LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 20: IT'S A BUTTCAST
Air Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski

Main Theme

This episode continues the deep dive into Sarah J. Maas’ Crescent City: House of Sky and Breath, focusing on Bryce’s tricky sense of justice, the harsh realities of ballet hierarchy, Hunt’s precarious place among the angels, and an unsettling visit to the mystics as the crew explores the book's darker magical systems. Natalie and Jackie weave irreverent, intimate banter, pop culture references, and unfiltered takes into their comprehensive chapter breakdowns.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ballet, Body Image, and Injustice in Crescent City (10:01–25:55)

• Bryce’s Escape in Dance:

  • The episode opens with Bryce attending a funky contemporary ballet class, a moment of self-care among turmoil ([10:01]).
  • Jackie and Natalie compare her experience to movies like Center Stage:
    “She just killed a triple dog.” ([13:13])

• Juniper's Snub & Ballet Prejudice:

  • Juniper, despite her skill, is passed over for principal dancer due to politics and class/race prejudices in the ballet company ([16:03]).
  • Natalie highlights the change in ballet over time, but how old prejudices persist:

    “For many years, you had to be very waifish and very white.” ([16:16])

  • Juniper’s resilient response:

    “I’m gonna fight through it. I’m gonna be so good. I’m gonna be undeniable.” ([18:14])

• Bryce Oversteps:

  • After class, Bryce’s “savior complex” manifests as she pulls rank and calls the ballet director to advocate for Juniper—without Juniper’s consent, to Jackie’s frustration:

    “Can feel that way all you want. Don’t make the phone call.” ([25:50])

  • Both hosts agree this move by Bryce is “selfish” and “irksome,” a classic case of misguided help for a friend ([25:55]).

2. Hunt’s Dilemma: Authority, Loyalty, and Angelic Drama (26:04–40:33)

• Sexual Politics and Harpy Shenanigans:

  • Cut to Hunt in the gym where he’s harassed by the Harpy, who’s both a comic and insidious presence ([26:46]).
  • Discussions ensue on angel attire, sexual power, and post-coital looks:

    “I think it’s really just for posing…like the moment before you disrobe for sex.” — Natalie ([28:38]) “You say respectfully, it’s fine.” — On playful podcast sexual harassment ([29:17])

• Celestina’s Leadership:

  • Celestina lays down discipline for Hunt skipping the Archangel meeting (for Bryce):

    “He is to stay at the barracks for the next two weeks, to remember his work priorities…” ([38:53])

  • Contrasted with the punishments of the past, the hosts emphasize how light this “punishment” is—though it’s “Hunt’s penis’s 9/11” ([39:13]).

• Office Tension & The Hind:

  • Hunt leaves only to face the Hind, recalling their dark, complex history, and is rattled by her interrogation about his circle (Ruhn, Ithan, Tharion, Bryce) ([44:45–47:00]).

    “An angel, a wolf, a Fae prince, a Mercury and a half human whore.” — Hind, read aloud ([46:19])

  • The hosts imagine a “bad joke” set-up ([47:09]) and riff on the Hind’s menacing lack of finesse.

3. The Mystics: Magic, Exploitation & Sci-Fi Horror (51:09–79:21)

• Mystics’ Lair Imagery:

  • The team (Ethan, Tharion, Bryce) visits a Geiger-esque lair reminiscent of Alien, where “mystics” lie submerged in goo, mentally wandering the universe for clients ([58:45–61:02]).
  • Natalie connects their depiction, including a third-gender mystic, to the Baphomet figure (“titties and dick”):

    “It’s the first the books have mentioned a third sex, which is very cool.” ([60:12])

• Dark Magic & Blood Salt:

  • To contact Ethan’s dead brother, Connor, the wizard (“astronomer”) intends to use blood salt—gory ingredients, including blood from birth and death ([69:25]).

    “Could you imagine…can I just come in and get a little sample?” — Jackie on the grisly practicality ([70:06])

• Ethics & Exploitation:

  • The sprites in rings and mystics in pods highlight class exploitation and magical oppression:

    “She realizes when she sees a teeny tiny hand press against the glass that it’s not stars. That’s in fact fire sprites trapped inside the domes.” ([55:35])

• Consulting the Dead:

  • The mystic’s mind makes contact…in hell—with Thanatos, Prince of the Ravine. The “customer support from hell” moment is eerie and comic.

    Thanatos: “Let me see them. Let them see me.”
    The mystic’s eyes flew open in the tank below. ([77:17–77:34])

• Ethan’s Grief & Desperation:

  • For all the horror, the underlying motivation is Ethan’s unresolved grief, which the hosts both understand and lampoon:

    “Ethan, was this worth it? No. Your brother is dead. I know it hurts, but you gotta grieve him.” — Jackie ([79:04])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Juniper’s Struggles:

  “It was clearly a pointed decision. June has been denied the spot even though she’s the best because of rich donors, racism and classism.” — Natalie ([18:13])

• On Ballet Injustice:

  “Sometimes you have to let people die. Okay? You just gotta walk away.” — Natalie, in full satire ([23:48])

• On the Mystic Lair:

  “The pods… I always think of the hyper sleep pods from Alien.” — Natalie ([59:19])
  “I want to feel that goo!” — Jackie ([60:41])

• On Blood Salt Ingredients:

  “Summoning salt infused with blood from a laboring mother’s sex and blood from a dying male’s throat.” ([69:25])

• On Bryce’s Savior Complex:

  “Sometimes it can be the most annoying thing. Not me, but some people overstep their boundaries…” — Natalie ([24:32])

• “Hunt’s penis’s 9/11”:

  “This is Hunt’s penises. 9, 11. Doesn’t matter to him. Towers are crumbling down.” — Natalie & Jackie ([39:13])

• About Podcast Banter:

  “Or you just get a podcast. You have a microphone. Just get a podcast and you just say it into a microphone, into a microphone.” — Natalie ([15:08])

Important Timestamps

• 02:38 — Start of episode, hosts in studio
• 10:01–14:55 — Ballet class; Juniper’s disappointment
• 16:03–25:55 — Ballet prejudice, Juniper’s determination, Bryce’s meddling
• 26:04–40:33 — Hunt’s gym scene, harpy’s sexual harassment, Celestina’s discipline
• 44:45–47:00 — The Hind interrogates Hunt
• 51:09–55:09 — Arrival at the mystics’ lair
• 60:12 — Introduction of nonbinary mystic (“titties and dick”)
• 69:25–71:25 — Blood salt and the ethics of contacting the dead
• 74:11–77:34 — Mystic in hell meets Thanatos, Prince of the Ravine
• 79:04–79:21 — Segment wrap-up, instructions for next reading

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode delivers a mix of biting social commentary (racism/classism in dance), empathy for the characters’ traumas, and the hosts’ trademark bawdy, referential humor. Both deeply analyze character motivation while also veering off into comedy—whether riffing on Ace Ventura, pondering angelic fashion, or envisioning “mystic goo.” For all listeners, whether reading along or tuning in for the banter, the episode underscores Crescent City’s blend of high fantasy, real-world social critique, and pop-culture-injected irreverence.

Next week: Read up to Chapter 42 for discussion.