Talkin' TV

And now for something entirely different. Dom the Movie Nerd sits down with the Brandocritic to have much more of a casual conversation for today's podcast. They talk about Brando's recent trip to Disney World and how the entire environment feels different before launching into yet another crusade about the MCU and just how much it's changed in the post-pandemic world. Then they talk about some of the most recent movie news, including Variety's Star Wars article discussing their new trajectory on television as well as the recent casting of Christopher Walken as the Padishah Emperor in Denis Villeneuve's upcoming Dune Part II. After comparing movies that were released on their birthdays, with it being revealed that Marvel's She-Hulk will be opening on Dom's birthday this year, they then launch into their discussion on the Star Wars prequels, how their perception has changed over time, and how they are viewed in comparison to the entire saga and how they will be viewed going forward. It's a different kind of a conversation, but one that definitely warrants listening. Be sure to follow Brando with everything he does and be sure to keep coming back for more episodes of the #talkintvpodcast

We're almost at the end of yet another season! It's been a real chore beginning the track of the second half of the show, but at the very least I can say that Season 5 goes out on a high note. It's yet another penultimate episode, which are always fun to cover for this show. This one is entitled "The Dance of Dragons" after both the fifth and most recent book in the Song of Ice & Fire source material as well as the ancient Targaryen civil war between Aegon II Targaryen and his sister Rhaenyra over their father Viserys I's throne. This penultimate functions a little differently than previous ones, with previous penultimate episodes focusing on either a series of events that build up to a tragic betrayal resulting in death or a battle sequence that takes place in one location across the entire episode. This one instead opts to focus as more of a transition between the action packed Hardhome and the jam packed finale next week. Jon arrives back at the Wall with the remainder of the Wildling survivors and after a tense standoff, witnesses the fruit of his labor in his alienation of the Night's Watch. In Braavos, Arya attempts to carry out her first major assignment, but instead is distracted by the arrival of Meryn Trant, one of the few survivors so far from her kill list, putting her in a dangerous position. In Dorne, Jaime negotiates with Prince Doran for Myrcella's return to King's Landing, in a disappointing and unfulfilling end to a storyline that could have been awesome and was clearly setting up to play a bigger part in the story going forward. In the North, Ramsay's attack leaves Stannis' forces crippled, forcing him to make a terrible choice. In Meereen, Daenerys oversees the beginning of the Great Games in the Fighting pits. Tune in next week for our discussion of the Season 5 finale, and be sure to keep tuning in every Friday for more new episodes of Talkin' Thrones, only on the #talkintvpodcast

Alright, this is the big one, arguably the next most anticipated major movie event after the Batman. Marvel returns in two forms, first in the television format with Moon Knight, and now it's back to the movies with the much anticipated sequel to 6 previous MCU properties, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness! This film functions as a sequel to Dr. Strange, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Wandavision & Spider-Man: No Way Home, as we follow the titular Doctor dealing with a multiversal threat when he finds himself having to protect a young girl with the ability to traverse the multiverse from Wanda Maximoff, who is hell bent on using her powers to bring back her children from another universe. In addition to Benedict Cumberbatch & Elizabeth Olsen reprising their roles as Dr. Strange and the Scarlett Witch, the film also sees the return of Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams & Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as newcomer Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. Doctor Strange director and co-writer Scott Derrickson had plans for a sequel by October 2016. He signed to return as director in December 2018, when Cumberbatch was confirmed to return. The film's title was announced in July 2019 along with Olsen's involvement, while Jade Halley Bartlett was hired to write the film that October. Derrickson stepped down as director in January 2020, citing creative differences, with Loki showrunner Michael Waldron and Sam Raimi joining the next month and starting over. Filming began in November 2020 in London but was put on hold in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dom & Chris sit down with Matt of Basic Entertainment and Luk Reviews to discuss whether this film lived up to the hype or was yet another Marvel misfire. All of that and more, every week, only on the #talkintvpodcast

Alright, this one's a big one, the biggest one we've done in a while. We've been building up to this one for the whole season, and rightfully so, because this episode is ultimately the one that determines the course of the rest of the show, Season 5, Episode 8 "Hardhome," rightfully named after the devastating battle that takes place when the White Walkers unexpectedly attack and brutally massacre most of the Wildling forces in the first true demonstration of their power. Miguel Sapochnik's action directing skills are put on full display here, as Jon's arrival to treat with the Wildlings is interrupted when they come under attack by the army of the dead. It's an event that was only briefly mentioned in the book, but it's put on full display here, as the first of a couple surprise battles that would demonstrate the show's much increased action budget was now on the level of most movies. Hell, they're still making memes about the Night King's final resurrection of all the dead wildlings along the shore. Elsewhere, Cersei is made to confess but refuses, Arya is given her first assignment by the Faceless Men, Sansa forces Theon to reveal the truth, Sam tries to reassure Olly and Tyrion barters for Daenerys' favor. It's all covered every Friday all the way up until the finale only on the #talkintvpodcast

New month, new quarter, new feelings! Dom is joined by Eli Holicky in order to commemorate the first of a couple of shows that will be wrapping up this year. We teamed up back in January to do a surprise bonus episode talking about the first half of Season 4 when it dropped in January, and now we're talking about the final 7 episodes which dropped this past Friday on Netflix. It's been a wild and crazy journey following the Byrdes these last 5 years, and we break down everything that happened in this last season. Was it earned? Did they wrap up all the character arcs and storylines? Do the Byrdes escape or do they suffer the consequences of their actions? Tune in to find out! And be sure to tune in next week as we begin our second summer series! All right here on the #talkintvpodcast

We're past the halfway point and almost at the end of yet another season! Hard to believe we've already almost completed 5 seasons of this show! That just shows the power of this show, even at its worst, which this season easily has been. But we have a special episode to cover here, Season 5, Episode 7, entitled "The gift," because this marks the directorial debut of Miguel Sapochnik, arguably the most influential director to come out of this half of the show as his handling of the major battle sequences that take place in the following episode "Hardhome" as well as his work on Season 6's "The Battle of the Bastards" and "The Winds of Winter" would set a new precedent for action filmmaking across the spectrum. Here we only have the setup of things to come, with a whole lot of holdover as Jon & Tormund leave the Wall in order to go north to Hardhome and bring the Wildling forces south of the Wall. Elsewhere, Sam & Gilly finally consumate their long gestating feelings for each other, Stannis feels the inevitability of his situation, Sansa attempts to escape Winterfell but puts her trust in the wrong person, Cersei finally suffers the consequences of her actions, and Tyrion & Jorah finally reach their destination. It's all covered in another episode of #talkinthrones right here on the #talkintvpodcast

We've got a double hitter this weekend with two out of THREE, that's right, THREE wide releases this week! Dom is joined by Joe of Guy at the Movies to discuss Robert Eggers' third feature film "the Northman" & the Nicolas Cage starring parody "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent." First up is the Northman, an epic historical action drama film, based on the legend of Amleth, the film features Alexander Skarsgard as the titular Northman who sets out to avenge the death of his father at his uncle's hands. The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Claes Bang & Bjork. Then, they break down the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which sees Nicolas Cage portray a fictionalized version of himself that is invited by a super fan to be the guest of honor at his birthday, in a strange move that seems to be simultaneously making fun of Cage while also paying homage. It's very strange, but also very entertaining, and seems to continue in the new trajectory that Cage is taking with his career. Dom & Joe break down everything about these two movies as well as the weekend box office and what this means for the future of movies post the pandemic, all on the #talkintvpodcast

Alright, we've officially reached the point of no return, Season 5, Episode 6, the infamous Dorne disaster, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." The Martell sigil words, which seems to signify the pigheadedness of all the characters and their actions as they move towards the finale. This is the second episode written by Bryan Cogman & directed by Jeremy Podeswa, and has become very controversial in the years since both for the changes made to the Dorne storyline as well as the ending scene, which presents Sansa being horrifically and rather brutally sexually assaulted by Ramsay on the night of their wedding, a moment that was heavily criticized as being gratuituous for the sake of being gratuituous rather than actually contributing to the story in a meaningful way. Jaime & Bronn finally reach the Water Gardens to rescue Myrcella, but are interrupted by the Sand Snakes as they also make their attempt to kidnap and kill her. Arya continues to clean bodies in the House of Black & White but is able to prove herself. Tyrion & Jorah are captured by slavers, but Tyrion convinces them to bring them to Meereen to Daenerys. In King's Landing, Loras is placed on trial but the High Sparrow stacks the tables against them and has both him & Margaery imprisoned. Keep tuning in for more episodes every Friday only on the #talkintvpodcast

It's a moment of celebration. We put up the episode a day later, but that's ok, because we're talking about the next in a long line of delayed shows because of the pandemic. Sean of Math Teacher Movies joins Dom the Movie Nerd to discuss the premiere of the long awaited sixth and final season of "Better Call Saul," the prequel/spinoff to Vince Gilligan's critically acclaimed midlife crisis drama "Breaking Bad." After Breaking Bad wrapped its fifth and final season back in 2013, Gilligan and co-showrunner then moved onto Saul, which centered around the origins of the Saul Goodman character portrayed by Bob Odenkirk. Formerly known as Jimmy McGill, the show follows how the destabilizing relationship between Jimmy & his brother Chuck (Michael McKean) leads him down the dark road towards the life of crime. Likewise, it also serves as such for the character of Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), the elderly hitman and fixer as he ends up joining Gus Fring's (Giancarlo Esposito) criminal empire as Fring wages war with the cartel. Dom & Sean talk all about this show's history, how it got to where it is today, the gap of time between the last season and now as a result of the pandemic, whether this show is the last of its kind, and what it spells for the future of TV and the Albaquerque saga. It's all covered every week only on the #talkintvpodcast

We're on for another episode of Talkin' Thrones as well as another midpoint, Season 5, Episode 5, entitled "Kill the Boy." The title being a reference to Maester Aemon giving Jon his last bit of advice to kill the symbolic boy and become the man, essentially yet another way of describing Jon's growth and maturity from embittered bastard to leader of men. The theme of maturity seems to be a prevalent one, with the characters suffering the consequences of their actions, while the holes continue to show as the season stretches on. Jon makes a decision that divides the Night's Watch in two: to bring the Wildlings south of the Wall. Stannis also makes a decision that seems doomed to fail to march his soldiers south to Winterfell, a stark contrast from the books that Dom & Pat discuss in length. In Meereen, Daenerys tries to make everyone happy. In Winterfell, Sansa discovers Theon in his new state as she prepares for her forthcoming wedding to Ramsay. Tyrion & Jorah journey through the ruins of Valyria on their way to Meereen and are attacked by Stone Men in an awesome sequence that results in a giant zombie cliche. Keep tuning in for more episodes of Talkin' Thrones every Friday as we get closer and closer to the finale, only on #talkintvpodcast