More Like The Trauma-bolts – A Review of Thunderbolts pt.1

Is therapy stronger than punches? Join Kareem, Ken, and Pat as they welcome back special guest Mayday for a three-part review of Marvel’s most streamlined story to date, Thunderbolts*. It’s an hour-long therapy session that starts with the strategic beating of a gorilla. We promise, no actual gorillas were hurt in the filming of this podcast.

Show notes

Episode 117: Gorilla Tactics & Serum Science (feat. Mayday)

Episode Summary:

This episode kicks off in the middle of the action with a passionate and deeply tactical debate on the age-old question: Can 100 unarmed men really defeat a single gorilla? After settling the primate problem, hosts Kareem, Ken, and Pat finally take a breath to formally welcome their fantastic guest, Mayday, and set the stage for the episode’s main event: a movie review.

The crew dives into the film, but the lure of a good tangent proves too strong. The discussion of the Super Soldier Serum begins as a small point and quickly proves so fascinating that it takes over the entire back half of the show. The guys explore every angle—from the ethics of its creation to the many botched attempts to replicate it—leaving the movie behind and the episode concluding mid-conversation.

Meet Our Guest:

This week, we’re honored to be joined by Mayday! Mayday is a content creator and artist.

Find Mayday on Threads
Follow Them on Instagram

Key Topics & Timestamps:

0:00 – Cold Open: The Great Gorilla Debate
- Listeners are dropped directly into the chaos as the guys hash out the definitive strategy for 100 men to overcome a single, determined gorilla.
10:30 – Official Welcome & Introductions
- We hit the theme music and finally explain what’s going on. Kareem, Ken, and Pat properly welcome the heroic Mayday to the show.
14:00 – The Actual Movie Review
- With the tangents temporarily purged from their systems, the crew dives into the movie, discussing its plot, characters, and overall themes.
35:00 – Deep Dive: The Super Soldier Serum
- The conversation pivots and never looks back. The crew becomes obsessed with the lore behind the Super Soldier Serum, exploring every iteration from Dr. Erskine’s original formula to the flawed versions seen throughout the MCU. The episode ends here, mid-debate!

Question of the Week:

We want to hear from you! What is your definitive strategy for 100 unarmed men vs. 1 gorilla? Who wins and why? Email us or let us know in the comments!

EP.122 – Wait, You Know Kung Fu Too? – A Review of The State of Martial Arts Films pt.2 – Tangential Giants Podcast

Kareem, Ken, Pat, and returning chaos agent JPG dive into the second half of their martial arts saga, tracing how the genre went from the clean, wide‑shot choreography of the 80s and 90s to the hyper‑edited, camera‑trick chaos that took over in the 2000s.They unpack how The Matrix rewired Hollywood’s brain, how 9‑11 reshaped action aesthetics, and how Jackie Chan’s beautifully reckless stunt work got replaced by gunkata, tactical reloads, and enough quick cuts to make a film editor sweat. Along the way, the crew debates whether modern action is evolution or just caffeine with a budget.If you enjoy martial arts history, pop culture detours, and a guest who refuses to stay on topic, this episode delivers.#tangentialgiants #martialartsmovies #actioncinema #Gunkata #jackiechan #thematrix #filmpodcast #popculturepodcast #moviediscussions