Michael has been binge-watching a lot of Star Trek, so Mandy and Michael chat about it! Almost everything before the Kelvin-verse movie trilogy is covered (turns out there was so much to talk about that the TNG movies didn’t get much of an explicit mention).
The topics in order are:
The Original Series
The Animated Series
The Original Series Movies
The Next Generation
Deep Space Nine
Voyager
Enterprise
The Kelvin movie trilogy and new Trek beginning with Discovery is not discussed in detail, though the show does end with some high level thoughts of what really defines Star Trek and some opinions on what Michael and Mandy have seen of it so far seems to be missing. The topic is reserved for a possible future episode!
This episode is part of our Trivially Crucial Backlog - Episodes recorded previously and until now left unposted.
In this episode the Superman run continues with a single episode for the 3rd and 4th Christopher Reeve Superman films. It’s a severe understatement to say these movies were found to be absolutely ridiculous.
Years ago Mandy got Michael to start watching Supernatural, a show with plenty of horror-esque content in its first couple of seasons (Michael doesn't do horror). 15 seasons later it's time to bid adieu to the Winchesters and their 1967 Chevy Impala.
In this episode you’ll hear about the finale, sure, but before that you’ll hear much more:
Recommendations of what to watch after the first 5 seasons if you don’t want to watch everything in the rough seasons.
Opinions on exactly how bad some of the seasons get.
Some love for many characters and individual episodes even through the show’s darkest times.
Respect for truly experimental, in the best of ways, episodes strewn throughout the series.
Strong feelings about the show’s return to form as it marched towards its end.
Yes, there are definitely some problems with the ending too.
Supernatural is over, but the Winchesters, Baby, Cas, and so much more of the cast will remain with us forever. There’s no better way to say farewell than:
🎵 Carry on my wayward son There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest Don't you cry no more 🎵
This episode is part of our Trivially Crucial Backlog - Episodes recorded previously and until now left unposted.
For 49 episodes, Mandy and Michael have discussed how important stories are. They reflect the world, they help breed empathy, they help shape world views, and which stories resonate with a person in youth can help explain who a person is in adulthood. This 50th episode is about exploring works with great personal impact across all types of media. It’s about as much a meta episode as this show can really get.
This episode is part of our Trivially Crucial Backlog - Episodes recorded previously and until now left unposted.
Michael and Mandy spend some time chatting about Zatanna as written by Paul Dini, an author also known for his work on Batman: The Animated Series, Tiny Toons Adventures, and a whole lot of comic book writing.
Amazon links to works recommended in this episode:
This episode is part of our Trivially Crucial Backlog - Episodes recorded previously and until now left unposted.
In this episode Michael and Mandy the power and utility of different storytelling mediums. What they’re good for, how they’ve been used well, and more.
Michael and Mandy discuss Avengers: Endgame, everything it means, its emotional impact, its plot issues, and hopes for the MCU moving forward. Spoiler: They liked it but still have plenty to criticize.
As we continue catching up, this episode is about Spider-Man: Homecoming. There's a lot of Spider-Man background and MCU meta-commentary before discussion of the film even begins, followed by plenty of Spoiler-free content.
Now that we're posting again, it's time for the previously recorded discussion on Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2. Be ready for a whole lot of discussion on parenthood and the difference between forgiveness and redemption.
A timely episode containing discussion on the brand new Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. Michael didn't have any time to process the film before this discussion on opening weekend, so witness him clumsily work through thoughts that have already changed just a few days later. Feel free to think alongside and yell at us in private as you inevitably disagree.
This 42nd episode discusses the only thing that could possibly be appropriate: Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in its many forms. Spoilers, which don't matter in the slightest, are as abundant as logical holes and differences between releases of the story. Bring your towel, hit play, and whatever you do–Don't Panic!
Check out Douglas Adams's cookie story (both versions!):
Mandy and Michael talk about the brand new 2017 Wonder Woman, with only a few hours to have processed and thought about the movie after seeing it on opening weekend. If you're on the fence about seeing the movie, the first 24 minutes are spoiler free and may persuade you to watch the film sooner rather than later.
Mand and Michael discuss three classic short stories from Isaac Asimov, celebrating the quotation from which the show gets its name.
“Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today — but the core of science fiction, its essence, the concept around which it revolves, has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.”
— Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov, The Complete Stories, Vol. 1 (Amazon Link)
Mandy and Michael resume their journey through the history of DC Comics in film, this time focusing on the Man of Steel's film adventures that essentially kicked off big budget superhero films altogether: The original 1978 Superman and its closely intertwined 1980 sequel Superman II.
In this episode Mandy and Michael continue going through the Wheel of Time with books 4 and 5 in the series: The Shadow Rising and The Fires of Heaven. Michael's discovery continues while Mandy is able to do more than just listen in frustration.
If you're following along, the next Wheel of Time episode (to be recorded at an unknown date) will cover novels 6-8: Lord of Chaos, A Crown of Swords, and The Path of Daggers.
Mandy and Michael continue going through the Batman films with the Schumacher directed entries: 1995's Batman Forever and 1997's Batman & Robin. After the last Batman discussion some of the feelings on these films are surprising!
Mandy and Michael discuss the two Tim Burton directed Batman films, 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. Feelings are very different across these two films, their characters, and the interesting choices made by a director who has a very distinct style and no loyalty to the source material.
This week Mandy and Michael talk about the first three novels in Robert Jordan's epic (in scope and length) series, The Wheel of Time. These three books are:
The Eye of the World
The Great Hunt
The Dragon Reborn
Michael is new to the series while Mandy grew up with it so two very different perspectives make for quite the conversation!
Mandy and Michael talk about Rogue One, the first of what is likely to be many Star Wars anthology films. As the first non-numbered Star Wars film, what are the implications for the wider universe and general Star Wars enjoyment to come?
