Flanagan's Wake | A Mike Flanagan Podcast

It's a new year, and we are jumping into a new show! We begin our 8-week coverage of Midnight Mass this week, chatting about the first episode "Genesis." We discuss our own history with Catholicism and how this show brings back so many memories and feelings. Also... it rules

Note: Due to Matt and me both having seen this before, we decided to do an all-spoilers section at the very end of the episode to chat about our reaction to certain parts with full knowledge of the show. These should be noted via audio and visual clues...

Merry Christmas! We're posting this a day early this week so you can spend Christmas Eve celebrating our Lord Mike Flanagan. This week, we celebrate the end of Bly Manor as we take one final look back at the show and at the entire first year of Flanagan's Wake!

Then we answer mailbag questions from our wonderful audience.

We'll be off next week but back on 1/8/26 for the first episode of Midnight Mass! 

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And just like that we find ourselves at the end of The Haunting of Bly Manor. This week we chat about episode 9: "The Beast in the Jungle," a beautiful, tragic end to this wonderful series

Discussion Question: None this week

Next week: In our final episode of 2025 we take one more look at Bly Manor, the Haunting duolog, and our year of Mike Flanagan. 

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format, so subscribe if you want to see our beautiful faces: https://www.youtube.com/@DoofMedia

Ch...

It's the penultimate episode flashback! Only...done right! Matt and Scott chat about episode 8 of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor: "The Romance of Certain Old Cloths." It's a unique and wonderful episode that just so happens to be one of the closest adaptive stories of the show so far!

Discussion Question: It's Mailbag time. Send your questions to us! 

Next week: It's the end as we get to the finale of The Haunting of Bly Manor: "The Beast in the Jungle"

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Matt and Scott reach episode 7 of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor: "The Two Faces (Part 2)." Turns out, Peter Quint is kind of a dick. Who knew?

Discussion Question: What is your favorite scene where character is tied up, and other characters dramatically debate "what to do?"

Next week: We reach the penultimate episode of Bly Manor: "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes"

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C...

This week on the show Matt and Scott sit down with the grinning imp version of Henry Wingrave as we chat about episode 6 of The Haunting of Bly Manor: "The Jolly Corner."

Discussion Question: What is your favorite doppelganger?

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 7: "The Two Faces (Part 2)"

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Check out the show schedule: https://tinyurl.com/244c4ejm

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We've reached the halfway point of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor this week as we dive into the tremendous and shocking episode 5: "The Alter of the Dead." The reveals are all over the episode as a lot of what we thought we knew isn't quite what it seemed.  

Discussion Question: What is your favorite example of a "secret ghost"

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 6: "The Jolly Corner"

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Our coverage of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor continues with episode 4: "The Way It Came." We finally dive into Dani's past and the shiny spectacled ghost haunting her mirrors. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite example of a "kids are right/aware and adults are oblivious" situation

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 5: "The Alter of the Dead"

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This week, our coverage of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor continues as we dive into episode 3: "The Two Faces (Part 1)!" This episode focuses on the backstory of Peter Quint and Rebecca Jessel. Matt and Scott chat about the complex and wonderfully terrible Peter Quint and his doomed affair with Ms Jessel. And more!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite example of 'the wrong kind of love' in storytelling?

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 4: "The Way It Came"

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format, s...

This week, we continue our time with Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor! This week, it's episode 2: "The Pupil" as the show zooms in on the strange and disturbing Miles. We chat about the truth behind Miles' expulsion and what might be going on with his strange behavior back at Bly. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite boarding school story?

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 3: "The Two Faces (Part 1)"

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We are so excited to begin our journey into Mike Flanagan's follow-up to Hill House: The Haunting of Bly Manor! This week, we watch and discuss an episode of the series: "The Great Good Place." We chat about the expectations coming into a second season of "The Haunting" series, the continued ascension of Victoria Pedretti, and Mike's obsession with the slipt diopter!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite creepy dollhouse?

Next week: Bly Manor continues with episode 2: "The Pupil."

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This week we've reached the end of our time with Henry James as we read the author's final two short stories for this show. We travel across James' career with these two as we read one story written in the 1850s: "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" and one in the 1900s: The Beast in the Jungle." These stories illustrate the growth and change of James' career and we adore both of them!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite pair of works that demonstrate an artist's growth over time?

Next week: We're back with Mike...

This week, we continue our journey with Henry James as we cover two more short stories: "The Alter of the Dead" and "The Jolly Corner."  We continue to struggle with (and love) this Jolly happy guy.

Discussion Question: Which of these Henry James Stories would you like to see adapted and why?

Next week: Our coverage of the short stories of Henry James concludes with "The Romance of Certain Old Clothes" and "The Beast in the Jungle"

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This week our coverage of the short stories of Henry James continues with a dive into the author's short story: "The Pupil." While this story is one of the most clearly written of what we've covered so far, we struggled with it a little bit. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite instance of Henry James' "Child of Light" in fiction?

Next week: Our coverage of the short stories of Henry James continues with 2 more short stories: "The Alter of the Dead" and "The Jolly Corner."

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This week, our time with Henry James continues as we dive into 3 of the author's short stories: "The Great Good Place," "The Two Faces," and "The Way It Came." So far, we're really feeling Henry James and have enjoyed these three stories quite a bit.

A reminder that these stories share names with episodes of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manor... but do they share more? We'll find out!

Discussion Question: How are you feeling about Henry James so far? Are you liking it or struggling?

Next week: Our Henry James journey...

This week, we begin our series on Flanagan's The Haunting of Bly Manner! Before delving into the TV show, we take a look at the Henry James stories that inspired it. Up this week is Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, James' 1896 novella. We chat about James' unusual style, the ambiguity at the heart of this story, and how analysing works has and hasn't changed over the years.

Discussion Question: What do you think? Are the ghosts real, or all in the Governess's head?

Next week: We begin our dive into some Henry James...

This week after reading through Stephen King's Doctor Sleep, we are finally ready to tackle Mike Flanagan's brilliant adaptation. We chat about the differences between the regular and director's cut, how Flanagan manages to perfectly tie the movie and book versions of The Shining together, and our complex feelings about the end of Flanagan's film

Next week: Our time with The Haunting of Bly Manor begins as we read and discuss Henry James' The Turn of the Screw

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This week, we take one final look at Stephen King's Doctor Sleep in preparation for our coverage of Flanagan's Film next week. We chat about our complicated feelings about this book and what we ultimately felt triumphed and failed. 

Then, we answer a bunch of your wonderful Mailbag questions. 

Next week: Flanagan's Doctor Sleep!

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format, so subscribe if you want to see our beautiful faces: https://www.youtube.com/@DoofMedia

Check out the show schedule: https://tinyurl.com/244c4ejm

This week, we reach the end of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep as we read chapter 18 through the end of the novel. Matt and Scott had some issues with this book but both agree the ending is pretty great! We chat about the surprising mundanity of Rose's defeat and discover the true meaning of Dan's arc throughout the story.

Discussion Question: Is Kubrick's The Shining a good adaptation?

Next week: We take one final look at Doctor Sleep!

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This week our discussion of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep continues as we discuss chapters 13-17 of the novel. The confrotation between Team Abra and the True Knot ramps up as Dan's plan successfully foils the True's plan to get Abra... at least at first. We chat about the great moments of the confrontation and the surprisingly inconsequential mistakes Abra makes. Also, Scott has some...issues with the big reveal of Abra's lineage. 

Discussion Question: It's MailBag Time! Send your questions to us!

Next week: Doctor Sleep concludes as we read chapter 18 through the end of th...

This week, our coverage of Doctor Sleep continues with chapters 10-12. We chat about the incredible moments of dealing with death and aging in this book, and also wrestle with Dan's journey to pick up baseball boy's glove and whether it works for us. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite "Measles" moment

Next week: Doctor Sleep continues with chapters 13-17

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This week we continue to explore Stephen King's Doctor Sleep as we read and discuss chapters 7-9 of the novel. We chat about the ways in which King is drawing comparisons between David Stone and Jack Torrence and what that could mean. Also Abra and Dan finally team up and an old friend returns!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite filmed depiction of a trippy mental power?

Next week: Doctor Sleep continues with chapters 10-12

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Our time with Doctor Sleep continues as we discuss chapters 4-6 of Stephen King's novel. We finally discover why Dan is called Doctor Sleep as the timeline pushes forwards almost 10 years. We chat about the power of King's writing in that sequence and the True Knot's brutality. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite/the best depiction of a character's struggle with sobriety?

Next week: Doctor Sleep continues with chapters 7-9.

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It's new book week as we jump into Stephen King's Doctor Sleep! We'll be breaking the book into 7 sections in preparation for a deep dive into Mike Flanagan's film adaptation. This week, the prologue through chapter 3 of the novel. We introduce the book and discuss the powerful opening. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite magician?

Next week: Doctor Sleep continues with chapters 4-6.

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This week, after taking a whole week to digest all 10 episodes of Hill House, we're back one last time to finish off the discussion. We chat again about the ending and what Scott learned after he rewatched the entire series (again)

Discussion Question: None this week!

Next week: We shift gears and begin our coverage of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep in preparation for Flanagan's adaptation. 

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...

This week the door to the red room opens as we discuss the final episode of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House: "Silence Lay Steadily." We chat about each Crain Child's Red Room vision, the mixed reception to the ending and why we thought it worked perfectly. Also we're not crying, there's just a lot of dust in the podcast studio. 

Discussion Question: None this week!

Next week: We take one final look at Flanagan's Hill House!

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This week, we reach the penultimate episode of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House: "Screaming Meemies." The episode focuses on Olivia Crain as we watch the house and Liv's fears work at her pushing her towards a horrific eventuality. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite isntance of someone thinking they're dreaming when they're not? Or...vice versa!

Next week: We reach the finale of Hill House!

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This week we continue to move through Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House with episode 8: "Witness Marks." It's a tale of two car conversations as Steve and Hugh have it out and Theo desperately pleads for Shirley's forgiveness. We chat about these two excellent sequences, Steve's nearly unforgivable choice, and Theo's incredible monologue.  

Discussion Question: What is your favorite instance of fighting with love in storytelling?

Next week: The penultimate episode? Already? We'll be chatting about episode 9: "Screaming Meemies"

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format, so su...

This week, The Haunting of Hill House begins to move towards it's endgame as we zoom in on Hugh Crain with episode 7: "Eulogy." We chat about the complications of Hugh as he tries to navigate his relationships with his kids as Liv still looms over his shoulder. Also, Hill House has a black mold problem!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite eulogy in a book?

Next week: Episode 8: "Witness Marks"

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This week on the show, Mike Flanagan decides to challenge himself with episode 6 of Hill House: "Two Storms." It's a series of 4 long-takes that make our jaws drop. Oh also, the writing is pretty good too. 

Discussion Question: What is your favorite oner?

Next week: Episode 7: "Eulogy"

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This week on the show, we reach the halfway point of Mike Flanagan's Hill House as well as the last Crain child. This is Nellie's episode and we learn all about her struggles with sleep paralysis and the ever-present bent-neck lady, her tragic loss, and the events that led to her suicide. This is a sad one, folks. It's also absolutely brilliant. 

Discussion Question: How do you deal with not being listened to?

Next week: Episode 6: "Two Storms"

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This week we chat about episode 4 of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House: "The Twin Thing." This episode focuses on Luke Crain, who leaves rehab to chase a friend and finds himself chased by a bowler-hatted ghost.  

Discussion Question: What is your favorite awkward dinner conversation?

Next week: Episode 5: "The Bent-Neck Lady"

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G...

This week our journey through Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House continues with episode 3 of the series: "Touch." We zoom in on Theo as both child and adult struggles with her sensitive gift. We chat about Theo's role as the middle child of the family, her relationship with Olivia and Luke, and how the show continues to advance all plot lines while focusing in on one character at a time.

Discussion Question: What is your favorite Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) depiction?

Next week: Episode 4: "The Twin Thing"

This show will be posting...

This week we continue our journey through Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House. Today is the 2nd episode of the show: "Open Casket." This one focuses in on the eldest girl of the Crain family who deals with death by trying to "fix" it. We chat about Shirley's fixation with fixing things by covering over the bad, how we feel about embalming and open caskets, and Flanagan's brilliant transitions and structural touches. 

Discussion Question: How do you feel about the embalming process and open casket funerals?

Next week: Episode 3: "Touch"

This show w...

This week, our coverage of Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House begins as we cover episode 1: "Steven Sees a Ghost." It's a delightful first entry into this 10 part series that manages to do all the things a pilot must  while being engaging, thought-provoking, and scary. These 10 weeks are gonna be wonderful!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite pair of child actor and adult actor playing the same character?

Next week: Episode 2: "Open Casket"

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This week, after completing Shirley Jackson's novel, we take one final look at Hill House from atop the hills. We investigate our final conclusions on this fascinating book and what things might look like from other characters' perspectives.

Next week, we begin our 10-week coverage of Mike Flanagan's adaptation with Episode 1: "Steven Sees a Ghost"

Discussion Question: Which character from Shirley Jackson's novel is your favorite?

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This week we reach the end of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House as we cover chapters 7-9 of the novel. Things ramp up considerably as the line between what is real and what isn't all but disappears (along with our understanding of the book.  We still loved it, though!

Next week we wrap up our Hill House coverage with our overview episode!

Discussion Question: Is Hill House actually haunted?

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This week our coverage of Shirley Jackson's Hill House continues with chapters 4-6! We discuss the increasing insanity of Hill House and its characters and how difficult it becomes to track what we can and can't believe. 

Next week Hill House concludes with chapters 7-9!

Discussion Question: What is in your opinion, the best depiction of insanity?

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This week we begin our segment on The Haunting of Hill House by checking out Shirley Jackson's novel. Over the next 4 weeks, we'll read and chat about the book before heading into Flanagan's 10-episode adaptation. This week, we read chapters 1-3 of Hill House.

We talk about the book's impact on horror,  Shirley Jackson's incredibly evocative language, and the uncertainty that we feel about the house and the characters staying in it.

Next week Hill House concludes with chapters 4-6!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite haunted house and why?

This s...

This week, after a month and a half chatting about King's novel it's finally time to discuss Flanagan's adaptation of Gerald's Game. We chat about the challenges to adapt the novel, Flanagan's choices, and the incredible work of all the performers. 

Next week, we begin our coverage of The Haunting of Hill House and chat about the first three chapters of Shirley Jackson's novel.

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format so subscribe if you want to see our beautiful faces: https://www.youtube.com/@DoofMedia

Check out t...

This week on the show, we take one final look at Stephen King's Gerald's Game. We are joined by Kim C. of the Year of Underrated Stephen King podcast to talk all about this book and the complicated feelings it made us feel. 

We chat about Kim's first time through the novel, offer some perspective on why King thought he could tell this story and briefly touch on the difficulties of adapting it. 

Then we answer a handful of questions that you sent our way!

Next week we are back with Mike as we...

This week, we reach the end of Gerald's Game as we chat about chapters 34 through the end. Jessie confronts the moonlight man, writes a letter to an old friend, and gets a decent night's sleep for the first time in a long time.

We talk about how Jessie's escape from the cuffs and the moonlight man is only the beginning of her tribulations, the introduction of the "only good man" Brandon, and the ultimate conceit of the novel. 

Next week we spend one final episode on the Gerald's Game novel on our overview episode!

...

This week our discussion of Gerald's Game continues with chapters 25-33! Jessie is able to, thanks to one part of her memory of Dark Score Lake, devise a plan to escape from the cuffs. You really gotta give her a hand for her inventiveness. 

We talk about how King uses the events of the Eclipse to fulfill both thematic and narrative purpose (and if it works), the mystery of the Space Cowboy, and King's grusome description of the "degloving" itself. 

Next week Gerald's Game concludes with chapters 34 through the end of the novel!

Dis...

This week our discussion of Gerald's Game continues with chapters 14-24. Jessie's struggles continue as she finally confronts the events on Dark Score Lake in 1963.

We talk about King's choice to "go there" and not hold back, how the text communicates Tom's intentions despite Jessie's ignorance, and our absolute disgust with everything. Look, folks, this is a tough one. It's probably some of the most disturbing and disgusting things we've covered on this show. Hopefully, we covered it with the care it deserves.

Next week Gerald's Game continues with chapters 25-33

Discussion Question: Wh...

This week our coverage of Gerald's Game continues with chapters 9-13 of the novel. Jessie begins to slowly remember more and more of her past as she struggles to get a glass of water. 

We chat about King's carefully laid structural elements, how Jessie's realizations recontextualize old moments, and the wonderfully tense water scene that Matt argues accomplished nothing

Next week Gerald's Game continues with chapters 14-24. 

Discussion Question: What is the best/scariest sudden introduction of a monster or a man in stories?

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This week Matt and Scott begin their time with Stephen King's Gerald's Game as they read the novel in preparation to discuss Mike Flanagan's adaptation. This week, the first 8 chapters!

We chat about Stephen King's experimentation in both style and form, the challenge of adapting this book, and the wonderfully complex Jessie Burlingame. 

Next week Gerald's Game continues with chapters 9-13 of the novel.

Discussion Question: What is your favorite character trapped in a bad situation story?

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This week Matt and Scott grab their planchette and commune with the spirits of Ouija: Origin of Evil, Mike Flanagan's 2016 prequel to a very successful and very bad film.

We chat about Flanagan's remarkable job at taking a silly concept and making a great film out of it, his commitment to making a period film, and his powerful writing.

Next week we're switching gears and setting our sights on Stephen King as we read the first 8 chapters of King's Gerald's Game in preparation to visit Flanagan's movie.

Discussion Question: What is one prequel...

This week we take a look at the third film in Flanagan's "Latin Titles Trilogy" Before I Wake (originally titled Somnia). A film about the dreams of a child and our dreams for our children.

We chat about the incredible acting, the emotionally moving film and why the ending didn't quite work for us.

Next week take a look at Flanagan's final 2016 film: the prequel/sequel Ouija: Origin of Evil

Discussion Question: What is your favorite use of dreams in storytelling?

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This week we take a look at Mike Flanagan's Hush, a 2016 film co-written and starring Kate Siegel. The film asks an important question: if a killer tries to murder a deaf mute woman in the woods, does he make a sound?

We chat about the film's simple premise, but great execution absolutely stuffed with great setups and payoffs, the great theming, and John Gallagher Jr.'s creepy but stupid killer. 

Next week we have some bad dreams as we chat about Flanagan's Before I Wake!

Discussion Question: What is your favorite use of t...

This week we take a look at Mike Flanagan's Oculus, a 2013 horror film based off Mike's original short film about a spooky haunted mirror!

We chat about the film's designed confusion and Flanagan's excellent camera work. Also: hand and mouth gore! Yay! 

Discussion Question: Mirrors are creepy. What's your favorite mirror in storytelling?

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Check out the show schedule: https://tinyurl.com/244c4ejm

G...

It's finally here! We're ready to kick off the newest Doof! Media Podcast Flanagan's Wake with Mike Flanagan's first feature-length film: 2011's Absentia!

We chat about the skill on display in this low-budget horror film, Flanagan's themes showing themselves early, the beauty of the light and sound work, and much more!

Discussion Question: Without spoiling any future episodes, why do you enjoy Mike Flanagan's work?

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format so subscribe if you want to see our beautiful faces: https://www.youtube.com/@DoofMedia

Welcome to the newest Doof! Media podcast - Flanagan's Wake a show exploring and analyzing the works of Mike Flanagan!

This is just a quick introduction to explain the format and schedule of the show before we actually kick things off next Thursday (1/16). Subscribe now and tune in on January 16th for our first episode covering Mike Flanagan's Absentia!

This show will be posting our podcast to YouTube in video format so subscribe if you want to see our beautiful faces: https://www.youtube.com/@DoofMedia

Check out the show schedule: https://tinyurl...