Podcasts by Super Fantastic Nerd Hour!

Episode 73: Mr. Robot, Mr. Robot VS. Fight Club, Top 5 Unreliable Narrators from 2015-09-17T03:08:37

Bonus Episode 2: How Much Is Too Much? from 2015-08-17T00:27:03

"We’ve been charged with telling new stories for a younger generation because they deserve what we all had — a mythology to call their own." Disney's announcement of new Star Wars films, theme park...

Episode 72: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, Rogue Nation VS. Ghost Protocol, Top 5 Rogues from 2015-08-01T05:42:33

“Hunt is the living manifestation of destiny and he has made you his mission.” We (non-spoiler) review the fifth entry into the Mission: Impossible franchise — Rogue Nation! What makes this film se...

Episode 71: Humans, Humans VS. Ex Machina, Top 5 Warnings to the Future from 2015-07-29T02:33:48

“They are as close to humans as can be, and yet still people insist that forming a relationship with them or treating them with dignity is somehow perverse.” We review Humans, AMC and Channel 4’s n...

Episode 70: Ant-Man, Ant-Man VS. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Top 5 Animal Companions from 2015-07-23T05:52:04

"This is not some cute tech like the Iron Man suit!" We review the newest edition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe — Ant-Man! After over a decade of development, multiple rewrites, and the departur...

Episode 69: Jurassic World, Jurassic World VS. Godzilla, Top 5 Hubris Stories from 2015-06-18T06:23:38

“That thing out there…that is no dinosaur.” We review the wildly successful Jurassic World! How does this 4th entry compare against Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and Jurassic Park III? Is it compl...

Episode 68: Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland VS. Pirates of the Caribbean, Top 5 Disney Rides from 2015-06-03T05:31:59

“I get things are bad, but what are we doing to fix it?” We explore Disney’s Tomorrowland! Does Brad Bird’s film live up to the vision of Walt Disney’s theme park attraction? What’s the film tellin...

Episode 67: Mad Max: Fury Road, Fury Road VS. Road Warrior, Top 5 Crazy Vehicles from 2015-05-22T04:41:17

“Oh what a day, what a lovely day!” We review George Miller’s long awaited Mad Max sequel — Fury Road! How does Fury Road honor its source material while also charting a new course for action films...

Episode 66: Multiversity, Multiversity VS. Watchmen, Top 5 Parallel Universes from 2015-05-19T06:00:33

“What if these comic books are bleeding through from parallel worlds?” We give a spoiler-free review of Multiversity, the Eisner-nominated series from DC Comics! How is this Grant Morrison project ...

Episode 65: Avengers: Age of Ultron, MCU Phase 1 VS. Phase 2, Top 3 Joss Whedon Moments from 2015-05-06T03:53:03

“There is only one path to peace — your extinction.” We kickoff the summer blockbuster season by reviewing Avengers: Age of Ultron! Does Marvel Studios overcome its villain problem? What's the film...

Episode 64: Ex Machina, Ex Machina VS. Blade Runner, Top 5 Robots from 2015-04-22T03:56:14

“What will happen to me if I fail your test?” We review Alex Garland’s new film — Ex Machina! How does it reinterpret the famous Turing Test for Artificial Intelligence? Is the film feminist or sex...

Episode 63: Netflix’s Daredevil, Daredevil vs. Gotham, Top 5 Worst Superhero Movies from 2015-04-17T19:39:16

“I’m asking for forgiveness for what I’m about to do.” Without spoilers, we review Marvel’s new TV series Daredevil! How did we get from a critically panned Ben Affleck 2003 film to a critically ac...

Episode 62: Furious 7, Fast and Furious VS. Mission: Impossible, Top 5 Guilty Pleasures from 2015-04-13T05:06:50

“The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room, right here, right now.” We discuss the latest entry into the Fast and Furiousverse - Furious 7! What elevates this franchis...

Episode 61: Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines, Wonder Woman VS. Jean Grey, Top 5 Female Role Models from 2015-04-07T17:22

“Make a hawk a dove, stop a war with love, make a liar tell the truth!” We discuss Kristy Guevar-Flanagan’s documentary Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines! How did Wonder Woma...

Episode 60: House of Cards, House of Cards VS. The West Wing, Top 5 Anti-Heroes from 2015-03-31T04:42:59

“Money gives power, well, a run for its money.” We discuss Netflix’s House of Card: Season 3! What happens to Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood when the power he craves remains out of his reach? Does ...

Episode 59: Community, Community VS. Arrested Development, Top 5 TV Schools from 2015-03-21T00:45:49

“My umbrella concern is that you as a character represent the end of what I used to call ‘our show.’“ Community returns and we review the Yahoo! produced sixth season premiere. Does this new Commun...

Episode 58: Black Mirror, Black Mirror VS. The Twilight Zone, Top 5 TV Anthologies from 2015-03-13T04:12

“The faker the fodder is the more you love it.” We explore (without spoilers) Charlie Brooker’s British anthology series Black Mirror. What makes this 2011 speculative fiction series unlike anythin...

Episode 57: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Oscar Wao VS. Ready Player One, Top 5 Influential Media from 2015-03-06T01:29:07

“It’s never the changes we want that change everything.” We explore The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. How does Díaz’s story about a young geek growing up in New Jersey redefine wh...

Episode 56: Remembering Leonard Nimoy from 2015-02-28T23:01:35

“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.” We depart from our regularly scheduled programming to remember Leonard Nimoy — the actor, director, poet,...

Episode 55: Kingsman: The Secret Service; Kingsman VS. Kick-Ass, Top 5 British Exports from 2015-02-18T03:10:31

"Manners maketh man!" We discuss all things Kingsman: The Secret Service! Why did director Mathew Vaughn leave X-Men: Days of Future Past to make this Mark Millar comic adaptation? What is this sel...

Episode 54: The Man in the High Castle, The Man in the High Castle VS. Agent Carter, Top 5 Made for Streaming Programming from 2015-02-15T17:56:01

“We lost the war.” Join us as we discuss the newest Philip K. Dick science fiction adaptation — Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle! How does Amazon crowdsource its pilot season? Why is streaming m...

Episode 53: Predestination, Presdestination VS. All You Zombies, Top 5 Film Plot Twists from 2015-01-30T21:08:51

“I know where I came from — but where did all you zombies come from?” We discuss Ethan Hawke’s new science fiction film — Predestination! How does its time travel premise explore identity? What is ...

Episode 52: SyFy’s 12 Monkeys, 12 Monkeys (TV) VS. 12 Monkeys (Film), Top 5 Movies to TV from 2015-01-20T03:39:57

“What if you could take it back? All of it? A reset switch? You'd hit it right?” We review SyFy’s series premiere of 12 Monkeys! How has the story departed from Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film? What’s re...

Episode 51: Marvel’s Agent Carter, Agent Carter VS. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Top 5 Agents from 2015-01-14T07:09:51

“During the war I had a sense of purpose - now I connect the calls but never get to make them.” Join us as we review the series premiere of Marvel’s Agent Carter! How did this miniseries emerge out...

Episode 50: What is a Nerd, Nerds VS. Geeks, Top Nerdy Moments of 2014 from 2015-01-05T00:36:38

It’s our 50th episode spectacular! We bring back your favorite guests to answer the essential question of what is a nerd? How are nerds different from geeks? Has our understanding of these terms ch...

Episode 49: Into the Woods, Into the Woods VS. Les Misérables, Top 5 Fairytale Retellings from 2014-12-31T08:09:21

“Anything can happen in the woods.” We review Disney’s film adaptation of Into the Woods! Is this a fitting adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s classic Broadway musical? Does it suffer from “Disneyfic...

Episode 48: SyFy’s Ascension, Ascension VS. REDACTED, Top 5 TV Miniseries from 2014-12-22T15:38:48

“In the 60s your father was convinced that the U.S. could launch an interstellar spaceship — I think he did it." We review SyFy Channel’s Ascension! How does the miniseries link to real history and...

Episode 47: The Theory of Everything, The Theory of Everything VS. A Beautiful Mind, Top 5 Biopics from 2014-12-11T07:34:59

“There should be no boundaries to human endeavor.” Your favorite nerds review the Stephen and Jane Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything! Are the portrayals of the leads worthy of all the early O...

Episode 46: The Martian, The Martian VS. MOON, Top 5 Survival Stories from 2014-12-03T03:30:27

“As with most of life's problems, this one can be solved by a box of pure radiation.” We discuss Andy Weir’s breakout scifi novel The Martian! How did this self-published story become a bestselling...

Episode 45: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss Everdeen vs. Sarah Connor, Top 5 Things to Watch on Thanksgiving from 2014-11-26T06:37:55

“Fire Is Catching!” We review The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1! Can Suzanne Collins’s slim novel be adapted into two films? What’s Mockingjay saying about reality TV and war propaganda? Looking...

Episode 44: Big Hero 6, Disney vs. Pixar, Top 5 Animated Films from 2014-11-19T21:59:28

“Flying makes me a better care provider!” Your favorite nerds review Big Hero 6! How did this Disney film about Marvel superheroes come to be? Is this a story just for kids or does it offer somethi...

Episode 43: Interstellar, Interstellar VS. Contact, Top 5 Space Epics from 2014-11-13T04:08:35

“Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.” Join us as we explore Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar! What makes the film a spectacular sensory experience? Does its story hold up to ...

Episode 42: Birdman, Birdman VS. Fight Club, Top 5 Celebrity Comebacks from 2014-11-05T03:20:30

“You mistake love for admiration." We review Birdman, the new film from director Alejandro González Iñárritu! How does the film parallel Michael Keaton and Edward Norton's careers? What is Birdman ...

Episode 41: Constantine, Constantine Vs. Ripley, Top 5 Monster Hunters from 2014-10-30T06:09:36

“I'm a nasty piece of work!” We review “Non Est Asylum”, the pilot episode of NBC’s Constantine! What makes this DC comic book antihero unique and what's been lost in the transition to the TV scree...

Episode 40: The Walking Dead Season 5, Rick Season 1 VS. Rick Season 5, Top 5 Walking Dead Characters from 2014-10-25T13:59:13

“We were trying to do something good. We were being human beings.” We discuss the return of AMC’s The Walking Dead! What makes this show unique in the zombie genre? How do the events of “No Sanctua...

Episode 39: New York Comic Con, Harley Quinn VS. Captain America, Top 5 Ways to Improve NYCC from 2014-10-14T05:59:54

We recap our journey to what just became the largest fan gathering in the country — New York Comic Con 2014! Did the ambitious NYCC Super Week experiment work? What’s the coolest news to come out o...

Episode 38: Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: Rebels VS. Star Wars: Clone Wars, Top 5 Animated TV Shows from 2014-10-07T20:08:38

“If all you do is fight for your own life than your life is worth nothing.” We review Spark of the Rebellion, the pilot episode of Star Wars: Rebels! Why is Rebels the most important new Star Wars ...

Episode 37: Pulp Fiction’s 20th Anniversary, Pulp Fiction VS. Sin City, Top 5 Non-Linear Movies from 2014-10-01T05:29:39

"Just because you are a character doesn't mean that you have character." We celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction! How did the film change cinema, what was so innovativ...

Episode 36: Gotham, Gotham VS. Smallville, Top 5 Batman Villains from 2014-09-23T16:46:24

"Fear doesn't need conquering. Fear tells you where the edge is." We start the nerdiest season ever on TV with our review of Fox’s Gotham! What were we hoping to see in the Batman prequel and does ...

Episode 35: LOST's 10th Anniversary, LOST VS. Battlestar Galactica, Top 5 LOST Characters from 2014-09-15T06:51:25

“Live together, die alone.” 10 years after its television premiere, we revisit LOST! How did the show get its start? What made it a success among critics and audiences alike? Why did so many people...

Episode 34: Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley, Seconds VS. Back to the Future, Top 5 Stories About Regret from 2014-09-08T07:15:50

“Write your mistake. Ingest one mushroom. Go to sleep. Wake anew.” It's the Super Fantastic Nerd Hour review of Seconds, the new graphic novel from Scott Pilgrim author Bryan Lee O'Malley! We debat...

Episode 33: Summer 2014 Recap, Summer 2013 VS. 2014, Top 5 Films and TV Shows of the Fall Season from 2014-09-02T05:39:54

The summer is TERMINATED! We look back at the 2014 summer blockbuster season, see how our predictions panned out, and share our winners and losers. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, which summer s...

Episode 32: Doctor Who Series 8 Premiere, Eleventh Doctor VS. Twelfth Doctor, Top 5 Regeneration Moments from 2014-08-24T06:53:03

"I don't think I know who The Doctor is anymore." We explore the wibbly wobbly world of Doctor Who! What's the impact of the 50th anniversary on the series 8 premiere? Is the Twelfth Doctor really ...

Episode 31: Remembering Robin Williams from 2014-08-18T14:07:11

"Oh captain, my captain!" We depart from our regularly scheduled programming to remember Robin Williams. From the first time we saw him act to his most recent films and TV shows, we explore all the...

Episode 30: Snowpiercer, Snowpiercer VS. Hunger Games, Top 5 Movies with Trains from 2014-08-11T05:50:31

"Know your place. Accept your place. Be a shoe!" We take a ride on Snowpiercer! Why was Bong Joon-ho's new film held up in distribution for almost a year? Is its experimental video on demand and th...

Episode 29: Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians VS. Firefly, Top 5 Awesome Mix Songs from 2014-08-05T06:47:40

"I am Groot!" We go on a cosmic voyage with the Guardians of the Galaxy! How did this obscure Marvel comic become one of the most anticipated films of the summer? Does it live up to its hype? How d...

Bonus Episode 1: Best of San Diego Comic Con Panels from 2014-08-03T16:50:13

We continue our San Diego Comic Con 2014 coverage with clips and recaps of our favorite panels! Does TV have the power to heal? Why did Atari secretly bury thousands of E.T. video game cartridges? ...

Episode 28: San Diego Comic Con Recap, Marvel Entertainment VS. Warner Bros., Top 5 SDCC Moments from 2014-07-31T01:16:28

The best of San Diego Comic Con 2014! We discuss everything that makes Comic Con the best convention in the country, share the biggest film, TV, and comic book news, and debate if the con bubble is...

Episode 27: The State of Nintendo, Nintendo VS. Sony PlayStation, Top 5 Nintendo Products from 2014-07-22T05:48:30

"It's me, Mario!" From its humble origins as a playing card company to its decades of innovation, we discuss the history and future of Nintendo! How did Nintendo defeat Atari? Who is Shigeru Miyamo...

Episode 26: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Apes VS. Na'vi, Top 5 Post-Human Stories from 2014-07-16T15:54:22

"Apes together strong!" Your favorite nerds explore the Planet of the Apes franchise! What are the ingredients of a great Apes film and why did Tim Burton's remake fail? Is Dawn of the Planet of th...

Episode 25: Orphan Black, Orphan Black VS. Dollhouse, Top 5 Female Assassins from 2014-07-09T06:03:35

"There's only one of me!" Join us as we discuss one of the best scifi shows on TV – BBC America's Orphan Black! We explore the show's origins, list our reasons for why Tatiana Maslany is an amazing...

Episode 24: Independence Day from 2014-07-01T19:48:37

"Welcome to Earth!" In honor of July 4th, we celebrate the 1996 scifi blockbuster Independence Day with a full length film commentary! We discuss what made Roland Emmerich's film so successful, deb...

Episode 23: Game of Thrones, Game of Thrones VS. Lord of the Rings, Top 5 Fantasy Epics from 2014-06-25T02:48:26

"Winter is coming." We discuss all things Game of Thrones! What makes the story so unique? Why is the relationship between George R.R. Martin and fandom so complicated? What's the impact of the sho...

Episode 22: Edge of Tomorrow, Edge of Tomorrow VS. Source Code, Top 5 Alien Invasion Films from 2014-06-18T05:12:21

"Live. Die. Repeat." Your favorite nerds review Edge of Tomorrow! We discuss the film's marketing disaster, Emily Blunt's awesome performance, the film's fun video game déjà vu premise, and how it ...

Episode 21: Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary, Ghostbusters VS. Men in Black, Top 5 Scifi Comedies from 2014-06-11T14:29:58

"Who you gonna call?" We celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ghostbusters! What makes the original film unique and why is it beloved by so many? We discuss the film's legacy, our mixed feelings about...

Episode 20: X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men VS. Avengers, Top 5 Fixing the Future Movies from 2014-06-03T04:41:46

"I don't want your future!" We geek out about our most anticipated movie of the summer - X-Men: Days of Future Past! Did the film live up to the beloved original comic? How does it handle the franc...

Episode 19: Godzilla, King Kong VS. Godzilla, Top 5 Monster Movies from 2014-05-29T05:06:56

"Let them fight!" We discuss everyone's favorite kaiju, Godzilla! Why has this franchise thrived for more than 30 films and does the new big budget reboot do justice to this legendary character? It...

Episode 18: Mental Health from 2014-05-20T04:11:08

“Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Join us for a conversation about mental health and geek culture. We discuss the healing power of the geek community, why nerds stand up for e...

Episode 17: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker VS. Hank McCoy, Top 5 Everyday Heroism Films from 2014-05-12T14:48

“Spidey sense tingling!” We dive into the good, bad, and ugly of The Amazing Spider-Man 2! In the In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, who better leverages their super strength and nerdy intellect - ...

Episode 16: Reboots, X-Men: First Class VS. The Amazing Spider-Man, Top 5 Reboots from 2014-05-06T01:50:35

“We can rebuilt it!” We debate TV and film reboots, relaunches, and revisits. Why does Hollywood keep rebooting franchises, what makes a reboot good, and why do so many fail? In the INFINITE CROSSO...

Episode 15: Harry Potter Revisited, J.K. Rowling VS. George Lucas, Top 5 Harry Potter Moments from 2014-04-28T03:23:47

"The boy who lived!" We revisit the wondrous world of Harry Potter. From new films, an expanding theme park, to revision of the canon, we discuss the latest developments in the most successful book...

Episode 14: WonderCon Recap, WonderCon VS. San Diego Comic Con, Top 5 Fan Gatherings from 2014-04-27T03:51:15

The best of WonderCon 2014! We discuss the things that make conventions such an awesome experience and highlight the coolest panels from this year's WonderCon. In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, wh...

Episode 13: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America VS. Superman, Top 5 Political Thrillers from 2014-04-15T02:04:11

"The price of freedom is high…and it's a price I'm willing to pay." Join us for a discussion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's newest film - Captain America: The Winter Soldier! Does the movie liv...

Episode 12: 2014 Summer Movie Preview, Steven Spielberg VS. Michael Bay, Top 5 Blockbusters Films from 2014-04-07T05:06:58

Coming to a theater near you! We discuss the business behind blockbuster films, debate what makes for a great summer movie, and explore what the future of cinema might look like. From Captain Ameri...

Episode 11: COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey, Neil deGrasse Tyson VS. Carl Sagan, Top 5 Science Documentaries from 2014-03-31T04:35

We are made of star-stuff! Join us for a conversation about all things COSMOS. We discuss the legacy of the original COSMOS: A Personal Voyage, the long road to the new COSMOS: A Spacetime Odyssey,...

Episode 10: Culture in Comics, Marvel VS. DC, Top 5 Social Commentary Comics from 2014-03-26T03:38:02

“With great power comes great responsibility!” We explore how culture is depicted in comic books, discuss why diversity matters, outline how rigid character representations are bad for everyone, an...

Episode 9: Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars VS. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Top 5 TV to Films from 2014-03-18T04:19:22

Calling all Marshmallows! We explore the rise, fall, and return of Veronica Mars. What made the TV show so unique, how did Kickstarter bring it back, and is the film everything fans wanted? In the ...

Episode 8: Singularity&Co. Bookstore, Kirk VS. Picard, Top 5 SciFi Books for Newbies from 2014-03-10T05:44:43

Save the scifi! The Super Fantastic Nerd Hour visits the Singularity & Co bookstore for a conversation with its cofounder Cici James. We discuss Singularity's origins, how its mission to save out o...

Episode 7: Role-Playing Games, Knights of Badassdom VS. Community, Top 5 Fandom Films from 2014-03-03T06:40:42

Level up with this week's role-playing games episode! We discuss why tabletop, live action, trading card, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games are so popular and what made them so co...

Episode 6: Why the Oscars Hate Geeks, 2001: A Space Odyssey VS. Star Wars, Top 5 Oscar Snubs from 2014-02-24T06:41:41

And the Oscar for Best Picture goes to…no science fiction film EVER! We explore how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences works, why genre films keep getting ignored during award season, ...

Episode 5: All Things Sherlock, Sherlock VS. House M.D., Top 5 Detectives from 2014-02-17T04:57:21

The game is afoot! We dive into all things Sherlock Holmes by exploring the character's origins, discussing how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle influenced the procedural genre, and debating modern versions ...

Episode 4: Geek Relationships, Bill VS. Nhu-An, Top 5 Geek Power Couples from 2014-02-11T04:55:19

It's the Valentine's Day Super Fantastic Nerd Hour special! Our real life partners join us for a conversation about love, geekery, and everything in between. Bill and Nhu-An battle for the title of...

Episode 3: Ready Player One, Wade "Parzival" Watts VS. Scott Pilgrim, Top 5 Nostalgia Media from 2014-02-03T06:39:40

“Going outside is highly overrated" so join us as we nerd out on Ernest Cline's Ready Player One! We dive into the novel's expansive world of 1970s and 80s pop culture, explore why it makes us nost...

Episode 2: Her, Samantha VS. HAL 9000, Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Films from 2014-01-27T17:33:20

Come with us if you want to live! We discuss Her, Spike Jonze's new film, breakdown its social commentary, and debate the film's depiction of the technological singularity. It's a computerized batt...

Episode 1: Origin Stories, Man of Steel VS. Monsters University, Top 5 Origin Stories from 2014-01-20T04:27:22

It's the first episode of the Super Fantastic Nerd Hour! We discuss the forces that turned us into super nerds, why we created this show, and break down origin stories from Gilgamesh to Luke Skywal...