Previously, we reviewed the first two episodes of Marvel’s X-Men ’97, the highly anticipated revival of the classic animated series. Now, we’re back to cover the entire season, discussing the new challenges our favorite mutant heroes face. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the series, this episode is packed with insights into what makes X-Men ’97 a standout in the world of animated superhero shows.

Episode Highlights:

• The nostalgic return of Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey.
• Key moments and plot twists that define the season.
• How X-Men ’97 stays true to its ’90s roots while appealing to new audiences.

Important Update: We’ll be taking a short hiatus through June 2024 due to an incredibly packed schedule. Don’t worry—we’ll be back with more geeky goodness soon! Be sure to follow us on our social channels for the latest updates and sneak peeks of what’s coming next.

We take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to revisit the pop culture that defined our childhoods in the 1990s. Join us as we reminisce about the iconic TV shows and movies that shaped our tastes, from Nickelodeon classics to Disney favorites. We reflect on what it was like to grow up in the 90s, the influence of these early experiences on our current geekdom, and how some of these shows and movies still hold a special place in our hearts today. Whether you were a Nickelodeon kid, a Disney fan, or somewhere in between, this episode is a fun and heartfelt celebration of 90s pop culture.

We dive deep into the much-anticipated premiere of Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97. We explore the legacy of the original animated series and how this new installment aims to revive the classic with a fresh perspective. We discuss the impact of the original X-Men series on pop culture, its enduring influence, and what fans can expect from this new chapter. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or new to the world of X-Men, this episode has something for everyone as we revisit the past and speculate about the future of Marvel’s animated universe.

We watched DUNE: PART TWO, so we have to talk about it! Also, we’ve decided to take an unedited approach to the show. If you like it, let us know. If you hate it, let us know!

What we’re geeking this week

• PlayStation Portal
• Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
• Delicious in Dungeon (Netflix)

AI-Generated Show Summary

The episode begins with host Dave Clements greeting the audience and joking about a beeping noise that startled him. His co-host, David Hunt, chimes in, albeit a bit awkwardly, realizing the limitations of podcasting—namely, that the audience can’t respond to his queries.

Dave Clements is going through the keto diet again and is struggling with cravings, particularly when seeing foods he can’t have because of his diet. David Hunt sympathizes, noting how difficult it is to diet with children at home who aren’t following the same eating plan.

The conversation shifts to what the hosts have been up to. David Hunt shares his experience playing Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core and talks about his new PlayStation Portal, which allows him to play when the TV is occupied by his child. Dave has returned to rotating streaming services, settling on Netflix with ads to save some money. He mentions a new anime he’s watching, “Delicious in Dungeon,” which combines elements of Dungeons and Dragons and food—a recommendation he makes despite the challenge of starting keto.

Their talk turns toward Netflix streaming, with Dave Clements expressing his frustration over rewatching shows when his preference leans toward new content. The two friends joke about their partners rewatching their favorite shows on streaming services. The conversation then leads into the main topic of the episode: a review of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films.

Both hosts disclose their lack of exposure to the Dune universe before the recent films. Dave attempted to watch the 1984 version by David Lynch but couldn’t get into it. David Hunt hadn’t seen the earlier film, mini-series, or read the book, and his knowledge was primarily through secondary sources like the Sci-Fi Christian podcast.

Approaching Villeneuve’s “Dune Part One,” both hosts were excited. David Hunt hadn’t seen it in theaters due to life getting in the way but caught up on the first film right before the second one was released. Dave watched Dune as soon as it came out on HBO Max, but it took a few tries to get through it without falling asleep.

Dave discusses the grand visuals and designs of the movie and the use of practical effects. David Hunt expresses that watching the second movie helped him better appreciate the first one, as they should be watched as a single entity. Both hosts find the movie visually stunning and well-acted but admit the storyline was dense and at times hard to follow.

Turning the discussion to “Dune Part Two,” Dave says he enjoyed Paul’s character more this time because of his character arc. However, he struggled with understanding some of Paul’s motivations and actions. He appreciated Zendaya’s character and was impressed by a big twist in the film involving Paul’s mother.

Dave mentions being impressed by the sandworms, sharing a piece of trivia about the failed attempt to utilize practical effects for a riding scene ultimately generated digitally. He’s intrigued by the larger universe and is open to exploring more of it.

Before closing the episode, the hosts invite their audience to send feedback and content suggestions. They address that previous episodes can be found on the podcast website and hint at re-releasing earlier content. The hosts express their love for engaging with their listeners and mention potential future series on other movie franchises. The episode ends with the hosts bidding farewell until the next episode.

We recorded in a library for this episode, so we do apologize for the difference in sound quality. This may happen every so often, but we’ll keep working to make it less noticeable. 🙂

Discussion Points:

• Brief recap of the first “Aquaman” film and a reflection of past DCEU movies
• Acknowledgment of the Hollywood strike and its impact on the industry

Initial thoughts:

• Dave enjoyed “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom,” initially rating it 8/10
• Reassessment leads to criticism of villains, CGI quality, and film editing

What we’re geeking:

• Corridor Digital
• Film Riot
• Golden Globes movies
• Viewfinder
• Venba
• Dredge
• Dave the Diver

Concluding Thoughts:

• Consensus on “Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom” being average and potentially forgettable
• Excitement for future DC movies under James Gunn’s lead

The end of Marvel Studio’s Loki has come and we have opinions. We also touch on The Marvels and the What If…? Season 2 trailer. Much like the Loki series finale, we’re jumping all over the place, but we get there in the end!

What we’re geeking

• Invincible S2 (Amazon Prime)
• Wendigoon (YouTube)

Rating Marvel Studio’s Loki Season 2

David’s Rating: 4/5
Dave’s Rating: 3.5/5

Support the podcast

We’ve started a Patreon. It’s only $1/month and you get access to our unedited audio and Discord community!
We’d love for you to join us!

This episode contains spoilers for Loki Season One and the first three episodes of Loki Season Two.

When we last left Loki Laufeyson, Thor’s adopted brother and regular villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he had caused a bit of a problem in The Sacred Timeline. Especially when one of his variants, named Sylvie, killed a figure only known as He Who Remains.

In Season Two, Loki partners up with Mobius M. Mobius, time-traveling in an attempt to save The Sacred Timeline while Sylvie tries to destroy it and live her own life. In this episode we discuss the first half of Loki and dig into where it may be going.

Marvel’s Loki has returned to the small screen for season two, but we decided to go back in time ourselves to remember what season one had going on. We also touch on Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania (what a title).

After this, we’ll be headed back to the future for season two’s mischief!

What We’re Geeking

• Gen V (Amazon Prime) *This is a mature show
• Taskmaster (YouTube/BBC)
• Pokemon: Scarlet (Nintendo Switch)
• MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios
• The Ringerverse
• The Sci-Fi Christian

We’ve been gone for three years. Longer if you think about the time that Dave was solo – we don’t talk about that. But… we’re back and we actually have a plan of attack! But first, we figured it would be best to catch up, let you know what we’ve been up to, and what we’ve been geeking out about.

Dang it’s good to be back! Pardon the rust; it’s been a bit since we’ve recorded together.

Please follow us over on Facebook, Instagram, and (possibly) Threads to let us know you’re happy we’re back, what you thought of this episode, and what you want to hear from us next!