The Incomparable Mothership

Not now, Klansmen, I’m killing vampires! “Sinners” got nominated for all the awards, and it’s also a vampire (with a hint of zombie?) movie. We love it when genre movies get attention, and Ryan Coogler keeps putting out bangers, so we’re all in on the story of magical music opening the door to eldrich horror—oh, and also it’s the deep south in the 1930s so there’s some horrendous racism too! "Sinners" Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Brian Hamilton, Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar and Steve Lutz Referenced Works<...

A special Book Club panel provides an overview of Lois McMaster Bujold’s excellent Penric & Desdemona series of fantasy novellas (plus one novel). This series gives its characters time to learn, grow, and age. It’s got some perspectives you don’t see very often in fantasy fiction. We love it and think you will, too. Penric & Desdemona Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Kat Benesh and Dan Moren Referenced Works Penric and Desdemona series Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The...

We complete our run through blades with “Blade Runner 2049,” a late sequel in which Ryan Gosling plays a replicant detective searching for an explosive secret that could change everything… and is unsurprisingly tied to characters from “Blade Runner.” We discuss why a replicant might need a holographic girlfriend, Jared Leto’s eyes, and once again, if Deckard is a replicant or not and why that really doesn’t matter. "Blade Runner 2049" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign, Dan Moren and Monty Ashley Referenced Works Blade Runner 2049 Show Notes & Links ...

No voiceovers! More unicorns! Our journey deep into the futuristic world of 2019 Los Angeles continues with another look at “Blade Runner” — this time, it’s “The Final Cut” edition. Deckard’s identity revealed, sort of? Voiceovers removed! Superfans and sort-of-fans compare, contrast, and discuss. "Blade Runner" (The Final Cut) Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Antony Johnston, Erika Ensign and Moisés Chiullán Referenced Works Blade Runner [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members...

These movie producers really did a job on “Blade Runner.” They don’t advertise for narrations in the newspaper, every good writer knows that. But when you’re trying to sell a narratively dense piece of visual art to 1982 audiences who just want to see a Harrison Ford movie, that’s the sort of compromise you make. All we could do is sit there and watch it play. Blade Runner (Theatrical Edition) Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz, Kelly Guimont and Dan Moren Referenced Works Blade Runner [Amazon] [Apple] Show N...

Hit the books and polish up your comm badges, because it’s time to go to school—“Starfleet Academy,” that is. We check in on the first season of Star Trek’s latest (and last, for now?) TV series, and find that despite the YA focus, it’s still just really good “Star Trek” that’s worth your attention. "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán and Tony Sindelar Referenced Works Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Star Trek (franchise) Show Notes & Links ...

Jason was on “Jeopardy!” Now he breaks the experience down with the help of two former “Jeopardy!” champions, Glenn Fleishman and Dan Moren. Jason on Jeopardy! Jason Snell with Dan Moren and Glenn Fleishman Show Notes & Links Dan Moren on J-Archive Glenn Fleishman on J-Archive Jason Snell on J-Archive "Jamie Ding Game 5" The Incomparable #112 (Glenn's Jeopardy journey) Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more

Have your squire put on your best (and only) set of armor and be sure to re-paint your shield! We’re here to discuss the surprisingly delightful “Game of Thrones” spin-off “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which features characters to root for, humor, and other things in short supply in other installments of the franchise. "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign and John Moltz Referenced Works A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Show Notes & Links Support this show and other show...

Charge up your cyberspace deck and avoid all slamhounds! It’s time for us to discuss the second book in William Gibson’s famed Sprawl trilogy, “Count Zero.” Of course, Count Zero is the name of a great hacker… wait, it’s this kid? This is a book that defies audience expectations, from the title character to the way it follows up—or doesn’t, really—the events and characters in its famous predecessor. But, as our veteran Gibson readers note, it sets the template for his career to come. "Count Zero" Jason Snell with Lisa Schmeiser, An...

Our Book Club reconvenes to discuss Emily Tesh’s “The Incandescent,” which offers a teacher’s perspective on a magical school (that’s mostly not magical, but infested by demons), an interesting story structure, and some very well-drawn characters. Plus: What else are we reading? "The Incandescent" Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Joe Rosensteel, Heather Berberet, Paul Weimer and Scott McNulty Referenced Works The Incandescent [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Heather: Higher Magic by Courteney Floyd, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke...

Find a cat bed and some apricots, and prepare to upgrade your chicken! While Jason’s away, we play Embark’s hit game “Arc Raiders”, a multiplayer extraction shooter where people can… be nice to each other? (Most of the time, anyway.) We talk survival tips, resource management, and—to nobody’s surprise—John’s got some opinions on the user interface. Host Brian Warren with panelists Ben McCarthy, John Siracusa, and Chip Sudderth. "ARC Raiders" Brian Warren with John Siracusa, Ben Rice McCarthy and Chip Sudderth Referenced Works ARC Raiders ...

Want to see a dead body? Bring your comb, stock up on cherry flavor Pez, and stay really quiet if you see a deer. We return to the 1980s and honor Rob Reiner by discussing 1986’s “Stand By Me,” a movie Jason has somehow never seen. It’s not a movie with Things That Happen, but that’s just fine with us. "Stand By Me" Jason Snell with Kelly Guimont, Erika Ensign, John Siracusa and Shelly Brisbin Referenced Works Stand By Me Rob Reiner Show Notes & Links ...

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with The Incomparable. It’s time to discuss that Canadian hockey show everyone’s been talking about. “Heated Rivalry” just wants to know, “Will you come to the cottage this summer?” "Heated Rivalry" Annette Wierstra with Kirsten Goruk, Heather Berberet, Stacy Watnick and Kat Benesh Sponsors Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Referenced Works Heated Rivalry Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonu...

Guillermo del Toro’s waited his whole life to make a “Frankenstein” movie, and now he’s done it. We carefully select the (Oscar-nominated!) film’s best bits, chop them up, and then sew them back together in the grossest way possible. (We know Del Toro would approve.) You don’t need to have a degree in Frankensteinology to take a seat at the lympahtic charcuterie board, but it helps! "Frankenstein" (2025) Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Brian Hamilton, Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar and Moisés Chiullán Sponsors Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for M...

Hello, Carol. This is a recording. At the tone, you can leave a message to request anything you might need. We’ll do our best to provide it. Our feelings for you haven’t changed, Carol. But after everything that’s happened, we just need a little space. "Pluribus" season 1 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar, Moisés Chiullán and Glenn Fleishman Referenced Works Pluribus Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get earl...

After 800 episodes, we are in serious danger of repeating ourselves, but that never stopped us before. Some of our most prolific panelists fulfill the prophesy and draft Incomparable drafts. Jason begs them to give him new ideas, because after 800, he’s almost run out. And we use our powers for good and evil to mark classic episodes for deletion. title_boring Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Dan Moren, David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Kathy Campbell, Moisés Chiullán, Monty Ashley and Shelly Brisbin Show Notes & Links Draft a draft (it culm...

Noah Hawley’s TV take on the Alien franchise, “Alien: Earth,” is crashing into a building near us, bringing gross aliens old and new, suspicious synths, terrified (and bloody) humans, and a new class of hybrid life forms with the minds of children and superhuman bodies. Does the show give us enough Xenomorphs? Is the eye alien a breakout fan favorite? Was replaying “Alien” on a different ship a good idea? Why is Trillionaire Island so understaffed? We break it all down. "Alien: Earth" Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Brian Warren, Annette Wierstra and Sandra Wong ...

Our most frequent panelists of the year join Jason to talk about their favorite stuff from the year gone by, and we also pause to recall some favorite Incomparable moments. Synergy! The Best of 2025 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán, Tony Sindelar, David J. Loehr, Annette Wierstra, Scott McNulty, Dan Moren and Brian Warren Show Notes & Links Erika: North of North, “The Same Old Wasted World” by Motion City Soundtrack Moisés: Sinners, Frankenstein, Running Man, Ludwig, Bookish, Nautilus, Tucci in Italy, Split Fiction, Donkey Kong Bananza, Downey Wrote It, the...

Kilmas comes but once a year! This year we’re climbing into the cockpit and revisiting 1986’s “Top Gun,” starring some airplanes, Val Kilmer, and Tom Cruise. It’s a very subtle movie. Were Tony’s parents right in protecting his young mind from it? And most importantly, why do we remember Val Kilmer’s character being the villain when he’s actually the conscience of the entire film? "Top Gun" Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Katie Mack, Erika Ensign, Tony Sindelar and Brian Warren Referenced Works Top Gun Val Kilmer ...

Our Ape Club reconvenes to celebrate the holidays with a viewing of 1971’s “Escape from the Planet of the Apes!” Is this an ape movie or an episode of “Mannix”? What happens when you change lanes on the Freeway of Time? Why is Zira the smartest of all creatures, ape or human? And was Dr. Cornelius framed by big government? Apes smart, humans dumb! "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" Jason Snell with John Moltz, Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren and David J. Loehr Referenced Works Planet of the Apes (franchise) ...