In this lively installment of Against the Mountains of Madness, Jason and John take listeners on a whirlwind tour through the triumphs and failures of beloved franchises. The conversation begins with George R.R. Martin and whether he’ll ever finish A Song of Ice and Fire. John argues that Martin has written himself into a corner, his nihilistic worldview preventing the kind of redemptive ending that Tolkien achieved in The Lord of the Rings.
From there, they branch into the broader question of storytelling conventions: what readers expect from genres, and what happens when writers subvert those expectations badly. Along the way, they dive into:
• Game of Thrones vs. Tolkien: Cynicism versus grace, and why nihilism leaves no room for true happy endings.
• Star Wars: From the genius of the originals to the uneven prequels and the controversial Disney era, including discussions of editing, mythic structure, and the “woke mind virus.”
• Star Trek: Praises for Wrath of Khan, critiques of modern shows like Discovery, and nostalgic love for The Orville capturing the old Star Trek feel.
• Special Effects: How CGI has both enhanced and cheapened sci-fi; practical effects in Predator, Aliens, and The Prisoner compared to digital shortcuts in modern productions.
• Cult Classics: Babylon 5, Sliders, Krull, Lost in Space, and more—shows that blended vision and limitations, sometimes brilliantly, sometimes laughably.
• Franchises Gone Astray: From Terminator sequels to Marvel’s weaker outings, they explore how beloved series can decline when spectacle overtakes story.
The episode balances sharp criticism with genuine fandom, mixing laughter, anecdotes, and sharp philosophical observations. It’s a love letter to great sci-fi/fantasy storytelling—and a roast of when it goes wrong.
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