The Lorehounds

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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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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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.

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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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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.

Links Discussed

Elysia and John head to Toronto to watch Lestat troll Daniel into a feeding frenzy. They discuss media handling of trauma, the truth behind Lestat's dramatizations, and the empathy machine that is Anne Rice's world.

Content Warning: This episode addresses sexual assault and abuse.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment.

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Eight bells toll in the Widow's Bay season 1 finale – setting Elysia, Mark (Nevermind the Music), and Lisa (Into the West) off on an investigation to uncover what they mean. Sifting through the heart, horrors, and humor of the second half of the season, they piece together the emerging mythology of the island's many secrets through lore teases and key character moments.

Links Discussed

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John is joined by Marilyn R. Pukkila to discuss the second part of Of Túrin Turambar, the twenty-fifth portion of The Silmarillion. They discuss classical heroes, the grimdark present in Tolkien's writings, and how a character gets in their own way.

Marilyn's Website

Marilyn R. Pukkila, Research & Instruction Librarian Emerita, Colby College

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Deep lore questions, comments and/or thoughts to share? Send us an email at lotr@thelorehounds.com

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David and Elysia work through their own and the community's mixed-but-leaning-positive feelings about Steven Spielberg's new alien-focused movie Disclosure Day (currently in theaters). They get into the greatest cinematic moments, the cast and performance(s) they loved best, and (yes) the lore holes nagging at them after the fact – and why this film is worth seeing in theaters, and even if it engages the heart more than your critical thinking skills.

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Jean and Elysia talk the good, the great, and the even better of the recently released first season (of, they hope, more) of Spider-Noir on Amazon Prime. They talk about the multiversal source of this Film Noir flavor of Spider-Man, here going by the name Ben Reilly – one of the many decisions that diverge this version of the 1930's New York webslinger from his comics inspiration and appearance in the animated Spider-Verse films.

After a spoiler-free overview of the show and why you should watch it, they talk through all the important characters, their relationships and motivations, ho...

Elysia and John follow Lestat through an Oedepiphany of epic proportions. They watch young Lestat grow up into a wolf killer before becoming a rock star who can troll his band into submission. They also discuss the implications of the Talamasca's involvement and the absence of Armand.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment.

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David, Lisa, and Bryan conclude their Gene Hackman coverage with a deep dive into The Conversation, Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 psychological thriller and the film chosen by community vote. The trio explores Gene Hackman's portrayal of Harry Caul, a surveillance expert whose paranoia, guilt, and isolation unravel him as he becomes convinced his latest recording may lead to a murder. The conversation covers the film's remarkable production history as Coppola's decade-long passion project made between the two Godfather films, its uncanny resonance with the Watergate scandal, and the contributions of editor and sound designer Walter Murch and composer David Shire...

Interview with the Vampire is back - or maybe over. The story continues with Lestat beginning his journey as a rock star. Elysia and John are here to follow the tour and unveil the mysteries of Lestat's past.

Stick around after the credits for a book spoiler Inside the Coffin segment.

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

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Any opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or...

David, Elysia, and Jean reunite to kick off their season three coverage of House of the Dragon, outlining what listeners can expect from the pod as the Dance of Dragons reaches its most explosive chapter yet. The team walks through their hosting lineup, with Elysia stepping in to lead episodes one and two while David is away and Jean on board as second chair for the full season, before David returns from episode three onward. Episodes will drop Tuesdays to Wednesdays at the latest each week, with a curated Notion show guide available for listeners who want character and...

David and Elysia venture into the Horror Hounds to discuss Backrooms (2026), A24's creepypasta-turned-feature film directed by Kane Parsons and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. They trace the film's remarkable origin — from an anonymous 2019 post on 4chan to Kane Pixels' three-year YouTube web series — and unpack how a 19-year-old first-time director delivered a confident, visually stunning film on a $10M budget with a 14X box office return. The conversation digs into the film's rich thematic layers, including the backrooms as a Jungian mirror of shared anxiety and mental illness, the AI-as-mimicry subtext, the literary connection to Charlotte Perkins Gilm...

Part spin-off series following a new voice and perspective, part season 3 of AMC's Interview with the Vampire, all The Vampire Lestat. John and Elysia get together to discuss their favorite fanged villains and antiheroes ahead of the new season – opening with a (mostly) spoiler-free discussion of why those who haven't should tune into the first two seasons, before launching into their dive into the new season: what we know so far, the characters, the music, and awards for the vamps most likely to do anything from stand you up for a date to fall for an internet scam.

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Elysia and John continue the journey of the galaxy's favorite father and son in The Mandalorian and Grogu. They catch up with the New Republic before meeting Hutts of various sizes, watching stop motion and puppetry showcases, and overall having a fun, standalone adventure.

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John drops in for cocktail hour before Mark, Lisa, and Elysia make a meal of all the lore-building and juicy character moments in the first five episode of Widow's Bay on Apple TV – also laying out what the many teases and blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments might mean for the rest of this season (and beyond?).

This episode begins with spoiler-free reactions to the show so far before beginning our spoiler discussion.

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Jean, Luke, and Elysia check in on the good, the could-be-better, and the absolute Red-Band of the 2026 Marvel Special Presentation The Punisher: One Last Kill on Disney+. Their conversation is dotted with discussions of grief, target audiences, the comic-book inspiration, and the future of this character and the rest of the MCU (with important opinions about movie-theater seating thrown in for good measure).

Daredevil: Born Again coverage:

DD:BA S1 eps 1-2

DD:BA S1 ep 3

DD:BA S1 eps 4-7

DD:BA S1 eps 8-9<...

John, Elysia, and Marilyn follow Ryan Gosling to the far reaches of space to save humankind from destruction. They discuss the impressive puppetry and visuals, the hopepunk core of the film, and the parallels to other sci-fi worlds.

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