Raven On Podcast

Secret password for this podcast is "Iron Man Sucks!" Yes, Natalie and Stu get a very welcome piece of absolute f***ing delight with The Lego Batman Movie. From Will Arnett's grisly tones as the Dark Knight, to the appearance of villains as obscure as the Condiment King, to the appearance of Robin and Babs Gordon - this movie is a damn joy. But where does it sit in the annals of Batman film history? Join Nat & Stu for effusive praise and meta-commentary.

Here we go, Batfans... the first appearance of Batfleck! After being let loose with Superman, director Zach Synder persuaded Warner Bros to let him create a sequel... basically so he could make a Batman movie. Nat & Stu grind their way through this often dour movie, brightened somewhat by Henry Cavill's pure beauty, and Gal Gadot's scene-stealing turn as Wonder Woman. Stay tuned to the end where they'll reveal what they're going to focus on once this Batman series is complete! Enjoy!

MMPFHFH! YUFSFU SUYFISHHF OIFNMMM SDISFLK! That's Bane saying "Welcome! It's time for The Dark Knight Rises!" in muffled mask voice. Yes, Nat & Stu have arrived at the final instalment in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, and they've brought superfan and magician Pete Booth along for the ride. Enjoy this thorough discussion of a film that has a lot of flaws, but surprisingly seems to stand up better than certainly Nat & Stu recollected. There's also lots of talk about magic on film, Gotham's strange city colours, and many impressions of Tom Hardy's theatrical take on Bane. Enjoy!

It's not the podcast you deserve... but it's the one you NEED. That's right, Nat & Stu are back for their deep dive into The Dark Knight. Along for the ride is Dan from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast, who wasn't initially a fan of this film. Has his opinion changed? Lots to chat about with this one, including the themes of terrorism and the shadows we cast; along with whether Maggie Gyllenhaal was a better Rachael Dawes then Katie Holmes, the tragic fall of Harvey Dent, and the sheer batshit wonder that is Heath Ledger's Joker. The Australian actor's untimely death also looms large over this entire film, and your intrepid podcasters go in to his legacy.

Welcome to 2022! Nat and Stu are back for another year of pop culture banter, and kicking off the New Year with the Doctor Who Eve of the Daleks special. In the spirit of making it a party, special guests Greg and Tom are back to throw in their two cents on this time loop episode. It turns out this was probably more enjoyable as a standalone than much of "The Floox" series, but as we'll find out, there are still some questionable elements. Enjoy!

We got the WHOLE FAM back together for the final episode of The Floox! Both Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast and Tom from the Best Pick Pod return to help Nat & Stu sum up the storyline and lessons learned from this six-episode adventure. There's a lot of confusion and a fair bit of frustration - mostly from Natalie when her jokes bomb. But also, everyone's a bit emotionally battered by Chris Chibnall, so if you are too, join us in the TARDIS (which apparently isn't sick anymore, even thought it was... oh never mind, just listen). Thank you so much for listening to this Who's Raven On podcast subsection - a special thank you to all of the Patrons over at patreon.com/girlclumsy

"What if Doctor Who but a seizure?" That's how special guest Tom Salinsky begins his take on The Flux, Episode 5 "Survivors of The Flux". Seizure indeed, as there's so much happening in this episode it'll make you spin - Yaz, Dan and Jericho trekking around Earth in 1904, the Doctor outside the universe with an old friend (enemy?) and Dot Cotton from Line of Duty jumping all over the place to start and stop UNIT. Tom and Stu have predictions for the final episode, and there's a bit of a chat about episodes gone by that really hit it out of the park, and what RTD might bring back. Enjoy!

SWEAR TO ME... that you'll listen to Nat & Stu as they jump cowl-first into the 2005 gritty reboot of the Batman movie franchise! It turns out it takes a bunch of British and Irish creatives to make this classic American comic book hero come to life. Liam Neeson gives off BTE (Big "Taken" Energy) plus Michael Caine is MVP as Alfred. Oh, and Katie Holmes and Morgan Freeman hold up the American end. Your gravelly-voiced hosts (they wish) dive into it all, so enjoy!

Weeping Angels! So many Weeping Angels! Plus a psychic, a creepy kid, a village cut out of the planet and a proper stiff-upper-lip British paranormal investigator. Nat & Stu are joined by Greg Wah from the Smart Enough To Know Better podcast to deep dive into "The Cursed Village", a title we never actually mention, but that's fine, because there's a whole bunch of stuff we DO mention. There's lots of talk about where The Flux series might be heading too; as well as Greg and Stu dipping into the world of Cowboy Bebop right at the end. Enjoy!

We've reached the half way point of The Flux, and the extended story is all becoming clear! Jokes, there's some more characters introduced this time and a whole bunch of timestorm back story drama to keep your head spinning. Nevertheless, Nat & Stu are ready to dive in to discuss how the Doctor saves Yaz, Dan and Vinder from being sucked into... something? While simultaneously being dragged back into her own past to meet the Jo Doctor again and her first encounter with the "Ravagers". Also, this pod has a number of particularly good tangents, if we may be so bold. From devastating burns for Cybermen, to hot babies (context is important here), it's a chuckle-fest. Enjoy!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SERIOUSLY, SPOILERS! Do not listen unless you have seen the film! No Time To Die was finally released in Australia, and Nat & Stu took in the movie TOGETHER with a bunch of friends in a private screening (big ups to Greg Wah of the SE2KB podcast for organising!). Afterwards, they huddled in the corner of a carpark to get down on tape their initial impressions of the film and some MAJOR FUCKING SPOILERS YOU GUYS. Seriously, if you listen and get spoiled, IT IS ON YOU. Nat & Stu will be back at some point with a longer, deeper dive into this massive event in the Bond franchise.

It's War of the Sontarans time, which means a lengthy tribute to Mary Seacole from long-time fan Nat, while Stu politely listens. But there's other things to natter about too in this second instalment of "The Flux" series: the Sontarans' temporal war-waging; stupid British military generals; Dan running around Liverpool with a wok; Yaz and Vinder finding themselves trying to repair some offline high priestesses of time, or something. Our mysterious trio of baddies are back, as is everyone's favourite man without a dog because he IS the dog, Karvanista. Enjoy!

Weeping Angels! Sontarans! Dog creatures! Some weird creepy possibly incesty disco makeup twins! The Flux! It's all happening in the first episode of The Flux, Jodie Whittaker's last full season of Doctor Who. The Doctor and Yaz save a new likely companion in the shape of Liverpuddlian Dan, who turns out is VERY important to one special pooch. The Flux seems to be a ravenous planet-eating cloud machine heading towards Earth, while some ancient enemy of the Doctor's called "The Swarm" has freed himself from prison and rescued his very blue sister for some possible incest? So much to digest, and Nat and Stu are keen to get cracking! Also there's a Sontaran Tongue Thing, so enjoy that. Thanks for listening!

Natalie and Stu are joined by special guest Eloise to deep dive into the gaping maw that is 1997's Batman & Robin. George Clooney dons the Batsuit, but doesn't really seem to care; Chris O'Donnell is Captain Whines-a-lot; Alicia Silverstone turns up to be a winsome Batgirl while illegal street racing on the side; Uma Thurman camps it up as Poison Ivy and Michael Gough brings the acting chops as a dying Alfred (not that anyone seems to care). But the real star is Big Arnie as Mr Freeze, and his ice/snow/cold puns. It's a thing of beauty. Or at least, enough to help tank the Batman franchise for almost ten years. Enjoy!

Your friends Nat and Stu are *somewhat* excited about the first official teaser trailer for "House of the Dragon". And by *somewhat*, of course we mean *LOSING THEIR FRIGGING MINDS*. Listen as they go back to Raven On Classic Edition and chat all things HOTD, including jousts, swords, Hand of the King badges, and of course, an astonishing number of blonde wigs. Valar Morghulis!

It's time for Nat & Stu to tackle Val Kilmer's solo outing as the Caped Crusader, Batman Forever. Or, as special guest Nick calls it "The Gay One". Certainly it seems new director Joel Schumacher added something to the franchise beyond just the Bat Nipples and Bat Butt (a loving shot of Val Kilmer's taut buttocks in tight leather). This movie is a rollercoaster of convoluted or possibly non-existent plot, 60s campiness mixed with 90s angst, two incredibly hammy villains vying for priority, and Nicole Kidman with a bat fetish that Batman himself is totally awkward about. And yet... it still might be better than Batman Returns? Enjoy a deep dive into Batman Forever, citizens!

Nat & Stu return to the Raven Bat series with a look at 1993's animated film "Batman: The Mask of the Phantasm", one of Stu's personal favourites. Bruce Wayne is faced with his past in more than one way when a new masked vigilante arrives in town wreaking revenge. Also, the Joker is there. Your intrepid interlocutors mourn the inability to crack as many jokes as they'd like because the film is not only competent, but actually comprehensible!

So Batman Returns was the BEST 90s Batman, right? RIGHT? Nat & Stu get quite a shock as they revisit this classic from their childhood and realise it's WAAAAAAY hornier and messier than they remember. From Danny DeVito's unhinged Penguin with many plans but none of them good; to Michelle Pfeiffer's banging but batshit insane Catwoman, to Christopher.. Walken... doing what... he always... does, there's tons to enjoy in this episode. Also, Natalie takes you down memory lane with a wild story from her high school musical days involving a catsuit and a very inappropriate award. Hoorah!

Have you ever danced with some podcasters in the pale moonlight? Well, now you can, as Natalie, Stu and guest Scott Driscoll throw themselves into the weird twisted parade that is 1989's Batman. Stu takes us through the pop culture moment that this film created; while Nat gets into a shame spiral about Vicki Vale's alleged weight. Stu and Scott discuss why Batman is a great film, but not the best Batman film. NOTE: Natalie's audio is slightly muffled in the first half of this podcast, due to not realising she was being recorded on her AirPod microphone. Around half way through we had technical difficulties and lost Stu, so there is a sharp cut. However after that Natalie realised her mic situation and switched back to her proper mic and the audio is much better!

Holy tardy podcasters, Batman! Yes, after being teased for months, Raven Bat - the Raven On Batman-based sub-section - is finally here. Time to strap on the seatbelts in the Batmobile and jump into the screen exploits of the world's most popular brooding superhero. Nat & Stu kick off in the only acceptable manner - with the classic Adam West/Burt Ward 1966 masterpiece, "Batman". It's high camp and low budgets all the way, baby. Enjoy!