VoK 151: The Sopranos ReWatch (Part 1) – Since the Ducks Left

Posted on October 7, 2014 by | 3 comments

TheSopranos

What happens when four wiseguys walk into a psychiatrist’s office? Join vassals Duncan (Valkyrist), Bina (Bina007), Michael (Mordion), and Mattias (Maca) as they hijack and dismantle the first two seasons of HBO’s crown jewel – The Sopranos.

This is the first podcast in a three-part retrospective of the series.

02:51 – Cultural Impact
22:22 – Season 1 Discussion
1:02:33 – Season 2 Discussion

Warning: Contains #SPOILERS# for all aired episodes of HBO’s The Sopranos

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist
Audio clips owned by HBO

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

Posted on October 4, 2014 by | 1 comment

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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

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VoK 149: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Animax series)

Posted on September 30, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Fmab-poster

The Vassals turn toward anime territory to discuss and review Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the second series released following the story of the Full Metal Alchemist manga. Hosts Zach (Alias), Bing (Shoeshiner), Adam (drownedsnow), and Tony (The Reader) delve into why they feel that this anime stands as a particularly special entry for its genre.

Favorite and least favorites characters are discussed, along with favorite moments and story arcs, as well as an involved look at the good and bad aspects of the original anime and Brotherhood.

Credits:
Edited by Zach (Alias)
Hosts: Bing (Shoeshiner), Adam (drownedsnow), Tony (The Reader), and Zach (Alias)

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VoK 148: Podcast Roundtable

Posted on September 28, 2014 by | Leave a comment

podcast_img

Make some room in your MP3 players, cause the vassals are reviewing their favorite Podcasts. They talk about how they got into podcasts, list their favorites and list podcast they hate as well.

Credits:
Edited by Vikram (fortytwo)
Hosts: Alias, Amberrocks, Valkyrist, Claudiusthefool and Fortytwo
Intro Music: “hmm ok” by Gablé
Various other music: Chris Zabriskie’s Discography

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VoK 147: The Silmarillion ReRead (Part 1) – Meet the Valar

Posted on September 26, 2014 by | Leave a comment

VOK Sil Image 1

The Vassals of Kingsgrave kick off their Silmarillion Re-read series.  Before discussing the book itself we break down the troubled history of the publication and the development of the text of what eventually became The Silmarillion as it was published in 1977, four years after the death of J.R.R. Tolkien.  We also analyze the letter that Tolkien wrote in 1950 to a friend in which he explained his reasoning behind writing The Silmarillion and what he hoped it would mean to England.

Join hosts Greg, Brett, Shane, Alix & Matt as they try to get into the head of Eru Iluvatar and his musical selections.

Put on your finest raiment and hearken to the tales of the Music of the Ainur and the Valaquenta.

Credits:
Edited by Greg

Image from the Melkor Was Here Tumblr from March 12, 2014.

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

Posted on September 25, 2014 by | 2 comments

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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

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Posted in Fandom, History, Podcast, True Crime

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VoK 145: Jack the Ripper (Part 1)

Posted on September 23, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 20, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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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

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VoK 143: Book Club (Vol.2) – Half a King (by Joe Abercrombie)

Posted on September 16, 2014 by | 3 comments

VOK

Join the vassals for the second meeting of the VOK Book Club.  We review and discuss Half a King by Joe Abercrombie.

Join hosts Greg (claudiusthefool), Amber (amberrocks), Brett (White Raven), Alix (Aiwendil) and Duncan (Valkyrist) as they review the first book of Abercrombie’s planned Shattered Sea Trilogy.  A high fantasy adventure of epic proportions full of betrayal, vengeance, slave revolts, pirates, savages, ancient ruins and blood oaths.

Unshackle your slave collar and join us on our sojourn around the Shattered Sea.

Be sure to vote on the forums for the next pick of the VOK Book Club!

Credits:
Edited by Greg

Jacket image and map taken from the US Hardcover Edition published by Del Rey 2014.  Artwork by Jon McCoy from the Subterranean Press limited edition.

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Posted in Books & Novellas, Podcast

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VoK 142: Movie Roundtable (Vol.1)

Posted on September 4, 2014 by | Leave a comment

MoviePopcorn

Heat up some popcorn, cause the vassals are heading to the cinema! Join Duncan (Valkyrist), Greg (claudiusthefool), Imogen (Imogen.OB), and Joseph (Ciao_Gamer) as they riff about optimistic armageddons, plagiaristic lions, urban gunslingers, and the live-action prequel to Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.

07:55 – The Postman (Kevin Costner, 1997)
29:47 – The Lion King (Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff, 1994)
45:33 – Dirty Harry (Don Seigel, 1971)
1:06:30 – Rocky (John G. Avildsen, 1976)

Warning: Contains #SPOILERS# for all four films

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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Links:
Similarities between The Lion King and Kimba the White Lion
Montage Overload: The Insanity of Rocky IV
The Best of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room

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VoK 141: Captain America: The Winter Soldier [2014] and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Posted on September 2, 2014 by | Leave a comment

AgentsOfShield

In this long-awaited episode, Vassals Michal (inkasrain), Bina (Bina007), Eddie (Teddard) and Nadia converge to converse about Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier film, and season one of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Sobering real-world parallels are drawn, the morality of redemption arcs is discussed, and furious debate breaks out over which member of the cast is the hottest.

Credits:
Edited by inkasrain

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VoK 140: The Legend of Korra (“Enter The Void” and “Venom Of The Red Lotus” Review)

Posted on August 31, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Into each life a little rain must fall, Vassals. Join brothers and sisters of anarchy Zach (Alias), Katie (Lady Griffin), Michal (inkasrain), Amin, Stephanie (gsdg), and Leigh (LordManderBlee) as they let go their earthly tethers and bid farewell to yet another season of The Legend of Korra.

Edited by Katie

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Posted in Anime & Manga, Legend of Korra, Podcast, TV Shows

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Comedy Central Plug

Posted on August 27, 2014 by | Leave a comment

One of our tweets just appeared on Comedy Central’s @midnight! Could we be any more legit? 😉

GRRM_VOKGRRM_VOK2

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

Posted on August 25, 2014 by | 1 comment

PRINCESSBRIDE

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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VoK 138: The Legend of Korra (“The Ultimatum” Review)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by | Leave a comment

The Vassals cry themselves to sleep as Tenzin Deathwatch nears midnight! Leigh (LordManderBlee) returns from exile to fight the good fight alongside Stephanie (gsgd), Michal (inkasrain), Amin, and Katie (Lady Griffin) as they review S03E11: “The Ultimatum.”

Edited by Katie

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VoK 137: Full Cast(le) Recording #7 – The Motherf**king Queensmoot

Posted on August 20, 2014 by | 4 comments

Queensmoot

What is dead may never die… After an interminable scheduling process, and an even lengthier edit, the fabled “Queensmoot” chapter reading finally emerges from the Darkling Depths. Eleven salty vassals wade onto the shores of Pyke to claim their crowns, and perform “The Drowned Man” from George R. R. Martin’s A Feast for Crows.

And stick around afterwards for an in-depth discussion on Greyjoy psychology, Ironborn culture and Victarion’s ill-fated foray into nature documentaries.

2:27 – Chapter Reading
39:32 – Chapter Discussion
1:26:53 – Aftershow

The Cast:
Michal (inkasrain) – Narrator
Brooke (Asha Greatjoy) – Aeron Greyjoy
Dan (witless chum) – A Drowned Man / Meldred Merlyn / Baelor Blacktyde
Zach (Alias) – The Drowned God / Eric Ironmaker / Harmund Sharp
John (BarrelRoll42) – Rus / Red Oarsman / Ralf Stoneshouse
Seif (reg roone) – A Drowned Man / Ralf the Limper / Sexual-Harassment Kraken / Euron Greyjoy
Leigh (LordManderBlee) – Gylbert Farwynd / Lucas Codd
Peter (Shellfish) – Victarion Greyjoy
Paul (Pod’s Plight) – Dunstan Drumm
Elena (Lady_Grey) – Asha Greyjoy
Greg (claudiusthefool) – Rodrik Harlaw / Qarl the Maid

The Crew:
Michal (inkasrain) – Host
Duncan (Valkyrist) – Editor

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Posted in A Song of Ice and Fire, Books & Novellas, Full Cast(le) Recording, Podcast

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VoK 136: Comic Book Club (Vol.1) – Saga (by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples)

Posted on August 17, 2014 by | Leave a comment

LyingCatSmallThe first meeting of the Secret Book Club (The Vassals of Kingsgrave Comic Book Club [Girls Most Definitely Allowed]) discusses Saga written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona Staples published by Image Comics.

Please join Thomas (FTWard), Greg (claudiusthefool), Shane (easttexasdirewolf) & Scott (Skywaltzer) as we examine the first 12 issues of Saga and its “FUCKING OUTER SPACE GALAXY OF MAGIC” and generally geek out about all things sequential art.

Credits:
Edited by FTWard
Image: Lying Cat by uflgator1

Music:
Intro: “Rocket Man” written by Ser Elton John and Bernie Taupin.  Performed by William ShatnerAfter
Show Intro: “Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile” written by George Henry Powell & Felix Powell.  Performed by Concert Band & Chorus of the R.A.A.F.

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VoK 135: The Legend of Korra (“Long Live The Queen” Review)

Posted on August 14, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Sorry, the Vassals need a moment to catch their breath.  Amin has been taken down! Michal (inkasrain), Stephanie (gsgd), and Katie (Lady Griffin), tough out the ensuing riot to bring you their review of S3E10: “Long Live The Queen.”

Edited by Katie

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

Posted on August 11, 2014 by | 1 comment

Second-Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-Poster-High-Res

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

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VoK 133: Looking (HBO series) – Season 1

Posted on August 9, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Join Vassals Middlecyclone, Lady Griffin, and Khal Wadage as they explore the trials and tribulations of three fellows who make all of the mistakes on HBO’s Looking.

Edited by Middlecyclone

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