Pop! Pop! A Pop Culture Podcast · Joel Reaves

M&M (Moon Knight & dry heave Morbius)

April 7, 2022·1 hr 14 min·4 clips

This episode of Pop! Pop! A Pop Culture Podcast features hosts Joel Reeves, Taylor Salen, and Lauren Sperling reviewing the premiere of Marvel's *Moon Knight* and the Sony film *Morbius*. The hosts, self-described pop culture enthusiasts, provide their immediate reactions to these new releases. They begin with a lengthy discussion of the 2022 Oscars, specifically the incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage. The hosts analyze the event's aftermath, including Smith stepping down from the Academy and projects being paused, while noting the industry's hypocrisy regarding other controversial figures like Roman Polanski. They also touch on *CODA*'s historic Best Picture win for Apple TV+ and the Grammys awarding Louis C.K. The conversation critiques the persistent "Snyder Cut" fan campaign, mocking a recent viral video from supporters. The main review covers *Moon Knight*'s first episode, praising Oscar Isaac's performance and the show's mysterious, character-driven structure reminiscent of *Memento*. They discuss the Egyptian mythology, Ethan Hawke's cult leader character, and the creative decision to cut away from the full superhero transformation. The hosts then tear into *Morbius*, calling it boring, lifeless, and a waste of talent like Matt Smith. They reveal that iconic trailer moments, like the "I am Venom" line and the Spider-Man poster shot, are absent from the final film. A surprising anecdote claims Jared Leto insisted on hobbling to the bathroom in character, wasting so much time the crew suggested a wheelchair. The most interesting insights include the psychological reading of Will Smith's actions as stemming from past trauma and the observation that *Moon Knight* deliberately withholds CGI spectacle for character development. The hosts find humor in the extreme fringe of the Snyder fandom and are baffled by *Morbius*'s lack of the fun promised in its trailers. The tone is casual, conversational, and full of friendly banter, with the hosts frequently joking and building on each other's points. This episode is perfect for listeners who enjoy humorous, informal breakdowns of current pop culture events and superhero media. It might not appeal to those seeking deeply analytical film criticism or fans sensitive to harsh critiques of films like *Morbius*.

As heard by us

A relaxed Moon Knight chat that gets strongest when it leans into the show's strange mechanics.

Pop! Pop! turns its Moon Knight chat into something easy to listen to without flattening the weirdness. The hosts keep coming back to Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, and the split between Steven and Mark, but the real draw is how they linger on mirrors, dreams, and the episode's…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a breezy Moon Knight chat that still clocks the weird little details?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Pop! Pop! A Pop Culture Podcast