In this episode, we launch into our retrospective on Resident Evil 2. We discuss the game’s development, commercial reception, and cast of characters. In our next two episodes of the pod, we’ll talk replaying RE2 itself.

Other topics that come up throughout our conversation include: Disney adults; Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty; Sinbad, the comedian; Gran Turismo / Torino; Al Pacino’s 2024 Oscar flub; and being reincarnated as a Resident Evil memo. Keith also asks if ponytails were sleaze-coded in the late 90s, and Logan issues an apology to Bradley Cooper.

Content warning: Mention of celebrity grooming allegations (22:18-22:40); mentions of pedophilia and rape in Resident Evil 2 (specifically in the context of Brian Irons, Chief of Raccoon City Police Department; 1:03:05-1:05:35)

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Time Stamps:

0:00-2:38 – Intro banter

2:39-18:38 – Game development, including the scrapped “Resident Evil 1.5”

18:39-23:53 – Getting way off topic (AKA pop culture interlude)

23:54-30:11 – Reception and sales

30:12-1:19:05 – The characters of Resident Evil 2

1:19:06-1:20:52 - Wrap-up and outro

1:20:53-End - Post-episode riffing

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Shoutout to Alex Aniel, whose book Itchy, Tasty: An Unofficial History of Resident Evil, we consulted during this podcast. Another shoutout to Michael Everette Hensley, the composer of our podcast theme music.

This is our first of three episodes centering on Resident Evil 2. New episodes will be released Wednesdays—every two weeks.

Thanks for listening!