Like a toddler at the dinner table, we've saved the most unpleasant bit for last. Listen in as Sara, James, and Alan return to finish their report cards for Amazon: will the show get passing marks? With discussion of the visuals, music, and acting behind us, tonight's conversation turns to the writing. The sea may always be right, but if the sea could write, ... Show More
Nov 2024
035 – Magical Woo Woo Sounds
Join Alan, James, and Sara as they ponder Pelargir, ruminate about Rhûn, admire Adar, and linger on Lindon in the second half of our post-season review of Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power! We talk through the remaining storylines in the s ... Show More
2h 16m
Oct 2024
034 – Most Valuable Dwarf Award
The envelope, please... Join Alan, Sara, and James as they talk about costumes, casting, and Khazad-dûm (it’s alliteration, folks) in what is only the first half of our post-season review of Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power! We give well- ... Show More
1h 55m
Oct 2024
033 – Schrödinger's Podcast
Join Alan, James, and Sara as they avoid spoilers in this episode blurb, discuss the revelation of the Stranger's name, weep over a powerful father-son moment, and agree that the show has gotten better - all in their discussion of the Season 2 finale of Amazon Prime Video's The L ... Show More
2h 51m
Dec 2022
273 – Questions After Nightfall 21
Join Alan and Don, as we send Don back (for now, at any rate) to TikTok, where they apparently need their Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy. But before Luke leaves Vader in charge, it’s time to welcome some of our listeners to join us in the common-room for our latest Q&A episo ... Show More
1h 21m
Feb 2025
The Conversations that Bring Us Closer
Last week on the show, we looked at the science of conversation, and how even ordinary chats can involve a delicate dance of coordination. This week, we explore the discussions we all dread: the tough ones. Telling someone they treated us poorly. Demanding a raise. Taking away an ... Show More
49m 17s
Dec 2018
104 - I See a Little Silhouetto of a Man
We return to Book I, Chapter 3 of The Lord of the Rings to find Frodo, Sam, and Pippin still in high spirits as they stroll through the Shire. Before long, though, they realize that they’re being followed by a shadowy, sniffing black rider. We talk about the “unpremeditated turn” ... Show More
1h 49m
Nov 2017
060 - Questions After Nightfall 1
It’s our first ever Prancing Pony Podcast Q&A episode! Alan and Shawn answer live questions from our very special guests, ranging from the fun to the philosophical. Topics include our favorite villains, the surprising similarities between goblins and dwarves, and the importance o ... Show More
1h 32m
Dec 2023
DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
How do you know if you have enough narrative fuel to write a script? In this episode, Chas, Stu and Mel attempt to answer a listener question: “In your own pre-writing process, how do you know you have enough for a feature? And do you have a specific pre-writing method you're go ... Show More
1h 36m
Sep 2023
Subtitles On: Why is movie dialogue so hard to understand?
In recent years, the dialogue in movies and TV shows has gotten harder and harder to understand. No one seems to agree on who or what the main culprit is, much less how to fix the problem. In this episode, we wade into the murky waters of The Great Dialogue Debate, and maybe, jus ... Show More
32m 39s