The Lorehounds

Today, voting for the 2026 Oscar shortlists began, lasting all week – these 20 (or, er, 26) Oscar-qualified live-action and animated shorts are all eligible. Whether or not they make the shortlist (some of them will), here's why you might want to watch – from mermaid folk horror or brutal griffin hunts to gentle tales of the lists we make in life, or coming of age as an immigrant.Letterboxd listsEligible live-action shorts – category analysisEligible animated shorts – category analysisEligible documentary shortsThe RankingsTWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA – trailer – info – full film*MERCY – interview – infoJANE AUSTEN'S PERIOD DRAMA – interview – infoJUST THE USUAL – trailer – infoTHE PEARL COMB – trailer – infoPORELESS – trailer – info – full film*THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS – trailer – infoDALY CITY – trailer – info – full film*HURIKÁN – trailer – infoRETIREMENT PLAN– trailer – info – full film*TRAPPED – review – infoGIGI – trailer – info – full film* (French or German subtitles only)ONE LAST ROUND – trailer – infoKOVARTY – trailer – info – full film*SCARS WE LOVE – trailer – info – full film* (French subtitles only)EM & SELMA GO GRIFFIN HUNTING – VFX panel – infoTHE SECOND TIME AROUND – trailer – info – full film* (UK only)MARCIA AND THE SHARK – trailer – info – full film*THE SINGERS – trailer – infoLES BÊTES – trailer – info – full film*BEYOND SILENCE – trailer – info – full film* (Dutch subtitles only)HOLY CURSE – trailer – info – full film*MERCENAIRE – trailer – infoONE DAY, THIS KID – trailer – info – on Kanopy & CriterionPLAYING GOD – trailer – infoMUSHROOM DAD – review – info*May disappear when shortlists / nominations are announced (or sooner).Contact UsQuestions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comOr, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Nichole unpack the most impactful episode yet, examining the major revelations delivered through Carol's two conversations with Diatabé that fundamentally reframe the show's central mystery. The discussion explores the extraordinary filmmaking craft on display—from the intricate details scattered throughout every scene to the mirroring between Carol and Manusos—while grappling with Nichole's reservations about pacing versus David's appreciation for the show's visual storytelling and minimal dialogue.They delve into profound questions about the biological imperatives driving the joined, the ethics of consumption and privilege in our viewing community, and whether this signal from space represents a virus-like species propagating across the galaxy to survive.David's Blog PostRead David's companion essay: Pluribus Episode 6: The Pragmatism of 'HDP' and the Privilege of GriefContact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Elysia, John, and Mark send in the clowns to give more backstory to It. They discuss fake music numbers, the breaking of fellowships, and the show's three-season trajectory.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Nichole explore the most visually stunning episode yet, examining the subtle artistry of the cinematography that rivals Severance's most beautifully crafted moments. The conversation delves into the bittersweet opposites at the show's core—joy and poignancy, cleverness and grief, sci-fi premise and deeply human storytelling—as Carol processes Helen's death and navigates eight days of radical transformation. They discuss the fingerprint motif in the title sequence, debate whether this feels more like a coming-of-age story than traditional sci-fi, and analyze how the joined's decision to give Carol space reveals the show's sophisticated understanding of toxic relationships and boundaries.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jean and Elysia (with an appearance from David) join Dek and Thia's clan for a full breakdown of the good, the objections, the great, and the Yautja lore of Predators: BadlandsContact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comOr, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Elysia, John, and Mark enter the sewers to explore the growing references to Stephen King's legendarium. They discuss Dick Halloran's powers, the limitations and feeding needs of It, and new possible connections to the original timeline.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Content Warning: This episode discusses conversion therapy and unhealthy family dynamics. Please listen with care if these topics are sensitive for you.David and Nichole dive into the richest episode yet, exploring Carol's traumatic backstory including her family history and experiences with conversion therapy that shaped her fierce independence. The conversation examines the tonal shift from previous episodes' levity to serious character development, while also introducing the mysterious Manusos in Paraguay and his desperate circumstances. They discuss the healthy discourse happening in their Discord community, compare the show's accessibility to Severance, and analyze how Carol's gradual acceptance of her new reality contrasts sharply with Manusos's extreme resistance.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: pluribus@thelorehounds.comOr, send us a voicemail! You can use the voicemail tool on our website, thelorehounds.com/contact OR record a note on your smartphone and email it to us at the same address.Links to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliateshttps://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Loremaster Bryan8063 continue their special coverage of the PBS Ken Burns miniseries The American Revolution with immediate reactions to the fifth episode. The discussion highlights Burns' ability to tell previously marginalized stories of women, Black Americans (both enslaved and freed), and Native Americans, connecting scholarship that may have existed in silos. The hosts explore the British pivot to a Southern strategy aimed at retaining the more economically valuable colonies, the staggering complexity of the North American theater stretching from Montreal to Florida, and the global ripple effects of the conflict. They reflect on missing elements like the Articles of Confederation debates and state-level constitutional work, suggesting the series might have benefited from additional episodes to capture these parallel developments.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Elysia and Mark are back to guide lore fiends all the way through the sewers of Derry to Stephen King's Dark Tower nexus and back again as they discuss HBO's IT: Welcome to Derry season 1, episode 4: "The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet's Function." It's time for some serious turtle talk, and the science behind Marge's eye instincts and the salt of fear.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: horror@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates: linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David and Loremaster Bryan8063 continue their special coverage of the PBS Ken Burns miniseries The American Revolution with immediate reactions to the fourth episode. The discussion explores the delicate balance Burns maintains between chronology and thematic storytelling, drawing from Brian's conversation with his son about AP history.The hosts examine Washington's strategic genius of "winning by not losing" through tactical retreats, the brutal civil war dimension between loyalists and patriots, and the difficulties of managing an empire without instantaneous communication. They address the painful irony of Native American communities who fought for the patriots only to be driven from their lands, and how guerrilla warfare tactics throughout history demonstrate that determined forces can prevail through attrition rather than decisive victories.Contact Us Questions or comments? Send emails to: lorehounds@thelorehounds.comLinks to Patreon, Supercast, Discord, and Network Affiliates https://linktr.ee/thelorehoundsAny opinions stated are ours personally and do not reflect the opinion of or belong to any employers or other entities.Our Sponsors:* Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serveAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy