In this week’s Middle of Culture, we dive deep into our usual blend of media obsession and existential humor — from the strange delights of villainess light novels and the chaos of gacha games to Tron Ares, which Eden declares “not a good movie… but maybe the best Tron movie.” Peter shares his thoughts on new music from Conjurer and Author & Punisher, reviews Wind and Truth with mixed feelings, and outlines a possible new nonfiction project exploring the moral dehumanization of healthcare. We close by revisiting the bizarre early UK Transformers comics — where Optimus is kind of a jerk, Starscream becomes the original “catty traitor,” and Brawn looks like he escaped a Dollar Tree toy aisle.

Episode Notes:

Opening Banter:

• Eden introduces herself as “so eeppy,” prompting Peter to admit defeat against internet slang.
• The two reflect on “functional depression,” aging, and surviving the current “hellscape.

Eden’s Media Fixation:

• Revisits I’m in Love with the Villainess and praises it as one of the best isekai series ever.
• Explains Prison Life is Easy for a Villainess, a meta comedy about a villainess treating dungeon time as a spa retreat.
• Attends a PowerPoint Party and presents “Villainess as Protagonist: A Meta-Analysis of Current Media Trends.”

Gacha Game Roundup:

• Stella Sora: “What if Hades was slower and shittier?” Deleted after 45 minutes.
• Chaos Zero Nightmare: Required two launchers — instant nope.
• Duet Night Abyss: Promising Warframe-style action without predatory gacha.

Tron Ares Review:

• Eden: “Not a good movie… but maybe the best Tron movie.”
• Praises its Nine Inch Nails soundtrack and stunning action; mocks Jared Leto’s acting.
• Peter admits he’d watch all three Tron films once they’re streaming.

Peter’s Media Corner:

• Music: Revisits Testament’s Parabellum, discovers Author & Punisher, and praises Conjurer’s Unself.
• Reading: Finishes Wind and Truth, critiques Sanderson’s editing, starts Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes, and begins Work Won’t Love You Back by Sarah Jaffe.
• Discusses a new nonfiction concept: “Connecting to Purpose: The Moral Dehumanization of Healthcare in America.”

Ideological Detour:

• Eden: “If you’re not the owner, you’re being exploited.”
• Peter admits he’s “becoming radicalized.”

Transformers (UK Comics):

• Recap of the lost “Man of Iron” episode and this week’s The Enemy Within.
• Discovery: This is possibly where “catty, traitorous Starscream” was born.
• Braun’s design roasted as “the Dollar Tree Transformer.”
• Optimus Prime called “a dick” for sending Brawn and Starscream into gladiator combat.
• Praise for Ravage and nostalgia for our childhood toys.

Closing:

• Eden confesses to spending $100 on the new Missing Link R.C. figure — “worth every penny.”
• Episode ends with a reminder to subscribe, share, and leave a review.

This week, we dive headfirst into emotional ruin — courtesy of Look Back, the devastatingly beautiful anime film by Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto. Before we get our hearts ripped out, we unpack a flood of new music releases — including Testament’s Para Bellum and Fayle's haunting Heretics and Lullabies — rail against Microsoft’s Game Pass price hike, and talk streaming fatigue and piracy. Peter also shares his new plan to train like a writer-athlete with a three-month learning sprint, while Eden reviews Nine Inch Nails’ Tron: Ares soundtrack, gushes about Apothecary Diaries, and explains why a Regency “choose your own adventure” romance might be the most fun book they’ve read all month. It all ends with tears, cello music, and a haunting meditation on why we create art in the first place.

📝 Episode Notes

Intro

• The “lost” episode vanished into the ether — maybe because it was too powerful for the far right to handle.
• Both hosts are feeling post-busy-season burnout and existential malaise.

Music Corner

• 🚨 Rush Reunion Tour: With Neil Peart’s family’s blessing, Rush returns with drummer Anika Nilles.
  • Eden: “Neil was never the fastest.”
  • Peter: Debates whether to travel for the tour or keep his memories intact.
• 🎻 Raphael Weinroth-Browne – Lifeblood: Beautiful, emotive cello-driven prog from the Leprous collaborator.
• ⚡️ Testament – Parabellum: Experimental thrash with black, death, and groove elements.
• 🕯 Frayle – Heretics and Lullabies: October-perfect doom — haunting vocals and atmosphere. Peter’s album of the month.

Gaming & Streaming Rant

• Microsoft’s Game Pass price jump to $30/month = cancellation time.
• Broader discussion: streaming bloat, rising costs, and the rise of “ethical piracy.”
• Quote of the section: “You wouldn’t scrape all the art ever made to create an anime titty generator.”

Writing & Learning Sprint

• Peter’s “Three-Month Learning Sprint” inspired by Dave Perell’s athlete model of skill-building.
• October–December: studying the craft of novel writing before starting Book #4 in January.
• Reading Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (Jessica Brody) and joining Writing Mastery Academy.
• Reflections on learning structure, story beats, and wanting to finally write a novel he’d let others read.
• Eden debates joining NaNoWriMo again… maybe.

Eden’s Media & Reading Corner

• 🎬 Tron: Ares (2024): “No one’s seeing it — and for good reason.”
  • Weak Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, but still better than most.
• 📚 Apothecary Diaries — finished all 15 volumes.
• 🐀 Though I Am an Inept Villainess — courtly fantasy with body-swap hijinks and fried potatoes.
• ❤️ My Lady’s Choosing — a hilarious, Regency-era, choose-your-own-romance adventure.
• 🕹 Doll’s Nest — “What if Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Frame Arms Girls had a baby?”

Main Event — Look Back

• 58-minute emotional gut punch about art, friendship, and loss.
• Recap: child prodigies Fujino and Kyomoto become artistic partners, drift apart, tragedy strikes, and grief reignites creation.
• Themes: rivalry, purpose, creative identity, and the way art bridges life and death.
• Peter: “The moment that cello started playing, I knew this was going to fuck me up.”
• Discussion on Fujimoto’s tone shifts, showing vs. telling, and the balance of subtlety and brutality.
• Shared conclusion: gorgeous, devastating, and they’ll never watch it again.

Wrap-Up

• Look Back is available on Amazon Prime.
• Next episode in a couple of weeks.
• Sign-off reminder: leave a review and email feedback@themiddleofculture.com

Peter and Eden cover a whirlwind couple of weeks—family milestones, stressful schedules, and the search for meaning outside of work—before diving into media updates like Escaflone, In Mourning’s crushing new album, and the delightfully cursed Ice Cube–starring War of the Worlds (2025). From there, things spiral into chaos with a marathon of “Would You Rather?” questions that range from the silly to the philosophical, including fart announcements, glitter burps, pinky-finger super strength, and whether you’d rather have a South Park wedding or a Family Guy funeral. It’s the most chaotic fun you’ll have all week.

Episode Notes

Life updates:

• Peter’s son Alex returns from his mission and prepares for a wedding.
• The challenge of balancing work, family, and downtime.
• Reflections on identity outside of your career.

Media check-ins:

• Peter on Tiny Experiments and the joy of learning Final Cut Pro.
• New music: The Immortal by In Mourning, and “End of You” with Amy Lee, Poppy, and Courtney LaPlante.
• Eden’s anime binge: Azumanga Daioh (finished), Escaflone (technical mishaps + stationary bike viewing).
• Bad Movie Bros watch: War of the Worlds (2025) starring Ice Cube—possibly the worst movie ever made.
• Manga spotlight: Yoritama: From Third Wheel to Trifecta (romantic chaos).

Main Event: Would You Rather?

• Pajamas vs. tuxedos, freakishly big mouths vs. tiny noses.
• Public fart announcements vs. peeing your pants.
• Superpowers you don’t want: invisibility only when sneezing, pinky-only super strength, screaming flight.
• Food fiascos: pizza hands vs. donut feet, glitter burps vs. bubble hiccups.
• Social nightmares: every text to mom vs. marching band of lies.
• Philosophical turns: 20 years with no regrets vs. 100 with many.
• The ultimate cursed choice: South Park wedding or Family Guy funeral.