This fortnight, Nick and Alastair take on two recent movies: Joker: Folie a Deux and Rebel Ridge . One has been extremely well received, the other has not.

But first, Alastair’s watched another polarising franchise entry in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, while Nick’s sticking with the DC Comics adaptation theme with Superman & Lois season 3.

After which, they head into Gotham for a little singsong with Joker 2 (22:41, ending spoilers from 39:26), a psychological superhero character study musical. Can even renowned agent of chaos The Joker make this one work?

And last of all, they watch recent Netflix action movie Rebel Ridge (43:10), from Green Room director Jeremy Saulnier. Can this movie finally make bureaucracy exciting?

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This fortnight, Nick and Alastair go hungry with Starve Acre, before tucking in at trendy restaurant The Bear.

But first, Nick’s caught up with new Steven Moffat drama Douglas is Cancelled, while Alastair’s gone full film critic and seen The Outrun before it’s even released.

And then it’s time to head down the folk-horror mines with Starve Acre (20:57), as our heroes attempt to talk about the ending a lot without spoiling it, and surprisingly more or less succeed.

Last of all, a few months late thanks to Nick’s busy schedule, it’s The Bear season 3 (36:52) as the titular bistro finally opens and our unsuspecting cast face the full horror of Carmy enacting his dreams.

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This fortnight, it’s a weird world as Nick and Alastair watch The Umbrella Academy season 4 and Cuckoo.

But first, Alastair’s watched cult hit Irish rap movie Kneecap, while Nick’s at home cosily watching Batman: Caped Crusader.

And then they get stuck into the final season of The Umbrella Academy (14:17), with some spoilers about the very end. Can the Hargreeves find their way back to their original timeline? And more importantly, why is it Christmas in this one?

And last of all, it’s Cuckoo (33:56), a new movie auditioning for the hotly contested role of this year’s Get Out.

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The Galactic Empire in Star Wars is an oppressive state that tramples on the freedom of its citizens to preserve its power. However, there are many types of oppressive states, from those that existed in the ancient world, such as Athens under the Thirty Tyrants, to modern oppressive states like Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

The philosopher Hannah Arendt studied oppressive states. She was a Jew who fled Nazi Germany and wrote extensively on the Nazis, but she also studied Joseph Stalin’s Russia and other countries. She distinguished between authoritarian, tyrannical and totalitarian regimes.

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Nick and Alastair off to the movies for a scare this fortnight, with latest scifi-horror sequel Alien: Romulus and unsettling psychological media-horror I Saw The TV Glow.

But first, Nick’s finally watched recently-cancelled Star Wars show The Acolyte, while Alastair’s on the latest season of fun German spy show Kleo.

After which, they venture into the terrifying dark of space with Alien: Romulus (15:52), scattering moderate spoilers throughout. Can this latest effort finally redeem Alastair’s favourite franchise after decades of hurt?

Lastly, they sit down for some existential dread with I Saw The TV Glow (32:00), a cult hit indie movie about the horrors of media obsession and feeling uncomfortable in your own skin.

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After a couple of episodes falling a little off the pace (thanks to Nick’s hectic holiday schedule), our heroes are back on the cutting edge of media with Deadpool & Wolverine and House of the Dragon season 2.

But first, yet more subversive superhero business with Supacell and The Boys season 4, because it seems there’s something in the water.

Specifically – some kind of thick fluid squeezed out from Deadpool & Wolverine (19:59), the mega-blockbuster violent super-buddy-action-comedy from Marvel.

And finally, a short break from capes, tights and gore with House of the Dragon season 2 (37:42). Well, okay, there’s still some gore.

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This fortnight, due mostly to Nick’s holiday schedule, the podcast goes back to catch up on some earlier media – specifically Peacemaker Tries Hard! from DC Comics and the Netflix movie Spaceman.

But first, Nick’s also listened to new album All Hell from Los Campesinos!, while Alastair’s seen recent movie triptych Kinds of Kindness from auteur filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos.

After all that, they settle down to bring about peace through extreme violence and poo-eating with Peacemaker Tries Hard! (15:24) He really does try very hard.

Last of all, it’s Spaceman (26:19), a movie about Adam Sandler in space talking to a giant spider that dropped earlier this year. Sounds like it’s either going to be genius or a total misfire.

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An all-animation special this fortnight, as Nick and Alastair look at Scavengers Reign and Inside Out 2.

But first, Alastair’s engaged with higher culture in Boys from the Blackstuff, while Nick’s stayed at home (again) and watched the final season of Star Trek: Discovery.

After all that, time to leave the planet in Scavengers Reign (15:52), the new animated series from Netflix about a group of humans struggling for survival on a dangerous yet beautiful new world.

And finally, they return to more familiar territory with Inside Out 2 (30:35), as the personified emotions face the nightmarish scernario of their human host entering puberty.

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This fortnight, Nick and Alastair feel the otherworldly presences of the Doctor himself in Doctor Who, plus a big citycrushing lizard in Godzilla Minus One.

But first, Nick’s caught up with four spacefaring seasons of For All Mankind, while Alastair’s keeping on with the 2023-movie theme by finally watching M3gan.

After all that, they take off in the TARDIS with Doctor Who (15:04) to encounter horrifying evil gods, space racism and total spoilers for the entire first Ncuti Gatwa series. You have been warned.

Last of all, they return to last year’s movies with Godzilla Minus One (39:57), now that the media gods finally see fit to make it available to mere UK citizens. Did it warrant all that praise? Just how serious and chinstroking is it? (Full spoilers here as well, be aware.)

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This fortnight, Nick and Alastair cover the second run of two podcast favourites: punk sitcom We Are Lady Parts and crime comic Newburn.

But first, Alastair’s seen genre-defying new French film The Beast, while Nick’s seen the second Sonic the Hedgehog movie and the recent Knuckles spin-off show. Two very similar flavours.

And then they jump in the van and get on the road with We Are Lady Parts season 2 (18:27). Will both the show and the band match their previous success?

Lastly, it’s the second and final volume of Newburn (32:05) by Chip Zdarsky and Jacob Phillips. Can they bring the story to a satisfying conclusion? And is Nick ready for it to end?

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