What If Season 3 of Marvel's 'What If...?' Was Actually Interesting? Plus Golden Globes Highlights!

>> Sarah : Greetings, Nerds. This is Scene N Nerd I'm your host, Sarah Belmont. M. And with me, as always, is our Mr. Producer, Will Polk How are you doing tonight, Will?

>> Will: Doing very well, Sarah. Happy, New Year. I know it's the 7th, but, this first time we've actually. I know we've texted and stuff, but first time we've actually talked. So Happy new year.

>> Sarah : Happy 2025.

>> Will: Yes, yes, it is, indeed.

>> Sarah : It is. It is kicking off and things are happening. I mean, the Golden Globes were held.

>> Will: Yeah. All time for a change. I think they're finally. I think award season is back on track.

>> Sarah : Well, I don't. Yeah, yeah, time wise. Time wise. They still make some very weird choices with this stuff. I did watch, Nikki Glaser's, full opening monologue, and I thought it was good. Okay, Good, decent. Like, I wasn't, like, over, like, blown away, but she played it safe. She definitely played it safe with a lot of the stuff, but she also. It wasn't boring either. So, and then I watched Sebastian Stan's acceptance speech. I watched Demi Moore's acceptance speech. and that was about it, I think, of the acceptance speeches, and I just. I then found myself in this tunnel of Antony Mackie stalking Sebastian just to make sure that Everybody knows their BFFs. I mean, no, we saw the Civil War press tour. Okay, we know.

>> Will: Yep. Civil War. We saw the Falcon and Winter Soldier press tour. As much as they could do it, given the time. Yeah, I guess it was. I guess it was removed at that point. But, yeah, we saw it all. So, Yeah, I, Yeah, I, you know, I agree with you. I did not see Nikki's, opening monologue, but I did see where it was very well received and they were thinking about bringing her back again for. For a host. The last time I saw her do a bit was the, Tom Brady roast, but, Which was, which was pretty fun. But, Yeah, yeah.

>> Sarah : And I also. I think the funny thing is the biggest news to come out of the Golden Globes is really the fact that everyone. It's. It's kind of confirmed, but from my understanding, it's not confirmed by either one of them, but that Tom Holland and Zendaya are engaged, so.

>> Will: Yeah. Yeah, I thought you were going to say the Vin Diesel. Hey, Dwayne.

>> Sarah : No, that was such, like, a small thing that. I mean, I mean, Zendaya.

>> Will: I know. I'm just giving it heart. I'm just messing with you.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah. No, no, yeah, yeah. Not, So. So, yeah, and. And I mean, anything about anybody who won?

>> Will: No, I mean, Shogun, which, you know, give me my opportunity to, like, you know, remind everyone that that was my number one show for. For the year of 2024. one in every category was nominated for, so one, drama, Anna Sawai, one actress. Hiroki Sonata won the, actor. And, Thando, Asano won for, supporting for Jabba Shuge. So,

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, I saw that, and I was like, well, at least my guy got something. He should have got an Emmy. He should have got an Emmy. He didn't. But.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And of course, Colin Farrell, for Penguin with the Limited Action. Limited, series anthology category. So, which was, I think, pretty much as expected.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, there. There. There was. There was no way. Did Christina get it for.

>> Will: No, she did not.

>> Sarah : Okay.

>> Will: She did not. I can't remember who won in that category. I don't have the list in front of me right now.

>> Sarah : The list. But this is just organized in a very. Oh, Jodie Foster won it for True Detective.

>> Will: That's right. That's right.

>> Sarah : That's hilarious.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : that's so sad. But Penguin and. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was. It's funny to me. I will admit I forgot to mention how I watched Kieran Cold Gins, too. But for some reason, the clip I watched, because there's no way I'm watching the full, full thing. I'm watching clips. People I watched didn't really have, like, the announcement. It just showed him getting up there. So I didn't really. This is hilarious. This is how much I pay attention, people. I was like, succession has been gone for a while. I mean, and then. And then it dawned on me, like, within the first 10 seconds, because he. He does thank Jesse Eisenberg that it was, for the movie, a real pain. But I was just. I just. He's somebody, too, who, He did the actors on Actors, studio thing with, Cole. Oh, my God. I'm blanking on his name. I want to say it's Coleman.

>> Will: Oh, Colman. Domingo.

>> Sarah : Domingo. Yeah. Yeah, those two. Wow. That. That was very entertaining to watch. It's one of the better of the actors on Actors, because Kieran will literally say whatever he wants. And. And, And Domingo is clearly amused. Clearly. Just. Just. And also very inquisitive.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : So. So you have somebody who likes to ask questions and can ask some really good ones, and then you have someone who could, say, could just takes the question and turns it into something else. And then you go into a con. Like, it's a great pairing, between. Between two people. Like, really good. like. Like there's Sebastian, Stan and Antony Mackie chemistry. This is something different.

>> Will: Okay.

>> Sarah : But still good. But still for very different reasons. So.

>> Will: Cool. Cool. Yeah, I'll check that one out.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was. I was at least entertained by it. And he just. Every now and then, you just forget how long Kieran has been in the industry.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : I mean, every now and then I think about the movies from my childhood that he was starring in as, like, a teenager, and I'm like, that's the same kid who grew up to be. To play on succession. That's not weird at all. Oh, man. all right, substance didn't win, right?

>> Will: it did not. But obviously Demi, won her first award for any category.

>> Sarah : Okay. Amelia Perez won. Yeah, that's right. Got it. Okay.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : And that's a Netflix movie. Okay.

>> Will: Yeah, that's Netflix movie. Wicked one. The, best, Box office M award that, I guess it's like the pop culture award because it has, like, all the, like, hot, big box office movies and stuff. Even though. Even though Wicked was that.

>> Sarah : Yeah. It's basically the People's Choice Award for Best Picture overall. Yeah, we'll see. I mean, I used to think that the golden, Globes were strong indicators, and to an extent, they are. But lately I feel as though in the most recent years, there's always, like, one or two of the major categories that Oscars like to be like. Well, you didn't see this one coming.

>> Will: Yeah, I think the Screen Actors Guild is probably a better barometer these days than Golden Globes. as far as what, what's going to possibly win in the Oscar race.

>> Sarah : Yeah. a show that we will definitely be talking about come awards season. This year will be The Last of Us 2, which, has come out with another teaser trailer advertisement campaign that I'm refusing to watch because I don't know anything. I already know too much. but we are getting closer to know when it's officially coming back. As we know it will be back in the month of April.

>> Will: Yeah. Yeah, I was, I did watch it because I did not watch the first teaser trailer. So this one was got. I mean, obviously I'm gonna watch this series. It just got me. I'm already excited for it. It was. But. But to see Abby and, some of the other parts of what was in that teaser trailer definitely, was like. Okay, I. We. Now we know because we knew it was coming back at some point. first part of the year for first quarter or so. And. And so we get it. And then, of course, then I start, like, looking at the calendar is trying to figure out, like, what. Well, for two reasons. One, to see what possible Sunday night it's going to drop. And then. And it was because I was starting to look at our show schedule and start to plan, like, when we're going to, like, talk about it. And, so I think I've determined based on that, because I think the White Lotus is dropping next, month. And so I think the last episode of the White Lotus goes to first weekend, first Sunday of April. So hopefully we'll get The Last of Us Part 2, Season 2. you know, either that following week or the week after.

>> Sarah : Yeah.

>> Will: Is my fault.

>> Sarah : So April is going to be a good month because, granted, it'll be a busy month, and we'll be struggling because we got Last of Us 2 and. Andor season 2, so.

>> Will: And Daredevil.

>> Sarah : I forgot about Daredevil.

>> Will: Yeah. Comes in March. Yeah. Because I know. I was looking at this. I was looking at her. Yeah. So we get a little pre. A little early preview of our. Of our show for the year. and so I was like, oh, yeah, March 5th, I believe, is when Daredevil drops. So. Yeah.

>> Sarah : Oh. Ah, that won't be too bad.

>> Will: Yeah, so. But it's like. Yeah, so it's like, nine episodes, I want to say. So.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, we'll. We'll figure out something. We'll make it work.

>> Will: Yeah, we definitely will.

>> Sarah : We have to put a, Daredevil on hold. So it is what it is. because there are shows, like, There are shows I don't want to be spoiled on. Yes. Will were to tell me, sarah, you can't watch Last of Us, like, next episode. I'd be like, no, I'm gonna watch it.

>> Will: Yeah, well, it's like Last of Us just, you know. Yeah, that. That takes. That's. That's. That gets slot number one.

>> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. Because there's no way in hell I already know too much. So I don't want anything else to be spoiled. I want to live in the moment.

>> Will: Exactly.

>> Sarah : Oh, my God. like, don't make me. Don't make me bring out episode three of succession. I watched it, and now if Will were to ever watch that. That show, that episode not have the same effect. Not to this day.

>> Will: You know what? I did watch it, and you're right. It does not have the same effect.

>> Sarah : Oh, no, there's no way it could have. There's no way. But anybody who was there for that night and had no idea, my God. That's the only thing you talk about coming out. Wow. Wow. Wow. Yeah.

>> Will: for sure, for sure. Yep. Yeah, you're completely right. So,

>> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, we were talking before we turned on the recording device and just about how we went into a little bit of a hiatus, a kind of a shorter hiatus because we had to wrap up Dune Prophecy. but we. We thought we were going to watch a few different shows and neither one of us watched anything.

>> Will: Yep.

>> Sarah : Really? We watched one of season three, which we'll talk about for like five minutes. But I just. I find it. I find it humorous. Like, it. It does say a lot. Because I'll. I'll be honest, I really enjoyed Dune Season 2, but I did not think about it a single time while during break.

>> Will: Yeah. Yeah.

>> Sarah : Not a single time. Not a. No, never. Like, it was. It was gone. I didn't. It was just. It was gone. And I'm only bringing it up now because I'm curious if A, you did and if B, now having some space. M. Considering it wrapped. We had to wrap it up after we gave our top shows. Yeah. Does that show impact your ranking at all?

>> Will: first question. I did think about it some because, we did have some folks comment on our, YouTube page, about the show, some of our reviews. So I did. So I did think about it from that respect. And also one, one commenter did remind us that the, the, Harkovins little spy device that was given to, Yeah, heroines. Yeah. His advice was given to, Oh, gosh, I'm blanking on his name now. the manipulator, the. The. The. The. The hybrid guy. But that, that the Harkenman's in. The, Atreides kid.

>> Sarah : Yeah, that guy. I know who.

>> Will: That guy. Yeah, that guy. Yeah, yeah, that guy. Yeah. Yeah.

>> Sarah : So.

>> Will: So to answer your second question, no, it did not impact my accounts. I can't remember. I can't remember a very pivotal character's name, even though I really enjoyed the series.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah. It's. It's in the moment, you enjoy it. but then go afterwards, you're just after. It's the true test if something really resonates or if something is just spectacle and entertainment for just like. I mean, it's a good story. I still think about the Penguin, and I'll probably re referencing that show for a while. I mean, people, longtime listeners, know when a show resonates with me, I pull it so much, I go in the deep. Well. And the funny thing is, it used to be because I would watch shows over and over again, but now, like, over the last few years, I. It's. It's very, very, very rare that I rewatch something. Very rare.

>> Will: Yeah. same.

>> Sarah : And when I say rewatch, I mean, like, full, sit down, entertain. I don't mean just throw on because it's easy and, like, white noise. No, so. So there's a big difference there. but I also did see. I mean, speaking about, things we watched over break and Golden Globes, kind of, even though I don't think they won anything, did watch the Complete Unknown. It was an obligation. My mom really wanted to see it. I was like, so what I will say about that movie, is. Is. I don't know what was all the hype with Timothee Chalamet? I don't. I think. And don't get me wrong, I think he's a fine actor. Like, he didn't. He didn't disappoint. But I don't. I don't think the performance was like, oh, my God. Mainly because I don't think it's a complete movie. It ends in the most bizarre spot. And my mom even filled me in on some of the history with, Bob Dylan, and she even said, like, it was a slice of his life. It was not a biopic the way we're anticipating a biopic. And also, someone with a career that spans decades like this. Span four years. Spoiler alert. It went through four years. and you're. And I think, I think it was fine. The singing was fine. My mom, for her, she could not pinpoint. She did not get caught off guard by being like, that's not Bob Dylan's voice. No, really, Chalamet. And he has the perfect voice. Me, I've watched Timothee Chalamet and many different things, including interviews. I know his voice. So therefore, for me, it was pretty obvious. Just. And. And I, this is a hard thing for me to explain. I am very good at identifying voices. You are, when I'm listening to. Because of tones. So. So by the end of the movie, they start rolling credits, and, they play a song. And I'm, like, sitting there for about two minutes because it's a song my mom really likes. And I looked at my mom, and I'm like, is that Timothy or is that Bob Dylan. And she's like, I don't know. And I'm like, I'm pretty sure that's Timothy. And then I looked it up and I was right. Yeah. But all that aside, it's a fine movie. And it's a, and it's, it's a very, especially for someone like my mom, it's a very good movie because of the music and her love for that kind of music. So I think nostalgic wise, it works for a lot of people. But for me, I was just like, at the end of the day, I don't think Bob Dylan is that interesting of a person. I m. Think. And I kept comparing it to Walk the Line about Johnny Cash because. And now granted, Johnny Cash, the Walk the Line movie is not solely a biopic. No, no, no, no. It's, it's about two people in a relationship. and so that adds so much more. While this movie is really about one person and also arguably also about a movement, but it's not that compelling because I don't think a lot of people know a lot about Bob Dylan's life because coming up, based on what I saw, I'm like, oh, he's a really private person. So, so I don't, I don't think the public knows a lot. Yeah, yeah. And, and, and spoiler alert. You're not gonna leave this movie knowing a whole lot either. Really not so. I just, I mean it didn't bore me and it went by a lot quicker than I thought it would. But I really, I really was just like, this is it. Like, why does this feel so incomplete yet complete? Like, it's very weird. I have very mixed emotions about that movie.

>> Will: Okay, cool.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

>> Will: I was trying to go see Wicked on my birthday. But still, I mean that movie has quite legs. even by the 30th of December, it was still quite a few seats, so sold out in the, at the main theater here in town. And and then my wife was just like, there was like a like 8:00 show or whatever and she's us and she's just not. She was like. I was like, you know, it's a two and a half hour movie. And she, as soon as she heard that, she was like, we'll just wait for streaming. I was like, come.

>> Sarah : People are already watching it on Apple tv.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah. So I, I am looking forward to it because I do like musical theater. Musical, musicals. and, and musical theater. And that as well, so, so I am looking forward to watching that. But really, the only thing as far as new, I watched over. Over our break, I did watch a couple episodes of Creature Commandos. Hey, I got it right. and, yeah, for the longest time, I've been calling it the Creature Comfort, thinking about the, Nic park movie, which actually I do want to watch. That's another thing I am going to watch probably this weekend is, Wallace and Gromit. Artemis, foul. it's just. Just dropped on Netflix, I think, last weekend. but, But other than that, I didn't really watch anything new. Yeah, I watched There's a lot of football. A lot of football was watched, but that's about it.

>> Sarah : I watched, A K drama that I had been wanting to watch since probably like, June of last year. but. And I finally figured out how so many people were watching it. I just had to pay for a Paramount subscription. And luckily, I think I knew that. And because it was so. It was, overpriced, I was like, I'll just wait. And I forgot about it. And I was reminded over hiatus about that show. So I was like, oh, $1.99 for two months. Yeah, I can do that.

>> Will: Okay.

>> Sarah : set up the reminder on my phone to cancel it at the end of two months. So I watched that, which was. All right, but I tell you, Kate, Hammers are good, but. Or there's some that are really good. But I think the biggest. My biggest learning experience with A K drama is they don't know how to. How to stretch the story for as long as they. As many episodes as they have these shows go for to make it a fulfilling ending. They, all. They always fall flat. Like, even the. A show that I was. I was gushing about right before break, when the phone rings.

>> Will: Yeah. Yeah.

>> Sarah : Okay, I will admit, last two episodes aired over this past weekend. It took me forever to get around to them. I kept prioritizing other things, including what if. Which we'll eventually talk about, I'm sure. and then yesterday I was thinking to myself, man, I still haven't watched the last two episodes. I watched them in a very much like. Yeah, boring. Boring. Skip. Okay. I pretty much got the. Just what happened? Got it. Bye. Bye. It's just. I don't know what it is. A lot of the ones, they start off strong for me.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : But, man, they do. They lose me. And ironically, it's the ones that start off slow that eventually kick in, and I'm like, oh, oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, that, that's cool.

>> Will: Yeah, I've noticed that, that, that that's the trend whenever you, you share a K dramas series with me.

>> Sarah : Yeah.

>> Will: And yeah, that that, that's how, that's how it typically goes.

>> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah, typically goes, but we'll see. I, I have a few. I'm gonna, I'm gonna watch this one that's gonna be on Netflix, in a few weeks called, Gossip among the Stars.

>> Will: Oh yeah, I saw that.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, a lot of people. And no, ironically, I have not watched Squid Games too.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, you read my mind. I was. That's gonna be my question if you, I mean I tried watching season one and just never, it just never grabbed me and I was just like, yeah, ah, okay.

>> Sarah : I inadvertently watched a TikTok about someone who watched it and they immediately said don't watch it. Wait until season three because you're like the way they end it. They're just like, okay, when we're going to get season three. And so I'm like, well, okay, I'm just going to sit back and relax. I, I didn't like the first season. I really didn't. I understood what they were doing. It didn't make me cry. I thought everything was telegraphed and a lot of the performances were good, but I was not. And, and I can understand the appeal of it, but at the. There was so much hype that I was expecting so much more same. So. And I don't know, I'm kind of like, I'll get to it when I get to it. I, I, it's a show that I'm not worried about being spoiled spoiled for either. So but, but I, I will tell you, not for it being out as long as it has been. It had. I know people are watching and I know the numbers are big, but I don't feel like anybody's talking about it the way that season one was talked about.

>> Will: Yeah, I feel the same way. I feel the same way. It doesn't Oh yeah. Granted, I know it's been a holiday and hadn't been around a lot of folks as far as around the office and, and other things. But yeah, the either, both maybe and maybe two. It's just I just don't spend as much time on social media anymore as I used to but I just don't both neither there nor just just people in real life. I just haven't heard. Heard the buzz about it. A friend of mine did watch it and really you know, they, they power through it. Not a big fan of it, but, you know, it's just one of those things like, well, you know, everybody. It's the, it's the, it's the, it's the it show right now, so I gotta watch it. so, But they were kind of underwhelmed by it, quite frankly. And, yeah, they're like, okay, I'll, you know, let's see what the big hype is. And I felt the same way about season one, but it has felt, you know, it's like that it was the it show over the holiday. So.

>> Sarah : Yeah. Yeah. all right, well, another show that aired over the holiday that, I don't think a lot of people are talking about and if they are, I don't think there's the best reviews, but is. What if season three will, what are, what are your thoughts on, on this season? On this season?

>> Will: So I will, I will share with the, with our audience, sort of how. Whenever I, I just, I reached out to you last weekend about it, I was like, well, you know, first couple shows and you know, I didn't really say too much, but I think you probably could. We've, we, we know each other well enough to know, like, whenever something can read between the lines and I, this, it was, this was, this was a slog for me to get through, to be honest. It, it really was. I, it left me wanting. Not, now I will, you know, that being said, some of the voice work, the, the animation, I, you know, I have to give props to it. I mean, the animation is great as far as, you know, they definitely put the, put the time and money and everything into it there. some of the, the voice actors really, especially the people who are primarily voice actors, always bring their a games. And Catherine Hahn too, actually, I thought, even though I was not a fan of the second episode, I thought she did. You know, as far as the live, typically live action actors, I thought she did pretty solid voice work as well. But overall, I just felt like I, I just feel like this series has just been one of diminishing returns for me.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, I, I, I would agree. I think that one of the standouts in terms of voice work was David Harbour. I can just tell by watching him, even, like he loves to play this character and he loves to put on a very thick Russian accent and he just, he just, he, he sounded like he was having fun, much like did. And, and my criticism has nothing to do with any of the voice work, nothing to do with any like how the show looks. It's all boils down to story.

>> Will: Yes.

>> Sarah : And I think that now that we've have three seasons of this show, a complete series, is that what happened is they went from season one, which featured iconic characters in our mainstream MAU universe. We're talking Spider man, we're talking Doctor Strange. I'm sorry, I'm going to mention Doctor Strange because it's the best episode of the whole show. Okay.

>> Will: Yep.

>> Sarah : Season one, we all know, okay, you got your Spider man, you got your Thor, you got your Black Panther. Like iconic characters that we already know. And then you get to see them enter these other worlds that we already know. And those stories were interesting and it really was like they were asking the question, what if now season two rolls around a little bit mixed. Granted, they had a very good arc, especially towards the end with Captain Carter. Yeah, yeah. Season three. I don't know who decided to be like, you know what, I think the best part of season two was not any of that arc building thing, but more about like these characters from these lesser known franchises, lesser known beloved franchise franchises. And we're gonna pull from there and we're gonna pull from Howard the Duck because everyone's been like, the characters they're using makes. I'm just like, the viewers don't want this. I mean, the first episode, okay, Bruce Banner. Love Bruce Banner. Love Captain America. AKA Sam Wilson.

>> Sarah : But I kid you not, I had not really. I did not look ahead at what was coming or anything, but I thought to myself, and granted, I probably was completely engaged for about 10 minutes of this episode. but I thought to myself, why does this feel so much like the movie the Immortals and the. Because they kept talking about the eight, the gamma, apex predator. And I'm like, that feels so much like the throwaway villain from the Immortals movie. I'm like, I'm not talking about the Celestial. I'm talking about those, those weird things. And then there was this. Too many things. So then to fast forward and have all of the immortal references, especially in the second. I'm like, no.

>> Will: Oh yeah, the Eternals.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, the Eternals. I am so sorry. The Eternals.

>> Will: Yeah, no worries, no worries. Yeah, but they are immortal. A lot of the characters are immortal. And you know, maybe you're thinking of humans too.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah, no, no, no. This is more of a creature comfort kind of thing going on for me. but thank you for correcting me because I would have kept saying that. But anyway, like I just feel as though somebody like a writer was definitely part of the mortals movie and was like, my characters have to.

>> Will: Yeah, so for me, I was just like, I saw this done better. It was called Godzilla.

>> Sarah : I. There was just. I, They. The. The individual stories, they. They just. They didn't pull from the right well with a lot of this stuff. I mean, they even tried to redeem itself with the last two and bringing back Captain Carter, but it was too late. It just. And then what was with the Shang Chi episode?

>> Will: Yeah, so actually I like the shang chi episode 1872. that Western. Actually, that was the one that was one of the ones I did like. I don't know, because that's one of the. I guess to your point about. And I think that was part of the problem for me as well. Like. Well, the first episode I just felt like, was this overstuff. They were trying to like they were taking the what if? Premise. And then whenever, like, Sam and Bruce were doing the. On your left and. Yeah, that, you know, that was like, okay, this felt.

>> Sarah : Felt overdone, overused. Like.

>> Will: Yeah, I. I just felt like the first episode was just. And I think over. I think thinking back over to the three seasons, the first episodes have been kind of shaky. so I was like, okay, fair enough. You know, this. This. You know what, Ifs always little rocky come starting off. And I think back when we had our conversations with them over the years, that. That was the. That's our general critique with it. But then it's just like, you know, that one just like. But overall, like, to your point, they're using a lot of these phase four characters that in many cases just didn't. Didn't pop with us when we saw them in live action or if they did, you know, we had. We haven't had the. The time with them to. To be invested in them like the. The phase one, two, three characters, you know, because to your point, the. Even though I wasn't a big fan of the episode with Bucky and the Red Guardian, you know, but it was a good pairing, at least.

>> Sarah : Yeah. it was interesting because. Because that moment that they decided to twist is an iconic moment in. In terms of the whole history of the mcu.

>> Will: Exactly.

>> Sarah : Like, you can take those moments and then it's not as, As, laid on thick as what you were referring to. The whole. On your left. And like, okay, we. We watched this movie, like these references that we get them, but they're too on the nose. They're not as Subtle. and my whole thing with the Shang, Chi episode is m. Mainly in terms of the season context wise. I'm just like, why. Why it felt like such a pause. Granted. You can argue like it's a needed refresher, like, break from all of the. The other stuff. And. And I mean, I just don't understand because the. The big arc in season two is really them, and Captain is Captain Carter.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : And so it felt like by the by, towards the end of this season, they. They focused on trying to get a new rally the troops. A few. Maybe like one or two. Like, okay, one. The duck Birdie. Because. Because did. Well, was it a season one or a season two episode with Storm, or did they just throw that in there?

>> Will: They threw that in there. This is her first appearance. and I guess now. And I guess they could do so. Because since we do have X Men 97, I. I think they were just like, okay, you know, we. We can start introducing somebody. X Men. Yeah, yeah, you know, we have that. We have Wolverine in the MCU now, so we can. We can start pulling these characters in.

>> Sarah : I, yeah, I. At the end of the day, I. I really don't. I don't think they chose from. To draw from the right Wells. I don't think that they. Because Captain Carter, in a way, really, by the end of season two, is like the face of this show.

>> Will: Exactly.

>> Sarah : I'm sorry. She's the face. Nobody cares about the Watcher, okay? The Watcher is our narrator. And by the end of it, in my mind, he's villain. Okay. He just made it all about himself and took away all, ah. Of the interesting things that were going on. It just was annoying. I don't know.

>> Will: Well, yeah, because I think that's part of it too. I think so. Like, whenever. Like the Bucky Red Guardian, I guess the thing that just graded on me with that episode, like, you know, the Perry, like you said, they took a, a. A Nexus literally, if you want to use the MCU terms, Nexus moment in the mcu. and. And. And did something with it, which was what? Whatever. We first learned about this series way back. Gosh, was it 2019 or something like that? when I heard the what if premise, I was just like, okay, yeah, we're gonna see. Like that. That type of story that was set up in. In that episode with Bucky and the Red Guardian, the thing that just got to me. You're right. David harbor definitely loves that character. but I think the writing of it with the, the over where it was starting to great on me a bit was the, the, the arc, the Russian arc, the Soviet archetype, it was laying it all too thick. And you know, wherever they would get to a good moment then. And that was sort of throughout the series in some cases where they would have good moments, but then they would like dive. They'll just go off track on some silliness and it's just like, oh, yeah.

>> Sarah : I, I think it also by this point, knowing what's ahead, you're just like, oh, now we get the episode that is clearly a kind of funny what if scenario. Prelude for Thunderbolts, which is coming later this year. Or like what you said about Storm being there. Well, they just aired X Men 97, so it's just there was so many times where I'm just like really, really kind of. I mean, granted they could have done that a whole lot more, but thank God they didn't. but yeah, I just. Oh, go ahead.

>> Will: No, I was saying, I was thinking to your point about the writing too, I think they had a lot of concepts, but I think the other thing too is they just didn't let things. The execution of the Assam, you know, were under bait or. They just didn't let things. You know, I think the episode like when the the celestial, like the emergence happens and you know, we have Quentin Beck picking up the remnants of the earth and you know, we get all these. We get the you know, we get Wong and Okoya and some of the other riri. and you know, it's an interesting premise, but all the moments don't, you know, it just. They like riri's supposed to be this like brilliant scientist and stuff, but I just didn't see it in that episode and, or they would. They, they were, they would just not let her. No, it shouldn't do it. I don't know. I just feel like again, we're not.

>> Sarah : Yeah.

>> Will: You know, we don't, we don't know these characters well enough yet to like, do ah. You know, to, to like feel. Either feel invested in them or.

>> Sarah : Understand.

>> Will: their motivation, you know, or if you put them in a what if scenario. I just don't feel like they've been developed enough and, And I don't think these, these, these, these episodes develop them enough with the writing to, to really like get it help us get to know these characters even further. Especially when you consider you're going to have an Ironheart show coming out later this year and other Things as well. So part of me felt like. And ah, maybe you were touching on this a little bit too is I just felt like this was a commercial to get me for the next few phases to get me to the next movie or TV show.

>> Sarah : M. Yeah. Thank you for bringing up the RiRi episode because this is where I really fell off the train. first of all, it's been a while since we've last seen riri.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : And so in a way I kind of understand especially if her, her show is finally set to premiere. Like why, like hey, viewers, remember this character because you're gonna see her later. But at the same time. And you're right, there was some good premise. But. But it just. I was not invested at all. Like you were supposed to view this episode as if you were the watcher and just so heartbroken. And I was just like, I don't care.

>> Will: What are you going to.

>> Sarah : I do not. I do not. Part of the reason, I mean. And we're, we have to really. I can't stress this enough. This is season three. If they really wanted to make this episode a compelling episode, they should have had a precursor in season two. They should have the, the. A show like this can work if, if you really have the vision for a full thing. And I thought they had that with Captain Carter.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : And that's why I keep going back to. I don't understand why her, her journey, her story wasn't more at the forefront.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : And. But now the more we talk about, it's like, oh, they had to throw in all of these previews for what's ahead with the new phases and kind of closing this chapter. But at the same time it's like you. There are plenty of characters that are loved and the reason why. for me one of my favorite episodes of season one is the zombie episode. And I know, and it's mainly because I will never forget how, how there was Spider Man. Peter Parker says something along the lines of, of I. I have to be hopeful because I just like I've lost so much. I forget the, forget the, the moments. But it was such an eye opener for me to like a character said something and I've seen this character in so many narrations. But it's never occurred to me like this is why he's your friendly neighborhood Spider man because he can't think about all of the loss. And it's just, it was so moving to me.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : Such a brief moment. And it's just, it's just like, there. There needed to be more of that.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

>> Sarah : In three, but also in season two.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's that. I remember you bringing that up. And. And, you know, with. Even last, when we discussed season two, I think that you brought that same point up. And. And you're right. I mean, I think that's why I said, I think this. This show, it's good that they're ending it. because I think it. It's. It was starting to get to the point of diminishing returns. and. And I felt like whenever Captain Carter, by the time we got around to episode seven and eight, with. Whenever she does reappear when, the Watcher, you know, I just felt it. Felt it felt tacked on.

>> Sarah : Yep.

>> Will: and. And I'm like, oh. So it was like, they. Course. I guess they're like. I guess they hurt. I guess too many people complained about Carter, you know, being the focal point in season two. So then they course. Correct and go the other extreme and do all these other things with the. You know, with Howard Duck and all this other stuff. And then. Oh, yeah, but by the way, we do need to, like, close the loop on that. And also, this is to remind everyone Dr. Strange is his own universe now.

>> Sarah : Yeah. For a moment, I was. I was just like, oh, we're gonna go back to that story. I was so happy. And then I was quickly demised. But, yeah, yeah, it was completely tacked on, especially considering her whole introduction is, the ending of the, I'm blanking on her name. but from Guardians, her episode in season two. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry. Sorry, guys. we were on a hiatus. Our listeners are like, yeah, but you guys, Nova's episode. Her. Her whole, like, crime. Yeah, that episode.

>> Will: Yeah.

>> Sarah : So it's just. Yeah. I mean, I. Yeah. What if season three is. Is what it is. and. And I'm kind of glad we're. We're. We got through it. there were some gems along the way. not as much in season three, that is for sure. But, I think 20, 25, though, MCU. it'll be interesting. I don't think it's gonna be completely all highs, but I don't think it's gonna be all lows either. I think it's gonna be. There's some rocky patches, but, I am looking forward, to the epic showdown between Fantastic Four and Superman. Yeah, we got there. Between now and then. Somebody please, please put. Put your mind to work. Okay? You got to Create the new, the new Barbenheimer. Okay, like, what is it? What are we calling this thing that's about to happen? Okay, we've got plenty of time, but anybody other than me, do your magic.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Help us. Yeah, Wordsmith it, y'all. Wordsmith. And social media will speak. We'll put it out there. But, yeah, I mean, the other. Yeah, that's my last thought on what if. And, and I think, to that. Looking at, looking ahead to what we're going to get this year as far as the, Marvel Universe. I, know, I know things are. The Multiverse saga is slowly winding down and especially looking at. But I think for me, the other thing too, when I was watching this list is watching this, is that I, I, I'm, I'm kind of done with the multiverse. I'm ready to move on to something else.

>> Sarah : well, good luck watching RDJ play Doctor Doom.

>> Will: Yeah, I know, I know.

>> Sarah : Evans. You know, in some way.

>> Will: Yeah, I will say, I will say, as I mentioned to you, you know, I mentioned earlier while we were talking tonight, I did watch Creature Commandos. And, and I have to say, you know, dc, I think DC Studios, it's going to be, I think they are going to come out with some good stuff. I mean, I, I did enjoy the two episodes that I watched and I'm planning on finishing up that series. And, yeah, I was just like, I was like watching that and then I came to this and I was just like, oh, as far as my animation over the holidays. And I was just like, there's more times than not, I was like picking up my phone, seeing what else is on right now. What's going on in the world right now.

>> Sarah : Yeah, yeah. I mean, of course they're going to be on the upswing. They were on the low for so long.

>> Will: Yeah, yeah, yeah. They have nowhere to go but up.

>> Sarah : Yeah, they don't really, I mean. And, MCU has been doing this weird thing where there's highs and lows and there's, there's all of these offshoots with Sony doing what it does and a whole lot of nothing. but yeah, ah, 2025, looking ahead, which will go more in depth, within the next few weeks. but the content will only get better. granted, we are going to take a trip back to 2024.

>> Will: Because.

>> Sarah : I don't know, I don't know. Don't blame us, people. Blame whoever schedules TV programming as no ah, one has decided to release anything good until the end of January. but more on that later. But, but yeah, we're, we're going to, we're going to be picking up finally Invincible, finishing Invincible Season 2. And then for some God unholy reason, we are going to finish up the last season of Cobra, Kai. And no, no, no, I am, I'm putting my foot, foot down, Will. I am. M not, I'm not going to theater to watch Cobra Kai movie, whatever, whatever that is. I'm not.

>> Will: Don't worry. Yeah, that's a streaming, streaming one too for me. Yeah. But, yeah, looking forward to doing our. Yeah, looking forward to our, TV and movie. I know we touched on some tonight, but have a deeper dive next couple weeks.

>> Sarah : Yeah. All right, well, on that note, Will, why don't you tell our listeners where they can find you.

>> Will: Yes, you can find me on all the socials at, Will and Polk W I L L M P O.

>> Sarah : L K And you can follow me at SJ Belmont sjblm M O N T. Please follow our crew on X, formerly known as Twitter at Scene N, nerd on Blue sky at Scene N Nerd and friend us, on Facebook, follows on Instagram and threads at Scene, Underscore N underscore Nerd and Visit our website www.scenenerdpodcast. com. But most importantly, rate, follow and comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever your podcast. Good night. Geek out. You're welcome.