My Girlfriend Begrudgingly Reads Dune

... Because she almost doesn't have to read any more Dune! This is the last chapter, part 1. Paul's in the fish-tent and all's right with the world. But he's suddenly kind of a dick? What does this bode for the sequel books that, and I've checked, Caitlin will NEVER read?

This one goes out to my man Jordan on the MGBRD Can O' Worms Facebook group! Thanks for wanting to hear more eps, brother. We’re inside the golden fish tent and we get to meet the Emperor for the first time. Nice. We also get to see the Emperor make the Baron squirm. Excellent. Then Alia shows up. Exquisite!

(Chapter 45) We're back in business after a looong hiatus, and we've only got a few more chapters left to go Chani and Jessica reunite because Paul has gone into a coma. What has that l'il scamp been up to?! Hey, he hasn't been trying to change the water of life has he? But only two types of people can do that: a Bene Gesserit reverend mother or the Kwizatz Haderach. He's dead for sure. But wait what's this, he's waking up and he's ready for action? Look out Universe!

Also: The movie Go, what'cha been reading Sean?, shitty comedy shows, and much more! (Seriously, we start talking about Dune at about 19 minutes in so feel free to scrub ahead if you're feeling soapy.)

(Chapter 44) In this chapter, Gurney and Jessica get back together, sparks fly, some strategies are talked about, and the Fremen decided Who's The Boss.

Also: Caitlin's favorite serial killer, Reconstruction, Our cat Scout biting my feet (see pics on Twitter @my_dune), and we might have to change the name of the podcast for accuracy...

(Chapter 43) Boy this chapter is like in Home Alone when Kevin's mom finally sees him in their giant rich-people house after she's been flying for a whole week. Gurney is reunited with Paul! But he's still harboring a knuckle-sandwich for Jessica. And there were Sardaukar embedded with the smugglers the whole time! What a twist!

Also: Keep your Dune song parodies away from Spongebob! And Listeners, where does the Pareto Principle apply in your life? Are you 20% impressed when 80% of an acrobat's feet are on 20% of another acrobat's feet? Let us know @my_dune on Twitter!

(Chapter 42) WELL WELL WELL! Look what giant invertebrate decided to show up and grace us with their being ridden! TOOK YA LONG ENOUGH! Paul Utah grabs his worm-board and catches some sweet worm-segments. It's like a whole lifestyle, brah. You won't understand it until you try it yourself. But Bodie Stilgar thinks Paul still has a lot to learn about worm riding. And maybe they need to fight to the death soon?

Also: Adding girl-power to things, the proper use of leverage in romantic relationships, worms in other media, the have-dinner-with-everyone-alive-or-dead, and which cult would you want to be in?

(Chapter 41) We're in the south with some of the Fremen ladies, working hard and missin' our guys.  Alia is straight-up dunking on Harah in front of everyone, but Harah knows it comes from a place of love. Kinda sweet!

Also: Caitlin is confused by QAnon (who isn't?), is Alia exactly like the E-trade baby, and I get distracted by the cats.

Come talk to me at @my_dune on twitter and search for us on Facebook!

(Chapter 39) I feel like we're getting pretty good at sussing out the finer plot-points of the book. The Baron meets with Mentat Thufir Hawat to find out why Thufir's having him send messengers every which way.  How is Arrakis like Salusa Secundus? How can the Baron be more like the emperor? And what is Thufir planning for the destruction of the Harkonnens?  Maybe get some answers in this podcast!

Also: Deep Impact vs. Armageddon, Caitlin is still angry about ledges, Shout out to Emily Brewster resident wordster, and I apparently ruined Kath and Kim for Caitlin.

(Chapter 38)  The first chapter of the last book in the book of Dune!  Feyd makes a strike at the Baron that would have worked... if it weren't for Atreides super-mentat Thufir Hawat.  What's Hawat's game anyways? Listen to the episode and find out that Sean and Caitlin sure as hell don't know. But we're excited to find out!

Also: The local comedy scene, which is the best kind of useless servant for a Baron, and those dang loud air-fresheners things in public bathrooms!

(Chapter 37) Lady Jessica gets inducted into Fremen reverend-motherhood.  everybody's on drugs, and Paul and Chani are angsty teen lovers in the past, present, and future!

Also:  The musical legacy of Bawitdaba, the proper pronunciation of "skosh", what kind of board games Caitlin likes vs. her graduate adviser's preferences, mall food courts.  You guys, what is a "ledge"?

(Chapter 36)  Paul, Jessica, and the Fremen crew arrive in another sietch, SUPRISE! Meet your new wife and kids Paul! What is a boy to do? Harah may be another nail in the galaxy-without-a-Fremen-jihad coffin.

Also:  Some of the names my grandfather has for playing cards, why flies and poo particles are mostly fine, Stilgar in high-school, and a bunch of other dumb takes.

(Chapter 34)  Paul and Jessica attend the Fremen funeral of the guy Paul killed.  He scores more than one "gift" from the the departed.  Caitlin and I talk a bit about our impressions of the trailer for the new Dune movie, and at the end I introduce a new segment: a reading from National Lampoon's DOON by Ellis Weiner!

If you want to get in touch with us you can always hit us on Twitter at @my_dune or send us an email at dunegirlfriend@gmail.com

(Chapter 33)  These Fremen are dangerous, guys! Jessica gets called out and Paul has to answer the challenge with his cutlery skills. Does Paul survive? Does Caitlin give a sandworm about this chapter?  The answers may surprise you.

(Chapter 32) Paul and Jessica are let into a Fremen hidey-hole and Chani shares an edible with Paul.  Stilgar impresses Jessica with his laid-back leader energy and Jessica impresses everyone with her missionoria protectiva cultural cheat-codes.  Caitlin does some more shoutin' bout the lack of mystery and Sean tries to get her to see the non-gotcha-mystery side of things.  

(Chapter 31)  Paul and Jessica are captured/enfolded by the Fremen out in the desert.  They want Paul but can't quite find a use for Jessica.  How are they gonna come out on top of this one?  We stick pretty heartily to talking about Dune this ep, so if that's what you like you're welcome.  *SPOILER ALERT*  I spoil the heck out of the show "Black Monday" so, ya know, look out for that one if you don't want to know how the first season of that show ends.

(Chapter 30)  First off, we don't really start talking about Dune in this one until 42:10 .  So if that's all you want to hear, you're welcome for the heads up.  But before that we do talk about Caitlin's saltiness about Dune and about what we think people like about sci-fi in general.  In the chapter, Kynes  is wandering through the desert without a stillsuit!  How did he get into this predicament?  Listen and find out!

The Baron thinks Paul and Jessica are dead.  No one could have survived that sandstorm!  He wants to send Rabban in to rule Arrakis.  But the Rabban seems not quite as dumb as he looks.  Should the Baron be scheming less and listening more?  Also the usual BS from us about whatever.  Join us on Facebook!  Search for "My Girlfriend Begrudgingly Reads Dune".

(Chapter 25, I said 24 in the show but I was wrong.) Son of a biscuit-eater!  Sorry for the delayed release everybody.  We were out of town for the weekend and our rhythm got all thrown off.   Anyways, an interesting chapter.  Caitlin lost some faith in a certain character, Paul came to an accord with Kynes, and the whole book takes a decidedly patriarchal turn, Caitlin says.  Do I agree?  listen to find out!

(Chapters 23 &24) First there was some further getting-dug-out of the sand for Jessica and Paul, and then there was a Thufir chapter that Caitlin actually liked!  Shiz's getting weird.  These Fremen don't play around and we are getting to see that first hand.

(Chapter 22) Paul's body and mind is going through a transition and we're not talking about puberty.  Although his voice IS changing.  We review some musicals up top.  Not sure why we did that.   Then we get into the nitty-gritty of Paul and Jessica in a still-tent, doing some prescient navel-gazing.  And also our unasked-for thoughts on BLM (for).

(Chapters 20 &21)  Depending on what you like, this might be our best episode ever or our worst episode ever.  We were a little tipsy and also off-topic a lot.  The Duke was captured, killed Piter and himself with that darn tooth.  The Sarduakar act like jerky badasses, the Baron does the ole' eat-n-gloat.  But he's also worried that shit is going sideways.  We hear about Caitlin's dreams of me burning alive and also what the founders of Sociology think about circular arguments (into them!)