Binary System Podcast #511 - Backrooms, and WTNV #290 "A Solution"

This episode originally broadcast on June 18, 2026. The original podcast post is here: https://pixelatedgeek.com/2026/06/binary-system-podcast-511-backrooms-and-wtnv-290-a-solution/We're so glad we actually went to see Backrooms while it was still in the theater, partly because it's exactly the kind of horror movie we like: scary, light on the gore, smart, just enough jump scares, and most of all intensely WEIRD. It's deliciously unsettling and we could just marinate in that uncanny anti-nostalgia for ages.But we also love that we get to see the collaborative speculation happening on the internet in real time; not just the discussions on memory and trauma, but also the questions the movie leaves unanswered: what does the ending mean? Where exactly is the entrance to the Backrooms? Was it copying Clark before he started exploring...or is it also messing around with time...?But before we jump into the Backrooms (...not literally, yikes..) we have a quick recap of the latest Night Vale, which gives us a solution to the locked room mystery, but leaves us with a few questions there as well. (First and foremost, is the solution really that hand-wavey, or is that another red herring?)This episode's outro is a clip from just laying there. by Mark Lingard.We mentioned Vaporama Vision a few times this episode, they're our current favorite Liminal Spaces artist.Some of our favorite Backrooms fanart so far is:Bojack Horseman / Backrooms mashupAmazing Digital Circus / Backrooms mashupA portrait of the directorAs for Portal quotes, if you look up Cave Johnson you can find tons of J.K. Simmons' audio, this is a pretty comprehensive one.Looking for a present for that hard-to-shop-for person? Want to buy them (or yourself) a square foot of a castle in Scotland? Look no further! You can support the restoration of Dunan's castle, legally call yourself Lady or Laird, AND if you use this link to get there, you can support this podcast too! ScottishLaird.co.uk.For updates, fan art, and other randomness, come follow us on Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram!