Radio vs. the Martians! Commentary Track – Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Every generation has a legend. Every journey has a first step. Every saga has a beginning.

Now this is podcasting! This Christmas Eve, we’re back with a gift!

In our first Retcon vs. the Martians!, Casey has ambushed Mike with an impromptu commentary track screening of George Lucas’ much-maligned science fantasy prequel that has been talked to death on every podcast and YouTube channel for the better part of two decades, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace!

In the waning days of the Galactic Republic, a pair of Jedi Knights are sent to negotiate an armed trade dispute, only to become pawns in an elaborate plot to undermine democracy and position a senator from a remote system (and secret evil wizard) to the biggest chair in space politics. Along the way, the Jedi battle an army of hapless robots, rescue a queen, and discover a young slave boy who may just be a long prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force.

Fun Size Episode 60 – George Lucas Martyrs

We’re back with Chelsea Rustad to dig into the big questions. Have we hit the barrier when technological advances on video quality, frame rate and sound are butting up against the point where human senses can no longer perceive the difference in quality?

What about cars? Clothing? Is there a point where an expensive T-shirt can’t really get much more technologically advanced than a cheap one, and it makes no sense to charge big prices for it?

Plus, we touch on the recent lawsuit by the estates of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko to nullify the Marvel copyrights to the characters created by those artists, and the knee jerk reactionary response from some fans. And maybe…just maybe, we’d get better stories if these characters were allowed to lapse into the public domain.

And we talk about history’s greatest victims of targeted oppression: gamers.

Fun Size Episode 5 – So Many Props Made of Real, Atomic Matter

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In our second Fun Sized episode this month, Mike and Casey continue their talk with Rebecca Friedman, and get into their feelings about the new Star Wars movie, the Force Awakens.

Also, we say goodbye to the recently departed Alan Rickman and David Bowie.

Fun Size Episode 2 – The Future is Just…Brown

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In the first of a pair of Fun Sized episodes this month, we sit down in the studio with Roslyn Townsend to get extra meta-topical. We talk about the phenomenon of “misdirected fandom.” Why do some fans not seem to understand or even deny that characters like Breaking Bad‘s Walter White or Watchmen‘s Rorschach have ever crossed any ethical lines?

Are all interpretations of fiction and art valid? Can a property’s fans’ behavior make it hard to enjoy? Can an artist’s views or behavior overshadow their work?

We also dig into the world of 1970s science fiction where everyone wears a cape, all hair is big, and everything is brown.