A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms 1x04 & Wonder Man Eps 1-4: A Dual Dive into Fantasy and Fame

0:00 >> Sarah : Foreign. Nerds. This is Scene N Nerd. I'm your host, Sarah Belmont, and with me, as always, is our Mr. Producer, Will Polk How are you Doing tonight, Will. >> Will: Doing very well, Sarah. Happy Monday. >> Sarah : Happy Monday to you as well. We are back in our regular time slot. and, and we will. Well, by the end of the month, we'll be shifting to Tuesdays. >> Will: We will be shifting to Tuesday. So, yeah, paradise will be premiering, the 23rd. So, we will be shifting to Tuesdays to continue our discussions of Night of the Seven Kingdoms, which we're going to be talking about tonight. But also pick up Paradise Season 2.

0:51 >> Sarah : Yeah, but there's not. Oh, yeah. Okay. yeah, so a Night of the Seven Kingdoms, Season one, episode four, seven Dunk, angers the Targaryens and demands trial by combat. When Aryan calls for a trial of seven, Dunk must find six warriors to join him in a battle. Will, what did you think about this episode? >> Will: So my overall thoughts to, to kick us off is, you know, this to me was just a true lesson and how you build expectations and the payoff was executed masterfully. As far as the, the conclusion to this episode. And, and I have to say, I, I, I, I knew I was wondering when we were going to get this payoff. As far as, in the novella where we, you know, we do have the tournament and everything.

1:49 And I have to say, it, it took the source material and just took it to the next level. And I have to say, give, give Peter Claffrey the, the nods for the Emmy right now because I really think he just really excelled as Dunk in this episode. So I, really, really, really enjoyed it. >> Sarah : Yeah, it's a, it's another solid episode. I mean, this show so far has just been consistent, very consistent with everything that it's doing. and, and we, we start the episode with Duncan in his cell, and then we have an interaction with Egg, and ultimately what really is the, what I consider the truer cold open of this episode, which is Duncan's conversation with Baylor. and because if you're paying attention to that conversation, it's the end. The end reveal of Baylor being on Duncan's side is not surprising.

2:54 >> Will: Right. >> Sarah : However, it's, it's done in a way where it is a twist in the sense that he is a Targaryen. So it's, I don't, I think what they're doing so far, is they are, they are not executing to go back to paradise. The paradise twist, which has you believe you're being told one story and within the last five minutes it turns it on its head and it's like, no, no, that's not what this story is about at all. It's about something else entirely. That's not what this show is doing. This show is taking characters and taking specifically a family that we are well accustomed to, given a House of Dragon and, and Game of Thrones and then putting in this, this hedge night in the middle of this very political, very birthright driven family that has a lot of infighting. So and, and honestly what I kept thinking about, throughout the entire episode, the entire episode is specifically after his com. Duncan's conversation with Baylor is the

4:27 look that Baylor gives Aryan after the joust. Because there is a look exchanged between the two of them and I'm like, oh yeah, that, that uncle wants you dead. Uncle does not like you. Does not like you one, bit. And you don't like. Because I. Aryan. His whole display also tarnished Baylor. So you're, you're, you're dealing with like a nephew not liking his uncle, but his uncle supersedes him in terms of power and hierarchy because yeah, so it's, I, I just, I, I, I find it I find it very interesting how like I said last week, they continue to be able to tap into this world that we are very familiar with and just continue to find new ways of showing perspective.

5:36 >> Will: Yeah, you know, it's interesting that you had with your take on Baylor and, and Aryan because you know, thinking back to the conversation that you talked about with, with between Dunk and, and Baylor and during that, during that conversation they were discussing how good of a knight are you, you know, as far as his skills. And because you, because again during this time period in Westeros, things are, are rel. Relative peace. I mean there hasn't been any war. And, and so the only way that knights can really show their prowess is, is through these tournaments. So so thinking to when they do get to the scenes where they're all sitting there at the table, Baylor, Maker, Aryan and the others. And you know, he's sitting there like cr. You know, crunching the, crunching the walnuts and stuff, Baylor also gave him an out in, in the sense that, you know, because of the impression that like you noted Dunk made on him as far as being an honorable man.

6:41 >> Sarah : And what do you mean he gave him an out? >> Will: He I think he was, you know, I think he may have suggest whenever they were trying to decide the judgment whether or not to take a, a hand and, and a foot or another. >> Sarah : Well, yeah, he, yeah. Baylor knew in that conversation that ah, Duncan does not know his options. So he was playing lawyer. >> Will: Lawyer. And also he, you know, given that he didn't know his, didn't know honestly Duncan's skill. I mean, you know, you have Aryan who's a Targaryen, who, you know, they, we've seen in, in House of the Dragon, how they, they trained. And, and also he was also probably thinking let, you know, let me just dig out this old, old method of.

7:39 From the, you know, from the Andals and. >> Sarah : Well, that wasn't Baylor. >> Will: No, no, no, no. I'm saying. I know, I know Aryan said it, but my point is I think, I think Baylor off screen or you know, maybe hinted to, to Aryan. >> Sarah : I don't, yeah. >> Will: That this is, this is because. Or I mean. Or it could just be that, you know, the Targaryens just, you know, know their stuff. >> Sarah : And, and yeah, I think, I think Aryan, based on both his uncle and his father's react, I thought his father's reaction was even more interesting to that whole thing. They were not pleased. And, and I could hear Baylor just be like, damn it. He knew about that. Because I think the whole convers a good night. Like how good of a night are you? Is kind of like, are you good enough to take out my nephew?

8:34 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Because I think one on one size, get him off the horse. Yeah. So it's, it's ah, it's ah. I, I, I think that that came out of left field. I don't think that was intended because now, that, that even forced Baylor to make a decision, to really make it clear whose side he's on. And he can say all of the honor crap he wants, but his brother knows the truth. So. Yeah, it, it won't, it won't end well. there was something else you said that I wanted to touch on, but I forgot.

9:17 >> Will: Was it as far as. >> Sarah : Oh, it was, it was about the Targaryen trainings that you brought up. And, and that was another thing. because we, we've seen Arian in action and we, we know how much of an ass he is. We know which side of the tree his apple fell on from the Targaryen tree. but we're also introduced to yet another. We're properly, we've already seen him, but we're properly introduced to another brother of eggs. Darren, who is almost like. Are you sure you're not Baylor's? Are you, Are you Sure. I. I see the blonde hair, but Are you sure who. Who will it. Who. He first lies. But he had to. And we understand, given. Given our knowledge about especially Targaryen fathers. We get it. but that lie even works, against Duncan, which pushes him further into this, situation that he now has to fight his way out of. And. And then he brings Egg and. And talks, ducking, and basically tells him, just. Just let me have one good lot look, and just knock me on the head. Just. Just. I don't want any part of this. Go ahead and kill my brother. But

10:48 it's. It, I think it just, again, shows because he's not Egg. Because he did lie. I mean, Egg lied, too, but he. He is also. He's definitely not his brother. it's, similar to some of the stuff we saw early on in House of the Dragon with the brothers. >> Sarah : Yeah. >> Will: On. >> Sarah : On the wrong side of history. Yeah, just. >> Will: Yeah. Yeah, another. Yeah, another thing about Darren, too. He also has that Targaryen, gift of, At least with. Of, Dreams. Yeah. Like. Like Helena I thought about as soon as I was. Whenever he was talking about that in the. In the. In this episode, I was like. I immediately thought of Helena, but I think he, you know, but he was m. A little bit more definitive in his. In his, prescience than, Than she was, because I think she more talked in. In sort of concepts, whereas he was like, yeah, we're. We're gonna have a. What was it? What was the quote? yeah, it's putting in the notes. Oh, gosh. Yeah. Well, he had a vision of Duncan alive and a giant dragon dead. So. Yeah.

11:59 Yep. >> Sarah : I wonder if he told his uncle that vision. It's possible because he doesn't like his father. Yeah. So I. I wonder and if that further pushed Baylor to. To, step in at the end of the episode. >> Will: Yeah, well, I think. I think there are a couple of facts. I think that's definitely a factor. >> Sarah : Oh, yeah, and there's. There's thousands with Baylor and his decision. >> Will: Yeah, for sure. So, speaking of. I know you mentioned the lies and stuff, and. And. And I really. I know we quickly touched on, Dunk, an egg in the. Whenever he was in the cell. But I really, you know, really with that scene, just a betrayal that Dunk felt, because, you know, he really. I think he really had grown to, you know, really like this kid. You, know, when I, you know, I think about, like, the scene last. In last week's episode, where, they, you know, at first it was kind of annoyed, but then he's like, let me teach you how to properly, like, you know, you know, sew up this. This jacket and. And all that kind of stuff. I mean, you know, throughout the series they have like, you know, grown this relationship between the two characters. And so I, will say that, the. The. The hurt that was per. That was shown there, it was even more, you know, more vivid than. Than what was even in the. In the. No,

13:32 the Hedge Night. So I, I liked where, you know, that's where this show has also excelled and, like, taking the source material and like, making it even more dynamic, which, you know, it's a fun read anyway, but, you know, it just takes watching it definitely, and seeing how they've interpreted that in this adaptation to me, really, you know, I texted you over the weekend. I was like, I absolutely love this episode. So that's one of the reasons why too. >> Sarah : so I want to touch on Egg and something else. I. I kept going back to the episode before. It's. It's really interesting because in this episode, as we talk about Egg and we see what he's doing and the role he's now in and. Or the position he's now in, I kept thinking about the. The joust again with Aryan, but this time at the beginning when, Or I don't know if it was Aryan's joust or if it was the joust beforehand when, Egg screams kill him.

14:43 Was. Was it Aryan's joust? >> Will: It might have been because. Because whenever he was jousting with Sir Humphrey, whenever he. When he's. >> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, because if that's the case, then, Because I. I heard. I. And I think I remember that, because I heard someone talk about it in the sense that, like, his. He clearly was enjoying the brutality until it got to be too much. And. But because. Because he said kill him. Like he was in. On the action. But if it was in fact the Aryan joust, he was specifically telling Aryan's opponent. Because he makes it very clear in this episode to Duncan. He's like, yeah, yeah, I. I need you to kill him. Because, like, this is. This is what my brother did to me when I was even younger than I am now. He attempted to make me his sister so he could marry me. The. Yeah, yeah, so.

15:53 So that takes incest to a whole new level. A whole new level. But I. And it. And it's m. It reminded me. I don't know if I don't Think you're that far in Game of Thrones, so. But it reminded me of a story that Tyrion Lannister tells of his sister, Cersei. So I, I, again, like, it's, it's interesting how the justifications that these characters give for the decisions that they're making. And with Duncan, he's learning as he goes because you're, you're right. There was a lot of, There was a lot of anger and betrayal when he first is talking to Egg. But the. By the time he gets to Baylor, which is not that not much time in between, he's suddenly defending Egg. and, and in a very protective way. So it's, it's. And, and, and I think that's what Egg expected in a way. I did, I did really like the line though. because again that whole conversation is like just great

17:23 prepping for Baylor's ultimate decision, which arguably every scene Baylor is in so far in these episodes. Again, just a build up until. To that, pinnacle decision to fight alongside Duncan. because he tells, he tells Egg, you should have come to me when the puppet stuff like. And it does make a viewer think. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : If you were Egg, knowing your family, knowing the consequences and knowing Duncan does not necessarily think first. Okay. He just goes with full, full emotion.

18:12 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : You're gonna go to him before your uncle. Who. You know, your uncle. I bet you Egg also knows his uncle does not really care for Aryan that much. So I, I just, I thought that was an excellent point that I hadn't thought about. And it does make me question Egg and being. I mean, I know he's like what, seven years old? >> Will: I think he's nine. Yeah. >> Sarah : Nine. But he's still a little bit tiny. Like. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : I. It just makes you question. Hm. You thought a lot of. You were very strategic and then you. I don't know if that was the right choice, my friend. I don't know. because either way your freedom is out the door, like either way. But it, it's, it's interesting to think about that. That the reasoning, Eggs reasoning, I don't know. And you can tell me if they explain his reasoning even more or if that whole concept is new for the show and wasn't really explored in the book.

19:21 >> Will: For the most part, this episode with a few, very few deviations pretty much tracked what happened in the book. >> Sarah : Okay. Ah, but do they explore it a little bit more? That idea that like why Egg chose to go to Duncan and not Baylor in that moment? >> Will: A little bit. Yeah. Yeah. but, But, yeah, I think. But it was one of those things. And even in the show too. Just keep it in the show context. I mean, I think here is where I think, Egg is trying to, like, regain the trust, I guess, of. Of Dunk.

20:02 and so I think that, you know, so when he. When he, you know, so. And to your point too, I mean, he. Egg knows his family, so, So I think, you know, and. And so, you know, I think that was. That was part of the, you know, dynamics going on there also. >> Sarah : Okay. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Anything else you want to talk about? I said everything I wanted to say. >> Will: Oh, gosh. I mean, we were. Yeah, we had y. To me, I, do want to go to the actual. I mean, Dunk having to, you know, we get the choice to build, you know, to do the. The seven and. And just the whole scene of how all that played out. As far as, you know, of course we have, You know, we have Sir Stefan who. Who basically, at first he was going to fight with Dunk. And then of course he's, you know, of course he saw the opportunity. He was like, saw an opportunity and. And, you know, switched sides and. And then the whole dynamic too, where I think was really pivotal was when I really wanted to touch on Dunk and his hesitation and 19, Runyon. Because, I mean, I think that was really getting to the core of. Of some of the, Some of the imposter syndrome that Duck was feeling, that we've seen throughout the series and even like going back to the beginning whenever he was even just trying to get on the list and. And

21:35 really drives home the point, I think the. The thing, you know, because there was a. There was a flashback, I don't know if you called it, during, that moment when he had to flashback to Sir Arlen. and I think it was really driving home the point that, you know, the having the taps on your shoulders is not really what makes you a knight. It really is, again, going back to the conversation with Baylor, you know, looking out, you know, having honor, looking out for the commoner, looking out for the weak among us. And, you know, that was really driven home, to me in this episode that, Dunk was still feeling that imposter syndrome there for a bit when he was hesitating there, making a night. So when Sir Lionel came, over and. And did it, you know, definitely gave. Gave him the opportunity to, you know, again, you know, try to recruit, one more person to go to the crowd. And I mean, and that was just. That scene was just so. So that's the.

22:37 What I. When I referenced earlier about why I thought he should be considered for, Emmy consideration, that was sort of. That, you know, how we had the Viserys moment in House of the Dragon. This, to me, was like that kind of defining moment in a series where, Where we had Duck giving that speech, trying to, you know, browse up the. Rouse up the folks and. And, you know, get someone to fight on his. On his side. And really, you know, again, it was a good exploration of where. Where things are in this world at this time in Westeros. And. And, you know, when a guy stood up and, you know, you know, we had our one fart joke. You got to have one every episode of Night, Night of Seven Kingdoms.

23:26 But I really thought after that moment. And then, of course, you know, Baylor. Baylor was like, you know, off getting suited up because he, you know, Dunk made an impression, whenever they had that earlier conversation. So that when he came out there and, you know, chose. Chose to fight with. With Dunk, with. With the seven, it. It felt like an earned moment. >> Sarah : Was he shown in the stands listening to the speech? >> Will: No. I don't know. >> Sarah : Okay. No, I think his decision was definitely already made. >> Will: Yeah. Yeah. >> Sarah : Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, it was. It was.

24:09 >> Will: Yeah. I mean. Yeah. I mean, I can't, Yeah. I was really surprised you didn't want to talk more about hearing this. I guess for me, what m. Really just cemented. That scene was like when I heard the. The Game of Thrones theme and. And all it just. It was just like, perfect. I mean, it was just. You couldn't craft it any better. >> Sarah : I don't know. It. At least for me, this is. This is. This may be sounding mean after all of that, and, But for me, it felt very copy and paste. And I just say that because I've heard speeches in these kind of shows and. And, And, movies like.

24:49 It's very Brave Heart. It's Very Brave Heart. I. I watched Brave Heart as a lot. As a girl because it was one of my dad's favorite movies, but whatever. So. So it. It just. I. I don't know. I thought his. His acting was more interesting in the opening scenes. just because he. There's a lot more, The acting he did in the first two scenes was a lot about. More about listening. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And in that final moment, it was a lot more about. Here's a monologue. A really hefty monologue. And I agree. Like, I'm not saying that the actor isn't doing a good job. No, no, no. Do not get me wrong.

25:32 He's. He's nailing it. but I also like the. The way this. I am glad it worked for you. That kind of scene. It. I don't know, it's just. I mean, I, I didn't. There's. There wasn't that many nuances that I could dig into or that stuck out while all. There were so many other nuances and, and different conversations that were happening. I'm. I'm very big with conversations. >> Will: Yeah, well, see, that's why it worked for me. To your point, the things that you just raised as far as the earlier scenes. So for me, I think it was like as. As I said stated before, it was building expectations. And, and, and so for it, to me, those earlier scenes laid the foundation and even, you know, even earlier scenes in, in the series itself. But, but in particular in this episode laid the foundation for, for that moment. So for me, that's. So it was. It wasn't just the moment.

26:38 It was the totality of the. The episode. Yeah, yeah, just. Just to clarify. Yeah, yeah, but. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but no, but like, I said other than that. I mean, that was just all really. I just really wanted to talk about that last, the last act of the episode because like I said, I think the payoff was just so, so rewarding for me as a viewer. >> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. all right, well, that brings us to Wonder Man. And, we've only watched the first four episodes and so we are able to talk about all four episodes. and I just want to start with an opening statement. Okay.

27:31 >> Will: I. >> Sarah : And this is. This is kind of. Kind of goes into like my overall opinion about this show. I am so glad that Simon and Trevor are good actors. That's it. That's it. Will, what were you. I just. They are so. I like the idea that we are. We were. We are looking at two actors who are down on their luck, quote, unquote. they're not a list celebrities. One of them is getting fired from jobs. One of them get. Just got out of prison for a job. and the. Yet they. They are actually good.

28:24 We see them in auditions, we see them talking about acting and they are good. And then you have these sequences and it's just. Oh, my God. There's one sequence in the second episode where they're just going back and forth like quote after quote. Yeah, Yaya. I, I've missed you. I have missed you on my screen because you are so good. And now you're paired with Ben Kingsley. Sir Ben Kingsley. It's just. Thank you mcu. Because I am the, the, the acting was just so well and these characters work so well with each other that I, I've been waiting, I, I, I've been waiting for something like this and I'm so glad it's here. but, but yeah, I'm just so glad they didn't make them bad actors. They made them actors who get in their own way.

29:30 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And, and it's like their love of acting is, is almost their detriment and has put them into these situations. So on ah, that note, we'll take over. >> Will: Alrighty. So I, to me, this, the series, I felt like Kevin Feige and Seth Rogen sat down and they had at lunch and they said, you know what? Let's combine the Marvel Universe with the studio. >> Sarah : Yeah, yeah. >> Will: Cause, it was just so meta. I mean it was just when I was watching this, I was like, I was enjoying it, but I couldn't help but like, with all the, all the name drops and everything else and it was just, it really was just giving off the studio vibes for me so, so much and I really enjoyed that show. but you know, you know, it, it worked. This series so far, at least the four episodes that we've watched, to the point, to this point, you know, it's, you know, it's under the, it's under the Marvel spotlight.

30:37 >> Sarah : it's the best spotlight they've done so far. >> Will: Yeah, yeah, it is, it is. And and, and so I, I, I, I'm I'm kind of glad that, you know, yeah, there's some ref, you know, they're clearly in references to the, the main mcu, you know, obviously with the Mandarin and the whole Iron Man 3 and all, all that. But with the 3 or 2, I'm trying to dismiss it along, but, but, but yeah, I just really, really, yeah, really enjoyed it. And we were talking about the actors and, and, and, and you know, thinking about the episode too, when Joey pants. >> Sarah : Yeah. >> Will: Trevor. Yeah, and, and how insulted they, you know, they were when, you know, what, how, how, you know, how Joey Vance was like, treated, treated the profession and, and, and all. But, but just from this, just from the start too, how what I really, what I really liked was, how Simon, you know, he was doing all this like, all this prep for, you Know, he was a day player and doing all this prep and notes and trying to get to the get to the psyche of this character and, and then just sort of seeing things just sort of play out. And again, that's where I was. Like the studio vibes came in because it reminded me of like Matt Remick doing that kind of stuff, you know, being a producer. But then like I want to, I got all these notes I want to give it to, you know. Yeah. So I really like this show.

32:07 >> Sarah : So, so you touched on early the idea that there, there, it's very meta, but it's also not necessarily MCU meta. >> Will: Right. >> Sarah : And, and, and I think that's why it works so well because it's, it's meta to the studio and to how Hollywood works. But the, the, in the, the references have maybe been 5% or less MCU related and like 90, 95% are actually about Hollywood in the way things work. Like my, one of my favorite lines from the Joey pants episode is yeah, yeah, if I was British they would have knighted me.

33:00 >> Will: Yes. >> Sarah : I mean like, so it's so clever and, and just, just like. Yeah, yeah, okay. He has this ability. He's a big man. So the, the car scene, I just, I, I think the car should have been a little bit smaller. But it was, it was very funny to me to watch him park and then have to get all the way over into the passenger seat and then squeeze his way out of there. And, and like that's one instance of physical comedy. And yet constantly I feel as though we're watching him in these, trying to get the lines down. Not necessarily memorize, but trying to understand them so they become off as natural. That whole process that he has, it feels like you're watching a giant man trying to make himself smaller.

34:09 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And it's funny. It's, it's, it's very funny. And he, he has this ability to to do humor. But it's not like slapstick either. It's very much not. And, and the way he bounces off of Trevor who honestly has more one liners. But even Ben Kingsley can't come off as like, and now I'm going to tell my joke. And here's the punchline. No, because they are just reacting to the world and these circumstances that they're put in. And, and like the again the, the whole, the self tape episode was just great because when that, when Marcy comes in and tries to do the off camera lines.

35:01 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And they're both, they are both like, seriously? >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Like, really? Why. Why are. But the. You know what the irony is there to go back to that opening sequence with Simon on the set of American Horror Story. He was kind of pulling a Marcy. Yeah, he was pulling one. >> Will: He was. >> Sarah : Yeah. So it's. It's, So. So I guess. What. What was your favorite episode out of these four? Because I know what my least favorite was.

35:42 >> Will: So my. Interestingly enough, And I'd heard people talk about it, but I have to say, my m. The one that I really got locked in was Doorman. just because, you know, whatever. Whatever. Simon went to do the, To the one audition for. Audition, and, you know, they referenced the. You know, the doorman waiver and stuff. And. And I, was like, So. Yeah. So what. What's. What's it about, this doorman waiver? And, you know, of course, you know, it had the NDAs and all that kind of stuff too. But I think it. I mean, I liked all. You know, I think overall I liked all of the episodes, but it was something about Doorman. It was just, Simon, you know, shows up there at the end, but just to see the evil. Why this waiver happened and then. And also why the Department of Damage Control is, I guess, you know, to the larger. I guess to the larger Marvel universe or whatever.

36:56 It does play back into that, because I think we saw that. That department and some of the, post, post endgame films and TV shows, just like, the exploration of, like, how this. How this affable guy just, randomly ended up, you know, taking the trash out, ends up with Powers and then all, you know, and Josh Gad and all, you know, it's just all the things that was going on there and then just the. It was like. It reminded me of, like, the old behind the music shows on VH1. >> Sarah : Yeah. >> Will: Where you had the rise and the fall of someone.

37:37 >> Sarah : Yeah. They did that very well with Mario Lopez. >> Will: Yeah. Yeah. >> Sarah : I, >> Will: Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's why that one really worked for me. Really worked. >> Sarah : Yeah. Ironically, this was my least favorite. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And. And that's not to say it's a bad episode. It's. It's a good episode because you. We needed a break from the main story, but at the same time, the whole time was like, oh, we're doing a flashback to this. Okay, that makes sense. We're gonna explore this because they've mentioned it now a few times. So, writing wise, it makes sense. But then it kept going and kept going And I was like, oh, this is the entire episode. Okay. But.

38:18 And and it was fine. And like I said, I, I really adore this show. So me saying that was my least favorite is not saying that much at all. It just, it just was. And it's more or less the oddball in the fact that there were not a lot of scenes between Ben Kingsley and. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, I was like, okay. but I, I think that the, to your point, it, there was a dual purpose that doesn't immediately, you don't immediately understand as a viewer, but now that we're talking about, it's kind of been, highlighted for me is that it first serves a purpose of recognizing why Simon, views how he views his powers. especially when he, he's not, he's not someone with powers who wants to be a hero. He wants to be an actor.

39:15 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And yet that very thing now, as a result of the whole Doorman saga is prohibited. it's not condoned and it puts him at risk and it's put him on a list now too. and then, and that's the flip side of it. It also explores more about what they've been hinting at in terms of the damage, control department in LA and their incentive to have more control over these, these super powered individuals. so I mean, we're dealing with la, we're dealing with Hollywood. So of course. And you know, the police protect those with money, so.

40:06 They do, they do. So it's, it's, it's a very good thing. very well done. And that's the other thing, besides the acting that I could go hours and hours on about, but the, the writing. Yeah, they are doing a very similar thing to what we've been talking about for the last few weeks with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms where there are lines that they, they don't like suddenly play music to make sure the viewer understands this is an important thing. No, there's just subtleness happening where there's little hint set stuff and, and so you have it in the back of your mind. But other, other hijinks ensue and before you know it we're, we're talking to Joey Pants and, and then you forget about it. And, and then the. But it's something that they are going to definitely bring up again because everything's important there. I don't grant it. Granted, it's a half hour show much like A Night of the Seven Kingdoms, so there's not a lot of time to fluff But I love this because everything's important. You're so. You have to pay attention. But at, the. Simultaneously, it's a very simple story, just like. And so that was the other big takeaway I had. I was like, wow. I, I

41:39 can't wait for Will to watch this because, man, when he does. We did it again. We're watching two shows. Could be in very different universes, yet somehow they're doing the same thing for their respective, universes. Very well. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : And it's just so refreshing. >> Will: It really is. It really is. And. And the other. I think Doorman was my favorite, like I said. But the other episode, the third episode where they're in, Pacamonia, Passimonia. The, town, with the birthday party. >> Sarah : The. Cleveland with palm trees.

42:19 >> Will: Cleveland. The Cleveland with palm trees. Yeah. And probably, I'm sure I'm mispronouncing the name of the town, but, you know, seeing Simon's family because, you know, we did get, you know, we, you know, early in the first episode, we, you know, we see the. And I like the way they use the flashbacks just to, like, frame things. >> Sarah : Yep. >> Will: And. And so, you know, we see him the. The B movie Wonder Man. just to sort of put, you know, just the whole framing of this is Simon, you know, sitting there with his dad eating popcorn and stuff. And then, And then we get the. This story about the. You know, the. We. We learn about the powers because he had the incident with the stove.

43:04 And then. And then we see it with the fan, you know, the family and the brother and, you know, the dynamics between Simon and his. And his brother. and just the. And when are you going to get a real job? And, you know, just all the things. And he, you know, Simon bringing Trevor, you know, Trevor. Trevor got an invite to the cookout, you know, and. And. But, you know, the. The invite was. It was, You know, it was there to like. >> Sarah : Be kind of a. Yeah. >> Will: He was for. Well, both, you know, Trevor had his reason. Trevor had the damage control reasons. But also, you know, Simon had his reasons that he just needed a buffer because he was just trying to, like. Because he knew, you know, especially once we saw the. That he was getting from his brother, he didn't want the whole thing about the American Horror Story to, like, come out because his mom's, you know, mom's. Mom's excited and. And.

43:58 >> Sarah : Right. >> Will: And all that. And. And yeah, so there was that. And it also just, you know, they really just, you know, went deep, went into the the fact that they're Haitian, they didn't try to hide it. You know, as far as their. >> Sarah : That's what I was gonna bring up. Like, I, I and I had captions on and so I really appreciated whenever they spoke in Haitian it would just say Haitian. So I don't know what they say. >> Will: Yeah, no, I got it too. It's a Haitian Creole. >> Sarah : I was like, okay, yeah, I was just like, damn it, I want to know what they're saying. But all of those, all of their responses now I don't. It was made very clear to me that Simon didn't necessarily want Trevor there. Even though. Yeah.

44:41 He said after the whole idea was raised by, by Trevor to go, he was like, oh, you could be my buffer. But yeah. Simon also clearly didn't even understand how to utilize Trevor as a buffer. And that goes to something his mom brings up in the episode is this is the first time my son has ever brought a friend. And so I, the, I found it really interesting. I think they're doing a great job with just the exploration of who Simon is. >> Will: Yes.

45:21 >> Sarah : Because we continue. Because it's an evolution. And his powers. We don't even necessarily see his powers until the second episode. >> Sarah : We see hints and we know but, but we don't see it. And it's just this evolution. And then the third episode opens with the 13 year old flashback not to the fire, but to the events after the fire. And, and which is kind of not just a very important moment for Simon, but as you can see, his relationship with his mom and his brother.

46:05 >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Because the resentment didn't start when they were, when they chose career paths. It started all the way back then. And, and then his mom continues as parents tend to do, we ignorant. And even if they know, they're like, I don't want to know, I just want my, and, and the, but the mom says I, I don't think that there was a scene between her and Simon that really stuck out as a great mom and son moment. And yet we still understand his relationship because of everything she tells Trevor. And so in that sense, from, from a viewer perspective, Trevor did a great job as a buffer.

47:04 Yeah. Because. Because we learned so much about Simon through those conversations. >> Will: Yep, agreed. Yeah. That was, that was what I really liked. That was another standout moment for, for me as well as far as really getting to know this character. through, through that conversation. And then, and then we, you know, the, the and then also just like you said, it was clear that the tension between Two. The two brothers was, was that didn't just start as adults then. And yeah, and this was sort of stand. Those, those family dynamics. I mean, it was just very, very, it was very, very authentic as far as like, you know, whenever, whenever Simon gave his mom the birthday present and you know, and then brother was just like, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah.

47:57 Well, you know, you know, just all the things that, you know, felt came from that. And so. Yeah. But, yeah, so that, you know, that was a really strong moment for this. I mean, it really is just like, you know, Marvel, it really. I just feel like. I know it took us. We didn't watch this first because we were finishing up Fallout, but, but I, you know, Marvel, Disney did undersold this series. I don't know if they didn't know how to market it or where, where the failing was. I mean, I mean, we just saw yesterday with the super bowl how difficult it can be with marketing things, with Mando. But, but I feel like I, I did. I've been pleasantly surprised because I really didn't have any expectations going into this show at all.

48:47 I mean, I don't know hardly anything about this character as far as from the comics. and I mean, I know they did a race swap and stuff, but, but be. But as far as beyond that, I really don't know anything about Simon Williams. So I have been very pleasantly surprised by this series so far. And I'm hoping that definitely, you know, with the next four episodes, it, you know, it, it sticks to landing because, is really good and I'm hopeful, you know, if it does indeed stick to landing. I'm hoping we'll see this character show up in some other either season two spotlight shows or in, into larger universe. But, but keeping, but hopefully keeping the, keeping what we've gotten of this character so far if he does like show up in a larger mcu.

49:37 >> Sarah : So I need a episode to explain the Porter potty explosion that happened on the set of the Rookie M mentioned. I, I took note of that. I, I need more details and understanding. classic Trevor line was then I took a role to pose as a terrorist. Terrorist to pay for my drug and prostitution debts. >> Will: Yeah, that's another great line. >> Sarah : Get explicit. Thank you, mommy, for loving me. Great line. And, and just the whole, whole aspect of, a mother who again. And, and she even calls herself out on it. She's like, I, I, I didn't realize how alone he was and that he felt it. And oh, it's just that was such a good moment. Very, well acted. and then that later on in that episode, you get the. Maybe it's time to admit that it's never going to be me. I'm no wonder, man. yeah, okay.

50:41 >> Will: But also. >> Sarah : Yeah, wait, I got more. Will, I got more. >> Will: Okay, okay, go ahead, go ahead. >> Sarah : Here you go. Here you go. I'm sorry. I forgot about this one. How could I forget? I'm here. Code switching and everything. >> Will: Oh, yes. Yeah. >> Sarah : That's so good. I already said the. Trevor pants the. It's the single most consequential thing anyone could do with their life. It's so important. It's so important. Oh, my God. just. Oh. Oh. This is a classic Vaughn Kovac one Human and Spectacular. And that's where this film needs to live. Human and spectacular. Spectacle should be spectacle. Just say, shout out. I. I'm.

51:37 Hopefully we see musical. >> Will: Yeah, but, yeah, ah, one. One doorman that, was Josh Gad. And it's like I can't act and it's never stopped me from being an actor. >> Sarah : Yeah, yeah. Yep, yep. >> Will: Yeah. >> Sarah : Go through me. Go through me. Yeah, I think he's saying to go through him. Yeah, yeah. it's just the. The writing. The writing. some point. The acting's on point. And so far, within the first half of the season, it's consistent. And he. Based on our previous conversations about A Night of the Seven Kingdoms and other shows, when we use that term in relation to a show, it's a good thing.

52:24 It's what we want. because some seasons of TV have great episodes and that's all people think about. But then you look at the full length of the season and it's like, yeah, but that was one of seven. So when you can have consistency, that's a strong season of television. >> Will: Indeed it is. It really is. >> Sarah : Well, on, that note, Will, why don't you tell our listeners where they can find you? >> Will: Yes, you can find me on all the socials at, WillImpolk WIO L M P O L K. And you. >> Sarah : Can find me there too, at SJ Belmont sjblmon M T.

53:05 Please follow our crew on X on Twitter, formerly known as or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Cena Nerd on Blue sky from us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and threads at scene and at scene, underscore n and visit our website, www.scenard podcast.com. but most importantly, rate, follow and comment on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts. Good night. Geek out. You're welcome.