In this introspective solo episode of Bury Our Bones With Cinema, host Ryan Etherington takes the mic to dissect the fascinating divide between the sequels we were given and the sequels we dreamed of. Ryan delves into the bold, controversial choices of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge and the polarizing evolution of the action juggernaut in Mission Impossible 2. Along the way, he examines the expectations audiences bring to follow-ups and how these films shaped (or shattered) those perceptions. From missed opportunities to surprising reinventions, Ryan unpacks the lasting impact of sequels that dared to deviate from what fans wanted—and what they mean in the greater cinematic landscape.

This is an episode for anyone who’s ever walked out of a theater asking, “Why did they do it like that?”