The 42cast

The 42cast Episode 282: Wondering About

Sat, 16 May 2026 21:31:13 GMT

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.

Like what you heard? Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/42cast. You can also find us on X as @42cast, Instagram/Threads as 42cast, or Blue Sky as 42cast.bsky.social. We can also be found on Youtube or rss.com where you can find links to all of the various podcast providers where we can be found. Please, leave us a review. Have a question for the Ultimate Answer? E-mail us at everything@42cast.com. Want to be part of the discussion, join our Discord Server where you can talk about any form of geekiness, opine on the episodes, or participate in our general silliness.

The 42cast Episode 281: The Brynne Chandler Interview

Fri, 08 May 2026 02:50:15 GMT

This time, The 42cast, is proud to welcome prolific animation writer Brynne Chandler on to the show. Brynne talks to us about her decades of experience, focusing on many ground-breaking series from the 80's and 90's including He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. She talks with us about her experiences working in the industry and her thoughts on some of the series and specific episodes that she worked on. Along the way we discuss such varied topics as where morals in TV series came from, the unintended consequences of being overly protective of young people, whether women like action and explosions, and what the DCEU didn't understand about Batman and Superman.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The 42cast Episode 280: Monster Jam

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:13:08 GMT

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.

Our five-minute controversy this time asks if the decision to cancel the 4th Chris Pine Star Trek series was a good one or not.

This week Stephen, Daviorr, Nate, and Kori join the cast.

Show Notes:

Paramount cancels Star Trek 4 with Chris Pine

The 42cast Episode 279: Klaatu Barada Nikto

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:08:29 GMT

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.

Due to time constraints is no five-minute controversy this time.

This week Stephen, Keith, Ashley, and Tom join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Gray Girl (Film that Stephen is in)

The 42cast Episode 278: Spatial Orientation

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:10:57 GMT

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!

Due to time constraints is no five-minute controversy this time.

This week Director Faber, Shaun, Ashley, and Nate join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 277: Full Marks

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:21:41 GMT

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.

Stay for the outtakes where Cammie makes the case that The Hunt for Ben Solo was canceled because the Di$ney executives hate women.

Our five-minute controversy this time asks if Marvel pulling their unnamed July 2027 film is a good or bad sign of their efforts to improve the performance of their brand at the box office.

This week Cammie, James, and Nate join the cast.

Show Notes:

Invincible Seasons 1&2 42cast Episode

The 42cast Episode 276: Never Forget

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:39:50 GMT

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.

This week's five-minute controversy asks that in light of James Gunn saying that the DCU would only do one live-action series per year, if it is a good expenditure of their time to work on a Jimmy Olsen-centric series.

This week Annie; Page; Felicity; and newcomer, Assad, join the cast.

Show Notes:

Our First Episode on This Topic

The 42cast Episode 275: Frankly My Dear...

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:20:12 GMT

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.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Michael, Keith, Kimi, and Nate join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 274: Companion Piece

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:24:44 GMT

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.

This week's five-minute controversy asks if using CGI instead of Little People for the Dwarf characters in the live action Snow White film was the correct move to make.

This week Anji, Juliette, and Mike join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 273: Boldly Going Nowhere

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:24:12 GMT

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.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Juliette, Miranda, and Mark join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 272: No Strings Attached

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:07:49 GMT

For decades the Muppets have been entertaining audiences all over the world. More expressive than most puppets, the Muppets connect with audiences on a deeper level than many similar creations. Combined with talented muppet performers and fun character concepts, it's no wonder that the Muppets have entertained widely varying audiences for so long. In this episode we take a deep dive into the Muppet concept. We talk about our favorite Muppet characters. We discuss our favorite Muppet scenes. We also get into the reasons why people still enjoy the Muppets. We end by debating where we see the Muppet concept going in the future.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth, Eric, Tom, Miranda, and Steve join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 271: The First Step's a Doozy

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:46:49 GMT

After the initial wave of Avengers film, people started wishing that Marvel had the Fantastic Four film rights, so that they could apply the same MCU formula to the first family in comics. Years later, Disney obtained those rights as part of their overall acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Fantastic Four: First Steps is the result. For this episode we dive deep into the story. We talk about the characters, the choices that were made in the depictions, and how we feel those resonate. We debate some of the story decisions and how well those worked for us. We discuss whether origin stories are necessary, the pros and cons of shorter films, and how we think that this movie will fit into the overall MCU storyline. Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

This week's Five-Minute Controversy asks what we think of Nintendo's unasked for announcement that Peach and Mario are not a couple but just "very good friends".

This week Stephen, Michael, and Page join the cast.

Show Notes:

Nintendo says Peach and Mario are "just good friends"

The 42cast Episode 270: Defenders of the Night

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:01:35 GMT

We discussed the Gargoyles in episode 265, but there was such interest in this topic that we had to do it again. Many years ago someone told Nathan that men and women view Gargoyles differently, but would not explain to him how, so we decided to do an experiment. Last time the women told us what they thought of Gargoyles. This time the men speak. Along the way we discuss favorite characters, favorite stories, and what makes Gargoyles unique and interesting. We also talk about the proposed live action reboot of Gargoyles and what we think of the idea. We get a lot of data, and we want to know from YOU if you think that our two panels view Gargoyles differently and what you think that is.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy this week we ask what everyone’s favorite Sean Connery appearance is.

This week Kevin, Shaun, and Nate join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 269: The Quest Is Its Own Reward?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:22:29 GMT

Star Trek: Discovery completed its course after a five-year mission spanning CBS All Access and Paramount Plus. It was the first of the "new" Trek series and spawned its share of controversies as well as accolades. In this episode we review the fifth and final season of the series. We talk about the quest plotline and how we feel about the payoff. We discuss the utilization of the characters and whether we felt that they were used fittingly. We also get into the coda scene and whether we felt that it was a fitting ending for the series. Along the way we talk about lore expansions, narrative payoffs, and Discovery's main achievements and failures.

This week's five-minute controversy asks whether we think that it's a good thing that Robert Downey Jr has been cast as Dr Doom in the MCU.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Stephen joins the cast. Ryan makes a brief cameo.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 268: Chicago TARDIS 2024 - Interview with Jan Chappell & Brian Croucher

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:21:23 GMT

In this episode we go to Chicago TARDIS 2024 to present you with an interview discussion with Jan Chappell and Brian Croucher who played Cally and Travis in the TV series, Blake's 7. The duo discuss convention memories, why they think that interest remains in the series, what they enjoyed about their characters, whether romances existed, thoughts on how their series relates to Doctor Who and so much more.

If you enjoy this episode consider attending Chicago TARDIS in 2026 or another year. It’s held every year in Chicago during the last weekend of November and always hosts a number of guests to satisfy classic and new Doctor Who fans. It’s always a fun time. You can find more information on their website here.

Since this is a convention interview, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 267: Phased and Confused

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 22:38:22 GMT

Phase Five of the MCU completed this year. The phase was unique in that it had more content than prior Marvel phases. In this episode we take a deep dive on Phase Five. We discuss our favorite parts of this portion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We debate the perceived drop in quality among fandom and whether we think that there’s any merit to those arguments. We also discuss where these arguments are coming from. We also give our opinions on what we know is coming in Phase Six as well as speculate on what we think is coming that hasn’t been announced yet.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Alli, and Mike join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 266: Darefleck Begins (Screen Reads 2)

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 22:59:20 GMT

Screen Reads is back to discuss another film and compare it to the comics that form its roots. In this installment we delve into the 2003 movie Daredevil and compare it to issues 173-184 of the Daredevil comic as well as the director’s cut of the film. We talk about the differences between the director’s cut and theatrical editions and what we thought worked better in each. We debate what elements we think could have been changed and what worked better. We get into the Daredevil issues and talk about the quality of the story as well as how it was used to inform the choices of the movie. We also give our opinions of the cast performances and various elements of the film.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we think that it’s good idea to parse out the Middle Earth IP between Amazon Prime and Warner Bros.

This week Anji, Eric, and Nate join the cast.

Show Notes:

Screen Reads 1 (Green Lantern)

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 265: We Live Again

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:27:32 GMT

Gargoyles debuted in 1994 as part of the Disney Afternoon – a programming block of Disney Animation aimed at children just getting out of school. The series provided complex multi-episode stories with complex characters that was rare for children’s animation. In this episode we take a look back at Gargoyles from a female perspective. We discuss the complexities of the stories and the most impactful moments. We talk about our favorite characters and the phenomenal vocal work that went into them. We also delve into the mythologies and stories that were used as the basis for so much of the series. We end with discussions of Gargoyles in other media and if we’d ever like to see a live-action film version of the series.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy this week we ask what everyone’s favorite Sean Connery appearance is.

This week Rachele, Juliette, Miranda, and Kori join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 264: Let’s Make a Deal

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 23:01:02 GMT

Ironheart was the final installment of Marvel’s Phase Five. Delayed and extended by Covid as well as the writer’s and actor’s strikes, Phase Five of Marvel felt like it took significantly longer to complete than the previous phases. In this episode we review the character of Ironheart. We talk about what we each knew about the character before this and how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever handled the introduction of her character. We examine her place in the world and how the series handles her race, gender, socio-economic status, and her potential. We discuss her motivations and how her background informs her decisions. We also talk about the series’ endpoint and whether or not we each feel that it’s fitting for the character and satisfying narratively. Along the way we get into street-level magic, villainous vibes, making iron suits overnight in a garage, and the culmination of something fans have been screaming for since 2021.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if there’s any artistic merit to doing a shot-for-shot remake of an animated property in live action.

This week Ryan, Daviorr, and J.D. join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 263: Is Doctor Who Sexist?

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:24:16 GMT

Doctor Who continues to light up our television screens after sixty-two years. In all those years there have been periodic discussions within fandom over whether a particular story or time period within the series is sexist or even if Doctor Who as a whole has sexist undertones. In recent years, the charge has come that Doctor Who’s classic decades are much more sexist than its newer iteration. In this episode we take a look at Doctor Who from the beginning in 1963 to now. We discuss various aspects of the series and whether we consider those to be sexist. We also compare the classic series to the new series and debate how the series stacks up on this topic now versus then.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Miranda, Annie, and Felicity join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 262: I Am Spartacus

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:46:00 GMT

The film, Spartacus, is an epic story released in 1960. Starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film boasts a star-studded cast and beautifully filmed scenes in Super Technirama 70, which recorded 6K of resolution and making it ideal for display on the modern Ultra High Definition (4K) TV’s that we have today....

The post The 42cast Episode 262: I Am Spartacus appeared first on The 42cast.

The 42cast Episode 261: Vaulting the Apocalypse

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:43:45 GMT

Fallout is a TV series on Amazon Prime based on the video game series of the same name. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, Fallout tells the story of the world after a nuclear war through the interactions of the characters left within the wasteland left behind, the cities that are left, and the residents of vaults, which protected certain people from the aftermath of the explosions. In this episode we review the Fallout series. We discuss the overall tone and lore of the series and how it is informed by and recontextualizes some aspects of the original game. We also talk about the plot for this series and how well it worked for us. We also opine on the various characters in that series and debate the quality of the performances as well as what we think their motivations are.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Shaun, Mark, and Kori join the cast.

Show Notes:

Shaun’s Store – Popcycled Baubles

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 260: Fiskal Policies

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:04:58 GMT

Marvel’s Netflix series were extremely popular with the majority of the MCU fandom. Telling street level stories about characters more concerned with protecting everyday people they provided a window into a different angle of the MCU that other series were unable to provide. Due to the compound breakdown between Marvel and streamers due to the impending Disney+ service and Marvel Studios’ breakdown with Marvel TV those popular shows were canceled, and it seemed for a time that they would be swept under the table and never mentioned in the MCU again. Thankfully, that did not occur. Daredevil appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home, She-Hulk, and Echo while the Kingpin appeared in Hawkeye and Echo. Once again, the street level side of the MCU was being shown. In this episode we talk about the fulfillment of that promise with the series, Daredevil: Born Again. Presented as if it were a fifth season of the Netflix series (allowing for a skipped fourth season) the series takes us back to familiar characters with a new scenario. Wilson Fisk becomes mayor of New York and the reality for Daredevil and other so-called vigilantes is forever changed. Our cast discusses the new scenario, the use of the characters and how they interact, pacing, the combat/special effects, and more.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Mark, Alli, Eric, and Thom join the cast.

Show Notes:

Daredevil Season 3 Panel

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 259: I Should Really Just Relax

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:44:39 GMT

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was an experiment in entertainment that grew far beyond the wildest expectations of its creators. Featuring a host character and several puppeteered bots, the show purported to tell the story of an exiled spaceman forced to endure an experiment that tested the limits of the human mind subjected to the worst films of all time. The character endures by making fun of the films along with his robot companions. Growing quickly from local television program to featuring on a succession of cable channels the show’s popularity soared to extreme heights until it was cancelled ten years later. In recent years, the series was brought back on Netflix. In this episode we take a look at MST3K. We discuss the phenomenon of watching characters watch something else and why it appeals. We talk about our favorite episodes. We also debate who the greatest host of the series is.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks whether Pepé Le Pew’s scene should have been cut from Space Jam 2.

This week Beth, Page, and Mark join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 258: Film Fest

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:30:07 GMT

Man in the High Castle is a dark tale of an alternate Earth where the Axis powers won World War II. In this reality the United States has been occupied by both forces and split down the middle with Japanese states and Reich states. Hope seems lost for those who resist these powers until they start discovering films of what appears to be other Earths where things happened differently. In this episode we talk about Man in the High Castle. We discuss the various characters and how their various arcs progressed. We get into the concept and whether or not we found it entertaining or disturbing. We also debate the various plot lines and whether they worked or didn’t for us.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy in this episode we ask what Star Wars announcements we’re most excited for.

This week Jess and Leigh join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 257: What the–?!

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 03:48:42 GMT

The What If..? series was a surprise hit from Marvel. Distinguishing Marvel Animation in a way that the company had not managed previously, the series boasted high quality animation and intriguing storylines that pushed the boundaries of the MCU. In this episode we explore the third season of the series. We discuss the individual episodes and what each meant to us. We talk about the characters and how the various alternate scenarios influenced them. We also get into our overall sense of the story, whether we thought that the final two episodes were a worthy resolution, and and whether we’d like to see the What If concept make a comeback.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we think that the Broccoli family’s loss of control of the Bond film franchise to Amazon is a good thing or not.

This week Director Faber, Anji, and Alli join the cast.

Show Notes:

What If..? Season One Panel

What If..? Season Two Panel

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 256: Welcome to the 21st

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 06:53:33 GMT

Travelers is a Netflix original series about time travelers from a bleak future coming back to improve our world. The series broke with several conventions of the time travel sub-genre while mixing together other elements from various time travel series to create a unique experience that resonated with many fans. In this episode we discuss this series. We talk about our favorite characters and why their arcs worked for us while others may not have. We discuss the the various plots of the series and what we liked and didn’t about each. We also delve deep into the concepts and themes to get into what resonated with each of us about this series.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Nate, Felicity, and Kimi join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 255: Story Elements

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 18:47:46 GMT

Avatar: The Last Airbender was a popular animated show on Nickolodeon in the mid-00’s. The series depicted a fantasy world based on a blend of European, Asian, and Native American influences inhabited by “benders” who could manipulate a single one of the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air. In every generation an Avatar is born who can bend all bend all four elements. In this episode we do a deep dive into this series. We talk about the characters and why we enjoy or don’t each of them. We discuss the world and the story and what things we really enjoyed and anything that we didn’t. Along the way we also get into discussions of cultural sensitivity, the live action film, and whether we think that a live-action adaptation can ever faithfully capture this series.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Juliette; Mike; and newcomer, Rachel, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 254: Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 06:11:45 GMT

The world was altered forever in 1987 when Star Trek: The Next Generation first hit the airwaves. Continuing the story of the original Star Trek, the show brought the series back for a new generation of viewers, updating the premises and effects and revitalizing Star Trek fandom into something that would last well into the 21st century. In this episode we discuss that series and how we feel its concepts stand up against the original Trek. We also talk about the cast and who our favorite characters are. We also get into our favorite episodes and how some of them may still be relevant today.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Juliette, Will and Miranda join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 253: Road Trip

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:33:37 GMT

Agatha Harkness took the MCU by storm with her debut in WandaVision. It wasn’t long before Marvel announced that there would be a series featuring the character in Marvel’s Phase Five. In this episode we talk about that series, Agatha All Along. We discuss the characters and themes and how well they are woven into the story. We opine on some of the creative choices in this series and how it connects to other parts of the MCU. We wrap up with our predictions for where Agatha may show up next.

This week in lieu of a five-minute controversy we ask what upcoming Marvel Disney+ series has everyone most excited in 2025.

This week Anji, Cammie, and Page join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 252: Pod People

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:30:49 GMT

This week has pod-ception on The 42cast as we release a podcast episode about a TV show about a true crime podcast about true crime podcast fans solving true crimes. Of course we are talking about the comedy murder-mystery hit, Only Murders in the Building. In this episode we talk about the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez and why we think that they work so well together. We discuss the plots and how well they work as comedy and as murder mysteries. We also get into the guest stars and what our favorite appearances in the series were.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if AI should be used to determine the next James Bond.

This week Beth, Shaun, and Stephen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 251: Television of the 90’s

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:18:30 GMT

In the days before streaming, genre television was limited. However, Fox generated a lot of new content to supplement what was on the more traditional networks and cable began producing its own fair share in the 90’s. In this episode we take a look at the various genre TV series of the 90’s. We talk about our favorites and the ones that gained the attention of pop culture. We discuss what we liked, whether we think that they hold up, and why they’re worth a mention. Along the way we also talk about some trends of the decade and give some hints on where we might go in a sequel episode.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if people have concerns with Jason Momoa being recast as Lobo in the new DCU after playing Aquaman in the DCEU.

This week Alli, Keith, and Kelley join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 250: Justice is Served

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:35:39 GMT

Superman (2025) generated far too much discussion for us to contain it in a single episode. In part 2 we return to the series. We discuss the Justice Gang, what we think of the individual members, and why an unkind person doing good is a great thing to showcase. We also talk about the themes of winning versus saving and how that was modeled throughout the series. We also get into Jimmy weirdness, canine implications, and Gunn violence.

As this is the second part of a two-part episode there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan, Shaun, Nate, and Cammie join the cast.

Show Notes:

Shaun’s Business – Popcycled Baubles

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 249: The Parent Trap

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:29:13 GMT

Superman is the first full entry into James Gunn’s DCU. Facing backlash from those who wished the DCEU to continue, the film had a lot riding on it to prove the narrative vision of this new version of the DC universe across multiples forms of media. In this episode we have part one of our examination of this film. We discuss how it works as an initial outting for the DCU. We talk about some of the themes inherent within the character of Superman and shown in this film. We also dive into several of the controversies in the movie and give our takes on them.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ryan, Shaun, Nate, and Cammie join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Article Cammie Shared

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 248: Echoes of Netflix

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:14:45 GMT

Echo was a surprising addition to the Phase Five lineup. While the other characters in the MCU were characters with significant followings, Echo was a relatively minor character from the comics. However, due to a strong showing in the Hawkeye series, Alaqua Cox’s character was allowed to star in her own series with ramifications for Daredevil: Born Again. In this episode we review the Echo series. We talk about the connections to Hawkeye, Daredevil, and the prior Netflix series of Defenders characters. We discuss the depiction of the characters, what we think of the performances, and whether we’d like to see Echo show up again in the MCU.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks who should be cast to play Kang in any future MCU appearances.

This week James, Alli, and Stephen join the cast.

Show Notes:

HubbyCraft (Minecrafting videos with Nathan and Beth available periodically here)

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 247: Facing the Music

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 16:11:06 GMT

Last week we boldly went so far that we needed a whole other episode to come back. As a result this episode gives you the second part of our exploration of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In this episode we tackle such questions as “does a legal procedural work in space?”, “how many times can you bust a series’ format before it’s too many?”, and “how many original series characters do you need to have before it’s too many?” Along the way we discuss musicals, genetic augments, and relationships. We also talk about missed opportunities and what we hope to get out of the third season.

As this is the second part of a panel there is no five-minute controversy for this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost and James and Keith join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 246: Gorn to be Wild

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 06:39:10 GMT

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds continues to gain prominence among fandom. Telling stories about the crew of the Enterprise in the days when Pike was captain, the series evokes a retro feel while boasting modern effects. In this episode we provide the first half of our discussion of season two of the series. We discuss new characters like Pelia and what we think about her. We talk about the prevalence of Kirk in the series and whether or not we enjoy the many connections they make to other piece of Star Trek lore. Along the way we get into favorite characters, how we feel about time travel storylines, and Vulcan shenanigans.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks how often we each think of the Roman Empire.

This week Stephanie is cohost and James and Keith join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 245: The Rise and Fall of the DCEU

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:17:27 GMT

Superman month concludes this week, but we couldn’t leave without talking about the last iteration of The Man of Steel. In this episode we look at the entirety of the DCEU – from a franchise of franchises overseen by Zack Snyder to a disjointed dying gasp of poorly performing films and ones pulled before they could see the light of day – we go over the ins and outs of the series. We talk about the merits of the films and what we feel lead to its downfall. Along the way we also discuss our favorite and least favorite movies of them all.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy this week, the cast discusses the trailer for The Fantastic Four.

This week Ryan, James, and Daviorr join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 244: Superlative Casting

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:29:38 GMT

Superman is high in the public consciousness today, so we’re taking a step back and looking at the movie series that many still site as the quintessential version of the character. In this episode we discuss all four of the Superman movies that starred Christopher Reeve as well as Superman Returns, a movie intended to be a sequel to those earlier films. We talk about Reeves in the roles of both Clark Kent and Superman. We discuss his co-stars from each film as well as how they either added to or detracted from the movies. We also get into the various film plots and how we feel that they showcased the character. Before we wrap up we explain what’s in each of the versions of the first two films and we debate the merits of Superman Returns. We also give our rankings for these movies.

This week, our five-minute-controversy asks if we agree with James Gunn that unfinished scripts are the reason for the decrease in movie attendance by the public.

This week Ryan, Annie, and Daviorr join the cast.

Show Notes:

James Gunn Says the ‘Movie Industry Is Dying’ Because Films Are Made Without Finished Scripts

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 243: Heartfelt Conclusion

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:44:53 GMT

Superman & Lois was the final DC series produced by the CW. Originally meant to be part of the Arrowverse, the series blazed its own path once it was determined that crossovers wouldn’t be possible with Covid production restrictions. In this episode we talk about the fourth and final season of the series. We discuss the comic origins of the series. We talk about the use of Lex Luthor and Doomsday and how they added to the overall series. We also get into the various production restrictions for this scaled back season and how we felt that effected the story and our enjoyment. We also give our opinions on the ending of the series and how we felt about the various resolutions.

This week, instead of a five-minute controversy we discuss our thoughts on the Superman (2025) trailer.

This week Beth, Ryan, and Cammie join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 242: Super Fun

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:55:52 GMT

My Adventures with Superman is an animated take on the man of Steel that airs on the Cartoon Network and HBO Max. The series provides a slightly different take on Superman, following his adventures as a young intern at the Daily Planet and featuring an anime inspired style. In this episode we review about both seasons of the series. We talk about the characters and how the different lens of the series reimagines characters who are typically part of Superman’s supporting cast and ones who aren’t. We discuss the art style and what we like and don’t like about the anime-inspired take. We also get into performances and what we want to see from the series in season three.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we agree with Matt Smith that we should remove trigger warnings from media.

This week Beth, Tom, and Nate join the cast.

Show Notes:

Matt Smith says that we shouldn’t have trigger warnings on content.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 241: Dragoncon 2019 – Special Topics in Babylon 5: Crusade

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:51:31 GMT

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Peter David.

Crusade was a spinoff of the popular series, Babylon 5 that aired on TNT in 1999. Twenty years later several fans of the series and writer Peter David sat down at Dragoncon to discuss the series. We talk about favorite episodes, things that we liked about the setup for the series, production woes, and why we think that it was gone too soon. We even include a little speculation into where we think that the series was going.

This week is a Dragoncon panel from 2019 showcasing Peter David, Van Allen Plexico, and John Hudgens.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 240: BOBbing for Heroes*

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:05:44 GMT

Thunderbolts* was one of the risky ventures that Marvel puts out from time-to-time. Featuring a cast of supporting characters from previous films and series, the story catapults several characters to prominence while doing a fair amount of Marvel world-building and character development. In this episode we go over Thunderbolts*. We talk about the plot of the film and how well it works as a bridge between phases Five and Six. We discuss the characters and how they’re utilized within the story. We also give our opinions on whether this story feels like it has “homework”. We’ll also get into that asterix and whether we think that Marvel dropped the ball on the marketing.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if it’s a good idea for Marvel to separate the storytelling between their TV and movie lines.

This week Anji, James, and Stephen join the cast.

Show Notes:

An article about Feige’s comments on “Homework” with a link back to the original Wall Street Journey article

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 239: What’s What

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 07:43:44 GMT

The first season of What If…? was a surprise hit. Showcasing different paths that the MCU could have taken allowed the storytellers to reveal new aspects of familiar characters. In this episode we talk about the second season of the series. We discuss the various plot lines and what we think about them. We also compare it to the first season and what we think of the overall course of the season. We also give our opinions on whether or not new characters should be introduced in What If…?

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Juliette, Kelley, Kori, and Wil join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 238: Harry Situations

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:38:13 GMT

Resident Alien is a clever series that combines hilarious, off-beat comedy with an interesting science-fiction narrative. In this episode we delve into the series. We talk about the amazing cast that they’ve built up, and what we think about the characters and their situations. We discuss the plot lines and what we feel has worked and what hasn’t. We also get into the tone and why this series feels different from everything else that’s come before.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we agree that Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 3 should have been canned.

This week Ryan, Nate, and Kelley join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 237: Get to Know Your Doctor Part Four – Tom Baker

Thu, 29 May 2025 06:27:12 GMT

In this episode we talk about the most popular actor to play the Doctor with Tom Baker. We discuss his legacy and why he does rank so high in people’s estimation. We examine the controversies of his era such as whether there was too much violence and how he treated his costars. We also take a firm focus at the three different producers that he worked under and what effect they and their affiliated script editors had on the series and Baker’s performance. We end with our normal lists of favorite companions and favorite stories.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Eric, Anthony, and Miranda join the cast.

Show Notes:

Eric’s book on Chessie the sea monster.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 236: Brave New Film by Committee

Mon, 19 May 2025 05:07:03 GMT

After a long hiatus due to the writer’s strike, the MCU returned last February with Captain America: Brave New World. While many fans of Falcon and the Winter Soldier had high hopes for this movie, there were concerns about the use of characters from 2008’s Incredible Hulk, the minimal involvement of Bucky Barnes, and the reshoots that resulted in inserting a completely new main character in the form of Sidewinder. In this episode we take a look at the movie as a whole. We analyze the plot and the performances. We debate its impact on the MCU and what forces we believe shaped the story. We also discuss some of the thematic elements and whether or not we feel that they worked in the movie.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Alli, Tom, Kori, and Gerald join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 235: Podcasting is Magic

Thu, 15 May 2025 18:24:00 GMT

The My Little Pony franchise has been around for a long time and has spawned many animated series. In this episode we discuss the Friendship is Magic installment, which lasted from 2010 to 2019. As arguably the most successful incarnation of My Little Pony we examine why that might be. We discuss the characters and why they create interesting hooks for the audience. We talk about the mythology of the series how that interweaves with themes of conflict resolution, mental health, and social situations. We also get into the brony phenomenon, masculine expectations, and why this incarnation of a traditionally girl-focused series may also appeal to boys. Along the way we get into Star Trek crossovers, ponies-as-humans, and “hot” cartoons.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if it was a good idea to release Wonder Woman 1984 straight to streaming.

This week Beth along with newcomers, Chris and Tina, join the cast.

Show Notes:

The NerdBliss Podcast

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 234: Tree Weaver

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:44:37 GMT

The first season of Loki was one of the most popular Marvel series on Disney+. It only made sense for Marvel to do a second season. In this episode we review the Loki series. We discuss the plot and whether all of the elements work. We talk about unusual performances and new characters. We also get into the Jonathan Majors controversy and how this may have effected this series as well as what we think it means for the MCU storyline moving forward.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Jess, Will, and Nate join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 233: The Mark Finn Interview

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 02:43:51 GMT

In this episode we interview the man, the myth, the legend, the Maestro of the Marquis, the human gorilla, Mr. Mark Finn. Mark has been a regular on The 42cast, but this is our first time discussing his past in depth. Join us as Mark discusses his early forays into the world of comic books, pulp novels, and role playing games. Stick with us as Mark talks about early days in the theater, radio drama, and his various writing ventures. We also get into his love of Robert E. Howard and how he became a theater mogul. We end by discussing Mark’s interest in magic.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

The North Texas Apocalypse Bunker

Mark’s prose on Amazon

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 232: Cartoons of the 90’s

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 01:27:59 GMT

The 90’s was a time of great innovation in animation. The medium had been dominated by stand-alone episodes and simple storylines for decades. In the 90’s even the traditional networks’ programming pushed the envelope. More series with serialized storytelling were being told. An overall movement advanced to tell stories with more grown-up themes and utilizing plots and humor that would appeal across an entire family instead of just to kids. In this episode we discuss the cartoons of the 90’s. We talk about some of the themes and recurring elements throughout the decade. We also give out some of our favorite animated series of this era.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Keith, Eric, and Miranda join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 231: War! What is it Good For?

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:02:36 GMT

The War of the Rohirrim was the first attempt by Warner Bros to extend the use of their Middle-Earth license to include stories beyond the written works of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Set 180 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, it tells the story of how Helm’s Deep got its name and showcases the daughter of Helm, Hera. Conceived as an anime, the script was written in English and animated by a Japanese studio with a Japanese director. In this episode we review the movie. We discuss it as an adaptation of very scant material from Tolkien’s written work. We talk about how well it fits into the narrative of Middle-Earth and Tolkien’s style. We opine on the characters, the plot, and the performances. We also debate the merits of the animation and the music. Along the way we’ll get into the fashions, tactics in personal combat and warfare, and the touchstones to other parts of the franchise.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth; Keith; and newcomer, Annie, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 230: The Andorlorian

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 06:31:27 GMT

Rogue One has gained a cult following within Star Wars fandom and has a wide appreciation from a large swathe of the fandom. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a desire within Lucasfilm to capitalize on that by creating a prequel series about one of the main protagonists of the film, Cassian Andor. The titular series follows Andor as he is slowly recruited into the rebellion against the galactic empire. Along the way he becomes embroiled in plots that tie into the very center of Imperial power. In this episode we discuss Andor. We talk about the plots of the series and how we appreciated or didn’t how they all weave together. We also tackle the idea of whether an actor should always play the same role within a franchise. We also talk about the various characters, their arcs, and whether we feel that it fits with what we know about those characters or about the situation that they’re in.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephen, Kelley, and Cammie join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 229: Run Time

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:02:29 GMT

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was the first of the Marvel TV series to tie in with the MCU and it was almost the last to air before the collapse of Marvel’s TV division. In this episode we look back at the final season of the series. Along the way we discuss whether the time-travel McGuffin and callbacks to previous episodes created a satisfying conclusion to the series. We’ll talk about the inclusion of Souza, how well he worked on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and whether we felt that this was a fitting move for his character. Along the way we’ll talk about missed opportunities, the Fitz reveal, and what we all thought about the coda.

The five-minute controversy this week asks how Marvel should handle Black Panther movies without T’Challa.

This week Ryan, Jess, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 228: Chicago TARDIS 2024 – Our Companions, Our Friends

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:38:58 GMT

In this episode we go to Chicago TARDIS 2024 to present you with an interview discussion with Wendy Padbury, Frazer Hines, and Sophie Aldred who played Zoe, Jamie, and Ace respectively in Doctor Who. The trio discuss convention memories, what was special about their respective eras, writing asperations, Doctor Who characters they wish that they had worked with, and what they want young fans to appreciate about their characters in the show.

If you enjoy this episode consider attending Chicago TARDIS in 2025 or another year. It’s held every year in Chicago during the last weekend of November and always hosts a number of guests to satisfy classic and new Doctor Who fans. It’s always a fun time. You can find more information on their website here.

Since this is a convention interview, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 227: How You Dune

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 06:23:04 GMT

With the release of the second part of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune there are now three live action adaptations of the story. In this episode we examine the Lynch, Harrison, and Villeneuve adaptations. We discuss what we like about each one and talk about the things that we felt do not work in each. We compare notes on the various portrayals of characters and debate what worked and what didn’t in terms of an adaptation and in terms of telling the narrative each version was trying to tell. We also get into production values, visual aesthetics, and musical choices. By the end we ensure that everyone responds to the question, “How You Dune?”

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Kevin; Jess; and newcomers, Nathan and Van, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 226: Over the Rainbow

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:01:59 GMT

85 years ago, L. Frank Baum’s classic tale was adapted into the first film that used technicolor. That movie was The Wizard of Oz. In this episode we discuss that epic film. We talk about the acting, characters, and the sheer spectacle that must have left crowd’s awestruck. We discuss the themes of the source material and how well this film works as an adaptation. We get into the Disney sequel made over forty years later and how it’s such a departure from the MGM take. we also give our opinions on how Hollywood has used the Oz material ever since.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth, Anji, Felicity, and Eric join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Land of Oz theme park in North Carolina

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 225: Hitting the Mark (Invincible Edition)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:20:38 GMT

It was a title so good that we had to use it twice. In this episode we take a deep dive on Invincible. It’s a coming of age story about Mark Grayson, a teenager who has to navigate attaining super powers, his father’s secret, and getting into college. We discuss the phenomenal story and what makes it so unique at a time when we have so much superhero content. We also talk about the phenomenal voice work and the great care that goes into selecting each and every voice. Along the way we navigate the comic origins of the series and frantically try to stay away from spoilers. Those of us who haven’t read the comic give our hopes for what we’ll see in the future. We also get into the art style, animation, and depictions of superhero action and whether it works for us.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Shaun, Kevin, Daviorr, and Kelley join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Popcycled Baubles Store

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 224: Final Run

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 06:05:36 GMT

Marvel’s Runaways adapted a relatively unknown but also fairly recent comic book concept for the small screen. The story followed the children of super villains who ran away from their parents and become heroes. In this episode we take a look at the final season of the series. We discuss the plotlines and how well this final season wrapped up the plot of the series. We talk about the depiction of the world and whether or not this all takes place within the MCU. We also get into the characters both established and new, such as the villain, Morgan le Fay, played by Elizabeth Hurley. We also debate whether we’d like to see these characters again.

The five-minute controversy this week asks if it was a good idea for Marvel to replace Scott Derrickson with Sami Raimi on Doctor Strange 2.

This week Beth, Ryan, Mike, and Anji join the cast.

Show Notes:

Sam Raimi in talks to direct Doctor Strange 2

Runaways Season One Panel

Runaways Season Two Panel

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 223: The Timothy Dunigan Interview

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 23:33:53 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Captain Power himself, Timothy Dunigan, to the show. In this episode Tim talks with us about his career starting with performing in high school plays to starring in his own TV series and beyond. Along the way he discusses being the original Faceman in The A-Team, guest starring in almost every TV series of the 80’s, working for Disney as Davy Crockett, and being Hollywood’s king of working with animals. He also regales us with many tales of working with costars ranging from George Peppard to David Hemblen. He also informs us of Power On Con the first Captain Power themed convention ever with many unusual and welcome perks to attending.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 222: Power Trip

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 07:00:27 GMT

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Akira Toriyama, a brilliant creator responsible for the design of games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior in the 80’s/90’s in the US) as well of course as the Dragon Ball manga.

Dragon Ball Z is one of the first anime that many people in America ever saw. Popularized by the Toonami block on Cartoon Network, Dragon Ball quickly gained a huge following. In this episode we look at the entire franchise from the original Dragon Ball to the more recent Dragon Ball Super. We also discuss the potential for Dragon Ball Daima. Along the way we touch on our favorite characters, favorite storylines, and what we find compelling about the overall narrative. We’ll also air some frustrations and give some thoughts about what we’d still like to see from the franchise.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy in this episode.

This week James; Mike; and the living embodiment of Goku himself, Kevin, join the cast.

Show Notes:

That letter Nathan got from Cartoon Network

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 221: Waiting for Lobo

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:38:31 GMT

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was the last title to come out of the DCEU. Featuring Jason Momoa as Aquaman the movie was meant to focus on the sibling relationship between Aquaman and his brother Orm, played by Patrick Wilson. In this episode the cast discusses this film. They examine the plot and characters and discuss what they think worked and didn’t. They talk about the controversies surrounding members of the cast as well as any other factors that may have contributed to it performing less at the box office than its predecessor. They also get into a discussion about the new DCEU and Momoa’s likely placement there as Lobo.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy in this episode.

This week Anji, Nate, Daviorr, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 220: Shades of Grey

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 03:09:36 GMT

Star Trek: Picard was the second series in the new Star Trek line initially created by CBS: All Access and later continued by Paramount Plus. The series provided a bridge for fans who didn’t connect with Star Trek: Discovery by providing recognizable characters from the height of Trek popularity in the 90’s. While many fans appreciated this effort some did not appreciate the darker tone of that first season. A second season followed with a lighter tone but many plotting issues. In the third season, many Next Generation cast members as well as situations and characters from Deep Space Nine and Voyager were brought into the series to provide further touchstones to Star Trek series of the past. In this episode we discuss the third season of Star Trek: Picard. We discuss the new characters and the old and whether we appreciated the many call backs. We also talk about the plot, whether the Borg are overused, and what other legacy storylines could have been used for the hook this season. Along the way we opine on Star Trek: Legacy and what we’re like to see if that series ever comes to fruition.

Our five-minute controversy asks if streaming services removing content soon after airing is destroying our trust in them.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Tom and Joe join the cast.

Show Notes:

Streamers are removing a LOT of content

Picard Season 1 Panel

Picard Season 2 Panel

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 219: Time After Time

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 06:38:34 GMT

Legion was one of two TV series that Fox produced while owning the X-Men license. The story followed David Haller, the son of Professor Charles Xavier; his struggles with mental health; and his development as one of the most powerful mutants on the planet. The series was told from the point of view of this unreliable narrator which sometimes lead to strange visuals and editing choices. In this episode the cast discusses the third and final season that focused on time travel and the consequences of various characters’ actions. Along the way they talk about the various characters, what they think about the use of time travel in this season, mental health and how its depicted in the series, and whether or not this is a satisfying ending for the series.

Our five-minute controversy asks if we have concerns over the closing of Marvel TV and the move of all future TV projects to Marvel Studios.

This week Anji and newcomer, Pat, join the cast.

Show Notes:

Marvel TV Shutting Down

Legion Season 1 Review Legion

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 218: Willow They or Won’t They

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:31:23 GMT

Willow was released in theaters in 1988. The film was George Lucas’ take on a fantasy epic. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform up to expectations in the box office, so a sequel film was never made. However, it did develop a cult following that spawned The Chronicles of the Shadow War novel series and a television series on Disney+. In this episode the cast discusses the film, the novels, and the Disney+ series. They talk about the elements within the plot, characters, performances, and production that made the movie great. Then, they get into the merits of the various spinoffs and what worked for those, what failed, and what they’d like to see happen in the Willow universe in the future.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth, Ryan, Nate, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 217: Marvelous

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 23:19:27 GMT

The Marvels was the last MCU film of 2023. Combining plot threads from Captain Marvel, WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel, it created a crossover storyline to begin preparing the MCU for its next big event. In this episode we look at the movie and discuss whether it worked as a sequel for the various properties that came before. We’ll also talk about how the plot worked for us and what we think of the characters and how they were used. We end by going over where we think the storyline is going for the MCU and these characters.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Jess, Page, and Cammie join the cast.

Show Notes:

Bob Iger says that there weren’t enough execs on the set of The Marvels

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 216: Square Wan

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 22:56:46 GMT

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series started as a plan for a movie following the titular character. Over time that morphed into a plan to do a limited series on Disney+. In this episode the cast discusses the series. They talk about how the series fleshes out not only the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi but also Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Owen and Beru Lars. They also discuss the timeframe of the series and how it uses elements of the prequels to elevate the prior material above it’s quality when it stood alone. They also get into the new characters and whether the online controversies have any merit. They close off by opining on the future of Obi-Wan Kenobi as a character in the franchise.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy this week, the cast discusses the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

This week Ryan, Alli, and Shaun join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 215: Secret’s Out

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:53:22 GMT

Secret Invasion was part of the second wave of Disney+ shows after the popularity of the 2021 output. Announced with Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She Hulk, it was long assumed that this series would come out in 2022, but instead it came out in 2023. In this episode we take a look at Secret Invasion. We talk about the use of elements from the Captain Marvel film. We debate the use of AI generated images, the shapeshifter plotlines, and the advent of Super Skrulls. We also discuss the racial allegory and the acting talents on display within the series.

This week’s five-minute controversy discusses Tom Hank’s boycott of alterations made to works of literature, so as not to offend people’s sensibilities.

This week Nate, Keith, and Stephen join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Tom Hanks boycott

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 214: Hail to the King

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:04:01 GMT

It’s about the time that the show covered The Big G himself, The King of the Monsters, the legendary Godzilla. As Godzilla turns 70 we look at decades of films and many many takes on the basic concept. We discuss our favorite Kaiju. We debate whether Godzilla works best as a defender of the Earth or a an implaccable force of terror. We also talk about our favorite Godzilla films and eras. We also get into the modern eras with concurrent Legendary Pictures and Toho versions of Godzilla and why we feel like they work or don’t.

Due to time constraints, this episode doesn’t have a five-minute controversy.

This week Beth, Shaun, Kori, and Kevin join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 213: Blue Shift

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 06:37:50 GMT

Blue Beetle was one of the last of the DCEU releases. Originally intended as a straight to Max streaming movie, Warner Bros-Discovery was apparently impressed by what they saw and decided to release the movie to theaters. Sporting a modest $75K budget, the movie managed to look better than many, more expensive blockbusters. It also boasted a mostly latino cast, bringing representation to a community not often associated with superhero films. In this episode we discuss Blue Beetle. We talk about it’s plot, cast, and characters. We also get into the themes of the movie, use of real history to tell a story, representation in media, and the comic history of the Blue Beetle.

Due to time constraints, this episode doesn’t have a five-minute controversy.

This week Nate, Tom, and Daviorr join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 212: No Mercy

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 05:24:58 GMT

The Karate Kid was a popular movie in the early 80’s that spawned several sequels and in 2018 a spinoff series called Cobra Kai. In this episode the cast discusses the latter series. They talk about origins of the legacy characters and how the new series views them through a different point of view. They debate the merits of the various younger characters and their storylines. They also get into the themes of the series, larger than life storytelling, and how important being the All Valley Champion really is. They also reveal what they want to see in the final season of the series.

Due to time constraints, this episode doesn’t have a five-minute controversy.

This week Stephen, Eric, and Jeff join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 211: Twelve to Doomsday

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 06:10:18 GMT

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

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 210: Going Green

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 03:37:29 GMT

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.

Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

Due to time constraints this episode doesn’t have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ryan, Anji, Alli, and K.E.V.I.N. join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 209: Kicking the Habit

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:37:01 GMT

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.

Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

Our five-minute controversy asks whether we think that it’s a good thing that studios are using A.I. to greenlight projects.

This week Ryan; Cammie; and the world’s foremost Flash Fan, Shaun, join the cast.

Show Notes:

Warner Bros is using A.I. to decide what movies to Greenlight

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 208: Powered by the Apocalypse

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:43:41 GMT

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.

Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

Our five-minute controversy asks whether we think that James Gunn and Peter Safran are the right choices to helm the DCU.

This week Anji, Alli, and Shaun join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 207: Starfall

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:02:22 GMT

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.

Our five-minute controversy asks what role we’d like to see Marvel cast Henry Cavill in for more than a cameo.

This week Beth, Eric, and Jess join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 206: Tolkien About Middle-Earth Part Two – Put a Ring On It

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 04:31:13 GMT

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.

As this is the second part of our two-parter there isn’t a Five-Minute Controversy.

This week Anji, Keith, and Kimi join the cast.

Show Notes:

Feather Summarizes the Silmarillion

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 205: Tolkien About Middle-Earth Part One – Coloring Outside the Lines

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:28:24 GMT

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.

Our five-minute controversy this week asks if Wizards of the Coast has overstepped with their new licensing agreement.

This week Anji, Keith, and Kimi join the cast.

Show Notes:

Wizards of the Coast tightening a hold of their IP

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 204: Television of the 80’s

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 17:04:33 GMT

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.

Our five-minute controversy this week asks if the MCU should do a Heroes for Hire TV series with Mike Colter and Finn Jones.

This week Mark, Joe, and Keith join the cast.

Disclaimer: In this episode, the Airwolf theme was incorrectly attributed to Mike Post. The Airwolf theme was actually composed by Sylvester Levay.

Show Notes:

The North Texas Apocalypse Bunker

The Airwolf Theme

Finn Jones Wants a Heroes for Hire Series

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 203: Dial ‘D’ for Destiny

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 05:38:45 GMT

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.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan, Nate, and Mark join the cast.

Show Notes:

Mark’s mental diagram of how Raiders of the Lost Ark influenced him.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 202: Khan-Do Spirit

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 23:17:34 GMT

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.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Shaun, Jess, and Kori join the cast.

Show Notes:

Although it’s possible that it may happen someday, Moon Knight season 2 has still not been produced or even greenlit.

Teens can live without parents or guardians in Japan!

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 201: Book Ends

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:57:17 GMT

In this week’s episode we fire up the spore drive to arrive at Star Trek Discovery season 4. In this episode we delve deep into the storytelling, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of season length, using writers unfamiliar with Trek, and telling a narrative across multiple seasons. We also talk about how much we want to see more of the bridge crew, interspecies romance, and how all the teases to former Trek plots can be so frustrating. We also opine on communication issues, season resolutions, celebrity cameos, and what we want from a fifth season.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if there is any merit to Roger Corman’s claims that the MCU is just effects driven.

Show Notes:

Roger Corman’s comments about the MCU

This week Stephanie is cohost and Ryan joins the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 200: Self-Indulgent Anniversary Episode

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:38:29 GMT

The 42cast has reached 200 episodes! We’d like to thank our audience for making this possible. As a treat for this episode we’ve invited back our most prolific guests. We discuss what has been going on in the geeskisphere since Episode 100, and we give our opinions on what has been the good; the bad; and the ugly. We also talk a little about what goes on behind the scenes on The 42cast. Watch out as Nathan goes on not 1, not, but 3 rants in this episode. It is not to be missed!

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ryan, Anji, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 199: Two Hosts in Search of a Topic (EmandEn 2)

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:16:52 GMT

Our intrepid hosts are back as Nathan and Emma once again take center stage to discuss the topics near and dear to their hearts in a conversation recorded back in June of last year. This time they do their best to find a theme, but end up realizing that it’s a lot more fun to switch to any idea that catches their fancy at any given moment. Join them as they discuss topics as varied as manatees, body shaming; the academy awards; why biology hits different than chemistry and physics; the merits of the film, Liar Liar; and so much more. Along the way you’ll learn more about Nathan and Emma then you ever have on this show.

This whole episode veers towards controversy, so there is no five-minute controversy this week.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 198: She is the One Called Sailor Moon

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 20:30:10 GMT

In the entire history of anime only two characters were considered to have had sufficient cultural impact outside of Japan to adorn the welcome materials given to international Olympic athletes during the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Those were Son Goku from Dragonball/Z/GT/Super and Sailor Moon. In this episode we talk about the phenomenon that is Sailor Moon. We discuss the manga, anime, and live action versions. We talk about our favorite Sailor Soldiers (yes we know that Toei calls them Sailor Guardians now), and we debate why the franchise endures. We also talk about favorite aspects of the various media and even compare the two different animes. We also get into what dubs and subs each bring to the table.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Anji, Rachele, and Mike join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 197: Flash Burns

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:28:30 GMT

The Flash film was announced back in 2014. Originally slated to release early in 2018 many were impressed at DC’s confidence in announcing so many films so far in the future. Over the the intervening decade, The Flash production would be placed on hold multiple times as the script faced an almost infinite amount of rewrites, directors came and went, and various reshoots occurred. Eventually, the film finally saw the light of day in June of 2023. In this episode we take a deep dive on the Flash film. We discuss the plot, the adaptation of Flashpoint, and how it uses the established DCEU mythology and the Batman ’89 legacy. We also talk about the controversies around Ezra Miller and how that was juxtaposed against hype for Michael Keaton. We also get into how all this stacked against the upcoming DCU and why we think this movie flopped as greatly as it did.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ryan; Daviorr; Nate; and the World’s Foremost Flash Fan, Shaun, join the cast.

Show Notes:

Michael Keaton 10 appearances as Batman announcement article

Tom Cruise Flash Praise

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 196: 5×5

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 06:52:46 GMT

Babylon 5 created a revolution in television in the mid-90’s. Series creator J. Michael Stracynski was told that science fiction would never succeed on television if it wasn’t Star Trek. Yet, the man had a dream and he fulfilled that dream. Conceiving of a series that would last for five years with a defined beginning, middle, and ending Babylon 5 succeeded in its mission by providing complex, interwoven story arcs in an era when television was almost completely full of stand alone episodes. In this episode we do a deep dive on Babylon 5. We discuss what made the series both revolutionary and successful. We also talk about the characters, what we think worked and what we think didn’t, and whether we think the series should be rebooted.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Stephanie, Karen, and Eric join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 195: Knight Shift

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 07:02:08 GMT

Hot on the heels of Disney’s announcement of Moon Knight blu-ray and 4K UHD sets, The 42cast brings you it’s review of the titular Marvel hero. In this episode we delve into Moon Knight’s comic origins, the changes made in later years, and the various changes made for the Disney+ series. We’ll discuss the use of Disassocative Identity Disorder and how well the series handled that and the broader conversation around mental health. We also talk about the characters, plot, and how well we think the performances worked. Along the way we’ll also debate the merits of the CGI, when you can use the unreliable narrator trope, and whether this series segues into a broader storyline within the MCU. We also give our opinion on what we’d want from another season of the show.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Tom, Nate, and Will join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 194: The George Buza Interview

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 07:53:41 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome star of the stage and screen, George Buza, to the show. George is best known as the voice of the Beast in X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ’97, and Spider-Man (1994). He is the only voice actor for the animated series to also appear in an X-Men film when he played the trucker who brought Rogue to Alaska in 1999’s, X-Men. He has also had significant roles in television series such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Sinbad, and The Strain. In this episode we talk to George about his career. We discuss how he got into acting, his favorite aspects of the craft, and various roles that he’s played along the way. We also do a deep discussion of his role as the Beast, discussing the aspects that he likes about the character, favorite moments, and and what he thinks about returning to play the character after thirty years.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes (George’s recommended filmography):

The Brain

Meatballs 3

A Christmas Horror Story

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 193: Critical State

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 07:07:53 GMT

onth’s ago, Seth Rogen made waves in the entertainment industry with his comments on criticism while guesting on The Diary of a CEO podcast. His comments spoke to the emotional pain suffered by entertainers who are the objects of negative reviews. His words called into question whether critics understand the impact of what they’re writing and implied that reviews shouldn’t include negative material because of its impact on others. In this episode our panel of actors and reviewers examine these comments and ask ourselves “Is there a place for criticism?” “What should or shouldn’t be allowed?” “Should only the professionals be allowed to do it?” We also discuss the role of the critic in society, understanding your audience, and how to use tact. Don’t forget to stay after the closing song to listen to our outtakes.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ashley, Keith, Gary, and Stephen join the cast.

Show Notes:

Article about Seth Rogen’s Comments

Blog post from a man who accidentally insulted Stephen Sondheim

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 192: The Day the Music Died

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 20:42:09 GMT

From the beginning the Guardians franchise has proven to be a surprise hit for Marvel. Many anticipated that the first Guardians film would be a failure, but it garnered a surprising following and has been lauded by many as their favorite MCU films. In this episode we discuss the third installment of the Guardians franchise. We talk about the developments for the various characters. We debate the various elements of the plot. We also discuss whether we think that the Guardians franchise will move on beyond James Gunn or if we’ll see Marvel focus on different cosmic characters.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Ashley, Wil, and Eric join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 191: Fringe Benefits

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:44:05 GMT

Fringe was a series ahead of its time. Tapping into the multiverse concept, the show brought a story about parallel worlds into a procedural paranormal investigation series. The series boasted a stellar cast necessary to juggle the hardcore scientific concepts explored throughout the series five seasons. In this episode we delve deep into Fringe. We discuss what we liked about the series. We talk about what didn’t work. We also opine on the controversial fifth season and whether it should be counted as a separate series or not.

Our five-minute controversy this week asks if it would be better if Kevin Feige moved from running the MCU to running Star Wars.

This week Beth, Jen, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 190: Setting Targets

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:40:21 GMT

Hawkeye was the last in the first wave of Disney+ Marvel series. The show introduced Hawkeye successor, Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. It also debuted new character, Echo, as well as saw the return of Vince D’Onofrio as the Kingpin and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova. In this episode we discuss the plot of the Hawkeye series. We talk about it’s place in the MCU and how well it meshes with the various characters and references that it makes. We also give our opinions on the performances and how we feel the various characters are utilize. We also get into some of the deeper cuts and talk about a very unexpected character that makes an appearance.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Eric, Daviorr, and Stephen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 189: The Stephen Pickering Interview

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:50:14 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Chicago-area actor, teacher, and science-fiction fan, Stephen Pickering, to the show this week. Stephen joins the show to talk about his career in acting – starting with roles in movies like She’s Having a Baby and The Untouchables and most recently on the upcoming film, The Gray Girl. We discuss acting in different settings, teaching acting, the difficulties and creativity for the profession during Covid, and his best experiences in the industry. We also get into his love of Doctor Who and adapting content for another medium. We close out the discussion by discussing Star Trek, the enduring legacy of the original series, and the pros and cons of going back to that time period to tell new stories.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 188 (EmandEn 1): She Blinded Me with Science

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 21:50:39 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome back the one and only, Ms. Emma Dumont. In this episode, Emma comes on the show for the inaugural episode of EmandEn where she and Nathan talk about whatever strikes their fancy. This first episode was recorded on 5/27/2023, but various personal and technical hurdles kept us from sharing it right away. So, it is with great pleasure that we share this episode with you. Ostensibly, Emma and Nathan are here to talk about science, but you’ll see that they run the gamut from philosophy, history, psychology, sociology, education, the arts, and just about everything in-between.

This whole episode veers towards controversy, so there is no five-minute controversy this week.

Show Notes:

Quantum Theory

Double-Slit Experiment

School removes Nazi elements from “The Sound of Music”

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 187: Fury of the DCEU

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 06:23:46 GMT

Shazam was a surprise release from DC in 2019. The movie saw an effort to move away from the dark and gritty storytelling that had characterized DC movies since the late 80’s and move it back towards a more amusing bent. The movie was not as expensive as the more recent DC films so even it’s somewhat modest performance at the box office earmarked it as a success. In this movie we discuss its sequel, Shazam: Fury of the Gods. In this episode we talk about the characters and performances in the movie. We also discuss the plot and the placement of cameos in the film. We also debate whether the announcement of Gunn’s DCU tanked the ticket sales for the film and whether we think this film will be the last with the Shazam family.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if Mark Guggenheim as co-creator of the Arrowverse deserved a meeting with James Gunn and/or Peter Safran.

This week Ryan, Nate, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 186: The Cat’s out of the Bag

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 19:40:28 GMT

Jessica Jones was a popular series as part of Marvel’s “edgy” series developed for Netflix. The series can currently be found on Disney+. In this episode we take a look at Jessica Jones season 3. We discuss the evolution of the characters and and the development of themes that extend back to the beginning of the series. We talk about the overall plot of the series and what we think of the various decisions made by the writers. We also discuss the end of Marvel’s Netflix line as a whole and whether we’d like to see any aspects of it come back in the future.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks who we would want Giancarlo Esposito to play in the MCU.

This week Ryan, Jen, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 185: Strange New Old Worlds

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 06:02:42 GMT

As Strange New Worlds comes back to our screens, our panel discusses the first season. We discuss the cast, how we feel about the depiction of the legacy characters, and what we think about the new ones. We talk about the overall series concept and whether we like a return to an episodic format. We debate the use of “Kirk” and how two clever twists worked and whether we think future appearances will. We also get into the various performances, ideas, and references in the series. We finish by getting into what we’d want from a season 2.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we think that it was a wise move for DC to fire Henry Cavill as Superman.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Mike and Stephen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 184: Odyssey Now

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:18:49 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome members of the Odyssey Now project to our show! Odyssey Now investigates, educates, and develops information and hardware regarding the Magnavox Odyssey, the very first video game console. The Odyssey is 50 years old, so we thought it would be a great idea to highlight the tremendous work that these people do. To that end, we have project director Dr. Zachary Horton as well as his students, Levi Burner and Damien Hu, on the show. Along the way we discuss the important of the Odyssey and why it isn’t just a relic of historical interest. We also talk about the work that the Odyssey Project does and how they’re both discovering new things and developing what such an old platform can do. We end with some information about what the future of the project holds as well as ways that individuals can help them in their work.

Show Notes:

The Odyssey Now home page

Ralph Baer’s (inventor of the Odyssey) autobiography

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 183: It’s About Time

Fri, 26 May 2023 04:28:14 GMT

Time travel is one of the classic expressions of science-fiction. H.G. Wells went there with his time machine and Hollywood has gone to that well many times and told us many stories with that idea as their basis. In this episode we do a deep dive on time travel. We discuss the methods and philosophies of time travel that we’ve seen in various stories. We’ll talk about our favorite stories with time travel, and we’ll also talk about ones that we had issues with. We also debate the merits of the ending of Infinity War and discuss how time travel is effecting the MCU.

Since there are four guests this time there is no five-minute controversy.

This week Ryan; Alli; Leigh; and newcomer, Kravyn, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 182: Deus Ant Machina

Wed, 17 May 2023 16:45:03 GMT

Marvel seems to be getting bigger and bigger all the time. Recently, though, they’ve reversed course and brought us their tiniest tale of all. It’s a story with small stakes that’s about coming together as a family, commumication, and weird hobbies. Of course we are talking about Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Come with us as we talk about the plot, characters, performances, and how we think this impacts the MCU as a whole.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan, Daviorr, J.D., and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 181: Leveling Up

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:20:24 GMT

Cloak & Dagger was one of the projects produced by the old Marvel TV group. In the days before Disney+, Marvel TV produced many hits including Agents of SHIELD and the six Marvel Netflix series. Out of all of those projects that received multiple seasons Cloak & Dagger seems to have been left behind. The two season series ran on the Freeform cable network. Following the adventures of Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson the series seemed to be pitched towards a younger audience, but that didn’t keep them from compelling storylines. In this episode we look at the second season of Cloak & Dagger. We discuss the series’ evolution, and how we felt the characters and plots were handled in the season. We also talk about what we would have liked if there had been a season 3.

In this week’s five-minute controversy the cast discusses whether Mahershala Ali’s casting as Blade in the MCU is a problem, since he already played Cottonmouth in Luke Cage.

This week Ryan, Mike, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 180: Batman Begins Again

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:22:58 GMT

Although DC has had many television series in the last few years, Gotham was one of the strangest and most surprising. Lasting for five-years on the Fox network, the series showcased a Gotham city before Bruce Wayne became Batman. Despite some very unusual takes on some of the mainstays and minor characters of the Batman franchise the show thrived as it developed throughout its seasons. In this episode we discuss the fifth and final season of Gotham. We talk about the changes to the characters, the pieces of Batman lore worked into the season, and our thoughts on the season’s plot. We also discuss the finale episode and whether we think that there’s a possibility of a continuation.

In this week’s five-minute controversy the cast discusses their opinions on the casting of Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

This week Mike, Gary, and Michael join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 179: Gunning the Box Office

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:01:08 GMT

The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe has changed again! The comic world was shocked last October when it was announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran would help a new DC Studios division of Warner Bros. In the past few months, Gunn has been forthcoming with quite a few details about his plans for the franchise, including a discussion of what legacy projects that predate his time will continue and what his own plans are for new films, TV shows, and cartoons within his interconnected universe. In this episode we take a look at these announcements. We discuss what this means for DC media in general and how we feel about it. Then we discuss which of the various projects we are most excited for.

Instead of a Five-Minute controversy this episode debuts Nathan’s Notes. This time Nathan talks about Toxic Positivity.

This week Ryan, Eric, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 178: Going for the Cat Trick

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 17:25:33 GMT

Black Panther was a tremendously successful film. Showcasing Afro-futurism within the MCU it became a cultural touchstone for people of African descent and those who weren’t, allowing them to bond over their shared delight at this fresh take on a superhero story. In this episode we talk about the sequel to Black Panther, Wakanda Forever. We touch on the tragedy of Chadwick Boseman’s passing and debate whether they made the right choice not to recast the role. We discuss the new characters introduced, how well they serve the plot, and where we think that we’ll see them in the future. We also talk about links to other franchises, the stellar performances, and that surprise end reveal.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Tom, and J.D. join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 177: The Emma Dumont Interview

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 22:49:04 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Emma Dumont to the show this week. Emma talks to us about her many talents including a lifetime in performative media as a musician, model, dancer, and actress. She discusses her interest in the STEM disciplines and why she feels that both engineering and psychology are so very important. Then she geeks out discussing her interest in comics and comic characters. We also get into her favorite things to do when she isn’t acting or studying as well as her favorite genres and media to consume. We end by talking to her about her own podcasting endeavors.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 176: How Bizarre

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 23:18:22 GMT

Superman and Lois was a surprise hit in season 1 and we had overwhelmingly positive things to say about this show. This time we cover season 2. We do a deep dive and discuss the nature of the relationships in the show. We talk about Superman as a geopolitical figure and how that can make his heroicWe s complicated. We also get into the Bizarro universe and how it’s different from previous iterations that we may have seen. We also can’t leave without getting into the controversial divorcing of Superman & Lois from the Arrowverse. We also ask if the case was ever made for why merging was bad. Along the way we also get into the plot, the acting, and what we want out of season 3.

This week instead of a five-minute controversy we discuss the teaser trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

This week Ryan, Thom, and Michael join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 175: Raider of the Lost Tuskens

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 23:50:51 GMT

The announcement of The Book of Boba Fett excited a lot of people. Continuing the story of the character from the Mandalorian, the set up implied that the titular character would assume the role of a crime boss, running his operations from the outpost of Tatooine. In actuality the show turned a sharp corner, depicting the former bounty hunter as a virtuous but naïve warrior trying to change Tatooine into an egalitarian society. In this episode we discuss Boba’s role as Prince of the Deep Dune Sea. We talk about whether we felt that the plot worked as well as discussing Boba and his supporting cast’s character. Along the way we’ll talk about references to other series and whether or not they were dealt with well. We also get into the Mandalorian Trojan Horse episodes and whether they distracted from Boba’s story. We end things by debating what we would do with a second season of this series.

The five-minute controversy this week asks whether the Flash film should be released in light of Ezra Miller’s recent criminal behavior.

This week Kori, J.D., and Daviorr join the cast.

Show Notes:

Ezra Miller Allegations

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 174: Multiversity 101

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:45:05 GMT

It seems like you can’t throw an infinity of rocks without hitting a movie, TV show, or book that uses the concept of the multiverse. In this episode we delve deep into the concept of a multiverse. We discuss the various types of multiverse utilized in fiction and get a little into the meta and in-universe reasoning behind it. We talk about why the multiverse is a concept that holds our interest. Finally we give our recomendations for things that have used the multiverse well that you should check out.

The five-minute controversy this week asks whether misleading information should be allowed in movie trailers whether it is intentional or unintentional.

This week Stephen, Alli, and Tom join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 173: The Man in Black

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 06:24:05 GMT

Everything gets a bit dark this week as The 42cast looks into the latest film to come from the DC Universe, Black Adam. We discuss this as Dwayne Johnson’s passion peace that he’s been trying to get made since 2014. We talk about the plot and themes and discuss whether they make any sense in the context of what we’ve seen from DC before. We also get into the casting choices and what we think about the portrayal of various characters that have never been seen in live action before. We also opine on the inclusion of elements like Amanda Waller and Superman and how those both effect the narrative. We also discuss the Shazam connection and we talk about what a Black Adam franchise could have looked like.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan, James, and Nate join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 172: Mind Your P’s & Q’s

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 22:57:14 GMT

Picard season 2 continued the adventures of an older Jean-Luc Picard. This time the story added popular characters Q and Guinan and also explored Picard’s past and character. In this episode we discuss the second season of Picard. We take a deep dive into the plot and discuss whether the story elements worked together and how well they developed the themes of the season. We also discuss the characters and their various arcs and how satisfying we found those. We also take some time to discuss season 3 and how we’d like the series to end its run.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask who Giancarlo Esposito should play in the MCU.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Ryan and Juliette join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 171: Negative Reinforcement

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 18:35:25 GMT

Last year we watched the Arrowverse implode. Due to cancellations and a narrative divorce what had been a mega franchise with four different iterations was wittled down to just a single entry – The Flash. I this episode we review the penultimate season of The Flash. We discuss the characters, their trajectories, and whether we think they’re maximizing on their story potential. We’ll also discuss the plotlines and whether we thought that the payoff worked. Finally, we discuss the future and what we’d like out of a final season.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan; Cammie; and the world’s foremost Flash fan, Shaun, join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 170: What’s in a Name?

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 08:02:14 GMT

From Respeecher to Deep Fakes, we hear about it all the time. The technology continues to develop, so that studios can recreate the faces and voices of actors that have passed or aged out of certain roles. In this episode we discuss the implications of this technology. We talk about what it could mean for acting as a profession, the ramifications to live-action franchises, and whether it’s something that audiences really require. We also opine on the pros and cons of recreating a particular actor in a role or recasting.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if James Cameron’s comments that Marvel characters do not develop is justified or not.

This week Mark, Kelley, Daviorr, and Miranda join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 169: Not the GOAT(s)

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 08:53:13 GMT

Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth installment in the Thor franchise. Once again pairing Chris Hemsworth with director Taika Waititi, the movie generated interest when it was announced that Natalie Portman would reprise her role as Jane Foster. Similar to Thor: Ragnarok the film had a strong comedic element that has fan opinion divided over this film. In this episode we discuss the cast, characters, and plot of the movie. We also talk about the humor element, how the Guardians of the Galaxy were utilized, and the ramifications for the greater MCU.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if the proper designation for the MCU should be Earth 616 or Earth 199999.

This week Ryan, Eric, Wil, and Eric join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 168: Jigsawed

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:22:18 GMT

The Marvel Netflix series garnered a large amount of support in the brief time that they were available. With Charlie Cox returning as Daredevil it was only a matter of time before rumors spread of others of the Netflix “Defenders” being folded into the MCU. Jon Bernthal is at the center of many of those proving that there’s still an audience for his interpretation of The Punisher. In this episode we take a look at the second season of that series. We discuss the pacing and why it worked for some and didn’t for others. We talk about the new characters and how they effected Frank’s journey. We also get into the choices made to further season one’s story and whether we felt that worked. We finish up by asking whether we’d like to see future seasons of the series on Disney+.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Disney should make their historically notable but racially incentive material from the past available on Disney+.

This week Ryan, Mark, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 167: Mind Blown

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 01:03:06 GMT

The countdown to the end of the Arrowverse continues. This week we take a look at Batwoman season 3. In this episode we discuss the use of Batman “legacy” elements and how that effected the story. We also get into the series controversial take on electroshock therapy and whether we thought that it went too far. We also talk about the interpersonal relationships of the team and where we thought this would all go if there had been a season 4.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Grant Gustin should replace Ezra Miller in Flash films going forward.

This week Ryan, James, and Cammie join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 166: Phase of Our Lives

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:38:52 GMT

Marvel has generated a lot of buzz lately with announcements regarding the upcoming phases of their universe. This week we discuss the announcements from the SDCC and D23 2022. We’ll talk about our favorite announcements. We discuss the things that surprise us. We’ll opine on the direction that the MCU seems to be going and how we feel about it.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Mark, Alli, Wil, and Stephen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 165: Horror Story

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 08:15:04 GMT

It’s nothing but madness in our latest episode as we review Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Join us as we discuss familiar and unfamiliar stars in this Marvel movie. Along the way we discuss the multiverse, how it’s handled, and the ramifications for Marvel. We opine on the story, how well we think it succeeds in what it’s trying to do, and where the MCU can go from here. We discuss the Wanda storyline and whether or not we felt it suited her trajectory after WandaVision. Along the way we’ll get into how the audience should approach the old Marvel TV properties when watching something from Marvel studios, what’s up with the illuminati, and if it’s really possible to pronounce Benedict Cumberbatch’s name correctly.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Mark, Alli, Page, and Juliette join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 164: X-Cellent Animation

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 08:12:03 GMT

Thirty years ago, a new animated series would take the world by storm. It would quickly become the most watched series on Saturday mornings and giving the fledgling Fox Kids programming block a distinct win. The series was a win for Marvel as well, introducing the X-Men characters to a generation of viewers and catapulting the affiliated comics to the height of their success. In this episode we take a look back at 1992’s X-Men series. We discuss the role that gender diversity had in the series’ success. We also talk about the use of theater trained actors rather than traditional voice-over artists. We also opine on the role that the scripting played in the series. Along the way we discus the animation, the characters, and why we feel that the legacy of this series has endured.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Michael Edens.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if we’re taking “no spoilers” restrictions too far.

This week Rachele, Eric, and Mike join the cast.

Show Notes:

X-Men Stop Motion Intro

Previously on X-Men book

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 163: Totes the End

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 08:58:38 GMT

Supergirl was a mainstay of DC’s CW offerings for years. Starting as a CBS show, it was moved to the CW with its second season and eventually integrated into the Arrowverse during the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. In this episode we discuss the final season of the series. We talk about the efforts that had to be made to write around star, Melissa Benoist’s pregnancy as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. We also get into the overall plot of the season and whether we felt that this was fitting for a series finale. Finally, we discuss the characters and their interactions and mention what we liked and didn’t about the season. Along the way we also discuss the cameos and who we’re most satisfied seeing and not in this final outing for the series.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if it’s acceptable to digitally recreate an actor who is still alive.

This week Ryan, James, and Cammie join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 162: Rough Diamonds

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 06:46:02 GMT

We’ve all had the experience. We see a movie that we know is truly awful by any measurable factor, but we love it anyway. In this episode we discuss the phenomenon that makes something “so bad that it’s good”. We talk about our favorite movies that fit that description and discuss our experiences with the specific media. We also get into what makes a movie “so bad that it’s good” different from movies that are just bad or movies that you disagree with the majority about whether it is bad.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if Roger Corman’s comments that Marvel could learn a lot about placing character before effects by watching James Cameron films have any validity.

This week J.D., Wil, Daviorr, and Joe join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 161: Home Stretch

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:09:37 GMT

Spider-Man may not have a way home but we do, as we get back to releasing our MCU episodes. Join us as we discuss Spider-Man: No Way Home. We discuss the various cameos and crossovers and how that impacted our interest in the movie and how we feel that it will impact the MCU going forward. We also talk about Peter’s development as a character and how his sacrifice will have ramifications moving forward. We also get into the wacky antics, the amazing action, the spectacular cameos and so much more.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy in this episode.

This week Ryan; Mike; Jess; and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 160: Voltron Re-Animated

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 07:06:45 GMT

This week we set the way-back machine for 2019 and a discussion of the entirety of Voltron: Legendary Defender. We talk about our favorite characters as well as what worked and what didn’t. We also talk about the storylines and decisions that we enjoyed as well as those that seemed to come out of left-field. We also get into relationships, characters arcs, and themes that were expressed in the series. We also give a pitch for a Monsters and Mana spinoff series.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask what each person would most like to see from the Disney/Fox merger.

This week Beth and Eric join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 159: The Lenore Zann Interview

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 03:57:04 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome star of stage and screen and former politician, Lenore Zann. In genre fiction circles Lenore is probably best known as the X-Men’s Rogue. In this episode we sit down to talk with Lenore about her career. She describes the struggles that actors face and gives us insight into voice acting, stage acting, and acting on screen. She talks about playing Rogue and about how the character has influenced her and how she has influenced the character. We also discuss X-Men ’97 and get some hints on what’s to come.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 158: Alternate Takes

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 19:22:45 GMT

Marvel has gone into the multiverse in a big way. In this episode we take a look at the biggest expression of that to date with What If. We discuss the series as the MCU’s first animation project. We discuss the What If concept and talk about which episodes worked for us. We also debate why this series had such a mixed response from the public and what we want to see from it moving forward. We also talk about what this series could mean for the future of Marvel going forward.

This episode does not contain a five-minute controversy.

This week Mark, Kelley, and Wil join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 157: Chicago TARDIS 2016 – The Original, You Might Say: The First Doctor’s Era

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:42:52 GMT

As we approach the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, it’s time to take a look back at the beginning of it all. In this episode we go back to a panel from Chicago TARDIS 2016. In it we discuss William Hartnell the man and the first Doctor. We talk about the situation behind his involvement in the show and turbulent times in his later years. We discuss his performance as the Doctor and what he has brought to the role that has stuck with the series ever since. We also get into a discussion about the early years of the program. We discuss how its similar and different to Doctor Who as well and what elements from those years would no longer work and things that we think would that has been abandoned.

As this is a con panel, there will be no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Bill Albert, Steve Manfred, and Nyssa Makepeace join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 156: Rocket Man

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:03:05 GMT

It’s been thirty years since The Rocketeer graced the silver screen. A superhero story done in a 40’s pulp hero style, the Rocketeer may have been ahead of it’s time. It made only moderate profits in the theater, but has retained a cult following. In this episode we talk about what we think about the Rocketeer and how its aged. We discuss the rocket punk style, the acting, plot, and themes of the story. We also discuss why the movie may not have done as well as expected. We also discuss what we’re hoping for from the Disney+ reboot.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks whether Marvel should edit out tributes to deceased celebrities from material that was already released with those tributes.

This week Shaun, Alli, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 155: Genius Loki

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 04:58:54 GMT

Loki was one of the most anticipated of the initial Marvel series announced for Disney+. Many had wondered how Marvel would handle the Loki variant that escaped during Avengers: Endgame. The series would eventually be incredibly important, setting up concepts that would be developed further in What If…, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. In this episode we discuss the Loki series. We talk about the characters, how they’re developed, and how they’re portrayed. We discuss Loki in the context of the MCU and multiversal variants. We also get into a discussion of the multiverse, how the MCU has portrayed it, and what this could mean for the future. Hang around for the outtakes as Alli goes into detail about her feelings for Avengers: Endgame.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks whether Marvel should have replaced the Captain America account with Captain Carter for a time.

This week Ryan, Alli, and Kori join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 154: The Lauren Cornelius Interview

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 07:18:25 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome the newest addition to the ranks of the Doctor’s companions with Lauren Cornelius. Lauren is currently playing the role of Dodo Chaplet in First Doctor Adventures from Big Finish productions. In this interview Lauren sits down with us to talk about how a shy girl from Camden Town became the actress that we know today. Along the way we discuss her favorite types of stories, acting under lockdown, and what she enjoys about the character of Dodo. We also talk about her interests aside from acting and her experiences recording several different Doctor Who adventures.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 153: Boldly Going Forward ‘Cause We Can’t Find Reverse

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 23:47:50 GMT

The Orville season 2 returned with further adventures of the titular exploratory ship. In this episode we talk about how we feel about the direction of the show. We’ll also discuss character changes both in personality and in the makeup of the cast. We also get into our favorite characters and favorite episodes. Along the way we give the die-hard Star Trek fans a reason to check this show out. We wrap up with asking what we want out of a season 3, which we now know is currently airing on Hulu.

This week’s five-minute controversy examines the extreme reactions to the Star Trek: Picard teaser.

This week Ryan, Eric, and Stephanie join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 152: Roll Models Part Three – The Epic Beach Game Exposition

Thu, 26 May 2022 16:54:56 GMT

Roll models continues into its third and final episode. In this episode we do a deep dive to delve into what panel of GM’s think about player conflict, forbidding certain types of behavior, and how to flex games beyond their mechanics. We also talk about the costs of gaming and give some ideas on how to save money on playing RPG’s. We also discuss our favorite systems of all time and why those suit us so well. Along the way we also give our absolute favorite gaming experiences and why we just enjoy this hobby so much.

As a continuation of our prior Roll Models episode there won’t be a five-minute controversy in this episode.

This week Shaun, Mark, and Kimi join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 151: Batter Up

Fri, 20 May 2022 00:49:00 GMT

The Batman is a movie that courted controversy from the beginning. From the troubled origins of the film as a showcase of Ben Affleck a the dark knight to the casting of Robert Pattinson as the titular character, fans had many strong and vocal opinions of how the film would turn out. In this episode we talk about the finished film. We discuss the aspects of the character brought to the fore as well as the performances of the various actors. We’ll also talk about racism in the fan base ad the themes of the movie. We’ll also get into the soundtrack and what we want to see out of the sequel.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth; Ryan; James; and newcomer, Daviorr join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 150: Eclipsed

Tue, 03 May 2022 05:02:02 GMT

Season 2 of Stargirl promised summer school hijinks. Instead it brought an expansion to the JSA mythos as well as a dip into horror and suspense. In this episode we discuss the tonal change to the series. We also talk about the new characters, the threat of Eclipso, and why we can’t get enough of the Crocks. Along the way we’ll also discuss what we want to see out of a season 3.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Beth, Jess, and Eric join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 149: CAPital Gain

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 07:23:34 GMT

Falcon and the Winter Soldier was the second of the MCU series released on Disney+. The series had the expected amount of action and intrigue, but surprised viewers with its hard hitting look at race relations in this country over a span of decades. It also expounded upon the effects of the Sakovia Accords and the Blip on the MCU at large. It took returning characters and gave them surprise twists as well as giving us some new characters, including the new Captain America, John Walker. In this episode we talk about the series and delve into the characters and storyline. We also discuss the ramifications of the events of the series and how we think it’ll influence the MCU going forward.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Mike, and J.D. join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 148: The X-Men ’97 Interview

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 19:13:00 GMT

We are proud to welcome back Eric and Julia Lewald as well as Larry Houston to our show. Marvel recently announced that a continuation of the ground-breaking X-Men: The Animated Series would stream on Disney+ under the title X-Men ’97. Eric, Julia, and Larry come on the show to talk about their role as consultants for the new series and what they can tell us about the new series. Along the way we discuss their book, X-Men: The Art and Making of The Animated Series as well as their memories of the classic series. We also take a moment to discuss Michael Edens who passed several months ago, but was one of the main writers and creative forces behind the original animated series.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Eric and Julia’s website

Larry Houston’s website

Michael Edens Tribute

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 147: Roll Models Part Two – Mind Games

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 04:39:15 GMT

Tabletop roleplaying games are a big subject, and we continue our discussion in our next installment of Roll Models. In this episode we ask our panel of experts about their RPG recommendations. They discuss the upsides and downsides of playing the systems and relate their experiences with them. They also discuss content creation for both worldbuilding and game mechanics and they detail where you can find their stuff.

As a continuation of our prior Roll Models episode there won’t be a five-minute controversy in this episode.

This week Shaun, Mark, and Kimi join the cast.

Show Notes:

Golden Lasso Games

Human Gorilla Creations on DriveThruRpg.com

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 146: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Panel (Dragoncon 2019)

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 07:03:14 GMT

Across space and time comes a panel over one million years in the making. In this episode we take a step back into time and observe a panel from a bygone age of maskless, in-person convention gathering as we discuss the tour de force that is The Bill & Ted saga. We talk about the comedic greatness of the first film, the quest to do something new of the second, and speculate on what we want to see in the third. Along the way we’ll talk about humor that doesn’t age well, historical antics, and just what the deal was with Bill & Ted as characters. We’ll also discuss the genius of casting George Carlin, time-twisted narratives, and why you never want to have the last presentation.

As this is a convention panel there is no 5-minute controversy this week.

This week Gary Mitchel, Felicity Kusinitz, John Hudgens, Chris Cummins, and Beth van Dusen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 145: Double Vision

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 07:25:57 GMT

WandaVision was the first of Marvel’s Disney+ releases. It faced the seemingly impossible task of progressing the story of Wanda and Vision despite the fact that the latter was dead. What followed was to date the most experimental of the MCU’s offerings, and one that had a wide distribution of opinions from fandom. In this episode we’ll talk about the series, how it utilized sitcoms to tell a story about grief, returning faces, continuing threads from elsewhere in the universe, and where we think it’s all leading. We’ll also talk about fan expectations and whether or not we think people are justified for crying “foul”.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if its preferable for streaming services to release a whole season at once or one episode at a time.

This week Beth, Jess, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 144: Hitting the Mark

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:10:41 GMT

Everything old is new again! After some surprising appearances in some recent MCU releases, Daredevil is relevant again, so we thought it was a great idea to finally make public our review of season 3 of that series. We discuss everything from the aftermath of The Defenders to how we feel that this is probably the end to his stand alone series. We discuss our thoughts for a possible season 4 as well as our feelings for the characters and the trajectories they’ve taken to get to this point. We also talk about our new characters such as Bullseye, various takes on mental health, and Anji asks if the writers just have an unreasoning hatred of the FBI.

This week Ryan, Stephanie, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 143: The Sadie Miller Interview

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:55:13 GMT

The 42cast is proud to present our interview with Sadie Miller. Miller is the daughter of actress Elizabeth Sladen who was best known for playing Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who as well as in The Sarah Jane Advenutres. In this episode Miller talks growing up and gives various details about her mother and her exposure to Doctor Who. She also discusses her feelings about playing Sarah Jane Smith in audio dramas for Big Finish and gives her insights into the character. We also get her opinions about Doctor Who, her favorite stories, and what she thinks about K-9 and Company.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 142: Roll Models Part One – Gaining Experience

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 22:45:52 GMT

From the beginning of the show we’ve been looking for an opportunity to talk about roleplaying games. With this episode we start a three part series doing just that. Join us as we’re joined by an illustrious group of content creators to discuss roleplaying games. We talk about what is a roleplaying game, what we enjoy about the format, different types of games, and what to do and not do to make the gaming table inviting.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against Disney was frivolous.

This week Shaun, Mark, and Kimi join the cast.

Show Notes:

The Gamers

Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising

Gamers 3: Hands of Fate

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 141: Not Easy Being Green (Screen Reads 1)

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 06:59:00 GMT

Welcome to the first ever Screen Reads. In Screen Reads we look at a movie through the lens of the source material that it’s adapting. In this episode we’re talking about 2011’s Ryan Reynolds film, Green Lantern as well as its antecedents; Emerald Twilight, Green Lantern: Secret Origin, and Green Lantern: Rebirth. We talk about the plot and characters of the Green Lantern film and how well they adhere to their comic origin. We also discuss our opinion on the comics, what we think about the casting of the movie, and what we think could have been done to make the movie work.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Anji is cohost and Eric, Wil, and Eric join the cast.

Show Notes:

Proof that Nathan got the Simpsons episode right

Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight

Green Lantern: Secret Origin

Green Lantern: Rebirth

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 140: The Eric Ratcliffe Interview

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 06:50:53 GMT

We have a lot of really great cast members on The 42cast, so after episode 100 and the conversations we had, we thought it would be good if we interviewed members of the cast. First up is Eric Ratcliffe. Eric is a podcaster, webcomic writer, and all-around geek. He and I will discuss his podcast and webcomic, but we’ll also discuss his geeky interests, toy collections, and what games he’s playing.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

New Comic Day

Why I Love Comics podcast

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 139: Old Man Picard

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 08:33:35 GMT

For many Star Trek: Discovery was a welcome return to the Trek universe for fans who’d wanted a Star Trek TV series for years. However, the series remained divisive with many long-term fans refusing to watch the series. Enter Star Trek: Picard a series meant to catapult the Star Trek franchise forward but providing ample connections for established fans. In this episode we do a deep dive on the series. We talk about the plot, the reunification of the Star Trek timeline, the characters and the cast. We also make sure to spend plenty of time on the cameos, the cathartic release from Star Trek: Nemesis, and our predictions for season two.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if it’s a good idea for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to be episodic rather than have story arcs.

This week Stephanie is cohost and James and Juliette join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 138: Cutting Edge

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:03:24 GMT

Last year a new series took the Arrowverse by storm. That series was Superman and Lois. Although the character of Superman has been adapted numerous times in numerous media, this series broke the mold by focusing on Superman and Lois as parents of teenage children. Along the way superhuman threats emerge, but the heart of the show is about family. In this episode we talk about that family dynamic, how we felt about the portrayals, the surprise reveal of who “The Stranger” is, and the overall plot of the series. We also discuss that Diggle cameo and our thoughts for season two.

This week’s five-minute controversy has us discuss the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer.

This week Beth, Ryan, Eric, and Thomas join the cast.

Show Notes:

Proof people were linking The Stranger to Lex Luthor prior to the debut of the series.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 137: 60 Years of Mothra

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:20:16 GMT

Sixty years ago, a queen descended onto movie theaters and has been with us ever since. Mothra is unique among Toho’s Kaijuverse in that she’s depicted as both female and altruistic. In this episode we discuss Mothra’s various appearances and how she relates to other Kaiju. We also talk about the feminine perspective and other influences on how Mothra is depicted. We close up discussing Mothra’s relevance and whether a Mothra film could work in modern times.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if it’s wise for Hollywood studios to simultaneously release movies to theaters and streaming.

This week Beth; Wil; and newcomer, Kori, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 136: Deviant Logic

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:25:56 GMT

It’s time for us to make a jump to the left as Marvel has brought us a story featuring a different kind of character previously unknown in the MCU. In this episode we review Marvel’s Eternals. We talk about the concept and how it fits into the MCU. We also debate whether the movie works in what it was trying to do. We discuss the cast and our favorites. We also get into comic book origins, minor characters, that voice, and how several threads from this movie will spin into the Marvel Universe at large.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Thomas, Leigh, Eric, and Ashley join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 135: Childhood’s End

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 19:36:26 GMT

Before Disney announced approximately 312 new Star Wars series that would debut at some point on Disney+, they gave us The Mandalorian. The Mandalorian ticked all of our boxes in season 1, providing compelling drama in fun innovative ways that only Star Wars can. In this season they built on the formula bringing back fan-favorites from the first season, characters from across the Star Wars universe, and providing new locations and situations. In this episode we examine season 2 and assess if the series heading in the right direction. We also talk about the potential with the Book of Bobba Fett spinoff as well as what we think will happen in The Mandalorian season 3.

Our five minute controversy this week asks if Gina Carano should have been fired from this series.

This week Anji, Juliette, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 134: Metal Breakdown

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 08:14:03 GMT

Lost in Space is returning to Netflix, so The 42cast is bringing its discussion of season 2 to your ears. In this episode we discuss Penny growing up, Dr Smith’s ambiguity, party balance, and the potential of a chicken-eye-view episode. Along the way we discuss family drama, killer robots, and whether Bill Mummy will ever be found. We also talk about the end of the season and our predictions for season 3.

Due to a lack of time, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Shaun, Joe, and Wil join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 133: Get to Know the Cast

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 08:56:38 GMT

We’ve been podcasting for almost five years, but you’ve only had the opportunity to learn about a small fraction of our cast. We decided now is the time to rectify that situation. In this episode we sit down with three of our most prolific castmates. We ask each other geeky questions and give you some insight into our characters. It’s the same format as episode one, but it’s so much fun that we’ll probably do it again.

Due to a lack of material, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephanie, James, and Mike join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 132: Warping the Box Office Part Two

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 23:51:13 GMT

We continue our discussion of the Star Trek Films with Star Treks IV – VI. In this episode we discuss killer whales and whether the move to lighten the franchise worked. We also discuss fan opinion of The Final Frontier and whether it’s as bad as people say. We’ll also talk about dark themes in the Undiscovered Country and how the passing of the torch happened years after the successor series was already in place. We also discuss the plots, new characters, directorial choices, and more.

Since this the second part of a single podcast recording there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Ryan and Eric join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 131: Warping the Box Office Part One

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 08:35:34 GMT

In 1977, Star Wars was released to movie theaters worldwide and created a smash hit phenomenon. Seeing the fervor for media content and merchandise many other sci-fi properties tried to horn in on the action. Star Trek had had a loyal fanbase since the 60’s and even had a new television series in the works, but with Star Wars blowing up the theaters it made sense that Star Trek could follow suit and also win big at the box office. The TV project, Star Trek: Phase II was shut down and Star Trek: The Motion Picture came to the big screen in 1979. The series of six movies that it spawned led to a revitalization of interest in Star Trek as well as a continuation for the actors who played the iconic roles. In this episode we have the first half of our discussion of the movies in which we talk about Star Treks I – III. We discuss how the big screen changed Trek, the themes of the different movies, whether the evens vs odds rule really works.

Our five-minute controversy this week asks if it would be a smart move for Disney to quit publishing Marvel comics and license to another publisher.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Ryan and Eric join the cast.

Show Notes:

Dating Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Dating Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 130: Feel the Burn

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 19:37:51 GMT

Star Trek: Discovery season 3 brought the titular ship to the far future opening up a wide storytelling vista for the series. In this episode we discuss the changes to the setting. We examine the new characters, new situation, and the new tech and effects. We also debate the merits of the plotlines with the Emerald Chain and the cause of The Burn. Along the way we also talk about the awesomeness of Grudge and whether or not the queen herself has any secrets to share. We’ll also bring up the old continuity bugbear and discuss how this season relates to what we know about certain races, beings, and times from elsewhere in the Star Trek franchise.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost and Ryan and newcomer, Keith, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 129: Flash Bang

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 17:57:48 GMT

The Flash returned to our screens post Covid to wrap up it’s lingering season six plotlines and tell two new stories this season. In this episode we take a deep dive on season 7. We focus on the fallout from the firing of Hartley Sawyer and the removal of Ralph Dibny from the series. We also discuss the new villains and how they stack up to what we’ve seen before. We also go deep into the relationships on the show and what dynamics are good and what we feel is missing.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan; Cammie; and the world’s foremost Flash fan, Shaun, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 128: Gone but not Forgotten

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:41:17 GMT

We’ve all had the experience. We absolutely love a TV series and follow it faithfully, but then it’s canceled after one or two seasons. In this episode we take a look at all the contenders who got knocked out early in the fight. We air our grievances and talk about why we think these series should have kept going. We also discuss the difficulties in comparing series that lasted such a small amount of time with the behemoths that last for 5 or more seasons. These shows may be gone, but they’re not forgotten.

Our five-minute controversy this week asks if Marvel’s relegating the former Marvel TV properties to non-canon status is a good or bad move.

This week Eric and newcomers, Wil and Karen join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 127: Armed and Dangerous

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 06:44:23 GMT

Out of the pages of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, Shang-Chi punches his way into the box office. In this episode we talk about how a character mired in the Kung Fu cinema culture of the 70’s got adapted for the 2020’s. We discuss the cast and what we thought of both the characters and performances. We also get into the greater Marvel story and how this film connects and what we think are the missed opportunities. We also discuss other comics elements and how they’re utilized in the movie, whether this is the final nail in the coffin of the Netflix arm of Marvel, and what we want out of a Shang-Chi sequel.

Disclaimer: This episode contains spoilers. If you do not wish to have the movie spoiled for you, please watch the film before listening to this podcast.

Due to time constraints this episode does not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Mark; Kelley; Gerald; and newcomer, J.D., join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 126: Alice in Chains

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:55:21 GMT

Major changes are afoot as we discuss season two of Batwoman. The CW made a controversial move this year by not only replacing the actress who played Batwoman, but changing the identity of the person who wears the cowl to a person-of-color. We discuss the change and whether or not we think it’s worked. We also talk about the changed storylines and what we think of what’s been done with new and established characters. Along the way, we opine on The Diggle Cinematic Universe, Luke Fox taking his role as a hero, and whether the Crows make an effective substitute for the police as well as what the series isn’t addressing. We also chat about whether the Many Arms of Death is just the League of Assassins with the serial numbers filed off and whether desert rose really makes more sense as the name of a cosmetic product.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Disney/Marvel made the right call by stating that Stan Lee’s image and voice would never be used in any future projects.

This week Ryan, James, and Cammie join the cast.

Show Notes:

Desert Rose commercial

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 125: Pod Patrol

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 08:26:06 GMT

It’s not the episode we promised, but we wanted to make sure and get you another excellent episode of The 42cast. In this episode we talk about HBO Max’s Doom Patrol. Doom Patrol follows a group of super-powered “freaks” as they discover they develop their powers and confront their traumas. We examine the cast of characters and talk about our favorites. We get into the comic origins of the series and talk about how the TV show stacks up. We also talk about what we think are the answers to season 2’s big questions and what we want to see out of a third season.

Instead of a five-minute controversy this week, we discuss the trailer for Godzilla vs Kong.

This week Shaun, Eric, and Nate join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 124: Widow’s Might

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 03:45:53 GMT

We almost didn’t make it, but we couldn’t let you have a week go by without another episode of The 42cast. In this episode we discuss the MCU’s summer sensation, Black Widow. We discuss the film’s status as a prequel. We talk about the new characters and where we’d like to see them go from here. We also give our opinions on unpowered characters in super situations, visually awesome fights, and the importance of setting up your villains. We also get into the public perception of Hawkeye, the fluid nature of Disney+ series and the MCU films, and whether or not brainwashing absolves someone of culpability for their actions.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji; Alli; Cammie; and newcomer, Page, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 123: Con-Ventional Wisdom

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:55:41 GMT

Conventions are making a comeback, and we couldn’t be happier. In this episode we discuss conventions from big to small. What makes a small convention different from a larger convention? How does a fan run feel compared to a corporate con? Does the genre being covered change things significantly? What kinds of tips and tricks do we recommend for people fairly new to the con scene. We answer all that and more in this episode.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask whether the fan criticisms of the Eternals trailer have any merit.

This week Ryan; Anji; and newcomers, Felicity and Alli, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 122: Final Strike

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 05:50:28 GMT

For four years Black Lightning graced our screens with a generational story about an older superhero and person of color. The series was notable for its grounded storytelling, depicting street level foes for the titular character and showcasing a realistic family dynamic for a series with so much fantasy in its conception. In this episode we talk about the final season of Black Lightning. We discuss the plot, the changed premises, new characters, and the performances. We also discuss the Painkiller pilot, why we think that it didn’t get picked up, and whether we’d like to see more from the character. We also give our opinions on the series’ end and whether it lived up to four seasons of buildup.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether Grant Morrison’s comments about an authoritarian Superman have any merit.

This week Mike; James; and newcomer, Thomas, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 121: Remember the Titans

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:41:49 GMT

Titans was the flagship series for DC Universe’s new crop of live-action series based on the DC characters. Based on the popular Teen Titans franchise, the series highlighted darker themes and tones than most DC adaptations, which left many fans feeling ambivalent about the series after only the trailer dropped. In this episode we dive deep into the darkness of the series and discuss whether it was warranted for the story or not. We discuss the changes between seasons 1 and 2. We also talk about the characters that they’ve included and those they’ve left out and mention why that might be. We also give our opinions about the best things about the series and what we’d like to see in season 3.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Patty Jenkins’ comments regarding Diana’s depiction in Joss Whedon’s Justice League will mean that the Snyder Cut version is what will be canon moving forward.

This week Director Faber; Michael; and newcomer, Kelley, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 120: The Alex Garfin Interview

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 01:07:20 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome one of the stars of the hit CW series, Superman & Lois with Alex Garfin. Alex plays Jordan Kent on the series, one of the children of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. In this episode Jordan sits down with us to discuss topics ranging from depictions of mental health in television to why the KFC image looks like a little man with a large head. He also talks about super suits, making television under Covid conditions, and family dynamics on television. Along the way we manage to work Star Trek into a lot of different discussions.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Alex’s Website

KFC man with spindly legs (WARNING: Cannot unsee)

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 119: Get to Know Your Doctor Part Three – Jon Pertwee

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 08:03:30 GMT

We continue our series on Doctor Who, by discussing the third man to play the role of the title character, Jon Pertwee. In this episode we discuss what set Pertwee’s performance apart from the other Doctors. We talk about the rise of political commentary in the series. We also give our opinions on the differences between the Sherwin and Letts approaches to the series. We also list our favorite companions and favorite stories of the era.

Due to time constraints, there is no five-minute flashback in this episode.

This week Eric, Mike, Anthony, and Miranda join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 118: Just a Cut to the Left

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 23:14:42 GMT

Justice League was released to theaters in 2017. However, the result left many audience goers unhappy. As the culmination of plotlines that Zack Snyder had started in Man of Steel and Justice League it seemed to fall short. The more humorous tone that the studio wanted was at odds tonally with what had gone before leaving many fans of Snyder’s work unhappy. Since that time there have been calls to release Snyder’s original cut of the movie. With HBO Max looking for new content they paid Snyder to complete his cut, which they released as a 4-hour long film. In this episode we look into the Snyder cut. We discuss its differences with the theatrical version as well as how it fits in as the third movie in Snyder’s vision. We also ask if WB should return to Snyder’s vision based on this cut and whether the Ayer cut of Suicide Squad should be released.

Since the main topic was already controversial, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Mark, Lucas, and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 117: Enterprising Endeavor

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:52:25 GMT

Star Trek is arguably the most influential science-fiction franchise of all time. The series that almost didn’t make it after a failed pilot got its second chance and rose to international success that has lasted for more than 50 years. In this episode we delve into the idea of what makes the concept of Star Trek so special. We also discuss what aspects of this show have stood up to the test of time. We discuss favorite characters and how the pop culture perception of Kirk is completely wrong. We also talk about our favorite episodes. We also get into the various spinoffs with this cast such as Star Trek: The Animated Series and fan productions, Star Trek Continues and Star Trek New Voyages.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Bill Maher’s comments about the passing of Stan Lee were in good taste.

This week Stephanie is cohost, and Gary and Michael join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 116: Fists of Legend

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 06:40:39 GMT

Marvel’s Netflix series were mostly released to great acclaim by fans and critics alike. Unfortunately, the one flop was Marvel’s Iron Fist. In this episode we discuss the second season of that series. We examine if the change in showrunners created a change for the better. We discuss the plot and how it fit into the interconnected storyline of the Marvel Netflix universe. We also discuss the characters, there development, and the new faces in season 2. We wrap it up by discussing what we’d like to see out of a hypothetical season 3.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if it was a good decision on Fox’s part to revisit the Dark Phoenix storyline.

This week Ryan, Anji, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 115: The Bill Duke Interview

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:23:16 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Hollywood Legend, Bill Duke for an interview. Bill wears many hats, and at various times works as an actor, director, producer, and writer. He also runs the Duke Media Foundation and Duke Media Entertainment. The former prepares youth for the future by exposing them to new media and financial literacy tools that will enable them to compete, survive and thrive in this ever-changing digital world. The latter is launching the Younite Network in July, a platform that provides inspirational, educational, and entertaining stories of individuals and organizations speaking purpose, hope and uniting hearts around the world every day. In this episode we sit down with Bill to talk to him about about his career; his humanitarian endeavors; and his new movie, No Sudden Move, which debuts on HBO Max in July.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Bill Duke: My 40-Year Career on Screen and behind the Camera (Bill’s autobiography)

The Younite Network

No Sudden Move Trailer

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 114: Bad to the Bone

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 20:29:19 GMT

The 42cast goes bad this week as we take a look at the darker side of entertainment. In this episode we talk about villains. We discuss what makes a character an interesting villain and exactly what criteria you should use to determine if a villain is the “greatest”. Then, we talk about our favorite villains across all of media and why these we think they have a claim to the title of “greatest”.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if $30 on top of a streaming platform fee is reasonable to ask to pay to view a new movie at home.

This week Juliette; Eric; and newcomer, Jess, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 113: The War to End All Star Wars (for Now)

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 08:13:52 GMT

After 42 years (naturally) the Star Wars saga finally came to an end with Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker. In this episode we talk about The Rise of Skywalker as a conclusion to the Star Wars Saga. We discuss whether Skywalker Saga or Palpatine saga is a more fitting name. We discuss the narrative shifts between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. We also debate the Reylo relationship and how the film ends.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if Kathleen Kennedy was out of line for saying that there’s no existing material that Lucasfilm can use to adapt into new Star Wars stories.

This week Ryan, Anji, Eric, and Juliette join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 112: The John Peel Interview

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 20:53:09 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome John Peel for an interview. John is a prolific author with dozens of novels to his name. In this episode we sit down with John to talk about his history writing stories about Doctor Who and his association with Dalek creator Terry Nation. We cover the entire history from his first nonfiction book about Daleks to writing novelizations of Doctor Who TV stories to writing original novels for Virgin Publishing and BBC Books. We also talk about his new range of books featuring classic French character Doctor Omega.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Doctor Who: The Chase

Doctor Who: The Daleks Masterplan Part I

Doctor Who: The Daleks Masterplan Part II

Doctor Who: The Gallifrey Chronicles

Doctor Who: Timewyrm – Genesys

Doctor Who: Evolution

Doctor Who: Power of the Daleks

Doctor Who Evil of the Daleks

Doctor Who: War of the Daleks

Doctor Who: Legacy of the Daleks

Doctor Omega and the Shadowmen

The 42cast Episode 111: Star Power

Mon, 17 May 2021 05:18:25 GMT

Stargirl took the geek world by storm at a time when people really needed something to take their minds off quarantine. It’s a series that celebrates the fun of silver age comics in a way that sets it apart from the other DC Comics series of the last few years, including those on the CW. In this episode we discuss Stargirl and what gives it its unique charm. We’ll also talk about the characters and the story. We’ll opine on whether the move to the CW as its primary network will change the series. We’ll also give our predictions on what we think will happen next season.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if it was the right move to fire Hartley Sawyer from The Flash.

This week Beth; Eric; and newcomer, Jessica, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 110: And the Ultimate Podcast

Mon, 10 May 2021 18:28:34 GMT

The Librarians was an unusual series that celebrated obscure and esoteric knowledge. With accomplished actors playing quirky characters, the series had a healthy dose of fun while also ensuring that it had its fair share of adventure and interesting plotting. Although built on the foundation of the three Librarian movies starring Noah Wyle the series allowed for larger stories told with more characters over a broader canvas.

In this episode we discuss the Librarian movies and how those informed the series. We talk about the characters and how we felt about their use in the series. We also give our opinions on the best episode of the series and give our recommendation on whether you should check it out.

In lieu of a five-minute controversy this week, this backlogged episode has our response to the Captain Marvel trailer.

This week Stephanie and Lucas join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 109: Chicago TARDIS 2016 – Forty[ish] Years of the Tin Dog

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 05:51:09 GMT

K-9 has been delighting fans of Doctor Who for almost 45 years. With this new anniversary looming, we thought it would be a great idea to release a con panel from Chicago TARDIS 2016 about the character’s 40th anniversary. In this panel we discuss what makes K-9 so endearing. We discuss the writing, performances, audience identification and other factors. We also talk about reasons that people didn’t like K-9 and why we feel that K-9 and Company didn’t go to series. We also ask the deep questions such as “would the addition of K-9 make any series better?” and “does the Doctor have more K-9’s stashed away in the TARDIS?”

As this is a con panel, there will be no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Rob Shearman, Gary Russell, Erika Ensign, and Adrienne Provenzano join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 108: All Our Hopes Are Pinned on You

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 06:29:34 GMT

Wonder Woman was a smash success at the box office. DC wanting to capitalize on the success of the film quickly greenlit a sequel that was soon named Wonder Woman 1984. The movie was due for release in June of 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic pushed that release date back. Instead, Warner Media decided to make this the flagship of it’s new policy of releasing films straight to the HBO Max streaming service and theaters at the same time.

In this episode we talk about Wonder Woman 1984. We compare it to its predecessor. We discuss the new and returning characters and how they’re portrayed in the film. We talk about the writing and discuss what we think went wrong and what worked in the movie. We also talk about the importance of this movie in pop culture and how think the perception of this sequel will effect things moving forward. Finally, we do talk about the post credits scene and discuss what we want to see out of a third film.

Due to the size of our cast this week, there won’t be a five-minute controversy.

This week Sam; Bree; Eric; and newcomer, Kimi, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 107: Deus Lex Monitōrem

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 21:05:58 GMT

Supergirl was the series most effected by Crisis on Infinite Earths in the 2019-2020 season. Kara’s entire world was rewritten to fit it into the Arrowverse, and Lex Luthor had a hand in altering his own status as well. In this episode we discuss the two halves of the season, first discussing Earth-38’s swan song and then discussing the new status quo of the combined Earth Prime. We talk about the character arcs and performances with a strong focus on Lex and Lena Luthor. We also debate the series’ choices with villains and end things with our predictions of where season 6 will go.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask if the character of Ralph Dibny should be recast or ignored in the Arrowverse from now on.

This week Ryan; James; and newcomer, Cammie, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 106: Mirror Finish

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 05:32:31 GMT

Running at us from 2020, we have our review of The Flash Season 6. Sadly, this episode was delayed due to my herniated disc, but we are now able to release it so that you can hear all of our points. This week we discuss Bloodwork and Mirror Monarch and how their storylines stack against the hype. We also talk about whether the payoff to the newspaper plot was sufficient to all of the hype. We also opine on Sue Dearbon and talk about what she brings to the series and her amazing chemistry with her co-stars. We also chat about new regulars Chunk and Allegra and what they bring to the series. We also talk about how the mirror universe may be the best thing to ever happen to Iris and how the recent shakeups effect the rest of the main characters.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the news breaking about Hartley Sawyer’s tweets and his subsequent firing from the series. Our references to Sawyer in this episode were about his performance only. We do not endorse or in any way support the content of any of the racist or misogynistic tweets that have since come to light.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask whether or not it’s a good idea to go back to the movie theaters while Covid-19 is still a pandemic.

This week Ryan; Eric; and the world’s foremost Flash fan, Shaun, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 105: The Skyler Samuels Interview

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:17:09 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Skyler Samuels for an interview. In this episode, Nathan sits down to talk with Skyler about her beginning in acting and the pressures and positives of being a child star. They discuss The Nine Lives of Chloe King, what Skyler enjoyed about the role, how she feels about the series now, and ask the all-important Team Brian or Team Alek question. They also do a deep dive on The Gifted. Skyler talks about the cast and crew and how well they all geled together. Nathan asks her about the X-Men franchise and how she feels about her place in it. They also get into the technicalities of an actress duplicating herself and end up geeking out about Orphan Black. They also discuss their mutual love of dogs and Skyler talks about dog rescue and how the Gifted cast and crew were all dog lovers. They also talk about the possibility of The Gifted cast ever getting together to do a virtual panel and Nathan receives a surprise endorsement. Skyler finishes by talking about one of her upcoming projects.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 104: Make Mine Marvel

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 05:41:12 GMT

Eighty years ago a man named Martin Goodman founded Timely Comics, and the world would never be the same. We discuss the history of Marvel, starting with its founding in 1939 as Timely Comics. We discuss the name changes to Atlas and eventually Marvel. We talk about the major characters of the golden, silver, and bronze ages. We discuss our theories of what differentiates Marvel from its competition. We also talk about favorite characters in each era.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we ask whether or not it’s a good thing that Kevin Feige has become overall creative director for all of Marvel’s TV, Film, and comic content.

This week Mark, Joe, and Will join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 103: Home Invasion

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:17:15 GMT

Spider-Man is the latest film to come from the MCU. Giving us our first glimpse of the post-Endgame landscape, the movie teased the multiverse and a new hero, but was any of it what it seemed? In this episode we dive into Far From Home. We talk about Peter and his supporting cast. We discuss Iron Man’s legacy and how Peter factors into it. We’ll also dive into Mysterio, comparing him to his comic counterpart and talk about why his story matters to the MCU. We round it out by talking about the appearance of several familiar faces and what that may mean for the MCU moving forward.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether Lou Ferrigno’s comments that he can’t take Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk seriously have merit or not.

This week Ryan, Joe, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 100 Special: Voices in the Wilderness

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 08:04:45 GMT

This episode we continue our celebration of 100 episodes of The 42cast. We recorded far too much material for our 100th episode that we just couldn’t fit it all in. In this episode as a bonus to you, you get the conversations that we couldn’t include! In this episode, Nathan sits down with three people who were instrumental in getting the podcast started – Ryan, Rachele, and Beth. They talk about their favorite thing in pop culture in the last four years and give thoughts and insights on all sorts of things that are going on in geek media.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 102: Bat Out

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 02:57:54 GMT

Batwoman debuted last year as the newest series in the CW’s Arrowverse. Ruby Rose’s casting sparked controversy, but it was clear that the CW was determined to promote the series – debuting the character in the prior year’s Elseworlds storyline, setting her up as an integral part of the Crisis on the Infinite Earths event. In this episode we discuss everything about season one from Rose’s performance as the titular character to her departure from the series. We also discuss Rachel Skarsten’s performance as Alice and whether the character can withstand the loss of Kate. We also talk about the romantic tropes, side characters, the bat-family, and whether the Supergirl formula can work on another series. We also speculate on what we want out of season 2.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether or not it’s a good move to have Michael Keaton replace Ben Affleck in the DCEU.

This week James; Ryan; and newcomer, Adam, join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 101: Mutatis Mutandis

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:44:00 GMT

The Gifted was one of Fox’s last adaptations of the X-Men mythos. Set in a nebulous time in the near future after the X-Men and Brotherhood have disappeared, The Gifted chronicled the story of every day mutants who have to deal with a world where they’re feared and hated. The second season of the series deals with the aftermath of the split of the mutant Underground as half the members choose to ally with the Hellfire club. We discuss first season of The Gifted back in episode 37. Now, for the first time we’re airing our discussion of season 2 which had been lost to the archives until now.

In this episode we talk about new characters Reeva Payge and Rebecca Hoover and how they alter the trajectory of the series. We also discuss the morality of Jayce Turner and Andy Strucker as both continue to make questionable choices. We also mention the “third choice” and why the Morlocks add some complexity to the mutant question. We also get into mutant parenthood, the fine line between drama and melodrama, and John’s fashion choices. We also talk about what we think would have happened if the series had gotten a third season.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether an almost 3 hour runtime is too much for Avengers: Endgame.

This week James, Mike, and Anji join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 100: Six Nerds in Search of a Plot (Who Shot R.G.?)

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 07:54:09 GMT

The 42cast turns 100 as the cast celebrates a century of episodes. First up, Nathan answers your questions about himself and the show. After that, we pull in a cast comprised of some our most prolific guests as well as some of the people who inspired the show’s creation. Sam speaks to us about the definition of an archive and how archives and archivists are portrayed in media, Mike talks about neck injuries sustained playing Call of Duty on the big screen, Anji goes gaga for online D&D tools, Shaun discusses DIY conventions. Juliette talks about Covid safety, and Nathan asks if releasing films straight to streaming is a good thing. We also discuss the perils of season finales as we contemplate the death of one of our own.

As this is an anniversary episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Its a full ship this week as Shaun, Anji, Juliette, Sam, and Mike join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 99: The Larry Houston Interview

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 01:42:35 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Larry Houston for an interview. This interview was recorded back in 2019, but we are now able to bring you all the cool information we gleaned from talking with this industry legend. Larry Houston was the first person-of-color to work on storyboards for Saturday morning cartoons. Since then he has worked on many animated series as both a storyboard artist and a director, most prominently on the X-Men and Fantastic Four animated series. He was the first person to bring animated representations of The Black Panther to the small screen – first with a cameo on X-Men and later with an episode of The Fantastic Four in which the hero was voiced by fan-favorite, Keith David. Although retired, Larry still works in entertainment, drawing comics such as his series, The Enforcers. We sat down with Larry to talk about his beginnings in the industry, his volume of work, his mindset when adapting properties, working with Stan Lee, and so much more.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Larry’s website

Larry’s The Enforcers on Comixology

Print copy of Larry’s The Enforcers

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 98: Get to Know Your Doctor Part Two – Patrick Troughton

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 08:01:29 GMT

We continue our series of episodes discussing each Doctor. This time we talk about the character’s second incarnation, Patrick Troughton. We discuss the first regeneration and why it worked. We talk about whether he or William Hartnell created what we now think of as Doctor Who. We also discuss the various monsters that debuted in this era. We also focus on the Cybermen and why they have so many stories in this period and discuss the Dalek stories, which were going through a renaissance at this time. We also talk about our favorite stories and companions before discussing the advent of the Brigadier and UNIT.

In the interests of conserving time, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Eric, Anthony, and Mike join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 97: From the Ashes

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 07:54:26 GMT

Last year, Fox released the final installment in its X-Men series of films. In a way, it brought the series full circle, bringing the timeline to the decade before the original X-Men is set and incorporating elements of the Phoenix saga which had also been part of X-Men: The Last Stand. In this episode we look at the movie as an end to a franchise and discuss how it rates next to the others. We also discuss the casting choices and whether we thought the script held up. We finish off discussing how we think the MCU will incorporate the X-Men and whether we want to see a third attempt at the Phoenix Saga storyline.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether we’d like to see Macaulay Culkin play the Joker in The Batman.

This week James, Gerald, and Juliette join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 96: Grounded

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 07:29:37 GMT

Black Lightning returns to our television screens in February. In preparation we’ve taken a look back at season 3 to discuss everything that was going on with the series. We focus on how the show continues to address topical issues as we also discuss the series’ new, post-Crisis position in the Arrowverse. We talk about returning faces like Painkiller and also new ones such as Gravedigger. We don’t pull any punches as we discuss the departure of Chief Henderson. We also talk about what we expect out of season 4.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether the depiction of orcs in D&D is racist.

This week Mike and James join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 95: Savior of the Universe

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 20:33:15 GMT

After seven seasons, Oliver Queen finally saved Starling City, but as a Crisis loomed he once more stepped unto the breech to save all of reality from annihilation. In this episode we discuss Season 8 of Arrow. We talk about the familiar faces returning, how it works as a wrap-up, the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, and what we thought of the Green Arrow and the Canaries backdoor pilot. We also bring up the ramifications to the greater Arrowverse and discuss why there might be some more Green in the CW’s future soon. As usual we also talk about the characters, acting, and storylines.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss whether moving the original streaming shows off DC Universe signals the end of the service.

This week Beth, James, and Ryan join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 94: The Elliot Chapman Interview

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 20:59:03 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Elliot Chapman for an interview. In Doctor Who circles, Chapman is best known for playing the role of companion Ben Jackson in Big Finish’s Companion Chronicles and Early Adventures. We talk with Chapman about his career prior to acting, getting started in the profession, and getting cast at Big Finish. We also discuss his opinions on Doctor Who (spoilers: He’s a fan!), how he approaches recreating a character created by another actor, what it’s like working with co-stars Anneke Wills and Frazer Hines, and working with Tom Baker. We close things out by talking to him about why he’s leaving the character behind and what he’s looking to do in the future.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Elliot’s stories that he’s worked on for Big Finish

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 93: This is the Way

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:43:07 GMT

The Mandalorian season 2 is coming fast, so this week we take a look back at season one. We discuss the series legacy from westerns and samurai films. We talk about the idea of a Star Wars story without Jedi or Sith. We debate the importance of Baby Yoda. We also mention our thoughts on Giancarlo Esposito and his performance as Moff Gideon. In addition we talk about the things that we always do – the plot, characters, acting, production values, and speculation on what’s to come.

In this week’s five-minute controversy we discuss if it’s a good thing for movie companies to break their contracts with movie theaters.

This week Anji, Juliette, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 92: We’re in the Endgame Now

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 06:37:15 GMT

In 2008 Marvel released the movie, Iron Man, and the world would never be the same again. Now with their 22nd film, Marvel brings many of the story threads that they’ve been building for eleven years to a conclusion while leaving the door open for so many more stories. In this episode, we talk about Avengers: Endgame. We talk about the characters, discuss the plot, ponder time travel and parallel worlds, and opine on just where the MCU will go from here. Along the way, we discuss epic battles, characters we were delighted to see again, endpoints, the MVP that no one noticed, and the significance of a finger.

We knew this one would run long, so there is no five-minute controversy this episode.

This week Will, Ashley, Ryan, and Mark join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 91: Judgement Day

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 06:39:35 GMT

Despite the criticism of the hardcore fanbase, Star Trek: Discovery’s first season was a success. Building on that and attempting to woo more classic fans, Discovery added Pike, Spock, and Number One from the original Star Trek pilot to Discovery season 2. In this episode was talk about the dynamics of Discovery with new captain, Pike in the seat. We also discuss how faithful the portrayals of Pike, Number One, and Spock are to those from the sixty. In addition we discuss the many changes both cosmetic and in the details to the Klingons, Enterprise, Spock’s life story. We also mention the exclusion of the supporting cast, the use of Section 31, and Skynet in the 23rd century, and whether or not the season has a satisfying conclusion. We also discuss our aspirations for season 3.

Due to the availability of some members of the cast there is no five-minute controversy for this week.

This week Stephanie is cohost, and Joe and Anthony join the cast.

The Socials:

The 42cast Episode 90: The Lee Arenberg Interview

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 06:37:29 GMT

Lee Arenberg is one of the most prolific actors in the business. If you’ve watched TV in the last 4 decades, odds are at some point you’ve seen him. With a career spanning dozens of different TV shows and films, Lee is one of the actors who can embody many different characters. In this episode we talk with Lee to ask him about his career in acting. He shares some insights about acting and we discuss his career, focusing on his time with the various Star Trek series of the 90’s and early 2000’s as well as his role as Grumpy in Once Upon a Time.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

The 42cast Episode 89: Sounds of the Screen

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 06:43:12 GMT

Movie scores and soundtracks add a new dimension to a film. A well-done soundtrack can make a good movie into a great movie. A bad soundtrack can ruin a movie. In this episode we discuss composers and individual movie scores that we love.

This week’s five-minute controversy asks if Martin Scorsese’s comments about comic book movies have any merit.

This week Juliette, Rachele, and James join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 88: The Power of Shazam!

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:45:39 GMT

In 2015, DC released a list of a large number of DC movies extending into 2020. Of the movies announced for 2018 or later, Shazam was the only one that was neither rescheduled nor canceled. In this episode, we take a look at the Shazam film. We discuss the Captain Marvel name controversy. We talk about the portrayal of the same character with a young actor and an adult actor. We also talk about the villainy of Mark Strong and whether the Seven Deadly Sins really measure up. We also discuss how the plot of the film worked for us and what we want to see out of a second movie.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy on this episode.

This week Mark; Mike; and newcomer, Anthony, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 87: Sestrahood of the Traveling Genes

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:54:07 GMT

Orphan Black was a series that aired on BBC America. Starring Tatiana Maslany it followed the lives of a group of women who discovered that they were clones. In this episode we take a look back at Orphan Black. We talk about our favorite clones and discuss how her performance, and the technical aspects of the production created the most authentic seeming multi-character performance on television. Nathan and Ryan get into the nature vs nurture debate and how the show weighs in on it. We also talk about diversity in casting, characters and storylines that didn’t work, and whether or not it’s fair to say that the series rebooted itself every season.

Our Five-Minute-Controversy this week asks if the tank top look for Thanos in Infinity War looked ridiculous.

This week Beth, Anji, and Ryan join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 86: The Tim Treloar Interview

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 05:06:46 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Tim Treloar for an interview. We discuss the whole gammut of his career from his beginnings as an actor to working with Big Finish and various projects that he’s worked on recently. We also discuss his behind-the-scenes anecdotes, experiences with his co-stars, feelings about the Third Doctor’s era, and what role he would have liked to have had on Doctor Who if he hadn’t been cast as the Doctor.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Tim’s stories that he’s worked on for Big Finish

The 42cast Episode 85: Vive la Animation

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 06:08:56 GMT

In this episode we talk about anime. Sometimes referred to as “Japanimation”, anime refers to any animation created in Japan for the Japanese market. It took America by storm in the 90’s, when several series were shown in syndication or picked up by networks for American television. In this episode we discuss what we think makes anime so popular. We’ll also talk about our favorite animes and why people should check them out. We also address the subs vs dubs debate that seems to be such an bitter feud in the anime industry moreso than any other foreign film fandom. DISCLAIMER: We’re going to avoid talking about huge franchises such as Sailor Moon, Dragonball, and Gundam in this episode. Those deserve their own episodes down the line.

Our Five-Minute-Controversy this week asks if dubs or subtitles are the better way to watch anime.

This week Beth, Juliette, and Eric join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 84: I Should Rather Like a Cat Like That

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 07:48:33 GMT

Captain Marvel rocketed onto our screens last year. Marvel’s first female lead series provided and origin story for Marvel’s newest hero and gave some insight on the MCU of the 1980’s. We talk about the captain herself, the plot and tone of the movie, the old friends that we see again, and how well the movie fits into MCU continuity. There’s also a bit of cat talk as we discuss Marvel’s newest feline. but things get a bit more serious as we discuss the passing of Stan Lee and the tribute given to him in this film.

Our Five-Minute-Controversy this week asks if a virtual Stan Lee should be utilized in future Marvel movies or if they should retire the Stan Lee cameo trope.

This week Anji, Stephanie, Joe, and Will join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 83: Cage Match

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:37:24 GMT

Luke Cage was one of the big hits for the initial run of Marvel’s Defenders line of TV shows. Featuring topical storylines and a fantastic soundtrack, Cage resonated with many viewers. In this episode we discuss Cage’s second outting and whether or not it held up to the hype. Along the way we’ll talk about new characters such as Tilda and Bushmaster. We’ll also talk about all the returning cast and how we feel that their stories have evolved since season 1 and how we like it. We’ll also discuss what we like about the show and if season 2 delivered. Finally, we’ll discuss what we would have wanted for season 3 if we’d gotten one.

The five-minute controversy this week asks if the Russos were right to cut Howard the Duck from Avengers: Infinity War.

This week Anji, Mike, and Jennifer join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 82: The Peter Purves Interview

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 23:29:14 GMT

The 42cast is proud to welcome Peter Purves for an interview. Peter played Steven Taylor, one of the Doctor’s earliest companions and joined the show in 1965. He’s since become a mainstay of the British television industry presenting numerous for numerous series and events. In this episode we talk to Peter about his career focusing on his time with Doctor Who in the 1960’s and then his return as Steven Taylor working for Big Finish. We also discuss his thoughts on the character, whether he’d return to television to reprise the role, and what he does to keep busy during lockdown.

As this is an interview episode there is no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Recommended Steven stories from Big Finish.

The Suffering

The Perpetual Bond Part 1

The Cold Equations Part 2

Return of the Rocket Men

The War to End All Wars

The Bounty of Ceres

The Ravelli Conspiracy

The Sontarans

The Dalek Occupation of Winter The Companion Chronicles Vol. 2 (The Steven story, Across the Darkened City, is one of four stories in this set, but it is fantastic)

The 42cast Episode 81: Just the Facts (Better than Braveheart)

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 06:54:04 GMT

How much does it matter to you whether a movie gets the facts right; whether it is in science, history, or something else? In this episode we dive down into the psychology of wanting “just the facts”. At what point does a movie “getting it wrong” pull you out? Can a good story overcome those limitations? Can we come to a consensus on a general level “factuality” that an audience can rightfully expect to have with a movie? It’s all that and more in an episode declared to be better than Braveheart. Don’t believe us? Give it a listen and decide for yourself.

Due to time constraints there is no five-minute controversy for this episode.

This week Ryan Guthrie, Dr. Erin, and Mark Edward Edens join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 80: Splashdown

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 05:23:34 GMT

After Justice League failed to make the money that Warner Bros had predicted a lot of pressure fell on Aquaman. With expectations high and a lackluster holiday blockbuster season, many moviegoers flocked to Aquaman and it became an instant success. In this episode we discuss the movie to decide just why that is. From the score to the effects to the casting to the storyline we discuss all aspects of the movie and discuss why it resonated with fans. We also put it in the context of the DC movies and superhero movies in general to talk about just where this is coming from.

The five-minute controversy from a year-and-a-half ago asks who we would prefer to see as the next Batman after Ben Affleck.

This week Ryan, Gary, and Ashley join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 79: Agents of C.H.A.N.G.E.

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 05:44:06 GMT

Season 6 saw a lot of chagnes for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It was the first season that only ran for 13 episodes. It was the first season to run over the summer. It also was the first season without Agent Coulson. In the midst of all these changes the series found itself cut adrift from the Marvel films and needing to come up with a story without any ties to the larger MCU. In this episode we discuss the changes, the character arcs, whether we think that the Sarge revelation worked, if the series really no longer exists in the same reality with the films, and if Mack saved the Marvel TV universe from Thanos. Also, make sure to stay to the end, so that you can hear Mike Nelson’s theme song developed by our very own editor, Ben Gibbs!

The five-minute controversy this week asks whether Sony pulling Spider-Man from the MCU would be good for anyone.

This week Ryan, Mike, and Anji join the cast.

Show Notes:

Enoch and the Holograms Poster

The 42cast Episode 78: Chicago TARDIS 2016 – Classic Impressions

Wed, 27 May 2020 06:03:31 GMT

While many of the main characters in Doctor who are still with us there are several who have sadly passed. Big Finish has kept the memory of those Doctors and companions alive by recasting the parts. In this episode we once again take a step back to Chicago TARDIS 2016 and an opportunity to discuss voice acting, playing an iconic role, and Fraser Hines’ fantasies.

Since this was a con panel there is no five-minute controversy.

This week Fraser Hines, Elliot Chapman, and Tim Treloar join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 77: Chicago TARDIS 2016 – It’s All Too Much…Or Is it?

Tue, 19 May 2020 18:59:05 GMT

In this episode we turn to our archive of con panels and pull one of the earliest recordings that we have for the 42cast. The year was 2016, but the content is still relevant today. In this one we discuss how prolific Doctor Who media is and what our strategies are for deciding how much and in what ways we keep up with it.

Since this was a con panel there is no five-minute controversy.

This week Nathan Skreslet from PixelWho and John Clarke from the Caffeinated Comics Podcast are part of the panel.

The 42cast Episode 76: Scaling the Box Office

Tue, 12 May 2020 06:12:08 GMT

Ant Man and the Wasp had a strange position in the Marvel schedule. Sandwiched between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Ant Man and the Wasp tells the story of what happened to Scott Lang between Civil War and Infinity War. In this episode we unpack the story. We talk about the comic roots that inform some of the choices. We talk about the characters and the storyline. We also talk about how we feel that this will impact Endgame and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.

The five-minute controversy this week asks whether Episode IX should be split into two parts.

This week Ryan, Eric, and Jennifer join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 75: Happily Ever After

Mon, 04 May 2020 06:38:34 GMT

After six seasons, the Once Upon a Time showrunners decided that the series needed a change. Performing a soft reboot, they recast most of the characters and moved the action to a suburb of Seattle. The season met with mixed reactions. Many found it hard to get used to the new characters and the revised personas of the few characters that they’d been following for years. Others felt that the series lacked the depth that it had had in previous seasons. Others appreciated the new take. In this episode, we take a deep dive into season 7 and discuss what worked and what didn’t, how we felt about the characters in this season new and old, and whether we felt that it ended too soon.

The five-minute controversy this week asks what franchise we think that James Gunn would be best to take over.

This week Ryan and Anji join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 74: Dr Erin Explains the Universe

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:58:51 GMT

Dr Erin Macdonald is an astrophysicist who teaches people about the science behind science fiction at cons and on her Youtube channel. In this episode we talk with Dr Erin and discuss the importance of science, how scientists and fandom engage each other, and inspirational figures in sci-fi. We also geek out and discuss favorite Treks, the Star Wars vs Star Trek debate, favorite authors, creativity vs keeping things strictly, scientifically accurate, and so much more.

Since this is an interview episode, there is no five-minute controversy.

The 42cast Episode 73: Cartoons of the 80’s

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 02:51:45 GMT

The 80’s were a time cartoons were becoming more and more popular. Greater channels and the rise of syndication meant that there was a lot of content out there. When you combine that with the rise of licensing and cartoons being created by toy companies, and you had a recipe sure to win over any child’s heart. In this episode we discuss our favorite cartoons of the 80’s and why we feel that they were special. We also discuss the attitude that cartoons stopped being good in the 80’s because the toylines became involved and share our opinions on that topic.

The six-minute controversy this week asks if the casting of Kristen Wiig is a good choice for Wonder Woman 1984.

This week The Phantom Troublemaker and Lucas join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 72: Stones Fall, (Half of) Everyone Dies

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 06:36:25 GMT

Avengers: Infinity War was a unique event in the history of cinema. Never before had 18 movies and multiple franchises culminated in a single movie combining all of the franchises and giving payoff for the various stories. In this episode from the archives we do a deep dive into the storyline. We talk about the ways that all of the existing characters are handled. We talk about the epic scale of the crossover, and we discuss breakout hit character Thanos.

This week, due to the length of the discussion we do not have a five-minute controversy.

This week Mark, Anji, and Sam join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 71: Spooooooooooon!

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 07:28:39 GMT

Greetings, chums! The Tick has been entertaining us in various media for over 25 years. The Wild Blue Yonder is a fun character, often waffling between silly and profound, while telling offbeat superhero tales. In this episode we briefly discuss his comic origins before discussing his rise to popularity through the animated series on Fox Kids. We also talk about the two live action iterations, first on Fox and then on Amazon Prime. We talk about why the character endures, what our favorite incarnations are, and how we’d like the Tick’s adventures to continue. We also discuss his supporting cast and the crazy, offbeat villains that have been such a signature for the show.

This week’s five minute controversy asked why Hawkeye wasn’t in the Infinity War trailer.

This week Eric; Joe; and newcomer, Toni, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 70: They Create Worlds

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 07:03:47 GMT

Video games have been a hugely popular form of entertainment since their debut in 1972. As an art form almost 50 years old, historians have started to take a look at the saga of video games, chronicling and analyzing how they came to be what they are today. One podcast endeavors to look at the history of arcade, console, and computer gaming history. That podcast is They Create Worlds. On that podcast, historian, Alex Smith and cohost/editor, Jeffrey Daum discuss a new topic in video gaming history. Alex has also released the first volume in his epic length textbook on video game history. In this episode we talk to Alex and Jeff about their interests, why they’re involved in this project, and the important of video gaming history.

Since this was an interview episode, there was no five-minute controversy.

Show Notes:

Here are some worthy references on video game history.

They Create Worlds Vol. 1 (Alex’s history of video games)

Game Over: Press Start to Continue (A history of Nintendo)

The Ultimate History of Video Games (Alex will tell you this one is a mixed bag. Lots of inaccuracies, but a good narrative and lots of direct quotations.)

Phoenix IV: The History of the Video Game Industry (Nice, comprehensive chronicle of all gaming systems from the beginning to 2016.)

Atari Inc.: Business is Fun (Great overall history of Atari)

Twisty Little Passages: An Approach to Interactive Fiction (History of interactive fiction along with a dissection of its philosophy)

Videogames: In the Beginning (Ralph Baer’s autobiography of his entire work on video games from the 1960’s through 1989)

The 42cast Episode 69: One Podcast to Rule Them All Part Three – The Return of the Host

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 08:12:29 GMT

Our epic length recording about the life and works of legendary author, J.R.R. Tolkien, comes to a close. In this episode we ask whether The Hobbit truly needed to be three films. We also discuss the musical language of the Lord of the Rings movies. Bree mentions what it’s like to live near so much Tolkien history. Anji laments missing her chance to hear Billy Boyd sing in person Stephanie discusses similarities between names in Babylon 5 and Lord of the Rings. Stick around, because we have outtakes after the episode!

As this is part three of a single recording, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Stephanie, and Bree stay with the cast.

Show Notes:

The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

The 42cast Episode 68: One Podcast to Rule Them All Part Two – The Two Mediums

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:19:00 GMT

We move on to part two of our discussion of J.R.R. Tolkien and his works. This time we talk about Tolkien’s love of language, and how that makes for a more convincing world and makes it more interesting to read. We also discuss diversity within Lord of the Rings, modern interpretations of the text, the overall theme of the story, and the character assassination of Faramir.

As this is part two of a single recording, there is no five-minute controversy this week.

This week Anji, Stephanie, and Bree stay with the cast.

The 42cast Episode 67: One Podcast to Rule Them All Part One – The Fellowship of the Mic

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:09:24 GMT

Over 65 years ago, Fellowship of the Ring, the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings epic was published and literature would never be the same. That one work changed the way that fantasy literature was written and received by the public. It propelled a quiet academic into the public eye and has spawned a plethora of adaptations, interpretations, and imitations. In this episode and the three that follow we take a look at Tolkien’s life and the influences that helped inform his writing style. We’ll also talk about his many books and works, including those published posthumously, and we’ll discuss the various animated and live-action adaptations.

This episode contains the last Five Questions segment that had not been released, therefore there is no Five-Minute Controversy.

This week Anji, Stephanie, and Bree join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 66: Wakanda Forever

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 08:13:37 GMT

The Black Panther was a character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in the 1960’s. Portraying him as the ruler of a technologically superior African nation, Lee and Kirby showed just how visionary they could be in a time when the idea of a black superhero was controversial. Knowing the history behind the character and the potential for this movie, Marvel took it’s time introducing the character to ensure that it gave him a movie of the quality that he deserved. In this episode of The 42cast we delve into Black Panther and talk about whether it succeeded in its goal and what we thought of the storytelling, characters, and it’s place within the greater MCU.

In the interests of time, we did not record a five-minute controversy for this episode.

This week Jen; Anji; Ryan; and newcomer, Lucas join the cast.

Show Notes:

Black Panther/Thundercats Facebook Page

Lucas’ Crossover Website

The Snowpiercer episode (our template for the comic book adaptations mini-series)

The 42cast Episode 65: Danger, Will Robinson

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 06:26:48 GMT

The original Lost in Space was a contemporary series of Star Trek, but it never got the same kind of following as the other sci-fi series. The storylines tended to be far more immature and the special effects left a lot to be desired. Yet, in 2018 Netflix decided to reboot the series. Taking the basic idea of the original series, they modernized it’s tale of the Robinson family, lost far away from the colony that they wish to travel to, finding ways to be true to the original series while garnishing it with our modern sensibilities. In this episode we discuss the new series, what we think of how it’s modified the original Lost in Space concept, how we feel about the characters, and what we think future plotlines hold.

Our five-minute controversy asks whether we’re upset about Marvel pulling their content from Netflix and whether we think that they’re continue the various series on Disney+.

This week Mike, Eric, and Joe join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 64: The Eric and Julia Lewald Interview

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 19:28:02 GMT

As we round out the year, we’re joined by Eric and Julia Lewald to discuss their work in animation, focusing on X-Men: The Animated Series and Exosquad. There are anecdotes aplenty as they detail how they broke into animation, working to get X-Men made the way that they want to, meeting Stan Lee, ideas that didn’t make it to the screen, and so much more. We also talk about Eric’s book, Previously on the X-Men, including some of the contents and what prompted him to write it. If you love X-Men: The Animated Series and want some awesome, behind-the-scenes information from the people who were there, give this one a listen and then go back and listen to our interviews with other creators for the series.

Show Notes:

Previously on X-Men from Jacobs Brown Press (Hardcover version with Eric’s signature)

Previously on X-Men from Amazon with softcover and Kindle versions available

Eric and Julia’s blog

Our interview with X-Men: The Animated Series producer, Will Meugniot

Our interview with prolific writers for X-Men: The Animated Series and Exosquad, Michael and Mark Edens

The 42cast Episode 63: Solid Gold Trek

Sat, 21 Dec 2019 07:37:00 GMT

Star Trek was an idea devised by Gene Roddenberry over fifty years ago. He wanted to tell a hopeful story about the future that not only entertained but showed the potential of humanity. His series was not considered a big success at the time, but it has lived on in reruns and numerous spinoff TV shows and spinoffs since the late 70’s. In this episode we take a look at “Star Trek” as a whole. We discuss Roddenberry’s vision and why it still resonates today. We discuss the topic of what makes something “Star Trek”. We also talk about what we like and on’t like about the franchise.

For this week’s Five-Minute Controversy we ask whether CBS has been too strict on its restrictions with fan films.

This week we introduce Stephanie as cohost for our series of podcasts on Star Trek, and welcome Michael and newcomer, Jay, as guests to the podcast

The 42cast Episode 62: Star Wars – The Fandom Menace

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:25:36 GMT

Last Jedi hit movie theaters two years ago, and the reaction was unprecedented. It made its bank as expected, but the controversies both in and out of universe raged in a way that no single movie has ever provoked. With The Rise of Skywalker premiering this year, we decided that it was time to pull out our review of The Last Jedi. We discuss many of the issues and concerns that people have about the movie and give our own opinions. We also talk about the further development of “The Skywalker saga”, speculate on some of the mysteries, and say what we’d like to see in the final installment.

For this week’s Five-Minute Controversy we ask at what point a series requires a reboot.

This week Ashley; Anthony; and newcomer, Juliette, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 61: Trial Run

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:51:44 GMT

As Runaways season 3 rushes at us, we’re taking a look back to our discussion of season 2. Runaways was a surprise property for Marvel TV, taking a relatively new comic and placing it on Hulu during a time when Marvel was mostly putting TV content on Netflix. The first season achieved both critical and fan acclaim, garnering a renewal on Hulu was an increased episode count. In this episode we examine the 13 episode second season, discuss the plotlines, talk about the characters, and speculate on what we’ll see in season 3.

For this week’s Five-Minute Controversy we discuss whether it was a good decision on Marvel’s part to retcon Loki as having been mind-controlled during the original Avengers film.

This week Beth and Mike join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 60: The Wendy Padbury Interview (Chicago TARDIS 2018)

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 05:16:28 GMT

This week we release out interview with Wendy Padbury from Chicago TARDIS 2018. Wendy played Zoe Heriot in the 5th and 6th seasons of Doctor Who alongside Patrick Troughton as the Doctor and Fraser Hines as Jamie McCrimmon. Since 2007 she has reprized the role of Zoe for Big Finish and has continued to play the character in audio dramas ever since. In this episode we discuss her work on Doctor Who, relationships with her co-stars, life after Who, her connection with new Who, opinions on the modern series, and her work with Big Finish.

The 42cast Episode 59: Get to Know Your Doctor Part One – William Hartnell

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 18:55:41 GMT

Doctor Who is the longest running science fiction television franchise of all time. With this episode we kick off a series on each Doctor, as we discuss their contributions to the overall story of Doctor Who. In our first installment we discuss William Hartnell. We talk about the first Doctor’s character, Hartnell’s performance, behind-the-scenes details that informed the performance and varied the tone of the first 3 seasons of Doctor Who. We also discuss our favorite companions and favorite stories while Eric tells us to study more history.

This week sees the welcome return of Five Questions.

This week Mike; Michael; and newcomer, Eric Cheezum, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 58: Just Us

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 06:54:29 GMT

Justice League was the culmination of DC’s attempt to create an interconnected movie universe akin to Marvel’s Avengers line. Having introduced Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman in the previous films, the movie introduced viewers to The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg as the team banded together to protect all life on Earth from the threat of Steppenwolf. The production suffered some problems. Most notably Zack Snyder had to pull out during the editing phase due to family issues and Joss Whedon took over at the last minute. Making less than the previous, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC considered the movie a failure despite it’s being profitable overall. In this episode we discuss the movie. We talk about what we liked and didn’t like. We discuss the difference of having Whedon involved as a creative talent. We also talk about the makeup of the League and whether or not it was the right lineup. We also discuss whether the movie deserved its critical treatment and whether we would have liked to have seen a sequel.

For this week’s Five-Minute Controversy we discuss whether it’s a good idea for DC to abandon the DCEU idea of a connected movie universe.

This week James; Sam; Gary; and newcomer, Mike, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 57: Family Feud

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 23:29:20 GMT

This week, green is the new black as we discuss season 7 of Arrow. Oliver Queen has been thrown in jail, and a new Green Arrow appears on the scene in the form of Oliver’s secret half-sister, Emiko. The Queen family tree may have more hidden branches than the Charmings’, but we ensure that everything is clear with our typical, somber commentary on the proceedings. We discuss how this season effected us, how we felt about the departures, whether Diggle should ever be The Green Lantern, and what we think it all means for Crisis on Infinite Earths. It’s an episode so good that Ryan isn’t on the cast. Let’s play the Feud!

For this week’s Five-Minute Controversy we discuss who Keanu Reeves should play in the MCU.

This week James, Mike, and Ashley join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 56: Alien Nation

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 04:40:45 GMT

Four years and 2 networks into the series, Supergirl seems to have finally found it’s footing. In this episode we discuss difficulties of writing for the eternal optimism of Kara Danvers. We also discuss John Cryer’s surprising turn as Lex Luthor, Brainiac 5’s addition to the cast, and why a little moral ambiguity goes a long way in a series like this.

Instead of a 5-minute controversy, this week we discuss all of the things that we’re looking forward to after Marvel’s SDCC announcements.

This week Ryan, Mike and Michael join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 55: Flashforward

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 20:13:31 GMT

After years of messing with the timeline, the Flash becomes embroiled in his daughter’s very own Flashpoint as Nora-West Allen joins the crew in season 5 of The Flash. In this episode we examine the ramifications of this storyline as it effects the past, present, and future of The Flash. We’ll also talk about the villainy of Cicada, why the Reverse Flash is always Barry’s greatest nemesis, ways of improving the character of Iris, and how all of this will dovetail into this year’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.

This week’s 5-minute controversy asks if the appearance of Thorbowski in Avengers:Endgame was a positive move.

This week Ryan, Eric and Shaun join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 54: Lightning Strikes Twice

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:59:22 GMT

Before Black Lightning season 3 premieres next week, we do our review of season 2. We’re one cast member short this time, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t jam packed the episode full of all the careful analysis, witty banter, and overall geeky hijinks of any other episode of The 42cast. We discuss the villainy of Tobias Whale, the awesomeness of the Pierce family, and discuss how well the social commentary worked. We also go into discussing the season overall and where the Markovian storyline could be heading.

This week’s 5-minute controversy is a review of the trailer for the Joker film.

This week James and Mike join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 53: For We Are Many

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 06:09:15 GMT

Legion is a mind-trippy story about the most powerful mutant on Earth, who also suffers from severe mental illness. In this episode we stare into the abyss of season 2 and try to keep it from staring back into us. Along the way we come to conclusions, all of which are probably inaccurate. Still, we have a fun time. Along the way we talk about Gary’s teeth sweating, Anji reveals the true villain of the series, and Mike gives us the 411 on the “boyfriend test”. We think it’s worth a listen and you should let us know if you agree once you listen.

This week’s 5-minute controversy asks if we want to see Henry Cavill continue as Superman, but if he doesn’t who should succeed him.

This week Anji, Mike, and Gary join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 52: A.K.A. Booze and Bad Attitude

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 03:11:03 GMT

Last year, before the wave of cancellations of Marvel Netflix series there was hope that we’d be getting these for a long time to come. This week, The 42cast pulls an episode from the archives from those halcyon days where we discuss Jessica Jones season 2. This season was controversial as many said that it lost some of what made the first season great. We address those comments as well as discussing the long reach of Kilgrave, substance abuse, mother-daughter issues, and whether or not anyone wants your cray-cray.

Due to the number of guests there is no 5-minute controversy this week.

This week Ryan, Anji, Mark and Stephanie join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 51: Breaking the Loop

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 06:31:00 GMT

Many people expected season 5 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to be the end of the series. It had achieved 100 episodes and much of that season seemed to be a wrap up. In this episode we talk about expectations vs. reality. Did the season work better as the end of the series or as just one installment in a continuing story? We also examine the links to the MCU at large and discuss whether that’s hindering or hurting the Marvel TV series. From there we talk about the importance of Coulson, the unexpected yet welcome return of Talbot, and the gravity of the situation in season 5.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if the DC Universe streaming service is providing enough original content to justify purchasing.

This week Ryan, Jen and James join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 50: Smells Like Teen Spirit

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 07:51:01 GMT

Come celebrate 50 episodes of The 42cast. Unlike other podcasts we’re not doing anything special. We’re just bringing you the same great reviews that you’ve come to expect from The 42cast. This time we discuss season one of Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger. The series is a bit of a looser adaptation than many other Marvel properties and skews far younger in the demographics. This week we discuss the series, how it works as an adaptation, and how well it works in its own right. We’ll also discuss stylistic choices, how it stacks against the CW and Marvel’s Runaways, and make much ado about their musical choices.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if we should listen to aggregate review sites such as Rotten Tomatoes.

This week Ryan and Mike join the cast.

Show Notes:

Mike’s Nelson’s much improved ending to Cloak and Dagger Season One

The 42cast Episode 49: Disco Fever

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 08:02:38 GMT

Star Trek: Discovery relaunched the Star Trek franchise on TV after a hiatus of over a decade. Set before the original Star Trek series, Discovery’s slick look and darker tones evoked polarization in fandom as some gravitated towards the update and others rejected what they saw as an affront to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future. In this episode we talk about those issues as well as the decision to market this on streaming service, CBS All Access instead of on network or cable television. We’ll also discuss the casting, storylines, and themes. We’ll also ask that ephemeral question, “Is this Star Trek”?, before we finally finish up with speculation on the future.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if it’s a good idea for Quentin Tarantino to direct a Star Trek film.

This week Ryan, Michael, James, and Stephanie join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 48: Welcome Back, Frank

Sun, 19 May 2019 05:28:39 GMT

The Punisher was the last of the Marvel Netflix series. The Punisher hadn’t been part of the original deal for the “Defenders” series between Marvel and the streaming service, but the popularity of the character in season 2 of Daredevil lead to quick negotiations and a series announcement. Dealing with the aftermath of Frank’s hunt of all those that he thought were responsible for the death of his family, the series delved into darker areas than the other Netflix series, while presenting a version of Frank Castle that was both familiar to comics readers but different than how he’d been depicted in any media before. In this episode we discuss how Jon Bernthal’s Punisher was different from those before. We also talk about the supporting cast, plot, and how it fits into the larger MCU. We also do a deep dive into the character of Billy Russo to determine his motivations and whether or not he was badly written. In the end we ask, “would we want Frank to meet the other characters in Marvel’s Defenders line and if so, who?”

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if it’s a good idea for Marvel to stop making series with Netflix.

This week Ryan, Gary and Anji join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 47: It’s Always Darkest Before it Goes Pitch Black

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 07:04:55 GMT

Originally, Gotham was going to be the story of a young Jim Gordon fighting crime in Gotham. By the fourth season, any pretext that this was a show that centered on Gordon was gone. The cast was vast, and the characters shared the limelight. The series remained controversial among Batman fans due to the liberties that it took with the mythology, but it also attracted many more people who were interested in the kinds of crazy stories that got told on Gotham and nowhere else. This week, we take a look at season 4 of Gotham. We talk about the introductions of Sofia Falcone, Professor Pyg, and Jeremiah Valeska. We also discuss Alexander Siddig as Ra’s al Ghul. We also delve into the relationships between the characters, the performances, and what we think of the various plotlines that season 4 brought.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if Lucasfilm should stop making “A Star Wars story” prequel films.

This week Michael and Mike join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 46: My Little Runaway

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 05:38:23 GMT

Marvel’s Runaways brought the MCU to Hulu. As a continuity light series it allowed the focus to reside on the teen stars and their parents, as the youngsters realize that their parents are involved in horrific and evil goings on. In this episode, we take a look at how well the series succeeded in introducing the characters, what we thought of the pacing, the macro-plot, favorite characters, and what we want to see from the show in the future. We also discuss the show’s crossover potential. To start things off, however, we talk about our thoughts on “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”.

This week Beth, Ryan, and Joe join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 45: The Inhumans Among Us (We Watched It so You Don’t Have to)

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 06:16:29 GMT

Marvel’s Inhumans made history by being the only MCU series to not be renewed for a second season. With controversial choice of showrunner, Scott Buck, helming the show, the series suffered from poor ratings and poor reception from the fanbase. In this episode we examine the Inhumans series and examine what went wrong. In addition we examine the context of the show and the usage of the characters within the fabric of the greater MCU as well as how the characters from adapted from their comics origin. We also talk about the things that we liked about the show. After that we talk about whether the MCU should scrub the show from the continuity or what we would do to salvage it in the ongoing Marvel narrative.

This week Mark; Mike; and newcomer, Joe, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 44: A Star Trek by Any Other Name

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 08:23:39 GMT

The Orville surprised everyone when it debuted. Advertised as a crass parody of Star Trek, the Orville turned out to be a far more sophisticated show than anyone including the network gave it credit for. In this episode we do a deep dive into the first season of The Orville, discussing the the characters and plots, but also talking about how it fits into the legacy of Trek and whether it and Star Trek: Discovery can coexist.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if Quentin Tarantino should direct Star Trek.

This week Ryan, Jen, and Eric join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 43: Clock Blocked

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 07:58:13 GMT

Timeless gained a second year because the fans demanded it. In a season with reduced runtime and a lower budget Timeless fought for its very survival and told another interesting story through time. In this episode we delve into the changes between Timeless season 1 and season 2, talk about the growth in the characters, and what we think of the evolving Timeless storyline. Sadly, this episode was recorded before we knew that there would be a finale film, so our speculations on a season 3 will always remain just speculations.

This week’s Five Minute Controversy asks if it’s a good thing for Disney to acquire Fox.

This week Ryan; Jen; and newcomer, Gerald, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 42: Reign of the Worldkillers

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 08:27:41 GMT

In its 3rd year, Supergirl was fraught with problems. The showrunner was fired, and the show suffered from production delays. In this episode we look back at the season and talk about what worked and what didn’t. We’ll talk about how the show has changed and how we think that it should stay the same. We also discuss the character relationships and how they’ve developed from the beginning of the series before making our predictions for season 4. We’ll also talk about how the Worldkillers stack up against Kara’s foes from seasons past.

This week Ryan, James, and Michael, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 41: By Your Powers Combined

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:40:12 GMT

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow became the underdog of the Berlanti universe. Coming out of a season 1 panned by critics and fans, Legends gained more solid footing in its second season. Now, we assemble a cast to discuss season 3 of the series. We talk about the major shakeups to the cast, how permanent we think they are, and what it means for the series overall. We talk about a new team up of villains and whether they were able to hold interest better than the Legion of Doom. We also discuss how a plush toy may change the entire face of Berlanti television and eat a hole in our wallets before discovering that no one on the cast knows who Captain Planet is. It’s only on this year-ending episode of The 42cast.

This week Ryan, Eric, and Jennifer, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 40: Queen’s Gambit

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:15:51 GMT

Oliver Queen’s five year arc came to a close last year as the flashbacks to Lian Yu wrapped up just as Oliver finally made peace with his past. This week we delve deep into season 6 of Arrow to see how the series fared under its new direction. We talk about the new and returning characters, the DCCW’s Civil War, how much we want to see Slade again, and how Diaz stacks up against Chase. As usual, we discuss our hopes for next season and do our annual Arrow death pool. We also take Five to discuss just why Solo: A Star Wars Story performed lower than expected.

This week Ryan; James; and newcomer, Ashley, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 39: Flashes of Insight

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:34:38 GMT

Season 4 of the Flash raced off our TV screens last May, and The 42cast now looks back at that season and talks about the changes that the show went through. We talk about how DeVoe stacks up as a villain, how Wally was robbed, and why Ralph Dibny is the best thing to happen to the show in a long time. We also talk about characters who’s plot threads are dropped, do a look ahead at season 5, and discuss why we love Tom Cavanaugh. For our five-minute contoversy this week we discuss Disney’s firing of James Gunn.

This week Ryan; Eric; and the world’s foremost Flash fan, Shaun, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 38: Black Lightning’s Back

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 18:45:11 GMT

Black Lightning’s back to protect the people of Freeland, and The 42cast is back to give you your weekly dose of awesome entertainment. This week we talk about the first season of this latest DC CW superhero series. As always we talk about the heroes and the villains, but this time we also talk about what makes this series stand out amongst all of the other DC series. We also give our hopes for a second season and get a little schooling in Black Lightning’s comic roots.

This week Mike, James, and Joe join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 37: The eXtras

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 06:32:32 GMT

The Gifted season 2 is on its way, so this week The 42cast looks back at season 1. We look at whether or not the series is a worthy adaptation of the X-Men storyline. We also talk about whether it benefits or hurts the series to use a mix of new characters and 3rd string mutants. Then, we look at the Disney acquisition of Fox and talk about how we think that may effect the media landscape and The Gifted and Legion specifically.

This week Mike, Anji, and Mark join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 36: Defenders Deploy

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 16:09:00 GMT

Iron Fist season 2 drops today, so we decided to take a look at the last series to feature Danny Rand as Marvel’s Netflix Phase One comes to an end with The Defenders. Our panel of guests talk about how well the series worked in meshing the individual storylines together. We talk about how we liked the interaction between the character. We also discuss what we liked and didn’t about the series and what we want to see in the future from Marvel’s Netflix stories.

This week Ryan, Anthony, Anji, and Mark join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 35: Like Unto a Thing of Iron

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 05:39:05 GMT

Iron Fist season 2 is about to hit Netflix, so this week we’re delving back into season 1 with people familiar with the comics. We wanted to know how their opinions would differ from our panel in episode 15, and we had some surprising results. We also discuss the fight choreography and what’s really needed to sell kung fu action before we look ahead at season 2 and talk about what we’d like to see to make this show truly great.

This week Eric and Eric, and the Mighty Jerd himself, Jeff Mueller, join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 34: My Name is Legion

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 07:14:39 GMT

This week we go off-med as we discuss season one of Legion, the TV series about David Haller an incredibly powerful mutant with more than his fair share of personality. We talk about the characters, it’s placement in Fox’s X-Men universe, and what we want to see out of Legion and all of the mutant properties as they continue.

This week Anji and Mike, and Mark join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 33: The Leonard Herman Interview

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:21:19 GMT

This week we talk about video games again as we sit down with author and Game Scholar, Leonard Herman. We discuss growing up with video games, how Leonard got into writing on the subject, and some of his memories of Ralph Baer; the inventor of video games.

Leonard has been been writing articles about video games since the early 80’s. He’s one of the first authors to write about video game history and has compiled the most comprehensive work on that subject. Now, in its fourth edition, Phoenix IV is a must-read for anyone that’s really interested in the subject.

Show Notes:

Phoenix IV on Amazon

Video Games: In the Beginning on Amazon

The 42cast Episode 32: Arcade Dreams Are Made of These

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 22:59:02 GMT

Hold on to your quarters, this week we discuss the arcade phenomenon as we talk about 30 years of experiences playing the games and hanging out at the locations. We go over our favorites, how the games affected the console market and vice versa, and how arcades are making a comeback as adult venues.

This week James and Wil join the cast, and Kevin makes his triumphant debut.

Show Notes:

Spider-Man: The Video Game (Most likely the only game to ever feature Namor as a playable character)

The 42cast Episode 31: A Hela Good Time

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:33:13 GMT

It’s been over six months, since Thor: Ragnarok hit theaters. Teaming up Thor with the Hulk, the film boasted a higher humor content than previous movies in the Thor franchise and also ended up being the highest grossing film in the series to date. This week, the 42cast talks about the movie, it’s place in the Thor franchise as well as the MCU in general, and what we’d like to see out of the franchise in the future. We also debut our new segment, Five Minute Controversies.

This week Rachele, Anji, and Ryan join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 30: Turning the Clocks Back

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:57:20 GMT

Last year was the year of time travel shows. Most of them were canceled, but one series, Timeless, turned back the clocks and changed its destiny. In this episode we take a look back at Timeless season one to discuss it’s premise, characters, cast, and why we felt that this show is worthy of going on. We also talk about what we think didn’t work and how we’d like to see the show continue.

This week Jennifer, Nate, and Ryan join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 29: The Will Meugniot Interview

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 06:33:20 GMT

This week we interview Will Meugniot. Will has spent over forty years as a storyteller in the comics and animation industries. We talk to Will about his influences, career, and get some of his thoughts about the current state of Marvel and DC television and film. We focus on his work in the 90’s on X-Men: The Animated Series, Conan the Adventurer, and Exosquad. Check out his Amazon page linked below to see some of his current projects.

Show Notes:

Reply to Will’s Letter to Marvel Comics

Eric Lewald’s Book on the Making of X-Men: The Animated Series

Will’s Amazon Page

The 42cast Episode 28: Is Fandom Broken?

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 08:19:09 GMT

We all know of examples of fandom behaving badly, and in this episode we delve into the question of whether or not fandom is “broken”. It’s a complicated issue as we examine the interaction between fans and creators and how fans relate to other fans. We talk about how things can go South, how to know if you’re the problem, and give some tips on how to avoid things escalating. We define a “broken fandom” and we each give our own opinions on whether or not it’s broken.

This week Jennifer, Ryan, Sam, and newcomer Michael join the cast.

Show Notes:

Fandom is Broken by Devin Faraci

No, Frandom is not Broken by Dany Roth

Lazer Tag Acadmey (80’s animated series.)

Lazer Tag Commercial Photon (80’s TV series)

Photon Commercial

Silverhawks

The 42cast Episode 27: Heroes – Where Did It Go Wrong?

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 23:33:05 GMT

This week we talk all about Heroes, the NBC drama that took the world by storm back in 2006. Heroes treated the idea of superpowers in a serious manner and paved the way for so many series that we know and love. Just about everyone agrees that Heroes started strong and then fell apart, but no one agrees on the when and how. In this episode we try to get to the bottom of that and examine if the Heroes Reborn reboot was a worthy successor.

This week Jennifer, James, and Ryan join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 26: The Journey Home

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 23:48:55 GMT

Back in 2015, Marvel and Sony announced an unprecedented deal to allow Marvel to use Spider-Man in their movies and for Marvel to allow Sony to use some of their characters in a Spider-Man movie. No money changed hands, and both studios reaped the rewards. This week we dive into Spider-Man: Homecoming and how it stacks up to previous attempts to do Spider-Man on film. We talk about how this version of Spider-Man fits into the MCU and why we’re so glad that we didn’t see yet another origin story. We also talk about the stellar work of Michael Keaton as the Vulture and speculate on what the sequel holds for our wall-crawling hero.

This week Gary; James; Will; and newcomer, Joe, join the cast.

Show Notes:

The 42cast merchandise on Teepublic

Earth Station One: Tales from the Station Volume 2

The 42cast Episode 25: Chicago TARDIS 2017 – Big Finish’s First Doctor Adventures

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 08:16:46 GMT

This month, Big Finish is opening the door on a brand new set of adventures featuring the first Doctor and his companions as you’ve never seen them before. Fresh from Twice Upon a Time, David Bradley has stepped back into the role of the first incarnation of everyone’s famous Time Lord, but this time he’s joined by his costars from An Adventure in Space and Time to play Ian, Barbara, and Susan. We had the pleasure of being able to sit with Nick Briggs, co-producer at Big Finish and director of this series to give us some information about this series as well as discussing recasting and “authenticity” in general with us.

This week Nick Briggs and a mystery guest join the cast.

Show Notes:

The First Doctor Adventures from Big Finish

The 42cast Episode 24: Batman Year Negative Nine

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:35:24 GMT

Third time’s the charm as we delve into the third season of Gotham with this episode of The 42cast. It’s a story of crime wars, mutated freaks, and political machinations as we discuss the coming of Ra’s al Ghul, the Penguin/Riddler war, and the return of Jerome. We also talk about what we’ve liked and disliked about the show as a whole, and what we expect out of season 4.

This week Michael; Mike; and newcomer, Gary, join the cast.

Show Notes:

The 42cast merchandise on Teepublic

Earth Station One: Tales from the Station Volume 2

The 42cast Episode 23: Fast Forward

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 23:40:03 GMT

Running for the finish line on our review of the DC TV series on the CW, we discuss season 3 of The Flash. This season had some surprising twists and turns that left fandom feeling a little shaky. This week we talk about the storylines, how we felt about them, and what we feel like this means for season 4. We also get a word in from the World’s Greatest Flash fan who lets us know if an emo Flash is ever a good thing, and we talk about whether Leonard Snart is necessary to bring together The Flash’s Rogues Gallery.

This week Ryan, Eric, and the world’s biggest Flash fan; Shaun; join the cast.

Note: We are aware that this episode suffered from a series of sound issues. Eric’s microphone was malfunctioning, which lead to a strong drop in quality from his line, and we had issues with the recorder dropping portions of words every couple of minutes. We’ve done our best to fix the former, but there was nothing we could do about the latter. The episode can still be heard and understood, so we felt that it was better to release than not. We hope that you enjoy it.

The 42cast Episode 22: Jumping the Network

Thu, 28 Dec 2017 05:48:21 GMT

This week we take a look at Supergirl’s sophmore season. The series had a surprising rescue when CBS declined to renew it for a second season and the CW decided to pick it up. The new showrunners decided to alter some elements of the show. The second season saw the debut of many new characters as well as a heightened political commentary. In this episode we talk about the changed premises, the new characters, and what happens when you jump the network.

This week Ryan, James, and Beth join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 21: All the World is Waiting for Her

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:59:49 GMT

Six months ago DC rocked the world of men with a movie so groundbreaking and hopeful that it’s changing the face of Hollywood blockbusters. That movie is Wonder Woman. Join the cast as we talk about why we think it’s resonated so strongly with audiences, what effect we think that it’ll have on the DCEU, and how it adapts Greek Mythology and the comic book origins of Wonder Woman. We also talk about the characters, setting, acting, and script. Then stick around for the outtakes as we discuss Batman v Superman in light of Wonder Woman and what we think of the future of the DCEU.

This week Sam, James, and newcomer Bree join the cast.

Show Notes:

Sam’s Article: Deconstructing Pretty Deadly

Ryan’s Super Scientific Graph:

https://i0.wp.com/42cast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/dceu-graph.png?resize=1024%2C654&ssl=1

The 42cast Episode 20: Agents of Hydra

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 21:18:55 GMT

Join the episode as we discuss the fifth season of Marvel’s Agents of Hydra. Follow agents Ward, May, and Skye as they hunt down the Inhuman filth infesting the planet. We’ll also follow the exploits of ineffective resistance movement, run by the treacherous Jeffrey Mace and his allies. We go through all the ins and outs of the season, from the awesomeness of Madame Hydra to new character, Simmons, and her ties to the corrupt S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. We also talk about why we should care about a schoolteacher and a law-abiding citizen with his daughter. It’s all that and more with this triumphant installment of The 42cast!

This week Ryan, Jennifer, and Eric join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 19: Back to Basics

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 02:30:09 GMT

In this episode we take a look back at season 5 of Arrow. This season took a back-to-basics approach that showed the consequences of some of Oliver’s actions, brought back some old faces, and moved him forward as a character. There were also several new faces. In this episode we talk about the new and the old and talk about what worked and what didn’t before discussing where we hope season 6 is heading.

This week Ryan, James, and newcomer Anthony join the cast.

Show Notes:

ESO Teepublic Store

The 42cast Episode 18: Legion of Doom

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:40:01 GMT

The second season of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow brought a new direction, new characters, and some changes for some old ones. It also saw the formation of the Arrowverse’s first team of villains, The Legion of Doom. This week, The 42cast talks about the second season of Legends of Tomorrow and focuses in on the villains. How well did the Legion of Doom work? Is it a concept that we’d like to see revisited? What do we think are the highlights and pitfalls of the season? Where does the show go from here? We answer all this and more in this the latest episode of The 42cast.

This week Ryan, Eric and James join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 17: The Final Battle

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 07:08:45 GMT

In this episode we bid a tearful farewell to the epic Disney fairy tale series, Once Upon a Time. We look in on the second half of the season and of course, The Final Battle. We talk about our favorite characters, what we miss, what we would change, the wrap up, and how we’ll miss this series….Wait. What do you mean that it’s renewed for another season? With that ending…really?! Looks like we’re speculating on season 7 as well. We talk about whether a continuation is a good idea and what we think is the best winning strategy. Can Once return stronger than ever?

This week Ryan, and Anji join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 16: Doubling Down

Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:58:36 GMT

We finally start our summer movie podcasts! Grab your walkman and moonwalk over to your parents’ place, because The 42cast delves into the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This time we’re talking about the series as a stand alone film, part of the MCU, and as a comic adaptation. How does it measure up? Is it a good idea for them to double down? Who’s your favorite character. All this and more are answered in this episode.

This week Ryan, Eric, and Mark join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 15: The Fourth Defender

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 04:23:17 GMT

This is it, the fourth Netflix series co-produced with Marvel, which introduced the last of the four characters that they’d promised since 2014. After three amazing series, the public was primed for Iron Fist but for some reason it didn’t hit as well as the other three. In this episode we dive into that. We talk about how well this worked as an adaptation of the character, the importance of taking time to polish a series, the importance of choreography for a martial arts series, the acting, plots, continuity with the other “Defenders” series and so much more.

This week Ryan, Anji, and Stephanie join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 14: The Legendary Defender

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 06:40:32 GMT

Last year, fans of 80’s cartoons were surprised and delighted to learn that Netflix and Dreamworks would be teaming up to bring Voltron back to the small screen. This week we look at Voltron: Legendary Defender to decide if it’s a worthy successor to the original series. We discuss the characters and plots and what we think worked and what we think didn’t. We also talk about what things might mean and where the storyline is headed.

This week we’re joined by an august assemblage of guests consisting of Beth, Mike, and newcomer Eric.

Show Notes:

Stealth Voltron

The 42cast Episode 13: Streams do Come True

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 05:38:55 GMT

It seems like you can’t look at the internet anymore without reading a report about some new streaming service starting up. This episode we look into what’s going on with all these services. Can they survive with a single, popular product? Can the consumer base afford to have so many streaming services at a time? What happens to Netflix and Hulu as more and more providers jump ship? How much will piracy effect things? Just what does happen when you cross the streams?

It’s a rollickin’ good ride with guests Ryan and Sam on board to guide us through it. We’re also joined by newcomer Jason halfway through the episode, because he needed to talk about this topic.

Show Notes:

Stargate streaming service

Disney streaming service

The 42cast Episode 12: The Big Bang Controversy

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 03:47:53 GMT

Never in all the history of geekdom has one show divided fandom as much as The Big Bang Theory. Some hate it. Some love it. There seems to be no in-between, and there doesn’t seem to be any pattern to who feels which way about it. This episode we try to get to the heart of the matter by talking to people on both sides of the coin. No matter how you feel about the show, there’s something in this episode for you.

Also in this episode, Nathan unveils The Video Game Archive, a new project to chronicle the history of video games from the present to now. If you know anyone who was involved in designing, building, marketing, or sales of video games in the 70’s or 80’s then drop us a line.

This episode Ryan rejoins the cast and Mark , and Nate make their triumphant debut. (Just ignore that an out-of-order episode with Nate has already aired.)

The 42cast Episode 11: Train to Nowhere

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:40:58 GMT

The time has come for our second Comic Fliction segment as we talk about Snowpiercer. It’s a French comic book adapted by a Korean director and American writer, produced in Korea, and starring a multi-cultural cast. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Earth has frozen over, and the last remnants of humanity live in a train that must keep moving to keep the people inside warm. It’s a crazy ride as we talk about the unique direction, the acting, the symbolism, and what the ending means for the characters. Is it really the train to nowhere? You get all that plus Five Questions too!

This episode Ryan, Will, and Sam join the cast.

Show Notes:

Snowpiercer – Left or Right

Snowpiercer: I hated this movie

The 42cast Episode 10: The Michael and Mark Edens Interview

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 06:59:32 GMT

This episode is the first of what will hopefully be many interviews as we invite Michael and Mark Edens to the cast to discuss their over thirty years in writing for television. Both men have worked on well-known series including Gobots, The Real Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, X-Men, Exosquad, Mummies Alive, and Young Hercules. This episode we focus on two of the three greatest animated series of the 1990’s, X-Men and Exoquad. Learn the secrets of what goes on behind the scenes and learn the process behind making some of the decisions that helped make these series the cult hits that they are today.

Show Links:

X-Men Season One on DVD

Exosquad Season One on DVD

X-Men the animated series blog by story editor Eric Lewald

Death be not Pwned by Mark Edward Edens

The 42cast Episode 9: The Age of Nostalgia

Fri, 26 May 2017 06:36:32 GMT

You can’t scroll through the channels anymore without finding a reboot or continuation of a show from years ago. This week we look at the nostalgia culture and discuss why it’s happening. What are the benefits and the pitfalls. Along the way we get to talking about Star Trek: Discovery and diverse casting. We also ask the eternal question “Is it possible to destroy your childhood?” It’s all that plus talking about our favorite and least favorite reboots and continuations.

This episode Ryan, James, and The Phantom Troublemaker join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 8: Apocalyptic Teenage Dreams

Sun, 09 Apr 2017 05:27:23 GMT

Ever wonder what’s been going on with all these novels and movies about teenagers living in apocalyptic scenarios? So do we. That’s why this week we decided to talk about what’s driving these apocalyptic teenage dreams. We talk about female protagonists, following the dollar, adaptation integrity, movie length, and so much more. Nathan asks the eternal question of whether Suzanne Collins is fibbing when she says that she hadn’t seen or read Battle Royale and Rachele makes sure that we all know her opinion of The Giver. We may have also come up for a new use for Pokemon Go – matchmaking.

This episode Beth, Nate, and Rachele join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 7: I’m Batman

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 06:45:00 GMT

This week, it’s a blast from the past as we delve into comic book adaptations with our first Comic Fliction segment. First up are Batman and Batman Returns, two movies that were instrumental in changing the public’s perception of comic book movies. Everything’s up for grabs as we debate how far of a departure this was from the the ’66 series. We talk about Mr Mom as Batman, whether or not Vicki Vale was necessary, the timelessness of Gotham, Danny Elfman’s score, the grotesquery of The Penguin, what was up with Catwoman and so much more.

This episode Sam, Stephanie, and Will join the cast.

The 42cast Episode 6: Cranked up to Fifteen

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 03:15:05 GMT

This week Michael and Mike join the cast to talk about the first eleven episodes of the third season of Gotham. It’s a wild wide as we discuss how the show routinely “cranks it up to fifteen”, and we discuss how we came to like Barbara Kean, the merits and pitfalls of introducing the Joker, and why we need more Harvey Bullock. It’s all that plus your weekly dose of Five Questions for the same low price of nothing! It’s only on The 42cast your Ultimate Answer to Fandom, Geekiness, and Everything!

News about the series:

Gotham casts Alexander Siddig as Ra’s al Ghul

The 42cast Episode 5: Charming to the Last

Sun, 05 Mar 2017 08:24:54 GMT

The mid-season break is over and new episodes of Once Upon a Time come back to our screens tonight. In honor of that event, Ryan and Anji join the cast to talk about the first half of the season. It’s a conversation about Aladdin, Jasmine, the Land of Untold Stories, the Evil Queen, whether or not we care about The Charmings, and so much more.

News about the series:

Show to Hit a Reset Button

Tinkerbell Returns

The 42cast Episode 4: Berlanti Maxiverse The New 52 Part Two

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 08:35:22 GMT

It’s the second part of our two-part examination of the Berlanti maxiverse. This week I’m rejoined by Ryan and Sam to talk about the first half of the current seasons of Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. Then we talk about the 3.1 part Invasion crossover that went through all four shows.

If you haven’t listened to our commentary on Flash and Arrow yet then go back and listen to episode three.

The 42cast Episode 3: Berlanti Maxiverse The New 52 Part One

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 07:07:27 GMT

In this episode Ryan and Sam sit down with me to talk about the four DC television series produced by Greg Berlanti for the CW. Because we recorded so much epic material, we had to split this one into two episodes, so this time we’re talking about The Flash and Arrow. We talk about what we think the highlights and downfalls of each half season have been and where we think each series is going from here.

Stay tuned in a few days when we put up the second part for this episode where we’ll discuss Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and The Invasion crossover.

The 42cast Episode 2.1: The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sublimation Gaiden

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 07:39:37 GMT

In this bonus episode, we’re joined by Jennifer_Hartshorn of Earth Station MCU. to talk about the first half of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the first episode of the L.M.D. story arc. Jennifer wasn’t able to get on last week, but it’s great to have her join the show to give her thoughts for this bonus episode.

Stay turned for our third episode that will come out in a few days with our review of the half season of the four DC superhero series on The CW, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow.

The 42cast Episode 2: The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Sublimation

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 08:36:03 GMT

In this episode Ryan and Eric sit down with me to talk about the first half of the fourth season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We also talk about Marvel’s The Inhumans as well as how what’s going on with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may impact the Netflix series and the rest of the MCU. It’s all that plus another Five Questions.

Stay tuned in a few days as we’ll post a one-on-one interview with Jennifer Hartshorn of Earth Station MCU that we couldn’t fit into this episode without making it far too long.

The 42cast Episode 1: Press Start to Continue

Sat, 14 Jan 2017 06:09:02 GMT

This is it, the first ever, action packed episode of The 42cast, your Ultimate Answer to Fandom, Geekiness, and Everything. We're a group of podcasters who love talking about geeky subjects. Each week we're going to come to you with a new topic from the geekisphere. We may talk about a movie, TV show, comic book, video game, novel, trends that we see in fandom or we may even do an interview. The main thing is talking about the things that we love and having fun doing it.

For our first episode Sam, Ryan, Rachele, and myself sit down to ask each other questions and give you some insight into just who this cast of crazy characters is. This conversation covers lots of geeky subjects and will be a great example of the type of topics that will be covered in the show.