Part I: 

So, when we first watched The Apothecary Diaries, we thought it would simply be a cozy comfort watch with pretty animation and a charming protagonist. What we did not expect was a full-on mystery steeped in ancient tech, palace intrigue, and lots of poison.

We dig into how Apothecary Diaries blends into genres without losing momentum, managing to juggle intense political mystery and humor in a way that keeps each episode highly engaging. If you want to hear our takes before the second season comes out, you’re in the right place.

#4G1G #apothecarydiaries #anime #podcast #mystery

Like a surprise plate of cookies left on your doorstep, we have returned! In this half, we break down what actually makes a Christmas movie work—from hopeful themes to that warm, glowing atmosphere the greats nail every single time. Then, we talk about why some films miss the mark entirely (looking at you, manufactured romance and contrived “emotional payoffs”).

And because we don’t just critique from the sidelines, we each try crafting our own Christmas movie on the spot: core conflict, characters, setting, the whole festive package. We close out by exploring where Hollywood often misrepresents the Christmas story, which old-school traditions we wish would come back, and what people might be missing about the season right now.

Grab your cocoa, settle in, and let’s finish unwrapping this conversation.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:50 - Execution and Hallmark Movies

2:48 - Kranking Out Tradition

3:09 - A Hallmark Christmas

4:59 - Corny vs. Cringy

7:05 - Merry Conformity (What’s the Takeaway?)

10:59 - The Santa Legally Binding Document 

23:25 - The Santa Coup

24:15 - Writing Our Own Christmas Story

26:48 - Looking through the Prompts

32:20 - “I Have No Bell and I Must Jingle”

35:05 - Why Did the Elves Go on Strike?

40:40 - The Santa Coup 2

44:30 - When Does This Take Place?

45:55 - Who’s the Bad Guy?

49:05 - Did I Say Netherworld?

50:44 - “Guten Tag, Herr Claus”

52:40 - Junji Ito Mosquito People

53:34 - Does Santa Have OCD?

56:20 - Santa vs. Elf King Fisticuffs 

58:40 - More The Santa Clause Talk

1:00:50 - The End Goal is The Sled

1:03:40 - Next Up: Mega Mall Heist

1:07:50 - Why Heist?

1:10:40 - Robber Brothers vs. Gaslighter Father

1:13:21 - The Terrible Two + Christmas

1:18:14 - Movie Director Names?

1:22:04 - Christmas Love Story?

1:24:39 - What Should The Philosophical Conflict Be?

1:30:19 - Wrapping Things Up

1:31:28 - Outro

#4g1g #christmas #holidaymovies #writing #faith #podcast 

’Tis the season to be cRaFtY, we are officially in our Christmas bag~.

In today’s episode, we talk about what creates that unmistakable Christmas feeling - how the birth of Christ sits at the heart of it, how family and togetherness shaped the traditions we love, and yes… whether Santa counts (jury’s still out). We also share our personal favorite holiday movies, from the timeless classics to the ones that just make us feel ten again.

If you’re already humming carols by accident, you’re in the right place. If you’re not in the mood yet, don’t worry - we’ve got five mics, a lot of nostalgia, and at least one hot take strong enough to light a tree.

Like a certain terrifying blond child, we have returned! In today’s episode, we wrap up our dive into Naoki Urasawa’s Monster - a series so layered we probably could’ve made a Part III, but we respect you (and our sanity). We get into the electric dynamic between Dr. Tenma and Johan, break down our favorite arcs and scenes, and talk about why this manga/anime refuses to fade from the cultural bloodstream.

If you survived Part I, congratulations! You have a lifespan longer than half the cast. 

If you’ve finished Monster yourself, welcome back to therapy; if you haven’t… what are you doing? Go read it, watch it, SOMETHING, and then get back over here.

Lessgo (again).

As far as mangas go, it’s hard to get better than this. In today’s episode, we discuss one of the absolute GOATs in anime and manga: Naoki Urasawa’s Monster! We break down his awesome premise (somehow, Frankenstein meets The Fugitive), explore the complex themes he delves into, and - shockingly - talk about characters other than Johan for longer than we expected. 

If you like anime/manga, are over 16 ¾, and haven't seen Monster, go read this manga, watch the anime; we don’t care, just freakin’ do it. Just be sure to come back and hear our takes. If you’ve already survived one or both (deep breaths, you’re safe now), then… Lessgo!!

A hundred years of dreams… And this is what we get? Time for a rewrite.

In late 2023, Disney released Wish, meant to celebrate 100 years of dreams come true… but it mostly left everyone wishing for a better story.

Between a bland plot, cliche characters, and a heap of wasted potential, the film sparked waves of disappointment. This was only increased when the original concept for the movie was revealed: the wish-granting Star as a person, a villainous couple, and even a classic love story were just a few of the possibilities that were lost, something the Internet took by storm with amazing fanart, animations, and rewrites of the entire story.

Welp, we saw this and thought we’d jump on the bandwagon, adding our own spin on things. As we reimagine characters, adjust and develop themes, and even add in classic Disney elements, we create something entirely new, and have fun while we do it.

A hundred years of dreams… and this is what they gave us? Time for a rewrite!

In late 2023, Disney released Wish, meant to celebrate 100 years of dreams come true… but it mostly left everyone wishing for a better story.

Between a bland plot, cliche characters, and a heap of wasted potential, the film sparked waves of disappointment. This was only increased when the original concept for the movie was revealed: the wish-granting Star as a person, a villainous couple, and even a classic love story were just a few of the possibilities that were lost, something the Internet took by storm with amazing fanart, animations, and rewrites of the entire story.

Welp, we saw this and thought we’d jump on the bandwagon, adding our own spin on things. As we reimagine characters, adjust and develop themes, and even add in classic Disney elements, we create something entirely new, and have fun while we do it.

WE ARE HERE with the third and final installment of our My Hero Academia deep dive (until season 8, that is…)! Come fly with us as we lay down our final thoughts on the show, how the female characters were handled, and just what is up with our relationship with this show (??).

If you’re here to recall, reject, or simply reminisce about the show, comment below and share your own thoughts on this story as more season 8 episodes continue to be released. 

WE ARE BACK with part two of our deep dive into My Hero Academia. Join us as we discuss seasons 1-7 and get into our complaints (Bakugo’s character arc), our compliments (the League of Villains😱🔥), and our confusion in how we truly feel about this anime. 

If you’re in the same boat as us (or is it a dinghy…? Please let us know we’re not alone in our confusion TT-TT), or separate ends of the conundrum, definitely join us in the discussion!

We hope you enjoy this section of our 3-parter as much as we did, and hope you’ll join us for the final part coming next week! 

💥 We’re gonna go beyond… and maybe lose our sanity along the way👊🏾.

In this episode, we tackle the My Hero Academia anime - from its explosive (and superior) beginning to the 8-season saga that has us cheering (loudly, externally), crying (internally), and occasionally wanting to choke on a spoon (literally). 

We recorded this way before season 8 came out, so this only covers seasons 1-7, BUT we’ll be giving season 8 its very own episode as soon as we can!

Warning: In this podcast, you will encounter groaning, intense apprehension, and - as usual - very loud laughter.