Nerd To Know Basis #290 🤓: Mandalorian & Grogu, The Backrooms, Spider-Noir & Remembering Anthony Stewart Head

📅 Air Date: 05-06-26 📻 Broadcast on Phoenix 92.5 FM This week on Nerd To Know Basis, Cian and Darragh begin on a more reflective note as they pay tribute to several beloved figures from film, television, comics and voice acting who passed away during the week. The discussion opens with the news of the passing of Anthony Stewart Head & acclaimed graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi, whose groundbreaking autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis. Switching gears, Darragh finally delivers his long-awaited review of The Mandalorian & Grogu. While he argues the film never truly justifies its existence as a theatrical release, he also pushes back against some of the harsher online criticism. The show then turns to one of the year's most surprising success stories: The Backrooms. Based on the internet horror phenomenon, the film represents one of the first major attempts to successfully adapt a modern online mythology for mainstream audiences. Darragh explains why the movie's strange atmosphere, practical effects and commitment to its source material make it stand apart from previous internet-inspired adaptations such as Slender Man and Five Nights at Freddy's. The hosts explore how internet-native horror is beginning to develop into a legitimate filmmaking movement and why younger audiences have embraced it so enthusiastically. Finally, Cian delivers his full review of Spider-Noir starring Nicolas Cage. Set in a stylised Depression-era New York, the series follows an ageing Spider-Man working as a private investigator while navigating corruption, organised crime and familiar Spider-Man villains reimagined through a noir lens. The episode closes with a larger discussion about modern fandom, creative risk-taking, and why audiences continue to respond to projects created by people who genuinely love and understand the source material. 🎧 From Buffy and Persepolis to Spider-Man, Star Wars, internet horror and noir detectives . This is a packed episode about storytelling, legacy and the future of geek culture. ▶️ YouTube Chapters (Short & Punchy) 00:00 Welcome To The Show 00:45 Anthony Stewart Head Tribute 05:00 Giles, Buffy & Legacy 09:30 Remembering Marjane Satrapi 13:00 Persepolis & Maus Discussion 18:00 Mandalorian & Grogu Review 23:00 Is It Really A Movie? 28:00 Disney's Star Wars Problem 32:00 The Backrooms Review 36:00 Internet Horror Goes Mainstream 40:00 YouTubers Making Movies 43:00 Spider-Noir Review 47:00 Nicolas Cage Shines Again 50:00 Why Spider-Noir Works 52:00 Future Of Spider-Man TV 53:00 Show Outro 🎧 Spotify Timestamps 00:00 Phoenix FM introduction 00:45 Remembering Anthony Stewart Head 05:00 Buffy, Merlin and television legacy 09:30 Marjane Satrapi tribute 13:00 Persepolis and graphic novel discussion 18:00 The Mandalorian & Grogu review 23:00 Why it feels like a TV season 28:00 Disney Star Wars discussion 32:00 The Backrooms review 36:00 Internet horror and modern fandom 40:00 YouTube creators entering filmmaking 43:00 Spider-Noir full review 47:00 Nicolas Cage performance discussion 50:00 Spider-Man adaptations and noir storytelling 52:00 Future Spider-Man projects 53:00 Closing thoughts 🔗 Follow & Support 🌐 Website: nerdtoknowmedia.com 📺 YouTube: Nerd To Know Media 🐦 Darragh on X: @darraghwv 🎙️ Listen on Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud and Phoenix 92.5 FM #NerdToKnowBasis #AnthonyStewartHead #BuffyTheVampireSlayer #Persepolis #MarjaneSatrapi #TheMandalorianAndGrogu #StarWars #TheBackrooms #SpiderNoir #NicolasCage #SpiderMan #InternetHorror #Marvel #DisneyStarWars #GraphicNovels #Maus #PhoenixFM #Podcast #TVReview #MovieReview #GeekCulture #NerdCulture