Kermode & Mayo’s Take

I was a longtime listener, and an OG subscriber to the “Takes” iteration of this show, so leaving this review makes me very sad: the show has become unlistenable. Kermode’s (and to a lesser extent Simon’s) rants about geopolitics in general and American politics in particular have rendered the show unlistenable. I say this as a progressive Democrat who is every bit as enraged as they are about the state of the world. But hearing what they think about the state of things is not why I listen to this movie review podcast. I listen to it for the movie reviews and the formerly pleasant “witterings.” You would think this would be obvious to the production team, but on top of increasingly dwelling on politics, they also now review fewer movies, even with a paid subscription for “extra takes.” This takes things from bad to worse, and I’m afraid for me it’s the end of what had been a truly glorious podcasting road.

I stopped listening (and donating) after their racist and political rant around the film Melania. Whilst I would never choose to watch that puff-piece documentary film myself, the vitriol and mis-informed carry-on made me stop listening immediately. We came here for film reviews and instead we are served with snarky comments of other countries and people who don’t align with their world view. I am sure you will continue to lose listeners the more you push your politics. We are here to escape and not to be reminded and talked down to. Genius move to attack the political choices of approximately 50% of your audience. I used to like you guys. Am so over it. Get off my lawn!!!!

I started listening to Mark and Simon more than 20 years ago when I emigrated from the UK. Over the majority of that time I barely missed a show or pod. Not just for the fabulously sharp reviews but for the feeling that these two incredibly likable friends were part of my life and an important connection to my home . So how incredibly disappointing that this stalwart has so declined. The energy and sharpness has been replaced by flabby reviews, disconnected and forced conversation and wall to wall ads. Sadly it’s now just dull and somewhat irrelevant.

As a subscriber I’m incredibly frustrated to have a random bonus episode from Jay Shetty on my feed every week that I cannot get rid of. Agree with previous comment about quality going downhill when the show isn’t live and when Mark and Simon aren’t in the same room anymore. Audio quality has also gone down considerably, get better microphone setups, this is a fixable problem. I definitely prefer to listen to the BBC episodes on a loop instead. HTJI.

They lost something when they moved from being live to being a podcast. They lost a lot more when they stopped recording together in-person. Now the show feels stilted; the naturalism and energy has gone, replaced with weaker reviews, missed cues, and, oh, yet another payment tier. Sad to say it, but I now prefer the episodes with guest critics more than the ones with Mark.