The Incomparable Mothership

The highest-grossing film of all time is straight-up sci-fi and yet in 15 years at this place we’ve never talked about it. That ends now, as we put on our oxygen masks and venture out into the moon of Pandora to meet the local Na’vi and the interloper Sky People and discuss why James Cameron’s “Avatar” became an enormous hit and then disappeared entirely (other than the theme-park attactions) until re-emerging with a sequel that was also an enormous hit. "Avatar" Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Brian Warren, Brian Hamilton and Chip Sudderth Referenced Works Avatar Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Our walk through the 10 different novels nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards in 2025 begins! In this episode we discuss “Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory” by Yaroslav Barsukov, “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher, and “Someone You Can Build a Nest In” by John Wiswell. 2025 Awards Book Club Part 1 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Scott McNulty and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory [Amazon] [Apple] A Sorceress Comes to Call [Amazon] [Apple] Someone You Can Build a Nest In [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Heather: “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan Erika: World of the Five Gods series by Lois McMaster Bujold Aleen: Mark Lawrence’s Library Trilogy Scott: Jack Taylor series by Ken Bruen Jason: “When Women Were Dragons” by Kerry Barnhill Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

The year is 1995. The films: “Hackers” and “The Net,” in which computers are proven to be dangerous for society. One is a ridiculous movie about teen hackers that knows it’s silly, and the other is a ludicrous thriller about adult hackers that doesn’t. "Hackers" and "The Net" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, Joe Rosensteel, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Hackers The Net Show Notes & Links Hackers: Costumes from the Motion Picture Exhibition Tour Video Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Huff some ether, dress for an ORTBO, and always keep an eye out for a private place beneath a tarp—we’re here to discuss the second season of “Severance,” a story that goes beyond the first season with some twists and turns that might be Kafkaesque, but are definitely Kafka-ish. "Severance" season 2 Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, Brian Warren, Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Severance Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Spray on some insect repellant and don your hazmat suit, because Del Toro Club has re-formed to discuss a gigantic layer cake of infinite bugs, 1997’s “Mimic.” Parts of it are very Del Toro indeed, while other parts leave us scratching our heads about why something that had a whole lot of potential ended up playing as a pretty good B (not bee!) Movie instead. Are the Weinsteins to blame? (Yes.) "Mimic" Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Steve Lutz and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Mimic Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

In a world full of creative projects turned into intellectual property, our panelists join together to choose remakes and reboots that please us, those that displease us, and those items that are out there, waiting to be remade. Remake/Reboot Draft Jason Snell with Brian Hamilton, David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Lisa Schmeiser, Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels, Shannon Sudderth and Chip Sudderth Show Notes & Links Remake/Reboot I love Brian: “Speak No Evil” (2024) Lisa: “Dune” (2021) Monty: “His Girl Friday” David: “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” Erika: “An Affair to Remember” Chip: “Star Blazers 2199” Shannon: “Voltron: Legendary Defender” Phil: “Star Wars” (a remake of “Hidden Fortress”) Moisés: “The Wizard of Oz” (a remake of silent films from 1910 and 1924) Jason: Ultimate Spider-Man Remake/Reboot I hate Brian: “The Wicker Man” (2006) Lisa: “The Women” (2008) Monty: “The Twilight Zone” (1985, 2002, 2019) David: “The Muppets” (TV series) Erika: “Love Affair” (1994) Chip: Hawkman Vol. 3 series by Jon Ostrander Shannon: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (TV series) Phil: “Get Carter” (2000) Moisés: “Oz the Great and Powerful” (2013) Jason: “Planet of the Apes” (2001) Deserving a remake Brian: “Cats” (2019) (like “Cats: The Jellicle Ball”) Lisa: “The Hunt for Red October” but today Monty: “The Simpsons Two” David: “Have Gun - Will Travel” Erika: “An Affair to Remember” Chip: RoboTech Shannon: Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets/G Force) Phil: “Shadow of a Doubt” Moisés: “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (as prestige TV series) Jason: “The X Files” Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Our Ghibli Club gets together to discuss 2016’s “The Red Turtle,” an unusual Ghibli coproduction, as well as this year’s Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature, “Flow.” "Flow" and "The Red Turtle" Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, John Siracusa and Aleen Simms Sponsors Incomparable Memberships!: Sign up, support our show, and get access to exclusive podcasts! Referenced Works The Red Turtle Flow Studio Ghibli Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Kelly Guimont, David J. Loehr, Lisa Schmeiser, and Shelly Brisbin, all seasoned contributors to comedic discussions, dive into a fantasy draft of iconic Saturday Night Live sketches. They explore legendary cold opens, including memorable moments like 'More Cowbell' and the absurdity of classic ad parodies. The panel reflects on the cultural impact of SNL's best, sharing personal anecdotes while celebrating the balance between humor and heartfelt commentary in political sketches. Expect laughs and a nostalgic trip through SNL's rich history!

Book Club travels to the far future for the sci-fi/fantasy mash-up “Moonbound” by Robin Sloan. Here be dragons! Not to mention wyrd multidimensional witches at the bottom of a pool, Arthurian proto-heroes, friendly sentient robot hive minds, and plucky talking beavers! Book Club: "Moonbound" Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Scott McNulty, Joe Rosensteel and Heather Berberet Referenced Works Moonbound [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Scott: Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara Future’s Edge by Gareth L. Powell Aleen: Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett Drowning Empire series by Andrea Stewart, specifically The Bone-Shard Daughter Erika: Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch Roses in Amber by CE Murphy Heather: To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Joe: Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne Jason: Recursion by Blake Crouch Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Arrakis. Dune. Desert Planet. But maybe not the one you’re thinking of. In our own very peculiar way we honor David Lynch by discussing the feature film he probably liked the least, 1984’s “Dune.” Sting with a knife! Patrick Stewart riding a sandworm! How does it all compare with the modern version? Does it have its own special lower-budget charms? (Don’t mention the voiceovers…) What about the voiceovers? And how much does nostalgia fit into our appreciation of this movie? "Dune" (1984) Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Erika Ensign, Dan Moren and John Siracusa Referenced Works Dune (1984) [Amazon] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.