Ant-Man (2015) - S16 E123

We’re back for a brand-new season of Shoot the Hostage, and Dan has officially established a theme that Sarah finds entirely hypocritical: “Size Doesn’t Matter.” To kick things off, we’re looking at a cinema entry where scale is quite literally the only thing that matters, Ant-Man (2015).

This episode marks our first full-length dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically during the era before the quality dropped off a cliff. We spend a fair amount of time sifting through the wreckage of Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man, debating whether his standalone vision would have been superior to the more by the numbers heist-lite movie we ended up with. We also attempt to make sense of the shrinking technology, though we eventually conclude that the quantum realm is mostly just the place Marvel writers smash two words together to make it sound real.

What to expect from this episode:

A breakdown of why Dan’s “Size Doesn’t Matter” theme is fundamentally ironic given the film choices.

The reason why Thomas the Tank Engine was legally required to keep smiling while crushing a police car.

A mourning period for the Edgar Wright Ant-Man we’ll never get to see.

Misplaced optimism over the possibility of quantum immortality eventually propelling us into the reality where Edgar Wright did direct Ant-Man.

The scientific realisation that “Quantum” is just a prefix Marvel uses to make magic sound like physics.

Appreciation for the innate charisma of Paul Rudd.

Recognition for a suit well-tailored.

The reason why Michael Douglas’s wig in Endgame was for more distracting than any de-aging effects.

This season has eight episodes, concluding September 21st