Def Rec

Jon McBrine

The definitive, slightly chaotic guide to the movies and shows you'll definitely recommend. Author, designer, and eccentric critic Jon McBrine breaks down screen media with comic-book heart and sci-fi flare.

  1. 23h ago ·  Video

    Best Distant Prequel TV Series Ever?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! Most prequels are pointless, and the distant ones are the worst of all — a prequel set decades or centuries before the main show is a recipe for boredom. So which distant prequel TV series actually works? Three picks: Dune: Prophecy, set 10,000 years before Paul Atreides, House of the Dragon, 200 years before Game of Thrones, and Krypton, Superman's grandfather Seg-El on the doomed planet. CHAPTERS 0:00 The hook: top three distant prequel series 0:27 The prequel problem 3:40 Dune: Prophecy 7:53 Reason to Rec: Dune: Prophecy 8:14 House of the Dragon 10:13 Reason to Rec: House of the Dragon 10:44 Krypton 13:41 Reason to Rec: Krypton 14:16 The verdict 14:49 Like and subscribe Get a free story: https://jonmcbrine.com/newsletter New subscribers get a free digital copy of "Avenge Her," a prequel to my YA sci-fi series. My books: https://jonmcbrine.com Def Rec podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz Let's connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/jon_mcbrine_author Threads: https://threads.com/jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jon_mcbrine_author X: https://x.com/jon_mcbrine Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor  Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    Best Distant Prequel TV Series Ever?

  2. Oct 27 ·  Video

    Make Heroes Happy Again

    Send feedback and recs of your own! Can a hero be happy? Belated sequels keep bringing back our favorite heroes — just to put them through the wringer. On this Def Rec, three belated sequels that rained garbage all over their legends get the verdict: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, The Flash, and the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Which one is actually worth watching? CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: Luke's "I will never train another generation of Jedi" 0:06 The Def Rec premise 0:21 Can a hero be happy? 0:43 Honorable mention: the Die Hard sequels 1:09 Smallville's Clark gets it right 1:24 Creating conflict is standard 1:38 Make heroes happy again 1:46 Harrison Ford got it twice 1:51 The Star Wars sequel trilogy misfire 2:52 The top three movies that rain on our heroes 3:01 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 3:21 Reason to Rec: Dial of Destiny 3:30 The Flash 3:47 Reason to Rec: The Flash 3:54 The Star Wars sequel trilogy 4:15 Reason to Rec: the sequel trilogy 4:31 Def Rec: the #1 pick 4:47 The Flash is the pick 4:59 Like, subscribe & follow BOOKS Jon McBrine's Eric Icarus YA sci-fi series: https://jonmcbrine.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-McBrine/author/B0C9Z3MPTT DEF REC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonmcbrine Full Def Rec playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz FOLLOW Substack: https://jonmcbrineauthor.substack.com Blog: https://defrecblog.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://tumblr.com/jon-mcbrine-author Instagram & Threads: @jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor X: https://x.com/jon_mcbrine Medium: @jonmcbrine Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    Make Heroes Happy Again

  3. Oct 22 ·  Video

    What's the best "The Movie" ever made? F1 vs MST3K vs Hot Dog — which took the top spot?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! What's better than an episode of your favorite TV series? A movie based on your favorite TV series — helpfully labeled "The Movie" so there's no confusion about an adaptation or just what they are! On this Def Rec, three films that put it right in the title get the verdict: F1: The Movie, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie, and Hot Dog... The Movie. Which one is best "The Movie"? CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: the rules of the Chinese Downhill 0:04 The Def Rec premise 0:22 Why TV shows add "The Movie" to the title 2:50 The three best "The Movie" movies 2:57 Honorable mentions 3:16 F1: The Movie (2025) 4:38 Reason to Rec: the F1 verdict 5:10 Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) 6:54 Reason to Rec: the MST3K verdict 7:16 Hot Dog... The Movie (1984) 8:32 Reason to Rec: the Hot Dog verdict 8:45 Def Rec: the #1 pick 9:37 Like, subscribe & follow BOOKS Jon McBrine's Eric Icarus YA sci-fi series: https://jonmcbrine.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-McBrine/author/B0C9Z3MPTT DEF REC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonmcbrine Full Def Rec playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz FOLLOW Substack: https://jonmcbrineauthor.substack.com Blog: https://defrecblog.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://tumblr.com/jon-mcbrine-author Instagram & Threads: @jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author X: @jon_mcbrine Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Medium: @jonmcbrine Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    What's the best "The Movie" ever made? F1 vs MST3K vs Hot Dog — which took the top spot?

  4. Oct 14 ·  Video

    What Is the Best "Series" Ever?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! From The Odd Couple to Stargate, turning hit movies into TV shows is a grand Hollywood tradition — but most of them don't survive. On this Def Rec, three shows that added "The Series" to their title get the verdict: Tremors, RoboCop, and Highlander. Which one actually earned the top spot? CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold open: "I am Duncan MacLeod..." 0:03 The Def Rec premise 0:27 Why some movies become TV shows 1:48 The three best "The Series" shows 1:59 Honorable mentions 2:19 #3 - Tremors: The Series (2003) 3:25 Reason to Rec: the Tremors verdict 3:39 #2 - RoboCop: The Series (1994) 5:32 Reason to Rec: the RoboCop verdict 6:06 #1 - Highlander: The Series (1992) 9:07 Reason to Rec: the Highlander verdict 9:37 DefRec: the #1 pick 9:51 Like, subscribe & follow BOOKS Jon McBrine's Eric Icarus YA sci-fi series: https://jonmcbrine.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-McBrine/author/B0C9Z3MPTT DEF REC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonmcbrine Full Def Rec playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz FOLLOW Substack: https://jonmcbrineauthor.substack.com Blog: https://defrecblog.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://tumblr.com/jon-mcbrine-author Instagram & Threads: @jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Medium: @jonmcbrine Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    What Is the Best "Series" Ever?

  5. Oct 7 ·  Video

    Unpassing the Torch

    Send feedback and recs of your own! Some franchises pass the torch to a new hero and stick the landing. Others fumble it so badly the flame goes out. On this Def Rec, three legacy sequels that tried to hand off the franchise get the verdict: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Which torch-passing actually worked? CHAPTERS 0:00 The Def Rec premise 0:29 Why franchises keep passing the torch 1:43 Torch-passings that worked: Creed, Jurassic World, Maverick 3:46 The three movies that unpass the torch 3:53 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) 6:49 Reason to Rec: the Crystal Skull verdict 7:08 A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) 10:14 Reason to Rec: the Die Hard verdict 10:30 The Dark Knight Rises (2012) 14:32 Reason to Rec: the top pick 15:18 Like, subscribe & follow BOOKS Jon McBrine's Eric Icarus YA sci-fi series: https://jonmcbrine.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-McBrine/author/B0C9Z3MPTT DEF REC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonmcbrine Full Def Rec playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz FOLLOW Substack: https://jonmcbrineauthor.substack.com Blog: https://defrecblog.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://tumblr.com/jon-mcbrine-author Instagram & Threads: @jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Medium: @jonmcbrine Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    Unpassing the Torch

  6. Sep 30 ·  Video

    What Is the Best Belated Sequel Ever Made?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! Some sequels arrive a decade late and still stick the landing. Others should have stayed in the vault. On this Def Rec, three belated sequels get the verdict: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), Psycho II (1983), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Which one was actually worth the wait? CHAPTERS 0:00 The Def Rec premise 0:24 Better late than never, or better never late at all? 1:20 Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) 4:16 Reason to Rec: the Bill & Ted verdict 4:33 Psycho II (1983) 7:06 Reason to Rec: the Psycho II verdict 7:13 Top Gun: Maverick (2022) 9:28 Reason to Rec: the top pick 9:53 Like, subscribe & follow BOOKS Jon McBrine's Eric Icarus YA sci-fi series: https://jonmcbrine.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-McBrine/author/B0C9Z3MPTT DEF REC Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/def-rec/id6810310255 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jonmcbrine Full Def Rec playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ9I6GUGChJA&si=RpQNw7G0zarRK3Tz FOLLOW Substack: https://jonmcbrineauthor.substack.com Blogger: https://defrecblog.blogspot.com Tumblr: https://tumblr.com/jon-mcbrine-author Instagram & Threads: @jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: @jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Medium: @jonmcbrine Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    What Is the Best Belated Sequel Ever Made?

  7. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Why Do So Many Sequels Just Add an "S"?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! “S” is more - When Hollywood runs out of sequel ideas, studios turn to the best letter ever - "S." Sci-fi author Jon McBrine tackles pluralized movie sequels: Adrien Brody's philosophical warfare in Predators, Rings accidentally curing insomnia, and Glenn Powell's unexpectedly fun storm-chasing cash grab Twisters. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Def Rec premise 0:24 Why do sequels just add an "S"? 1:58 Predators (2010) 3:43 Reason to Rec: the Predators verdict 4:00 Rings (2017) 5:46 Reason to Rec: the Rings verdict 6:00 Twisters (2024) 7:30 Reason to Rec: the Twisters verdict 7:44 Like, subscribe & follow 8:00 Reason to Rec: the top pick Get a free story: jonmcbrine.com/newsletter New subscribers get a free digital copy of "Avenge Her," a prequel to my YA sci-fi series. My books: jonmcbrine.com Let's connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/jon_mcbrine_author Threads: https://threads.com/jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    Why Do So Many Sequels Just Add an "S"?

  8. Sep 21 ·  Video

    The Greatest “The” Movie Ever Made?

    Send feedback and recs of your own! What is the ultimate secret weapon for Hollywood execs running out of ideas? It isn't bigger budgets or CGI explosions—it’s adding a simple, aggressive, three-letter word to the title. In this episode of Def Rec, self-certified internet-access pop culture authority Jon McBrine breaks down the bizarre cinematic trend of slapping "THE" onto sequels, soft reboots, and franchise course-corrections to make them instantly sound cooler. Why do so many sequels just add an "S"? Alien became Aliens — and Hollywood has been copying the trick ever since. Get a free story: https://jonmcbrine.com/newsletter New subscribers get a free digital copy of "Avenge Her," a prequel to my YA sci-fi series. My books: https://jonmcbrine.com Let's connect: Instagram: https://instagram.com/jon_mcbrine_author Threads: https://threads.com/jon_mcbrine_author TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jon_mcbrine_author Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonmcbrine.bsky.social Facebook: https://facebook.com/jonmcbrineauthor Follow & Review: Leave a rating on your favorite podcast platform—it helps other movie nerds find the show.

    The Greatest “The” Movie Ever Made?
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About

The definitive, slightly chaotic guide to the movies and shows you'll definitely recommend. Author, designer, and eccentric critic Jon McBrine breaks down screen media with comic-book heart and sci-fi flare.

Information

  • Creator
    Jon McBrine
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jon McBrine
  • Show Website
    Def Rec