What do Marvel movies feel like to people who have never seen a Marvel movie? That’s what two of the three of us find out for you in this episode. Robby has seen every Marvel movie, but Jaclynn and Cole are going in blind.

Join us as we take Fantastic Four: First Steps way too seriously– so seriously that it’s hilarious. Honestly, this might be the funniest episode of the year.

Memorable moments beyond the typical fun, thoughtful analysis include:

• Giving birth in space [00:31:14]

• Our first "Pre-tenshy" (Pretentious) Alert: Comparing the Fantastic Four: First Steps to the 9,000 page series of novels, Three Body Problem. [00:04:32]

• Our first shouting out ex-boyfriends by name. [00:21:12]

Definitely try each of those time stamps , but if you want to know more a full summary of the episode is below!

• [00:00:40] A Fresh Perspective: The hosts express their initial thoughts on the film, with two of the three having no prior experience with Marvel. They discuss their decision to see the film and the unique, potentially "uninformed" perspective they bring to the conversation.
• [00:01:29] Finding the Flaws: One host (guess who!) admits to falling asleep during the film, attributing it to a tiring day but also expressing a desire to see it a second time to give it a fair chance. They share their core disappointment that the film felt predictable and "flat" from the start.

• [00:07:31] A Critique of Predictability: The discussion delves into the film's structural shortcomings, noting that key plot points, such as the fate of certain characters, felt heavily foreshadowed and lacked surprise. The hosts argue that the story’s predictability drains any meaningful tension.
• [00:21:46] The Stagnant Hero's Journey: The hosts focus on the lack of character growth and arc within the story. They argue that characters start and end the film as heroes with no significant internal change or conflict. The absence of a genuine hero's journey is highlighted as a core reason for the film’s narrative flatness.

• [00:24:07] A Retro-Futuristic Utopia: The conversation shifts to the film’s social subtext, describing its setting as a utopian, nuclear family-centric world that feels oddly reminiscent of the 1950s. The host contrasts this with modern societal realities, noting the surprising level of public trust and the lack of systemic problems like poverty or worker unrest.
• [00:30:10] Birth in Space and Other Surprises: The hosts discuss the depiction of a superhero giving birth in space, praising the film for showcasing a unique and rarely seen aspect of a superhero's life. They also note the surprising, matter-of-fact portrayal of the event, which they see as a bold choice for a major studio film.
• [00:36:03] Thematic Thesis: The episode concludes by highlighting the core thematic conflict of the film, quoting a character’s line: "I'm not sacrificing my son for this planet, but I won't sacrifice this planet for my son." This is identified as the central thesis of the story, serving as a powerful and rare moment of genuine moral ambiguity.

CREDITS & ATTRIBUTIONS

Sound Design Field Recordings:

"Pretentious Alert" [00:04:32]

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