The second (and final?) season of the BBC/Disney+ collaboration era of “Doctor Who” is at an end, and so our crew of fans is here to pick up the pieces and ponder what went right and (unfortunately) what went wrong. Where does this franchise go from here? "Doctor Who" season 2 wrap-up Jason Snell with Steven Schapansky, Erika Ensign, Chip Sudderth, Annette Wierstra and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Doctor Who [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The ...
Jun 20, 2025•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 771
We conclude (for now?) our coverage of the TV adaptation of The Wheel of Time, which was just canceled by Amazon. Three seasons in, we cover whether we think it is still worth watching despite cancellation (we do) and how well the show’s third (and final?) season fulfills the promise of it coming into its power. "The Wheel of Time" season 3 Moisés Chiullán with Sarah Hendrica Bickerton, Heather Berberet, Bryan Guffey and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works The Wheel of Time Show Notes & Links Su...
Jun 13, 2025•2 hr 26 min•Ep. 770
Our Awards Book Club continues its run through the roses with a tougher than expected review of Vajra Chandrasekera’s “Rakesfall,” Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Alien Clay,” and Kelly Link’s “The Book of Love.” 2025 Awards Book Club, part 2 Jason Snell with Scott McNulty, Aleen Simms and Erika Ensign Referenced Works Rakesfall [ Amazon ] Alien Clay [ Amazon ] The Book of Love [ Amazon ] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Scott : Strong Female Character by Fern Brady, The Melancholy of Untold Hi...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 769
Guillermo del Toro’s career started small, with the small-scale vampire (sort of) horror (sort of?) movie “Cronos,” in which an old man finds a mechanical object containing a magical bug that gives him eternal life in the bad way. Meanwhile, young Ron Perlman hates his evil uncle but continues to do his bidding! It’s a fun 1992 throwback that is still recognizeably del Toro. "Cronos" (1992) Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Cronos Guillermo del Toro ...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 768
From the skyscrapers of Coruscant to the pyramids of Yavin and with numerous stops in between, season two of “Andor” covers the rise of the rebellion and leads to the doorstep of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” What makes it special among Star Wars series? Did season two improve on the groundbreaking first season? It’s Star Wars, so we break it down in detail. "Andor" season 2 Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar and Steven Schapansky Sponsors TRMNL : Clarity, at a glance. Ge...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 767
We return once more to 1995, this time for a movie set at the turn of the century! It’s “Strange Days,” a cyberpunk movie with only a little bit of cyber but a lot of punk, along with grease and stink. "Strange Days" Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar and Monty Ashley Referenced Works Strange Days Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member . Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more....
May 16, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 766
The highest-grossing film of all time is straight-up sci-fi and yet in 15 years at this place we’ve never talked about it. That ends now, as we put on our oxygen masks and venture out into the moon of Pandora to meet the local Na’vi and the interloper Sky People and discuss why James Cameron’s “Avatar” became an enormous hit and then disappeared entirely (other than the theme-park attactions) until re-emerging with a sequel that was also an enormous hit. "Avatar" Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, B...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 765
Our walk through the 10 different novels nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards in 2025 begins! In this episode we discuss “Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory” by Yaroslav Barsukov, “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher, and “Someone You Can Build a Nest In” by John Wiswell. 2025 Awards Book Club Part 1 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Scott McNulty and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory [ Amazon ] [ Apple ] A Sorceress Comes to Call [ Amazon ] [ App...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 764
The year is 1995. The films: “Hackers” and “The Net,” in which computers are proven to be dangerous for society. One is a ridiculous movie about teen hackers that knows it’s silly, and the other is a ludicrous thriller about adult hackers that doesn’t. "Hackers" and "The Net" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, Joe Rosensteel, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Hackers The Net Show Notes & Links Hackers: Costumes from the Motion Picture Exhibition Tou...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 763
Huff some ether, dress for an ORTBO, and always keep an eye out for a private place beneath a tarp—we’re here to discuss the second season of “Severance,” a story that goes beyond the first season with some twists and turns that might be Kafkaesque, but are definitely Kafka-ish. "Severance" season 2 Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, Brian Warren, Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Severance Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incom...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 762
Spray on some insect repellant and don your hazmat suit, because Del Toro Club has re-formed to discuss a gigantic layer cake of infinite bugs, 1997’s “Mimic.” Parts of it are very Del Toro indeed, while other parts leave us scratching our heads about why something that had a whole lot of potential ended up playing as a pretty good B (not bee!) Movie instead. Are the Weinsteins to blame? (Yes.) "Mimic" Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Steve Lutz and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Mimic Guillerm...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 761
In a world full of creative projects turned into intellectual property, our panelists join together to choose remakes and reboots that please us, those that displease us, and those items that are out there, waiting to be remade. Remake/Reboot Draft Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Lisa Schmeiser, Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels, Shannon Sudderth and Chip Sudderth Show Notes & Links Remake/Reboot I love Brian: “Speak No Evil” (2024) Lisa: “Dune” (2...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 760
Our Ghibli Club gets together to discuss 2016’s “The Red Turtle,” an unusual Ghibli coproduction, as well as this year’s Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature, “Flow.” "Flow" and "The Red Turtle" Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, John Siracusa and Aleen Simms Sponsors Incomparable Memberships! : Sign up, support our show, and get access to exclusive podcasts! Referenced Works The Red Turtle Flow Studio Ghibli Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable networ...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 759
In honor of the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” six of us create custom-built episodes of SNL by participating in a fantasy draft of sketches, hosts, musical guests, commercial parodies, digital shorts, and more. SNL Draft II Jason Snell with Kelly Guimont, David J. Loehr, Lisa Schmeiser and Shelly Brisbin Referenced Works Saturday Night Live Show Notes & Links Kelly : The Wolverines, Robin Williams (1988), Hans and Franz, What’s Up With That?, Mr. Bill Goes to Los Angeles, Happy ...
Mar 21, 2025•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 758
Book Club travels to the far future for the sci-fi/fantasy mash-up “Moonbound” by Robin Sloan. Here be dragons! Not to mention wyrd multidimensional witches at the bottom of a pool, Arthurian proto-heroes, friendly sentient robot hive minds, and plucky talking beavers! Book Club: "Moonbound" Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Scott McNulty, Joe Rosensteel and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Moonbound [ Amazon ] [ Apple ] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Scott: Grim Reaper’s...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 757
Arrakis. Dune. Desert Planet. But maybe not the one you’re thinking of. In our own very peculiar way we honor David Lynch by discussing the feature film he probably liked the least, 1984’s “Dune.” Sting with a knife! Patrick Stewart riding a sandworm! How does it all compare with the modern version? Does it have its own special lower-budget charms? ( Don’t mention the voiceovers… ) What about the voiceovers? And how much does nostalgia fit into our appreciation of this movie? "Dune" (1984) Jason...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 756
From deep down in the lower levels to high up near the surface, we’re traveling through the post-apocalypic society of “Silo” on Apple TV+. Do eggs exist? What’s in daddy’s secret closet of mystery? Why are Pez dispensers outlawed? We begin with non-spoiler thoughts and then after the spoiler horn, we break down season one and two. (There are no spoilers for the Hugh Howey stories the show is based on!) "Silo" Jason Snell with Heather Berberet, Glenn Fleishman, John Siracusa and Aleen Simms Spon...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 755
Live, from The Incomparable, it’s Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” a film that purports to capture the 88 minutes before “Saturday Night Live’s” first live broadcast 50 years ago. All of our panelists agree it’s a well-made movie. There are many actors and comedians playing actors and comedians. But does it all hold together? "Saturday Night" Lex Friedman with Monty Ashley, David J. Loehr and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works Saturday Night Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows ...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 754
Blending classic Disney animals with a mysterious Miayazki forest, “The Wild Robot” is a story of overcoming your programming and not allowing yourself to become trapped in loops of behavior—whether you’re a robot or maybe even a human being. "The Wild Robot" Jason Snell with Brian Warren, Brian Hamilton, Annette Wierstra and Katie Mack Referenced Works The Wild Robot Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member . Members get e...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 753
It’s the end of the world and a robot apocalypse has happened, so what are the robots up to now? One robot butler takes an unusual journey through the darkly absurd world of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Service Model.” All bytes will be sorted and preserved, Uncharles. Book Club: "Service Model" Jason Snell with Joe Rosensteel, Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Scott McNulty and Katie Mack Referenced Works Service Model [ Amazon ] [ Apple ] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on T...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 752
Are fairy tales real, or are they mental refuges from the horrors of real life? Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” toggles effortless between bizarre, Miyazaki-like fantasy (inverted toads!) and an all-too-real tale of violence and treachery in fascist Spain. It’s dark, beautiful, full of disgusting bugs, and manages to use Del Toro muse Doug Jones as not one but two separate monsters! "Pan's Labyrinth" Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Steve Lutz, Tony Sindelar and Monty Ashley Referenced W...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 751
We send off the crew of the USS Cerritos and salue the completion of the five-year mission of “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” This show expanded what “Star Trek” could be—in several dimensions. And yet it was also utterly, completely a “Star Trek” series. We try to find the special alchemy that brought it all together. "Star Trek: Lower Decks" Jason Snell with David J. Loehr, Moisés Chiullán, Scott McNulty and Joe Rosensteel Referenced Works Star Trek (franchise) Star Trek: Lower Decks Show Notes &...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 750
The writers of “The Expanse” are back with a new series, and “The Mercy of Gods” is an alien invasion story that goes to some extremely dark places. But sometimes, dark is good… right? Right?! Plus: What are we reading? "The Mercy of Gods" Jason Snell with Scott McNulty, Heather Berberet and Aleen Simms Referenced Works The Mercy of Gods [ Amazon ] [ Apple ] Show Notes & Links Next book: “ Service Model ” by Adrian Tchaikovsky. What are we reading? Heather : The Pandominion series, Infinity ...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 749
Another year in the books, and there was a lot to appreciate about the stuff we consumed—movies, TV, books, video games, and more—in 2024. Our most prolific panelists collaborate on a massive list of the stuff we enjoyed over the past 12 months. Best of 2024 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren, Kelly Guimont, Moisés Chiullán, David J. Loehr, John Siracusa, Dan Moren and Chip Sudderth Show Notes & Links Erika: Consortium Rebellion Series by Jessie Mihalik, specifical...
Jan 01, 2025•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 748
For Kilmas this year we travel to 19th century Arizona for “Tombstone,” where Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and their shady pal Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer!) confront a bunch of rotten outlaw thugs and their own mortality. Will our noted hater of westerns, Erika, accept the possibility of a Kilmas miracle? Listen to find out! "Tombstone" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Brian Warren, Erika Ensign, Annette Wierstra and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Val Kilmer Tombstone Show Notes & Links Support this...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 747
This year’s Ape Club holiday party is 1972’s “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes,” in which the people of Future 1991 use apes as slaves until there’s an uprising led by a talking ape with a familiar name: Caesar. Were the 1970s ape sequels all as bad as we were led to believe, or is “Conquest”… actually kind of good? Join us and find out! "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" Jason Snell with John Moltz, Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren and David J. Loehr Referenced Works Conquest of the Planet of...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 746
Merry X-Mas, and goodwill to X-Men! Surprisingly holding down the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe for 2024 is “Deadpool & Wolverine,” in which Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman desecrate “Logan” while honoring it, skewer Marvel movies while saving them, and encounter an extremely unlikely collection of Marvel movie cast-offs and has-beens. "Deadpool & Wolverine" Jason Snell with Cicero Holmes, Kelly Guimont, Lisa Schmeiser and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Deadpool & Wolverine Marve...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 745
Miyazaki Club morphs into Ghibli Club as we discuss 1991’s “Only Yesterday,” written and directed by Isao Takahata. It’s a story of one (childless workaholic?) woman’s search for herself in the past and the present, plus, of course, a deep dive into organic farming. "Only Yesterday" (Ghibli Club) Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Steve Lutz, Aleen Simms, Moisés Chiullán and Lisa Schmeiser Referenced Works Only Yesterday Studio Ghibli Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 744
In honor of Thanksgiving, we review the 1987 classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” featuring Steve Martin and John Candy as trapped-together travelers just trying to get home, if there’s even a home to get back to. Jason comes to the realization that this is the Odyssey in the Midwest. Ben Stein has a special sign just to troll pained travelers. And that’s what Thanksgiving is all about, Charlie Brown. "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" Jason Snell with Shelly Brisbin, Brian Hamilton, Brian Wa...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 743
Several panelists consider Pixar’s “Inside Out” one of their favorite films. Now it’s time to process “Inside Out 2.” Some struggle with the sequel more than others. But at least Bing Bong makes a tiny cameo. "Inside Out 2" Lex Friedman with Brian Hamilton, David J. Loehr and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works Inside Out 2 Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member . Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more....
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 742
