Although its sister show Franchise Detours has been trucking along, the feed for Close Watch has been deafening quiet throughout 2024. But fear not, dear listener, the podcast is far from over. In fact, ahead of its triumphant return in 2025, here’s another in our series on movie musicals.

Rachel Wagner of Rachel’s Reviews joins Close Watch to dive into Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut tick, tick… BOOM!. We’ll discuss how the 2021 film breaks movie musical conventions, how it cements the legacy of Jonathan Larson, and why Rachel personally connects to its story.

Thanks to its distinct structure and style, tick, tick… BOOM! has captivated fans with its portrayal of artistic ambition and the pressures of creative life. Andrew Garfield’s Oscar-nominated performance as Larson, of course, anchors the film, which serves as a love letter to artists and their process.

If you’re a fan of tick, tick… BOOM! or interested in the plight of the creative process, this episode is a perfect encapsulation of how Miranda and Garfield celebrate Larson’s life and career as well as theater life and artists everywhere. Close Watch will return in 2025 with more movie musicals.