In recent years, directors Rian Johnson and Kenneth Branagh have revived the murder mystery format in a huge way with their respective franchises beginning with Knives Out and Murder on the Orient Express, respectively. We have discussed how much we all love murder mysteries on the podcast, but WHY do we love them so much? What is it about these puzzle games of murder that drive audiences back for repeat viewings, long after they have already deduced who the culprit is? We'll find out this week as our topic is what makes for a great murder mystery? 

Also on this week's show, we have spoiler-free reviews of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Adams in Tim Burton's foray into television with Wednesday, plus Rian Johnson's return to the Knives Out franchise with Glass Onion. Furthermore, Quentin Tarantino has been getting a lot of press recently for his comments stating that Marvel actors are not movie stars, but is there truth in his statements? We discuss, and at the end of the podcast, revisit an earlier conversation we had on the end of the movie star era as a whole.

Discussed on this episode

• • (0:00 – 21:45) Opening | Quentin Tarantino and Marvel Movie Stars
  • (21:46 – 53:13) Reviews: Netflix's Wednesday and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | Recommendations
  • (53:14 – 1:15:45) From the Outside In: What Makes A Great Murder Mystery? 
  • (1:15:46 – 1:41:29) Is the Movie Star Era Dead? - (From Episode 490)
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