Episode 62 - 'Tis the Setting

It's that time of year, the time we've been waiting for for months. Yep, that's right, it's finally Christmas! (Also: Star Wars opening!)

As you settle down to watch your favorite Christmas movie (also: space opera), one thing you'll notice right away--the setting. You know, the lights and carols and snow and roast beast. (Also: the cool spaceships and laser-swords and aliens and mysterious masked villains.) This episode Tim and Nick examine the various ways setting affects story, both consciously and unconsciously.

They follow up with a lightning round review of recent movies and TV shows, and finally end with some observations on how a certain science-fiction pop culture touchstone has infected everything in the entire world. Except our podcast, obviously.

Merry Christmas! (Also: May the Force be with you!)

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Episode 60 - The Story Goes Ever On And On

You may have noticed, if you're especially perceptive, that there are a lot of story franchises and long-running shows around. For instance, there's some sort of space opera coming out with its seventh episode this December. Seven episodes? Seriously? Isn't it time to end the thing already?

Thankfully, we have Nick and Tim here to give us the answers we need. When is it time to end a long series or franchise? They ponder this question in their fifth anniversary episode.

Then, because they know no bounds in their efforts to inform and entertain, they share yet another Bit of Story and resurrect Crackpot's Corner.

And the answer is--no. Keep making Star Wars. Forever.

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Episode 49 - Write It Again, Sam

Writing is revision and a movie is discovered in the editing room. Or so "they" tell us. Isn't vision enough? If not, how do we go about casting our re-vision anyway? Tim and Nick take up the topic with their usual flair in Episode 49 of Derailed Trains of Thought.

Then, just because, they try their hand at revising popular movies and books--because, that's what people do now, you know? Listen in! Enjoy! Take notes! And remember, next up is our 50th podcast extravaganza!

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