
Open World Chat
Discussing all "genre" media and geek culture from an unapologetically progressive perspective.
Episodes
87 episodes
Hidden gems from legendary directors
In part 2 of our "directors" series, Mark and John look at great movies from legendary directors that have flown WAY under the radar, and should be viewed immediately!!
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52:12

The REAL masterpieces of legendary directors
Mark and John look at directors who are generally accepted as having a particular masterwork and explain why - no - a DIFFERENT movie is actually their masterpiece and why. Part 1 in our 2 part director series.
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55:13

The Democracy Episode! Policy, Cybersecurity and more!
Mark and John go full pundit and talk about the current state of elections and democracy in the US. Are our rights safe? Are our systems safe? What policies help us or hinder us? The answers, of course - complicated in the details, but maybe no...
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58:10

Christ figures in sci-fi and fantasy
When Jesus turns up in your favorite stories! Mark and John talk about the archetype of the "Christ Figure," and it turns out it pops up everywhere.
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44:39

How will DEI pushback affect geek media?
The war on DEI is hitting companies like Disney and Warner Brothers and they've have already begun to alter their policies in response. Will this backlash affect our favorite movies, books, and comics?
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50:35

Movies that Shouldn't be Remade (plus a few stinker remakes)
It's the flip side of last time - this time Mark and John go through a bunch of movies that should never be remade, as well as several that should never have been remade (and the trainwrecks that came of it).
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1:01:12

Movies that should be remade, and a few already remade well
Mark and John throw out some ideas of movies that scream to be remade (in some cases remade again), while also reviewing some remakes that have been made and made well.
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45:02

Franchise fatigue - is it a thing?
Mark and John look at so-dubbed "franchise fatigue" and its cousins superhero fatigue, sequel fatigue, and throw in some multiverse fatigue. We discuss what genre franchises are doing better than others, and why.
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44:51

Underappreciated good stuff
One episode after talking about dumb sci-fi, we return to talk about excellent sci fi and fantasy that doesn't get enough love, be it from critics, fanboys, general audiences, or just due to the fog of the passage of time.
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49:01

Dumb sci fi
Dumb sci fi. The title says it all. Not just bad, not just ill-considered. Dumb. Come on, see if we mention your favorite book or movie We dare ya.
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50:11

The Top 18 Evil AIs
It's the AI era! You want to know how bad it can get? Check out the list of most evil artificial intelligences. Come on and tell us what (who?) we missed, even if some of them are a little obvious (we're looking at you Stanley Kubrick).
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1:26:36

Drugs, Drug Culture, and Addiction in Sci-Fi
Mark and John get on drugs for an episode that looks at the different way drugs, drug culture, and addiction in general are treated in science fiction over the decades, and there turns out to be quite a bit to talk about. Come on in and get you...
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43:45

The Love Episode!!!
Love. Exciting and new. etc.Come on aboard as we look back at love and romance in sci-fi over the decades, along with how it reflects society. Do we mention your favorite couple? (probably not since we forgot Han and Leia... oops). But ...
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43:45

Federation and Empire? Imperialism in Star Trek
Dr. Leigh McKagen comes back - willingly, even - where we discuss the often disappointing but always interesting topic of the imperial nature of Star Trek and the Federation! Join us for a little Trek tough love.
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1:13:04

Top 18 most influential sci-fi movies
John and Mark tell you how it is as they go down their list of the 18 most influential sci-fi movies. Give a listen and nod your head, roll your eyes, or scowl at the picks and the reasons why.
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1:09:59

When Sci-Fi and Comics are Repackaged Greek Myths
Mark and John examine stories in sci-fi and comics that are simply retellings of classical mythological stories. Turns out they're everywhere.
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35:05

Star Trek and Military Power
What is the nature of power and military strategy in Star Trek's Federation? Our own Mark Card examines this question. John just kind of goes "mm-hmm" a lot.
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34:48

The 70s and sci fi paranoia cinema
We always hear about those paranoid 70s political thrillers, but a similar phenomenon was happening in the sci fi of the era - and it set the pace for many of the sci fi movies to come. Come on in and join us for a heaping helping of Soylent Gr...
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36:24

Cavemen vs Astronauts
I don't know that it's an eternal one, but courtesy of Joss Whedon and Angel it is a debate - one that Mark and John bisect, trisect, and just all around sect. It turns out, as you might expect, to be a complicated question.
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32:22

9 sci fi movies that don't know they're sci fi
Mark and John give you an underachieving top 10 list - 9 movies that don't realize they're actually science fiction. Or are maybe in denial. We define sci fi and dive right in, perhaps taking a few liberties, which only makes it more fun. Have ...
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47:07

Science, Church, and State: Revisiting 'A Canticle for Liebowitz'
Mark leads John and the audience on a discussion of the seminal sci-fi novel "A Canticle for Liebowitz" and the questions it raises about cycles of history, Catholicism, and the role of the state in it all. Highbrow stuff guys! Jump in!
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35:22

SO many vampires! Our fixation on vampires
From Nosferatu to Angel to Lestat and Blade and - oh yeah, that Dracula guy. What is our obsession with vampires?
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35:45
Invaders - How immigration fears have fueled horror
Mark and John look at the ways fears of "the other" have informed the horror genre in the context of immigration - and it's a lot more than you think!
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31:56

The Complex History of Women in Star Trek
Dr. Leigh McKagen joins John and Mark (and puts up with some major audio issues) to talk about the sometimes inspiring and sometimes cringe-worthy history of women across the Star Trek franchise.
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59:58

Scorsese, Coppola, Tarantino and hatin' on Marvel
OPEN WORLD CHAT RETURNS! A little late to the convo, sure, but John and Mark still have a lot to say about the obnoxious disrespecting of Marvel films - and superhero films in general - levied by the mighty threesome of Martin Scorsese, Francis...
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40:19
