The Best & Worst of 2023 - The Weekly Planet Podcast

2023 has come to an end. But it's not going anywhere just yet because we simply insist on going through all the best and worst movies, TV shows, streaming services, comic books and video games in our annual Weekly Planet Awards episode! Also we review Aquaman 2 I guess. Big thanks to Rob Collings for the mountain of work he did putting together the survey and editing the podcast in general, the people who voted and everyone who supported us this past year. See you on the 29th!
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The Loremen podcast with Nick Mason: • Nick Mason and the Dru...
00:00 The Start
05:59 The MCU’s Next Big Villain
11:10 Adam Driver Done with Star Wars
13:06 Book of Boba Fett Season Two
15:16 James Gunn on New Superman Suit
18:22 Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Review (spoiler warning 34:12 to 47:46)
47:46 The Best & Worst of 2023 - The Weekly Planet Awards
02:15:00 What We Reading, What We Gonna Read
02:18:55 Letters, It’s Time For Letters
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[@kingfield99]

Nice to know that James & Mason are starting 2024 with a new nemesis, calendars.

[@nailinthefashion]

They should prove how unafraid and manly they are with one of those objectifying sexy calendars and do Marvel and DC themed outfits that would really show calendars who's who

[@yakubpk3483]

famous james and mason villain calendar mann

[@steveheronofficial]

Can't wait for them to battle the returning 16 month No Time To Die calendar

[@frankcooke1692]

@@nailinthefashion But both of them are dressed as 1960s Robin in every month. Standing in front of an unadorned family SUV.

[@skilledwarman]

My villain of the year would be Oppenheimer from Godzilla Minus One. Cause he still did all the awful things that happen in Oppenheimer, but also nukes end up creating Godzilla who blows up Japan a third time

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

Oppenheimer wins just for the double appearance tbh

[@jacobkilborn1738]

Poetry

[@SEMIA123]

Very excited to listen to the first podcast of 2023 and the last podcast of 2024

[@knilla2k]

Best episode of 2023 & Worst episode of 2024

[@MitchJT]

You need a new calendar or whatever

[@DimaJeydar]

Hello, Christopher Nolan, love your work

[@artemislogic5252]

@@DimaJeydar thanks

[@Lubble-]

2023 was undoubtedly the worst year I've had so far, loss and hurt and all the fun stuff like that, but you guys have been a great source of joy :) here's looking forward to many more years of it all to come

[@CrowTRobot]

Same and same. Hope 2024 is better for us both 🙏

[@gracejefferson4062]

Good things coming to you both this year ❤

[@unadventurer_]

Same. Terrible, painful year. Hope you're doing better. ❤

[@Tuaron]

Claire wins best cameo for this appearance. Sad we didn't get a final edition of dog time this episode, but it was a fun time, I really loved Ferrari Dracula.

[@anenemystand5582]

What I like about the High Evolutionary is that he's a villian where if the Guardians of the Galaxy never defeat him nothing really fundamentally changes. He's not like ego who's like "bah I'm gonna make the whole galaxy me with my seed!" Or Ronin who's all like "bah I'm gonna make the whole galaxy kree with my rock" or whatever. He's just a bad guy who does bad things but everyone accepts him because a side effect of his inhumane actions sometimes benefits everyone else. He's not a threat to the status quo like most marvel movies. He's a part of it that needs to change.

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

I love that he just makes everyone's skin crawl, and that's enough to want to fight him. I'm especially a big fan of when Kraglin comes in with "Howdy you friggin creep"

[@stealthsg5644]

Well lucky for you James and Mason, the calendars days are numbered

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

Underrated pun

[@RusPitman]

Boba Fett: Bacta the Future He's just in the tank imagining what he might get up to when he's out.

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

Every episode is him imaging a cool idea in the future and then trying to do it before someone else says a different idea and they just do that instead.

[@hollandscottthomas]

@@epicbruhmoment6985 Some obnoxious nerd walking into his dream and just asking "BUT WHERE'S LUKE SKYWALKER NOW?" and forcing all the storylines to divert back to characters from the original trilogy instead of ever going anywhere else.

[@michaelredford5389]

I really want that bit about the Warner Bros. logo in Aquaman turned into a YT Short with visuals. 😂 Akin to the other Aquaman related short.

[@davidblank420]

Captain Carter and Kahhori are so freaking rad. What a couple of absolute ballers.

[@mihaichihaia4554]

Tony Stark pissed himself in Iron Man 2, so there IS piss in the MCU...just wanted to point that out for anyone doing the piss study

[@NateArchibaldWithTheFro]

Beef and The Bear are some of the best things I’ve seen in years especially this year. Phenomenal shows

[@fullmetalb5241]

Absolutely!

[@Amouroso]

Look forward to this ep every year. Thank you for both for another year of laughs and news ❤️

[@BlutigeTranen]

I think we deserve a Blue Harvest compilation of everything you waffled bullshit into a Blue Harvest joke

[@hellfish2309]

Professors of Surgery, Blue Harvest General Hospital

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

Not the compilation we deserve, but the compilation that we need.

[@demon-goat]

please don’t ever put “blue” and “waffle” in the same sentence

[@macuna1995]

*Aquaman was my favorite Super Friend.* Brought my mom and my four baby sisters to watch Aquaman 2, it was fun. *Loved Orm's Jabberjaw shirt, great reference to DC/Hanna Barbera.*

[@itsamadworld2711]

It makes me very sad that no one is talking about 'blue eye samurai'. It's such a great show.

[@owenhelias857]

W

[@Southpaw535]

Mason mentioned watching the first episode a couple weeks ago in what we reading, so fingers crossed it might come up. I really liked it too (one episode aside) and as someone who doesn't usually like anime, it could be interesting to talk about for guys who usually don't delve into it

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I just wanted to say thank you for being a space that’s safe for women. You’re the only all-male podcast/youtube channel I listen to, and I’m pretty sure this is the only comment section on any social media platform that isn’t full of misogynistic bullshit, which is a testament to the audience you have built. I can actually leave comments here sharing my opinion and I’m not belittled or attacked for it, and that’s super fucking rare. Your honestly the only male review of Barbie I listened to, because I trusted you to see the deeper meanings in the story, whereas so many just focused on the superficial. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and send my love from America!! 🤍🤍🤍

[@ellaisplotting]

The gr8 m8s group on facebook has the same atmosphere! It's such a relief and makes the world of difference. Same with their chill inclusion of LGBT people both irl and as characters- so many men online will seem fine but then will just make a weird comment that exposes how they don't really see women as people, or they claim to be an ally but gay is still a dirty word/afterthought to them. This is the only podcast I listen to without fail, and it's the boys attitudes and approaches to things that have kept me coming back more than the actual content. I don't give a toss about some of the films and shows discussed, but it's like sitting back and listening to your mates banter, without being on edge all the time. A welcome breath of fresh air.

[@taylorgayhart9497]

@@ellaisplottingexactly!! I’ve been fans of many other male creators in the past, but have had to stop engaging with them because either they say/post something that will betray how they really feel, or their spaces (the fans and comment sections) will be full of misogynistic or bigoted comments with zero monitoring. It makes it miserable to engage in those spaces!!

[@JadenSmithEyes]

Tolkien's calendar is what you guys need to cure your chronic anger issues against calendars.

[@Mathiastro]

Another year, another round of “will James and Maso ever realise John Rhys-Davies’s actual name”

[@ellaisplotting]

Oh THAT'S what they've been trying to say!

[@erikskywalker3130]

thanks james and mason for another year of fun :)

[@deanthemachine7489]

100% on board with this take on Aquaman 2. I think James Wan’s execution and direction really made all the action set pieces fun and imaginative

[@CrowTRobot]

I'll have to give Aquaman 2 a try, these characters are silly but they're a lot of fun to watch. It's a bummer that Aquaman 2 and The Marvels, two perfectly fine movies, have to pay for the sins of their universe's recent failings.

[@deanthemachine7489]

@@CrowTRobot they’re both *fine* . I enjoyed Aquaman 2 more because the tone felt a bit more consistent and fun while The Marvels had a few too many weird comedic asides (the khan family? Perfect. Silly Fury? Ehhh)

[@mikeheil713]

Imagine this is the first time you turned this podcast on. It's shocking and hilarious

[@mattrandazzo5491]

It’s my Sunday football

[@tombutler2931]

In Ironman 2 he pisses in the suit at a party which suggests that Tony may piss in the suit regularly

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

I'm gonna go back through the MCU and decide all the times he pissed. 1. When Captain America beat him up 2. When Thanos beat him up 3. Etc

[@roseclark5623]

1:01:35 🫡🫡 doing your god given civil duty and shitting on jk rowling, I salute you fellas and thank you

[@TigerusX]

thank you for 2023

[@NathanDrakeTheGreat]

OMG! Snake Eyes review is coming! I'm so excited I CAN'T WAIT!!!

[@CWargh63]

@18:40 Pushes glasses up bridge of nose (my own glasses and my own nose, just to be clear) Bated breath is a shortening of abated, or shallow breath - scarcely breathing in suspenseful anticipation of an event. It's one of those words we got from 'Big Willie' Shakespeare.

[@Stand_By_For_Mind_Control]

My god 'jammed into gear' is such a perfect way to describe people like Rowling. Or Dave Chappelle or Musk or any of those people who can't handle social media and the arguments their strong opinions might cause.

[@munohlow]

Freeze frame and text saying “Orm wished there was a cockroach there to go with his burger” is actually way funnier than the actual scene …Probably… I also haven’t seen aquaman 2

[@DapperDaPonte]

What will James and Mason do next year when it’s the 10 year anniversary of “The Game Is On” award?

[@adder2488]

They’ll make a hamfisted attempt at launching a sequel award “the game is still on” or some such, which will never arrive.

[@cryptking6283]

Just have to say the Defenders of the Earth transition brings a smile every time.

[@KristovMars]

You blokes outdid yourselves with that letter response to Ally-Bammer, incredible list of references - Alby Mangels, just wow. Here's one you forgot - Dean Lukin, Olympic tuna lifter!

[@happiaxxident]

Left a Like for WP Best of 2023. HAPPI NEW YEARRRRRR!!!

[@matthemming9105]

Great way to start the new year ❤

[@A55TRICKY]

Happy new year!

[@everettharris967]

There's a podcast out there with ABK and Maso?!? Endgame move over, that's the greatest crossover yet. Going to listen to that and then come back to this one.

[@BladedBishop]

Happy New Year!!!

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

I think there is actually a lot of book of Bobafett fans they're just exclusively not on Twitter. I say this based mostly on my dad who loved the show probably because like most dads he looks just like Temura Morrison.

[@ciaranmurren]

Aquaman isn't a single father. Mera is there in her comfy sweats and hair in a bun.

[@stoneylonesome7]

"Whoa, shit, you walk around like that?" Is the funniest thing James has ever said.

[@TimmyT1234]

If you want more on the beyonders, ComicIsland has an amazing recap video of the 70ish issue "Time Runs Out" event

[@TimmyT1234]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaSodWZqq7RlbrMsi=7eFtgGMJz4EYtLhU

[@00rabbit7]

Out of all the video games this year, Alan Wake 2 is the one I can’t stop thinking about and I’m playing all the games and Control again

[@imarobobot8795]

Control was very good, I should play it again

[@jesusaguirre2150]

I eagerly await the official new theme song.

[@BlamoStramo]

I think no matter what the fact that a Transformers movie came out this year that was a sequel to Bumblebee and something I very much enjoyed is a win in my book

[@user-pl3hw2nw7t]

I just had an episode of the podcast in suggested videos called "the never ending DC disaster" from a year ago 😂😂😂 that was BEFORE 2023😂😂😂

[@JefferyBlue]

About Major (7:30) that would be null and void as soon as the criminal charges come about.

[@brennanbarnes7628]

Another amazing year of podcasts, thank you boys. As far as iconic 80's Australian things you seriously left Yahoo Serious off your list.

[@solarammy2255]

I like you guys a decent amount. Please keep it up with the dry and quippy humor you guys got and we'll get along just fine, I reckon

[@hellfish2309]

“What If” season 2 is better than season 1 BUT you guys need to check out “Blue Eye Samurai”!!

[@CinemaKnight]

17:30 I really agree with this point. Either we already know exactly what the story is going into the theatre, or trailers nowadays will just feel the need to give it completely away. I'm still surprised sometimes when I get KZbin ads for movies that are still in theaters and it'll just be a full scene from the film.

[@RabbiJoeInJerusalem]

A particular multiversal pickle sounds delicious.

[@dannyorange9023]

Prismo from Adventure Time is listening intently

[@hellfish2309]

An alias for Rick Sanchez

[@alexanderford3831]

Happy New Year, Everyone! 🎉

[@ChdeSandwich]

The doc character from Godzilla-1 not winning best hair is a travesty.

[@ChdeSandwich]

So whispy

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

Best character of the year

[@edboymovies]

Between 10 years and 16 films and a show, the DCEU is a whole piss take. That's the most piss in a film, let alome universe, I've ever witnessed

[@flywheelshyster6549]

Its coffee time!

[@lordpelagius5078]

"I'm glad the aztecs are all dead" Nick Mason

[@misterderp4566]

Don't know if you've covered this in the past, but the guy who writes Maniac of New York, Elliott Kalan is a fellow podcaster (and also a huge comic nerd and also wrote for MST 3K and a bunch of other stuff). His show is called The Flop House and it's great! Lots of crossover appeal between the two shows, I reckon.

[@jmcd21182]

Iron Man pissed his suit in part 2

[@harmonyislandtaiwan]

Third, Happy New Year y'all chuckleducks

[@Helixium08]

That split for best hair/wig was nail-bitingly close. Love it.

[@saltoftheegg]

One day I will make a video essay about the visceral queerness of Evil Dead Rise because, like, most horror movies are gay but EDR is GAY gay

[@ellaisplotting]

Oooh now I'm interested

[@GuanoLad]

Other 80s Australian things, some I only half-know: the Leyland Brothers; My Secret Valley; The Curiosity Show; Mr Squiggle; Marty Monster; The Flying Doctors; The Henderson Kids.

[@robertban871]

The Henderson Kids, carry on together... fun memories

[@rwh44222]

The Color Purple was very good if you’re into musicals. Didn’t see Aquaman 2. Poor Things was weird!

[@tonys7246]

Missed opportunity to call the George Clooney Universe the Clooniverse

[@hollandscottthomas]

It kinda sounded like Maso slipped one of those in, but maybe I just wanted to hear it.

[@samueltheprideofafrikarobi9319]

I truly must have missed something. Because I really enjoyed season 3 of The Mandalorian. I knew people weren't getting along with Ahsoka, and it's common knowledge that everybody HATED Boba Fett. But that being said, people really loved the last three episodes of Boba when it became Mandalorian season 2.5, and I've heard absolutely nothing as far as how much people disliked season 3. In fact, I can't remember hearing ANYTHING about season 3. Not even on Reddit. (And Reddit is QUICK to hate on just about anything.) But everybody that I know, and everybody that I work with who's close to me in my personal life really enjoyed it. So did my brothers, and we've grown up with star wars. (We are all 80s kids.) So for it to not only be on a "worst of" list all of a sudden, (since it hasn't made anyone else's list on KZbin that I've seen so far), but to also take the number 2 slot is completely baffling to me. When the hell did this consensus take place because I was COMPLETELY unaware.

[@DylanWolfram14]

Why does Maso say “grab that gem” at the end of every episode?

[@ferguscowie]

It's a reference to star lord grabbing that gem (infinity stone) in GotG vol 1 from the review they did on the pod I think.

[@mathiaswalker350]

Original GotG Vol 1. Review of the pod. "If you find yourself to be an adventurer in space and you are in reach of a gem, you should probably grab dat gem, because you're destined for greatness!" Ironically enough it's meant to be a hopeful message akin to "reach for the stars!"

[@GroundhogJay]

I don't think the Wachowski's ever wanted to set up a sequel to Matrix 4.

[@LittleRunt]

3:19 does the pig roll down a hill??? 🧐

[@JWProductions9]

For future reference, where would one find the survey?

[@SirDanGoodfellow]

........ it just occurred to me that it would have to be a really interesting conversation for it to carry on after an explosion occurred, they tend to be a definite full stop.

[@benjaminmcwattforbes8567]

The Pope's Exorcist ending epitomises 'the game is on' to a sickening degree, so I guess it was too much to have on the list. Like staring directly at the sun

[@BlutigeTranen]

Pfft, canned Guinness? How about Tinned Nitro-Brewed Stout of Irish Heritage?

[@RaulMarin-vg3bu]

Ray Stevenson's beard in Ahsoka is MAGNIFICENT

[@joeaguilera6448]

Dudes are time travelers

[@davidblank420]

Its the bloody bovril brothers!!!!

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

Boba Fett. Shoulda kept him mean and evil, and let Temura play an old good-guy clone trooper in other stuff. Maybe have them square off in some later season.

[@BlueCheeseLucci]

Was bobba ever actually evil tho? I mean i don't see bounty hunters as evil but not great guys. I agree he should have been more rough and a leader actually

[@hellfish2309]

43:41 it wasn’t a SeaWater tent; it was a Bacta tank 😉

[@RollTonight]

Best episode of the year, but that might just be recency bias.

[@teddybearington3]

❤❤❤

[@shanecunningham5802]

1:43:57 "It took everything that was good about the game and made it better." Except: - Not implementing any of the game mechanics or staples - Making the cinematography and camera work drab and lifeless - Wasting Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker - Joel's stupid panic attacks that appeared out of nowhere then vanished - The vines they set up in episode 2 that never paid off - Four episodes with only two infected and only ten seconds of bloater in the whole season - Joel's watch being fixed instead of it being a gift - The baffling fan service music choices - Kathleen taking focus over David and the cannibals (Kathleen in general) - Joel being stabbed with a baseball bat - The ending being completely rushed and hollow - And the two leads not understanding a single thing about the characters, that they had never heard of. Yeah, other than that, the game's a piece of shit compared to Craig Mazin's masterpiece epic! 😂

[@CrowTRobot]

1:04:20 LMAO I pictured Mr. Beast's thumbnail

[@GroundhogJay]

You guys really need to watch The Lazarus Project, because season 2 of that show was better than a lot of shows on your list.

[@nostalgiafordays]

Where is the cassette tape usb thing?!

[@Lukkilikka]

I think dial of destiny was way more coherent than i expected

[@Itabouttodo]

Mason. Dick Tracy was 3 months ago bud. 3 months.

[@Madbmberwhatbmbsatmidnight]

James you neeed to watch Nimona. It is so good. Please watch it

[@yungoldman2823]

does anyone else notice the audio get terrible at around twenty minutes? its all of a sudden super tinny and low quality, like their main mic died or something and they had to use a backup recording that’s less good sounding

[@spider-insider7981]

It wasn't on the list but my pick for best hair is Ilkka Villi in Alan Wake II

[@humzakhalid7902]

1:14:32 james u silly goose! his name isnt mathew pathew! its matrick patrick! everyone knows that!

[@epicbruhmoment6985]

I thought it was Matrick Pathew?

[@humzakhalid7902]

@@epicbruhmoment6985 a whole lotta confusion around this...his parents shouldve known better than to name their kid mat pat;)

[@steveburge300]

Please someone come to a piss conclusion: The jar or the stream?!

[@Tymbus]

Great, I spent the entire podcast confusing The Beyonder with the Inbetweener and The Grandmaster!

[@Luminousreign]

The inbetweeners was a great show. Didn’t even realize it had been added into the marvel universe

[@michaelredford5389]

The should pretend to start up a new DC Universe set of films; but just have Superman sweep in unexplained in the final act and save the day for the first two movies and just watch to see how long it takes before we catch on...

[@ohasia]

Max Pained face. Oh my god

[@Sp3xyBe4st]

Rick and Morty season 7 and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon being nominated for Worst Series is really harsh

[@MegaConradJ]

Give me more Big Ears Batman!

[@kakarotwolf]

Mason had me laughing from the beginning 💀

[@doelroarpa3489]

8:31 like the skew eyed big dog?

[@ctnelson2010]

Pa-quaman

[@bl00sadr]

They say Aquaman is fine, but then their analysis of it makes it sound like a big mess of goofy nonsense very few people will care about. So "a comic book movie," I guess.

[@archangel1of7]

I actually liked Rebel Moon and I am definitely not one of those Snyder fans, so there lol

[@otrenigmaandy7443]

1:03:03 Bob Iger… Masons dad…