This week on Thumb War, we revisit Bad Santa (2003) — Terry Zwigoff’s filthy, funny, and surprisingly tender Christmas classic.

Jason & Rachel dig into the Director’s Cut vs the Theatrical version, studio interference, and why Billy Bob Thornton’s Willie T. Soke somehow becomes one of the strangest “found family” characters in holiday movie history.

Along the way, we celebrate:

• Bernie Mac & John Ritter’s perfect comic chemistry
• Zwigoff’s anti-sentimental worldview
• Why this movie still works — and why it probably wouldn’t get made today

A holiday staple in this house. Not safe for work. Definitely not safe for kids.

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This week on Thumb War, we’re deep into Stranger Things Season 5, breaking down Episodes 3 and 4 — The Turnbow Trap and The Sorcerer.

We talk Frank Darabont’s direction, the Upside Down’s increasingly flexible rules, Hopper going full action hero, and whether the show’s massive cast is finally working against itself. Plus: Karen Wheeler MVP discourse, Joyce complaints, Erica chaos, and a few extremely dumb (but fun) theories.

Spoilers throughout.

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Episode 7 Had Us Yelling at the TV | Welcome to Derry Review

In this episode of Thumb War, we review Welcome to Derry Episode 7 (2025) — an hour of television that somehow delivers peak Pennywise and peak frustration at the same time.

We talk:

• Why the Pennywise stage performance works so well
• Andy Muschietti’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it organ-grinder cameo
• The Black Spot fire, emotional shortcuts, and broken horror logic
• When tragedy feels earned… and when it absolutely doesn’t

If you’re wondering whether Welcome to Derry is sticking the landing — or quietly falling apart — Episode 7 gives us plenty to argue about.

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