The Incomparable Mothership

This week we’re drafting Disney Princesses! There are two simple rules: They must be Disney, and they must be princesses. How far will our intrepid panelists go to stretch those rules? Join us to find out. Disney Princess Draft Annette Wierstra and Kathy Campbell with James Thomson, Rosemary Orchard, Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley and Glenn Fleishman Show Notes & Links James Thomson: Princess Leia Organa Elora Danan The Princess Quorra (Tron) Xenomorphs (Alien) Rosemary Orchard: Belle Snow White Anastasia Princess Fiona Dot (Bug’s Life), Jane from Tarzan, Esmeralda, Giselle, Tinker Bell Moises Chiullan: Princess Eilonwy of Llyr Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida Mulan Ariel Lady (and the Tramp), Alice, Minnie Mouse, Ortensia the Cat, Marie (Aristrocats), Rita (Oliver & Company), Maleficent, Raya Kelly Guimont: Miss Piggy Aurora Dr. Frank N Furter Vanellope Von Schweetz Princess Vespa, Ripley (Alien) Monty Ashley: Cinderella Dorothy Gale Elsa Maid Marian Hello Kitty, Princess Clarabelle Glenn Fleishman: Wreck-It Ralph Merida Rapunzel Luisa Madrigal Eve (Wall-e), Bambi Kathy & Annette: Thor Princess Buttercup Ozma Anna Jasmine, Tiana, Nala, Kita, and Pocahontas 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.

Wednesday Addams is not the girl of your dreams — she’s the stuff of your nightmares. Our group of outcasts gathers in our secret library to conjure our thoughts on the first season of “Wednesday”, streaming on Netflix. We discuss what we love about the show, while also trying to figure out, is it really meant for us? "Wednesday" Tiff Arment with Brian Hamilton, Glenn Fleishman and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works Wednesday Show Notes & Links X (2022 film) Wednesday (TV series - Wikipedia) 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.

Put on your home-built Iron Man suit and whisper into some beads, because it’s time to discuss “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Our panel talks about how the movie leaves space to grieve Chadwick Boseman and T’Challa while also providing a platform for a bunch of black women to take the lead in a geopolitical battle involving the charismatic Namor, the U.S. government, and… the French? We drift into the shipping lanes for a moment, but it doesn’t generate any enthusiasm about the film’s big boat battle. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Jason Snell with Cicero Holmes, Moisés Chiullán, Kelly Guimont and Lisa Schmeiser Referenced Works Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 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.

Our Book Club reconvenes to discuss R.F. Kuang’s “Babel.” It’s a story about magic and empire and revolution, and our feelings about it are similarly complicated. Plus: A whole bunch of book suggestions! Our next Book Club selection: “Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel. Book Club: R.F. Kuang's "Babel" Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman, Deborah Stanish, Erika Ensign and Scott McNulty Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Referenced Works Babel [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Aleen: The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths A Witch in Time by Constance Sayers Erika: “Cold Relations” by Mary Robinette Kowal “How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P Djèlí Clark Scarlett Bernard series by Melissa F Olson Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances by Ailette de Bodard Glenn: Dr. No by Percival Everett Deb: The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd Scott: Pompeii by Robert Harris Hopeland by Ian McDonald Dan: The Puzzler by A.J. Jacobs Jason: Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey (they) 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.

Get in line to order a hero sandwich—not so fast, sidekick! We’re here to talk about 2005’s thoroughly delightful Disney movie “Sky High,” featuring superhero action and teen drama that are both full to the brim—but never quite over the top. "Sky High" Jason Snell with Glenn Fleishman, Jean MacDonald, Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms and Dr. Drang Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Referenced Works Sky High 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.

This week, we’re drafting some spies, secret agents, and con artists. Con artists? Why not? They all use similar skills—sometimes, it’s impossible to tell the difference. From fiction to spoof to inspired by real life, we’ve got it all. Also, is that Cate Blanchett or Tilda Swinton? Good luck, Jim. This episode will self destruct in five seconds. Secret Agent Draft David J. Loehr with Tom McGrath, Chris Klimek and Nathan Alderman Show Notes & Links Tom: Archer Charlie Wilson’s War Scarecrow and Mrs King Spy Psych Chris: The Avengers Hudson Hawk Tenspeed and Brownshoe The Nice Guys American Flagg Nathan: Sandbaggers Hanna Alias The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015 film) Leverage David: Mission: Impossible (TV) Ocean’s Eleven (2001) Lupin Maverick (TV and film) Parker novels / Dortmunder novels by Donald Westlake 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.

Put on your headset and get ready to jump into a polt, because we’re going to discuss “The Peripheral,” Prime Video’s adaptation of William Gibson’s novel. What makes its approach to certain famous sci-fi tropes unique? How interesting are the accents? Why is there an invisible car? We’ll answer those questions as soon as we flee to another stub. "The Peripheral" (TV series) Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Lisa Schmeiser and Antony Johnston Referenced Works The Peripheral 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.

Store up some mana and watch out for maleficers and maw-mouths! We’re going to discuss Naomi Novik’s Scholomance trilogy, which takes the familiar story of a school for teenage magicians and does some very different things with it! Before the Spoiler Horn, we talk generally about the books and why you should read them. Then we dig into some of the details of how the series changes as it comes to its end. [Our next Book Club selection is “Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution” by R.F. Kuang.] Naomi Novik's "Scholomance" trilogy Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Dan Moren, Erika Ensign and Glenn Fleishman Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Referenced Works A Deadly Education [Amazon] [Apple] The Last Graduate [Amazon] [Apple] The Golden Enclaves [Amazon] [Apple] Scholomance series Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Aleen: “Signal Moon” by Kate Quinn “The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn World of the White Rat series by T. Kingfisher “Swordheart” by T. Kingfisher “Nettle and Bone” by T Kingfisher “The Nova Incident” by Dan Moren Glenn: “Housebreaking” by Colleen Hubbard “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke “Fairy Tale” by Stephen King Erika: “Dead Spots” by Melissa F. Olson “The Necessity of Trans Joy” by Izzy Wasserstein Dan: “Blitz” - Daniel O’Malley “Nightwatch over Windscar” by K. Eason “Locklands” by Robert Jackson Bennett “Jeeves and the King of Clubs by Ben Schott Jason: “Blitz” - Daniel O’Malley “Fairy Tale” by Stephen King “A Gathering of Shadows” by V.E. Schwab 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 favorites from 2022, plus a few clips. Our 2022 Favorites Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, David J. Loehr, Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin, Glenn Fleishman, Chip Sudderth, Tony Sindelar, Jean MacDonald, Cicero Holmes and Lisa Schmeiser Show Notes & Links Moisés Chiullán Pachinko Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Director’s Edition 4K Restoration All of Soccer, specifically Austin FC Shouting Down Midnight (2022) David J. Loehr Corrections with Seth Meyers on YouTube Confess, Fletch (2022) Daniel Pemberton scores, including Enola Holmes 2, Slow Horses, Ocean’s 8 Dan Moren The Ipcress File (2022) miniseries Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings score Spotify Apple Amazon Marvel’s Spider-Man for PS5/) Erika Ensign The Power of the Doctor Ghosts US and Ghosts UK Jann (2019) Monty Ashley Reservation Dogs (2021) Season 1 & 2 Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) Nightflight Shelly Brisbin Kevin Morby “This is a Photograph” INDICATOR Film Noir Limited Edition Collections Rachel Maddow Presents: ULTRA Glenn Fleishman The Legend of Vox Machina Season 1 The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) Chip Sudderth 2022 MCU on Disney+: Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk: Attorney-At-Law, Moon Knight, Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Werewolf by Night Meta Quest 2 The Sandman Season 1 Tony Sindelar Andor (2022) Season 1 Turning Red (2022) Return to Monkey Island Jean MacDonald Dalgliesh (2021) Series 1 Licorice Pizza (2021) Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) Cicero Holmes Apt. 505 by Coast Contra Spotify Deep-diving on everything on Apple TV+, in particular Acapulco (2021) Season 1 & 2 High On Life Lisa Schmeiser The Sandman Season 1 The Peripheral (2022) Season 1 Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel Jason Snell Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 The Tragedy of MacBeth (2021), even though Cicero picked all of TV+, because it’s not a draft 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 Knight before Christmas this year is David Lowery’s 2021 film “The Green Knight.” This year’s final Mothership episode is a game inside a gift inside a game, much like the movie. Is every episode featuring Glenn secretly (or not-so-secretly) about Zardoz? What secrets of the exotic West Midlands does Antony have to reveal? Find out as we champion diverging from the path as the most direct route to completing a quest. "The Green Knight" Moisés Chiullán with Antony Johnston and Glenn Fleishman Referenced Works The Green Knight 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.