Welcome back to The Middle of Culture. This week, we take a deep dive into the state of entertainment in 2025. From the bleak outlook of upcoming movies and TV to the rare gems in music and video games, we break down what we’re anticipating with excitement and what we’re bracing for in disappointment.

Movies and TV

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning -- The only movie Peter is planning to see opening weekend

Superman: Legacy and Fantastic Four -- Will DC's latest reboot succeed? Will Marvel recover?

Disney's live-action remakes (Lilo and Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) -- Do we really need these?

Just how bad will Tron: Ares suck, and why is it all going to be Jared Leto's fault?

Daredevil Born Again -- The trailer has some promise, but will it deliver?

GQuuuuuuX -- A bizarre Gundam reimagining that might be brilliant or a disaster

Gaming

Avowed -- Will Obsidian continue its strong storytelling streak?

Doom: The Dark Ages -- Medieval DOOM? Yes, please

Claro Obscure Expedition 33 -- A turn-based RPG with an eerie, unique premise

Nintendo Switch 2 -- Worth it or just another console collecting dust?

Music

New albums from Spiritbox, Lacuna Coil, Testament, Mastodon, and more

The resurgence of Rebecca Black as a hyper-pop queen

Plus:

Eden's latest manga obsession Nichijou, weird food adventures, and why TikTok's vibes are now off

The increasing difficulty of finding things to truly look forward to in today's entertainment landscape

Join us for a candid, sometimes cynical, but always insightful look at what's ahead for pop culture in 2025.