Podcast Assemble

Grab your paddles and your prestige cinema goggles—it’s time for another episode of Podcast Assemble. Tommy and DL are fresh off loving Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (finally, restrained Westeros) and Fallout Season 2 (yes, it somehow maintained the quality). Then it’s onto Marty Supreme (2026)—a film about ambition, ego, and table tennis… apparently.

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Conspiracy theorists and Truthers at the ready—it’s time for another unhinged episode of Podcast Assemble. Tommy has been deep in Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, asking the question: why aren't all Westeros prequels this good? Then it’s onto Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest social fever dream: Bugonia (2025)—a remake that dares to ask, what if your eco-anxiety had a kidnapping subplot?

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Grab your flares and suppress your emotions—it’s time for another bleak and brilliant episode of Podcast Assemble. DL’s the boys agree that Stranger Things was at worst satisfying, while we take a deep dive into James Islington’s The Strength of the Few (epic, dense, and emotionally devastating—just how we like it). Then it's time to descend into the nightmare that is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple—a film we both loved, but we totally get if you didn’t.

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Awards season is upon us—it's time to reflect and crown the best and worst of the year! The boys are back with the Podcast Assemble Best of 2025 Awards, celebrating a year of cinema with categories that actually matter: the "Adam Driver Performance Carrying a Thing Award", the "THAT Came Out This Year?" Award, and of course, the hallowed "Most Aquaman 2018 Movie of the Year Award". There will be spicy takes. There will be controversy. There may be a fight over Road House 2.

Instead of recommendations, this week the boys are sharing what they’re most excited for...

It’s the most inanimate time of the year! Kicking off our new Anthology series - Movies Set at Christmas, That Aren’t Christmas Movies - the boys revisit one of their all-time favourites: In Bruges (2008). Tommy’s been watching Diddy: The Reckoning (it’s… a lot), while DL’s juggling The Wheel of Time: Book 2 andTrue Grit the OG, both highly recommended. Then it’s time to check into Belgium’s darkest fairy tale, where the snow is festive, but the mood is not.

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WE DID IT! It’s a Podcast Assemble milestone - 200 episodes in, and what better way to celebrate than with a film that derailed an entire childhood? Tommy’s been splitting time between Hell Is Us (moody, existential, and probably not finished) and Shrinking (Jason Segel unravelling in style). DL’s meditating on the Jedi Code. And this week, the boys revisit the galactic fever dream that is The Phantom Menace - the film that asked, What if space wizards had senate hearings?

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This week's episode is brought to you by No Country for Old Films! Tommy & Reg's new podcast - check them out on YouTube, Spotify and all the socials!

Grab your contractually obligated Lycra and energy drink sponsorship - it’s time for another turbo-charged episode of Podcast Assemble! This week, the boys are joined by. Regs! Tommy’s been brushing up on L.A. Confidential (because noir never dies), DL’s still swimming with The Sopranos (he’s all in on gabagool culture). Then it’s on to the big reboot of the dystopian deathmatch classic: The Running Ma...

Lock and load—it’s time for another heat-vision-fuelled episode of Podcast Assemble! Tommy’s diving deep into 'Empire of Silence' by Christopher Ruocchio (lyrical and epic), and Del Toro’s 'Frankenstein' (what you get if Mary Shelley met Gotye). Then it’s onto Predator: Badlands (2025)—because the jungle wasn’t harsh enough, apparently.

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Lace up your fireproof spandex—it’s time for another dystopian episode of Podcast Assemble! This week, DL’s been to Egypt (queue tinfoil hat time), while Tommy’s was really disappointed with Peacemaker season 2. Then it’s time to drop into The Running Man (1987), where Arnie outruns death and network ratings—sometimes simultaneously.

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Assemble your resistance fighters and daddy issues - it’s time for another heavy-hitting episode of Podcast Assemble! Tommy’s bringing Naked Gun 2025 to the table (it exists, and somehow isn't terrible), while DL’s dusted off the spine of The Wheel of Time Book 1—because nothing says light reading like 800 pages of lore. Then it’s onto this week’s main event: Paul Thomas Anderson's latest spectacle One Battle After Another—the slow-burn epic with more trauma than gunpowder.

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Boot up and log in—it’s time for another pixelated episode of Podcast Assemble! Tommy’s recommending Aunty Donna Live (imagine Monty Python got stuck in a Melbourne pub with Flight of the Conchords), while DL’s checkin-in on 'Wednesday' -Netflix’s goth megahit that somehow feels like homework, but for everyone. Tommy also watched MobLand, and can confirm: it exists. Then it’s time to jack into the mainframe with the OG computer-core fever dream: Tron (1982).

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Assemble your courage and questionable life choices - and that's just to see our faces in 4K HD! DL’s finally gets his wish, as Tommy is up to date on Pierce Brown's Light Bringer (we have 🌶️ takes), while Drey also finished the Wheel of Time first book. Then it’s onto Weapons (2025) - Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian, and let’s just say... things escalate quickly.

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Octopus, Inc*st, and Existential Dread

Time to spin the wheel as Podcast Assemble dive into an all new Anthology (not that we need another)! This week we delve into DL's IMDb list and chose quite possibly the darkest flick yet to be watched. Before that the boys recommend the Disney series Hit Monkey, along with something to even you out after the Main Topic, with James May: Our Man in Japan. Then it’s time to unpack Park Chan-wook’s cinematic gut-punch: Oldboy (2003).

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Is there a movie coming out this summer that DOESN'T include Pedro Pascal or Joseph Quinn?

Assemble your first family - it’s time for Podcast Assemble to head back to the cinema! DL’s spiralling deeper into Alan Wake 2 (he swears it’s not just about the fleshlight), while Tommy’s hyped about Love, Death & Robots returning to melt minds and screens alike. Then it’s on to the MCU's Phase 6 opening: 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'—the film that hopes third time’s the charm.

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James Gunn kicks off the DCU!

Grab your capes and questionable disguises—it's time for another heroic episode of Podcast Assemble! This week, the boys are talking - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (living up to the Game of the Year shouts) and DL returns toYellowJackets (to give it one more opportunity..). Then it’s onto Superman (2025) - James Gunn’s first cinematic foray into the DC Universe.

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What you get if Chat GPT writes a Jurassic Park script?

Roar into another episode of Podcast Assemble with the boys! This week’s recommendations include Dept. Q from Netflix, an intense Detective thriller and Annihilation - the book not the movie, (actually go back and listen to our episode on the movie if you're interested). Then it’s on to Jurassic World: Rebirth—because apparently, life finds a way to greenlight sequels.

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Shamble, sprint, or rage your way into this week’s episode of Podcast Assemble! The boys are back with recommendations for Taika Waititi's 'Jojo Rabbit', and recommending against the new Robert De Niro vehicle 'Alto Knights'. Then it’s on to the long-awaited, possibly unasked-for sequel: '28 Years Later'.

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(0:00:22) - Intro

(0:01:54) - What's been happening?

(0:07:58) - What have you been up to? 

(0:24:05) - Main topic NON SPOILERS

(0:35:45) - ATJ’s Mid-Life Crisis

(0:40:00) - The Alpha’s/ World Building

(0:42:10) - Characterisation

(0:54:10) - Tones...

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join the boys for another high-octane episode of Podcast Assemble! This week, they’re recommending Shōgun (for the feudalists among you) and The Fall Guy (for anyone still clinging to cinema’s charm offensive). Then it’s onto the not-so-final instalment of Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning—which, shockingly, is not the final reckoning.

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(0:00:22) - Intro

(0:03:13) - What's been happening?

(0:09:40) - What have you been watching?

(0:29:10) - Stupid Plot Summary

(0:29:52) - Cast & Crew

(0:31:04) - Plot

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Join the boys for another covert mission into pop culture nonsense on Podcast Assemble! This week, they’re recommending Andor (good in-spite of it being Star Wars?) and Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame's stand up special. Then it’s on to Marvel’s latest gang of grumpy misfits: Thunderbolts*.

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Join the boys and their twin brother's for another action packed episode of Podcast Assemble! With recommendations for Red Rising series' 'Iron Gold' and 'Jedi: survivor'. Before jumping into this weeks main topic 'Sinners'—from Black Panther & Creed's Ryan Coogler. Think From Dusk Till meets Mississippi Burning, only with double the Michael B. Jordan.

*PSA - with the boy's now being literally across the pond, Podcast Assemble will be moving to a bi-weekly schedule.

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Join the boys for another classified episode of Podcast Assemble! With recommendations for 'Adolescence' and 'Slow Horses'. Before we jump into this weeks main topic 'Black Bag'—Steven Soderbergh’s latest spy flick where secrets are currency, and marriage counselling involves surveillance gear. Think Mr. & Mrs. Smith but make it existential, British, and way more passive aggressive.

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Join the boys for another deeply *AHEM* intellectual episode of Podcast Assemble! This week we're discussing one of the most talked about shows on TV right now - Severance! The show is like a hydra - if they give you 1 answer, 3 more questions are raised...

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We're back BABY! And this week we're diving head first into one of Tommy's most anticipated for the year... but was he right to be so hyped? Mickey 17 is a movie! Check out how the Podcast Assembles boys feel about Bong Joon Ho's first film after the Oscar winning Parasite (2019).

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Main Topic:

Based...

Oscar hype is upon us and the boys are reviewing a movie which Tommy has been excited about for some time. Coming at you with strong Hitchcock and Lynch-ian vibes, The Substance is definitely not a dull movie! Check out Podcast Assembles take.

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Marvel is back in 2025 with Captain America and the world in turmoil, and who else could unravel the nonsensical rewrites than Tommy and Gresident of the Pod Regs of The Film Addicts podcast?! (brought to you Birdseye Fish Fingers and Hydralite, the new and slimmer Reich)

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Time Codes:

Intro 0:20

What Have You Been Up To? 8:48

MAIN TOPIC: Captain America Brave New World 28:53

Stupid Plot Summary 29:36

Cast & Crew 30:52

The Many Many Reshoots 34:06

Characters and Actors 53:28

Tones & Themes 1:01:44

3...

Moon is a cult classic film built on a small budget, and seemed to set up most other space films in the genre - but Tommy & DL aren't convinced! Jump in to hear about Moon, Tommy's partner's thoughts on Heretic and DL's preparations for three weeks away... the night before!

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Intro 0:24

What's been happening? 2:36

What have you been up to? 7:06

MAIN TOPIC: Moon (2009) 24:40

Stupid Plot Summary 26:12

Cast & Crew 26:56

Plot 29:45

Wow, that was really good! 36:55

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You're probably wondering what you need to watch this year. Don't worry, Tommy & DL have you covered this week with their best picks for movies coming out, with some honorable mentions. Avoid the gambles, and jump on the Podcast Assemble Itinerary for 2025!

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Time Codes:

Intro0:22

What have you been up to?12:04

MAIN TOPIC: Most Anticipated 202529:45

DL #130:23

Tommy #135:43

DL #238:11

Tommy #239:38

DL #343:13

Tommy #346:34

DL #449:35

Tommy #450:34

DL #553:14.180

Tommy #555:45

Honorable...

Tommy & DL are back BABY for 2025, and starting off with a modern masterpiece! "Nosferatu" (2024), as a new take on the classic Dracula story, brings a film style not seen for a long time. Dark tones, sexual subtext and great acting - you'll find out why its a good (yet oddly uncomfortable) time with Count Orlok-ula in this week's episode!

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Time Codes:

Intro - 0:24

WHYBUT? - 8:56

Severance Chat - 18:01

MAIN TOPIC: Nosferatu (2024) - 28:22

Stupid Plot Summary - 29:10

Cast & Crew - 30:36

Plot...

The big Podcast Assemble Awards are back again! Join Tommy & DL in this special Christmas Episode and hear them separate the wheat from the chaff in the TV & Movie Industry this year!

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Intro0:24

What have you been up to?7:41

MAIN TOPIC19:04

Razzie Award (Worst Film)20:27

Most Underappreciated23:07

Adam Driver Award25:14

Which Movie We Missed But Would See28:50

THAT came out THIS year?!31:14

Best Rebootuation35:06

Best TV Show36:52

Editor's Choice Mentions40:01<...

The lads take a detour into an animated feature this week! "The Lord Of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" pushes Tommy and DL to get their anime reps in with a feature that challenges the conventional fantasy epic by emphasizing a Japanese style to a Western Audience.

Oh... and a secret Gandalf appears!

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Time Codes:

Intro0:24.520

What Have You Been Up To?10:12.192

MAIN TOPIC: War of the Rohirrim (2024)25:53.102

Stupid Plot Summary26:56.109

Cast & Crew29:02.050

Goofy IMDB Pic29:38.163

Sam enjoys Frodo's faces, Aragorn gets a post-war glow-up, Legolas becomes The Riddler and Sauron gets a blinding - what more could you ask for? How about over an hour of Tommy and DL musing on the many endings of the final chapter in the LOTR trilogy?

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Time Codes:

Intro0:23.842

What have you been up to?7:59.839

MAIN TOPIC: LOTR Return of the King18:47.319

Stupid Plot Summary21:22.394

Cast & Crew22:45.886

Plot24:50.293

Trump-Saruman32:26.248

Cinematography and World-Building36:19.292

Alternate Endings?41:28.192

LOTR The Two Towers is lauded as everyone's favourite movie in the series, but does it hold up 20 years on? This week, Tommy and DL discuss the good, the bad and the wizardly of the classic series from the early 2000s.

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Intro0:31

What have you been up to?7:08

Red Rising Book 3 *SPOILERS START*11:07

Red Rising Book 3 *SPOILERS END*20:48

MAIN TOPIC: LOTR The Two Towers **FULL SPOILERS**21:03

Stupid Plot Summary23:33

Cast & Crew24:31

Everything just works29:16

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This week we have Tommy, DL AND Regs to chat about the unanticipated (and perhaps unwanted) sequel to Ridley Scott's classic Gladiator film, Gladiator II! Find out how enamoured, uncaring and disbelieving they are while mispronouncing Paul Mescal's name for the entire episode! You can find Regs at: The Film Addicts Podcast and The Stitch Up.

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Time Codes:

Intro0:21.235

Englishisms6:22.096

What have you been up to?11:41.009

MAIN TOPIC: Gladiator II (2024) *NON SPOILERS*24:07.838

Stupid Plot Summary27:12.172

Cast & Crew30:10.099

Plot31:47.193

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This third installment of Chris Nolan's "Dark Knight" series wraps up Christian Bale's Batman, but this week Tommy and Regs (Film Addicts podcast) draw genitals and offensive jokes all over that wrapping to show their love for each other, and this amazing film that ranks highly in the Nolan Anthology. You can find Regs at: The Film Addicts Podcast and The Stitch Up.

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Time Codes:

Intro0:24

What have you been up to?8:52

MAIN TOPIC: The Dark Knight Rises20:26

Stupid Plot Summary22:12

Cast & Crew23:29<...

Gladiator 2 is coming to cinemas.. and not the proposed Nick Cave version, (some would say fortunately). Join co-hosts Tommy and DL as we journey back to the year 2000 yo talk about how we got here.

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The Sony Movie Universe of Spider-Man characters SOMEHOW is still going, as we jump into the latest in the franchise. Co-hosts Tommy and DL across the pond simply have to ask the question, why does this exist?

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Main Topic:

Keep those spooky vibes rolling with the special Halloween Episode of Podcast Assemble where the lads talk about... well... Halloween! John Carpenter's classic 1978 thriller occupies most of their chat, as DL was embroiled in podcasts, and Tommy just played video games all weekend. *ahem*.... yep.

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro0:25.035

What have you been up to?6:21.638

MAIN TOPIC: Halloween (1978)18:05.323

Stupid Plot Summary19:08.383

Cast & Crew21:55.597

Goofy IMDB Pic22:27.751

Plot24:13.951

Music28:55.374

Pacing29:41.759

Cinematography & World-Building33:29.686

Action40:08.583

Tones & Themes44:48.114<...

Back in their regular, warm, comfy movie seats on either side of the planet, Tommy & DL jump back into the latest streaming film in "Wolfs" with Brad Pitt and George Clooney. They also chat more about Red Rising as Tommy jumps into Book 3, how Agatha All Along suprised everyone and how Tommy will record an entire album of him singing DL's favourite songs to remind him of home.

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro0:28.627

What have you been up to? 7:42

** RED RISING SPOILERS START ** 11:54

** RED RISING SPOILERS ENDS ** 12:53

MAIN TOPIC...

Finally, DL is back on the mic and this week Tommy and his favourite LOTR Nerd (now across the pond) discuss the big move, Rings of Power, Sugar, KAOS and share their thoughts on the second installment of Todd Phillips' Joker franchise!

TIMESTAMPS:

Intro0:21.361

What have you been up to?6:32

MAIN TOPIC: Joker Folie a Deux (2024)33:44

Stupid Plot Summary36:03

Cast & Crew36:48

Comparing the Joker40:09

Pacing48:29

How was Gaga Quinn?54:41

Tones & Themes55:53

3 Best & 3 Worst56:51

Critical...

With DL in still setting himself up with a local cinema across the planet, Tommy has enlisted the help of Gresident of the Pod, Regs, and Podcast Editing Extraordinairre, Matthew Bliss, to unpack the masterful, befuddling middle-finger to the movie-making world: Megalopolis! All the while discussing the alure of Colin Farrell, the draw of Jon Hamm's hog, Penguins, Hobbits and Merpeople!

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Intro0:31

What is your 3rd Favourite Dinorsaur?4:02

What Have you Been Up to?10:23

Main Topic: Megalopolis (2024) *FULL SPOILERS*29:24

Stupid Plot Summaries32:45

Cast...