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PODCAST

Moderate Fantasy Violence

Nick Bryan & Alastair JR Ball

Welcome to Moderate Fantasy Violence, a fortnightly podcast about pop culture and the world around it, as discussed by Nick Bryan and Alastair JR Ball. Nick will probably launch into a tangent about comics, Alastair will likely go for politics. Both are equally worthwhile.

tv & film visual arts

All Episodes

50:36

MFV #242 - Cinematic Cinema

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/06/05

This fortnight, we finally catch Sinners (19:28, with midway twist spoilers from 26:33), the cinema sensation of 2025 so far, plus the latest season of Netflix's Love, Death & Robots (35:19), including the usual countdown of our favourite episodes. With bonus discussion of Homicide: Life on the Street and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. Lastly, if you still need to back Nick’s SoulD #2 Kickstarter, you’ve got about 28 hours after this podcast drops…

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47:30

MFV #241 - Gotta throw the nerds something

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/05/22

This fortnight, in a change to the planned schedule, it's another Marvel double-bill with Thunderbolts* (12:36, spoilers from 25:00) and Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man season 1 (29:33, spoilers from 37:30). Elsewhere, Alastair's watched new Netflix anime Terminator Zero and Nick's read rural noir dark fantasy comic Revival, ahead of its upcoming TV adaptation. If you want to back Nick's kickstarter for the second issue of SoulD, you've got about two weeks left!

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01:00:42

MFV #240 - The oldest, saddest man in the world

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/05/08

This fortnight, we're delving into the dark side of superheroics with Daredevil: Born Again (19:35), then the grimy underbelly of tech and society itself in Black Mirror season 7 (38:15). Plus bonus chat about the final season of Superman & Lois, plus the new Viagra Boys album Viagr Aboys (not a typo). Nick's latest comic is also live on Kickstarter! It's the second issue of his series SoulD with Phil Appley, about corporations selling our souls in rock form and weirdos carving them into silly

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58:13

MFV #239 - Teen Murder Special

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/04/24

It's all teenage death all the time this fortnight, but with very different tones, as we discuss the lurid cult-horror of Yellowjackets season 3 (18:18) and the all-too-real sadness of Netflix's Adolescence (39:34). Plus some bonus less-grim chat about acclaimed animated movie Flow and the fourth season of Apple TV sitcom Mythic Quest - including one host making a shocking on-air discovery.

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48:39

MFV #238 - Do Dog Man’s parents miss him?

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/04/10

This fortnight, we enter the surreal worlds of Severance season 2 (16:07) and Grand Theft Hamlet (36:22). Plus we recommend each other the also-odd movies Dog man and In Camera.

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55:56

MFV #237 - Enjoyment Vs Content

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/03/27

This fortnight, we cover new high-concept scifi movie Mickey 17 (22:57) and the latest season of Invincible (38:38), the scifi superhero show we've previously raved about, with spoilers from 42:48. Plus bonus chat about the play Dear England and TV show Hacks.

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50:08

MFV #236 - Good old fashioned violence

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/03/13

This fortnight, we delve into the dark side of tech with new movie Companion (20:34) and the first two volumes of technothriller comic W0rldtr33 (33:14). Plus Nick's read loads of comics from Marvel's Ultimate line, while Alastair's watched Oscar-dominating movie Anora, plus has some thoughts on the results.

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47:28

MFV #235 - Don’t disrespect the comedy pervert

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/02/27

This fortnight, we're heading into the bold future of Captain America: Brave New World (13:10) and the bloody past of Dexter: Original Sin (26:53, ruination-level spoilers from 38:16). Plus bonus opening chat about Prime Target and Sweetpea.

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49:19

MFV #234 - In the mood for something massive?

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/02/13

This fortnight, the superhumans threaten to go boom in new comic series The Power Fantasy (15:49), while space itself almost blows up in Star Trek: Section 31 (34:47). Also featuring some chat about The Brutalist, as part of Alastair's ongoing Oscars coverage, and Colin From Accounts. More shownotes on ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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53:37

MFV #233 - BRING THE PAIN!

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/01/30

Time for Alastair's favourite time of year as we get stuck into two big Oscar-season movie releases - the new remake of Nosferatu (16:22) and A Real Pain (35:11). Plus Alastair's also seen Nickel Boys, while Nick's broken the theme by watching The Traitors season 3 (like the rest of Britain). Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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41:31

MFV #232 - Punching three bald men

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/01/16

This fortnight, some climactic cartoon chat, as we cover the final seasons of both What If? (12:44) and Star Trek: Lower Decks (28:34). Plus some bonus chat about Alan Moore's new novel The Great When and the new Robbie-Williams-as-monkey movie Better Man. Longer shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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01:16:00

MFV #231 - Let's get down to counting down!

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2025/01/02

As 2025 begins, one last gasp for last year, as we get together for our traditional end of year round-up episode. Witness our general thoughts and top five favourites for both film (17:33) and TV (43:29) in 2024. And for those who prefer it when we review specific things, there's also chat about Dune: Prophecy and the recent Doctor Who special Joy to the World at the very start. More shownotes and end of year review articles, including Alastair's year in film and Nick's Top Ten TV Shows, at

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47:49

MFV #230 - The Oscar for Oscariness

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/12/19

Time once again for one of our famous barely-festive Christmas specials, as we cover Arcane season 2 (18:50) and Blitz (32:39). Plus some bonus chat about Baby Reindeer (sounds kinda seasonal!) and Day of the Jackal (less so!). Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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46:47

MFV #229 - You deaded my woman!

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/12/05

Two big follow-ups this fortnight, with Gladiator II (16:10) and The Diplomat season 2 (27:45). Plus bonus chat about the new Linkin Park album and the Monsters graphic novel by Barry Windsor-Smith. Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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49:47

MFV #228 - He’s turned into a giant bible!

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/11/21

This fortnight, one final comic book supervillain story with The Penguin (17:26) and then a more grounded, theological story of villainy in Heretic (32:30). Plus some chat about Only Murders In The Building season 4 and the filmed version of a recent Kiss Me Kate production. See more at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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56:48

MFV #227 - Let There Be Balls

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/11/07

At last, our longawaited Marvel villain/anti-hero special, covering Agatha All Along (17:58 with full spoilers from 26:37) and Venom: The Last Dance (40:45). Plus some bonus TV chat about Totally Completely Fine and Reservation Dogs. Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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49:37

MFV #226 - This is bad and you know it’s bad

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/10/24

This fortnight, we're covering the fourth season of our beloved Slow Horses (17:58), plus new British scifi-comedy Timestalker (36:52), with some opening chat about neo-classic crime comic Criminal and Alastair's annual thoughts about his London Film Festival viewing. If you want to check out Nick's new comics kickstarter for SoulD, a fantasy-cyberpunk comic about coporations selling our souls and two sisters caught in the middle, head over to this link and check it out:

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57:51

MFV #225 - Arthouse Glee

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/10/10

This fortnight, we take on two current movies: Joker: Folie a Deux (22:41, ending spoilers from 39:26) and Rebel Ridge (43:10). One has been extremely well received, the other has not. Also featuring bonus chat about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Superman & Lois season 3. Fuller shownotes on ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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01:00:25

MFV #224 - Hungry Hectare

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/09/26

This fortnight, we start off with Douglas is Cancelled and The Outrun, before diving into our main course reviews of Starve Acre (20:57) and The Bear season 3 (36:52). Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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49:32

MFV #223 - How bummer is your bummer?

Moderate Fantasy Violence ·

2024/09/12

This fortnight, it's a weird world in The Umbrella Academy season 4 (14:17) and Cuckoo (33:56). Fuller shownotes at ModerateFantasyViolence.com

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262 results

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