The Lorehounds

VisionQuest – Marvel's latest (and last?) high-concept television outing – begins this week on Disney+, and Elysia and Jean couldn't be more excited to see some of their favorite characters back on screen. Join us for a recap of the key events from Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, WandaVision, Agatha All Along (our full coverage here), and beyond that you'll want to remember going into this show, before we turn to a preview of the new series, including which new characters we expect and what roles we think they might play. We wrap up with a look at the comi...

David and Jean cover the season one finale of HBO’s Lanterns, a conversation-driven episode that resolves the season’s major threads through character work rather than action. The fresh takes cover the show’s bold choice to end on a dialogue-heavy note, the season’s throughlines of fear, courage, and healing from a broken past, and a satisfying sendoff for John Stewart Jr.’s origin story. From there, David and Jean move through the episode’s major beats in broad strokes, covering Hal’s release from prison, the reveal of Noah’s nature, and John stepping fully into the role of Gree...

David and Jean dig into listener feedback on "The Jordan Boys Legacy," covering emails, voicemails, and Discord comments packed with fan theories, including ongoing speculation about Noah's origins and the identity of a second Manhunter. The conversation also touches on the show's social impact and representation before wrapping up with a Comics Corner segment featuring contributor Connor M.

We did some work with Connor M and got his Green Lantern reading list put together on a shared document that everyone can take a look at!

Lanterns Reading List by Connor M

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Elysia is celebrating Filipino-American History Month with the help of Paulo from The Oscars Death Race Podcast, with a deep dive into Dreamworks' new animated adventure Forgotten Island.

The first half of the episode is dedicated to a spoiler-free intro to Filipino culture and mythology and discussion of the movie production, setting the stage for the film and discussing who this is for and why listeners might want to watch. And then, after the spoiler warning, they discuss how Filipino culture and mythology is woven into the plot of this '90s-tinged magical tale of friendship that...

David and Jean cover the penultimate episode of HBO's Lanterns season one, praising the continued chemistry between Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as the show digs into Hal's backstory. The fresh takes cover the episode's striking visual effects work, the throughline of fatherhood woven across multiple characters, and the show's skill at balancing intimate character work with an expanding, high-concept mythology. With one episode left in the season, David and Jean also share their hopes and anxieties about how the story will wrap up.

We did some work with Connor M and got his Green Lantern reading...

David sits down with Tolkien scholar and Lorehounds co-host Marilyn R. Pukkila for a conversation about Rings & Rituals Season 2, currently running on the Rings & Rituals feed. They discuss the show's analytical approach to ritual in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, the early listener feedback coming in this season, and what's ahead for both Rings & Rituals and the main Lorehounds coverage as The Rings of Power Season 3 approaches this November.

Listen to Rings & Rituals

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David and Jean dedicate a full episode to listener feedback on "Bad Optics," covering emails, voicemails, and Discord comments on fan theories and character motivations. Comics Corner contributor Connor M also joins to answer a listener question about Green Lantern ring mechanics.

We did some work with Connor M and got his Green Lantern reading list put together on a shared document that everyone can take a look at!

Green Lantern Reading Order by Connor M

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Questions or comments? Send emails to: comicsvs@thelorehounds.com

Or, send...

David and Jean continue their episode-to-episode coverage of HBO's Lanterns with a tightly plotted sixth episode. The fresh takes cover the show's continued strength with character work, particularly the strained dynamic between John Stewart Jr. and his brothers, and a growing unease around Sheriff Kerry and Noah that has Jean on high alert. They also praise the show's grounded, realistic dialogue as a through-line even as the mythology around the Corps and Oa expands. From there, David and Jean move into a full scene by scene breakdown covering the autopsy, the trip to the Fortress of Solitude, and a...

David, Lisa, and Bryan celebrate the life and career of Catherine O'Hara, who passed away in January 2026. The trio traces her path from waitressing at Toronto's Second City at 19, where she understudied for Gilda Radner, through her Emmy-winning years on SCTV alongside future comedy giants John Candy, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, and Rick Moranis. The conversation moves through her collaborations with Tim Burton on Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, her breakout to household fame in Home Alone, her celebrated improv work in Christopher Guest's mockumentary films, and the career renaissance of Schitt's Creek, where decades of character work...

David is joined by Nichole from Nevermind the Music and Lisa (RedZippy) from Into the West for an impromptu reaction to the 78th Emmy Awards, sparked by Rhea Seehorn's and Vince Gilligan's wins for Pluribus. The trio breaks down the ceremony, Pluribus's six total wins including Seehorn's Outstanding Lead Actress win and Gilligan's Outstanding Writing win for "We Is Us," and what made Seehorn's win land so hard after her Better Call Saul shutout. The back half of the episode features about 40 minutes of curated clips from the Lorehounds' Pluribus Episode 9 Vibe Check and Season One Wrap Up episodes...

David and Jean cover the season's midpoint climax with a fresh takes discussion praising Aaron Pierre and Poorna Jagannathan's performances this episode, along with a look back at how the episode recontextualizes the season one bleachers scene and raises new questions about the true scope of the threat facing Rushville. From there, David and Jean move into a full scene by scene breakdown of an eventful and emotionally heavy episode, before wrapping with Comics Corner and listener voicemails.

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Jean walks Elysia through a recap of all the Apocalyptic plot arcs of season two of X-Men '97 on Disney+. Along the way they debate why the back half of the season worked better for them, the best couples in Marvel comics, and what makes a death truly devastating.

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Questions or comments? Send emails to: comicsvs@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at...

David and Jean hit the midseason mark of HBO's Lanterns with an episode that keeps flipping the buddy cop dynamic between Hal and John Stewart Jr. on its head. The conversation covers a standout car scene between the two leads, the show's clever use of J-cuts to keep viewers locked onto the screen, and the deepening mystery around the Manhunter and the compound of extremists at the center of the season. They also work through listener feedback before moving into a full scene by scene breakdown.

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David, Lisa, and Bryan light a candle for two icons lost just 48 hours apart. The first half celebrates Dolly Parton, from her childhood in Appalachian poverty through her breakout on the Porter Wagoner Show and into a career that stretched far beyond country music. The hosts trace her film roles in 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Steel Magnolias, her production company's surprising connection to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a philanthropic legacy that includes the Imagination Library, COVID vaccine research funding, and wraparound services that cut her hometown's school dropout rate in half.

After...

David and Jean continue their episode-to-episode coverage of HBO's Lanterns with the season's third installment, a deep dive into John Stewart Jr.'s backstory written by Vanessa Baden Kelly and directed by Stephen Williams. The conversation covers the episode's answers to early-season mysteries, the family dynamics behind John's upbringing under Bernadette and John Sr., and the trauma that shaped him and his siblings. They also work through listener feedback and lore theorizing before moving into a full scene by scene breakdown.

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David and Jean continue their episode-to-episode coverage of HBO's Lanterns with the season's second installment. The conversation opens with fresh takes on Hal and John's evolving buddy cop dynamic, the mystery surrounding Antaan and the Manhunter-related genocide referenced in the episode, and the show's understated approach to establishing John Stewart Jr. as something more than an average human despite lacking a metagene. They also dig into the episode's DC universe Easter eggs, from Gotham and Coast City references to Mogo, before moving into a full scene by scene breakdown.

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David and Jean close out their season three coverage with a bumper community feedback episode, working through an enormous volume of messages from across email, Patreon, Spotify, and the Discord. The hosts share their overall season takes before stepping back and letting the community lead the conversation. Topics range from the nature of prophecy and dreaming, the parallels between Cole and characters from Game of Thrones, and what it truly means to hold power versus knowing how to use it. Military Corner closes things out with some fine-grained community pushback on the battle sequences.

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David and Jean kick off their episode-to-episode coverage of HBO's Lanterns with the series premiere. The conversation opens spoiler free, walking through the show's premise, Jean's primer on Green Lantern Corps lore, and their first impressions of Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart Jr. before diving into a full scene by scene breakdown of the murder mystery kicking off the season. Along the way they dig into the mismatched buddy cop dynamic between the two leads, the show's efficient world building and exposition, and the mysteries the finale minutes set up for episode two.

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Jean and Elysia dive into the characters, action, and moments that triggered tears in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the start of a new MCU Spider-Man trilogy that's currently setting box office records. (Comic-book comparisons, of course, included.)

Stick around under after the credits for our reactions to the just-released X-Men casting and other Marvel news from D23!

Marvel at D23: X-Men casting & VisionQuest / Doomsday trailers

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David and Jean cover the season three finale, an episode that delivers on its promises while leaving plenty of open threads heading into season four. The battle sequence gets its due, with particular attention to how differently the various players choose to wield the power at their disposal. Rhaenyra's big moments in the episode earn some of the strongest reactions of the season, with both hosts reflecting on what this finale finally reveals about how she understands the weight of the crown and what wielding it actually costs the people around her. David closes with a closer listen to...

David, Lisa, and Bryan light a candle for Sam Neill, who passed away shortly after announcing he was cancer free following treatment for the blood cancer he was diagnosed with in 2022. In this shorter tribute episode, the trio traces Neill's journey from his Northern Irish birth through a childhood in New Zealand, where a stutter taught him to listen, to a 50-year career spanning 74 credits across film and television. From early breakthroughs in Sleeping Dogs and My Brilliant Career through iconic roles in The Hunt for Red October, Dead Calm, The Piano, and of course Jurassic Park, the hosts...

John and Elysia are joined by Mark from Nevermind the Music to revisit the music and characters of The Vampire Lestat (aka Interview with the Vampire S3) and hand out their Song Superlatives (00:40:47), create their own album playlists (01:14:26), and name some overall Season Superlatives (01:39:08) as they look forward toward S4 (aka Queen of the Damned) and beyond.

The Queen of the Damned teaser

Autumn Brown interviews new showrunner Hannah Moscovitch

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David and Jean dig into listener feedback on "A Dragon in Winter," with a community that had plenty to say. The conversation opens with a lively debate on where Cole's death ranks among the great villain exits in the Westeros universe, with Jean making the case that his particular brand of self-deluding villainy makes it more satisfying than either Joffrey or Ramsay. Ormond gets a thorough going over as listeners weigh in on his manipulation of Ulf and his willingness to set aside his stated principles the moment a dragon becomes available to him. The Harrenhal dream sequences spark...

With DCU's Supergirl (2026) now available to watch at home, Jean and Elysia dive into the controversial film. After their spoiler-free (more positive than not) fresh takes (00:32:38), they talk through the on-screen action and the lore behind it (00:53:52).

But, before that, they begin by checking in on recent Marvel news (00:02:15) – from a new T’Challa and Ghost Rider to the the Wonder Man heartbreak – plus the DC trailers (00:23:06) for the swiftly approaching Western scifi Noir take on Lanterns and October's body-horror appears-to-be-a-banger Clayface.

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David and Jean cover the penultimate episode, packed with small scenes and big questions about power. The dragon fight gets its due, from the direction and CGI to what the outcome means for every rider involved. Helena's dream sequences get a close reading, with the pale horse, the eclipse, and the snow pointing toward Game of Thrones' final chapter in ways the community is already debating. Daemon's plea for his daughter's life marks a genuine moment of growth, while the Rhaena's storyline draws pointed criticism from both hosts, who feel the show has sidelined her agency in service of...

John's been working with Aaron and Richard from Radioactive Ramblings to bring you Cosmere Corner, a book club podcast about the novels of Brandon Sanderson! Elysia talks to John about this new project.

And guess what? It's on audio AND video!

This is the only episode that will be on this feed. Please subscribe via the links below to keep listening.

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Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinions of or belong to any employers or other entities.

David and Jean dig into community feedback on "Faceless Men," covering listener reactions to the episode's many moving pieces and open questions. The discussion takes in Marilyn's deep dive into the history of male squeamishness around menstruation, Jacob G.'s sharp parallel between Hugh's disastrous trip home and the Gold Cloak resignations, and the community's ongoing debate about Alys Rivers and whether the show has yet given her a moment that earns her the witch credibility the story keeps implying she deserves. Military Corner returns with a breakdown of Cole's flail and a primer on the rules of warfare...

David and Jean cover episode six, unpacking the episode's title across its multiple meanings and what they signal about where the season is heading. The discussion covers Criston Cole's end, Daemon's increasingly poor judgment, the Gold Cloak crisis, and what the shadowy assassin network operating inside King's Landing means for Rhaenyra's grip on power. David also brings some real world political history to bear on the question of what happens when rulers neglect their security forces.

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David and Jean dig into listener feedback on "Unbowed and Unbent," and the episode's most contested scene dominates the conversation. The community pushes back hard on the Harrenhal rescue sequence, with listeners arguing that Alys Rivers is far too capable and calculating to have genuinely needed saving, and that what looked like a damsel in distress moment may actually be Alys tightening her psychological hold over Aemond. The discussion also takes in Criston Cole's arc and the community's feelings about his inevitable end, a tinfoil hat theory from the Dungeons 'n' Durags crew about how Ormund's assassins are getting...

Take a seat at the table for the 7th course (the soul!) of this feast of a season. Elysia and John become talking heads about talking heads as they recap the emotional journeys of Lestat and Louis. And of course, we can't forget our favorite murder gremlin and his emotional growth.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment and a Body Thief Murderboard

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Questions or comments? Send emails to: askdan@thelorehounds.com

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David and Jean take a scene by scene approach to "Unbowed and Unbent," an episode that shifts gears from the psychological intensity of the earlier run into something more mechanical, moving pieces into position for the back half of the season. Criston Cole gets the lion's share of attention, with Jean making the case that Cole's entire identity is the product of a man who never got over rejection, and David walking through the real world history and tactical use of caltrops as Cole's guerrilla campaign hits its limits. The Harrenhal storyline draws pointed criticism for leaning on the...

David and Jean dig into listener feedback on "Tumbleton," with voicemails and messages from community members and fellow podcasters. The conversation covers the moral and tactical questions around Ormond's garrison strategy, the disturbing picture the show is building of who Ormond really is and what his hold over Daeron reveals about power and abuse, and Corlys once again putting his own agenda ahead of everyone depending on him. The episode closes with Military Corner, David's new segment breaking down the battlefield positions of the Blacks and the Greens and what the uncommitted forces in the Stormlands could mean for...

David and Jean return for a thematic breakdown of Tumbleton. The conversation moves through the strategic nightmare Ormond has created by garrisoning his forces inside a civilian town, the unsettling picture the show is painting of who he really is and what Daeron's life in his custody may have looked like, and Rhaenyra's continuing struggle to make sound decisions without the support structures a ruler needs around them.

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Is anyone really ok after this episode? We're in shock after watching Claudia give her daddy vampires a piece of her mind. There are witches, betrayals, and heartwarming moments as Elysia and John recap the latest episode of The Vampire Lestat. Grab your finest blood vintage and join us.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment and a Devil's Minion Corner.

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David and Jean return to dig into listener feedback on "Rhaenyra Triumphant," with voicemails and messages from community members and fellow podcasters. The conversation tackles lingering questions about the Tessarion and fake Daeron storyline, how the episode's score and sound design illuminate Rhaenyra's inner world, and the staggering weight of everything she is suddenly being asked to carry.

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Questions or comments? Send emails to: hotd@thelorehounds.com

Or, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone...

David returns from holiday to join Jean for a deep dive into "Rhaenyra Triumphant," the third episode of House of the Dragon Season 3. The conversation covers the Hightower capitulation at Oldtown, Ormond's treacherous gambit with a fake Daeron, and Daemon's spectacular failure of tactical judgment throughout. At the heart of the discussion is the show's richest ongoing theme: what it truly means to rule when the entire system around you was never built for you to wield it, and how the complicated bond between Rhaenyra and Alicent remains the emotional core of the Dance of Dragons.

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We're all experiencing an awakening of some kind in the latest episode of The Vampire Lestat. From ice cream scoops to vampire origin stories to reliving the losses of our pasts, this episode has it all. Elysia and John laugh and cry along to our favorite gremlins and their games.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment and a Devil's Minion Corner.

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Mothers mourning, Black beach bonding, a new unlikely comic duo, and a whole bunch of dragons – there's a lot happening in House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2: "Queen's Landing" even before it reaches its game-changing climax. And Jean and Elysia are here to break it all down.

Stick around after the outro music for additional book-spoiler discussion.

Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: hotd@thelorehounds.com

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Ask not for whom the bell of shame tolls, for it tolls for every vampire on this show. Elysia and John recap Lestat's taunting of Armand, Daniel's transformational trauma and blackout years, and the overall failure of these vampires to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment and a Devil's Minion Corner.

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Questions or comments? Send emails to: askdan@thelorehounds.com

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Jean and Elysia kick off the new season of "horrible people doing horrible things to each other" – aka House of the Dragon season 3, episode 1 – with a dive even deeper than a dragon's fall into the Gullet. They discuss character motivations, the meanings of new revelations, one misused quote, Green Men lore, our new favorite dragon, and arguably the most beautiful battle ever committed to screen.

Stick around until after the outro music for the final full-book-spoiler discussion of these events and what might be coming next.

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