Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Podcasts
  3. Entertainment
  4. s

Between the Streams: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ trailer breakdown, ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ rocks

Add as a preferred source on Google

DT’s weekly entertainment show, Between the Streams, is your guide to all of the hottest, most important, and (of course) dumbest new developments in streaming and entertainment, providing a handy recap of the week that was, and a preview for what’s ahead. Follow us here every Friday, or add us via RSS, iTunes, or Stitcher at the links below to take BtS on the road!

badge_itunes-smallest   stitcher-smallest   rss-smallest

We always say it’s been a big week for news, but damn, this time we are not kidding around. This week’s show will start with a retrospective about the changes streaming has made in our lives and how we … kidding! We will of course be starting this week’s show about all things Star Wars, including highlights from the franchise’s 40th anniversary celebration in Orlando, as well as going over the brand-new, sleek and dark-toned, utterly intriguing trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Along with enjoying every micron of the trailer — from Rey’s blazing lightsaber on a rocky precipice, to the Millennium Falcon blowing up bad guys — everyone has one question on their minds following Lucasfilm’s first big tease of its new tentpole: What the hell did Luke’s comment, “It’s time for the Jedi to end,” really mean? Well, we have some interesting theories about this that may just soothe some worried Light Side fans, which we will be discussing at length on today’s show.

But, contrary to what you might expect, it’s not all Star Wars today. In fact, there was a treasure trove of news elsewhere in the entertainment multiverse this week, not the least of which was the nearly-as-awesome new trailer for Taika Waititi’s new Marvel film, Thor: Ragnarok (we never said it wasn’t all Disney today). The film’s first trailer broke earlier this week, revealing a colorful mishmash of Avenger’s comic lore rolled into a brilliant mix of levity and gravity for what could just be the best of Thor’s stand-alone films. I mean, have you seen this thing? From Cate Blanchett’s impressive thorny crown as the villain Hela, to Jeff Goldblum’s wacky Grandmaster makeup, to the final scene of Thor and Hulk throwing down gladiator style, this looks like one awesome ride through Valhalla and beyond. Also, could there be any better song than Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song for this trailer? The answer is no.

That’s a lot of awesome, and we’re just getting warmed up. We’ll also be discussing the weekend box office today, including the billion-dollar baby from Universal’s franchise gift that just keeps on giving, The Fate of the Furious. While the action looks even more ramped up than ever before — they have a damn submarine — reviews have been panning the film a bit for being even more vapid and surface heavy than usual. That’s not going to stop franchise fans from turning out in droves, however, and the film is already on track to break records all over the place.

If you’re looking for something with a bit more substance, with some old-fashioned moviemaking thrown in the mix, you may want to turn your attention instead to the Brad Pitt-produced adventure film, The Lost City of Z. The move is getting all sorts of props for its grandiose cinematography that recalls the great epics of early Hollywood, and it’s being heralded as a film you must see on the big screen. The story tells the tale of Percy Fawcett, a man obsessed with finding a mythical ancient city in the Amazon.

And how about some Deadpool news? It turns out the rumors of Michael Shannon as Cable were just that — rumors. Either he was never a serious candidate, or he backed out, as it was reported this week that it will be Josh Brolin, not Shannon, who plays the crusty, one-eyed mercenary who serves as Deadpool’s comedic foil. We’re still stoked for Brolin, though it is a little odd that he’s now playing not one but two integral characters in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. (Brolin also serves as the voice of the CGI villain Thanos for those keeping track.) In fact, Ryan Reynolds, ever the joker, made fun of the casting for that very reason. Still, we think Brolin will make a nice fit, using his serious chops to propel Deadpool’s antics even further.

Oh, but there’s so much more to talk about (the show may run long this week). We’ll have a tribute to actor and comedian Charlie Murphy, who passed away this week, as well as Aquaman casting news, Fantastic Beasts 2 casting news, a trailer for Stephen King’s The Mist, Charlize Theron’s raucous Atomic Blonde trailer, Better Call Saul info, and so much more. Seriously!

To get the goods on all of it, join us live today at 2 p.m. PT, or take our podcast along by subscribing via one of the links above!

Ryan Waniata
Former Home Theater & Entertainment Editor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
The best scary podcasts to keep you up all night
amazon lumberyard game engine spooky

It doesn't feel like long since the start of summer, but believe it or not, Halloween is right around the corner. As the dark nights roll in, fall is the perfect time for Gothic novels, spooky horror movies, and, of course, hauntingly good podcasts -- mug of pumpkin-spiced chai optional. There are plenty of scary podcasts to choose from, whether you're looking for fictional dramas or strange-but-true tales of things going bump in the night. Whatever you're h(a)unting for, you'll find something in our list of the best scary podcasts. And if you're looking for something that won't leave you cowering under the covers, check out our roundup of the best podcasts.
Audio drama/fiction 
The No Sleep Podcast

This award-winning anthology of short original horror stories is now in its 18th season, with over 500 episodes to listen to. Each episode has a haunting, atmospheric soundtrack that ensures you're truly immersed in the tale. Be warned, though -- as the name suggests, this is definitely not a podcast to listen to in bed unless you plan on staying awake all night.
Apple Podcasts  Stitcher

Read more
Spotify looks to lure podcasters, listeners away from Apple with polls, Q&As
Spotify app icon on iPhone.

It's no secret that Spotify has its sights set on total podcast domination, given its high-profile acquisition of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, along with several exclusive launches like The Michelle Obama Podcast and one that features the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, better known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But the streaming music giant is still looking for additional ways to attract both listeners and podcast creators to its platform, and its latest move is the introduction of podcast polls and Q&As.

If you're a podcast creator, polls and Q&As give you a free way to increase your engagement with your audience. Normally, a listener has few ways to directly interact with their favorite podcasts, given that most platforms like Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts are essentially no more than a way to find, subscribe to, and play podcast episodes. With Spotify's new tools, podcasts become interactive, with polls and the ability to ask listeners questions, right on the episode page.

Read more
Apple’s Podcasts+ subscription service makes debut at Spring Loaded event
apple podcast subscriptions

Apple will make podcasts a more integral part of its ecosystem with the launch of Apple Podcasts+, a subscription-based service that will offer exclusive podcasts only available to subscribers, along with the wider library of shows available on its existing podcasts app. The entire Apple Podcasts app will also get a redesign, as announced during the Spring Loaded event on April 20.

The premium Podcasts+ service will launch in May with several new shows only available to Podcasts+ subscribers. Along with receiving additional curation options and recommendations for subscribers in the redesigned app via Channels, Podcasts+ subscribers will also enjoy ad-free listening settings, early access to certain shows, and more, yet-to-be-announced features.

Read more