Reconcilable Differences

#8: Devouring Essence

August 27th, 2015 · 143 minutes

This time around, John and Merlin talk about time-shifted media releases, corporate speak, and Dave the Marketing guy.

For the main topic, John educates Merlin about the first-person shooter game, "Destiny." Merlin feels overwhelmed, while John says we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

#7: 50 Shades of John

August 13th, 2015 · 132 minutes

This week, John and Merlin do some follow-up on John's picky eating and his family's failures at meal planning. Both men cop to loving soup. Also some updates on Destiny.

Then on to the big topic: how does John's mind work, and how did he get that way?

(Recorded July 17, 2015)

#6: Mud and Gaffer's Tape and Broken Lenses

July 30th, 2015 · 109 minutes

This time kicks off with Merlin's torpor, then continues with FU on miscrediting Synecdoche, NY, recommendations on the making of Fury Road, and an extended meditation on the social psychology of web commenting.

Then on to the scintillating topic of the week: food and cooking. In which we learn that your hosts and their families are both…

#5: Shiny and Chrome

July 16th, 2015 · 101 minutes

This week, the boys kick things off with some followup on Merlin's bad media viewing habits, some incomplete homework, and more on the "tells" in Total Recall.

The remainder of the episode is dedicated to a spoiler-heavy look at Mad Max: Fury Road. If you haven't seen it, treat yourself to a cinema viewing as soon as you can.

John and M…

#4: Ohio Intervention

July 2nd, 2015 · 91 minutes

This week, after John derides Merlin's terrible media viewing habits, the boys share their affection for divisive films and revisit the spectacle of "Hell in a Cell."

For this week's primary topic, John probes Merlin's spotty history with video games, then sketches out the current console landscape. Merlin is assigned preliminary homework to st…

#3: Helena Sell

June 18th, 2015 · 143 minutes

This week, John and Merlin finally set themselves to the task of beginning to argue about their differences.

After a look at their feelings about reviews (and review culture), John takes Merlin to task for his stance on the 1999 film Fight Club (and Fight Club culture). Then, things conclude with a passionate debate on the societal impact …

#2: Thrown to the Wolves of Puberty

June 11th, 2015 · 108 minutes

In this episode, John and Merlin discuss the origins of the show, including their contrasting approaches to authority, conformity, and contrariness.

Also, Merlin credits John with helping him become less horrible, and John deposes Merlin about his year in military school.

#1: We All Ruined It Together

June 3rd, 2015 · 129 minutes

In this inaugural episode of Season 1, John and Merlin begin framing the conversation on exactly how they got how they are.

From the dungeons of Usenet to the dragons of roving bullies, origins are explored, awkwardness is catalogued, and differences are provisionally reconciled.