Mary & Blake Media

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 3 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix - The Advance Guard. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am nature of the chapter, why Tonks is perfectly characterized within the first few lines of meeting her, and why Vernon Dursley LOVES to rat on his neighbors.

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. We discuss why the film doesn't miss a beat as it relates to feeling like the show, why there is some major plot yoga in order to create an arc for Uhtred, and why Mary apparently doesn't know this difference between facts and FAQs...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 2 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix - A Peck Of Owls. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the split morality of Vernon and Petunia, why Sirius may have let Harry down, and why Blake doesn't understand the conversion rate of Celsius to Fahrenheit...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake gather an emergency podcast about HBO reportedly nearing a deal to reboot Harry Potter as a television series. In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the business behind why HBO is rebooting reportedly rebooting Harry Potter as a television series, the thirst (or lack thereof) for more Harry Potter, who we would like to see as some actors and showrunners, and Mary...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 1 of Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix - Dudley Demented In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss the cultural zeitgeist of Harry Potter when this book was released, why the dementors are interesting but its the opening paragraph that really counts here, and why Mrs. Fig wants Harry to just have more cats in his life...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss and review the 2005 film adaptation of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire  In this episode, Mary & Blake discuss how one simple line in the movie is the perfect bridge between films 1-3 and films 5-8, why there is a cognitive dissonance between the foundation of the book, and the structure of the film, and why when you have Ralph Fiennes, you just let hi...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 37 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - A Beginning. In this episode, Mary & Blake share a special new spin on the final chapter -- Blake reads the whole chapter to you!  At the same time we provide commentary on how this sets up the rest of the narrative, why this book feels very much like Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, and why Colin McCr...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 35 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - A Parting Of The Ways. We chat about about Fudge's true intentions for going to the hospital wing, why Dumbledore may have chosen to NOT take Harry's memory and put in the in the Pensieve, and why Snape's in line to have a really awkward conversation with Voldemort...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 35 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - Veritaserum. We chat about the mechanics of a returning portkey, the mystery of who cast the Stupefy charm, and why Winky thought bad luck always came in threes.

Outlander Cast Hosts Mary & Blake discuss the Outlander season 7 teaser. In this episode, we discuss the differences between a teaser and a trailer, the coloring differences from season to season, why the book readers are kind of in the dark, and Blake has a WILD Outlandish Theory about Jamie's dream...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 34 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - Priori Incantatem. We chat about the indirect connection of old magic, how macro vs. micro perspective can change the dynamic of a scene, and why Frank loves his Tuesday spirit meetings with Cedric...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 33 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - The Death Eaters. We chat a what Snape felt upon the reemergence of the Dark Mark, why this chapter contains some of Blake's favorite prose from the author, and Mary nails yet ANOTHER different perspective.

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 32 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire – Flesh, Blood And Bone. We chat a wild fan theory about Bertha Jorkins, Harry’s first experience to the wide wizarding world being death, and why Mary has a Different Perspective for the ages!

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 31 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - The Third Task. We chat why this chapter is a perfect pay off moment for all of the past experiences Harry has in previous years, why the the subversion of structure is a gold mine of opportunity, and why Bill is essentially Bender from The Breakfast Club

Keep Calm And Crown On Hosts Mary & Blake chat the season 5 premiere of The Crown - episode 5.01, "Queen Victoria Syndrome". We discuss the dramatic irony of watching these events with Prince Charles against reality of King Charles, why the casting is perfect, and why Tom Hanks is the closest thing to an American version of the Queen...

The Potterverse Hosts Mary & Blake discuss chapter 30 of Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - The Pensieve. We chat why this chapter broadens the wizarding world in a very intentional way, how the pensieve actually works, and why Barty Crouch Jr. was always The Big Bad Wolf in plays at Azkaban...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 10, “The Black Queen,” where Rhaenyra is crowned, tries to prevent war, loses her child, sends Luke to Storm’s End, and learns what peace costs. We discuss the use and abuse of theme, why this show is best interpreted as a family drama, and we get into some pretty heavy cereal talk...you don't want to miss the end of this episode :...

Mary & Blake discuss The Rings of Power, episode 1.08 - "Alloyed". In this episode, we chat if the show lies to us, why the emotional connection between Halbrand and Galadriel is the centerpiece of the show, and why Galadriel and Adar are going to need to form a calming circle...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 9, “The Green Council,” where Alicent turns Viserys’ last words into a coup, Aegon is crowned, Rhaenys chooses mercy, and the Greens move before Rhaenyra can enter the room. We discuss why for characters to be believable, they must do everything in their power to achieve their wants, why Alicent is still in service to men, and why...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 8, “The Lord Of The Tides,” where Viserys saves Rhaenyra, Daemon kills Vaemond, the family shares one last dinner, and one misunderstood prophecy dooms the peace. We discuss why the characters are finally starting to feel true to the story, the irony in King Viserys' final night, and why the dragon keepers need to invest in Shout s...

Mary & Blake discuss The Rings of Power, episode 1.07 - "The Eye". In this episode, we chat about who the show is writing for, the exquisite cinematography for the opening, and why Mary is totally Disa...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 7, “Driftmark,” where Aemond claims Vhagar, Lucerys takes his eye, Alicent snaps, Laenor escapes, and the children pay in blood for their parents’ lies. We discuss the validity of the show holding the twist from you, why the night scenes look so...odd, and why Mary always gets her christmas shopping done BEFORE Halloween(!)...

Mary & Blake discuss The Rings of Power, episode 1.06 - "Udun". In this episode, we chat about light vs. dark, how this episode supplements and subverts core Tolkein ideology, and why Blake is never going to live near a mountain...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 6, “The Princess And The Queen,” where the time jump turns Rhaenyra’s children into evidence, Alicent into open opposition, Laena into tragedy, and motherhood into war. We discuss the effectiveness of the time jump, how two characters go from 0 - 100 real quick, and why Viserys totally has dragon stick figures on the back of his ca...

Mary & Blake discuss The Rings of Power, episode 1.05 - "Partings". In this episode, we chat the blessing and burden of mythology, why the relationships are growing to form actual characters, and why Mary is a rabid anti elf-ite....