The Incomparable Mothership

KNEW THIS WAS ONE WAY TICKET BUT YOU KNOW I HAD TO COME At long last, it’s the episode Jason has waited 13 years to schedule. Up from the depths of the ocean comes a long-awaited 4K transfer! It’s time for all of you to join us in watching one of the great (and underrated) adventure films of all time, and perhaps James Cameron’s best film: “The Abyss.” We watched the Special Edition of the film, and discuss the ways in which it’s superior to the original cut, and the ways it isn’t. "The Abyss" (Special Edition) Jason Snell with Todd Vaziri, John Siracusa, Annette Wierstra and Erika Ensign Referenced Works The Abyss 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.

We reconvene Miyazaki Club to discuss the master animator’s latest final movie, “The Boy and the Heron.” We went in wondering, will this be lyrical and nostalgic magical realism, or will it be a barrage of super-weird fantastical imagery? The voluminous bird poop and the suit of frogs point the way. "The Boy and the Heron" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Steve Lutz and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Hayao Miyazaki The Boy and the Heron 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.

In 2023’s “Godzilla Minus One,” the classic monster doesn’t just represent nuclear disaster, but crushing guilt on personal and societal levels. What if someone built a deeply emotional human drama that was also a movie where Godzilla destroys a whole lot of stuff? We’ve got the answer! "Godzilla Minus One" Jason Snell with Monty Ashley and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Godzilla Minus One 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.

Crack open your psychohistory textbooks and ready a new batch of imperial clones, because it’s time to discuss the Apple TV+ series “Foundation,” extremely loosely based on the classic works of Isaac Asimov. Before the spoiler horn, we talk about why this is a show worth catching up on—and also debate the merits of psychohistory. Then we discuss the first two seasons, which we really enjoyed. "Foundation" TV series Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman, Heather Berberet and John Siracusa Referenced Works Foundation 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.

Happy new year! Some of our most prolific panelists pick some of their favorite media of the year gone by, and a few listeners send in some favorite clips from The Incomparable in this past year. Onward to 2024! Best of 2023 Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Chip Sudderth, Monty Ashley, Dan Moren, Shelly Brisbin, Annette Wierstra and David J. Loehr Show Notes & Links Moises: The Repair Shop (BBC), “Godzilla Minus One”, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Chip: New York theater (A Strange Loop, Fat Ham, Anthony Rapp’s “Without You”), Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials) (BBC/Disney+), NECA Gargoyles action figures Monty: Taika Waititi’s TV shows (What We Do In the Shadows (FX), Reservation Dogs (FX), Our Flag Means Death (Max), Flight of the Conchords), Shakespeare’s First Folio, “Babylon” Dan: Foundation (Apple TV+), The Dog Sitter Detective, Connections (and Conlextions and Tony Connections) Shelly: Schmigadoon! Season 2 (Apple TV+), Kino Lorber’s Anna May Wong collection, GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo Annette: Good Omens season two (Prime Video), “Barbie”, The Last of Us (HBO) David: Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy, Poker Face (Peacock), He & She Jason: “Oppenheimer”, My Murder by Katie Williams, The Bear (Hulu) 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.

It’s Kilmas 2023, in which we continue our annual celebration of the films of Val Kilmer. This year’s selection is “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” written and directed by Shane Black. It’s a film noir-ish story that wants to have everything both ways. Val Kilmer’s the best thing in it, of course. The rest of the film feels unstuck in time. Kilmas: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Tiff Arment and Dan Moren Referenced Works Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Val Kilmer 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 the spirit of coming downstairs and finding presents waiting under the tree, we offer the Incomparable Toy Draft. It’s not just a story about our favorite childhood toys—it’s also a story about the toys we desperately wanted and never got. Toy Draft Jason Snell with Shelly Brisbin, Lisa Schmeiser, Kelly Guimont, Moisés Chiullán, David J. Loehr, Chip Sudderth, Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels and Annette Wierstra Show Notes & Links Shelly: Easy Bake Oven Lisa: Playskool Bristle Blocks Kelly: Speak & Spell Moises: Skeletor Action Figure David: MEGO 1973 Mr. Scott Chip: Big Wheel Monty: Waterful Ring Toss Phil: Subbuteo Annette: Fashion Plates Jason: Micronauts Shelly: Water Wiggle Lisa: Barbie Styling Head Kelly: Weebles Tree House, Chief Cherpa of the Ewoks Moises: Boo Berry Action Figure David: 1979 Eden Toys Paddington Bear Chip: 1979 Kenner Star Wars Droid Factory Monty: Soma Cube Phil: Snoopy Snow-Cone Machine Annette: Barbie Star Traveler Motorhome Jason: 1977 Battlestar Galactica mail-away space station kit Shelly: Barbie Dream House, GI Joe Helicopter, Creepy Crawler Workshop, Matchbox Parking Garage Lisa: Crayola Caddy Kelly: Crossbows and Catapults, MicroMachines, Monchichi Moises: Snowth Funko Pop, Lego BD-1, Lego Super Mario Brothers Piranha Plant, Jimmy Woo action figure, Marvel Legends Classic Loki and others David: Playskool Gilligan’s Island Floating Playset, Colonial Scarab, Fisher-Price Sesame Street Playset, Space: 1999 Moonbase Alpha Playset + actors Chip: Soul of Chogokin Vehicle Voltron, 12” Kenner Star Wars - Specifically Darth Vader and R2-D2, Character Options Doctor Who Action Figures, Transformers Jetfire, Lite-Brite, Puzzletown, Spock Helmet Monty: 2 foot high Shogun Warriors, Star Wars Action Figure Sized Millennium Falcon, Things that have strings and you push on the bottom and they collapse Phil: Playskool McDonald’s playset, ABC Monday Night Football truck, Pete Rose score baseball game, Worm Wrestle Annette: Etch a Sketch, Playmobil Pirate Ship, Lego Typewriter, GT Snow Racer Jason: Atari 2600, Lime Limo Go Kart, hippity hop/hoppity horse, A bicycle, A basketball, A Nerf football 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.

50 years later, “Soylent Green” is still made of people—and its futuristic setting of 2022 is shockingly relevant! But having given this film a full viewing, we think it’s also a pretty good example of ’70s eco sci-fi with a little noir detective flavoring. (Not that kind of flavoring.) "Soylent Green" Jason Snell with Jean MacDonald, Monty Ashley, Annette Wierstra, Dr. Drang and Philip Michaels Referenced Works Soylent Green 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.

Almost 100 episodes later, we reconvene (most of) our original panel to discuss season two of “The Wheel of Time.” How does it fit into the current set of big fantasy TV shows? Team Didn’t-Read-the-Books seems to be in agreement with Lady Dragonmount that it helps when a fantasy saga’s book series is complete before it’s adapted for the screen. "The Wheel of Time" season 2 Moisés Chiullán with Kathy Campbell and John Siracusa Referenced Works The Wheel of Time 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.

We don’t care what the box office says! We saw “The Marvels” and thought it was a lot of fun. And we worry that Marvel may take the wrong lessons from its box-office failure. "The Marvels" Jason Snell with Chip Sudderth, Shannon Sudderth, Sarah Hendrica Bickerton, James Thomson and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works The Marvels Marvel Cinematic Universe 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.