The NO NOTES Podcast

New Wes Anderson! Jesse Armstrong’s first project since Succession! And Gen Z’s answer to Girls?

Schmear, Sena Adjei, and Jesse Aaronson dig into all of that.

Up first, they discuss Wes Anderson’s latest, 'The Phoenician Scheme. ' (2:04) They start off talking about how and why Wes is such a lightning rod before diving into their favorite moments in the film and judging the performances of Benicio Del Toro and Michael Cera, among others.

After that, they dive into the new HBO film 'Mountainhead,' (25:30) a dark satirization of tech billionaires. They debate why the film is working for some but bumping for others, which performance stood out most, and what Jesse Armstrong should skewer next.

Lastly, the trio assesses 'Adults' (47:16), the new FX comedy series in the vein of generational comedies like 'Broad City' and 'Friends,' about 20-somethings living on top of each other in NYC. They discuss why it feels so fresh, the amazing cast chemistry, and where they want the show to go in its hopeful second season.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guests: Sena Adjei, Jesse Aaronson

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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Schmear is back from Cannes and ready to debrief. 

He watched 16 films — including Eddington, The Phoenician Scheme, and Palme d’Or winner It Was Just an Accident — and breaks them down into four clear categories: plagues (3:26), politics (9:23), the personal (13:50), and the past (22:04).

Then, it’s time for the definitive ranking: all 16 films, worst to best (29:47).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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It’s the wrap-up of 'Andor'—one of the most accomplished shows of the year and maybe the finest example of IP storytelling to date.

Schmear is rejoined by Sean Byrne (Modern Mythos) and Dan Monaghan (ReelTakes) to break down episodes 10, 11, and 12: how they function as a bridge to 'Rogue One,' whether they’re a slight comedown from the explosive highs of episodes 8 and 9, and why 'Andor' remains a rare gift—both within the Star Wars universe and the larger landscape of franchise storytelling.

• Episode 10: (13:57)

• Episode 11: (43:11)

Schmear and Sena Adjei run down the most intriguing titles at Cannes 2025 ahead of their arrival, featuring 'Eddington', a new Western thriller from Ari Aster; directorial debuts from Harris Dickinson and Scarlett Johansson; Schmear’s dark horse Palme d’Or pick; and, of course, Spike Lee’s hotly anticipated re-team with Denzel Washington, 'Highest 2 Lowest'.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sena Adjei

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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'Andor' ascends to thrilling new heights with its latest batch of episodes.

Schmear is joined by Dan Monaghan of Reel Takes to dive into Season 2, Episodes 7–9: they discuss the slow start and debate the odd inclusion of the force as a theme in episode 7 (08:25), unpack the chilling real-world political echoes in the masterfully tense episode 8 (21:27), and celebrate the pure excitement of episode 9 (36:46) — spotlighting Genevieve O’Reilly’s tremendous speech as Mon Mothma and the show’s smooth, confident storytelling.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Dan Monaghan

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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Schmear returns to the post-apocalyptic world of 'The Last of Us,' joined once again by Sena Adjei to break down episodes 2 through 4 of S2 (1:52). They unpack that massive E2 shocker, explore why episode 3 left them disappointed, and assess whether the show is back on track after a much-improved episode 4 packed with visceral set pieces and Jeffrey Wright's compelling new character.

Later, Schmear and Sena pivot to the new Marvel film 'Thunderbolts*', diving into the performances, debating whether the film worked for them, and sharing what they’re excited about next in the world of superheroes (26:02).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sena Adjei

Producer: Gabriel Frieberg

Music: Justin Friedman

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Episodes 4–6 of 'Andor' S2 deliver masterfully thrilling television, pushing the Tony Gilroy-created series to soaring new heights.

Schmear is joined by Sean Byrne (Modern Mythos) and Dan Monaghan (Reel Takes) to break it all down: they unpack the fan reactions to the season’s first batch, dig into the Ghorman-centered arc, and spotlight the standout performances, shifting motivations, and intricate webs of deception. They wrap with three things they’re most excited to see in the back half of the season.

Episode 4 Recap and Review (16:11)
Episode 5 Recap and Review (36:47)
Episode 6 Recap and Review (56:35)

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sean Byrne, Dan Monaghan

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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The thrilling, deeply layered 'Andor' — arguably the best Star Wars byproduct — returns for a spectacular Season 2.

Schmear is joined by Sean Byrne (Modern Mythos) to break down what makes this Tony Gilroy-created series so exceptional (3:06). After touching on the show's development and its ties to 'Rogue One' (11:04) they dive into the first three episodes: “One Year Later,” (18:04) “Sagrona Teema,” (35:28) and “Harvest.” (44:33)

Sean and Schmear parse the stellar, across-the-board performances — spotlighting Diego Luna and Stellan Skarsgård — while assessing the action-packed storytelling, analyzing the timely political undercurrents, and unpacking how the Empire evokes Nazi Germany.

They wrap by speculating on where the season might head (1:02:58) and Sean lets loose on the stunted Star Wars fan base’s baffling response to the series (1:06:53).

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sean Byrne

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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Ryan Coogler’s 'Sinners' is one of the best, boldest movies of the year.

Schmear and Sena Adjei dive in rapturously, starting with their big-picture impressions and in-theater experiences. They break down Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s creative partnership, the film’s development, and then go deep on the filmmaking, performances, standout scenes, and major themes.

They wrap with thoughts on the film’s reception and box office, the current state of Black horror, what’s next for Coogler—and three films each to watch if you’re craving more of 'Sinners.'

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sena Adjei

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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'The Last of Us' is BACK...but is it any good?

Schmear is joined by Sena Adjei to break down the Pedro Pascal-led series, reflecting on the highs and lows of Season 1 before diving into the S2 premiere, "Future Days." They talk about new cast members like Kaitlyn Dever and Catherine O’Hara, why Sena’s underwhelmed so far, and whether they’re emotionally in for the long haul.

Then, Schmear links up with Dan Monaghan of Reel Takes to dissect 'Warfare'—Alex Garland’s explosive, hotly debated follow-up to 'Civil War,' co-directed with Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza. They unpack the film’s big ideas, the discourse it’s sparked, and why 'Warfare' stands out as a raw, boots-on-the-ground war story—before sharing their top picks from the “war is hell” canon.

Host: Gabriel Frieberg

Guest: Sena Adjei, Dan Monaghan

Producer: Pavlo Melnyk

Music: Justin Friedman

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