Project Hail Mary Absolutely Nails the Landing

This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl dive into the Season 4 return of Invincible, check in on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2, and review Project Hail Mary.

Episode Index

Intro: 0:07 Monarch: 5:32 Invincible: 11:37 Project Hail Mary: 33:04

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (AppleTV)

Season 2, Episode 4 Title: Trespass Air date: March 20, 2026 Director: Hiromi Kamata Writer: Al Letson Summary: In 2017, Titan X awakens another swarm of Scarabs in American Samoa, which kill two surfers, and destroys a Monarch patrol boat. On Outpost 18, Trissop and Tim detect Titan X on Apex’s new sonar tracking system, which indicates that it is heading towards San Francisco. Kentaro, Hiroshi, Keiko and Shaw meet up with May in Pensacola, Florida, where they plan to steal Hiroshi’s Titan lure back from Apex. In San Francisco, an evacuation is declared, while Cate meets one of the students who she saved on G-Day. She has a change of heart, and decides to return to Monarch. Trissop’s team leave Outpost 18 as Tim’s team and the Pacific Fleet prepare to intercept Titan X, but the signal on Apex’s tracking system turns out to be a whale. In Pensacola, the others infiltrate Apex’s headquarters and discover that Apex have been smuggling creatures off of Skull Island, including Leafwings, Needlewalkers, and Vinestranglers. Brenda shows May that Apex have developed neural implants to modify animal behavior, which she demonstrates using a Leafwing, and explains that they want to use the same technology to pacify the Titans. Shaw and Kentaro release the Needlewalkers to cause a distraction, allowing Hiroshi and Keiko to find the lure, but it has been dismantled. Fortunately, they also discover that Apex have some of Bill’s old files, including his map of Titan X’s migratory route, which allows them to predict its next destination as Santa Soledad. May chooses to stay with Apex, but the others escape and reunite with Cate. However, Hiroshi finds Keiko’s letter to Shaw in Bill’s files. Featured cast: Anna Sawai as Cate Randa, Kiersey Clemons as May, Ren Watabe as Kentaro Randa, Mari Yamamoto as Keiko Miura, Joe Tippett as Tim, Takehiro Hira as Hiroshi Randa, and Kurt Russell / Wyatt Russell as Lee Shaw. The series also stars Elisa Lasowski.

Rating Out of 5 Titan X Keeps on Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ Brian: 2.5/5 Darryl: 2.7/5

Invincible (Amazon Prime)

Season 4, Episode 1 Title: Making the World a Better Place Air date: March 18, 2026 Director: Sol Choi Writer: Helen Leigh Summary: Mark, Oliver, and Eve continue stopping threats while dealing with the physical and mental aftermath of Angstrom and Conquest. Cecil appoints Brit as leader of the Guardians and brings the Teen Team back. Mark meets Dinosaurus, a powerful being he nearly kills despite learning the creature’s human host lacks control in his transformed state. Mark and Eve have a difficult dinner with Eve’s parents. Meanwhile, the Sequids prepare another invasion, and an alien named Universa arrives on Earth, draining energy from a power plant to save her people. Mark and Eve intercept her, and Eve struggles as her powers become unstable during the fight, but Universa is eventually defeated. The Guardians confront the Sequid threat, and with Mark’s help, they save all infected civilians using new technology, though Mark kills Rus Livingston, the final host, to end the danger. Elsewhere, Conquest escapes captivity and leaves Earth. Featured cast: Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson, J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man, Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson, Gillian Jacobs as Atom Eve, Walton Goggins as Cecil, Max Burkholder as Oliver, Seth Rogen as Allen the Alien, with season additions including Matthew Rhys as Dinosaurus and Danai Gurira as Universa.

Season 4, Episode 2 Title: I’ll Give You the Grand Tour Air date: March 18, 2026 Director: Jason Zurek Writer: Simon Racioppa Summary: On the way to Talescria, Nolan tells Allen about his harsh Viltrumite upbringing, where he trained young cadets and endured a brutal trial against his parents to prove his adulthood. Soon after, the Scourge virus devastated the Viltrumites, killing billions, including his parents. The Grand Regent imposed a quarantine, sealed the planet, and ordered the extermination of all alien slaves who knew of the outbreak. The few survivors began seeking compatible species across the galaxy to preserve their race. On Talescria, Thaedus reveals he is the Betrayer who killed Emperor Argall. Using Nolan’s knowledge, the Coalition gathers weapons and allies like Space Racer and the Sinlak beetles. Thaedus later admits he created the Scourge virus and has an improved version. Though angered, Nolan agrees to recruit his son after Thaedus promises it will be a last resort. Meanwhile, Conquest returns to Viltrum and reports his failure to Grant Regent Thragg. Featured cast: Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Seth Rogen, Peter Cullen as Thaedus, Winston Duke as Space Racer, and Lee Pace as Thragg.

Season 4, Episode 3 Title: I Gotta Get Some Air Air date: March 18, 2026 Director: Stephanie Gonzaga Writer: Ross Stracke Summary: Machine Head tells Titan that Mister Liu survived and is pursuing them. Titan is attacked by Liu’s assassin Magnattack but kills him. Mark struggles with killing Rus, while Eve loses control of her powers. Robot expels a Sequid, which Monster Girl destroys, leading them to wonder whether Mark was right. Titan asks Invincible for help, but Mark and Eve send Oliver instead. Eve seeks guidance from Robot. Meanwhile, the Flaxans return and attack Earth, and Mark joins the Guardians in response. Oliver and Titan confront Liu, while Robot and Monster Girl enter the Flaxan dimension to destroy their anti-aging technology, discovering a highly advanced civilization that threatens humanity. Before others can follow, the portal is closed, trapping them. Mark later helps Oliver fight Liu, forcing him to retreat. Misinterpreting Titan’s actions, Mark attacks him until Oliver stops him. With Liu still active, Titan is forced to rejoin Machine Head’s Order, as Liu also returns. Eve learns she is pregnant. Featured cast: Steven Yeun, Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Quinto, Todd Williams as Titan, Jeffrey Donovan as Machine Head, and the returning Guardians/Flaxan players around the Earth attack storyline. Rating Out of 10 If It’s a Whooping You’re A Wantin’ Brian: 8.3/10 Darryl: 7.78/10

Season 4, Episode 4 Title: Hurm Air date: March 25, 2026 Director: Ian Abando Writer: Robert Kirkman Summary: Mark confesses his actions to Art, who comforts him and gives him his old suit back. Eve calls Mark to stop Ka-Hor, but Damien Darkblood, attempting to reclaim Hell from Volcanikka, uses Nolan’s blood and accidentally summons Mark, allowing Ka-Hor to escape with a host. Darkblood explains that Volcanikka plans to release the Vile to conquer Earth. Mark and Darkblood recover Satan’s Molten Crown from Cerberus, restoring Satan’s power and reviving Darkblood’s family. They confront Volcanikka, who defeats Satan, but Mark overpowers her and forces her to retreat. Satan keeps the Vile imprisoned and sends Mark and Darkblood back to Earth. Eve tells William about her pregnancy, while Debbie plans to move in with Paul. As Eve prepares to tell Mark about the pregnancy, Nolan and Allen arrive. Meanwhile, Satan secretly orders Darkblood to investigate Volcanikka’s motives and considers going to the surface.The episode is also notable for using material created specifically for the show rather than directly adapting the comic. Featured cast: Steven Yeun as Mark Grayson, J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man, Sandra Oh as Debbie Grayson, and Brandon Scott Jones as William Clockwell.

Rating Out of 5 What the Actual Fuck Was This Brian: .01/5 Darryl: 1/5

Project Hail Mary (2026)

Release Date: March 20, 2026 Runtime: 156 minutes Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Writer: Drew Goddard Based On: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Studios: Lord Miller Productions, Pascal Pictures, Open Invite Films, and Waypoint Entertainment Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios (U.S. and Canada), Sony Pictures Releasing International (international)

Summary: Ryland Grace wakes up alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he is there, only to slowly realize he has been sent on a desperate mission to save Earth from an extinction-level threat. What starts as a survival mystery turns into a science-heavy, emotionally warm space adventure built around problem-solving, sacrifice, and an unexpected interstellar friendship.

Main Cast: Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt James Ortiz as Rocky Lionel Boyce as Carl Milana Vayntrub as Olesya Ilyukhina Ken Leung as Yao Priya Kansara as Mary Bastian Antonio Fuentes as Parker

Production Notes: The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and adapted by Drew Goddard, who also wrote The Martian, giving this one a similar mix of hard-science problem solving, humor, and crowd-pleasing momentum.

Production shot in the United Kingdom, with principal photography running from June through October 2024, centered at Shepperton Studios. The movie’s cinematography was handled by Greig Fraser, with editing by Chris Dickens and Joel Negron, and music by Daniel Pemberton.

One of the big talking points around the movie is how heavily it leans on practical filmmaking. Lord and Miller said the production avoided green screens on set, relying instead on built environments, controlled lighting, puppetry, and VFX enhancement later. Rocky was brought to life through a combination of puppetry, animatronics, and digital effects, with James Ortiz both performing ...

Episode 512 – Ryland Grace is Not a Liability in the Backfield or Otherwise