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246. Superman, The Better Sister, Ironheart Finale, and Gerald's Game

All Pop, No Culture

Release Date: 07/16/2025

272. Send Help Is a Survival Thriller With Teeth (And It Gets DARK) show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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...

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We're back this week with a bit of a Mobius strip format... The video kicks off with Kevin and Lauren talking about Superman, The Better Sister, Ironheart, and Gerald's Game, but then we get a treat and Andrew pops in, so we loop back to the beginning to complete our Superman discussion!

We begin the show by jumping immediately into Superman. Lauren gives her take on the film, and then Kevin breaks down the film and his thoughts. If you weren't aware, Kevin is a huge Superman fan, and it shows here. It's not all total fanboy-ness. He does have some issues with this movie, but he still gives praise to Man of Steel. All in all, though, the review is very positive.

Next up, Lauren takes us over to Amazon Prime with a review of The Better Sister. This series is a drama starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as sisters and the drama surrounding them after the murder of one of their husbands, who also happens to be the other sister's ex! It's a gripping and well-acted drama and certainly worth watching.

The mic flips back over to Kevin, who gives his final review on Ironheart, having now watched the finale. Honestly, the review isn't wildly different than his previous review. The show holds up well throughout the finale and introduces a long-rumored major character for the MCU overall. If you were on the fence, watch it. If you thought it would suck, give it a chance. The worst that can happen is that you turn it off. The best thing is, you enjoy it.

Thanks to Kevin's bad influences, Lauren has started down the Stephen King/Mike Flanagan rabbit hole. She starts with Gerald's Game, the Netflix film starring Carla Gugino. It's definitely a more psychological thriller, and Carla does a great job with a story that may not be one of the greatest King has ever told. That said, it's still a solid watch. 

After Kevin does a little vamping for time, Andrew finally arrives, and the Superman discussion takes flight again (see what I did there?). We catch him up on our thoughts and then he gives his take. He is still a Man of Steel fan, but gives a lot of praise for this film. The general consensus from our esteemed panel is that the film is definitely worth watching, so get out there and see it!

As always, thank you for watching. If you haven't already, don't forget to Like & Subscribe. We love new viewers! Also, leave us comments and let is know how we are doing and what we can be doing better. Enjoy the episode and have a great week!

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