Utter Nerdsense

This weeks on Agents of Steranko, our Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD podcast, we are chatting episode 218 “Frenemy of My Enemy.” All the teams are converging as Skye and Cal head off for a road trip to his old stomping grounds. Coulson is making deals with Grant Ward, May needs Fury’s toolbox and Simmons isn’t happy with her solution, but Bobbi is leaning towards team Coulson as they all begin to realize the toolbox and the Inhuman’s might be important, but Hydra is still out there. This was a fun episode and we both were really happy to see all the teams come together for a fun matchup in Milwaukee. With all the focus on Inhumans and Coulson it has been easy to forget Hydra, but this episode did a good job of bringing them back into play. Finally, it is always great to see Brett Dalton back as former Agent Grant Ward. He brings something special to all his scenes, with an amazing growth of pathos after his Hydra turn last year. Check out the podcast below and show notes after the jump You can find all our shows a

In this weeks Happily Ever After, our Once Upon a Time podcast, we visit the roaring twenties and learn of Cruella De Vil's dark past and it's connection to the Author. Meanwhile Emma faces Cruella in Storybrooke and Gold's manipulation places her in a very dangerous place. We chat about all the implications of this weeks shocking ending and where Emma might go from here. This was an exciting, and quite dark episode that brought much of Gold's plan to fruition. The final scenes do not bode well for Emma, but we hope that her ever growing friendship with Regina and love of Hook might be the keys to carrying her through these tough times. We also chat a bit about Belle and what her scene at the well might mean. This was a great culmination of Gold's plan for Emma and sets the stage for a roaring finish to the season. Check out the podcast and show notes below. You can find all our shows at http://utternerdsense.com/ and follow us on twitter for updates @utternerdsense (https://twitter.com/utternerdsense). We ar

This weeks on Agents of Steranko, our Marvel's Agents of SHIELD podcast, we are chatting episode 217 "Melinda." We finally find out how Melinda May became known as The Cavalry and Mind Na Wen blows it out of the park with one of the most emotional performances the show has seen. Meanwhile Skye is finally getting answers, both about how her Inhuman powers work and another great emotional scene as she finally meets her mother, Jiaying. Chloe Bennett has been on a role all season, from her scenes with Brett Dalton's Grant Ward to her amazing growth as the first SHIELD member with powers. We both loved this episode and dive right in to chat about all the tie-ins this episode gave us. The Melinda flashback was well tied to the story of Jiaying, Skye and a darker vision of the Inhumans and Afterlife. We also found the scenes with Gordon and Raina surprisingly compelling and nuanced. A lot of ground is being laid in these last few episodes and "it's all tied together," as we will soon come up against Avengers: Age o

In this weeks Happily Ever After, our Once Upon a Time podcast, we leave Storybooke and visit New York City for some shocking revelations. With Robin Hood helping an injured Gold our stories crash into Oz as Zelena shows up and throws Regina, Robin and Gold's futures up in the air. We recap all the goings on in "Heart of Gold," and found this a nice change of pace. The Robin back-story connected in fun ways to the modern day, but the we thought the real hero was Will Scarlett who taught Robin what it takes to be a real hero. In New York City we were both blown away by the Zelena/Marion reveal. Not only was it surprising but it also set a new path for Regina that we hope leads to an amazing and emotional conclusion on this fast closing season. Check out the podcast below and show notes after the jump. You can find all our shows at http://utternerdsense.com/ and follow us on twitter for updates @utternerdsense (https://twitter.com/utternerdsense). We are also currently podcasting Marvel's Agents of SHIELD in ou

This weeks on Agents of Steranko, our Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD podcast, we are chatting episode 216 “Afterlife.” After last weeks takeover by Robert Gonzalez and his “real” SHIELD, Coulson is on the run and Skye has been whisked away by Gordon. In another great entry in this civil war storyline we found the drama at the playground continue with some great undercover work by Fitz and Simmon that led to a “tasty” ending we both enjoyed immensely. Meanwhile Coulson and Hunter were playing buddy-cop flick and added a much needed dose of humor as Coulson’s team seems to fall apart around them. Finally, we chat about Lincoln and the Inhumans of “Afterlife” including a few surprise guests, as Skye finally learns about her powers from those in the know.  You can find all our shows at http://utternerdsense.com/ and follow us on twitter for updates @utternerdsense (https://twitter.com/utternerdsense). We are also currently podcasting Once Upon a Time in our podcast Happily Ever Afterand recently finished up covering s

In this weeks Agents of Steranko, our Marvel's Agents of SHIELD podcast, we are chatting up Coulson and his team as Robert Gonzalez (Edward James Olmos) and his "real" SHIELD, led by our own Bobbi Morse, come in with guns, and gasses, blazing. We both loved episode 215 "One Door Closes" with it's amazing flashback to the final moments of Captain America: Winter Soldier. We finally find out why Bobbi and Mack have been spying on Coulson, and the answers are more complex and more understandable than we thought. At the heart of the split loyalties lies Nick Fury and his secrets, but we feel the real dividing line is Skye and her Inhuman powers. Coulson's own team has been split on how to deal with her new-found gifts, but it seems that Simmons has finally turned the corner and we were blown away by the amazing scene she had with Bobbi. Overall, this season and this storyline is bringing some of the most complex and morally challenging stories on any superhero show and we can't wait for more.   You can find all o

In this weeks Happily Ever After, our Once Upon a Time podcast, we chat about the myriad of answers our favorite fairy tales characters gave us. Not only do we find out who the Author is, but how the book works and the dark secret Snow and Charming have been hiding is out in the open. This was a fun episode with a terrific flashback, well connected to the Storybooke story, and a suprising, welcome turn for Henry as he finally finds his feet in some of the best work he's done on the show to date. You can find all our shows at http://utternerdsense.com/ and follow us on twitter for updates @utternerdsense (https://twitter.com/utternerdsense). We are also currently podcasting Agents of SHIELD and just recently finished up covering season 2 of Sleepy Hollow. If you enjoyed the show, you can really help us out by leaving a review on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/utter-nerdsense/id955625598?mt=2). You can also find us individually on twitter, Jay is @dreamjae (https://twitter.com/dreamjae) & Matt

This weeks podcast for Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD finds us with mixed feelings. Episode 2.14 "Love in the Time of Hydra" dives into the "real" SHIELD, led by Robert Gonzalez (Edward James Olmos) with the help of undercover agents Bobbi and Mack. We finally get answers, and they aren't all good. There is a real split and both sides seem to have valid points, but secrets and lies rarely ever end well. While the fractured SHIELD drives much of the story, we also loved the villainous fun of Brett Dalton's Grant Ward. Along with General Talbot (Adrian Pasdar), this b-story provided a welcome break from the heavy drama in the SHIELD team. And neither we, nor Marvel are going to forget about Skye (Chloe Bennet) and her link to the greater Inhumans story they are telling. Skye might be the source of a lot of friction, but she's away from everyone and hanging out in a cabin that Steve Rogers once stayed at, and whether that's a good place or bad place for her isn't quite clear. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD airs Tuesday’s

We’ve got another episode of Happily Ever After, our Once Upon A Time podcast. It’s episode 4.16 “Poor Unfortunate Soul” and everyone is looking for the Author and their happy endings. The search starts with Pinocchio/August but Hook has a past with Ursula and we find out if villains can get their happy endings. Once Upon A Time airs Sunday’s 8/9c on ABC.

We’re chatting more Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD with episode 2.13 “One of Us”. Skye has been quaking and Maye's ex, Dr. Garners (Blaire Underwood) might be able to help. Meanwhile, Calvin Zabo (Kyle McLachlan) is putting together his own team of team of misfits and Bobbi and Mack's secret is finally revealed. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD airs Tuesday’s 8/9c on ABC.

We’re chatting more Once Upon A Time with episode 4.15 “Enter The Dragon”. Regina is going undercover with the Queens of Darkness, and they want Pinocchio. In the Enchanted Forest a young Evil Queen needs Maleficent to teach her, but the Queen of Dragons isn’t in the best of shapes. Once Upon A Time airs Sunday’s 8/9c on ABC.

We're chatting more Marvel's Agents of SHIELD with episode 2.12 "Who You Really Are". Skye is quaking and Fitz is helping while Lady Siff and a Kree warrior are on the hunt for the new Inhumans. Simmons has led the xenophobic charge so far, but she might be the least of Skye's concerns, not only are the Asgardians and Kree at her doorstep, but Coulson's entire team is cracking under the pressure. Marvel's Agents of SHIELD airs Tuesday's 8/9c on ABC.

We're chatting more Once Upon a Time, in this weeks podcast for episode 4.14, "Forgiven". Rumple is sneaking about town, and he needs Maleficent to get his happy ending. But Snow and Charming have a dark history with the dragon queen and they'll do anything to keep their secret from Emma. Meanwhile, Operation Mongoose is looking towards Pinocchio for some much needed help. Are happy endings fate or free-will? It sure looks like the heroes aren't always good, and the villains not always evil. Once Upon a Time airs Sundays on ABC 8/9c.

We are podcasting Once Upon a Time, and the Queens of Darkness are coming to Storybrooke. In the 2nd half premier, "Darkness on the Edge of Town" we find Rumple bringing the gang back together, voice stealing Ursula, eyebrow crazy Cruella deVil and dragon queen Maleficent. But Emma and the secrets of Snow and Charming might be the biggest threats of all. Once Upon a Time airs Sundays on ABC 8/9c.

Marvel's Agents of SHIELD is back with episode 2.11 "Aftershocks", and we are chatting about the big changes after last years mid-season finale. Skye and Raina are Inhumans, Calvin Zabo might be sipping the Mr. Hyde juice, Simmons and Fitz deal with the "alien" Inhumans in very different ways, and Coulson wants to strike a major blow to Hydra in retaliation for the death of Tripp. We really enjoyed this episode, which spent quite a bit of time on the ramification of the mid-season finale. Skye and Raina, but sadly not Tripp, survived the collapse of the Temple and Skye is now in quarantine. The best part of the Skye story was clearly Fitz, who not only helps Skye in the end, but is also ready to step in and help Mack, much like Mack did for Fitz earlier in the season. The Simmons storyline was hard to swallow as she began to freak out and use some really disturbing terms in relation to those with powers, including the Avengers. It was a good thing Fitz was there to balance this out, but it was a nasty directi

We’re chatting up the season 2 Sleepy Hollow finale, “Tempus Fugit”. We have tons of Abbie being awesome, Katrina showing her true colors, Ichabod with a cell phone, Ben Franklin and Grace Dixon! This finale was a total blast, and we have tons of clips to chat about. Check out the podcast and let us know what you thought about the finale. Show notes below.   We both loved the finale. Although I was worried going in about how they would treat Abbie in the time of slavery, she was in control of her actions throughout the episode. Her meeting with Grace Dixon was a real highlight and quite touching. It was nice to see Ichabod in the place of believing Abbie much like she had to in the premier episode. We also got to see nice recalls to the early Ichabod who was so confused by modern technology like cell phones (no less smart phones with those tricky “slide” directions). This was a beautiful episode. The opening battle scene was wonderfully shot and could have been pulled from any big budget film. The period loca

Sleepy Hollow didn't wait for the finale as episode 2.17 “The Awakening” shifted the entire playing field. Katrina, Henry and Irving all make dramatic turns. On this weeks podcast we chat up the new direction, a return to Abbie and Ichabod and a sadly difficult end leading into next weeks finale. Check it out, and show notes below. Wow. What a change in direction for Sleepy Hollow. We spend a bit of time talking about the silliness of Thomas Jefferson the week before, but spend most of our time on "The Awakening." We were both happy to see the new direction. Katrina is a perfect villain for the series and they did a nice job of providing her with legitimate, believable motivations (even if the entire shift has been quite abrupt between Katrina and Ichabod). It was sad, but unsurprising to see John Noble leave the show as Henry Parish (or Jeremy Crane). But hopefully they are opening the show to a coven centric show with Katrina as the main antagonist. At the same time, "The Awakening" quickly did away with th

Lines are drawn on this weeks Sleepy Hollow, episode 2.15 "Spellcaster." Loyalties are being tested as Katrina faces the cause of her failing magic, Henry finally comes out of hiding and Irving makes clear who's side he is on. Check out this weeks podcast as we talk the shifting alliances and the exciting changes coming as we race towards seasons end, with show notes below.   We both really enjoyed the direction Sleepy Hollow seems to be going in this episode. They seem to be drawing clear lines, and to our happy surprise it seems Katrina might be falling on the dark side. Given how she seemed to disrupt the chemistry between Abbie and Ichabod, it's thrilling to see them break her off from the witnesses. This episode, like last weeks "Kali Yuga" continued to make clear some of the ambiguities that have crept into the show of late. After his death and resurrection, we were unsure what side Frank Irving stood, but this week they made it crystal clear. This is certainly not good for our witnesses, who finally se

Changes are coming to Sleepy Hollow in episode 2.14, Kali Yuga. Abbie and Ichabod finally confront their fractured relationship, Hawley faces his past and Irving resolves his legal battles, but his troubles aren't over yet. Not if the look on Katrina's face to end the episode told us anything. With a shift in show direction, we chat about the renewed relationship of the witness, the loss of a character (at least for now), and where we think the show might be going. Check out the podcast and show notes below.   This was a mixed episode, more concerned with signaling the upcoming changes to the show than anything else. It is no news that the sophomore season of Sleepy Hollow hasn't hit the same magic of the first season. Episode 14, Kali Yuga, is the first episode in a new direction that we are told will focus more on the fun and chemistry of the cast and less on the mythology. We both felt this was a necessary episode in relation to Abbie and Ichabod. Much of the episode was spent airing the various barriers i

The witnesses split up in this weeks Sleepy Hollow, episode 2.13 Pittura Infamante. Ichabod and Katrina are on date-night while Abbie faces the return of Frank Irving. We chat about Michelle Trachtenberg as Abigail Adams, the case of the murderous painting and the tough decisions for Abbie.  This is the second episode after the dramatic winter finale and we are still waiting for some answers. Henry remains missing while Ichabod and Katrina spend some time renewing their troubled relationship. And while Irving is back, we still aren't sure what side he is on, and neither is Abbie. We had mixed feelings about this episode. The case of the murdered art restorer was fun and had some nice special effects. It was good to see Katrina play a more active role, but we were both confused about Abigail Adams age within the flashbacks. The mention of Katrina being her midwife for five children didn't seem to match up with either the age of the flashback Abigail, nor the very active life as a coven witch and spy for Katrin