Oops, All Bummers: Edith Finch

Summary

In this reflective and wide-ranging episode, Peter and Eden dive into the existential fatigue of modern life, cozy rituals like gong fu tea, and the struggle to find joy in pop culture amid burnout. They review the game What Remains of Edith Finch, unpacking its artistic ambitions, emotional heft, and the limits of "walking simulator" storytelling. With side trips into post-rock bands, nostalgic alt-rock, and the joys of teapets, the episode blends critique with catharsis and a healthy dose of bummers.

Episode Notes:

- The episode opens with Eden reading a Tumblr post that hilariously and bleakly explains modern burnout as a result of living in a crumbling world. Peter and Eden relate strongly, setting the tone for a cathartic conversation.

- Eden checks in with the ongoing Adachi and Shimamura manga journey. Volume 8 features a flash-forward to adulthood and two momentous forehead kisses.

- Gaming fatigue takes center stage as Eden recounts failed attempts to get into Sunhaven, Paradise Killer, and even the stylish-but-demanding Shenmue. Nothing sticks.

- Eden shares a new afternoon ritual: practicing Gong Fu tea ceremonies. A color-changing fox teapet becomes a symbol of small joys amid burnout.

- Music talk includes Pelican's new album, which fell flat in comparison to a recent live show from Russian Circles, with Pelican being described as "bargain-basement Russian Circles."

- Peter introduces Bleed's debut album, which feels like a time capsule from the early 2000s alt-rock scene. It's not groundbreaking, but the nostalgia hits just right.

- Avowed patch 1.4 discussion highlights fun new features: spiders replaced with spheres, better loot drops, and the return of everyone's favorite character, the raunchy and hilarious Yatzli.

- Main topic: What Remains of Edith Finch. Peter and Eden break down their impressions of the game:

- It's emotionally heavy, occasionally to a fault.

- Some vignettes (like Lewis's cannery sequence and Barbara's horror comic) are standout.

- Others, like Molly's transformation or Gregory's bathtub scene, fall flat or feel manipulative.

- Both hosts agree it's visually and structurally ambitious, but uneven.

- Eden calls it the "death knell" of the walking simulator genre.

- Final thoughts reflect on the evolution of indie storytelling and how walking sims have largely given way to more interactive, mechanic-rich narratives.

- The episode wraps with a discussion of the flawed 7-to-9 scoring scale used in video game reviews and how many games get overhyped despite major issues.