Backlog Dialogues
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backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Backlog Dialogues
@backlogdialogues.bsky.social
50 followers 1 following 87 posts
The podcast that digs you out of your backlog before it buries you! We cover long running media series week by week, with discussions on characters, themes, and anything else that catches our interest.
Current Project: When They Cry
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backlogdialogues.bsky.social
What makes history? Is it what is written? What is passed between people? The layers of story from one generation to the next? This week, our minilog is Pentiment. A strikingly unusual looking game that asks what's under the surface, and how did it shape that surface? #backlogdialogues #pentiment
Scene from the ending of Pentiment. Andreas Maler joins Andreas Muller and Ulrike Mulleryn in drawing on the side of the one windmill in all of the Bavarian Alps.
November 19, 2025 at 5:13 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
So, these Humans wish to review the game after losing so badly? Very well, this Witch will be happy to guide you. But, A "God"Cast? What GOD influenced this? Remember, as you recount the telling of the tales, you're in the domain of Magic, not Divinity.
#backlogdialogues #umineko #whentheycry
Blu Ray release of Umineko When They Cry anime from NIS America. Truly a cursed object. Volume one of the Umineko When They Cry Legend of the Golden Witch manga, published by YenPress and illustrated by Kei Natsumi. Truly a blessed object.
November 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
To you who have found this tale, I ask of you only this. Believe in the Witch. Believe in her power. You've read all that she has done. Believe.

Please believe, or it will never end.
#backlogdialogues #umineko #whentheycry
Image from First Opening Video of Umineko When They Cry. A bottle containing a message washes up on the beach after a storm.
November 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Two in an embrace
One in a dark place
One body in flames
Three carrying blames
Five the Twilights spare
But still the Curse Ensnare
As the clouds leave the sky
And the gulls resume their cry
Were any left alive?
#backlogdialogues #whentheycry #umineko
Image from Umineko When They Cry - Legend of the Golden Witch, Console Version. Ushiromiya Maria stands facing the parlor wall singing a children's song as the blood from the victims of the sixth, seventh, and eighth twilight splatters the floor and wall around her.
October 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Despite ample warnings from the merciful Witch, disaster strikes the family conference. In the wake of the first move, the remaining vic- ahem, family members flail about for answers. Perhaps young Maria knows something? She seems quite pleased with herself.
#whentheycry #umineko #backlogdialogues
Image from Umineko When They Cry - Legend of the Golden Witch, Console version. After a gruesome murder is discovered in the gardening tool storage shed, Hideyoshi and Kanon observe the corpse of Shannon. Image from Umineko When They Cry - Legend of the Golden Witch, Console version. Upon being asked about what she knows about magic and witches, Maria begins behaving strange and erratically.
October 22, 2025 at 8:57 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
When one sits down to dinner at a family conference, there is rules of decorum to follow. The line of succession will be reflected in seating. The servants will be impeccable. The letter from the witch will be held until dessert. Wait, what was that last one? #BacklogDialogues #WhenTheyCry #Umineko
Background image from Umineko When They Cry. An envelope with gold leaf trim and the wax seal of the Ushiromiya Family Head, purportedly from the Golden Witch, Beatrice
October 15, 2025 at 6:08 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
This week, we start another When They Cry. Another Mystery, and a mystery needs its players to introduce.
But holy CRAP does Ryukishi07 not hold back on the number of Dramatis Personae in this one.
Let us set sail for a mysterious island - be careful not to fall.
Image from the Opening Movie of Umineko When They Cry - Legend of the Golden Witch. The ominous visage of Kinzo rises behind the figures of the various members of the Ushiromiya family and its servants.
October 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
As we enter this season of magic and chills, Backlog Dialogues is back! After a well deserved rest, we have returned with the next work in the oeuvre of Ryukishi07. Join us as we travel to the shrouded island of Rokkenjima and get ourselves HYPED to discuss the story of the Golden Witch...
Cover art for Umineko When They Cry, depicting the portrait of the Golden Witch, Beatrice.
October 4, 2025 at 4:02 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
We're still on break while we work on Umineko, but just in time for Watanagashi, here's a bonus episode about an adaptation of Higurashi that you might not know about - the 2016 Live Action! Regional Idols and Character Actors put together a surprisingly good albeit incomplete version of the story.
Promotional Image for the Higurashi When They Cry 2016 Live Action adaptation. Characters, from left to right: Bottom Row: Rika, Satoko, Rena, Keiichi, Mion, Shion Top Row: Hanyuu, Miyo, Ooishi
June 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
When you're alone in the dark, don't listen to the voices that draw you to harm, but instead relish the connections you can make. This season's final #Minilog is Undertale, the kind game that also puts you through hell. We discuss the influence it had on us, and what it has to say.
#backlogdialogues
Image from Undertale. The Fallen Human looks in to a mirror in New Home, affirming their identity with the statement "Despite everything, it's still you."
May 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
It's time for one last look at Higurashi. We've reached the end of one tale, and it's time to take one last moment to discuss what this final tale tells us about one's character, about choice and will, and how it will inform what comes next. #higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Rei - Saikoroshi, Console Version. Hanyuu explains to Rika the stakes of her choice and why it must come down to her alone.
April 30, 2025 at 4:02 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
A human doesn't get to choose
A god doesn't get to live
If I had to decide which to be
I might be trapped in the what if.
I'm glad to be here with you.
The god inside me must go.
But we will be together, my friends.
#whentheycry #backlogdialogues #higurashi
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Rei - Saikoroshi, Console Version. Rika, having woke up from a month long coma, is greeted by her friends, overjoyed to tears that she is okay.
April 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Rika is still trapped. As she disconnects from her human identity and falls more into the persona of a witch, she suddenly finds herself at a choice she didn't want. What is more real, the world she finds herself in, or the world she came from?
#higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Rei - Saikoroshi Console Arc. Rika eavesdrops on her parents discussing the troubling things Dr Yamamoto informed them that Rika was saying.
April 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
What's this? The story is still going? Well, thats strange. This week we enter one last tale from the town of Hinamizawa. But with all the problems ended, what could happen now? It's not like Rika is going to suddenly do something stupid- LOOK OUT!
#higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Rei - Saikoroshi Console Version. Rika Furude horses around on her bike, causing Satoko to panic moments before a new tragedy sets in motion Rika's final journey.
April 9, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
What does it mean to grow up? Changing your interests? Finding out what you're good at? Changing who you are entirely? Everyone wants to grow, they just need a path. Today, we discuss Mob Psycho 100, and learn how much one quiet boy's story can mean.
#backlogdialogues #mobpsycho100
Image from the end of Mob Psycho 100 Season 3. Shigeo Kageyama, aka Mob, gives a sincere smile at the antics of the many people who helped him grow.
April 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
This world didn't need to take anything away.
I have the right to be here.
You want me here.
The world is only complete when we are all here.
#higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. In the hidden fragment of Connecting Fragments, a mysterious woman resembling an older Rika encounters the young Miyoko Tanashi and offers her a choice of life or death.
March 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
I always thought that I was not needed in the world
I believed that my role was to step into the background
But you told me otherwise
You told me that the world was less without me.
You told me that I had the right to stay
#higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. From left to right, Shion, Hanyuu, Rika, Satoko, Keiichi, Mion, and Rena, cleanse themselves of their sins and wash them down the river in the Watanagashi Festival after a hard won victory.
March 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
It's the final episode, and the final battle! Join us for the explosion of excitement and emotion, as we finally defeat our unfortunate fate! #higurashi #backlogdialogues #whentheycry
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. Akasaka, while fighting Okonogi, throws a punch strong enough to destroy a car. Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. Under the pressure to save Shion Sonozaki, Irie unleashes his best attempt at altering reality through a deranged rant about maids. Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. A janky animation of a steel drum flying at Skylark 13's head amusingly plays out in the middle of an absurd sequence detailing Satoko's trapping prowess. Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Console Version. A Defiant Takano Miyo makes her final stand, preparing to shoot the members of the Hinamizawa School Board Game Club.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Belief can cut through fate, and call a miracle. When everything is over, we can be happy, everyone...

(Lyrics adapted from Dear You-Kizuna, by dai and sung by the Higurashi Cast.)
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Matsuribayashi, Manga Final Chapter Title page. Rena leads Hanyuu by the hand in to the ideal world, as the images of all the players in this story are behind them, all happy, as Hanyuu's line in dear you -kizuna implies.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
Come on everyone, let's join our hearts as one, as the cicadas sing we overcome the storm.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Minagoroshi, Console Version. After the members of the club have died, they prepare to visit the next world, inviting Hanyuu to join them this time. As the chorus of Dear You - Kizuna states, only by joining all our wills together can we overcome the storm.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
So with all of you, I became strong.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Tsumihoroboshi, Console version. Keiichi, having saved Rena from her dark thoughts, challenges the demons that watch from outside the stage. Rena's line in Dear you-kizuna alludes to her accepting the friendship of Keiichi and the others to give her the strength to break free of her depression.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
You told me you knew the way to be brave and fight fate.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Minagoroshi, Console Version. Keiichi avoids the fate of Watanagashi and Meakashi by giving the doll to Mion instead of Rena. This true strength, understanding and compassion, is what is alluded to by Mion's line in Dear you - Kizuna.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
But you smiled and held me, even when I was like this.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry - Tatarigoroshi, Console version. Keiichi reaches out to try to comfort the traumatized Satoko, who is suffering while enduring the abuse from her uncle Teppei. The line from Dear you - Kizuna indicates Satoko recognizing that others did reach out to her even at her worst.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
I didn't take your outstretched arms and fell into the gears of fate.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry Kai - Meakashi, Console Arc Bad Ending. Keiichi sits alone on a bench in a park, before his demise at the hands of a mysterious assailant. His line from Dear You - Kizuna indicates his inability up to this point to stop the horrible fates that await him and his friends.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
backlogdialogues.bsky.social
That I met my friends in Hinamizawa is the true miracle of this story.
Image from Higurashi When They Cry - Onikakushi, Console Version. From left to right, Satoko, Rika, Rena, and Mion, welcoming Keiichi in to their circle of friends. Of note is Rika, who sings the line in this post in Dear You - Kizuna, who is both focal in this image and not central, signifying her importance to the narrative despite not initially seeming that way.
March 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM