175 // Empathy Tests and the Police State

In this episode, Jaime, Patrick, and Micah examine what’s happening in our world through the lens of the Blade Runner films. What began as a film discussion quickly became something more sobering, more challenging, and unexpectedly personal.

We attempt to honor Philip K. Dick’s intentions in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, exploring questions that feel increasingly urgent: Why would a system create versions of humanity without empathy? Who is permitted to belong? And in what ways do replicants mirror the experiences of immigrants and the displaced?

This conversation moves into complex and uncomfortable territory. It is not designed as escapism. If you are looking for easy entertainment, this may not be the episode to start with. But if you are willing to sit with difficult questions and unsettling parallels, you may find something here that stays with you.

174 // Anatomy Of A Scene | Officer K's Memory

In our first episode of 2026, we return to one of Blade Runner 2049’s most quietly devastating moments: K’s memory of the Morricole orphanage, and what that memory actually means within the larger story at play.

On the surface, we’re watching a synthetic being (whatever a Replicant ultimately is) recount a memory he knows to be false to his superior officer. But this retelling doesn’t happen freely. It happens under pressure. Under surveillance. Under the constant threat of erasure. And in that moment, the scene crystallizes something essential about K’s existence: the psychic cost of obedience in a world governed by deeply unhappy, emotionally stunted humans.

What begins as a test of authenticity becomes something far more unsettling. A performance of belief. A ritual of submission. A reminder that even false memories can carry real emotional weight and that belief itself may be more dangerous than truth.

In this discussion, we peel back the layers of that scene and uncover implications that reach far beyond the orphanage. We talk about memory as control, trauma as programming, and why Blade Runner 2049 insists that meaning doesn’t come from whether something is “real,” but from how it changes the one who carries it.

This conversation surprised us. It took us places we hadn’t anticipated, and it reshaped how we understand K, Wallace’s world, and the fragile boundary between human suffering and manufactured experience.

173 // Blade Runner and Loneliness

We often talk about a "loneliness epidemic" in modern society. We're more connected than we've ever been, and yet we're feeling more isolated from one another.

Blade Runner, for all of its vibrant street life and urban density, has a profound undercurrent of loneliness.

In today's episode, Jaime, Patrick, Peter, and Micah are joined by returning guest Dom for a discussion about loneliness in the world of Blade Runner, and how it reflects some of the loneliness we are seeing in the real world around us all.

We wish you a happy and healthy close to 2025, and we'll see you in 2026!

172 // JOI In the Age of Artificial Intelligence

We are getting this episode out later than planned, but it is a special one and worth the wait. As humanity tries to understand the rise of artificial intelligence, Patrick and I sit down with our contributing hosts Peter from the Midwest and Micah Greene to talk about JOI in the time of AI.

 AI is here in every corner of our lives now, from ChatGPT to large language systems to the generative engines reshaping art and communication. With this new reality around us, how does JOI read today. Does she feel different? Does she come across as something more troubling or more harmless? Has the world changed enough that her presence in the Blade Runner universe means something new.

 We explore all of it in this episode. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

171 // Blade Runner 2099 // A Virtual Set Tour

In this episode, Patrick and Jaime open the vault and take you behind the curtain of Blade Runner 2099. Fresh from their virtual set visit, they walk you through an array of exclusive behind-the-scenes imagery, offering a rare glimpse into the making of Amazon’s long-awaited series.

Rumors suggest that 2099 returns to the haunting beauty and texture of Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece , but how true are those claims? Your hosts dive into the details: the architecture, the props, the atmosphere, and the spirit of what they’ve seen. Are we truly stepping back into the neon-soaked dream of the original film, or are we witnessing a new world take shape?

Settle in and enjoy this one. It was an extraordinary experience for us, and we’re thrilled to finally share it with you.

* A correction: Drew Struzan was the creator of the Final Cut poster, not the original. That one was by John Alvin.

170 // Blade Runner: Black Lotus | Las Vegas | Interviewing Writer Nancy Collins

In this episode Jaime and Patrick sit down with the writer for Blade Runner: Black Lotus | Las Vegas, Nancy Collins. From the ins and outs of writing a comic like Blade Runner, to her connections with Swamp Thing, Nancy covers a lot of ground as she traverses the world that Philip K. Dick started. Join us for this very thorough discussion. We hope you enjoy. 

169 // Catching Up with David Leach, Senior Creative Editor at Titan Comics

Believe it or not, it's been SIX YEARS since David Leach has been on our show. Last time, we were discussing the imminent release of the first arc of Blade Runner Titan comics. Now, we're about to get three massive omnibus releases collecting Blade Runner 2019, Blade Runner 2029, and Blade Runner 2039 (and a whole lot more).

It was nice to take a moment to reflect back on all that's happened since 2019 in Blade Runner comic-dom—and to look ahead at what's to come!

More Blade Runner comics talk coming next month, so stay tuned!

168 // Interviewing Scott Marczewski, Director of Do Androids Dream

A few weeks ago, we spotted a fan-made trailer for a project called Do Androids Dream by a filmmaker named Scott Marczewski. This one-minute trailer—which you should watch here—is gorgeously shot and suffused with love of Blade Runner, and we knew we had to track Scott down to have him on the show.

In today's episode, Jaime and Patrick chat with Scott about his project, why Blade Runner, DADOES, and Blade Runner 2049 continue to resonate so deeply with fans around the world, and what we all hope future Blade Runner projects get right.

Again, make sure you watch the trailer first! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T50pWNZbOA

And subscribe to Scott's YouTube channel, where you will be the first to see the next trailer (which goes live in just a couple weeks!): https://www.youtube.com/@LumenProductionsOfficial

166 // Blade Runner Behind-The-Scenes with Assistant Director Vicki Rhodes

In this ultra-special episode, Jaime and Patrick sit down with Vicki Rhodes, assistant director on Blade Runner, to uncover the incredible behind-the-scenes stories of this cinematic landmark. From all-night shoots to ostrich wrangling, Vicki shares a perspective few have ever heard, a journey into the making of a film that continues to define and defy its genre. This is a riveting conversation, and we’re so grateful to Vicki for pulling back the curtain and sharing her memories of a world that still fascinates us all.

165 // Off-World: The Costumes of Blade Runner

We're proud to announce our inaugural episode of our exclusive Patreon series, Off-World. In this episode, Patrick and Jaime are joined by patron and listener David Hanbury as we go through the costumes of the first Blade Runner film. What makes the designs of the costumes in Ridley Scott's seminal film so iconic? Which costume is your favorite? Do the costumes in Denis Villeneuve' s sequel, Blade Runner 2049 live up to the original film? We answer all of these questions and more!

164 // Blade Runner Ties: Devs

Alex Garland's Devs is a heady sci-fi series that asks some Big Questions about the nature of reality, the things that make us human, and the inescapable reality of loss—so if you love Blade Runner, you'll likely love this show!

In today's installment of our ongoing Blade Runner Ties series, Jaime and Patrick look at Devs through the lens of Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. Let us know if you have other suggestions for this series!

163 // Blade Runner Ties: HER

In the second installment of our Blade Runner Ties series, Patrick, Peter, and Jaime dive into Spike Jonze’s Her (2013). Set in a near-future world, the film tells the story of Theodore, a man who falls in love with his operating system—voiced beautifully by Scarlett Johansson. While there are undeniable connections to Blade Runner 2049 in the characters of JOI and Samantha, there are also some striking differences that set them apart. We explore these parallels and much more in this exciting new episode.

// For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.bladerunnerpodcast.com 

// If you'd like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Fields of Calantha.

// To support the show, please consider visiting www.bladerunnerpodcast.com/support. We've got some great perks available!

// And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can't tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come.

161 // 2024 In Review

In this recap of 2024, Patrick and Jaime sit down to review highlights of the year, the wrapping of Blade Runner 2099, notable discussions and more. We have a lot in store for 2025. With what we hope will be a fantastic new live action series from Alcon and Amazon, there will be a lot to discuss in the coming months. Thank you for listening to the show and supporting us over the years. Happy New Year!

160 // Home Again Home Again: Interviewing Blade Runner Actor Kevin Thompson

In this exclusive interview with Shoulder of Orion: The Blade Runner Podcast, Patrick & Jaime are joined by Blade Runner actor Kevin Thompson. Kevin most famously played J.F. Sebastian's toy bear in Blade Runner as well as a myriad of other roles. Kevin takes us through his time on Blade Runner, his relationship with Ridley Scott, Rutger Hauer and so much more. We hope you enjoy!

159 // Interviewing Kianna Shore, Writer of Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus

Now that we've got the complete first arc of Titan's first non-LA Blade Runner comic—the wonderful Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus—we wanted to chat with the person responsible for creating this bold new vision: first-time comic writer (!) Kianna Shore.

Set in Tokyo in 2015, Tokyo Nexus is a story about identity, class, trauma, and finding connection in a disconnected future. In this episode, Kianna guides Patrick through these first four issues, discusses her "big break" in the comics industry, and talks about working with amazing collaborators like Blade Runner Origin's Mellow Brown and Tokyo Nexus' artist Mariano Taibo.

Issues 1-4 of Tokyo Nexus are on sale wherever you buy comic books. There are some light spoilers in here, so we'd suggest giving them a read before listening!

158 // Andy From Alien: Romulus and Blade Runner

In this episode, your hosts Patrick and Jaime along with returning contributing host, Peter from the Midwest sit down to discuss Andy, the android from Alien: Romulus. While tossing around episode ideas, Peter from the Midwest offered that Andy might be a fascinating topic to discuss as a comparison to the Replicants featured in the Blade Runner films. It is widely agreed that Andy, as seen in Alien: Romulus is the most in-depth depiction of androids in the Alien universe yet. Join us as we jump head first into this exciting yet complicated discussion. 

157 // Interviewing Mellow Brown (Blade Runner: Origins) and 2099 News Roundup!

When we heard Mellow Brown, writer of 2021's stupendous Blade Runner: Origins, was going to be at Comic-Con, we knew we needed to talk to him! Along the way, we learned about his newest Titan project: consulting on Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, a thrilling new arc written by Kianna Shore (with art by Mariano Taibo) you can pick up today from your local comic store or from Titan's website.

There's also been some new news on the Prime series Blade Runner 2099, and we spend some time at the beginning delving into that. These are exciting times to be a Blade Runner fan, and the coming year is going to be one to remember!

156 // Anatomy Of A Scene: Deckard Meets Rachael Again For the First Time

At long last, your hosts and contributing hosts at Shoulder of Orion break down Deckard's recreated meeting with Rachael. There is so much in this scene. From its subtext, to its music and framing, each moment in this loaded scene is pure Blade Runner. Please join Patrick, Micah, Peter from the Midwest and returning guest Ricardo Silvestri as we explore this moment in Blade Runner 2049 and its far reaching implications on the story and maybe the story to come. 

For older episodes, check out our feed on Podbean!