Skip to main content

King of the Nerds episode 104 recap: Comical catastrophe

King of the Nerds kevin smith jason mewes
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If anything was made clear in this week’s episode of “King of the Nerds,” it’s that nerds are pretty emotional people. There were a lot of tears shed by the ladies of Nerdvana. Who knew winning the title of this TBS gameshow meant so much to them?

The theme this week was comic books, with the Nerd War challenge in the form of a debate that pondered the topics of superhero realms in real life. Questions ranged from the inquisitive “Is it better to be born with a superpower or earn a genetically-altered one later?” or the practical “Should superheroes be exempt from the law or should they be treated like every other citizen?” It’s an interesting challenge since debating takes some form of, um, intelligence, to succeed – a quality most of the contestants have yet to show. Some comic book knowledge to back up a few theses also couldn’t hurt to add color.

Recommended Videos

King of the nerds Danielle freak outThe first tears shed came from Celeste after she admits to a fear of public speech and “embarrassing herself in front of people.” Girl, you should have remembered that fear when you signed up to be on this show! Over on Orange Team’s prep room, Danielle’s still not over the fact that Joshua lied to her. She becomes furious after Josh, who has hosted nerd debates before, picks an “easier” topic to debate and leaves her with something more difficult. When Josh offers to help, Danielle sounds off and breaks down, transforming from her gentle, naked elf cosplay to a fire-breathing dragon – all while angrily stuffing pasta salad into her mouth. Yikes. Don’t wanna mess with that.

At the debate, guest judges Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes surprise the contestants. “Jay and Silent Bob?? What the f***k are they doing here!?” Celeste ponders. They probably have no idea how they got there either, so I’m guessing they’re in between filming Comic Book Men.

Unfortunately, due to the one-hour nature of the show, the debates got edited pretty heavily. You could barely hear what each contestant said other than their opening statements, so I really couldn’t tell why Ivan, Joshua, and Danielle won even though their opponents seem to have equally strong rebuttals. It probably had something to do with the level of confidence in their speech; Despite the fact that Josh incorrectly cites “Mark Miller” as the creator of The Dark Knight comics (seriously, even I knew it was Frank Miller. It was like hearing nails on a chalkboard), Genevieve’s mousy charm couldn’t win Kevin Smith over even though she’s an encyclopedia of comics. Upon losing, Genevieve goes home and cries into a pillow.

Genevieve and Alana, the only two comic book nerds, get sent to elimination where the two fight it out in a trivia. Alana, talking game all season long about her love for Batman, answered all of one question correctly (she guessed the one she got right). The questions were too hard, Alana whines. “I only started reading comics in the 90s.” Genevieve redeems her comic knowledge and sends a tearful Alana straight home. Thank heavens, because she was becoming increasingly awkward for everyone to watch.

Natt Garun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
An avid gadgets and Internet culture enthusiast, Natt Garun spends her days bringing you the funniest, coolest, and strangest…
The Echo Show 5 and Echo Pop have crazy discounts today
Artwork on the Amazon Echo Show 5 2023 edition.

When it comes to smart home devices, one of the best brands in the business is Amazon. Known for its multi-generation Echo device lineup, Amazon is no stranger to interactive speakers and displays that can give you recipe advice, play your favorite music, control smart home devices, and more. We see Amazon Echo deals all the time, including these two promos:

Right now, when you order the Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) through Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll only pay $50 ($90 at full price). There’s also a great discount on the Amazon Echo Pop, which is marked down to $18 from $40!
Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) -- $50 $90 44% off

Read more
Make the most of your smart lights this holiday season with these expert tips
Nanoleaf Essentials Bulb on desk.

Daylight saving time has officially ended, bringing us darker (and colder) nights. The upcoming holidays certainly offer a bit of cheer during these chilly months. But a better way to combat winter fatigue is by optimizing your smart lights. Whether you have them installed inside or outside your home, now is the perfect time to tinker with their settings and create routines that keep you nice and cozy.

From changing the hue of your bulbs and installing motion sensors to creating schedules and setting up a vacation mode, here’s a look at powerful ways to optimize your smart lights.
Create a schedule or routine

Read more
30 early Black Friday deals for 2024: TVs, laptops, headphones
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Amazon Deals

Update (11/5/24) -- We've adding some additional deals as the sales start to ramp up. We're officially in Black Friday month.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best periods in the year to snag yourself some great deals, especially when it comes to electronics such as the best laptops, best TVs, best headphones, best washer and dryer packages, and an absolute ton more. Even though Black Friday is going to fall on November 29, which is still a few weeks away, we're already seeing a lot of great early Black Friday deals that you can take advantage of, even this far back from the event. Luckily, you don't have to go and sift through all the sales on offer, as we've gone out and collected some of our favorite early Black Friday deals across the board.
SAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2 -- $21 $30 29% off

Read more