Mary & Blake Media

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 5, “We Light The Way,” where Alicent wears green, Criston snaps, Daemon murders Rhea Royce, Viserys collapses, and a royal wedding becomes a war cry. We discuss the need-for and burden-of chaos, rat imagery, and why Mary has put on a green dress and called her banner men to arms!

Mary & Blake discuss The Rings of Power, episode 1.04 - "The Great Wave". In this episode, we chat theme and the application of theme, why there are no hard and fast rules to writing but there are general templates, and why Isildur is absolutely doing a box step dance number with the Queen Regent to Idina Menzel...

Mary & Blake chat about House Of The Dragon Episode 1.04 - "King Of The Narrow Sea". Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 4, “King Of The Narrow Sea,” where Daemon returns, Rhaenyra claims desire, Criston crosses a line, Otto falls, and private choices become public evidence.

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.10. We discuss subverting expectations, why the battle for Bebbanburg was perfectly constructed, and why we Finan might have a competitor for Mary's heart...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.09. We discuss the difficulty of turning characters into likable figures, why we're willing to look past some writerly convenience for the sake of emotionality, and why Mary was once told she looked like an M&M...

Mary & Blake discuss the series premiere of The Rings of Power, episode 1.03 - "Adar". In this episode, we chat foreshadowing with the score, why this show runs a tight line between running at a breakneck pace but also being a slow burn at the same time, and why Blake thinks Halbrand is basically Tupperware filled with old fish...

Mary & Blake discuss the series premiere of The Rings of Power, episode 1.02 - "Adrift". In this episode, we chat how editing tells a visual story of connection, why we can't trust 4 characters, and why Elrond's planner book is the most beautiful thing you will ever see... In this episode, we chat how the history behind Rings Of Power, why first episodes need to introduce pivotal characters in iro...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 3, “Second Of His Name,” where Aegon’s name day pressures Rhaenyra’s claim, the white hart appears, Daemon becomes a myth, and Viserys’ legacy starts turning into a trap. We discuss the the theme of legacy for Daemon and Viserys, why the visual language of the open was vintage GOT, and who we think is the Lady Whistledown of the Ta...

Mary & Blake discuss the series premiere of The Rings of Power, episode 1.01 - "A Shadow Of The Past". In this episode, we chat how the history behind Rings Of Power, why first episodes need to introduce pivotal characters in ironic terms which define the series, the stability of visual language, and Mary has a CHERNOBYL sized hot take about the Harfoots... 

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.08. We discuss the "big breath in", why Aethelhelm is right (from a certain point of view), and why Finan is totally a Gilmore Girls fan...

Mary & Blake review Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 8, “The Viscount Who Loved Me,” as Anthony finally chooses love, Kate and Anthony get their emotional wedding, Penelope turns back toward Whistledown, and Season 2 closes with waterworks. In this episode, we chat why it's always important for a character to reject change at the last minute, the artistic choice to have Penelope's actual voice, and Bla...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.07. We discuss the visual language of the final shot, why Edward has been a grey character all season, and why Mary is having a major existential crisis...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 2, “The Rogue Prince,” where Daemon steals a dragon egg, Rhaenyra proves herself at Dragonstone, Viserys chooses Alicent, and the order of things starts creating the next war. In this episode, why we think there are such low stakes right now, how the kingdom has suffered because of "the order of things" and why Ser Cristan Cole is...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.06. We discuss why this episode feels like it's moving chess pieces instead of having characters make real choices, why we don't care ONE OUNCE about Aelfwynn, and why Sylvester Stallone is getting divorced because of his dog.  Trust me, you don't want to miss the last 15 minutes of this episode...

Mary & Blake discuss Bridgerton: 2.07 - "Harmony". In this episode, we chat the art of the cliffhanger, and odd turn for Violet, and why you absolutely cannot go without a positional prop pillow...

Mary & Blake recap and review House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 1, “The Heirs Of The Dragon,” where Viserys names Rhaenyra heir, Aemma dies, Daemon crosses a line, and the family wound that starts the Dance begins. In this episode, we chat the argument between prologues or being thrown into a show, why the show invites comparison to Game Of Thrones through visual language and writing itself, wh...

Mary & Blake discuss Bridgerton: 2.06 - "The Choice". In this episode, we chat why we need to invest in Edwina in order to actually HAVE a choice, a literal magical moment in time, and why Portia Featherington always goes home and listens to Queen Of The Night by Whitney Houston...

Mary & Blake discuss Bridgerton: 2.05 - "An Unthinkable Fate". In this episode, we chat the concept of "magnetism" in characters, a truly remarkable scene between Sharma Sharma and Anthony, and why Mary couldn't help but channel her 13 year old self...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.05. We discuss horror working better when you don't see it, the Brida headfake, and why Haesten might be the first person to ever follow "The Secret"

Mary & Blake review Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 4, “Victory,” as dramatic irony takes over, Kate and Anthony keep getting pulled together, Marina gives Colin closure, and Anthony wins by making the wrong choice. In this episode, we chat the writers winking at the viewers with dramatic irony, why the whole Marina subplot needs to go away, and why Lady Featherington is ABSOLUTELY a Slytherin...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.04. We discuss the moral gray area for our characters, contrasting the affect of death on faith, and why Combos are the crown jewel of road trips.

Mary & Blake review Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 3, “A Bee In Your Bonnet,” as Anthony’s trauma finally clicks into place, Kate sees him at his worst, and the pall mall game makes Season 2 come alive. In this episode, we chat theme vs. anti-theme, how relationships are key to character, and why Mary freaks out when our cat sneezes...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.03 We discuss manufacturing plot to continue the story, if Uhtred is being a good dad, and why Vebeke is definitely not on the track team

Mary & Blake review Bridgerton Season 2 Episode 2, “Off To The Races,” as Anthony tries to court Edwina, Kate keeps beating him at his own game, Penelope faces new Whistledown pressure, and the race for love gets messier. In this episode, we chat the intentional camera work, why we are getting more than just a typical telling of a "enemies-to-lovers trope", and why there needs to be a band named "...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.02 We discuss discuss the horror element found in Alexander Dreymon's directing, why we can whistle past the logic graveyard for Aethelflaed's choice, and why Brida's creepy kid needs to get a toy.