Superman and Lois season 4 has already premiered, so we have some catching up to do with our review of season 3! In this action-packed episode we discuss the introduction of Bruno Manheim and Intergang into the narrative. We also talk about the very real plotline around cancer and how Superman faces an enemy that he can’t defeat. We also debate the merits of a tougher, less intellectual Lex Luthor. Along the way we discuss teenagers with powers, family dynamics, dealing with physical illness and it’s effect on mental health, how scary a Superman at the end of his tether can be, and giving people their space.
Give it a listen and let us know what you think!
This week’s Five-Minute Controversy asks if Marc Guggenheim’s comments that the MCU requires a reboot are correct.
This week Ryan, Jess, and Beth join the cast.
Show Notes:
Guggenheim’s comments about the MCU needing a reboot
Our Alex Garfin Interview
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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is the first attempt to do a comedy series within the MCU. In this episode we take a deep dive on the She Hulk series. We discuss how the show fits within the greater context of the MCU as well as how well it lives up to the various comic series that it’s adapting. We talk about the characters and how the story of Jennifer Walters may resonate with fans. We also address the many guest characters used by the series and how well we think that they were showcased in the series. We also get into the plotlines and what we think will matter later on. We end by discussing whether we’d like to see a season two of the series. 
It’s the end of an era as we come to the very last season of the very last Arrowverse series as we discuss the final season of The Flash. It’s ten years to the day that the series premiered, so it feels especially fitting that we do this topic. In this episode we talk about how this is the culmination of the entire Arrowverse. We discuss the many, many misses of Arrowverse story elements that should have been wrapped up. We review the various guest stars that appeared in the season and debate which worked and which didn’t. We confer on how the story elements worked, and we opine on whether this felt like a fitting culmination for Nine years of the Flash. We end by considering whether we’d want James Gunn to allow an Elseworlds anthology series or direct-to-streaming movie, so that the various plot threads can be tied up. 
In this episode we review the first three seasons of the popular Netflix series, The Umbrella Academy. We give our opinions on all aspects of this series. We discuss the characters and their unusual relationships and personality quirks for a superhero series. We talk about the plots and how they cleverly set up conflicts and resolutions that one may not expect. We also get a little into the comics and how they can provide some context for things that they do or don’t do in the TV series. It all ends with a conversation about how we’d want the show to end.
In this episode we discuss the final season of a show that was gone far far far too soon. That show is Stargirl. Although Stargirl aired on The CW it was originally conceptualized as a streaming series first for DC Universe and then HBO Max. Episodes were simultaneously released on both the CW and the corresponding streaming service. In this examination of the final season we discuss the plot and why it worked or didn’t for us. We talk about the characters and how we feel that they were served. We also debate how the series ended and whether we think it was fitting. We also give our opinion on whether James Gunn should try to incorporate any elements from this series into his new DCU. 
In this second part of our two-part extravaganza on The Rings of Power the cast jumps back into talking about Middle Earth. In this episode they ask “What’s in a name?” as they wonder why anyone included a Hobbit. The Stranger’s gray identity is mooted. The cast discusses the geometry of rings and why 15 minutes may not be enough time to devote to their creation. They also get into the trauma that creates the orcs and the idea of an “evil race”. Along the way they discuss tropish women who need fathers for their sons, vampire orcs, and the politics of Númenor.
It’s a trip back to Middle-Earth this week as the cast takes an epic-length at the Amazon Prime series, The Rings of Power. In this episode the cast discusses the logic of a series that can only use the appendices of Lord of the Rings as reference. They get into the types of stories that they’re choosing to tell and whether or not there’s a significant loss of context. Along the way they also get into the casting and what they think of the portrayal of the characters. They also opine on the production values and the various controversies that surrounded this series. 
You often hear that there’s too much TV to watch these days or that the market is catering to geeky interests on TV today. Yet, the 80’s saw it’s fair share of genre television for people of all ages. In this episode four people that were there (old fogeys) recount tales of the television of their youth. They also discuss whether 80’s television holds up and whether they think that modern audiences would appreciate it. They also give their opinions on various series and talk about the inevitable sequel series to discuss even more 80’s TV. 
Indiana Jones has returned in a fifth installment of the titular franchise. In this episode we talk about the Dial of Destiny. We discuss revitalizing the franchise in the 21st century and how it compares to the prior attempt. We debate the Indiana Jones franchise’s potential for a continuation with other characters or a reboot. We also get into Nazi villains, use of historical set pieces, artefacts, and why Sallah is the bellwether for whether an Indiana Jones film will be good or not. 
This week we delve back into the MCU on Disney+ to talk about Ms. Marvel. Join our cast as we delve into the comic origins of these characters. We’ll talk about what works, what didn’t, and what we wish they included and didn’t. We’ll also discuss casting and performances and what we thought of the tone of the series. We’ll also debate how this works into the greater MCU, where we think it’s going, and how we think the final twist of this series will play into the advent of some new characters coming to the MCU. We’ll also give our opinions on whether the production team knows what a comic con is. 
