The Ringer-Verse The Ringer

When the ringer-verse was first announced, I was apprehensive. I was afraid of change. I was such a die hard fan of binge mode that just the fact that it was over, it didn’t feel like that hole in my heart could be filled again. Little did I know that these two podcasts that shared the feed would become my favourite parts of the week, every week, and that the space I make in my weekly schedule and in my heart for all the people that talk on these shows and work on these shows is infinite. From the mint boys to Joanna to Arjuna (who was always there), every addition to the ringerverse family has just made the whole feed feel more wholesome, fun to listen to, and an enlightening experience. When Ben started showing up on pods, his own wit and knowledge felt instantly at home amongst everyone else. Now with Jessica joining the family, we get another different perspective and voice. I’m personally rooting for more mint boys content and content from Ben and Jessica (gaming pod!). I love when Van shows his generational knowledge and wisdom and dgaf attitude about his preferences. Charles, the salty dog Holmes needs to drop his critic act and appreciate the childlike wonder of the content that we are getting nowadays. It may not always be such a content gold mine like it is right now and we may miss these days when we’re all old like Van. With that being said, the midnight boys wouldn’t be who they are without Charles. From his moments of wisdom to times where he’s pulling the boys back down to earth because our optimism can sometimes be too sky high. Steve, it’s okay to like mainstream things my guy. We don’t always need to be clever with our drafts or opinions. But also, the other midnight boys need to stop sleeping on your takes. And Jomi. My guy. Sometimes us young guys need to do the homework and study up on history. It’s okay that we were born in the later 90s. Wisdom comes with time. If you knew all the things Van did, you wouldn’t lose a debate but he just has too many years on you still. Mallory Rubin has been my spirit animal when it comes to fandom just like her spirit animal is Ghost or maybe more realistically, Halo. She embodies the manic excitement and sheer happiness that we all feel being a part of these fandoms. She’s opened my eyes to a more compassionate way of reading and watching stories, that’s deepened my connection to everything I consume now. I love when you see those moments of her infecting Joanna with her positivity. And speaking of Joanna, there hasn’t been a member that fit in faster with all the different personalities around the ringerverse and the ringer podcast network in general. I feel an instant chemistry with everyone she pods with. she has this perspective on fandom that is simultaneously taking a step back and unbiased, and also fully immersed in these worlds and totally biased. I love Jo and Mal when they get to pod with the midnight boys, the contrast between the instant knee jerk reactions and the slowly well thought out opinions makes for great listens. My favourite crossover is of course Mal and Van. The energy they share together is so magnetic and the peacemaker pod reactions were a complete treat along with the Big rewatchables episode.

Do not listen to the midnight boys if you actually enjoy the content you watch and have fun watching it. Even if one or two of them like an episode/show they still end up criticizing and rewriting about 90% of the time. If you like being angry and don’t actually enjoy the shows you watch then this show is for you!

IT'S GREAT!