Needs Some Introduction

In this free-range horror catch-up, Darren and I talk Halloween culture, haunted houses, and an A24/Jeremy Saulnier haunted-house film teased for Halloween but releasing in January. We cover Darren’s recent theater trips, including a mixed reaction to Street Fighter, and we share box office notes. We confirm Carrie has been renewed for season two, then wrap up Crystal Lake, with Darren praising the flashback and finale, the performances (including Linda Cardellini and Hamish Linklater), and the late-season kills despite a flat midseason. We dive into Clayface (including spoilers), comparing it to The Substance and The Fly, discussing its body-horror highlights, rushed opening/editing, and mixed emotional payoff, while noting its rare A- CinemaScore. We close by trading 2026 horror favorites and disappointments and preview upcoming coverage of Dexter Resurrection season two and Apple TV’s Nocturne.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Horror Grab Bag Setup

01:00 Halloween Traditions Talk

03:44 Decorations and Haunted Houses

05:19 A24 Haunted House Tease

07:05 Theater Trips Street Fighter

09:57 Carrie Renewed Season Two

10:37 Crystal Lake Finale Reactions

13:11 Surf Dracula Streaming Meme

17:39 Sex and Slashers Debate

20:45 Clayface First Impressions

26:57 Clayface Spoiler Context

29:36 Clayface Opening Problems

34:06 Comparing to The Fly

36:01 Missed Acting Potential

38:14 CGI Versus Practical Effects

38:52 Practical Effects Praise

39:59 Eye Trauma Standouts

41:27 What Worked vs Rushed

44:16 Nanobots Power Leap

45:46 Mild Recommendation

46:08 Clayface Future in DC

50:54 Batman 2 Production Talk

51:56 Ranking Horror of Year

01:00:38 More Picks and Misses

01:03:18 Worst of the Year

01:07:40 Podcast Schedule Update

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Darren and I kick off a spooky-season episode of Need Some Introduction by discussing what we’ve been watching, including Darren finishing Carrie, catching up on the Peacock/A24 Friday the 13th prequel Crystal Lake, and seeing the survival thriller Whale Fall starring Austin Abrams, which he praises for its claustrophobic practical whale sets, father-son framing with Josh Brolin, and a slightly mystical ending. We then dive into You Can See Everything, a buzzy three-hour A24 documentary involving Nathan Fielder and Elizabeth Holmes that’s selling out screenings and provoking debates about performance, reality, and what can be trusted on camera. Finally, we spoil the Carrie finale—liking the season overall but criticizing the fragmented prom climax and heavy season-two setup—and assess Crystal Lake as entertaining but uneven, increasingly conspiracy-driven, and held together by Linda Cardellini’s performance.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Spooky Season Setup

00:48 Whale Fall Reactions

03:04 Inside the Whale

06:20 Practical Effects Buzz

09:45 You Can See Everything Hype

14:07 Mind-Bending Documentary Breakdown

18:56 Reality, Spoilers, and Aftertalk

23:05 Carrie Finale Spoiler Talk

25:55 Flanagan Carrie Debate

26:49 Finale Choices Critique

28:05 Binge Edit Fixes

29:59 Season Two Setup Talk

31:24 CGI Versus Practical

32:20 Crystal Lake Overview

33:21 Friday the 13th History

37:54 Tone Conspiracy Issues

39:08 Kills And 80s Vibe

41:52 Backstory Filler Complaints

45:46 Season Two Landing Point

47:07 Next Week Watchlist

47:45 Nocturne Series Preview

49:27 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we’re back on Needs Some Introduction to check in on HBO Max/BBC’s War through episode three, with Sona returning after a tough couple of weeks that included unexpected deaths in our circles and conversations with our kids about grief. We lay out the show’s basics (George Kay, anthology plans, and the two rival law firms) and talk through the central divorce plot with Dominic West and Sienna Miller, including the honey-trap setup, mediation/arbitration mechanics, and whether infidelity and changing circumstances (money and a child/stepchild) shift prenup leverage. We agree the show is well made but paced slowly, with unclear stakes in a billionaire divorce, while Johnny as the mole is the most compelling thread. We also preview our upcoming switch to Dexter, plus other podcast plans.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Podcast Welcome and Agenda

01:21 Personal Loss and Parenting

03:22 Show Background and Anthology Setup

05:46 Lawyer Show Comparisons

07:22 Cast Trivia and Nepo Babies

09:51 Plot Recap and Key Players

14:03 Is the Show Too Slow

15:54 Stakes Problem and Succession Parallels

23:41 Class and Career Questions

27:03 UK vs US Divorce Process

28:41 Why Mediation Works

31:08 Prenup Bias and Optics

32:27 Picking Arbitrators Strategy

34:46 Episode Three Kid Fallout

38:08 Money Stakes and Sympathy

39:50 Succession Comparison

45:05 Morgan Hides Wealth

47:33 Switching to Dexter

49:14 Dexter Season Two Teases

51:48 Other Shows and Wrap Up

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this catch-up episode of Need Some Introduction, Darren and I talk about why the podcast schedule has been irregular lately, including unexpected family losses that delayed our planned coverage of War. Darren shares highlights from a recent vacation and a trip to Melbourne for his wife’s 11th marathon, plus seeing Resident Evil in a small theater. We discuss the divisive Lanterns finale, praising performances (especially Kelly Macdonald) while questioning some story choices and underused characters, and we note strong HBO viewership numbers suggesting a likely renewal. We then dig into Amazon Prime’s Mike Flanagan Carrie series (through episode five), comparing it to the De Palma film and Stephen King’s novel, focusing on its contemporary social media bullying angle, expanded characters (especially Carrie’s mother and the bully Chris), and the episode-five twist about Carrie’s “friend,” while teeing up a spoiler-heavy continuation next week and potential coverage of Crystal Lake.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Welcome Back and Updates

00:49 Darren Vacation Recap

01:36 Melbourne Marathon Weekend

03:19 Jet Lag and Running Talk

06:19 Anniversary and Resident Evil

07:17 Podcast Delays and War

08:39 Lanterns Finale Reactions

12:33 Lanterns Ratings and Future

15:25 Carrie Series Intro

16:52 Stephen King and De Palma

19:01 Modernizing Carrie and Flanagan

28:00 Should You Watch the Movie

29:28 Episode One Changes Setup

30:55 Margaret Reimagined

33:03 Social Media Spiral

35:25 Chris The Bully

37:56 Carrie Red Goes Viral

39:46 Teachers And Counselors

41:06 Episode Five Twist

50:11 Real World Teen Bans

54:16 What To Watch Next

55:53 Digger Debate

01:00:09 Wrap Up And Teasers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We recap and review the season finale of Apple TV’s Australian thriller Last Seen, along with a few digressions on fall foliage trips and upcoming podcast plans. We discuss whether the finale feels satisfying, why a second season seems unlikely, and how the show resolves an intentionally messy premise with an ambiguous but emotionally devastating ending, including Henry killing his father, Sarah protecting Ian, Henry’s selfish final choice, and the family’s complicated reunion amid Bill’s funeral. We also question some police-procedural realism, praise the acting—especially the young actor playing Sarah/Maggie—and consider what a non-thriller Season 2 focused on aftermath might look like. We briefly recommend Netflix’s East of Eden adaptation, tease covering HBO Max’s War, and touch on Ted Lasso and Bill Lawrence shows like Rooster, Scrubs’ reboot, and Bad Monkey.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:46 Fall Foliage Chat

05:28 East of Eden Recommendation

10:12 War Podcast Plans

11:31 Finale Thoughts Season Two

14:28 Plot Walkthrough Begins

16:32 Police Procedure Questions

19:50 Road Trip Tension

26:43 Compound Showdown

30:16 Aftermath and Truths

32:40 Henry’s Selfish Myth

34:40 Escape and Shootout Chaos

36:47 Ian Confronts Henry

39:13 Henry’s Final Choice

41:28 Reunion Aftermath

45:42 Funeral and Parenting Metaphor

49:28 Season Two Possibilities

53:23 Why It Works

54:56 Ted Lasso Detour

57:08 Bill Lawrence Watchlist

01:00:25 Bad Monkey Season Two

01:02:40 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Victor welcomes Alan as guest co-host on Needs Some Introduction to discuss the Season 1 finale of HBO Max’s Lanterns, while noting Darren is on vacation and previewing upcoming coverage of Last Seen, War, and eventually Dark Matter and Netflix’s East of Eden adaptation. They agree Lanterns has been uneven, citing a clunky John Stewart backstory episode and a placeholder-feeling later episode, and discuss reports that HBO reordered episodes. On the finale, Alan finds it exposition-heavy with little Green Lantern action and questions the killer reveal and emotional beats, while Victor likes many individual scenes, especially Kyle Chandler’s work, but also sees structural flaws. They recap major plot points: Noah revealed as a Manhunter, Sinestro’s underuse and claim he can bring Hal back, Carrie’s pregnancy and involvement in Hal’s death, John letting Carrie and Noah go while warning of catastrophic risk, the Guy Gardner handoff, and a largely pointless blackmail subplot.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Welcome and Co-Host Alan

01:39 Podcast Updates and Upcoming Shows

03:18 Dark Matter Detour

05:52 Netflix East of Eden Talk

09:49 Back to Lanterns Season Overview

13:01 Episode Order Shuffle Mystery

18:19 Finale First Impressions

22:56 Finale Breakdown Begins

27:39 Noah Revealed as Manhunter

31:56 Sinestro and the Missing Backstory

36:42 Car Scene and Thematic Payoffs

39:38 Carrie Covers Noah

40:10 Manhunter Power Speculation

41:16 Noah Wants Mercy Kill

43:08 Suicide Themes Hit Home

45:19 Fear And Lantern Lore

47:25 Noah Origin Virgin Birth

49:47 Nature Versus Programming

53:09 Carrie Killed Hal Debate

01:00:04 Guy Gardner Takes Earth

01:05:51 Hologram Hal I Love You

01:10:23 Blackmail Plot Falls Flat

01:15:17 Automat Tangent And Wrap

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Needs Some Introduction, we check in on the nor’easter, preview upcoming coverage of HBO Max’s War and the Lanterns finale, and note the Montclair Film Festival lineup and Patreon plans. We then break down Last Seen’s flashback-heavy episode, revealing how Jenna and Henry met, Jenna’s prior relationship with Donald, and how Henry’s controlling upbringing shaped him. We discuss the devastating death of Henry and Jenna’s young daughter, Henry’s calculated abduction of Ian and Deb’s child, and how the show frames reality-TV-style manipulation and ethical boundaries around grief and children in peril. We also revisit key plot mechanics (including Henry’s ricochet shot hitting Jenna) and debate Deb’s anger at Ian as he escalates toward a risky, potentially suicidal confrontation to get Mags back.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:24 Nor'easter Check In

01:39 Storm Impacts Nearby

04:46 Next Show War Preview

07:48 Lanterns Finale Plans

08:41 Film Festival And Patreon

10:11 Reality TV Catch Up

14:04 Reality TV Ethics Talk

16:30 Predators Doc Recommendation

21:52 Last Seen Flashback Setup

23:56 Jenna And Brothers Reveal

25:18 Cult Compound Dynamics

27:46 Henry Kidnapping Details

30:18 Jenna Complicity Questions

32:33 Ricochet Shot Clarified

33:39 Henry Looks Worse

33:54 DNA and Blood Type

35:14 Deb Blames Ian

41:39 Son Guilt and AirPods

44:33 Brainwashing a Toddler

46:49 Flashback Breakdown

54:31 Ian Goes Rogue

59:31 Will Jenna Survive

01:02:07 How Should It End

01:06:29 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Need Some Introduction, Darren and I discuss the penultimate episode of Lanterns (“The Jordan Boys Legacy”), including its father-son themes, the revelation of generational suicide in Hal’s family, the new buddy-cop dynamic between John Stewart and “Halogram,” and our mixed feelings about pacing, the extended off-world sequence, minimal Sinestro screen time, and an extraneous blackmail subplot. We also talk about recent storms and shark scares, revisit Jaws sequels and nostalgia, and Darren’s Avengers: Endgame re-release experience, which leads into a broader conversation about Marvel’s resurgence, Spider-Man’s huge box office, and signs the theatrical market is healthier with multiple films performing well. Victor reviews Prime Time (with Robert Pattinson) and compares it to the Predators documentary, and they briefly check in on Ted Lasso, Chad Powers, Stick, and Mob Land.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Podcast intro and setup

00:29 Storms and shark scares

02:18 Bad shark sequels and nostalgia

05:07 Endgame re-release reactions

06:44 Marvel box office comeback

13:37 Prime Time and Predators

17:18 Pattinson performance and style

24:07 Quick TV check-in

27:01 Lanterns penultimate breakdown

37:52 Behind the Scenes Budget

39:32 Hal Hologram Buddy Cop

41:29 Carrie Meets Hal Ghost

43:18 Who Killed Hal Theories

46:34 Trailer DNA Sample Clue

48:42 Football Game Endgame

53:01 Father to Son Symbolism

55:41 Blackmail Subplot Complaint

58:25 Podcast Updates Next Week

01:00:45 MobLand Episode Reactions

01:03:02 MobLand Production Weirdness

01:07:52 MobLand Harry Fixer Critique

01:10:41 Wrap Up And Goodbye

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We recap and discuss “The Truth,” episode four of Last Seen, including how the show keeps suspense high while answering questions quickly, and we debate frustrations with Ian’s choices and the detectives’ handling of key evidence like the birth certificate. We break down major developments: Henry’s unexpected cooperation, the police visit to the farm, Sarah/Maggie’s growing doubts, Jenna’s guilt and confrontation with Deb at the flower shop, Donald’s conflicted loyalty, and the escalating endgame that culminates in a violent shootout where Bill is badly wounded, Jenna is hit, and Henry flees with his family despite a damaged gas line. We note next week’s flashback structure, then pivot to a propofol vs. propranolol correction, talk about finishing Widows Bay, and briefly discuss Ted Lasso plus family-friendly viewing picks like Long Way Home, The Amazing Race, and Taskmaster.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Show Intro and Guest

00:23 Weather and Nor'easter Banter

02:07 Drug Talk Retraction

06:10 Widows Bay Reactions

12:58 Last Seen Setup

13:57 Episode Impressions

16:20 Dumb Cop Debate

19:32 Henry and Donald Meet

21:45 Cult Backstory Speculation

25:32 Shootout Questions

27:59 Ian Car Chase Critique

30:30 Police Station Logic Gaps

32:33 Jenna Actress Recognition

33:28 Jenna Under Pressure

34:38 Did Jenna Kill Sarah

36:57 Police Miss Red Flags

39:18 Pena Versus Ian

41:59 Off Grid Farm Logistics

43:32 Henry Walks In

48:48 House Visit Tension

51:06 Sarahs Inner World

56:28 Birth Certificate Debate

01:02:57 Flower Shop Confrontation

01:07:33 Redundant Drama Setup

01:08:52 Jenna Teases The Truth

01:09:41 Treehouse Coming Of Age

01:10:57 Running On Empty Tangent

01:12:36 Hospital Showdown Fallout

01:14:21 Jenna Confronts Henry

01:16:11 Tragedy And Rationalization

01:18:02 Ted Lasso Catch Up

01:21:37 Watching With Kids

01:27:20 Amsterdam Episode Debate

01:30:25 Long Way Home Recommendation

01:34:39 Taskmaster Family Pick

01:37:37 Wrap Up

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Victor previews a packed “Need Some Introduction” episode covering Lanterns, Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil film, the MobLand Season 2 premiere, and the Reacher season finale, with Darren joining later. Victor explains the blended-format approach with timestamps and upcoming October coverage, then breaks down Lanterns episode 11, “Bad Optics,” set 10 years after Rushville: John Stewart and his brother pitch modular disaster bunkers, Hal Jordan is revealed to have served prison time for the massacre, and Hal is murdered on the bleachers, prompting Guy Gardner’s arrival, Sinestro’s jailbreak news, and a sparsely attended funeral featuring Hal’s self-written eulogy. John uses the ring’s remaining charge to manifest a backup Hal, setting up the final episodes, before the show transitions to Darren’s reactions on Reacher, Resident Evil, and MobLand.

Mailto:[email protected]

https://www.patreon.com/cw/NeedsSomeIntroduction

00:00 Show Rundown

01:58 October Watchlist

02:56 Resident Evil Hype

05:00 Lanterns Ratings

08:35 Bad Optics Recap

12:17 Ten Years Later

18:10 Who Killed Hal

22:39 Guy Gardner Arrives

25:54 Funeral and Halogram

32:18 Darren Joins In

34:02 Reacher Finale Talk

37:55 Reacher Season Outlook

38:39 Senator Wife Setup

39:39 No Returning Characters

39:50 Why See Resident Evil

41:22 Darren Loved It

44:09 Cregger Tone Mastery

49:45 Video Game Movie Breakthrough

54:23 Spoiler Warning Grossness

57:42 Rat King Spoilers

58:13 CGI Notes Practical Effects

01:01:41 Horror Levels Theory

01:04:34 Family Anxiety Subtext

01:08:17 Ending Tone Debate

01:09:07 Sequel Speculation

01:10:55 Cregger Next Projects

01:12:36 IMAX Worth It

01:15:01 Gore And Laughs

01:15:29 MobLand Season Two Setup

01:18:15 Camp Versus Grit

01:22:20 Guy Ritchie Style Talk

01:24:22 Who Is Pulling Strings

01:29:41 What We Cover Next

01:31:24 Carrie Modern Bullying

01:34:03 Flanagan Homework And Emmys

01:36:02 Wrap Up And Schedule

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.