Pop Medieval is back for Season 4! Doc and Nina discuss the most expensive television show ever, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Their mutual consensus: negative, to varying degrees. Why does this show “insist upon itself?”
Topics include: Nina’s GED in Lotrology, David Bowie’s codpiece, elven swimming abilities, how to time soap opera pacing, Thomas Kinkade, the demon children of elf heaven, Spirit Halloween Numinorians, and how any show — regardless of the subject matter — can be improved with dinosaurs.
Doc and Nina are getting ready to kick off season 4 of Pop Medieval! But first, a minisode! Pulled from an outtake from season 3, Nina attempts to recall the events of the “Lord of the Rings” as a non-LotR geek, from memory. Can she recall all the plot points? (She! Does not! Pass!)
It’s the season 3 finale! Time for your final exam! Have you been paying attention all year, or have you been idly listening on your morning commute? Featuring a Pop Medieval correction and retraction!
After your exam, be sure to check out Doc and Nina’s summer reading program:
Doc and Nina try to record an episode without giggling, but the lord of the lash says, “nay, nay, nay!” They are back in Nerdhaven studios together and, propelled by the new Lord of the Rings series called “The Rings of Power,” discuss some Tolkien adaptations. Stay for a serenade.
Topics discussed: Overpromising book deadlines, selective rotoscoping, a shocking dvd discovery, Rankin Bass’s confusing start and bizarre flashbacks, Nina’s need for a map, Frodo-mon, the fourth wall break, and justice for the felbeast.
We’re going to the stars! In this episode, Doc tells Nina about the new astronomical discovery and what that has to do with Tolkien plus some other medieval astronomy instruments. Finally, Doc implies that Nina has the “ill-Inanna.”
Topics covered: sky protractors, using video game consoles to remember names, complicated steampunk sundials, Mayan city planning, American presidential rituals, and the longest star naming discussion ever.
Doc refocuses current events on himself and then introduces Nina to Saint Olga of Kyiv. Doc completely misses two jokes. Plus, Nina relives past trauma.
Topics covered: The grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Golden Horde, who can lay claim to what, the greatness of Maggie Smith, #niceguys of the 8th century, the logistics of getting buried alive in a castle, extra steamy bath houses, St. Olga’s non-traditional funeral practices and birding, and spiritual incest.
Spring Break, Pop Medievalists! While Doc and Nina work on their freckling, they left you with another Minisode. It’s timely, too: Who hates Red Sparrow as much as Nina? Probably no one. Enjoy!
Doc and Nina play the popular viking-themed video game, Valheim. They’ll discuss the meaning of the game and get into the finer aspects of the world.
Topics covered: being dead, naked and afraid; rewarding cooperative game play;Ms. Awesome’s Viking Animal Crossing; where fantasy name generators fail; the evolution of tree punching; sea travel realism; unforgiving viking homelife; corvid mythos; the connection between Eikthyr and heavy metal music; troll clothing; and non-toxic norse communities.
In this very special episode of Pop Medieval, Nina rescues Doc from a bicycle repair man’s refrigerator and interviews him about his latest book, “The Watch of Traxis.” She asks the important questions like, is this book a horror novel?
Topics covered: the genesis of the name Prof Awesome, tabletop roleplaying games, wristwatches ruining SEO, Doc’s lazy writing style, and some Discord shoutouts!
Doc and Nina are back from their January break and have a new episode. In this Valentine’s Day episode, they’re gushing, cooing, and preening about Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Parliament of Foules” — birds, that is. Ca-CAAA!
Topics covered: Valentine’s Day as a romantic day, low-brow ducks, dream visions, “The Dream of the Rood,” dating reality shows, socially approved relationships, the dark history of the cuckoo bird, and strange podcast metrics.
