Contributors Ian Campbell and Alec Larios set out to tackle GHOST OF TSUSHIMA, finding an odd balance of tone, some supremely satisfying gameplay, and the perimeter of a growing movement to turn games into something akin to a Netflix binge: content to be experienced rather than a singular experience worth playing.

Merry-Go-Roundtable

Episode 61: GHOST OF TSUSHIMA and the Content-ification of Games

It's been awhile since this podcast has been released, but we're proud to present this conversation dissecting the highly anticipated THE LAST OF US PART II. Arguably one of the most eagerly awaited games of all time, there's division between critics who see the game as a masterpiece and internet fanboys who have been outraged that they didn't get exactly the game they had in their heads. Contributors Kevin Cookman and Jimmy Evans try to go beyond the petty in-fighting to delve deeper into the highs and lows of the game.

Episode 60: THE LAST OF US PART II Roundtable

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! It's been over a month since we launched Aya vs the Big Boys in our Patreon, so we thought we would release another episode for free to perk interest in the show! If you like what you hear, be sure to check out our Patreon at: patreon.com/mgrm This week's episode is a break from the traditional format and features Aya's friends who have shaped and influenced her taste over the years, and their personal favorite Big Boys.

Episode 59: Aya's Friends Vs. The Big Boys

While in many ways there are more important things to worry about right now than making art, it still feels like an especially precarious and scary time for artists. Carter got a chance to talk to a number of independent artists about how they've been adapting in the face of a global pandemic. You can check out Eric Toms here: @tomsfunny on social media, check out Night of Shorts here: https://erictoms.com/the-night-of-shorts-night-episode-21/ You can support Marty Lang’s Seed&Spark campaign here: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/staywithme#story You can support Cathedral Bells here: https://linktr.ee/Cathedralbells You can watch Chris Bell’s movie The Winds That Scatter here: https://means.tv/catalog

Episode 58: Making Art in the Time of Corona

In our new podcast series, resident Rom-Com queen Aya Lehman goes through the heavy-hitters of "bro cinema" with our very own Big Boy, Kevin Cookman. This week, we present the first episode, a discussion on 1999's FIGHT CLUB. All subsequent episodes will be available exclusively on the Merry-Go-Round Patreon, be sure to subscribe for more content. https://www.patreon.com/mgrm The song at the end of this episode was recorded and performed by our editor in chief, Thomas Seraydarian.

Episode 57: Aya Vs. The Big Boys: Fight Club

Folk punk musician Sean Bonnette joined Carter to talk about his new album GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY. They discuss staying in the music industry for the long haul, making music that explores the bad feelings of politics, and making sense of turbulent times.

Episode 56: Doing Our Best to Survive: An Interview with Sean Bonnette of AJJ

On this heavy episode, Carter reflects on Harvey Weinstein's conviction and Kitty Green's excellent film The Assistant.

Episode 55: The Assistant, Harvey Weinstein, and Imagining a Better World

In a surprising and historic Oscars, Merry-Go-Round darling Bong Joon-ho swept the ceremony in ways none of us were really prepared for. Sergio Zaciu and Kevin Cookman break down how Bong managed to crush the awards this year, and highlight how strange it was to have so many exciting wins at such a lackluster awards show.

Episode 54: Oscars 2020

Contributor Kevin Cookman is joined by Vanyaland film critic Nick Johnston to discuss the highest highs and lowest lows of an exciting first Sundance of the new decade. You can find Nick on Twitter: @onlysaysficus Vanyaland: @Vanyaland617 Kevin, at always is: @KevinCookman

Episode 53: Sundance 2020

Wrapping up our podcast series, film section editor Sergio Zaciu leads a discussion on the shifting trends in film this decade. Read our full 100 film list of the best of the 2010s here: https://merrygoroundmagazine.com/merry-go-rounds-top-films-of-the-2010s/

Episode 52: End of Decade: Film

Games editor Ed Dutcher leads this discussion of the cultural shifts in video games that defined the 2010s.

Episode 51: End of Decade: Video Games

TV Editor Kate Brogden guides us on a thorough review of the past decade of television, particularly focusing on how drastically everything about our conceptions of TV have changed in the age of streaming.

Episode 50: End of Decade: TV

Music editor CJ Simonson is joined by Nick Funess and Carter Moon to discuss the whirlwind changes in popular music over the 2010s. Be sure to read our top 100 albums of the decade list here: https://merrygoroundmagazine.com/merry-go-rounds-top-albums-of-the-2010s/

Episode 49: End of the Decade: Music

On the last episode of the year, we present this barn burner roundtable discussion of Bong Joon Ho's exceptional film, PARASITE. This biting Korean social satire has ripped through all critical corners of the film world and become a shocking success in the US, equal parts devastating and wildly entertaining, our panel deconstructs what makes this film so special, particularly for people who have been following Bong's career for years. For related research on this film check out the following: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Available on Vudu for free) Salt of the Earth (Available on Kanopy for free) The Pervert's Guide to Ideology (Available to rent on all the major platforms) Mark Fisher's book Capitalist Realism provides enormously useful tools for interpreting pop culture (https://bit.ly/35PdzsW)

Episode 48: Parasite Roundtable

In this special crossover episode, we invite you to check out Carter's new podcast, Vaguebooking, a podcast about social media in the age of social isolation. Carter interviews our film editor, Sergio Zaciu, and Sergio's brother Oliver. You can check out Vaguebooking wherever you get your podcasts, You can follow the show on Twitter: @vaguebookingpod

Episode 47: Vaguebooking Crossover

MERRY-GO-ROUNDTABLE is the weekly podcast of Merry-Go-Round Magazine, an independent, online culture magazine based in Los Angeles. On this podcast, the staff dives deep into a specific topic in pop culture at large.

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