In this episode of Dystopedia, we return to Raccoon City and revisit one of the most influential survival horror games ever made: Resident Evil 2 (1998).

We explore why the original remains so terrifying, from its fixed camera angles, limited resources and eerie pre-rendered backgrounds to its unforgettable atmosphere and sound design.

We also dive into the cancelled Resident Evil 1.5 prototype, the Raccoon City outbreak, Umbrella Corporation, Leon and Claire, and how the original compares to the modern remake.

Was Resident Evil 2 really as scary as we remember?

Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Bluesky X

Get in touch: dystopediapodcast@gmail.com

Rather than retelling one of the games, has the film managed to capture what playing Resident Evil actually feels like?

We discuss Bryan as the perfectly unprepared protagonist, the film’s claustrophobic tension, video-game logic, escalating monsters and the simple objectives that continually become dangerous detours.

We also look at its pacing, camerawork, humour and restrained use of Easter eggs, as well as whether it succeeds for casual viewers and devoted Resident Evil fans alike.

What happens when humanity becomes so obsessed with being right that it destroys itself?

In this episode of Dystopedia, we dive into South Park's Go God Go and Go God Go XII, exploring Richard Dawkins, New Atheism, tribalism, confirmation bias and human nature.

We uncover the real story behind South Park's infamous Dawkins episode, the New Atheism movement of the 2000s, and how Penn Jillette helped inspire Trey Parker and Matt Stone's story.

We also examine the Minimal Group Paradigm, Thomas Hobbes, motivated reasoning and why humans are so easily divided into opposing tribes.

And then there's Cartman and the Nintendo Wii. We explore Nintendo's Blue Ocean Strategy, 2006 gaming culture, instant gratification and why Cartman's Wii obsession feels surprisingly prophetic.

Atheism. Tribalism. Technology. Human stupidity.

Maybe the real dystopia was us all along.

Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Bluesky X

Get in touch: dystopediapodcast@gmail.com

Well, just like Palpatine before us, somehow we’ve returned. And just like Disney, we’re expecting you not to question it.

It’s great to be back.

From travelling through India and experiencing organised chaos firsthand, to autonomous AI, Obsession, the future of physical media, Backrooms, Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, the resurgence of horror and the increasingly dystopian nature of the real world, there’s plenty to catch up on.

We also talk about why we missed doing the podcast, what brought us back, and what Dystopedia is going to look like this time around.

Welcome back to Dystopedia.

Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Bluesky X

Get in touch: dystopediapodcast@gmail.com

After 38 episodes, countless dystopias, and more late-night existential spirals than we can count, Dystopedia comes to an end.

In this final episode, we sit down for one last unstructured conversation to reflect on the journey. We revisit the books, films, games, and ideas that stayed with us long after the microphones were turned off. From 28 Days Later, RoboCop, and The Machine Stops to Omelas, The Lottery, and everything in between, we look back on the episodes that challenged us, surprised us, frustrated us, and changed how we think about the world.

There’s no deep research this time. Just memories, laughs, regrets over episodes we never got to like The Matrix, The Truman Show, and Fallout, and honest reflection on what grappling with dystopian fiction taught us about power, systems, complicity, consumption, and human nature.

This is a loose, candid farewell episode about curiosity, burnout, learning in public, and why these stories matter, especially now.

Thanks for listening, thinking, and walking with us through the ruins.

This is how it ends.

In this episode, we climb aboard Snowpiercer, Bong Joon-ho’s claustrophobic masterpiece that compresses an entire society into a single, unending train. From the cramped tail section to the decadent front cars, the film becomes a ruthless microcosm of class, power, and survival—an ecosystem where every compartment exposes another uncomfortable truth about how we live now.

Often overlooked on release and later rediscovered as a cult gem, Snowpiercer has only grown more relevant in a world shaped by inequality, climate anxiety, and systems that demand obedience to maintain order. We unpack why this hidden cinematic treasure still resonates today, how its worldbuilding reflects our own fractured society, and what its brutal revolution says about the limits of change.

Join us as we explore the film’s haunting symbolism, sharp social commentary, and lasting legacy—because on this train, everyone has a place… until they don’t.

Follow us: 📸 Instagram – @dystopediapod 🌀 Tumblr – @dystopediapod 📩 Email – info@dystopediapodcast.com

Kurt Vonnegut’s darkly satirical tale with a title inspired by William Shakespeare and his iconic “To be, or not to be.” On the surface, the story confronts a world governed by strict population control—but this podcast goes far beyond the logistics of life and death quotas. We unpack the unsettling moral questions, social critiques, and ethical paradoxes hidden beneath Vonnegut’s deceptively simple premise. From the value of a single life to the dangers of engineered perfection, we unravel why this classic dystopian short story still hits uncomfortably close to home. Tune in as we peel back the layers of satire, absurdity, and human truth lurking within 2BR02B.

In this episode of Dystopedia, we return to Black Mirror to unpack one of its most chilling visions: “Men Against Fire.” We explore how Charlie Brooker’s episode connects drone warfare, propaganda, and eugenics into a haunting allegory for modern conflict.

From the psychological conditioning of soldiers to the political climate of Brexit and Trump’s America, we dive into how technology and ideology can strip away empathy and turn people into “others.” We also trace the episode’s real-world roots in military research, Nazi rhetoric, and contemporary drone operations in Ukraine and Gaza.

If you’ve ever wondered how close we already are to the dystopia Black Mirror warns about, this one cuts deep.

⚠️ Content warning: contains discussion of sexual violence.