The episode treats Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as a near-perfect, highly rewatchable movie that helped define the modern buddy film and postmodern Western. The discussion centers on William Goldman's screenplay, the Butch/Sundance relationship, the film's structure, and how its style and scenes still feel contemporary.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSpeakers were clearly identifiedExplore the connections
01The relationship between Butch and Sundance is the movie's engine, with sharp back-and-forth dialogue and chemistry that hold up on repeat viewings. About 8 min
02Iconic set pieces, especially the waterfall jump, the super-posse chase, and the train robberies, remain compelling and easy to drop into when channel-surfing. About 8 min
03The widescreen photography, location shooting, and production design make the film visually rich on modern screens. About 48 min
04The screenplay reads cleanly and its lines, structure, and scene construction still land decades later. About 8 min
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
majorThe Etta/Butch scene at gunpoint is viewed as aging poorly and resembling a date-rape dynamic. About 56 min
moderateAct 2 can feel slow and overlong because much of it is a chase sequence with limited dialogue. About 1:20
minorThe opening silent-style credit sequence and some montage passages are seen as less effective or more dated than the rest of the movie. About 56 min · medium confidence
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
Favorite
First Redford entrance
The introduction of Sundance is praised for instantly establishing danger, mystique, and star presence.
About 40 min Favorite
Huge-man fight in the Hole in the Wall gang
Butch's comic fight with the giant ends with a memorable kick to the groin.
About 40 min Favorite
Train robbery and super-posse reveal
The train robbery leads into the delayed reveal of the posse and is praised for suspense and visual design.
About 8 min Favorite
Waterfall jump
The cliff jump with Sundance's 'I can't swim' line is singled out as iconic and endlessly rewatchable.
About 16 min Favorite
Bolivian bank robbery
The awkward attempt to rob the bank in Bolivia is cited as a key later set piece.
About 48 min critical
Meeting Etta at gunpoint
The first Etta scene is viewed as increasingly uncomfortable because of its sexualized coercion.
About 56 min Favorite
Final shootout
The ending is praised as one of the two scenes Goldman knew had to be in the film.
About 8 min
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They agreed Opening minutes
Whether the film is the first modern/postmodern Western
Aaron Sorkin
Yes; it is the first postmodern Western and a major transition point for the genre.
Sean Fennessey
Yes; it feels much more modern than earlier Westerns and still plays today.
They partly agreed About 56 min
Whether the opening title sequence works
Aaron Sorkin
Mixed; he appreciates the attempt but does not love the sequence.
Sean Fennessey
Mixed; he alternates between liking the idea and finding it awkward.
They agreed About 56 min
What scene aged the worst
Sean Fennessey
The Etta-at-gunpoint scene is the clearest problem.
Aaron Sorkin
Agrees that the scene would not work today.
They agreed About 1:12
Who wins the movie
Sean Fennessey
Initially weighs Newman and Redford, then settles on Goldman.
Aaron Sorkin
Agrees that Goldman clearly wins the movie.
They partly agreed About 1:04
Could it be remade as a limited series
Aaron Sorkin
Probably not successfully because the movie's scale and memory are too dominant.
Sean Fennessey
Maybe only if the right creators were involved, but he'd be skeptical.
15 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
favorableKatharine RossAaron Sorkin: Praised as a strong presence in the love-triangle material, though the relationship is underexplored. About 48 min
neutralE.H. HarrimanAaron Sorkin: Referenced as the railroad figure who funds the posse against Butch and Sundance. About 16 min
neutralBJ ThomasAaron Sorkin: Mentioned as the singer of 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head' and as someone who feared the song would hurt his career. About 16 min
