Geek Between the Lines

This week we enjoy diving into all kinds of friendships in the Harry Potter books and look at Luna, Hermione, Harry, Dobby, 'The Marauders', and even Fleur! From powerful to disappointing, adorable, enabling, and life-saving, we praise and critique so many kinds of HP friendships. And while Chris misinterprets Brittany's words to mean she likes James Potter, she ultimately sets Chris right during...

This week, we touch on the originals, prequels, sequels, and even the Solo movie! We discuss Luke's use of (and failure at) nonviolence to defy Palpatine, ponder the difference between defiance and rebellion, wish the series went more into defiance among the Sith, and basically find that everything comes a bit up short in comparison with the brilliance of Princess Leia. If you enjoy this episode,...

This week we're celebrating Geek Critique Pod's 1-year anniversary! Hurrah! In this episode, we not only enjoy a wonderful conversation with the creator of our logo, we also discuss the future of our podcast and the ways we can take it to the next level. Find all of the geeky goodies you can get by joining us at: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines It would mean the world to us to have you...

This week, we look at ATLA and LOK through the theme of fear. We think about how the nature of fear as a motivator changes each season in Korra, wonder if the Avatar state renders its user fearless, discuss how the rulers and the ruled in ALTA experience fear, and make up a great new hashtag. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https:...

This week, we look at nationalism in The Hunger Games trilogy, and of course Brittany brings up how the old white male president is the perfect symbol for nationalism and imperialism. We also think a lot about what made certain districts exhibit nationalism vs revolution, and wish the books addressed international applications a little more overtly. (Let's face it, the U.S. is the Capitol after al...

This week, we finally get to analyze LOTR through the theme of gender! We obviously talk about Éowyn a whole lot, geekily critique representation, look at Sam and Frodo's relationship, and realize that a character is essentially #killedbytoxicmasculinity. Unsurprisingly, Chris makes use of his grad school classes yet again while Brittany uses host of sarcastic tones and air-quotes. You can find th...

In this week’s episode, we look at how several beloved characters interact with shame very differently - from Neville Longbottom to Severus Snape, Ron Weasley, Book 5 CAPS LOCK Harry, and the most admirable Luna Lovegood. We also analyze the function of shame in House Elf culture and wish an element of shame had been integrated into the concept of Dementors. You can find this episode’s show notes...

In celebration of this most foolish of days, we are releasing our special blooper reel episode! Including flubbed words, forgetting to prepare questions, and Brittany being mean to Chris, enjoy this peak behind the podcast curtain. If you want to enjoy more bloopers, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines . Every dollar helps keep the podcast sustainable! Another great w...

This week we look at the theme of pride in our Star Wars podcast episode. We oh-so-shockingly talk a lot of about Anakin, Darth Vader, and the Sith, but look at where pride becomes a problem for the Jedi, too. Also, get ready for a mention of Boba Fett’s sick Mandalorian armor, the new trending #rhythmofpride, and Chris being too Ravenclaw to let Brittany’s jokes be jokes. If you enjoy this episod...

This week we look at the theme of greed in our ATLA and LOK podcast episode. We analyze the underlying greed that various villains manifest and think about how different governments systems in each nation may or may not foster greed, all while Chris puts his grad school fascism class to good use. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: ht...

This week we do a fun Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse podcast episode! We take a look at the cast of characters, laugh at the film’s cleverness, celebrate the phenomenal artwork, and analyze the multiplicities found in identities, relationships, and neighborhoods throughout the movie. We end the episode by discussing which Spider-Person we would want to save the world with and then sort Miles Mo...

In this week’s new podcast episode we discuss the theme of trust in The Hunger Games. Through a fun conversation, we analyze Haymitch, think about not lying to each other, wonder how Katniss and Peeta regained trust after so many breaches, and struggle a lot with words. #genuosity If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreo...

This week’s Sorting Chat covers some of the characters we get to know in first Hunger Games book. It is particularly difficult for our hosts to sort some of the characters into tidy boxes, so expect a lot of dual-house sortings...and also a ton of Slytherins (because, of any Hogwarts House, they would make it past the cornicopia). If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing pat...

This week, we discuss family in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. We analyze how much impact parents in Middle Earth have on their kids, conclude that Elves must be quite tired of their family after thousands of years together, and think symbolically about the handing down of family dysfunction. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here:...

This week, we look at race in our Harry Potter podcast episode, and - wow - there’s a lot to discuss! We look at Hagrid and Maxime’s relationship, analyze motivations of the so-called Half-Blood Prince, think on the intersectionality of Hermione as a young black girl, and unsurprisingly critique several things about representation throughout the series. #representationmatters There’s so much more...

After a long holiday break, we’re back with a new episode discussing loss in Star Wars! This week we look at how much Master Yoda lost, how many limbs everyone else lost, and how little loss of loved ones seems to effect characters long-term. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines . Every dolla...

This week’s Sorting Chat is all about Team Avatar (and friends)! We note how Aang is a less sullen and pouty Harry (with a hint of Fred and George), Chris is hesitant to make Sokka the unpowered Hufflepuff of the team, and we see how the elements crossover with the Hogwarts Houses. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patre...

This week, we discuss ability in our The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra podcast episode. We explain our own personal background with ability and then take a look at what the series did well with Toph and Teo, ways they missed the mark in Legend of Korra, and how ideas from the show appear in real life. If you enjoy this episode, consider being as amazing as Sam by becoming a patron here: https...

This week we’re back on our normal rotation and discuss death in our Hunger Games episode (a topic we really had to wrack our brains to find). We touch on the different kinds of death Katniss experiences, which character death hit us the hardest, the multi-functional role of death in the games themselves, and – believe it or not - even find a couple missed opportunities. If you enjoy this episode,...

This week we take a break from our normal rotation and discuss our thoughts on the new Fantastic Beasts movie in a Crimes of Grindelwald podcast episode! We look at female representation, praise the design of Newt’s abode, appreciate the mention of colonial history, but ultimately bemoan the ending reveal. If you enjoy this episode, consider being as amazing as Sam by becoming a patron here: https...

This week we talk about trust in our Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit podcast episode. We look at how well Gandalf takes the betrayal of a thousand+ year Majar relationship, a plethora of Rohan trust issues, and the effect good hobbit/bad hobbit techniques have on Gollum. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines . Every dollar helps keep...

“I think you’re really gonna dig it.” -Sauron, The Silmarillion pg. 28 (according to Chris…) This week we have another Sorting Chat, this time talking about the rulers of Middle-Earth! Saruman’s predilection for rainbows makes us think he’s a Ravenclaw, while Denethor is a corrupted Hufflepuff and Celeborn is a Squib. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just...

This week we discuss personhood in our Harry Potter podcast episode! We delve into the humanity of a range of magical creatures , discuss the treatment of Kreacher, wonder if there are any characters who speak Kittytongue, and decide that Aragog is a bad neighbor. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetween...

This week we discuss Star Wars through the lens of family. We look at how family attachments effect characters throughout the series, wonder if Darth Vader would have changed if he survived Episode VI, and even create our own fanfic plot. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines . Every dollar he...

This week, we discuss love in our Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra podcast episode. We look at the amazing Uncle Iroh, how to be a good Avatar, the show's engagement with consent, and somehow fit in our thoughts on four different romantic relationships. If you enjoy this episode, consider becoming one of our amazing patrons for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreon.com/geek...