Contemplating Cartoons - The Animated Dramedy

Julian Meush September 28, 2017

Why does BoJack Horseman make me sad? Why do I contemplate my own existence after watching Rick and Morty? More importantly, why is that so important? Both shows are blazing new ground for animated programming and I examine what sets them apart from their peers.

G.R.R.M. Themed Boxes from ReedPop.com

Daniel D'Souza August 17, 2017

You've heard us talking about these boxes on our podcast, they're a Game of Thrones fan's dream come true. A beautifully illustrated, gilded edition of A Game of Thrones, a gigantic silk map of King's Landing, a copy of the Game of Thrones card game, its insane! Not to mention the detailed lithographic map of Westeros signed by George R.R. Martin! Thanks to ReedPop.com we can now bring these boxes to you at a discounted price!

2017 So Far: TV

Julian Meush June 22, 2017

We’re almost exactly halfway through the year, and we’ve been treated to a treasure trove of amazing TV so far. So in an effort to organize my thoughts about what I’ve watched so far, and as a means of getting a head start on our year-end Best-Of’s, here are my top 3 standout shows (and one dud) from the first half of 2017.

Marvel's Luke Cage: Season 1 Review

Julian Meush October 5, 2016

When Marvel releases a new Netflix series everything stops. I become a hermit for a few days as I binge the entire season in an unhealthy amount of time. This continued to be the case with the release of Marvel’s Luke Cage. I shut myself off from the world, and much like a child that eats too fast, I ingested the entire 13-hour run in just over two days. I’ve spent the time since then actually digesting it. But unlike the kid who eats too quickly, it didn't leave me feeling sick to my stomach. Instead, I thought it was a fun ride even if it was, if you’ll allow me to continue the food analogy, somewhat undercooked.

Game of Thrones S5E4+5 Review

Daniel D'Souza May 18, 2015

Jaime and Bronn arrive in Dorne, Jon plans for the Wildlings future, Cersei makes her power known, Sansa gets to know Ramsay, Stannis leaves Castle Black, the Faith Militant is reborn, Ser Barristan proves his valor, Jorah and Tyrion reach Valyria, and Daenerys seeks revenge.

Game of Thrones S5E2+3 Review

Daniel D'Souza May 6, 2015

Arya gains admittance to The House of Black and White at a high cost, Brienne locates Sansa, Another royal wedding is celebrated, The Bolton's consolidate power in the North, Stannis details his plans for the North and offers Jon his greatest desire, Littlefinger promises Sansa revenge, Daenerys sits in judgement of her enemies and allies, Tyrion and Varys arrive in Volantis, and Jon Snow is honoured by the Night's Watch

May 6, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 9 & 10 / Season Finale

There it is, folks - the season finale to the latest creation from Lucasfilm Animation. It was certainly gorgeous to look at, with the new painterly stylings, and there was no shortage of thrilling action to sink your teeth into, nor did they skimp on the stakes. But while the season started off on a welcomed unfamiliar foot, by the end of this season, and certainly in these final two episodes, the hallmarks of what we've come to know from Star Wars animation showed their head. Early on, the admitted inspirations from films such as 'Heat' and 'The Dark Knight', provided a needed grit to a show which was ostensibly following a villain. This provided the show with a fresh personality - distinguishing itself from it's predecessors in animation. Unfortunately, the creatives couldn't seem to maintain that tone, as by this two-part season finale the old tropes and predictable beats of 'Clone Wars' rose into prominence. And while the appearance of a certain fan favourite character adds some very cool action, the unoriginality from a narrative perspective robbed the final moments of the needed pathos and drama required to land the plane in the most satisfying of ways.

Apr 30, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 7 & 8

There's two of them now?! With the arrival of another Inquisitor things really start to escalate on Janyx. We see Maul at his lowest since probably his spider-leg days (he goes on a self-guided therapy session/vision quest that results in something quite inspiring actually!), providing us a deeper understanding of his motivations, beyond simply "revenge!". Meanwhile, Devon continues to be the most interesting character on the show as she takes two steps forward, one step back, flirting with the dark side (though bonus points for the slick ride she acquires for their getaway). On the action side, the show continues to bring the goods, with dynamic, large scale battles (heavy on LAATs which is always a treat), intimate lightsaber combat, and a special shout out to the speeder chase this week that included a new Star Wars techno track (get outta here Niamos!), which combined for a chef's kiss of a sequence. The finale is next week, dropping on Star Wars Day (May the 4th), so stay tuned to see how much the show wants to tie up and how much it wants to leave dangling ahead of season 2!

Apr 25, 2026

Episode 205 - CinemaCon 2026 + News Roundup

It's been a minute since Matt and Julian sat down to cover the latest in film and TV news. Some might say it's been dearly missed. Well wait no more folks because this week it's all news and nothing but the news so help me god! If the last few weeks (months?) of stories weren't enough, CinemaCon 2026 also just concluded which had it's own news deluge. The guys unpack it all (well most of it anyway)! Of utmost priority is the news of Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler's reboot of 'Miami Vice', which is close to Matt's heart. Plus 'Spaceballs 2' gets a title and release date, trailers for 'Dune 3', 'Clayface' and 'Street Fighter' all surprise (in a good way), and a new 'Lord of the Rings' movie is announced (and you won't guess who's writing it!). Plus, a 'Game of Thrones' movie, more 'Transformers' and is 'Avatar' over? All this and so much more on this week's Tower of Babble Podcast!

Apr 23, 2026

SSSW - Maul: Shadow Lord - Chapter 5 & 6

We’ve reached the halfway point of the season and with it comes a tonal shift back to the roots of Star Wars animation - 'The Clone Wars'. With the arrival of the Empire, the focus shifts away from Maul and his dealings and toward the pair of Jedi as they are now in the crosshairs. The noire tone takes a back seat, next to Maul, as things become more pulpy, mixed with an impending doom that is reminiscent of the final season of 'The Clone Wars'. The set-piece action sequences get an injection of scale and danger, which is exciting, and some of the early seeding of characters like Rylee start to pay off. While maybe a bit different from the previous 4 episodes, the quality and the stakes remain high (well... for every character except Maul I suppose). Join Julian and Rachel as the unpack it all in excruciating detail.