The Pop Docs have had a busy summer, headlined on the pop culture front by San Diego Comic Con and season 2 of House of the Dragon. In this episode, the Pop Docs recap the Con and review HotD's second season before diving into descriptions about the upcoming season of the Rings of Power. As always, spoilers abound!

Introduction: 0:00-2:45
San Diego Comic Con: 2:46-17:52
House of the Dragon-Season 2 Review: 17:53-50:56
Rings of Power Discussion: 50:57-1:20:32
Books We Are Reading and Bookstore Shout-Out: 1:20:33-1:28:44

Bookstore shout-out!

Mitzi's Books
510 Main Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
https://mitzisbooks.com/

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It must be trailer season because we have been blessed with a multitude of previews for upcoming movies and television shows. The Pop Docs use the release of recent trailers as a reason to dive into several franchises and share whether they are excited or indifferent for the upcoming offerings. Hear Deni's excitement for Bridgerton season 3 tempered by Netflix's two-part release! Share in Joseph's lamentations over the seeming demotion of novels in the greater Star Wars canon! As always, spoilers abound!

Introduction: 0:00-1:50
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: 1:51-8:43
The Penguin: 8:44-15:46
Alien: Romulus: 15:47-30:16
The Acolyte: 30:17-40:22
Bridgerton Season 3: 40:23-47:29
House of the Dragon Season 2: 47:30-59:33
Books we're reading and bookstore shout-out: 59:34-1:10:18

Bookstore shout-out!

The Strand
828 Broadway at 12th Street
New York, NY 10003
https://www.strandbooks.com/

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Dune: Part Two has arrived! Don your stillsuits and join The Pop Docs for a discussion of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's saga. Caution: Spoilers ahead!

Introduction: 0:00-7:45
Talking Dune 1: 7:46-20:53
Talking Dune 2 (Spoiler free): 20:54-25:10
Talking Dune 2 (Spoilers): 25:11-1:14:32
Books we are reading: 1:14:33-1:17:16
Bookstore shout-out: 1:17:17-1:20:51

Bookstore shout-out!

Second Read Books
51 Cordova Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084

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Recently, the Pop Docs attended an unexpected showing of The Fellowship of the Ring on a big screen, which they found to be as majestic and epic as it was when it debuted in theaters. Inspired by this opportunity, the Pop Docs decided to devote any entire episode to talking about Tolkien's world. Tune in to hear the Pop Docs wax poetically about The Lord of the Rings trilogy! Hear Joseph express his frustration that The Rings of Power diverts time and resources from The Wheel of Time! Listen as Deni discusses how The Hobbit trilogy is . . . ok! But be wary, dear listeners, for spoilers abound!

Introduction: 0:00-2:30
An Evening Watching The Fellowship of the Ring : 2:31-18:24
Discussing The Lord of the Rings trilogy: 18:25-42:01
Discussing The Hobbit trilogy: 42:02-58:12
Discussing The Rings of Power: 58:13-1:20:37
Books we are reading: 1:20:38-1:24:26
Indie bookstore shout-out: 1:24:27-1:27:09

Books we are currently reading:

Deni: The Fires of Heaven (Wheel of Time #5) by Robert Jordan

Joseph: Three Axes to Fall (The Grave of Empires #3) by Sam Sykes

Indie bookstore shout-out!

Barrel of Books and Games
403 N. Donnelly Street
Mt. Dora, Florida 32757
Website: https://barrelofbooksandgames.com/

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A new year has dawned, and in this episode, the Pop Docs get ready for it by running down their list of most anticipated entries in books, shows, and movies! Hear how they journey from The Mandalorian to a Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City! Listen as they learn about the variation in reality programming! Join them in worrying about the release of The Winds of Winter yet rejoicing in the upcoming second season of House of the Dragon!

Introduction: 0:00-6:17
*&\% we found on the internet: 6:18-23:22
Looking Forward to 2024!: 23:23-1:02:00
Books we are currently reading: 1:02:01-1:08:10
Indie bookstore shout-out: 1:08:11-1:10:28

Books we are currently reading:

Deni: Heat (Dark Kings #12) by Donna Grant

Joseph: Three Axes to Fall (The Grave of Empires #3) by Sam Sykes

Indie bookstore shout-out!

Arty Bees Books
106 Manners Street
Wellington, New Zealand
Website: https://www.artybees.co.nz/

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The holiday season is upon us, and although Halloween has passed, the Pop Docs do not want the spooky season to fade away without being able to talk about some scary stories. Listen as Joseph begrudgingly admit that he likes some horror books, shows, and movies! Share in Deni's excitement over Bridgerton's upcoming third season! Join the Pop Docs' discussion of The Mist -- in written and film forms!

*&\% we found on the internet: 8:07
Discussion of the horror genre and The Mist: 24:05
Books we are currently reading: 1:04:49
Indie bookstore shout-out: 1:09:38

Books we are currently reading:

Deni: Smoke and Fire by Donna Grant

Joseph: The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan

Indie bookstore shout-out!

Beastly Books
418 Montezuma Avenue
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Website: https://www.beastlybooks.com/

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The newest video game adaptation has arrived with a flurry of mayhem, quips, and slag—Twisted Metal is here! In this episode, The Pop Docs spill the milk on the Twisted Metal television series debuting on Peacock. Listen as Deni waxes poetic about the Easter eggs that made the transition from video game to t.v. series. Scrutinize, with Joseph, the infrastructure spending in the post-apocalyptic setting. And, for Wheel of Time fans, join The Pop Docs as they discuss the promotional scenes released by Amazon prior to the debut of the second season. As always, spoilers abound!

*&\% we found on the internet (The Wheel of Time): 3:28
Discussion of Twisted Metal: 26:51
Indie bookstore shout-out: 1:16:05
Books we are currently reading: 1:18:20

Books we are currently reading:

Deni: Passion Ignites by Donna Grant

Joseph: The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee

Indie bookstore shout-out!

Verbatim Books
3793 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104
Website: https://verbatimbooks.com/

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Henry Cavill may soon be hanging up Geralt’s smiling sword; however, he has one last season as THE Witcher, and The Pop Docs have seen the first part of this new season! They have thoughts, and in this episode, The Pop Docs offer their reactions to The Witcher as they retell the first five episodes in their own words. Listen as Joseph struggles to remember anyone’s name! Hear Deni search for character arcs from anyone! Assess their respective ratings for the first part of the season! Snark, sincerity, and spoilers abound!

*&\% we found on the internet (The Wheel of Time and Twisted Metal): 6:06
Recap and review of season three of The Witcher: 20:38
Books we are currently reading: 1:35:00
Indie bookstore shout-out: 1:38:52

Books we are currently reading:

Deni: The Shadow Rising (Book Four of The Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan

Joseph: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

Indie bookstore shout-out!

Writers Block Bookstore

316 N. Park Avenue

Winter Park, FL 32789

32 W. Plant Street

Winter Garden, FL 34787

Website: https://www.writersblockbookstore.com/

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Twitter: @ThePopDocs

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