Mostly Murder (But Sometimes Not)

New episode out now! We cover the first episode of Prime Suspect 1973 (or Prime Suspect: Tennison if you’re American), a 2017 prequel series about the early days of Jane Tennison’s law enforcement career. We enjoyed the more nuanced take it had regarding many things, including how the detectives treated drug users, how they presented the autopsy scene, and the time the show spent on the grief of the family. We discuss the differences in how the women of the police force are treated versus the men, talk about how they establish “good cop” Len Bradfield and the “bad cops” of the other detectives, love the character of Morgan and how competent she is, and continue to not understand London police organization. We love the 1970s setting and think it really adds a whole other level to the show; the costumes, set decoration, and especially the excellent music selection really enhanced the vibe. Katy points out multiple obvious things, Carrie was not impressed by the wigs, Maddy leads a moment of silence, and Mack thought there were too many greasy white boys. We also discuss the trope of a quirky medical examiner and how shows try to deal with the reality of a dead body, get excited about radios and ticker tape, learn Carrie was right about London buildings being cleaner, and do not approve of puking on screen. Listen to hear more about bleached Henry Cavill, British accents, Scone Palace, Night Court, and more! Plus, try to figure out which one of us had Covid while recording, which one was hungover, and which one had a few audio dropouts fixed in post! Enjoy!

TW: Drug addiction, sex work, sex work of a minor, murder of a sex worker, police abuse, misogyny, quality of low income housing, Grenfell Tower fire

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the pilot episode of the 1980’s dramedy Moonlighting, starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis. We enjoy the chemistry and visual comedy work of the two leads and think they were both excellent, discuss the prevalence of the banter and how it dominates the dialogue of the show, learn a little bit about the production struggles, and call out the many recognizable guest stars who make an appearance. We talk about how this was “appointment TV” for so many people and how it remains a top show on many “Best Of” lists, absolutely love the ‘80s lifestyles and hair, and wonder if Bruce Willis’ contemporary charm helped David seem not as creepy in his initial stalker-ish and pushy behavior. We also cover the somewhat confusing mystery plot, make guesses at what 1980s computers can do, and realize we cannot compare everything to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Katy misinterprets an apparently common phrase, Carrie tries to be cool with new lingo, Maddy fixates on the butts, and Mack finds certain driving practices unforgivable. We also discuss proper diamond storage, make many Friends and Murder She Wrote references, learn about Orson Welles’ last role, and believe we should protect furries to save the internet. Listen to hear more about misunderstanding tax write-offs, barefoot running, ladder physics, confusing “Maddy” for “Maddy”, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Enjoy!

TW: Nazis, Holocaust diamonds, Woody Allen, misogyny

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the first episode of Inspector Morse, a staple of British detective television and inspiration for two further series. We dig into the character of Morse and how he is presented in the show, discussing how his interests and flaws are weaved into the narrative and also how he goes about solving cases with “unorthodox” methods. We like Lewis and appreciate his agency, enjoy the music and choral singing, analyze the character’s living spaces, and debate how the morality of the 1980s drove the motive. We also talk about how the mystery is not spoon fed to the audience; the story was complicated and Morse got things wrong which was a surprising but enjoyable aspect, even if it made us confused. Katy accidentally slighted Jeremy Sumpter, Carrie enjoys live music performed well, Maddy longs for a quaint life, and Mack has opinions about handwriting. We talk about annoying puzzles, guess what American crime procedurals are popular across the pond, share stories about empty restaurants that may be fronts, and ask the age old question - gay or Oxford student? We also touch on real ale, repointing, sacred harp singing, and fish smells. And something quite incredible happens for the first time in the podcast’s history…give it a listen to find out what! Enjoy!

TW: death by suicide, binge drinking, blackmail, classicism, drug addiction, suspected incest

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the 1980 mystery comedy The Private Eyes, starring Tim Conway and Don Knotts. We debate what the movie was aiming for between mystery and satire, wonder who the audience was intended to be, have issues figuring out if things were jokes or clues, and perhaps read too much into the actual plot. We learn the script was written in two days, and then subsequently wonder if the casting of two beloved comedy actors did a lot of the work in pumping up the humor of the film. We also feel that the Biltmore Estate lent a lot to the visuals, have issues with the casual '70s racism, think Mel Brooks was a big influence, and really like the Scooby-Doo of it all - with the epitome of a mysterious cloaked figure. Katy worried that ghosts were real, Carrie doesn't think Don Knotts is funny, Maddy has Biltmore blindness, and Mack knows who Richard Nixon is. We talk about Vulcan humor and what is unintentionally funny about old Star Trek, lament that it's difficult for kids today to learn about older pop culture, pitch The Carol Burnett Show TikTok, and channel The Mickey Mouse Club. We also cover castle architecture, funny pigeon bits, air quotes, Old Glory, and secret passages. Give it a listen and enjoy!

TW: Racist stereotypes, tongue mutilation, Santa Claus mythology, harm to animals, sexism

Show Notes:

Extra special episode out now! For our holiday episode this year, the wonderful Mackenzie designed and ran a one session role playing mystery game - set in the North Pole! The premise imagines the world of the Rankin/Bass stop-motion 1970s Christmas specials if it persisted to this day. Santa has called upon three of the best detectives in the Tinkerton Detective Agency to help solve the disappearance / possible murder of Frosty the Snowman. They explore the world of the North Pole, including Christmastown, Frostburg, and more, while questioning suspects that may be familiar… and in the meantime, Katy cannot do math, Carrie has an excellent sense of smell, Maddy channels her inner Marlowe, and Mack shares his voice acting talent. Give it a listen to hear us all go on a wonderful holiday mystery adventure! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the pilot of The Pinkertons, a Canadian period procedural about the beginnings of the Pinkerton Agency in post-Civil War Missouri. We discuss the representation of both Allan Pinkerton and his son Will, as well as one of the earliest female detectives Kate Warne, and wonder how involved the actual Pinkerton agency was in their depiction. We decide it follows basic procedural rules, admire the costume design even if they are not dirty enough, try to diagnose our lackluster feelings about the episode, and talk at length about how it made us want to play Red Dead Redemption 2 instead. (Seriously, this episode is basically half advertisement for RDR2). Katy finds herself defending Canadian television again, Carrie busts out a high-point vocabulary word, Maddy reveals her feelings for bagpipes, and Mack raves about Allan Pinkerton. We talk about the true dangers of the Civil War, compare the weird commercials we saw while watching, share video game stories, and try to remember our confirmation names. We also learn many facts in real time, including why some movies are called spaghetti westerns, what bushwhackers are, and when sunscreen was invented. Listen to hear about wild unboxing stories, the Sultana steamboat, litigation, the sexual energy of Dulé Hill, and more! (Seriously Mack shares so many varied and interesting facts). Enjoy and yeehaw!

TW: Anti-Union sentiment, strikebreaking, racism, Southern Confederacy 

Show Notes:

We’re back with a new episode! We dove into Death on the Nile, the 2022 Kenneth Branagh adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel, and wow do we have thoughts. We get right into it, covering the character of Poirot and how we rank Branagh’s version compared to the previous two we explored on the podcast. We talk about the fundamental elements of the detective, and consider why we felt this movie missed the mark. We discuss the lack of connection we had to varying degrees, and wonder how much of it had to do with the “style over substance” approach and how it seemed to cater to a general audience. We did, however, admire the costumes and production design (despite the terrible CGI), thought the actual mystery part was adapted well, and believe the attempts at color conscious casting were at least partially successful. We also agreed that the actors did great work with what they were given, but wish these production studios did more to vet the histories and behavior of who they cast. Katy gets her Marvel movies mixed up, Carrie quietly drops some Cleopatra facts, Maddy questions the historical accuracy of balloon releases, and Mack breaks down the patriarchy (it’s not about horses). We wonder why every modern hero needs traumatic backstories, enjoy the addition of lesbians, discuss actors who feel weird in period pieces, and ask Mack to answer the age-old question, “Why do men suck so much?” We also cover bullet sizes, Jurassic Park, the Bryan Cranston Effect, dance floor humping, and unions. Listen to hear an incredible Branagh Poirot impression!

“Every decision they made was the wrong decision.” - Carrie

TW: Anti-vax views, cannibalism, colonialism, racism, appropriation of ancient and modern Egyptian culture, vore. Mentions of Armie Hammer, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Johnny Depp

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the 1995 neo-noir film The Usual Suspects and got right into the storytelling of it all. We discussed how most of the movie is told from an unreliable narrator’s perspective, and tried to decipher what was real and what perhaps wasn’t, deciding how that plays into the “mystery” if we cannot know the truth. We also talked about the true goals of Keyser Söze, revealed what our preconceived expectations of the movie were, thought the cinematography was very well done, and dissected the multitude of accents in the film. We enjoyed that it was essentially a movie of great character actors, learned some fun facts about the infamous lineup scene, and realized the end has been spoofed multiple times. Katy needs to know things, Carrie hates littering, Maddy enjoys being right, and Mack shares facts about fresh picked coffee beans. We impart important lessons about Googling a movie while watching it, try to remember specifics about murderers, hear an anecdote about ancient Rome, and are grossed out at a specific moment from the beginning of the film. Give it a listen to hear about Howard the Duck, reusing body bags, Adam Sandler, and the difficulty of trying a Christopher Walken impression. Enjoy! (Disclaimer: There are some very small dropout issues in Mack’s summary; we apologize for the quality but rest assured it does not happen the entire episode)

TW: Homophobia, faking a disability, Kevin Spacey, Bryan Singer

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the first installment of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, “The Murder at Road Hill House”. We cover how this is a pretty faithful adaptation of a horrifying true story, discuss the character of Mr. Whicher and his real history as “the prince of detectives”, and talk about the nature and purpose of justice within flawed systems that are just made up. We also wonder what kind of forensic sciences existed in the 1860s, discuss the influence of class on how the big-city detective interacts with the countryside village and household, and think that the Kent family dynamics are toxic and weird. Katy tries to remember Victorian police facts, Carrie gets infuriated with smarminess, Maddy reveals herself to be anti-monarchy, and Mack wins some big vocabulary points. We also talk about Victorian child labor laws, pitch some new TV shows, lament the state of 1800s medicine, and think this would have benefited from the addition of Henry Cavill’s Witcher. Listen now to hear more about studying dinosaurs, the lack of caveman mysteries, delivering bounties in Red Dead Redemption 2, and the perpetualness of boob sweat. Enjoy!

TW: Murder of a young child, fratricide, historical high rates of child mortality, infidelity, antiquated medical attitudes towards women

Show Notes/Sources: 

New episode out now! We delve into the world of Booth and Brennan in the season 2 episode of Bones, “Spaceman in a Crater”. We talk about what feels different about this show as a procedural, with a focus on literal bones, as well as the tropes it shares with other similar shows. We discuss the possible portrayals of the autism spectrum, wonder who exactly funds the Jeffersonian Medico-Legal Lab, talk about Booth’s loyalty to the US, and think that these coworkers are way too into each other’s business. We also share our family history with the show, discuss the psychology of astronauts and the obsession with space, and believe that David Boreanaz is a Television Professional(™). Katy gets a common phrase wrong more than once, Carrie is the most competent person on the entire podcast, Maddy gives some great makeup tips, and Mack shares a compelling alien theory. We talk about annoying product placement, discuss whether all animals would eat people if given the chance, make deals regarding phone etiquette, and discover how long you need to polish rocks for. We also theorize about a new type of injury caused by a repetitive action, learn cool facts about coral, and reference at least two different ‘90s sitcoms. Give it a listen! (Also, this episode may not be for Mom. Sorry, Tander). Series spoilers

TW: Cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, autistic representations in media, animals eating humans, billionaires 

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We played The Wolf Among Us from Telltale Games, a kind of choose-your-own-adventure video game where you solve a mystery set in a twisted underground world filled with characters from fairy tales, myths, and more. We discuss our strategies in making decisions, debate the moral and ethical values of our choices, and ultimately discover how those choices affected the kind of sheriff Bigby Wolf became. We talk about how the familiar characters were interpreted, discuss how poverty and corruption leads to desperate decisions, debate how cruel the villain ended up being, and love the art style and detailed design. We also reveal that ultimately we only cared about TJ, aka Toad Jr., and were more OK with murdering people than with disappointing him. Katy lived a meme in real life, Carrie felt constantly guilty being mean, Maddy gets shocked by a Cinderella translation, and Mack gives a sneak peek into future podcast possibilities. We get into the super dark original versions of fairy tales, talk about the differences between the game and the comics, were unnerved by some of the game prompts, and learn that we have all tried to find a playable online version of Barbie Detective without success. We also cover a new Untitled Goose Game pitch, getting surprised by nudity, the weird mix of character inspirations, and humidity. Give it a listen! And #JusticeForTJ

TW: Exploitation and murder of sex workers, political corruption, torture, gore, dark original versions of fairy tales, rape

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the original Swedish film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009), based on the 2005 book by Stieg Larsson. We talk about the extremely dark and jarring themes that are present throughout the story, praise the excellent acting, and discuss how the content is adapted from the book to the film. We compare the intentions, behaviors, and decisions of Mikael and Lisbeth, debate the socioeconomics of being a serial killer and how being a rich man helps one get away with it, and wonder how realistic the portrayal of hacking is. We also really, really abhor the patriarchy, and discuss the different levels of misogynist hate and how it manifests in the film. Katy was overjoyed by the amount of archives, Carrie loves an impressive eyebrow, Maddy is a sucker for a well-adapted book, and Mack gets disappointed by hacker names. We also talk about huge dips in the happiness index, fighting for depressing Oscar roles, and American vs. Swedish jail systems. We cover SpongeBob memes, dead face actors, American Girl dolls, and O’Brien family facts. There are multiple revelations within—This. Episode. Has. Everything! Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

TW: Rape, incestual rape, rape by government appointed guardian, Nazis, antisemitism, serial killing of marginalized women, serial killing of Jewish women, corpse mutilation, domestic abuse, patricide, United States prison industrial complex, death by suicide, misogyny

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We cover one of Hollywood’s most famous noir films, Double Indemnity (1944). We pick apart the moral quandaries and decisions of the main characters, discuss the banter inherent in these types of films, and debate whether or not certain acts took place offscreen. We talk about how the people in these movies seem to fall in love extremely quickly, wonder exactly when Neff created the insurance fraud scheme in his mind, call out the racial stereotyping, and someone laments the continued presence of Raymond Chandler in our podcast. We compare this movie to a few other films we’ve covered, comment on the sheer amount of cigarette action, and reveal who the actual coolest person in the movie is. Katy is a big fan of a short tie with a high pant, Carrie loves a dictaphone, Maddy thinks that crab mouth parts are incredible, and Mack tells a story about searching for a house. We debate whether lighting a match is code for something, admire actuarial tables, try to decide if we would live in a house where we knew a death had just happened, and appreciate the loosening of relationship deal-breakers since the 1940s. We also talk about autocannibalism, how phone numbers worked, old Hollywood bloopers, and the price of real estate. Give it a listen to hear us all try at least one accent!

TW: Death by suicide, age difference in ambiguous relationship, infidelity, racism

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder (2003), a cult crime movie often considered one of the best East Asian films ever made. We get right into the main characters, discussing how they are not good at their jobs and start out morally and ethically terrible, rightfully being called out by the community. We talk about the journeys the detectives go through and how their country and city cultures clash, discuss the aspects of masculinity the film depicts, hit on the many parallels we saw between Korean and American culture, and figure this is more a slice of life/culture of crime-solving film rather than a straight detective story. We also consider the fact that it is the first non-English language film we’ve covered, wonder if some of the aspects went over our heads because of an unfamiliarity with both Korean culture and 1980’s Korean history, and talk about the visual style of the film such as desaturated colors and impactful composition. Katy severely misremembers Stand By Me, Carrie shares product placement theories, Maddy teaches us how the Swiss lightly curse, and Mack remembers a psychological study about bullying. We get terrified of killers in fields, believe America is a Western ideal but a bad reality, get infuriated by sexism in the police force, and wonder about the real life case this is based on. We also talk about getting old, medical consent, cool chase scenes, great adages, and generalizations about men. Listen to the very end for a post credit surprise!

TW: Rape, murder, abuse of developmentally disabled individuals, police brutality both past and present, abuse, torture and coercion, militarization of police, school shootings, abuse by Christian leaders, emergency amputation, authoritarian military politics

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We cover the complicated world of obsessive Victorian magicians in 2006’s The Prestige, and beware–spoilers abound! This movie is wild and we get right into it by trying to unravel the many layers and timelines of this mystery-adjacent film. We talk about the themes of obsession, sacrifice, class, and of course magic while wondering if the addition of a sci-fi element muddles the mystery a little. We also try to decide if all of the main characters are sociopaths, mull over the concept of magic vs science, think the acting is appropriately intense, and get into a slight philosophical debate about the nature of cloning, souls, and consciousness. Katy squeezes in some London knowledge to the surprise of no one, Carrie gets jealous of handwriting, Maddy wants all the magic wands, and Mack has a get-rich plan for his clones. We also talk about other Victorian stage acts, wonder if we’ve ever been to Colorado Springs, agree that electricity is scary, and get surprised by Andy Serkis. Give it a go and remember, always listen to Michael Caine! Enjoy!

TW: Racism, suicide, death by drowning, exploitation of disabled people including the blind, voluntary self-mutilation, sociopaths, classism, animal death

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We’re back to our regular schedule with a dive into the world of Disney animation, covering 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective. We learn how it adapts a children's book which in turn mirrored Sherlock Holmes, wonder at the world-building of mice parallels to human monarchies and war, and don’t really understand the rules concerning which animals get to talk. We also discuss the state of Disney animation in the ‘80s leading to the disjointed development of this movie in particular, as well as how the animators felt about it. Most of us agree that the songs don’t really slap, but we all fully agree that Vincent Price gives a masterful villain performance. Katy makes guesses about the history of the British monarchy, Carrie establishes the roots of a childhood fear, Maddy is only interested in mouse capitalism, and Mack gives us all a passionate lecture. We also debate if this movie is the beginning of Skynet, discuss the awful ways cartoons villainize fat people, wonder why we assign gender to types of animals, and realize that taxes are a shortcut for evil in kids movies. Listen to hear us talk about drag queens, octopus eyes, harmful princess culture, and babysitter stories! Enjoy!

TW: Monarchies, fatphobia, capitalist systems causing harm

Show Notes

Extra special episode out now! For this year’s holiday treat, Quizmaster Mack designed a whole game show for us to play! We play four different games, each one tied to our podcast in some way. We confront how often we veer off topic, test our knowledge of Florida Man, see if we can tell what's been subtly changed in a plot synopsis, and guess weird facts about properties we will probably never cover. Katy realizes she talks about the World’s Fair a lot, Carrie got away with mispronunciation, Maddy is a dehydrated queen, and Mack airs some grievances. We also learn what is technically north of Florida, why paleontologists lick things, and how Mary-Kate and Ashley always travel. Listen to hear Mack being a clever (and tricksy) game-maker, who bet on the fact that we don’t listen to each other well or retain information-and won! And after the games, we have a familiar Casemas treat! Enjoy, and happy holidays!

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Show Notes:

New episode out now! We encounter another jewel-heist-in-London-involving-Muppets film with 2014's Muppets Most Wanted! We discuss the appeal of the Muppets and how the format they're in can really make or break the offbeat humor, and debate whether this movie accomplished that traditional zaniness. We talk about how we love the practical nature of the Muppets, wonder if we may have liked this movie a bit more if a few actors were replaced, and complain about the use of CGI. We also get into the fun cameos and how we recognized almost all of them, and confirm we loved all the songs - even the romantic one. Katy loves synchronized swimming and lists, Carrie does not enjoy a mirror mime gag, Maddy knows Josh Groban, and Mack goes on two separate rants but then does an incredible Doofenshmirtz impression. We also argue about the word of art thieves, think that freely dancing to the Macarena seems fun, yell at Mack twice, and some of us get weirded out by sexy Kermit (aka Constantine). Give it a listen to hear us talk about European employment laws, clown cars, the Tower of London, Labyrinth, and which one of us thought this movie was incredible. Enjoy!

TW: Covid references, Russian gulag

Show Notes/Corrections:

New episode out now! We cover a comic book for the first time on the podcast for our 69th episode! The four of us read Volume 1 of Wicked Things by John Allison and Max Sarin. We discuss the character of Charlotte Grote, the teen detective, and how her methods compare to other crime-solvers we’ve encountered. We love the visual art style and how it feels animated, get slightly confused by some of the plotlines, and wonder about the specific alternate reality of this world where everyone knows famous teen detectives. We also talk about the medium of comic books and how the storytelling is different, the uncertain nature of issue runs, and how we’re talking about a very visual medium on a very auditory podcast. Katy cares about our social media, Carrie gets jealous of a blazer, Maddy gasped while reading, and Mack had to Google British slang. We also discuss the impermanence of our consumerism-driven world, confirm we don’t feel bad when corporations are stolen from, debate what exactly constitutes an 18-bird roast, and learn what not to do when waking up in a hospital. Listen to hear about grocery store crushes, getting trapped in a skate bowl, childhood comic drawings, and a great Halloween witch impression. Plus one of us gets a Happy Meal delivery in the middle of recording! Enjoy!

TW: Police

SHOW NOTES / LINKS:

New episode up now! We watched the 2020 film The Kid Detective starring Adam Brody and wow—everyone in this movie needs therapy. We discuss the clear themes of trauma and depression that thread throughout, love the use of cinematography and music to aid the storytelling, are surprised by how dark the movie gets, and talk about the expectations vs reality of both Abe Applebaum and the town of Willowbrook. Is Abe actually a good detective or is he just somewhat observant, good at psychology, and watched too many detective shows? We also get into the odd nostalgia of the film’s flashbacks, where it's not quite clear what time period the “kid” detective grew up in but stylistically it could vary between the 1950s and the 1980s and we ponder on what that might mean. Katy is tired of movies showing depressed men peeing, Carrie admits to watching black and white films, Maddy enjoys smooth jazz, and Mack shows off his bottle cap collection. We argue about bathroom mirror placement, get anxious about hiding in closets, and wonder - why are Gen Z teens so into Pong? We also talk about cute gang names, young Vincent Price, and the nutritional aspects of ice cream. Give it a listen and you’ll hear some delightful tunes as well!

TW: Statutory rape, teen pregnancy, racism, depression

SHOW NOTES/CORRECTIONS:

New episode out now! We explore the world of Jane Austen with the 2013 miniseries Death Comes to Pemberley, based on the 2011 novel of the same name. We get into the disjointed feeling we felt while watching and try to figure out what this adaptation was really trying to be - a murder mystery with Austen characters or Austen fanservice with a background murder? A romance? A courtroom drama? All of the above? We discuss how this portrayed familiar characters and whether or not they felt true to the originals, get annoyed by Wickham continually escaping the consequences of his actions, wonder why they needed a single odd sex scene, and get grossed out by sketchy cousin marriage proposals. We also get into how the characters manipulated evidence to back their version of events, and discuss the class divide in this era, especially between the Darcy family and their staff and servants. Katy is a horse girl on rare occasions, Carrie really does love a library, Maddy has an excellent vocabulary, and Mack minds his own business. We also hate on some ugly wigs, discuss historical hysteria treatments, reveal some childhood invasions of privacy, get mad at toxic masculinity, and debate definitions of fanfiction vs. pastiche⁠—as well as reveal some of our own forays into writing! Maddy does multiple accents and we all are annoyed at Lydia - it’s a treat! Give it a listen!

(Note: Carrie’s audio is a bit off in the beginning and we apologize for that- it has been corrected as much as possible.)

TW: Incest, suicide

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We delve into mid-century noir with the 1955 film Kiss Me Deadly. We discuss the nature of hard-boiled detective stories and their inclination to create an ideal square-jawed “dark hero”, and how Mike Hammer seems to be (perhaps purposefully) a weird parody of that. We talk about how almost every character is a terrible, unlikeable person, lament the appalling treatment and depiction of women, discuss the influence on other movies, admire the cinematography, and really get into just how dang confusing it was. We also learn some of the reasons it may be confusing lie in weird story changes caused by McCarthyism, the Hays Code, and good old-fashioned Hollywood writers trying to be too clever. Katy finds extreme gym culture boring, Carrie has issues with sonnet interpretation, Maddy shares the real danger of bears, and Mack volunteers to take up some serious historical research. We also talk about Indiana Jones, get confused by exaggerated accents, discuss the lapsed(?) fear of nuclear war, and two of us mistake a dog for a cat! Yikes! Give it a listen to hear one of our worst PBS ratios yet!

TW: suicide, atomic bombs, racism, sexual assault

Show Notes/Corrections:

New episode out now! We head to the Island and watch the infamous season three episode of LOST titled “Exposé”, aka the Nikki-and-Paulo episode. We cover the controversial episode’s place within the mythos of the show, argue about whether the investigative characters actually solve anything or just noticed anomalies, revisit the structure of the show as a whole, debate multiple character motivations, and discuss the idea that anyone can be a main character if we spend enough time with them. We also dig deep into our reminiscence about watching the pilot live, learn what it’s like to have older sisters freak out about television, and are grateful we no longer have to call dibs on the TV. Katy brings up the writers strike again, Carrie was flabbergasted no one else knew about important spider facts, Maddy quotes Britannica.com, and Mack shares a platonic fantasy. We also reiterate that you should always listen to dogs, list a myriad of potential dangers on the Island, talk about ungulates, and get annoyed that the characters weren’t dirtier. There are full series spoilers so beware!

(We would also like to encourage you to watch The Last of Sheila (1973) which is scheduled to be our next episode; we will be spoiling it and it is a good movie to watch without knowing anything beforehand - trust us!)

TW: Being buried alive, temporary paralysis, hanging

Show Notes:

New episode out NOW! We’re shaking things up for the month of December! For the next four weeks you’ll get a brand new episode along the same theme: the game Crack the Case. It’s Casemas 2: Electric Boogaloo!

Crack the Case is a Milton Bradley party game that came out in 1993, where players ask yes or no questions in order to solve a mystery. We’re putting our detective skills to the test!

Katy hosts week one, where we talk about how time works, a weird crime show trope, and the glories of American insurance systems. Katy shares mostly correct information about Houdini’s death, Carrie brings up Murder She Wrote again, Maddy comes up with a new post-confession penance task, and Mack starts right away with the Christmas rum.

Give it a listen! Let us know if YOU solve it before we do!

TW: Death by suicide, unspecified terminal illness, blasphemy

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We watched the pilot episode of Marcella, the British noir/drama with a very Nordic feel. We talked extensively about the main character and her issues, discussed how the show is simultaneously challenging gender roles but also feels a bit backwards, get grossed out by the graphic nature of the serial killer’s process, and wonder whether murder walls are actually helpful in real life or just visuals to help the viewer. We also discuss the portrayal of modern sex work, think there are some weird rich family vibes, and believe Rav to be too perfect looking to be a human. Katy hates luxury London skyrises, Carrie is a ghost, Maddy tells a delightful Tinder story, and Mack shares advantages to having three older sisters before telling an awful pun. We also boil down the top four things you need to know about a person to know their character, make a guess at how the British prison system works, think that serial killing is a bit rude, and share a surprising amount of off-the-cuff facts about London architecture. Give it a listen!

TW: domestic abuse, gruesome murders

Show Notes:

New episode out now! We cover the delightfully macabre storybook world of Pushing Daisies in the season one episode “Smell of Success”. We discuss the memorable and stylized worldbuilding created by Bryan Fuller, share a love of (almost) every character and their specific and/or oddball traits, talk about how the show approaches death in a whimsical manner, rave about the gorgeous, colorful, and expensive production design, and realize that a number characters are dealing with parental trauma. We also praise the casting of great character actors, as well as put forth that the show would probably thrive better on streaming today, and then discuss whether we would want it to come back at this point in time. Katy gets her TGIF shows mixed up, Carrie drops some Esther Williams knowledge, Maddy shares Jello-related horror stories, and Mack gets upset about another body odor discussion. We talk about proper branding of your synchronized swimming duo, quote the show’s quippy wordplay to each other, have a short Marvel Minute, and discuss our favorite smells—but not too much, as we’ve concluded that people who are too into smells are creepy. We praise Jim Dale and also ask a number of questions about the mythology of the show that go unanswered. And one of us gets a joke 12 years after they heard it! Listen to find out who!

TW: Macabre humor

Show Notes/Sources