On the Spoiler Special podcast, Slate critics discuss movies—and the occasional TV show—in full, spoiler-filled detail. Below, Slate film critic Dana Stevens talks with Aisha Harris and Forrest Wickman about 12 Years a Slave, the new Steve McQueen movie very faithfully adapted from the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup. Does the drama deserve its abundant critical praise? Is McQueen able to avoid melodramatic conventions? How does the talented cast take on this monumental historical narrative?

Listen to them discuss these and other questions below. You can also check out past Spoiler Specials in our archive, and you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Note: As the title indicates, each installment contains spoilers galore.

Previous Spoiler Specials:
Gravity
Breaking Bad
The Butler
Man of Steel
Iron Man 3
Arrested Development Season 4