The Last Contract of Isako is BRILLIANT - Weekly Reader 2x40

本站添加: 2026-05-12

[00:00:00]You ready to start?

[00:00:00]>> Did you just pop open a Dr. Pepper?

[00:00:02]>> No, it was uh bubbly.

[00:00:04]>> Oh, okay. I I thought you were ripping a Dr. Pepper at 1:00 in the afternoon on a Sunday and trying to hide it behind your new decoration.

[00:00:11]>> Why Why would I hide that? Why Why would I pull >> You're right. I know you better than that.

[00:00:17]>> You know, You know what? Every hour on the clock dial is Dr. Pepper time.

[00:00:22]>> Something is wrong with you.

[00:00:25]>> Something's wrong with you.

[00:00:29]Welcome back to talking story. My name is John Minn. That right there is my literary wingman the one son little Jakey two shelves the best producer on book and my cello of happiness even though my cello has moved off to the side here because the hard cover of discovery has got to be on prominent display. You know what?

[00:00:49]I like it though. It's a very clean desk you've got now. There there was a very I I had to do some rearranging because, you know, look at this.

[00:00:58]>> I know >> the crazy mad scientists at Ember and Inc. sent this to us uh as an amazing gift. I Okay, here's the thing. I usually don't track number of things I read or how many pages I read because I, you know, I just want to get the good stuff in me. I just want to get some story in me into my life. But this was so dang cool. I was like, you know what?

[00:01:21]I'm gonna track it and put that on my desk because it just looks awesome.

[00:01:24]>> It really does. Yeah. He was really kind to send this to us just as like a a bit of a pre-hitting 20k subs kind of thing because we haven't hit it yet. But it so so nice of him to do that. And we do have an Etsy link for it if you want to pick it up for yourself. We'll go ahead and put that in the description for people.

[00:01:40]>> Yeah. Ember and stores down there. They do not only this but tons of loads, shelf stuff, but all kinds. Check it out. Amazing. And and also in the box was something that we cannot show yet.

[00:01:55]>> Oh man. Yeah.

[00:01:56]>> That's going to be exclusive for us.

[00:01:59]>> Bigger announcement coming down soon.

[00:02:00]We've been working on for a while now, but looking forward to that.

[00:02:04]>> I I loved it so much. Okay. Uh the other big announcement I have to go over is >> pre-orders for the hard cover of Discovery. I'll show it one more time.

[00:02:14]Look at this naked hard coverver. Look at the art. Oh my gosh. Pre-orders. It's funny that you're showing it off like and now it's not available. Now it's done.

[00:02:23]>> Pre-orders are done. Go ahead. Look how pretty it is. You can't buy it.

[00:02:27]>> Look how pretty it is. But for those of The reason I'm saying this is for those of you that did get your pre-order in, uh the orders are going to the publishing house as you watch this. So, as soon as we can get them back, as soon as we can schedule, which you know, we definitely schedule as soon as we get them in the door, a signing with all three of us, we will be signing it and we will be getting them off to you uh as quickly as we possibly can. Yes. Uh more updates to come on specific dates of when those will be coming out. It's it's a little too up in the air with shipping estimations and all that. Uh but we'll we'll keep you posted. And everyone that did order one, thank you so much. It really means the world that I there we got more orders than we expected. So it's it's pretty amazing. Way more. I mean we thought that you know it's been out for a year. Most people have read it that you know we we weren't sure and we were absolutely blown away. Thank you guys so much. We have we got some stacks to sign now though for sure.

[00:03:26]>> We do indeed. It's been a while. Maybe maybe we're rusty.

[00:03:29]>> Yeah. We'll see how long it takes.

[00:03:30]>> We'll we'll have to knock the rust off.

[00:03:32]Um any more announcements?

[00:03:34]>> I got one more. I got one more. What you got? This Wednesday night, it's finally happening. Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. The Qualuminati will be meeting right here at 7:30 Eastern on Talking Story to talk about Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire. Uh that is our book club. Brian Bell from Bell Tube who founded it. Uh Mike from Mike's Book Reviews, Dr. Philip Chase from the Best of Fantasy, and myself. This was my pick. Uh I life kind of happened for some for some of our members here and uh slowed them down and uh but we are finally getting together. We are going to talk all things Interview with the Vampire and you got a lot going on in your life right now, but we did this as a father-son buddy read as well. So you are absolutely invited to crash in if you want, but if you can't make it, we totally understand.

[00:04:25]>> Yeah, it's it's very likely I won't be able to make it. Um, but if you want to see our thoughts on it, we we kind of like, you know, shot our own vlogs 25, 50, 75, 100% of the way through and reacted to them and did that as a discussion in a previous video. So, if you want to check that out, that'd be really cool. That's that's up already.

[00:04:43]But I will definitely go back and watch the Kuminati thoughts on it later cuz I'm very curious to see how it hit for the others. I some of them have read it already before, right?

[00:04:52]>> Oh, it's one it's one of Mike's all-time faves, just like it's one of mine all time. And Brian read it, I think, way back in high school. But we really really the goal here is we're we're trying to get Philip into the dark side.

[00:05:02]We're trying to get him to pick up more horror.

[00:05:04]>> Yeah, Philip's not big on on dark horror reads. So, we'll see how this goes.

[00:05:09]>> So, we we will absolutely see how it goes. And we'll be picking the next Quill Illuminati uh choice of what we'll be reading >> I think in June. I think June is the next >> Whose turn is it to pick? Do we know?

[00:05:21]>> Uh it is Mike's turn to pick.

[00:05:23]>> Okay. All right. We're all We're all going to look forward to that. So, please please join us Wednesday night, 7:30 Eastern, live right here. Uh we hope to see you all there. Now, it's time for Weekly Reader. Are you ready?

[00:05:35]It is indeed. I've got my one book ready to talk about.

[00:05:38]>> I got a frosty beverage that you you watched me open. So, it's fresh. It's bubbly.

[00:05:43]>> Did anyone say they didn't think it was going to be fresh?

[00:05:46]>> Delicious. Delicious. I can't sitting there.

[00:05:48]>> Well, you saw me pop it open, so I don't I don't want you to think I'm drinking something. Now you got me questioning your own.

[00:05:54]>> You just saw me open it minutes ago.

[00:05:57]>> You didn't have to say that it was fresh. Now I'm concerned. I I would have assumed it was fresh, but now you said it.

[00:06:03]>> What I'm trying to get across to you is >> this past week I have been reading Last Contract of a Saka, >> which you and I can actually talk about together because you've started reading it as well.

[00:06:15]>> But you're you're kind of you're kind of I I just got to say I went I fell into the dark side this week. Yeah, let's get into that at the same time then because there's no reason for us to delay it.

[00:06:26]>> I got into the dark side a little bit this week because I went to reach for my next read as planned on my stack and and that was The Legend of Blackjack by AR Withham, our amazing friend Andy. And the FOMO, I couldn't quiet it. I couldn't I couldn't I just had to reach and grab I had to reach past Legend of Blackjack and grab Last Contract of Isako and start it. I had to. I just had to do it.

[00:06:52]>> Here's my theory. I think part of the reason that you had to grab it was because you wanted to blow past me.

[00:06:58]>> No, there's No, not I wanted to read it kind of along with you.

[00:07:02]>> Yeah, true.

[00:07:04]>> So, I I I bowed to the dark overlords of the mood reading world. I had to do it.

[00:07:09]I had to do it.

[00:07:10]>> Now, like we mentioned earlier, it's it I've been very busy this past week, so I did not get a lot of reading done.

[00:07:15]Actually, I did I got almost no reading done. It was a a long >> I was going to say, did you get any done?

[00:07:21]>> Well, you called me, I think last night, and said you started last Contract of Aaco.

[00:07:27]>> I started it last night. Yes.

[00:07:28]>> And you said you were about 100 pages in and you had passed me.

[00:07:32]>> Yeah.

[00:07:32]>> And I got very, very upset after that phone call.

[00:07:36]>> Okay.

[00:07:36]>> So, I read more today and I got past you again.

[00:07:40]>> Oh, okay. What page are you on?

[00:07:42]>> Um, at least I hope I'm past you. I'm like just under 150 pages. I'm like 26% of the way through.

[00:07:48]>> You're definitely past me. I'm right around 120. By the by by the time my head hits the pillow tonight, I should be at 200.

[00:07:54]>> Okay. Well, then you'll pass me immediately again.

[00:07:56]>> But we're right we're not around the same.

[00:07:59]>> But we're around the same place so we can talk together. And this is what I wanted. This is why this is why the FOMO was hitting so hard. Uh and of course, you know, after Green Bone Saga, I couldn't wait for more Fond Lee. But let's let's get into it. Let's get into it. How how is it hitting? What are you thinking? Where are you at?

[00:08:16]>> This I I mean, you heard me talk about what I was thinking of the story before, right? I was really loving it. The world was super interesting. I really love this main character, uh, Iso is how they pronounce it in the audio book that I'm listening to. Um, >> and the the age aspect of being in this position that is almost like this >> contracted kind of future world samurai.

[00:08:38]It's a little bit twisted of what the responsibilities are that fit more with the world. So interesting how age plays an aspect into uh almost like the economy and the you know living to serve is such a part of the society and your age is you know if you're if you're rich things can get twisted and you can extend uh what you're capable of doing.

[00:08:59]It's so interesting and Iso particular is in a really fun way to uh a fun position to kind of pick apart what that means to somebody to be in an in an older uh part of life and have to keep the same responsibilities and try and keep track of this really difficult position that we're following her in.

[00:09:22]Now >> I've gotten a little bit further in the story and I'm getting different vibes than I thought I was going to. I didn't know.

[00:09:32]>> Oh, really?

[00:09:33]>> Yeah. I mean, there there was I don't want to say too much, but there we're kind of in like a bit of a murder mystery >> style of story right now. And I I was not expecting that at all, but it's very like political intrigue, dissecting uh the history of the world. I'm saying dissecting a lot, but we're we're learning more of a history of the world that we um >> Every time you say dissecting, I'm going to have some bubbly. I'm going to have some bubbly.

[00:09:57]>> My can's going to be empty in two seconds. Um we're picking apart the history of the world as we're learning it, but also as Iso is learning it. And it it's super cool. Really loving it. Uh so, how about you? Cuz you just started it.

[00:10:12]>> Like I say, 120 pages in. Kind of just my first blush. And I had heard what you had said about it and Yes. Yes. All that and more. Here's the thing. I love this position that I Iso has because I would say it's a corporate fixer. Yeah.

[00:10:30]Whoever you're contract Whoever you're contracted with, do you need a a diplomat to do a business deal with someone across the table? Do you need maybe like an accountant to sit down and go over some spreadsheets and some numbers and find out why production is not quite where you want production to be? Uh are you going to be uh are you going to be suffering some corporate espionage that you want sniffed out and taken care of? Is there a hostile takeover going on which they would call a war between one company and another in which case Iso might have to pull out the long blade and take care of things in a bloody way like it's a fixer on every level of these corporate realities. And because this is >> uh a planet 500 years ago when people left Earth and a and these huge seed ships were scattered. this planet is very very difficult very very difficult to carve out your life. So what you're saying about living to serve and fitting in and finding a way to even survive and yes as you get to that age where your knees start to creek or you might start to be dealing with some changes in life. How well can you serve?

[00:11:42]And with the intrigue we're getting into is it's it's quite a fight for the spiritual ideology of this settlement, this colony, >> but do we want to find some of these other lost ships? Do we want to have contact back or do we want to be more isolationist and just focus strictly on what we have and what we need to move forward on this world?

[00:12:07]>> Should we accept that we need to call this world home and and make it that way? Is that where the scientific pioneering needs to take place, you know, to make this work?

[00:12:17]>> Absolutely. Absolutely. And all of this is coming at you in these amazing ways while you're wrapped up in this futuristic noir, very Bladeunneresque type of murder mystery as she's taken on one more job, maybe one more than she should have taken on uh for reasons you get into. And it I have found it just to take you by the hand and lead you into this world. And as you say, as the story starts to unfold, it goes somewhere where I wasn't quite expecting it. At the same time, >> it ju it gets it it just gets more and more layered and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. That's I mean, again, kind of early on, early days. I should be at around 200 pages by the end of end of tonight.

[00:13:06]>> But you see what I was saying, right?

[00:13:07]like a you you never feel like oh we're getting basil exposition or we're getting a lore dump or anything. It's just dripfed to you.

[00:13:14]>> It's because look this is a settlement like I say broke off from from this planet.

[00:13:20]>> Yeah.

[00:13:20]>> Found this world and everything is interconnected. The ideas of business, the ideas of moving the settlement forward, the ideas of family and how does that fit in and friendship and how does that fit in and serving whatever company you work for and how does that fit in in making this environment flourish and go and be survivable. So everything you found find out about business structure, family structure, uh the the job of Isco, everything is so interlin and does such a great job of building one upon the other as you find things out. It never feels like it's a lore dump at all. It just feels like, oh, I'm just I'm just spiraling. Yeah. I'm just spiraling deeper and deeper and deeper and I'm becoming a person that understands life here in a Aquilo I I think is would be the pronunciation. I'm not quite sure of the world.

[00:14:25]>> Yeah. Aquilo I think is how they pronounce it in the audio book.

[00:14:29]>> Aquilo. Yeah. So it's again masterfully done but I would I expected I went in with the highest of expectations having just finished Green Bone Saga. So >> yeah, >> not surprised that it's masterfully done in that way. But you, this is your first time with Fondly, so I can see you as it just kind of unfurs and leads you on into all these things.

[00:14:54]>> I mean, you see how it's done. It's like that slow drip. It's not like that overpowering dump and how everything connects. It just it's seamless. Yeah, you you don't get it's like when you're watching a beautiful performance either on film or live and you never catch that performer acting. You you don't ever catch Fonda Lee feeding you what you need or giving you a lore dump. It's just >> it is that effortless perfect balancing act of trying to give you like we're we're pretty far in the future here.

[00:15:31]There's a lot to catch you up on about what's happened to humanity and what this world is, why we're here, how does this society work now that we're on a completely different world. There's a lot of information, but you also don't want to just spend your first 70 to 100 pages explaining the world. And that it could very easily take that long to do that when you have this much going on, right?

[00:15:55]>> Easily. Absolutely. And I'm sure that there's even more we're going to learn about the world and how everything that's that's still just status quo as we move through this book, right?

[00:16:04]>> Um, but you still have to start your character journey right from the start.

[00:16:08]This this kind of story doesn't work if you don't immediately relate to Iso and want to follow her journey.

[00:16:16]>> Um, and it it's just she balances that act perfectly. She really >> gives you a little bit of info, gives you a little bit of more info on ISO and and it blends together. You don't even realize it's happening. It's great, >> right? It because everything again is so interconnected where you're feeling like, okay, well, I have to know how this job works. I have to know what this job is. I have to know family structure.

[00:16:38]I have to and all these things lead you to not only understand world, it leads you to understand character. It leads you to understand this particular character and their motivation of what they're doing and how they're getting pressure put on them from what's going on about the greater battle of a ideology of a settlement >> and all see all of these things go in and not just give you a fleshed out world but a fleshed out motivated character of how they're going to start moving through this story and plot. So it all like what how can you say one's more important than the other? Oh, world building's my favorite. Character's my favorite. Plot's my favorite. When it works like this, it's all one engine.

[00:17:15]>> Also, it's also one engine. Yes. All one engine.

[00:17:19]>> And now I think we're both just getting to a part of a book where we've learned a lot about Isuko. And I think we're about to start learning more about other characters. We're starting to branch out in the story. And I I can't I can't tell you how excited I am for that. I There's so much more I want to talk about, but we got to be spoiler-free here. So, >> absolutely. Absolutely. We're not going to This just came out May 5th and we were so lucky uh and fortunate to get uh early copies and it's wonderful to read it together. This is why I wanted to pick it up so we could >> Yeah. Oh, it's so much fun. I 118 pages in. So far, I would say I would highly recommend it. Completely.

[00:17:54]>> We will see. We will see what happens.

[00:17:56]So, that that's it for you. You picked up nothing else this week or >> That's it for me. Was a was a big week.

[00:18:01]Had a lot to do. Uh, this next week may be a little bit of the same, but we'll we'll get back to things after that. So, how about yourself? What else did you finish this week?

[00:18:10]>> Well, before I gave into FOMO and and picked up the Last Contract of Istico, I finished Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff.

[00:18:21]>> Yeah, this was a big one for you. I think this was a big one for me. A very big one for me. Now I have heard mixed things and now that I have finished this I can fully understand. I can fully understand why people are mixed. Where am I?

[00:18:37]Entirely completely satisfied. Knew it. Knew it was going to happen. Completely satisfied. And there's there's uh what I I again I don't want to give away any spoilers. So I can't I can't even allude to or say what goes on at the end of this. Uh that would make people go oh man I don't know like ah that kind of maybe stings a little bit uh for it absolutely worked for me because and it's it's odd cuz I was looking for it from hearing both sides right so I was looking for the ending and even before we got there I was like wow this is woo wow and then things happen and it's a and it's a different place and it's a place that completely uh satisfied me so much so that I think this is going to be very high in my favorite trilogies list. Here's here's what I'm here's what I'm thinking about >> just trilogies in general >> because you know when we when we when you were kind enough to build this channel for me and I had been reading horror for decades and was such a huge fan of horror and so many amazing writers that I followed. Clyde Barker, Stephen King, Dan Sims. There's so so many so many. Um, and then I was like, you know what? I started watching book and it's like, wow, this there's sounds like some super cool things are going on in the fantasy genre in the epic fantasy genre. I want to catch up and and you built this channel and I went on this journey that I'm still on trying to do this. This is that amazing. Oh, you got horror in my fantasy. No, you got fantasy in my horror. It's that it's that perfect blend. Where is it dark? Yes, it is the it is the darkest exploration of of a world that has crashed into a cataclysm where there has been something wrought upon this world where the sun has been dimmed and blacked out to where the vampires of this world can take charge. So now you have five families of vampire wrapped up in court intrigue with each other and their own families of who's going to rule, how they're going to rule. And then then you have basically at the core of this trilogy uh a bit of an Arththeran grail quest in a way of what can the humans possibly do to come out from under that heel, from under that thumb of complete oppression and servitude of these vampire overlords and possibly claw back the leadership of this world. So, it's as dark as you can imagine because the exploration of vampirism here goes all the way goes all the way when you can live for centuries and you start to maybe not think of yourself entirely as human, but you start to think of human and life itself is just a food source and you're pushed by this by this drive you have for the essence of life to give you pleasure and sustenance. you're pushed to the point where your your greed, your own bravado, your own ideas of what you should do to leave a mark on this world, all of that is amped up to 11. So if the ruling families were such that they're run by these types of kings, you could see how dark things can get.

[00:22:21]You could see how anti-humane things can get very, very quickly. And at the heart of this, you have an anti-hero that as the three books go on, not only are they an anti-hero in in in human form, in in human shape, but as you get to the edge of that abyss and look down into the vast evil that you have to combat, how much of you will be sucked in? How much of you will succumb to being and becoming what you look upon as you look into that abyss that the evil you must fight? How much of that will you take on? And we get to see Gabriel, the last silver saint, and his band around him as they move on and do what they have to do to combat this cataclysm of their world. How much of their humanity will they lose? And how much of that evil will they take on to battle what's happened in their world?

[00:23:20]So, as dark as you can imagine, but it's got some glistening chuckleworthy moments just because of the level of inventive profanity, which I truly enjoy. Uh, it it's got it there there is some hope. There is some glimmers of light throughout it as he meets the people and how they build connections and how they feel about each other with found family and the lore building. Again, as we're talking about Fondly, it's all interconnected. It all matters. How did this world lose its son? How what do they feel about sociological, economically, uh, religious overtones galore here of what happens? Where do these stories come from? How do we combat them or succumb to them? Looking back at what really happened and this book three basically brought light and shown light on all of those mysteries. You understand everything. You've come to the end of this journey. I can understand how some people might feel it was not entirely satisfying because of everything that went down at the end. I myself I I was I was satisfied. I I I walked away feeling really really good. Um and I'm just happy to be on that side of the ledger of this one because I knew the the end had kind of drawn a line for some folks.

[00:24:50]Um, but it was just such a great blender of genres, such a fun ride, such an amazing look at epic fantasy through a dark gothic horror lens. Uh, and the characters just I mean we not just vampirism, you you get shape changes.

[00:25:07]You get I mean there's just you get amazing epic climactic fantastical battles. Um it's it just wraps up in such a grand fashion. I had such a fun romp with it. I blew through it. Like to to hit 100 pages a day was so easy because you just keep turning pages because from the very beginning to the very end, there's a lot to wrap up here. And he keeps the action frenetic and he keeps it coming at you and he keeps it overblown and bold and I mean just oporadic in scope because there's so much going on here. uh the world itself is at stake and all these characters that you've come to love around him, they're at stake as well. Um so you get to go on quite the dark fantasy horror ride on this. I I would recommend it highly. For me, maybe just because I love horror so much. It's like old home home week for me. I had such a great time with it.

[00:26:16]>> That's really your kind of jam, though.

[00:26:17]If you hear that an artist has decided to do an ending that, you know, is not going to satisfy everybody, that's >> it's going to satisfy John almost every time.

[00:26:26]>> And I I when when we hit the button here, I will tell you what I'm trying to pants around.

[00:26:31]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:26:32]>> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. So, what's coming up next? I think you're going to keep trucking on Last Contract of Isaac.

[00:26:38]>> I am indeed. What about you? Uh so well I am going to pick up Legend of Blackjack cuz I will finish Last Contract of Isco uh midweek or so and then it's going to be time to slowly but surely do a section a day >> and take my time with >> Stormed Fortress.

[00:26:56]>> Stormed Fortress by Janney Wartz. This wraps up the Alliance of Light arc for the Wars of Light and Shadow.

[00:27:02]>> Is this book eight? Nine. What What book is this?

[00:27:05]>> Yeah, I think this is book eight.

[00:27:06]>> Man, you're getting close to the end.

[00:27:08]I'm really kind of having mixed feelings about coming to the end. I one I desperately want to know how it ends. I desperately want to see it.

[00:27:17]>> Uh but at the same time, it's like, wow, I >> I don't know how I feel about that. But you and I just spent some time with the amazing Janie Wartz, so we know there's still some things being worked on, short stories, nollas, and things like that.

[00:27:31]So, if we want to return to Ather, we we can have a chance to do that. Is that is that a I know that you're reading that slowly, doing kind of a a large chapter a day, but is there anything you're going to pick up while you're doing that one or is that all the plans for now?

[00:27:44]>> I will be doing a section of this and starting this.

[00:27:48]>> Okay.

[00:27:49]>> And then uh going on through the rest of my month, but that should take me through next week for sure. Wrapping up, starting Legend of Blackjack, and starting my slow but sure savoring read of Storm Fortress by Janney Wartz. I guess that's everything for the week, right? We we got to talk about shows now.

[00:28:06]>> Yeah. You want to talk about what you've been watching? Hit me up, man.

[00:28:09]>> I do. Well, you and I both got to talk about what we've been watching.

[00:28:12]>> Uh I'm I am two episodes in. I'm not entirely caught up. So, >> yeah, you're adult into Widow's Bay, which is the new show on Apple TV that I tried to get you to watch last week. And I think mom is the one that really convinced you to do it.

[00:28:26]>> Well, here's what she did. She's like, "You know what? I'll sit down and watch it with and we rarely sit down and watch something together. So, it's like, oh, I have a chance to actually sit here and enjoy it with you then. Yes.

[00:28:36]>> Yeah, >> absolutely. I'll turn it on. I'll stop everything I'm doing and watch it with you. Yeah.

[00:28:40]>> So, she pulled she pulled that trump card and made me immediately want to watch it. So, >> and after you watch one episode, >> you got to watch the second.

[00:28:49]>> You're not going to It's a Lays potato chip show. You are not going to want to stop.

[00:28:54]>> It It really is. It's It's not super heavy on the Well, before I get into all that, for those that don't know, this is kind of um >> a small island kind of in uh uh the New Englandish territory that, you know, do it that way what you will. All the atmosphere you expect just from that is in the show. Yeah. Um, the main character that we follow is the mayor of this small island who is desperately trying to get more tourism so that they can kind of have an influx of funds and he can use that to build up the infrastructure cuz they have no money.

[00:29:26]The town is kind of in disarray to be honest. Um, but there are a lot of people in that that island that do not want him to succeed. They they think the island may have some secrets up its sleeve and and put curses on all of them. They're a little set in their ways. Yeah. They like their little island.

[00:29:44]>> Yeah.

[00:29:44]>> Yeah. And uh you know, when you watch episode three, you may you may see a little bit of why, but it's >> I think the biggest strength of this show, especially in see in episode two, which you've now seen, is like that was the perfect balance of comedy and horror for me. I've not seen it done that well before.

[00:30:04]>> I The humor is the star of the show, >> 100%. in in my book. Matthew Reese is playing the the character of the mayor and he did an amazing job in the Americans if anyone has watched that.

[00:30:18]And uh wow is he having a great time.

[00:30:20]You just love watching him have this much fun. And he is having so much fun.

[00:30:25]He is what an amazing comedic performance he's turning in. Like I didn't know he had that gear to be honest with you.

[00:30:32]playing the straight man pushed right up to the edge of exploding so well.

[00:30:38]>> He But here's the it's it's that dualedged performance of yes, he is the straight man because he is placed in the center of the mastrom of all the weirdness that's going on supernatural and otherwise just quirky characters of this island, right? Yeah. But at the same time, if you watch him scene to scene, he's really the one pushed beyond his comfort level and making huge comedic choices because of how far he's pushed.

[00:31:06]So, you can't actually call him a straight man. He's the every man placed in the center of this while the weirdness swirls around him. But because the weirdness is pushing on him, he gets to elevate past just a straight man into comedic territory. Uh because I mean if you I have to go back to John Cleas and Faulty Towers. Like I haven't seen something quite like this. Like yes, John Cles is the most normal person in the room watching all this craziness go around, but it's the craziness that go arounds that makes him just completely go lose his mind and have these, you know, fits.

[00:31:43]This is the same type of performance.

[00:31:45]And it's so hard to do to be a complete at rest character that I can connect to.

[00:31:53]It's like, oh well, he's the normal one, but at the at the same time elevate to these comedic pitches um that he's throwing you because of the weirdness around him. It's it's a double-edged performance. It's it's a straight man.

[00:32:06]Plus, it's not just a straight man. It's really something cool to watch.

[00:32:10]>> And it's not just him either. I mean, Steven Root kind of like as as the face of the town that doesn't want him to succeed and is kind of, you know, buying into all these curses and hauntings and things like that is Steven Root is just absolutely killing it. But he always does.

[00:32:24]>> There's no one that's not killing it.

[00:32:25]Like people around like the just the little like bit players that like I there's a guy in episode 2 that trips on the stairs is like you're you're not even like I don't even recognize who this guy is, but he sold so perfectly.

[00:32:38]>> That guy's from the righteous gemstones.

[00:32:40]That guy has huge comedic jobs.

[00:32:42]>> So right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So he's the husband to the sister of the family. So yeah, like they're not bringing in anybody that can't. And if you watch the people around him, Steven Root and everyone else that is like just completely buried in weirdness.

[00:32:55]>> Yeah.

[00:32:56]>> They're the ones that are playing it entirely straight.

[00:32:58]>> That's true. The the guy that runs the inn, I can't remember his name, but he was another one. He was really great.

[00:33:03]They're not making any large choices.

[00:33:07]They're not going, they're not peeking past a complete natural normal performance. What they're saying and what they're doing makes Matthew Reese, the normal guy, go, "What?" You know, but they're not spiking at all. They're just complet They're playing it completely straight. Yeah. And natural and flat. And it's like it's it works so well. It works so well. And and the other fun part is this is not all that it seems. There's some there's some some shoes are going to drop by the end of the season.

[00:33:42]There's more going on here than you think is going on here. Uh and I you know, we've been talking about it, but we not we don't want to get too much.

[00:33:49]>> That's kind of what I was alluding to is like it doesn't feel like there's a super strong narrative pushing plot in the first few episodes at least, but I'm getting the feeling that we're arriving >> Yeah.

[00:33:59]>> to that. I would say what if you like if you like horror at all and all the tropes that come with that and and you like to laugh out loud, this is the show for you.

[00:34:10]>> It's amazing. Yeah, it it has a bit of a Creature of the Week feel so far in a way that I love. That's not trying to, you know, be dismissive. It's so much fun.

[00:34:20]>> Uh I can't wait to watch episode three.

[00:34:22]I would completely say that. Yeah, >> you'll love it.

[00:34:24]>> Big hit for big hit for me.

[00:34:26]>> It's great. The other thing that I've been watching is just uh uh hockey.

[00:34:30]Hurricanes, Carolina Hurricanes doing very very well. Uh undefeated in the playoffs so far.

[00:34:36]>> Very nice. Very nice. You know, I've been watching my uh my Spurs.

[00:34:39]>> Yeah. How are they doing?

[00:34:40]>> We're up 2-1. We're up 2-1 in the in the series.

[00:34:44]>> We're doing this. You can look behind you and see how bright your room is.

[00:34:48]>> We're doing this a little bit earlier in the day because the game is at 7:30. So, I'm going to I'm going to be primed and ready. It parked in front of my TV.

[00:34:57]>> You texted me late last night when I was really tired and said, "Hey, can we can we do it early in the day? Can we do our recording earlier in the day?" And I didn't reply cuz I I went to sleep early. And then you text this morning.

[00:35:08]You texted me this morning at 8:00 a.m.

[00:35:10]and just said, "Good morning." No context other than that, hoping I would see the previous text. And I didn't reply. And you called me immediately after because you really want to watch the game.

[00:35:19]>> I got to get this schedule set. I gotta get the schedule set. I got Oh my gosh, the last game I just unbelievable game by Wimi. I am enjoying really loving their go their run in the playoffs here. Uh it every step I look it it's not for me. It's not like oh we got to go all the way. I don't feel that at all this year. I just feel like they're so far ahead of where they should be and they're coming together in such an amazing way so early on that it's so thrilling and so fun to watch.

[00:35:53]Wherever they get to this year, the the lessons learned, the environment explored of the playoffs is just going to make them something so amazing and formidable in the future. uh and just they just keep overachieving and over responding to every hurdle that gets set in front of them so far. I I'm not saying I fully expect them to keep doing that. I for me this season is house money. Whatever happens from here is great. They get their hearts broken.

[00:36:24]They get stomped. What a great lesson to learn. They they they keep responding and overachieving. Amazing amazing ride to watch. So I I for me I feel like I can't lose watching the games and that's why I wanted to make sure we tape early so I can be ready. Sure. Yeah. I I don't feel the same way. I feel like the Hurricanes have a shot to win it all and I I think it may happen and I'm pretty excited. I feel like I shamed a little bit. I jumped in on a sport for the first time ever and it like happens to be the year that like >> the team that is at the place I live at is killing it. It just happened to work out that way.

[00:36:56]>> Little little bit of a bandwagoner this year for you.

[00:36:59]>> Yeah. But I I'm really into it, man.

[00:37:01]It's a fun it's a fun sport. It's a great time.

[00:37:03]>> That's awesome. What else do you watch?

[00:37:05]I'm caught up with the rooster. I believe the finale episode is on tonight. Oh, okay.

[00:37:09]>> And I have I have really enjoyed that show and one of the characters in that show I've been it's like, "Wow, I know I know who that is. How How in the world can I not remember who that is?" And it's Jamie from Ted Lasso.

[00:37:26]>> Dude, it took you this long. I I the moment I saw that guy, I was like, "Oh, it's Jamie from Ted Lasso."

[00:37:31]>> But he's so different. He's so d I mean it's such a it's a different character and he's playing it so well. I just didn't click and finally I like oh my it's it's fun to see him now. Um so yeah, I'm enjoying that show. It's a fun show. I'm really I'm really having a good time with it and I'm caught up with the boys. How many episodes are left?

[00:37:50]It's close, right?

[00:37:51]>> I don't know. I think there might be 10 episodes. Might be four left or so.

[00:37:56]Okay.

[00:37:56]>> I thought it was closer than that. But how's it going?

[00:37:58]>> The episode this week >> Yeah. was like, "Oh, yeah. They're going to land this plane in some horrible way."

[00:38:08]>> What?

[00:38:08]>> Like, it's not it's it's and and when I say horrible, I mean that in the best possible way. Like, this show can't end with puppy dogs and rainbows. Like, there it's got, you know, it's >> it's not going to be pretty and I'm not going to be able to look away. And and like this, I'm going to be entirely satisfied. I think I got that feeling from the episode this week.

[00:38:33]>> Are you predicting it'll Well, well, first question. Are do you have a prediction for what it the ending is going to be? Don't say it. Obviously, >> not not entirely. No. Okay. I was watching this week and I JUST GO, "OH, NO."

[00:38:46]And it's Yeah, it's um it's going to be horrific in the best possible way. I think that's how they're going to land this plane, which is the only way you can land the plane of this show. Do you do you get the feeling it'll be that kind of ending similar to Empire of the Dawn where like some people will be really into it and some people won't?

[00:39:04]>> I wouldn't think so. I I I would think everybody that's come along the five seasons of this show have got to know.

[00:39:12]>> You know, I was saying I don't feel in the mood to watch this show, but now you're making me feel left out. I think I might have to. I felt kind of in the first couple episodes of the season, I was like, "Wow, I don't know if this is the type of thing I want to watch because weekly reader, you know, weekly reader sometimes you want to >> you want to shut things out for a little bit." Yeah.

[00:39:33]>> You want to you want to shut things out.

[00:39:35]I want some puppy dog and rainbows, you know, like I I want my frosty beverage.

[00:39:39]I want the magic of story. Uh and this is going to be a dark dark magic of story. And you don't know you don't know if you're quite in the mood for that.

[00:39:48]But as the season is gone, I will say, yeah, at the end of the episode this week, I was sitting there going, "No, bring it. This is this is going to this plane is going to land in a fiery, hellacious way. No one's walking away unscathed. Everyone's going to have a limp or a horrible scar for having watched these five seasons."

[00:40:09]And now all of a sudden, I'm there. I'm ready for it. I'm ready for it.

[00:40:13]>> Okay, I'll watch it. Is that it? Hey, man, that's it. What do you mean that's it? That's enough. We We got a lot going on. Yeah, that is true.

[00:40:20]>> You'll be the You'll be the first to say we got a lot going on.

[00:40:23]>> A lot going on, but a lot of good stuff going on. A lot of great books, a lot of great shows this week.

[00:40:27]>> Yeah, absolutely. How about you all?

[00:40:30]What all did you watch and read this week? Are you picking up Last Contract of Visco and are you enjoying it as much as we are? Let us know everything you've watched and read in the in the comment section there. My dad here is going to reply to everything just because it's what he likes to do. These are our correspondents, directors and producers, our fine fine patrons on Patreon. They keep the lights on. They take over our channel once a week for Town Square.

[00:40:51]They do so many things. Let's face it, because you and I are basically window dressing here. We're here to yap. That's about it. You could pretty much put potted plants in these seats and it would be a better use of your space. But and if you haven't, hit that subscription button. It's so easy. Boop.

[00:41:06]You hit a button, you join, you become a part of this amazing group right here.

[00:41:10]We say it to each other at least once a week. It's like we hit the lottery. The people we get to hang out with. And you completely echo that. Am I right? I'm sensing a trap. We both said it's like we've hit the lottery for the people we've surrounded ourselves with. You just get a tingle right down to your toes. And I'm sure if you believe A, you've got to believe B. That's just science. Well, you know, I can't quite remember what I said because if there is a tingle, and I'm not confirming whether there is or not, it must be quite forgettable because you forgot to thank the patrons last in our video. Huh? You didn't thank the patrons in Friday's video. It It must not mean all that much to you. The tingle I It It rolled. It rolled. Here's the Here's what happens.

[00:41:54]You come at me in such a way. You You make You disopulate me. Yeah. you you it's become such a thing where you're such a stonefaced boy that doesn't believe in the magic of art and story.

[00:42:04]It cuts me so hard, so deep to the quick that I it I my old man brain can't can't take it. Can't can't deal with it.

[00:42:12]>> Blame Blame your son. Put it on me. I I don't have enough pressure. That's okay.

[00:42:17]Why do you think we had you?

[00:42:20]>> I've got this blank slate I can just fill with all my shame and blame. Just put it on him.

[00:42:25]>> That's That's WHAT PARENTHOOD IS.

[00:42:30]ON MOTHER'S Day for shame to be >> on Mother's Day. That is the absolutely.

[00:42:35]You know what? Happy Mother's Day to everybody. Absolutely. Hope you if you have ever ever been a mentor or a guiding light in any way, shape, or form. I hope you're having a great day.

[00:42:47]If you're still here, you're book people. And in our book, that makes you the best people. Thanks so much for joining us here on Talking Story. You have fun cutting that ending together.