Can you believe it's finale time?! The eighth and final episode of House of the Dragon is here, and Nat and Tom are ready to deep dive like a dragon off the cliffs of Dragonstone. Yeah, that's a metaphor that kind of works. Everyone had something going on in this episode: Rhaena's chasing a mangy feral; Tyland meets a gender-bending admiral; Aegon takes his bad leg (and sizzled wang) on the run; Aemond goes nuts; Helaena seems to be able to drop in on Daemon's dreams; and Rhaenyra and Alicent ha...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Tom is in Edinburgh prepping a show, and Natalie is also in a very glamourous location (her couch), but nothing can stop them talking all things HotD penultimate episode! Rhaenyra's dragonriding auditions hit full swing with more misses than hits, but still, hits that count. Oscar Tully is everyone's new favourite Daemon-slapping young leader, Ser Larys is shenanigan-ing in the capital, and Alicent has gone bush. One more episode to go! Eeek!
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Lordy lordy, quite a saucy moment at the, ahem, climax of this week's episode of House of the Dragon. Nat & Tom break down the magic moment between Rhaenyra and Mysaria; Alicent's terrible relationships with her sons; Daemon's psychological breakthrough at Harrenhal; and the continuing effects of all this on the "Smallfolk" of the title. Plus dragon riding is tougher than you might think; unless you're the right person, of course. Enjoy!
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Nat and Tom are back to deconstruct Daemon's dodgy dream in this week's House of the Dragon. The Harrenhal ergot is wild, man. It's a slower episode after the fire and blood of last time, but there's still a lot of great moments and characters wallowing in frustration to make for excellent discussions: Alicent getting mansplained out of a job; Rhaenyra and Jace hoping to plant some new seeds; Aegon's crispy dilemma; the Riverlords getting hella mad. Enjoy!
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 6 min
NO NO NO NO NO WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING Sigh. You watch Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon for a decade and yet you STILL don't think you're going to have your heart broken. We sweet summer children. Tom's in France, but has found an hour away from the champagne and fromage to chat to Natalie about the epic Battle of Rooks Rest, and its terrible climax. Plus - Aegon really wants to matter, Alicent's starting to give no f***s, and Daemon is going slightly mad. Also, at one point, Natalie ref...
Jul 11, 2024•59 min
As Tom says to Nat in this episode re: nudity: "ask and ye shall receive". There's a lot to this week's HotD, but surely Hot D itself is a... well.... large part of it. Join Nat and Tom as they deep dive into Alicent and Rhaenyra's reunion, the arrival of Sir Simon as Ser Simon, Ser Gwayne the Green Knight and more. There's also updates on the impending British election, AND a tangent about why Nat's brain might not be functioning properly. Enjoy!
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Nat and Tom are back for more Hot D, and it's all go go go as King Aegon seeks revenge for a little dynastic trouble he's had imposed on him. There's a focus on what the role the smallfolk will play in the battles ahead, as well as some proper acting, tantrums, twin talk, and more. There's also a little Doctor Who season finale wrap-up, plus a bit of chatter about the bonkers British election, or "gennie lec" as the kids might say. Natalie also forgets to do the regular "where you can find us" s...
Jun 26, 2024•1 hr 17 min
By the Old Gods and new, this is a very strange thing - to be delighted to be back in Westeros, but still so sad our wonderful friend and bloodrider Stuart Layt isn't here to lead the way with his booming laugh and unparalled knowledge of all things House of the Dragon. While of course Stu is irreplaceable, it's wonderful to welcome podcast regular Tom Salinsky onboard to help steer the dragon through Season 2 of HotD. There's lots to chew over in this first instalment, including the return (bri...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Singing! Goblins! Singing Goblins! New Doctor! New Companion! It's all happening in Ncuti Gatwa's first full episode as The Doctor in The Church on Ruby Road. John and Tom from the Best Pick Pod join Natalie to recap this Christmas episode, complete with babe left outside a church on Christmas Eve, goblin karaoke, mysterious set-ups for future episodes, and Davina McCall (who is a big deal in the UK, apparently).
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min
The trio of Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials concludes with "The Giggle", in which Neil Patrick Harris has the time of his life with a dance number to a song very close to Natalie's heart. Once again she's joined by Tom and John from the Best Pick Pod to deep dive into David Tennant's last(?) outing as the Fourteenth Doctor and (spoiler!) Ncuti Gatwa's first appearance as the Fifteenth. Thanks for listening to these podcast specials, which of course have been our first since losing the lion-...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 15 min
It's the second 60th anniversary special, and Natalie is joined once more by Tom and John from the Best Pick Pod to discuss "Wild Blue Yonder". It turns out you can have a slightly-too-cutesy-and-quite-naff pre-credit sequence and then switch things up for a fabulously creepy episode set at the edge of the universe. Enjoy!
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Kittens! This is WEIRD. It is WEIRD to podcast without the genius that is Stuart Layt. WEIRD, and NOT RIGHT. Sadly Stu passed away three months ago, and boy am I still mad about it. Particularly since he LOVED Doctor Who with his whole soul. But I am so glad that Tom Salinsky from the brilliant Best Pick Pod reached out about joining forces to recap the David Tennant 60th anniversary specials. And so here it is - Who's Raven On with Tom and John from the Best Pick Pod, chatting all things Star B...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Hello, my friends. I'm sorry it's been so long. I've recorded a little chat just about Stu, and what it's been like without him, and what might happen next with the podcast. I hope you can take a listen if/when you're up to it. I hope you are all well and happy, wonderful listeners. Much love. xoxo MoK.
Nov 25, 2023•12 min
Lookout! Natalie's got herself a soundboard and isn't afraid to use it. Will this be enough to alienate Stu? Probably not, because he loves these dang movies too much. When Agent Hobbes needs to take down a car-based baddie, of course he turns to Dom's car-based superhero crew. They hit London to make those stupid Brits look even stupider, and track down the badass Owen Shaw. There's a chase through the Monopoly board, Rita Ora in hot pants, and Letty's back from the dead. Enjoy!
May 29, 2023•1 hr 32 min
Well HELLO sunshine! Nat & Stu head to Rio de Janeiro for the most ridiculous - and dare we say - most fun instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise so far. Your intrepid hosts are joined by the uber-clever Tom Salinsky from London, a PROPER critic who's ready to throw down in support of the franchise and all it stands for. There's The Rock's beefiness, Vin Diesel's meatiness, Gal Gadot's butt and so much more in this super fun heist caper that features a Scooby gang of car-based crimin...
May 03, 2023•1 hr 27 min
In an eclectic turn, this podcast features all manner of pop culture subjects including the classic Australian series "Underbelly", the classic English detective series "Vera", and the classic time Nat & Stu watched a porno. That might give you an indication of how much the fourth instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise - conveniently called "Fast & Furious" - held the attention of your erstwhile hosts. Still, there's a bit to dive into about the film, including its somewhat famil...
Mar 19, 2023•1 hr 21 min
With Vin Diesel and Paul Walker seemingly gone for good, The Fast & The Furious franchise tries to reboot, Tokyo-style, with a whole new cast of racing identities across the Pacific. The kid from American Gothic gets sent to Japan as punishment for illegal street racing, and immediately gets caught up in a whole new set of illegal street races. Nat & Stu dissect it all, including the creepy relationship between the "Drift King" and his girlfriend, the girlfriend's weird Australian accent...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 30 min
Nat and Stu re-start their engines for the second instalment in the Fast & Furious franchise: 2 Fast 2 Furious. Brian O'Connor is back - no longer a cop, he makes his money from what else, illegal street racing. But he's given a chance to clear his records by what else, going undercover to run cash for a drug baron. There's no Vin Diesel, but there is Tyrese. Also Ludacris. It's a rappers' delight. Together they WILL jump a car onto a boat. This ep also sees the introduction of commentary by...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Happy 2023! Nat & Stu return for the new year with a new podcast subsection analytical thingy - it's Revvin' On! Your hosts are beginning their road trip with 2001's franchise origin story "The Fast and the Furious". It's Paul Walker as an undercover cop infiltrating Vin Diesel's street-racing crew. There's cars! Nitrous! Absolutely no bras whatsoever! And a sweaty film of grease covering everyone! Enjoy!
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 22 min
One year and two months after seeing the film in the cinema, Nat & Stu finally return to do their long-promised (or long-threatened?) deep dive into the 25th Bond movie, No Time To Die. It turns out not being furious about the film's big plot twist makes the viewing experience more pleasant, as both hosts are more receptive to this film second time around. There's still a bit of confusion over the plot, but hey, when you're working with NANOBOTS! anything can happen. This is the last podcast...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 42 min
It's the movie that literally gave Natalie a bout of vertigo - Robin Hood 2018. That's right, it's a thing that exists. Stu joins Nat as she battles through head-spinning brought on by this batshit insane version of a Robin Hood movie that has very little to recommend it. Mendo is the Sheriff! Jamie Foxx has a metal hand! Marian wears a leather jacket and hands out soup! Robin himself seems to have no concrete plans! And also... Tim Minchin is there, and probably shouldn't have been! There's lot...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 45 min
Nat & Stu head back to Sherwood Forest to begin wrapping up their "Robin On" subsection podcast thingy. This time, it's Big Russ' turn in the tights, with Our Cate riding shotgun as Lady Marian. There's a lengthy discussion of Russell Crowe's film history to begin with, before a dissection of why this film is a weird mess. Natalie even goes super history nerd to explain why the historical context just doesn't work. The pair then close out with a chit-chat about the trials and tribulations at...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 47 min
Jodie Whittaker's time as The Doctor must come to a close, but not before a jam-packed 90 minute episode featuring the Master (as Rasputin, for at least some of it), the Cybermen, the Daleks, a bunch of former Doctors and 80s super companions Tegan and Ace. Hosts Nat & Stu are joined by London correspondent Tom Salinsky to try to understand exactly what happened in this story, and reflect on Thirteen's time and the Chris Chibnall era in general. Enjoy!
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 29 min
Can you believe the House of the Dragon series finale is here?!?! Nat and Stu roll up their sleeves and dive into an emotionally charged and physically intense episode - particularly for Rhaenyra Targaryen! There's another crazy birth scene, a confrontation with Otto, some classic Daemon insults, Rhaenyra being a boss, and of course, a devastating final sequence that sets up the battles to come. Your intrepid hosts also throw out some ideas for what they'll podcast about next now that HotD has w...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 16 min
A tense episode capped with an explosive ending, which ensnares our intrepid co-hosts into heated debate about whether it works as a plot contrivance, or hinders future developments. There's a fun chase through Fleabottom looking for Aegon, tension between Alicent and... pretty much everybody, and some hot new twins to lust over. We also get an update on "Stu's Hot Ring", where he reflects on the first Rings of Power series. Enjoy!
Oct 18, 2022•1 hr 22 min
Nat & Stu totally lose their heads with this ominous episode of HotD, in which Viserys has to find the strength to put his illness aside for the sake of getting his family to have one goddamn meal together. There's quarrels over inheritance, reputation rants flying around, kids beating the shit out of each other (again!) and some of the more concise dispute resolution we've seen. Nat & Stu also talk about the weird spoiler-happy culture around this show that seems the opposite of the Gam...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 17 min
The family drama is HAPPENING this episode, as House of the Dragon takes us to Driftmark for Laena's funeral and the fallout. Nat & Stu are here to take you through it, even if Nat's viewing experience wasn't exactly ideal. There's a happy ending for Lenny & Carl, a weird bloody reunion for Rhaenyra and her uncle, and a lot of fighting kids. Plus Alicent loses her shit! Buckle up and enjoy - we even get Stu's lowdown on how the series is comparing to that OTHER big fantasy show at the mo...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 29 min
Ten years may have passed, but Nat & Stu are here to get you all up to speed on the latest developments in King's Landing and places beyond. Our lead actors have changed, many children have been introduced, and the body count is sadly high with this one (including a fan favourite, cut down before his sexy, sexy time). Your hosts also discuss the ethical grey areas inhabited by Rhaenyra and Alicent, Laena Valeryon's badassery, Lord Larys' creepiness and try not to kink-shame young Aegon. Plus...
Sep 28, 2022•1 hr 17 min
What's this? A randomly recorded podcast that Stu is currently looking at thinking "Wait, I didn't record anything extra with Nat this week?!" AH HA STU! You're right! Nat's in Sydney being LOOSE-LIPPED. This is a fun chat that happened on Sun 25 Sept at "Titanic: The Movie, The Play", which is Nat's show happening in Sydney until 2 October. You should come!
Sep 25, 2022•8 min
It's time for a royal wedding in Westeros, and that means absolutely nothing can go wrong! Nat & Stu are back (super early, with Nat's recap to follow) to discuss all the hijinks of the Lavender Marriage between Rhaenyra and Laenor, the fallout from the Princess' secret assignation with Ser Criston Cole, and the falloff from whatever the hell disease is plaguing poor Viserys. Plus Alicent goes full FASHION. Enjoy!
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 9 min
