Game on Girl

#ThronesYall For this series, Regina, Isabela, join Nicole Tanner from Gaming with the Moms to discuss season 7 of everyone’s favorite fantasy drama: Game of Thrones. Our first episode discussed Episodes 1 & 2 of Season 7. Our second episode discussed 3,4, and 5 and we wrap up the season with episodes for just episode 6, and the finale! For this episode, we reflect on Season 7, including some fan theories, and share our predictions for the final season. Official Game of Thrones Description Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’ An original series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ series. Fan Theories & Articles About that cut scene. http://io9.gizmodo.com/game-of-thrones-cut-a-scene-that-wouldve-explained-that-1798622658 About Tormund. http://uproxx.com/tv/is-tormund-dead-game-of-thrones/ About the cast reacting to Jon and Dany gettin’ busy. http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-cast-react-jon-dany-love-scene/ About Tyrion making a deal with Cersei. http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-tyrion-cersei-deal/ About the Isle of Faces. http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-history-gods-eye-isle-of-faces/  (Complete series: http://nerdist.com/tag/history-of-thrones/) About that incest coefficient. http://uproxx.com/tv/game-of-thrones-incest-jon-dany-baby/  And don’t forget that Funco Pop. http://nerdist.com/game-of-thrones-night-king-dragon-riding-funko-pop/ Wishes and Wants (Predictions) Tormund will live. (Regina) Cersei is not really pregnant. (Isabela & Nicole) The Hound & the Mountain fight. The Mountain dies. (Nicole) Sansa takes the throne. (Regina – acknowledged as a long shot) Arya finishes her list. (Nicole) Dies: Cersei, Melisandra, Jamie, Euron, Theon. Lives: Tyrion, Varys, Arya, Sansa. Jon or Dany dies as a sacrifice to save the other. (Most likely Jon dies.) WHERE ARE NICOLE’S ICE SPIDERS??!! Until next time, winter is

Hold on to your hats, Sci-Fi lovers! The Geek Embassy is taking on the latest Star Trek series for TGE Watches. Star Trek: Discovery is the most recent offering in the Star Trek universe. Airing exclusively on CBS All Access, this series releases every Sunday night. We will meet to discuss the latest in a beloved fandom every two weeks through the mid-season finale in December. Star Trek: Discovery From CBS All Access: Star Trek, one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises, returns 50 years after it first premiered, with Star Trek: Discovery. The series will feature a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers. Star Trek: Discovery premieres September 24 on CBS All Access. Ten years before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Our Discussion I stand alone as the only one of the three of us more excited after watching episodes 3 and 4 to see how the story unfolds. “Context is for Kings” sees Michael Burnham, the disgraced first captain, on her way to the prison ship after being sentenced for mutiny. She quickly discovers not all is what it seems once she is rescued by the Discovery. She endears herself to the captain, Gabriel Lorca, both with her intelligence and her quick thinking during an emergency. He invites her to stay on the ship instead of being sent to prison. Episode 4, “The Butcher’s Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cry,” continues Burnham’s journey on the ship. She solidifies her new role on the ship by thinking outside the box and solving a major issue with the new drive they are testing. We are all disappointed about a major plot point in this episode and feel like the writers cut short an opportunity for some real character growth. To Discuss What are your thoughts so far on this new Star Trek show? It is quite different from the Trek of the past; does that make you more or less interested in it? Until next time, get your Trek on! Regina & Dante & Isabela

Welcome to the first episode in our new series, The Geek Embassy Reads! This series is the official book club for the site. We will read a book and then come together to share our thoughts about it. Storm Front For the first installment, we read Storm Front by Jim Butcher. This is the first installment of The Dresden Files series. From the Amazon description: For Harry Dresden—Chicago’s only professional wizard—business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. Fanboys Evan and Dante are both big fans of the series. The excitement the bring to the discussion is pretty endearing. (Even when Dante says that Harry Dresden is the “best” wizard named Harry. Not quite fighting words but close!) My favorite one liner from the show, “Nothing ends well that starts with tequila.” You have to check out the episode for the reference. Until next time, get your geek on! Regina & Isabela & Dante & Evan To Discuss Have you read The Dresden Files? Should we continue with this series or a different book? Let us know in the comments!  

Hold on to your hats, Sci-Fi lovers! The Geek Embassy is taking on the latest Star Trek series for TGE Watches. Star Trek: Discovery is the latest offering in the Star Trek universe. Airing exclusively on CBS All Access, this series releases every Sunday night. We will meet to discuss the latest in a beloved fandom every two weeks through the mid-season finale in December. Star Trek: Discovery From CBS All Access: Star Trek, one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises, returns 50 years after it first premiered, with Star Trek: Discovery. The series will feature a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers. Star Trek: Discovery premieres September 24 on CBS All Access. Ten years before Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Our Discussion We first discuss accessing the show online and our feelings about yet another subscription service. Then we dive into the show proper, talking about the sets, costumes, special effects, and yet another Klingon redesign. Yes, Klingons. Of course, Klingons. Characters in the series so far are dynamic and engaging but kind of flat emotionally. We lack the emotional investment we really wanted from the main characters.  Listen to hear us discuss what we hope to see after the cliff hanger and bait and switch of the series premiere. To Discuss Did you watch ST:D? Thoughts? Feelings?  Will you later on DVD/Blue Ray? Until next time, Get your Trek on! Regina & Isabela & Dante

Greetings Geeks! Today, I have a recording of our recent panel at Rose City Comic Con for your listening and geeking out pleasure. This is the third time we have presented this topic but each time is different, largely because we depend so much on audience participation. Because come on. The best panels let YOU speak. Am I right or am I right? RCCC Audiences Rock The audience at RCCC was engaged and engaging. They knew a lot about fairy tales from the very start of the panel which is  not how it has gone for us in the past. Usually, I pose the question to the audience intending to trick them and tell them that everything they know is wrong. I couldn't do that this session because other than one comment about fairy tales being "for kids," everything the audience shared was spot on. It is such a joy and a pleasure to present this panel but even more so when the audience truly appreciates our efforts. Jesse came up to the stage after we presented and bestowed us with her declaration of "best panel of the con." Her enthusiastic comments contributed to how flawlessly this panel went for us. She told us we should make it two hours next time. (I'll check with RCCC and see if we can do something just like that next year.) Unfortunately, my friend and colleague and expert in fairy tales, Jennifer Leaver, was unable to attend this time. She is working on a guest post with reading suggestions on this topic for the near future. A New Panelist It's also noteworthy that this is the first time that Dante sat on as a panelist. At Wizard World, he moderated the panel and did his best to keep us on track. For RCCC, his analysis of the Green Lantern was flawless and perfectly engaged not just what we were presenting but the audience's interest as well. Isabela and I have both had some practice presenting about Jessica Jones and Guardians of the Galaxy respectively. But Dante's example and thoughtful commentary was truly outstanding. I am always proud of the work we do here at The Geek Embassy but never more so than when we are out at cons representing the site and our geeky interests. I have another article I am working on that will go into greater dept on that topic but I will save it for another time. Check out the panel and let us know your thoughts! Until next time, get your geek on! Regina & Isabela & Dante To Discuss What kind do you look for in a panel when you attend a con? Lots of audience participation? Lots of info? Great panelists? Celebrities? BASKETS AND CAPES: WHAT FAIRY TALES CAN TEACH US ABOUT SUPERHEROES Everywhere you look, in every form of pop culture, at the movies, on broadcast TV, and on Netflix, everything’s coming up superheroes. Storytelling has always been about explaining the world; it is how humankind reaches out and understands that the struggles we face are often shared experiences. How does our current fascination with superheroes relate to storytelling approaches of the past? Can fairy tales help us understand the current fascination with superheroes? Come listen to an enlightening discussion about how everything old is new again and superpowered to boot.

Greetings Geeks! I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing three comic book hotshots at Rose City Comic Con. I completely lucked out and got a chance to talk to Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, And Babs Tarr about their latest offering from Image Comics: Motor Crush.  I can't lie. When I got the list of books available for interview, Motor Crush raced to the top because the premise seemed so unique and inherently feminist. Domino Swift is a woman of color competing in the dangerous world of moto racing. She lives her life perched between the official world of racing, and dangerous street racing where she competes for the engine boosting substance, "Crush." Torn between two worlds that demand every ounce of her spirit, she battles her own demons and those out to get her. My jaw dropped at the end of the first volume and I can't wait to see what comes next.  This is a live recording and unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a video to go with it. Check it out and order your own copy of Motor Crush Volume 1 now! Regina 

Greetings Adventurers! We return again to the depths of the Vastwood and find our characters traveling back toward civilization. Nictis Loath travels with our merry band of adventurers. As you’ll remember from episode 8, we discovered Nictis the only living person among a community of powerful mage ghosts. Nictis berates our characters with questions about every living thing. Having not been around other living people, his excitement is understandable even if a little on the annoying side. The group also discovers that Nictis might be a little more powerful than they originally expected. Will this help or hinder their experience? Check out the episode and see. Until next time, get your geek on! Regina & Isabela & Dante & Mark & Evan To Discuss What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened to you while playing an RPG?  

In this episode of TGE Watches, Mark, Ryan, and I discuss Christopher Nolan's epic Dunkirk. We decided to break our summer movie superhero run with quite a different epic film. Two of us enjoyed it and one was quite very disappointed. Official Description Three different perspectives with overlapping time periods: one week on land, one day at sea, and one hour in the air, create a non-linear narrative. Introductory text at the start of the movie says that in 1940, after the invasion of France, hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers had retreated to Dunkirk. As German forces close in, they await evacuation in a seemingly hopeless situation. Our Analysis Our opinions differed greatly in pretty much every aspect of the film. Mark shares his disappointment that the setting didn't look truer to the actual beaches during the war. (See photos below for comparison.) Ryan and I both appreciated the artistic nature of the movie overall and how it was surprisingly deep. I will heartily admit it is hard to follow at the start, especially if you don't know the details of the battle particularly well. Watch and listen to hear our thoughtful analysis.     For Reference - Photos from the Shores of Dunkirk Screen Captures from the Movie Dunkirk  

#ThronesYall It’s finally that time of year again: Game of Thrones has returned to HBO! Regina, Isabela, join Nicole Tanner from Gaming with the Moms to discuss season 7 of everyone’s favorite fantasy drama. Our first episode discussed Episodes 1 & 2 of Season 7. Our second episode discusses 3,4, and 5 and we wrap up the season with episodes for just episode 6, and now the finale! Official Game of Thrones Description Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’ An original series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ series. Episode Description Season 7 Episode 7 The Dragon & The Wolf Season 7 of the epic series ends. Our Discussion This is the first time we have recorded the DAY AFTER the episode aired. There is so much to say and so much happens. We talk about the amazing meeting of 17 named characters. Seriously. This is the first time so many known and loved characters were on screen at the same time and in many ways it was worth the wait. (Kinda loving The Hound.) As always, we talk about every aspect of the story and some of what we think is coming. We will record another wrap up episode, looking at the season and the series as a whole. Until next time, winter has come to King's Landing! Regina & Isabela & Nicole To Discuss What was your favorite scene from the finale? Did you love watching the wall come down? The politics? The slicing of someone's throat?  

#ThronesYall It’s finally that time of year again: Game of Thrones has returned to HBO! Regina, Isabela, join Nicole Tanner from Gaming with the Moms to discuss season 7 of everyone’s favorite fantasy drama. Our first episode discussed Episodes 1 & 2 of Season 7. Our second episode discusses 3,4, and 5 and this week covers just episode 6! Official Game of Thrones Description Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’ An original series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ series. Episode Description Season 7 Episode 6 Beyond the Wall Jon and the Brotherhood hunt the dead. Arya confronts Sansa. Tyrion thinks about the future. Our Discussion We discuss the ragtag band of adventurers that make this crazy plan to bring a wright back as proof to Cersi and Danereys. Sansa and Arya have a tense conversation. The rest of our story lines are left to wrap up in next week’s finale. Everything is moving so fast! It’s exciting and OMG only one episode left! Until next time, don’t throw stones at zombies! Regina, Isabela, and Nicole To Discuss What is your theory about Little Finger, Sansa, and Arya?  

#ThronesYall It’s finally that time of year again: Game of Thrones has returned to HBO! Regina, Isabela, join Nicole Tanner from Gaming with the Moms to discuss season 7 of everyone’s favorite fantasy drama. Official Game of Thrones Description Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’ An original series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ series. Episode Descriptions Season 7, Episode 3The Queen's Justice  Daenerys holds court. Tyrion backchannels. Cersei returns a gift. Jaime learns from his mistakes. Season 7, Episode 5The Spoils of War The Lannisters pay their debts. Daenerys weighs her options. Arya comes home. Season 7, Episode 6Eastwatch Daenerys offers a choice. Arya grows suspicious. Tyrion answers a good question. Our Discussion The amount of action in these episodes is overwhelming. We do our best (and in only TWO HOURS!) to discuss each of the plot lines and the characters we've come to love and hate. One of the most interesting observations about GoT is the fact that we have such conflicted feelings about so many of the characters. It's often hard to decide in some scenes who you are rooting for... We might record two more episodes in this season, depending on how much happens in the penultimate episode and the season finale. A battle approaches but will it rival the ones that have come before? Only time will tell. Until next time, winter is here! Regina, Isabela, and Nicole To Discuss Which character in GoT creates the most internal conflict for you? Who do you hate to love?

Greetings and salutations, fellow adventurers! Our last adventure saw our traveling band of heroes negotiate their way into the next part of the adventure. Trusting Hargath’s instinct that the ghost wardens, Byron and Celeste, were protecting something of great and dangerous power, we are invited beyond the veil. In this episode, many secrets will be revealed including the purpose and power behind the Void Scythe. Pivotal plot twists a’ho! Join our characters as they make their way into this leg of their journey. The story deepens, the characters come together and the next leg of their journey becomes clear. Watch the entire campaign, The Keeper of the Dead, on YouTube here! And subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Until next time, get your geek on! Regina & Isabela & Dante & Mark & Evan   The Characters Hargath (Mark)Human ClericAlignment: Neutral Good Hargath is a reformed murderer/thief. He became a member of Sarenrae’s order after a cleric from the order showed him mercy. At 36, he started his Cleric teachings older than most and his blond hair has begun to grey. Recently he had a falling out with the church he was based out of due to discovering the chief priest there embezzling gold for his own purposes. He now looks to find adventurers that he can travel with in the hopes of finding a new church and helping anyone he can along the way. Whether that means healing people, bringing evil-doers to the light or smiting  evil that won’t makes little difference to him. Sevarka Sunseeker (Dante)Gnome SorceressAlignment: Neutral Good The cheerfully optimistic, orange skinned, green haired gnome called Sevarka Sunseeker describes herself as a professional nomad. Friend to all she comes across, her delightful facade hides a family secret. Generations ago, a dragon assumed gnomish form bedded one of the Sunseeker family progenitors. The eldest born daughter of each Sunseeker generation manifests aspects of the dragon and inherits its magical​ talents. Sevarka is the first born daughter of her generation, and wanders to discover the the origins of her draconic blood and what that means for the legacy of the Sunseeker clan. Neraden Runka (Regina)Dwarf BarbarianAlignment: Neutral Good Neraaden (Nera like Vera for short) is the middle daughter of a large dwarf family. With 10 siblings, she feels underappreciated and overlooked by her family. She leaves her family with dreams of finding success on the road but encounters disaster almost as soon as she leaves. She persevered as she journeyed farther and father from home, hoping one day she might return home a celebrated hero. Freya Redsun (Isabela)Half-Elf RangerAlignment: Neutral Good Freya is a half-elf that is striking out on her own after clashing with her elfish mother one too many times. She wants to find out who she is without the influence of her family. Freya’s mother was born into a royal elvish family but gave up the luxuries of that life to be with the human man she came to love. Freya carries the weight of her mother’s sacrifice with heavy resentment.

It’s finally that time of year again: Game of Thrones has returned to HBO! Regina, Isabela, join Nicole Tanner from Gaming with the Moms to discuss season 7 of everyone’s favorite fantasy drama. Official Game of Thrones Description Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. It stretches from the south, where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues, to the vast and savage eastern lands, where a young queen raises an army. All the while, in the frozen north, an 800-foot wall of ice precariously protects the war-ravaged kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all play the ‘Game of Thrones.’ An original series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling ‘A Song of Ice and Fire‘ series. Fangirls Ok it’s pretty safe to say all three of us are differing levels of fan girl over Game of Thrones. Most dedicated among us is Nicole as she knows all the characters names. Normally, I wouldn’t note this as part of a definition of being “most dedicated” but come on. So many characters, so many odd and hard to remember names. She wins. We talk about both the season 7 premire episode, Dragonstone, and the second episode, Stormborn, in great detail. We spoil everything. That is pretty much the expectation for the entire TGE Watches series: Spoilers are coming. Also discussed are several fan theories and a handful of articles we read before recording. I am kinda sad we wrapped when we did because we continued talking about how much we hate Little Finger afterward and it was awesome. We will try to remember to pick up on that next episode. As I mention, we will do three episodes in this TGE Watches series. The next will be in three weeks after episode 5 airs. Until next time, winter has come! Regina, Isabela, and Nicole. To Discuss Which story line in Game of Thrones is the most compelling to you and why?  

We’re back and talking about the next movie in our summer series: Spider-Man Homecoming! From the Official Site A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). Under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine. He finds himself distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. But when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. As always, we talk the nitty gritty of the whole movie and spoil everything! Highlights include discussing how high is too high for Peter Parker, Keaton once being team DC and now entering Marvel as a kick ass bad guy, and the amazing casting job overall in the movie. Don’t miss our insights! Until next time, get your geek on! Regina, Ryan, and Mark To Discuss Was Spider-Man: Homecoming an origin story? Why or why not?

Greetings and salutations, fellow adventurers! Our band of merry role players continues their journey after taking out a small band of goblins in our last episode. After a successful fight full of magic fireballs and dopey goblins attacks, we rescue the half elf commander, Vanya Brightmoor. She joins the group with little reservation after we risk our lives to save and free her. In many ways, this fight brings our heroes together and proves their worth as a team. Sevarka (Dante) impresses us all with her amazing fireball of doom. Hargath (Mark) impresses us with his spells and healing power and taking the time to make sure Freya recovered completely from her wound. Neraden (Regina) cleaves her way into the hearts and heads of the enemy. It was a great episode. Onward Towards… In episode seven, we continue toward the relic that set us on this road. The path changes a bit in this episode, much to each of our character’s surprise. Watch and let us know what you think of our journey! Game on! Regina & Isabela & Mark & Dante & Evan To Discuss What do you think is the most important part of role playing? Developing your character? Or bonding as a team?