It's August, and you know what that means for the Fandom Hybrid Podcast: it's Dragon Con time!!! Labor Day weekend brings our favorite 5-day geekfest back to Atlanta, and Anthony, Michael, and I are all excited to be participating again as panelists to talk about some of our favorite things!!
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film. Every Labor Day weekend, about 70,000 people crowd the streets and take over the hotels of downtown Atlanta to meet friends, celebrities, cosplay and totally geek out. This year’s event will take place Aug. 29 - Sept. 2, 2024. Ticket information can be found on the official website. Some of this year's notable guests include stars from various Star Trek TV shows, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Doctor WHO, Harry Potter, as well as other notables such as Giancarlo Esposito, Nathan Fillion, and more.
As the track schedules/descriptions are confirmed and posted, we will update this post with all the panel information and where you can find us (please note that panel dates/times are subject to change). We will also be updating the website and all social media. Hope to see you all there, and if you happen to see us, please stop and say hi!
Schedules below include date, time of panel, panel title and description (if available), and Hotel/Room information in ( ).
Anthony's Schedule:
Friday, August 30
11:00a Quantum Leap: No Leap Home - Ben Song's leap had just about as much luck as Sam Beckett's. While this Quantum Leap got mostly positive reactions, the second season shifted gears, introducing Hannah, but NBC/Peacock cancelled it, leaving Ben unable to return hoe, and us still lost unable to resolve Sam or Ben's story. (Marriott M301)
8:30p Star Wars Magic, Witchcraft and the Force - Our panelists will explore the intersections of magic, witchcraft, & the Force. Delve into how these elements shape the galaxy far, far away, from ancient prophecies to dark rituals. Unravel secrets behind Force-sensitive beings beyond Sith & Jedi and the supernatural energies that bind them. (Marriott A706)
Saturday, August 31
11:30a A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - A century before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, a squire named Dunk picks up the sword and shield of this dead master and enters a tournament to begin his career as a knight. With three published novellas of a planned seven, HBO has started production of an adaptation. (Marriott L401-L403)
2:30p The People of the Dragon: Unveiling the secrets of the Aiel - Inspired by Apache, Zulu and Irish societies, the Aiel are one of the most complex and fascinating cultures created by Robert Jordan. (Marriott L401-L403)
4:00p Star Wars: The Acolyte Fan Panel - Dive into the power of two! Our fan panelists discuss revelations, storytelling, and speculate about Season Two. Examine the series' mysteries and discuss the dynamic between darkness and light at the end of the High Republic. (Marriott A706)
5:30p Upload: Seeing Double - Season 3 Nathan and Nora try to stop Freeyond before the companies manage to persuade millions of poor people to get uploaded. Meanwhile, they enjoy their real-life relationship in fleeting moments before Nathan's head explodes. (Marriott M301)
7:00p Diversity and Representation Matter in Star Wars - Lightsabers for everyone! This panel celebrates the expanding galaxy of heroes in Star Wars. We'll explore how diverse characters inspire fans & enrich the stories. How does representation make Star Wars stronger? Our panelists will share favorites & thoughts on the future of the Force. (Marriott A706)
Sunday, September 1
11:30a Beacon 23: An Unwelcome Presence - In a corner of the galaxy, a beacon, a lighthouse against dark matter, finds a soldier and a government agent trying to piece a mystery together. Paramount dropped the first two seasons with pirates, zealots, aliens, and AI holograms, all wanting to impact the universe. What was your reaction? (Marriott M301)
Hanako's Schedule:
Thursday, August 29
8:30p Supernatural Showdown: Character Edition - Our panelists will each defend one of the following characters as to why they were essential to the overall story/narrative of Supernatural: Bobby, Cas, Crowley, Jack, Mary, & Rowena. The audience will get to share their thoughts, then will vote on which panelist made the best defense. (Westin, Chastain 1-2)
Friday, August 30
11:30a The Walking Dead: Expanded Universe Fan Discussion Panel - Join with our panelists as they discuss the intricacies of AMCs The Walking Dead's ever-expanding universe. Learn how the hit show, as well as its spin-offs, interconnect with each other. Deep dive into Fear the Walking Dead, The Ones Who Live, The World Beyond, Dead City, Daryl Dixon, and others! (Westin, Chastain F-G)
1:00p Family Dynamics and SF Media - From the best to the worst, genre media has shown us 'perfect' families and struggling ones. We'll look at the single parents and multi generational. What tropes do they tend to explore? (Marriott M302-M303)
4:00p Go Tell the Bees I Am Gone: The Outlander Books (Moderator) - While we love the wildly popular STARZ series, the Outlander books are unique and bring a different light to Jamie and Claire's story. With the final novel in the series on the horizon, we'll look at what we've loved in the books, how they differ from the show, and what we want in the 10th novel.
5:30p Umbrella Academy: The End of the End – The umbrella has finally closed, so it's time for Brellies to break down the fourth and final season and also untangle the timelines from all seasons. From satisfying conclusions to unresolved questions, we're going to imagine a world without an apocalypse. (Marriott M302-M303)
10:00p The Rogue Prince - Over the centuries, House Targaryen has produced both great men and monsters. Prince Daemon was both. In his day there was not a man so admired, so beloved, and so reviled in all Westeros. (Marriott L01-L403)
Saturday, August 31
4:00p Immortal Universe: Interview with the Vampire Fan Panel (Moderator) - Delve into the darkness of AMC's Interview with the Vampire! Join our panel as our speakers dissect the sophomore season's twists and turns. (Westin, Peachtree 1-2)
5:30 The Last of Us vs. The Walking Dead: The “Who Does it Better” Debate? - The "Last of Us" and "The Walking Dead" both masterfully depict post-apocalyptic worlds, but they differ in their approach. Fans agree that both universes represent a compelling study of post-apocalyptic humanity under duress. Our panelists will debate with the audience as to who does it better! (Westin, Peachtree 1-2)
10:00p Worst Person in Westeros: House of the Dragon Edition - Murder, mayhem, revenge...and that's just the kids. Via bracket tournament we will pit princesses against queens, Kings versus Hands and dragon versus everyone else to determine who is the Worst Person in Westeros. (Marriott L401-L403)
Sunday, September 1
11:30a The Hunger Games: 16 Years Later - The Hunger Games is a YA masterpiece. Why does it stand the test of time? What makes it so good? And with a new book coming up - much to talk about! (Marriott A707)
1:00p The Last of Us Fan Discussion Panel - Based on the popular video game, "The Last of Us" explores the harrowing journey of survivors navigating a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a fungal infection, blending intense action with deep emotional storytelling. This panel delves deep into the show to discuss the past and upcoming seasons. (Westin, Chastain F-G)
2:30p An Echo in the Bone: The Outlander Series Fan Panel (Moderator) - As the hit series from STARZ, Outlander heads into its final season, we've joined with the Brit Track to take a look at this beloved show. Our panel of super fans will discuss what we've seen so far, and what we hope to see as it comes to an end.
4:00p Orphan Black: Echoes – The Story Continues – The continuation of the classic Orphan Black series, this time with a different approach than the original. Krysten Ritter as Lucy, takes on the clone mantle as she tries to piece the consipiracy of her story together. Is this a worthy successor? (Marriott M301)
7:00p The Boys: The Evolution of Starlight - Annie January has come a long way from Iowa and pageants. Those lessons were hard learned from Vought and the 7. Leaving them she joins The Boys, so we take a deep look at her journey, the relationships, the causes, the triumphs and the tragedies. (Marriott M302-M303)
Monday, September 2
2:30p Deadpool: The Trilogy - The Merc with a Mouth has battled cancer, personal demons, and even time, but what does it all mean? Let's get meta on the Deadpool Trilogy and dig into how these movies explore our fav 4th-wall breaker. (Marriott M302-M303)
Michael's Schedule:
Thursday, August 29
8:30p Supernatural Showdown: Character Edition - Our panelists will each defend one of the following characters as to why they were essential to the overall story/narrative of Supernatural: Bobby, Cas, Crowley, Jack, Mary, & Rowena. The audience will get to share their thoughts, then will vote on which panelist made the best defense. (Westin, Chastain 1-2)
Friday, August 30
1:00p Family Dynamics and SF Media - From the best to the worst, genre media has shown us 'perfect' families and struggling ones. We'll look at the single parents and multi generational. What tropes do they tend to explore? (Marriott M302-M303)
8:30pm Gen V: The Guardians of Godolkin -Introducing us to a new part of The Boys universe, taking place at Godolkin University, famous for training supes. But there's a dark side though, deep beneath the school is The Woods, a Vought research lab that uses the students as their test subjects. What further secrets and changes will come? (Marriott M302-M303)
Saturday, August 31
2:30p The World of Warehouse 13, Eureka, and Alphas – During this moderated panel, fellow fans will dive into the unique world, unforgettable characters, and thrilling storylines of these timeless fan favorites. (Courtland Grand, Athens)
4:00pm Deadpool and Wolverine; Red vs. Yellow - Did Deadpool save the MCU for you, bub? We're breaking down everything from Marvel Jesus to variants to time travel and worlds colliding. Let's go! (Marriott M302-M303)
5:30p Who You Gonna Call? A Ghostbusters Fan Panel - A moderated fan panel discussion over the Ghostbusters franchise of movies. (Westin, Chastain 1-2)
Sunday, September 1
10:00a Wolverine: From Fox/Sony to the MCU - Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Logan has been an iconic mainstay of superhero cinema for 24 years. We've explored Wolverine's origins to his death, but what future does he have in the MCU/(Marriott M302-M303)
11:30a Classic Sci-Fi Roll-A-Panel: Movies from 1999 and 2004 – We have a guy who makes customized giant size 20-sided dice and we put 20 movies on it, then the audience rolls the die. Whatever comes up, the panel talks about that movie for 2 to 3 minutes. Then we roll again until we’ve done 20 mini-panels in one hour. (Marriott M103-M105)
10:00p Ultimate Face-Off: Nicolas Cage vs. John Travolta – A tournament of characters played by both, who take on each other and the audience votes on who wins. (Marriott M103-M105)
Monday, September 2
11:30a Kingpin: I’ve Made Mistakes - From Netflix to the MCU, Vincent D'onofrio's Kingpin has been iconic, well developed, horrifying and sympathetic character. We'll look over this journey and where it's likely to go in the future.(Marriott M302-M303)
1:00p John Constantine: Who Are You? - After almost 20 years in media, this supernatural expert on the underbelly of society has appeared in several different incarnations. From iconic Keanu Reeves, classic Matt Ryan and most recently gender bent as Joanna Constantine., we'll raise a glass and consider what strengths did each have? (Marriott M302-M303)
