Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Middle of Culture! Your hosts, Peter and Eden, are here to dive into the world of pop culture, sci-fi, and everything in between. This week, we’re braving the cold and tackling a highly recommended novella that’s been on our TBR list for far too long.

What we are checking out:

Peter has been diving into some serious reading, tackling "The Lost Metal" from the Mistborn series and a nonfiction book on philosophy

Eden has been exploring new manga and video games, including finishing "Nichijou" and starting "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle"

A deep dive into "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes," a spiritual successor to the beloved Suikoden series, and its stunning HD 2D graphics

All Systems Red

We both share our initial thoughts on "All Systems Red," agreeing that it’s an enjoyable read but not necessarily a mind-blowing one

Discussion on the book’s cozy sci-fi reputation and appeal to fans of softer, quieter media

We dive into the book’s exploration of personhood, autonomy, and the dehumanization of cyborgs and AI

Eden brings up the interesting dynamic between Murderbot and the augmented human, and the implications of respectability politic

Both hosts express curiosity about the broader sociopolitical context of the series and the motivations of the antagonistic group

Speculation on how the TV adaptation will handle the casting and portrayal of Murderbot, especially regarding its degendered identity.

Wrap-Up:

Thank you for joining us on this journey through "All Systems Red." We hope you enjoyed our discussion and are as excited as we are to see how the Murderbot Diaries will be brought to life on screen. Stay tuned for our next episode, and as always, take care of yourselves!

Welcome back to The Middle of Culture. This week, we take a deep dive into the state of entertainment in 2025. From the bleak outlook of upcoming movies and TV to the rare gems in music and video games, we break down what we’re anticipating with excitement and what we’re bracing for in disappointment.

Movies and TV

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning -- The only movie Peter is planning to see opening weekend

Superman: Legacy and Fantastic Four -- Will DC's latest reboot succeed? Will Marvel recover?

Disney's live-action remakes (Lilo and Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) -- Do we really need these?

Just how bad will Tron: Ares suck, and why is it all going to be Jared Leto's fault?

Daredevil Born Again -- The trailer has some promise, but will it deliver?

GQuuuuuuX -- A bizarre Gundam reimagining that might be brilliant or a disaster

Gaming

Avowed -- Will Obsidian continue its strong storytelling streak?

Doom: The Dark Ages -- Medieval DOOM? Yes, please

Claro Obscure Expedition 33 -- A turn-based RPG with an eerie, unique premise

Nintendo Switch 2 -- Worth it or just another console collecting dust?

Music

New albums from Spiritbox, Lacuna Coil, Testament, Mastodon, and more

The resurgence of Rebecca Black as a hyper-pop queen

Plus:

Eden's latest manga obsession Nichijou, weird food adventures, and why TikTok's vibes are now off

The increasing difficulty of finding things to truly look forward to in today's entertainment landscape

Join us for a candid, sometimes cynical, but always insightful look at what's ahead for pop culture in 2025.

This Week on "The Middle of Culture": Return to The Matrix!

Twenty years after Neo and Trinity's supposed final chapter, we're diving deep into 2021's surprise sequel "The Matrix Resurrections." After weeks of defending the oft-maligned sequels, we're here to ask: Does this unexpected return stick the landing? (Spoiler: We might have some hot takes that'll surprise you!)

🎮 What We're Into:

- Eden's getting existential with the haunting manga "Girls' Last Tour" and battling through the God Eater series (even if the games aren't exactly masterpieces)

- Peter's finally ready to tackle Brandon Sanderson's "The Lost Metal" after refreshing his Mistborn knowledge

- Eden's still charmed by Andy Griffith's legal adventures in Matlock

- Peter's headbanging to new releases from The Halo Effect (nostalgic Gothenburg melodeath goodness) and Obscure Sphinx's first music in 7 years!

🎬 Matrix Resurrections Deep Dive:

- Why did Lana Wachowski return to The Matrix without her sister Lily?

- The fascinating meta-commentary on modern blockbusters (and why some "messy" moments might be intentionally so)

- Neo and Trinity's reunion: How their chemistry still lights up the screen

- Where does this fall in our Matrix rankings? (The answer might surprise you!)

Whether you loved it, hated it, or haven't seen it yet, our discussion might change how you view this ambitious return to the franchise that changed action movies forever.

Got thoughts? We'd love to hear them! Drop us a line at feedback@themiddleofculture.com

See you in two weeks, when we'll have more culture to dissect right from the middle! 🎙️