Episode 282 - The Boys Ends, Obsession Stuns, and Mandalorian & Grogu Is… Fine?

This week on All Pop, No Culture, Kevin and Andrew are joined by special guest Eric for a packed episode that covers The Boys series finale, Mandalorian and Grogu, and one of the buzziest horror movies of the year: Obsession. We kick things off by welcoming Eric to the show and getting his pop-culture origin story — from seeing Yellow Submarine and Night of the Living Dead as a kid to a lifetime love of Doctor Who, Paul McCartney, live music, and beyond. Mandalorian and Grogu Kevin reviews Mandalorian and Grogu, breaking down why it’s a fun Star Wars adventure even if it didn’t necessarily need to be a movie. The action works, the visuals are strong, and it’s an easy entry point for casual viewers — but does it really move the story forward? The crew also talks box office, Pedro Pascal fatigue, and whether Star Wars should have just stuck with another season instead. The Boys Series Finale The main event is a full spoiler discussion of The Boys finale: • did the show actually stick the landing? • was the final season too political, too rushed, or just overhated? • did Frenchie’s death work better than the actual final battle? • was Homelander’s end satisfying? • and is Anthony Starr one of the best comic-book TV castings ever? Kevin, Andrew, and Eric also get into: • how the live-action series compares to the comics • whether the show lost its edge late • why some of the finale feels convenient • which character actually deserved a spin-off • and whether Vought Rising might end up being more exciting than the final season itself. Obsession Then Andrew and Kevin dive into Obsession, a horror film that left both of them seriously unsettled. They talk about the movie’s brutal wish-gone-wrong premise, the claustrophobic direction, the breakout performance at the center of it, and why this feels like the rare horror movie that actually sticks in your head after you leave the theater. If you like horror that is psychological, disturbing, and not interested in making you comfortable, this one sounds like a must-watch. There’s also bonus discussion about: • DC vs Snyder vs Gunn • why Superman worked for them • Apple TV+ recommendations like Severance, Dark Matter, For All Mankind, and Silo • and a quick look ahead at what’s coming next in theaters. 💬 Question: Which are you more interested in right now — The Boys finale, Obsession, or Mandalorian and Grogu? Hashtags: #TheBoys #ObsessionMovie #MandalorianAndGrogu #StarWars #TheBoysFinale #MovieReview #TVReview #PopCulturePodcast #AllPopNoCulture #HorrorMovies 00:00 – Intro and welcoming guest Eric 00:14:05 – Mandalorian and Grogu review begins 00:16:00 – What works in the movie and what doesn’t 00:20:22 – Box office and audience reaction 00:22:48 – Should this have been a movie at all? 00:24:28 – Pedro Pascal overexposure talk 00:30:06 – Transition to The Boys finale discussion 00:31:07 – Comics vs live-action adaptation 00:32:19 – Did the final season get too political? 00:34:17 – Why the finale felt rushed 00:35:57 – The final battle and convenient plot turns 00:38:47 – The ending after Homelander loses power 00:42:15 – Andrew’s take on the ending 01:07:00 – Obsession review begins 01:10:36 – The wish setup and why it goes so wrong 01:13:45 – The most unsettling moment in the movie 01:21:49 – Why the movie works so well in a theater 01:25:57 – Breakout performance discussion 01:33:56 – Obsession box office and horror buzz 01:41:40 – Wrap-up