Critical Thinking

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Three writers, gamers, and film / tv buffs take the time to re-watch and discuss the critically acclaimed internet Dungeons & Dragons show Critical Role.

Final Show Films


    • Mar 4, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 21m AVG DURATION
    • 55 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking 55: In The Belly Of The Beast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2020 75:04


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    beast belly critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 54: At Dawn, We Plan!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 81:43


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 53: The Kill Box

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2020 72:48


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 52: Test Of Pride

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2019 81:48


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    pride critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 51: Best Laid Plans...

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2019 80:40


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    critical thinking best laid plans john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 50: A Name Is Earned

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 105:35


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    earned critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 49: Into The Frostweald

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2019 79:11


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 48: The Family Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 79:30


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    family businesses critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 47: Cindergrove Revisited

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 101:52


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 46: Those Who Walk Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 86:23


    John Bates - @johnabates Jack Gregory - @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas - @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    walk away critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 45: The Sunken Tomb

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2019 89:03


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee Drevian Alexander

    tomb critical thinking sunken john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 44: Return to Vasselheim

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2019 75:21


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 43: Dangerous Dealings

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2019 62:42


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    dangerous critical thinking dealings john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 42: In Ruins

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2019 59:30


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    ruins critical thinking john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 41: Desperate Measures

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2019 67:51


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    critical thinking desperate measures john bates jack gregory
    Critical Thinking 40: Omens

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2018 92:04


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    omen critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 39: Echoes of the Past

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2018 73:52


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    echoes critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 38: A Musician's Nostalgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2018 83:31


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania Thanks to all of our supporters at patreon.com/fsfilms for making this possible! Especially our $25+ Donors: Antitonic Kat Waterflame Samantha Bates Maureen Montee

    nostalgia critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 37: Winter's Crest in Whitestone

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2018 60:21


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking crest whitestone
    Critical Thinking 36: Denouement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2018 47:03


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking denouement
    Critical Thinking 35: Race to the Ziggurat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2018 69:57


    John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    race critical thinking ziggurat
    Critical Thinking 34: Reunions (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2018 66:46


    This week, we finish getting through the episode we started last time. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    reunions critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 33: Reunions (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2018 75:01


    This week we run out of time trying to get through this episode! This one will have to be a two parter. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    reunions critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 32: Against the Tide of Bone

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2018 93:27


    This week we talk about altogether too many skeletons. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    bone tide critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 31: Gunpowder Plot

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2018 69:19


    This week we talk revolution, distraction, and exactly how many turtles down you can go in distracting a group of people. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking gunpowder plot
    Critical Thinking 30: Stoke the Flames

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2018 74:35


    This episode contains talk of a distraction dinosaur. You'll have to listen to find out what that means. Also, Discord was having some technical hiccups so there may be pieces that sound funny. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    discord flames critical thinking stoke
    Critical Thinking 29: Whispers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2018 72:37


    We're back after a bit of difficullty this week with Episode 29 of Critical Role! This week, we take a darker turn, and hope you enjoy. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    whispers critical thinking critical role
    Critical Thinking 28: The Sun Tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2018 61:07


    We're back on brand with tangents left and right! This week on Critical Thinking we discuss episode 28 of Critical Role: The Sun Tree John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    tree critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 27: The Path to Whitestone

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2018 55:45


    We far more effectively than ever before condense an episode of Critical Role down to an hour long discussion about narrative and roleplaying moments. Have a listen why don't you? John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking critical role whitestone
    Critical Thinking 26: Consequences and Cows

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2018 56:47


    This week we try to see how much we can wring out of discussion on filler content after we finish the real meat of the story - hope you enjoy! John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    consequences cows critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 25: Crimson Diplomacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2018 80:53


    Vampires, Conspiracy, and Old Ladies - oh my! This week we talk about Crimson Diplomacy! John Bates @Johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    conspiracies vampires diplomacy critical thinking crimson old ladies
    Critical Thinking 24: The Feast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2017 65:36


    This week we cross the threshold into the Briarwood Arc - join us! John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    feast critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 23: The Rematch

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2017 64:48


    This week we get to talk about wrestling in our D&D podcast! What even is that!? John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking rematch
    Critical Thinking 22: AraMente to Pyrah

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2017 97:11


    We return after a bit of a hiatus with our breakdown and discussion of Critical Role Episode 22: AraMente to Pyrah John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking aramente critical role episode
    Critical Thinking 21: Trial of the Take Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2017 78:08


    It's time we finish (talking about) the Trial of the Take with part 4! John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    trial critical thinking take part
    Critical Thinking 20: Trial of the Take Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2017 83:55


    We're back with more Critical Thinking after quite a while! This week, talking about Episode 20 of Critical Role: Trial of the Take Part 3 John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    trial critical thinking take part
    Critical Thinking 19: Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2017 140:15


    This week we discuss and review the Tal'Dorei Campaign guide, taking a slight break from Critical Role to discuss Critical Role adjacent information. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4games Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking critical role campaign guide
    Critical Thinking 18: Trial of the Take Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2017 86:11


    We continue talking about the Trial of the Take this week! John Bates @Johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    trial critical thinking take part
    Critical Thinking 17: The Trial of the Take

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2017 97:55


    This week we begin discussing the Trial of the Take, guest spots, and other tangentally related narrative issues. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    trial critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 16: Hubris

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2017 110:57


    This week we talk about Episode 17 of Critical Role, and of writing characters out of narratives. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregor @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking critical role hubris
    Critical Thinking 15: Enter Vasselheim

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2017 125:25


    More tangents this week as the Critical Role crew enter Vasselheim! John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregor @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking critical role
    Critical Thinking 14: Skyward

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2017 114:48


    This week we return to Tangent town as we discuss episode 15 of Critical Role; Skyward. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking tangent critical role skyward
    Critical Thinking 13: Shopping & Shipping

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2017 111:31


    After missing a few weeks due to scheduling conflicts, we're back with more Critical Thinking! This week we discuss Critical Role Episode 14: Shopping & Shipping John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    shopping shipping critical thinking critical role episode
    Critical Thinking 12: Escape from the Underdark

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 86:08


    This week on Critical Thinking we diverge from our previously aligned numerical image and are re-watching Episode 13: Escape from the Underdark. Episode 12 was a GM Tips pilot show, so we skipped it, because that's not what we're here for! John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    escape critical thinking underdark gm tips
    Critical Thinking 11: Temple Showdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 84:15


    This week we finally get to dealing with K'Varn! Eventually. First we spend most of the episode talking about other stuff. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    temple showdown critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 10: K'Varn Revealed

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 89:18


    This week we delve back into problematic characters - but this time, how they're done correctly - and other narrative topics of discussion as we go through Episode 10 of Critical Role: K'Varn Revealed. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    revealed critical thinking
    Critical Thinking 09: Yug'Voril Uncovered

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 72:30


    CONTENT WARNING: From the timespan of 18:12 to 38:58 we discuss the culture of sexual objectification and violence in narrative and media, also known as rape culture. We do our best to respectfully speak on the subject over the course of twenty minutes, but we understand that there may be listeners who are uncomfortable with the topic and will not want to listen to it. As such, we provide this content warning in the description - and we make it blatantly clear that we're going to be talking about it in the podcast - so skip ahead if you don't want to listen. Know that nothing we talk about during that discussion comes from a place of ignorance; we are all well aware of the impact this discussion can have on people, and indeed the impact it has on one of our rewatchers who is a survivor of emotional and physical abuse from former relationships. That being said, we felt it was a topic that needed to be discussed and did not wish to shy away from it. Aside from that, enjoy our narrative delve into episode 09 of Critical Role: Yug'voril Uncovered. Also, to Jack - Sting is not an Elven Fishfinder. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking uncovered
    Critical Thinking 08: Glass and Bone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 82:36


    This week we discuss a divisive episode of Critical Role - and divisive narrative / character decisions. We also talk about how stories 'earn' or, in some cases, fail to earn their drama. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    glass bone critical thinking critical role
    Critical Thinking 07: The Throne Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 59:20


    We continue to try and prove we're dedicated to this life choice this week with Episode 7 of our Critical Role Rewatch podcast - Critical Thinking! This week, we're sans a Grog, and in possession of more silly plans. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    critical thinking throne room grog
    Critical Thinking 06: Breaching the Emberhold

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 84:27


    It's time for more Critical Thinking! My audio sounds a bit wonky because I'm testing out a new mic and it doesn't like Discord; I'll be back to a cleaner mic next week. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    discord critical thinking breaching
    Critical Thinking 05: The Trick about Falling

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2017 91:03


    This week we re-watched Episode 5 - The Trick About Falling. We have opinions on oozes. John Bates @johnabates Jack Gregory @altf4gamers Jeremy Thomas @jthomas411mania

    falling trick critical thinking

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