Welcome to Fandom Shmandom, the fandom podcast
that covers everything you love and more. I'm
Sierra Obermark. And I'm Sam Williams. And welcome
to our guest and executive producer, Aurelia
Lieb. Tell us about yourself, Aurelia. Hello
again. This is the first time on the pod that
I have appeared and I am talking with you guys.
Yes, well, the previous time where I've like
radioed in and had to wait until I could listen
to the episode to hear what it all sounded like.
So this is a new experience to be with you guys.
Yeah, I guess for those who haven't picked up
from my previous appearances, I am German. as
you can usually hear from my accent. I live in
the UK, so I'm very far away from those two,
unfortunately. But happily today talking about
a shared trip with Sam that we did in London.
Yes. So I traveled all the long way to London
and Sam just, you know, came to short trip from
San Francisco. So excited to talk to you about
that today. And I guess how I got into Stranger
Things is... It was the most biggest show when
it came out for season one. I feel like everyone
was talking about it. And I was a bit hesitant
at first because I am not very good with horror
stuff. Like I'm usually very afraid very quickly,
especially like jump scares. I'm like, get me
every time. But luckily the show is not really
full of jump scares. There's not really that
much jump scares actually going on. I think in
like four seasons, there's maybe two. Yeah. I
think so. yeah so so i gave it a try and i was
like immediately sucked in i think i watched
season one within the weekend like nice started
saturday finished sunday classic i've seen this
now yeah and so i've like was hooked from from
that moment really yeah well welcome to the live
pod we're very very excited to have you and talk
all about the play and london it will be essentially
two and a half hours just talking about london
and then we'll actually get to the stranger things
stuff so if you don't hear that it means brit
has cut that and we'll be putting it uh nowhere
for you guys to listen to it's gone forever it's
a big bummer because we had some really important
things about the politics of london the history
of london all of that stuff today's episode we
will be quintessentially quipping about Stranger
Things the play, The First Shadow, and our predictions
for Season 5. So without further ado, we will,
as Roger Smith says, dive on in. Sierra, check
the patient! Does it have a pulse? Quick, let's
do a status check on our favorite Stranger Things
fandom. Number one question out there. Is Stranger
Things in a good spot right now? Right before
season five comes out? That's a great question.
I think it could be better. I think they've done
a pretty good job of spacing out the release
of the new information and the posters and the
teasers and the trailers and getting the hype
back up. I think there's definitely a section
of people who watched. the earlier seasons and
are now kind of going, is it done yet? Didn't
they finish it? And so I think the big gap is
difficult to overcome. I'm still excited, but
I don't necessarily know that that is a widespread
thing. You know, as Aurelia was saying, season
one was huge and so hyped up and so many people
were watching and it was everywhere and merch
was everywhere and all that. And I feel that
it is. dimmed yeah but hopefully this will revitalize
it at least to carry through all the release
of season five maybe a little bit into the new
year but i don't i don't know that it necessarily
could go anywhere after that except for rewatches
and whatnot but it'll really depend on how it
ends as we've seen before with other phantoms
yeah absolutely yeah I think a question to you
guys, since you're in America and Halloween is
like a big thing and at time of recording, this
is just after Halloween. Well, like, did you
see lots of people dress up as Stranger Things
characters? Was a lot of Stranger Things -ness
going on since, you know, it works quite well
with Halloween? No, it was all K -pop Demon Hunter
this year. Wow. Yeah. I mean, and I'm in the
Bay Area, so K -pop is enormous in the Bay Area.
I mean, I know it's big everywhere, but I find
it's particularly big on the West Coast states.
And so, I mean, obviously there's a lot of Star
Wars. There's just a lot of Darth Vader, a lot
of Darth Maul, a lot of Jedis in general. And
that's been big in the States for, I mean, really
probably since the original trilogy. It was certainly
huge when I was growing up in the 90s and aughts.
But K -pop Demon Hunter, I'd say, was the big
thing. And then after that, I would say Star
Wars and then anime. So just different anime
characters all throughout. I did not see much
Stranger Things. You know, there's those easy,
quick Netflix, not Netflix, Target Stranger Things
costumes, like the Demogorgon and Vecna. And
I didn't see a single one this time. That doesn't
mean they're not out there. There were a lot,
very few of them at Target when I was there during
October. um but yeah and for those who are international
targets a big giant store in the states uh like
walmart but less evil somehow because i i um
i find that interesting because um it would seem
to lend itself to that but it probably speaks
to how much of uh you know how much of the fandom
has dropped around it that people seem to be
less, you know, into it. Yeah. Or as you say,
Sierra, some, some don't even realize there's
another season coming. They're like, Oh, is that
still going? Yeah. I think that's, that's been
the biggest thing about doing this pod is, you
know, explaining to people that are around you.
Oh yeah. You know, Sierra and I are on a new
podcast. We, we've stepped away from three broomsticks.
We'll be permanently, you know, leaving in April,
et cetera, et cetera. What are you guys doing
now? Oh, we're doing stranger things. Oh yeah.
We're preparing for season five. Oh, there's
a fifth season coming out. And these are people
who have watched it, right? And I don't know
how many people I've talked to that have dropped
off. They dropped off after season one, or they
dropped off after season two. Most of them dropped
off after season three because they didn't hear
great things about season four, which I think
is a mix of the one desert storyline that Sierra
and I have hounded, you know, being easily complained
about, but also the nature of fandom discourse
online. With these big fandoms is that anytime
that there's room for criticism, that criticism
is heard much more than any of the other good
things, right? Like Eddie Munson, I would say
is one of the best things that Stranger Things
has come up with. His character and his storyline
is phenomenal. At the same time. The desert storyline
is one of the worst things that Stranger Things
has done, maybe on the same level as the Chicago
story in season two. But we heard way more about
this season sucks than we did this season's awesome,
I felt, during the fourth season. And then there's
just a huge throng of people who were like, the
kids are too old now. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that
is... A bit of a silly argument, because any
time you do a YA thing, it will just take you
longer to produce it and create it than people
age. The Percy Jackson cast is going to have
that same problem, because they're already older
than their characters now. And there's only the
second season's coming in December, so there's
three more to go. So I wonder if season four
was the first time they split the release, haven't
they? Because they did half of it and then...
It's because they lost the battle to Game of
Thrones at one point. They were like, no, we're
committed to the Netflix model of putting it
all out there. And I've already said this on
the pod, so I'll be quick about it. But essentially,
Game of Thrones was weak every week. So you got
to talk about that way longer. Stranger Things
ruled for its one week. And then didn't do anything.
So they just decided to own the holidays. And
anybody that's doing a fandom podcast is like,
I guess I just won't see my family on Thanksgiving
or on Christmas or New Year's Eve night. So that's
fun. Thanks for that, Netflix. It will be fun.
And I do think the hype will be back up when
the show starts. But it's a fairly tepid. intro
I think right now I you know a month ago I would
have said man I think they're in trouble but
I think as to your point Sierra with sort of
the slow release of here's a still image here's
a little trailer here's a poster they've they've
started to amp back up a little bit and you're
starting to hear some chatter interestingly enough
um in my classrooms which I you know I won't
talk about students ever anything like that on
the pod but I will talk about my practice here
I we do like these little fandom uh, groups.
So as a class, you choose a fandom and then you,
I split you off into different, uh, teams and
you get to name your, your team based off of
the fandom that you're in. One of the, one out
of the four did choose stranger things. So it's
not completely gone. And there are people familiar
with it among the teenagers. But it was a lot
less than it was five years ago when I was, you
know, in the classroom and people were loving
it, right? Pre -COVID, it was huge. Then when
season three and season four came out, or when
season four came out, it was really big for like
two months. So we'll see. Yeah. I just, I was
just thrown for a loop because you casually said
five years ago pre -COVID and I... Had a little
bit of a mind explosion moment. We are old. We
are old, Sierra. The other day or last night,
I explained how the Dodgers won the World Series.
And it's the first time since 2000 that anybody's
repeated winning the World Series. The Yankees
did it three times in a row from 98 to 2000.
And my wife goes, well, that's not that long
ago. And I went, well. Baseball's World Series
era started in 1901. It's 2025, so that's one
-fifth of baseball's history since it was repeated.
And my wife was just like, I feel old. Doesn't
feel that long ago, 2000. Oh! One -fifth of baseball's
entire history? What? Anyways. Yeah. Back to
Stranger Things. Question number two. So we'll
get into predictions and all that stuff after
we talk about the play, but what are you guys'
hopes for season five? I hope it devastates me.
Same. Okay. I think it will. I'm a bit worried
that everything that we hear about is every episode
is like two hours. And I'm a bit like, I hope
it's good two hours and not, you know. fill it
out with yes carrying on yeah because because
if it is just getting very tedious that could
be another thing where people just drop off after
trying to watch the first episode and they'll
be like wow this is like gonna be two hours each
episode this is just too much the duffer brothers
did say they they hadn't seen anything online
that was the that was accurate to the actual
run times so i think that the the The run times
will be quite a bit shorter than that. I think
we'll probably hit the one hour to one and a
half hour marks with everything except for the
finale. Yeah. I mean, I don't mind if they're
good episodes for two hours. Yeah. I'm not complaining
about the length of it, but I'm just worried
that sometimes, you know, creators are a bit
too hesitant to cut. Yes, that's true. I'll be
interested too to see, well, and like the way
that you cut it. Right. Because sometimes you
cut stuff and it's so clear. Oh, no, you cut
a huge amount of dialogue or this storyline because
you cut a scene that was not that great, but
it had integral information. Suddenly you're
like, well, now the storyline kind of sucks.
Yeah. So we'll see. I think so far with Stranger
Things, we haven't seen too much of that where
it's pretty clear that. something was left out
or that something was filmed and never made it
into the final. So I have good hopes that the
editing team stays strong and we'll be able to
carry us through to the end without us feeling
like we're missing something. Yeah, I think I
have high hopes in the Duffer brothers knowing
how to tell the story. Yeah, me too. Very much,
very much high hopes. I hope we get a lot more
exploration of Will. Sierra and I talked a lot
about how Will's benched in season four. He's
just such a minor character. And it was interesting
because the discourse was a lot about how people
were sad about Mike being benched and versus
he's not nearly as integral to the actual like
Vecna storyline and the upside down and everything.
But Will being benched was really quite. A shocker
to me because it feels like this show has really
been about Will. And then Sierra and I read this
article where the Duffer Brothers were like,
no, this show is about Will. And Sierra, you
texted me. Do you remember what you said? Yeah,
I just go, it is. Why did you bench him all of
season four? Because that was a response to like.
justice for barb and how one of the duffer brothers
was like quite annoyed that people were that
interested in barb's character and it was like
well yeah of course like she was an innocent
victim at the very beginning people want justice
for barb this show's about will it is the thing
is you could say that for season one Because
he's not around for most of season one because
he's trapped in the Upside Down. But at least
it's a lot more about him, right? In that season.
It's a lot more about where is he and how do
we find him? And yeah, the actor is not featured
very much, but Will's presence is huge in that
season. For season four, it's like, I drew this
one painting. It's for somebody special. Oh,
it's Mike. Oh, I'm clearly in love with Mike.
Mike, you're the heart. And that's it. That's
the storyline. Yeah. justice for my boy justice
for will now excellent i'm sure you'll get it
i'm sure you'll get it i'm sure i will just i'm
sure i will from just what uh the actor has said
in his cagey interviews yeah i it's going to
be a lot absolutely just both good and bad i'm
surprised they're letting I'm surprised they're
letting Noah Schnapp near any interviews. He's
about as good with spoilers as Tom Holland is.
Right? Yeah, or Mark Ruffalo, my goodness. Man.
Yeah. So what are our concerns about season five?
What do we fear may happen? I think in general,
the concern with any show that has a cast that
feels like 20 main characters is like, how are
they going to... Because they would have to split
them up into groups and stuff, which is what
happened in season four, where one group was
in the desert. But because otherwise you can't
keep track of all of them. Because that is, I
think, where it could get weird. Everyone's in
Hawkins now, but you have to split them up deliberately.
Otherwise, it'll be so confusing. Yeah. Right.
I fear that the stakes will not be high enough.
I hope that's not the case. And I think our predictions
later on will show that we don't actually believe
that that will be the case. But I do have concerns
that this sounds so weird, but that not enough
people are going to die. Game of Thrones style.
Exactly, because I remember we did death pools
for the final season of Game of Thrones. Everybody
was saying who they thought would survive and
who they thought would die. And anybody who was
like, oh yeah, all of these people are going
to die, lost. Lost, for sure. Because not enough
people died. And so far with Stranger Things,
people who have died are people we didn't know
for long enough or weren't the main characters.
I think the closest we got was with the injury
and Max. Max, yeah, certainly. That's the closest
we've gotten. We've obviously had to fake out
with Hopper, but then we very quickly learned
Hopper's not dead. And Mike was almost killed
by a serial killer in season one. Jumped off
a cliff. People who die is like Bob, who's high
and dead. And then you have people like Eddie
who get a whole season, but still. as an audience
and especially if you haven't read the book like
you barely know eddie yeah yeah for real and
also i i just hope that we find out that eddie's
first name is bartholomew or or bob or something
because we had barb and then bob and then billy
those are the three big deaths and then they
were like what about betty and it was like no
not betty eddie no you've ruined the beef His
name is Bedward. Bedward. People have taken that
and they're like, so Byers. I'm like, but that's
a last name. That's a last name. I don't know
that it works the same way. In fact, they all
go by their middle names and it's actually Byers
Joyce Byers, Byers Jonathan Byers, and Byers
William Byers. It's interesting because he could
shorten William to Bill, so. Yeah. Oh, no. I
want to start getting the last shot of Stranger
Things. It's just, I want to go by Bill, and
then he just dies of cardiac arrest. Great. Excellent.
Last question here. Where do Stranger Things
go at the end of season five? I really hope nowhere.
Yeah. Yeah. I really like. When we can tell a
story and we can end a story and it's one contained
thing and then we can enjoy it. And you can rewatch
it and you can continue to love the characters
and be in that world. And we don't feel the need
to have spinoff after spinoff after side information
and end up with no. How could we have known?
I am rooting for a five -hour and two -part sequel
play. It's worked out so well the last time.
It did. It did work out well the last time. And
also a movie franchise that goes three deep on
a five -plan movie and then fails. That would
be good, too. I also hope nowhere. And, like,
I don't think it'll go anywhere anytime soon
because the Duffer Brothers have signed away
from that. netflix they're they're working on
paramount now and they said the reason why they
moved over is because they wanted to do theatrical
film releases and become yeah movie writers which
there's been a lot of reporting back and forth
about will the stranger things finale be in theaters
or not and some some reporting says yes it will
be in theaters and then the rest will say no
and then there's speculation that the duffer
brothers walked away because they won't allow
them to do They just want to be on the app itself.
So I think nowhere anytime soon, certainly. But
I just think in this age right now of trying
to find identifiable IPs, just the entertainment
industry is so obsessed with something that's
already been established, which means you can't
get a Stranger Things. You can't get a Star Wars
unless it's already been produced. Um, so because
they need to find the book or the short story
or the video game or something that's already
people already paying for. And so they're doing
that. So with that being the case, I just feel
like they have this huge IP. The merches sells
well. I remember, uh, there was, uh, my wife
and I were fortunate enough one time to be in
Paris and there was a giant stranger things experience
going on there. And there was a. line way way
down the the sidewalk during carnival like here's
this huge carnival parade going down and there's
a huge throng of people waiting for the stranger
things experience and you know that was a cool
experience you got to walk into the buyer's living
room and go to the star court mall and go to
the arcade center so i just think with this huge
ip there's no way they're going to let it rest
certainly during our lifetime It will be brought
back, just like everything else has. I mean,
we're already redoing Harry Potter. Superman's
on its, like, 27th reiteration. They won't let
things die. So I think at some point we do get
something. I hope it's never a remake. Yeah.
I don't think that this story needs to be remade,
because it is its originalness, right? It's not
like the Harry Potter stuff, where even if you
disagree that it needs to be remade, at least
there's stuff. To pull from the originals that
they didn't know the first time through, et cetera,
et cetera. Right. But like with Star Wars, I
hope we never remake episodes four through six
or any of the original material. And I hope the
same thing here. But I do foresee, I don't know,
maybe they do a 90s Stranger Things, but this
time they pick one of the big four areas that
gets a lot of film time. So they'll either put
it in New York or California or Texas or New
England or something that's like. Not Hawkins,
Indiana. Or they'll stick to the old ruinous,
which would be great. And we'll end up in like
Duluth, Minnesota. But I do see at some point
them being like, okay, we're going to do 90s
nostalgia now. And then 10 years after that,
we're going to do aughts nostalgia. And that
one's going to be, you know, in San Diego or
whatever. I do. It's quite interesting because
it is already not just a show. I mean, we're
here right now to talk about a play that exists.
I've frantically read seven books for this podcast.
Yes, thank you. Thank you again. There's already
stuff that has branched out from the show. So
while there might not be another Netflix show
soon, there could be more of those sort of things.
I just hope they don't do what Friends did. And,
you know, Friends, massively popular sitcom,
and then they released the Joey Tribbiani show,
which I love Matt LeBlanc. But I wasn't a huge
fan of that show and I didn't see why it was
necessary. Or even stuff like... Oh, I liked
it. I'm so glad you did. I'm so glad you did.
I thought it was very fun. It did feel very different,
though. It almost felt like it was a completely
different character who just also happened to
be named Joey. And look like Matt LeBlanc and
have all the same characters in his life. Exactly.
But it did feel very, very different. I think
partially... Why it felt so different is because
of the setting. The filming on the sets that
they did for Joey is very much a different style
than what they were doing for Friends. And so
I think it was a little bit more obvious. There's
certain shows where I look at it and I go, I
know that this is an indoor set that's supposed
to be outside, but I know they're in a soundstage.
And that's how very much how that felt. Well,
and also, like, I don't know why I keep bringing
up 90s sitcoms. I hope they don't do what they
did with the nanny in the 90s, which there's
this whole huge romantic story about her as the
nanny of these two children falling in love with
the master of the house. And eventually, spoilers
for a show that's 30 years old, they get married.
And then they do a second season when all those
actors go, well, we kind of like the paycheck
and we'd like to come back. and not a second
season they do like a whole second show and it's
just like oh they've gotten divorced and now
the nanny's dating this young thing and he's
really jealous and he's trying to get i hope
we just don't get stuff like that and i kind
of hope that we don't i i like house of dragons
quite a bit but i there's something about when
a big franchise does a spinoff and isn't immediately
as successful as the first thing, that feels
like a bit of a letdown. So even though I like
House of Dragons, it's not like I'm that interested
in making a podcast about it or talking about
it that vociferously. It's sort of in a different
category of television. So if they do something
with Stranger Things, I hope that it is with
enough time in between and well thought through
and not just gotta keep going, gotta keep going,
gotta keep going. Yeah, I hope so as well. And
I think It's hard to tell because they're being
very cagey about everything to keep season five
under wraps, but it does feel like the actors
are ready to move on as well. And so I would
hope that that also means that we're not getting
any sort of direct spinoff with existing characters.
Here's Justin and Dart. Oh my gosh, no. As you
say, maybe we'll get a 90s something somewhere,
but I hope that it's just in the same world.
in the same universe, and it's completely separate.
I feel like those are more often better received.
Yeah. I think it all depends how all of those
actors, especially the kids, who are definitely
no longer kids, how they're now progressing in
their career. I get the sense that we're getting
another reboot of Scrubs or whatever. It's not
a reboot, but a continuation of Scrubs just because
every one of those actors seems to be bored and
wants to do it. That's my perception. Scrubs
coming back. But I feel like if at least two
or three of those actors had other better things
to do, it wouldn't happen. I feel like, you know,
in... In 15 years, we may get Max and Lucas don't
live in Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, and they
have two children and those children are getting
into this and like they become the Joyce and
Hopper. That's a possibility, certainly. But
I feel like that's far enough away that I don't
have to think about it for very long. Yeah. Cool.
Well, before we get to the nitty gritty schmitty
of season five, we welcome. Oreo and Sam to provide
us with vital information that we need to know.
Welcome, both of you who have already been here.
Please give me and our listeners the integral
information about Stranger Things, the play,
First Shadow. I just imagine both of us taking
out, like, these huge walkie -talkies and, like,
pulling out the antennas and being like, Can
you hear us? See us? And it's an immediate feedback
loop. Oh, God. Yeah, I'm right here. What's with
the walkie -talkie? Copy. Do you copy? I'm right
here. Yes. The play. The play. Oh, gosh. The
play. First of all, The play is a wonderful thing.
It was in London first. That's where it started.
It was in London last Christmas season. And I
was excited to see it. I knew it was a little
bit about Henry Creel. And when I was out studying
at Oxford this summer, Aurelia and I were planning
a day to meet finally in person. And we were
like, let's go see a play together. And we had
just sort of launched this idea. Stranger Things.
We were working on what's now our second season,
and we'll tell you guys what that is at the end
of this whole shebang. Not this podcast, but
at the Stranger Things podcast. And so I was
like, hey, should we do work while we watch this
play and go and see Stranger Things? And really,
thankfully, it was like, yeah. And I will just
say this one thing. First of all, I'm glad that
the play has finally made it to New York, because
after this play, Aurelia and I were both like,
How are you supposed to watch season five without
having seen this play? So I was like sitting
there being like, is America just going to be
like, do they just feel like, oh, Americans don't
need this. They're much more easily placated.
Just the British need this. What's going on?
It is wild to me that London was chosen as the
first location. I mean, I sort of get it from
like the West End is like obviously a huge thing.
But famously, the Brits are not that big into
hyping up fandoms and being excited and all of
that stuff. If you've ever been to a Comic Con
anywhere in Europe, you will see that people
are just very tame. It's nothing like it is in
America, which is why, to me, but for many reasons,
it would make much more sense if that play started
in New York, aside from the show being set in
America. But yeah, it's one of those things like...
Yes, Sam, as you said, like we walked out and
be like, there was so much big information. How
are they going to actually make this available
to anyone else? That's the problem with a play.
It isn't as accessible. And there's no like,
you know, it's not what they did with like the
play that shall not be named where you could
buy the script. Yeah. You can't with this one.
So, you know, Sierra's relying on us and the
listeners are relying on us to now tell them
what's actually going on in this play. Yeah.
Absolutely. So the play itself is, just from
a theater standpoint for a second, is exceptionally
well produced. They do this really nice lighting
at the beginning that does the red Netflix Stranger
Things outline while the intro music plays. So
while it's doing the do -do -do -do -do -do -do
-do -do -do -do -do -do, you get the play and
the title and everything. And it was... It was
interesting because the crowd that we were in
is not necessarily a theater crowd. The biggest
applause were around the fandom stuff. So it
was just like, but those applause were electric.
So the play started out with like this incredible
amount of energy as the Stranger Things things
played. And then there were like theater bits
that the theater people in the room were like,
oh, wow, that's amazing. And it was electric
for those people only. And then the rest of everyone
was like, I'm watching a TV show, a live action.
It kind of felt like a little bit like when you
show a teenager a floppy disk from the 90s and
they go, oh, cool, you 3D printed the save icon.
That's kind of the way that things felt for this
play. It is true, though, because I think whenever
you go to a play that's about a popular thing,
it obviously does this cool thing where it draws
people into the theater that otherwise probably
would never go to the theater. Yeah, absolutely.
the wrong you know conception of like what what
it is what it's like um but like if you've ever
been to like the theater for more like typical
especially like british theater if you've seen
like a shakespeare play like it's a wildly different
experience because even like modern modern like
redoing of shakespeare is like nothing compared
to what we watched there so so many like visual
effects like there were like loads of practical
effects that were really well made but like there's
also loads of like video wall effects and like
obviously things with like a projector and like
music and all of that stuff yeah really cool
stuff like that and i think it's funny there
was the the storyline's a bit meta too because
there's it's a there's a play within a play which
is not very it's not very hamlet but it is certainly
there And the practical effects, to your point,
Aurelia, were like, there's this one scene at
the very end where they have a catwalk that people
are on. And the catwalk collapses. And the characters
on it fall backwards in slow motion. And you're
like, but it's live action, right? It's not.
They didn't crank up the camera to do it in slow
motion. she literally this character literally
falls in slow motion in front of you and it was
just like the stage magic was absolutely incredible
it does remind me of the play that shall not
be named quite a bit in that regard where you're
like wow the the effects that you guys did the
effort you put in to make magic come to life
on stage is really really incredible and they
do break the fourth wall a little bit although
they open with breaking the fourth wall in this
stage so like aurelia and i had an actor just
like run right by us uh because we were right
on the edge and we were like what the heck is
happening oh he's got a giant he he actually
has an enormous walkie talkie that he's using
in all honesty uh and then they didn't break
the fourth wall again and that was kind of like
oh i wanted to be scared by a jump scare of a
demogorgon right next to me Yeah, because that's
the thing. It immediately throws you in. And
I think the only sort of negative, and this may
be because Sam and my age, we were not the target
audience of 12 -year -olds. No, we were not.
I don't know. But it was so loud. I genuinely
felt like my ears were going to die in this theater.
It's the only play that I've been to where I've
been like, do I need earplugs? The gun noises,
like, Sierra, you remember when you and I were
in the dance that I choreographed at the very
end and we had that gunshot and they had to turn
it up a little bit because it sounded like pew
pew at first. But it was the opposite note here.
It was like, I've been shot. Somebody targeted
my eardrums specifically with the tiniest bullet
known to mankind and like dead shot it into my
ear. Because that's the thing. The show opens
and it is a prequel. It opens in 1943, so way
before. And the first thing you hear is you're
in the middle of a war because this is set during
World War II because it's 1943. And shots around
you, army people shouting at you. That was the
dude that was coming down next to us because
he was like... basically loudly coming down the
stairs and i think i at first was like oh my
god like the play started who's being annoying
and then i was like oh no and why do you have
to be so loud on the stairs but i was like oh
no this is like a soldier coming down well like
if we are like jumping into the story so like
is 1943 it's about martin So Dr. Brenner's father.
He's the captain of the USS Eldridge. And it
opens up on the set like you see a huge, huge
Navy ship. And it's all about the secret government
experiments known as Project Rainbow or the Philadelphia
Experiment. So what's really neat is this is
a real thing that happened. There was an experiment.
called the Philadelphia Experiment, with a ship
using electromagnets to try and do something.
Now, the major rumors is that it tried to time
travel using electromagnetic waves. And they
use some of the, like, unclassified radio dialogue
that's from real life in the play. At least that's
what I've been able to... I haven't verified
that, but that is... In general, the discourse
around a bunch of those lines that are said on
the radio before it allegedly disappears off
the face of the planet. So there's this ship,
the USS Eldridge, that apparently disappears
using electromagnets and is never seen again,
which is possible because it might have been
that they just fried all of their systems and
the ship sank. Because if you know what an EMP
is, it's an electromagnetic pulse and it fries
everything known to mankind. That's a real thing.
Now, if some of you are going, well, okay, so
Dr. Brenner is old in the 70s and early 80s.
How is his dad in World War II? What I think
a lot of people don't realize about World War
II in the States is that you had a lot of people
coming out of being... Being retired from the
military to come and serve their country. So,
for example, my great grandfather, who was in
his late 40s, early 50s, came back from being
retired from the Navy in order to help out the
war effort. So you could absolutely have an old
retired captain come back into the war to lead.
And he is quite old. They give him a fake beard
because this actor plays both Dr. Brenner and
his father. So, you know, you have to distinguish
the two or else how will the audience know? But
he is there. So it's a real deal. The Duffer
Brothers called this show, I think, Montag or
something of that nature, which was the classified
document name for this experiment. So yeah, that's
how we open the ship. vanishes we get like light
effects and we see demigorgons so obviously we
as the viewers who know what we're expecting
were like oh right the ship disappeared into
the upside down so that's how that real life
event is basically tied into the world of Stranger
Things now and then sort of I've sort of pulled
this in chronological order instead of how the
play jumps back and forth between things But
basically what happens, and we don't actually
fully see this, is on his deathbed, Captain Brenner
basically tells his son, this is what happened.
Because he's the only one who survives this.
So he's the only surviving crew member. And he
tells his son, look, the whole ship disappeared.
All of these things happened. And this is where
basically then Dr. Brenner, that we know, is
like, okay, I need to find this place. I need
to find this parallel universe and how to get
to it. So that is basically the origin story
as to why Dr. Brenner wants to know about it.
Which is, I think, quite big information to have.
Yeah! The only reason why Dr. Brenner is at all
doing any of this stuff is because his father
on his deathbed was like, Hey, I went here. Now,
I believe that also his death is somewhat tied
to... this experiment so there's something to
do with his system his body gets messed up because
of the travel to the upside down and coming back
and it's so then it's interesting that dr brenner
the dr brenner that we know has lost both his
father and his son to the upside down so yeah
uh we then uh jump to the 1950s we don't know
fully where but in Basically, following all of
this, Dr. Brenner now starts to work on how to
recreate this experiment and how to get to the
Upside Down. And this is known as the Nevada
Experiment. So we're not in Indiana yet. We're
completely somewhere else in America. We're where
they are for Nino in Season 4. Yes. Sorry. Thank
you, Nina. We're, we're in the desert in Nevada,
not exactly the same place, but, or maybe that's,
it's unconfirmed, but we are in that state. Exactly.
So that's basically where that part of the story
takes place. So we know before Hawkins becomes
a thing, everything's happening in Nevada, but
a rogue staff member defected and stole essential
equipment and hide it, like hit it in like, a
cave system. And it so happens that the Creel
family was nearby and their son found it. So
their son, Henry Creel, which we all know now
from season four, goes into this cave system,
finds this equipment. And that's where we then
see the connection with Henry Creel and the Upside
Down and the Mind Flayer and everything. Because
from that moment, basically, Henry Creel is corrupted.
So that's how this all comes to Hawkins, because
the Creoles move to Hawkins, and Henry Creole
brings the Upside Down with him, basically. I
mean, so essentially the way that they talk about
it in the play is they're doing all these experiments
of trying to get to the Upside Down, or to Dimension
X specifically. The Upside Down is actually a
different thing, and we'll get to what that means
in a little bit. Dimension X is what we see in
Vecna's sort of explanation flashbacks. It's
that reddish... tan -ish, hued place where he
meets the Mind Flayer and such. The Upside Down
is actually a mix of those two. It's where those
two parallel universes touch, where that connection
is made. Why it shows Hawkins on the day that
Will goes missing, we have yet to find out. My
hope is that Season 5 will go over it. So Henry
Creel goes to this Dimension X, and he's lost
in these case systems for like 12 hours. Or at
least that's how much time is lost in our world.
Who knows how long he's there for. But from that
point on, he can hear the voice of another being.
And that's the Mind Flayer. So Sierra, I teased
this a little bit with you last episode, where
I was like, the Mind Flayer. actually is like
a lot more sentient than it makes it feel at
the end of season four. Because at the end of
season four, it makes it feel like Henry Creel
meets this giant spider creature and that doesn't
immediately kill them and they work together
and Henry Creel is the mastermind of everything.
I'm not sure that's exactly accurate after this
play because Henry Creel throughout the entire
play is battling with himself to not listen.
to the Mind Flayer and its corruption. And then,
of course, we jump to 1959, where we get introduced
to some familiar, but much younger faces. Aurelia,
tell us all about it. Because I think, first
things first, there's a lot of people that then
walk on stage that are playing. you know, faces
we've known from the show for a season. But from,
like, the moment they walk on stage, I was like,
oh, yeah, that's Joyce. Easy. Like, she didn't
have to, like, be named before I knew that she
was Joyce. Although, I will say, Sierra, if you
were uncomfortable about the way that they portrayed
Elle in season four, this play starts with a
25 -year -old Lonnie, first of all. He's 25 years
old. And Joyce, who's barely 18 and wearing,
you guessed it, no shirt. And it was kind of
like, what? Who authorized this? They're in high
school still. Just at least give her a shirt.
This is a play. This isn't HBO. Why are we opening
up with like, here's some things to look at,
people. Like, my God. Oh, no. And they're like
on a mattress together. Yeah. While Joyce is
trying to write this play and get into a creative
playwriting college to be able to come and be
New York's best playwright. I remember having
this conversation after the play. I was like,
yeah. And Sam was like, but like, I was like,
okay, I think this is like a European versus
American thing. It really is. Okay. Everyone's
very, very sensitive to that 17 versus 18 line.
Yeah. I mean, it is wild to me that Lonnie is
so much older. Like, that we're all so sensitive
over here in Europe. Yes. Good. Excellent. That
would not be good. But that she, like, was temporarily
not wearing a shirt. Yeah. I think the counterpoint
is, like, was it needed? Not really. So I think
I get, like, she could have just gotten up already
wearing a shirt. Correct. So interesting choice.
But yes, so Joyce is there and she's still in
high school. And as Sam's already said, she's
writing this play. However, it's a secret play
because she wants to do like a really raunchy
play instead of performing Oklahoma. So to the
school, they say like, yeah, we're doing Oklahoma.
We're doing Oklahoma. Don't worry. Don't worry.
But in reality, it's like this like play that
the school otherwise would never ever sign off
and allow them to do. But it's like the big rebellion
is like, we're going to do this play and no one
will know until it actually starts what it is
about. That's fun. So that's what Joyce is up
to. I've put in my notes, she dates Lonnie for
inexplicable reasons, because even in the play,
it makes no sense that the two are dating. Like,
he's not like a different person in the play.
Like, he's still Lonnie. It's like, oh, okay.
Well, it's also unclear how long they've been
dating. Like, did they meet when she was 14 and
he was 21? Like, what's happening here? I don't
want to know. But, like, it makes no sense. Because
even the next character I have here that we meet,
which is Hopper, she has, like, so much better
chemistry with Hopper in this play. Like, even,
like, at that age, clearly, they could have ended
up together. If she wasn't dating Lonnie for
God knows why. And Hopper's character is really
consistent. Joyce's character is really consistent.
Both of them bring in really interesting information.
Joyce is clearly this rebellious person who wants
to get out of town. And she really wants to go
and do these big dreams. She's a little bit like
Eddie in that way. Where he's like, I want to
become a musician and a rock star. And she's
like, I want to become this playwright and get
out of this town and do something more interesting.
Which is like... fairly tragic where you know
this is heading and that last scene with joyce
and this other character uh is is really sad
because she's like you know that she's stuck
there you know that she's gonna make bad decisions
but i will say most of these characters i buy
that they're the age that they are you know in
plays it's a little bit more forgivable when
you're a lot older hopper's character he is like
a 30 year old man in this play they like they
like shave his face and they slick back his hair
to make it look like he's the 50s but and and
he's enormous just like like david harbour actually
is like a very tall guy um but he's like his
voice starts and you're like that guy Is an adult.
That guy is not. He's not an 18 year old. I mean
I know an adult is 18. But like this guy is a
real man. This guy is not a boy. It's really
kind of funny. Yeah. But. We learn his dad is
son of. His dad is the chief of police. So. Destiny
I guess. In a way. Because also. While he's.
Oh, he's trying to have reasons to be around
Joyce because he's clearly having a thing for
Joyce. He's starting to investigate the strange
things happening. And he's very quickly able
to narrow it down to it has to do something with
this drama club, like this secret drama club.
Something is connected to what's going on in
the town. Because what is going on in the town
is pets start dying in like these like mysterious
way. But if you've seen season four of Stranger
Things, very familiar way as in where they're
like. limbs are being moved into these impossible
places. So we start seeing that happening and
obviously everyone in town is like, oh my god,
why has eight cats died in the span of weeks?
It is interesting because there are so many Stranger
Things fans that are cat people and in the audience
that was one of the more visceral reactions is
that there's this cat that's gone missing. And
Henry Creel is helping to look for it before
he, for the first time, gives in to the mind
flare. And the cat is levitated up and then breaks
its limbs in several places and then dies. And
that's like a practical effect on stage. Yeah.
Yeah, it's not a light projection or anything
like that. They have a fairly reasonably good
-looking, realistic cat that then floats up and
does its puppety death sequence. It's kind of
nasty. The only other thing to note is he actually
does his investigations with a character we do
know from season two, Bob Newby. Only that Bob
Newby at this point is also a high school student
and he runs the local radio because of course
he does. And he's this super upbeat, happy character.
Has also a big crush on Joyce. So that's also
been ongoing for a while. And he has an adopted
sister. Who is the love interest of Henry Creel.
Her name is Patty! I was going to say, cue the
overmark. Well, maybe. We'll see. Cue the halfway
overmark. Dun, dun, dun. Aurelia and I were...
Aurelia and I were convinced that she was going
to die. Like, Aurelia leans over to me as soon
as they introduce Patty and goes, she's gonna
die, right? Well, I guess we've never heard of
her otherwise. Yeah, she's a major character.
And she's got this... Like, she is a black woman
in the cast, and that is, like, a feature of
her character. And it's like... dad newbie adopts
her first for like you know ridiculous reasons
and then puts a lot of pressure on her and like
loves his son but treats his daughter super terribly
it's it's a fascinating dynamic yeah so yeah
those are the three characters we know from the
show and that sort of the main characters we
follow in the play aside from obviously patty
newbie who's a new character and uh henry creole
who's not exactly a new character but also not
one of the ones that we know as well. So yeah,
as Sam said, she's adopted. She is also in the
play and starts having feelings for Henry Creel.
And actually, Joyce is trying to cast the main
leads and sees the very real chemistry between
Henry and Patty. And then she's like, you two
are the leads because clearly you're actually
in love. So they're basically having to act out
their love story on stage, which is fun for two.
People who are clearly uncomfortable doing that.
Well, just to pause there for a second. That's
how much Joyce knows about Henry Creel. So, you
know, we had the whole Russian storyline. So
Joyce and Hopper, who are both people who intimately
know Henry Creel from his, like, three months
of being in a play with both of them. And also
a couple other characters that we'll get to,
but like spoilers, Eddie Munson's dad, Alan Munson
is also in this play and a major character in
like for comic relief, but we'll get there when
we get there. But like they know, so like they're
all away. So it better, it better come into season
five. That's one of my major worries is that
they're just going to end up decanonizing this
play and we will have done all this work for
nothing. When it turns out, Joyce was the director.
of henry creel when he was the lead in her solo
written play yeah but he is also the new kid
to school like he doesn't know anyone and like
yeah you know it's his first school day and he
almost immediately gets cast and just play because
uh That's what happens. So, yeah, we sort of
follow Henry's story, like him, as we've said,
trying to resist the urges from the Mind Flayer.
And we hear throughout the investigations of
Joyce, Bob and Hopper that more and more animals
die. And, you know, as I say, Hopper is able
to say, OK, something to do with the drama club.
Something's going on because it's always those
people involved. And then I think almost the
whole second part of the play after break is
all around Dr. Brenner and Henry Creel. Because
at that point, those two are sort of the main
characters. So we sort of revisit what we know
from season four. Obviously, you know, Henry
kills his whole family and all of that sort of
stuff. Like he doesn't, he's not able. to resist.
He ends up killing his whole family and Dr. Brenner's
like, oh no, no, my pet, come to me, come to
me. I want to harvest your everything. Because
he doesn't care that people died. He's just like,
no, no, no, I need this. Because we've seen this
from Dr. Brenner with, you know, Eleven's mom
and Eleven and all the other subjects. So we
learn a lot more about early experimentation
and what he's doing with Henry. But it's all
sort of like very similar to what we've seen
in the show. So it's just seeing it on stage
in a way. Yeah. But it sort of just gives that
depth to that relationship as to how one and
Brenna have interacted before we see it in season
four when, you know, one is almost supervising
the other children without telling them that
he's also one of them. It's crazy. And I think
just some honorable mentions of other characters
that are definitely mostly in the play for fan
service, because everyone in Hawkins seems to
be forever stuck in Hawkins. So as Sam said,
we meet Eddie Munson, who is like barely ever
wearing a shirt on stage. Yeah, he's constantly
half naked. It's just being a bit weird. He's
like the theater kid. And then we see Ted Wheeler,
so Mike and Nancy's dad. And he's like a bit
more cool and confident than what we see later
in the show, where he's like pretty checked out
of his children's life and just mostly seems
to be watching TV and doesn't seem to care about
anything else. And I think this is another bit
of fan service, just like towards the end of
the show, we just quickly see Lucas' parents.
Yeah, they've been in the play, but you don't
know who they are. And then at the very end,
Mrs. Sinclair, there's high school sweethearts.
Mrs. Sinclair is like, I will dump you. And then
she like fully names this character. And Lucas's
dad has like three middle names. So she like
does the like big naming. And one of the middle
names is Lucas. And you're like, oh, I see. He's
one of the Sinclairs. Oh, that's, oh, that's,
oh. And it's not, you know, like if some people
were like, oh, we had this one couple in front
of us that were probably 10 years younger than
us that were like, oh, my gosh. And I really
and I were like, uh -huh. Don't tease the crap
out of them. So that's that's in there. And also
we see Dustin's dad for two second. There is
a ice cream parlor called Mendelsohn's, which
I think is Dustin's last name. Or Henderson.
Mendelssohn's. Mendelssohn's. Mendelssohn's is
Grand Budapest Hotel. Yeah, yeah. Thank you.
And so, and like, he's like, there's this big
scene between Joyce and Hopper where they're
like, hey, can we go on a date? Joyce actually
asks out Hopper in 1959 at this ice cream parlor
that she started to work for. And Hopper has
to be like, oh, I wish, but I'm actually headed
out to Vietnam tomorrow. And so there's like
that unrequited love moment. But at the beginning
of that scene, we see Dustin's dad just kind
of mopping things up for a second before he moves
on. A lot of like fan service hints, obviously,
as you'd expect with a play like this. But also,
I think quite interesting to see how Joyce and
Hopper seem to just miss each other for so long
in their life, where they were like just never
in the right. right space and time with each
other um until obviously season four where they
finally get their big moment yeah and and it's
interesting too because joyce and bob also have
some moments of like Oh, will they, won't they,
where she's like suddenly attracted to Bob, but
for very different reasons than she's attracted
to Hopper. And the three of them end up investigating
the Creel household, which again is crazy. They've
been to the house that season four happens to
investigate the guy, and they think it's his
dad, who's this drunk soldier person. It's just
incredibly fascinating. Yeah. So we get to Henry
Creel's, like, transformation. So in 1959, Brenner
was contacted by a woman named Virginia Creel,
who believed her son Henry, one slash Vecna,
was responsible for a number of inexplicable
things happening at her household. Of course,
then Virginia and Henry's sibling Alice were
found dead at the house. Henry's father was presumed
to be the murderer. However, Brenner. He knows.
He always knows. Henry, he knows Henry is responsible
and possesses remarkable psychokinetic abilities.
So Brenner convinces the higher -ups in the U
.S. government that he should take Henry into
his custody, proposing that the boy's abilities
could be deployed, much like Eleven, against
the Soviets. However, in truth, Brenner is much
more motivated by his curiosity about Dimension
X and only said otherwise to get government funding.
So we understand in this, again, huge information
that Henry Creel is not inherently evil. He's
a lonely, misunderstood person whose companionship
in his head is with the Mind Flayer. So this
Mind Flayer is influencing Henry and is a completely
powerful force that is very difficult. to fight.
And of course, eventually Henry gives into his
baser instincts to get his way and listens to
the mind flare because he's promised power. It's
like a little bit more of a direct dark side
reference where the dark side is the quickest
and easiest way to get your, your, what you want,
right? Unlimited power. And so he gives into
the mind flare, although it's a fight, you know,
at first it's just pets. And then eventually
it's, it's. Siblings and mother. Because his
mother is really. Much worse than she is in season
four. She's really quite horrible to him. Much
more Aunt Petunia. Than what we saw in season
four. And then we've got. What's called the void.
The void. The play introduces the concept of
the void. Which is a place where Henry travels.
And where the mind flayer exerts its control.
So he has the ability to dip in. Not quite. all
the way to Dimension X, but dip into this void
where the Mind Flayer has control. And there's
a big speculation that this void, because Will,
you know, again, this is all speculation, because
Will has superpowers, he imprints Hawkins on
the void. And that's what is the upside down,
not Dimension X. So that's the play in a nutshell.
Sierra, we'd love to hear your initial reactions
before we move forward. I mean, I think... That's
a lot of information. And it makes if they're
going to bring the Hopper Joyce connection with
Henry into season five, then it makes even more
sense that they are kind of benched from the
Hawkins investigation because they would have
too much information. Yes, absolutely. So I think
it makes sense that they're not. And that they're
dealing with another side of things. And so hopefully
when they all have their powwow and, oh, hey,
we figured out who's doing all this. It's this
guy. We then get Joyce and Hopper. Oh, right.
Maybe even a small flashback moment. which we
don't really have in this show, but it could
be an opportunity for one to have a small flashback
to the events of the play to be able to see that
they did in fact know them. Could be a good way
to bring Sean Astin in for a hot minute. I would
love that. Or something of that nature. I'm sure
if they're going to do them as high school students,
though, they'll probably just have different
people, but you could, you could pull a Dexter
and just put them in a wig. Any excuse for Sean
Astin. But I think that this is a lot of really
important information in terms of how Henry has
powers because we don't know that. We know everything
from Henry having powers forward. We don't understand
how he got them. Did his dad or his mom? have
something within them before he was born? Why
does his sister not have powers? We don't have
any of that information. And so this is the extra
information that we are missing. I just hope
they don't write it out. Yeah. What are people
doing without this information? Like my, one
of my biggest gripes with any big fandom is that
you have an established like medium for it. Right.
So. Percy Jackson, the medium really is the books.
You do an adaptation to do a show, and I'm not
so mad at the books or the show for not covering
everything. Because its original medium is in
books. But if Percy Jackson were to continue
to create more books, I would go, okay, but then
don't make a comic or – an audio play or a play
or a tv show or a movie integral like don't make
it so that you have to go outside of that established
medium in order to know this information so i
think in my hope season five covers this enough
to satisfy the viewers needs for it otherwise
i really don't want to have to say for the next
two months well but if you watched the play right
Well, if you listen to our podcast about the
play, you'd know everything. I mean, maybe we
should do that and we just plug ourselves as
that. And that's the way we get all the viewers
to come and listen. So never mind. Netflix, get
rid of the whole everything to do with it. We'll
just explain it here. But the thing is not even
like, you know, there have been books before
where you've had deeper understandings about
especially all the new characters that the show
introduced that we haven't properly met. But
like books are accessible. everywhere you don't
need to be in a specific place and time and have
you know have the ability to to afford theater
tickets not that they were crazy expensive they
really weren't but um a play is just so not accessible
to most of the world yeah well just isn't right
who's who are you driving to again we got netflix
which is what like 18 a month versus The play
tickets, which at minimum probably you're looking
at 35 depending on what area you live in. If
you're in New York, probably more like 60. But
not everybody can go and do that. And so not
everybody's got the time or the methods of travel.
How many playhouses are going to put on this
incredibly expensive play to come and do? If
I live in Red Rock, Alabama, am I going to New
York City? We're the only place that's putting
on this play right now? How do I have access
to this information? So they must be inputting
it some way, shape, or form into season five,
which will be cool. My thing about the books,
too, to your point, Aurelia, is the books at
least add flavor. They don't change integral
information, right? Like, it's not integral that
Eddie wants to become a music star to his thing.
It makes it much sadder. Like, the fact that
they had this big dream. Or even Robin's stuff.
Like, it's not super integral, the struggles
that she's been into for her character moment
in the play. I think it's actually much improved
if you see what struggles she goes through. But
it doesn't change it. Versus this is, like, actual
information that if they don't go over quickly,
it's going to be like, what the heck is happening
here? Do we think just one episode is just basically...
A recap of this play. I hope not. I hope that
we get information sprinkled throughout. And
I hope that it's like in those classic montage
where we've got Hopper with one group of people
and Joyce with one group of people. And as they
tell the story, it's going back and forth between
those two scenes and flashback scenes. That'd
be cool. So we'll see. Yeah, that would work
well. Mm -hmm. Crack open an encyclopedia. It's
time for, as Elijah Wood once said, no! How could
we have known category, which this is the most
appropriate time for, because if you haven't
seen this play, it is no. How could we have known
where we discuss the most important information
disseminated in the fandom over this play? We're
consolidating it for you right here. There's
three things I think are the huge takeaways for
this. So number one, write this down, kids. Dr.
Brenner's dad was in Dimension X, which is not
exactly the upside down. The upside down. is
the place linking and mixing Hawkins with Dimension
X. But it doesn't become the Upside Down until
the day that Will is taken. And then that Hawkins
imprints itself in a permanent manner, as we
discover in Season 4. Number 2. Brenner's dad
survived and told Dr. Brenner. Dr. Brenner then
tries to recreate what happened to his dad. A
rogue scientist steals the equipment and stashes
it in a Nevada cave nearby where local child,
Victor Creel, goes in and is lost for 12 hours.
During that time, he travels to Dimension X,
meets the Mind Flayer, is infected, influenced
by him in some way, and then returns home. Kreel,
during that time, got superpowers and could still
hear the Mind Flayer. He tried to fight the evil
thoughts of the Mind Flayer, but couldn't, and
eventually uses his superpowers to do evil and
harming, but not killing, our favorite new newbie,
Patty. So there you go. There's the three sort
of, how would you have known without the play?
Close your eyes and focus your mind. It's our
Sherlock Mind Palace category for Reaction O
'Clock. So, what does this all mean? That's what
it means to me. We touched upon this a little
bit at the end of the last finale, season four.
pod with sierra where i i serped up sierra's
hopes and my hopes about the fact that it is
not victor creel all along it's actually the
mind flayer all along which feels a lot more
appropriate than it being like there's just one
human person and that victor creel is just convinced
that he's in charge it's sort of like an older
brother pretending as if he's given you the first
player controller And then being like, no, I've
actually been first player the whole time, bud.
Yeah, I think that that, as we talked about before,
I think that that would make for a much more
interesting villain story. And to have kind of
all the twists and turns of who's really behind
all of this, what really are the motivations,
and kind of pulling the rug out from under you
a little bit as to your expectations. We've talked
about it already that I think they need to do
flashbacks, something to explain this to the
show, because this play is not very accessible.
But also I'm wondering, because the show really
focuses on Patty Newby, and this is obviously
a character we have not ever met before. So I
do wonder, and I know in this next part we're
going to talk about, are we seeing some of the
people that were killed in the Upside Down? If
she's somehow going to come back. through that
sort of mechanism or if we're gonna get introduced
to her in the show as well but patty's not dead
so at the end of the play it's patty she falls
for like 500 days it feels like right there's
that catwalk scene where she's like tumbling
down and it's really slow and everybody thinks
she's dead and then we get that one little last
scene at the end where she's actually traveling
with a suitcase and she finds her mom at the
end Right, because her mom was like a traveling
singer, isn't she? Yeah, that's right. And she's
like singing. I don't remember if she's the singer
that's doing like Dream a Little Dream of Me
that we like hear all the time. But she's certainly
in that era because it's the 50s and she's in
the 1950s gloves and dress and all that jazz.
So I think Patti will be back, but not the way
that Billy or Eddie might be. Okay. Yeah. We
are going to do some quick hits now. So get out
that crystal ball and tell us all about tomorrow's
weather. It's our big predictions category for
season five of Stranger Things. I have a couple
to get through. Number one, big deaths. There
will be big deaths at the end of part one and
part two. We will lose some much beloved characters
earlier on. And then, of course, there will be
deaths in the finale and stuff, but that's not
a prediction. That's just fact. Number two, Will
will get some powers this time. Yay! How? I bet
Sierra has an explanation. Yes, so Will getting
powers is one of my predictions as well, and
I think, especially based on the information
that you guys have shared about how Henry got
his powers, I think we're dealing with a similar
situation. I think that Will, having been taken
into the Upside Down by the Mind Flayer, Vecna,
Wee, whatever combination they're in, When he
was transported, he is then infected by the Mind
Flayer, just the same as Henry was infected by
the Mind Flayer. And while Henry was only there
for 12 hours, Will is there for a week. So I
think that it... So he's even more powerful.
He can use all four bandages. Two hands and two
legs. I just, I think that it gives... the mind
player a lot more time to really infiltrate Will's
mind and to have been in there so much more subtly
that even though Will has fought against him,
even though he has thrown up the slug, even though
we think that he's mostly gone, we know he's
not because Will can still feel him and hear
his thoughts and knows how he thinks and all
of that. I think that that is even more evidence.
that the Mind Flayer is fully infiltrated into
Will's mind, and that is how he has his powers,
is because of his time spent in the Upside Down.
Yeah, I'm in full agreement. I think that's exactly
how it happens. And if you're sitting there wondering,
how does then Elle have powers, because she didn't
travel to the Upside Down, we know that, because
of Aurelia's wonderful research, that Eleven's
mother was getting blood transfusions from Victor
Creel. When the gestation of Eleven was happening.
And so Eleven seems to have those powers directly
from Victor Creel's blood. And then, of course,
the LSD that her mother was on while she was
pregnant as well. Forced LSD. She wasn't just,
like, doing it. Yeah. Other predictions. I believe
that we will see Barb, Billy, Bob, and Betty.
I mean, Eddie. I think we'll see them in some
way, shape, or form, whether it's just flashbacks.
I had this whole prediction around, like, Eddie
is going to end up being this character that's
in the D &D lore around Vecna, who, like, is
Vecna's undead companion and betrays Vecna and
gives the people the sword of Vecna, which can
kill him, or sword of something that can kill
him. But then the Duffer Brothers said... Joseph
Quinn is not going to be in season five because
he's been, like, filming five movies. And I was
like, no! My prediction! So that, I think, my
Eddie prediction's out. But I still think we'll
see those characters in, even if it's just in
flashbacks. I think Will or Elle will turn evil
because of the mind flayer. And it will be a
very sad having to kill them in order to completely
cut off the gate. I do believe it was the mind
flayer all along! instead of Vecna. And I believe
that we'll see a good side of Henry Creel come
back, that he will turncoat on the Mind Flayer.
I also believe that Patty Newby, who is the moral
voice, Sierra, just so you know, like, Patty
is the person in the play trying to, like, knows
what Victor's going through. Not quite that it's
the shadow monster slash Mind Flayer, but knows
that he's battling and tries to keep him morally
correct. So I think she'll come back. I've had
the same prediction where I think we've touched
upon this before, like, you know, Hopper, Joyce
will realize that they know Henry Creel and the
whole group will make an attempt to separate
Beckner from Henry Creel. And that's where I
also think Patty Newby might play a big role
to help achieve that. Absolutely. Yeah, definitely.
I agree with that, especially with knowing Patty's
role in the play. I think if we do see henry
i think it's more likely we'll see one as kind
of a guidance force but if we do see henry i
think it's only if we get patty yeah totally
totally totally totally totally aurelia your
predictions so i uh i have some here that are
uh from my queer perspective i guess uh i would
really like to see will officially coming out
um maybe to his whole friend group but at the
very least to mike And admit his feelings to
him. I could possibly see this as only his last
living moment as he's about to die that he finally
confesses. Because I don't think he's otherwise
brave enough to confess to his feelings for Mike.
I would agree. I agree. I think there's a really
horrible version of this that... My mind has
come up with just based on Noah's. Well, Noah's
whole thing is like, everybody's going to be
sad. And what better way for everything to just
go wrong? That would create devastation everywhere.
I think there's a possibility that as the mind
flayer fully takes over Will or Will fully succumbs
to the mind flayer, that instead of Will actually
being the one to come out and gain the courage
to speak to Mike, that the mind flayer is the
one who essentially taunts Mike and possibly
the rest of his friends with this information
that Will has been in love with Mike this whole
time. wow isn't this horrible how you guys treated
him and you didn't reciprocate his feelings and
now he's gone and there's no way for him to come
back so i think there is a possibility there
that this happens in a very twisted manner which
would be very upsetting but i think maybe it's
more likely than will gaining the courage to
do it on his own which is horrible i agree Although
I think the three of us can also agree that Will
could do so much better. Yes. Then Mike? 100%.
Absolutely. I felt that bad, didn't I? Mike.
I would rather him be with Troy. No, I'm kidding.
That's terrible. No. He runs off to California
to be a car guy. Pizza's for life. He is set.
Talking about people getting together, I'm predicting
Steve and Nancy will get together because of
how season four left that whole triangle. I'm
not mad at this prediction. I think this is a
fairly... I think it's clearly going to be one
of the two. I don't think they'll have Nancy
just choose somebody else. And I don't think
Nancy's going to die. But if Jonathan doesn't
die, then she'll be with Jonathan. Because I
think then Steve will die. I think that those
two characters are sort of, it will be a who's
going to die. And then Nancy's choice will be
made for her. But I love Steve. And Steve's doing
great. And Millie Bobby Brown just gave an interview
where she was like, I choose Jonathan because
he's nice and kind. And he just needs a little
bit more time to grow into being a man. And I'm
like, yeah, but Steve's nice and kind. And he's
done the growing. That's the whole point. At
the end of season four, he's like a thoughtful
human being. Versus Jonathan still battling with
his insecurities and being scared. So, I don't
know. I don't know. It depends on how they write
it. We'll see. Yeah, and I think to your point
of it's either or, I'm predicting that Jonathan
sacrifices himself for Will. Because we've seen,
you know, he's... He's dead for his brother.
They have a really close relationship. He's basically
told Will that he's a safe person to come out
to, that he's supporting him anyway. I think
Jonathan will do anything for Will, and I think
he will sacrifice himself. Are Jonathan's last
words then, will I stay or will I go? I'm going
to make Sierra cry. And I'm like, I'm moving
on from that. My last like of the major predictions
is because season four leaves Max in a medical
induced coma. I think at least assuming season
five picks up straight from where season four
has ended, that Max is going to. remain in that
coma for at least part of it. I could see it
for the whole first release that we're getting
on Thanksgiving. And that she doesn't wake up
until the end of that first part. Possibly because
of something they're doing with Vecna and the
Mind Flayer and the Upside Down, that something
big happens and that triggers her to wake up
from the coma. And I'd almost, like, I can picture,
like, the season, like, that episode ending on,
like, a close -up on Max's face as she, like,
gospel wakes. Yeah, classic. John Snow moment.
Oh my gosh, I would love that. Yeah. Because
they haven't addressed what's going to go on
with Max, so I think that needs to be addressed.
Yeah. And then two, like, queer, silly things
that are not as much predictions. But I would
love to see Robin and Will having a queer moment
where they openly talk to each other about what
it's like to be a gay or lesbian person in the
80s when that's maybe not so safe to be out and
share their experiences. That's definitely just
me wanting this to happen. I'm not sure if the
show has time for it. Because stakes are high.
I mean, if they're going to be two hours each,
they definitely have time for it. But seeing
as we have two queer characters in that huge
friend group, it would make sense if they actually
talk to each other. Because I don't think they
have yet. No. We've not really seen them interact
except for a finale at the Starcourt mall. Yeah.
So that... That would be cool. And then something
that I'm sure you guys are aware as well, but
before season one, there was obviously chemistry
tests between Mike and Elle, because they're
like very early on, it introduces this love interest
for each other. But they're actors, obviously,
not the characters. But also the actors for Mike
and Will did the same chemistry tests before
season one. So obviously... We've now seen that
Will has feelings for Mike, but I'm wondering,
are we going to get more than just one -sided
feelings? It's a huge question in the fandom
right now. It's a big, giant question in the
fandom. Is Mike going to reciprocate? Because
a lot of people think that Elle is going to die.
Yeah. Speaking of which, Sierra, will you lead
us into our next category? You guys have made
predictions. I have a lot of predictions, but
they're all... Death -based predictions. Because
I'm really focused here on how sad we're all
going to be at the end of this. So wait, wait,
wait, wait. We aren't going to die, are we? It's
our Saving Private Ryan category for predicting
deaths in this upcoming season. All right. We
have a couple of categories that I've created.
The categories are the superpowered. The adults
we care about. The older teens. Erica gets her
own category. And the kids. Now, controversially,
Erica gets her own category. It's not just Erica
in her category. But we'll get there. Go for
it. We've got the super powered. Starting with
who? Eleven. Yes. She'll die. Yes, she'll die.
I don't think she will. Okay. Fine. All right.
Will. Only if L doesn't die. It's an either or
for me on that one. I reckon Will's gonna die.
I think he won't. Excellent. I think he won't.
I think that the whole... I think he'll lose
enough people that it will be upsetting all on
its own. Potentially he may never be the same
again type of a situation. Indeed. Are we going
to do like a score sheet after? Yes, 100%. 2026
of how terrible we were. It's called the fantasy
football taunting. All right. Vakna. Yeah, I
think he'll die, but only because the mind flayer
kills him for turning coat in a very sort of
Billy -esque reference. I think, yes, he will
die, but he will die for the cause. Like, he
will have returned as not Vecna, but Henry somehow,
but the only way this can end is because he sacrifices
himself. Yes, I think he'll die. Mind Flayer.
Yeah, and I think he'll die with a group effort
with Henry, Creel, Eleven, and Will. Yep. Yep.
I mean, otherwise, otherwise we'll be really
sad if season five ends, if everyone's dead,
but the Marlin Flayer is fine. So next we have
the adults we care about, because there's not
all of them. So first on, we have our favorite
chief of police, Hopper. No, we've already been
through this. They did this in season three teaser.
They're not going to actually kill him. We already
had the big sadness about it. Yes. See, I would
agree with you on the reasoning behind that,
except for I've seen Walking Dead. But this isn't
that show. I know. But I don't think he'll die.
Yes, excellent. Next up, Joyce. What do we think?
I think yes. I think yes to the buyers will all
die if Will dies. So if Will dies, Joyce dies.
Ooh, brutal. I am because I'm obviously saying
Jonathan is going to sacrifice himself. I think
Joyce only dies if Jonathan doesn't. I think
she dies and it's one of two things. But I think
she only dies if she sacrifices herself for one
of her sons. So she sacrifices herself for Jonathan.
Jonathan then sacrifices himself for Will. Or
she sacrifices herself and both of her sons live.
But I think that if Will lives, she dies. So
opposite of you. Okay. Yeah. Glad I'm not part
of Tobiah's family, the way we're treating them.
Someone else we have here is Murray. Yeah, I
think he'll be the big death at the end of part
one. I think he and Yuri will go down in a flame
of, we did it! Oh, no! And then they don't. I
think he's fine. Yeah, I don't think he'll die.
Good for you guys. I'm glad for Murray. But talking
about Murray, let's talk about his friends. What
do we think about Enzo? I think, no, I think
he'll go back to Russia. And they'll do like
a whole montage thing of like, where is he now?
Where he like is integral to bringing down the
USSR. And with his knowledge that he's gained.
I think Enzo is one of the ones where I'd be
like, if he was, I don't think it would be dramatic.
And it probably would just be a little bit of
like, oh, okay. We didn't know this character
too. Yeah. I disagree. I think he will die, and
I think he'll die specifically for Hopper. Sort
of like a Quicksilver death? Yeah. Where he saves
Hawkeye? Exactly. So I think that he is going
to die trying to save Hopper. And then, not to
move into the next one too quickly, but I think
Yuri will also die as a result of Enzo saving
Hopper. Yeah. I'm also a yes for Yuri. I think
he's going to die, like I said, with Murray.
I'm just going to say he's fine. Also because
I read through the doc and I was like, if Sam's
predictions are true, everyone dies. That's not
true on this next character. Oh, it's true on
the next character, but not two characters from
now. Talking about Sam, but Dr. Sam. Yeah, I
think he'll die. And I think one of the big things
at the end of part two will be like, the entire
US government that has shown up, including Dr.
Sam, will be eliminated at the end of part two.
And sort of this onslaught where it looks like
everything's going to be terrible. Yeah, I agree.
I also think he'll die. I'm not happy about it,
but I think that he'll die. Right. I just don't
see a way that he lives. Very, very true. Yeah.
And the last of this category of characters,
Mr. Clark. I think that they're going to play
with our emotions here. And I think that he's
going to be in danger facing down a Demogorgon
or a Demodog or something. But he will ultimately
live. I just personally wish that nothing ever
happens to that man because he's my emotionally
support science teacher. Every time he's in the
show, it's just so good. And he's, you know,
he's, he deserves the best. Absolutely. I just
think they don't have time to bring him in. Sierra,
he's officially in season five. Oh. If you want
to redo that one. Yes. In that case. Now I got
to think about it for a second. Don't kill him.
Don't kill him. I don't want him to die, but
I do. I think, Sam, you've got a good point.
I think. That he'll be in danger and potentially
the boys will have to save him. And that's how
he gets dragged into everything. Because he's
been on the outskirts for so long and that he's
really helped them without realizing it. And
so I think that they'll directly help him. Just
as you're talking, I am picturing how... He's
finally brought into the fold and he's actually
the first character to die to like really, you
know, it's just like growing up, growing up moment
for the kids. Protect Dr. Clark. Or Mr. Clark.
Yeah, I don't want this to happen, but I could
see this as just like, you know, the same as,
you know, Sirius dying for Harry. This is this
big moment. It reminds me of the beginning of
season two in Lost. There's a character who's
trying to explain that you have to be really
careful with old dynamite. Because or else it'll
explode. But then he gestures with it and he
blows himself up. Yeah. So I could see... I hope
that's not Mr. Quark. I could... I... Yeah. I
don't want him to die, but I could see this could
be a big moment for the kids. Yeah. Ugh. Speaking
of the children, time to talk about the older
teens. Jonathan. Yes, I think he dies if Will
does. Yeah, I've covered my point here. I think
he's dying to protect Will. And also potentially
this could be after Nancy's dumped him for Steve.
So he's like, I have nothing to live for. I'm
going to save my brother. Ouch. Yeah. Sorry.
Yeah. I think that if Joyce dies to save Jonathan.
then he'll live. But I think that there's a good
possibility that Joyce dies to save Jonathan,
and then Jonathan dies to save Will. Again, the
cool Byers family. Speaking of the Byers, and
I guess the future Mrs. Byers, as I once called
her on the podcast, Nancy, will she die? I think
no. I think she's legitimately the only person
that I am not at all concerned about dying. Same.
Yeah, agreed. Excellent. Speaking of somebody
that I am not at all sure about if he's going
to die or not is Steve. And I think this is,
they're wrapped up together. If Jonathan dies,
then Steve doesn't. But if Jonathan doesn't die,
then Steve does. I agree, but I definitely think
it's going to be Jonathan. I don't want Steve
to die. I'm going to say no. I'm going to say
he lives. Excellent. Yeah. And his co -patriot,
Robin, I think is almost as close to being safe
as Nancy is. I think she'll be in danger, but
I think she's going to be fine. Yeah. She's not
allowed to die. Aurelia will write letters. Yeah.
I'll start a petition of like, redo season five.
Oh my gosh. Argyle. Now, we know that Argyle's
not actually in season five, but part of me is
like, are they just going to say that he died?
Are they going to be like, Argyle died as soon
as he got here. One of the spores infected his
lungs. We can't breathe anymore. Or something
stupid like that. I think he just went home.
Yeah, the most likely thing is he's making pizzas
in California. Excellent. All right. Good for
him. Erica gets her own category, except for
that she doesn't at all. Because in this category
is Erica. What do we think? No, I think because
then we wouldn't have America. I agree. I don't
think she's dying. I think similarly to how we
said Nancy is safe, I think Erica is safe. But
also because I think that would be too much for
this show. Yeah. To kill a kid that young. Certainly.
Speaking of a kid that young, Nancy and Mike's
sister. I think no. And this is the character
that gets the 90s Stranger Things spinoff. I
mean, something's going on with her and the Mind
Flayer. She's the only one who freaking notices
it all the time. She's constantly like, whoa,
look, the Mind Flayer at work. Exactly. I think
she has to have a few important moments, though,
because that has been a theme. Yeah. So I think
this is one of the things where listening to
this podcast, which is obviously great in general,
but I, on my second rewatch, still took about
as much notice on her as on my first watch. I
was like, who cares? And then you guys constantly
were like, but there was this moment, I was like,
was there? Oh my god, I missed it. Excellent.
And Susie? No, I don't think Dustin's girlfriend
is going to be in trouble at all. I think her
entire family will be killed by Troy, the serial
killer, on the side. But otherwise, no. I do,
in general, think that Susie's safe. Yeah, I
think we know that she's going to be in Hawkins.
She's in a still, yeah. She's in a still from
the shot. It's her and Joyce and Mike who is
holding up Will, who looks exhausted. So, I think
she's somehow going to be relevant to figuring
things out. I think she's fine. Also, like, even
if she did, we don't really know her that much
as viewers. Like, we've seen her, like, what,
once? Yeah. It does seem like the type of person
that you would kill off, though, to, like, redshirt.
But I'm still going to say no. But it might be
a Star Trek -y redshirt type situation to do
stuff. I say yes. And what has me convinced is
the still of Steve hugging a horrible -looking
Dustin. And it has now convinced me that that
image is from the aftermath of Susie dying. Ugh.
Sorry. Okay. We're ending this pod on a very,
very happy note as we transition into the kids.
Aurelia, give us this category. So, to our original
crew. What do we think of Lucas? I really hope
not, for a couple of different reasons. One of
them being, like, he's one of the only non -white
characters from the original crew, and that would
really suck. But also, I think that he's got
a lot in his future going for him. He seems like
one of the most capable. Him and Dustin. I think
Mike might be stuck in Hawkins for his whole
life, and Will, I think, is dying. So, I really
hope not. And I think no. Yeah, I think for the
same reasons, especially after having read the
book from his perspective, where he actually
comes to realize that he's one of the few, you
know, non -white people in the Hawkins and how
he's struggling with that and all of that. So
I think it'd be he's safe from just that perspective.
Yeah, I think that he has to be alive to help
Max recover. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that they're
kind of the ones who will carry on. the the group
yeah talking about max what do we think about
her yeah no for the same reason i just said i
i feel like what's the point in saving her uh
if she's going to die there's a possibility that
she will have this moment where she's like no
i i've been cursed like i've really been dead
since the end of season four i like i was always
going to pass out of this world you just have
given me a bit more time uh but i i do think
that she's safe although that that instance of
being like you just saved me more time which
we do see pop up in fandoms almost as a as not
a cliche but it's it is used certainly uh does
give me a little bit of trepidation around her
character yeah I think I would really like her
to, as I've said, wake up and have impact to
the story. But it would be really sad if she
just passes in the hospital bed. Yeah. I really
don't think that's going to happen. That would
be crazy. That would be crazy because she's been
such a great character for the show. But yeah.
Talking about someone else that I personally
think it would be crazy if they killed him off.
Dustin. I would probably stop watching. I would
honestly probably stop watching if they did.
No, I don't think so. I think that he is the
bright positivity, the optimism, the guidance
of all's going to be well for this show out of
this main crew. So I think no. I think also,
I think with all of these characters we've seen
somehow be used as like... explain what is happening
to the audience type character where they would
like you know break down dnd stuff to like hopper
and joy so something like that or explain science
stuff but i think with uh you know the others
being coupled up or being otherwise occupied
dustin has been more in this role than any of
the other ones so i think he's sort of almost
like our guide as the viewers to through what
happens so i think we need him because he leads
us through the story yeah So I had a really sad
thought when contemplating this one. Um, and
it may be a, he or Steve situation. No, I know.
And I know that on the Steve one, I already said,
I really hope not. So I'm going to say no, but,
but in thinking about it some more, I do think
potentially one of them will sacrifice themselves
for the other. Oh, unfortunate. And finally,
uh, Our favorite, certainly on this podcast,
Mike. Yes, I think that he dies in the first
moments of season five. We open with him just
dying. No, I actually don't think Mike will die
at all. I think seeing the pain of losing Will
or Elle through his eyes, or both, will be more
painful and more punishment than if he dies.
I really do think it'll be one of those two dying.
And Mike unable to stop it. And that will be
difficult. So I think he's safe. I think he's
safe purely for the whole he's the heart of the
group type stuff that we learned in season four,
which is obviously Will's perspective. But I
think because he's the central figure between
Elle and Will, I think he's safe. I also agree.
I don't think he'll die. I do hope that it's
because he's... sticks with nancy through at
least a section of it and then we flesh out maybe
a little bit more of their brother sister relationship
because that was honestly one of my favorite
things about what was that season two when you're
right when nancy and mike were from now on no
more lies and then they immediately lie to each
other i want more of that energy so i would love
for maybe after he's already lost one of them
or maybe they L and Will are dealing with their
own supernatural stuff. And so he needs to buddy
up with somebody else to do whatever else is
happening in Hawkins. That he's with Nancy and
we get a little bit more of their dynamic. And
because she's safe, then he is safe. Yeah. Yeah,
makes sense. I've got a little bit about a mystery
character here. You will remember, of course,
in season two. Dustin thinks he's discovered
a new species and it grows into a demo dog and
eats the character Muse, his cat. Then he lies
to his mother about where Muse is and just says
Muse has gone missing and eventually gets her
a kitten that we see at the end of season two.
So my biggest question. is will this Muse Jr.
live throughout Season 5, or will it die? Your
thoughts, please. I think seeing as how many
cats have died throughout Stranger Things, especially
the play, I would personally recommend all cats
to move away from Hawkins and go anywhere else.
Jump on Argyle's van and go to California. That's
Argyle's mission, is save the cats. Save the
cats. Excellent. I really, I don't think so.
I don't think we have to have number two. Muse
two needs to stay alive. Excellent. Okay. Good
to know. Clean your evil air and get ready for
our I was the turkey all along category. What
is? The biggest takeaway viewers should leave
with in preparation for season five. There are
five, just so that you know. Number one, Vecna
absolutely takes Will at the beginning of season
one. That's just something we have to remember.
Number two, Dimension X and Hawkins combined
somehow to create the Upside Down, and it seems
like Will is the one who imprints his hometown
in that liminal void space. AKA, the Upside Down
is the space between these two distinct parallel
worlds, universes, whatever you want to say.
Number three. Henry Creel accidentally visited
Dimension X. It's not the Upside Down, it's Dimension
X. Before he gained his powers, his powers started
after being lost for 12 hours in Dimension X,
and he could hear the mind flare, which tilted
him towards madness and evil. Number four. L's
mother was given blood transfusions from Vecna
when he was one in the Hawkins lab. And that's
part of the reasons why she has powers. And the
last one, just so we remember, L has the power
to distinctly open portals. And Vecna couldn't
do that, he said, until he stole L's powers at
the end of season three. Today's public service
announcement. Watch all the content. Go find
all the ancillary details because they may be
vitally important. They may. They may be vitally
important. It turns out the play. Go to London.
Vitally important. Yeah, gosh. Go to London.
Go visit a friend in London and see the play
before this comes out. Which this episode comes
out the Tuesday before. So fly Wednesday to London
and see it that night. Thank you, listener schmissners,
for listening to this episode of Fandom Schmandom.
If you'd like to discuss this episode or any
other episode we've done, please hit us up on
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placing us in front of the other like -minded
schmissners out there. And with that, we're out,
y 'all. Don't forget to tip your playwrights.
And fare thee well. And I'm Sam Williams. And
welcome to our guest for this podcast, who is
also our executive producer. Welcome to Aurelia.
Nope, that's not how you say Aurelia. I don't
know why I rolled my R's. You are Spanish now.
It is a Latin name, so, you know. Alright, let's
try that again. My voice also cracked in the
middle of me saying, uh, welcome to our guest!
That's our guest, an executive producer, O 'Reilly
Leib! Alright, here we go. And I'm saying - Oh
god, I bit my tooth! How did I do that?! Oh,
there's already so many bloopers here. Oh! Oh
my gosh. Okay. Here we go. Here we go. Are you
okay? Yeah, I'm good. I just like, I don't know
how, but I really hit my tooth with my other
tooth. Come back into the war to leadership.
And he is quite old. They give him a fake beer
because a fake beer. No, they give him a fake
beard.