Overview of H3 Show #318 — “I Watched Hereditary For The 1st Time & I Have a Lot To Say”
This episode is a Halloween-season mix of spooky comedy, pop culture chatter, and a deep dive on Hereditary. Ethan returns after being sick, Hila is out of town, Gabe joins the studio in full “creepy woman behind you” mode, and the crew spends most of the episode riffing on current events, an Anson’s x Teddy Fresh chocolate collab, and Ethan’s first-time reaction to Ari Aster’s horror film.
Opening Bits, Absences, and Studio Energy
Ethan’s return and Hila’s absence
- Ethan says he’s feeling better after being sick.
- Hila is away due to a family emergency, and the crew sends her love.
- Gabe is back and immediately becomes part of the show’s haunted vibe.
Running gags and cold opens
- The episode opens with sponsor humor around Venmo and chocolate.
- There’s a prolonged bit about Ethan being “stuck in a coffin” for days while the others were “pretending to be him.”
- The crew leans into spooky visuals and Halloween styling throughout.
News, Pop Culture, and Side Topics
RFK, health shots, and press secretary drama
- The crew jokes about RFK-style skepticism while Ethan explains he got the flu and COVID shots at CVS.
- They discuss the firing of a White House press secretary after only five days, focusing on:
- her misleading claim that she was a lawyer,
- her awkward public speaking,
- and Trump’s surprisingly soft, image-conscious way of firing her.
Kelly Clarkson vs. the curiosity shop
- The crew revisits the Kelly Clarkson controversy involving a shop dispute over a mechanical bird.
- They debate whether Kelly was unfairly treated or whether she overreacted by blasting the store online.
- Ethan and Dan land on a mixed view:
- Kelly may have had a legitimate complaint,
- but posting it to millions of followers felt like an abuse of power.
- The store’s response, and the question of whether the item was actually for sale, is discussed at length.
Dodgers, sports, and Tesla nonsense
- The Dodgers’ loss is discussed sympathetically; Zach is bummed, but the crew gives the Brewers credit.
- The crew reacts to Tesla’s flashy “flying” Roadster demo:
- some think it looks cool,
- others think it’s absurd, unsafe, and basically a billionaire toy.
- The group jokes that Tesla drivers are already aggressive enough without being able to “fly.”
Hereditary Discussion: Ethan’s First Watch
Ethan’s overall reaction
- Ethan watched Hereditary for the first time and came away impressed but not fully convinced by the ending.
- He gives it a strong rating overall, landing around 8.5/10.
- His biggest praise:
- great acting,
- excellent sound design,
- strong atmosphere,
- very effective tension building without relying on jump scares.
What Ethan liked most
- The dollhouse opening shot and miniature imagery.
- Toni Collette’s performance, especially her grief-fueled breakdowns.
- The movie’s ability to make tiny sounds and mundane spaces feel horrifying.
- The slow-burn dread, which he found genuinely unsettling.
Main points of debate
The crew spends most of the review trying to decode the movie’s meaning:
1. Cult horror vs. mental illness
- Ethan initially reads the film as possibly blurring the line between a real cult and a paranoid breakdown.
- He raises a thoughtful criticism: the movie sometimes feels like it equates mental illness with demonic possession.
- That interpretation makes him uneasy, since it can read as regressive or stigmatizing.
2. Generational trauma
- Others argue the movie is really about:
- inherited trauma,
- grief,
- family dysfunction,
- and the inability to communicate honestly.
- Several crew members think the horror works because the family is already fractured before the supernatural elements fully emerge.
3. Paimon / demon lore
- The crew dives into the lore around Paimon, the demon the cult is trying to invoke.
- They discuss:
- Charlie’s strange behavior,
- the head trauma and decapitations,
- the cult’s rituals,
- and the final transfer of the demon into Peter’s body.
Biggest scene reactions
- The peanut allergy/car crash scene was a standout for everyone; it’s still one of the most memorable and shocking sequences in modern horror.
- The séance/clairvoyant woman is seen as one of the film’s most effective creepy elements.
- The naked man in the hallway gets a strong “that was terrifying” reaction.
- The final act is considered the messiest part:
- Ethan thinks it becomes too explicit,
- while others enjoy the full supernatural payoff.
Final take
- The crew agrees the movie is expertly made and deeply disturbing.
- Ethan’s criticism is mostly thematic, not technical:
- he thinks it may over-explain itself at the end,
- and he isn’t fully sold on what it “says” about trauma or mental health.
- Still, he clearly respects it as one of the standout horror films of the last decade.
Anson’s x Teddy Fresh Chocolate Collab
Big product reveal
- The episode includes a full tasting and launch segment for the new Anson’s x Teddy Fresh chocolate collection.
- Hila helped design the flavors with the Anson’s team, and the crew treats it like a premium holiday drop.
Notable flavors discussed
- Fruity Pebbles
- Mint cookie
- Salted pretzel
- Bamba-inspired flavor
- Good Humor strawberry
- plus a refreshed signature collection with more natural colors
Promo details
- The chocolate is available through the Anson’s site.
- Code: H3 gets viewers 5% off + a sticker pack.
“Guess Whose Last Meal Is Whose” Game
The crew’s final meal segment
AB puts together a game where each crew member’s hypothetical last meal is matched to their identity.
Standout pairings
- Ethan: steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli, mint chocolate chip ice cream
- Dan: vegetarian meal with eggplant parm, noodles, tiramisu, American Spirits, and brandy
- Zach: wedge salad, chicken parm, mango sticky rice, and other chaotic comfort-food picks
- Olivia: Mediterranean/Lebanese comfort foods and breakfast-style favorites
- Lena: Mediterranean dishes and sweet desserts
- Hila: diner breakfast, coffee, hash browns, and familiar snacks
- AB: steak, sushi, grape leaves, and crème brûlée
- Tamara: cereal-heavy, dessert-friendly comfort food
Fun result
- The crew mostly gets the matches right and uses the segment to roast each other’s food taste and personality.
- It becomes a surprisingly wholesome and revealing bit about everyone’s food preferences.
End of Show and Takeaways
What this episode was really about
- A spooky, funny Halloween-season vibe
- Ethan’s strong but imperfect first reaction to Hereditary
- The crew’s ongoing dynamic chemistry
- A major chocolate launch and a playful “last meal” game
Bottom line
This episode is especially worth watching if you want:
- a smart horror-movie discussion,
- crew banter at its best,
- and a mix of comedy, pop culture, and product hype wrapped in Halloween aesthetics.