065 - LOVE, VICTOR

Do you want somebody to tell you it will be alright? Somebody to tell you it will be just fine? Look no further than this episode!
This month we're talking about the TV series: Love, Victor.
Come and listen to us talk about exploring established tropes through a queer lens, diversity in the creative process, and who we think is behind the door.

064 - LABYRINTH

Goblin King! Goblin King! Wherever you may be. Take this episode of mine far away from me.
I wish I knew what to say to get the goblins to take you away.
This month we talk about the most fae film of them all: Labyrinth.
Come and listen to us explore the cultural touchstones we've missed out on, dancing trees and potentially the best prequel of them all.

063 - THE DEVERRY CYCLE

In your life, have you ever worried that you're going to leave something unfulfilled, something unfinished? Fear not! We're all stuck in an endless cycle of reincarnation and will forever be interacting with the same people forever and ever. Suddenly, being slightly unfulfilled about the minor things doesn't seem so bad.

This month we talk about The Deverry Cycle by Katherine Kerr.

Come and listen to us talk about engaging with long-running series, a creator revisiting a world, and what do we hope will be resolved in our next reincarnations.

062 - THE SAGA OF DARREN SHAN

When you look at your bookcase - filled with books you've already read - do you only see a log of all of the things you've read before? We're here to inspire you to look at that bookcase and see the potential for all of the rereads you could be doing. To lead the way, it's time to talk about one of Mark's favourite series from his childhood.

This month we talk about The Saga of Darren Shan.

Come and listen to us talk about the need for emotional nuance, why you shouldn't feel shame about what you like, and we predict when Sophie will be crushed by her to-read pile.

061 - LEGENDBORN

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A lot of the same complaints get leveed at YA books. Have you ever lamented that the main character is too bland? Have you ever cried to the heavens that the classic love triangle is no good? Have you ever thought a book was almost the best book you've ever read, but the main character didn't pick up a sword?
Have we got the book for you.
This month we talk about Legendborn.
Come and listen to us talk about complicated feelings, picking what you want from myths, and redefining just who gets to be legendary.

060 - HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE

If you woke up and suddenly found that you were an old lady, what would you do? Call an ambulance because you've clearly lost your mind? Make a plan to hunt down the person who did it to you? No. Of course not. You go and join the family of a roaming mad wizard.
This month we talk about Howl's Moving Castle.
Come and listen to us talk about old women in fiction, chaotic magic and wandering as a method of finding yourself.

059 - DOCTOR ZHIVAGO

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and abuse of minors in the context of this topic. Please skip this episode if these topics affect you, and we'll be back with you next month.

Snow falls outside your window as you pull the kubanka onto your head. A branch taps gently on the window-frame, rhythmic with its pattern and making you feel safe; it reminds you of being snuggled up in your mother's arms.
Suddenly the door busts open and everyone is dead, numbers on lists that were later lost.
Welcome to Russia following the revolution.
This month we talk about Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak.
Come and listen to us talk about atmospheric landscapes, historical fiction and romances where neither party seems particular fussed.

058 - GIRLS AGAINST GOD

You open up this podcast, reach inside and realise that your hand is actually your face, and you're grabbing your own nose. You sniff, and you inhale the egg that has been nesting inside your subconscious for the past twelve months. That's it. You're free.

Not sure what you just read? Just wait until you get to this book.

This month, we talk about the book: Girls Against God by Jenny Hval.

Come and listen to us talk about primal rage, body horror and walking the line between experimental and pretentious.

057 - THE TUDORS (INTERACTIVE QUIZ EDITION)

This episode is the definitive piece of pop culture about the Tudors. Forget Phillipa Gregory. Forget Alison Weir. Forget Six, the Musical. Hell, forget that Golden Globe-winning BBC series. Forget...wow...there really are lots of adaptations of the Tudor period aren't there?

Come and listen to us talk about how much murder is too much murder, the Tudor fashion trend we'd like to bring back and, most importantly, funnel-shaped genitalia.

Sorry about the day late upload. Life unfortunately got in the way.

056 - THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE (FEAT. ONE GOOD THING)

New year, and your favourite podcast remains exactly the same as ever. Except...what's this...the fabulous return of the one and only Paul Salt ?! After an award-winning performance as The Chamberlain in our episode on The Dark Crystal, we couldn't wait to have him back on the show.

We definitely didn't wait two years.

This month, we talk about the prequel: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
Come and listen to us talk about why we enjoy a tragedy, the creation of child-friendly versions of horror movies and the most horrifying baby puppet ever created.

054 - STAR TREK DISCOVERY

Space. The final frontier. Or, at the very least, the place we go to have feelings.
This month we're talking about Star Trek: Discovery.
Come and listen to us talk about the good and bad sides of wackiness in media, softness in cruel characters, crying in the toy aisle of Costco and gaaaays in spaaaaaace.

053 - TEKKEN (INTERACTIVE QUIZ EDITION)

You might think that a fighting video game series with a ridiculously outlandish plot couldn't make someone cry happy tears. Do you think we're that emotionally stable? Get ready for the next battle. Against feelings.
This month we cover Tekken.
Come and listen to us talk about the benefits of low-fidelity video games, tying media into horrible moments in your life and the friendship tests to end all friendship tests.
Read Mark’s longer essay on Tekken here: https://medium.com/@mcdickson101/how-to-defeat-your-anxiety-in-tekken-6cca9260d2f7

052 - FRANKENSTEIN

Sophie and Mark were cavorting in the frozen wastes, still looking for Imhotep’s Book of the Dead when Mark turned to Sophie and exclaimed: "It is true that I am a wretch. I've placed High School Musical into the cinematic canon, but have failed to highlight its racist background, and structural stomping out of minority representation. I shall collect my funeral pyre and consume to ashes this miserable flame."
He sprang from the cabin window, as he said this, upon the ice-raft which lay close to the vessel. He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in the darkness and distance.
This month we cover Frankenstein.
Come and listen to us talk about the literary canon, Frankenstein vs Dracula on the Moon, and why you sometimes need to trust the narrator with the shifty eyes.

051 - THE MUMMY

Let us set the scene. You're in an Ancient Egyptian pyramid, and you find an ancient cursed book. Do you A) Run the hell away and change your profession B) Open that bugger as quickly as possible. If you chose Option B, you'll probably like this film.

Come and listen to us talk about what makes a cheesy movie, how the term "guilty pleasure" can be devaluing, and we talk about High School Musical. Again. More.

The video that Sophie talks about can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjFFrYEZsAQ

050 - TED CHIANG

Define science fiction in five words. Go. What do you mean that's too broad a question? Soon you'll be saying that people have strong opinions on the definition of all genres.

Come listen to us talk about Ted Chiang ask more broad questions such as:

  • Would you observe a parallel version of yourself?

  • Does science fiction need to be optimistic to have value?

  • Is being sent to hell for looking at an angel inherently terrifying, or is Sophie overreacting?

Give us your science fiction recommendations!

049 - LITTLE WOMEN

As war calls away our father figures, Mark and Sophie huddle together around the fireplace. Surrounded by the sense of hearth, home and heart, they were finally able to relax after a hard day toiling in the nearby fields.

Suddenly, an immolated idiom caught Sophie's eye and she started. Tears welling in her eyes, she turned to Mark, the hurt radiating through her body like the scarlet fever that killed Beth in that one book once.

"Did you burn my copy of Little Women?" she cried.

Come and listen to us discuss adaptations, the progression of feminism, Screaming at Shakespare and whether or not it's alright to condem a fictional six year old for their actions.

You would think that by now we'd know how to record with audio errors, but unfortunately were unable to this month. Apologies again for the problems with Mark's audio.

048 - REBECCA

Last night I dreamt of Sophie liking Call Me By Your Name. But wait, you might think, didn't she hate it? You'll never know what's true anymore!

Come and listen to us talk about unreliable narrators, historical bias, contagious enthusiasm and whether or not a man who murdered his wife is trustworthy.

SOPHIE TRUSTS NO-ONE. NOT EVEN YOU.

047 - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Summer is over before you know it's even arrived. You meet a boy for some summer lovin' and then suddenly you're back at school. Unless you're Sophie watching Call Me By Your Name and then that summer feels like eternity.

Come listen to us talk about blending optimism and melocholy, the bullshit of burying your gays, the importance of representation and whether or not a poo joke will kill Mark.

046 - CRAZY RICH ASIANS (FEAT. JOSH PAATAN)

Mark and Sophie have been friends for years, but Sophie is about to find out Mark's biggest secret that has the potential to drive them so far apart; this might be the first live divorce to happen in podcast history.

Mark hasn't seen The Mummy.

To help you forget about Mark moving out (and don't forget that we still love you all very much), we talked to Josh Paatan about Crazy Rich Asians.

Come listen to us talk about the perfect romcom, the charmingness of Henry Golding, how to manage expectations and whether or not you should make everything a bit gay (SPOILERS: You should).