257. Alice in Borderland, Monster, The Four Seasons, Peacemaker, & The Queen of Versailles
Release Date: 10/15/2025
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, despite Andrew being a big fibber and not showing up, they manage a solid episode. They talk about Alice in Borderland, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, The Four Seasons, Peacemaker Season 2, and The Queen of Versailles.
Much like you, we thought that a week off would give Andrew time to come back to us, but oh no… So Lauren is left to kick off the show to talk about the latest season of Alice in Borderland. In a way, it’s more of the same, but that’s not necessarily a good thing, based on how the previous season ended. There are some fun games, but this feels like a cash grab by Netflix, which leaves a bad taste in Lauren’s mouth.
Speaking of things on Netflix that aren’t delicious… Kevin watched Monster: The Ed Gein Story, so you don’t have to. If you don’t know, Ed Gein is the inspiration for characters like Norman Bates, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Hannibal Lecter. Unfortunately, this telling of his story is so over the top and over-sensationalized, that it’s just really hard to watch. And not in the fun, “this horror movie is so scary” kind of way. Funny enough, Charlie Hunnam does do a great job of becoming this character. The overall presentation is just lacking.
Because they apparently only have Netflix to watch this week, Lauren discusses the new show The Four Seasons. It has a start studded cast, including Will Forte, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo. It’s a show about these 4 characters and their significant others and the way their relationship all ebb and flow over the course of 4 separate seasons. It’s touching at times, and funny at times, and all in all, Lauren enjoyed it enough to be interested in the upcoming season 2.
Finally, escaping the prison that is Netflix, Kevin hops over to HBO to discuss the second (and final?) season of Peacemaker. It’s a monumental growth season for Peacemaker, as he has some immense issues to deal with. Where this show shines this season is when we get to see all of the trials and tribulations and just how broken he is through it all. And then the way the season ends for him is just wild. And there are some incredible things set up for the future of the DCU going forward, so if you aren’t aware, listen to this bit, as Kevin breaks some of them down.
Lauren closes out the show by outclassing Kevin and heading over to Broadway. She managed to get tickets to the preview of The Queen of Versailles, starring Kristin Chenoweth. The book is by the creator of Wicked and with Chenoweth in tow, that sounds like a masterpiece waiting to happen, right? Well, maybe not… Lauren breaks down some of the issues with the show and her surprise at how underwhelmed she was. It still has time to level out, though, and it could become something special still.
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