The Visitors Might Be Listening: Recent Episodes
Louis Ryan, Lars Emerson
Louis and Lars, two culture critics from The Postrider, take a look back at V, the sci-fi franchise from the 1980s. Each episode takes the viewer back to the wonder years of Network TV Miniseries events, and has the hosts determine whether what they're watching holds up as a cult classic or cultural artifact.
Matt Reeves, director of Cloverfield and The Batman, joins the Planet of the Apes franchise with this 2014 installment. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is without a doubt a new highpoint for the series. The amazing Andy Serkis returns as Caesar, with Toby Kebbell joining as the villainous ape Koba. A bevy of wonderful human actors also appear in this production, including Jason Clarke, Keri Russell, and Gary Oldman. The Visitors have almost nothing but praise for this movie, which goes even further than the previous film in reinvigorating this franchise for the 21st century. And speaking of this century, The Visitors pick the actors they'd like to see show up in the newest Ape film, coming in 2024. Download this episode so you can listen too!
Reboots are all the rage, or at least they were in 2011. Planet of the Apes gets another turn at the Reboot process with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It's a film that has aged remarkably well over the last decade plus. A large portion of the credit goes to Andy Serkis, who the Visitors will be praising a lot here and in the remaining episodes to come. There are also some other actors in here that end up getting outshined by a CGI chimp, including Logan Roy?!? Also, the Visitors recall some of the reboots and remakes that came out in the first decade of the 2000s. Take a spin down memory lane and download this episode now!
The Visitors have reached the halfway point of the second season! Mike and Louis discuss the trials and travails of Gordo and Tracy as they both deal with the "weight" of their life choices. The Russians are coming! They're already in Texas and hanging out with Danielle to discuss the film Space Buddies. Pam, Ellen, and Larry continue to take up valuable screen time. Gordo finds a new motivation and tells it to the mysterious Sam Cleveland, who we finally see in the flesh. Margo makes a friend in her Russian counterpart. All this and The Baldwins in this exciting episode.
Another week, another new episode of the Visitors! For All Mankind's second season continues with Danielle, Gordo, and Ed developing new motivations for returning to space. Adopted daughter Kelly decides what her top school is going to be, with dramatic results. Tracy ponders the emptiness and shallowness of her life as a famous millionaire astronaut, with dramatic results. Margo visits an old friend named Aleida and gives her a job. Ellen gets a letter in the mail from somebody named Pam. That can't be good. What did Louis and Mike think about all this? Listen and find out!
Zounds! The Visitors return from hypersleep to cover Season 2 of For All Mankind. See what changes occur as we jump ahead to the 1980s! I want my MTV, indeed. President Ronald Reagan is drawing a hard-line in space against the Soviets, and also John Lennon (?), but NOT the Pope! Gordo and Tracy deal with leading separate lives, and the difficulties of being Famous Astronauts. Ed Baldwin fights Michael Jackson and The Transformers on the Moon! Shudder as Mike and Louis can't remember the name of Don Draper's wife! All this and more in this exciting episode of the Visitors!
It’s the season finale of For All Mankind’s breakthrough first season. Louis and Mike are joined by Postrider CEO Lars Emerson to discuss the last two episodes of the season. Will Apollo 24 make it to the moon? Will Ed get to return to Earth? Afterwards, there is a freeform discussion of the show and the season overall. Topics discussed include favorite characters, highlights/lowlights, and what does the show say about the modern day.
Mike and Louis have reached the halfway point of the season. Apollo 15 has finally landed on the moon, and finally delivers on some outer space action. How much ice is there on the moon exactly, and will they be able to find any? Next, we jump forward two years with a new POTUS and a new lunar base. A shocking development on the launchpad will impact characters on Earth and the Moon. Lastly, Sparky gives his thoughts on DC's League of Super Pets!
Give the people what they want! Mike and Louis listened, which is why they talk about Bob Newhart and VHS tapes for 10 minutes. Eventually, they get into discussing For All Mankind. These two episodes are "The Dark Night of the Soul" for our main characters. Thrill as Gordo succumbs to Space Madness! Watch as everyone gathers around a brain-dead child at the hospital! Yawn as Aleida continues to be a part of the scenery! Finally, Sparky barks up the wrong tree.
In this episode, Nixon wants to follow the Soviets’ lead and land an American woman on the moon. NASA begins finding and training women astronauts. Two hours focusing on the feminine side of space travel help elevate the show from good to great. Mike and Louis elaborate on how and why that is. Also, Louis shares the story of the time he had lunch with an astronaut.
The Visitors return for a second exciting season! They head into bold new territory covering the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind. Joining the Visitors this season is new co-pilot Mike Lovito. Together, Louis and Mike will be doing a deep dive into the first two episodes of the exciting first season. They discuss the changes in this podcast's format this season as well as their decision to cover For All Mankind. Watch what happens when the Soviets manage to land on the Moon in 1969 instead of the USA. In the wake of the fallout, Nixon has his eyes set on Werner Von Braun. Afterwards, Louis and Mike discuss how this show compares to other 1960s set works like Mad Men.
Louis Ryan announces the new season of The Visitors Might Be Listening, in which he and Michael Lovito take a look at For All Mankind.
The end is here! The third and final part of V: The Final Battle! How does it all shake out? The Resistance vs. The Visitors! Mike & Juliet vs. Diana! Who will end up victorious? Will Earth survive? Afterwards, our dynamic duo discuss their overall thoughts on V and how it holds up in 2021.
Our daring duo finally come to an episode that neither of them has ever seen. What happens to Juliet while she is captive aboard the mothership? Who is this new member of the resistance, Ham Tyler, and how does he know Mike Donovan? What new lows will Daniel sink to this time? Find out in the brand new episode. Also, Louis takes Lars on a Behind the Scenes look at the writers and directors that took over for original V creator, Kenneth Johnson.
In this episode, Lars and Louis watch the first part of the sequel miniseries, V: The Final Battle. How will things fare without the steady hand of creator Kenneth Johnson? Which characters return and what new characters will arrive? Will the Resistance pull together or will the Visitors reign supreme. Will Mike Donovan's mom ever find true love? Find out in this exciting installment.
"There are two parts to every miniseries", as the old adage goes. And no less is true of V. Louis and Lars finish their discussion of the Original Miniseries. Shriek as Mike Donovan goes to and from the Mothership at his leisure! Cower as Robert Maxwell sells out his fellow resistance fighters! Flee in terror as Juliet learns how to be a leader! All this is discussed and more in our very special episode. Check it out!
Friendship is Universal! Louis and Lars begin their discussion of the V Franchise, starting with Part 1 of the original miniseries. They talk about the background of how the V series came about and the relevance it holds to today's geopolitical situation. Louis and Lars then go through their favorite moments of Part 1 of V. Afterwards, Louis tells Lars about some fun trivia facts about the miniseries.