Fire Escape Cast #116 ("The Silksong Episode") – Summary

Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Dan Ryckert, Mary Kish, Mike Mahardy

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Fire Escape Cast trio—Dan Ryckert, Mary Kish, and Mike Mahardy—dive deep into Hollow Knight: Silksong, the long-awaited and much-discussed sequel. The gang also reflects on the grueling war film Warfare, shares stories about classic children's board games, discusses the realities and anxieties of modern meals, and debates baby names and castle-era survival. A meaty, laughter-filled episode with real catharsis for Silksong fans, plus candid thoughts on Borderlands 4 and the slick action game Shinobi. Segments are packed with brutal honesty, friendly bickering, and the crew's signature mix of old-school and contemporary gaming insight.

Major Segments & Discussion Highlights

1. Silksong Deep Dive (53:29–1:41:00)

Main discussion begins: 53:29

• All three hosts have dedicated significant hours to Hollow Knight: Silksong, coming in at various progress points.
• Mary describes the game as a "powerhouse," praising its demanding challenge and the sense of accomplishment it delivers, but admits it's "brutal... punishing me as a person" (57:44).
• Dan highlights the intense emotional rollercoaster: "With Hollow Knight, I have had moments where I'm at a 1 out of 10 and then I have moments where I'm at a fucking 15 out of 10." (59:16)
• Boss fights repeatedly test patience, learning, and skill, with the narrative and world design keeping players compelled despite frustration.
• Deep exploration of player entitlement and the pressures on games journalists and guide writers, specifically after Silksong was not distributed pre-release.
  • “That is a failure of management at that website. Not Team Cherry.” (Mike, 70:01)
• The cast compares the absence and presence of accessibility features in challenging games, referencing both Silksong and the Soulsborne lineage.
• Insightful critique of Team Cherry’s approach to challenge, with Mike asserting: "I think they're confusing frustration slash annoyance with challenge." (79:56)
• Mary, Dan, and Mike all agree: Silksong is not for the faint of heart. Despite exhausting runbacks and “trolling” benches, the game’s payoffs are immense.
• Scores (99:01):
  • Dan: 9.5/10
  • Mary: 9.5/10
  • Mike: 8/10 (so far; expects to revise upward as he continues)

Memorable Quote:

“These benches are liquid gold. They are chocolate for the eyes. They are like heroin. I’m so elated when I see a bench anymore.” — Mary (62:22)

2. The Warfare Movie Experience (23:28–39:10)

Segment begins: 23:28

• Dan and Mike watched the new, harrowing war film Warfare directed by Alex Garland, praised for its authenticity and gut-wrenching real-time storytelling.
• Mike’s personal connection—his brother fought in the same battles depicted—deepens the discussion about war movies, their emotional cost, and the impossibility of genuine anti-war films.
• The cast reflects on the difference between depicting historical brutality for entertainment versus as a stark reminder.
• Mary: “I’m really looking for escapism… I can’t even watch The Bear right now.” (37:13)

Notable Conversation:

“I don’t think I’ve seen a movie quite like this.” — Dan (36:18)

3. Childhood Board Games & Nostalgia (13:09–17:01)

Segment begins: 13:09

• The trio reminisces about games like Twister, Candyland, Mousetrap, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Don't Wake Daddy, and Operation.
• Delightful recognition of how simple pleasures once entertained them for hours.
• Mike appreciates the modern resurgence of Jenga and classic games as communal bar activities.

4. Life, Tomatoes, and Seasonal Melancholy (41:09–52:54)

Segment begins: 41:09

• Mary shares her long struggle to grow a single tomato in Portland (“I got my first tomato this weekend.” 41:37), reflecting on how simple victories feel enormous in a stressful world.
• Entertaining breakdown of heirloom tomatoes, their flavor profiles, and the pitfalls of mass-produced produce.
• The gang transitions into the joy (and meme-ification) of fall—apple cider, pumpkin spice, and the validity of widely popular tastes.

Notable Quote:

"It's the journey, not the destination, right?" — Dan (43:09)

5. Borderlands 4 Review and Modern Co-Op Gaming (106:02–116:47)

Segment begins: 1:46:02

• The cast unpacks Borderlands 4: improved over Borderlands 3, with better moment-to-moment gameplay, less grating humor, but still fails to feel essential amid a crowded release schedule.
• The open world design is appreciated, but advancement feels too incremental; loot and builds lack punch compared to genre peers.
• Mike: “It's commendable for a lot of the improvements it made, but it's also like I don't think it's going to change your mind on Borderlands.” (115:33)
• Minor discussion about the game's endgame and the enduring fun of "Friend Slop," but consensus is a lack of urgency to keep playing.

6. Shinobi is a Power-Fantasy Palette Cleanser (117:00–1:26:00)

Segment begins: 1:57:00

• Shinobi emerges as Dan’s standout recommendation for anyone burned by Silksong's brutality.
• Mike and Mary praise the game's immediate sense of empowerment, slick controls, and visual style—though Mary notes the avalanche of moves can be overwhelming.
• Shinobi is suggested as the ideal “palate cleanser” for 2D action-platformer fans.

Notable Quote:

“If Silksong is not clicking for someone and it’s just too brutal or whatever, I cannot imagine a better palate cleanser than going to Shinobi.” — Dan (125:09)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Hollow Knight Silksong:

  • "I have never felt so pushed with my ability to deal with serious combat situations, stress. The platforming of sections are so long and arduous..." — Mary (57:44)
  • “With Hollow Knight, I have had moments where I'm at a 1 out of 10 and then I have moments where I'm at a fucking 15 out of 10.” — Dan (59:16)
  • "You get nothing. We didn't even put anything here. We hate you." — Mary, on Silksong’s stinginess (124:48)

• Warfare Movie:

  • "This is an apt comparison. Weapons is like this horror movie that's meant to scare you. Warfare is this movie that's presenting something matter of fact, that happened based on eyewitness counts that. With me way more in a horror sense..." — Mike (31:02)

• On Guide Writing & Review Pressures:

  • “That is a failure of management at that website. Not Team Cherry.” — Mike (70:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Silksong Main Discussion: 53:29–1:41:00
• Warfare Movie Reflection: 23:28–39:10
• Childhood Board Games: 13:09–17:01
• Tomatoes, Fall Nostalgia & Popular Tastes: 41:09–52:54
• Borderlands 4 Review: 106:02–116:47
• Shinobi Discussion: 117:00–1:26:00

Additional Topics

• Reader Mail & Comedy:
  End-of-episode listener questions spark irreverent debates on what skill would keep them alive in medieval times, baby names they’d never give, and which loved one would be most terrifying if they “weapons-style” chased them.

• Food and Meals:
  A real talk about modern food delivery, calorie tracking, and efficiency, triggered by Dan’s ongoing hand injury saga and the need for streamlined, healthy meals during busy lives.

• Upcoming & Future Content:
  Hints at upcoming coverage for games like Yote and Hades 2, as well as promotion for Mike’s wine bar Smash Bros. tournament and preparations for the annual Game of the Year extravaganza.

Tone & Style

True to Fire Escape’s legacy, this episode is raucous, honest, and self-referential. The hosts lean into their unique chemistry—alternating between raw emotional admissions, deep design critique, and absurdist riffs. Irreverence and vulnerability both shine as they navigate both the highs and lows of challenging games and real life.

Recap: Should You Listen?

If you’re a Hollow Knight or Silksong fan, this is essential. The discussion is thorough, nuanced, and unwilling to gloss over the pain that’s as much a feature as a flaw. If you love hearing war stories—both literal and about tomatoes—or want to know what’s worth playing (or skipping) this fall, this is peak Fire Escape.

Recommended for:

• Metroidvania & Soulslike fans
• Listeners who appreciate candor & spirited debate
• Anyone wondering why the grind (in games or life) sometimes pays off

Next episode tease:
Hades 2, Yote, and likely more collective yelling about game difficulty, food, and bodily decline.