The Cosmic Circle

The Titan-sized box office hit Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire popped up from the depths of Hollow Earth into theaters last week. The movie, the latest from director Adam Wingard, is the 38th Godzilla film and the newest entry into Legendary's MonsterVerse. The film brings together Apple TV+'s Monarch in expanding the world and also gives us the impossible not-to-meme visual of Godzilla sleeping in the Coliseum like a giant Cat. With impressive acting from Rebecca Hall, Kaylee Hottle, Dan Stevens, and The Eternals' Brian Tyree Henry, the movie left us at The Cosmic Circus with many monstrous thoughts on this post-Mechagodzilla universe. Join host Ayla Ruby, Brian Kitson, Uday Kataria,  as they discuss Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Beware, spoilers for the city-smashing Titan story, as well as Monarch, are discussed within and below.    Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Uday Kataria Brian Kitson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 4/4/2024 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus    

  Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two is here, and we here at The Cosmic Circus are ready to accept Timothée Chalamet (and Zendaya's!) ascendancy. It's been a long road to the second half of this newest adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel from 1965, and there have been a few bumps along the way. From teases to whether or not "Part Two" of Dune would actually happen to dual strikes in Hollywood thanks to some greedy behavior by the AMPTP, the project has faced some delays. But now it's here in (mostly) IMAX projected glory with an impressive cast, including Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, and more.  Join host Ayla Ruby, Uday Kataria, and John Dotson as they discuss Dune: Part Two. Warning: Spoilers for the latest spice-powered epic are discussed within.      Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Uday Kataria John Dotson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 3/8/2024 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus    

Echo, the first-ever entry into Marvel’s new Spotlight banner, starring the mega-talented Alaqua Cox, dropped last week with a full five episodes. In this very special 50th episode of the Cosmic Circle podcast, Ayla Ruby, Brian Kitson, John Dotson and Alex Perez discuss Marvel's Echo. Maya Lopez as well as Kingpin Wilson Fisk are discussed, as well as that Daredevil cameo.  Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Alex Perez Ayla Ruby Brian Kitson John Dotson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 1/17/24 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Find the full companion article to this podcast on thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus    

Welcome back, campers, to another year at Camp Half-Blood, and the latest episode of The Cosmic Circle! We're big fans of the world of Percy Jackson over here and have been following along with the exciting adventure on Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The series stars Walker Scobell as Percy, the Demi-god son of Poseidon, who must venture across America with friends Annabeth (Leah Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri). Together, this trio of heroes must find Zeus' missing lightning bolt before an all-out war between the Gods breaks out. Join host Brian Kitson, along with writers Ayla Ruby and Anthony Flagg, as they discuss all the highs and lows of the first 5 episodes of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Find out how they got started in Rick Riordan's world, what they've enjoyed in the series, and what God they'd be born to! What do you think of the series so far? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Anthony Flagg Ayla Ruby Brian Kitson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 1/14/24 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. A full article of this podcast can be found on https://thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus    

Another year has gone by, and we've completed another revolution around the sun. 2023 was a fantastic year for movies, so The Cosmic Crew was excited to sit down and rank their top 5 of the year. From Barbie to The Color Purple to Bottoms and John Wick: Chapter 4, it was a lively chat, and an hour just isn't long enough for The Cosmic Circle.  There were surprises, including why we liked certain comic book movies, to the last-minute shuffling of our rankings as the year progressed, and more movies came out; this podcast had it all and was a delight. Host Ayla Ruby was joined by head writer Brian Kitson and all-around movie king John Dotson to discuss what worked for them this year. There was heartbreak, musicals, action, and so much more. Listen below for our full thoughts on the best movies of 2023.    Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Brian Kitson John Dotson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 12/28/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. For a full companion article to this podcast visit thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus  

It's another episode of Sloth Baby Productions... just kidding. The Cosmic Circle podcast is back, and we saw The Marvels just like (hopefully) all of you and had some thoughts about the return of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Their first big screen team-up featured Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), an interesting villain named Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), and a whole lot of flerkens. Join host Ayla Ruby, along with Uday Kataria, Emily Maack, and Drew Reed, as they chat all things The Marvels in this spoilerific podcast episode. The Cosmic Crew shared their impressions of the film, including what worked and didn't work for them. They chatted about Dar-Benn as a villain and all the bad-ass action scenes that director Nia DaCosta brought to life. We even talked about the ending moments of The Marvels, including that homage to a classic Avengers kickoff. And, of course, we chatted about the post-credit scene and what it means going forward for the MCU. So come on in towards the shiny hex jump point, where universes collide, and listen to the podcast.   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Uday Kataria Emily Maack Drew Reed Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 11/19/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. For a full companion article to this podcast visit thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus  

Last Thursday, the final page in the book of Loki season 2 closed to a perhaps sacred timeline-shifting ending. The God of Mischief, as portrayed by Tom Hiddleston, sprouted horns and finally fulfilled his glorious purpose. Join host Ayla Ruby, along with Alex Perex, Uday Kataria, and Drew Reed, as they chat all things Loki season 2 finale.  The Cosmic Circle crew had a ton to unpack on this episode of the podcast, but we only strayed into Ant-Man territory once or twice. We discussed their thoughts on "Glorious Purpose" and whether it met our expectations. We also chatted about the reversed Marvel intro sequence, Kang the Conqueror and his variants, that ending, and the future of Loki characters, including Ravonnah Renslayer, and more. Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Uday Kataria Alex Perez Drew Reed Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 11/11/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Full article and more at https://thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus  

  Two long years after Omni-Man's betrayal, the season 2 premiere of Invincible, "A Lesson for Your Next Life," is here to mess with our heads even more. Mark Grayson, aka Invincible, is still trying to pick up the pieces and come to terms with the reality of his horrific dad, and we're all here for the doozy of a dimension-hopping ride. The Cosmic Crew, including host Ayla Ruby (hey, that's me!), John Dotson, Izzy Friedman, and Anthony Flagg delved into everything Invincible. In this spoiler-heavy discussion, we dissect that doozy of an opening sequence and our reactions after the long Invincible drought. We debate the ethics of Angstrom Levy (Sterling K. Brown) and explore Mark Grayson's (Steven Yeun) complicated relationships with his mom, Debbie (Sandra Oh), and Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs). We also go deep on grief, the show's complex themes, and its subversion of the superhero trope, specifically the traditional Superman archetype. And, of course, we share some predictions for the next three episodes. We're so excited to chat about it on this week's podcast, so tune in to hear us unpack all the twists, turns, and gore. Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers   Ayla Ruby Izzy Friedman John Dotson Anthony Flagg Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 11/03/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.   For a full article on this podcast and more visit https://thecosmiccircus.com Support this podcast on Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cosmiccircus  

Join host Brian Kitson and fellow Cosmic Circus writers John Dotson and Wiktor Reinfuss (Vic) as they share some of their favorite films and television series that are perfect for the Halloween season! From Chucky to Scream, Dracula to Supernatural, these three discuss a wide array of scary films and shows that are sure to fill you with terror. Plus listen to each of their stories of their first experiences with horror films! Visit https://thecosmiccircus.com for the companion article for this podcast Scary Halloween Movie and Show Recommendations Brian's recommendations Rose Red Skeleton Key Chucky/Child’s Play The Descent Marble Hornets The Shining Rope Psycho/Bates Motel One Missed Call Shining Vale Goosebumps John's recommendations Host (2020) Scream Lake Mungo Audition Trick 'r Treat The Girl With All the Gifts Vic's recommendations Sleepy Hollow Halloween Supernatural The Ritual Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola) Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson John Dotson Wiktor Reinfuss Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 10/22/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.

 The God of Mischief has returned, bringing his signature chaos with him in Loki Season 2! Tom Hiddleston picked up the not-quite-horned mantle again, returning as Loki Odinson this past week in an appropriately twisty sci-fi episode called "Ouroboros" written by Eric Martin. It's been two years since we left off on that dramatic scene with Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) from season 1, and this episode promises so much more drama and heart for the season. Owen Wilson's Mobius is back, joined by Marvel newcomer Ke Huy Quan's O.B. as Loki and crew work together to prevent Kang (Jonathan Majors) from taking over everything at the TVA and beyond.  The Cosmic Crew is back, too, and has many temporal and existential questions about Loki's return to screen. Join us in this episode as we chat about Loki season 2. We do a deep dive into the episode, including what we loved about the TVA and some of the new tech, like the temporal loom. We talk about Kang and THAT recording with Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and whether or not it hints at anything more. We even chat about our dream ending for the season, and a few of us have very Deadpool-inspired hopes. So slip on your headphones (and make sure you're staying awake like Eugene Cordero's Casey) as you listen to the newest Cosmic Circle podcast episode.  You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. Follow us for updates on X at @cosmicpodcasts! [Warning: Spoilers from Loki are within the podcast! Listen at your own risk or you may get pruned.]   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Anthony Flagg Uday Kataria Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 10/07/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.

The first season of Ahsoka has reached its conclusion on Disney+, delivering a strong season from the Lucasfilm property. After eight episodes, the adventures of Rosario Dawson's Jedi and her compatriots have concluded with a bigger threat now looming on the sidelines. With huge ramifications and the excitement of what's to come for these characters, we had to hash it out in our Ahsoka season 1 finale discussion! Join head writer Brian Kitson and fellow writers Drew Reed and Emily Maack as they talk about all the excitement from across all eight episodes of Disney+'s Ahsoka! What stood out to them? Where do they think the story is headed from here? You can find all those answers and more in this exciting Ahsoka finale discussion!   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson Drew Reed Emily Maack Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 10/07/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @cosmicpodcasts Visit for the full article: https://thecosmiccircus.com

Earlier this year, Keanu Reeves returned to the big screen as the titular assassin in John Wick: Chapter 4, arguably the most stylish and high-octane action franchise of our time. Directed by the talented Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, the film sees our dog-avenging anti-hero facing off against the High Table in another thrilling installment. On this action-packed John Wick podcast episode, The Cosmic Crew discusses why you should never mess with a man and his dog. We share our thoughts on John Wick: Chapter 4, including the seemingly final scene, rank the movies, and debate whether The Matrix or John Wick is Keanu Reeves' more iconic franchise. (Secretly, we all know it's The Lake House.) We also explore potential John Wick universe crossovers, such as Atomic Blonde, and debate the merits of John Wick and James Bond.  The crew dives deep into the beautiful cinematography of the movie, as shot by Dan Laustsen. We also chat about the upcoming series The Continental, and whether or not we'll be watching. So rev up your motorcycle...or your horse and listen in!   Podcast credits and show notes   Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby John Dotson Wiktor Reinfuss Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 09/18/2023 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. For a full article on this podcast and more visit https://thecosmiccircus.com/

As anyone can attest, representation of any kind is important in the media that we consume. With the makeup of our population being so diverse, between ethnicities, skin colors, genders, and sexualities, the characters and stories we see on screen and in books should represent that as well. While there's still a ton of work to be done for proper visibility for so many minorities, one that has a bit of an awakening is proper LGBTQ+ representation in films and television. With a thought that began with Red, White & Royal Blue, host Brian Kitson wished to look back at the past representation of Queer representation and the current landscape for this long-looked-over and misrepresented group. Join Brian Kitson, along with Izzy Friedman and Uday Kataria as they explore some important landmarks in Queer representation in television and films. Listen as they share their oldest memories with a queer character and how new media feels like a step in the right direction for proper LGBTQ+ visibility. These three deep dive into a few new projects, such as Heartstoppers, Interview With The Vampire, Killing Eve, and so much more, as they explore the impact these films and shows have on the population as a whole and individually for each one of them. [Warning: Spoilers from some Queer content, such as Red, White & Royal Blue, Interview With The Vampire, Heartstopper, etc. are within the podcast! Listen at your own risk.]   Podcast credits and show notes   Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson Izzy Friedman Uday Kataria Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 09/02/2023 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay. Follow us on social media @cosmicpodcasts or @mycosmiccirus and you can find a full article on this podcasts at https://thecosmiccircus.com

While Ahsoka may have lived a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, you don't have to jump into your X-Wing and fly off to Tatooine to see what she's up to, because Ahsoka, the new Star Wars series has arrived on Disney+! The series stars Rosario Dawson as the ex-Jedi knight as she and Sabine (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) search the galaxy for Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). So our writers couldn't wait to get together and break it all down in our Ahsoka Discussion! Join head writer Brian Kitson, along with fellow writers Drew Reed and Emily Maack as they talk about all the exciting scenes from Disney+'s Ahsoka! What did they like? What would they have changed? Why is Sabine the best? All that and more you can find in this exciting discussion about all things Ahsoka and Star Wars as a whole! Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Brian Kitson Drew Reed Emily Maack Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 08/26/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.

Xolo Maridueña stars as the scarab-tactic superhero Blue Beetle, which buzzed onto the big screen this past weekend. Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is the first live-action comic book film with a Hispanic lead. The long-anticipated picture is the third DC Studios release this year after Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. It's all about family in The Fast and the... er... Blue Beetle, and on this episode of The Cosmic Circle, we are joined by some fantastic family members. Writers Anthony Flagg and Wiktor Reinfuss swarmed in for our chat about the celestial scarab-powered superhero Jaime Reyes. We talked about the movie's meaning on a cultural level, our favorite parts, including the charming and talented Xolo Maridueña, and our thoughts on the nefarious Victoria Kord, portrayed by screen legend Susan Sarandon. We even talked about that mid-credits scene and whether or not Jason Sudeikis really is Ted Kord. And dear listeners, you won't want to miss our discussion of just how many times Wiktor has seen The Flash. So whether you're a lifelong DC Comics fan or someone who's just getting into the world of DC after James Gunn took over the studio, this podcast is for you. You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts, subscribe here and follow us for updates on X (formerly Twitter) at

Six weeks ago, Secret Invasion began its journey on Disney+. The first Marvel Studios series of 2023 has come and gone, and it has left quite an impression on fans of the MCU. Whether you've loved it or hated it, Secret Invasion has definitely left people talking. So with so many differing thoughts and opinions on this divisive show, The Cosmic Circus writers couldn't wait to get together on a Secret Invasion wrap-up discussion! Join host Brian Kitson and fellow writers Anthony Flagg, Ayla Ruby, and Uday Kataria as they break down every moment from Marvel's Secret Invasion! Which characters are their favorites? Which moments were they disappointed in? And where exactly do they think the MCU is headed in the aftermath of this series? All that and more can be found in this podcast!   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Anthony Flagg Ayla Ruby Brian Kitson Uday Kataria Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 06/25/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.  Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-37-secret-invasion-wrap-up-discussion/

After months of buzz, the live-action Barbie movie finally hit theaters this weekend, and we're diving deep into this episode of the Cosmic Circle. The world's most famous doll has been brought to life by writer-director Greta Gerwig and her professional partner Noah Baumbach. After seeing the massively successful box office, it's safe to say we're in a Barbie world. On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, we're joined by writers John Dotson and Uday Kataria to discuss the live-action Barbie film. Our cosmic conversation included everything from the pink world of Barbieland and the star-studded cast (including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling) and awards buzz. We also discuss the film's true villain, the cultural phenomenon that is Barbieheimer, and why this movie has an important message for kids everywhere. So whether you're a lifelong Barbie fan or just curious about the hype and love listening to us talk, tune in for this fascinating discussion.   Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby John Dotson Uday Kataria Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 07/24/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.   Ep. 36 Timestamps: Barbie movie discussion (Spoilers) 00:18 - Intros 01:00 - Spoiler alert for the Barbie movie! 01:10 - First impressions on Barbie and it's themes. 08:30 - America Ferrera's monologue, hit or miss? 13:27 - Barbenheimer 19:30 - What was your movie-going experience? 21:19 - What does Barbie's massive box office success mean for movies in general? 32:41 - Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling's performances.  39:32 - Was Ken the villain of the story or was it someone or something else? 45:00 - Favorite Easter eggs or things that made you laugh 48:00 - Thoughts on the ending of the Barbie movie. 52:00 - Outros   Read the full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-36-barbie-movie-discussion/  

With Superman & Lois finishing its third season, My Adventures with Superman on Max now, and Superman: Legacy beginning to assemble its cast, now is the perfect time to reflect on the greatest hero of them all: SUPERMAN! Featuring in 85 years of comics, radio, TV, film, animation, and live action, no character has had a greater impact on comic book culture than the gentle giant Superman and the mild-mannered Clark Kent. Join host Vin, Vic, and Anthony as they look back on the Man of Tomorrow, their favorite adaptations, and what they hope to see in the future. What are the best Superman storylines? What makes a good Superman adaptation? Do the red undies matter?? Tune in for all this and more! (SPOILER WARNING for past Superman comics, shows, and movies)     Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Anthony Flagg Vin Wiktor Reinfuss Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 07/16/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.   Read full article at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-35-superman-discussion-past-and-future/

The year is already half over, and it has been a cosmically wild ride. It feels like just yesterday we were all warming up a cup of eggnog for our Hawkeye rewatch and gearing up for the new year. New films and television shows have been released at a breakneck pace in 2023, and it's been hard to keep up with all the good stuff. (We've tried! Our Letterboxd accounts are proof.) But fear not, dear reader, for we here at The Cosmic Circus have done the hard work for you. We've scoured the airwaves and streaming services to bring you a list of the must-watch television shows of 2023.  On this episode of the Cosmic Circle, host Ayla Ruby is joined by writers Anthony Flagg and John Dotson to discuss their top five television shows of 2023 (so far). They'll also be sharing some honorable mentions. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite be on the list? Tune in to hear what the Cosmic Crew says about the year's best television. Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Anthony Flagg John Dotson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 07/09/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.   Full article available at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-34-the-best-2023-television-series-so-far/

Can you believe we're already halfway through 2023? Time flies when there's so so many new films and television shows rolling out. There are so many standouts and quite a few upsets as well, that it almost seems impossible to keep up with everything that comes out in a year. Now that we're six months into the year, we here at The Cosmic Circus wanted to look back at some of the highlights from 2023's movies. Join host Ayla Ruby along with well Cosmic Circus writers Brian Kitson and John Dotson as they rank their top five 2023 movies so far. What do you think will make it to number one? Will your favorite of the year make it on their list? You'll have to listen in to see what the writers have to say about the movies of 2023. A huge thanks to John for joining us on The Cosmic Circle, we can't wait to have you on again!     Podcast credits and show notes Contributors/Writers Ayla Ruby Brian Kitson John Dotson Executive Producer/Editor Lizzie Hill Recorded on 07/02/23 Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.Full article with timestamps at: https://thecosmiccircus.com/cosmic-circle-ep-33-2023-movie-discussion/