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S04E06 – Fidelity

Yes, Westworld S04E06 “Fidelity” contains a ridiculous action scene, but it importantly recontextualizes some of the strange things we saw in previous episodes and serves up plenty of other scenes of interest that more than make this a good episode of Westworld.

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House of the Dragon Premiere

No spoilers! But Steve and Anthony have viewed the first episode of House of the Dragon. Both were impressed and are optimistic about the show going forward.

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S04E05 – Zhuangzi – Feedback

Gather ‘round fleshy humans, we’re going through YOUR feedback and theories. Is this all part of Ford’s scheme? Is the show using the Darth Vader plan? Is there a secret Morse code message in lipstick application? Can hosts anchor themselves in reality the same way humans can? And we have special feedback for our philosophy episode!

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Double Dragon: New Trailer!

New House of the Dragon trailer! Then Steve does his first watch of the Long Night (803).

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S04E05 – Zhuangzi

Are we hosts dreaming that we’re human? Or are we humans dreaming that we’re hosts? Dive into the philosophical origins of the title of this episode. Jim comes around to A.Ron’s ascension theory based on evidence from this episode. We get some answers in this episode, but now we have more questions.

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S04E04 – Generation Loss – Feedback

How is the sublime capable of simulating the entire earth? Can a heaven become a hell? Has the simulation spread to the entire universe? Is it a tuna melt or a pastrami sandwich?? Are the host marbles symbolic wads of dung??? And Michele Boyd, who plays Temperance Armistice, writes to your favorite hosts. Tune in for answers and laughs with Jim and A.Ron in this feedback episode. 

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Double Dragon: Renfro, Snow, and Nostalgia Shows

Insider Reporter Kim Renfro joins Double Dragon to discuss House of the Dragon and the new Jon Snow project. Then Steve watches “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” for the first time.

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Freewill vs Determinism with Aaron Rabinowitz

Today we’re joined by Aaron Rabinowitz, lecturing philosopher at Rutgers, as well as host of the Embrace the Void and Philosophers in Space podcast. He’s going to be talking to us today about the concepts of freewill vs determinism. Are humans on inescapable loops? Are we truly free to make our own decisions? If not, do our choices matter in any meaningful way? How do these philosophies impact social policies, economics, criminal justice, and more? And how does this connect to the themes of Westworld?

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S04E04 – Generation Loss

What do Apple and Westworld have in common? Forced obsolescence. Dolores presses forward to a new world order with hordes of flies. Fire fights explode. Maeve gives Caleb something to fight for. All the while, hosts and humans are forced ever closer to extinction. Is the future flesh, or is the future flies?

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How Does a Medievalist approach House of the Dragon?

This week Kavita Mudan Finn (PhD, Oxford) talks House of the Dragon. Then comic Steve Ausburne discusses his very first viewing of GOT 801 (Winterfell). Is this the best start to a final season ever? Finally, Kavita answers a question about racial perception in Medieval Europe.

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