Moderate Fantasy Violence

Welcome to Moderate Fantasy Violence, a fortnightly podcast about pop culture and the world around it, as discussed by Nick Bryan and Alastair JR Ball. Nick will probably launch into a tangent about comics, Alastair will likely go for politics. Both are equally worthwhile.

MFV #243 - Just homo sapien actors on soundstages 06/19/2025

MFV #243 - Just homo sapien actors on soundstages This fortnight, two major scifi franchises drop their second seasons on us - it's Doctor Who (18:07) and Star Wars prequel Andor (39:36)! Meanwhile, Alastair's watched classic French film Breathless, while Nick's read new Batman storyline Gotham Nocturne. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/37058485

MFV #242 - Cinematic Cinema 06/05/2025

MFV #242 - Cinematic Cinema This fortnight, we finally catch Sinners (19:28, with midway twist spoilers from 26:33), the cinema sensation of 2025 so far, plus the latest season of Netflix's Love, Death & Robots (35:19), including the usual countdown of our favourite episodes. With bonus discussion of Homicide: Life on the Street and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. Lastly, if you still need to , you’ve got about 28 hours after this podcast drops… /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/36848230

MFV #241 - Gotta throw the nerds something 05/22/2025

MFV #241 - Gotta throw the nerds something This fortnight, in a change to the planned schedule, it's another Marvel double-bill with Thunderbolts* (12:36, spoilers from 25:00) and Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man season 1 (29:33, spoilers from 37:30). Elsewhere, Alastair's watched new Netflix anime Terminator Zero and Nick's read rural noir dark fantasy comic Revival, ahead of its upcoming TV adaptation. If you want to , you've got about two weeks left! /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/36657355

MFV #240 - The oldest, saddest man in the world 05/08/2025

MFV #240 - The oldest, saddest man in the world This fortnight, we're delving into the dark side of superheroics with Daredevil: Born Again (19:35), then the grimy underbelly of tech and society itself in Black Mirror season 7 (38:15). Plus bonus chat about the final season of Superman & Lois, plus the new Viagra Boys album Viagr Aboys (not a typo). Nick's latest comic is also live on Kickstarter! It's the second issue of his series SoulD with Phil Appley, about corporations selling our souls in rock form and weirdos carving them into silly statues! /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/36465940

MFV #239 - Teen Murder Special 04/24/2025

MFV #239 - Teen Murder Special It's all teenage death all the time this fortnight, but with very different tones, as we discuss the lurid cult-horror of Yellowjackets season 3 (18:18) and the all-too-real sadness of Netflix's Adolescence (39:34). Plus some bonus less-grim chat about acclaimed animated movie Flow and the fourth season of Apple TV sitcom Mythic Quest - including one host making a shocking on-air discovery. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/36279740

MFV #238 - Do Dog Man’s parents miss him? 04/10/2025

MFV #238 - Do Dog Man’s parents miss him? This fortnight, we enter the surreal worlds of Severance season 2 (16:07) and Grand Theft Hamlet (36:22). Plus we recommend each other the also-odd movies Dog man and In Camera. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/36070775

MFV #237 - Enjoyment Vs Content 03/27/2025

MFV #237 - Enjoyment Vs Content This fortnight, we cover new high-concept scifi movie Mickey 17 (22:57) and the latest season of Invincible (38:38), the scifi superhero show we've previously raved about, with spoilers from 42:48. Plus bonus chat about the play Dear England and TV show Hacks. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/35872935

MFV #236 - Good old fashioned violence 03/13/2025

MFV #236 - Good old fashioned violence This fortnight, we delve into the dark side of tech with new movie Companion (20:34) and the first two volumes of technothriller comic W0rldtr33 (33:14). Plus Nick's read loads of comics from Marvel's Ultimate line, while Alastair's watched Oscar-dominating movie Anora, plus has some thoughts on the results. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/35656035

MFV #235 - Don’t disrespect the comedy pervert 02/27/2025

MFV #235 - Don’t disrespect the comedy pervert This fortnight, we're heading into the bold future of Captain America: Brave New World (13:10) and the bloody past of Dexter: Original Sin (26:53, ruination-level spoilers from 38:16). Plus bonus opening chat about Prime Target and Sweetpea. /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/35435685

MFV #234 - In the mood for something massive? 02/13/2025

MFV #234 - In the mood for something massive? This fortnight, the superhumans threaten to go boom in new comic series The Power Fantasy (15:49), while space itself almost blows up in Star Trek: Section 31 (34:47). Also featuring some chat about The Brutalist, as part of Alastair's ongoing Oscars coverage, and Colin From Accounts. More shownotes on /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/35239715

MFV #233 - BRING THE PAIN! 01/30/2025

MFV #233 - BRING THE PAIN! Time for Alastair's favourite time of year as we get stuck into two big Oscar-season movie releases - the new remake of Nosferatu (16:22) and A Real Pain (35:11). Plus Alastair's also seen Nickel Boys, while Nick's broken the theme by watching The Traitors season 3 (like the rest of Britain). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/35066240

MFV #232 - Punching three bald men 01/16/2025

MFV #232 - Punching three bald men This fortnight, some climactic cartoon chat, as we cover the final seasons of both What If? (12:44) and Star Trek: Lower Decks (28:34). Plus some bonus chat about Alan Moore's new novel The Great When and the new Robbie-Williams-as-monkey movie Better Man. Longer shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/34867060

MFV #231 - Let's get down to counting down! 01/02/2025

MFV #231 - Let's get down to counting down! As 2025 begins, one last gasp for last year, as we get together for our traditional end of year round-up episode. Witness our general thoughts and top five favourites for both film (17:33) and TV (43:29) in 2024. And for those who prefer it when we review specific things, there's also chat about Dune: Prophecy and the recent Doctor Who special Joy to the World at the very start. More shownotes and end of year review articles, including Alastair's year in film and Nick's Top Ten TV Shows, at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/34678760

MFV #230 - The Oscar for Oscariness 12/19/2024

MFV #230 - The Oscar for Oscariness Time once again for one of our famous barely-festive Christmas specials, as we cover Arcane season 2 (18:50) and Blitz (32:39). Plus some bonus chat about Baby Reindeer (sounds kinda seasonal!) and Day of the Jackal (less so!). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/34505380

MFV #229 - You deaded my woman! 12/05/2024

MFV #229 - You deaded my woman! Two big follow-ups this fortnight, with Gladiator II (16:10) and The Diplomat season 2 (27:45). Plus bonus chat about the new Linkin Park album and the Monsters graphic novel by Barry Windsor-Smith. Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/34283805

MFV #228 - He’s turned into a giant bible! 11/21/2024

MFV #228 - He’s turned into a giant bible! This fortnight, one final comic book supervillain story with The Penguin (17:26) and then a more grounded, theological story of villainy in Heretic (32:30). Plus some chat about Only Murders In The Building season 4 and the filmed version of a recent Kiss Me Kate production. See more at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/34035918

MFV #227 - Let There Be Balls 11/07/2024

MFV #227 - Let There Be Balls At last, our longawaited Marvel villain/anti-hero special, covering Agatha All Along (17:58 with full spoilers from 26:37) and Venom: The Last Dance (40:45). Plus some bonus TV chat about Totally Completely Fine and Reservation Dogs. Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/33818114

MFV #226 - This is bad and you know it’s bad 10/24/2024

MFV #226 - This is bad and you know it’s bad This fortnight, we're covering the fourth season of our beloved Slow Horses (17:58), plus new British scifi-comedy Timestalker (36:52), with some opening chat about neo-classic crime comic Criminal and Alastair's annual thoughts about his London Film Festival viewing. If you want to check out Nick's new comics kickstarter for SoulD, a fantasy-cyberpunk comic about coporations selling our souls and two sisters caught in the middle, head over to this link and check it out: Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/33584042

MFV #225 - Arthouse Glee 10/10/2024

MFV #225 - Arthouse Glee This fortnight, we take on two current movies: Joker: Folie a Deux (22:41, ending spoilers from 39:26) and Rebel Ridge (43:10). One has been extremely well received, the other has not. Also featuring bonus chat about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Superman & Lois season 3. Fuller shownotes on /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/33390457

MFV #224 - Hungry Hectare 09/26/2024

MFV #224 - Hungry Hectare This fortnight, we start off with Douglas is Cancelled and The Outrun, before diving into our main course reviews of Starve Acre (20:57) and The Bear season 3 (36:52). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/33208452

MFV #223 - How bummer is your bummer? 09/12/2024

MFV #223 - How bummer is your bummer? This fortnight, it's a weird world in The Umbrella Academy season 4 (14:17) and Cuckoo (33:56). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/33008637

MFV #222 - End our long suffering 08/29/2024

MFV #222 - End our long suffering We're off to the movies for a scare this fortnight, with latest scifi-horror sequel Alien: Romulus (15:52 with moderate spoilers throughout) and unsettling psychological media-horror I Saw The TV Glow (32:00). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/32776087

MFV #221 - Time will destroy everything 08/15/2024

MFV #221 - Time will destroy everything After a few episodes falling a bit behind thanks to holiday schedules, we're back on the cutting edge of media with Deadpool & Wolverine (19:59) and House of the Dragon season 2 (37:42). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/32574792

MFV #220 - Uninteresting Failure 08/01/2024

MFV #220 - Uninteresting Failure This fortnight, we catch up with some earlier releases (because Nick was on holiday) - it's Peacemaker Tries Hard! (15:24) from DC Comics and the Netflix movie Spaceman (26:19). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/32365982

MFV #219 - CORRR Memories 07/18/2024

MFV #219 - CORRR Memories An all-animation special this time, as we cover Scavengers Reign (15:52) and Inside Out 2 (30:35). Fuller shownotes on /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/32179502

MFV #218 - Doing the Double Thanos 07/04/2024

MFV #218 - Doing the Double Thanos This fortnight, we feel the otherworldly presences of Doctor Who (15:04) and Godzilla Minus One (39:57). Considerable spoilers for both, you have been warned. Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/31999687

MFV #217 - How adult should a cartoon blue hedgehog be? 06/20/2024

MFV #217 - How adult should a cartoon blue hedgehog be? This fortnight, we return for the second run of two podcast favourites: punk sitcom We Are Lady Parts (18:27) and crime comic Newburn (32:05). Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/31809912

MFV #216 - Hardcore Nominative Determinism 06/06/2024

MFV #216 - Hardcore Nominative Determinism Whole new cinematic universes branch from the ground, as we cover Max Max prequel Furiosa (16:29) and Sandman-adjacent Netflix show Dead Boy Detectives (33:20). If you're reading this within about 4 hours of the episode dropping, you can still back ! Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/31615392

MFV #215 - Sweet innocent lovely corpse mutilation 05/23/2024

MFV #215 - Sweet innocent lovely corpse mutilation This fortnight, two eagerly anticipated adaptations - the millennial-nostalgia event X-Men '97 (13:36) and post-apocalyptic video game series Fallout (27:28). And remember you can still back for another two weeks. Fuller shownotes at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/31417397

MFV #214 - The Meninist K-Hole 05/09/2024

MFV #214 - The Meninist K-Hole This fortnight, an exercise in extreme contrast with thoughtful historical drama Shogun (24:39) and cartoonish high school comedy Bottoms (40:18). Meanwhile, Nick is back on Kickstarter with The Collected Letters of Courier Z, a series of stories about a space-postwoman turning to crime. And see fuller shownotes about this episode at /episode/index/show/moderatefantasyviolence/id/31140028

Moderate Fantasy Violence

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