this week's brew 🎧
​what we played this week + supplementary materials to help you dig deeper.

We've got to talk about the 'rage' in Bloom & Rage. I find it very compelling that the friendship of the four girls in Lost Records is founded on the act of them defending Swann from a form of masculine rage - misogynistic harassment and verbal threats from Corey.
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While the highlight of the girl's summer are the adventures and bonds they create together, I feel like their comradery goes deeper. In hanging out with one another -- with other queer teenage girls -- they've encouraged and given each other license to be fully themselves: to have those moments of joy, but also to be open to feeling rage against the ways society is already beginning to tamp down on their identities.
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Anger, frustration, and rage: all of these emotions are important. These emotions allow us to realize when something is wrong and when we need motivation to take action. When we tamp down our rage (see Dylan or even Pam), it can cause us to live a less fully realized version of ourselves. But rage, when unchanneled or continuously felt without any outlet or resolution, can be dangerous.
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For this week's podcast, we start to discuss the ways that each of the girls potentially connect to this idea of rage, and also delve into how we feel about the pacing of the two episodes as a whole.
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Reflection Question

Share your response by writing back to this message, submit a voice recording to be included in next week's episode, share in the community Discord, or simply ponder as you play!

• What do you think of when you hear about the emotion 'rage'? What ways do you feel you've felt - and perhaps acted upon - this emotion? How does this idea of 'rage' connect with each of the characters we see in the game, and how do you think it'll inform the ending?

Pour Over

Supplementary recs to expand on what we're playing ~

• Listen: This soundtrack is a MOOD, so if you're hoping to support the artists and listen to some more "See You in Hell" or "The Wild Unknown", it's here! Bonus -- for vinyl fans, you can also order it from their Bandcamp page.
• Play: Butterfly Soup is a queer, coming-of-age narrative game about teenage girls if you're looking for more of that theme! No supernatural abysses, but lots of heart.
• Record: What I love about the camera/memoir system is that it's encouraged me to find ways to memorialize memories and events lately. I'd love to encourage you (and myself) to see what it's like to capture and keep memories. This week, why not print out physical versions of pictures so they're not just on your phone, write yourself a note and save it, record a mini memoir of a day in your life to look back on, etc.
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Next Week's Brew: We're continuing in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage ~ releasing on May 6th, our conversation will finish out the rest of the game! The game we're playing for the rest of May? Return of the Obra Dinn, so if you'd like, feel free to get ready for that starting on May 7th.

the pastry case 🥐
​our grab-bag of topics related to the industry and other media we've engaged with.

Jenny -

• Play: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33​
• Watch: Sinners (GO SEE IT OMG)
• Listen: Songs to Make Up To (Ta-ku)​

Joel -

• Play: Oblivion Remaster, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Watch: Sinners, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End​
• Read: The Antidote​

This Weeks' Game Releases

Two titles that I'm keeping an eye on, and that may be worth picking up if you'd like something new to enjoy!

​despelote | May 01​ Football(Soccer) Emotional Sandbox A slice-of-life adventure about childhood and the magical grip soccer held over the people of Quito, Ecuador in 2001.

​Freeride | May 01​ Puzzle Music Psycheldelic Freeride is a game about YOU. Board a train to the Spirit World in our oddball RPG where you make friends, use telekinesis, find secrets, consume ice cream and chart your own path. Each character is uniquely troubled, and in helping them find their way, you might just find yourself, too.

Stay in the loop -- listen to the weekly podcast on Spotify and Apple, hang with the community in Discord, and find us on Instagram!

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Thanks for joining our digital café this week -- talk soon!

Jenny