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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather get to subject the popular culture—a poem, of all things!—to a level of scrutiny it certainly does deserve! They analyze and discuss Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb,” focusing on its references, it’s ambiguities, and it’s phonology. It’s an exciting and in-depth conversation, and they only make it through the first half.

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Episode 656: “Us” is Also the Country that the Poem is About originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Matthew Belinkie, Peter Fenzel, and Matthew Wrather watch and overthink the first two episodes of Marvel’s WandaVision. What kind of show is it? What is the show within the show? What is the show outside of the show? What is really going on? What is this genre? What does it have to do with college theater productions and with The Aeneid? Our conspiracy theories will astonish you.

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Episode 655: At the End, There’s Going to be a Portal originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather send Mark Lee off into parental leave with a topic of his choosing: Each podcaster picks a meme that has sprung up in light of Wednesday’s attack on the Electoral College vote certification process for us to overthink. Is it funny? Why is it funny? And is humor a uniquely useful tool with which to address and analyze this particular moment?

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Episode 654: He is Very Obvioulsy an Evil Wizard originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather overthink Disney/Pixar’s Soul, available on Disney+, which is an ambitious and fascinating, if slightly muddled, new animated film.

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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix

Episode 653: Wa Waa Waaa Waaaah originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather stream Wonder Woman 1984 which is about as good as the previous 1983.

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Episode 652: Escalators! originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Matthew Belinkie, Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather overthink The Mandalorian, think about the balance of fan service, storytelling, and franchise-burnishing that went into it, and speculate about where Disney Plus could take the franchise from here.

Spoilers for both seasons of The Mandalorian.

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Episode 651: My Microphone is Made of Pure Beskar originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather consider AT&T’s move to release all of Warner Media’s theatrical movies on HBO Max in 2021. How does it make sense, and what is the world we think we are going to see when all the infectious viral particles settle? And, with apologies to Christopher Nolan, who may have a point, what actually is the worst streaming service?

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Episode 650: What Did You Accomplish by Doing All of This? originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather stream the live action Mulan from Disney+, and are shocked to find it does not ask when my reflection will show who I am in side. Instead it is a dreary and confused morality tale which has a hawk lady doing magic. Really makes you miss Eddie Murphy.

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Episode 649: She’s Not a Bird, Not Yet a Woman originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Please support the 2020 Holiday Movie Challenge to benefit The Actors Fund.

Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee and Matthew Wrather discuss season 4 of Netflix’s The Crown: its range of references (get ready for some hot Midsummer Night’s Dream donkey action); its investigation of two alternate crowns in the form of Thatcher’s and Diana’s haircuts; its themes; and the 3 wonderful speeches in its final episodes.

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Episode 648: If You Think You are More Important Than the Hat… originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matthew Wrather consider why chess is having a moment, how politicians and others can take the game into multiple dimensions, why the number of dimensions is to space combat in general and Star Wars in particular, and why we need these distractions at all (now not actually more than ever, but, you know, fine).

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Episode 647: Look at the Board originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]