Talking Tropes Podcast: Recent Episodes
Talking Tropes Podcast
A Podcast about writing cliches, their origins, and their impacts on the stories we tell. Just two cousins with enough trope to hang themselves. Follow us on twitter @TalkingTropes
Recap and discussion of Part 2 of the RTD 2 Doctor Who specials, now available on iPlayer or Disney+
Recap and discussion of Part 1 of the RTD2 Specials, now available on iPlayer and Disney+
SPOILERS Happy Halloween everybody, it's the much anticipated finale of Chris Chibnall's final season of Doctor Who! What do you think of Yaz, the Doctor, and Chris's exit? Tweet at us @talkingtropes and keep an eye out for more Tardis Tropes content as we wait for the60th anniversary.
It's Chris Chibnall's last episode before the Centenary special and his final farewell. It's a pirate-themed adventure set in Qing dynasty China with a returning baddie, THE SEA DEVILS! In some ways, it's exactly what you'd expect from a Chibnall episode, but in other ways, it is WORSE. Listen to our hot takes on the lack of chemistry between The Doctor and Yaz!
This is the BIG ONE! If you only listen to one episode of Stanning Stanley Tucci, pick this one. Tucci's directorial and screenwriting debut, Big Night (1996). Co-starring Tony Shalhoub, we recap the real Italian-American story of two brothers trying to save their restaurant from the brink of bankruptcy. Listen to hear about Tucci's real life inspiration for the film, (There's even a secret reference to Tucci's role in Miami Vice).
Tweet at us your first memory of seeing Big Night @talkingtropes and let us know if you want to be a guest Stan on a future podcast.
In this episode, we take a look at the controversy surrounding Netflix's Don't Look Up. One of us liked it! We also look at the history of the Doomsday Comet trope in film and television. Armageddon, Deep Impact and more comedic fare like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Is doomsday upon us?
Tweet your Don't Look Up hot takes @talkingtropes
Tucci reunites with indie director Alexandre Rockwell to do a little character acting with Rosie Perez. Somebody to Love is a boring title, but is there some hidden artistry here? Or is this just an American take on a Fellini film that sacrifices the New Wave aesthetic?
An obscure art-house film starring Tucci, who spends most of the movie bound and gagged. It ultimately fails to deliver on the psychosexual stage-play aesthetic and just comes across as if someone adapted a porno for the festival circuit. But Tucci is still good in it!
Tweet at us @talkingTropes if you want to be a guest Stan on a future podcast
Am I feeling some déjà vu? I feel like I'm in a time loop reviewing another Chris Chibnall Dalek episode on New Year's Day 2022. This time Chibnall seems to have hit his mark with memorable characters and a fun time looping premise, but a beat-by-beat recap reveals that none of it actually makes any sense at all! Join us on this fantastic journey and let us know what you think by tweeting us @talkingtropes
First episode of the new year has us asking, What is Real? A little bit of Baudrillard and The Matrix: Resurrections help us understand why Facebook is now called Meta and why our reality is becoming harder to distinguish from virtual reality. Let's trace the history of the Metaverse to its source and look at how HBO Max is using it to showcase its intellectual property in The Matrix, Ready Player One, and even Space Jam.
Please Tweet at us @talkingtropes or I swear to god I will make a Talking Tropes NFT. You have to stop me by tweeting what you think of this podcast or a topic we should do next or the blockchain will be stuffed full of TTNFTs.
Tucci plays a crooked Assistant DA in this remake of a 1940s mob movie. Joined once again by Nicolas Cage, and now by college classmate Ving Rhames, Tucci gives a fantastic dramatic performance while eating a hot dog. In Tucci News, we read selections from Tucci's September feature in an in-flight magazine.
It's the finale of the Flux and what an awfully dull adventure it all was. Are any secrets revealed in this big finale? No? Well you should listen to us talk about it anyway.
It's a spoiler-filled recap of the penultimate episodes of Doctor Who: Flux. Village of the Angels and Survivors of the Flux continue a trend of alternating straightforward monster episodes and convoluted multi-plot episodes. Secrets are revealed but are any of them satisfying? What does the Division actually do? Did Joseph Williamson, the top hat man actually have a point? Listen and jump into the void with us.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving! This week, we look at some classic American tropes related to hair color. Do Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? Do they have more fun? Is there a darker side to the trope of the dumb blonde? Let's find out.
You can watch our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/HhV6X982ODU Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you have a hot take about blondes, brunettes or any hair color on the visible spectrum!
Wahoo! Flux is actually living up to the hype with two completely different episodes with wildly different tones and plot structure! Sontarans riding horseback and whacky time shenanigans galore in this recap of the second and third episodes of Series 13 of Doctor Who.
Pauly Shore, master of the deeply unfunny, brings us the worst Stanley Tucci film so far, as we continue to review Tucci's entire IMDb history. A bizarre mish-mash of 12 Angry Men and Bio-Dome, Jury Duty (1995) gives Tucci a chance to shine in an otherwise forgettable "comedy." In Tucci news, we celebrate Tucci's latest Emmy award for his travel show Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.
Let us know if you'd like to be a guest Stan on a future Tucci recap on Twitter @talkingTropes Watch our video podcast at https://youtu.be/TrbdXL69_y0
Tardis Tropes is back with more Doctor Who recaps and discussion. This week we have a bizarre series premiere and Halloween Special. Doctor Who Flux episode 1: The Halloween Apocalypse features Dog Man, Crystal Skull Man, Weeping Angels, Sontarans and Liverpudlians. Plenty to talk about and plenty of mysteries to solve.
Trick or trope! Talking Tropes is back with a Halloween episode about tricksters. Trickster Gods like Loki and Maui, trickster animals like Bugs Bunny and Br’er Rabbit, Clowns, and the devils and demons that trick mortals out of their souls! Could this figure represent something essential about human psychology across cultures? Do shapeshifters help us to transform ourselves? Spoilers for the character Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Let us know your favorite trickster by tweeting us @TalkingTropes Check out our video podcast here https://youtu.be/30y-0J_iDxM
Tucci plays a deadbeat, pathological liar, ex-husband to a waitress who gets a surprise tip of 2 million dollars from Nic Cage, who plays a lottery winner and the greatest cop in NYC. Is this movie Tucci's most naked role? Literally? And is it a hidden gem or a piece of propaganda for the New York Post? Find out in another Stanning Stanley Tucci!!!
Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you want to be a guest Stan on a future podcast Watch the Video Podcast here: https://youtu.be/oMcaRy7pNog
With special guest Sarah, we deconstruct the Magical Girl genre of anime and manga, briefly recapping the history and evolution of tropes and analyzing the role it has played in changing perceptions of gender and femininity over the years. Do Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura commodify the female body or do they empower young girls to embrace their inner strength of character? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or tweeting at us @talkingtropes Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/xyREwlZM_Ok
Gather round the Algonquin Round Table, for an intellectual conversation about the lives of New Yorker columnists in the 1920s. Tucci has a brief cameo in this biopic starring Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dorothy Parker and Tucci's good friend Campbell Scott as her love interest Robert Benchley. And in Tucci news, we take a look at a recent profile of Tucci's wife, Felicity Blunt.
Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you want to be a guest Stan on a future podcast Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/etfM74jeIfY
This week, we share our weirdest, most out-there takes on Space Jam, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and their obvious predecessor Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Is it worth looking at these artifacts as more than just marketing tools for Warner Bros' most durable IP? Did A New Legacy change the genre of Space Jam completely? Just how have animation/live-action hybrids changed in the digital age?
Tweet at us @TalkingTropes if you have any questions or arguments about any of these weird takes Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/jprEw5od7mM
Tucci serves up some LOOKS in a John Grisham thriller as Khamel, a "middle eastern" assassin-for-hire. No he doesn't kill any pelicans. Is this the film where Tucci hit the mainstream? Find out on another Stanning Stanley Tucci!
Tweet at us if you'd like to be a guest STAN on a future podcast @talkingtropes Watch the video podcast here https://youtu.be/7D903JQpO7I
Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Emma are novels so deeply rooted in the values and ideas of Regency England (c. 1811 – 1820) that it seems impossible to adapt them to our modern "Sensibilities" (pun intended). Yet, Hollywood has produced several Austen adaptations set in the turn of the 21st century. Today with special guest and Austen fan Liz DeKok, we look at three of these, Clueless (1995), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), and the somewhat obscure Prada to Nada (2011). Do these values translate? And how have Austen's novels contributed to the tropes and cliches of the Romantic Comedy? Special thanks to our editor Logan Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you have a Jane Austen adaptation hot take. Follow our guest Liz @lizdekok for more Austen takes and memes Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/QVBgs3sJgqE
The Tooch plays Muerte, a buffoonish and stereotypical latino criminal who wants revenge on CIA agent Jeff Blue and his wife Jane for humiliating him in an attempted mugging. Tucci said of the role at the time that this was the most physically demanding film he had ever worked on, and the only one so far to make him take off his pants on screen. You won't believe our Tucci fun fact this week! Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride Tweet at us @talkingTropes if you would like to be a guest stan on a future podcast. Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/U11F7xG_zOg
There's nothing about Luca that we dislike! Let's look at this simple yet powerful story of young love and being yourself...in the context of a censorship regime focused on producing inoffensive films with global appeal while at the same time appealing to progressive, queer-friendly audiences.
Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/sF1hu3s-a9A Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you have a different take on Luca or if you have a suggestion of what we should recap next Special thanks to our editor Logan Mcbride
In a special 4th of July episode, we compare two notable examples of Aliens invading America in the immediate aftermath of the cold war. How do these stories compare to the cold war-era films they draw from?
Tweet at us @TalkingTropes to share your favorite alien invasion story
We continue to watch every Stanley Tucci IMDb credit. This week, Tucci plays a mobster in a neo-noir character drama starring Joe Pesci. Is this the hidden gem of the 90s mob movies you NEED to see? Also, we read a review of Tucci's food tourism show by a true Tucci stan from The Guardian, Stuart Heritage (@stuheritage) https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jun/21/stanley-tucci-the-flirty-hero-of-foodie-tv-you-need-in-your-life Watch the Video Podcast here: https://youtu.be/KCNuLXgCyUU Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you want to be a guest stan on a future episode.
Special thanks to our editor, Logan McBride.
Cast reunions became a ubiquitous cultural form during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the shutdown of in-person production, actors had even more free time and fewer resources than during writers’ strikes. Zoom became a popular way to organize charity events and look back fondly on the network era of television. HBO Max released two elaborately produced and highly publicized cast reunion specials to promote their newly acquired NBCUniversal properties, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996), and Friends (1994-2004) which were meant to establish Warner Media and AT&T as legitimate stewards for the legacy of these classic sitcoms.
We discuss the ways these reunions function from a corporate strategy perspective and what they represent as works of art constructing nostalgic narratives around the production of 90s sitcoms. What are the tropes common to the two reunions? Are they fake or real?
Tweet at us if you have a different take on these reunions @talkingTropes Special thanks to our editor Logan Mcbride If you want to watch the video podcast, click here https://youtu.be/148Xm2Gnpdk
Tucci the dognapper? It's a timely follow-up to our Cruella review, where we talk about how much we love Stanley Tucci in Beethoven, starring a St. Bernard and Charles Grodin as they butt heads to see who is the alpha of the Newton household!
The audio quality might be a bit lower because we had to use the backup recording. Oops!
Watch the video podcast here https://youtu.be/-KTs6dzkiXk Tweet at us if you want to be a guest Stan on a future podcast @talkingtropes Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride
The latest round of reboots, remakes, and retellings have taken on a new trend of villain origin stories or "villagins." What can we learn from the popularity of this trope in just the last five years? Does it say something about the role of trauma in media, the joys of cruelty and revenge, our sense of justice and happy endings? Let us know your thoughts Tweet at us @talkingTropes to let us know what you thought of Cruella or what trope we should talk about next. Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride Watch our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/Gl5_6HLD-QA
It's another recap of an obscure Stanley Tucci IMDB credit! Here we continue the chronicles of Tucci's long time collaboration with Steve Buscemi in one of Steve's first starring roles. This Sundance-winning art film depicts the absurdist vision of a filmmaker named Adolfo and his con-man "producer" Joe. Tucci plays Gregoire, a wacky French neighbor. Does any of it hold up? Listen and find out!
Tweet at us if you want to be a guest Stan on a future episode @TalkingTropes Watch our Video podcast here https://youtu.be/4gJjqYCfuTc Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride
We continue to watch every Stan Tucci credit on IMDB. This week its a bizarre body-swapping romantic drama, Prelude to a Kiss starring Meg Ryan and a young Alec Baldwin who played the same role in the stage production. Tucci plays "Tay," Baldwin's best man and confidant, who perhaps has some subtextual romantic attraction to his BFF?
If you'd like to be a guest stan on a future Stanning Stanley Tucci, tweet at us @talkingtropes You can also watch our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/J23b6HqxFg8 Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride
We don't have a full episode this week. As a continuation of our conversation about Netflix Rom-coms, Hannah and I talk about the two Cyrano De Bergerac teen romantic comedy adaptations that are on Netflix right now. Why is Sierra Burgess seen as a trashy story about catfishing where The Half of it is seen as a prestige, award-winning auteurist work from Alice Wu?
Special thanks to Editor Logan McBride Tweet @TalkingTropes to give us your opinions on Cyrano, Sierra, and Ellie
Behind Her Eyes is a 2021 Netflix series starring Simona Brown, Eve Hewson and Tom Bateman. It's a romantic thriller that ends with a twist, Adele (Hewson) turns out to be a body swapper and DOUBLE-TWIST, her real name is Rob and she's a MAN! With special guest Talia Paone (@thepizzataco), we break down how transphobic twists like this are baked into so many body-switching, body-swapping, and gender-bending media. We also take a look at some nostalgic examples of Freaky Friday stories from our childhoods.
Tweet at us if there's a Body-Switching movie or trope you want us to discuss @TalkingTropes Check out our Video podcast at https://youtu.be/MbR5VV6ayDg
We continue to Stan our favorite Tucci and watch every movie listed on his IMDB page. This week it's Billy Bathgate starring Dustin Hoffman and Nicole Kidman. Based on the historical fiction novel by E.L. Doctorow, Tucci doesn't even show up until an hour in! But could his role as "Lucky" Luciano be his most powerful mobster role yet? As a bonus, in Tucci News, we take a look at the Vogue article "Stanley Tucci's Best Roles Ranked."
Tweet at us if you want to be a "Guest Stan" on a future podcast @talkingtropes Check out our Video Podcasts here: https://youtu.be/Ypljd6c6fE4 Special Thanks to our Editor, Logan McBride
What happens when a Sidekick is all grown up? The Superhero passes the torch, or some kind of baton or stick and the Sidekick becomes the new Superhero. On another Talking Tropes podcast, we discuss Marvel's reckoning with Captain America's legacy as they pass the Sidekick Graduations Stick from SPOILER ALERT Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson The Falcon. What other superhero sidekicks get a chance to take on the role of their crime-fighting partners? How do the themes of race and nationalism intersect with this TV Trope?
Tweet your favorite superhero sidekick @TalkingTropes Check out our video podcasts here: https://youtu.be/mkL83nUn1bc Special thanks to our editor Logan McBride
In our continuing series, we continue to watch every Stanley Tucci IMDB credit in order. This week, it's Macbeth but with Italian mobsters! With an all-star cast of underrated character actors including Dennis Farina, Peter Boyle, and John Turturro, what could go wrong?
If you want to be a guest stan on our podcast, tweet at us @talkingTropes Watch our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/KWgfVbrbHMM Special Thanks to our Editor, Logan McBride
Tropes and clichés abound in this particular Netflix genre. What started the trend of releasing these Teen romantic comedies exclusively on Netflix? What marketing and development strategies led to the recent success of The Kissing Booth and To All the Boys as franchise films? Besides Noah Centineo and Jacob Elordi's abs. Also, what do we do with all the low-self-esteem rom coms like Sierra Burgess, Tall Girl, and Dumplin'?
Let us know if you want us to do a deep dive into the TV Tropes for any of these movies in the comments below! Tweet at us if you have an idea of what trope we should talk about next! @talkingTropes Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/IyezQ5W14hs
Special thanks to our Editor, Logan McBride
It's like Mad Men but in the 90s, check out Stanley Tucci playing his first non-criminal non-cop TV character. Tucci plays ad agency middle-manager Karl Draconis who hectors Michael Steadman on his terrible advertising ideas. Who will win in this battle of corporate acuity and marketing savvy?
We watched Thirtysomething, Season 3 Episode 10 "Michael's Campaign" and Season 3 Episode 11 "Pulling Away" For Tucci news this week, please check out Helen Rosner's fantastic article: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/the-timeless-fantasy-of-stanley-tucci-eating-italian-food
Special thanks to our editor, Logan McBride Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/UrOA5KI9u8A Tweet at us @TalkingTropes if you are interested in being a guest on our Stanning Stanley Tucci Podcast!
Finally Tom and Jerry can be watched in its four-hour hyper-violent glory! Can Jerry resurrect Superman before Tom gathers the infinity stone/allspark/motherboxes and destroys the world? We recap all the differences between the Joss Whedon cut and the Snyder Cut of the HBO Max tent-pole blockbuster, TOM and JERRY!!!! Lots of controversial opinions in this one, folks!
Watch to the video podcast here https://youtu.be/NpwWCsY_W-E Tweet at us @talkingTropes to let us know what TV Tropes you want us to talk about next.
Three Whovians (does anyone still use that term?) take a nuanced look at the new Doctor Who New Year's Special of 2021, Revolution of the Daleks, written by the inconsistently terrible Chris Chibnall. Is this his best episode yet?
Watch the Video Podcast here https://youtu.be/JEWY4MqI06Q Tweet us your Chibnall opinions @talkingtropes
Three friends rank all the Doctor Who Christmas Specials and grade them on Christmas-ness and Englishness.
Watch to the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/VDa4xgjjTmw Tweet us your least favorite Doctor Who specials @talkingtropes
Two cousins continue to watch every Stanley Tucci IMDB credit. In Wiseguy (1989), a CBS crime drama, Tucci plays Ricky Pinzolo, a crime boss in the Garment district on 7th Ave. NYC. He tries to defraud and acquire the business of one Eli Sternberg, a Jewish businessman played by none other than Jerry Lewis. An undercover cop named Raglin, with the help of his boss McPike (played by Breaking Bad's Jonathan Banks) try to take him down from the inside. Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/2mVQbNgN9jA If you love Stanley Tucci, tweet at us @talkingtropes
We watch all the Hanukkah or Chanukah episodes and specials we could find. Let's talk about why these token Jewish episodes feel so empty and why they have been crushed by the overwhelming volume of Hallmark Christmas Specials. Watch to the Video Podcast at https://youtu.be/t3qD3mpLM70 Tweet us your favorite Chanukah episode @talkingtropes
We're still watching every Stanley Tucci IMDB credit, and this time we have special guests Mac and Max from YouTube's "Under the Influence" Podcast to discuss one of their favorite filmmakers, Todd Solondz's first film and Tucci's biggest film role at the time: Fear, Anxiety, and Depression. This one is very much in keeping with the trend of starving artists in NYC, but this time with much more of a Woody Allen vibe. Check it out! Also check out our guests here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNHJZuUdxG7lFSJI1B3Bng Check out our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/IlJdBay4yTw Tweet at us if you want to be a guest Stan on our show @talkingtropes
Why so serious? Why not listen to us recap a comedy clown bank robbery movie featuring Stanley Tucci, who continues to be typecast as the most interesting mafioso in the room. Sure, Quick Change is forgettable trash, but this is Tucci's first interaction with Tony Shalhoub! Watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/zhfIE1H0hxs Tweet us your favorite Tucci IMDB credit @talkingTropes
Let's finish up our festive Thanksgiving special episode by recapping the two NCIS: New Orleans Thanksgiving episodes. Is New Orleans the superior NCIS show? Well if nothing else, it has Scott Bakula and CCH Pounder. Let's talk Turkey, Tropes, and COINTELPRO.
Check out our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/6-LfyF8Iggg Tweet us your favorite FBI coverup @talkingtropes
What's the most American holiday? Thanksgiving! And what's the most American TV show? NCIS of course. We return to our most beloved(?) crime procedural and all of their bizarre and tangentially Thanksgiving-related specials. Watch here for the video podcast: https://youtu.be/TOL6Rz1puX4 Or tweet us your favorite Thanksgiving episode @TalkingTropes
As we continue to watch everything on Stanley Tucci's IMDB page in order, we stumble upon a clear example of late 80s white feminism with the obliviously titled Slaves of New York. Taking place in the pretentious and exploitative art world, Tucci is cast as Darryl, perhaps the only honorable man in NYC.
Watch the Video Podcast here: https://youtu.be/MvnOMMztjAU Tweet at us @TalkingTropes if you want us to do The Witches next
All of our interactions at work, with friends, and with our education are now done through Zoom video chat. Why shouldn't our TV be the same? We take a look at all the fictional TV shows integrating Zoom interfaces into their TV specials and new series.
We continue to watch everything Stanley Tucci has ever done with his 1980s TV guest spots on The Equalizer and Crime Story. We also take a look at what we could find of the forgotten syndicated show The Street, where Tucci stars on a real "show about nothing" but with cops.
Follow us on twitter @TalkingTropes
What's the spookiest Halloween tradition of all? Critical theory! We take a look at Jack Halberstam's The Queer Art of Failure and his queer reading of stop-motion animation. We try to apply this reading to the creepiest, spookiest stop-motion filmmaking team of all time: Tim Burton and Henry Selick. That's right, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Coraline, Frankenweenie and more! Happy Halloween!
Check us out on Twitter @talkingtropes
A follow-up on our last mini trope recap. Let's discuss our hottest takes on a slightly disappointing but still charming final season of Netflix's animated show from Radford Sechrist: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts! Spoilers ahead! Tweet at us @TalkingTropes to let us know what we should do a mini pod on next!
Shocks, surprises, twists of all sizes. We're talking about a director who was pigeon-holed by critics and scholars like us into always being measured by how "satisfying" his twists are. Let's talk about M. Night Shyamalan's best and worst twists. Major spoilers for 6th Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening, Devil, The Visit, Split, and Glass. Some of the audio is a little messed up but most of it is fine.
Check out our video podcast at https://youtu.be/BByjFA1yPoE Follow us on twitter @talkingTropes and tweet at us if you have a suggestion on a trope we should talk about next.
Finally, a meaty film role (and by meaty we mean BEEFY) for the Tooch in George Romero's cult classic Monkey Shines which is The Shining meets Rear Window meets Monkey! By far, Romero's strangest film, check out our fun, Tucci-focused recap. Follow us on twitter here for more Tucci content @TalkingTropes Or check out our video podcast here: https://youtu.be/3ltMLgNiN2A
Plenty of furries love Disney, but does Disney love furries? With special guest, filmmaker and documentarian, Dominic Rodriguez, we explore the history of Disney and anthropomorphic animals and how the furry fandom got started.
Check out Dominic's film Fursonas (2016) and follow him on twitter @videothewolf
Follow us on twitter for more tropes and content @TalkingTropes Listen to our audio podcast at https://soundcloud.com/talkingtropes
We continue our binge of the entire IMDB page of actor/director/writer/producer Stanley Tucci. Today, we watch his three appearances in the 1980's iconic cop show: MIAMI VICE!!!
Tucci plays a scared witness named Steven Demarco and a NJ mob boss named Frank Mosca as he completely steals the show (as well as stealing a lot of laundered pasta/drug money).
You can follow us on twitter for more Tucci content @TalkingTropes Watch the video podcast at https://youtu.be/KEU5_hCbEag
Two Jews run down the list of comedic interpretations of history's purest evil dictator. From Mel Brooks to Taika Waititi, there's a long, proud history of making fun of Hitler. But what is the actual joke? And how has that joke changed over time?
Here's a link to the article I referenced: https://abcnews.go.com/US/head-naacp-branch-fire-anti-semitic-facebook-post/story?id=72101481 Here's the Lindsay Ellis video that partially inspired this discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62cPPSyoQkE Here's a Comedic Hitler playlist, this is not in any way an endorsement of these skits as most of them are not funny at all: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVlPf18cSXSgqqR_5b9DpLyBdal2JCuHh
Tweet at us @TalkingTropes Or watch our video podcast here https://youtu.be/04KtvdJg31k
The first episode of a new podcast where we watch everything on Stanley Tucci's IMDB page in order. We start with some introductions, then jump right in to Tucci's first film roles: Prizzi's Honor, Kojak: The Price of Justice, and Who's that Girl starring Madonna.
You can watch the video podcast here https://youtu.be/-LvNUi8jbjs Or tweet at us @talkingTropes
A little bit late, but we wanted to tell you all to watch Umbrella Academy on Netflix. Season 2 is just as good as Season 1 but with more daddy issues!
Follow us on twitter @talkingTropes!
Hannah, David, and Chris @Compenderizer talk about the 6th Ranger trope throughout the Power Rangers franchise and beyond!
Tweet @TalkingTropes to suggest a future trope topic!
We're taking a little hiatus, but before we go, we wanted to tell you about a wonderful little Netflix animated show about a post-apocalyptic world with talking animals and great characters! It's Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts! Tweet at us what you want us to recap next @talkingTropes
Wait, how can it be whitewashing if they're animes? And look! Shyamalan has more POCs than James Cameron in his big budget 3D Avatar movie, so I guess we're all good.
Hannah and I do a little bonus recap as part of our "Avatar the Last Korra" recap series where we compare and contrast Avatar the Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra episode by episode.
Check out the recaps from the beginning here: https://soundcloud.com/talkingtropes/sets/avatar-the-last-korra
Tweet at us @TalkingTropes to let us know what media we should recap next!
Hannah and David watch 100 100th episodes of America's most popular TV shows. I guess some people think it's easy to make a hundred. We know better. Tweet your favorite 100th episodes @TalkingTropes
This week we dive inside your TV, and so do your favorite TV characters! From the Teen Titans to Community, Fairly Odd Parents to My Name is Earl, we investigate what it is about seeing TV characters get transported into their own medium that writers and audiences love so much. We were even lucky enough to have the most recent example of the trope airing on TV! Listen now to find out which shows are prime time, and which we're cancelling.
We are introducing Video Podcasts on my YouTube channel. Check them out here https://youtu.be/PJOzQyWFHIw
It's time to say goodbye to the Gaang and Team Avatar as they each confront their final foes. Let's see how these two shows measure up to each other and reflect back on 113 episodes of elemental action. Let us know what recap series you'd like to hear next on twitter @talkingtropes
Now that it's over, let's discuss the queen of queer redemption arcs, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power! Spoilers abound.
Row row, fight the power of a giant Mecha Suit made out of platinum. Meanwhile Katara and Zuko seek sweet vengeance and the Gaang goes to the theater. WE'RE ALMOST DONE WITH THIS RECAP!!!
ATLA B3E16 The Southern Raiders ATLA B3E17 The Ember Island Players Korra B4E11 Kuvira's Gambit Korra B4E12 Day of the Colossus
Snowpiercer, Mortal Engines, and Battlestar Galactica represent three approaches to the same story: urban spaces need to be packed up and transformed into vehicles in order for humanity to survive.
What do these stories represent within capitalism and what does society look like when it is put on wheels and must constantly move forward?
Two prison breaks in the same podcast? It must be Christmas. Sokka and Zuko go on a secret mission to the Boiling Rock, while Bolin annoys the Beifongs (and us) going to save Opal's parents and siblings. Also Aang learns firebending and Korra fights vines?
ATLA B3E13: The Firebending Masters ATLA B3E14: The Boiling Rock Part 1 ATLA B3E15: The Boiling Rock Part 2 LoK B4E9: Beyond the Wilds LoK B4E10: Operation Beifong
Aang invades the Fire Nation capital in the most action packed high stakes episode yet! Meanwhile Korra has two recap episodes in a row, one of which is a clip show. Why? Budgets.
ATLA B3E10 The Day of Black Sun Part 1: The Invasion ATLA B3E11 The Day of Black Sun Part 2: The Eclipse ATLA B3E12 The Western Air Temple Lok B4E7 Reunion LoK B4E8 Remembrances
It's 4/20 BABY!!!!!!! What is the stoner flick, and why does it persist? We explored the depths of bro humor to discover the origins of the genre and to find out what keeps it churning... turns out the answer is just weed.
Happy Easter everyone! Today we're exploring the film adaptations of the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. Hard to believe that Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar were both released the same year, right? And then adapted to films the same year! The 70s were weird, man.
We run through all three film adaptations of Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend" to discuss pandemics, isolation, and dehumanization. Themes which obviously have no relevance to what we're going through now. Spoilers for The Last Man on Earth (1964), The Omega Man (1971), and I am Legend (2007).
We take a quick look at the epilogue to Steven Universe: The Movie, which is the epilogue to Steven Universe: The Show. Is this the end? And is it the ending we wanted, or the ending we deserved?
Sokka gets a hawk. Katara gets a shock. Korra tries to talk. Bolin takes a walk.
ATLA B3E7 The Runaway ATLA B3E8 The Puppetmaster ATLA B3E9 Nightmares and Daydreams Lok B4E5 Enemy at the Gates LoK B4E6 Battle of Zaofu
Just what kind of fascist is Kuvira supposed to be? Korra trains with Toph in a swamp while Zuko and friends chillax at the beach. Aang gets attacked by Sparky Sparky Boom Man and learns about Roku's fanficky past. Spoilers for: ATLA B3E5: The Beach ATLA B3E6: The Avatar and the Fire Lord LoK B4E3: The Coronation LoK B4E4: The Calling
Introducing special guest Charlie, our friend and VFX coordinator on films like Bumblebee. We talk about how films can create a feeling of unease in the viewer, drawing heavily on Freud. We also discuss the insane Sonic movie and why he still looks weird. Green Hill Zone? More like Uncanny Valley Zone!
It's the back half of Doctor Who season 12. We're blazin through these because there's simultaneously a lot to talk about, and nothing worth noting. Get prepared for the season finale this Sunday by listening to this recap.
It's a classic time skip and now Korra has a new haircut and a new attitude. How does the last season of Korra handle the idea of disability and injury? About as well as can be expected. Meanwhile, Katara and Sokka have their own little filler episodes. It's about time they had some episodes all to themselves.
ATLA B3E3 The Painted Lady ATLA B3E4 Sokka’s Master Korra B4E1 After All These Years Korra B4E2 Korra Alone
Thank god ATLA is still fun in Book 3, because Korra's book 3 finale might be the most infuriating yet. Katara's got new daddy issues. Aang has new hair. Korra has....new trauma. It's a lot of new.
Spoilers for ATLA B3E1 The Awakening ATLA B3E2 The Headband Korra B3E11 The Ultimatum Korra B3E12 Enter the Void Korra B3E13 The Venom of the Red Lotus
Relaxing spa day, or attack of the angry trees? A fun day with NiKola Tesla, or a Night of Terror?!?! Are we still in the pits this season or are we slowly climbing out? Victor is a guest of honor on this latest Tardis Tropes
It's maybe the four best episodes of all of Avatar and Korra ALL AT ONCE!!!! We wrap up Book 2 of Avatar as the gaang hits their lowest point so far, and get a ton of great world building along the way. Meanwhile, Korra solves some mysteries, is introuced to the philosophy of anarchy, and has some light sexual tension with a team member. In fact, there's a LOT of shipping in these episodes that we dive right in to. Who do we ship with who? Listen to find out!!
Comments? Shoot us a tweet @TalkingTropes on Twitter.
Thanks to our editor Logan, who you can find across the net @LoganMcHollow.
I spy with my little eye, something truly terrible. Chibnall is trying out some new tricks by bringing back old baddies and writing Jodie Whitaker's first two-parter. Does it pay off? Of course not.
Star Wars is a toy-based franchise. Let's talk about Rise of Skywalker, Madalorian, and the whole hullabaloo in this festive Christmas Special. Don't be a confused ghost, join us!
To avoid episode IX spoilers, jump to 45:40
Hannah and David are going insane trying to remember what happened in the highest grossing movie of all time...in 2009. What was that guy's name? What happened with the robots? Is Avatar the least memorable blockbuster of all time?
Zuko is metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly while Jet gets his brain washed. We check in on the new generation of airbenders as they go through Full Metal Jacket style boot camp, and then Zaofu gets breached. We're almost to the end of both seasons!
Spoilers for: B2 E17 Lake Laogai B2 E18 The Earth King B3 E7 The Original Airbenders B3 E8 The Terror Within
Happy Thanksgiving! It's time to sit around the table, eat turkey, and discuss the history of imperialism, racism, and genocide that is the foundation of our terrible society. However, let's not make the mistake of characterizing colonized peoples as uncivilized or "pure." You might be falling into the trope of the Noble Savage. Come along with us!
Spoilers for: Dances with Wolves Lone Ranger Pocahontas Little Big Man
Making your way in the avatar world today takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. It's time to stop the plot and take a shot. It's filler time baby. Also, everyone's favorite boomer aunt, Lin Beifong gets a terrible backstory. Let's do it. B2 E15 Tales of Ba Sing Se B2 E16 Appa’s Lost Days B3 E5: The Metal Clan B3 E6: Old Wounds
Our She-Ra hot takes are scalding! We've got thoughts about all your faves: Scorpia, Double Trouble, Catra- wait a minute are we Team HordeTM now? You'll have to listen to find out! What are your thoughts? Tweet them to us @TalkingTropes on Twitter, we'd love to chat!
Spoilers for all She-Ra seasons 1-4.
Thanks to our editor Logan, who you can find around the interwebz @LoganMcHollow!
Ba Sing Se? More like NAH Sing Se. We find our heroes in both series in the Impenetrable City! Mr. Avatar, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!!
ATLA Book 2 Ep 12: The Serpent’s Pass ATLA Book 2 Ep 13: The Drill ATLA Book 2 Ep 14: City of Walls and Secrets Korra Book 3 Ep 3: The Earth Queen Korra Book 3 Ep 4: In Harm’s Way
Hauntober? Hallowscream? Spooktacular? When did All Hallow's Eve become so...gibberish? And more importantly, how has this affected television programming and advertising? Is Halloween the most commercial holiday? Also, what's your costume supposed to be? All these questions and more will be answered...or will they?
Thanks to Logan for editing this one! Spoilers for various Halloween specials and movies. HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Look out! It's Korra book 3 and is Korra actually good now? But uh-oh, there might be some problematic titles referencing "Birth of a Nation" and comparing attacking spirit vines to racial integration? Oops. Meanwhile, we have a spectacular two-parter in Avatar with The Library and The Desert. Will we ever see Appa again?1?!?! Obviously yes, but you'll have to keep listening to find out what we think.
ATLA B2 E10 "The Library" ATLA B2 E11 "The Desert"
Korra B3 E1 "A Breath of Fresh Air" Korra B3 E2 “Rebirth of a nation”
Snopes gave this podcast 3 Pinocchios because of all the PUPPET TALK! We just finished Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on Netflix and there's some disagreement. Does this prequel capture the "ESSENCE" of the original? Obviously, spoilers abound.
Tweet at us @talkingtropes to let us know what you think of puppets and Jim Henson movies.
Thanks to Logan for editing this one!
Korra gets BEEEEEEG. It's the SEASON FINALE of Korra and we have a big Kaiju fight...but why? Meanwhile Toph gets mad screentime and Zuko yells at a cloud.
ATLA B2E8 The Chase ATLA B2E9 Bitter Work Korra B2E13 Darkness Falls Korra B2E14 Light in the Dark
It's her special day, and her rage can topple buildings. We're looking at the problematic trope of the mythic "Bridezilla," betrothed women who supernaturally destroy through their avarice for fancy dresses and ice sculptures. Can our plucky grooms survive? Tweet at us @talkingtropes to let us know your thoughts.
Spoilers for: 27 Dresses Bride Wars Very Bad Things My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Boy Meets World Gilmore Girls Sabrina the Teenage Witch Scrubs Buffy the Vampire Slayer 30 Rock Community Bridezillas (Reality Show) Say Yes to the Dress Diva Brides
Outside Readings: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bBv5NmSHjYUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA11&dq=bridezilla+capitalism&ots=OkXdw4Ixut&sig=4cU_hqP4ycPxbOl--WwcEImGcS4#v=onepage&q=bridezilla%20capitalism&f=false Domesticating Matrimonial Monstrosity: Bridezillas and Narratives of Feminine Containment Alyssa Ann Samek
White Weddings: Romancing Heterosexuality in Popular Culture Chrys Ingraham https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2009-0-12568-2&isbn=9781135928575&format=googlePreviewPdf
https://books.google.com/books/about/Skin_Shows.html?id=q10CzrWdwfEC Skin Shows: Gothic Horror and the Technology of Monsters Front Cover by Judith Halberstam
Thanks to our editor, Logan for this one, fam.
Aang finds his earthbending teacher, Toph in a WWE Smackdown. Zuko re-enacts classic western "Shane," and Bumi re-enacts modern classic "Rambo: Last Blood." A good time is had by all, but with the Korra finale fast approaching, could this season actually get WORSE?
Spoilers for: Avatar Book 2 Episode 6: The Blind Bandit Avatar Book 2 Episode 7: Zuko Alone Korra Book 2 Episode 11: Night of a Thousand Stars Korra Book 2 Episode 12: Harmonic Convergence
Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, aaaaaaaaaaaaand SADNESS! Let's watch some Steven Universe action, some of the boppinest jams, and questionable moral lessons in Steven Universe: The Movie!
Tweet at us @talkingtropes if you had any thoughts on this episode. Let us know if you want to see more minis!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY SWAMP!!! Spoilers for: Avatar Book 2 Episode 4: The Swamp Avatar Book 2 Episode 5: Avatar Day Korra Book 2 Episode 9: The Guide Korra Book 2 Episode 10: A New Spiritual Age
Follow us on twitter @talkingtropes
A little late, let's talk about Endgame! When will the Game End? Why does the End have so much Game? Who is the Game Ender? Where are the Games: on the front or rear End? What Game are you playing with my rear End? Find out on Talking Tropes: ENDGAME!
We get a blast from the past this week, as both Avatar and Korra explore what the avatar state truly is and where bending comes from, in somehow entirely contradictory ways. This episode is JAM PACKED with content 'cause we've got even more Aladdin parallels, singing hippies in a "cave of wonders", neutral jing, shipping, and more!
Find us on Twitter or Patreon @TalkingTropes!
Thanks to our editor Logan Mcbride! You can find him around the internet @LoganMcHollow.
We're back with special guest, brother, and cousin Matt Frank to discuss formulaic writing in Sketch Comedy. Today, we're focusing on sketches that take place during Game Shows. These are some of the funniest and most bizarre sketches you'll ever see, but is the cliché losing its laughability? Let's find out on WHEEL OF TROOOPES!
As we delve further into Korra we finally get to talk about everyone's favorite topic: War Profiteering and Propaganda! Meanwhile, Avatar manages to wrap up all of it's plot lines for Book 1: Water in a climactic battle for the soul of the North Pole.
Avatar Book 1 Episode 19: The Siege of the North, Part 1 Avatar Book 1 Episode 20: The Siege of the North, Part 2 Korra Book 2 Episode 5: Peacekepers Korra Book 2 Episode 6: The Sting
The Gaang gets WOKE, tackling cultural appropriation, colonization, and the most overtly feminist episode so far! Meanwhile, Korra starts to build a confused Iraq war allegory while highlighting everything we hate about these characters in Captain Korra: Civil War.
Book 1 Ep 17: The Northern Air Temple Book 1 Ep 18: The Waterbending Master Korra Book 2 Episode 3: Civil Wars Part 1 Korra Book 2 Episode 4: Civil Wars Part 2
What if porn...is bad? What if texting and driving...is bad? What if celebrity holograms...are bad? Check out our deconstruction of the tropes of the latest season of Black Mirror. Spoilers for Black Mirror Season 5 and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Special thanks to our editor, Logan
MAZEL TOV! Sokka, today you are a man. Also, Jeong Jeong makes his first appearance. On the Korra side of things, we're finally starting BOOK 2: Spirits, so you know it's groan central. Eska the abusive princess, Varrick the original anime Howard Hughes, Unalaq the totally not evil uncle, and a whole slew of new plot points and retcons are coming. Let's get spiritual!
Book 1 Ep 15: Bato of the Water Tribe Book 1 Ep 16: The Deserter Korra Book 2 Episode 1: Rebel Spirit Korra Book 2 Episode 2: The Southern Lights
To round out our ultimate ranking of Spider-Man films from earlier this year, we did the heard work and went to see Spider-Man: Far From Home and... well... I mean did you see those end credit scenes tho?!?!!
Find us on Twitter @TalkingTropes to request a review, a trope, or just to yell at us for all our wrong opinions!
Thanks to Logan McBride for editing! Find him around the Interwebs @LoganMcHollow.
It's inevitable! Korra Endgame is this years biggest blockbuster. Does Amon's motivation finally make sense? Meanwhile, the Blue Spirit is one of Zuko's most famous episodes, but does anyone remember that the plot centers around frozen frogs?
Book 1 Ep 13: The Blue Spirit Book 1 Ep 14: The Fortuneteller Korra Book 1 Episode 11: Skeletons in the Closet Korra Book 1 Episode 12: Endgame
WHAT'S IN THE BOX! Let's take a look at the J.J. Abrams oeuvre and dissect its most distinctive trope, the mystery that seems to go nowhere. Is the mystery box necessarily disappointing? Why is it so common in his writing? Will any of these questions be answered or will this podcast end up being purgatory the whole time? I dunno!
Spoilers for Alias Felicity Lost Star Wars Star Trek Fringe
Special thanks to our editor, Logan!
In The Last Airbender, we look at what some say is the worst episode of book one. In Korra we have bloodbending and fartbending. Which is more horrifying to watch? Right now it's time for tons of flashbacks and nothing of substance.
ATLA: Book 1 Episode 11 "The Great Divide" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 12 "The Storm" LoK: Book 1 Episode 9 "Out of the Past" LoK: Book 1 Episode 10 "Turning the Tides"
Everyone loves a good 70's sex romp, so much so that it spawned an entire genre of sitcom episode - THE BEACH EPISODE! For Memorial Day Weekend we're talking everything beachy, from Friends to Happy Days, Phineas and Ferb to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, we're covering it all. Also, btw Anime is cancelled.
If you enjoyed please be sure to subscribe and you can find us on Twitter @TalkingTropes and on Patreon also at Talking Tropes.
Thanks to our editor Logan McBride who you can find across the internet at @LoganMcHollow.
It's Katara time boys. Lot's of development going on here. And on the Korra side of things we get the real start of the new team Avatar. Does Asami ever become more than just a boring side character/love interest? We will get there... ATLA: Book 1 Episode 9 "The Waterbending Scroll" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 10 "Jet" LoK: Book 1 Episode 7 "Aftermath" LoK: Book 1 Episode 8 "When Extremes Meet"
Remember when KIDZ used to RULE? What happened? Why won't Nickelodeon take over my school? Millennial used to believe that kids rule and adults drool, so this is what happens when we grow up. Let's take a look at the real political message of 90s nostalgia tropes.
Thanks to our editor Logan for this one!
A love triangle rears its ugly head in Korra while Aang and the gaang learn about spirit worlds and ticking clocks. Spoilers for the following episodes: ATLA: Book 1 Episode 6 "Imprisoned" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 7 "Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 8 "Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku" LoK: Book 1 Episode 5 "The Spirit of Competition" LoK: Book 1 Episode 6 "And the winner is..."
The Avatar the last Korradventure continues! Let's watch Aang struggle with the terror of being ignored by a pretty girl, Sokka battles the forces of his own sexism, and Korra battles the evils of contrived romantic subplots. Spoilers for the following episodes:
ATLA: Book 1 Episode 4 "The Warriors of Kyoshi" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 5 "The King of Omashu" LoK: Book 1 Episode 3 "The Revelation" LoK: Book 1 Episode 4 "The Voice in the Night"
This week, we're joined by the voices of AP Marvel, Chris and Anthony (@compenderizer and @thePizzaTaco on twitter). We put together a crossover episode about all our favorite crossovers, shared universes, and spin-offs. We also give a few pitches for future crossovers that may be outside of the norm.
Topics: Justice League Avengers Jimmy Timmy Power Hour That's So Sweet Life of Hannah Montana Rugrats Go Wild! Power Rangers meet the TMNT and so much more...
From Homeland to Cup Cake Wars, it seems like the US Military has funded movies and TV shows in almost every genre across the decades. So our big question is ... Does this feel icky to you? We're diving into how the military got mixed up in film making, what their goals are, and recounting some of the ways they've influenced some of your favorite pieces of media.
Follow us on Twitter @talkingtropes
Thanks to our editor Logan McBride, who you can find across the internet @LoganMcHollow!
Flameo my fellow hotmen! We're embarking on an unforgettable journey, recapping Avatar the Last Airbender AND The Legend of Korra at the SAME TIME. Expect lots of comparisons between the original and the sequels as well as breakdowns of the tropes and how they affect the story. This podcast covers ATLA: Book 1 Episode 1 "The Boy in the Iceberg" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 2 "The Avatar Returns" ATLA: Book 1 Episode 2 "The Southern Air Temple" LoK: Book 1 Episode 1 "Welcome to Republic City" LoK: Book 1 Episode 2 "A Leaf in the Wind"
Follow us on Twitter @talkingtropes
Were you APRIL FOOLED?!?!
Okay but this one is for real this time, we're really talking about Silent episodes of TV and movies post-"Talkie" invention. We're covering all the classics from Spongebob to Buffy.
Have a favorite we missed? Tweet us @TalkingTropes. Love the show? Support us on Patreon!
Thanks again as always for Logan McBride for editing. You can find him online everywhere @LoganMcHollow
Monster Trucks 2016 was a box office disaster with a bizarre premise. But what if it's an 80s coming of age movie for a modern audience? Let's break down this weird nonsensical romp with glowing squids and evil oil companies! Spoilers abound.
It's March! What better time to talk about everyone's favorite flightless tuxedo-wearing bird. I CAN'T LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT PENGUINS!
Spoilers for the Pebble and the Penguin, March of the Penguins, Happy Feet, Happy Feet 2, Surf's Up, Surf's Up 2, The Penguins of Madagascar, and Mr. Popper's Penguins
"Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts of men who need more than they get Daylight deals a bad hand to a PENGUIN who has laid too many bets The mirror stares you in the face and says, "Baby, uh, uh, it don't work" You say your prayers though you don't care; you dance and shake the hurt DANCE! BOOGIE WONDERLAND!"
-Gloria the Penguin, Happy Feet
♪♫♬ Let's do the time loop again! ♪♫♬
That's right, whether it's Groundhog Day or Russian Doll, Edge of Tomorrow or Happy Death Day, the idea of being forced to relive the same hour, the same day, the same week is quickly becoming a modern classic in speculative fiction. David and Hannah take a deep dive into all these and more as we question where this trope came from, what it means, and where we'd like to see it evolve.
Don't forget to rate & subscribe! You can chat with us on Twitter @TalkingTropes
Thanks again to Logan McBride! You can find him around the internet @LoagnMchollow.
We recorded this before the TRAVESTY that was last night's Best Picture win, so please enjoy 20 minutes devoted to us calling out Green Book for how racist it is! Additionally: Do the Oscars really matter at all? Should they? What makes something Oscar bait? (cough coughgreenbookcough cough)
Want to chat with us? Tweet to us @TalkingTropes!
Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride. You can find him around the interwebz @LoganMcHollow
Romance is in the air this week on Talking Tropes, as Hannah and David talk about the geometry of Love Triangles! Love them or hate the, these triads of romance, these tri-corner flings, love triangles are ubiquitos and basically as old as dirt. But are they worth it in the modern age? Tell us your most beloved and your most hated on Twitter @TalkingTropes and let us know what tropes we should talk about next!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkingTropes
I never look back darling, it distracts from the now. Except when we look back on classic Pixar animated films in order to dissect the sequel released a decade later. Did you like Incredibles 2? If so, why are you ruining cinema? Tweet at us @talkingtropes
Peter Parker. He gotta lotta Daddy's. We do a run-down of paternal tropes in all the Spider-Man movies. Who's the best Spider-Daddy? Spoilers abound.
This week on Spider-watch, we're diving into the three most recent Spider-centric films - Vemon, Spider-Man Homecoming, and Into the Spider-Verse. All of these are in Hannah's top 5 spider-flicks of all time, and David pitches his own theories about why these films are good, but SPIDER-MAN 3 IS STILL THE BEST ONE!!!
Find us on Patreon, or on Twitter @TalkingTropes!
Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride. Find him around the internet @LoganMcHollow!
Get ready for Spider-palooza, as we deep dive into the cinematic spider-verse for the next three weeks! To kick it off, we're talking about the franchise that launched the modern superhero genre vs Andrew Garfield's dreamy eyes and spoiler alert: everyone's opinions are WRONG, including ours.
Thanks to our editor Logan McBride! You can find him online @loganmchollow or email him at loganamcbride@gmail.com.
Yes that's right, this week Hannah and David are fixing one of the most beloved of the modern Disney
It's a new year, but is it a New Doctor Who? Well... sort of? We dig in to all the best and worst moments and tropes of this New Years episode. We also debate the very existence of the concept of a "New Years", if the romance of the episode works, and what it means that Doctor Who had it's first cut away gag. (Spoilers: it's the end of everything.)
Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride who you can find across the social internet at @loganmchollow!
BAH HUMBUGGEROO! It's a very Talking Tropes Christmas, Charlie Brown. Is this episode part of the war on Christmas? Or is it just corporate propaganda? YOU DECIDE! Comment your favorite Christmas special!
'Tis the season for love and peace, so we're talking about pacifists in media! We've got video games where no one has to die, shows where even the worst people are redeemable, and a whole mess of others where morality is somewhat a little more gray. Peace! And! Love!
Thanks to our editor Logan, who you can find around the internet as @loganmchollow.
It's the final two episodes of the season, and we want to know: did Doctor Who stick the landing, or did it backslide into underdeveloped swill once more? The answer may surprise you! We've got final thoughts on the whole season, hopes for the future, and more proof that Homestuck is everywhere,
Thanks to our editor Logan! You can find his work @loganmchollow on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr.
Alan Cumming steals the show this week on Doctor Who. Also he stole our hearts. And our wallets. Today David and Hannah recap and dissect the tropes in Series 11 episodes 7 and 8 Kerblam! and The Witchfinders. Will politics ruin Doctor Who? Will mud men finally provide season 11 with an iconic villain? Find out with TARDIS TROOOOOPES!!!
We're thankful for our family this time of year - whether that's the people who birthed you, the ones who raised you, or some kindred spirits you found along the way, and so we're talking about examples of the latter for a whole episode! This one goes out to all the Mom Friends, to the begrudging father figures who adopt orphans, and to the groups of four or more kids who have to band together to save the world.
Big thanks to our editor Logan! Find him on Insta and Tumblr @LoganMcHollow
This week, Hannah is finally happy with an episode of Doctor Who, and David is so very very tired. Is there any hope for the season to be any good? Maybe... but probably not. Direct all angry complaints to @TalkingTropes on Twitter or the BBC!
Thanks to our editor Logan McBride! Find him on Instagram or Tumblr, @LoganMcHollow.
It's all in the title, folks. Today we explore why the Good Place is literally, figuratively, ironically, the same as Homestuck.
Spoilers for both of those. Special thanks to our editor, Logan
Did doctor Who nail it these last two episodes? Well... not really. But it did mange to suck just a little bit less! Hop into the TARDIS to meet Rosa Parks and some spiders and a really incompetent parody of Donald Trump. We'll cover all that and more in this episode of Tardis Tropes!
Special thank you to our editor Logan McBride for his patience and skill. You can find him @loganmchollow on Instagram and Tumblr.
Happy Halloween! Today we're looking at the spooky myths and legends of the United States of America. What makes a ghost story or a fairy tale feel 'Murican? How do the colonies draw on their European folklore? Who would've gotten away with it if not for those meddling kids? Find out on Talking Tropes.
Spoilers for Over the Garden Wall Gravity Falls American Gods Various Fairy Tales Scooby Doo
Episode two was... underwhelming in more ways than one, and we're gonna talk about why. Hot takes include: Chris Chibnall is a hack who can't write himself out of a paper bag and is probably scared to get dressed in the morning cause CLOTH IS SCARY!!!!
Spoilers for Doctor Who season 11
Edited by Logan McBride (loganamcbride@gmail..com)
New Doctor, New Showrunner, New rules. How does the season premiere stack up against a 50 year history? Does the concept of a woman doctor collapse the space-time continuum? Is Chris Chibnall a better writer than "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" would suggest?
Spoilers for Doctor Who season 11. Lovingly edited by Logan
So we've discussed the ongoing debate between Moffat and Russel T. but what do these showrunners have to say about gender? Let's take a closer look at the women of New Who, to learn who is the most #problematic. Spoilers for Doctor Who series 1-10.
It's farting aliens vs. impossible girls. It's bad wolf vs. silence will fall. It's Rose vs. Clara and Tennant vs. Smith. This podcast will weigh the good tropes with the bad on the most divisive sci-fi show in the history of time and space. Who was the better Doctor Who showrunner? We look at the good tropes and the bad of New Who do determine Who wore it best.
Hey everybody, we're going on hiatus for a bit. When we get back, hopefully we can start updating weekly instead of every other week.
In the meantime, let's discuss Mary-Sues, Smadness, Sexy Badasses, Action Girls, Trinity Syndrome, and Empowerment. What makes a female character strong? And why is it so important to include it in your marketing?
Spoilers for: Catwoman Tomb Raider Black Panther Harry Potter The Lego Movie Wonder Woman The Dark Knight Trilogy The Matrix Jessica Jones Red Sparrow Star Wars VII Colossal
Today we tackle the ultimate anime question: Is Fullmetal Alchemist shonen? We examine the tropes of the genre and how it applies to both the original series and the manga-following 2009 reboot.
Spoilers For: Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009)
If you disagree with our conclusions, or have your own thoughts to add, you can let us know on twitter @talkingtropes and if you want us to make better content and access exclusive perks, please donate to our patreon at patreon.com/talkingtropes
Special thanks to DAVID this week for being our editor for this very special episode...keep your eyes on YouTube for some bonus fun!
Where does Thanos rank among the MCU baddies and antagonists? Today we discuss the bad, the bad, and the ugly of Marvel Villainy.
Spoilers ALL MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE FILMS AND TV SHOWS
If you disagree with our picks for best and worst villain, you can let us know on twitter @talkingtropes and if you want us to make better content and access exclusive perks, please donate to our patreon @ patreon.com/talkingtropes
Special thanks to Logan, our editor. If not for him, you'd have to listen to a lot more coughing and long digressions about Josh Brolin's Filmography.
Narrators: the disembodied ghosts of movies. Today we take a look at some of our favorite narrators that put a fun spin on telling stories that we're already watching. Snicket, Ron Howard, Douglas Adams and more! It's wacky wordsmiths all the way down.
Little did they know, the podcast would include spoilers for Stranger than Fiction and A Series of Unfortunate Events.
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Special thanks to Logan, our editor. Keepin' it real like a happy meal.
Kids are pretty stupid, but in our media we love the idea of children that are smarter than the adults, able to build fantastic inventions, and possessing the skills to solve mysteries the cops can't.
If you can think of any Boy Geniuses or Kid Detectives we missed, let us know in the comments or on twitter @talkingtropes.
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Spoilers for: Jimmy Neutron Dexter's Lab Shaolin Showdown The Adventure Zone Case Closed/ Detective Conan Phineas and Ferb Star Wars Artemis Fowl Ender's Game Fullmetal Alchemist A Wrinkle in Time Yu-gi-oh Gifted Mahou Sensei Negima! Family Guy Death Note Alex Rider Kids Next Door Big Hero Six Malcolm in the Middle Young Sheldon Boondocks The Amazing World of Gumball Matilda Young Wizards Avatar Iron Man (Comics) Recess The Simpsons Baccano!
One thing that really grinds my grindr is when writers hint at LGBT characters but never have the guts to bring their characters out of the closet. What's wrong with shipping Destiel? How obvious was Korrasami really? Is Yuuri Katsuki a top or a bottom? All these questions and more will be answered on Talking Tropes
Spoilers for : Supernatural Sherlock Legend of Korra Yuri!!! on Ice
Big thanks to our editor Logan for his time and effort. If you want to support us getting good audio and posting more exciting content, check us out on patreon @ patreon.com/talkingtropes
Making TV is expensive. Sometimes you gotta make an episode on the cheap. Check out our favorite "bottle episodes" with minimal sets, characters, and costs. If you want to help us have a budget, support us on Patreon @ patreon.com/talkingtropes
Spoilers for : Star Trek Star Trek: TNG Community Mad Men
Is Black Mirror garbage now? It might be! Join us this week as we talk about ALL the tropes and troubles of this most recent season of the sci-fi smash hit now that it's in Netflix's clutches. We'll talk about our favorites and least favorites and what it actually means to be a truly good (or truly bad) episode of Black Mirror.
Spoilers for: Season 4 of Black Mirror. Potential spoilers for season 1-3.
Big thanks to our awesome Editor Logan McBride! You can find him on tumblr @buringark-art or at https://loganamcbride.wordpress.com/
Love them or hate them, we all had toys of them. They're familiars, partners, and foils for our favorite Disney characters. But are some pointless dead weights that only serve to distract from the plot? Find out this time, on Talking Tropes!
Spoilers for: All animated Disney movies
Big thanks to our awesome Editor Logan McBride! You can find him on tumblr @buringark-art or athttps://loganamcbride.wordpress.com/
Let's talk about Will they/Won't they relationships. Who's worse: Ross Geller or Ted Moseby? Where did this trope come from? How has it changed? Why won't it just go away?