I guess it's hard to put into words, but in the early BOTW episodes the cast always comes across as self-aware enough to make what is ultimately a bunch of normie middle aged nerds sperging about nerd shit seem subversive and cool instead of cringe. They would even clown on that type of stuff done without the self-awareness, like Collider, with things like the Nerd Crew. This is, imo, very characteristic of the Gen X mindset. A generation of Daria's, who hide their own stances and preferences behind a veneer of above-it-all irreverence and indifference.
Personally, this posture of not caring about things (while still very clearly caring about things) doesn't play well anymore. Its gay and cringe. Maybe I've just outgrown it. Also there have been a few times in the last few years of RLM where Jay and Rich have suggested really gay opinions/takes on current events. You just never got that kind of stuff from the main three, just Josh and sometimes Jack.
Edit: I forgot about the reviewing movies they didn't watch thing lol, I guess its just been that long since I've watched Half in the Bag with any regularity because its always about whatever gay shit Mike just found on Tubi
