NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 347: "The Reality War" Is Up!

 
"I don't want to do this alone. I'm never alone with you. Joy to the world! And that is exactly the word. This has been an absolute joy."
-- The Fifteenth Doctor, Doctor Who: "The Reality War"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we're joined by DJ Nik, Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "The Reality War", the Doctor Who Series 15 finale, featuring the final episode with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, along with the return of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor!

In this episode, Jesse, Nik, Holly, Rachel, and I discuss things like Jesse celebrating his birthday and wedding anniversary, the missed opportunity to address the "mavity" running gag, the lack of certainty regarding Doctor Who's future, the disservice done to the Doctor's companion and two of his enemies, not buying the official explanation for Ncuti Gatwa's exit after only two seasons, the last-minute reshoots made to the finale to accommodate Ncuti's departure, being grateful that Ncuti Gatwa got a regeneration scene, how hilarious it would be if Billie Piper was actually playing Billie Piper instead of the Sixteenth Doctor, the promotional image feature the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda dancing at a club that never aired during the finale, Jodie Whittaker getting to interact with Ncuti Gatwa, the archive footage from the special edition of "Day of the Daleks", some background on the Zero Room, the surprise return of Anita Benn from "Joy to the World", Jesse's thoughts on "The Boss", the finale being overstuffed with characters, UNIT not being part of the major narrative, the Time Lords suddenly being sterile, Ncuti Gatwa mispronouncing "Omega", the Doctor not knowing anyone else who can raise kids besides Carla Sunday, Rachel calling out Russell T Davies for doing the Rani dirty, the surprise that Archie Panjabi's Rani was turned into Omega Chow instead of Anita Dobson's Rani, Omega being turned into another lame CGI monster like Sutekh, Ruby being a better person than Conrad once again, the great sequence of Thirteen meeting Fifteen, Jesse not caring about Poppy, RTD calling Billie Piper for a last-minute favor, Disney not giving Doctor Who the love they give Star Wars and Marvel because they don't own it, Nik's take on Thirteen being a closeted lesbian compared to Fifteen being openly gay, David Tennant wanting to play Mr. Fantastic, the Doctor's regeneration not destroying the TARDIS interior for once, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new listener feedback from Dave Proctor and Sandi from Oregon, our upcoming schedule for the rest of 2025, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
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Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

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We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in two weeks for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I discuss "Snakedance", the second serial from Doctor Who Season 20 in 1983, featuring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, and the return of the Mara!

CLAYFACE Casts Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen

 
Tom Rhys Harries is about to perform a feat of clay.

Deadline has confirmed reports that Tom Rhys Harries has been cast as the lead in James Watkins' upcoming DC Universe film Clayface, based on the DC Comics supervillain. Filming is scheduled to begin in October 2025 in the United Kingdom. According to TheWrap, Harries will be playing Matt Hagen, the second person to become Clayface in DC Comics.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed the casting on Instagram, stating, "After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in @tomrhysharries. Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy, and can’t wait for you to see this film, directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan."

Harries, 34, is a Welsh actor probably best known as Ricky September in last year's Doctor Who episode "Dot and Bubble", and has appeared in episodes of Jekyll and Hyde, Britannia, Midsomer Murders, White Lines, Suspicion, and The Split. He's also appeared in the films Kandahar, The Gentlemen, and Slaughterhouse Rulez.

Created in 1961 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, Matt Hagen first appeared in Detective Comics (vol.1) #298 as a treasure hunter who found a mysterious radioactive pool of protoplasm in a cave. Immersing himself in it, he was transformed into a malleable clay-like form which could be shaped into almost anything he desired. Hagen soon gleefully began using his newfound powers for crime. His powers, however, proved only to have a temporary effect, requiring him to return to the pool periodically in order to maintain use of his powers. This power lasted 48 hours, after which time Batman succeeded in capturing him and sending him off to prison.

One year later, Batman trailed Hagen to the cave where Hagen received his powers and acquired the powers himself. He soon defeated the villain, who had planned to steal some art treasures. Batman sealed off the cave, but Hagen had managed to stash some of the protoplasm away. Hagen eventually copied the pool's protoplasmic jelly after studying chemistry, although the artificial proptoplasm only allowed him five hours of Clayface powers compared to the full two days from the cave pool.

In 1986's Crisis On Infinite Earths #12, Hagen was killed, along with the original Bug Eyed Bandit, by Shadow Demons. Later, the other three villains who use the name Clayface gathered Hagen's remains and launched an attempt to revive Hagen. The group of Clayfaces (including Basil Karlo, Preston Payne, and Lady Clay), dubbed the Mud Pack, ultimately ended in failure.

Harries will be the third actor to portray Clayface in live-action, after Kirk Baltz in the Birds of Prey episode "Feat of Clay" and Brian McManamon on the TV series Gotham.

Clayface is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026.

DC Studios Announces MISTER MIRACLE Animated Series with Tom King as Showrunner

 
Scott Free is about to perform his ultimate escape trick.

According to Deadline, DC Studios has announced Mister Miracle, an upcoming series from Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero and the Eisner Award winning comic book limited series of the same name from writer Tom King and artist Mitch Gerads. King will serve as showrunner and executive producer for the animated series.

The logline from the 12-issue limited series states, "No prison can hold him. No trap can contain him. He is Scott Free, the worldwide celebrity sensation known as Mister Miracle, and he is the greatest escape artist who ever lived. But can he pull off the ultimate trick--and escape death itself? Something has gone horribly wrong with the perfect life that Scott and his wife, Big Barda, have made for themselves on Earth. With war raging between their homeworlds of Apokolips and New Genesis, Scott's cruel adoptive father, Darkseid, seems to have finally found the Anti-Life Equation--the weapon that will give him total victory. As the mountains of bodies on both sides grow ever higher, only Mister Miracle can stop the slaughter and restore peace. But the terrible power of the Anti-Life Equation may already be at work in his own mind, warping his reality and shattering the fragile happiness he's found with the woman he loves. Is death the trap that's been waiting for him all along? Or is it life itself? And what price will Scott Free have to pay to learn the answer?"

Created in 1971 by Jack Kirby, Mister Miracle first appeared in Mister Miracle (vol.1) #1 as Scott Free, the son of Highfather, the ruler of New Genesis, and his wife, Avia. As part of a diplomatic move to stop a war with the planet Apokolips, Highfather agreed to an exchange of heirs with the galactic tyrant Darkseid. The exchange of heirs as hostages was supposed to guarantee that neither side would attack the other. Scott was traded for Darkseid's second-born son Orion.

Scott grew up in one of Granny Goodness' "Terror Orphanages" with no knowledge of his heritage, but still refused to allow his spirit to break under the institution's torturous training. As he matured, Scott rebelled against the totalitarian ideology of Apokolips. Hating himself for being unable to fit in despite his unfailing defiance of the abuse he suffered, Scott was influenced by Metron to see a future beyond Darkseid. Scott became part of a small band of pupils led by Himon, a New Genesian living under cover as a Hunger Dog on Apokolips. It was at these meetings that Scott met Big Barda of Darkseid's Female Furies, who would later become his wife.

Eventually, Scott escaped and fled to Earth. His escape, long anticipated and planned for by Darkseid, nullified the pact between Darkseid and Highfather; giving Darkseid the excuse he needed to revive the war with New Genesis. Once on Earth, Free met circus escape artist Thaddeus Brown, whose stage name was Mister Miracle. Brown was impressed with Scott's skills (supplemented with various advanced devices he had taken from his previous home). Scott befriended Brown's assistant, a dwarf named Oberon. When Thaddeus Brown was murdered, Free assumed the identity of Mister Miracle. Barda later followed Scott to Earth and the two used their New Gods powers, equipment and skills in the war against Darkseid, who still wanted to recapture both of them. Eventually, tired of being chased on Earth by Darkseid's servants, Scott returned to Apokolips and won his freedom through trial by combat.

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS Season 3 Trailer Teases Patton Oswalt as a Vulcan

 
Is this a "Hit it" situation?

Paramount has released the first trailer for the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, finally delivering a new set of ten episodes since the Season 2 finale, "Hegemony," was released on August 10, 2023.

In Season 3, we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), as they face the conclusion of Season 2's harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters' grit and resolve.

The 90-second trailer begins fleeting images of the main cast with the voice of "Number One"/Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) as stating, "Someone once said, space is dark and cold. Our job is to bring light, bring warmth, bring life, to wherever we go."

We cut to Number One asking Pike "Is this a 'Hit it' situation?", referencing his popular catch phrase.

"It's whatever kind of adventure we want it to be," replies Pike.

As the music becomes more dramatic, we shift to another scene where Number One tells someone, "This crew is a team, the finest Starfleet has to offer."

"Indeed," adds Lieutenant Spock (Ethan Peck).

We shift to another scene, where Pike and Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokan) are pinned down in some sort of shelter on a planet as a Gorn ship comes into view. "It's possible they don't know about us," remarks Dr. M'Benga.

As the Gorn ship begins to fire downward near their location, Pike replies, "They know about us."

In the Enterprise's Conference Room, we see Commander Pelia (Carol Kane) tell her shipmates, "There is evil in this universe as sure as there is good."

Next, we see Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) looking down at the Captain's chair while in the midst of a crisis, followed by a separate scene where Pike advises Kirk, "The choices you make in that chair, they are yours to make and yours to live with."

Switching back to the crisis scene, Spock tells Kirk, "We await your orders, sir," hinting that Kirk may be forced to temporarily take command of the Enterprise.

In another scene, we see Lieutenant Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) walking the corridors along with Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and someone who appears to be Ortegas' younger brother.

"You don't trust me with your best friend?" Ortegas' brother asks her.

"You don't trust me with your baby brother?" Uhura asks Erica Ortegas.

"It's madness!" exclaims Erica as we cut to a scene where Uhura and Ortegas' brother are dressed in more fashionable attire and sharing a drink together.

We move to another scene, where Pike tells the others, "We have to stop this invasion," referring to the Gorns. This is immediately followed by Kirk giving orders to "Prepare all weapons" as the Enterprise launches photon torpedoes.

Several fleeting images follow, including Spock punching Roger Korby (Cillian O'Sullivan) in the face.

We cut to another scene, where Uhura tries to reassure Ortgeas' brother, saying "We are going to find our way out of this, together."

Spock initiates a mind-meld with someone, then later dances a tango with an unknown woman.

Recent addition Lieutenant Montgomery Scott (Martin Quinn) informs Pike, "It's one in a thousand we get it done right, or don't blow ourselves up along the way."

"I like those odds," replies Pike. "We'll just turn it off before we blow up."

In the trailer's final scene, we see Spock initiating a "high-five" with a Vulcan official, played by Patton Oswalt. "Give me five," intones Spock.

The two clap hands, followed by Spock saying, "Now down low."

Spock pulls his hand away so the other Vulcan misses. "Why would you do that?" asks the other Vulcan.

"Because...you are too slow," replies Spock as Pike laughs from the other side of the room.

If you'd like to check out the new trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Star Trek account on YouTube...

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returns to Paramount+ for Season 3 on July 17, 2025.

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 346: "Wish World" Is Up!

"We danced once upon a time, you and I. At the Siege of Persephone, with the city burning around us! People said we were lovers. Can you remember if that's true? Far away in time and space. Were we? Yes! I had a different face. So did you, a long time ago, because the tragedy is...we were never enemies. Every villain you ever fought wanted death. I only wanted life, remember? My name...is the Rani."

-- The Fourth Rani to the Fifteenth Doctor, Doctor Who: "Wish World"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we're joined by Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "Wish World", the seventh episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Jonah Hauer-King as Conrad Clark, and Archie Panjabi as the Fourth Rani!

In this episode, Jesse, Holly, Rachel, and I discuss things like the season streak possibly being over, a special thanks to Holly, Jesse's recommendation for Slow Horses, Rachel's expectations being raised because of the Rani, the Rani suddenly being obsessed with Omega, the Rani needing to be portrayed more seriously than the Master, Russell T Davies' social commentary of the disabled being overlooked and cast aside, the meaning of the word desiderium, Conrad's fictional book Doctor Who and the Deadly Wish, Omega's audio being used from the Big Finish Gallifrey audio drama Intervention Earth, the treatment of those with disabilities being similar to the Sixth Doctor Big Finish audio drama Girl In a Bubble, this episode being one of 12 television stories in which the TARDIS doesn't appear, the Doctor and Belinda living the life of a married couple with a child, Conrad's idea of what a utopia should be, Belinda's primal scream, the pointless cameo by Jonathan Groff as Rogue, Ruby working with Shirley to start a rebellion against Conrad, the Doctor working for UNIT again, the Unified National Insurance Team, Mrs. Flood's resentment towards her successor, RTD introducing the concept that the Doctor and the Rani were lovers at one point, the Rani's plan to bring back Omega, hoping that Omega gets a better treatment than Sutekh received last season, our favorite quotes of the episode, my Reverse the Polarity segment, new listener feedback from Megan from Oregon, Dave Proctor and Sandi from Oregon, the passing of comics and Star Trek writer Peter David, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in just one week for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by DJ Nik, Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "The Reality War", the Doctor Who Series 15 finale, featuring the final episode with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, along with the return of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 345: "The Interstellar Song Contest" Is Up!

 
"Look, that's 100,000 people frozen and suspended in space. To reach them, and catch them, and revive every single one of them, you'd need to be some sort of insane genius."
"Hello, I'm the Doctor."
-- Mike Gabbastone and The Fifteenth Doctor, Doctor Who: "The Interstellar Song Contest"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we're joined by Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "The Interstellar Song Contest", the sixth episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Anita Dobson as Mrs. Flood, and introducing Archie Panjabi as the Fourth Rani!

In this episode, Jesse, Holly, Rachel, and I discuss things like Jesse trying to book Dugga Doo on his Bruce Springsteen podcast, Rachel's reaction audio to the Rani's long-awaited return, being unable to avoid spoilers on the internet, Juno Dawson writing the Thirteenth Doctor novel The Good Doctor, getting the return of Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, Rachel's thoughts on Anita Dobson and Archie Panjabi taking over the role of the Rani from the late Kate O'Mara, Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma on The Good Wife, Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower on House of the Dragon, Christina Rotondo as the voice of Janis Goblin in "The Church on Ruby Road", Ncuti Gatwa being replaced by Sophie Ellis-Bextor as the UK spokesperson on the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, Juno Dawson's original plan to write a disaster plot based on The Poseidon Adventure, Russell T Davies approaching Carole Ann Ford to return as Susan during the premiere screening of "The Star Beast", Cora Saint-Bavier claiming she was from Turlough's home planet of Trion, Wynn and Kid being based on Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd from Ian Fleming's Live and Let Die, Mike and Gary working the threesome, hurt people hurting people, the uncomfortable sequence where the Doctor was torturing Kid, Gary being a convenient triangulation expert, Kid and Wyn being similar to Sid and Nancy, being tired of the slow clap cliche, our thoughts on the new Ranis, hoping we get more of Susan, our favorite quotes of the episode, a non-recommendation for "Dimensions in Time", new listener feedback from Dave Proctor and Sandi from Oregon, really wanting this season to stick the landing, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in just one week for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "Wish World", the seventh episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Jonah Hauer-King as Conrad Clark, and Archie Panjabi as the Fourth Rani!

Marvel's VISION Series Casts T'Nia Miller as Jocasta

 
The Bride of Ultron is coming to the small screen.

Deadline is reporting that the upcoming untitled Marvel TV series based on Marvel Comics' The Vision has cast T'Nia Miller as the android Jocasta.

Miller joins Paul Bettany, reprising his role of the Vision in the series, which will be set after the events in 2021's WandaVision and follow the Vision as he tries to regain his memory and humanity. Other cast members include James Spader, reprising his role of Ultron, Todd Stashwick, and Ruaridh Mollica.

Miller, 40, is a British actress known for her role as The General on Doctor Who. She's also appeared in The Fall of the House of Usher (2023), The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Peripheral, Foundation, and Sex Education.

Created in 1977 by Jim Shooter and George Pérez, Jocasta first appeared in The Avengers (vol.1) #162 as an android built by Ultron in an abandoned aerospace research center, so that Ultron could have a mate. In order to develop Jocasta's sentience, Ultron based her mind and brain patterns on the Wasp and brainwashed his creator Hank Pym into transferring the Wasp's lifeforce into the feminine android shell. Ultron named Jocasta after the wife/mother in the legend of Oedipus. Realizing that the Wasp would have to die for her to live, Jocasta alerted the Avengers. The team defeated Ultron and reversed the process, leaving Jocasta a mindless husk.

Pym retained custody of the inanimate Jocasta, intending to study her. On the Wasp's urging, Pym had her moved from their residence to the Avengers Mansion. There, Ultron revived Jocasta with a remote link, activating the Wasp's mental "residue" left behind. She escaped from Avengers custody and led the Avengers into Ultron's trap. Jocasta was programmed to be loyal to Ultron, but couldn't abide her master's evil. Jocasta eventually betrayed Ultron, choosing to help the Avengers defeat her "mate" again.

Jocasta resided at Avengers Mansion for a time and soon developed feelings for the Vision due to their similar backgrounds. However, the Vision was happily married to the Scarlet Witch and could not return Jocasta's feelings. Jocasta continued having adventures with the Avengers but never felt accepted, and left them just before she, unbeknownst to her, was about to be made an official member. Wandering the country, Jocasta was controlled by a pre-programmed suggestion to rebuild Ultron. She did, but soon teamed up with the Thing and the robot called Machine Man to defeat Ultron once again. Sacrificing herself in an attempt to kill Ultron, Ultron survived nevertheless until Machine Man reached down Ultron's throat to tear out vital circuitry. The Avengers held a memorial for their fallen ally, with the Machine Man attending, realizing his love for Jocasta. Jocasta was later rebuilt and continues aiding the Avengers from time to time.

DRUNK CINEMA 079: "Return of the Jedi" Is Up!

 
"You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."
"So be it...Jedi."
-- Luke Skywalker as Emperor Sheev Palpatine, Return of the Jedi

Hello again, movie fans!  My wonderful co-host Xan Sprouse and I are back with a new episode of Drunk Cinema! This time, we watch Return of the Jedi, the 1983 sequel to The Empire Strikes Back directed by Richard Marquand, featuring the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian!

This time, Xan and I discuss things like podcasting while under a tornado watch, Xan taking a little higher dose of gummy than she's used to, Richard Marquand dying after a stroke at the age of 49, Steven Spielberg and David Lynch being approached to Return of the Jedi, Sheev being Emperor Palpatine's first name, Warwick Davis playing Wicket at 11 years old, Return of the Jedi getting a Special Achievement Award at the Academy Awards, my learning what happened in Return of the Jedi by reading Marvel Comics' adaptation released before the film arrived in theaters, my drinking Killian's Sith Red, both of us preferring the original theatrical version, Jedi being Xan's first Star Wars movie, Threepio and Artoo reluctantly returning to Tattooine after escaping it, the Power Droid being tortured, the terrible "Jedi Rocks" song replacing "Lapti Nek", Leia being too short for a bounty hunter, feeling bad for the guy taking care of the Rancor, Yoda telling Luke he was brought by a stork as a baby, my recommendation for Andor, test audiences being more upset that the Falcon was blown up than Han Solo dying, Palpatine bringing his chair from his office, original plans for Endor to be the Wookiees' planet Kashyyyk, Padmé Amidala dying of a broken heart, the recycled Asteroid Field shot, the Midnight Bomber what bombs at midnight, Darth Vader's toxic relationship with Emperor Palpatine, Lando being full of good ideas, new Drunk Mail from Christine Peruski, Aaron Case and Dave Proctor, our upcoming watch of Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th, and more!

If you'd like to check out our podcast and subscribe to us, you can find us on...

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Be sure to come back in one month as Xan and I watch Friday the 13th, the 1980 slasher film directed by Sean S. Cunningham, featuring Betsy Palmer as Pamela Voorhees, Adrienne King as Alice Hardy, Kevin Bacon as Jack, and Ari Lehman as Jason Voorhees!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 344: "The Story & The Engine" Is Up!

 
"He's lying to you. He's lying! I met Dionysus. We drank so much wine, we caused a drought in Athens! Saga and I watched Marvel movies together, up until Endgame. She didn't like Thor - muscles were too small. I played chess with Bastet. I let her think that she let me let her win. She kicked my ass, thoroughly! And Anansi purposely lost a bet to make me marry one of his daughters. I know the gods, you are not them. Tell the truth. Who are you?"

-- The Fifteenth Doctor, Doctor Who: "The Story & The Engine"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we discuss "The Story & The Engine", the fifth episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Ariyon Bakare as The Barber, and Michelle Asante as Abena!

In this episode, Jesse and I discuss things like both of us geeking out over the new Superman movie trailer, a Next Stop News Flash about "The Reality War" being simulcast all over the world and being in theaters in the UK, this season being stronger than last season, Alan Moore's line about imaginary stories, getting a connection to the god Anansi, the story being about a sense of belonging, the episode being a fresh idea, Peter David writing The Phantom, my recommendation for watching Andor, original plans to actually film the episode in Lagos, Nigeria, writer Inua Ellams' short story "What I Did on My Holidays by Omo Esosa" about Omo's first meeting with the Doctor, Inua Ellams being the first black man to write for Doctor Who, why Jo Martin made a cameo as the Fugitive Doctor, what the Yo-Yo Ma anecdote was based on, Ernest Hemingway being misattributed as the writer of "For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn", getting confirmation that the TARDIS cuts people's hair, the Doctor finding a sense of community as a black man, wondering how the Doctor arranged to meet up with Omo in 2019, Lois Lane trying to have the black experience, wondering how "Space Babies" connects to this season with the unexpected return of Captain Poppy, not faulting Omo for tricking the Doctor into the barbershop, Inua Ellams writing a love letter to being a Doctor Who fan, Abby being revealed as the daughter of Anansi, the Fugitive Doctor meeting Abena, Russell T Davies connecting the various Doctor Who eras like James Robinson connected the various Starman eras in DC Comics, Abena weaving a map of the labyrinth into the Doctor's hair, the Barber wanting to take vengeance upon the gods for abandoning him, the barbership being like the Hotel California, the Barber seeing the error of his ways, our favorite quotes of the episode, new listener feedback from Holly Mac, Dave Proctor and Sandi from Oregon, "The Interstellar Song Contest" being set up for the two-part season finale, and more!

If you'd like to check out our latest episode, you can find us on...

Apple Podcasts -- RIGHT HERE
Direct MP3 downloads/Libsyn -- RIGHT HERE
Spotify -- RIGHT HERE

Next Stop Everywhere's Facebook page

Next Stop Everywhere's Twitter account

Next Stop Everywhere's Instagram account

We have a NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic right HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in just one week for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I are joined by Holly Mac and Rachel Frend to discuss "The Interstellar Song Contest", the sixth episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Anita Dobson as Mrs. Flood, and introducing Archie Panjabi as the Fourth Rani!

NEXT STOP EVERYWHERE 343: "Lucky Day" Is Up!

 
"You have to be invited into my TARDIS, Conrad, to be special. But you...you're special for all the wrong reasons. You see, I am fighting a battle on behalf of everyday people who just wanna get through their day and feel safe and warm and fed. And then along comes this noise. All day long, this relentless noise! Cowards like you weaponizing lies, taking people's insecurity and fear and making it currency. You are exhausting. You stamp on the truth, choke our bandwidth and shred our patience because the only strategy you have is to wear us down. But the thing is, Conrad, I have energy to burn and all the time in the universe."
-- The Fifteenth Doctor to Conrad Clark, Doctor Who: "Lucky Day"

Hello again, everyone! My partner in time Jesse Jackson and I are back for another new episode of Next Stop Everywhere: The Doctor Who Podcast! This time, we're joined by special guest Dave Proctor as we discuss "Lucky Day", the fourth episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, the return of Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, and the first appearance of Jonah Hauer-King as Conrad Clark!

In this episode, Jesse, Dave and I discuss things like Dave Proctor returning for the first time since October 2023, Dave visiting the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff, Jesse wanting Bruce Springsteen's song "Lucky Day" used in the episode, Dave's thoughts on the season so far, the Fifteenth Doctor being a very emotional Doctor, Paul Jerricho as The Castellan, Ruby needing to join Graham's companion support group, Russell T Davies wanting to discuss the spread of toxic online hatred, the Shreek being based on writer Pete McTighe's fear of dog-like creatures, the Shreek being mentioned in the 2024 Doctor Who novel Caged by Una McCormack, the episodes that Conrad referred to about UNIT, Ruby deciding to go on Conrad's podcast to discuss the Doctor, the return of Ruby's family, how Conrad was able to fool Ruby and the general public about his real agenda, how Dave started listening to Next Stop Everywhere, the episode proving that you should never trust a podcaster, Conrad punking UNIT and revealing to Ruby what a horrible person he really is, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart deciding to sic the Shreek on Conrad, wishing Conrad was beaten up with his own severed arm, Conrad's big mistake of insulting Kate's father, the Doctor's great speech calling out Conrad and people who spread lies and hatred online for money, wondering if Conrad is the one who encouraged the Doctor to look up his future companion Belinda Chandra in "The Robot Revolution", Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Thunderbolts, my theory why Mrs. Flood recruited Conrad Clark, our favorite quotes of the episode, new listener feedback from Holly Mac and Sandi from Oregon, giving credit to Dave for picking "Lucky Day" to discuss without knowing what it was about, and more!

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We now have a BRAND NEW Next Stop Everywhere t-shirt, which you can find on TeePublic RIGHT HERE!  This spiffy shirt looks great when you're listening to your favorite Doctor Who podcast and travelling through time and space! Or you could order all sorts of cool Next Stop Everywhere merch there as well!

Be sure to come back in just one week for the next episode of Next Stop Everywhere as Jesse and I discuss "The Story & The Engine", the fifth episode from Doctor Who Series 15, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra, Ariyon Bakare as The Barber, and Michelle Asante as Abena!

New SUPERMAN Trailer Teases Metamorpho and the Engineer

 
At long last, Warner Bros. Pictures has released a new trailer for Superman, the upcoming 2025 DC Universe film directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

In this second 3-minute trailer, we start off with Lois and Clark hanging out together as Clark agrees to let Lois interview him as Superman, confirming that Lois already knows Superman's secret identity. "Are you being serious right now?" she asks incredulously. "You'd let me interview you as Superman?"

"Sure," agrees Clark, expecting the softball treatment due to their relationship.

Activating her audio recorder, Lois asks Clark if he's ready and he glibly replies, "Let's do it, Cronkite." Lois begins the interview, addressing Clark as "Superman" and he responds to her in his deep Superman voice as "Miss Lane."

"Recently, you've come under a lot of fire for what some might--"

"I don't know if it's a lot of fire, but--" interrupts Superman as we see an image of a spaceship in the middle of downtown Metropolis.

"It's a lot," confirms Lois as we briefly cut to an image of someone angrily throwing a can at Superman's head, which he doesn't even blink at.

"Today, the Secretary of Defense said he was gonna look into your actions," continues Lois as we see Frank Grillo as a live-action version of his Creature Commandos character Rick Flag Sr. 

Superman smirks in a dismissive tone at this, surprising Lois. "That--That's funny?" she asks,

"My actions?" responds Superman. "I stopped a war."

"Maybe."

"Uh, not maybe. I did."

Lois proceeds to grill him harder, stating, "In effect, you illegally entered a country" as we see a handcuffed Superman being taken into custody by Rick Flag Sr., a large masked figure who may or may not be Ultraman, and the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría).

Later in the interview, we see Superman being upset at Lois' questions. "This is how you're gonna be?" he asks.

"I'm not the one being interviewed, Superman," replies Lois. "Did you consult with the President?"

Superman gives a long, audible sigh. "No."

"You seemingly acting like a representative of the United States..."

Superman interrupts again, raising his voice in a defensive tone, "I wasn't representing anybody except for me!"

"...will cause more problems around the world," continues Lois. 

"And -- and -- and doing good," he adds as we see him protecting a small child from being killed.

Lois continues to press him, saying, "I would question myself in the same situation and consider the consequences." At this moment, we see Superman being struck by a mysterious armored character called the Hammer of Boravia that bears the familiar green and purple colors of Lex Luthor from the comics. Boravia is a fictionalized European country based around the Alps in the comics, having first appeared in Superman (vol.1) #2 back in 1939.

"People were going to die!" shouts Superman, now completely exasperated.

We see Superman crashing into a busy sidewalk, creating an impact crater. Someone reaches into to help Superman to his feet.

In a separate scene, a scorched Superman tells an off-camera enemy, "Hey, buddy! Eyes up here!" as he rockets upward into the sky.

As the John Williams-inspired theme begins to build, we see Luthor and the Engineer entering Superman's Fortress of Solitude, with the Engineer's hands shifting into spinning buzzsaw blades. Krypto the Superdog barks at them as they enter, with the Engineer carving up a few of Superman's robots until Krypto launches through the air and strikes her hard in the face.

We then hear the words of Clark's father, Jonathan Kent (Pruitt Taylor Vince), as he says, "Your choices...your actions...That’s what makes you who you are." We see a young Clark running toward his father, followed by the present-day Clark hugging his father after hearing his reassuring words.

As we glimpse Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) using his T-spheres to take out mulitple armored soldiers, we then hear Lex Luthor remarking, "Super...man. He's not a man, he's an it...that's somehow become the focal point of the entire world's conversation. I will not...accept that."

Glimpses of Lois worrying as a wounded Superman lies in bed follow, along with Superman being beaten in prison after Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) changes his left hand to Kryptonite. We also see Superman fighting Ultraman and the Engineer in the middle of the Metropolis Meteors stadium.

As Lex Luthor rages, we cut to the Kent home in Smallville, with Martha Kent (Neva Howell) telling Clark, "I cleaned your boots. I'll go get 'em for you."

Superman fights a giant kaiju in Metropolis near a giant video screen showing a news reporter played by Will Reeve, son of previous Superman actor Christopher Reeve. The chyron on the broadcast states, “New regulations set to begin next week."

More glimpses include Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) using his Power Ring to create a giant hand to swat soldiers away on the lobby window, Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) smashing someone out of a window, Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio) taking a selfie as Superman fights the Hammer of Boravia in the background, Metamorpho using his powers, Superman flying through some kind of floating debris field towards a house that shoots at him with a laser, Superman and Lois kissing in mid-air, and Superman rocketing up into the sky once again as a crowd of people cheer, then coming straight down at the camera.

In the final scene, we see Lois asking Clark, "You have a dog?" followed by a separate scene of Krypto resting on the injured Superman's chest as a good dog should.

If you'd like to check out the new trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official DC account on YouTube...

Superman is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 11, 2025.

First PEACEMAKER Season 2 Trailer Teases Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner, and Maxwell Lord

Do you really wanna taste it again?

Max has released the first teaser trailer for the second season of Peacemaker, James Gunn's TV series adaptation of the DC Comics superhero. The season continues the story of jingoistic mercenary Peacemaker/Christopher Smith, played once again by John Cena, and places the series into Gunn's new DC Universe, which launches with his upcoming film Superman (2025).

The two-minute teaser trailer opens with Peacemaker being driven by his friend Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) to a job interview with the Justice Gang, a DCU superhero team to be introduced in Superman. Abebayo tells Peacemaker, "They'll be doing backflips to get you to join" and gives him an encouraging fist bump of support.

Going inside, Peacemaker sits down and is welcomed by Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), asking him if he prefers going by Peacemaker or Chris. Inside a booth with Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Lord toggles a switch that presumably allows private conversation if needed. "Either's fine," replies Peacemaker.

"Can you tell us a little about your skills?" asks Lord.

"I'm considered the finest marksman in the world."

"The mic is off?" asks Hawkgirl. Lord replies that it is, even though it obviously isn't.

Thrown a bit, Peacemaker continues, "I am also proficient in hand-to-hand combat..."

Still thinking the Justice Gang is having a private conversation, Lord asks the others, "How many more of these do we have today?"

"Is that popcorn still here?" asks Hawkgirl.

"You loooooove popcorn," responds Guy Gardner.

"My butt is getting really big lately," adds Hawkgirl, still not realizing the mic isn't off.

Peacemaker continues again, "I have a variety of helmets..."

"This guy sucks," groans Lord.

"Excuse me?" interjects Peacemaker. "Am I supposed to be able to hear you guys?"

"Excuse me?" asks Lord, toggling the switch again.

"You were talking about your butt and stuff. And also, you said that I suck."

Maxwell Lord winces awkwardly, while Guy Gardner starts laughing and Hawkgirl begins munching on popcorn. "It is not funny," exclaims Lord.

Peacemaker storms out of the meeting and gets back in the car with Adebayo. They drive off and she states, "I don't get it. We saved the world," referencing the events of Season One.

On his cell phone, Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma), better known as Vigilante, remarks, "I thought everyone would finally treat us like heroes."

In a separate scene, Adebayo remarks, "I don't need anybody else. I just forge my own path."

John Economos (Steve Agee) replies, "You're living in the worst level of Grand Theft Auto."

Next, we see Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) getting into a bar fight, followed by a scene with her therapist telling her, "I've come to the conclusion you suffer from a particularly severe form of toxic masculinity."

Emilia is stunned by the diagnosis, then goes out to her car and rage-punches the dashboard.

In another scene, Economos tells Team Peacemaker that "A.R.G.U.S. has been monitoring Peacemaker ever since Rick Flag, Sr. was named director."

Later, Chris asks Abebayo, "Does he know that I--"

"Have killed his son?" interjects Adebayo. "Yeah."

In still another scene, Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) tells someone, "Bring me Peacemaker."

Later in the trailer, Chris tells the others during a backyard hangout, "We haven't always been great people, but we are the 11th Street Kids. No one will ever break us apart."

A montage of clips from the season are shown, followed by Peacemaker asking Eagly, his pet eagle, "You ready for the next adventure, pal?"

Lastly, we see Chris, in his tighty-whities, open a door in his father's lab that takes him to an alternate Earth, where there's a poster of the band Hanoi Rocks, spelled Roxx instead. Suddenly, a gun clicks behind him, and we see another Peacemaker (also played by Cena) with a more stylish, streamlined helmet. "Who the fuck are you?" asks the other Peacemaker.

If you'd like to check out the Peacemaker Season 2 teaser trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Max account on YouTube...

Peacemaker Season 2 is scheduled to debut August 21st on Max.