First contact is one of the great tropes of science fiction. Encountering the radically different and unique can hold a mirror up to humanity, but it's not everyday that a movie about aliens teaches its human audience how to better communicate with each other. In this episode, we’re breaking down Denis Villeneuve’s film, ARRIVAL, to see how it uses a new twist on an old idea to tell an elegant and original story.

The Arrival Score on Song Exploder - https://songexploder.net/arrival

Mandible Judy / Under Dead Water - https://mandiblejudy.buzzsprout.com/

Issaura’s Claws (Part 1 of The Incarn Saga) - https://www.katharinewibellbooks.com/the-incarn-saga