AARGH! MY OPTICS!
40 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss 'pop culture', toys, cartoons, comics, films etc etc... predominantly but not exclusively related to The Transformers. Expect reviews, discussions, interviews, ramblings, ridiculous tangents and occasional silliness.
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Episodes
EP.33 - Transformers Robots in Disguise
March 11, 2024 00:00 - 2 hours - 131 MB[DISCUSSION] WE'RE BACK! After eleven months off and some deliberation over a topic Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia return to the podwaves to discuss a firm favourite of theirs.. Transformers Robots in Disguise! No not that one! Or that one! No the first one the one from 2001 the one that Hasbro essentially disowned for 20 years.. YES that one! YES we heard about the Haslab! YES Orion has a controversial opinion on it! Join us as we delve into the 'wacky' TV show and the random delight of a toy ...
EP.32 - Top Of The Bots 2023!
December 25, 2023 00:00 - 2 hours - 123 MB[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! What's this in the toe of you Christmas stocking? Why it's the third annual AARGH! MY OPTICS! Top Of The Bots Podcast! As is customary this time of year Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss the previous year.. Dave and Orion exchange presents and shoot the shit about 2023 and run down their favourite 5 action figures of the year, yeah that's right FIVE we shortened it so we could talk about other stuff is th...
EP.31 - Starcom
November 07, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 92.4 MB[DISCUSSION] ...And now for something completely different! Having grown a little tired of talking about a massively popular and long running toy line and media franchise, Orion Ghia retreats to a much less well remembered and far shorter lived toy line of his youth... Coleco's STARCOM. Join Orion as he takes Virtual Dave along for the ride! They discuss the cartoon, the toys, the reason it failed and lament a toy line that was, all told, is one of the great hidden gems of the 1980s. Credit...
EP.30 - TFNation 2023
August 21, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 73.3 MB[DISCUSSION] It's TFNation time again! This time Virtual Dave and Virtual Amy go (so Orion Ghia doesn't have too) and report back on their experience on UKs biggest and BEST Transformers convention! Hear 'live' updates from the con, custom made stings by it's guests and patrons and Orion quizzing them both on that actually happened the other weekend in Birmingham! A huge thank you to everyone Dave and Amy meet over the weekend, especially those who recorded 'stings' for us... we love you al...
EP.29 Spider-Verse (Part 2)
August 10, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MB[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Couldn't quite fit this all into one show, so here is part 2 of our deep dive into the Spider-verse movies. In this part Orion, Dave and special guest host Galactosh tell you what they really thought of Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse and do their version of a Spider-man movie hit parade! Tangents include, 90's comics, video games and of course... toys. Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia Guest Host: Galactosh Editing and Production: Orion Ghia Intro musi...
EP.29 Spider-Verse (Part 1)
August 06, 2023 07:31 - 1 hour - 95.4 MB[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] So Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse FINALLY came out. So we thought it was about time we FINNALLY get around to talking about Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse and it's sequel, cos we just haven't got the time to wait for the final one! Join Orion and Dave AND returning guest host Galactosh as we talk, Miles Morales, Spider-gwen, Peter B Parker, Spider-Ham etc etc as well how nonsensical Canon Events truly are. Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia Guest Host:...
EP.28 - Transformers Energon
June 19, 2023 23:00 - 2 hours - 113 MB[DISCUSSION] Way back in episode 16 we made a rod for our back by talking about Transformers Armada, the first in a trio of Transformers franchises that would become known as the Unicron Trilogy. Thus dooming ourselves to talk about the subsequent two parts.... and this is episode covers the much maligned second part of the trilogy... Transformers Energon! We discuss the show, the 'plot' the bad dubbing, the Japanese Superlink show, the terrible pacing, the lazy theme tune, the surprisingly ...
EP.27 - G.I. Joe The Movie
April 16, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 109 MB[DISCUSSION] YO JOE! In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together with guest host and friend of the podcast James “Soap Star” Donovan to talk G.I JOE! More specifically G.I. Joe the movie. Expect insane battle cries, itty bitty ditty bags, giant stick insects, men turning into reptiles and much much more! Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia Special Guest: James "Soap Star" Donovan Editing and Production: Orion Ghia Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime Outro Music: ...
EP.26 - A Conversation with David Wallace from TFNation
March 06, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 105 MB[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Hot on the heels of Simon Furman we have yet another 'Conversation with...' podcasts, this time in the guise of TFNation Event Planner and MC David Wallace! Having worked the UK's premier on Transformers convention TFNation since it's inception David chats with us about the convention, it's origin, how he got involved, what we have to look forward to from them this year as well as massive tangents on Hasbro, DC comics, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, various movies and h...
EP.25 - A Conversation with Simon Furman
January 30, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 88 MB[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Continuing our new series of 'Conversations with...' podcasts, Orion Ghia sits down with the daddy of Death's Head, the genesis of Jhiaxus, the progenitor of Primus, the mastermind of Marvel UK… the one and only Simon Furman! Arguably one of the most influential creators and certainly the most consistently present and prolific throughout the now almost 40 years of the franchise, Simon chats with Orion about his work on the Transformers comics from the original Marvel r...
EP.24 - Top Of The Bots 2022!
January 03, 2023 00:00 - 2 hours - 150 MB[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Happy New Year! In this very special festive episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss 2022. As part of their second annual Top of the Bots, Dave and Orion run down their favourite 10 action figures of the year, exchanging Christmas presents, share their highlights, Lowlights, disappointments, surprises, regrets and new years resolutions before hitting the pub! Featuring a special guest appearance from Virtual Amy and for...
EP.23 - XMAS PARTY! Arrival From Cybertron
December 20, 2022 00:00 - 2 hours - 135 MB[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Ho Ho Ho! And welcome to the AARGH! MY OPTICS! Christmas Party! Join Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and a full complement of guest hosts as they get a bit merry and discuss Transformers Arrival From Cybertron! AKA the cartoon mini-series that kicked off the franchise on TV known by most as More Than Meets The Eye (parts 1-3). We've invited Virtual Amy, Michael Quintesson AND Galactosh back into the studio for a few festive drinks and nibbles while we deconstruct this iconic pie...
EP.22 - Batman Mask of the Phantasm
November 22, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 105 MB[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] The topic of episode 22 of AARGH! MY OPTICS! was penciled in for the longest time and was recorded weeks before the tragic passing of Kevin Conroy. Now it serves as our tribute to the definitive on screen Batman. Featuring returning guest co-host Galactosh, our discussion of Batman Mask of the Phantasm covers the all the bases. From legendary voice actors to spolieriffic toys and everything in-between. Thank you Kevin, you were the the best goddamn Batman there ever has o...
EP.21 - Transformers Animated (part 2)
November 08, 2022 00:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MB[DISCUSSION] In Episode 21 Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss 2007's Transformers Animated! the often overlooked and underrated Transformers series and toyline that, for those in the know, is now a firm fan favourite. In part two of this bumper podcast we discuss the cancelation, what might have been season 4, the theme tune, the toys and other miscellaneous nonsense! Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia Editing and Production: Orion Ghia Intro music and stings: Oliver Prime O...
EP.21 - Transformers Animated (part 1)
October 24, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 109 MB[DISCUSSION] In Episode 21 Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss 2007's Transformers Animated! the often overlooked and underrated Transformers series and toyline that, for those in the know, is now a firm fan favourite. In part one of this bumper podcast we discuss the television series.... in excruciating depth! The plot, the characters, the voice actors and everything in-between. Part 2 will follow in a couple of weeks! Although it is be available in FULL on our Patreon https://www.patreon....
EP.20 - TFNation 2022
August 22, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 97.5 MB[DISCUSSION] Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and special guest host Virtual Amy all went to TFNation 2022 and they can't wait to tell you all about it in excruciating detail! TFNation is the UK's premier Transformers convention and it's been way for 2 years! Which explains our host's excitement over getting down to Birmingham and 'nerding out' with their 'people'. Hear about the panels, the dealers room, the guests, the getting lost in carparks and listen as Orion's misanthropy slowly melts. A hug...
EP.19 - A Conversation with James Roberts
July 17, 2022 23:00 - 2 hours - 110 MB[DISCUSSION/INTERVIEW] Due to some rather unbelievable friend of a friend nonsense, Superstar Transformers writer James Roberts takes 90 minutes or so to chat with Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia about his work on IDW Publishing's Transformers titles including fan favourites More Than Meets The Eye and Lost Light! Amazing right!? Amongst other things James talks to us about his writing, interactions with Hasbro, toys influenced by his work, 90's indie music and his love of the Marvel Transformer...
EP.18 - Top Of The Bots! Transformers Leaders
June 26, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 97.2 MB[TOP OF THE BOTS] In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia take a break from the 'heavy' researching that goes into AARGH! MY OPTICS! and simply wang on about our vacuous opinions on Transformers leaders by arbitrarily organising into a spurious hierarchy! Everyone likes a 'best of' list don't they? Dave and Orion run down they favourite 5 Transformers leaders from across the entire franchise, musing on what make a good or entertaining leader and how they've been best represented in toy f...
EP.17 - Marvel UK: Transformers 'City of Fear!'
May 26, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 93.9 MB[DISCUSSION] Do you like horror stories? The sort with zombies? Mad Scientists? Giant subterranean nuclear fission reactors? Spacefaring metal planets? If the answer is yes you should probably read issues 164 through 169 of the Marvel UK run of Transformers... and then come back here and listen to Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and returning guest Michael Quintesson talk about it for a bit! Starting with City of Fear and ending with Meltdown, we discuss this peculiar little story from the pages of...
EP.16 - Transformers Armada
April 18, 2022 23:00 - 2 hours - 116 MB[DISCUSSION] In Episode 16 of AARGH! MY OPTICS! We travel way back 20 year to the ancient times of 2002 as Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia revisit Transformers Armada! The line that heralded the true return to vehicle modes, Autobots, Deceptions, kid friendly gimmicks and play patterns and kicked of the Unicorn Trilogy, setting the direction for the franchise for the next five years. Join us as we talk Mini-cons, Powerlinks, Hotshots and irritating little kids as we do a deep dive into the show,...
EP.15 - Toy Collecting pt. 4: Goals and Finish Lines
March 21, 2022 00:00 - 1 hour - 76.4 MB[DISCUSSION] Part 4!? But wait, I though we'd finished talking about Toy Collecting? Nope! NEVER! In this episode Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia continue our series of episodes on Toy Collecting by delving deeper into discussing collecting goals, targets, limits, styles and what the ‘end game’ is, if there even is one, for toy collectors both in general and personally. This jolly little podcast covers such topics as thinking of ending it all and death, as well as our vey first 'Collectors Corne...
EP.14 - Spider-Man at the Movies
February 21, 2022 00:00 - 2 hours - 139 MB[DISCUSSION] You like Spider-man right? Of course you do! And I bet you have enjoyed at least on Spider-man movie right? Of course you have! So why not join Virtual Dave, Orion Ghia and special guest host Galac-tosh as we discuss the Spider-man's various live action outing on the silver screen. From Sam Raimi's 'trilogy' through the 'Amazing' Marc Webb years and right up to date with Tom Holland's version currently appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... we cover it all, our favourites...
EP.13 - Top Of The Bots 2021!
January 04, 2022 00:00 - 2 hours - 135 MB[TOTB/DISCUSSION] Happy New Year! In this very special festive episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia get together IN REAL LIFE and discuss 2021. Kicking off with the first annual Top of the Bots year in review, the lads run down their favourite 10 action figures of the year before exchanging Christmas presents and sharing their highlights, disappointments, surprises etc etc of 2021 and their hopes for 2022! Hear how Dave knocked Orion's most expensive figure off a cabinet!...
EP.12 - Transformers The Movie
December 07, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 103 MB[DISCUSSION/REVIEW] Merry Christmas everyone! What better to celebrate the season of goodwill than deep dive into a movie where Hasbro mercilessly kill off our heroes! YAY! Yes in this very special Xmas podcast we welcome back guest host Michael Quintesson to discuss THE definitive Transformers animated feature... Transformers The Movie! This is the big one, the one we've been building up to all year! The motherload of Transformers fandom. Orion Ghia, Virtual Dave and Michael Quintesson disc...
EP.11 - Ghostbusters! (Franchise)
November 09, 2021 00:00 - 2 hours - 119 MB[DISCUSSION] A podcast that isn't about Transformers? What!? Seriously!? This is commercial suicide surely? Lucky for AARGH! MY OPTICS! we have so few listeners losing a few wont matter much! YAY! With Halloween in the rear-view mirror and Ghostbuster Afterlife about to hit cinemas very soon, Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave take a break from Cybertron and transforming robots and turn their attention to New York and Ghost exterminators instead. They discuss the movies, the TV shows, the toys, the...
EP.10 - Toy Collecting pt. 3: Toy Displays
October 04, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 103 MB[DISCUSSION] Sooner than expected(?) it's part three in the AARGH! MY OPTICS! series of discussions on Toy Collecting. This one is on displaying our toys. What good is collecting toys if you can’t show them off? Many toy collectors put as much time, money and effort into displaying their toys as they do collecting them. Orion and Dave certainly do, and now they've put the best part of two hours into chatting about it. The least you could do is listen right? Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and...
EP.9 - Transformers War For Cybertron: Kingdom
September 08, 2021 23:00 - 2 hours - 138 MB[REVIEW] It's finally over! the Netflix War For Cybertron has reached it's conclusion in the final 6 episode mini season titled KINGDOM! Join Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia as they sift through the smoking remains of the latest Transformers TV show looking for something... ANYTHING good to say about it! Nah, it's not that bad but you'll only know what they really thought about it if you download this bumper length podcast and give it a listen. Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia E...
EP.8 - Transformers: Headmasters
August 08, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 84.4 MB[DISCUSSION] Welcome to a very special edition of AARGH! MY OPTICS! What’s so ‘very special’ about it? we hear you ask, well it’s special because we have a guest host! Yes, for the first (and hopefully not the last) time we’ve invited a friend of the podcast on to chew the fat with Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia. His name is (not) Michael Quintesson and he has a very special connection to Headmasters… which is fortunate given the topic of our discussion is just that! Join the THREE of them as t...
EP.8 - Transformers Headmasters
August 08, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 84.4 MB[DISCUSSION] Welcome to a very special edition of AARGH! MY OPTICS! What’s so ‘very special’ about it? we hear you ask, well it’s special because we have a guest host! Yes, for the first (and hopefully not the last) time we’ve invited a friend of the podcast on to chew the fat with Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia. His name is (not) Michael Quintesson and he has a very special connection to Headmasters… which is fortunate given the topic of our discussion is just that! Join the THREE of them as t...
EP.7 - Toy Collecting pt. 2: The Hunt!
July 06, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 101 MB[DISCUSSION] The long awaited second part in AARGH! MY OPTICS! series of discussions on Toy Collecting. In which Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss hunting down those ever elusive toys! Where do they hunt them? How do that catch them? What traps do they use and more importantly what traps to they fall into in the process? Toy hunting is almost as exciting and fraught with danger as owning them. Join Dave and Orion as they talk shopping, pre-ordering, box opening and much more super interest...
EP.6 - Planes, Trains and Alt-modes
June 07, 2021 06:10 - 1 hour - 84.7 MB[DISCUSSION] Outside of the obvious, why do Transformers transform? What is the purpose of an ‘alt-mode’? Dave and Orion get all philosophical on us and ask the big questions about Transformation and Alternate Modes like… Who came up with it first? The goodies or the baddies? What’s that noise all about? And do they see out of their windshields then? Or are their headlights their ’eyes’? How does that work? Are the Dinobot's alt-modes useless? Join us for an extra long episode of AARGH! MY O...
EP.5 - Top Of The Bots! Transformers Toy Lines
May 10, 2021 23:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB[TOTB] For it's fifth episode AARGH! MY OPTICS! tries something a bit different. In something they're calling Top Of The Bots Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia countdown they're top or bottom 3 favourite and least favourite Transformers toy lines. Expect surprising choices, confusion and occasional mild disagreement as our two hosts chat their way through their thoughts on Transformers toy lines through the ages, which ones do they treasure? Which ones do they trash? There's only one way to find o...
EP.4 - Transformers: Bumblebee (2018)
April 27, 2021 22:17 - 1 hour - 71.1 MB[REVIEW] We have our reviewing hats back on, and this time it's one of those bloody awful live action movies! Sadist Virtual Dave inflicts 2018's Bumblebee upon Orion Ghia triggering his PTSD from that time he totally lost faith in the franchise... but it's not all bad! Tune in to hear the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lad's thoughts on a touching story about a teenage Smiths fan and her mute robot/car boyfriend. They laugh, they cry, they get important details completely wrong and Orion Ghia storms out...
EP.4 - Transformers: Bumblebee (2018 movie)
April 27, 2021 22:17 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBREVIEW. We have our reviewing hats back on, and this time it's one of those bloody awful live action movies! Sadist Virtual Dave inflicts 2018's Bumblebee upon Orion Ghia triggering his PTSD from that time he totally lost faith in the franchise... but it's not all bad! Tune in to hear the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lad's thoughts on a touching story about a teenage Smiths fan and her mute robot/car boyfriend. They laugh, they cry, they get important details completely wrong and Orion Ghia storms out ...
EP.4 - Transformers: Bumblebee (2018 Movie)
April 27, 2021 22:17 - 1 hour - 71.1 MB[REVIEW] We have our reviewing hats back on, and this time it's one of those bloody awful live action movies! Sadist Virtual Dave inflicts 2018's Bumblebee upon Orion Ghia triggering his PTSD from that time he totally lost faith in the franchise... but it's not all bad! Tune in to hear the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lad's thoughts on a touching story about a teenage Smiths fan and her mute robot/car boyfriend. They laugh, they cry, they get important details completely wrong and Orion Ghia storms out...
EP.3 - Toy Collecting pt. 1: What and Why?
April 13, 2021 21:14 - 1 hour - 60.8 MB[DISCUSSION] The first part in a series of self-indulgent discussions from the AARGH! MY OPTICS! lads on their own toy collecting habits. Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia have a long meandering chin wag about what they collect, why they collect it and the rules them impose on themselves to prevent it spiralling horribly out of control. How did a fast food giant get Dave into toy collecting toys? Why has Orion given up on The Mandalorian twice!? Why does Dave need to keep buying Power Rangers when...
EP.2 - Transformers Beast Wars
March 22, 2021 12:19 - 1 hour - 124 MB[DISCUSSION] Welcome to the first discussion podcast from AARGH! MY OPTICS! No critique, no nonsensical ratings, just meandering jibber jabber about one of our favourite parts of the franchise, the now legendry 90s relaunch of Transformers... Beast Wars! The toys, the shows, the video games you totally forgot about.... we try (and likely fail) to cover it all. Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave reminisce about their first contact with the toys, chat about their favourite characters in the show, sp...
EP.2 - Transformers: Beast Wars
March 22, 2021 12:19 - 1 hour - 124 MB[DISCUSSION] Welcome to the first discussion podcast from AARGH! MY OPTICS! No critique, no nonsensical ratings, just meandering jibber jabber about one of our favourite parts of the franchise, the now legendry 90s relaunch of Transformers... Beast Wars! The toys, the shows, the video games you totally forgot about.... we try (and likely fail) to cover it all. Orion Ghia and Virtual Dave reminisce about their first contact with the toys, chat about their favourite characters in the show, sp...
EP.1 - Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise
March 01, 2021 14:57 - 57 minutes - 105 MB[REVIEW] In the very first (sorta) episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia discuss the recent Netflix animated mini series Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise! They sing its praises, bemoan it's short fallings, pat themselves on the backs for some of their predictions and have a jolly old time doing so... maybe you will too? Why not give it a listen, what have you got to lose!? Credits: Hosts: Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia Recording and editing: Orion Ghia Music and...
EP.0 - Transformers War For Cybertron: Siege
February 22, 2021 09:58 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MB[REVIEW] In this bonus episode of AARGH! MY OPTICS! Virtual Dave and Orion Ghia go over their thoughts on the Netflix animated mini series Transformers War For Cybertron: Siege, give it an arbitrary rating and give their spookily accurate/wildly inaccurate predictions for Transformers War For Cybertron: Earthrise based upon the trailer. What did they love? What did they hate? What were their highlights? What were their lowlights? Who cares!? We sincerely hope someone does! Credits: Hosts:...