Episode Epiphanies

On this episode of Episode Epiphanies, Jessica makes Natasha watch HBO's Gossip Girl. We discuss how this show connects with the original, the debate around the immediate reveal of Gossip Girl, and the way that all the characters just kind of suck. But they suck in the way teenagers suck, you know? We also spend plenty of time discussing the show's core throuple - Max, Ake, and Aubrey - and the effort this pilot episode puts into making it clear that this is going to be A Thing. Will the throuple be enough to pull Natasha into this teen drama? Or will the threat of Gossip Girl scare them off? You'll have to listen to find out.

Subtitle: Don't worry, he deserves it.

This week, Natasha makes Jessica watch Dungeon Meshi, an anime that is half Dungeons & Dragons and half cooking show. Join us as we discuss what a weird little freak Laios is, all the monsters they are going to eat (...out?), and the many moral quandaries of this anime's plot line. We also discuss some D&D stuff like what it means to have a rules-heavy D&D show and how old should you be to stop being a child (I vote we move to dwarf years). Will Jessica discover a new passion? Or will she have to yuck this man's yum? You'll have to listen to find out.

This month, Jessica makes Natasha watch 3rd Rock From the Sun, a questionable sitcom about aliens coming to Earth to fuck humans. Now, was that the actual premise of the show going in? Unknown. But it certainly is what the show is about. Listen to us debate whether or not this show knows it could be satire with just a smaaaaaaaaaaaaalllll little push, what the family dynamic here is supposed to be, and what in the world Harry's object is supposed to be. (Genuinely. What is this thing. We will post a picture. Go look at it and tell me.) Will Natasha fall in love with these raunchy little aliens? Or will they boot them off of the planet? You'll have to listen to find out.

In this episode, Natasha makes Jessica watch the pilot of Gangsta, an anime that is less about gangs than its title would suggest. We discuss the weird way this show represents women, the difference between the sub and the dub, and how Worick & Nicolas come off in the pilot versus how their characters develop throughout the show. Additionally, we dive into the real central plot point of this show: soup. Will Jessica decide to join up? Or will she resist the criminal life? You'll have to listen to find out.

*Trigger warning for violence against sex workers

This week, Jessica makes Natasha watch Wings, a super nostalgic sitcom from the 90s and a Cheers spinoff! We discuss how the jokes in this show are dated but not so much that we wouldn't still hear them today, how darling little sitcoms like this are just here for the vibes, and the many, many references in this episode that went over our heads. Who are these people? What did they do? We may never know. Will Natasha like the vibes? Or will they take a flight away from this little airport town?

This week, Jessica makes Natasha watch One Tree Hill, a show that is ostensibly a Shakespeare soap opera about basketball. (How I wish that was a joke.) Join us as we discuss the epic highs and lows of high school basketball (yes, I know this is the wrong show), how much we hate Dan Scott (the years may pass, but my hatred for Dan does not), and the whole gamut of relationship drama in this show. Will Natasha get their head in the game? Or will the epic lows of high school basketball get them down? You'll have to listen to find out.