Storybeater

Anthony and Andrew look at the fourth season of Peter Morgan's The Crown, the blockbuster Netflix series about the life of Queen Elizabeth II. What are the unique challenges of writing a biography, and especially of fictionalizing the lives of people who already feel familiar?

For this year's Halloween episode, Anthony and Andrew dig into the horror style and influence of H.P. Lovecraft, and look at the recent HBO series Lovecraft Country and the novel that inspired it.

Anthony and Andrew count down their favourite superhero and supervillain teams and talk about what makes a team dynamic work! Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the cowboy archetype in fiction, including the tropes, classic and modern interpretations, masculinity, America, and the archetype's relationship to politics and privilege.

Anthony and Andrew explore the legend of Hercules, what he represents, and how his stories have been told. Plus, they talk about what they're reading and what they're writing.

Anthony and Andrew get together (remotely) to talk about writing in the age of Covid-19. How are they adapting, what are their coping mechanisms, how do they think this will shape their work, and do they feel an obligation to produce great works during lockdown? (Spoiler: No!) They also talk about the new Disney Pixar movie Onward, released direct to Disney+ following the movie theatre shutdown, a...

Due to the current and ongoing crisis, we're not recording new episodes of Storybeater at present. Instead, Andrew has read and recorded the full text of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll -- because in difficult times, we need great stories! Enjoy this reading, and check out some of our past episodes if you're looking for more entertaining distractions, including our episodes on d...

Anthony and Andrew share their thoughts on this year's nominees for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards, including Jojo Rabbit, The Irishman, Little Women, Joker, The Two Popes, 1917, Knives Out, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Parasite, and Marriage Story.  Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

This month, Anthony and Andrew were meant to talk about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker... And then Andrew decided he couldn't face it. But the show must go on! So, while Andrew shares his reasons for not going to see the movie, Anthony talks about what it gets right and what it does wrong. Andrew also talks about the new Netflix hit The Witcher. Plus, Anthony and Andrew talk about what they're w...

In the first ever Storybeater Christmas episode, Anthony and Andrew discuss sentimentality, Hallmark, the best and second best Christmas stories, Santa Claus world-building, how Christmas stories ate pagan stories, the true meaning of Christmas, and the meaning that writers can bring to "Christmas". They also talk about what they've written in 2019, and in the "What We're Reading" section they dis...

To mark the release of a new Charlie's Angels movie, Anthony and Andrew put together their own squads of women who kick-ass, drawing from all of movies, TV, video games and literature! Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Fantasy zombies. Fast zombies. Colonial zombies. Consumerist zombies. Brainless zombies. Vengeful zombies. Zombies as us. Zombies as them. For the annual Storybeater Halloween episode, Anthony and Andrew discuss the changing meaning and significance of zombies in fiction, from White Zombie to The Walking Dead and beyond. Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the detective archetype in fiction, from Sherlock Holmes to Jessica Fletcher. What are the tropes, what are the types, and what do detectives really represent?  Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Two bald men discuss two bald men as Wheeler and Falcone break down the tropes, cliches, triumphs and failings of Hobbs & Shaw, the latest installment in the beloved Fast & Furious franchise. Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew count down their personal top five Disney villains and unpack what makes Disney's villains so effective and iconic. Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

On this month's episode, Anthony and Andrew offer a post-mortem look at one of the biggest TV shows of all time, Game of Thrones. The ending let a lot of people down, but where did the show go wrong? Can a story that sets out to subvert storytelling conventions ever deliver a truly satisfying ending? 

Anthony and Andrew discusss the storytelling successes and failures of Avengers: Endgame and the entire MCU narrative project. 

To mark the fifth anniversary of Storybeater, Anthony and Andrew look back over the past five years and answer some questions about the podcast and about writing, including dream projects, writing processes, and memories of some of their favourite episodes!

Anthony and Andrew talk about the latest installment in the MCU series, and the first with a female solo lead, Captain Marvel. The structure, the villainy, the comedy, the politics; it's time to break it all down!  Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the ten nominees for best original screenplay and best adapted screenplay at the 91st Academy Awards in the fifth annual Storybeater Oscars special, including: The Favourite First Reformed Roma Green Book Vice The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Can You Ever Forgive Me BlackkKlansman If Beale Street Could Talk and A Star Is Born. Plus, what we're writing and what we're reading!

On the occasion of Batman's 80th anniversary, Anthony and Andrew look at how the character has evolved over the decades, and at his contributions to the archetype of the vigilante in fiction.  Why do we keep revisiting Batman's origin story? What makes Gotham unique? Why is Batman's core supporting cast so huge? What are the essential Batman tropes? Where do vigilantes fit in to our moral view of...

Is Mary Poppins a protagonist? Is she a witch? Is she mean? Is she a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Is she fighting the patriarchy and tearing down the Empire? Anthony and Andrew look at the 1964 Mary Poppins movie and the character of the nanny with the brolly. Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Storybeater unpacks the literary tropes and traditions surrounding the British folklore hero Robin Hood. How has Robin Hood evolved? Why is archery a popular skill for heroes? What's the definitive trope of a Robin Hood story? Who is the best Merry Man, why are some Merry Men more iconic than others, and how gay is Will Scarlet? Anthony and Andrew discuss all these questions and more! Plus, what w...

For this year's special Halloween episode, Anthony and Andrew discuss the tropes and conventions of the slasher genre, including the recently rebooted Halloween movie franchise. The conversation covers the sexual politics of slashers, the appeal of fear in storytelling, the post-modern deconstruction of the genre, and more! Plus, what we're writing, and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the new Netflix animated show The Dragon Prince and its tropes, characters, and prospects. They also talk about what they're writing, and discuss Spider-Man... and Thomas Mann.