Jan 2, 2026
Thomas and Frank look back on the movies and TV that defined their 2025, from why Superman hit so hard to how Marvel’s three-film run landed with Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and Captain America: Brave New World. They also talk about the stuff that disappointed them, why TV felt like it “won” this year, and the shows they could not stop thinking about, including IT: Welcome to Derry, Alien: Earth, and Andor.
To close it out, they shift into 2026 mode: what’s got them genuinely excited again, which upcoming releases feel like “event” movies, and how they want to evolve Challenge Accepted next year by being more personal and more present on social.
Timestamps and Topics
00:00 – Welcome back, what this
episode covers (2025 favorites + 2026 hype)
00:33 – Thomas check-in and the newborn update
01:32 – The baby’s first Marvel movie (yes, really)
03:31 – Quick run through the 2025 movie list
03:55 – Why Superman was
the movie of the year
04:02 – F1 as the
surprise hit
07:15 – What worked in Superman (comic-book storytelling and trusting the
audience)
10:56 – “I needed that movie this year”
11:03 – Marvel’s 2025 slate starts: Brave New World, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts
11:56 – Why Thunderbolts
is the one that felt different
18:12 – Sinners and the
hunger for original stories
22:25 – Weapons (and the
conversation spirals into other watchlist picks)
24:56 – K-Pop Demon
Hunters love and why it clicked
28:38 – Disappointments and missed watches, including
Star Trek: Section
31
30:24 – “TV shows dominate” and why this year proved
it
30:53 – TV highlights sprint: Welcome to Derry, Stranger Things, Daredevil, Alien:
Earth, and more
32:04 – Andor praise and
why the release format worked
35:01 – Frank’s top TV list: Chief of War, Paradise, Player
Base
36:03 – Alien: Earth
reactions (including the ending debate)
37:08 – Next year’s challenge (Fargo Season 4)
39:10 – Revisiting Marvel 2025: what each movie represents and what
Marvel should learn
41:33 – The big disappointment: Chair Company (plus Ironheart)
45:03 – Quick plug: Survivor
49 coverage and Survivor
50 excitement
46:11 – 2026 hype begins: Supergirl and the DCU momentum
50:02 – The Odyssey and
why it feels like an “event” movie
51:15 – Marvel needs to “earn” the hype again
52:51 – Hunger Games: Sunrise
on the Reaping and why it could be huge
53:16 – Rapid fire 2026 watchlist: Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Project Hail Mary, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
55:01 – Why seeing Spider-Man filmed “for people” matters
55:55 – The Mandalorian and
Grogu as a real theatrical Star Wars moment
57:54 – What they want to improve on Challenge Accepted next year
58:40 – Social media mindset: be natural, be present, stop
over-polishing
59:52 – Outro + how to send in your challenge
Key Takeaways
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Superman landed because it played like an actual comic-book story and trusted the audience to keep up.
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Marvel’s 2025 trio felt like three different “versions” of the brand, and Thunderbolts was the one that showed the most heart and restraint.
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Sinners is a great example of why original stories can still feel like a must-watch cultural moment.
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2025 was stacked for TV, and the list of standouts is honestly longer than most years’ movie lists.
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Andor remains the gold standard for prestige franchise storytelling, and the release strategy helped it stick.
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2026 looks like it could swing back to a movie-forward year with multiple “event” releases on the calendar.
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They want the show to feel more personal in 2026, including more natural social posts and more listener involvement.
Quotes
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“Talking about you, some of our favorite movies and shows from 2025 and what we’re hyped for in 2026.”
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“Yeah it was I needed that movie this year. Like I needed it.”
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“They gave a director a chance to tell their story.”
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“Right now, welcome to dairy. Holy cow. These last couple episodes have been so damn fire.”
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“It makes me cry that it’s the finale.”
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“You don’t necessarily need to make a polished post.”
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“It’s for people, not just, you know, for box office numbers.”
Call to Action
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Links and Resources
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Twitter: @CAPodcastLive
Listener Questions
Got a movie or show you want us to cover, or a challenge you want to throw at us? Email challengeacceptedgfx@gmail.com with your pick and why it’s worth the watch.
Apple Podcast Tags
Movies, TV, Pop Culture, 2025 Year in Review, 2026 Preview, DCU, Superman, Supergirl, Marvel, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, Captain America Brave New World, Andor, Stranger Things, IT Welcome to Derry, Alien Earth, The Odyssey, Spider-Man Brand New Day, The Mandalorian and Grogu