Anthony and Andrew discuss the Star Wars streaming show The Mandalorian -- with spoilers for the most recent episode! Is it a good show, is it good Star Wars, and is there a tension between those two ambitions? 

Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Anthony and Andrew look at the fourth season of Peter Morgan's The Crown, the blockbuster Netflix series about the life of Queen Elizabeth II. What are the unique challenges of writing a biography, and especially of fictionalizing the lives of people who already feel familiar?

For this year's Halloween episode, Anthony and Andrew dig into the horror style and influence of H.P. Lovecraft, and look at the recent HBO series Lovecraft Country and the novel that inspired it.

Anthony and Andrew count down their favourite superhero and supervillain teams and talk about what makes a team dynamic work! Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the cowboy archetype in fiction, including the tropes, classic and modern interpretations, masculinity, America, and the archetype's relationship to politics and privilege.

Anthony and Andrew explore the legend of Hercules, what he represents, and how his stories have been told. Plus, they talk about what they're reading and what they're writing.

Anthony and Andrew get together (remotely) to talk about writing in the age of Covid-19. How are they adapting, what are their coping mechanisms, how do they think this will shape their work, and do they feel an obligation to produce great works during lockdown? (Spoiler: No!)

They also talk about the new Disney Pixar movie Onward, released direct to Disney+ following the movie theatre shutdown, and they talk about what they're been reading and distracting themselves with in quarantine!

Due to the current and ongoing crisis, we're not recording new episodes of Storybeater at present. Instead, Andrew has read and recorded the full text of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll -- because in difficult times, we need great stories!

Enjoy this reading, and check out some of our past episodes if you're looking for more entertaining distractions, including our episodes on detectives, Mary Poppins, Robin Hood, Marvel movies, and more.

Thanks for listening!

Anthony and Andrew share their thoughts on this year's nominees for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards, including Jojo Rabbit, The Irishman, Little Women, Joker, The Two Popes, 1917, Knives Out, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Parasite, and Marriage Story. 

Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

This month, Anthony and Andrew were meant to talk about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...

And then Andrew decided he couldn't face it. But the show must go on! So, while Andrew shares his reasons for not going to see the movie, Anthony talks about what it gets right and what it does wrong. Andrew also talks about the new Netflix hit The Witcher.

Plus, Anthony and Andrew talk about what they're writing and what they're reading!