The Watchers

Hello, you’ve reached the winter of our discontent. Andrea and Jodie watched Reality Bites. Written by Helen Childress and directed by Ben Stiller, it’s the 1994 Gen X anthem that follows a group of post-college friends trying to figure out life, love, and how to afford rent in Houston. We dig into Gen X authenticity, that killer soundtrack, and the irony (we know it when we see it) of a movie about not selling out being released by a major studio, jam-packed with product placement. We talk about the tension between Childress’ original screenplay and the version that ended up on screen. We’re pretty hard on Stiller. He deserves it.

Next week, we’re watching Dazed and Confused, written and directed by Richard Linklater. It’s the last day of school in 1976, and not much happens. It’s a hangout classic about freedom, boredom, and figuring out what comes next.

Recommended reading:

“Welcome to the World of the Emotionally Mature: Reality Bites at 25+” - Elisabeth Geier

“Revisiting Seminal Gen X Film 'Reality Bites' 30 Years Later” - Sean Burns

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

This week, Andrea and Jodie are watching Party Girl. It’s got Parker Posey at her most iconic, inspirational '90s fashion, and a soundtrack that still holds up. We’re talking about the New York City club kid scene, the film’s matter-of-fact diversity, and why it feels so good to see libraries treated with the respect they deserve.

Next week, we’re watching Reality Bites. It’s a little more straight and a lot more white, but as a blueprint for how mainstream media defined Gen X, it offers a perfectly messy portrait of the chain-smoking, disillusioned 90s early adulthood experience.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

This week, we’re heading underground with The Goonies, a film that defined childhood adventure for a generation. Andrea and Jodie revisit the 1985 classic to talk about why it still resonates, what it gets right about the danger and chaos of being a kid, and how its genre-hopping captures the wild, rule-breaking energy of childhood itself. We’re also unpacking some of the more complicated stuff, sharing a few behind-the-scenes stories, and asking whether The Goonies still earns its place in the pantheon of beloved kids’ classics.

Next week, it’s Party Girl. Parker Posey. Illegal Raves. The Dewey Decimal System. What more could you want?

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

Jodie and Andrea are kicking off our new movie series with Heavenly Creatures, not just Melanie Lynskey’s film debut, but a true crime story that’s full of themes that Yellowjackets keeps circling: queerness, violence, fantasy, and the messy emotional world of teenage girls. It’s also directly referenced in the show’s original pitch deck, making it the perfect place to start.

Next week, we’re diving into Richard Donner’s 1985 coming-of-age adventure classic The Goonies. It shows up in Season 3, and while it might seem like a big shift from Heavenly Creatures, at its core, it’s a story about intense young bonds, kids chasing escape, and the ways adults shape the world around them. So if you ignore the brutal real-life murder, it’s really not that far off.

Recommended Reading:

“Let’s Moider Mother: Heavenly Creatures and the Politics of Delusion” by Betty Jay

“Heavenly Creatures Is a Queer Adolescent Nightmare” by Drew Burnett Gregory

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you followed our little show and, if you like what you hear, left us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Well, that’s another season of Yellowjackets under our belts. Now that we’ve had a little time to digest the finale, Andrea and Jodie are back to wrap up Season 3. We’re clarifying some of the more complex moments from “Full Circle,” breaking down cast reactions, sharing some of our listeners’ comments and questions, and finally (finally!) Andrea takes us to Theory Corner for her long-threatened breakdown of how Freud’s concept of the uncanny shows up in the show, like, everywhere.

If you’re new here, we hope you’ll stick around during the off-season! We’re kicking things off with a look at the movies that either inspired or have been referenced in Yellowjackets, starting with Heavenly Creatures, Melanie Lynskey’s big screen debut! You can watch it for free on Internet Archive.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Shuffle up and deal! Jodie and Andrea watched “Full Circle,” the Season 3 finale of Yellowjackets, and the hunt, as they say, is officially on.

In the wilderness, it’s a hazy shade of winter, Van’s got a long way to go if she wants to be the next Ricky Jay, and we say goodbye to a real one.

In the present, Tai prioritizes a protein-rich diet. Callie must have been absent the day everyone else learned mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Shauna wants to kill, and you have to believe her–it’s for more than just selfish reasons!

Next week, we’ll take a step back to look at Season 3 as a whole: how it fits into the larger arc of the series, what might be coming in Season 4 (fingers crossed!!), and we’ll do a major theory roundup. 

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

The Watchers recently hit the 100-episode milestone. For two years, Jodie’s been covering the North Jersey angle, and Andrea’s been holding it down for South Jersey. So we figured it was finally time to bring in someone to represent Central Jersey.

In this bonus episode, Jodie and Andrea had the absolute honor of sitting down with Yellowjackets co-creator Ashley Lyle (I know, right!?!), a proud Jersey native whose own childhood helped shape the tone and spirit of the show.

We talked with Ashley about growing up in Jersey in the '90s, and how she and Bart have worked to bring Jersey authenticity to Yellowjackets. We also discussed the show’s impeccable needle drops, the balance between the psychological and supernatural elements, and how they approached next week’s season finale. Plus a whole lot more, including some behind-the-scenes stories you’ve probably never heard.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

So long, Astoria. Jodie and Andrea watched “How the Story Ends” episode nine of season three of Yellowjackets. Let's get into it.

In the wilderness, Travis is setting booty traps. Hannah feels like she’s babysitting, except she’s not getting paid. And Kodiak gets his One-Eyed Willy on. 

In the present, it’s our time down here (i.e. Virginia). Shauna’s in the clouds and Tai is in a basement. And Walter’s voice is kind of nice when his mouth isn’t screwing it up.

Yellowjackets Season 3 Interview: Liv Hewson - "Van Palmer, You Mean the World to Me"

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

You better chow down, or it’s gonna get cold. Andrea and Jodie watched “A Normal, Boring Life,” episode eight of season three of Yellowjackets, and we’re ready to dig in.

In the wilderness, we won’t have to go back if we never leave. Our soccer team makes some new friends, and Travis proves he’s a true feminist.

In the present, Jeff throws his wife under the bus. Tai unleashes every Jersey girl’s secret power, and Shauna would love to chat longer, but she’s having an old friend for dinner.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."

Hop to it, folks! Jodie and Andrea watched “Croak,” episode seven of season three of Yellowjackets, and there’s a lot to talk about.

In 1996, someone gave Jeff Winger a crossbow, and thank the dirt for that. The girls play “The Most Dangerous Game” (which just so happens to be their favorite game), and Lottie makes a new squishy friend.

In 2021, it’s time for another road trip, and we’ve got all the essentials: the world’s worst mixtape, some communal floss picks, and a well-timed medical emergency. But honestly, the most tragic part of this whole series is making a Jersey girl pump her own gas.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review.

Follow:

The Watchers on Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."