House of R: The 2025 Fall Hype Meter (September 30, 2025)
Podcast: House of R
Hosts: Mallory Rubin & Joanna Robinson
Episode Theme: Counting down and dissecting the most anticipated genre releases (TV, film, books) from September 30 to December 31, 2025—the annual Fall Hype Meter tradition, revealing what’s setting the hosts’ nerd hearts aflame, complete with discussion of trailers, casting, and fandom vibes.
Main Theme & Purpose
Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson celebrate their favorite House of R ritual: the Hype Meter—a ranked rundown of their top 10 most anticipated genre projects (plus honorable mentions) releasing in fall 2025. From blockbusters like Stranger Things and Wicked to buzzy books and auteur films, the pair share what’s fueling their fandoms, speculate on upcoming stories, and delight in the shared experience of pop culture hype.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Table: Hype Meter Rules & Scope
[04:42–07:43]
- Genre picks must be potentially coverable by House of R or The Ringerverse.
- Eligible releases: must begin between Sept 30–Dec 31, 2025.
- Wildcard: Each host can pick one project that might release this period even without a confirmed date (the “Sandman Contingency”; [07:07]).
- If both hosts have an entry, they discuss it at the higher-ranked slot.
- Honorable mentions get a lightning round at the end.
Memorable Moment:
Mallory: “We live in the now. We cherish the holiday while we have it.” [00:59]
2. Reflecting on the State of the Genre Landscape
[08:41–11:02]
- The nerd world’s shifted since the era of constant Marvel and Star Wars TV rollouts; now there’s greater variety and expansion in what House of R covers.
- 2025 fall is especially film-heavy and more competitive than ever for picks.
3. Top 10 Countdown Discussion
10. Predator: Badlands
Joanna’s pick; [11:21–13:11]
- Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, starring Elle Fanning in multiple roles, including as a legless character (“Elle Fanning backpack mode”).
- Joanna: “I thought Prey was extraordinary...Dan Trachtenberg is doing something really interesting with this franchise.”
- Mallory, enthused by SDCC hype and the chance to reconnect with the Predator world.
10. Avatar: Fire and Ash
Mallory’s pick; [14:37–19:41]
- James Cameron’s next Pandora saga, coming December 19.
- Mallory waxes poetic about visual splendor: “This is the only film franchise in the entire world that will compel me to even contemplate putting publicly shared 3D glasses on my face and then watching a movie in 3D.” [18:19]
- Debate over recycled plots: Joanna’s Avatar antipathy is strong (“My avatar hatred just needs to stay burning bright fire and ash inside me.” [19:49]).
9. Frankenstein
Joanna (9); Mallory (4); full discussion at [46:04–51:01]
- Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation, starring Oscar Isaac (Dr. Frankenstein) and Jacob Elordi (the Monster).
- Festival reception: Muted but not disastrous.
- Cited as a launching pad for Frankenstein season and wider genre exploration.
- Notable cast: Charles Dance, Mia Goth, Ralph Ineson, Christoph Waltz.
9. The Everlasting (Alex E. Harrow)
Mallory (9), Joanna (5); see [38:23–41:54]
- Upcoming novel blending Brienne-of-Tarth-esque lady knights, time-traveling sad scholars, meta-mythology.
- Both hosts: Harrow’s prose is “gorgeous,” and the book is so tailored to their interests “it might as well be dedicated to us.” [41:54]
8. The Running Man
Joanna (8), Mallory (7); [20:33–23:52]
- Edgar Wright’s remake with Glenn Powell and high-wattage cast.
- No prior screenings—a blank slate.
- Discussion of what Wright’s sensibility might add to familiar dystopian fare.
8. Star Wars Visions, Vol. 3
Mallory’s pick; [24:08–26:54]
- Anthology anime shorts, lauded as fresh, beautiful, untethered from canon.
- “Give this a try,” Mallory urges—especially for non-animation people.
7. Wicked: For Good
Joanna (7), Mallory (6); [27:03–33:17]
- Sequel to Wicked musical adaptation, out Nov 21.
- Anticipating darker tone, new songs, family appeal during holidays.
- The joy of cultural monoculture: “It matters that everyone is watching the same thing and all the memes were so good.” [29:41]
6. Fallout, Season 2
Joanna (6), Mallory (5); [33:39–38:17]
- Prime Video, Dec 17; week-to-week release.
- Joanna hasn’t watched S1 yet, but the hype (and trust in Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins) makes it soar.
- Mallory: “There’s a great performance by a dog in recent television history.” [36:04]
5. The Strength of the Few (James Islington) & The Everlasting
Joanna’s double-books slot at #5; [38:23–45:32]
- Sequel to acclaimed Will of the Many; noted for “world building, system of magic, cutthroat academy vibes.”
- Endorsed by Zach Kram; “the first book is one of the best I’ve read in forever’s ville.” [42:35]
4. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Season 2
Mallory (2) Joanna (4); [55:49–59:43]
- Disney+, Dec 10; adapting Sea of Monsters.
- Hosts excited for more mythology breakdowns, introduction of Tyson, expanded roles for Luke and Clarice.
- Emphasize joy of “getting to spend week after week with you talking about mythology...” [58:59]
3. Pluribus (Apple TV+: Vince Gilligan series)
Joanna (1), Mallory (3); [59:51–64:57]
- Highly secretive, genre “for sure,” starring Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul.
- Alan Sepinwall declared it possibly “show of the year.”
- “It’s just so comforting to be back in the warm embrace of a Vince Gilligan TV world.” (Joanna, [62:42])
- “The most miserable person on earth must save the world from happiness.” (Apple logline, [63:39])
2/1. Stranger Things, Season 5
Mallory’s #1, Joanna’s #2; [65:00–70:15]
- Final season, releasing in 3 “volume” drops (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s).
- Eight super-sized episodes, wild speculation on runtime.
- Episode titles drop: “The Right Side Up” finale gave Mallory spine tingles—“I’m an easy mark, but this gave me a chill.” [67:26]
- Both hosts note the near decade-long journey and the way S5 will dominate the holiday monoculture.
1. Pluribus
Joanna (1), discussed above.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Joanna: “I love hype season. I love irresponsibly getting excited about things and then also hemming and hawing about how maybe they may not be good, but it doesn’t matter because we're here for the vibes.” [00:48]
- Mallory: “If I have Tron Aries at number 10 and Joanna has it at number 1, we will wait until we get to number 1 to discuss it.” [05:19]
- Joanna: “My Avatar hatred just needs to stay burning bright fire and ash inside of me.” [19:49]
- Mallory, on The Everlasting: “There is a Brienne of Tarth esque knight. There is a sad sack scholar. There's time travel... I have no notes.” [40:12]
- On Stranger Things: “In some ways there's no one I'd rather spend the holidays with than Jim Hopper and you.” (Mallory, [66:36])
- Joanna, on the monoculture: “The monoculture matters... there is a power in the community of we’re all watching the same thing.” [29:41]
Timestamps of Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:26 | Opening: Hype Meter spirit & programming preview | | 04:42–07:43| Rules & eligibility refresher | | 11:21 | Joanna's #10: Predator: Badlands discussion | | 14:37 | Mallory's #10: Avatar: Fire and Ash | | 20:33 | The Running Man | | 24:08 | Mallory's #8: Star Wars Visions Vol 3 | | 27:03 | Wicked: For Good | | 33:39 | Fallout, Season 2 | | 38:23 | Book round: The Everlasting, The Strength of the Few | | 46:04 | Frankenstein (Del Toro) | | 55:49 | Percy Jackson, Season 2 | | 59:51 | Pluribus (Vince Gilligan, Apple TV+) | | 65:00 | Stranger Things, Season 5 | | 70:23 | Honorable Mentions lightning round | | 77:20 | Housekeeping & closing hype |
Honorable Mentions
Quick highlights:
- Zootopia 2 – Both hosts are excited for the return (“I love Zootopia. I love Zootopia.” Joanna [70:27])
- Talamasca (Interview with a Vampire spinoff)
- Wonder Man (Marvel); doubt over 2025 release
- Wake Up Dead Man (Knives Out 3)
- Welcome to Daria (HBO horror, too scary?)
- Dune: Prophecy (apprehension after “debacle” adaptation)
- The Witcher S4 (new lead: Liam Hemsworth)
- Tron Aries
- SpongeBob Movie
Mallory: “There’s always something that emerges that we’re like, oh, we didn’t know this was coming out. And then we’re excited and then we cover it. And there will be something this fall, too, but we don’t know what it is yet...” [77:20]
Overall Tone & Takeaways
- Infectious anticipation, unpretentious vulnerability about what excites (or repels) them.
- The excitement of participating in pop culture events—even “mid” ones—gets repeated emphasis.
- Joyous nerd camaraderie spills over into book recs, panel anecdotes, and inside pod jokes (“the Goggins ghoul,” “multi-role Elle Fanning backpack mode”).
- Recurrent awe at the genre’s never-ending creativity, and gratitude for the diversity of stories on the horizon.
For Newcomers
This episode serves as both a perfectly accessible rundown for the casual fan and a deeply inside-baseball delight for long-time listeners. The Hype Meter is equal parts preview, personal confessional, and invitation to join in squeeing, speculation, and reconsideration. Listeners are encouraged to dive in alongside the hosts—whether to read (“the Everlasting, might as well be dedicated to us”) or to brace for monocultural TV moments (“it matters that everyone is watching the same thing and all the memes were so good”).
Next up: House of R continues their Stranger Things rewatch with Season 3—a hype-worthy warmup for the fall’s blockbuster genre run.