Sword & Podcast

Comedian Kasey Kesner is here to talk about the 1952 classic Singin' in the Rain. The mysterious drive to succeed as an entertainer, the question of Don Lockwood's likability, Lena Lamont's class struggle, and of course gay subtext.

Teacher Connie Cardwell was one of Elle's best friends when they were fifteen, which makes her the perfect guest to discuss a classic TV show about fifteen-year-olds that aired when they were both fifteen. Angela Chase as the avatar of a generation, the importance of Ricky Vasquez, and the character whose love for Angela really drives the entire series (hint: it's not Brian or Jordan). Support INTO IT on our new Patreon page!

Writer and costuming expert Gavia Baker-Whitelaw is here to talk about the movie of the summer, Mad Max: Fury Road. The importance of Tom Hardy's grunting, Immortan Joe's personal mythology, the perfection of Furiosa, and the unsettling truth about the Doof Warrior's mask. (Plus: why the Vision is the best part of Avengers: Age of Ultron.)

Writer, editor, and X-Men X-plainer Rachel Edidin is back to talk about the Wachowskis' Speed Racer. The perfect cast, fascinating world-building, mind-blowing mise-en-scène, and the emergence of a cult classic. Plus Pops Racer's history with wrestling (and ninjas), and Speed finding his place within racing and the Racer family.

Lit scholar Amanda Phillips Chapman returns for a conversation about Cruel Intentions. Just how queer was that kiss, anyway? All about that, plus the Dangerous Liaisons connection, Selma Blair's comedic genius, and the regional semiotics of Reese Witherspoon.

Cartoonist and writer Bri Rudd is here to talk about A Different World, a show she and Elle both loved as children and are now revisiting thanks to Netflix. A spoiled princess becomes a mature woman, a doofy nerd becomes a pretty cool guy, and Cree Summer wins everyone over despite not having much of a character to play.

Artist and student Aisling, who also happens to be Elle's goddaughter, is on the show to talk about Pokémon. Aisling has played every game in the series, but Elle's only played one of them. Aisling prefers not to discuss things in terms of favorites, but Elle has a hard time discussing things any other way. Which Pokémon are overrated, and why video game movies are never a good idea.

Jill Meredith Collins Sinnott—social worker, child of the 80's, and Elle's little sister—returns to the show to talk about The Breakfast Club, on the occasion of the film's 30th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of Jill becoming a big fan. In depth discussion of every character, the verisimilitude of high school life, and a theory of how Bender spends every Saturday.

Poet and inaugural Into It guest S. Whitney Holmes joins educator and jill-of-all-trades M.M. Plumm on the show to talk about The X-Files. The awkwardness of Mulder, the skepticism of Scully, the hotness of Skinner, and the queerness of Krycek. All this and a roomful of mixed feelings about the revival. Definitely follow Morgan and Whitney on Twitter, and if you like poetry you should also buy Whitney's new book.