Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom becomes the centerpiece of the discussion almost immediately, with Andrew and Alex testing increasingly disastrous possibilities for Avengers: Doomsday. Their negative scenarios range from Doom saying “I hate you 3000” to Kang killing him within the opening minutes, while other possibilities involve Smart Hulk dying, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man being killed off-screen and Steve Rogers’ ending being undone. The exercise is deliberately ridiculous, but it also reveals what the hosts believe Marvel needs to avoid: cheap nostalgia, disposable legacy characters and twists that undermine years of established storytelling.
The best-case version of the game is more revealing because the hosts have surprisingly clear priorities. A substantial, compelling Doom initially seems almost impossible to beat, particularly when they imagine him receiving enough screen time to become one of the MCU’s strongest villains. Yet the possibility of Thor finally reuniting with Loki carries enormous emotional appeal, while preserving Steve Rogers’ ending is treated as almost sacred. Their enthusiasm works because these are not merely demands for more cameos; much of the conversation is about wanting returning characters and relationships to matter rather than simply generating applause.
Reed Richards and Victor von Doom ultimately inspire some of the most thoughtful Marvel discussion. The hosts want their history to remain important throughout the film, emphasizing the intellectual rivalry and complicated personal connection they hope exists between the characters. Pedro Pascal’s Reed is viewed as a potential emotional center for the Avengers, while Doom’s intelligence is imagined as something that should genuinely distinguish him from his opponents. These are predictions and preferences rather than established details about the film, and the conversation generally presents them that way.
That focus on character makes the later Clayface exercise a useful companion piece. The hosts debate Batman’s involvement, the possibility of an R-rated film being recut, a giant CGI climax, Robert Pattinson entering the wider DCU and the value of strong practical effects. Their preferred outcome is ultimately commercial as well as creative: a genuinely successful horror-oriented Clayface that could strengthen the wider DC franchise. The willingness to reject a Batman appearance or cinematic-universe connection when it might damage the individual movie gives their franchise enthusiasm some welcome restraint.
The episode is much broader than its Doomsday framing, however, and that becomes its largest structural weakness. There are lengthy opening updates about collaborations, brief Lanterns reactions, discussion of suspected AI-assisted concept imagery, a sponsor segment, Superman and Endgame arguments, and an extensive listener Q&A covering everything from Beyond the Spider-Verse and Godzilla to anime, fantasy football, gaming and favorite comedy quotes. Much of this is entertaining for established listeners, but anyone arriving primarily for the Avengers discussion will find the title describes only one portion of a sprawling conversational show.
Presentation is driven almost entirely by the hosts’ chemistry, rapid disagreements and willingness to follow tangents. Their arguments can be funny precisely because relatively minor superhero preferences are treated with enormous intensity, and the hypothetical format produces some memorable choices without pretending to offer inside information. At the same time, repetition, interruptions and extended diversions make the episode considerably looser than it needs to be. As a hangout with two enthusiastic fandom personalities it works well; as a focused examination of what could make or break Avengers: Doomsday, it is entertaining but comparatively thin.
Pros
- The nightmare and best-case scenario games provide an entertaining framework for discussing what the hosts actually value in Avengers: Doomsday.
- Reed Richards and Doctor Doom’s potential relationship prompts a more substantive discussion about character history, intelligence and emotional stakes.
- The hosts consistently distinguish their hopes, theories and expectations from confirmed elements of the upcoming films.
- Strong chemistry and contrasting opinions keep lengthy discussions energetic, particularly when the hosts challenge each other’s franchise rankings and preferences.
- The Clayface discussion shows a welcome willingness to prioritize the needs of an individual movie over cameos and cinematic-universe connectivity.
Cons
- The Avengers material occupies only part of an extremely wide-ranging episode despite being the focus of the title.
- Numerous tangents, repeated arguments and conversational detours make the episode much less efficient than its strongest segments.
- Some potentially interesting ideas about Doom, Reed and the Avengers are abandoned quickly once the hypothetical game moves to the next scenario.
- The deliberately exaggerated fandom language can occasionally substitute enthusiasm for a more developed explanation of why a particular creative choice would succeed or fail.
Andrew and Alex turn superhero anxieties into an enjoyable game while revealing a sensible underlying preference for character relationships and earned emotional moments over empty nostalgia. The loose podcast format delivers plenty of personality, but the Avengers discussion would be stronger with more sustained analysis and substantially less surrounding material.
