Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 11 The Tower of Swallows goes out with a bang this week. For one thing, we actually find the tower, but there also unicorns, ghosts, dead people talking, and homicidal figure skaters. Sapkowski’s writing has never been more fantastical, and parsing these pages brought us back to our Tolkien days. There’s an incredible amount of resolution in this chapter, and plenty of new mysteries to discuss. Prophecy, metaphor, philosophy, murder - let’s get into it! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories Feedback & Theories: [email protected]

From The Social Network to The Wolf of Wall Street to Vice, the 2010s was a golden age of dramatized, real-life catastrophes. 2023’s Blackberry is a ruthless, fantastic addition to that lineage (which might be one of our favorite subgenres). In this episode we track the evolution of these films and explore the innovations and triumphs of this newest Dorian Gray portrait of late-stage capitalism.  Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: [email protected]

This is by far the weirdest movie of the year – so we went to see it twice, and Cam built up one humdinger of a theory. This whole episode is him frantically working through the idea that Beau Is Afraid is the best adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein ever made. Heavy spoilers for both stories, obviously. We have domineering creators; a mildly incestuous bride of Frankenstein; echoes, bookends, and reversals of the book’s signature images and themes; and a brand-new water motif that you could write a doctoral thesis unpacking. Oh and there’s something in the attic that we really have to talk about. Ari Aster has created something totally original here, but he also recalls, twists, subverts, and exposes all of the most powerful parts of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam's stories Feedback & Theories: [email protected]

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 10 Wave your red flags in the air like you just don’t care. Ciri’s about to torch King’s Landing or become The Punisher – either way, she’s not turning out to be a traditional “Chosen One”. Our discussion here is an investigation into Ciri’s latest worrying evolution as Death, destroyer of worlds. Maggie dives into Ciri’s possible futures and competing personas, and Cam feasts upon the greatest buffet of Sapkowski-style Problem-of-Evil-writing we’ve ever gotten. This chapter was brutally dark, though you may find our discussion both pleasant and enlightening. Tee-hee. (Cam’s tired.) Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ LINKS: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Cam’s stories Feedback & Theories: [email protected]

Sisu is the best action movie of the year, and we had to come back for a Tuesday bonus episode and talk about it. This whole episode is a full-throated endorsement, a shining bat-signal to all of you - go check out this fantastic film! It's in theaters right now. Our spoiler-free discussion runs through all of the beloved action movies that this film evokes and builds upon - from the first John Wick and Deadpool movies to Inglorious Basterds and Mad Max: Fury Road. Check out the movie here: https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/sisu Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/ 

It’s a really hard time to be a creative. Ever shrinking wages, vanishing royalties, exploitative contracts. Three days ago, the Writers Guild of America officially went on strike, and in this desperate, precarious moment, there’s no work of art we’d rather the talking about than Ben Affleck’s Air. It’s the first release from his revolutionary new production company that prioritizes creative freedom and proper financial compensation for the whole production crew. We run through details of the Writers Strike, break down Artists Equity, and then do our usual sparkling analysis of this miraculous and incredibly well-executed movie. This one’s important. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/ 

Surprise! We've got two bonus episodes about Succession out today! Cam rewatched the whole show totally out of order and it gave him some unexpected, funky insights that we wanted to share!  This first episode, Succession: The Many Deaths of Logan Roy, is an eight-echo theory about the bookending of Succession’s first and last seasons. Basically, the first two episodes of the first season are an eerily familiar dress rehearsal of the final season’s big twist. Our second new episode, Succession Rewatch: The Sitcom Reset, is live right now on Substack! In that episode, Cam develops a theory about the curious connection between the show’s off-kilter episodic structure and Logan’s fickle affection for his children. Subscribe here to listen to that episode: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories and audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 9 Buckle up, buttercup. This is probably the most intricate, complex chapter we’ve ever covered – and how fitting that it focuses on his most elaborate and enigmatic creation: Yennefer of Vengerberg. Cam dives deep into symmetry, both within this chapter and the series as a whole. Maggie returns to Bird Corner (with good reason!). In light of certain revelations in this chapter, we pinpoint the Netflix show’s greatest mistake. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories and audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

We’ve been waiting for Diablo IV for over a decade. It’s the ultimate Second Breakfast topic – the perfect marriage of fantasy and horror. Cam and Tristan played the bajeezus out of the beta, and we’ve got thoughts! Join us for a breakdown of the game’s character classes, abilities, gear, and skill trees. We also explore the graphical evolutions from Diablo III to Diablo IV, along with this game’s unique atmosphere. We discuss quest lines and variety, and share some concerns as we wait for the full release in June. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Welcome back to Second Breakfast! Today’s episode is a pre-written column in the style of our recent Substack-exclusive bonus episodes discussing Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, 65, and the scourge that is the multiverse. This time, Cam’s written up his complicated thoughts on Vasilis Katsoupis’ Inside, starring Willem Dafoe. It's a celebration of challenging art and black box theater! Subscribe to our Substack to support the show and get access to exclusive bonus episodes discussing ‘Tarantino Tension,’ Black Christmas, Pearl, Barbarian, and Top Gun: Maverick. We’ll see you back here on Friday for our discussion of the Diablo IV open beta! Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie Instagram: @secondbreakfastpod TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: cameronfucile.com

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Ch. 8 Welcome back to Curveball Corner with Cam and Maggie! This is by far the least traditional, least linear chapter of this series – a marathon of surprises in structure, plot, and character that reveals a growing trend in Sapkowski’s writing about neutrality and self-interest. We develop a working theory of the tension at the center of his fantasy world, and discuss all the curious little cross-pollinations across our backburner storylines. Cam also confuses snakes and the Northern Lights. Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram: @secondbreakfastpo YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie Cam’s stories and audiobooks:  https://www.cameronfucile.com/

What’s more surprising: a great new fantasy action-comedy, or Maggie getting to see Taylor Swift? What about both of those in the same episode?! This movie was a huge surprise for us. It’s got confidence and charisma for days, the kind of urgency that turns genre films into classics, and a quiet course correction of everything that tanks modern mainstream movies. This was so much fun! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

There’s a murkiness running through this chapter’s adventure; a nervous, questioning fear that digs at the very heart of Geralt’s character. Cam argues that our beloved witcher is reaching the end of his long decline, and tries to chart the devolution of Geralt’s core ideals and abilities. We also dive into our new friend Avallac’h, who teases and torments Geralt with a discussion of prophecy that permanently alters this series’ engagement with that subject. Finally, we stitch together a tapestry of Tolkien echoes and apparent references, before analyzing the purpose of these evocations - and building a theory about Sapkowski’s central diversion from the world of LOTR and the primacy of self-interest in our governing philosophies. But hey, if you’re worried things get too heavy, don’t be. The episode starts with a review of our wonderful, silly visit to a renaissance faire! Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram: @secondbreakfastpod TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie Cam’s stories and audiobooks: cameronfucile.com

We all know that vampire movies have to be horny – but Bram Stoker’s Dracula takes it to a whole other level. Going beyond the basic themes of desire and sexuality, there’s a unique preoccupation with infidelity in this movie. Temptation, seduction, and betrayal motivate every movement of the plot, and it serves a centuries-long connection between vampire lore and the archetype of the femme fatale. Join us as we dive into this delightful, goofy, horny masterpiece. Maggie also uncomfortably says the word “copulate” about a hundred times. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 6 We’re doubling down on the themes introduced in the last chapter, specifically the comparison between Ciri and Angoulême. Sapkowski stretches the parallels to breaking point and suggests some fascinating distinctions between the two characters that lead us to a revealing conversation about ultraviolence and vengeance. We also advance the Thomas Hobbes state of nature discussion with even more animal-themed characters, and fresh insight into Sapkowski’s commentary on the social contract. Oh and one guy looks like a frog. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

A team of the world’s best scientists working 24/7 for years on end could not have created a movie that appeals to us more. For Maggie, we’ve got a sweeping period romance, Gothic landscapes, and a deeply compelling female protagonist. For Cam, we’ve got the agony and inspiration of artistic creation and the philosophical grappling with religion. Join us for a wildly enthusiastic analysis of this movie, and then shut up and go see it. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 5 Believe it or not, there’s an interesting new bird this week. But we think it serves a larger emerging pattern – one about delicate social contracts and Thomas Hobbs’ state of nature. We also meet a guy named Fulko, who’s basically a funhouse Falka – and a gateway into a discussion on extremism. Maggie tracks Geralt’s uncomfortable relationship with omens and prophecy, trying to figure out if he still believes in destiny. Cam investigates our traveling company for ghosts and echoes of Geralt’s tortured subconscious. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Where is the Jedi returning from…? He never left. He never changed. He was never tempted by the Dark Side. Join us for an in-depth investigation as we try to figure out what the hell happened here. Every plot point in this movie is recycled from the last two – but it’s boring now. And unnecessary. None of the characters grow, except Darth Vader (who we never see). Instead, we spend 90 minutes trapped on Endor, where people stand around a lot and recap the trilogy. This film is the unfortunate blueprint for the 40 years of subsequent bad Star Wars sequels. We take a quick look at them all and try to figure out where the franchise could go next. At least Harrison Ford is still dashing?   Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/  Feedback & Theories: [email protected]  YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Of all the indie horror splatterfests we've covered on the show, this one is definitely the most controversial - and we had such a good time with it. Even Cam - the famed Winnie-the-Pooh purist - smiled and cackled throughout this gleefully heretical romp. Let's dive into why this movie works: brutal efficiency, entertaining creature design, a shockingly good sense of structure and pacing, and that timeless / campy style of comedy that doesn't involve a single solitary quip. Oh this one was so much fun! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 4 Now that we’ve thawed out from the Texas Ice Apocalypse, we can get back to what really matters: deep dive research papers about birds. This time, Maggie explores the titular swallow, and draws some connections to the albatross featured in Chapter 3. Cam plays with Sapkowski’s new double pivot in the Geralt/Bonhart comparison, and argues that this chapter signals the beginning of Ciri finally reckoning with Falka’s misdeeds. Together, we reflect on the paradox of adapting the Witcher – it’s simultaneously pedestrian and wildly experimental, and kneecapped by the audience’s expectation of epic fantasy. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Oh look, a crossover between our favorite genres! This horror classic has an important connection to the world of fantasy. Writer / Director Neil Marshall helmed two of the all-time “Game of Thrones” battle episodes, Blackwater and Watchers on the Wall. But before we made the trip to Westeros, he dove into a cave and scared the bejeezus out of us. There might not be a better instance of sustained tension in the history of the genre. Between the cave-ins and the creatures (!) and the flashlight cinematography, The Descent is an hour-and-a-half of death grip terror. Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram: @secondbreakfastpod TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie Cam’s Work: cameronfucile.com

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 3 You thought all those narrative zoom-outs were a storytelling curveball? In this chapter we dive into Dandelion’s brain and then jump forward hundreds of years as archaeologists discover the remains of our heroes in a museum setting. We’ve got updates and surprises across every major storyline and character, new spies popping up on every page, constant omens of death and danger, and a bird that fascinates Maggie to no end. Pretty Little Liars video from Mike’s Mic: https://youtu.be/Umjv8AEWaPg Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

There are 1-star reviews for Skinamarink and there are 5-star reviews for Skinamarink. Nothing in between. This has to be the most polarizing horror movie in years, a fuzzed-out, ultra low-budget, experimental cascade of nightmarish atmosphere and gleefully opaque storytelling. Messy, provocative, frustrating, admirable - this one’s a doozy. Let’s dive into it! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/  

The early 2000s were a goldmine for epic fantasy on screen, with the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean all lighting up the box office and winning our millennial hearts. And even though 2004's Van Helsing bombed both critically and commercially, it is an absolute delight! Cam and Tristan dive into this forgotten classic to discuss the unique flavor of gothic fantasy, the virtues of standalone genre movies, the role of earnestness in epic storytelling, Van Helsing as an Americanized 'Witcher' movie, and the infectious passion of 'popcorn movies'. Here's the article we reference during the show: https://bloodknife.com/everyone-beautiful-no-one-horny/  Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 2 We've referenced Doctor Faustus. We've echoed Macbeth. But today we add another work of Elizabethan theater to our tool belt as Shakespeare's Henry IV becomes suddenly and powerfully resonant to the world of The Witcher. But before that, we work through Ciri's latest identity crisis. Who will emerge from Vizzy's swamp, Ciri, Princess Cirilla, or Falka? We wonder how the fate of the Rats will impact her decision. Longtime listener Peregrine helps us work through a discussion about shadow presences and narrative subconscious as we unpack Bonhart's eerie similarities to Geralt. Finally, we try to figure out where all of these menacing 'narrative zoom out' scenes are headed. Are we being watched? Is someone listening in? Let's talk it out! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

What’s the recipe for the perfect sequel? Two parts outnumbered chase scene, two parts morally gray supporting cast, and two parts arguing with a philosophical muppet. The Empire Strikes Back is a dark, stark adventure seemingly born out of a bunch of what-if scenarios that upend and challenge everything that made the first movie great – and somehow make this film even greater. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of The Tower of Swallows, Chapter 1 New year, new book, new infographic style! At long last, Ciri has returned – not Falka, but actually Ciri, and she’s got a new single serving guest star whom we lovingly nicknamed Vizzy da Bomba. But who is this new man? Is he the narrator? The storyteller from last chapter? Sapkowski himself? Geralt? Regis?? Another unicorn?!?! We take a longer look at the new narrative preoccupation in this chapter, with its cutaway zoom-out scenes and underlying struggles with objectivity and the act of narration. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Woohoo! It's our last episode of the year and you know what that means - it's time for the third annual Brekkies award show! We've got six winners across two categories: Best Work of Art Released in 2022 and Best Work of Art We Discovered in 2022. Get ready for surprises and snubs, honorable mentions, and a bonus little 'Year in Review' segment recapping the 103 (!) episodes that we released this year!  Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s stories & audiobooks: https://www.cameronfucile.com/ For all you cheaters out there, here’s a list of everything we mentioned in the episode: House of the Dragon (2022 TV series on HBO) Barbarian (2022 horror movie, streaming on HBO Max) The Batman (2022 movie streaming on HBO Max) Terrifier 2 (2022 horror movie streaming on Screambox, or rent on Prime) The Whale (currently in theaters) Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (read for free on Webtoon, or order volumes 1-4) Stardew Valley (indie game available for Switch, Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, iOS, or Android here) The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (order here) Fear of the Dawn by Jack White (2022 rock album, streaming everywhere) The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski (available at most bookstores, including here) Hulk: Gray by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale (6-issue comic series, see buying options here) Barry Lyndon (1975 Kubrick movie, streaming on HBO Max) Tusk (2014 movie streaming on HBO Max) Funny Games (2007 movie available for rent on Prime) X (2022 movie available on Showtime and Prime) Pearl (2022 movie available for rent on Prime) The Banshees of Inisherin (2022 movie streaming on HBO Max)

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 7 The finale of Baptism of Fire is here, and with it comes the biggest bout of Tolkien crossovers yet. We’ve got Black Riders, White Riders, Mirkwood, Gollum, the light/fire/ash cycle, the narrator question, Helm’s Deep, Weathertop, birds – need we go on? At first glance this chapter didn’t strike us as a “finale”. It didn’t answer any major questions or advance the greater narrative, but upon closer inspection there are a half dozen small, character-focused “finales” and resolutions that evolve our supporting cast. Merry Christmas Eve Eve, see you next Friday for the 125th annual Brekkies! Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

It’s the holiday season: a kaleidoscope of presents, tinsel, caroling, food, melancholy, guilt, broken childhood memories – and a sheep with no face. Today we’re discussing Cam’s new Christmas short story, Wooltide Cheer, which you can listen to here: https://www.cameronfucile.com/ Maggie and Tristan lead a conversation through Cam’s creative process, from the real-life ornament that inspired the idea, the anxiety of finding a happy ending for a sad story, the freedom of writing without a plan, and the joy of finding your own character’s voice. We also tackle the theory that all art is autobiographical, and use the story as a framework to discuss the intense attachment to ornaments that we develop, and our evolving relationships with holiday tradition as we age. Subscribe to our Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 6 Yennefer is finally back – and she brought all of her emotional baggage with her. The mages gather again, and it goes a little better than last time. We discuss this chapter as an echo and restaging of the conclave, and a continuation of the recent novelistic scope. Yennefer and Geralt’s connection grows stronger as they’re both consumed by guilt. Ciri reemerges from under Falka’s wrath. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

We’re finally looking at the Daddy of all franchise movies, but this first Star Wars movie is nothing like the films that it inspired. It’s simple, restless, and light on its feet, filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder and imagination. We discuss this movie as a work of “space fantasy”, in the context of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Witcher, before diving into the narrative tools and magic tricks that make this a masterpiece. Subscribe to our Substack: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 5 Is this a chapter, a short story, or 14 scenes in a trench coat? Sapkowski dives into his new fellowship with the same glee as Ciri slaughtering a rude bystander. Dandelion receives a flesh wound, and Geralt almost drowns in guilt. Regis is exactly who we thought he was, but we have no idea what to make of Cahir. There’s a delightful soup scene. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Cam had a night alone and decided to watch a movie - and oh look, it turned out to be a fascinating Doctor Faustus retelling. So here's an episode discussing Oliver Stone's 1987 epic, Wall Street. Is Gordon Gekko an analogue for Mephistopheles or Satan? (Yes, both) How does the "greed" of this story compare to that of Faustus? (Hint: it makes the good doctor even more sympathetic). Martin Sheen also drops in to perfectly execute the Old Man role, and the final breaking point between Gekko and Fox pointedly echoes the homoeroticism of Marlowe's play. There's some discussion of American Psycho as well, and a deconstruction of the movie's ending, which pivots away from Marlowe and sees Faustus strike up a new, last-minute contract that leaves us with a message of hope, not divine punishment. Cam's audiobook readings of classic short stories : cameronfucile.bandcamp.com Subscribe to our Substack for bonus episodes: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Youtube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod

Well, Maggie has the flu so we're doing a silly episode about one of those dreadful / delightful Christmas romance movies. Why is it so fun to watch bad movies with your friends and make jokes the whole time? What makes a Christmas movie 'rewatchable'?Will the American fetish for regency England ever die? Find out in this week's thrilling new episode of Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie! Subscribe to our Substack to read Maggie's latest piece about her long and complicated journey with true crime: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Youtube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

What’s the difference between horror and true crime? The Strangers takes place in a house that you feel like you’ve lived in. Its characters are smart, but not geniuses, and the killers are shockingly, unnervingly ordinary. Every twist and turn feels possible, and relatable, and hopeless. It’s a movie about fear, a cat and mouse game that denies you all the tropes and clichés that usually remind you that this is just a movie. Our discussion is an investigation, our attempt to find out what it is that makes this movie so unbelievably scary. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Youtube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 4 Well, it looks like our freaky new friend is a vampire. But after some discussion, we’re not so sure that’s a bad thing. Sapkowski shakes up our little fellowship and jettisons all the new characters, which sparks a debate about guest stars and the future of the series’ ensemble. Maggie develops a theory about smoke and fire that helps to explain the book’s title. Cam dives into war profiteering, exploitation, collateral damage. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Consider this episode us lighting our bat signal over Gotham. The best artistic experience of the year is here. Our discussion is a 100% spoiler-free, full-throated recommendation of Martin McDonagh’s (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, In Bruges) latest movie. Cam frames this recommendation through a comparison to Shakespeare, because this is somehow the best tragedy, comedy, and history we’ve seen in a long time. No one working today writes a better character study than McDonagh. Stop reading this and go buy tickets. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

This week’s episode is a roundtable discussion about our evolving relationships with art. Maggie kicks us off with Picasso’s 1907 painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Tristan leads a discussion about his complicated relationship with Benvenuto Cellini’s 16th-century sculpture, Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Cam rounds things out with his journey of finding, outgrowing, and rediscovering Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

We’re finally discussing one of the greatest horror movies ever made, and to celebrate, we stayed at the inn attached to the original house in Kingsland, Texas. After our on-location intro - and immersive, terrifying late night rewatch - we jump into the film’s unique burned out look and the predatory, restless camera work that is still so unsettling even decades later. Cam tries to puzzle out the suggestive, broken logic of all those bone decorations and twig sculptures. Maggie tackles the idea of TCM as a slasher and celebrates its unabashed passion for the horror genre. We discuss Leatherface in contrast with Michael Myers and break down what is arguably the greatest murder weapon in all of horror. Cam wraps things up with his theory that Grandpa might be a vampire. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Youtube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 3 Last chapter we were sneaking through a war zone, and this chapter adds monsters and magic to the equation. Our fellowship’s fears and philosophies get more complex, and Sapkowski continues to hammer the Tolkien echoes. We don’t just read about isolationism and the suspicion of strangers – he provokes those uncomfortable feelings within us. As Geralt’s mission falters, we discuss the psychological implications of his bad decision-making. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Youtube / Instagram / TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

We're partying like it's 1999 with a classic indie horror juggernaut: The Blair Witch Project. This one's all about the unparalleled sense of immersion and intentionality offered by found footage horror. We also look at the unusual production of the movie and how it enhanced that palpable 'realism' on-screen. Cam offers a theory about the film's controversial choice not to show the witch at the end of the movie - spoiler alert, he thinks they kinda did show the witch at the end of the movie. We close with a discussion of reverse echoes to better understand how Blair Witch might have influenced HBO's True Detective. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Here are the links to watch / listen to Cam's performance of this short story before you tune in to our discussion: YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5DFzfGxtM   SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/3FJKWC1  In just over 400 words, more than a century ago, Mark Twain constructed the perfect fable for our current moment. With a handful of talking animals and a painting that we never actually see, he stages our reactionary, polarized media landscape, the tremendously powerful influencers and tastemakers that dominate our cultural discourse, the unending stream of soulless reboots and unfaithful adaptations that haunt our theaters, the ravages of late stage capitalism - and through it all, even in the darkest moments, the astonishing power of art. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

We’re finally talking about the Saw franchise, and trying to answer the question, what makes a great Saw film? Actors, aesthetics, melodrama, creativity – there’s a secret sauce to these movies that’s surprisingly difficult to pin down. Our discussion covers all 9 films. Here’s a little recap for anyone who’s a little rusty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7gvPFnej8w  Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of Baptism of Fire, Chapter 2 Yeehaw! We’re back in the saddle with The Witcher again. This chapter is a perfect cocktail of dwarves, casualties of war, and old man Geralt. With war waging all around our characters, Geralt’s cold non-intervention is suddenly everywhere. It’s an on-the-ground navigation of the problem of evil that gives us unparalleled insight into his character. We also notice a slow avalanche of Tolkien echoes and pointed pivots that turn the fantasy genre on its ear while reaffirming its foundational humanity. We finally find out what Maggie had for breakfast this morning. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://secondbreakfastpod.substack.com/ Feedback & Theories: [email protected] YouTube: Second Breakfast with Cam & Maggie Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 10: “The Black Queen” Happy 200th episode to us! And to celebrate, HBO has kindly coordinated the season finale of House of the Dragon for this week. It’s our tenth episode, which also means it’s the tenth pilot episode. We walk through all the echoes and bookends with the series premiere – crownings, miscarriages, and a rogue Daemon. We debate Lucerys’ death and Aemond’s culpability (since most of our listeners think it was “an accident”). Finally, we try to figure out the exact moment in this episode where the show hit its stride and finally caught up with Game of Thrones. Maggie continues to champion incest, and someone other than Cam finally brings up Faustus. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Indie success stories are the best stories, and Terrifier 2 is a certified, blood-splattered, runaway hit, dethroning Top Gun: Maverick and breaking box office records in its second week in theaters. But there's more to this story.  Damien Leone's signature creation, Art the Clown, is not just an inventive modern horror icon and a glorious, singular creative vision - he is a beacon of artistic expression. Art is making art truly fearless and dangerous again. He is a snarling, joyful, deliriously evil antidote to the silly moral panics that genuinely threaten creative freedom, a shining refutation to all those pearl-clutching arguments about 'gratuitous' sex and violence. We celebrate the spectacular success of Terrifier 2 in this puritanical climate and discuss the previous two movies in the franchise, Terrifier and All Hallow's Eve. All hail Art the Clown! GET TICKETS FOR TERRIFIER 2 NOW: https://www.terrifier2themovie.com/  WATCH ALL HALLOW'S EVE [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/391450/all-hallows-eve?start=true  WATCH TERRIFIER [free]: https://tubitv.com/movies/559020/terrifier?start=true Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/

Discussion of House of the Dragon, Season 1, Episode 9: “The Green Council” What do you do when your big shocking twist becomes expected? Every season of Game of Thrones faced the titanic expectations and pressures of ‘the big ninth episode,’ and House of the Dragon is no different. We start with some surprising parallels with lesser known GOT Episode 9s. We also discuss the latest format shift for the show, settling into one group of characters in one place at one time. Villains become human and hatred festers before our eyes. We turn to Rhaenys and try to figure out why she spared the usurpers, and whether she had any other option. Maggie continues to find sympathy for Alicent, and Cam and Tristan find an uneasy empathy for Aegon and Aemond. We close with a discussion of Viserys’ absence and the tonal future of the show going into Season 2. Subscribe to our Substack here: https://substack.com/secondbreakfastpod Feedback & Theories: [email protected] Instagram & TikTok: @secondbreakfastpod Cam’s Work: https://www.cameronfucile.com/