We dive beneath the sea again with “K-19: The Widowmaker,” in which Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson star as… wait a second… Soviet naval officers? It’s a film about a horrible nuclear accident assembled from pieces of other submarine movies, as well as possibly several “Star Trek” movies, and we can’t decide if the screenplay or the casting is more of a problem. But finally we’ll get to the bottom of the real question: if most of the crewmen aren’t married, can K-19 really be a widowmaker? Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Philip Michaels, Steven Schapansky, Brian Warren and Tony Sindelar.
Who knew that the opposite of an Arena was an Enemy Mine? Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.
Old cars versus helicopters, karate and seppuku, a helpful anecdote from Higgins, and a kidnapped guy who’s such a jerk that nobody (except maybe his wife?) wants to see him again. We watch a broken-down old episode from a writer who would go on to do better things, because what else can we do? We’re on the executive board of the Anglo-Hawaiian Friendship Society, after all. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.
The chaos continues with a greedy rogue, a breath-holding Tortle carrying a Gnome, a swimming Centaur carrying no one, a generous Tiefling, and a totally ineffective dolphin. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.
Steven and Erika brave the smoke and heat of Edmonton to bring you discussion of the bunkers and domes of Skaro! Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.
Listener Eric asks if vehicles are only motorized, and we ponder how small a thing can be before it’s not a vehicle anymore. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
Live on stage at the Ohio Theatre in Madison, Indiana, it’s the Incomparable Radio Theater Live, with part two of the Adventures of Slim Skinner and the Cowhands of the Range! This episode has everything: double entendres (or not), dinosaurs (or not), a little zeppelin (Led…or not), and more singing cowboys than you can shake a temptress at. Yes, she’s Frenchish. David J. Loehr.
You know how Brian and Lex hate Dana’s dating plan for Casey? Boy oh boy, does it come to a head this week, in A Girl Named Pixley. On a podcast named Sorkin’ In It, two hosts named Lex and Brian are an emotion called annoyed. Also, Jeremy might win an award. (Spoiler: He doesn’t. Just ask Natalie.) Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.
The Summer of Submarines resurfaces with James Garner going on a secret mission to an enemy island in 1959’s “Up Periscope.” The Skipper is not a skipper, but he’s got some interesting romantic ideas. Some scenes are impressively bad from multiple angles. And we realize that we’re starting to get good at this submarine-movie business, maybe? Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Shelly Brisbin, David J. Loehr and Erika Ensign.
Never before has Vulcan Hello said hello to so many Vulcans. (And a Romulan, but shh, don’t say Romulan for canonical reasons!) We discuss Trek comedy, the delightful true fan of Humanity known as Doug, the depth of Number One as played by Rebecca Romijn, the action buddy comedy starring Kirk and Scotty, Batel’s jerk Vulcan boss, and Chapel’s inability to make good Plomeek soup. Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.
This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head Canon yet: Miłosz. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.
Brush up on the Large Object Theory of History. Shaenon K. Garrity returns to discuss Jean Merrill’s The Pushcart War (1964). John McCoy with Shaenon K. Garrity.
Join us for a new experimental game show: Bracket Case. In our inaugural episode, five players try to decide who’s our Zaddy. Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with James Thomson, Brian Hamilton, Kelly Guimont, Erika Ensign and Glenn Fleishman.
A chaotic crew assembles to free a head from a book. Tony Sindelar with James Thomson, Kathy Campbell, Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz and Tiff Arment.
“Strange New Worlds” gets the documentary treatment this week, as the Enterprise is confronted with some difficult choices that call into question some of Starfleet’s most deeply held beliiefs. The documentary has a real character arc, going from deep skepticism to a final understanding in just 40 minutes. Unfortunately, that’s not how documentaries work! Scott McNulty and Jason Snell.
We return to 1995 not to hack into the Net but to wander, Netless, around Vienna with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Palm readers! Street poets! Plays featuring cows! It’s “Before Sunrise,” a movie in which nothing happens… except maybe the most extraordinary thing in two people’s lives. Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, Erika Ensign, Annette Wierstra and Steven Schapansky.
The most important supporting character in the show (the Ferrari) is sidelined and, oh yeah, Magnum is hospitalized! But is his amnesia a result of his head injuries, or is it more sinister? What does Thomas have in common with Superman and Batman? Jason focuses on island vibes, Phil gets to talk an awful lot about baseball, and we may or may not have subjected David to ’80s hypnosis. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.
Jasper aggressively chugs a healing potion while making eye contact. K’ronng starts pressing buttons and pulling levers. J’osh pulls a Teddy bear. Revelle has a hot wet lion summer. Tony thinks monks’ robes are like drab toga parties. Tixie Tockworth is air-gapped and did not plan for lions. Tony Sindelar with Aleen Simms, Chip Sudderth, Jason Snell and Monty Ashley.
Can a drinking glass be made out of plastic? Or is it just a cup? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.
Our Awards Book Club closes up shop for 2025 with a final set of rankings, the presentation of an award we made up, and an overview of all the Hugo-nominated short fiction. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Scott McNulty, Aleen Simms and Heather Berberet.