Pretty Much Pop: A Culture Podcast

A philosopher, an actor, and a sci-fi writer talk about media and how we consume it.

TV

PMP#224: Fantasy Novels Galore

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It's a special one-on-one conversation where Mark and Al share their mutual interest in fantasy novels. Is "high fantasy" fundamentally different than the stuff we enjoyed as kids? Did Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and HBO's Game of Thrones show us that these literary doorstops are adaptable, or were they rare successes? We're recording this partly in anticipation of the … [Read more...] about PMP#224: Fantasy Novels Galore

PMP#223: What Is Star Wars Now?

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In light of The Mandalorian and Grogu (and the Disney+ Darth Maul cartoon), we (Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al) check back in with Star Wars. Is it now "just another franchise"? Does the movie meet expectations? What's the right volume of Star Wars media? Are the cartoons good? What variety of creators and genres is there room for? Should anyone bother with the books and … [Read more...] about PMP#223: What Is Star Wars Now?

PMP#222: Lordlings of the Flies

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In light of the new, well-acted and well-shot BBC/Netflix adaptation, we discuss William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies and its previous (1963, 1991) adaptations. Featuring Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al. What do we think of the updates made for this retelling? Its pacing? Its repeated close-up shots of kids' silent faces? Is this per usual obviously inferior to the … [Read more...] about PMP#222: Lordlings of the Flies

PMP#220: Peaky Blinders: Gangs of Birmingham

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We discuss Steven Knight's six-seasons-and-a-movie historical crime show Peaky Blinders (2013-2026), featuring Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al. Does the show live up to its initial excellence? It's got a great emotional premise (post-WWI PTSD), and there's a ridiculous amount of gravitas among the cast (especially Cillian Murphy, but he's matched by a couple of foils per … [Read more...] about PMP#220: Peaky Blinders: Gangs of Birmingham

PMP#214: South Park Resurgence

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We're discussing Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Comedy Central show that premiered in 1997 and has just finished its politically relevant 28th season, featuring the usual crew: Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al. How can a show be so juvenile yet so apparently well thought out? Was its purest form right there in its initial shorts (from 1992 and 1995) and first season, or in the … [Read more...] about PMP#214: South Park Resurgence

PMP#213: Stranger Things Grown Familiar

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The Netflix sci-fi/horror/teen series by the Duffer Brothers that started in 2016 has now finished with its sixth season, attempting to be both epic and sentimental. Who is this show actually aimed at? We talk about the initial appeal through various uneven seasons through the execution of the finale. Has the thing gone on so long that we can't make sense out of the continuity. … [Read more...] about PMP#213: Stranger Things Grown Familiar

PMP#212: Holiday Romance Films

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The Hallmark Channel became famous for producing low-budget, formulaic Christmas films aimed at women, and this spread to Lifetime and Freeform, and now Netflix and other mainstream outlets have been inspired to create similar features, though with higher budgets and less conservative restrictions. Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al each watched a smattering of these and share … [Read more...] about PMP#212: Holiday Romance Films

PMP#211: Slow Horses and Predecessors

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al discuss the Apple TV+ British spy show based on the novels of Mick Herron adapted by Will Smith (the British one), which are in turn firmly in a tradition of anti-007 books by John le Carré. Not coincidentally, Gary Oldman is the star both of Slow Horses and of the 2010 version of le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The point is not to … [Read more...] about PMP#211: Slow Horses and Predecessors

PMP#209: Alien Franchised

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In light of Noah Hawley TV show Alien Earth, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al revisit the franchise through its seven films (discounting the crummy and non-canonical Alien vs. Predator films) beginning with Ridley Scott's 1979 classic. While there's plenty of sheer repetition (alien loose, killing people one by one) throughout these properties, the various filmmakers attempt … [Read more...] about PMP#209: Alien Franchised

PMP#208: An Ed Gein Halloween

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It's a special two-hander where Mark and Lawrence reflect on the appeal of horror and how the new Monster: Ed Gein Netflix show has to contribute, given that it is not merely a (very loose) presentation of real events, and itself a horror drama, but also a commentary on the Hollywood properties influenced by the Ed Gein murders, including Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, … [Read more...] about PMP#208: An Ed Gein Halloween

PMP#206: Abbott Elementary Did Not Win an Emmy This Year, But…

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For our rather late-coming back-to-school and Emmy acknowledger episode, we cover the pinnacle of the current network sitcom landscape: The six-time 2025 Emmy nominated Abbott Elementary (which has won previously), which this week begins its fifth season. Mark, Lawrence, Al and West-Philly-resident Sarahlyn discuss the show's Philly-ness and how it integrates cringe humor … [Read more...] about PMP#206: Abbott Elementary Did Not Win an Emmy This Year, But…

PMP#200: Hollywood Studio Antics (feat. The Studio and Erica Spyres)

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In immediate reaction to the Apple TV+ Seth Rogan show The Studio, we talk about Hollywood's obsession with Hollywood and how we the audience understand how studio dynamics interfere with what exactly we all get to see. Are executives the well-intentioned bumblers depicted in The Studio, or the evil interferers we've seen in other media? What's with the fascination with old … [Read more...] about PMP#200: Hollywood Studio Antics (feat. The Studio and Erica Spyres)

PMP#198: Andor: Grown-Up Star Wars

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al discuss Tony Gilroy's Star Wars Disney+ two-season TV show. Should this actually be a Star Wars show given how different in tone it was? The show adds meat (and banality!) to the evil of the Empire and the rough life of a rebel. We talk characters, themes, settings, and all that other literary stuff. Follow us @law_writes, @sarahlynbruck, … [Read more...] about PMP#198: Andor: Grown-Up Star Wars

PMP#197: Medically Dramatic

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss The Pitt and other medical dramas back to St. Elsewhere, ER, and Gray's Anatomy. Doctors and patients grappling with life and death stakes seems a strong premise for drama, but how many of these shows do we need? We talk about the gore, the pacing, the characters, the politics, and the other considerations that make The Pitt a great … [Read more...] about PMP#197: Medically Dramatic

PMP#195: Mike White’s Lotus

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the HBO dramedy White Lotus about rich people having existential crises at a luxury resort in light of its third season. What exactly made this latest season less satisfying than the others? Does the show have a sustainable formula? What is the show saying about enlightenment? Travel? Sexuality? We talk through key plots, characters, and … [Read more...] about PMP#195: Mike White’s Lotus

PMP#194: Adolescence Wrecks Us

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al watched the 4-part British crime series that's become #1 in 80 countries, breaking Netflix's records for an original series. And man, was it a bummer. But important! We reflect on the purpose of the show, its one-take-per-episode format, the choice of whose perspectives to show, the crazy good acting by such a young person, and we get a … [Read more...] about PMP#194: Adolescence Wrecks Us

PMP#193: Severance: Mystery Box in Progress

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Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al here discuss the Dan Erickson/Apple TV+ sci-fi/office dramedy in light of its second season. We might normally wait until the end of the show, but given that season 1 was 2022, and it took three years to get us season 2, who knows it it'll actually finish? And who knows if it will not be massively disappointing at that point? We strike while the … [Read more...] about PMP#193: Severance: Mystery Box in Progress

PMP#192: Exhibitionist Reality TV

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To acknowledge this ongoing, hugely popular form of "entertainment" popularized by shows like The Osbournes and The Kardashians wherein some celebrity and/or family just shows off their life, Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn and Al are joined by returning guest Kayla Dryesse to discuss first few episodes of The Baldwins and talk about why this kind of show exists, … [Read more...] about PMP#192: Exhibitionist Reality TV

PMP#191: Saturday Night Liver

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Are we taking for granted this unique, talent-filled weekly nationally televised live comedy event that's been around for 50 years? (as in "What do we think this show is? Chopped liver?") Does its format even make sense at this time given YouTube and streaming? What will its legacy be? Mark, Lawrence, Sarahlyn, and Al discuss the casts, highlights, and the recent anniversary … [Read more...] about PMP#191: Saturday Night Liver