Femsplaining Episode 1: Fantastic Four: First Steps is Fantastic, Actually

Welcome to the Femsplaining podcast blog, your new favorite place for honest, unfiltered pop culture commentary.

For their premiere episode, hosts Rae and Jenna Wrenn get into the nitty-gritty of the new Marvel film, Fantastic Four: First Steps. After years of MCU fatigue and lackluster comic book adaptations, Jenna and Rae were thrilled that this movie was the breath of fresh air the franchise needed. In fact, Jenna hadn't even seen a Marvel movie in theaters in years, having lost interest in the oversaturation and unexciting direction of the MCU. Rae outwardly admitted to having low expectations, with both hosts even wondering how the film would manage to make a massive and ancient classic comic villain like Galactus look believable.

Instead of a tired origin story, the movie drops us into the action four years after the Fantastic Four have already been a team, getting their origin story delivered through a clever, in-universe televised segment. This choice allows the audience to immediately see the team as seasoned heroes rather than fumbling newbies still figuring out their powers.

One of the biggest wins for Fantastic Four: First Steps, according to Rae and Jenna, is how it handles the team dynamic. They highlight that this isn't just “Reed's team.” Each character is brilliant in their own way and contributes to the team and their success. Sue is a great leader and the public face of the team, Ben is an exceptional pilot, and Johnny's quick-thinking and analysis skills are game-changers. Rae and Jenna especially loved that the film moves past outdated portrayals of Sue and Ben, in particular. Sue isn’t just the “Invisible Woman” who does exactly what her name suggests, but a powerful political and  team leader with offensive abilities that ultimately save the day. Her invisibility powers also are used in new and creative ways, such as cloaking the teams’ spaceship for protection or turning her pregnant belly transparent so the expectant parents can see their unborn baby in her womb. 

Similarly, Ben is a soft, vulnerable character, not just a “rock solid, tough” monster. Rae also praised the decision to make Ben's love interest, Rachel, not blind, which she found to be a dated trope.

“I know that people had their qualms about the Rachel character and how she's not the typical blind love interest [like in the comics]. And I liked that they made this character for the film because then it's like, cool, the woman doesn't have to be blind in order to love Ben,” Rae said. “She can see and be conscious like, ‘you have this mutation now, but I still see you as a person. I don't need to be blind in order to lean into the love is blind analogy.’ And I [thought], that's it's so dated.”

“I agree,” Jenna continued. “I think that the film definitely honed in on [Ben’s] just a guy. He's not The Thing. He's just so proud of himself. And, I really, really enjoyed that. And I just loved the interpretation.”

Both hosts were also captivated by the film's aesthetic, with  Rae calling it a "love letter to 1960s retro-futurism.” They gushed over the practical sets, the costuming—especially Sue's metallic-esque blue trench coat —and the subtle, yet purposeful, use of blue throughout every frame.

For more of Rae and Jenna's thoughts on Fantastic Four: First Steps, tune in to the series premiere of Femsplaining and subscribe for more pop culture geeking out on anywhere you stream your podcasts!