Fake Geek Girls - A Critical Look at Pop Culture

Welcome to episode 62, in which we discuss the work and influence of geek culture’s super problematic fave, Joss Whedon. Is he the right choice for the upcoming Batgirl film? Why do our thoughts on his work sour as time goes on? And, because we’re not total haters, what does he get right? Mistakes : We keep saying Penny was dressed as Sleeping Beauty, but we mean Snow White. Warning :...

It’s time for episode 61, in which we’re talking about the ways that queerness is expressed and represented in media. When is a stereotype a stereotype? Is it bad if queer women (gasp!) look like queer women? What counts as representation and what does? And exactly how English major can Missy get on Yuri!!! on ICE? Mistakes : We mention this at the beginning, but we weren’t aware...

Welcome to episode 60, in which we discuss…a lot of explicit topics with a humorous touch. Are sex jokes juvenile? How can sexual humor be funny without isolating people? What does all this have to do with video games? Warning : This episode is explicit in every conceivable sense! There’s cussing, there’s sexual content, there are obscene gestures that you can’t see. Not sa...

We’ve finally reached the end of Sailor Moon in episode 59, and it’s time to get even weirder, somehow. This season has a big focus on growth and the importance of sharing your burdens, and we’re chatting about both, as well as the series’ lasting legacy and influence on modern media. What Missy’s Been Up To : Reading: Lady Castle by Delilah S. Dawson, Ashley A Woods,...

It’s time for episode 58, which means we’re knee-deep in Sailor Moon Super S! Want bizarre circus performers, crop tops for boys, and sweet horse loving? Look no further. Warning : There’s a bit of Freudian analysis in here, which is almost deserving of a warning in itself. But, more importantly, there’s some discussion of genitalia with regard to some of the imagery of thi...

It’s time for episode 57, and we’re diving deep into the the wild, sometimes confusing world of Sailor Moon S! Things get a little deeper, a little more complex, and a lot more queer. Also, a large digression about Dragon Age, because why not? What Missy’s Been Up To : Listening To: Waypoint Radio What Merri’s Been Up To : Watching: Gilmore Girls 3% Listening To: The Advent...

Welcome to episode 56, in which we discuss the the joys and hilarity of Sailor Moon R! We’re talking about weird elf people, sexy jazzercise Elsa, and the perils of materialism, as well as the show’s mixed messages. Warning : Another loud use of the b-word! Sorry. Sometimes we get a little heated. What Missy’s Been Up To : Reading: Guardians of the Galaxy by Brian Michael Bendis,...

Welcome to episode 55, in which we discuss the fashion, color schemes, and potential feminism of Sailor Moon season one! Which Sailor Scout are we? Does ‘weaponized femininity’ apply here? How has Sailor Moon changed the landscape of worldwide media? Also, a laugh track. Mistake : Not so much a mistake as an acknowledgement, but some friends arrived midway through recording, so there i...

It’s time for episode 54, in which we discuss our feelings, thoughts, and connections (or lack thereof) with Disney and, more specifically the Disney princesses. How do princess ideals of femininity tie into our own lives? Is Missy truly a Disney princess? Who gets to be a princess? Also, for real, if you’re a TV executive and you want to get together on As Scene on TV, let us know. RE...

We’re chatting about children’s horror in episode 53, discussing Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Over The Garden Wall, and a bunch of other spooky kids stuff. Also, Rory’s having a baby with a wookie. REMINDER : All of our Patreon dollars and merch sales for this month will be donated to charity. If you’ve considered buying a piece of merchandise or subscribing to Patreon, do...

Our discussion of Harry Potter continues in episode 52, covering books five through seven as well as the recently released “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Are the beasts truly fantastic? Did we forgive Snape and Malfoy? How do we feel about the future of the franchise? Reminder: we’ll be donating 100 percent of the money we make from Patreon and merch sales in December...

In episode 51, we’re taking a look at a series that’s incredible formative for both of us—Harry Potter. This time, we’re discussing books and films one through four, figuring out what makes them so appealing to us, why we’re still interested, and how our views have changed since our first entry into the fandom. We also talk a bit about the election, because, if we’re...

Horror month concludes in episode 50 (that’s huge!) as Merri and Missy discuss women writers and directors of the horror sphere. What unique contributions do marginalized groups make to the genre? What’s so scary about not being listened to? Babadook-dook-dook-dook-dook. Warning : This episode contains multiple references to sexual violence, so please use caution if you find that trigg...

It’s time for episode 49, and this time around we’re discussing Missy’s love/hate relationship with werewolves. Why do so many pieces of media only depict male werewolves? Why is so much werewolf media disappointing? Also: butts. Warning : Unsurprisingly, this one got a little out of hand. While there’s nothing horrifically explicit, there are references to genitalia, sex,...

Welcome to episode 48, in which we discuss the role of the witch in pop culture and our own lives. What is it about magic-using women and the association with darkness and evil that gets us–and so many others–all fired up? We’re doing our best to figure it out. Also, Merri’s going to be on a panel at GeekGirlCon! Check it out here —it’s the one on magical girls at 1:3...

Welcome to episode 47, in which we do some housekeeping, con recap, and talk extensively about Overwatch. Like comics? Like games? Good, because we’ve got some hot new recommendations for both. Also, Merri’s going to be on a panel at GeekGirlCon! Check it out here —it’s the one on magical girls at 1:30 pm Saturday. Hope to see you there! Warning : Merri asks a wildly inappropriat...

We’re back with episode 46, discussing the media that shaped us. What formative works are responsible for the people we are today? You’re about to find out, and boy, does it ever make a lot of sense. Mistakes : Susan Pevensie is given both a magical horn that summons help and her bow and arrows. Missy forgot about the horn, but really, it only solidifies her point. What Missy’s B...

We’re back with episode 45, discussing conspiracy theories. Where do they come from? How do they tie into shows like Gravity Falls and Stranger Things. Hey—what are our thoughts on Stranger Things? Don’t worry, we’re going to talk about it for fifteen minutes straight so buckle in. Also contains a history of the Illuminati, a suggestion for better secret societies to obsess over,...

Welcome to Episode 3 of our new super-group series we’re producing on a roughly monthly basis. On each episode we’ll be discussing a topic from the broader world of geekery, selected by our hosts. To subscribe to just the West Coast Podvengers, add this RSS feed to your favorite podcatcher . On this episode we discuss the concept of legacy in superhero comics. WARNING: This show contains explicit...

We’re back with episode 44, chatting about Archie, Betty, Veronica, and the various other denizens of Riverdale and Archie Comics. It’s Merri’s first introduction to the franchise that isn’t a classic TV show or movie! Missy gets to endlessly quote Josie and the Pussycats! We go off on Betty and Veronica #1! What more could you want? Warnings : There is a mild curse (it sta...

We’re back with episode 43, discussing gatekeeping. What is it? Why does it happen? Are we immune to it? How does this tie into current geeky events? Also, a long and ridiculous intro full of weird jokes. Warning : We’re not joking about the inappropriateness of our intro. We’re sorry, we don’t know what got into us–but it’s funny, so we kept it. Also, we don&#8...

We’re back with episode 42, discussing Merri’s favorite topic: dystopias! We’re looking at a few popular dystopias, including the new, the old, and the real, chatting about how they tie into societal fears, why they’re popular now, and how we can prevent these bleak futures from becoming a reality. What Missy’s Been Up To : Reading: She Wolf #1 by Rich Tomasso ( Read...

We’re back with episode 42, discussing AI, specifically of the female or female-coded variety. Topics include the films Her and Ex Machina, and the comic Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn, how those stories are in conversation with one another, what gender has to do with robots, and whether artificial intelligence is even that great of an idea, anyway. Special thanks to our friend...

Welcome to episode two of the West Coast Podvengers, a podcast collective featuring hosts from Fake Geek Girls, Arc Reactions , and View from the Gutters . This time around we’re talking about the recent developments in Captain America: Steve Rogers #1, fandom entitlement, the obligation to wait and see a story’s development, and identifying with the media we consume. Warning : This ep...

  Welcome to West Coast Podvengers, a new podcast collective featuring hosts from Fake Geek Girls , View from the Gutters , and Arc Reactions . On each monthly episode, we’ll be discussing news and topics related to geeky news in depth. For our first episode, we’re discussing the sexual harassment accusations levied at major figures in the comic community, particularly Eddie Berganza, asking...