The Hive Mind: A Xenomorphing Podcast

Episode 26: Prey - Review and Discussion

Dave, Michael, Devan, and Mykal take an ill-fated trip to the Great Plains with some French trappers to discuss the fifth and latest installment in the "Predator" franchise, "Prey."  The crew talk about the many aspects of the prequel that they enjoyed, from the cinematography and soundtrack to the portrayal of the Predator and the acting, especially Amber Midthunder in the lead role as Naru.  They also talk about the very few aspects they thought could have been improved upon and what we could look forward to in a potential sequel.  This is a fantastic discussion about a film that has been getting many rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.  There are plenty of spoilers, so if you haven't seen Prey yet, we recommend watching it first before listening to this episode.  Thanks again as always for your continued support, and remember: "If it bleeds, we can kill it!" 

Episode 25: Alien Comic Books

Dave, Devan, Mykal, and special guest Brad Suedbeck head over to Sevastopol Station's Comics 'R' Us store to explore their love for comic books within the Alien franchise.  After talking about how they were initially introduced to comics, the crew spend time discussing Aliens: Genocide and several others, exploring the writing, art and illustration, and how they have contributed to the lore of the Alien series.  We think you'll really enjoy listening to these grunts chat about Alien comics, especially if you're a comic book fan as well.  Thanks as always for your listenership and support!  Stay frosty!

Episode 24: ”This is rumor control. Here are the facts.”

On an bug hunt mission to the Outer Rim, Dave, Michael, Devan, and Ryan take a quick repose to look at some recent announcements: The release of the official trailer the upcoming Predator prequel entitled "Prey," an in-development, top-down, squad-based, 3rd-person shooter Alien game called "Alien: Dark Descent," and finally "Pathogen," an upcoming DLC for the 2021 video game "Aliens: Fireteam Elite."  The Crew discuss their excitement for these upcoming entries into the Predator and Alien universes, and their hopes that they'll not only be enjoyable but also help continue to expand and improve the franchises as well.  Thank you once again for your listenership and support.  Stay frosty!

Episode 23: Alien 3, Part II - Characters

The Crew gather together to address rumor control and discuss the characters of Alien 3.  Dave, Michael, Devan, and Ryan explore the various convicts and crew members on Fiorina 161, focusing on which characters stuck out the most to them, their favorite moments among the prisoners, and how well the characters worked overall, following up on the iconic personalities from both Alien and Aliens.  This was a fun discussion as we continue our look back at Alien 3 on the 30 year anniversary of its release.  Thank you as always for listening.  Stay frosty!

Episode 22: Prometheus, Part II - ”There is nothing in the desert, and no man needs nothing.”

Dave and Devan meet up with special guest Clara Carija on the Prometheus' lifeboat to have some drinks and continue the discussion on the film, this time focusing on arguably one of the more iconic characters of the Alien franchise: the android David 8, played by Michael Fassbender.  The crew talk about what they enjoyed most about the character and Fassbender's performance, David's importance to the franchise, how his story was continued with Alien Covenant and the direction further movies or tv shows could go with his character.  We hope you enjoy this discussion.  Thank you so much again for your love and support.  Stay frosty!

Episode 21: William Gibson’s Alien III

Devan, Michael, and Ryan wear their best cyberpunk cosplay and discuss William Gibson's Alien 3 script, the first of many failed attempts by multiple writers during the film's tumultuous production process.  The crew talk about what they liked in the script, areas where it fell short, and whether it would've worked if 20th Century greenlit it into a feature length film.  They also discuss how studio interference, budget concerns, and lack of faith in the project in general ultimately contributed to the demise of the Gibson's attempt.  We hope you enjoy this episode as we continue our 30th anniversary celebration of Alien 3.  Thank you so much, once again, for your continued support.  Stay frosty! 

Episode 20: Prometheus, Part I - ”The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.”

David, Michael, Devan, and special guest Dave use the star maps from various archaeological cave drawings and travel to LV-223 to talk about and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2012 sort-of Alien prequel "Prometheus."  They discuss what they liked most about the film, what didn't work as well, the many cut and edited scenes that might have improved the film, and how their views of the film may have changed after 10 years.  They also talk a bit about how the 2017 sequel "Alien: Covenant" both succeeded and failed in following up on the narrative, characters, and themes contained in its predecessor.  This is a fun, vibrant discussion about a movie that, for better or worse, has left a lasting impression on many within the Alien fandom.  Once again, thank you so much for listening and supporting our show!  Stay frosty!

Episode 19: Alien 3, Part I - Development Hell

After an extended hypersleep, a fire in the cryogenic compartment forces Dave, Devan, and Ryan to Fiorina 161 where they discuss Alien 3, one of the most polarizing films in the Alien franchise, and one of the most troubled productions in cinematic history.  The crew talk about the development issues that occurred with the film early on, several early ideas that fell through, and the plethora of different writers and directors who were brought on board to try and create a follow up to the smash hit Aliens.  This is the first of many episodes this year discussing Alien 3 as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of its theatrical release.  Thank you for your patience and, as always, thank you so much for listening!  Stay frosty!

Episode 18: A Look Back at 2021 and a Look Forward to 2022

Dave, Devan, Michael, and Ryan head out to party with some Arcturians and celebrate the New Year by discussing the year that was and the year that is to come.  The crew talk about what they enjoyed most regarding the Alien franchise in 2021, and also reflect on what didn't go so well over the past year.  They also take a look at what's coming in 2022, and what they're most anticipating and hoping for in the new year.  We can't thank you enough for your listenership and support over this past year, and we can't wait to bring you more content in 2022 and beyond.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year from the Xenomorphing crew to all you amazing Hive Minders! 

Episode 17: Horror in the Alien Franchise

Dave, Michael, Devan, and Ryan escape in the Narcissus in terror as they discuss one of the most powerful and prevalent elements not only within the Alien franchise, but in many of the greatest stories ever told: Horror.  The crew dive into what draws them in most to horror, how the horror genre was used effectively in the Alien series, and what earlier fictional works helped inspire the filmmakers within the franchise.  They also talk about a few of the many horror films that were heavily influenced by Alien and Aliens, with varying levels of success, and give a few recommendations for the listeners.  We hope you have a great time listening to this latest episode!  Stay frosty and don't worry, they mostly come out at night...….mostly.