Thumb War

The finale of It: Welcome to Derry is here, and JD and Rachel have… thoughts. In this Thumb War episode, we recap and react to Episode 8 — a finale stuffed with Pennywise theatrics, confusing lore, magic solutions, timeline gymnastics, and zero interest in explaining itself. We debate what works, what absolutely doesn’t, and why filming this in Canada without Pennywise on skates should be a criminal offense. If you love horror vibes, messy finales, and yelling “WHY?” at your TV, this one’s for you. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes + bonus shows: http://bit.ly/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Thumb War, we revisit Bad Santa (2003) — Terry Zwigoff’s filthy, funny, and surprisingly tender Christmas classic. Jason & Rachel dig into the Director’s Cut vs the Theatrical version, studio interference, and why Billy Bob Thornton’s Willie T. Soke somehow becomes one of the strangest “found family” characters in holiday movie history. Along the way, we celebrate: Bernie Mac & John Ritter’s perfect comic chemistry Zwigoff’s anti-sentimental worldview Why this movie still works — and why it probably wouldn’t get made today A holiday staple in this house. Not safe for work. Definitely not safe for kids. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes + bonus shows: http://bit.ly/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Thumb War, we’re deep into Stranger Things Season 5, breaking down Episodes 3 and 4 — The Turnbow Trap and The Sorcerer. We talk Frank Darabont’s direction, the Upside Down’s increasingly flexible rules, Hopper going full action hero, and whether the show’s massive cast is finally working against itself. Plus: Karen Wheeler MVP discourse, Joyce complaints, Erica chaos, and a few extremely dumb (but fun) theories. Spoilers throughout. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 7 Had Us Yelling at the TV | Welcome to Derry Review In this episode of Thumb War, we review Welcome to Derry Episode 7 (2025) — an hour of television that somehow delivers peak Pennywise and peak frustration at the same time. We talk: Why the Pennywise stage performance works so well Andy Muschietti’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it organ-grinder cameo The Black Spot fire, emotional shortcuts, and broken horror logic When tragedy feels earned… and when it absolutely doesn’t If you’re wondering whether Welcome to Derry is sticking the landing — or quietly falling apart — Episode 7 gives us plenty to argue about. Email us → [email protected] Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes + bonus shows: http://bit.ly/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 6 of Welcome to Derry finally feels like the show hitting full stride. On this episode of Thumb War, we break down the darkest chapter yet — from Pennywise’s unsettling origin story to Ingrid’s role in feeding the horror beneath Derry. Jason and Rachel debate the black-and-white flashbacks, the show’s obsession with daddy issues, and whether this episode recontextualizes everything we’ve seen so far. If you’ve been waiting for Welcome to Derry to fully deliver on its promise, Episode 6 might be the turning point. Spoilers ahead for Episode 6. Email us → [email protected] Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes + bonus shows: http://bit.ly/44Mo8xU Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.