This week Eden and Peter dive into William Friedkin’s gritty 1977 thriller Sorcerer, a tense and sweat-soaked remake of The Wages of Fear. They talk through the film’s nihilistic worldview, Friedkin’s unrelenting direction, and Tangerine Dream’s eerie score that pushes the movie into fever-dream territory. Along the way, they share personal stories of how the film lingered in memory for decades, debate whether Sorcerer deserved its original flop status, and marvel at the sheer intensity of the bridge sequence. They also connect the film to broader cultural legacies—from the shadow of Star Wars to the way cult classics find redemption years later.

Show Notes
Opening catch-up

• Summer weather updates and life events.
• Peter finishes Donkey Kong Bonanza and shares thoughts on Taskmaster series 7 vs 8.
• Music chat: new Deftones (Private Music), Testament’s upcoming Parabellum, and the death of Mastodon’s Brett Hinds.

Work & reading tangents

• Eden’s deep dive into accessibility struggles with LaTeX, Pandoc, and PDFs (“the world’s worst file format”).
• Reading The Apothecary Diaries and Azumanga Daioh; comparisons with Nichijo and City.
• Listening to Tangerine Dream’s catalog and soundtrack prep for the film.

Imperfect Practice launch

• Peter introduces his new blog and YouTube channel, “Imperfect Practice,” focused on experiments with productivity, journaling, and workflows.

Main Event: Sorcerer

• Eden’s blind pick, Peter’s buried childhood memory of the Tangerine Dream LP, and initial impressions.
• Full plot breakdown with detailed discussion of:
  • The four opening vignettes.
  • Building the trucks and loading unstable dynamite.
  • The infamous 12-minute bridge sequence.
  • The brutal downer ending and themes of fate and nihilism.
• Discussion of the title Sorcerer (why it’s terrible, Friedkin’s explanation).
• Behind-the-scenes misery, budget overruns, and authenticity (actors did most of their own stunts).
• The soundtrack’s role in creating alienation and tension.
• Release woes: arriving weeks after Star Wars and being critically panned before decades-later reevaluation into cult-classic canon.

Wrap-up

• Reflections on its heavy but unforgettable impact.

Links
Imperfect Practice
Imperfect Practice on YouTube

What starts as a simple dive into media tracking apps quickly spirals into tangents about puzzles from hell, glamping with bison and mustangs, fistfights with Satan in Pittsburgh, and the glory days of scrobbling music. Along the way, Peter and Eden hash out their very different relationships with games, books, music, and movies—and why, at the end of the day, “the juice is not worth the squeeze” when it comes to tracking everything we consume.

Opening catch-up:

• Eden returns from travel and vents about the oppressive Midwestern humidity.
• Eden recounts a cursed puzzle vacation and a surreal HipCamp adventure that included glamping in a bus, staying at a mustang ranch, and hearing a wild coma story involving battling Satan.
• A detour into mobile gaming: Eden introduces the absurd yet addictive horse girl racing game Uma Musume.
• Peter shares his ongoing love for Taskmaster, Donkey Kong Bonanza on the Switch 2, and recent reading progress (Wind and Truth, Tiny Experiments).
• Music talk:
  • New releases from Carbomb, Abigail Williams, and Blackbraid.
  • Remembering Eric Wunder of Cobalt, with Peter realizing Slow Forever might be his true desert island album.

Main Topic: Media tracking apps and services.

• Video games: Eden dabbled with Backloggd but finds it too much work; Peter doesn’t see the appeal beyond Steam’s built-in history.
• Books: Eden logs reads in a notebook; Peter wrestles with StoryGraph, Hardcover, and Goodreads but finds the friction too high. Notion experiments fail; AI-summarized notes for nonfiction survive.
• Music: Nostalgia for scrobbling and Last.fm; frustrations with Spotify, Apple Music, and Plex setups. Peter praises Plexamp and Rune; Eden experiments with Cloud Beats and dreams of a NAS.
• Movies/TV: Eden dislikes fragmented platforms; Peter mentions using Sequel lightly but relies most on Call Sheet, an IMDb alternative. Eden uses League of Comic Geeks only to track physical comics in his collection.

Closing thoughts: both agree that while tracking can be tempting, talking to people and communities is a far more rewarding way to discover new media.

In this episode, Eden and Peter dive into Fantastic Four: First Steps, a surprisingly hopeful and aesthetically stunning addition to the MCU. They unpack the film’s utopian vision, its fresh take on superhero storytelling, and why it might be one of Marvel’s most emotionally resonant efforts to date. From retrofuturist aesthetics to character depth and non-violent resolutions, they explore how this movie dares to imagine a better world—and why that makes it so special.

Episode Show Notes:

Catching up: Peter’s travel chaos, shaving disasters, and reading Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Reflections on creativity, late-stage capitalism, and the need for exploration and failure
Eden breaks down the odd digital logic of Japanese fantasy novels and the legacy of Dragon Quest
A detour into Star Wars Galaxies Restoration and its refreshing take on MMO life and Jedi origins

Main topic: Fantastic Four: First Steps

• Both hosts loved the movie and were surprised by how well it worked
• The mid-century retrofuturist aesthetic is a standout success
• The characters feel fully-formed and lived-in—no drawn-out origin story
• Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) emerges as the true heart and leader of the team
• Emphasis on creativity and intelligence over brute force
• A rare example of superheroes making the world better, not just protecting the status quo
• The story’s utopian tone sets it apart from typical superhero narratives
• Franklin Richards’ birth and future teased with major power implications
• Galactus and the Silver Surfer are compelling and visually stunning additions
• A shared sense of optimism and trust among the characters and the world
• Some minor nitpicks (Ben Grimm’s beard?) but overall glowing praise
• Post-credits Doom tease? Who cares.
• Nervousness about Avengers: Doomsday expectations
• Final thoughts: a hopeful, human, and character-driven superhero film that stands out

Episode Summary

This week on The Middle of Culture, Peter and Eden dive into Superman 2025—a movie they both expected to disappoint, but ultimately left them grinning. They discuss why this version of Superman finally understands the character, their favorite portrayals (hello, Nicholas Hoult’s Lex), and the messy charm of a movie that somehow pulls off being packed without tipping over. Along the way, they touch on camping with CPAPs, ADHD and habit formation, cello-driven metal, and why The Office still sucks. It’s a jam-packed, joyful takedown and celebration of what might be DC’s best swing in years.

Episode Notes

• Peter and Eden open with summer updates, including swim meets and car camping (aka “carmping”)
• Eden reviews the anime adaptation of City, praising Kyoto Animation’s hand-drawn excellence
• Discussion on ADHD and the reality of habit formation—Peter shares how journaling became a daily routine, while Eden relies on yelling reminder apps
• Peter recommends cello virtuoso Raphael Weinroth-Browne and shares excitement over new music from Paradise Lost
• A shared hatred of The Office and a love for Taskmaster
• Peter recounts his guest appearance on The Incomparable’s “Random Pursuit” episode

Main discussion: Superman 2025

• Initial low expectations gave way to genuine enjoyment
• Both agree: it finally gets Superman right—his compassion, moral compass, and fallibility
• Highlights include Nicholas Hoult’s intense, bitter Lex Luthor and Brosnahan’s sharp Lois Lane
• Critiques: missing Clark Kent moments, underused Daily Planet characters, weak soundtrack
• Praise for standout moments like the Kansas farm scene and Mr. Terrific’s mysterious cool
• Fun digs into comics lore with Guy Gardner, Hawk Girl, and Jimmy Olsen’s inexplicable ladykiller status
• Comparison to Thunderbolts (still the best superhero movie of the year so far) and some worry over Fantastic Four
• Wrap-up with Eden ready to rewatch Superman 1978 and wishing this one had a better name

Links:
Uncanny Magazine Year 12 Kickstarter
Random Pursuit on The Incomparable Game Show

Episode Summary:

This week, Peter and Eden dive headfirst into the high-octane world of Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers comic run, exploring its explosive art, emotional beats, and G1 nostalgia. Along the way, they unpack the pains of modern TV consumption, vent about doomed adaptations, and gush over goth rock albums and short-form sci-fi. It’s a heartfelt mix of media love, mild despair, and giant robots punching each other in the face—with feeling.

Show Notes:

• Peter kicks things off with a July 4th check-in and a quick rundown of what he’s been reading and listening to, including Atomic Habits and the debut album by High Parasite, a side project involving My Dying Bride’s Aaron Stainthorpe.
• Murderbot adaptation on Apple TV+ gets a thoughtful breakdown: Peter shares his appreciation for its tone, visuals, and how closely it mirrors Martha Wells’ novella All Systems Red, especially its deadpan view of humanity and delightful Sanctuary Moon cutaways.
• Discussion veers into TV trust issues—how shows like Paper Girls and Wheel of Time were abandoned too early by streamers like Amazon and Netflix, and why Apple TV+’s longer-term faith in its properties (Slow Horses) earns praise.
• Eden questions the fractured nature of modern TV popularity, riffing on Yellowstone’s massive reach despite their total ignorance of anyone watching it.
• A segment on Eden’s short-lived journey into the glitchy, chaotic world of gacha game Re Memento: White Shadow, complete with mistranslations and catastrophic layoffs.
• Peter shares exciting news about planning a trip to Japan for his 27th wedding anniversary—and the hurdles of learning Japanese through Duolingo.

For our main topic, we dive into the first arc of Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers comic:

• Eden provides background on the series and its creative team, praising Johnson’s gritty, wrestling-inspired action sequences and nuanced character work.
• Peter offers perspective as a lifelong fan reconnecting with the property, reflecting on the emotional impact of Optimus Prime, especially how the comic echoes the trauma of Transformers: The Movie (1986).
• Highlights include gruesome Starscream moments, human character development (especially Sparky’s sacrifice), and Optimus wielding Megatron’s blaster arm.
• Both hosts discuss the comic’s balance between fresh storytelling and homage to classic G1 design and lore.
• Closing thoughts touch on the excitement (and dread) around Robert Kirkman taking over the series soon, and how this arc was a rewarding, if nostalgia-heavy, entry point for fans old and new.

In this lively and irreverent episode of The Middle of Culture, Peter and Eden build a tier list ranking 29 DC movies, from the highs of Christopher Reeve's iconic Superman to the lows of Black Adam, which earns a new category all its own: "F*** You Forever." Along the way, they debate the merits of Nolan's Batman trilogy, praise Margot Robbie while trashing her material, and wax poetic about Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman and the ridiculous joy of Catwoman (2004). The episode also dives into recent reads, including the emotionally devastating Adachi and Shimamura 99.9, with Eden delivering an impassioned recounting that might just wreck you. Add in some heat-dome weather talk, tech-death music recs, and plenty of hot takes, and you've got one of the most entertaining episodes yet.

Episode Notes:

Welcome Back

• Eden shares weather misery and emotional tales of crying over Adachi and Shimamura
• Peter updates on his son's relentless swim meet schedule and praises the dedication of teen athletes

What We're Into

• Eden continues to love The Apothecary Diaries, now reading it aloud with Cassi
• Deep emotional dive into Adachi and Shimamura 99.9, including:
  • Cozy slice-of-life moments
  • Post-apocalyptic existentialism
  • A bittersweet afterlife reunion that left Eden in tears
• Peter shares his current reading on behavior change and playing Mario Kart with the kids
• Metal music recs from Peter:
  • Fallujah and Exocrine (tech-death highlights)
  • Sigh's re-recording of Hangman's Hymn (2007 → 2025 edition)

The Tier List Begins

• 29 DC movies ranked from S-tier to a newly invented bottom tier
• Immediate praise for Superman: The Movie -- the only true S-tier film
• Batman Begins and The Batman hold strong in A-tier
• The Dark Knight lands at a controversial B, Dark Knight Rises flops to D
• Surprising affection for Catwoman bumps it up to C, while Suicide Squad, Justice League, and Black Adam are rightfully trashed
• Eden passionately defends the joyfully chaotic Batman & Robin, despite its execution
• Zack Snyder's Justice League makes it to B solely for its absurdity
• Lego Batman wins hearts, even from Eden who has a Lego movie vendetta

New Tier Created: "F*** You Forever"

• Reserved exclusively for Black Adam, a film so despised that Peter stopped watching anything with The Rock afterward

Wrap-Up

• One clear conclusion: 1978's Superman stands unmatched
• Richard Donner hailed as the god-tier director James Gunn can't touch
• Gentle roast of MCU's decline vs DC's chaotic legacy
• Call to action: listeners encouraged to weigh in via feedback@themiddleofculture.com

Show Notes:

Life Updates & Pencil Parties

- Eden recounts a surreal Minneapolis trip to witness the "sharpening" of a 20-foot neighborhood pencil statue.

- Attendees included 1,500+ people, costumes, DJs, and a fake giant pencil sharpener hoisted into place.

- Cassi already has cosplay plans for next year.

Dollhouses, Gundams & DIY Projects

- Eden builds a full miniature room box to pose model kits like Gundams in.

- Explores the satisfying craft process of assembling furniture, windows, and baseboards in a modular design.

Music Corner

- New Katatonia album: promising with fresh energy, but Peter reserves judgment.

- Rivers of Nihil: cool influence from Black Crown Initiate, but repeated saxophone use is a dealbreaker for Peter.

- Vildhjarta: heavy, adventurous, and rewards deep listening.

Gaming Talk

- Peter's impressions of the Switch 2: improved Mario Kart experience with 24-player chaos, but still not a travel must-have.

- Thoughts on the cult of Nintendo vs. more versatile handheld platforms like the Steam Deck.

- Eden's attempt to play Synduality: Echo of Ada ends in a refund due to game-breaking texture issues.

Cult & Camp Cinema

- Eden attends a VHS screening of the awful-but-fun 1970s exploitation film White Fire with a themed drinking game.

- Peter is tempted by the trailer but is firmly advised: "Don't watch White Fire."

Reading Recommendations

- Eden finishes all 11 published volumes of Adachi and Shimomura, including volume 99.9 (sci-fi time-jump bonus stories).

- Enthusiastic recommendation of The Apothecary Diaries, a mystery series set in a fictionalized ancient China full of intrigue and clever deduction.

What We're Watching

- Peter enjoys Taskmaster Season 19 with Jason Mantzoukas, calling it chaotic, hilarious, and worth the YouTube binge.

Main Topic: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

- Eden loved it: tense, stylish, electric; Peter found it frustratingly flat in tension and offensively dated.

- Discussion touches on 70s NYC despair, racism and misogyny in period pieces, Walter Matthau's charisma, and how modern remakes miss the gritty charm of the original.

- Fun fact: Robert Shaw (Mr. Blue) also played Quint in Jaws.

- Finale: Walter Matthau's "Gesundheit" stare is iconic.

Episode Notes:

- The episode opens with Eden reading a Tumblr post that hilariously and bleakly explains modern burnout as a result of living in a crumbling world. Peter and Eden relate strongly, setting the tone for a cathartic conversation.

- Eden checks in with the ongoing Adachi and Shimamura manga journey. Volume 8 features a flash-forward to adulthood and two momentous forehead kisses.

- Gaming fatigue takes center stage as Eden recounts failed attempts to get into Sunhaven, Paradise Killer, and even the stylish-but-demanding Shenmue. Nothing sticks.

- Eden shares a new afternoon ritual: practicing Gong Fu tea ceremonies. A color-changing fox teapet becomes a symbol of small joys amid burnout.

- Music talk includes Pelican's new album, which fell flat in comparison to a recent live show from Russian Circles, with Pelican being described as "bargain-basement Russian Circles."

- Peter introduces Bleed's debut album, which feels like a time capsule from the early 2000s alt-rock scene. It's not groundbreaking, but the nostalgia hits just right.

- Avowed patch 1.4 discussion highlights fun new features: spiders replaced with spheres, better loot drops, and the return of everyone's favorite character, the raunchy and hilarious Yatzli.

- Main topic: What Remains of Edith Finch. Peter and Eden break down their impressions of the game:

- It's emotionally heavy, occasionally to a fault.

- Some vignettes (like Lewis's cannery sequence and Barbara's horror comic) are standout.

- Others, like Molly's transformation or Gregory's bathtub scene, fall flat or feel manipulative.

- Both hosts agree it's visually and structurally ambitious, but uneven.

- Eden calls it the "death knell" of the walking simulator genre.

- Final thoughts reflect on the evolution of indie storytelling and how walking sims have largely given way to more interactive, mechanic-rich narratives.

- The episode wraps with a discussion of the flawed 7-to-9 scoring scale used in video game reviews and how many games get overhyped despite major issues.