Princess Bride, using incidental music from Mark Knopfler’s classic eighties score. The table reading ends c50m in, whence follows an aftershow containing a spirited defence of Rocky.

The Cast:
Michal (inkasrain) – Narrator, Princess Buttercup & Miracle Max
Zach (Alias) – The Man In Black
Amber (Amberrocks) – Humperdinck & The Kid
Duncan (Valkyrist) – Grandpa, Yellin & Vizzini
Bina007 – The Impressive Clergyman, Mother, Valerie & Inigo
Shane (EastTexasDirewolf) – Fezzik & Rugen

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Posted in Full Cast(le) Recording, Movies, Podcast

Tagged Alias, amberrocks, Bina007, easttexasdirewolf, inkasrain, Valkyrist

VoK 134: Guardians of the Galaxy [2014] (Review)

Posted on August 11, 2014 | 1 comment

The Vassals review Marvel’s latest release and discuss comic book to movie adaptations; the properties of yellow goo; why Ronan works and Malekith doesn’t; whether Gamorra’s change of heart is credible; and the attraction of marrying Thanos and becoming the Carmela Soprano of Space. The main review ends at 58m, after which we have a wider discussion of forthcoming Marvel releases and the patented VOK One Night, Marry, Yellow Goo game.

Podcasters: Bina007; Fortytwo (Vikram); EastTexasDirewolf (Shane); AmberRocks (Amber); Arthur Dumner (Liam) and Alias (Zach).

Edited by Bina007 using publicity materials provided by and belonging to Marvel Studios.

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Posted in Comics, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Movies, Podcast, Science Fiction

Tagged Alias, amberrocks, Arthur Dumner, Bina007, easttexasdirewolf, fortytwo