Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

We're closing out 2022 with one final foray into big budget spectacle with Andrew Adamson's 2005 epic adaptation of C.S. Lewis' 1950 British classic The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Up for discussion: the uncomfortable racial aspects of the film, CGI vs practical effects, the wartime elements, religious propaganda, which Pevensie child we identify as, and why it's ok to hate Edmund and Turkish Delight.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us!

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Welcome back followers. This week on XOXO, Ari, Jenny and Joe are discussing the third episode of the rebooted Gossip Girl's second season "Great Reputations" which takes the action to the Guggenheim, focuses too much on boring Brooke and Obie, and gives Monet another great storyline.

Plus: more skin, Joe's continued frustrations with Zoya, and Luna drags Jenny!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Ari: @TheAriDrew

> Jenny: @jennyleighx33

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

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In honour of the 25th anniversary of Spice World, we're giving you everything...or at least an episode on the iconic UK film! Along for the ride is Bobby Torrez, who - like Brenna - loves this film (Joe, meanwhile, is mostly just overwhelmed).

Up for discussion: British humour, cameos and cut scenes, the $25 M budget and whether a film like this could even get made today.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

> Bobby: @BobbyTorrez

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds

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Welcome back followers. This week on XOXO, Ari, Jenny and Joe are discussing the second episode of the rebooted Gossip Girl's second season "Guess Who's Coming At Dinner?" which finds our crew attending a series of eventful dinner parties. While we're frustrated with Nick and annoyed at the repetition with Kate and Mike, we're living for the Monet vs Julien cover spread storyline and dying at the comedy and heart of The Birdcage-inspired storyline with Max's dads.

But also: Brooke is sooooo boring.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Ari: @TheAriDrew

> Jenny: @jennyleighx33

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

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We're headed to Calgary in the 90s with Canadian lesbian twin sister singing sensations Tegan and Sara, reading their 2019 memoir High School and the 2022 Amazon Freevee adaptation, showrun by Clea DuVall.

We're talking raves and acid, multiple perspectives of the same events, the twins' meteoric rise to stardom and the many girls they had crushes on.

Plus: the show's challenging short episodes and split focus, great performances and our continued issues with the "all or nothing" approaches by streaming services.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds

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Greetings listeners. School is back in session as HBO Max's Gossip Girl returns for a second year and a new semester. How are Jenny, Ari and Joe feeling about the fresh start? Well, we're big fans of Monet as a multifaceted villain, Luna's glow-up, the status of our fave throuple, and the curious lack of Obie.

Plus: thoughts on the Deb ball, the new Russian classics teacher and will Zoya ever become more interesting? We'll find out soon. XOXO

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Ari: @TheAriDrew

> Jenny: @jennyleighx33

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

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It's an Angie Thomas gush fest as Brenna and Joe cover the author's On The Come Up (2019) and first time feature director Sanaa Lathan's 2022 film adaptation.

We are *huge* fans of the book, which is covertly about trauma and features a more challenging teen female protagonist. The film is still enjoyable, but it takes the more commercial approach of focusing on Bri's art/ascent to stardom.

Plus: Method Man is great, why Aunt Pooh is such a great character, Jay as a great mom, and why we do not care for a freeze frame ending!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds

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Greetings listeners. We know you love us, but do you love Gossip Girl (2021)? That's one question we feel is worth pursuing, so join Joe, as well as Ari Drew and Jenny Nulf, as they provide weekly commentary on the HBO Max remake/revamp/sequel.

We're starting with our thoughts on S01, including which characters we find hot, which throuple we're obsessed with, and which characters are boring (hi Obie!). Plus: the narrative risk-taking, why Julien and Zoya need to get along, and where the show will go in S02. You know you love us. XOXO

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Ari: @TheAriDrew

> Jenny: @jennyleighx33

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

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It's time for our final Banned Book Club of the year and we're going out with a "classic": William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies and Peter Brook's 1963 adaptation. Thanks to listeners Natalie and Miriam for chiming in!

This is Joe's first time reading the book, but it's so familiar because of its pop culture legacy. It's deeply colonial, though Brenna is frustrated by Golding's penchant for asking questions he doesn't want to explore.

Plus: fatphobia and ableism for days, wanting more characterization, how the black and white affects the viewing experience, a trauma-filled shoot, and why Joe would rather watch The Wilds on Amazon!

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds

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On its eighth anniversary (and with one year until the prequel film drops), Joe returns to Panem to revisit Mockingjay Part 1. Along for the ride is Alex Heeney, who guested on our episode on The Hunger Games and has strong opinions about Suzanne Collins' book and Francis Lawrence's film. Please note: we're only discussing Chapters 1-13 for this episode.

We're still chatting about love triangles and dystopian world-building, as well as whether director Lawrence is better suited to directing action than actors, the mega stunt casting and why the film doesn't deserve its "cash grab" moniker.

Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:

> Brenna: @brennacgray

> Joe: @bstolemyremote

> Alex: @bwestcineaste / Seventh Row Website

Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at [email protected] or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:

> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) / Peter Brook (1964)

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