Better Worlds

This episode features an unplanned deep dive into the complete Alien franchise, and the latest news (at time of recording) about Star Wars: Episode IX and The Clone Wars. We also discuss board games, movie-watching decisions, dangerous holidays, and how you really should join our Slack.

Followup / Minitopics:

• Optical discs
• Movie service annoyances (Netflix, Fandango, and MoviePass)
• Intro
• Elcor speech patterns
• Buy all our playsets and toys
• Finn Fact: National Sleepy Head Day
• The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
• Surprisingly expected news
  • The world’s oldest person died at 117. She was the last known person born in the 19th century.
• Peter Jackson has done one good thing
  • Evangeline Lilly on How She “Challenged” Herself to Speak Up on the ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Set
• Pronunciation of “Ars Technica”

Alien franchise (27:33):

• Are Xenomorphs really called Xenomorphs?
  • The throwaway line in Aliens that spawned decades of confusion
• Trevor finished the Alien franchise
  • Tangent: Infinity War spoilers, I guess

Transformers (49:23):

• Bumblebee movie
• MoviePass decision making

Board Games (58:37):

• Azul (Game of the Year)
• The flaws of Ticket to Ride
• 5 Great Tabletop Games and RPGs for When It’s Too Damn Hot Outside
  • Jurassic Park Danger!
  • Scum & Villainy
  • Betrayal at House on the Hill
  • Star Trek Adventures
  • Spirit Island
• Episode landmarks

Star Wars news (1:13:46):

• The Clone Wars is coming back
• Tangent: Trevor’s visit to Lucasfilm
• The Clone Wars is coming back
• Star Wars: Episode IX cast announced
  • Tangent: Towel or cowl in The Last Jedi?
    • Tangent’: Matthew’s favorite easter egg in Age of Ultron
  • Tangent: Towel/cowl verdict
• Star Wars car swag sightings
• Imperial Xenomorphs
• The Battle of Hoth
• Close (1:46:17)