A Wide-Ranging Late February Check-In | BAFTA chat, Trivia & Other Side Quests

This week’s Patreon-only Thumb War is a classic check-in episode — no formal review, just us catching up and going wherever the conversation takes us. Subscribe to Patreon for the full episode! We get into: Trivia and random movie tangents A deep dive into what’s going on with Star Trek right now The Andy Weir conversation and sci-fi expectations Why some shows just aren’t connecting A peek behind the curtain on YouTube, Shorts, and growing the podcast And a bunch of side quests along the way Loose, opinionated, and all over the place — exactly how these Patreon hangs are supposed to go. Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Thumb War, we revisit Star Wars: A New Hope and break down why it became one of the most influential films of all time. We discuss the film’s impact, performances, practical effects, and why it still resonates decades later — along with a few modern critiques and observations. Does it still hold up? Or is it all nostalgia? Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Full Thumb War episode out now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Thumb War, we review Project Hail Mary, the new sci-fi film starring Ryan Gosling. We break down the story, performances, humor, and emotional beats, plus how the film balances complex science with accessibility. We also discuss: The structure and flashbacks The tone and comedy Trailer spoilers and audience expectations And whether the movie sticks the landing Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Full Thumb War episode out now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Oscars are done — and we’re breaking it all down. On this episode of Thumb War, we react to the 98th Academy Awards, covering the biggest winners, surprising snubs, funniest moments, and a few truly baffling choices. We also get into: Red carpet hits and misses The best (and worst) bits from the broadcast Musical performances that worked… and didn’t Why Oscar clips keep spoiling entire movies And one of the best acceptance speeches of the night Plus: technical difficulties, streaming frustrations, and a whole lot of opinions. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Thumb War, JD and Rachel review the movie The Bride!, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s ambitious reimagining of the Frankenstein story. With a star-studded cast and big ideas about feminism, identity, and classic movie monsters, the film certainly swings for the fences. But does it actually work? We discuss the movie’s wild tonal shifts, confusing narrative, memorable performances from Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale, and why audiences seem so divided on the film. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Full Thumb War episode out now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Oscars are almost here, which means it’s time to make our predictions. JD and Rachel are joined by resident film expert DanDan The Pieman to break down the biggest categories at the 98th Academy Awards. We debate who should win, who will win, and which nominees might pull off an upset. Along the way we talk about the strangest Oscar nominees, the brutal emotional gauntlet of the short film categories, and the movies that might dominate this year’s ceremony. If you’re filling out an Oscar ballot or office pool, this episode might help you make a few smart picks. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send Help is Sam Raimi in full “fun mode” — gross, funny, mean, and extremely satisfying. On Thumb War, we break down Raimi’s return to crowd-pleasing horror, Rachel McAdams’ anti-hero arc, Survivor energy, island mind games, and why this movie works so well. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week’s Patreon-only Thumb War is very a late February check-in — no formal review, just conversation. We talk about: Trivia and random pop-culture facts Splitsville mini-review Travel stories and side quests Media overload and burnout BAFTA Awards conversation and online reactions Letting conversations breathe instead of spiraling Loose and thoughtful— a classic Patreon hang. Full Patreon chaos on Thumb War. Like, subscribe, and let us know what you think. Ad-free episodes + bonus content on Patreon: http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Starfleet Academy Episode 7 | Back to Being Boring After a brief uptick last week, Starfleet Academy Episode 7 drops right back into its worst instincts. On this episode of Thumb War, we unpack why the show’s teen-drama focus, disconnected plots, and deeply questionable character choices make this one of the most frustrating episodes of the season — and why we’re seriously debating whether to keep watching at all. When nothing happens, and nothing makes sense, it’s hard to stay invested. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Full Thumb War episode out now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Season 1 finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms proves that you don’t need dragons or explosions to deliver a powerful ending. On this episode of Thumb War, we unpack the emotional aftermath of the Trial of Seven, Dunk’s unwavering principles, Egg’s painful growth, and why this quiet, character-driven finale feels like classic Game of Thrones at its best. A beautiful ending — and a thrilling beginning. Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify Support the show on Patreon for ad-free episodes & bonus content : http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Like & Subscribe Leave a 5-star review if you’re enjoying Thumb War Email us: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.