The series for the MCU’s newest title character, Wonder Man dropped earlier this year. It tells the story of Simon Williams as he navigates the Hollywood scene in an attempt to land his dream roll. His secret: that he has super powers in a world that mistrusts them. In this episode we discuss the first season of this new series. We talk about the portrayals of Simon and his friend, Trevor Slattery. We examine the plot and and get into our feelings of how the series is paced, its themes are developed, and whether it serves the characters. Along the way we also debate the merits of how the series depicted actors, daily life in the MCU, and the role of a super-powered individual in society. We also question the role of the Department of Damage Control and what its exact mandate is supposed to be.
Our five-minute controversy this time asks if selling the MST3K franchise to Shout Studios was the right move for the franchise.
This week Stephen, Daviorr, and Nate join the cast.
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This time, The 42cast, is proud to welcome prolific animation writer 
From time immemorial people have told tales of monsters. Are those creatures alien? Forces of Nature? Twisted humans? A new kind of life? In this episode we examine all of the ins and outs of what makes a monster. We talk about what scares us and why that might be appealing. We question whether humans can be the true monsters all along. We also get into what we like about monster stories.
The Day the Earth Stood Still was a film released in 1951. It tells the story of an alien visitor coming to Earth with an important message for mankind. Humanity fears him, but the greatest threat to them is their own paranoia. In this episode we discuss this film. We talk about the characters and what we think of the performances. We discuss the effects and both how and why they hold up even today. We also examine the themes of the film and how well it develops them. Along the way we get into the spooky music, the film’s societal impact, use of tension in storytelling, and even a plot hole or two.
For four seasons For All Mankind has told an alternate history of our world. Set in a world where the space race continued, because the Russians put a man on the moon first, the series tells a generational saga about humanity’s exploration of space. With a fully fleshed out alternate universe and a hopeful yet pragmatic bent the series is truly unique in the television landscape. In this episode we take a look at the first four seasons of For All Mankind. We talk about the unique features of the series that make it a draw for viewers. We discuss the alternative nature of the universe and what lessons we can draw from it for our own. Along the way we get into our favorite characters, mental health, and what we want to see in season five!
Last time that we discussed Invincible we talked about how it stands many of the superhero tropes on its head and gives powerful characterizations without wallowing in cynicism as so many series do. In this episode we take a look at the third season of Amazon Prime’s Invincible. We discuss what this season teaches us about Mark, Nolan, Cecil, and others. We question whether Nolan is a redeemable characters. We talk about Mark’s character and whether he comes off as childish, principled, or somewhere in between. We debate nuance with characters like Rexplode and Powerplex. Along the way we get into the topics of Viltrumite culture, why Peter Cullen’s voice grants a character instant trust, time travel, and achieving full Marks.
We all have them. They’re the series that got away. They’re the things that we think about with a wistful “what if..?” as we contemplate what would have happened if one of our favorite series had continued. In this episode we dive deep into the nostalgia well. We discuss the series that we loved that never made it past two seasons. We talk about why we liked them and why we felt like they deserved another shot.
Gone With the Wind is an epic film that released in 1939. Adapting the novel of the same name, it told the tale of Scarlet O’Hara throughout the years of the Civil War and reconstruction. The movie was a huge hit both in the United States and internationally. Adjusted for inflation it is the highest grossing film of all time. It also has the distinction of being the first film to award an Academy Award to a person of color with Hattie McDaniel winning the Oscar for best supporting actress. Yet, this film has also come under fire for its depictions of race, assault on women, and southern life. We take a look at this film and question why it has remained so popular throughout the years. We discuss some of the history behind the movie, the script, and the cast. We also examine the depictions of women and people of color and talk about modern sensibilities, historical accuracy, and room for nuance. We end with a conversation about whether this movie should still be viewed today.
One Piece originally started as a manga series 29 years ago and has run continuously ever since. An anime adaptation followed two years later and has continued to adapt the story from the manga. Now, Netflix is producing a live action series that tells the story of the Straw Hat Pirates. In this episode we discuss that series. We talk about world of One Piece and how well the props, sets, and effects create that world. We also express our opinions on all of the characters and what we think of their dynamics. We also get into the world building, speculation on what the One Piece actually is, and what makes this series so incredibly popular. Mike and Nathan also take the time to discuss how the plot and characters differ from the anime.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke the mold on Star Trek series. It was a Star Trek series that stayed in one place. The emphasis was placed not on exploring strange new worlds but on developing characters and relationships over time. As a result it was also the first Star Trek to pioneer the development of long-term story and character arcs that would build both within a season and across seasons. In this episode we discuss this series. We talk about how it differs from other Treks and what we think about those differences. We discuss the different characters and talk about who our favorites are. We also get into our favorite stories and scenarios within the series. Along the way we’ll talk about problematic characters, adding culture, the importance of side characters, and whether the ending did everything that it needed to do.
