Space the Nation

In this re-release of a patron episode for all listeners, Ana and Dan introduce their infamous 28 Days Later recording with a surprisingly lighthearted (and at times weirdly funny) conversation about personal triggers they’ve encountered while making this podcast—especially in relation to 28 Days Later—and how those flashpoints have, somehow, deepened their friendship.Content warning: Discussion includes sexual assault and, in a way, antisemitism.Original description:Ana and Dan scrutinize Danny Boyle’s art-house zombie movie—one Dan could lecture on blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back. A debate: Is twenty-eight days long enough for society to give up hope and revert to a pure state of nature? How long do you have to be fighting zombies before you become like them? There is IR in this movie.

Ana and Dan and Bob find their shame rooms and do the podcast from there. We liked this movie! All superhero movies are about trauma, but this one is about Trauma—a darkness leavened by the charm of its stars. There is a bit of IR in this movie.

Ana and Dan will have the pickled garlic, thank you. A wildly inventive and expertly made popcorn movie, with sympathies for a few devils and more lore than you can shake a guitar at. There is IR and an implicit critique of a particular form of capitalism in this movie.

From the heady days of May 2022: Dan and Ana would have the pilot give the plans directly to the rebels, but decide to watch the movie anyway. Can you make a great movie entirely premised on a retcon? Does it take extremists to goad rebellions into action? How would Adorno feel about all this? There is IR in this movie.

Ana and Dan hope you’re enjoying the leisurely pace of these episode drops, letting you linger in the all-too-brief glory that was Andor Season 2 even as it starts to fade into memory. There’s a bit of IR in this show. And if you're a patron, don’t miss our video chat on a post-Andor rewatch of Rogue One.

Ana and Dan aren’t too green to podcast in this volatile environment—they’ll be fine.NOTE: Dan repeatedly refers to the "KX" droids as "KY" droids, and I did nothing to stop him.

Ana and Dan brush off the bourgeoisie’s cosplay rebellion to get to the real heart of revolutionary struggle: ignoring signs of drug abuse in loved ones. Star Wars for grown-ups continues to ask hard questions about means and ends—and doubles as a PSA for trauma-informed workplace policies. There’s IR and a critique of capitalism in this show.

After seeing trailers for this action-amid-the-white-papers flick, Ana and Dan brainstormed the next wave of thrillers based on foreign policy gatherings: New from Netflix: THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, with Naomi Watts, Jason Isaacs, and Alison Pill. Hulu presents THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE. Paramount+ unveils a new prestige drama: UNESCO.Alas, G20—the actual movie—is not quite the geopolitical thrill ride we hoped for. EGOT-winner Viola Davis gives it her all, but the film doesn’t deserve her. Also: way less IR than you'd expect.