AARGH! MY OPTICS! (Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave)

[REVIEW] In this bonus episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia go over their thoughts on the Netflix animated mini series Transformers War For Cybertron: Siege, give it an arbitrary rating and give their spookily accurate/wildly inaccurate predictions for Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise based upon the trailer. What did they love? What did they hate? What were their highlights? What were their lowlights? Who cares!? We sincerely hope someone does!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Audio Clips from Transformers War For Cybertron: Siege available on Netflix.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[REVIEW] In the very first (sorta) episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss the recent Netflix animated mini series Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise! They sing its praises, bemoan it's short fallings, pat themselves on the backs for some of their predictions and have a jolly old time doing so... maybe you will too? Why not give it a listen, what have you got to lose!?

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Audio Clips from Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise available on Netflix and Transformers The Movie available in all good charity shops.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Welcome to the first discussion podcast from AARGH! MY OPTICS! No critique, no nonsensical ratings, just meandering jibber jabber about one of our favourite parts of the franchise, the now legendry 90s relaunch of Transformers... Beast Wars! The toys, the shows, the video games you totally forgot about.... we try (and likely fail) to cover it all. Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave reminisce about their first contact with the toys, chat about their favourite characters in the show, speculate about the future of Beast Wars and more!

It's an hour of inconsistent recording, misremembered details and SPECIAL GUEST STAR: Virtual Dave's creaky chair! You're gonna love it!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] The first part in a series of self-indulgent discussions from the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lads on their own toy collecting habits. Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia have a long meandering chin wag about what they collect, why they collect it and the rules them impose on themselves to prevent it spiralling horribly out of control. How did a fast food giant get Dave into toy collecting toys? Why has Orion given up on The Mandalorian twice!? Why does Dave need to keep buying Power Rangers when they are all virtually the same!? Listen and find out.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[REVIEW] We have our reviewing hats back on, and this time it's one of those bloody awful live action movies! Sadist Virtual Dave inflicts 2018's Bumblebee upon Orion Ghia triggering his PTSD from that time he totally lost faith in the franchise... but it's not all bad! Tune in to hear the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lad's thoughts on a touching story about a teenage Smiths fan and her mute robot/car boyfriend. They laugh, they cry, they get important details completely wrong and Orion Ghia storms out of the room... it's great!

Compilation of deleted scenes courtesy of Rotwein: https://youtu.be/XBKnXcbu8v8

Peter Cullen and Frank Welker at GalaxyCon 2020 courtesy of Ultratron563: https://youtu.be/Mp25y0oLuO8

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Clip taken from Bumblebee available to view on Netflix.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[TOTB] For it's fifth episode AARGH! MY OPTICS! tries something a bit different. In something they're calling Top Of The Bots Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia countdown they're top or bottom 3 favourite and least favourite Transformers toy lines. Expect surprising choices, confusion and occasional mild disagreement as our two hosts chat their way through their thoughts on Transformers toy lines through the ages, which ones do they treasure? Which ones do they trash? There's only one way to find out. Listen... PLEASE!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Recording and editing: Orion Ghia

Music and stings: Oliver Prime

Includes an instrumental cover of: Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Outside of the obvious, why do Transformers transform? What is the purpose of an ‘alt-mode’? Dave and Orion get all philosophical on us and ask the big questions about Transformation and Alternate Modes like… Who came up with it first? The goodies or the baddies? What’s that noise all about? And do they see out of their windshields then? Or are their headlights their ’eyes’? How does that work? Are the Dinobot's alt-modes useless? Join us for an extra long episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! seeking answers to these very silly and irrelevant questions.  

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

https://thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZlH3A1pat46Ad0aqZTU63?si=FYMS4VsATFG9iDqz-fi3Yw

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] The long awaited second part in AARGH! MY OPTICS! series of discussions on Toy Collecting. In which Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss hunting down those ever elusive toys! Where do they hunt them? How do that catch them? What traps do they use and more importantly what traps to they fall into in the process? Toy hunting is almost as exciting and fraught with danger as owning them. Join Dave and Orion as they talk shopping, pre-ordering, box opening and much more super interesting stuff! Seriously! It is interesting, we promise! Go on, give it a try at least.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

https://thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZlH3A1pat46Ad0aqZTU63?si=FYMS4VsATFG9iDqz-fi3Yw

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Welcome to a very special edition of AARGH! MY OPTICS! What’s so ‘very special’ about it? we hear you ask, well it’s special because we have a guest host! Yes, for the first (and hopefully not the last) time we’ve invited a friend of the podcast on to chew the fat with Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia. His name is (not) Michael Quintesson and he has a very special connection to Headmasters… which is fortunate given the topic of our discussion is just that! Join the THREE of them as they discuss that most peculiar Transformers gimmicks where a tiny bloke becomes a bigger bloke’s head! They discuss the cartoon, the other cartoon, the comics... the comics some more, the toys past and present… and finally Michael's claim to Headmasters fame! HEAD ON!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Guest Host: Michael Quintesson

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Clips taken from: The Transformers Season 4 “Rebirth” and The Transformers: Headmasters (YouTube)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[REVIEW] It's finally over! the Netflix War For Cybertron has reached it's conclusion in the final 6 episode mini season titled KINGDOM! Join Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia as they sift through the smoking remains of the latest Transformers TV show looking for something... ANYTHING good to say about it! Nah, it's not that bad but you'll only know what they really thought about it if you download this bumper length podcast and give it a listen.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Contact:

Twitter: @GhiaOrion

Instagram: orion_ghia and virtualdave26

Audio Clips from Transformers War For Cybertron: Kingdom available on Netflix.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Sooner than expected(?) it's part three in the AARGH! MY OPTICS! series of discussions on Toy Collecting. This one is on displaying our toys. What good is collecting toys if you can’t show them off? Many toy collectors put as much time, money and effort into displaying their toys as they do collecting them. Orion and Dave certainly do, and now they've put the best part of two hours into chatting about it. The least you could do is listen right?

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] A podcast that isn't about Transformers? What!? Seriously!? This is commercial suicide surely? Lucky for AARGH! MY OPTICS! we have so few listeners losing a few wont matter much! YAY! With Halloween in the rear-view mirror and Ghostbuster Afterlife about to hit cinemas very soon, Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave take a break from Cybertron and transforming robots and turn their attention to New York and Ghost exterminators instead. They discuss the movies, the TV shows, the toys, the comics, the computer games, the crossovers and even managed to get a little bit of Transformers in there for the die hards... talking of which they get a bit of Die Hard in there too. It's fun, you should listen.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music and 'Ghostbusters' cover: The Vidiprinter thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com

J-pop Ghostbusters: youtu.be/is31GGfhz8o

The Real Ghostbusters Promo youtu.be/OiC5_qROyMw

Audio Clip from Ghostbusters available to watch on DVD, VHS, Netflix etc etc…

All Rights to ‘Ghostbusters’ reserved by Ray Parker Jr. and his masters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Merry Christmas everyone! What better to celebrate the season of goodwill than deep dive into a movie where Hasbro mercilessly kill off our heroes! YAY! Yes in this very special Xmas podcast we welcome back guest host Michael Quintesson to discuss THE definitive Transformers animated feature... Transformers The Movie! This is the big one, the one we've been building up to all year! The motherload of Transformers fandom. Orion Ghia, Virtual Dave and Michael Quintesson discuss and review a 35 year old film made to cynically sell toys to kids as if it's high art or summit! You are welcome!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Guest Host: Michael Quintesson

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Stings: Oliver Prime

Into and Outro Music: The Vidiprinter thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com

Orson Welles introduces Moonlighting: https://youtu.be/xRC1VglKCn0

All rights reserved to Vince DiCola and his masters for "Unicron Medley" used in intro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Happy New Year! In this very special festive episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss 2021. Kicking off with the first annual Top of the Bots year in review, the lads run down their favourite 10 action figures of the year before exchanging Christmas presents and sharing their highlights, disappointments, surprises etc etc of 2021 and their hopes for 2022! Hear how Dave knocked Orion's most expensive figure off a cabinet! Listen as Orion knocks over the entire roster of winners and losers! Try not to be distracted by the neighbours dogs barking in the background! Gasp as they reveal some shockers in their top 3!

Check out Orion and Dave's Instagram profiles for images of their choices:

https://www.instagram.com/orion_ghia/

https://www.instagram.com/virtualdave26/

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Into Music and Stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] You like Spider-man right? Of course you do! And I bet you have enjoyed at least on Spider-man movie right? Of course you have! So why not join Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and special guest host Galac-tosh as we discuss the Spider-man's various live action outing on the silver screen. From Sam Raimi's 'trilogy' through the 'Amazing' Marc Webb years and right up to date with Tom Holland's version currently appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... we cover it all, our favourites our not so favourites, costumes, soundtracks and of course Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Into Music and Stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter thevidiprinter.bandcamp.com

Things we talk about:

Original Spider-man trailer featuring the Twin Towers: https://youtu.be/Ozz8uxW733Q

Interview with Joe Manganiello (Flash Thompson): https://youtu.be/Q4OjhQVnE9w

Amazing Spider-man 2 Deleted Scene: https://youtu.be/xvNLiwXIKos

Johnathan Ross in Search of Steve Ditko: https://youtu.be/3gwDnhMO8is

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Part 4!? But wait, I though we'd finished talking about Toy Collecting? Nope! NEVER! In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia continue our series of episodes on Toy Collecting by delving deeper into discussing collecting goals, targets, limits, styles and what the ‘end game’ is, if there even is one, for toy collectors both in general and personally. This jolly little podcast covers such topics as thinking of ending it all and death, as well as our vey first 'Collectors Corner' discussion were we update you the listener on what we've been spaffing our money on recently. Enjoy!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] In Episode 16 of AARGH! MY OPTICS! We travel way back 20 year to the ancient times of 2002 as Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia revisit Transformers Armada! The line that heralded the true return to vehicle modes, Autobots, Deceptions, kid friendly gimmicks and play patterns and kicked of the Unicorn Trilogy, setting the direction for the franchise for the next five years. Join us as we talk Mini-cons, Powerlinks, Hotshots and irritating little kids as we do a deep dive into the show, the comics, the toys and even the goddamn video game!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Watch Transformers Armada here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIxNPNYmWYII3YhZgpKGIx6x3DuGkQIZS

Watch Transformers Legends of the Microns here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbNKyG4m0KLsWFNv5G3T0SUkK9d9TqVbW

Interviews with Aaron Archer about Armada toy line: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheToyArmadawithAaronArcher

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[DISCUSSION] Do you like horror stories? The sort with zombies? Mad Scientists? Giant subterranean nuclear fission reactors? Spacefaring metal planets? If the answer is yes you should probably read issues 164 through 169 of the Marvel UK run of Transformers... and then come back here and listen to Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and returning guest Michael Quintesson talk about it for a bit! Starting with City of Fear and ending with Meltdown, we discuss this peculiar little story from the pages of the Marvel UK comic book in which we meet new crazy characters, enjoy some unusual takes on old ones and finally find out how Springer got his name!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and Michael Quintesson

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[TOP OF THE BOTS] In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia take a break from the 'heavy' researching that goes into AARGH! MY OPTICS! and simply wang on about our vacuous opinions on Transformers leaders by arbitrarily organising into a spurious hierarchy! Everyone likes a 'best of' list don't they? Dave and Orion run down they favourite 5 Transformers leaders from across the entire franchise, musing on what make a good or entertaining leader and how they've been best represented in toy form. Expect a cordial discussion with occasional disagreements and pedanticism from you know who... also a great cover of Phil Lynott's Yellow Pearl by our ace musical collaborator Oliver Prime.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and Michael Quintesson

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro and outro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Due to some rather unbelievable friend of a friend nonsense, Superstar Transformers writer James Roberts takes 90 minutes or so to chat with Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia about his work on IDW Publishing's Transformers titles including fan favourites More Than Meets The Eye and Lost Light! Amazing right!? Amongst other things James talks to us about his writing, interactions with Hasbro, toys influenced by his work, 90's indie music and his love of the Marvel Transformers comics and WHAM Bars.

Supporter questions submitted by Chrissy Saunders-Browning, James Donovan, Michael McGreish and Galatosh

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Special Guest: James Roberts

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Comprehensive MTMTE/LL playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5AeUaSNwOWOABdUOtTCcnW?si=cce75513905e4017

'Lost Light' by Retronym and The Empyrean Choir https://open.spotify.com/track/3qDVuj1IVfdZAdxaUftjBy?si=sZqBsRMvT5aFlokqUCcVJQ

'Tonight We Fly' by The Divine Comedy https://open.spotify.com/track/2DPWQEfEW4ptmAQfTbZE76?si=b522bf08574b4f05

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and special guest host Virtual Amy all went to TFNation 2022 and they can't wait to tell you all about it in excruciating detail! TFNation is the UK's premier Transformers convention and it's been way for 2 years! Which explains our host's excitement over getting down to Birmingham and 'nerding out' with their 'people'. Hear about the panels, the dealers room, the guests, the getting lost in carparks and listen as Orion's misanthropy slowly melts.

A huge thank you to everyone we met over the weekend, especially those who recorded 'stings' for us, we don't have all you names but you are loved... deeply.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and Virtua Amy

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Stings: Various

Chris McFeely “Beyond your wildest imagination” thread

https://twitter.com/chrismcfeely/status/1561079478771748865

Jack Lawrence https://twitter.com/JLawrence_Art

James Roberts https://twitter.com/jroberts332

Simon Furman https://twitter.com/SimonFurman3

Garry Chalk https://twitter.com/GarryChalkTalk

Cannedice Santora https://www.instagram.com/cannedice.santora/

Triple Takeover Toycast https://www.tripletakeover.com/

Go Go Andy Robo https://twitter.com/GoGoAndyRobo

Thew Adams Awesome Transformers Reviews https://youtu.be/zB9cqM94EM4

Kris Cater https://twitter.com/Drivaaar

Toy-fu https://twitter.com/ToyFu332 and https://www.facebook.com/toyfu332

Lucan’s Tees https://twitter.com/ZombiWorkshop and https://store.zombiworkshop.com/

Norfolk Miniatures https://twitter.com/Norfolk_Minis

Chess and Claude’s Workshop https://twitter.com/Captain_Ogilvy and https://twitter.com/Claudovel and https://ccworkshoppy.shop/

Gavin Spence https://www.youtube.com/c/GavinSpenceTRDQ and https://twitter.com/GeshGav

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[DISCUSSION] In Episode 21 Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss 2007's Transformers Animated! the often overlooked and underrated Transformers series and toyline that, for those in the know, is now a firm fan favourite. In part one of this bumper podcast we discuss the television series.... in excruciating depth! The plot, the characters, the voice actors and everything in-between. Part 2 will follow in a couple of weeks! Although it is be available in FULL on our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/aarghmyoptics NOW!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] In Episode 21 Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss 2007's Transformers Animated! the often overlooked and underrated Transformers series and toyline that, for those in the know, is now a firm fan favourite. In part two of this bumper podcast we discuss the cancelation, what might have been season 4, the theme tune, the toys and other miscellaneous nonsense!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Support the podcast at www.patreon.com/aarghmyoptics

TFNation 2019 Season 4 "Trial of Megatron" Part 1 https://youtu.be/sDO_0U7Fwcc

US Theme and Into https://youtu.be/8NWqFKHxW4k and outro https://youtu.be/MjbDfAEkCXw

Japanese Theme and Intro https://youtu.be/CXisqAk1VKE and Outro https://youtu.be/WxP0kRHEOoo

Japanese Otoboto segments https://youtu.be/Sd7NewDkgn4

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] The topic of episode 22 of AARGH! MY OPTICS! was penciled in for the longest time and was recorded weeks before the tragic passing of Kevin Conroy. Now it serves as our tribute to the definitive on screen Batman. Featuring returning guest co-host Galactosh, our discussion of Batman Mask of the Phantasm covers the all the bases. From legendary voice actors to spolieriffic toys and everything in-between. Thank you Kevin, you were the the best goddamn Batman there ever has or likely will be.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and Galactosh

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Theme and opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgDpesd428

Making of Batman Mask of the Phantasm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydv8TS2wids

Tim Curry as the Joker https://youtu.be/mgnbbiENLbQ from Stay Tooned documentary https://youtu.be/OyTiWwJtvw0

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[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Ho Ho Ho! And welcome to the AARGH! MY OPTICS! Christmas Party! Join Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and a full complement of guest hosts as they get a bit merry and discuss Transformers Arrival From Cybertron! AKA the cartoon mini-series that kicked off the franchise on TV known by most as More Than Meets The Eye (parts 1-3). We've invited Virtual Amy, Michael Quintesson AND Galactosh back into the studio for a few festive drinks and nibbles while we deconstruct this iconic piece of Transformers Media.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia

Guest Hosts: Virtual Amy, Michael Quintesson and Galactosh

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

More than Meets the Eye part 1: https://youtu.be/Y1ujpoDlgRU

More than Meets the Eye part 2: https://youtu.be/NdskAJwHdLw

More than Meets the Eye part 3: https://youtu.be/V6XpDmtizL0

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Happy New Year! In this very special festive episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss 2022. As part of their second annual Top of the Bots, Dave and Orion run down their favourite 10 action figures of the year, exchanging Christmas presents, share their highlights, Lowlights, disappointments, surprises, regrets and new years resolutions before hitting the pub! Featuring a special guest appearance from Virtual Amy and for the second year running the neighbour's dogs!

Check out Orion and Dave's Instagram profiles for images of their choices:

https://www.instagram.com/orion_ghia/

https://www.instagram.com/virtualdave26/

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Into Music and Stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Continuing our new series of 'Conversations with...' podcasts, Orion Ghia sits down with the daddy of Death's Head, the genesis of Jhiaxus, the progenitor of Primus, the mastermind of Marvel UK… the one and only Simon Furman! Arguably one of the most influential creators and certainly the most consistently present and prolific throughout the now almost 40 years of the franchise, Simon chats with Orion about his work on the Transformers comics from the original Marvel run to Dreamwave to IDW... plus his creator owned work like To The Death, the forthcoming Astrobots and much more!

nb. Due to a nasty chest infection Dave was unable to attend the interview... but he is better now so we have a nice chat about Simon's work and the interview afterward.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Special Guest: Simon Furman

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Links

Simon Furman Profile: https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Simon_Furman

Simon Furman Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonFurman3

To The Death! https://getmycomics.com/ToTheDeath

Astrobots Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0aoNJVZksc

Astrobots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Astrobot08

Whatnot Publishing Astrobots Solicits: https://whatnotpublishing.shop/blogs/news/transformers-simon-furman-does-astrobots-whatnot-publishing-march-2023-solicits

Bleeding Cool Article on Astrobots: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/transformers-simon-furman-does-astrobots-whatnot-march-2023-solicits/

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[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Hot on the heels of Simon Furman we have yet another 'Conversation with...' podcasts, this time in the guise of TFNation Event Planner and MC David Wallace! Having worked the UK's premier on Transformers convention TFNation since it's inception David chats with us about the convention, it's origin, how he got involved, what we have to look forward to from them this year as well as massive tangents on Hasbro, DC comics, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, various movies and his toy collecting habits. Frankly we couldn't shut him up!

Seriously thank you David for coming on, it was a blast!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Special Guest: David Wallace

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Images borrowed from TFNation Ltd.

Links

TFNation Information and tickets: https://tfnation.com/

David Wallace on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kalelprime

TFNation on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tfnationltd

TFNaton YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeamTFNation

Thew Adams: https://www.youtube.com/ @toygrind 

Chris McFeely: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisMcFeely

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[DISCUSSION] YO JOE! In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together with guest host and friend of the podcast James “Soap Star” Donovan to talk G.I JOE! More specifically G.I. Joe the movie. Expect insane battle cries, itty bitty ditty bags, giant stick insects, men turning into reptiles and much much more! 

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Special Guest: James "Soap Star" Donovan

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Links

Buzz Dixon Commentary: https://youtu.be/dckdGi-U2sI

Yo Joe! Database https://www.yojoe.com

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[DISCUSSION] Way back in episode 16 we made a rod for our back by talking about Transformers Armada, the first in a trio of Transformers franchises that would become known as the Unicron Trilogy. Thus dooming ourselves to talk about the subsequent two parts.... and this is episode covers the much maligned second part of the trilogy... Transformers Energon! We discuss the show, the 'plot' the bad dubbing, the Japanese Superlink show, the terrible pacing, the lazy theme tune, the surprisingly overlooked toys and much much more!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Clip of Episode 25 features: Simon Furman

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Clips taken from: Transformers Energon and Transformers Superlink

Links

Transformers Energon episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33ww_XWhJ-Q&list=PLDDB6F272B52928F6

Transformers Superlink episodes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvCBKFpf6jM&list=PLPNHgwrrD-gjUCy6_rtUK0dPAkGlP5bfy

The 'missing' episode "Return! Our Scorponok": https://youtu.be/AwbazKWUzjw

TFwiki page on the comic featuring AARGH! MY OPTICS!: https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Energon_(comic)

Our interview with Simon Furman: https://youtu.be/BEEj48ciYM4

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[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] So Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse FINALLY came out. So we thought it was about time we FINNALLY get around to talking about Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse and it's sequel, cos we just haven't got the time to wait for the final one! Join Orion and Dave AND returning guest host Galactosh as we talk, Miles Morales, Spider-gwen, Peter B Parker, Spider-Ham etc etc as well how nonsensical Canon Events truly are.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Guest Host: Galactosh

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

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[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Couldn't quite fit this all into one show, so here is part 2 of our deep dive into the Spider-verse movies. In this part Orion, Dave and special guest host Galactosh tell you what they really thought of Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse and do their version of a Spider-man movie hit parade! Tangents include, 90's comics, video games and of course... toys.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Guest Host: Galactosh

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music, stings and TOTP music: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[DISCUSSION] It's TFNation time again! This time Virtual Dave and Virtual Amy go (so Orion Ghia doesn't have too) and report back on their experience on UKs biggest and BEST Transformers convention! Hear 'live' updates from the con, custom made stings by it's guests and patrons and Orion quizzing them both on that actually happened the other weekend in Birmingham!

A huge thank you to everyone Dave and Amy meet over the weekend, especially those who recorded 'stings' for us... we love you all!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia

Guest Host: Virtua Amy

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Stings: Various... including Gary Chalk, Thew Adams, Jeremey Levy, Jack Lawrence, Gav Spence, Plastic Craic, Lucan Tees and more!

Visit TFNation: https://tfnation.com/

Thew Adams: https://www.youtube.com/@UCP3AVTw_73U_8jMzLw5TbEg

Chris McFeely https://www.youtube.com/@UCAPhTcmL-a69jL1KWOPe7GA

DiamondBolt https://www.youtube.com/@UCaPGKhms7rUVjpBceeJUdUQ

Gav Spence https://www.youtube.com/@UC64sMcUNRWAUlKeEceZOlRA

Matrix Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhBfSJ54rro

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[DISCUSSION] ...And now for something completely different! Having grown a little tired of talking about a massively popular and long running toy line and media franchise, Orion Ghia retreats to a much less well remembered and far shorter lived toy line of his youth... Coleco's STARCOM. Join Orion as he takes Virtual Dave along for the ride! They discuss the cartoon, the toys, the reason it failed and lament a toy line that was, all told, is one of the great hidden gems of the 1980s.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

The Cartoon Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCUzHub1p1Y&list=PLR_H6J1r9l5hKDIthbgUmZbBLyhkM2X5

Selection of Adverts https://youtu.be/Ya3UJGqy8Kg?si=GzV1ypcYb1VBH9IP

Transformerland https://www.transformerland.com/wiki/starcom-the-us-space-force/starcom-the-us-space-force/

Figure Archive http://figure-archive.net/toyline.aspx?toylineID=1219 

Stacom HQ http://starcomhq.com/

Triple Takeover do Starcom https://www.tripletakeover.com/1730823/12170228-48-starcom

Secret Galaxy do Starcom https://youtu.be/7Fw2ZgNwlIE?si=gChoDn-NJoBBXrK6y

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[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! What's this in the toe of you Christmas stocking? Why it's the third annual AARGH! MY OPTICS! Top Of The Bots Podcast! As is customary this time of year Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss the previous year.. Dave and Orion exchange presents and shoot the shit about 2023 and run down their favourite 5 action figures of the year, yeah that's right FIVE we shortened it so we could talk about other stuff is that ok with you?! We're doing this for free you know!

Check out Orion and Dave's Instagram profiles for images of their choices:

https://www.instagram.com/orion_ghia/

https://www.instagram.com/virtualdave26/

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Into Music and Stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Play House Brighton (Where Override came from) https://www.facebook.com/modelshobbiestoysgames/

Jay AKA Robot Garbage https://www.instagram.com/robotgarbage/

Dave's Comics Brighton https://www.davescomics.co.uk/

Retroblasting video: https://youtu.be/Ev7IhRRFVTM?si=UU2QaQZOBhXx4KvS

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[DISCUSSION] WE'RE BACK! After eleven months off and some deliberation over a topic Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia return to the podwaves to discuss a firm favourite of theirs.. Transformers Robots in Disguise! No not that one! Or that one! No the first one the one from 2001 the one that Hasbro essentially disowned for 20 years.. YES that one! YES we heard about the Haslab! YES Orion has a controversial opinion on it! Join us as we delve into the 'wacky' TV show and the random delight of a toy line that really had no right be as good as it was.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Watch Transformers Robots In Disguise https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlcmNU-jCJ6O9V5oAqboIhpUYobts1ZUl

Watch Transformers Car Robots https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNHgwrrD-gg7B-s1sGCOFrCuCXKVlY8O

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CAUTION THIS POCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS! Welcome to a very special CROSSOVER episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia are joined by Galactosh and Sleeves (also know as Orion Ghia, I know its confusing but deal with it!) from comics podcast We're Got Back Issues, plus special guest host Michael Quintesson to chat about the first 6 issues and story arch of Skybound's brand new ongoing Transformers comic book! You'll find our discussion of issues 4 to 6 here on AARGH! MT OPTICS! and issues 1 to 3 over on We've Got Back issues... Fun right!?

Anyway please do join us to hear our hot takes on the latest reboot of the Transformers franchise as we talk robots, wrestling and PTSD!

Hear part 1 on We've Got Back Issues https://linktr.ee/wevegotbackissues

Credits

Transformers created by Hasbro Inc. and arguably Bob Budiansky

Creative talent: Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer and Rus Wooton

Hosts: Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia AKA Sleeves, Galactosh and Michael Quintesson

Editing and production: Orion Ghia

Episode art: Daniel Warren Johnson (Image/Skybound)

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CAUTION THIS POCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS! Back by unpopular demand Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia/Sleeves reconvene to discuss the latest Transformers movie to hit theaters a month late in the UK! TRANSFOMERS ONE! In part 1 of this deep dive we discuss the production history of the movie and pour over the plot giving our thoughts and musings along the way. Part 2 will follow in a couple of days with our final verdict!

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CAUTION THIS POCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS! Back by unpopular demand to perform their civic duty and raise their voices above the din of hyperbole, brand worship and well meaning excessively forgiving boosterism… and give you an honest, even handed, fair assessment of the latest Transformers movie TRANSFORMERS ONE! So rip off those fandom blinkers, waft away the mists of nostalgia, put aside that brand loyalty and join Dave and Orion once more, back from extended hiatus to tell you what they REALLY think of the movie, as well as muse on why it's not quite setting the cash registers ringing.

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia/Sleeves

Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Did you think it was all over? That there'd be no fourth annual AARGH! MY OPTICS! Top Of The Bots Podcast? So did we! Surprise! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia once again get all festive and discuss the previous year.. it may not be 'in real life' but the good tidings are as real as the come as they run down their favourite action figures of the year and award someone with their brand new Wooden Spoon awards!

Check out Orion and Dave's Instagram profiles for images of their choices:

https://www.instagram.com/orion_ghia/

https://www.instagram.com/virtualdave26/

Credits:

Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia

Editing and Production: Orion Ghia

Into Music and Stings: Oliver Prime

Outro Music: The Vidiprinter

Retro by Ronnies: https://retrobyronnie.co.uk

Brighton Intergalactic Toy Store https://www.facebook.com/modelshobbiestoysgames

Jay of Robot Garbage Brighton https://www.instagram.com/robotgarbagebrighton/

Zombie online store https://www.zombie.co.uk

TFNation: https://tfnation.com

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