A Random Mexican-Standoff

What makes Chernobyl a compelling watch?

Following our long discussion on the movies of Tarantino, we sit down to talk about the hit HBO-miniseries "Chernobyl". With Shreyas indisposed, the task fell on Rathi and Kshitij to discuss the horrors of a nuclear disaster and its portrayal in this miniseries. So join us as Rathi and Kshitij gush over the cinematography and talk about the similarities it has with the ongoing crisis. Spoiler Level: Light (discussed plot points, but won't spoil your watch experience) Legend: [D - Discussion] [N - Note] [S - Standoff] [V - Video] [F - Followup] [T - Time Stamp] [T] Intro thoughts and our re-watch experiences [T] Parallels with COVID-19 and wearing masks [T] Good Things #1: Cinematography [V] The diving scene {https://youtu.be/M_iuqPVsneU [https://youtu.be/M_iuqPVsneU]} [N] Criticism on the western take on the Soviet Union {https://bit.ly/328kAob [https://bit.ly/328kAob]} [T] Good Things #2: Impeccable set design [T] Using cinematography to capture personal emotions [N] Interview with the screenwriter {https://bit.ly/2Y3d64s [https://bit.ly/2Y3d64s]} [V] Masterclass Cinematography {https://youtu.be/MljytTReJ_o [https://youtu.be/MljytTReJ_o]} [T] Making a technical story accessible [T] A Western take on the soviet power structure [N] Criticism on the western take on the Soviet Union {https://bit.ly/328kAob [https://bit.ly/328kAob]} [N] Black Lung Disease {https://bit.ly/3g13Vre [https://bit.ly/3g13Vre]} [T] The Screenwriter and his comedic roots [T] Criticism: Factual Inaccuracies [N] What Rathi refers to {https://bit.ly/3kGNVyp [https://bit.ly/3kGNVyp]}

13. An In-Depth Discussion on Tarantino

This time we are going to have a very long discussion on the genius director Quentin Tarantino. So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn and enjoy this ride as we look at Tarantino and his movies from all possible angles. Spoilers Ahead!

12: Summer anime in depth: A case study of the 3 episode rule

Welcome, one and all, to our latest case study of the 3 episode rule - where each of us watches 3 episodes of currently airing anime and passes judgment on whether it is worth our time. As you'd expect, sparks fly again over themes, plot devices and "potential". So join us and witness Rathi's pragmatism, Shreyas' emotiveness and Kshitij shuttling between the two. Legend: [D - Discussion] [N - Note] [S - Standoff] [V - Video] [F - Followup] [T - Time Stamp] THINGS DISCUSSED TODAY 00:00 [T] INTRO 00:19 [T] THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL {HTTPS://BIT.LY/339FMRM [https://bit.ly/339fMRm]} [N] The God of High School (Manhwa) {https://bit.ly/3hPk2cU [https://bit.ly/3hPk2cU]} [V] The Death of Classic Anime (Gigguk) {https://youtu.be/dUKiANYyeMM [https://youtu.be/dUKiANYyeMM]} [N] Seraph of the End does not have (many?) animation changes that FMAB has, a better example is Magi {https://bit.ly/3hQ9Xwn [https://bit.ly/3hQ9Xwn]} 16:22 [T] The Misfit of Demon King Academy {https://bit.ly/39PGhfZ [https://bit.ly/39PGhfZ]} [S] Is this a good example of "OP done right"? [V] How to handle stakes in stories (TazerLad) {https://youtu.be/MCEfYXdbwGM [https://youtu.be/MCEfYXdbwGM]} [V] What makes a good OP character (TazerLad) {https://youtu.be/wz3dBaUh9PU [https://youtu.be/wz3dBaUh9PU]} 26:17 [T] Kanojo, Okarishimasu {https://bit.ly/3gc4gZ8 [https://bit.ly/3gc4gZ8]} [S] Is seeing Kazuya having the sense to claim his poor behaviour, realizing his shortcomings, and look to solve his confusion a step forward in adding to the charm of the show, or just needless filler? (credits: Seasonal Prattle {https://bit.ly/3hNgEPE [https://bit.ly/3hNgEPE]}) 34:00 [T] Deca-Dence {https://bit.ly/2DhbPiF [https://bit.ly/2DhbPiF]} 53:04 [T] Appare-Ranman! {https://bit.ly/2PdtXNa [https://bit.ly/2PdtXNa]} 56:04 [T] Re:Zero (Spoilers for Season 1) {https://bit.ly/30glrDf [https://bit.ly/30glrDf]} [S] Well, this whole discussion was a standoff ¯\(ツ)/¯ [N] The review that Rathi mentions {https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=229437 [https://myanimelist.net/reviews.php?id=229437]} [N] Examples that Rathi asked for (the whole topic of depression in media): It’s Kind of a Funny Story {https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804497/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804497/]}, Silver Linings Playbook {https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/]} [V] Videos that Shreyas mentions (WatTheWut) {https://youtu.be/kyoA5_FbUgA [https://youtu.be/kyoA5_FbUgA]} (Mother's Basement) {https://youtu.be/Q5cJKpQvqWI [https://youtu.be/Q5cJKpQvqWI]}

11. 1917: A Cinematic Tale through the Horrors of War

In this episode, we attempt to understand the cinematic masterpiece that is 1917 - an award-winning movie set during the First World War. With most of the episode dedicated to deconstructing the cinematography, we find ourselves in one of the most heated debates yet. So join us as sparks fly, opinions are disregarded and punches are thrown; in this longer than necessary episode. And don't forget - Spoilers ahead. Legend: [D - Discussion] [N - Note] [S - Standoff] [V - Video] [F - Followup] [T - Time Stamp] THINGS DISCUSSED TODAY [T] 00:38 - Intro [T] 00:53- The genius cinematography [T] 04:01 - The fanboy criticizes the direction [S] Single cut - a boon or a bane? [V] How Sherlock uses cuts (among other things) to film thought {https://youtu.be/bfFgnJoLiQE [https://youtu.be/bfFgnJoLiQE]} [V] The making of 1917 {https://youtu.be/kMBnvz-dEXw [https://youtu.be/kMBnvz-dEXw]} {https://youtu.be/lFZGmzsvSlg [https://youtu.be/lFZGmzsvSlg]} [T] 23:32 - A late discussion on sound design [V] Memorable soundtrack - Awakening (Boruto) {https://youtu.be/og826M3iXsw [https://youtu.be/og826M3iXsw]}, Lit ( Koe no Katachi) {https://youtu.be/j9XHdsgJ8Hg [https://youtu.be/j9XHdsgJ8Hg]}, Deja Vu (Initial D) {https://youtu.be/dv13gl0a-FA [https://youtu.be/dv13gl0a-FA]} [V] Beethoven's 5th symphony (first movement) {https://youtu.be/_4IRMYuE1hI [https://youtu.be/_4IRMYuE1hI]} [T] 29:00 - Some criticism on the bridge scene [T] 30:04 - Lucky breaks in movies (particularly war movies) (and why they are not a bad thing) [S] Does luckily having milk to give to a baby during a war detract from it's "realism" [T] 39:25 - Fanboy does not like how people fall down [T] 41:41 - A criminally small discussion on the acting [T] 43:15 - Another way the movie depicts the gritty reality of war [F] Shreyas on re-listening to the episode does feel that the agreement in the last discussion was organic.

10. Exploring Humanity through Visual Storytelling

In this unusual (mostly spoiler-free) episode, we sit down to discuss two amazing story-centric games "A Normal Lost Phone" {https://bit.ly/2OkwkNM [https://bit.ly/2OkwkNM]} and "missed messages" {https://bit.ly/38VvUXr [https://bit.ly/38VvUXr]}. So join us as we try to talk about the different themes, mechanics and stories both the games have to offer but end up with Shreyas hijacking the episode midway. However, one thing is for sure - all of us enjoyed both the games and with how short their playtimes are there's no reason to not give them a go! Legend: [N - Note] [S - Standoff] [V - Video] [F - Followup] [T - Topic] THINGS WE DISCUSS THIS EPISODE: [T] 00:00 - Why these games? [N] Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality {https://bit.ly/2ZqhCeg [https://bit.ly/2ZqhCeg]} [T] 01:58 - The LGBTQ themes in both the games and our experiences with them [T] 10:50 - How the games explore their characters (Warning: Shreyas' rant starts here) [T] 15:40 - Summary of rant (which covers the entire planned discussion): Game mechanics, interactability and how it gets one invested in the characters [T] 16:56 - How the games craft their stories [S] Would missed messages have been better if structured like a normal lost phone? [V] A defence of video games {https://youtu.be/Xs6qBDuY1ww [https://youtu.be/Xs6qBDuY1ww]} [F] Shreyas would like to correct himself: He does not consider visual novels "not" to be games. [T] 23:47 - How "missed messages" beautifully handles heavy topics like self-harm [N] Rathi really liked that they touch upon the implications of providing superficial help to those in distress [T] 25:07 - Shreyas randomly interrupts the discussion (and the weirdness that ensues) Intro Music: ktvsky - Its just another day