Who is Wonder Man? | Maul, Masters of the Universe, God of War, Fable, and More!

Welcome to another episode of the Geek Freaks Podcast! In this session, hosts Frank and Jonathan dive deep into the psychology of fictional resistance, analyze the gritty evolution of a fan-favorite Sith, and discuss why the upcoming He-Man movie is embracing its vibrant roots.

Are we living in an Empire? Frank and Jonathan kick off the show by questioning our fascination with fictional rebellions. From the underground movements in The Handmaid's Tale and Star Trek to the reality-shattering resistance of The Matrix, we break down which groups actually stand a chance. We also provide a full reaction to the Maul: Shadow Lord trailer, exploring Dave Filoni's darker shift in Star Wars animation. Finally, we look at the meta-fantasy world of the new Masters of the Universe film and share our latest HBO watchlist recommendations including Hacks and The Pit.

• 00:00:00 – Intro, Question of the Week: Rebels in fiction we cheer for .

• 00:04:23 – Quick real-life check-in and keeping it together through a stressful news cycle .

• 00:05:08 – Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord trailer reaction and what the POV shift could mean .

• 00:11:13 – Masters of the Universe trailer talk, Jared Leto as Skeletor, tone, and first impressions .

• 00:16:29 – God of War series update: Cast talk, what fans should expect, and where the show could land.

• 00:22:05 – Fable showcase reaction: Humor, vibe, and why this reboot could work.

• 00:26:48 – Marvel's Wonder Man spotlight: Who he is, why he matters, and what the show might be going for.

• 00:39:58 – Release-week plan for Wonder Man and quick network updates.

• 00:42:48 – Weekly recommendations: Starfleet Academy, Hacks, and The Pit.

• 00:45:06 – Wrap-up.

• Effective Rebellion: Jonathan argues that "The Dawn" from The Handmaid's Tale is a superior rebel group due to their infiltration tactics, whereas the Maquis were too easily dismantled.

• The Maul Evolution: The upcoming Shadow Lord series aims for a darker, "Rated R" feel, focusing on Maul's pursuit of freedom through the criminal underworld rather than the Jedi/Sith binary.

• Critique of the Jedi: The hosts discuss how the Jedi Order often pursued "control" under the guise of "balance," making Maul's perspective more relatable to some viewers.

• Embracing the Vibrant: Unlike many "dark and gritty" reboots, the new Masters of the Universe is leaning into the colorful, fun, and meta aspects of the original 80s property.

• "When did we vote for the Empire? Why did we end up this way?" – Frank

• "The Dawn... they are so well embedded. They're very sneaky." – Jonathan

• "The Jedi Order is not perfect either... the balance they were pursuing was not balance. It was control." – Jonathan

• "Justice comes at the tip of a lightsaber." – Frank

If you enjoyed this deep dive, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode on social media and tell us who your favorite fictional rebel is using the hashtag #GeekFreaks.

Visit GeekFreaksPodcast.com for all the latest news, episode archives, and full articles on the topics discussed today. Geek Freaks Podcast is your primary source for all the geek culture news mentioned in our episodes.

Stay updated with the latest geek culture news and memes:

• Instagram: @GeekFreaksPodcast

• X (Twitter): @GeekFreaksPod

• TikTok: @GeekFreaksPodcast

We want to hear from you! Which upcoming movie trailer should we react to next? Send your questions or topic suggestions to our social media handles or via our website, and we might feature your question in our next "Quick Fix" episode!

Apple Podcast Tags: Star Wars, Darth Maul, Maul Shadow Lord, He-Man, Masters of the Universe, The Matrix, Rebels, Pop Culture, Geek News, Animation, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dave Filoni, Andor, Star Trek Maquis, HBO Hacks, The Pit HBO, Geek Freaks Podcast