Zach & Tavie's Marvelous Adventure

Episode 15 – Daredevil – Season 1

Zach and Tavie stay television-focused in this one, as they enter the Netflix era of the street-level superheroes of New York City, starting off with Daredevil.  Join Matt Murdock, lawyer by day and costumed vigilante by night, as he works alongside Foggy Nelson and Karen page to bring down the criminal empire of The Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, and his various associates.  This is different, however, in that they tackle A FULL SEASON of 13 episodes.  Brace yourselves, as this is a big one. It’s a darker, grittier side of the MCU, and until recently, its canon status to the larger established world was debatable.  There’s violence and adult language and material aplenty in this one, hyper-focused on the neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen.  Still, there was plenty to discuss. Join our hosts as questions arise such as “How do they come up with these supervillain names?”, “Is scotch whiskey?”, “Is he using echo-location?”, “What non-Marvel comic characters does Daredevil share an origin with?”, “Is this show an example of a Surf Dracula situation?”, “Just what is a Black Sky?”,  “What does an MSNBC anchor have to do with all of this?”, “What’s the Police Academy connection?”, “What made Tavie’s jaw drop?”, “What made Zach look exasperated?”, “Which death got to Tavie the most?”, “Which character can’t Zach’s wife stand?”, “How DO you spell the name of the Jewish festival of lights?”, “Is that that same buoy sound effect AGAIN?”, and plenty of others. Plus, there is a SPOT THE STAN segment, albeit one a bit unusual compared to the average ones, as well as MARVEL TRIVIA that Zach specifically came up with, due to the lack of cards in his game.  However, there is no PENNY’S CORNER for this one, due to both the more mature material covered in the show, as well as her lack of real interest in seeing the whole season through.  All of that and so much more in this super-sized episode, so tune in! Produced & co-hosted by Zach Woliner & Tavie Phillips Featuring Penny Woliner Edited by Zach Woliner Theme music by Luis Humanoide Cover art by Chris Giarrusso

Episode 14 – Agent Carter – Episodes 1 & 2

We make our way back to the small screen and join Agent Peggy Carter in her continuing adventures since her well received One-Shot, which we previously discussed.  Hayley Atwell is back, once more showing that even a lady in 1946 can kick butt and take names, joined by names and faces old and new. Speaking of which, we learn a little more about the back-story of Howard Stark and his similarities to his future son.  Plus we get the all-too-spooky introduction of a character who is familiar yet new, Edwin Jarvis.  This episode covers so much, including Peggy’s multiple disguises, more fighting sexism, Tavie’s fondness for automats, massive ice cubes, orbs galore, Zach’s story of “meeting” Hayley at a convention, discussion of the early days of the internet, The Captain America Adventure Program, Chad Michael Murray, A BIG MUPPET TANGENT, and so much else. Plus looking into questions like “What is Leviathan?”, “How does this fit in the timeline in regards to the One-Shot?”, “How does that typewriter work?”, “How does that lipstick work?”, “What made Tavie go all Leo meme?”, “Where have I heard that sound before?”, “Is that Sarah’s profession or just a judgment of her lifestyle?”, “Won’t someone think of the fish?”, and several others. Additionally, though we are lacking in a SPOT THE STAN segment (as well as MARVEL TRIVIA), we do spot character actors aplenty, including James Urbaniak.  That and we do have a PENNY’S CORNER, so one out of three isn’t so bad.  Tune in and take a trip back in time with Zach and Tavie and see what they thought of the first two episodes of this action-adventure spy thriller. Produced & co-hosted by Zach Woliner & Tavie Phillips Featuring Penny Woliner Edited by Zach Woliner Theme music by Luis Humanoide Cover art by Chris Giarrusso

Episode 13 – Guardians Of The Galaxy

In this exciting installment, we go full sci-fi travel to various worlds (complete with matching title cards) across the galaxy and meet its new guardians.  That’s right, it’s Guardians Of The Galaxy!  We meet the unlikely team of heroes in James Gunn’s entry point into the MCU, Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and the immensely marketable pair of Rocket Raccoon and Groot, as they deal with the threat of Ronan and the new Infinity Stone that we’re introduced to.  Of course, on that note, we get to get more of Thanos ever before, as the MCU begins to truly establish him as the big bad he is. It’s a film seemingly MADE for Tavie, combining her fondness for sci-fi and her upbringing in the same era that young Peter grew up in while still on Earth.  It’s got a killer soundtrack, an early dual role in the MCU from an actor, Quill giving out Starkesque nicknames, a couple of “strong, butt-kicking women”, a moment ripped from Dragon Ball Z, unusual accent choices (in Tavie’s opinion), and the least likable Chris (who should definitely not have voiced Mario or Garfield, let alone both). Plus we dive into questions such as “Is there such a thing as a ‘nepo brother’ (also known as being ‘Clint Howarded’)? “, “What name did Tavie think was dumb?”, “What else was in the Collector’s cases?”, “What made Tavie tear up?”, “What made Tavie burst out laughing?”, “What’s Zach’s favorite type of Milano cookie?”, “Can you say ‘What a waste of Lee Pace’s face’ three times fast?”, “Do these characters have phone numbers?”, and plenty of others. All of this, our usual segments of SPOT THE STAN, MARVEL TRIVIA, and PENNY’S CORNER, and SO MUCH MORE!  Come and join us for an interstellar adventure to remember with this found family of misfits and other colorful characters from outer space! Produced & co-hosted by Zach Woliner & Tavie Phillips Featuring Penny Woliner Edited by Zach Woliner Theme music by Luis Humanoide Cover art by Chris Giarrusso

Episode 12 – Special The Fantastic Four: First Steps Check-In

It’s finally here!  The whole reason for this podcast’s existence!  To celebrate, Zach and Tavie recorded a special check-in before and after they each saw Pedro Pascal’s Marvel debut, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.  It’s Tavie’s very first Marvel Studios theatrical viewing experience!  How exciting! While a shorter installment than usual, lacking the regular segments of SPOT THE STAN, MARVEL TRIVIA, and PENNY’S CORNER, it’s still a very fun one, going over anticipation levels, cast, style, overall enjoyment, ties to the greater multiverse, as well as comparisons to the source material and prior live-action attempts at bringing Marvel’s First Family to life. What did Tavie think?  How was Pedro in the role?  Should it have been an origin story?  Was that cartoon real?  What was The Thing’s catch-phrase, again?  How will they tie in to the bigger picture of the MCU?  Has the Silver Surfer always been a lady?  Who’s Dr. Doom?  What was the name of the launch bay? All of this and plenty more in this culmination of our reason for being (until we actually do a full proper episode of it, down the line), being posted just days from the anniversary of learning Pedro would be in it, kicking off the chain of events that led us here. Produced & co-hosted by Zach Woliner & Tavie Phillips Featuring Penny Woliner Edited by Zach Woliner Theme music by Luis Humanoide Cover art by Chris Giarrusso

Episode 11 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier

It’s the second entry in the Captain America film series and one of the most highly-regarded films of the entire MCU, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  The Russo brothers’ inaugural installment within this shared universe brings some great espionage thriller vibes, not to mention some great shield action (as well as plenty of SHIELD action). We join a post-Avengers Steve Rogers as he continues to find his way in the modern world as a man out of time, now working alongside Nick Fury and SHIELD, Natasha Romanoff (aka The Black Widow), and new friend and partner, Sam Wilson (aka The Falcon).  Cap doesn’t always toe the line, however, questioning some of Fury’s methods, as they all soon become confronted with the Hydra rot from within and face off against the deadly and mysterious titular Winter Soldier. Join Zach & Tavie in their longest episode yet, with some fun discussion on this well-regarded superhero action film, including noting the male and female leads paired without forced romantic interest, the return of Bucky (as spoiled by Tavie’s co-workers), a betrayal from a character we were getting to know and live, not one, but two female characters in disguise, a new appearance from Senator Garry Schandling (as Tavie calls him), and perhaps the dumbest trivia card ever, and not just from within the podcast itself. All of this and exploring questions like “Is it called The River Potomac?”, “What does the J in Fury’s name stand for?”,  “Is that Gary Sinise?”, “Did Tavie spoil herself?”, “Could someone really shoot their arm through two straps on a shield as it shop up in mid-air?”, “What film criticism phrase does Zach hate?”, “Does anyone stay dead?”, “How could Zora’s algorithm ever predict that character’s life path?”, “Would Tavie’s dad be a threat to Hydra?”, “How did he know to stand right there in the road?”, “How did he get the shield back?”, and plenty of others. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the standard segments of SPOT THE STAN, MARVEL TRIVIA, and PENNY’S CORNER.  For all of that and a whole lot more to this exciting episode! *Yes, I know Spider-Man is a male character and that it’s Ezekiel 25:17.  Slip-ups happen. Produced & co-hosted by Zach Woliner & Tavie Phillips Featuring Penny Woliner Edited by Zach Woliner Theme music by Luis Humanoide Cover art by Chris Giarrusso