The 42cast

Galaxy Quest was an homage to Star Trek that released in 1999. Featuring some present and future big names in Hollywood the film told the story of the actors who had formerly played in a popular sci-fi TV series and how their series had inspired others in a way beyond their wildest imagination. In this episode we discuss Galaxy Quest. We talk about the reasons for its enduring appeal. We question whether it should be referred to as a "parody of Star Trek". We discuss the characters and performances. Along the way we talk about effects, music, legacies of sci-fi...

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returned for it's third season last year. The season wrapped up the cliffhanger from season 2 and catapulted the cast into scenarios both farcical and horrific. In this episode we take a look at the season as a whole. We discuss whether the shenanigans have gone too far. We debate whether the Gorn resolution felt satisfactory. We talk about the horrific elements and how well they integrated into the story as a whole. We also get into what we'd like to see from season 4.

The five-minute controversy this week asks if...

Silo is a post-apocalyptic series on Apple TV starring Rebecca Ferguson and based on the Silo book series by Hugh Howey. Ferguson plays Juliette Nichols an engineer turned sheriff who's pursuit of the truth in criminal investigations leads her to search for the truth about the history and world that she lives in. In this episode we review the first two seasons of the series. We discuss the setting of the Silo and why it's different from similar series that we've seen. We talk about the characters and performances and how we feel about Ferguson in the main role...

This week The 42cast talks about Avatar. It's not the M. Night Shyamalan film, the animated show from Nickelodeon, or the film series by James Cameron. This is the live action series on Netflix based on the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender. In this episode we discuss the first season. We talk about the cast and what we think of the portrayal of their characters. We discuss the production values and evaluate it on the basis of music, sets, and effects. We also debate whether we feel that the changes made from the animated series were effective or not. <...

The world was stunned in 2021 when Disney announced that it would continue the popular series of X-Men: The Animated Series with X-Men '97. The decision came in the aftermath of huge streaming numbers for the original animated show on Disney+. Realizing that there was a market for a continuation, Disney decided to create a series as if it were being made in 1997 and was the next season for the original X-Men show. In this episode we discuss the first season of X-Men '97. We discuss the various aspects of the plot and how that feels as a continuation of...

You can't escape it, A.I. is everywhere. Whether it's visual images, formulaic essays, or videos depicting dead actors in new scenes you see the influence of A.I. all over. In this episode we discuss A.I. We talk about potential uses for the technology , how it's being utilized currently, and where we'd like to see it go in the future. We examine the unintended perils as well as the unethical practices that can be used to develop the technology. We also get into our personal usage of these tools and what we think can help to utilize...

Section 31 was originally meant to be a new Star Trek TV series on Paramount Plus. The Covid-19 pandemic put those plans on hold. By the time that the pandemic was over, Michelle Yeoh's career had been catapulted into the stratosphere by Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. Wanting to continue working with Yeoh Paramount re-tooled the series as a stand-alone movie and had the script rewritten 11 times. In this episode we take a look at the Section 31 movie. We discuss its placement within the Star Trek canon. We talk about whether it's a good vehicle for the Georgiou character. We...

The Mandalorian has been one of the most successful Star Wars series under the Disney era of Star Wars. Telling smaller stories than the Skywalker saga, The Mandalorian is a more character focused story that plays into fan-loyalty to the Mandalorian mythos as well as a devotion to the baby Yoda character, Grogu, created for this series. In this episode we examine The Mandalorian season 3. We discuss the characters and plot for the season and how the overall storyline compares with the prior seasons. We'll examine how the changes made in The Book of Boba Fett alters this series...

The series for the MCU's newest title character, Wonder Man dropped earlier this year. It tells the story of Simon Williams as he navigates the Hollywood scene in an attempt to land his dream roll. His secret: that he has super powers in a world that mistrusts them. In this episode we discuss the first season of this new series. We talk about the portrayals of Simon and his friend, Trevor Slattery. We examine the plot and and get into our feelings of how the series is paced, its themes are developed, and whether it serves the characters. Along...

This time, The 42cast, is proud to welcome prolific animation writer Brynne Chandler on to the show. Brynne talks to us about her decades of experience, focusing on many ground-breaking series from the 80's and 90's including He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: The Animated Series, and Gargoyles. She talks with us about her experiences working in the industry and her thoughts on some of the series and specific episodes that she worked on. Along the way we discuss such varied topics as where morals in TV series came from, the unintended consequences of being overly protective of young...

From time immemorial people have told tales of monsters. Are those creatures alien? Forces of Nature? Twisted humans? A new kind of life? In this episode we examine all of the ins and outs of what makes a monster. We talk about what scares us and why that might be appealing. We question whether humans can be the true monsters all along. We also get into what we like about monster stories.

Our five-minute controversy this time asks if the decision to cancel the 4th Chris Pine Star Trek series was a good one or...

The Day the Earth Stood Still was a film released in 1951. It tells the story of an alien visitor coming to Earth with an important message for mankind. Humanity fears him, but the greatest threat to them is their own paranoia. In this episode we discuss this film. We talk about the characters and what we think of the performances. We discuss the effects and both how and why they hold up even today. We also examine the themes of the film and how well it develops them. Along the way we get into the spooky music, the film's...

For four seasons For All Mankind has told an alternate history of our world. Set in a world where the space race continued, because the Russians put a man on the moon first, the series tells a generational saga about humanity's exploration of space. With a fully fleshed out alternate universe and a hopeful yet pragmatic bent the series is truly unique in the television landscape. In this episode we take a look at the first four seasons of For All Mankind. We talk about the unique features of the series that make it a draw for viewers. We...

Last time that we discussed Invincible we talked about how it stands many of the superhero tropes on its head and gives powerful characterizations without wallowing in cynicism as so many series do. In this episode we take a look at the third season of Amazon Prime's Invincible. We discuss what this season teaches us about Mark, Nolan, Cecil, and others. We question whether Nolan is a redeemable characters. We talk about Mark's character and whether he comes off as childish, principled, or somewhere in between. We debate nuance with characters like Rexplode and Powerplex. Along the way we...

We all have them. They're the series that got away. They're the things that we think about with a wistful "what if..?" as we contemplate what would have happened if one of our favorite series had continued. In this episode we dive deep into the nostalgia well. We discuss the series that we loved that never made it past two seasons. We talk about why we liked them and why we felt like they deserved another shot.

This week's five-minute controversy asks that in light of James Gunn saying that the DCU would only do...

Gone With the Wind is an epic film that released in 1939. Adapting the novel of the same name, it told the tale of Scarlet O'Hara throughout the years of the Civil War and reconstruction. The movie was a huge hit both in the United States and internationally. Adjusted for inflation it is the highest grossing film of all time. It also has the distinction of being the first film to award an Academy Award to a person of color with Hattie McDaniel winning the Oscar for best supporting actress. Yet, this film has also come under fire for its...

One Piece originally started as a manga series 29 years ago and has run continuously ever since. An anime adaptation followed two years later and has continued to adapt the story from the manga. Now, Netflix is producing a live action series that tells the story of the Straw Hat Pirates. In this episode we discuss that series. We talk about world of One Piece and how well the props, sets, and effects create that world. We also express our opinions on all of the characters and what we think of their dynamics. We also get into the world building...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke the mold on Star Trek series. It was a Star Trek series that stayed in one place. The emphasis was placed not on exploring strange new worlds but on developing characters and relationships over time. As a result it was also the first Star Trek to pioneer the development of long-term story and character arcs that would build both within a season and across seasons. In this episode we discuss this series. We talk about how it differs from other Treks and what we think about those differences. We discuss the different characters...

For decades the Muppets have been entertaining audiences all over the world. More expressive than most puppets, the Muppets connect with audiences on a deeper level than many similar creations. Combined with talented muppet performers and fun character concepts, it's no wonder that the Muppets have entertained widely varying audiences for so long. In this episode we take a deep dive into the Muppet concept. We talk about our favorite Muppet characters. We discuss our favorite Muppet scenes. We also get into the reasons why people still enjoy the Muppets. We end by debating where we see the Muppet...

After the initial wave of Avengers film, people started wishing that Marvel had the Fantastic Four film rights, so that they could apply the same MCU formula to the first family in comics. Years later, Disney obtained those rights as part of their overall acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Fantastic Four: First Steps is the result. For this episode we dive deep into the story. We talk about the characters, the choices that were made in the depictions, and how we feel those resonate. We debate some of the story decisions and how well those worked for us. We...

We discussed the Gargoyles in episode 265, but there was such interest in this topic that we had to do it again. Many years ago someone told Nathan that men and women view Gargoyles differently, but would not explain to him how, so we decided to do an experiment. Last time the women told us what they thought of Gargoyles. This time the men speak. Along the way we discuss favorite characters, favorite stories, and what makes Gargoyles unique and interesting. We also talk about the proposed live action reboot of Gargoyles and what we think of the idea. We...

Star Trek: Discovery completed its course after a five-year mission spanning CBS All Access and Paramount Plus. It was the first of the "new" Trek series and spawned its share of controversies as well as accolades. In this episode we review the fifth and final season of the series. We talk about the quest plotline and how we feel about the payoff. We discuss the utilization of the characters and whether we felt that they were used fittingly. We also get into the coda scene and whether we felt that it was a fitting ending for the series. Along...

In this episode we go to Chicago TARDIS 2024 to present you with an interview discussion with Jan Chappell and Brian Croucher who played Cally and Travis in the TV series, Blake's 7. The duo discuss convention memories, why they think that interest remains in the series, what they enjoyed about their characters, whether romances existed, thoughts on how their series relates to Doctor Who and so much more.

If you enjoy this episode consider attending Chicago TARDIS in 2026 or another year. It’s held every year in Chicago during the last weekend of November and always hosts a nu...

Phase Five of the MCU completed this year. The phase was unique in that it had more content than prior Marvel phases. In this episode we take a deep dive on Phase Five. We discuss our favorite parts of this portion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We debate the perceived drop in quality among fandom and whether we think that there’s any merit to those arguments. We also discuss where these arguments are coming from. We also give our opinions on what we know is coming in Phase Six as well as speculate on what we think is co...

Screen Reads is back to discuss another film and compare it to the comics that form its roots. In this installment we delve into the 2003 movie Daredevil and compare it to issues 173-184 of the Daredevil comic as well as the director’s cut of the film. We talk about the differences between the director’s cut and theatrical editions and what we thought worked better in each. We debate what elements we think could have been changed and what worked better. We get into the Daredevil issues and talk about the quality of the story as well as how...

Gargoyles debuted in 1994 as part of the Disney Afternoon – a programming block of Disney Animation aimed at children just getting out of school. The series provided complex multi-episode stories with complex characters that was rare for children’s animation. In this episode we take a look back at Gargoyles from a female perspective. We discuss the complexities of the stories and the most impactful moments. We talk about our favorite characters and the phenomenal vocal work that went into them. We also delve into the mythologies and stories that were used as the basis for so much of the seri...

Ironheart was the final installment of Marvel’s Phase Five. Delayed and extended by Covid as well as the writer’s and actor’s strikes, Phase Five of Marvel felt like it took significantly longer to complete than the previous phases. In this episode we review the character of Ironheart. We talk about what we each knew about the character before this and how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever handled the introduction of her character. We examine her place in the world and how the series handles her race, gender, socio-economic status, and her potential. We discuss her motivations and how he...

Doctor Who continues to light up our television screens after sixty-two years. In all those years there have been periodic discussions within fandom over whether a particular story or time period within the series is sexist or even if Doctor Who as a whole has sexist undertones. In recent years, the charge has come that Doctor Who’s classic decades are much more sexist than its newer iteration. In this episode we take a look at Doctor Who from the beginning in 1963 to now. We discuss various aspects of the series and whether we consider those to be sexist. We...

The film, Spartacus, is an epic story released in 1960. Starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film boasts a star-studded cast and beautifully filmed scenes in Super Technirama 70, which recorded 6K of resolution and making it ideal for display on the modern Ultra High Definition (4K) TV’s that we have today....

The post The 42cast Episode 262: I Am Spartacus appeared first on The 42cast.

Fallout is a TV series on Amazon Prime based on the video game series of the same name. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic future, Fallout tells the story of the world after a nuclear war through the interactions of the characters left within the wasteland left behind, the cities that are left, and the residents of vaults, which protected certain people from the aftermath of the explosions. In this episode we review the Fallout series. We discuss the overall tone and lore of the series and how it is informed by and recontextualizes some aspects of the original game...

Marvel’s Netflix series were extremely popular with the majority of the MCU fandom. Telling street level stories about characters more concerned with protecting everyday people they provided a window into a different angle of the MCU that other series were unable to provide. Due to the compound breakdown between Marvel and streamers due to the impending Disney+ service and Marvel Studios’ breakdown with Marvel TV those popular shows were canceled, and it seemed for a time that they would be swept under the table and never mentioned in the MCU again. Thankfully, that did not occur. Daredevil appeared in S...

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was an experiment in entertainment that grew far beyond the wildest expectations of its creators. Featuring a host character and several puppeteered bots, the show purported to tell the story of an exiled spaceman forced to endure an experiment that tested the limits of the human mind subjected to the worst films of all time. The character endures by making fun of the films along with his robot companions. Growing quickly from local television program to featuring on a succession of cable channels the show’s popularity soared to extreme heights until it was cancelled ten ye...

Man in the High Castle is a dark tale of an alternate Earth where the Axis powers won World War II. In this reality the United States has been occupied by both forces and split down the middle with Japanese states and Reich states. Hope seems lost for those who resist these powers until they start discovering films of what appears to be other Earths where things happened differently. In this episode we talk about Man in the High Castle. We discuss the various characters and how their various arcs progressed. We get into the concept and whether or...

The What If..? series was a surprise hit from Marvel. Distinguishing Marvel Animation in a way that the company had not managed previously, the series boasted high quality animation and intriguing storylines that pushed the boundaries of the MCU. In this episode we explore the third season of the series. We discuss the individual episodes and what each meant to us. We talk about the characters and how the various alternate scenarios influenced them. We also get into our overall sense of the story, whether we thought that the final two episodes were a worthy resolution, and and whether...

Travelers is a Netflix original series about time travelers from a bleak future coming back to improve our world. The series broke with several conventions of the time travel sub-genre while mixing together other elements from various time travel series to create a unique experience that resonated with many fans. In this episode we discuss this series. We talk about our favorite characters and why their arcs worked for us while others may not have. We discuss the the various plots of the series and what we liked and didn’t about each. We also delve deep into the co...

Avatar: The Last Airbender was a popular animated show on Nickolodeon in the mid-00’s. The series depicted a fantasy world based on a blend of European, Asian, and Native American influences inhabited by “benders” who could manipulate a single one of the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air. In every generation an Avatar is born who can bend all bend all four elements. In this episode we do a deep dive into this series. We talk about the characters and why we enjoy or don’t each of them. We discuss the world and the story and what...

The world was altered forever in 1987 when Star Trek: The Next Generation first hit the airwaves. Continuing the story of the original Star Trek, the show brought the series back for a new generation of viewers, updating the premises and effects and revitalizing Star Trek fandom into something that would last well into the 21st century. In this episode we discuss that series and how we feel its concepts stand up against the original Trek. We also talk about the cast and who our favorite characters are. We also get into our favorite episodes and how some of them...

Agatha Harkness took the MCU by storm with her debut in WandaVision. It wasn’t long before Marvel announced that there would be a series featuring the character in Marvel’s Phase Five. In this episode we talk about that series, Agatha All Along. We discuss the characters and themes and how well they are woven into the story. We opine on some of the creative choices in this series and how it connects to other parts of the MCU. We wrap up with our predictions for where Agatha may show up next.

This week in lieu of a...

This week has pod-ception on The 42cast as we release a podcast episode about a TV show about a true crime podcast about true crime podcast fans solving true crimes. Of course we are talking about the comedy murder-mystery hit, Only Murders in the Building. In this episode we talk about the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez and why we think that they work so well together. We discuss the plots and how well they work as comedy and as murder mysteries. We also get into the guest stars and what our favorite appearances in...

In the days before streaming, genre television was limited. However, Fox generated a lot of new content to supplement what was on the more traditional networks and cable began producing its own fair share in the 90’s. In this episode we take a look at the various genre TV series of the 90’s. We talk about our favorites and the ones that gained the attention of pop culture. We discuss what we liked, whether we think that they hold up, and why they’re worth a mention. Along the way we also talk about some trends of the decade and gi...