The 'Verse!

The Squad puts the ship into overdrive to turn back time and catch The Marvels in theaters! We’re back now to tell you all about it with our initial impressions, a breakdown of what worked and what didn’t, and how we felt about that musical number…. But if you’re a longtime ‘Verse! listener, you know that we don’t review movies like everyone else with a friend and a microphone, we review movies with a round of poetry and wrap it up with our totally original letter grading scale. Tune in to hear our takes! We also revive our news segment to discuss the latest and greatest in cinematic universe updates. For more news, follow us on Twitter @TheVerseCast and Instagram where we also post announcements about the pod and collect listener questions.  If you stick around after the credits, ah-ah-ACHOO!!!

This week, get ready for a double feature of NEW shows for the squad to dive into. Up first is in the tried and trusted Marvel Cinematic Universe with Echo, which follows Maya Lopez just after the events of the Hawkeye show and her dramatic season finale. Echo is just five episodes but it packs in a ton of cinematic storytelling and history. We had a lot to discuss here from the casting to the writing to the costumes to the music! Next we journey into the universe of The Boys with the college-setting spinoff, Gen V. Clearly it's been too long since the last season of The Boys because we were not expecting that level of diabolical blood n guts. Can Gen V measure up to The Boys’ reputation? Tune in to find out! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions.  If you stick around after the credits, get your umbrellas because it's raining purple… SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 3:09 - Marvel’s Echo // 46:07 ‘Gen V’ // 73:28 – Contact Info // 76:24 Post Credit - Fave Super Bowl Halftime Shows

The squad is back after an ill-advised holiday pit stop in the cesspool of viruses that is Earth. Hope our space sniffles let up soon. In the meantime, we cover Invincible season two with episodes 3 and 4. Tune in to find out if this season is living up to the high expectations set by season one, our favorite storylines so far, and how we think this season’s unintentional mid-season break will affect its reception overall. Next we get back in the TARDIS to relive some holiday cheer with the Doctor Who Christmas special which also marks Ncuti Gatwa’s full-time debut performance as the 15th Doctor! So much to unpack here from a new companion, a renewed energy and special effects befitting of the 21st century, and a…dubious new sonic screwdriver design. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions.  If you stick around after the credits, put on a mask becau-ACHOO! Oops…

The people want more tenth Doctor, so that’s exactly what the people will get. In this episode, the squad continues their retrospective of NuWho with series 4, aka the series that introduced us to the iconic Doctor/Donna duo. And just in case you’re still sad about how that series ended (we are too), we follow it up immediately with coverage of the three 60th Anniversary specials that just came out this season. What did you think of the latest specials? Did they feel a little too wild and blue? Awaken your inner star beast? Give you a bit of a giggle? Let us know on our socials ⁠Twitter⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠@TheVerseCast⁠ where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions.  SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 2:00 - Doctor Who Series 4 // 61:30 Doctor Who Series 60th Anniversary Specials // 95:45 – Contact Info // 96:55 – Post Credit - Holiday Cocktails, anyone?

We continue our Doctor Who 60th Anniversary retrospective with series 2 (David Tennant’s second season). It is a season that brought us classics like “Human Nature”, “The Family of Blood Gridlock”, and perhaps the most talked about episode in Doctor Who history, “Blink”. Don’t worry we’re covering the specials in depth for our next episode of timey-whimey coverage of everything The Doctor including ALL 12 seasons predating the new specials and right into Ncuti Gatwa’s upcoming season. Hang tight our timeline may be a little wacky, but the conversations are timeless. We also give a full 40 minutes to the start of Prime Video’s Invincible season two. After the long pause it took some of us time to get back into the city, but the series still packs a punch. So, hit play, but don't blink. Don't even blink. Blink and you're dead. Our hosts are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back. Don't walk away. And most of all, don't blink. Good Luck. SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 3:00 - Invincible Season 2 // 40:30 Doctor Who Series 3 // 86:45 – Contact Info // 88:55 – Post Credit - Holiday Cocktails, anyone?

The Thanksgiving holiday is over and what a better way to celebrate Cyber Monday than a jam packed episode of The ‘Verse! - the best part, it comes to you with no ads, no coupons, at a special low price of FREE - as always. We continue our Doctor Who 60th Anniversary retrospective wrapping up series 2 (David Tennant’s first season). Whovians will love the look back at the 10th Doctor especially as he returns for the anniversary specials. Don’t worry we will be covering the specials in depth soon during our timey-whimey coverage of everything The Doctor including all 12 seasons predating the new specials and right into Ncuti Gatwa’s upcoming season. Hang tight our timeline may be a little wacky, but the conversations are timeless. We also give a full forty minutes to Disney+’s Marvel series Loki season two. Let’s just say there are numerous variants found in our opinions of the series. Finally (after the credits) we close out our coverage of Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks a series that just keeps getting better and better. What started as a quality Trek side dish has excelled to a must-see. Follow us on the platform formerly known as Twitter @TheVerseCast where we tweet news and pod announcements, retweet only the finest memes, and collect listener questions. Also on Instagram @TheVerseCast EPISODE 107 SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 2:35 - LOKI (season 2 - In Full) // 42:20 DOCTOR WHO Series 2 Coverage part 2 // 70:40 – Contact Info // 73:35 – Post Credit 

The 'Verse! Squad is back after a visit to earth to cover all things New York Comic. Four days of coverage totaling 100+ hours of everything from Star Trek to Futurama, For All Mankind, Buffy, Scott Pilgrim and more. We also head into the TARDIS (which smells of Dr. Pepper for some reason) to continue our DOCTOR WHO Retrospective - David Tennant's first season (series two) and finally close out AHSOKA too with a lively discussion. EPISODE 106 SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 4:15 - ending AHSOKA // 39:43 – NEW YORK COMIC CON // 69:05 - DOCTOR WHO Series 2 Coverage part one // 90:00 – Contact Info // 92:35 – Post Credit - Hold that drink!

The squad blasts off to our favorite Star-iverses. First up is Star Wars to cover Ahsoka episode 6 and finally see some anxiously anticipated on-screen appearances. Tune in to hear what we loved, what we were wrong about in past theories, and what we’re manifesting for the finale. Next up is Star Trek to cover Lower Decks episodes 3-4 where we get to see how Boimler handles his first away mission as a leader (spoiler alert, it’s poorly), and meet Tendi’s family. Nothing brings a family together like a wedding! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions.  If you stick around after the credits, you might need something old, something new…you know the rest… SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 1:27 - The ‘Verse! News // 13:05 AHSOKA ep 6 // 38:27 – Star Trek: LOWER DECKS eps 3 & 4 // 53:35 – Contact Info // 76:30 – Post Credit - a game of TOP 5 (top 5) (top top)

The Squad continues coverage of Disney+’s Ahsoka, and we’ve finally reached the episode that makes this solidly an Ahsoka show and not a Sabine show! Not that we were complaining. There’s lots of discussion about Rebels and the Clone Wars for seasoned Star Wars masters, but no spoilers for any budding Padawans. Next we spin off back to the Doctor Who-iverse to finish our collective NuWho series one blindspot. Emilia is here to shepherd the squad into the Tenth-nant era #thatsmydoctor, and everyone’s loving it! Well, most of the Squad. Follow us on the platform formerly known as Twitter @TheVerseCast where we tweet news and pod announcements, retweet only the finest memes, and collect listener questions.  SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 1:38 - more AHSOKA // 35:20 – DOCTOR WHO Coverage // 74:15 – Contact Info // 76:30 – Post Credit - Who Do I Regen As?

The squad continues their coverage of Disney+’s Ahsoka, including that reveal and we once again all align around the indisputable fact that well, light sabers are cool. As are fezzes and Stetsons and fish fingers and custard…The rest of the squad will understand that reference soon enough because we’ve begun filling in our Doctor Who blindspot! Our resident Whovian Emilia (and Filmsnork behind the scenes!) invites the squad and audience to step into the TARDIS beginning with a retrospective on NuWho. We cover the must-see episodes of series one of the revived series with the 9th doctor, Christopher Eccleston.  To round out our tour of cinematic universes for this episode, we also revisit Star Trek: Lower Decks for the season four premiere. If you’re curious about Star Trek but don’t know where to start, the squad would prescribe a healthy dose of the animated series Lower Decks, plus Strange New Worlds, and then thank us in the morning! Follow us on Twitter @TheVerseCast (and on Instagram) where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions. If you stick around after the credits, listen out for a faint whooshing… SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 3:35 - STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS S4 // 12:25 - more AHSOKA // 38:00 – DOCTOR WHO Coverage // 83:35 – Contact Info // 85:35 – Post Credit - Where to go in the TARDIS

We begin our coverage of the latest Disney+ Star Wars series, Ahsoka, by discussing episodes 1-3. We have some big Clone Wars and Rebels fans on the squad, and Emilia’s here too. Tune in to hear us discuss the Star Wars context you need to know to watch Ahsoka, our favorite moments of the show so far, and how well we think the live action series translates from animation! We also revive our long-suffering news segment for this episode to catch up on some of the latest cinematic universe updates from the last few weeks. Follow us on Twitter @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions. If you stick around after the credits, watch out for that puddle of rum in the kitchen…

The squad wraps up coverage of season two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and yes, that includes the musical episode. We also cover the hotly anticipated Lower Decks crossover episode, the Emilia-named “PTSD episode,” and of course, the season finale. Tune in to hear our wide-ranging views on musical specials, cliffhangers, and more. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season and can’t wait for season three! In other news, the Squad finds a solution to their space-recession! Or at least, we thought we did… Follow us on Instagram & Twitter @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions. You can also follow @Awardsradar on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram. If you stick around after the credits, better put your tap shoes on…

We're back! We have been MIA for a few weeks and have now returned to cover some great entertainment. Believe it or not, The 'Verse! squad has completed 100 standard full-length episodes. In addition, they have nearly 20 interview episodes which include conversations with many very talented (and cool) industry pros, the cast of The Boys, top showrunners, composers, writers, VFX teams, and more. It has been an exceptional run where we have not just discussed the best of TV and film, but also met some unique new friends along the way - robots, aliens, sentient doors, and more. If you have not listened yet we recommend you do. The 'Verse! covers many of the cinematic universes through in-depth reviews, previews, games and more. In addition, we explore those universes on our very own spaceship (to be named later) which often leads to us hosting exciting new visitors.You can think of it as a mix of Comic Con, Siskel & Ebert, MST3K, and Pee-Wee's Playhouse. While the show can often take some wacky tangents, the heart of The 'Verse! is our 4 hosts (Bridget, Norm, Emilia, and Lucas) who have passionate and entertaining discussions about a wide variety of franchise universes spanning Marvel, Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, The Boys, and much more. Give episode #100 a listen, and then for the fullest, most rewarding experience start from the beginning to hear how the show has evolved and grown.Let's get back to great entertainment, for this episode let's just say, this was…um... not it. The squad begrudgingly finishes covering Marvel’s Secret Invasion with episodes 4-6. (We came back from our summer hiatus for this??) We tried to love it, we really did. To be fair, we look forward to seeing Nick Fury in anything else going forward and congratulate the cast of Secret Invasion for doing the most they could with this show. (Oh yeah, speaking of summer hiatus, there's a story about it in the episode which you will want to hear.) On a much brighter note, we cover episodes 5 and 6 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, inching ever closer to both the Lower Decks crossover episode and the musical episode (both covered in the soon to arrive episode 101. This show has continued to impress old and new Star Trek fans alike. Tune in to hear perspectives from Trek veterans and fresh-faced cadets alike! Follow us on the platform formerly known as Twitter @TheVerseCast where we Xeet news and pod announcements, re-Xeet only the finest memes, and collect listener Xuestions.  Whataver-X! Oh yeah, if you stick around after the credits we always have a post credit scene or two. This time around it revolves around the return of a friend or two... or is it too? or is it one? Either way you will want to listen. SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 6:35 - Ending Marvel's 'Secret Invasion' // 24:45 – Star Trek : STRANGE NEW WORLDS eps4-5 // 54:40 – Contact Info // 57:45 – Post Credit - Returning 2 Madness

No one can explain why, but this was recorded weeks ago and sat in the vault, unpublished. We are glad to share it and you can expect a more timely episode delivery going forward. In this 'lost' episode the squad continues coverage of the latest Disney+ Marvel show, 'Secret Invasion' - a show which was getting wait-and-see reactions from the squad. At this point things are heating up for Nick Fury and the Skrulls…or at least, they should be. We’re halfway through the show and still don’t know what to think! Up next, school’s still in session with Star Trek Uni’Verse!-ity, helmed by our very own Professor Longacre. He’s no replacement for the Admiral but he looks and sounds suspiciously similar. Their squad's stance on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is quite the opposite of that for Secret Invasion. It is more like see-and-wait-and-wait-and-wait for more. To say the squad is enjoying season two would be an understatement. It is as if they keep waiting for 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' for new episodes to discuss, just like 'The Lotus Eaters.' Follow us on Twitter–er, X? Whatever you call it, we’re @TheVerseCast, where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions. If you stick around after the credits you may find some old school summer fun…

The Squad kicks off their coverage of the latest Disney+ Marvel show, Secret Invasion. It’s about time we got some unbridled Fury in this universe! Nick Fury, that is. We discuss the show’s comic origins and the extensive changes to the story by the TV adaptation. We’ve been promised 'Winter Soldier' vibes and Skrull-y twists behind every corner, so we’re excited for what’s to come. Stay tuned for our coverage of the whole series as it comes out. We continue our coverage of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season two with episode two, 'Ad Astra Per Aspera,' a return to The Next Generation in many ways as a courtroom drama with direct commentary on contemporary social justice and civil rights issues. We also revisit an old TNG episode, 'The Outcast;, to assess what’s changed and what’s remained of Star Trek’s progressive-leaning programming. The Star Trek Uni’Verse!ity is in session! Follow us on Twitter @TheVerseCast where we post news, announcements about the pod, and collect listener questions. You can also follow @Awardsradar on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram. If you stick around after the credits, grab your chalk. You’re gonna need it… SHOW BREAKDOWN: 0:00 – Intro // 3:42 - Marvel's 'Secret Invasion' ep 1 // 30:02 – Star Trek : STRANGE NEW WORLDS S2 E2 // 59:45 – Contact Info // 61:48 – Post Credit - Chalky White