The ZONE Podcast: Nerdy News and Reviews
We, the Zealots of Nerd Entertainment (or the ZONE Alliance), are a group of eople talking about old and new movies, television shows, video games, and everything else in nerd/pop culture!
Episodes
409 episodes
Overlord: Why Ainz Ooal Gown Looks Like a Mastermind, Even When He’s Winging It
What if your guild’s last midnight became your first day as a ruler? We dive headfirst into Overlord’s twisted charm: a salaryman stuck as an undead monarch, a fortress of hyper-loyal guardians, and a world eager to mistake awkward improvisatio...
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1:43:37
Wizard 101: Is It Worth Your Time in 2025?
Dust off your spellbook—Wizard 101 just hit consoles, and we’re putting the nostalgia to the test. We talk through the thrill of slotting the right card, timing a big hit, and roaming Wizard City, then stack those warm memories against 2025 rea...
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40:48
Vampire Knight: Is It a Better Love Story Than Twilight?
A glittering academy at dusk. Rules that keep two worlds barely apart. One choice that keeps getting harder to make. We dive into Vampire Knight with clear eyes and sharper questions, exploring how romance, power, and tradition twist together a...
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1:18:22
Secrets of the Silent Witch: Villainous Nobles, Magical Mystery and a Bashful Genius
Dragons fall, rumors fly, and somehow the scariest battlefield is a tea party. We dive into Secrets of the Silent Witch and unpack why this “magic school” story trades big spells for quiet, clever moves—and why that choice works more often than...
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1:35:54
The Water Magician: How Innocence Evaporates When Magic Meets Consequence
A water mage asks for a quiet second chance and ends up inventing acid rain. That’s the kind of left turn that makes The Water Magician’s first season worth talking about, and we go deep on why it works. We start with the promise of an “easy li...
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1:26:50
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom: Politics and Power Creeping
Forget the overpowered hero who wins by swinging harder. We’re diving into a rare isekai that swaps power creep for policy, and the results are gripping. Realist Hero drops Soma into a bankrupt kingdom and asks him to do the most dangerous thin...
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1:08:24
Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt: Trigger’s Fallen Angels Return
The cult chaos of Panty & Stocking crashes back into our feeds, and we’re sorting the sparks from the smoke. We pull apart what made season one a nine-out-of-ten riot—cartoon shell, anime soul, and that iconic Anarchy cue—and why season two...
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55:55
Demon Lord Retry: When Your Reboot Needs a Reboot
What do you do when a show quietly erases its own first season? We dig into Demon Lord Retry and make the case for a rare watch order: skip straight to season two. From the opening minutes, we break down why the “continuation” acts like a do-ov...
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33:22
Turkey! Time to Strike: Bowling in the Sengoku Era
A glowing bowling ball, a flash of light, and five girls land in the Sengoku era—what starts as a cozy sports setup turns into a time-twisting story about fate, loyalty, and what “winning” really means. We dive into Turkey: Time to Strike with ...
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20:50
Kaiju No. 8 (Season 2): Cut Short, Not Cut Deep
The season sets a feast and then walks away from the table. We dive into Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 with equal parts excitement and frustration, unpacking why an 11-episode cutoff lands at the worst possible moment and how that choice blunts an other...
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39:36
Anime Lightning #3: Summer 2025
Sharp, fast, and full of curveballs—this lightning round sprints through six anime that all ask the same question in different ways: what happens when the “support” finally becomes the center? We start with a Dark Beast Lord who revives a hero,...
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34:53
My Bride is a Mermaid: Merfolk, Mafia, and a Rom-Com That Actually Lands
A mermaid saves a boy who can’t swim, and the law says someone must die—unless they marry. That’s the chaotic heart of My Bride Is a Mermaid, and we had way too much fun digging into how this rom‑com turns a deadly premise into pure comfort vie...
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1:04:19
Ouran High School Host Club: When Comedy Hides Tenderness
The first notes of “kiss, kiss, fall in love” still flip a switch. This solo deep dive revisits Ouran High School Host Club with fresh eyes and a full heart—why Haruhi’s grounded kindness cuts through the glitter, how Tamaki’s theatrics hide a ...
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21:04
Dan Da Dan (Season 2): Mecha, Kaiju and the Tragic Tale of Evil Eye
A cult that feeds a “snake god,” a child ghost with a world-ending grudge, and a mecha built out of a nanotech house—Dandadan season two refuses to color inside the lines, and we’re here for every chaotic, heartfelt turn. We trace the Keto fami...
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53:49
My Dress-Up Darling (Season 2): Group Cosplay, Love Confessions, and Taking Pride in Your Passions!
Ever feel the thrill of a perfect cosplay reveal… and the sting of a payoff that never lands? We dive deep into My Dress-Up Darling season two with honest affection and sharp critique, weighing the season’s gorgeous craft against an adaptation ...
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43:15
Sakamoto Days: From Legendary Assassin to Family Guy with a Convenience Store
A retired legend runs a quiet corner store, wears bulletproof glasses on roller coasters, and refuses to kill—even with a billion-yen bounty on his head. That’s the spark that powers Sakamoto Days, and we dive straight into why this action-come...
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40:44
Instant Death Ability: The Ultimate Power Fantasy
What happens when you give a sleepy, unbothered teenager the power to kill anything—and I mean anything—with a single thought? "My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered" answers this question with a fascinating twist on the isekai genre that ...
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1:08:22
Undead Unluck: When Bad Luck Meets Immortality, the Union Comes Calling
We dive into Undead Unluck, an action-comedy anime about Fuuko Izumo, an 18-year-old girl with an unluck ability that brings misfortune to anyone she touches, and Andy, an immortal man seeking the perfect death.• The unique premise pair...
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1:18:02
Go! Go! Loser Ranger (Season 2): Escalating Plots, Finding Purpose and Who's the Real Monsters?
Power corrupts, and absolute power transforms heroes into the very monsters they swore to destroy. Go Go Loser Ranger masterfully subverts the traditional tokusatsu genre by revealing a dark truth: the beloved Divine Dragon Rangers subjugated t...
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13:20
To Be Hero X: The Capitalism of Trust and Fear
Have you ever wondered what would happen if public belief could transform ordinary people into superheroes? To Be Hero X creates a mesmerizing world where faith becomes literal power, and the moment people stop believing in you, your abilities ...
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1:14:32
Wednesday (Season 2): A Continuation of Woe
The veil between worlds grows thinner as Wednesday Addams returns to Nevermore Academy for a sophomore season that's darker, more complex, and surprisingly emotional. Following her heroic defeat of Joseph Crackstone, Wednesday now faces a new m...
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1:39:02
Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: When Dragons Learn to Love Humans, Magic Happens
Dive into the magical world of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, where mythical creatures adopt human form and create an unconventional family that challenges our understanding of connection, belonging, and the everyday magic of human existence.
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Season 19
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Episode 8
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31:38
Invincible: The Brutal Truth Behind Heroes
The title "Invincible" becomes increasingly ironic as Mark Grayson faces devastating defeat after defeat in his journey as Earth's newest superhero. From the shocking revelation of his father's true nature to battles that leave him beaten to wi...
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Season 19
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Episode 7
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1:12:01
From Webs to Heartbeats: Exploring Spider-Man and Ironheart in the MCU
Playing catch-up with Marvel shows, focusing on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Ironheart while postponing Daredevil Born Again coverage. Both shows introduce fresh perspectives on familiar characters while connecting to the broader M...
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Season 19
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Episode 6
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12:01
Wind Breaker (Season 2): When Anime Hits Cruise Control
"Wind Breaker" Season 2 delivers a continuation that feels more like falling action than true progression, maintaining the gang-fighting formula but without significant evolution from the first season.• Season 2 picks up with N...
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Season 19
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Episode 5
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17:37