Pop Culture Happy Hour – Episode Summary

Episode Title: The Long Walk and What's Making Us Happy
Release Date: September 12, 2025
Host: Glen Weldon (with guests Kristen Meinzer and Rihanna Cruz)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into The Long Walk, a new dystopian film adapted from Stephen King’s earliest novel, examining its effectiveness both as an adaptation and a piece of pop culture. The discussion ranges from the film's tone, characters, and world-building to its emotional impact (or lack thereof) on the hosts. The episode closes with the show's regular "What's Making Us Happy" segment, offering music, books, and a dose of Werner Herzog on Instagram.

Main Discussion: The Long Walk (00:13–13:52)

Film Premise

• Synopsis: In a grim vision of America, teenage boys from each state walk at a steady pace in a televised competition—if they falter, they are killed. The last survivor wins immense rewards.
• Comparison: Described as “literally Stephen King meets The Hunger Games,” with a minimalist yet brutal premise.
• Director: Francis Lawrence, known for The Hunger Games films.

Host and Guest Reactions

Rihanna Cruz – Enthusiastic Embrace (02:13)

• Genre Love: Rihanna highlights her fondness for “person-stuck-in-place, forced-to-compete” films, praising The Long Walk as “a formidable entry into that canon.”
• Quote: “I love when a B level genre movie is written and marketed like a tentpole A list movie… I thought The Long Walk was really engaging. I was wrapped the entire time, well paced, no pun intended.” (02:59, Rihanna Cruz)
• Character Archetypes: Embraces the use of character archetypes because of the high body count: “It makes sense to lean into those stock character types because they’re going to die so fast.” (07:16, Rihanna Cruz)
• World-building: Prefers the focus on the ‘gameplay’ over deeper world exposition: “Maybe it’s like an expectation thing because, like, I don’t really want world building. I want the kids to die.” (09:21, Rihanna Cruz)

Kristen Meinzer – Lukewarm, with Critique (03:02)

• Premise Appeal / Execution Disappointment: As an “avid walker,” Kristen was initially intrigued by the concept but found the film too shallow: “The idea of one of my favorite hobbies being turned into a way to die…was fantastic. But I also felt it didn’t go far enough or deep enough. Some of the characters were more caricature than human.” (03:02, Kristen Meinzer)
• Marketing Mismatch: Wanted lighter YA treatment instead of heavy R-rated drama, believing that would have set better expectations.
• Wanted More: Desired more character development and creative walking scenarios: “At one point we get an uphill and at two points it rains. But I think they could have done so much more.” (07:21, Kristen Meinzer)
• Incomplete Payoffs: Noted unsatisfying narrative setups: “There are a few Chekhov's guns that are introduced that never go off. Oh, that bugged me.” (08:29, Kristen Meinzer)

Glen Weldon – Openly Disdainful (04:02)

• Strong Dislike: Glen is firmly opposed, deeming the film “ludicrously self important” and filled with clumsy, “ham fisted” emotional manipulation: “To call it ham fisted does not even begin—like these are some glazed honey baked spiral hams.” (04:02, Glen Weldon)
• Comparison to War Movie Clichés: Criticizes cardboard characters: “That is every single character in what I found to be a miserable, cheaply sentimental movie. This dialogue is so bad, so wafer thin...” (05:16, Glen Weldon)
• Writing vs. Acting: Praises the acting (“I can’t fault the acting. I can fault the writing in a big way”) (12:28, Glen Weldon) but says the screenplay fails to make him care.
• Dismissal of World-Building: Believes the film teases deeper world elements but fails to deliver: “We need to dig deeper if you’re gonna introduce it, or just don’t introduce it.” (08:29, Glen Weldon)

Key Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Glen on character deaths: “Whenever a character got murdered, I danced a little bit in my seat because it meant they were gonna stop talking.” (05:16)
• Kristen on scenario creativity: “What would it have been like if you can’t see each other anymore because the grass is so high?” (07:21)
• Rihanna on archetypes: “I don’t need character development…they’re gonna get shot in the face in like 20 minutes.” (07:16)
• Kristen on treadmill screenings: “There are screenings of this movie where you literally walk at the same pace as the characters on screen or you’re kicked out.” (12:34)
• Judy Greer cameo: “Judy Greer got done so dirty by this movie.” (11:39, Glen Weldon)

Segment: What's Making Us Happy This Week (15:58–19:20)

Rihanna Cruz (16:05)

• Pick: Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge (Sirius XM)
• Why: Andy Cohen’s cultivated, genre-bending playlist “synthesizes my music taste…as long as it’s gay music and it’s good.”
• Quote: “That’s how I feel about Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge.” (16:53)

Kristen Meinzer (17:12)

• Pick: "Fever: The Complete History of Saturday Night Fever" by Margo Donoghue
• Why: Detailed oral history, behind-the-scenes revelations about the classic film and its impact on pop and New York culture.
• Quote: “It reveals everything that went wrong in the making of the film. A lot went very, very wrong.” (17:12)

Glen Weldon (18:11)

• Pick: Werner Herzog joining Instagram (@wernerherzog_official)
• Why: Surreal pleasure in seeing the legendary, eccentric director enter influencer territory, complete with “a steak the size of a mid sized SUV.”
• Quote: “This is a man who is on record as saying nature vicious to kill us all…Although happiness is a mewling child’s folly of distractions and cold reality.” (18:11, 19:19)

Tone & Atmosphere

• Witty, candid, sometimes snarky—characteristic of PCHH.
• Glen is particularly acerbic and theatrical in his disdain, Rihanna is energetic and genre-savvy, and Kristen is thoughtful with a pragmatic edge.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Overview & Content Warning: 00:13
• Introduction to the film: 01:09
• Rihanna’s first impression: 02:13
• Kristen’s initial thoughts: 03:02
• Glen’s critique: 04:02
• Debate on archetypes vs. characterization: 07:16
• World-building discussion: 08:29
• Emotional resonance debate: 10:24
• Judy Greer, acting, and practical walking logistics: 11:39–13:09
• “What’s Making Us Happy” segment: 15:58

Takeaways

• The Long Walk divides opinion sharply: some see it as a compelling genre exercise, others as shallow melodrama.
• Acting is generally praised, but writing and depth are criticized.
• The “What's Making Us Happy” picks span music, film history, and social media oddities—a quirky, joyful end to a somber review.

Notable Quotes

“To call it ham fisted does not even begin—like these are some glazed honey baked spiral hams.”
— Glen Weldon (04:02)

“I don’t need character development…they’re gonna get shot in the face in like 20 minutes.”
— Rihanna Cruz (07:16)

“You’re kind of a cartoon, almost not a fully fledged character, which is a shame.”
— Kristen Meinzer (11:22)

“Although happiness is a mewling child’s folly of distractions and cold reality.”
— Glen Weldon (19:19)

For more recommendations and pop culture commentary, visit NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter: npr.org/popculturenewsletter