

House of R
The Ringer
Welcome to ‘House of R,’ where Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson explore your favorite fictional universes with their signature Deep Dives into everything from ‘Game of Thrones’ to ‘Star Wars,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings’ to Marvel, and beyond. Whether they’re parsing mythology, story themes, and character arcs or tracing influences across decades of fantasy and sci-fi stories, Jo and Mal will be here weekly with Deep Dives into new nerd culture releases, nostalgic revisitations of their favorite tales in fandom, Tropes Course examinations, Hall of Fame inductions, Hype Meters, drafts, mailbags, watch lists, top moments countdowns, recommendations, and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 24, 2023 • 2h 45min
'Loki' Season 2, Episode 3 Deep Dive
It's time for another deep dive into ‘Loki’ Season 2! Mal and Jo are back to discuss Episode 3, “1893” (13:08). They talk about some questionable decisions being made by Loki and Mobius, discuss the horny motivations of Miss Minutes, and even sprinkle in a little Midwest geography talk (33:47).Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna RobinsonAssociate Producer: Carlos ChiribogaAdditional Production: Arjuna RamgopalSocial: Jomi Adeniran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 20, 2023 • 1h 47min
Did ‘Daryl Dixon’ Reanimate 'The Walking Dead'?
Mal is joined by Ben Lindbergh to discuss ‘The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon’ Season 1. They start by talking about the state of the ‘Walking Dead’ franchise, their history with it, and whether this show could be a good reentry point for people (8:17). Then, they dip into the season by talking about Daryl and the new supporting characters, the show’s new French setting, and the similarities to ‘The Last of Us’ (34:30). They also look forward to what’s next for the franchise.Host: Mallory RubinGuest: Ben LindberghAssociate Producer: Carlos ChiribogaAdditional Production: Arjuna RamgopalSocial: Jomi Adeniran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 18, 2023 • 2h 34min
'Loki' Season 2, Episode 2 Deep Dive
"House of R" tackles "Loki" season 2, episode 2 with special guest host Rob Mahoney. They explore the stunning performances at the TVA, predict characters' hidden identities, and discuss the show's intricate themes of self-discovery and free will. They also analyze character dynamics, delve into time travel, and raise moral questions about the TVA's existence. With theories about mysterious characters and the possibility of Loki's pruning, this deep dive is full of exciting insights.

Oct 13, 2023 • 42min
Our Favorite MCU Memories and Moments
The hosts discuss their favorite moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the departure of Edgar Wright from Ant-Man and a memorable exchange in Endgame. They also talk about standout scenes from Avengers: Endgame and Guardians of the Galaxy, and discuss their favorite moments from the MCU, including the reintroduction of Spider-Man and Thor Ragnarok's comedic brilliance. The speaker also highlights the emotional moment of Captain America's loyalty to Bucky in The Winter Soldier.

Oct 9, 2023 • 2h 34min
'Loki' Season 2, Episode 1 Deep Dive
In this podcast, the hosts dive deep into the first episode of 'Loki' Season 2, discussing the action-packed opening scene, the introduction of Hunter X5, and the division within the TVA. They explore the themes of free will and determinism, analyze the character development of Loki, and express their excitement for the second season. They also discuss the visual elements of the show, speculate about the X-Men's appearance, and draw connections between 'Loki' and 'Doctor Who'.

Oct 6, 2023 • 3h 19min
'Ahsoka' Finale Deep Dive
Star Wars expert Ben Lindbergh joins Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson to delve into the Mortis gods lore and what it might mean for the future of Star Wars. They also discuss the enjoyable and disappointing aspects of the 'Ahsoka' finale, the significance of lightsabers, and the dynamics between Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra.

Oct 2, 2023 • 2h 5min
The House of R Hall of Fame: Loki
Loki of the MCU is inducted into House of R's first Hall of Fame. The podcast explores Loki's character in mythology and pop culture. They also discuss superlatives such as Best Speech and Best Line Delivery. The chapter descriptions include exploring Loki in Norse mythology, his role as a tragic Shakespearean villain in the MCU, his mischievous nature, and his emotional journey and character development.

Sep 29, 2023 • 2h 42min
‘Ahsoka’ Episode 7 Deep Dive
You thought they were dead? Well, Mal and Jo are back to dive deep into the latest episode of ‘Ahsoka’ (06:56). They talk about everything that goes on in this thrilling episode leading up to the finale next week (12:54). Later they are joined by Ben to discuss the lore between Anakin and Thrawn (02:04:37) and so much more.Hosts: Mallory Rubin and Joanna RobinsonGuest: Ben LindberghSenior Producer: Steve AhlmanAdditional Production: Arjuna RamgopalSocial: Jomi Adeniran Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 26, 2023 • 1h 59min
Tropes Course: Down the Rabbit Hole and Into Portal-World Stories
Exploring the trope of portal worlds in sci-fi and fantasy genres. Excitement for discussing meta stories and the significance of Loki. Delving into themes, characteristics, and storytelling traditions of portal-world stories. Exploring the concept of a hungry other world and relatable protagonists. The enchanting experience of books as portals to other worlds and the concept of time in portal universes. Highlights of portal-world stories like Narnia, Sarah's journey in the Labyrinth, and discovering Filary. Discussion on the complicated world of the Magicians novels and TV series. Exploring the concept of the upside down in Stranger Things and its connection to our world.

Sep 23, 2023 • 3h 33min
‘Ahsoka’ Episode 6 Deep Dive
The podcast delves into the latest episode of 'Ahsoka' which brings Thrawn into the world of live-action 'Star Wars'. The hosts also discuss the magic-based area of 'Star Wars' lore and delve into the concept of Avalon and its connection to 'Star Wars' Peridia. They analyze the appearance of characters, discuss the character growth of Ahsoka, and share their opinions on the live-action portrayal of Thrawn. The hosts speculate on Thrawn's plan and discuss the significance of various details in the episode. They also reflect on the Jedi and the power of stories in the Star Wars universe.