Whew! I'm officially all caught up now!
Over the past few weeks I've been enjoying the podcast at work, listening to a couple of them a day during my 12 hour shifts, and it's been a delightful journey going through all the character analyses, hypotheticals, re-reads (which DEFINITELY need to continue), and video game discussions. I have heard some great conversation throughout my listen, and laughed plenty of times! All of your Bane impressions from the Dark Knight Rises episode as an example had me chuckling aloud and earning strange looks from my co-workers that day, and Gobs rendition of Kiss From a Rose will always stand out in my mind as one of those legendary improvised moments of comedy, returning with less and less welcome each time he resumed the song (which of course only made it more hilarious and legendary). I also laughed incredibly hard at the Berserk movie II(?) discussion, also with Gobs and Grail. When it was brought up that maybe they got a sex expert to help them with the Guts/Casca sex scene like they did a swordsman for all the fighting scenes, I absolutely lost it; Aaz adding that it was the anime director, and his own sex experience. Hahaha.
Guests on the Skullkast have all been wonderful, and I definitely think you should continue having them on the show. I also don't think there needs to be any particularly special conditions (although that certainly can't hurt the program) for the guests to be on, because I look at it like each time a guest IS on, that's one more member of our community we're getting a deeper look into and getting their interpretation from, and it helps us all get to know the people we interact with every day on these boards that much better. There's also that great adventurous unknown aspect where you might not be entirely sure how it is going to go down, the four or so of your personalities mingling! But I think this is a very enticing angle to explore. Never predictable, just how a good podcast should be!
I loved the first episode of the Floracast as well, providing us a very fresh look at Berserk through a different and largely unexplored lens! It hadn't occurred to me to consider Casca's position in a number of situations like Grail proposed, the most compelling of all being her not celebrating with the rest of her comrades after a victory. That blew my mind. I hadn't even thought so far ahead that the potential for something compromising to happen between her and her soldiers--just because she was a woman and because alcohol was involved--was very real, and that might be one reason why she wasn't celebrating. It was also very cool to put a voice to Lithrael, same as IncantatioN, Johnstantine, DirectDK, Nomad, and Rhombaad who were all very cool dudes. If I missed anyone, I'm sorry!
Speaking of IncantatioN, you sound like such a nice guy! Like way, way nicer than I already assumed you were (which was pretty damn nice in its own right!). But it was so cool hearing you talk and give your opinion on the series and moments in it. No doubt, you are an invaluable member of the SK.Net community.
All the guests have been so incredibly respectful, kind, and insightful into just what kind of community/family we have here at Skullknight.net, and I'm proud to consider myself a part of it (in all my hidden status glory).
Lastly, I have a few comments after having gone through the complete podcast recently and it being very fresh in my memory as a result. The quality of the program has only improved with each subsequent episode. It shows that at least you, Walter, great showrunner, have learned over these few years (or have gotten more comfortable) on how to run a show. All of you, Walter, Griff, and Aaz, being Zelda fans I'm sure can appreciate the analogy when I say you do make up the sacred golden relic known as the Triforce for us here on the site: the Triforce of Knowledge, the Triforce of Comedy, and the Triforce of Balance. (Sorry I couldn't think up a better one for you, Walter
)
Walter you bring exceptional moderation to the show (even if it sometimes paints you the villain for discouraging rambling and tangents - we know how enjoyable those are). I have noticed this as I moved through episodes that you seem to always bring a decently to well-prepared agenda to most of the shows, and your efforts to keep it on-subject and interesting for listeners is always apparent. You ask questions, proposing new or different ideas that lend themselves to thought-provoking discussion, and you shepherd the often times difficult to herd Griffith and Aazealh.
Your vocabulary (actually, ALL of your vocabularies) never cease to impress me, and I try to remember and add some of the big words you often use to my own collection! Your gems in the comedic department also shine through quite regularly.
My ONLY criticisms are that you seem to be bothered pointing out the obvious from scenes during the re-reads. You seem to assume that your company and even your listeners already know (or should know anyway, and I'm sure most of them do) what to take away from a particular scene. I understand this, and even if it should be obvious to most fans, I will still suggest that you go through the motions anyway. Here's why: not all listeners might understand a particular scene, sure, even if it is one perhaps they should; but another reason is it being similar to a radio sportscast, for me at least. At work or in the car listening to the show, I won't have the volume in-front of me or accessible to me, so having the scene painted out before me best it can helps with imagining it and going right along with you guys during your look backs; and lastly, these might be the last or only times you will all be able to record sessions together studying the volumes so officially, so why not be as thorough as possible, you know. I know you can't go through every page, but I think it is okay to say why Guts is feeling a certain way or doing this goofy thing, or why a scene plays out a certain way or commenting on a less-important scene, because it helps (at least me) further illustrate the world of Berserk in my mind, and it may also validate some listeners' interpretations of those scenes as well. But overall, I adore the re-reads! They are my favorite thing I have taken away from the podcast. :)
Griffith, like Aaz, you bring your wealth of Berserk knowledge to the table and supply the awesome comedy to the podcast! Not to say that either Aaz or Walter are boring in the least, but I definitely look forward to your often times bizarre proposals in the Berserk and gaming worlds before I load up one of the podcasts. You and Aaz also make a powerful and distinct team when Walter has to go off or has left you to your own management of the show (this has happened once or twice, hasn't it?), complementing one another very naturally. On a Zelda note, Ocarina of Time is also my favorite Zelda (you did say Ocarina was your favorite?), which I am sure might not be very surprising. It is a lot of people's favorite Zelda. But I remark on it because I am currently playing it on my phone at work, and about to tackle the notorious Water Temple after having beaten the Forest and Fire Temple--NOT only on a touchscreen, but only during my breaks as well--so hearing your Zelda discussions has always been of particular interest to me, and hearing everyone's list of favorites and quick reviews of later titles in the series in case I might be looking to purchase one. All of your opinions on Skyward Sword and Windwaker in particular helped me from a consumer standpoint because they had been games I was interested in buying, but I wouldn't want to make the plunge if they weren't exceptional like a Zelda game "should" be. I took it as though they were good but not a must play. Do keep up the comedy and absurdities, Griff, they are very welcome, and I am sure Walter will do his job well and interrupt you when it is time to move on.
I have saved the best for last with Aazealh! What can I say to the man, who despite my absurd and offensive skype name (and ludicrous proposal that we might see Skull Knight turn heel at some point), has kept me on his friend's list and remained so kind and helpful to me on the forums over the years? Nothing but good things, of course. Aazealh has shown to be the kind of person to be helpful at every turn when someone is there earnestly asking for assistance, be it tattoo advice or a question from the manga or ordering something Berserk-related from Japan or what have you,to dispelling inaccuracies very dutifully when related to Berserk, and that is one of the more important things I've taken away from this forum. When something false about Berserk gets posted as fact, it is important to call it out if it is not, or else it may as well be true since it was left alone and never contested. Aaz, you have been good about this even on the podcast, starting out "Actually... the reason Miura drew that," and then correcting the information, not just for your friends but for the benefit of the listeners. It helps us as we go out and may talk to others about Berserk and promote the most accurate information possible! It's beyond amazing how you know all you know about Berserk, ranging from your memory of exactly how certain scenes were portrayed on almost every page to even Berserk knowledge outside of the pages from statements from Miura himself. It really is as Walter said, that you are as close to anyone he knows having a photographic memory.
Your contributions to the comedy of the Skullkast aren't without mention, either!
All in all, friends, keep it up. You probably have plans to continue recording, but perhaps you did not or were at the very least getting burnt out on the re-reads, so I would like to ping in and try and reinvigorate your interest in continuing with them. Even if it is the most plainly told story elements from Miura that you expect every Berserk fan to have picked up on, I say again, don't feel it isn't worth talking about, because it is still a part of this story that we all love, and you three are three Berserk fans that I, and many others, adore just hearing talk about it. :)
Can't wait for the next episode! See you on the boards.
Looking forward to finishing this tomorrow!
Thank you so much for spending time reviewing the whole show in such a detailed manner. It definitely makes me want to keep going, and keep making it better despite the challenges.