Geekdown Podcast

August WatchOrama 2020 comes to a close with a buzzed-about anime from the summer season that is more than what it seems, Deca-Dence. Heavy spoilers in this one friends, so if you have any interest, maybe duck out and come back.

We also talk recent news from the MCU, Netflix's poor marketing decisions, one idol group's remarkable staying power and all we've been checking out this week including Star Trek: Lower Decks, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and more.

Stay up with us between episodes on Twitter (twitter.com/geekdownpod) If you'd like to support the show, we'd still prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There are great resources to be found here: https://blacklivesmatter-canada.carrd.co/#english

Theme music by Rob Gasser (@robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Next up on August WatchOrama, the Netflix nature doc series Tiny Creatures, a show that clearly tries to ride the coattails of certified classic Hidden Kingdoms. Did Cait and Jord think it succeeded? Erm.

Also this ep! Upheaval on the live action Avatar series, corporate shake ups we don't care about trickle down to affect things we do, we take a moment to salute Scott Pilgrim Vs The World on its 10th anniversary, and updates on all we've been checking out this week.

WatchOrama wraps up next week with the anime Dec-Dence. If you want to join us, you can find it on Funimation, with the first three episodes free with ads. Come get into this #HAT life.

Stay up with us between episodes on Twitter (twitter.com/geekdownpod) If you'd like to support the show, we'd still prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There are great resources to be found here: blacklivesmatter-canada.carrd.co/

Theme music by Rob Gasser (@robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This week we begin August Watchorama, a month of single topic shows where we check out some new releases we haven't had a chance to yet. We concede this sounds a lot like Opportune June, but assure you they're completely different.

This week we check out the Netflix action flick The Old Guard, starring Charlize Theron and based on the story by acclaimed comic writer Greg Rucka. We also talk Animaniacs rebooting, meteor showers, Kpop Tea and all the things we've been watching including Umbrella Academy, Transformers: War for Cybertron and an endless parade of fansubbed voice actor vids on YouTube.

Stay up with us between episodes on Twitter (twitter.com/geekdownpod) If you'd like to support the show, we'd still prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There are great resources to be found here: https://blacklivesmatter-canada.carrd.co/#english

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Jordan didn't think this episode was happening, since Cait got married last weekend. Caitlin said, "It doesn't take three days to get married." So here we are. Instead of a proper Watchrorama ep, though, your new BFFs catch up on the last month, as they slowly reintegrate into society. They also chat about what they checked out over the break including novels by Thomas King and Yu Miri, Only Yesterday, Brave New Animal and more.

Next week the Watchorama starts in earnest, check our Twitter (twitter.com/geekdownpod) for the full rundown of what we'll be checking out.

If you'd like to support the show, we'd still prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

Theme music by Rob Gasser (@robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Opportune June comes to a close with "The Great," the anachronistic take on Catherine the Great's rise to power in 18th Century Russia from the writer of "The Favourite." Did we think it was, in fact, great? Answers await you.

Also this episode, dipping our toes back into the world, the merits of using a scalpel instead of a hammer to dismantle systemic racism in the world of entertainment, and the things we've been checking out this week including all the Studio Ghibli on Netflix, Avatar and murder puppets, y'all, murder puppets.

As is tradition, this will be our last episode until we return for August Watch-O-Rama. We'll still be kicking around on social media, come find us at twitter.com/geekdownpod.

Stay safe, friends. Look out for each other, and try to be 15% more.

If you'd like to support the show, we'd prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Another Opportune June instalment as your new BFFs take a trip back to the world of Die, the 'Goth Jumanji' graphic novel series from Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans. We also touch on the wave of new sexual misconduct allegations in the worlds of comedy, comics and wrestling, lighten up by celebrating the Ghibli catalogue's arrival to Canadian Netflix, and run down all the ways we've been passing the time including Nic Cage classics, Dorohedoro, failing Japanese and more. Also Jordan breaks Caitlin's brain for a hot second.

Next week we wrap up Opportune June by throwing it to you, the listener! If there's something you want us to revisit, let us know on the show Twitter page (twitter.com/geekdownpod).

If you'd like to support the show, we'd prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Opportune June continues, friends, as Jord and Cait give themselves a chance to revisit two shows they both really love, yet fell off of: space opera The Expanse and K-Drama Romance is a Bonus Book (51:40). We also process our anxiety as the world reopens (3:28, honour renowned comic writer and editor Dennis O'Neil(18:20), prepare for Jordan's next epic hem-haw (20:46) and run down all the ways they've been passing time including new content from Dave Chappelle, a revisit of Gaiman's Sandman and Youtube videos on everything from film to serene walks through Tokyo (27:58).

Keep up with us day-to-day on Twitter: twitter.com/geekdownpod.

If you'd like to support the show, we'd prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Opportune June rolls on as this week your new BFFs are left to their own devices, digging through the hundreds of recommendations for things they wanted to revisit but forgot about. It was a surprise for us, it'll be a surprise for you!

Also this ep: taking back The Punisher, JK Rowling forgets a key maxim of this program, KPop fans harness the power of nerdery for good, fuckery from Jordan's hometown and more!

If you'd like to support the show, we'd prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/06/9851684/black-lives-matter-how-to-help-donate-support

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

We live in interesting times, friends. It can feel hard to know what's appropriate, especially when treading the line between facing the moment while making a dumb little show about nerd stuff, while continuing to live in a pandemic. We maintain as always, if our continued presence offers some comfort to y'all, we'll keep being here. And if now isn't a good time for you, we understand. If you want to come back, we'll be here then, too.

This week we return to format and usher in Opportune June, where we take a break from the content mill to revisit or reevaluate some of the hundreds of things we've watched and read since we started the show. Kicking us off, as ever, we return to Revolutionary Girl Utena and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Someone's bound to be disappointed.

Thanks for listening, friends! If you'd like to support the show, we'd prefer you take that money and give it to an organization fighting to protect Black lives. There's a good list of them here: https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2020/06/9851684/black-lives-matter-how-to-help-donate-support

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sensitive subjects including self harm and cyberbullying. (03:06)

On this week's episode we commemorate the lives of two people we lost too soon, Zac Bertschy of the Anime News Network and STARDOM Wrestler/Terrace House cast member Hana Kimura.

We also talk about the ways we pass the time (33:50) including watching Harley Quinn, She-Ra, Dead Still and The First Wives Club, Reading Wax Poetics, buyng dumb records and watching voice actress videos.

If you or someone you know is going through it and doesn't know where to go, a list of crisis lines is available on Wikipedia athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines. Please believe, there is someone who wants you here.

Let's try to be 15% better, friends.

Theme music by Rob Gasser (soundcloud.com/robgassermusic), licensed under (CC BY-SA 3.0)