Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast · James Payne

Dune: Prophecy, Star Trek: Section 31, Captain America & More

February 6, 2025·41 min·3 clips

Michael says Dune Prophecy had to get the HBO boob quota out of the way before it became solid.

This episode of Journey Through Sci-Fi is a "Future Frontiers" check-in where hosts Matt and James discuss recent and upcoming sci-fi releases. The hosts, who regularly analyze science fiction films and series, share their personal viewing habits and listener feedback. They discuss the recently concluded series *Dune: Prophecy*, comparing its tone to *Game of Thrones* and noting listener Michael's comment about its initial episodes. The conversation shifts to the film *Kraven the Hunter*, referencing Sony executives' statements that it would have been considered good without its connection to prior poorly-received Spider-Man spinoffs. Matt mentions enjoying the new *Wallace & Gromit* film and the Robbie Williams biopic *Better Man*, which features a CGI monkey protagonist. James watched the Lego-animated Pharrell Williams documentary, *Piece by Piece*. A major topic is the release of the *Star Trek: Section 31* TV movie, starring Michelle Yeoh, which explores the franchise's clandestine intelligence division. The hosts note its relatively low review scores and speculate that its action-oriented tone may not fully capture the morally complex Section 31 concept from *Deep Space Nine*. They highlight the upcoming horror film *Companion* from the creators of *Barbarian*, advising viewers to avoid spoilers. They also preview *Captain America: Brave New World*, discussing Sam Wilson taking up the mantle and Harrison Ford's role as a mustache-less General Thunderbolt Ross. James expresses significant excitement for the Looney Tunes alien invasion movie *The Day the Earth Blew Up*, hoping for classic sci-fi homages. They confirm the long-awaited second season of *Severance* is now airing, referencing a cryptic comment from producer Ben Stiller about an item in Mark's locker tray. The new animated series *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man* on Disney+ is presented as a fresh, standalone take. Matt promotes the German Netflix series *Cassandra*, about a retro-futuristic smart house AI. In the mailbag segment, a listener asks about James' other podcast, *Zap to the Future*, which focuses on 90s kids' TV. Another listener, Andrew, passionately argues that *Mary Poppins* qualifies as sci-fi, citing its trans-dimensional elements. Listener Megan chides them for overlooking Peter Weller's film *The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension*, which they pledge to cover. They debate which actor has the best sci-fi track record, ultimately championing Jeffrey Combs for his roles in *Re-Animator*, *Star Trek*, and *Babylon 5*. The tone is casual and conversational, featuring friendly banter and humorous tangents between the two hosts. The style is informal and recommendation-focused, blending news, reviews, and direct audience interaction. This episode is ideal for listeners who want a relaxed, spoiler-free overview of current sci-fi movies and TV, complete with personal anecdotes and community feedback. It might be less appealing to those seeking deep, singular analysis of a specific film or franchise.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast