Raven On Podcast

The legend had it coming... but was the skewering tasty enough? Nat & Stu are joined by pun-lovin' guest Scott to dissect "Robin Hood: Men in Tights", the 1993 Mel Brooks satire of the legendary outlaw. The team discus where this film sits in the Mel Brooks-verse, it's strengths and weaknesses, and what you could do in the early 90s that you probably wouldn't do now. Enjoy!

After years promising that one day they would sit down and podcast about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Nat & Stu finally do just that in this long-awaited for (by Nat, at least) instalment of "Robin On"! Sure, Kevin Costner doesn't have an English accent. But if you use that as your opening criticism of this brilliant film, prepare to be beaten over the head by Nat & Stu's enthusiasm for a spectacular adventure full of romance, action, and Alan Rickman being the absolute king of the drama queens. To be honest, we're surprised this podcast came in at 90 mins. They'll probably want to do a follow up with all the stuff they missed... enjoy!

With Robin Hood stories mostly relegated to TV screens in the 1980s, Nat & Stu jump ahead to 1991 to examine the first of TWO Robin Hood movies released in this year. Patrick Bergin pulls on the tights - or rather, the leather pants - in this British-made film that features a surprising number of familiar faces. Nat & Stu dive into the strange world of Robert Hode, his cross-dressing Maid Marian, a young David Morrissey, and the complete lack of a Sheriff of Nottingham. There are some weird choices in this movie, which results in some inevitable comparisons to the *other* Robin Hood film of '91, which we're sure you couldn't possible guess.

You could have smacked Nat & Stu over the head with a raven feather when they heard the news that HBO is developing a potential Jon Snow-focused Game of Thrones spin-off series. Of course, this required an emergency podcast to chat about the (virtually non-existent)details of the proposed show, the possibility of abs, and of course, the need for more Tormund Giantsbane. They also spiral off (surprise) into some other geeky territory including Doctor Who and James Bond. Enjoy!

Nat & Stu's trek through Sherwood Forest continues with 1976's "Robin and Marian". It's Sean Connery wearing a sack and showing his hairy bottom more than you'd probably expect; plus Audrey Hepburn making her return to the screen after 8 years and looking just as luminous as always. Your intrepid hosts deep dive into this more serious, thoughtful, even philosophical take on the Robin Hood legend, in which Robin and Marian are reunited after 20 years of Robin's adventuring - only to find his enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham is still sitting too close to home. There's reflections on ageing, pondering the end of this film, and of course, some hot portcullis action. Enjoy!

"History doesn't remember blood. It remembers names." And here are TWO names for you, friends, Natalie & Stu! Your Westerosi wizards are back to break down the newly released House of the Dragon teaser trailer. They intended to chat for 10 minutes, but it turned into 35, and honestly, are you surprised? It's NEW GAME OF THRONES PEOPLE.

What's this? An out-of-time special episode of Who's Raven On? Why yes! The BBC gave Doctor Who fans an Easter treat... although one might argue it wasn't the finest chocolate bunny in the shop. Still, new Who is new Who, and Who Better to join Nat & Stu than Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast? Strap yourselves in for a two hour deep dive into the Sea Devils and their.... plan? ...for world domination (hint: it involves water). There's talk of Dan's OTT pirate costume, the tease of Thasmin, and the mystifying mystery of what apparently makes Yas so great. Enjoy!

Finally, the Raven Bat anthology comes to a (at least for now) close with the latest installment... The Batman! Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast joins Nat and Stu for a very deep dive into this new Gotham City with its Vengeance Man and its clubs within clubs and its weird incel Zodiac wannabe bad guy. Also Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman. MWAH. Settle in with a snack or two and chill out with this immersive Gotham-y experience. Enjoy!

Slide into nostalgia with the latest episode of Robin On as Nat & Stu take a look back at the beloved 1974 Disney classic! London correspondent and Disney expert Tom Salinsky joins your intrepid hosts as they deep dive into the House of Mouse and why its first full animated feature is not perhaps as high quality as some of its previous - and subsequent - works. There's also a LOT of chat about furries, so, you know, strap on your suit and join us for some real talk.

Welcome to 1952, and is this the blandest man to ever don the green tights? It's a big call to make, but it seems to be the consensus as Nat & Stu dive into the 1952 Disney-RKO Robin Hood co-pro, shot in England. The good news is Peter Finch is in this film as an unsmiling and quietly furious Sheriff of Nottingham. He gets crushed by a drawbridge at the end, spoilers. Your erstwhile hosts get stuck into the plot differences between this and its 1938 predecessor, as well as strange inclusion of Allan a-Dale, the welcome inclusion of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the pantslessness of Little John. Enjoy!

Pull on your tights and get that feather in your cap - it's time to begin our life in Sherwood Forest! Nat & Stu return with another capsule movie recap series, and this time it's all things Robin Hood. While there are Robin Hood films BEFORE the 1938 classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood", there's no real point starting anywhere but this BANGER featuring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Your outlaw hosts discuss Errol Flynn as the epitome of "problematic fave", the joyous colour and sound of this Technicolour marvel, and how life on the run in Sherwood just seems like the best time ever. Enjoy!

WE'VE DONE IT... we've released the Snyder Cut! Well, the Snyder Cut-esque version of our podcast on Justice League, both the Whedon and Snyder varieties. Confused? You'll only get MORE so after listening to more than two hours of history, film critique and nostalgia. We're not kidding, stay tuned for Nat's tragic still living in the Nineties rants. Anyway, point is, we wanted to give this film/these films a go, and get a whole lot of bamboozled along the way. Definitely free free to listen in sections; or not, we won't be offended. Enjoy!

Secret password for this podcast is "Iron Man Sucks!" Yes, Natalie and Stu get a very welcome piece of absolute f***ing delight with The Lego Batman Movie. From Will Arnett's grisly tones as the Dark Knight, to the appearance of villains as obscure as the Condiment King, to the appearance of Robin and Babs Gordon - this movie is a damn joy. But where does it sit in the annals of Batman film history? Join Nat & Stu for effusive praise and meta-commentary.

Here we go, Batfans... the first appearance of Batfleck! After being let loose with Superman, director Zach Synder persuaded Warner Bros to let him create a sequel... basically so he could make a Batman movie. Nat & Stu grind their way through this often dour movie, brightened somewhat by Henry Cavill's pure beauty, and Gal Gadot's scene-stealing turn as Wonder Woman. Stay tuned to the end where they'll reveal what they're going to focus on once this Batman series is complete! Enjoy!

MMPFHFH! YUFSFU SUYFISHHF OIFNMMM SDISFLK! That's Bane saying "Welcome! It's time for The Dark Knight Rises!" in muffled mask voice. Yes, Nat & Stu have arrived at the final instalment in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, and they've brought superfan and magician Pete Booth along for the ride. Enjoy this thorough discussion of a film that has a lot of flaws, but surprisingly seems to stand up better than certainly Nat & Stu recollected. There's also lots of talk about magic on film, Gotham's strange city colours, and many impressions of Tom Hardy's theatrical take on Bane. Enjoy!

It's not the podcast you deserve... but it's the one you NEED. That's right, Nat & Stu are back for their deep dive into The Dark Knight. Along for the ride is Dan from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast, who wasn't initially a fan of this film. Has his opinion changed? Lots to chat about with this one, including the themes of terrorism and the shadows we cast; along with whether Maggie Gyllenhaal was a better Rachael Dawes then Katie Holmes, the tragic fall of Harvey Dent, and the sheer batshit wonder that is Heath Ledger's Joker. The Australian actor's untimely death also looms large over this entire film, and your intrepid podcasters go in to his legacy.

Welcome to 2022! Nat and Stu are back for another year of pop culture banter, and kicking off the New Year with the Doctor Who Eve of the Daleks special. In the spirit of making it a party, special guests Greg and Tom are back to throw in their two cents on this time loop episode. It turns out this was probably more enjoyable as a standalone than much of "The Floox" series, but as we'll find out, there are still some questionable elements. Enjoy!

We got the WHOLE FAM back together for the final episode of The Floox! Both Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast and Tom from the Best Pick Pod return to help Nat & Stu sum up the storyline and lessons learned from this six-episode adventure. There's a lot of confusion and a fair bit of frustration - mostly from Natalie when her jokes bomb. But also, everyone's a bit emotionally battered by Chris Chibnall, so if you are too, join us in the TARDIS (which apparently isn't sick anymore, even thought it was... oh never mind, just listen). Thank you so much for listening to this Who's Raven On podcast subsection - a special thank you to all of the Patrons over at patreon.com/girlclumsy

"What if Doctor Who but a seizure?" That's how special guest Tom Salinsky begins his take on The Flux, Episode 5 "Survivors of The Flux". Seizure indeed, as there's so much happening in this episode it'll make you spin - Yaz, Dan and Jericho trekking around Earth in 1904, the Doctor outside the universe with an old friend (enemy?) and Dot Cotton from Line of Duty jumping all over the place to start and stop UNIT. Tom and Stu have predictions for the final episode, and there's a bit of a chat about episodes gone by that really hit it out of the park, and what RTD might bring back. Enjoy!

SWEAR TO ME... that you'll listen to Nat & Stu as they jump cowl-first into the 2005 gritty reboot of the Batman movie franchise! It turns out it takes a bunch of British and Irish creatives to make this classic American comic book hero come to life. Liam Neeson gives off BTE (Big "Taken" Energy) plus Michael Caine is MVP as Alfred. Oh, and Katie Holmes and Morgan Freeman hold up the American end. Your gravelly-voiced hosts (they wish) dive into it all, so enjoy!