#173 – Loki S2E1 – “Ouroboros” Breaking Time

A Fractured TVA, A Fractured Self

The Sacred Timeline is no longer sacred. In the Season 2 premiere of Loki, “Ouroboros,” we watch the God of Mischief violently time-slip across a TVA unraveling at the seams. Eric breaks down the emotional core of Loki’s journey, Tom Hiddleston’s powerful delivery, and the cinematic VFX that elevate this premiere to something special. Plus: our first impressions of OB, a standout addition to the cast, and a question that still lingers—what do regular TVA citizens actually do? If this is your first time watching, or your fifth time through the loop, you’re not alone. This is Marvel Maniac, and the multiverse just got messier.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#172 – Multiverse Fatigue? Or Just Misunderstood?

Untangling the madness — and why the MCU still needs it

“Multiverse fatigue” has become the buzzword of the moment — but is the concept really broken, or just misunderstood? In this tight Friday feature, Eric unpacks what’s gone wrong with Marvel’s multiverse storytelling… and what’s still so powerful about it when done right. From Loki to Deadpool, No Way Home to Multiverse of Madness, this episode digs into why the multiverse still has magic left — if Marvel can remember how to use it. One multiverse. One mic. No holding back.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#171 – Phase 5 Review

Every movie. Every show. In release order. No holding back.

After months of coverage, it’s finally time to look back on everything Phase 5 brought to the MCU. From Quantumania to Ironheart, from multiversal madness to gritty street-level arcs — this is the full journey, in order, through the most unpredictable phase yet. Eric reflects on the highs, the stumbles, and the moments that hit harder than expected. No grouping. No skipping. Just real talk, honest emotion, and a search for what made this phase truly matter. 15 projects. One chaotic saga. This is the Phase 5 Review.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#170 – Ironheart Ep. 6 – “The Past Is the Past” Goodbyes, Growth & The Final Fight

Deals with the Devil, Suits to Shreds, and a Hell of a Cliffhanger

The Ironheart finale delivers big magic, big emotion, and one hell of a Mephisto moment. As Parker Robbins' origin unfolds in full devilish detail, Riri faces off against both Ezekiel and the Hood—only to come face-to-face with Mephisto himself. Did she take the deal? Is Natalie truly back? And what does this mean for the MCU’s mystical future? Eric unpacks the explosive final showdown, that chilling post-credits scene with Zelma Stanton, and why this 6-episode series might be one of the MCU’s boldest swings yet.

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đź’ˇ Have thoughts or theories? Share your feedback at [email protected] OR drop something in the tip jar and leave a comment! Your voice matters!

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#169 – Ironheart Ep. 5 – “Karma’s a Glitch” Stolen Suits, Dark Magic, Dormammu

Suit Up or Shut Down

Riri faces her toughest battle yet as the Hood’s grip tightens and Ezekiel returns as a full-blown cyber-enhanced villain. With her suit destroyed, her heart shattered, and Natalie glitching beyond repair, Riri must dig deep—turning grief into fuel and magic into armor. From a brutal White Castle showdown to a garage filled with memory and meaning, this episode forges the heart of a hero. The finale is coming… and Ironheart is almost ready.

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đź’ˇ Have thoughts or theories? Share your feedback at [email protected] OR drop something in the tip jar and leave a comment! Your voice matters!

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#168 – Ironheart Ep. 4 – “Bad Magic” Parallel Planes & PTSD

A cursed cloth, a broken bond, and a villain rising.

Riri’s past comes back to haunt her as she faces the emotional fallout of John’s death—and the cloth in her pocket may be more cursed than anyone imagined. As Parker builds a villain squad and Natalie becomes almost too real, Riri's world unravels in ways that mirror Tony Stark’s darkest days. Magic, trauma, and heartbreak collide in an episode that pushes our hero to the edge.

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đź’ˇ Have thoughts or theories? Share your feedback at [email protected] OR drop something in the tip jar and leave a comment! Your voice matters!

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#167 – Ironheart Ep. 3 – “We in Danger, Girl” Magic, Murder & Machine Learning

Natalie’s alive, Joe drops a legacy bombshell, and Riri’s caught in the crossfire of magic and memory. This heist went nuclear.

Riri’s in deeper than ever as this week’s heist spirals into a full-blown crisis. Natalie starts to feel more human, Joe drops a massive MCU bombshell, and The Hood reveals just how far he’ll go to get what he wants. With Chicago burning in the background, a devastating loss shakes the crew—and Riri’s left questioning everything. We’re halfway through Ironheart, and the stakes just shot through the roof.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#166 – Ironheart Ep. 2 – “Will the Real Natalie Please Stand Up?”: AI, Grief, Trouble Ahead

Riri’s new AI is her dead best friend. And that’s just the beginning.

The mystery of Natalie deepens—and Riri Williams is caught between genius and grief. From an awkward crew meetup to a dangerous heist beneath Chicago, Episode 2 brings big questions, magical mayhem, and a whole lot of moral gray. I break down Joe’s shady tech stash, The Hood’s villain speech, and what might be Marvel’s boldest AI storyline yet. Also? Cubs fans, dog poop, flower-snipping tension… You know, just another day in the MCU.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#165 – Ironheart Ep. 1 – “Take Me Home” Spark, Crash, Rise

Riri builds the suit. But is the world ready for her?

Ironheart is here—and she’s flying straight out of Chicago. In this premiere episode of Marvel’s latest series, we meet Riri Williams, a genius with big dreams, no money, and more heart than the system knows what to do with. I break down her Stark-sized ambition, the gut-punch of expulsion, the debut of The Hood, and the mysterious final twist that left me itching for Episode 2. We’re just getting started!

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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#164 – Wakanda Forever – Legacy, Loss… and the Rise of Ironheart

Just in time for Ironheart, we’re finally giving Wakanda Forever the spotlight it deserves. Legacy. Loss. And a new genius on the rise.

Before Ironheart arrives next week, we're finally covering the powerful film that introduced RiRi Williams to the MCU — Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In this long-overdue aftershow, Mr. Honest reflects on the film’s themes of grief, legacy, and what it means to move forward. From Shuri’s emotional journey to Namor’s introduction, to the spark that is RiRi… and even the political power plays happening behind the scenes — this is where the next phase of Wakanda’s story truly begins.

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CREDITS: Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

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