House of R - The Top 10 Moments of 2025!

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Mal and Jo count down and relive their top moments of 2025! They talk about everything from ‘Andor’ and ‘Stranger Things’ to ‘The Last of Us’ and ‘Superman.’ (00:00) Intro(11:25) Jo��s no. 10(15:19) Mal’s no. 10(19:21) Jo’s no. 9(24:06) Mal’s no. 9(29:26) Jo’s no. 8 and Mal’s no. 7(38:11) Mal’s no. 8(42:23) Jo’s no. 7(45:00) Jo’s no. 6(50:51) Mal’s no. 6(57:20) Jo’s no. 5 and Mal’s no. 4(01:03:42) Mal’s no. 5(01:09:16) Jo’s no. 4(01:12:57) Mal’s no. 3(01:16:50) Jo’s no. 3 and Mal’s no. 2(01:26:17) Jo’s no. 2 and Mal’s no. 1(01:37:41) Jo’s no. 1 Prepare for one last adventure at Target. Visit target.com/StrangerThings Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory RubinProducer: Carlos ChiribogaSocial: Jomi AdeniranAdditional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell and John Richter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings. And welcome to House of Art, a ringerverse podcast on the ringer podcast network. I'm Mallory Rubin. Spoiler, my top moment of the year is every time I get to podcast with this gemstone of a human, it's Joanna Robinson. It's me. What a joy. I mean, that really was the theme of looking back this year.

It's like doing it with you, honestly, genuinely. Yeah. And we'll talk about that as you. Same. Getting COVID with you. Comic-Con, et cetera. Top of the list. Really, I mean, not the COVID part, but being a Comic-Con together, what a treat.

We are here, in case you couldn't tell, from this preamble, and from the title of this episode, for one of our favorite annual traditions. We do this every December, Joe, this is the fourth time we've done this. It is our top 10 moments of the year, top 10 moments of 2025 in our universe. What does that mean? What do we mean by top? What do we mean by in our universe? What properties are we considering?

We're going to explain all of that to you. Yeah. Right after this. This episode of House of R is presented by Target. Stranger Things has returned to Target, and it's time to visit Hawkins for the final time. Step back into the 80s with righteous exclusives like a Funko Pop of Steve in the Squawk van, the epic squawk satin bomber jacket, and the Stranger Things You May upside down capsule shaped like a walkie-talkie. new items are dropping all season long, so prepare for one last adventure at Target.

Joe, can you believe we've done this three prior times already? No. Isn't that wild? We've been a podcast together so long. I know. How will we celebrate half a decade together? Fifth anniversary? Yeah.

Oh, my gosh. That's a big one. Oh, my gosh. What's the special gift for fifth anniversary? I would recommend that we get friendship co-host tattoos, but guess what? Oh, we already did it. We've already done that. We already did it.

It's, is it the wood anniversary? I do feel like we, we kind of, we bring the wood on every pod, you know. Horny on Maine always, so. But like top 10 wood moments. Guys, I don't know. I'm just here. As you know, I've been begging to do some sort of best of the century so far,

colon sex. So I'm in. For people who want more horny Mallory, though, like they can hop over the press. Prestige TV podcast, Fee, the next couple weeks where we will be covering Heated Rivalry. I'm so excited. I can't wait. I can't wait.

I love that show, and I can't wait to talk about it with you. I can't even tell you, like, you know, I did a previous Prestige TV podcast on Heated Rivley with My pal, Richard Lawson. It was great. Richard is a queer man brought a lot of great perspective. And then everyone was like, why have we not heard from the horny scholar herself, Maler Rubin? Everyone was clamoring. And I was like, you know, and I also just want to talk to Mallory about this.

very horny show. So watch heated rivalry. I'm honored. Listen to the prestige TV podcast. But more importantly, listen to this podcast. That's right. That's right. And we have other stuff coming on the house of our podcast feed as well. It's a busy mom. Holidays be damned. It's a really important question. How could we possibly count down the top 10 moments of the year when I have not seen Avatar Fire and Ash yet? Here's my follow-up question. Did you specifically ensure and insist that we recorded

this podcast before Avatar Fire and Ash came out so that you wouldn't be shamed by me, if no one else, for not including a Pi-a-Con pick in your top 10? Do you think that's, is that why we're recording today? Do you have a Pi-a-Con pick in your top 10? I don't, but the movie hasn't come out. You know? You've seen it, though. You would put it on if you meant it. No, I wouldn't. I can only, this podcast publishes today. And that is, let's, you know, the first, you know, the first, rule we can mention on the spoil because the spoiler warning is a part of our opening stretch here where we prepare everybody for what's to come the spoiler warning is anything that came out in 2025 until today December 16 if it comes out in the next couple weeks it's not

eligible for inclusion today does that mean that we might be missing moments either from like volume two and three of stranger things or fallout season two or percy season two or avatar fire and ash or any number of other things that are pluribis etc the end of the season And now, obviously, stranger things. Pluribus, et cetera, can be on here today, but from earlier installments, it might mean that. But that's your spoiler warning. If it came out from January 1 of 2025 until today, it could be included today. We will talk about very specific things that happen in these moments because that's why they made the list.

So you've been warned. That said, if you listen to this podcast, you're probably prepared to yours talk about these things. Have you heard of Star Wars? Have you heard of Star Wars? Have you heard of Marvel? Have you heard of D.C.? etc. Superman. Have you heard of TV shows on HBO based on video games? I don't know. Exactly. Exactly. Listen, we're not going to have any Fire and Ash moments on the top tense today because

the movie has not come out. It comes out in a few days, but we will be talking about it together. Because at the end of this week is gift swap time. We're trading Avatar Fire and Ash. That is Joanna's gift to me to watch that movie so that we can talk about Paya Khan together. and interview with the vampire season two, which I will be watching. You've already started. And I've already started and I'm loving. And, you know, we're going to both go to the theater on Thursday night to see the movie when it drops, which means the gift swap of Hollywood to us.

Exactly. We will be treated to, you thought you were going to sit in that seat for a three-hour and 17-minute movie plus just some routine trailers? No. You will be in that seat for four hours. easy because we're getting the Odyssey T's, we're getting a Doomsday trailer, so we will of course

share our thoughts on that as well as long as we're able to see him. And then Stranger Things. Stranger Things Volume 2 drops on Christmas. The Stranger Things finale, Volume 3, drops on New Year's Eve. We'll be covering all of that in full, obviously, so House of Our will be here with you throughout the holidays.

That's a plan. Anything else on the programming reminders for Unchoke and how can everyone follow along? If they're listening to this podcast but they don't know how to follow the podcast, What would you advise? What if you just subscribe to the podcast on the podcast of choice? You can watch us on YouTube. You can watch us on Spotify.

You can follow us on social. That might be a good thing to do. But I would do that after you subscribe to the pod. That's the first thing I would do. You can also email us, Hobbes and Dragons at gmail.com. You guys did a great job on some of our best of the century pause with your nomination. So great Stranger Things emails have been coming in. We want even more Stranger Things emails from you, obviously, as we look to wrap up.

Yes. These many years that we've all spent together in Hawkins, Indiana. So yeah, send it along. Hobbitons and Dragons at gmail.com. Also, thank you. We've been getting some very nice end of year, sort of just like check-ins from people, thanking us for the year-in content.

I got to say, I like to thank Mallory for the year-in content. I don't know that I'm ready to thank Hollywood for this year-in content, and we will talk about this. Any other programming reminders, Joe, or is the time to get to the eligibility rules? Let's do it. Let's eligibleize.

Fantastic. This episode is brought to by Paramount. Plus, Beth and Rip are back in a new series, Dutton Ranch. Kelly Riley and Colehouser returned, and this time they're taking on Texas. As Beth and Rip build a future together, peace will have to wait as they face corruption, danger, and a ruthless rival ranch willing to protect its secrets at all costs. Legacy is a beautiful thing, but only if it survives. Dutton Ranch starring Colehous or Kelly Riley, Annette Benning and Ed Harris,

now streaming on Paramount Plus. I think anybody who's listened to the pod before will be familiar with how we're going to approach this. It's how we often do a countdown. We are counting down from 10 to 1. Our lists are secret. I don't know what's on your list. You don't know what's on mine.

It's a little bit easier to predict the top 10 moments of the year sometimes than some of the other countdowns because it's a more concentrated set to consider. But I will say, started sketching out, hey, what's my list of candidates? And as I texted you in real time, was absolutely astonished to confront some of the things that had come out this year. It's like, oh, my God, Skeleton Crew was still airing at the beginning of this calendar year.

The year feels like it evaporated. It feels like it absolutely blew, just blew by. And yet, when you think about one specific thing, one point on the calendar, it can feel like a hundred years ago. So time. Space. Very strange. I mean, it's a good thing. We've covered a bunch of Nolan movies this year.

We're ready for the time dilation effect of counting down the year. Exactly right. If we have the same pick, as always we will discuss it at the higher of the two spots, if we have some smuggles and honorable mentions from a property, a shared property, we'll talk about it at the higher of the two spots. We might have to do some real-time, you know, sussing out of whether or not Carlos is free to play a clip to reveal our picks. Part of the joy, you know, discovering it, discovering it together. It's a mystery as usual to everyone about Carlos. genre picks. What do we mean by genre picks show?

Oh, listen, something that either was covered on House of Ar or could have been covered on House of Ar, like Mallory mentioned Pluribus. That's a show that we aren't covering on this podcast, but certainly qualifies. So, you know, there's a few things that we didn't get a chance to get to, but might have been really important. Specifically, I would say for me, because I was sort of a little bit in and out this year, there's a couple things that I didn't get to talk to you about in an official way, but they might still be on the list.

and a chance to talk to you about it now. So, you know, you're the best. I love you. No way at Lotus. Right. No way. Pit, adolescence, hamlete, one battle after another. That doesn't mean that those properties would not have generated actually our top moments of the year.

But that's not what this list is today. I got to say, I could make a case for Hamnet. Okay. There's some witch stuff going that. Great. I could make it. I'm not going to, but I could. I love it.

I welcome it. I haven't seen it again. Truly can't wait. As always, these lists which we are sharing with each other and all of the bad babies are our favorites. So it's not a comprehensive best of the year list. We're not trying to achieve consensus. It's what means the most to each of us. What has kind of taken root in our minds, in our hearts, in our memories?

Maybe these are moments that feel emblematic of the year in some way. maybe they're the ones that instantly popped into your mind, and that tells you something. We'll explain as we go. Also worth clarifying moments. So we're emphasizing favorites and we're emphasizing moments. This is not our list of the top 10 shows of the year, or books of the year, or films of the year.

Now, there might be a lot of overlap between what properties would be featured on one of those lists, but we like to refer to this as the Boba Fett rule, because famously, infamously up to you to decide, I did feature some Boba Fett moments on this list in been past years because there were incredibly meaningful moments inside of that very flawed television show.

So keep that in mind. We already explained the eligibility window. Any other rules, questions, comments, concerns, hopes, joys, fears before we dive into our list? What if we go off our usual script and just get right into it. I love it. Let's start with your number 10.

Carlos, can you play this clip? As you explain what's happening. So it appears that I have drawn. It appears that I have drawn. Here's the armor. Yeah. And so. I almost did this exact same thing.

I'm so excited that Preston the Rat is in this film, too. If you watch some video. Yeah. That is a clip from our very own podcast. Wow, Joanna, you put your own podcast on the list? Kind of. Really, it's a celebration of the Romantasy podcast that we did. Yeah.

You know, in celebration of, you know, some of the books that our listeners love to read and wanted us to talk about. So we did some creative stuff with that, including, if you haven't watched, I mean, the Romanty episode is one of my favorite things we ever did. It's great. Mallory gamely drew some things that Rebecca Yaros and her infinite bizarre mind came up with in her imperious series. And we talked about Onyx Storm, but mostly we talked about, wait, their knee went where and how many limbs were involved in this particular entanglement?

So the whiteboard, a pictionary of Rebecca Yaros' sex scenes from the appearance series is my number 10 moment of the year. I love this. I was just thinking about this the other day. Fonly thinking back to that podcast, that recording. I was trying to explain to a friend what we had done with the whiteboard. He seemed very puzzled, but intrigued.

We are professional podcasters, and this is something that we did for our job this year. And you know what? I'd do it again. Same. Undeniably, a top moment and experience of the year, sharing this with you. You were, I mean, the number of people

who after this episode were like Joanna should read audiobooks professionally. I mean, the reading of the sex passages. That's just incredible. Wonderful stuff. And that's just all available forever on the internet. You can watch it, you can read it, you can listen to it, you can do whatever you want. Yeah. And I think also, you know, was it wonderful to celebrate Romanticie?

Was it wonderful to dive into this whole new world together? It was really an exercise in teamwork and collaboration. because not only was a big part of that podcast, like recommendations, fan fiction recommendations from the bad babies, etc. Some of the stories that you had discovered that you love. I in the whiteboard stretch of this, stick figures would be putting it, I think.

It would be generous to even say that was what I contributed. And then you came in and you polished the work, you know? And that's really what it's all about. Listen, it's a great time. Lightning's not striking on your own. We celebrated something, some genuinely, I think, terribly written books, but a good time was had by all.

And a lot of people love reading those books. And I get why, because they're fun and fast to read. And we like to celebrate some highbrow literature on this podcast, and we also like to celebrate odd sex positions and dragons. So, you know, should that be our new email address? You let me know. Why not? Setspositions and dragons at dmail.com.

Feels even riskier than saying sign it with your pickle. I'll just throw that out there. We still get, to this day, email signed with people's pickle preference. So I should hope so. I almost considered, I did consider, I almost picked an Onyx storm passage. But, I mean, I had done that with Iron Flame previously, the fabled throne room sequence. And that was like an easy pick. But it's not a harder time coming up with one moment from Honestorme.

Can't wait for the next installment. Okay, great pick. Carlos is my number 10, safe to reveal. I have to believe. because if there's no hope for you, what hope is there for me? Bracelet for your beautiful girlfriend. Oh, no, we're not, uh, she's not even my type.

Excuse me? Uh, that is, of course, K-pop, demon, hunters, which came out this summer, story by Maggie Kang, directed by Maggie Kang, and Chris Applehans. Uh, fun fact. I met Chris, this was on the list already, but I met Chris's wife.

wife, Maureen, at a holiday party this weekend. Legend icon. Also, a bad baby. Oh, yeah. Hey. Yeah. What's up? Friend of the pod, Maureen. Friend of the pod, Maureen.

Nice. She ruled. She was awesome. Hi, Maureen, if you're listening. This film was such a blast. Just a delightful surprise of a movie. Always love to have animation on the list. Always love to celebrate music. Obviously, we just had a musical moment.

episode that we both enjoyed doing so much. This will actually not be the last time that music makes an appearance. Now, you might say you didn't pick a musical moment from K-pop Demon Hunters. What's wrong with you? But I really enjoyed inside of this film where there was so much spark and life and humor. The quieter, subtler moments also, like, pulled you in so fully. And that's part of what makes it such a fully realized story. Listen, shout out, Derpy.

Just one of the best magical creatures. There's my beloved demon tiger cat, you know, Susie as well, obviously, Derpy Susie Hive always. At the end of that scene that I just picked, they kind of like rise and you realize they're peeping. Just watching this whole exchange, it's absolutely wonderful. Conchricks, the Saja Boys, the demon hunters, the demons, Rumi, who is a secret half demon, and Jinnu, who is a human turned demon, rivals turned confidants, and perhaps something. more, as is the only two in that moment. Enemy's Delimers. We do. We've done

an entire joke's course about it. The initial secret meeting, the first secret meeting that they have doesn't go well. But then over time, we build and feelings bud and understanding, surprising understanding

forges. This idea of and this is present throughout the movie as a central area of exploration, the idea of like shame as your shackle. And then the real like boon, the real gift of comfort in surprising places, comfort and understanding in a person who is supposed to be your enemy, really just fantastic. Add in the awkwardness and the charm of, you know, the weight of the world of both being a celebrity and a demon or a demon hunter,

but just like teenagers, like young people who have a crush, you add that in. I won't spoil in case anybody hasn't seen this yet. What happens with these two and the choices that they make and where the story ultimately concludes. But it's really just a lovely little film. It's not a little film. It's a lovely smash global sensation. And if you haven't seen it, you should really treat yourself because it is wonderful.

And you'll be singing soda pop or golden before you know it. Yeah. No, I love, like, this is such a good example. This and something like heated rivalry that we were talking about, there's a few things that really pop this year out of nowhere in a way that I just find really, really fun. Because then it just, it doesn't feel like it was fed to us. You know, it's not like, you know, there will be superhero properties on my list.

There will be Star Wars on my list. You know, like, these are IPs that we get excited about. There's something wrong with that. But then there's just like something that, you know, K-pop Demon Hunters owes a lot to a lot of things that came before it. But it also feels like super original. And it's really fun to be in a new universe like that. And just like fun that everyone seemingly got on board with it. So, yeah, delightful.

What a great pick. What's your number nine? My number nine, I do not have a clip for. This is my only clipless entry. Will you be reading me a literary passage? I'm not, but it is a sort of like, this is a cheat smuggle thing. We celebrated what I think is some bad writing at number 10, and I will just say it, number nine. I just wanted to shout out, barrier bones in the midnight soil by Vichwab, Catavis by Arf Kwong, and Will the Many slash Strength of You by James Inglinton.

These are not only books that I loved this year. well, the many came out before, but like a lot of people picked it up this year in anticipation of strength of the few at sequel. But these are books I loved and loved hearing from our listeners that they also loved. And I, we've gotten so many emails for people and I've gotten DMs on Instagram and like Twitter at mentions and all these other things from just people like getting really excited about reading, about reading these specific books, but you know, any number of things that we've talked about on this pod. And I just like, I guess it's like an old school bookseller. Like I just, it really pleases me when people pick up a book because I said

that I liked it. And then it's such an honor that people would like spend their cash, pick up the book, spend their time with the book. And then for them to say, I loved it. The way that Will of the many popped for so many people, I met our colleague David Jacoby when we were both in the offices last week. Sneaky tall. I should have known that because I know he loves playing basketball, but like really sneaky tall, he's like legit like six five or six. Yeah, I was like, oh. Yeah.

But I only had a few minutes talk to him because he was just about to record with Juliet and we just talked about, you know, Willamettey Strength of the Few for a second. And it was just like really nice. So I just, that was how I had, as I've already confessed to you, that was how I revealed him that you were in town.

Because I saw him and he's like, have you read? Oh. Strength of the Few yet. Have you read Wildomeney? And I was like, having it, I can't wait, Joanna loves these books in this world. Maybe you'll get to talk to her about it this week while she's in town. But I just like, I remember bonding with you about Catabasis and like, you know,

us looking at these like beautiful editions we got from the publisher. Thank you so much to the publisher for sending them over. Fighting out that Rebecca Arf Kwong is a bad baby. That was like a huge moment for us. Stay tuned for that, you know. I got to moderate an event with V. E. Schwab and so I got to meet me, Victoria, who was a huge interview with a vampire fan. You know, like, these are just like our people. And it's just exciting for me that they're creating these wonderful new worlds and exciting for me, you know, when I get

like despairing about people reading or whatever to hear from our listeners who are reading. And if you're not, I mean, I'm mostly audiobook at this point. So like, if you're like, hey, man, I haven't picked up a book in years, you love a podcast, you'll love an audiobook. And any of those catapas, bearer, bones, the midnight soil, will the many or strength of the few, would all be, I think, great holiday listening or reading if you care to. But I love talking to you about books, Mallory. And I love talking to you about, like, we don't very often get to talk about, like, new, new books, but sometimes we do. And it's really fun. So I'm excited to catch up on some recent reads over the holiday. I always love to revisit sacred texts and stories that we love.

And there's been a lot of that lately and certainly will be a lot of that next year. But, you know, I just, I can't wait to dip into Will de Many and Strength of the Few. I loved Catabasis and I, you know, we've talked about like Everlasting and how excited it was to have a new Alex Harrow book. Like I- So good. I've not- Oh, I should have put Everlasting. I don't know why I didn't. I'm a little bit of a fog today. I definitely should have put Alex Harrow on here too, of course. I've yet to get to the third book of Dust installment from. Yeah. Philip Pullman. Like, there's just been so much in our universe recently. So, I feel on the one hand behind, but in a weird way, like, that's exciting because there was all these things waiting for me to dip into over the holidays and after. I can't wait. Great. I'm glad you had all of that here. That's wonderful. Catavis or catabasis or whatever you prefer to say it. I still can't. I can't keep it consistent. I keep switching in and out of different pronunciations. I've had, you know, two of my closest friends who live up here both also read it after me.

and each one of them, when they got to, like, a certain chapter, which is like a backstory chapter, they were just like... Yeah, that one is... Goshbagging. It's just incredible. So, you know, I really recommend these books, and I love hearing from you all when you picked up books that we've talked about, and here's to reading more in 2026. So... I love it. We're going to have a real vibe shift here.

Oh. Okay. Is it peacemaker? No, it's not. Peacemaker will be, we'll hit that later. Okay. Carlos, is it safe to play my number nine? Dodd.

Runs like God. Go! Fucking God! From the joy of literature waiting for you right now to the rage virus waiting for you 28 years later into the future, that is, of course, Jamie and Spike running down the causeway, desperately trying to reach their home in 28 years later, still here at the end of the year.

And I have some December release Oscar heavies to catch up on, but this is still one of my favorite movies in the year, and I suspect will remain. So even after I have caught up on more recent installments, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, came out this summer, the third film in this beloved franchise. We had the pleasure of potting about it. Just the setting.

the setting of the home, this community that has built and sustained and lasted. The idea of like the British Isles being quarantined, and that's a big part of this movie. And then the kind of like intentional quarantine within the quarantine that the rest of the world has imposed on you. The idea that this community has been protected by its rules and its procedures, but also its physical geography and the idea of when the tide comes and goes and how you have to factor that in, et cetera. So you get this great moment where they're returning, Jamie and Spike, father and son are returning from this really very intense and harrowing right of passage hunt for Spike going out into the mainland. The clock of the tide is ticking. They are being pursued by an alpha. It is incredibly tense, incredibly scary, but it is also just so visually

astonishing that it is one of the images that pops into my mind first when I think about the movies and shows that I saw and loved this year. Like, it was one of those visuals in the theater where I'm just like, this is why you go to movies, this is why you love movies. So not when we saw ballerina together. You know, I wrote down ballerina on my long list of things to think back on, and it didn't ultimately make the cut, but it wasn't the initial, the long list. The long list.

So the work that Boyle does here, the work that cinematographer, Anthony Dodd Mantle does here, the location scouts who found Holy Island, all of it, but also they like have this natural splendor, but creative innovation. They're making this whole movie on an iPhone, as we talked about, and other, you know, drone tech, etc. They build a giant hole. Like, they have this real place, but then they have a 450 foot set and VFX and the way that it is seamlessly stitched together and this sequence in particular was really interesting. I love when the northern lights, when you pan wide and the northern lights kind of, dapple across the screen, how that reinforces something that is so present in the text of these

movies, like the incursion of the natural world. And in some ways, that's really scary. Like, what has the virus and the infect, what have they reclaimed? But also, like, the beauty? If there are no people polluting the air. Like, what could you see? It's this interesting encapsulation of how the horror and the beauty can kind of be entwined in a space where society. has, like, fallen away. The chop of the camera and the filmmaking at this stretch the movie, and we get these, like, great spanning pans,

but then this also kind of, like, staccato, choppy strides, slamming on the water and the pitter, patter, and the splash. And just, like, the surreality of the setting, you know, the way that the visuals here really enhance this idea of, like, a journey into the unknown, which is, of course, what is happening for Spike and Jamie and anyone who has managed to stay alive this long. and there's something about it, even though it is very action, horror, quick pace

that is almost like in this particular moment where the Northern Lights are playing across the screen, like almost wholly, very spiritual. Mythic. Yeah, mythic. Not to spoil another movie that was on my list last year, but in a very different context, reminds me a little bit of when in Flow, Bird,

transcends into like and there's just something about it where you're like this is like this is not life today right and did I consider picking something with Ray Fines in the Bone Temple sure but I just am assuming it's a lock that I'll be doing that next year because we're getting another movie save room for Rafe yeah you know similarly shout out Samson and his giant dong of course but yeah it has to be the causeway run did you think I have Samson if we were going to get the full sausage and veg or what? Smuggle that sausage, you know?

Get it in there as an honorable mention. What's your number eight? My number eight, I'm sure, well, I'm fairly sure you have, anyway, do you have something from Thunderbolts or the New Avengers? I do. I have it at not number eight, but number seven. So very close to here, and so I'd be happy to just talk about it now if you would like. Carlos, I guess then, will you play both of our clips, maybe?

And that darkness gets pretty enticing, and then it starts to feel a little bit like a void. I'm late, but I'm here now. Daddy, I'm so alone. I don't have anything anymore. All I do is sit and look at my phone and think of all of all. terrible things that I've done.

Well-paired picks. I know. Yelena's going through it. Okay, Thunderbolts, a.k. The New Avengers. One of three Marvel movies to come out this year, by far and away my favorite of the three. I really,

really loved this movie, directed by Jake Shreyer, screenplay by Eric Pearson and Joanna Cullo. And I almost picked, you know, like the group hug moment at the end is sort of like the big sort of moment for movie. But when I was thinking about it, I was like, I really love the track that they laid

with Lewis Pullman's character and with Florence P's character. And like the way in which Yelena is able to connect with Bob, Century Void, however you prefer to refer to him, so early on. And that thing that, the thing that Marvel can do so well that we talked about a bit on our fights podcast recently or anything that we've ever talked about with Marvel is like when the characters come through and when the character connections come through. And obviously that's what the big group hug moment is, but that big group hug moment is earned by these littler moments that are seated throughout. And I was just really, this goes with another my seven pick as well.

And also I'll talk about that later. But like the way in which some of these superhero properties, the more successful, I would say, for me, superhero properties this year really remembered what it meant. that these characters need to be human and flawed before they are super and fantastic. And I just, I mean, I think Florence Pugh is Yolena, as we've said from the very first time we talked about Black Widow together

has been, I think, just a revelation inside of the MCU. And I just really like Lewis Pullman. I thought he was so good in this movie. I thought Bob was such, like Bob more than Century in the Void. Like Bob was just like an incredible creation. I was so, man. I'm so excited that we're going to get more of him going forward, hopefully.

And I'm excited in general for Lewis Pullman's career. You know, Top Gun and this and a number of TV projects and stuff like that. I just think he's been doing great work. And yeah, that's what I wanted to highlight. I love it. Yeah, it was wild to think back to, okay, this was like the last film of Phase 5. where we are already. And this is again how the passage of time works and certainly how the evolution of the MCU works. But I did limit myself. I decided to limit myself to one MCU pick, one Star Wars pick,

one DCU pick, et cetera. I have not always abided by that rule for the top moments of the year pod, but doing that recently for like the best of the century pods. I decided I wanted to do it here as well. So that means I do not have a fantastic four first steps moment on my list. You know, And I really loved that movie. There was actually a daredevil moment that was very painful for me to leave off the list that I'll hit an honorable mentions. But Thunderbolts was also, I loved Fantastic Four First Steps, but Thunderbolts was also my favorite MCU movie of the year. And it is a movie overall that I adored and appreciated. And also a movie that was full of moments that felt like a part of a whole and stood out to me in very clear focus.

on their own. And so it just felt like easily the right one to feature here. And I think, you know, similar to you like, I wanted to celebrate it one more time because I just think it sucks that this movie has been like painted as a flop

because of the box office figures when this was such a creative success and is really something that like we should be toasting as a reminder that the MCU can deliver us joy in all sorts of forms. and shapes and through all sorts of characters. And, you know, on the one hand, maybe, like,

least surprising thing in the world that I picked a Yelena Alexi moment, but I was hoping that you would have a Yelena Bob moment. I thought it was pretty likely that you would, and I think that they're... Same for you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think they are so well-paired because, you know, Bob's journey to Century and then the void and the way that, you know,

when we talked about this at length, and I loved that pod that we did together, like, the role that like depression and despair play in this story and the way that this movie examined how that is something that affects all sorts of people like in their lives, right? And that feels really crucial. And I think that Yelena who felt this like kinship with Bob needing also to navigate her own despair. And the fact that she has her own journey is like part of.

what allows her to connect with him and reach him, I think is really, really powerful. That sort of look of recognition. Yeah. You know what I mean? Where it's just sort of like, yeah. And that early, early indication from him that this like very, yes, yes, you know, inside of that scene that I clip from is like him saying, like, you guys should just go on without me. Like, it's, you know, it's better if you just sort of like leave me here, right? And it's just sort of like, no. Right. No. No. We're not going to do that. I like to like, thinking about this movie and what works well and the moments that we both picked. I think part of the reason I felt like drawn to the Yelena Alexi scene in particular was like

it feels to me like it captures something very powerful and poignant about this particular film, which I'll hit more in a second, but also just like a good reminder of how the MCU can work across properties when it's humming, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it pays off shared history and our invest between and like, our investment in, you know, Yelina and Alexi and Natasha, obviously Natasha is a huge central focus of the conversation, the longer conversation that Yelina and Alexia are having in the scene that I,

that I selected. You know, the Black Widow movie, the Hawkeye show, even like the blip and the impact that that had on them, like, I lost my sister again, but forever and you disappeared. You can think about what all these characters have been through. You can think about watching, you know, a moment I love like Yelena and Alexi singing American Pie and Black Widow. but in this new context of all of these people who feel lost, finding each other because of that shared sense of not having another place to belong,

is like really core here. And, you know, the idea of like a new team of characters that's forged from like anti-heroes or heroes or whatever the case may be, in some cases like outright villains at one point, or we're just going through it and struggling with some aspect of existence and have something they regret or something that causes them to feel shame. I love in that scene when Yelena says, my first test at the Red Room, Anya, she was just a child. She was so small.

And the thing that Alexi says to her is so were you. And like that life raft you can give to somebody just by understanding and granting them the ability to forgive themselves a little bit is really important and lovely. And I think the loneliness that the movie captures through all these characters is really striking. and, you know, even the people who are going to save the world, like you said, need other people to help lift them up sometimes. And I just, I love that. And when Alexi says, like, when I look at you, I don't see your mistakes.

It's just, like, really hit. Really, really hit. So, lovely and moving moment and a great movie that I really enjoyed. So, yeah. You listen to this, and you just, like, skipped Thunderbolts because you heard it wasn't good. And, like, I don't know. I think you'd really enjoy it. What's your number eight?

My number eight. Do you have anything? You might. From the television program, Alien Earth. Kind of, but not really. Okay. Is it you meeting Timmy at Comic-Con? Closer.

Okay. I think we can probably safely hit my moment here then from the show, and we can circle back. I'm sorry about show-focused stuff here. Yes. Okay. Let's hit it, Carlos. All advanced civilizations would know this figure, so what is, the next three numbers.

Oh, man. Character of the year, honestly, the eye jockey. Exactly. Exactly. That's why I had to have this on here. So this is, of course, Noah Holly's Alien Earth, FX, aired in August and September. Not a perfect show, certainly. But I have, when I think back on the year,

and I will say this quickly and then put a pin in the experiential part of it, and you can hit that more later. But this is one of my strongest memories in the year is, like, dipping into this world with you and the guys. at Comic-Con, watching you up on the stage, and covering it with you and Rob was like such a joy and such an incredible experience. And I think it is fair to say that two instant patron

scenes of House of R emerged in the process of covering it, Samuel Blankens' Boy Cavalier and T.O. Sellis, aka the eyeball jockey. And so it wouldn't have felt right to me to not have them on the list. All boy wants Joe to reach that mountaintop, to have an interesting fucking conversation. And he believes at the end of all things that eyeball jockey is the only worthy partner for that conversation.

Feels pulled toward it. The undeniable intelligence, the sophistication, the achievement. He's so intrigued. And honestly, who could blame him? Because we were that intrigued too. This was also just hysterical as a scene and as a bit. The way that he moves the sheep that is inhabiting,

that eyeball jockey is inhabiting and puppeteering from the lab to the quarters and is talking to it and studying it across... The way that mounts across multiple scenes was so good. And Kirsch is like very alarmed. And Adam is very alarmed. And we're watching it home and we're very alarmed. But we're also like, please give us more of this

as many scenes like this as you possibly can. And we will build toward the finale. That's from episode seven, the penultimate. We will build toward the finale where he tears in his eyes says, I wish I could hear your voice. But in this penultimate moment, the pie test,

eyeball jockey in the sheep, dropping the deuce, iconic stuff all around, even though as we chronicled at length at the time, he did drop the deuce where the nine should have been in the sequence, not where the two was. And I still am on the corner of that being a missed opportunity, and yet it was almost perfect. And I just think this is in the show was at its best,

the horror paired with the humor, something that is so deeply unsettling and disturbing, but also intriguing. And like with boy, we had this great, really, like, utterly messy villain, but also a villain who felt like he was reflective of this new era of alien storytelling. You know, Prodigy Corp. Where are we on Earth, et cetera, those new earthly dynamics?

And the allure with Eyeball Jockey of like a new creature, a new creature in this universe that has stood the test of time over decades. And here's, like, a new thing to be intrigued by, I think that was, like, really the right instinct to play around with ass slugs and eyeball jockey. etc. It's as ticks. I think is... As ticks from the blood slug.

Yeah. You know, it's every time still, a couple months later, I see a water bottle I think of that. Oh, gosh. Every time. So, yeah, that's my number eight. That's great. Great. We'll talk about that a little bit more later.

Can't wait. What's your number seven? I'm sure you have something from Superman. I do. I do. Do you want to talk about them together or do you want to... I have that coming up in the top five. So we can...

Should we wait till? Why don't we just like dip into my thing really quickly? Sure. I won't get too much into it. Carlos, can you play this, please? If you keep interviewing yourself, eventually people are going to figure it out. With the glasses. They won't fool everyone forever.

That's Lois and Clark. I don't know if you've heard of them. Yeah, I don't know. Having a little moment in the kitchen towards the beginning of the film. Superman, again, I will go too much into this. I will, we can talk about this a bit more when we get to. your pick. But I wanted to pair it with Thunderbolts because I think both of those moments

are really just like really early hallmarks in this film of what it's going to do really well, which is give us like deeply human people who care about each other and how that makes everything, all the fantastical things that happen around them. When this movie devolves into like

CGI goop, which it does at certain times, like all of that has an anchor inside of real human connection, real human emotion. David Cornswatt is like so perfect. as Clark. Rachel Brosnan has share a favor of ours. Never missus. Midge Mijel is great here as Lois.

And I just, like the whole interview scene, everything that happens in this apartment I thought was just like so brilliant. And I didn't talk, I didn't get to talk to you about Superman because I was out. But I saw it with a pal of mine. And as I've told you before, I then talked to my nephew about it a little bit and the way that my nephew loved it,

made me love it that much more. And so I think just the power of sharing stories and the power of passing on, you know, enjoyments down across the generations. You know, my sister, of course, like, showed my nephew a bunch of other Superman stuff before. Awesome. This so that he could, like, have a better sense of the Superman history. My sister has, like, very strong, I'm sure, Christopher Reeve allegiances, et cetera, et cetera. So, like, it's just these, I.

P's that go on and on and on and on in some ways can feel like boring and worn out and all these other things in another Superman movie, oh my God. But then there's the joy of watching like a new generation like their eyes light up when they discover like and this is their Superman. And it's a great Superman for them to have.

So that's that's my Superman pick. I can talk about it a little bit more when we get to here. But I just wanted to drop that there. It's a great pick. Okay. So my number six? Yes. Okay. So my number six. six, I'm pretty sure you have this because you already alluded to it.

Carlos, are these the same? Is this the same thing? And now whatever way our story, I know you have written mine by being my friend. I didn't ask you the full question, but do you have something from Wicked for Good? I don't. Honorable mention. Okay, great. But this would have been my pick for good.

Right. So Wicked for Good. deeply imperfect movie. This is the theme of a lot of properties that we've talked about so far on this list. But you and I had a shared, like, response to the song for good that Glenda and Elphabas sang at the end of Wicked Cullin for Good. It's a titular song. And you and I were thinking about each other, and that's just like a very potent thing that happened to me this year. That whole, We clipped a very small amount from a not-the-movie version, and we're hoping legally we can get away with that. Carlos and I had a cold conversation about it. It's hard to clip music, but the full verse is it well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime.

So let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart and now whatever way our stories end, I know you've rewritten mine by being my friend. And this just comes across in the way that I think about story, and the way that I talk about story after having worked with you for four years and getting to talk to you about these things that mean so much to us. And I've even more to say about how important your friendship is to me, and I will try to save some of that for later. But inside of this song that I've actually heard a million times,

and then watching it this time, thinking about talking about this movie with you. And so having you so top of mind and having just the genuine life-altering impact your brain and heart have had on me felt important to represent here. So. Very important.

You're the best. I love you. Obviously, same. I couldn't agree more. It's just the joy of my life to get to talk about this stuff with you. It's funny. I was thinking back through the year and like the, you know, I loved a lot of the things that came out this year and that we covered or didn't cover,

but so many of my favorite memories of the year, things that didn't come out this year because we got to spend a lot of the year talking about, like, other stuff together. like I'm watching Buffy for the first time because of you, you know, not only because it means so much to you and you're like, you got it. You really like should see this. It's like a pretty important thing in our world. But because it's like, I remember a thing you said, to me once was this is the most formative to my very being thing in the world. And it's like,

so I have to, I have to experience it because it's part of knowing you, you know? And like what an incredible things to get to share. And, you know, I have to assume we'll both have stranger things coming at some point later today. Maybe not. I do. But certainly I was like, okay, I have a pick from the most recent episodes. I have something I want to talk about here. But even that pick... Definitely. I would say the rewatch was like the higher high for me than the actual new stranger things. Yeah. So even the thing I picked is like rooted in the shared experience. of having revisit it with you and, you know, the bad baby is sharing it with us and everything.

So like, you know, getting to do hot Nolan summer and to crisp Nolan fall and to who knows how we'll label it in the future when we keep it going and like we got to talk about back to the future this year. And like the Romanticie call out was like a great example because it's just, I don't know, so much of the calendar in the year is like dictated by the flow of releases and the tent pulls and those things. And it's like, yeah, this was such a fun year to explore. explore other things that either we love or like we wanted to share with each other. It was really great. I think we're both very excited looking ahead to future years and next year to know that there are really big things coming out that we can't wait to talk about, but also like, fuck, it's a Lord of the Rings anniversary.

Like, what a time to be us and podcasts together and be friends with each other. It's just like, it's so exciting. I mean, that's what I would say the theme of my list is, is like there are a few like these things happen this year in pop culture. But mainly it's like... I shared this year with you. And we had to get a little creative because not all of the content delivered for us. But I think we did. So I'm happy.

You know the best and I just absolutely adore you. I love you. This episode is brought to you by Target. Heads up, Stranger Things has returned to Target. And it's time to prepare for one last trip into the upside down. Head back to the 80s with rad exclusives like The Stranger Things, Season 5 vinyl filled with epic tracks from the show. and two awesome new gatorades and vintage look bottles.

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or scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing, pregnant, plan to be, or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepound with a sulfonal urea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsened kidney problems. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-800-545-99 or visit Zepbound.lily.com. My number six? Do you have anything from severance on your list?

I don't. this is how even though I get to spend um literal hours of every week with you just a embarrassment of riches how much of you of Joe I get every week and I'm always greedy for more I also got to have like a parissocial relationship with you this year and prestige TV podcast as as you know is my number one pod on Spotify

raft and I love getting to listen to you talk about things that I don't get to talk to you about and severance was one of my favorite shows and it was just a weekly highlight when the show was airing to listen to you and Rob talk about it and break it down together. And I thought the season was full of incredible high, so actually like had a hard time. There's a long list of contenders from Severance season two. Yeah.

And I surprised myself actually a little bit with the thing I picked. Carlos, can you play my clip? You know what I think? I think the second you get your wife back, you forget I ever existed. I think that I disappear along with every any down there. What do you want for me? We are in this together.

Can't you just trust me? No. Fucking dynamite. Great pick. So that is, spoilers. You know, we did say spoiler warning. That is from the season two finale of Severance. Episode 10, Cold Harbor.

When I was initially johnning down things I might pick from Severin season two. Arguably my favorite. of podcasting this year was listening to you and Rob break down the Burt Fields Irving dinner. So much kitchen and cookware commentary it just says it can't be missed. Can't be missed. That was obviously a contender.

Irving confronting Helly at the Orpbo, certainly a moment in television that is still in my mind and top of mind for me. I think everything with Gretchen and Dylan really stuck with me in a meaningful way. You know, I think obviously

in the severance season, there are like the episodes that maybe are the best. So that's a little different from the moments that are the best sometimes, but not always. Anyway, at the end of it, I just was like, severance is to me so fascinating and so consistently interesting in its ambition. And that's one of the things that I love about the genre stories that we get to cover. And like severance makes me think of lost and what made me like want to do this in the first place. like really think about and interrogate every little aspect and theorize with your friends. And then you get to these moments that reward that level of attention and investment.

And it's just a really satisfying feeling. So what we saw in that clip and what we heard in that clip is any and outy mark. Spoilers. Interacting at last at the birthing cabin. I just love how this was presented to us visually. Watching yourself on that little camcorder pain, but also it's an entirely different person. and that's kind of the point.

You know, his own life and his own desires and his own motivations. I loved the blue light bathing and the fireplace reflecting the orange light and like the literalizing of the outs. You're outside. So you're like, you've got the moonlight and you're inside. So you've got the fireplace. But the Audi and E visual rendering in that respect I thought was just like really clever as a bit of filmmaking as a bit of television making. Obviously this is a very important scene to set up the decision. that Mark makes at the end of the episode, certainly.

I just think, like, perfectly inventive and haunting and stirring as an encapsulation of the core themes and questions that the show is interested in asking, you know, about personhood and identity and balance, like, when you hear way more you than me or valuing your experience and sense of self, like, whatever this life is, it's all we have, and we don't want it to end. I love when we get to hear any Mark say that. And, you know, that great mistake outy Mark makes, like, Helena getting that wrong, right? And the diminishment of that, like,

I love that you had that experience. And then Eni Mark is like, that's the person I'm in love with, which you know if you'd ever taken an interest in my life before tonight when you needed something. She is the person I'll lose if you do what I say. And this idea of, like, what does it mean to be a person? what does it mean to have an entire sense of self

and an entire life and an existence that is important to you to protect, people you love, that you value above all other connections? But this idea, too, of like, how can you trust anyone in the world, including part of yourself if that part of you has a different goal? It's just, I don't know, it's like very emotionally resonant and also, I think, very intellectually stimulating, and I really enjoy the show. So, yeah, I wanted to have it on the list here.

I didn't put any severance or any pleuribus on the list, even though you and I had talked about, like, we could. I assumed you were asking that because of severance and plurmus, actually. Yeah, I kind of, but I was just sort of like, I don't know. I just decided I wanted to focus on things that I had talked about with you, but I hear what you're saying where you were like, I heard you talk about this. No, like, I don't remember at the end of the season, like, you and I were both like, why didn't we do severance on House of Our sort of moment?

But, like, if I were to pick episodes of the year, I think Chiquay-a-Bardo, the seventh episode and second season. Amazing. I wrote down Chikarabardo on my long list of like sort of things, but I couldn't really like pluck a moment and I kind of decided to leave it.

But I'm glad you honored Severn. It's a very important genre thing that happened this year. Remember when I was just incredibly concerned about the dog and sent you like 5,000 text messages? They do. People might or might not be surprised

to find out how many text messages I get from you are dog and our cat related. You're about animals. Yeah. You got a ton last night. I did not. It was Halo's adoption anniversary. A real Halo download.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Some Halo lore came through. Oh, man. Okay, we're into our top five. I have something from Stranger Things. Okay. My Stranger Things pick is F4. So let's do it here.

Great. And my five I already said was my Superman pick. So, yeah, let's do Stranger Things, and then I'll talk about Superman. Okay, great. Carlis, we play both of our clips, I guess, or the same one. Do you want to be friends? Hell, yeah.

All right, so we both pick something from very close to each other inside of the same episode, Sorcerer. Mallory, why don't you talk about your, since it comes chronologically first, why don't we talk about yours first? Yeah, so I've already hit this a little bit in a few minutes ago and talking about just like, undeniably one of the highlights of my year was revisiting stranger things with you. And like, for a lot of reasons, you know, it's one of the, like we talk a lot about monoculture and zeitgeist and how rare it is to like feel like any more you're engaging with something that other people are engaging with in real time too.

It's just really fun to get to share that with our listeners. So that's like great. So much of what we love about stranger things is like these nerds who just like found their strength in each other and their friendship with each other. And then also had somebody help them embrace that that was inside of them already. So I think that's just like an incredibly, actually difficult, like needle for a story to thread

to be able to do both, to say and reinforce both of those things, you will, you know, will powering up with the Spy Shack memory accompaniment, like hearing Robin's words again in that, moment, what she said to him earlier, little me, I could hardly recognize her. You know, she was so carefree and, like, fearless. And then I had the answers. I just needed to stop being so goddamn scared, scared of who I really was. Once I did that, oh, I felt so free. It's like I could fly, you know? And Mike telling Will, like, and you're like the sorcerer because, like, a sorcerer's powers

are innate. So it's like, the source of your strength is in you already. And maybe the thing that you are afraid of in yourself or don't like about yourself or think you need to be ashamed of about yourself is actually like the source of your power. And that means you have that already and it's there. But like one of the great joys and gifts of life is finding other people who help you embrace that and who celebrate that in you.

So like I loved seeing that for Will and knowing how meaningful it was going to be for like so many fans of stranger things. but also like that's how I feel about you and getting to do this with you. So yeah. I love you. Same. I loved the experience.

The experience of rewatching Stranger Things with you was so important, even though we had like already done it in our time together. We did it again. It's true. But it always deepens my appreciation for anything when I get to hear your insights about it. There become like these shared things. And so I remember when I was watching this moment. And I started, you know, you and I had sort of been texting a little bit, like, we had some reservations about some stretches of this first volume and stuff like that. And then the spy shack memory start rolling.

And, you know, for me, I lost it with Jonathan and Will building Castle Byers. And I texted you that I was crying. And then you were like, it's the Spyshack memories. You know, and we had just like just talked about that in season two. Yeah. And then this moment for Will, this moment. of power. And the reason I picked that moment, I considered doing the Spyshechak memories.

I'm glad it's all here. Yeah, same. That moment of like Will white contacts, you were like, he's the one doing it. Holy shit, this power up moment for a character is just like such, you know, similar to sort of your pick from severance, which is just like only in a sci-fi property. Right. Can you find an inside and outside version of someone having an argument with themselves? about X, Y, Z, et cetera.

Only in this, like, show where we've been deeply invested in these kids, like this superhero who's the hero, who's the monster sort of show. Can you have this, like, extremely, fuck, yeah, cool, level of moment for Will Byers, a character who, you and I both were like, what's been going on with Will? We would like to see more of him, you know, this season. And if anyone who worked on the season of television was listening to us, they were like, you dumb, binges have no idea what's coming. Just wait.

So, I mean, this is just like exhilarating, just an exhilarating genre moment of just like watching Will inside of his power. Save Lucas and save Mike and save Joyce and getting to watch and Robin and Murray and like not the kids, but, you know, there's more to come. But like, but watching, then watching Mike and Joyce look at Will and look at Will differently than they've looked at him. ever. Yeah. Just really, really special, really special moment. So good.

Yeah. You know, will something again in volume two or three reach even new heights is entirely possible. It's the end of a show that we've been invested in

for a decade. But I think we'll feel good about this pic no matter what these picks. I mean, I think, like no matter what happens in the finale, well, that's not true. I don't know.

Like Dustin might die and we'd be like, well, God for bill. God forbid, but. I won't be able to cope. I think it's, I think no matter what happens, if you're going to pull, like, what are the images of the final season of Stranger Things? Like, this will, this whole will sequence is sort of it.

I agree. And then you didn't, do you want to talk about Superman? Superman. Carlos, let's see my Superman clip. They sent me here to hurt people. Parents aren't for telling their children who they're supposed to be. We are here to give y'all two. help you make fools of yourselves all on your own.

Your choices, Clark. Your actions, that's what makes you who you are. Ah, pot can't. I loved this movie, and I really loved that scene. And I did limit, as I mentioned earlier, I limited myself to one DCU property. So if anyone is like, how could Eagley's hero strut from episode two not be here? It is an honorable mention, but it had to be an honorable mention because I knew I wanted,

I knew I wanted this pick from Superman to be here. The world has turned on Superman, right? And Clark feels scared, confused, but also betrayed by the truth around which he oriented his entire life, like what he thought was the truth, that his parents were good people and that they wanted him to do good things. And then back in Kansas, he is reminded just through the grace and empathy of a person who actually knows him of who he really is and what family really means. And I thought it was lumply and really, really tender. And one of the things that I think we always respond to what's

superhero movies is like, what's relatable, right? Yeah, what's human? Yeah, it's not always easy to relate to being the most powerful being in the world, but it is relatable to know what it feels like to be completely lost because something that you thought was true

about who you are isn't and you don't know where to look then to define yourself. I think that the substance of what Paa is saying to Clark here is just really worth, like, celebrating and embracing, you know, obviously, like, there's the aspect of this that I'll get to in a second about just, like, what form does family take? And embracing that, right? That these are his parents, too, and that what they think of him and that they have given him is really worth celebrating as well.

But also just what Paa says here, it's like the, it's not even the opposite. It's that, like, more than one thing can be true at once, like parents aren't for telling their children who they're supposed to be. That line really struck me and has stuck with me because I think that this idea of like defining who you are by where you came from or what was passed down to you or who your parents were or who the generation before was,

like what is important in a culture? Like that stuff all is really meaningful too. But if... And we're going to actually, I think we'll both get to a pick shortly where that is very centered as an embrace, right, and as a positive. But for Clark here, like, remembering that that doesn't have to be the totality of who he is, is what somebody else thought he was going to be or should be, is, I think, really important. And obviously, like, the hug, and I couldn't be more proud of you.

And then Ma can't come out and saying, oh, mush, like, all very great. But you build toward the end where Clark goes back to the fortress of solitude and asks Gary, good old Gary, you know, Gary says, would you like to see the footage of your parents? And like we've been programmed in the movie by that point to expect a certain thing. And then what we get instead is home video footage. Very Spyshack memory. Robin Will 8mm home video. Ma and Pa, Kent and Little Clark in Kansas just being a family who decided to love each other.

And like, I think that's awesome. So certainly considered everything with Crypto, who I thought was a legend. Considered Mr. Terrific's musical moment set to five years time, which was fucking awesome. awesome. We love that. Yeah. Tough to get to the end of the year and not celebrate Jimmy Olson's Surprise Stickman one more time or everything with Guy Gardner's haircut. But yeah, it had to be Clark and podcast for me. I just thought that was great. I've never been more, I've never been happier, I think, to be wrong, where I was like had so many reservations about James Gunn taking over for Superman on Superman just because, of course he knows how to do

emotionality and found family. And of course he's done that with Guardians. But there's always been this, like, snark to him that I was just, like, really didn't want anywhere near my Superman property. And I will say, like, some of the Guy Gardner stuff wasn't my favorite inside of Superman. Like, there are ways in which it came through that, like, was not my fate. But he nailed what really matters so much about and who, he just really gets who Clark is. Yes. Which is something that I just don't think, like, the last iteration of Superman, the last couple iterations

of Superman, oh, on screen. I'm not talking about TV Superman's as a whole different. Canter worms, like, have really gotten. I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen in film a Clark that I really recognized. And this is just a perfect example. It's a perfect clip to pick of just sort of like getting the kents right matters. Yeah, exactly. More than getting Zod right.

So, you know, to me. So, yeah. All right, my number four is a blatant cheat of time and space. Carlos, will you play this clip? You know, I support it. Sorry, Jenny. This is where you get off. I mean,

Buffy this Vampire Slare. Have you heard of it? Mallory already mentioned this, but getting to share Buffy Vampire Slayer, getting to share my favorite television show ever, getting to share this episode Passion, which is season two, episode 17,

with you, which is a television moment. I mean, spoilers for Buffy and for passion, I guess, but a television moment that forever altered my understanding of what was possible in story, getting to talk to you at length about how much this meant to me, getting to experience the buildup of you meeting Jenny Callender and Carrie about Jenny Callender and knowing what's coming for Jenny Calendar was coming for Giles was coming with Angel, like getting to watch you meet Angelus, like getting your texts as I have the last couple weeks, like you're into season three and and spoiler you're having a great time with season three so like

i mean so it just matters to share things with people that you love and um i love you more than almost anything in this world and i love buffy and uh you've just i i knew you would i wasn't like really nervous that you wouldn't but yeah yeah the way that you've loved it um has meant a lot to me so same yeah um this is we talk a lot about our influence on each other but you picking something that aired years and years ago and a top moments of 2020 it's the first time I've actually really been like it's a real Mallory moment for me I've left my mark on Joe fuck the rules fuck the rules I'm gonna do what I want I love it I support it no challenge here I think that's great um thank you fantastic pick

fantastic way to make the rules of the exercise work for you and for us and for the bad babies. I don't think anybody's going to be mad at that. I can't wait to do the season three pot at the top of the year. It's my favorite season so far. Obviously, I love season two, but season three is just, I'm just adoring it. Giles has altered my life. Mallory has seen fan candy. Oh, I've seen pan candy.

Oh, I've seen band candy. Last night I texted you a link to a mug, a jade mug, on the Carhart Work in Progress website, and it had the Carhart WIP Heart logo on a jade mug, and I was like, I wonder if someone at Carhart is a Giles fan. We are Legion. I just, I see Giles everywhere. I mean, I wish I saw Giles everywhere, but I do. I see Giles everywhere. Can't wait for that pod.

Can't wait to continue watching and sharing. the first two seasons with you and now a few episodes, a sense just via text and in person conversation, not in on the pod, has been like just the absolute thrill of a lifetime. It's the best. I feel so enriched by the experience of sharing it with you, truly. It's been incredible. Scene number four. My number four was Stranger Things, so I think we're into the top three.

Yeah, right? Yeah. Top three times. This is one where we might have the exact same or if not from, certainly from the same scene, is where do you want to talk about the last of us? I have it at number two. Great. What's your number three?

Do you have anything from sinners? I don't. Okay, I'm picking something that you just talked about beautifully and brilliant on the musical moments. I thought it was possible that maybe because you had just honored it there that you didn't pick it here. And I thought, okay, great.

This is the way we can have it here as well. Carlos, clip us. Magic what we do. It's sacred. There are legends of people born with the gift of making music so true. It can pierce the veil between life and death. Levitating. I love this movie.

It's so fucking good. This is, of course, Ryan Cougler's sinners. This is Sammy Pearson the veil at the juke. Joe, you just talked about this. You just hosted this moment as one of your favorite musical moments, not just of the year. Quarter Century.

Of the quarter century. This is, centers is one of the best movies of the year. This is in the running for best scenes in a movie this year. Maybe ever, honestly. Yeah, I mean, yeah. Yeah, maybe ever.

Why not? You know? Maybe ever. No, I mean, not, well, in the running. In the running. It needs to be considered. It deserves to be considered. Absolutely sensational.

Thinking about going to see sinners, and I talked about this obviously before, but like going to see sinners and going to see Doom Part 2 last year, like those are similar. Like I saw them multiple times in the theaters, wanted to see them in the IMAX, wanted to see in the biggest screen possible with as many people as possible, just like feel the energy of the room around you. This is just like such a human experience I had this year. And it's funny, I talked to a couple people who watched it at home. like on streaming, and there's nothing wrong with that, obviously. But, like, I talked to some people who were like, oh, I didn't like really get into sinners or whatever. And I was just sort of like, that's possible no matter to where you are, I suppose.

But I really feel like it would be harder for you to not succumb to the lure of this if you weren't, like, in the theater, like, with people watching it. But no matter what, I think it plays, you know? Yeah. Yeah. My feeling is it is such a masterpiece that it is undeniable in any form. But obviously, try to optimize the viewing if you can. And it's a mesmerizing film start to finish.

But this stretch where Sammy performs, I lied to you, is just astonishing. And again, you spoke about this so poetically and so beautifully, just a couple of pods ago. So everyone should go back and listen to that if they haven't. The soul-stering nature of this performance here, the way, as you talked about, the eye of the camera moves us through not only like the rhythm and choreography and, like, structure of the scene, but through the idea of a shared experience, through the idea, like, literalizing that. sense of music uniting, and then, of course, uniting across time, across generations, because this veil piercing for the power of the performance summons the spirits and unites across time and, of course, also draws Remick, which... You got double Jack O'Connell on your list. I love this for you.

No complaints. No complaints here. This is just, it's powerful, it's inventive, it's evocative, it's just, it's like, it is so assured and enrapturing and just utterly original. So really sensational. I hope that this movie is honored with many Oscars because it deserves to be. Can I just say that you having two musicals on your list?

That's your influence on me. K-pop and sinners makes you really happy. And I almost had Wicked. I would say Wicked is my first honorable mention, probably. And so yeah, it's been a big year for music. Lovely stuff. All right. So your three is my two. Last of Us.

The last of us. But if somehow I had a second chance at that moment, I would do it all over again. Because you're selfish. Because I love you in a way you understand. I think that's really funny. So in the end of this, you will probably just see one clip. But Mallory and I picked clips from this scene that are literally back to back. I love it.

Daddy Joel on the porch with Ellie in C. Season 2, Episode 6, The Price. And why don't you talk about why this? I mean, this is obviously the moment, but why don't you talk about why? Everything about this is just gut-wrenching still. You know, the work that Craig Mason and Neil Druckman have done through the first two seasons adapting these wonderful games into this brilliant show, covering the last Last of Us With You has been one of my favorite experiences in podcasting, period.

It has just been, first of all, like a world that we both got to discover for the first time together, which is always such a fun thing to share. This moment, I mean, season two, there were plenty of things that people didn't enjoy as much about season two. I think season two had a lot of really high highs, obviously like episode two, seismic. undeniably, you know, I think Joel singing future days to Ellie, Ellie singing take on me to Dina, the fateful Joel,

Joel Abbey, confrontation, etc. No shortage of choices to pick here. This was, other than what we'll get to at number one, I think, the easiest pick of the pod for me, because it is not only one of the lasting images and moments of this year, but just like

of a story that I adore and world that I love spending time in. I think that the performances in this scene from Petro Pascal and Belle Ramsey are undeniable. I think that the emotion that is on display here is like astonishing and gobsmacking and a wallop that is difficult to describe the timing and positioning of this scene in the season and in the show, actually, period, in the season, but also in the show based on, you know, the game adaptation, the change of where this this key conversation moving it up here.

But then just in the context of this season of TV, in the show, by the time we get this in episode six, which is this beautiful stitching together of all of these vignettes and memories, and we're watching again in new ways with new insights, this relationship that we care so deeply about, build across time and become the center of the universe, not only for us as players or viewers, but for Joel and Ellie themselves, right?

This force that their decisions orient around. And Joel, by the time we are seeing this, is gone. And like we have seen earlier in the season, Ellie, you know, without us knowing as show viewers, obviously, if you play the game, you're aware, like, Ellie says to Jesse the next morning, like, I'm still me, he's still Joel, and we, nothing's ever going to change that.

But it's too late. because he's about to be gone. And then we are watching Ellie sink into the abyss, right? And so the line that you picked, the quote that you picked, like, I hope you do a little bit better than me. We've seen what's happened with Nora. We know where the quest for vengeance is pointing, Ellie, on the abbey front.

And it is devastating. And so you have this, like, beautiful portrait of shared history, the guitar, the coffee. the home that they built together in Jackson, the jacket, the fact that, like, Ellie knows and tells Joel in this conversation on the porch that she knows he was lying to him because she knows him. It was the same face, the same fucking look, that you can only recognize that betrayal on somebody because you know them better than anybody else.

And the way that this conversation centers on the key themes and the key relationships, these things that we have loved talking about and covering Last of Us from episode one, who's the us? What do we inherit across generations? You know, we get to learn something about Joel and his father in this stretch and like this idea of how can we not just learn to maybe be a little bit better, but like do we care enough to try? Are we willing to try to be a little bit better?

So I don't think I can forgive you for this, but I would like to try is the most powerful thing, not only that you could say to somebody else, but that you could do for yourself. and the way that forgiveness, like this question of can you forgive another person, but can you allow yourself, can you grant yourself that grace of forgiveness is so core? Like how do we process our guilt? How do we process our shame? How do we justify the decisions that we've made?

You can't heal something unless you're brave enough to say it out loud. That's what Gail will tell us, right? That's what Gail did tell Joel. And so the idea of the price and needing to pay the price when every day you're paying the price and you're putting that price on yourself and you know other people are putting it on you. Like, how do you think about your own purpose when Ellie says you took that from me? Like, you took it from everyone.

But what would you, what do we do for love? Like, what do we do because of the love in our life? I just think that core intention of exploring that inside of the story is consistently so interesting to me. And when you pair that with these unbelievably heartrending performances here, there was no way it wasn't going to be near the top of the list. I think the theme for me for most of these picks, barring one we're about to get to, is most of the things I saw this year, in my opinion, were bumpy. There were very few things that I felt like they really, really nailed it this year in terms of what we cover. There were some actually massive disappointments for me inside of things that I was excited about, like Daredevil.

There are things that just really didn't deliver for me. Captain America, Brave New World. I was not as high as you were on Fantastic Four, like all these other things. There's also, we were talking about this, and we were talking about Pedro Pascal earlier this year, and having seen, you know, Gladiare to Eddington, Fantastic Four, I was just like, there are people who don't know what to do with Pedro Pascal.

And then there's this, this communion of performer and rule. And this, like, watching him, in the scene, watching both of them. I think Bella Ramsey's incredible in the scene, but watching him in the scene, we're watching this to figure out what I wanted to clip. I was like, is there a better actor that exists? The same.

And then Pedro Pascal in this moment, like, you know, the way that he's just like choking to get through the emotion to be able to communicate this with her, how it is so painful. Like, you could almost feel the tightness in his throat trying to get it out. The way in which, in a meta way,

this is like a parting of the ways for two actors who really bonded on this, on this show. And inside a bumpy season, having like this episode, which felt end-to-end, you know, a question we were having this season was like, will it be the same without Joel? It's not. There's still a lot that you and I really, really connected with, but it is not the same show and that's okay. Things can change. But having this episode really, really mattered, I think. Having you mentioned, you know, my guy, Tony Dalton, shows up as Javier, his father. So this is like added lore. Yeah.

This sequence. And so the reason I picked that line of like, you know, you should ever have one of your own, well, then I hope you do a little better than me, this callback to something that his father said to him, this extra information that we get about this watch that we've been tracking this whole time. You know, like all of this stuff is just hugely emotionally resonant. And I just think that like having Neil Druckman and Hallie Grove, not only write and put this episode together with Craig, but talk about it, talk about what the video game meant to them

and talk about what these characters mean to them. And especially knowing that Neil is stepping back from the project going forward, it becomes this really like, you know, precious, you know, time in a bottle sort of moment for us in our community with the show. So I love it. I love that you pick Paw Kent as well.

So we have some couple, dad on a porch moments to go here at the end. I have a type. Yeah, yeah. And Alexi, that's right. It's a three-fer. Oh, man. Dad stuff, go.

All right. The best. So this, now we are, your number two. Is your number one. And it's, I'm certain the exact same thing. I would be shocked if it's not. So Carlos, Carlos, please play this.

Who are you? My dad, Gilroy, directed by Yonis Mets. This is from the episode, Who Are You? from the perfect season of television that is and or season two is episode eight this is as good as it gets zero down my mind that we would have this as our and or moment zero down my mind this would be at the top of our list again a lot of bumpy properties this year this is just so assured and so important and uh i will just talk about this briefly before i give it over to but i will just say our early investment in zero karn is the character The magic trick that Andor has pulled of, you know, Rogue One in the first place, the mission of Rogue One was to show us these side characters we didn't know about in the rebellion and how it takes all, you know, every step forward, every hand on the relay race to get us to where we needed to go inside of the original trilogy of Star Wars.

This takes us even deeper into that world. And so we get your Dejras, your Cyril Karns, your Lonys, you're whoever. I actually, like, my second runner-up with Lonnie on the bench, honestly. Same. So like, game. And with Lonnie and Cyril, it's the same thing where it's just like, who are you? Nobody talks about you. Nobody knows you.

Nobody knows who the fuck Cyril is. And Cyril, you know, again, a deeply flawed and, and sourceful by fascism character that and or presents as this unflinchingly complicated world in the, Inside of a property, Star Wars, that sometimes people can reduce to light side, dark side. The fact that, like, this show is way more interested in the shades of gray that are happening, as Star Wars has been in various properties throughout the years. But this is just, like, pixelated shades of gray of just sort of like, what can you find inside of a Dedramuro? What can you find inside of Monmothma? What can you find inside of all these people?

Your Luthens, your Cleas, your whatever the case may be. and for Cyril Karn to have been fixated from the very beginning, gazing at a hollow image of Cassian Andor, being like, this is my white whale, going off book, off book of his career, just like really fucking up his life all in pursuit of this man to only be confronted here at the end of all things with who are you?

And then that's fully sound of the bolt just going through his brain matter. And then it's over. That's it for you, Cyril Karn. And it's just like, I have empathy for Cyril. Of course. While also not feeling like it's not like he didn't get what he deserved, given everything that he was complicit to, eagerly complicit in. But it's just like, I love this show. It feels like a miracle that this show exists.

And it feels like a miracle of this moment exists. And getting to talk to you about it, getting to talk to CR a little bit about it, like in group texts, getting to dive into World War II history of the resistance and like watching documentary. memories and then like us getting to talk to Tony about like star wars in general the bad babies pitching a spinoff that tony was like so into that it went viral like it's just this is what franchise storytelling should be at its finest and i feel so lucky like the fact that there were so many stumble fumbles along the way across other franchises i would take all of that if it meant I got another perfect season of Andor.

If this is the only great thing we got this year, but it's not. I mean, sinners exist, as you mentioned, you know, outside of franchise storytelling, there's a lot of stuff that's going on. Pluribus is not on my list just because I'm not done with the season. And I really just, like, want to wrap it up before I weigh in. But yeah, that's Andor. Okay, what do you want to say about Argy Cyril Kern? I mean.

And it is a tailored callers. Listen, yeah, the piping of the union. to form the tailoring of the collar. You know, our and our pots for season two were legit, no joke, four hours long. So I think that our thoughts and feelings have been committed to the public record. We've talked about it. You know, that's there waiting for everybody. Covering the show with you was just like, every now and then you have an experience where you're like, I'm spending my life the right way.

I can't believe I get to do this. You know? And it was one of those things. It's funny because my dad, speaking of dads, and my dad loves a porch. I will say my dad loves to sit on the porch and look out at the trees, often with a cold beverage in his hand. My dad, my biggest fan in the world, my biggest supporter in the world, he loves the pod. He's always paying attention. He's always trying to be in.

I've only gotten one all caps. I'm losing my mind text from him ever, though, and it was you, Gawaini Giles. And then, you know, he caught up on Andor. And it's funny because, like, I think no matter what each individual person's, like, exact moral relationship or level, the two or level of empathy for Cyril is. And it's been so interesting to hear Tony Gilroy talk about that

and how he views Cyril and the level of, like, a tenderness. that he feels toward him. And obviously, you know, we, one of our recurring bits across covering and or across the seasons, given our, I think it's fair to say, obsession with Cyril and Dedra and, you know, our great affection for talking about Partagaz and Krennick, et cetera, the number of times that we had to say, like, we don't endorse fascism. We do. The empire, we have some now.

Empire, bad. But that is, of course, to the show's credit, as you said, you know. I love the point you're making about one of the core mandates and ambitions of Rogue One into Andor and exploring all of the people who helped shape galactic events. You know, one of the things that we loved talking about so much was understanding the path that rebellions are built on hope traveled and the way that that little ember of hope was something that people could tend and the flame builds and grows as you, as you handed off to another person.

Like what a cool thing that was. And so of course it's like that's a true thing for the heroes, but I think the point you're making is brilliant and really crucial. It has to be as true for not only the people on the other side, but the people everywhere in the story, for the story to feel as rich and full and true as this one. And in this moment, everything on Gorman, the Gorman Massacre could have been picked for the top moment of the year.

I think that this is, there were a lot of good episodes of TV, this year. This is the best episode of TV of the year for me. I'm standing still on my corner of this episode of television should be nominated for Best Picture. That's how I feel about it. It doesn't need to be because TV as a medium is worth celebrating. I thought that this was an all-timer, and I didn't think it was possible after season one of Andor, given the shift that we were going to make in the arcs and the passage of time to top to top season one. I didn't think it was possible.

And the highs that we reached in season two, like, I just think this is one of the best seasons of television ever made. Ever. And it's funny then because, like, you have so many moments that contribute to that. And I think we could do a list of just Andor and

and or season two moments that was a hundred dozens, maybe hundreds of entries long. And yet this was like, just there was no denying that this was going to to take the top spot. You know, did I say should I lean into the

should I put sweet B sipping through the Rye and beeping and booping with his friends as my pick? Maybe. But B is here with us always. That's part of the takeaway. So yeah.

You know, this was the first thing that popped into my head and the last thing to leave, I guess, right? It's like up there with Luther's speech from season one and Kito,

you know, Loi saying can't swim. It's just, like it's going to be kind of burned into our retinas, I think, and embedded in our hearts and heads forever. How are you? I love to, like, the choice to bring Rylance into that moment to fire the shot is so, it's really emblematic to me of what Andor does best, where there's always that one extra

layer and degree of thought and care put into reinforcing the way that the ripples of your decisions will not only impact galactic history, but your own life too. I just think like the, I love that we got to see Cyril lower his gun and we can think about that and chew on that and think about the tragedy of Cyril Karn and what his mother did to him and how easy it is,

not that it excuses any of those choices that he made, but to lean into the noxious, foul forces around you. And of course, one of the, you know, great things about covering the story is, like you said, you mentioned the documentaries and books and everything you read. Like, this asked, asked, but also invited its audience to think really seriously about real-life correlators and comps, which are all around us right now and, of course, across time. And you pair that with, like, the individual, just the individual. Cyril's obsession with Cassian is the defining, orienting force of his life.

Everything he does is about Cassian. And Cassia doesn't even know who he is. And so you bring, you shrink the story into two people and what they mean or don't mean to each other, the Dandraper, as we said at the time. But also you pan out for it to be about everything in Star Wars and everything in the history of the world. Like what an achievement. It's just, it's Titanic. Inside of, it feels increasingly that we are being encouraged not to think. Mm-hmm.

Across all mediums that, you know, like just turn your brain on. off with AI Slop and whatever. And so, like, the fact that we have something like Andor, not just something like Andor that feels like a little gemstone, but inside, like that Tony, because of his history with Kathy Kennedy or whatever, was able to do this inside of the Star Wars universe. You know, this isn't like a niche little maybe Apple TV plus sci-fi show that we love that people didn't watch, you know, like Enor might not be the most popular Star Wars things that ever existed, but a ton of people watch it because it's Star Wars.

And I feel really grateful that it exists. Me too. I miss it. I miss it. Tell me about your number one. It's been 1,360 days since we last saw a Cobb van. And that's upsetting to us. And I've heard, you know. Too long. Yeah. It's too long. Well, let me say that one, the flip side of that is you telling me that count is so lovely and so nice

to me. So I just want to say no, that's not nothing. I appreciate it. Oh, my God. The best. Is it completely like absolutely out of pocket for me to pick

a moment from our own podcast as the number one moment of the year? Perhaps. But, so that was Timothy Oliphant for an alien earth interview after I did have the pleasure of meeting him as San Diego Comic-Con. He came on the podcast, talked about Alien Earth, but also he engaged with one of our favorite ongoing podcast bits, which is the Cobb Vance count from the Mandalorian.

So this is actually like a much bigger conversation I want to have a hear at the end of the pod, because this is another moment. Yet another moment, I have interviewed so many people in my career, a ton of people. I think I'm like pretty good in interviewing people. I'm like, I'm decent. You're the best. Something different about when I interview people with you or influenced by you is that you have, I tend to, I think it comes from like imposter syndrome of being at Vanity Fair before I think I was ready to be at Vanity Fair or whatever. I'm just like, I need to be smart and serious and like, you know, get some profound like answers or whatever. And then you are all of those things.

And I love every time we interview someone and someone's like, oh my God, that's so brilliant. I love when they say that when you've like, you know, laid something on them. God. But then you also just, like, have fucking fun with it, which is something that I was never great at, and I've gotten better at, like, being around you. You've really influenced me in that way. And so you were the one who were like, we have to ask him about college. Like, you were the one who made me say that.

And in fact, I think you, like, prompted me within the interview. And I was, like, nervous to bring it up. And it's, like, the highlight of my life. And so that is, like, that is incredibly important to me. But I'm... Oh, man. I... But in a larger sense, this will forever be the year where I got diagnosed with cancer and I had a cancer scare and had to have surgery and tried to be very like stiff up our lip about it and was like, you know, largely like I'm pretty proud about the way I conducted myself for that whole thing.

But it was very scary. and you were so supportive to me immediately. Just, I can't even describe. I have lovely people here at home who were very supportive to me. But the way in which you stepped up and showed up for me inside of that moment in my life is something I will never, ever forget. The way that a lot of ringer people stepped up for me, the way that Amanda and Juliet reached out to me,

the way that Van called me, the way that Charles walked me back from a hospital. to the hotel so that both of them, Van and Charles could tell me about their personal relationship to cancer and their family. The way that you and Rob, who are like my pod sister and pod brother just like showed up, took over on alien earth coverage and just like didn't make me feel like I was like, I mean a little bit fomo, but like mostly just that I felt supported and cared for and that you guys would like cover for me and then like have my seat warm for me when I wanted to come back. is indescribably important to me.

So yes, like Tim Holofent on the pod was like a huge moment in my life. And there's no one I would rather spend time with. But what I think about alien earth, I think about you and Rob really just like being family for me and taking care of me, which is something that's really hard for me to accept help. And you guys made it really, really easy.

so thank you so much I've kind of practiced this and tried to do it without crying but I couldn't so that is that is where I'm sorry this is so self-indulgent but um this it's such a thing that happened to me this year and you are I don't know how I would have done it without you and I don't know how to describe I don't know how to tell people who are listening like who you are because they think they know and they know a lot because you are so generous with like your heart and yourself on this podcast, but like you are just like the truest bluest person I know

and have ever met. And I love you with everything I have. So. Oh my God. Joe. Thank you. Oh my God. I just, I love you so much. You know, the just depth of feeling that I have for you and how important you are to me is like, you know,

not possible to articulate or explain. And I think that, um, you are just like a source of light and joy in my life and in so many people's lives. And the, obviously just like the courage and the strength, but also I think the choice that you made to, really led people into your experience and share with them things that were important to you, but also could be helpful to them? Like, I was so struck by that and still am. I mean, what a very, very, very private and difficult thing. And to choose to share that with other people because it might help them.

It might give them the strength to ask a question, you know, or to stand up for themselves. was just astonishing to me to watch. And, you know, I hope that every minute of every one of those days, as you were navigating something unthinkable, you felt love that people have for you because you deserve to. And you deserve to feel out every day, right? But I hope that you felt it then. And we're reminded of how much you mean to people because you were,

for me and for so many others, It's just, all right. It's not really possible to think about the things that bring me joy without thinking about sharing them with you. That's how I feel. How about you? I think you're the best. So sorry, Carlos. They used to deal with two adult women weeping in over Zoom here at the end of the pod.

But there was no, I was just like there was never, I had to do this. I had to pick this moment. Sharing this with you, sharing how old age with you, sharing your first Comic-Con. doing something scary going up on stage of a hall age. So proud of you. Knowing you were there in the audience meant the world to me. So, yeah, it's been a, we had a year. We had a year.

Timmy on stage in his pig sear-sucker suit. Going like this to point at you. Timmy backstage being like, I just met Luke Skywalker because Mark Hamill was across the room. So watching Tim like geek out about meeting Mark Hamill was just, just like really fun. And yeah, and just, and being there with a larger, you know, ring reverse fan. And just like, yeah.

And the way that you, the way that Carlos, the way that Arjuna, like, just like, just like, Arjuna is just like so amazing. So, yeah, I just, I love you all. This has been a really tough year. But I'm really proud of what we've done together. And I'm really grateful to our community. Our listeners have just been phenomenal throughout the year. even when the content was not there for us, they were.

So, so yeah. So let's hoping, let's bring this energy of like, we can do anything, even if the content's bad. And what if the content's fucking phenomenal next year? And, you know, and it's a Lord of Rings anniversary. Exactly. And you have several seasons of Buffy you still haven't seen. Exactly.

The Buffy Rewatch continues a Rings anniversary. We're getting two throat shows. We're maybe getting Dune's Day. We're getting Dune. I mean, interview with the vampire season three. Interview of season three. Will we see next year in some slice of pop culture in our universe?

And even more notable sex cardigan? It's possible. I mean, if anyone could pull it off, it's the vampire list of it. But to stay tuned to find out. Do you want to hit us with some, any on any on? honorable mentions we haven't gotten to. We've hit a bunch of them kind of as we've, as we've gone through. The daredevil moment that I alluded to was just the Punisher returning.

You know, that first conversation between Frank and Matt in a very wobbly season of TV. As you know, that was too electric. Very good. That was so good. You know, seeing Mari in the Pit on the list of, feels like really just for us, but also fun to see that it's for everyone. Mari in the Pit really almost made it. That was like my, like, I had a TK at the bottom for like a while and,

and Mari in the Pit was really close to being on there. It's hard to leave Mari in the Pit off, honestly. It's so core to who we are as people. In a way, putting in an honorable mentions just means we get to end on it. So like, it's true. There you go. I can't wait to do this again at the end of next year. Maybe we'll have to expand to 20 because the 2006 release will be so good.

tearing a dream here's hoping and we will have consumed home-brewed mead the week prior you know why not why not that mead was good i've been thinking about it it's we as i said we had our lord of the rings wash day and we like got through like a couple jugs of that mead so yeah wow a jug and like some bottles is what i would say, yeah. Great stuff. All right. Those were our top moments of 2025. Can't wait to do it again next year. Can't believe we've done four of these. Can't wait to do four or 40 more, you know? Can't wait to do this forever. I love you. I love sharing this with you. We love the bad babies. You guys are the best. Thanks for another wonderful year of listening and watching, watching, commenting on the pause, emailing us, making us needle points.

with our respective apples on it. I mean, what won't you guys do? You're the best. I have mine now. I got to incorporate it. It's time to redo the entire office. It might be time to let the Doritos go. We'll see.

Those are going to be here forever. Thank you, as always. It's Carlos Chiroboga. Killing it. Clip Lord, producer extraordinaire, the best. And thank you, as always. to Arjuna Ramga Powell and Jomi Adonaron. What a crew the house of our team is.

The absolute best. Can't wait to share our 2026 together. We will see you all for the holiday gift swap in MIR days. So we'll figure out a structure for that that allows us to have a lot of fun. It's going to be great. And of course, for Stranger Things Volume 2 and Stranger Things Volume 3. Until then. Protect Dustin.

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