Flame ON!

New Year, New Format!

Dear listeners, the new year is upon us and the boys of Flame ON! are ready for their first new episode of the year and they've changed up the format!

Rather than a more structured conversation, the boys will chat about the topics that are tickling their fancy while entertaining any tangents they find themselves on. From Drag Race Season 17 to Squid Game Season 2, the boys are ready to kick off the year with a bang!

Sit back and get ready to FLAME ON!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/flameon.

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Duration:: 1h 25m
Broadcast on:: 31 Jan 2025
Audio Format:: other

Are you gay? Giki! Just enjoy hearing your good jitties dish about the latest in pop culture. Well, then you're in luck. The boys at Flame On are here for you. In every episode, we discuss the topics that entrench us. Whether it's comics, TV, movies, drag queens, or video games, we've got your cover. So, if you're ready for your gay and geeky slice of pop culture life, then sit back and get ready to Flame On! If there's one thing that my family and friends know me for, it's being an amazing gift-giver. I owe it all to Celebrations Passport from 1800flowers.com, my one-stop shopping site that has amazing gifts for every occasion. With Celebrations Passport, I get free shipping on thousands of amazing gifts, and the more gifts I give, the more perks and rewards I earn. To learn more and take your gift-giving to the next level, visit 1800flowers.com/acast. That's 1800flowers.com/acast. [Music] [Music] [Music] What's going on, everybody? We're here, it is 2025, and we are back. We're here, we're talking, we are a group of queers with opinions. We're just going to rename the, uh, the podcast, the queers with opinions. It might do better SEO-wise, honestly. [Laughs] I don't know if everything's burning down around us, like, hope you're okay. [Laughs] We can put the hope you're okay in parentheses, maybe. [Laughs] I like that. That's just a tagline for it. [Laughs] Yeah. Are you okay? No? Okay. Listen to this podcast. The answer is no. Exactly, exactly. You might feel better, or you... Oh, no, that's it. That's the other podcast we need to do. It might make you feel better or worse. [Laughs] Oh, goodness. Well, we are back. Dear listeners, it is our first real episode of 2025. I put out a, um, what ended up being a longer, little, uh, announcement episode a couple of weeks ago, uh, longer than I anticipated it being. And, uh, a little emotional, it felt like. I finished recording that and, you know, got ready to upload it and was like, wow. It's going to be the first time, I think, in, uh, I've been on the show for almost 13 years now. That we're reducing the number of episodes. Like, we've always kept a pretty consistent schedule. Or in the case of, uh, all-star seven season, we added a weekly review to, uh... Our already, uh, double episode month. So it felt weird to be like, hey, we are going to, uh, cut back on our, our content production as content creators. God, I just feel icky just saying that. Like, I know what to say. [Laughs] This has never felt like that, for me at least. Um, but yeah, it was so weird. It makes, it makes me feel younger. Um, but yeah, it was so weird. It, you know what's funny though? Like, we say content, we say content creator and it's like, oh, YouTubers and Instagram. People, like, people that are putting stuff out on the social media content. My, uh, porn adult brain instantly thinks of only fans just for fans, that kind of content creator. [Laughs] I've curated a very specific blue sky. I thought you said poor adult brain, not porn adult brain. I like how I spent the first time in my fucking life. I just reset something to be cleaner than it actually was. And I don't, I don't know what this, what this timeline is anymore. Yeah, yeah, I, I get that. No, both, I think, apply in my case right now. It really just feels like, uh, just an adult brain. But you've heard, uh, most of the voices of the cast of characters. We've got our whole crew here joining me. We've got BJ. Hi. We've got Brian. Hello. And we've got Eric. Hello. Eric, who said fuck my drag when I just showed up in Florida and was like, Hey, what are you up to girl? She's like, I am in another state, not where you are. I was like, well, you were, you were closer to where I live than where I was. She, she does that. I think one of the times I went, I went down. I was like, Eric, let's go do something. And he's like, I'm in another country. And I was like, Oh, I'm in Iceland right now. Sorry. I was like, how, like, like the, like the hand to the chest being like, how dare he, like how dare he go do something. Like, nobody else goes anywhere. It does anything if I'm not there. So. I know. That was me in Florida. I was like, Eric will have to be here. You know, it's all like air troubles. So. I was like, I'm not here. There's a case. I am, I am befuddled and pregasted right now. Never in my days. I'm sorry. I forgot to ask your permission before traveling. You're forgiven this time. Next time I won't be so nice about it. Don't. Don't joke. We're probably like, I'm very scared. We're going to go to Soviet papers soon. So you're going to have to have your red papers to go to certain parts of the country. So Lauren heaven. Yeah. Yeah. Let's break out. Let's break out the, the, the witch bones and the, and the hex spells and whatever, whatever you can sell your soul to. I just need to get through the here. This year, Jesus, I don't know. I'm, I'm nervous about the next. 10 to 20 years. You're being optimistic. I'm being pessimistic. I don't know. Anyway, it is our first new episode of the year. If you did not have a chance to listen to the announcement episode that comes before this and the feed, we are going to one episode a month. So rather than what we've been doing for the last. Oh, God. I don't even know how many years at this point of a micro sewed early in the month followed by a round up episode where we each pick a topic and. You know, bring it to the table or the figurative round table of our discussion and then chat about it. We are switching to one single episode and we're just going to have a lively discussion about a couple of different topics. We'll see where it goes. We'll have non sequiturs. We'll have tangents. Brian has been chomping at the bit for this day for Lord knows how long where he would be able to just, you know, have a random conversation about something else in the middle of somebody else's topic. Plus, this way, Brian doesn't steal anybody's topics for future. Oh my goodness. That was one time, one time enjoys it. He enjoys it too much, everybody. I am. I am a great white devil. You got silly drunk and don't remember recording an entire episode and we still, you know, that happened once and we don't let you live that down either. That's true. That you shouldn't. That was epic. Yes, I am excited. It's where he still doesn't remember that episode and has not. I don't remember the details of what we, what we said. Like, I know it had something to do with Luke Cage. I guess about all I can remember about that is I know. It was our, it was our iron fist episode, I think. Okay, so Luke Cage was involved somehow, but I thought I thought it was Luke Cage. No, Ron was, it was there. It was somewhere in the model Netflix world. See, at least it's not just me that can't remember it. And that's, I wasn't the only one who had been drinking. Well, no, that's because advertisement for that, for that dude. We, we did all the advertisement. That was John X Carter, who I need to reconnect with. I have not heard from that, that individual and forever, but that was his D and D drinking set where you would roll by how much liquor you could consume. And let me tell you, I can consume a lot of liquor. That's when he's all around, baby. Yeah, I, I, I just came back from a trip to Spain where I drank way too much sherry. And then as in Florida, where I drank, not a lot. Actually, it was Florida's pretty dry, but. Yeah, he's going to people coming to Orlando and asking about me. Brian comes to Orlando and I'm here and he doesn't ask to see. Oh, there it is. It's true. I normally, I normally announce my presence when I come back to an area like Orlando and I have lived where I have lots of friends. This time it was so stealthy. I knew as soon as I did anything that denoted I was there, I would have people saying that and I, I, I, I failed. But it's okay because Florida was, it was cold. It was cold, I didn't even know until I saw the picture, the wedding pictures pop up. Yeah. Facebook. Oh, and he was, and he was there for a wedding. Oh, yeah. You can be like, I was tied up in meetings the whole time, but he was there for. I have way more time. You can have one. I have no, I had a plus one. I have way more time in Orlando when I am there for work than I do for a wedding. Weddings are a nightmare and I was in this wedding. So all I'm saying is, I'm sorry Orlando. You will get a piece of me in the very near future. So Eric, you are, you are as always on the top of my list to see. It's not the top of my list. If I was in Atlanta, I would probably have BJ at the top of my list too. And Pat, of course, is on top of my list for Chicago. So there you go. So this is that way. I just, what do you want? I visited Pat the last time I was in Chicago and I didn't even visit my own aunt. And she found out too. So she was very much like, why were you there for four days? And I'm like, let's say I can't tell you anything. Nothing, nothing I can share with family. And she's like, it was like that. And I'm like, yeah, it's absolutely. Oh, oh, one of those trips. I was there for a month. Yeah. So aside from that, for like coming for an event like that, I'm at the top of most people's list when they visit because I have a place to stay, which I'm fine with. I, you know, I'm like, I've got a couch in the city. I mean, that is, that is a several hundred dollar value right there. Listen, I know, I know. That's why usually when people stay with me, they treat me to some drinks or whatever. Like when Eric came up and visited, we went to the ice cream museum. It was a lot of fun. There's an ice cream museum. What? What? What does it know about that? The museum of ice cream. It's one of like five or six locations. New York has one. We have one here in Chicago. I think there might be one in. I think there's one in Japan. I had hot dog flavored ice cream. Oh my God. And it wasn't bad. And they serve it. They serve it. The ice cream is hot dog flavored. And then they serve it as a Chicago dog. So it's served. You're kidding. Button. With volition. All of that. Yeah. I'm talking my language here. Yes. That is unholy. That is. I hate Chicago style hot dogs. You're so wrong on planet. You're wrong. Hot dog should not have fresh vegetables on it. That is absolutely. How dare it be healthier than it. You know, otherwise. Yeah. Hot dog. It's lips and assholes covered in salt and processed. I like my lips and assholes with vegetables. Damn it. Well, you're vegan. Oh, yeah. Part time vegan for sure. Lord. But if you ever do get to the museum of ice cream, that's unlimited ice cream samples. So if you love your love, if you love the Chicago dog ice cream, you can go back and get as many as you want. Wow. But. And they do have vegan options at each. I'm excited. You had me at Chicago style hot dog or ice cream. I don't know. Now that I know it exists, I want to go. I like how. I like how. Hot dog ice cream. And then the moment he's like Chicago style hot dog ice cream. I'm like. Because Chicago style elevates the otherwise disgusting thing that is a hot dog. So I'm on now. You're I'm interested. You don't have to get it as a Chicago dog style like serving BJ. I tried it the first time I went. And I got it as just the ice cream on the bun. And. It was not for me. It was not for me. I chose the other option at that station. Because there's like sometimes a sherbet or a sorbet. There's vegan options, dairy free options at some of the stations. But. Yeah, it's a cute little. It's cute little setup. That was my second time going with to with Eric when he was up here. But yeah, it's it's definitely cute. And we didn't go in the sprinkle pool though. That's the old thing we did. Yeah, we went on the weekend. Exactly. Sprinkle pool. Sprinkles out of my pubic hair. For like a month. Are you going to go in naked? Is that what you're playing? No, but it's like. And it's like a bus. It's not actual sprinkles. Oh, okay. But like, no, they're they're rid of sugar. They're going to get stuck to you. They're going to get down your shirt. They're going to get all in there. They carry. No, just think of a ball pit. A giant ball pit, but with sprinkles shaped balls. Yeah. You. Oh, okay. I was going to say because if that was I thought it was actual sprinkles. I would say you do what you do. You take a little bit of water and you put it on yourself. You jump in and then you go to steamworks. Oh my God. Oh my God. Can I tell you something about steamworks? I know we're just completely off on the random. Like, like this is exactly what I want. So I went to the steamworks in Seattle and there is nary a bit of steam there. What's so. No. No, Justin. I talked about this when I was there. So I. Nope. Nope. So there. Okay. So I actually know a little bit about this, not the full details because my friend Justin, who I stayed with for like the last night because I screwed up my flights and ended up coming home a day early. He mentioned like when we were trying to figure out where to go while I was in Seattle. He mentioned steamworks and that there is no steam. I heard years ago. The story about this steamworks. I guess there were two owners and they had a falling out and essentially split the company. There's two, it's steamworks, both steamworks, but there's like one division of steamworks that has steam, which is like the Chicago one here. I think Toronto has steam and then there is a, like the other owner. And it's like all dry. It's dry steamworks. So there is no steam, like steam rooms or anything like that at those locations. It is the most bizarre thing in the world. That's so wild. Yeah. So, and I don't know. I think it's. You got steam in the breakup. It's supposed to be. Yeah. It's supposed to be. I don't think it's next to it. So when you say split, they didn't like go split the facilities down the middle. They kind of split the chains. I guess it's like one got these locations, one got these locations or whatever it is. And like PJ said, yeah, apparently one of them got steam in the divorce. I don't know. It's like a property. They were able to get there. There is a club Z in Seattle and evidently it is not far. If maybe it's adjacent and it actually does have a steam room and someone had told me about it, but they kind of made it sound like it was a little, you know, and, and the reason I went in the first place is because there's a new bar here called the bath. No, the wash. Sorry. And they have an event called bath house disco that basically partnered with steamworks and got like some kind of discount rate on lockers. So the funny story is when I went there and they had no idea what the hell I was talking about. They're like, we don't know what you're talking about. They know when it's told us anything. And I'm sitting there like, well, okay. And then my friends like, hold on, I have, I know the party organizer. The dude rolls up a person. I don't know their, their pronouns. Long hair, assless gene chaps, like an assless gene overalls kind of. And on a scooter on like a lime scooter, he scoots up. He's like, girl, we got this runs in, comes out and he's got, they've got free passes like free rooms. They got all this stuff. And there's like, here you go, honey. Problem solved. It was, it was surreal. It was an amazing, weird evening. The bath house fairy. I love it. Yes, the bath house fairy, honestly. He came in on his lime scooter and was like, I'm here to save your evening. But you just got a picture flowing along black hair in assless gene overalls. It was the most magical moment I've had in Seattle in so long. I just, oh, and then of course my car got stuck in a lot. And I had to like take the train the next day to get it. It was a whole nightmare after that. But that part was magical. And the bath house just go part was fun too. So all I'm saying is, you know, it's a great party. I almost feel like it like this needs to be an episode of something where you go. It's like a sitcom and you go to the bar to be like, Hey, is this a big thing? And then you go to the bar to be like, Hey, is there something about half price lockers? And you spend the whole evening and everybody is looking at you like, what are you talking about? You pervert. And then you leave the bar by yourself. And then all of a sudden this little like the bath house fairy comes scooting in and it's like, here you go. But nobody else saw them. So then the rest of the episode, like everybody just thinks you're crazy and like got drunk or something. I feel like this could have happened on an episode of queers folk. And I feel like this could have happened. What's that animated spy gay spy series? I feel like it could have happened on that. Oh, yeah. You for it. I feel like it's so sad. Oh my God. I wish it. I wish it had. It's so funny, especially when the finale was in Palm Springs. Like. Hey. I can't. I think it's where my lumberyard shirt while I was in Orlando though. Oh, you got a lumberyard shirt? Yeah. I got the one that says it's like day drink, gay drink, just drink with the lumber logo on the front. Yeah. One of the one of the. What's that? No, no. So you went and did you enter into the bear social? Yeah. That's why I won. Because when I was there, it was a bear social weekend. So. Yeah. I screwed up my flight and ended up having to come home a day earlier. I thought I booked it for Monday overnight into Tuesday. And instead booked it for Sunday night overnight into Monday. But I wasn't going to let that stop me from having fun on my Sunday Sunday in Seattle. So Justin and I were out most of the night on Saturday. And then got up, got breakfast. And then went and proceeded to kick quite a bit tipsy at Sunday. Social. And then I flew home that night. So, I mean, I have literally taken people to the lumberyard on the Sunday because they're flying out like the red. I flight. It is so close to the airport relatively. Um, because I was south. I mean, in the back. Oh gosh. But like, no, you can get the, it's the closest I have found to what we had in Orlando with Bears in the city. And to what I experienced up in DC with town in that it is like this lovely big bear sort of social with the beer, beer pitcher, you know, whatever's and other drink specials. And everyone's been super nice there. And the organizers are super fun and friendly. So I am glad you got to experience our, our, basically our only bear thing here in Seattle. Uh, other than diesel, which I think is completely overrated. Um, yeah, no good. I don't know. That's beautiful. I know. My father. We just went to diesel. Diesel just isn't, I don't know. I don't know. Not my favorite bar. We're going to check out it. Yeah. I can see that. It got very, um, no regard for personal space while we were there. And that was the only part was like, hmm, that's a little too much. We were going to go and check out the eagle because I have a pension for, uh, checking out the eagle or going to the eagle wherever I'm at. Um, like I went to the one in Denver, got to the door. There was a cover, but I could see inside. And there were like five people. And I said, Hey, I was at least at the eagle. Gotta go by and then went to other bars instead. You checking on Pokemon Go. Right. Exactly. Just spin the Pokey. Stop at the eagle and I'm good. I gotta get a gift from each eagle and, uh, and be done with it. I've been played Pokemon Go in like a year and a half at this point. Uh, I put too much time and money into that to just not play it ever again, but. Maybe one day. Um, but we, yeah, we ended up not going to the, uh, the eagle. That's where the conversation about steamworks came up because I think steamworks is not far from. No, they're all kind of in that same area. Yeah. It's down by the reserve, uh, Starbucks fancy three story. Wine bar, whatever thing. Um, no, the eagle here is very mixed. I do not, I don't mean like mixed crowd. I mean, just mixed in terms of if it's not an event night, don't bother. Uh, there's also some just sketch stuff that I've seen there and I don't mean sexually. I mean, like drugs. So yeah, the eagle here is, uh, it's, it's not, it's not great. So no, the pony and the, and diesel to some extent and like now the wash and lumbria. Uh, those are all my favorite bars here and, uh, is it, is it the pink pony? It is not the pink pony club. And if someone, if you said that in there, I think they'd shave you. Uh, because it's very much, it's very much queer punk. And I don't mean punk like, oh, punk. I mean, like they'll shave you because they do not. Yeah, and, and unfortunately, Chapel Rowan, I'm not saying she is, you know, bad in any way, shape or form, but not, I would dare say not punk. Uh, so much. So yeah, no, but, but the pony is really fun. And they, they're actually lovely people. They would, they would not shave you. I'm, I'm just kidding. They would, they would, um, you heard that here, ladies and gentlemen. We've never seen you. We received a legal document saying that we're being sued for, for malicious slander by the owners. All right. So real quick, before we dive into any topics or any of our like main discussion points for this episode. Um, Luke, friend of the pod listener. Um, one of my, the, the person who, uh, vents to me about drag race and I vent to him about the general hospital at this point because it's the only one of my stories still on the air. He, uh, sent a message and I was staying off of, uh, all meta products for a week, which was good and bad for my mental health because I was like, I didn't realize how many people I talked to on Instagram. And, uh, messenger and Instagram will probably be the only meta products that I incorporate back into my, uh, my, my daily routine because that's how I keep up with most people that I don't text regularly. But, uh, Brian Luke messaged and had a question and I figured rather than respond to him, I would just ask you on this episode and you can then provide your answer and he'll be able to hear when this episode comes out later this week. But, uh, he wanted to know if you have watched Shogun, uh, because of your love Japan. Uh, he wanted to know if you'd seen it and, uh, hear some, uh, some thoughts about it. So I have watched the first episode and I loved pretty much everything I saw. Um, it was very refreshing to have a Western focus or not focused, but a show that was principally for a Western audience. Most like 99% in Japanese and I don't just mean regular Japanese. I mean Japanese that was spoken in that era, which is a very different language. It's imperial dialect, right? Yeah, that sounds right. Um, so like great show, high budget, great acting. I just didn't keep up with it because of whatever was going on in my life at the time, which happens. Case in point, I started watching the show Monarch, which about the Godzilla stuff a years ago when it first came out and then stopped. And now I'm going back to it and going, wow, I like this. This is fun. So, uh, show guns in that list, I need to go back and finish it. Uh, but yeah, no, everything I saw, it was really cool because I think I went to Osaka right after it had started coming out. And so there was like a shot in the ancient or an ancient ancient, ancient is a dumb word. Uh, I was like 16, 1700 kind of era, uh, 17th century, uh, Osaka, and they have the castle and they're set around there. And then I actually went to the modern day recreation of Osaka castle, which is not the same building because they leveled it to the ground or something. And then I rebuilt it. But point is it's really cool. I'm glad it's out there. I need to watch it. And thank you for asking. That was very, uh, thoughtful to, uh, to ask about that. I'm sure he will appreciate those thoughts and comments. And then you can get ready because I have to, uh, bitch and moan to somebody about how much I can't stand drew on general hospital. So get ready. I'll message you this weekend. Just give you the heads up. Um, but was it, uh, was it better or worse than the Wild West 10 rings? What if episode from season three? No, no. I didn't see any of the for season three. Is it bad? It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. So my quick thoughts on it are pretty much what if it's fantastic when it's an actual cereal and every episode is different. It's at its worst when Peggy Carter, when Captain Carter shows up constantly. So yeah, I, I'm mad that they made it a one for it. Not an anthology and made it an anthology. But American horror story season nine era where, or black mirror season four era where they were like, Oh, no, these can all be intertwined. Let's do that and just continue to run with it. Um, but seeing storm as the goddess of thunder was phenomenal for like the hot second end. That was, that was a, that was a fucking, that was a fucking carrot. That was just a. Exactly. Two episodes. I'm like you motherfucking, she was in like this, the last episode. I'm like you motherfuckers like, Oh, you're tricking me with the black woman now. I see how it is Disney. I, I see you. You love X man. You love storm. Oh, we're going to tell you she's in this. And she's only in maybe 20 minutes of the entire season. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah, Peggy Carter centric and then season three, being very birdie centric was very odd. But overall, I mean, it wasn't, I don't think it was a bad season, not as good as some of the other, like the one of, I think season one probably still the best of the three, but I just when we were talking about a Japan and Wild West. I was like, it was like, what if 1884 or something like that and it's like a Cape Bishop Hawkeye and Shang Chi as the 10 rings. They just jogged my memory for that. But speaking of Luke and one of the things that the first message he sent me, I want to do them backwards is after he listened to the episode, the announcement episode, you know, last episode. He was like, I was going to yell at you need to talk more drag race. And then I mentioned the fact that he likes when we talk drag race on the podcast and we have a new season. So, I want to hear thoughts. Brian, when you were saying ancient times in, you know, 16, 17 hundreds and now that's not really ancient. I was like, oh, that's like when they call Lexi grandma and she's only 33 years old. And it's like, oh my God, right? What Acacia said the olden times to rue about the 80s. What what child said this sin? Oh, Acacia forgot is very much Acacia forgot in their confessionals to me. Looks like the standard bully from any 80s teen movie. Yeah, and their drag is just basically like Dolly Parton nine to five. And the very very best of the lost boys. Oh my God, that mullet that's serious to that. But but literally, but it looked like it looked like any character from lost boys. I mean, literally, it's the mullet. But but but take the mullet away and remember the moment when she turned and had her little like whatever jock kind of white. Yeah, and she had her little furry ass hanging out that redeemed her. I don't think I like her. Like she's fine. She's not like, you know, I don't hate her. But that moment I was I was in love. That was really that was fine. You say 80s, 80s bully and all I can think about is Biff from back to the future. So I'm just thinking about a gay Biff from back to the future. I mean, not far off. Was somebody disqualified from the season? No. Okay. No. The internet lied to me. You might be hearing about another RuPaul drag race because there's a million drag races now. I was going to say, yeah, it's probably that. So, okay, so we're we're all caught up, I think, because I've just watched the fourth episode or are we on the fifth? This is coming out this Friday. Okay, so good. So I am caught up. Two queens have gone home. Yeah, I'm surprised. I had to catch up very fast because I was out of the country and it's it was a main lining of all of them back to back. So they're all still a little blurry in my head. All the queens, like if you say their name, I might go and I'll look them up. I think I'm I am caught up. So good. We can discuss. Okay, very good. Initial thoughts. Eric, what are your what are your thoughts on this cast? Who are you rooting for? I think it's a pretty solid season. I like the feel of just about everything except for this year's. It's chocolate. I never thought I would want chocolate to be back more than I. The whole badonka donk tank is the most. Just. I can't think of the word I want to use, but it's overly complex unnecessarily ridiculous. Like what else we got. I mean, it's it's obvious that this production heavy. Yeah, it's it's over. It's over production, but I do appreciate that. Okay, Las Vegas wants to sponsor them and is giving all the girls a trip to Vegas. Yeah, you lose your competition, but go to Vegas instead. Yeah. Yeah. And make sure you take it for RPR or RPDR drug. I was going to say there's there's a permanent RuPaul drag race installation there. Yeah. Yes. That's a really that's a really interesting way of eating your own tail right there. You just kind of recycling. It's kind of pooping back and forth right there. There's so much incestuousness among all those businesses. Yeah, I mean, it's it's it's gross. It's gross. It's a little gross. Hey, run run your hustle. Now I say that. Yeah, I mean, make their get their coin, but I will say, you know, RPDR live did just welcome our dear friend ginger minge back as a host. So we're not completely on that. And Kylie so you've already done it, but yeah, I guess not. You're right. If you want a human centipede your business, then like that's your business. Like, yeah, have it. Have it keep going. But Eric, I completely agree. The the frickin is it chocolate like I I do long for those days of simplicity. Yeah, I mean, because like work backwards, like, okay, did they start with this idea that they needed a last chance thing. Okay, well, what are we going to do for it? Oh, I know Michelle really wants to be in a swimsuit every episode. So, and and she loves like the idea of getting like wet. And is that like, I mean, like, how do you work? Where do you start? And this is terrible to get wet while at work. Yeah, who doesn't who doesn't want to get wet. I just I don't I don't understand it. It's so unnecessary. And it's, yeah, stupid. And like you said, Pat, it's production heavy on that production can basically use that to do whatever the hell they want. That whoever was going to be the first person. The second they said, Oh, two of these levers are going to save you. I mean, yes, there's reasons why specifically they would have saved her Mona Lisa from going home first. But they would have saved whoever was going to be the first one going home. Okay, because the past couple seasons, they haven't had anybody go home first because they know that the fan. Oh, well, I mean, there's just so much money that these queens spend on their runway packages. It's they want to try to have an episode count. Yeah, but they also have an episode count that they have to deliver. And if you only have we have less queens this year. You know that it's not going to, but I'm I'm curious if they're telling the girls, which lever to do because if the other one is one, which is now like the. Oh, it's one and it doesn't matter which I don't know. I don't think they are. No, but if they're doing the whole one in seven for like 17. They would then be like, Oh, pull this lever. Like you're there to play the game. Right. Like, you know what I mean, not leaving it up to chance they're not going to let it be whatever if it's not one and it is just another random number. Then it's because of the queen that is in the bottom that they don't want to go home. They weren't going to send anybody home. They definitely weren't sending hormone Lisa home because the whole cast fucking hates her right from the get go. I don't understand that like quote handpicked by RuPaul. So that queen go home first. Like why I didn't go to the hilarious. I just didn't pick up the dynamic on why they hate her is does she is she just kind of aloof. Is she saying shit like what is it that no she was like I'm picked RuPaul. Okay. Yeah, because I like I think she's really she's got an interesting look and she's an interesting sound and I love her. What's the character from the Pixar film. Sadness sadness sadness. I love her sadness drag. I love seeing that all over drag con or whatever they were shooting that. I don't know I have not understood why they didn't like her other than the, you know, the, you know, she said do I man pick my remote which is true and why wouldn't you tell the audience that I mean come on. That's pretty cool. It's a great story. You know, so I don't know. When when everybody else's potentially try like applied year after year for multiple years. And then you're just like I was handpicked by RuPaul Charles. You can vote below because then you're going against what RuPaul Charles wants. She actually says yes. I don't think you should out yourself as the nepotism hire I really. There's a lot. Seven seven seven seven. All right, that's when they when RuPaul dropped off that dossier she should not have been surprised that everybody was like fuck that hope. And she earned those sevens. Yeah, she didn't have a great performance either. I mean, admittedly she she did she did not deliver the goods. So, I mean, what? I was in Florida at that point. And because of delays, I was having yamasana during the beginning of the episode. So I missed most of the, I know yamasana is amazing. But we got to Savoy halfway through. We got there in time to see Lexi Love roll escape her couch all over the stage. So, like, I got to see the best part of the talent show for sure. But I have not gone back and watched, but I've listened to race chaser and sibling watchery talk about it. Like, okay, I don't need to go back and really watch it myself. So I'm fine with that. So I know it was deserved. But yeah, but I can understand why they don't want her there. Okay, Eric, who's your favorite then so far. I have to say overall Susie to which isn't really a surprising pick for me. Yeah, I do really, really enjoy Lexi Love a lot. Crystal envy is growing on me, especially after this last episode. And the whole thing. Love crystal all the time. And then, and then Ariettie. I enjoy. Ariettie is so nice. I do really, I mean, she's a hometown queen, but I'm rooting for her because I think I like her. She guys, she gives, she's giving me a little dawn and a little Irene and a little other stuff. It's just unique. So frustrating that Michelle gave her. I don't like drag paint regular face. Fuck Michelle Visage. Fuck. She has zero right to give the opinions she is giving. She is a fucking cunt who really needs to stop offering up bad, bad notes, because that is a bad note. Thousands of percent unnecessary and wrong, you know, just because they don't paint exactly like your little narrow fucking mind determines someone should paint does not mean that they are wrong now. Can they broaden their approach? Can they mix other things and say it like that? Like, don't, don't just go. You got so much white on your nose. Oh my God, I just want to throw a punch or through the TV when she said that. That's strongly about it. But I do. I don't think I've heard you say the C word before, and that was really like a very, I've never heard you say the C word. C-bomb is a, is a, is a, listen, I, I love women. Women are amazing. I respect women, but if you earn the C-bomb, you've done something wrong. And Michelle, you've done something wrong. You have disgraced your presence on that show. You have said dumb shit before, and it's been whatever. Your whole thing about green is, but it's like, like, you're holding about green. Okay, great. You don't like green. Fucking shut up about it does not matter. Has no relevance in an art critique competition show. No relevance. Keep it to yourself. Oh, anyway, sorry. I know why she's there. Well, she's there because she's RuPaul's BFF, and she's got like, you know, some little teeny art credential because she was in that stupid band for like what one hit back in the track. First off, they had, they were on the top selling soundtrack of all time. Track nine, body art soundtrack. Don't discredit the seduction like that. She also comes from ball from from the ballroom scene. Like she has some. I do, I do get what you're, what you're saying. I do think that this is to a slightly different take on that. You should be able to do your look. The thing that they look for is versatility. Every season, just like a sewing challenge, if you have a specific thing that you do, if you look like you just come out of the screen from one of the avatar films, they're going to tell you that maybe you should not look like one of the Navi every single time for every single challenge. Prepare, prepare for that. And there, and I, I wish you would have said that in the first week, because the second week or third week. Are you really slim that down? And it looked less like her traditional and looked a little bit more of your standard drag makeup. So to then get this critique after that, like it just felt weird and out of place. Like Michelle was just holding onto this to say it. And I think it was just a little extra rough because after she had given area that critique, then she came back and rubbed her nose and it more when it came time to critique Susie to, and she was like, see somebody else can change their makeup that I hated and make it look pretty for me. So why don't you do it. And then you're right. And that I think was insulting me hates Susie to its little production, production turn around and say, and now pin the carol for it's Ariana. They said we're driving this home today. I think they've had to pick a bottom to I think what Ari any was safe that's right. So I was worried though because of the way their critiques were sort of aiming for her. Because everybody's look was definitely not bad enough compared to the two that were the bottom. Yeah. Oh yeah. Like Corey just no, I just I really you do worry. I do. I really like Corey. I like personality, but her drag has not been up to snuff. Yeah. No, I get that. I get that. She has the personality though and has been one of the main narrators of the season, which is I'm like, Oh, they're going to keep Corey for a while. In the last two weeks, I'm like, Oh, maybe they will keep Corey for a while, but I'm hoping that she like has a rebound after this and is like, I need to get my shit together. It's kind of dual sparkles just becomes the full time narrator of the season. I don't know that she needs to be the full time narrator. She's a little too bubbly, a little too happy, a little too, you know, I don't know. I like somebody who grew up on George's and oh my God. What about our poor old, Joe Ella, who I actually, I will say there's been like a lot of plus size queens that don't make it very far and we haven't had a good. Like plus size queen that's made it as far as like, you know, I guess what would be who's the last one. Oh, I can see in picture. No, but since gender we've got a few years. One century even since your week. Who am I thinking? Mistress. Mistress is most recent. Yeah. Ginger and all star six would have been that, but then mistress was after all star six. So yeah, and yeah, so anyway, I mean, so, so I wanted you all to go further. I obviously understand the reasons she was in the bottom for that outfit and her performance or whatever. But that was. Queen of Los Angeles. I was shocked though that an L.A. queen who you think L.A. like really hones them to be TV ready or production ready or whatever like that didn't, it wouldn't go as far. And the fact that she kept that damn thing on as far as she did for a reveal. I was like, girl, get that thing on. She was doing the same. All was lip syncing the male part. That's what was that's what she was doing. She turned around. So RuPaul was doing the male part and then she turned around. Because she doesn't know the male. She didn't know that part like which is the pussy cat doll words either. Yeah. Snoop has the intro wrap and then a middle wrap. Yeah. So that was rough. I mean, they they they telegraph that pretty readily that she didn't know that. So I'm not I'm not defending it. She went home, but I'm like, girl, get that thing off. Get off. Like everyone else changes if they have an unwieldy outfit. But I guess you're right. That's probably what she was trying to do. I don't think they can change for on a regular season. They live thinking what they go on the runway on. The last was who was part of that on all stars. Lexi was able to change out of her skates into shoes for her lips. Yes. But that's also a safety concern. They really don't let them change. Okay. Well, I thought I guess I'm mixing up all stars in regular season, but okay. Yeah. And that was Alaska that started that because one of the runway she was wearing and all stars. Wasn't conducive. It was caught because she wasn't going to be able to lip sync in her rubber and her latex outfit. I think I think it was even before that, Eric. I think it was like one of the first lip syncs Alaska changed. I think she's I think she talked about it on one of the race chases. I'll go back and look. I mean, also she was a good watch anyway, so I won't be back to go back and and do some fact checking on that. But Brian, who are you, who are you pulling for? I mean, obviously Arietta is your hometown queen. I like Arietta. I definitely would have her in the in the top. I like Susie too a lot. I do agree that her drag. There's something with her construction of her face. It's not just the lips. There's something it's bothering it bothering me a little bit, but I would never say it's bad because it's interesting and different. Again, I just love her attention to history and and and just I'd yeah, I love her in Japan. He's saying it's bad. I said he said he's saying it's bad. It's probably the downside. I mean, I think that's what it is. I think a Willem even kind of like danced around like what it was and that's probably it. But either way, I definitely am rooting for her because of course she does something interesting and new and how dare how very dare she try to do that. I don't I like on your nerve. She's kind of got something I kind of like. I'd like to see her go further. I do not like Corey King. I do not like Lydia. I like. I like the stars. What is a leave meeting? Oh, you don't like Lydia like I don't dislike her. I don't dislike her. She just hasn't had any sort of effect on me. No, I guess that's what I'm saying. I guess I'm what I'm doing is I'm separating out the ones that I've noticed and I'm rooting for and the rest. And honestly, the only one that's earned my ire, and I have an ire, but the one that I just do is Michelle. Michelle, Michelle, no, I do not like Lana Jeray is a softer, less bitchy version of her drag mother. Poor mom looks no our love. Yeah, I do not. I never like looks. I don't not like Lana, but I don't love her yet. Corey, I think I just she's got the burger stink of burger finger stink of her drag mother sister, whatever Jane is playing is. So I just I think by association, I'm not I'm not a fan of of Corey King. Burger finger. Yeah, because that's the Jane playing Jane's big song was burger finger and anyway, it's stupid. Anyway, Jewel Sparkles. Amazing. I do love jewels. I'm going to root for the Florida Queens almost as a rule, unless they piss me off. So jewels has definitely got that. I love Hormone Lisa. I want to see her go far, but I understand she's she's pissed off a lot of people. So I'm not holding my breath there. Yeah, I don't know. Oh, all that. Crystal's fine. Ari. We talked about. Yeah. Oh, and yeah, I case show. I just want to see her ask some more. Actually, I do think a case is interesting. I really would like to see more of not just her ass, but I would like to see more of her music because any time a queen is going to get up and sing her perform an instrument. Obviously, you got me there too. So I just think she's not going to make it very, very far, unless she's got the maybe the jinx meteoric rise. Out of her baby drag version. But yeah, I just don't see that happening anymore. I don't think in this era of drag race in late stage drag race. Can I call it that at this point? Late stage drag race. I just don't think there's room for that kind of arc anymore. Like queens that are not ready are going to sink and the queens that are ready are going to rise more, you know, so. Yeah. All right. I just want to quote me late stage drag race. We're starting that hashtag hashtag do it. That's still a thing. Oh, Lord. Sure. Somewhere I'm sure it is. I just want to insert the clip of Violet Schoske going, I hate Michelle Visage right here at the end of Brian's. Oh, Michelle. Goodness. All right. Who are the queens that you're rooting for? I haven't just yet. I'm still too early into the season to care much. I do like Corey as the narrator of the season. I enjoyed playing J and so the stank of playing on Corey doesn't listen to give me that face error. Playing could be on top of me and coming for a landing would be fine. I don't know why I did not mind playing Jane at all. I knew playing was not going to win last season. But I'm fine with that. Corey, I thought I would have had a hard time telling you who Susie was in this last episode. And I thought that was fantastic because in that rocker like section, did they actually sing? Did they write those songs? Did they sing them? They didn't write them, but I think they rerecorded them. Okay, because normally they tell us this and they said nothing about it until they critiqued Anya and said your voice sounded great. Did they sing these things? I don't get it. But okay, whatever. It also felt like a fever dream version of the season four challenge where they were selling RuPaul songs on a CD in two teams. And the classic, I told you to put on your Catholic thing and that's why you won the challenge was birthed out of that challenge on season four, which then eventually. It was a version of that. I think if they were directed in some way, shape or form, I think it would have been better overall. I don't know. It wasn't bad. I don't know which I prefer. But yeah, there was some great moments that they chose though. But no, I like Corey. I like Susie. And there isn't anybody that really is annoyed me aside from Hormona and Joella and we're down one of them. We'll see what happens. And honestly, Pormona coming out afterwards and being like, I prayed after seeing Susie and those devil horns and being the weird religious one in the group just makes me not really care for her more. So we shall see what happens. But we'll reconnect and see how that all shakes out as we progress into the season. But yeah, I was going to say, should we do our top three, but I honestly struggle to remember three that I really like and want to see succeed. I will, I will say, I do cackle every time Lexi Love says, I thought she was going to be riddled with she devil blood about Trinity's daughter. I thought we were going to go that whole segment with the only queen not mentioned was going to be Sam star. Oh yeah, Brian. Do you like her? Hey, the Sam star. She's not a top. She's not a top. She's not a bottom. They're all bottom. I think she reminds me too much of Trinity, which go figure. I just nah, I don't. Yeah, that's okay. She's a little bit of she devil blood. Listen, that's Chrissy's niece. Leave her big. Oh, I didn't know. Oh, I didn't know the connection. Well, I mean, I like her later. She's very polished. She's very polished. Very good passion. I mean, you know, no words of hate at all. I just, you know, from a personality side. Actually, wait, out of drag, she reminds me of Nicholas Holt. I forgot about that. So I do kind of like her more in the confession, because I just pretend she's Nicholas Holt doing drag and it works for me. So. Yeah. The queen that Brian likes is just the ones he wants to sleep with. That's not what I'm saying. I don't find Nicholas Holt attractive at all. It's life. Now, Acacia, I would sleep with Nicholas Holt, less so. I think I just am amused by the guy from the Peter from the Great and whatever the hell the character is from those for two in drag. That's all. It's my head. Can you leave me alone? Yeah. It's a rule of thumb. If they add adjectives to it, they want to have sex with it. So, the more adjectives you add to it, the more you you generally want to be. Yeah. All right. Thank you. So drag adjacent. Traders season three. And the wreck. I think you're the only other one that's been watching. Are you still keeping up with it? Yeah, I'm still watching it every week. Oh, my God. I fucking hate Boston Rob Mariano. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. This is not the early 2000s. Why the fuck is he on every goddamn television show right now? Sorry. How to say that hat? What else is he on? He was on dealer no deal island. He's now the host of like the dealer no deal island podcast like after show podcast, like somehow NBC decided to get on the Boston Rob needs to be all over everything train. And 15 years after CBS did it with survivor and amazing race and all that stuff. Then he had his own like fix it shows and shit like that, whatever. I can't stand them in. Yes, I was just like as far as him in this trader season, I very much dislike him. He is one of the people that I knew coming into the season once they announced the cast and I liked him on survivor. So I was interested to see how he would work in this. But yeah, obviously we're very anti Rob after the whole Bob the drag queen fiasco. He's a fucking Christ. I think he is the type of person to do very well as a trader though. Yes. Yes. The problem with that is his history will. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And Carolyn is just to all over the place. Jesus Christ. I did not like her on. Because she was exactly the same way on survivor. She was. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I haven't seen enough. I did not know this other person from big brother, the other trader lady. Danielle. Yeah. I think she's from like season four. Like she's I think early big brother. Oh, okay. Yeah, I have, she's acting too much. She's giving too much all over the place. And I don't watch any housewives. So I'm not familiar with any housewives on this unless Nina leaks with somehow end up on the show. See, Peppermint should have been her knee knee league snatch game character on the traders last season. And maybe she would have made it past the first banishment. Exactly. But I and it's just going to be so much less interesting without Bob on there. And I think that's more so because I just don't have the connections to enough people on the cast. But if it, if it, if it was a cast of nobody's, then at least it feel different. I don't know. I feel more pressured that because these are quote unquote celebrities that I'm supposed to be expected to know who they are. But I'll always watch the show for Alan. So that's about it. This is a messy group of traders. Bob was great, but Bob played too hard. Bob was very vocal. And I mean, that's just Bob or Bob's personality from what we've gotten to see from Drag Race and from sibling rivalry and the things that they put out there. But it was, it was very in your face and Rob, Rob took that shot. He had to be the super alpha man. He had the super alpha man. Bob was too loud for Rob to handle. I'm going to blame it on homophobia. I'm going to say Boston Rob is homophobic. If we don't get hit with a slander and libel suit from the bar that Brian disparaged. We'll get one from Boston Rob's team. I mean, I'm not saying he's not, but I'm not saying he isn't as well. But it's, I, I never thought in my life that I would say Wes, please save me from, from this, because Wes is almost as big of a douche as Boston Rob. I would still sleep with Wes, though. It's just, it's just what it is. But we all have that one, we all have that one star or like one personality that we're like, we're like toxic. Like, like if I saw you coming out of their hotel room and I'd be like, did you just come out of his hotel? You'd be like, no, for me, it's Guy Fieri, like, I would absolutely wreck Guy Fieri. One of you guys clocked me, like coming out of Guy Fieri's trailer, I'd be like, oh, I just had to ask him a question about cooking, like I would absolutely deny it. Like, like, after I was dead, I would write it at the secret on a sheet of paper and be like, if you want to know my secret, it's in the ground with me, like, come and get it. And then we can zoom you and it's like, I did sleep with Guy Fieri. I'm like, wait, yeah, I was like, does it just turn into like a Food Network stars that we would sleep with list? Is this our version of Ms. Mojo lists right now? The top 15 Food Network stars. Is this sexy? Is there Florence? Oh, the Florence for sure. I love it. I'm still, oh, he's not on Food Network though, but yes, but yes. That's all it matters. Yeah, exactly. I'm still, I'm still a little restaurant impossible to say. So, you know, that's, anyway. Speaking of which, I'm very sad the tournament tour is in College Park closed. Whoa, really? Yeah, yeah, they cited a couple of things, including the rowdy kids from Bishop Moore High School across the street as a part of their downfall. I believe it, but, you know, it happens. But no, I think that I think this is a messy season of traders. I know Wes, we all know, well, I love that the producers are definitely catering to the women and the faggots because when they were talking about Sam in the tour, Sam in the turret, they cut to Sam in the shower. And they were like, if Rob says who has sus on them, again, I'm going to want to jump through my television into the past when they filmed this and stab him in the eyeballs. But I love when they were like, they were like, oh, Sam doesn't. And then they just like show Sam in the shower, like just washing his perfect chest. And I was like, they know what they're doing. Zac Efron's brother, they did the same thing. The fucking one that ended up getting, or was the catalyst for Bob being kicked out. What is it? He needs to go. Oh, he needs to go. Yeah, I was a Derek or whatever his name is. Oh, Dylan, when Bob was like, and your brother can't act. I was like, son of a bitch. And everybody else at the table got offended for him. I was like, this is Zac Efron we're talking about, not like fucking Jean Kelly. Like it's not that serious round table of D list celebrities. It'll be okay. But no, I didn't, I didn't know as many people. I don't watch The Housewives or shows as well. But I do know Wes. I know of the other big brother guy that came in with them. I know of him. Is it Derek? That's Derek. Yes. But like, I don't necessarily know as many people. They kicked all this drivers off. Tony Vlocko's, thank fucking God. If I had Tony Vlocko's and Boston Rob on my screen every week watching the traders, I would. I'd jump out of my window. What? But anywho. But I think it's an interesting season. I am mad that Bob got voted out. I need Wes to keep going with his train of thought on what's the only way that you know 100% certain that somebody's a trader. They are a trader themselves. And once Rob is gone, I'll be like, I don't care who wins this season. Like, let it just be amazing. But yeah, I'm excited to continue seeing how it goes. And I was glad to see Bob thrive even for a shortish period of time on this season. Yeah, I was so glad he didn't get pepperminted. Oh my gosh. And I read an article saying that it was supposed to be not only Bob, but also Trixie, but Trixie turned it down. They were supposed to be. Yeah, I don't know if I'd want to see Trixie on the traders. I don't think she would do well on the show. Yeah. Especially if they filmed last year with last year being a very rough year for her mentally. Yeah, for sure. Oh my God, that video of her announcing that her and her partner broke up. Like, made me super tough. Yeah, that was tough. And I didn't know that at all. I mean. Yeah, I don't follow them that closely that I would have noticed that they hadn't. I did notice David had started posting a lot more thirsty pictures. And he slimmed down quite a bit. Like there were some physical changes, which probably coincided with the breakup and, you know, all of that. But, you know, I don't have that type of power social relationship with these people. I have our had a little bit of an actual friendship with Trixie, but not to the point where I'm like texting her just, Hey, what's up, girl? Like I did when I had her old phone number that she won Drag Race All Stars. And now at least she knows who I am when I say hi when I see her. But that's about all we've got. But now that was that was tough to see. And I'm like, damn, who got a who got possession of that ugly, giant portrait that she had done for her house? Oh, out. I mean, it wasn't like that was tacky as well. But I mean, whatever. Good on them. I, you know, wish them both continued success in their lives. But. Tangentially from one game to another. Like that segue. Squid game. You see that Trixie and Katia did. Queens of like four squid game. Yes. And there was. And there was a, there was a person in one of the mannequins. And, and Katia caught it like right off the fucking bat. Yeah. I saw that came out. I haven't watched, I guess what is part one of season two. They didn't really advertise it that way, but I'm guessing that. It had been green light for season two and three. So it's not a point, part one, part two. This is all of season two. Oh, okay. Then there's going to be a sense. Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. That makes sense. So I haven't watched the queens who like to watch yet because I. Want to kind of not be spoiled, but I mean, we're going to talk about it. So I'm going to hear it stuff. Anyway, I'll probably just forget about it until I watch it anyway. So. But yeah, BJ and Eric, you guys have watched season two, a squid game. Correct. Yes. I haven't watched any of it. I was like, okay. Oh, no. Well, Brian's watched. BJ, did you watch all of them? I watched, I watched the, I watched the first, I've seen the first season. And I watched, I think I'm on like, I'm in like the first episode or two. Um, and yeah, it's giving me the same. Like, I don't think I'm going to finish it just because the state, my mind's currently in. The only thing I can handle right now is like two broke girls. It's the only level of dread I can handle. Yeah. All right. So yeah, so I, so wrong B. So Brian and Eric, you guys have watched. So what are your thoughts? What are, how does it stack up to season one? It's, it's not going to stack up entirely because for one, it's kind of a half season. They're doing this thing where they, they filmed seasons two and three and it's really one long arc. So I think a lot of people early on were disappointed that it ends in a way that is, well, cliffhanger-y, but also kind of like, what, what? You know, so it's, there's that, right? But overall, I think it makes good on several of the things of the story lines that, uh, the first season tried to set up and kind of explore. And they have some fairly large, uh, swerves, though, not so much for the audience, more for like the players in the game. Um, so, uh, I overall have enjoyed it. I think the swerves also, I guess the one swerves that were for both, uh, they change up the games. So, because obviously it's not just going to be the same exact games again. Like, it's kind of dumb and naive, I guess, in some ways, they'd be like, oh, no, the next game's going to be this thing. And it's like, no, it's not. Um, well, I mean, if you think about the Squid Games overall, they could do the same. I mean, if it wasn't a TV show. Um, yeah, exactly. They could. No one would know. Yeah, I guess that's fair, but, um, I just feel like it's one of those where you just go. Okay, as, as an audience member, like, if you think about it in world where they're doing it kind of as reality TV for these VIP figures, they wouldn't want to watch the same thing. Yeah, over and over. Exactly. So, if it's the same VIPs, but also with adding that same guy back in, then, then you have almost an in-world reason to change the games because you have somebody that already knows. Like the tricks around how to survive the game. So it would make sense in world. I think, uh, sorry, I think overall, uh, the only story beats that annoy me are the ones where they're searching in the ocean for the island because I swear to God after maybe the first two times we saw them out on the water dealing with it. It's like, nobody cares, like, this isn't interesting. And then finally, they do something interesting because one of the characters betrays, you know, and kills somebody and you're like, oh, he's in on it. Okay, now it's interesting. But like, I just, they kept going back to that. And I think even the first season that cops care story line, even though it's, it's important. I mean, his brother is the front man. Like, it's just, it never grabbed me. It was never as interesting as everything else. So yeah, I don't know. I think, uh, some of the new players, the new personalities are interesting. I, I know the, the big elephant in the room, so to speak, is the inclusion of a trans character. And while I certainly would have preferred a trans actress to play the role, I understand in Asian societies and specifically in Korea where it's a lot more conservative, even in then like other Asian cultures. Like, it's a big deal to have this at all and kudos for them for, for, for, for finding a voice for this, this representation. But, you know, is it the best perfect like evolved trans woman storyline that we can hope for in media? Absolutely not, you know, but, but I'm glad it's there because I think for a lot of people that might be some of their first exposure to a trans woman's story in, in, in an, in an Asian show like that. I, so, so I don't know. I, I guess I don't have a problem with it as much as I know some of my friends had issues with it at first. So yeah, I don't know. I liked it. I really enjoyed it. I, the front man being kind of on the inside in the, in the game was a really cool idea to explore, although, you know, I, I would have maybe let it go a little further just to really put you on the edge. But I guess, I guess I get why they cut it sort of when they did to, to set up the inevitable confrontation in the third season. But I don't know, Eric, did you would you think you liked it? Yeah, I liked it. After the first season and they announced that they were going to continue it. I was skeptical because I thought as it was, I thought it was a great just one season show. And there wasn't really a need to continue the story, but I feel like they've, kind of they've earned their second season with what they've done with it. I feel like, and there are additional stories that are worth telling through it. Yeah, the whole, I do agree that the, the side story of them looking for the island is getting tiresome at this point. And they definitely didn't need to go back to it as much as they did. I think all the beats were important to set up the story, but I feel like they could have gotten back to the games quicker than they did. They don't get back to the island until the third episode. I feel like they probably could have gotten back after just one episode. But I did enjoy the time they spent developing the character of the recruiter. Oh yeah. No, and that was, that was an interesting early story beat that surprised me that they went that way. But, but no, I really, I agree that those early episodes were, were really cool as far as seeing his, not his side of it, just to see more of his, his, his world and what he does. Yeah, I really kind of want to almost know though, like I like seeing kind of the backstory on the, the workers to understand like their motivations and being part of all this. And I kind of, I'm glad we're going to keep exploring that one character who's like a minion. And you know, and she's trying to twist the twist of finding out that that character was not going to be a player, but was going to be a worker was a good one. Yeah, no, I mean, it's evolved ideas from the first season for sure. I just, I know a lot of people were upset about it being a split season and again I'm like, it is what it is. I'm just glad there's more, but also, we got to wait till later. I like wicked part one. We got to, we got to wait all a whole like six to 12 months. Oh darn, it's horrible, horrible. Like, how could we, but at least it's not going to be multiple years, like it was between one and two, or between other shows that. Yeah. No, I'm joking because honestly, we're used to waiting a lot longer for other shows to get there. Like severance right now I am like eating every crumb I can of the new season and it took what like almost three years to get from season one to season two or two years or something and it was like, oh, forever, and rings of power is the same way it's like just, yeah, so this, this, I think a lot of that is with the current landscape, the way they're canceling shows so quickly. A lot of these. When they greenlit shows for their initial season, I think they almost try to write them as just a single season, and then, Oh, if we grit greenlit, then we'll, we'll come up with additional story at that point, but they don't have that plan for multiple seasons. They got hooks that they can, yeah, no, they definitely have to be shrewd about storytelling, so that they can tell a whole story in a season but have like more material to like every showrunner I've read about like they're always have more stuff they want to do, and they can pitch it. But like, you know, they still got to tell a story in a season. Yeah, part of that part of that's just like the the money aspect of it with with like Netflix not wanting to pay out more than like two, like what is it three, two, it's like two or three seasons. They don't want to, two or three seasons, they don't want to have to renegotiate a contract after a certain number of seasons or parts. That's why some shows are given the title of parts versus like a full season. Well, it sounds like I have a lot to look forward to for season two of a squid game so I'm excited to watch and then I'll have to watch the queens like to watch and we'll report back or I'll report back on my, my amusement of Katiya and the Trixie watching squid game season two and Trixie getting scared out of her wig. Well, we have chatted a lot. It has been a great time catching up with you guys with the state of the world being what it is getting to chat with friends and share laughs and finding out how much Brian hates Michelle Visage in one episode is always a treat in and of itself, but you know, we're going to modify refine and kind of play with how these episodes go moving forward. But we are on the March to our 15 year anniversary dear listeners June, March 15 years of flame on being in existence. I don't know what we're going to do for it, but I feel like we should do something fun and festive and celebratory for for the 15 year anniversary. So stay tuned. We'll we'll figure out what that will be and share that with you when we know a bit more. But I appreciate you boys hopping on and sitting down and shooting the shit with me on this episode of flame on reminder we're going to be doing this at the end of every month. You'll get a new flame on episode doesn't mean that we won't sometimes reconvene. I feel like Eric will want to have a conversation about wicked a little bit more in depth than what an episode like this may be able to contain. So we may reconvene for a micro on something like that. So, you know, we might have some surprise drops here and there, maybe we'll find somebody we want to talk to and bring them on, but we appreciate you sticking with us for the kind words. Also for sending over a lovely note for us for all the support we appreciate it. Check us out online flame on show calm you can send us messages or emails flame on show calm has all of the ways to get in touch with us. We need to update it with our blue sky information and actually get that up and running, but we appreciate you all, gentlemen boys, festive ladies. That's all of you that I'm talking to on this call right now. I appreciate you chatting this evening and until next time. I don't know trying that out. What do you think I don't know you gave up on the garbage, which is fine. Honestly, it's fine. I'm glad something different. Yeah, we'll see what sticks. I forgot what I said at the end of the last episode, but we'll see. Bye y'all. Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend. This season on the dream. Supplies are being funded by nurses who run out in the middle of the night and purchase diapers, but the hospital is still charging as if they still have these items. We are digging into every topic we've ever wanted to cover on this show. It's a spinning plate analogy. It's the second that you stop spinning those plates that crashes so you can never stop working. The dream season four comes at you weekly starting Monday, January 20th. Acast helps creators launch, grow, and monetize their podcasts everywhere, acast.com.

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