The Incomparable Mothership

Is this the way? We break down the second season of “The Mandalorian,” which sees our title character struggling with his own identity as a Mandalorian as well as coming to grips with the important task of protecting the child that he’s been caring for. What’s the difference between good and bad fan service? How many different spin-off shows were being set up this season? And we workshop a Baby Yoda sitcom. "The Mandalorian" season 2 Jason Snell with Antony Johnston, Dan Moren, James Thomson, Helene Wecker and Kelly Guimont Referenced Works The Mandalorian Star Wars (franchise) 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.

The Kilmas season reaches its peak with a fantasy film about a fellowship of people small and large who must journey far at the behest of a wizard, carrying something that may lead to the complete destruction of a kingdom. Except the thing isn’t a ring, it’s a baby. It’s 1988’s “Willow,” a charming movie with swords, sorcery, brownies (the bad kind), love potions, cartoonish snowballs, magic acorns, dangerous dragons, and even a magic trick or two. Merry Kilmas, one and all! "Willow" Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, John Siracusa and Annette Wierstra Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Referenced Works Val Kilmer Willow 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.

Kilmas rolls on with Val Kilmer’s first screen role, as the Elvis-like Nick Rivers—who is sent to East Germany and falls into a plot to destroy NATO submarines. But don’t sweat it, this is “Top Secret!”, from the same people who made “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” so it’s really all about the jokes. So many jokes. We rave about some, and remain extremely perplexed about others. But you know who makes the whole thing work? Yep, Val Kilmer, that’s who. "Top Secret!" Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Lisa Schmeiser, Steve Lutz, Kelly Guimont and David J. Loehr Sponsors Ninja Santa: Goofy holiday stickers to brighten up messages with loved ones this festive season. Referenced Works Val Kilmer Top Secret! 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.

Merry Kilmas! We begin our seasonal celebration of actor Val Kilmer with one of his most mysterious works, 1996’s “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” You’ll go in wanting to see Marlon Brando and David Thewlis, but you’ll exit talking about Goat Man and Dog Butler and why the last half hour of the film makes no sense at all. It’s a legendary disaster of a movie, and maybe that’s what Kilmas is all about! Rocket Surgery - "Island of Doctor Moreau" Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Jean MacDonald, Steve Lutz, Tony Sindelar and David J. Loehr Referenced Works The Island of Doctor Moreau 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.

Pick up a baseball bat and climb into the Woodie car that’s bigger on the inside, because it’s time to discuss HBO’s “Lovecraft Country.” This is a breathtakingly ambitious multi-genre anthology series with recurring characters. It’s about race and sex and society and love and hideous supernatural monsters. It’s set in the Jim Crow era, but also the past and the future and other planes of existence. And if you like the genres that we cover on The Incomparable, it’s worth your time. "Lovecraft Country" Jason Snell with Cicero Holmes, Dan Moren, Kelly Guimont and Moisés Chiullán Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Incomparable shirts: Available only until Nov. 30. Order immediately! Referenced Works Lovecraft Country 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 Life Day! To celebrate this important occasion, The Incomparable hereby presents a commentary track, to be viewed alongside The Star Wars Holiday Special. You’ll need to find the Holiday Special via the usual rebel channels. We watched the version with ads in it, so if you find a different version, pause the show during the ads. Commentary track - "The Star Wars Holiday Special" Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Dan Moren, David J. Loehr, John Siracusa, Kelly Guimont, Steve Lutz and Chip Sudderth Referenced Works Star Wars Holiday Special Star Wars (franchise) Holidays (topic) Show Notes & Links #226: Stop Circulating The Tapes 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 silly draft time! In this episode we’re drafting TV series that only lasted a single season. No, miniseries and unaired pilots and shows that got a second season don’t count! Also, everyone gets “Firefly.” Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels, Glenn Fleishman, Dan Moren, Quinn Rose, James Thomson, Erika Ensign, David J. Loehr and Cicero Holmes Sponsors Woven: The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days. Show Notes & Links Moises - Kolchak: The Night Stalker Monty - It’s Your Move Phil - Terriers Glenn - Man from Atlantis Dan - Awake Quinn - I Am Not Okay With This James - Almost Human Erika - Wonderfalls David - The Middleman Cicero - Space: Above and Beyond Jason - Karen Sisco Moises - My So Called Life Monty - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Phil - Police Squad! Glenn - Defying Gravity Dan - Spy Game Quinn - The Class James - Filthy Rich & Catflap Erika - Bunheads David - Nothing Sacred Cicero - Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles Jason - EZ Streets Bring Out Your Cancellations Moises - Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Dino Riders, Nichols, Eerie Indiana, Swamp Thing, Journeyman, Star Cops, God the Devil and Bob, Brisco, Clone High Monty - Profit, Clerks: The Animated Series, The Get Down, Automan, Whiz Kids, Misfits of Science, Push Nevada, Siberia, The Event, Casino, Freaks and Geeks Phil - The Good Guys, The Grinder, LA to Vegas, Thieves, Now and Again, Mr. Sunshine, Running Wilde, Stumptown, Undeclared Glenn - James at 15, Richie Brockleman Private Eye, Ben Stiller Show, Andy Barker PI, Quintuplets, Earth 2 Dan - Undercovers, Whisky Cavalier, Drive, The Inside, Grandfathered, Kitchen Confidential, Lone Star, Ultraviolet, Strange, The Deliveryman, Kings, Nowhere Man Quinn - The Nine Lives of Chloe King, MBMBAM James - Nathan Barley, Class, Daybreak, Limitless, The Emerald City, Incorporated, The Day to Day, Battlestar Galactica (original) Erika - Firefly, Selfie David - Tattinger’s, Ellery Queen, Enlisted, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Lazarus Man, Legend, M.A.N.T.I.S., Bakersfield P.D., Spy Groove, Flying Blind, Tucker’s Witch, Q.E.D. Cicero - Powerless, Knights of Prosperity, Fastlane Jason - The Tick (2001), Cupid, Freaks and Geeks #55: The Brilliant But Cancelled 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.

Game over, man, game over! We return to the world of xenomorphs and Weyland-Yutani Corp. as we discuss 1986’s “Aliens,” James Cameron’s fascinating follow-up to the Ridley Scott original. We discuss space marines, alien-friendly elevators, white milky blood, and subsequent Alien movies that are very much uncanonical. "Aliens" Jason Snell with Antony Johnston, James Thomson, Sandra Wong, Kelly Guimont and Monty Ashley Referenced Works Aliens Show Notes & Links Edited by Steven Schapansky. 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 one of the best things on television right now. It’s “What We Do in the Shadows,” a show that honors vampire lore while placing them in ridiculous mundane situations. A mockumentary sitcom featuring vampires might seem like an entry from TV Mad Libs, but this show (based on an indie feature film also by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi) uses its stellar cast and sharp writing to create a bizarre world of energy vampires, complaining familiars, new-age witches, and—the horror—local politics. "What We Do in the Shadows" Jason Snell with Sage Young, Monty Ashley, Lisa Schmeiser, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works What We Do in the Shadows 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.

Football is life! But even if you don’t care about sports, you should still watch “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+. It’s a very funny show that’s also full of empathy and respect for its characters, which never goes for the cheap joke, and takes the tropes of every sports movie you’ve seen and uses them in ways you’re not expecting. And we’ve left plenty of space before the Spoiler Horn for our cross-Atlantic panel to explain why you should watch it and why we love this fusion of American and English sensibilities. We believe in Ted Lasso, and you will too. "Ted Lasso" Jason Snell with Myke Hurley, James Thomson, Dan Moren, Kelly Guimont, Aleen Simms and Glenn Fleishman Sponsors ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Referenced Works Ted Lasso Show Notes & Links Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ 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.