Unsubscribe Podcast Episode 180: "Hollywood Ruins Joker & Rings Of Power ft. Nerdrotic"

Release Date: October 7, 2024
Host/Authors: Eli Doubletap, Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator & Nerdrotic

I. Introduction & Announcements

The episode kicks off with enthusiastic announcements about the Unsubscribe Podcast's upcoming live tour. Eli Doubletap shares the exciting news that tickets will go live on October 11th (a Friday), with dates scheduled in cities including Nashville, San Diego, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, and Buffalo.

Donut Operator highlights the team lineup for the tour:

Donut Operator [00:28]: "Double Tap is going to be there. Fat Electrician is going to be there. Mr. Ang Cops, Brandon Herrera and myself, Donut Operator, we're all gonna be there. It's fucking awesome."

Nerdrotic adds his own flair to the announcement:

Nerdrotic [00:45]: "Gonna give you guys a presale."

II. Hollywood's Decline and DEI Influence

The hosts delve into a critical discussion about the current state of Hollywood, particularly focusing on how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have impacted film quality and storytelling.

A. Critique of "Joker 2"

Nerdrotic opens the conversation by expressing disappointment with Warner Brothers' release strategy for Joker 2, which he perceives as a failure despite its high budget.

Nerdrotic [05:50]: "I almost tossed my Steelbook Blu Ray in the trash. I'm like, I'm never watching this movie again."

Brandon Herrera concurs, noting the film's poor reception on platforms like IMDb:

Brandon Herrera [07:35]: "I just saw on IMDb it was at like a 5.9 and falling."

B. Analysis of "Rings of Power" and "The Acolyte"

The conversation shifts to Amazon's Rings of Power and its sequel The Acolyte. Nerdrotic criticizes the significant financial investment (~$1 billion) juxtaposed with the show's underwhelming performance and deviation from Tolkien's original lore.

Nerdrotic [15:05]: "A billion dollars. Billion dollars. [...] It's their worst episode."

Eli Doubletap highlights how Rings of Power struggled with fan expectations and authentic representation:

Nerdrotic [16:30]: "Galadriel making out with Elrond, her future son-in-law. [...] It's fucking ridiculous."

The hosts argue that DEI-driven choices led to unnatural plot developments and characterizations that alienated the core fanbase.

III. Representation in Marvel Cinematic Universe

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to critiquing Marvel's approach to character representation, specifically focusing on Captain America, Falcon, and Doctor Doom.

A. Succession from Captain America to Falcon

Nerdrotic laments the transition from Bucky Barnes to Sam Wilson (Falcon) as Captain America, suggesting it’s a superficial attempt at diversity without genuine character development.

Nerdrotic [32:43]: "You're giving basically the black person, the white person's hand me downs."

Brandon Herrera echoes the sentiment, accusing Marvel of marketing decisions over storytelling:

Brandon Herrera [41:08]: "They were just automatically deleting certain keywords. So they're just rolling into it and we're clapping back at the face."

B. Casting of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards

The hosts express concern over casting choices that prioritize diversity optics over character authenticity. Eli Doubletap questions the rationale behind casting Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, labeling it as an example of Hollywood's misguided diversity efforts.

Eli Double Tap [34:30]: "You're white passing, Eli."

IV. YouTube Algorithms and Content Censorship

The discussion pivots to the challenges creators face with YouTube's evolving algorithms and censorship policies.

A. Demonization and Age Restrictions

Brandon Herrera shares frustrations about YouTube's inconsistent enforcement of rules, leading to demonetization and age restrictions that cripple content creators' revenues.

Brandon Herrera [37:02]: "The one of my favorites that I've ever figured out [...] I flat out ran with Fleshlight and it stayed monetized for a few weeks."

Nerdrotic emphasizes the arbitrary nature of these restrictions:

Nerdrotic [41:10]: "No age restricted video shows up unless you're logged in. [...] Age restrictions."

B. Impact on Content Creation

The hosts discuss how these policies stifle creativity and limit the reach of genuine content, pushing creators to seek alternative platforms like Pepperbox.

Brandon Herrera [43:00]: "It’s getting worse because YouTube is killing demonetization."

V. Personal Anecdotes and Interactions

Throughout the episode, the hosts share personal stories and humorous interactions, such as Eli Doubletap's Photoshop prank on a friend's photo and their collective experiences navigating YouTube's backend.

Eli Double Tap [116:25]: "If you ever want to know how much backend goes into YouTube videos it is a lot more than your average person."

VI. Conclusion and Future Projects

As the episode nears its end, the hosts briefly touch upon their upcoming projects, including new podcast collaborations and continued critiques of mainstream media.

Nerdrotic [118:48]: "The next project is getting through the Rings of Power, and then it's kind of quiet for the rest of the year."

They reiterate their commitment to providing honest and unfiltered content, encouraging listeners to support them through alternative platforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Nerdrotic [05:50]: "I almost tossed my Steelbook Blu Ray in the trash. I'm like, I'm never watching this movie again."
• Donut Operator [00:28]: "Double Tap is going to be there. Fat Electrician is going to be there. Mr. Ang Cops, Brandon Herrera and myself, Donut Operator, we're all gonna be there. It's fucking awesome."
• Brandon Herrera [37:02]: "The one of my favorites that I've ever figured out [...] I flat out ran with Fleshlight and it stayed monetized for a few weeks."
• Nerdrotic [34:30]: "You're white passing, Eli."

This episode of the Unsubscribe Podcast offers a scathing critique of contemporary Hollywood's direction, emphasizing the detrimental effects of tokenism and politically driven storytelling. The hosts passionately defend authentic storytelling and express their frustrations with digital platform censorship, all while maintaining their signature candid and humorous banter.