Episode 24 – It’s Almost Worse Hearing Them: Detailing Three Holiday Romance Movies

Rachel and Jen are back just in time for the holiday season! Listen to Jen, a genuine fan of the genre, recount three holiday romance movies she’s watched this year (A Christmas Inheritance, The Holiday Calendar, and Christmas in the Smokies). While Rachel remains in a constant state of horror, they discuss alternative plot points, (un)satisfying romance dynamics, predictable tropes, and Jen’s breakdown over a handsome man.

Episode 23 – Naked for No Reason: A Comparison of Cyrano de Bergerac and Roxanne

Rachel ropes Jen into watching a modernized version of their favorite play of all time. While comparing the 80s movie Roxanne to Cyrano de Bergerac (the play on which it was based), they touch on the perceived shallowness of a female lead, villainous behavior, modernized story beats, and 17th century horn-doggedness.

As always, spoilers to follow for both the play and the movie.

Episode 21 – Like Us, But Smarter: A Comparison of Legally Blonde and the Musical Adaptation

With news breaking of a possible Legally Blonde 3, Rachel and Jen discuss the differences between Legally Blonde, and Legally Blonde the Musical. They talk the feminism of both versions, and wander into topics of character development vs relationship development, differing mediums, and the perceived weakness of the color pink.

Episode 20 – They Don’t Have Lips!: A Discusson About The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith

Jen and Rachel return from their hiatus, and are ready to usher in a new era of peace and chillness with a conversation about one of their all-time favorite books, The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith. They get back into the swing of things by discussing alien romance vs erotic horror, Chekov’s vaccine, alien religion, and #thepatriarchy.

Episode 19 – Watching Other People Play

With the release of the Ready Player One movie quickly approaching, Rachel and Jen take a look at media involving video games. They discuss common themes surrounding gaming culture, mmorpgs/virtual reality as a setting, and the “you die in the game, you die for real” trope.

This is our last episode before we go on a two month hiatus! We’ll be back on May 21st!

Episode 17 – It is a Romance, But…

Unwind from Valentine’s Day with Rachel and Jen as they discuss fictional pairings they find unromantic, and why they feel that way. In doing so, they jump to and from topics including underdeveloped relationships, unlikable heroes, realizing a pairing is toxic, and identical vampire jaws.

Episode 15 – Lovable Tentacle Face: A Discussion of the First Arc of Critical Role

In what is definitely their most self-indulgent episode yet, Rachel and Jen use their podcast as an excuse to talk about Dungeons & Dragons for an hour. While discussing the first arc (episodes 1-16) of the Geek and Sundry web series Critical Role, they wander into discussions about D&D as a storytelling tool, the impact of environment on narrative, putting a character on a bus, and the flexibility of communal storytelling.
Jen reveals herself to be a completionist and makes the argument for watching from the very beginning. Rachel disagrees.

Also, Jen is super extra in this episode… I am so sorry.

Spoilers for episodes 1-16 of Critical Role

Episode 14 – Literally Nothing About Spiders: A Comparison of the Daddy Long Legs Novel and the Musical Adaptation

Jen and Rachel compare and contrast the 1912 novel Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster with its 2015 Off-Broadway musical adaptation by the same name. In their discussion, they touch upon the epistolary format, how a character’s portrayal influences readers’ interpretations, Broadway accessibility, and whether Jen’s fave is problematic or not. 

Spoilers ahead for the book, but not quite as many for the musical. Confused as to how that’s possible? Guess you’ll have to listen to find out!   

Episode 13 – He’s A Dragon!: A Conversation About I Am Dragon

Rachel and Jen round out this holiday season with their last episode of the year. While sharing their love for this diamond in the rough, they delve into topics such as handsome Igor, “strong” female heroines, the patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and handsome dragons. Plus, a special surprise for Rachel at the end.

Caution: Here be spoilers… As always, a spoiler warning is included part-way through.

Happy New Year!

Episode 12 – Some Other Fun Anatomy: A Discussion About Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixion

Jen and Rachel prepare for winter by reading an icy sci-fi alien romance novel that they both genuinely love. As they summarize the story, they focus on some of the things that make the book so great such as heroic heroines, respectful heroes, audiobook sex scenes, and of course… blue alien anatomy.

Extra nsfw warning for this episode because of previously mentioned alien anatomy.