244. Squid Game, Call Me Izzy, Smoke, Babygirl, and Ironheart
Release Date: 07/07/2025
272. Send Help Is a Survival Thriller With Teeth (And It Gets DARK)
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture covers three wildly different stories with one common thread: power, vulnerability, and what people become under pressure. Kevin and Lauren review Send Help, a Sam Raimi-directed survival thriller starring Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams. They break down its shifting power dynamic, corporate toxicity bleeding into personal relationships, and how the film turns trust, gender roles, and emotional manipulation into its real danger. They then shift to Broadway with Maybe Happy Ending, a warm, kid-friendly musical about two retired helper robots in Seoul that...
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271. Heated Rivalry: Why It’s Blowing Up + Our Full Breakdown
All Pop, No Culture
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270. 28 Years Later Is BRUTAL (In a Good Way) + Starfleet Academy Talk
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture kicks off with a quick look at what drove a spike in views last week, then launches into a packed review lineup. Andrew shares his reaction to 28 Years Later, including what makes it feel gritty, intense, and true to the franchise’s DNA. Kevin and Lauren discuss People You Meet on Vacation, a romantic drama about a relationship that evolves over multiple summers while life complicates the timing. The crew then jumps into Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, debating the reception of a newer series while still appreciating its characters, tone, and chemistry....
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269. Heated Rivalry: The Hockey Romance Everyone’s Talking About
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture packs in big TV finales, under-the-radar films, and a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about addiction stories and why some of them hit like a truck. Kevin and Andrew react to the Stranger Things series finale with an 8/10, breaking down what worked, what felt underpowered, and why fan expectations make ending a beloved show nearly impossible. Lauren spotlights the 2016 film Being Charlie, an addiction drama directed by Rob Reiner and starring Nick Robinson and Cary Elwes, which sparks a wider discussion about realism in addiction films (Requiem for a...
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268. Stranger Things Season 5 Ending Explained + Spin-Off Theories
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture is fully dedicated to Stranger Things Season 5 — the final chapter of one of the biggest shows of the decade. Kevin, Mia, Dillon, Andrew, and Salony share their reactions to the season, examining the highs, lows, and emotional beats that defined the finale. The team discusses the acting, pacing, and visual changes that shaped the final stretch of episodes, as well as the climactic confrontation with Vecna. They explore each character’s ending, including Hopper’s emotional shift, Will and Mike’s evolving dynamic, Nancy and Robin’s arcs, and...
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267. Stranger Things 5 Vol. 2, The Housemaid, Avatar 3, Our Best of 2025 and Coming in 2026
All Pop, No Culture
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266. Pennywise Takes Over, Chappelle Returns, and Broadway Gets Wild
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture is packed with movies, TV finales, Broadway shows, comedy specials, and heartfelt moments. The crew begins with reactions to the new Avatar film before moving into a full breakdown of the Welcome to Derry season finale—covering its emotional storytelling, character development, and how it expands the IT universe. Lauren reviews Is This Thing On, reflecting on its themes of divorce, self-rediscovery, and stand-up comedy. The discussion includes a tribute to the late Rob Reiner, whose impact on film and television shaped generations of storytelling. Andrew...
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265. Hamnet Review, FNAF 2 Reactions, & The Explosive Diddy Documentary
All Pop, No Culture
This episode of All Pop, No Culture spans prestige cinema, teen horror, Broadway, and one of the most controversial documentaries of the year. Lauren shares her thoughts on Hamnet, a beautifully crafted period drama receiving awards buzz, while Kevin reviews Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, a chaotic but entertaining entry in the video-game franchise. They discuss upcoming game adaptations, the emotional depth of Hulu’s Normal People, and the rising careers of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Kevin breaks down the new documentaries about Sean Combs, exploring their depiction of his early life,...
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264. Wicked 2, Stranger Things 5, Rental Family, Champagne Problems, and Welcome to Derry
All Pop, No Culture
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263. One Battle After Another, Allison Mack, Two Strangers, Shelby Oaks, and More
All Pop, No Culture
This week on All Pop, No Culture, we dig into a wide spread of movies, musicals, podcasts, and horror TV—basically everything lighting up your feed (or should be). Kevin kicks things off with a review of One Battle After Another, a character-driven drama with sharp performances and a slow-burn emotional core. Andrew throws in director deep cuts, trivia, and a few wild personal stories to round out the discussion. We shift gears into true-crime meets Hollywood with a breakdown of Allison Mack’s vulnerable, complicated interview on Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast. The group looks at her time...
info_outlineIt's just Kevin and Lauren this week and they manage to keep it pretty tight with some Squid Game talk, Call me Izzy, Smoke, Baby Girl, and Ironheart.
They open the show by discussing the first half of the new season, as Lauren has watched 4 of the episodes and Kevin has only watched 3. The review is definitely favorable and the two make their predictions about the finale, both with differing ides about where it could end up!
Next up, Lauren takes us to Broadway with Call Me Izzy. It's a one owman show starring the always incredible Jean Smart. It tackles the tough topic of abuse and is delivered wonderfully in a way that only Jean Smart can do. If you're in the New York area and aren't looking for the most uplifting story, this one is worth catching.
Kevin takes us back to the small screen with Smoke, the new series on Apple TV+. It follows 2 arson investigators, played by Taron Eggerton and Jurnee Smollett. They are tracking 2 separate arsonists while dealing with their own issues on the home front. Only the tow episodes have aired so far but it seems to be an excellent investigative series and has a great twist at the end of the second episode.
Continuing the recent trend of "we watched it so you don't have to," Lauren watched Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman. It's the tale of a highly successful business woman seduced by a younger man and the messiness that ensues. All in all, it doesn't do much to reinvent the wheel and leaves a lot to be desired, even in the genre of steamy romance.
Kevin closes out the show with a review of the first 3 episodes of Ironheart on Disney+. The story of Riri Williams is carried over after Black Panther 2 and is surprisingly very solid so far. This is a character that Kevin did not enjoy in her previous appearance, but he's been impressed with the work done in this outing and he's enjoying it so far, even going as far as calling it one of the better Marvel shows.
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