Saving People, Queering Things

So will there be peace when they are done? Abigail and special guest KJ from Supernatural Opinions discuss this unique episode that is told almost exclusively from the POV of the very ghost Sam and Dean are hoping to put to rest. Listen in for an awesome talk about what it means for spirits to find peace, and how sometimes the hardest part is letting go. Find us on the internet: www.queeringthings...

Growing up in the hunting life has never been easy, but Sam and Dean sure have a lot of it to do this episode. Join Abigail and Elayna for a our first romp with everyone’s favorite Trickster, who is causing a string of strange deaths that cause the boys to reach out to Bobby for help. We dig into unreliable narration, the boys mixed perceptions of one another, and more in this episode that’s dripp...

Can you be disillusioned if you never expect anything good to happen? Abigail and new host Elayna talk about how both Sam and Dean have their concept of each other shattered in this episode, how Dean again refuses to kill Sam (or to believe Sam could be evil), and the return of Meg! We talk about the free will of “nobody can control you but you” and how monsters are catching onto the fact that the...

Who deserves mercy? Abigail & Klaudia explore "Houses of the Holy" and how Sam and Dean individually deal with questions of faith. They discuss how Sam's faith sustains him and how Dean's lack of faith is challenged.  Klaudia and Abigail also bond over their shared experiences in fandom on Tumblr in the 2010s and make many, many references to other works such as Tangled, Star Wars, &...

What happens if we use technology out of fear? Jacob, Sam & Abigail explore "Nightshifter", the return of shapeshifters, and the tragic earnestness of Ronald. They reflect on the fact that Dean connects more with Ronald than Sam does and question what might have happened if the Winchesters had not pretended to disbelieve his interpretation of the situation. Abigail also takes a great deal of j...

What happens when pursuing peace becomes violent? Abigail and Jessy explore "Playthings", exploring how Sam and Dean's pursuits of peace are diametrically opposed and how their parentified relationship only makes that more apparent. They discuss Sam's morality, Dean's love for a classic queer-read character, and how gothic horror tropes contribute to the lack of peace every character has by t...

How do we break traumatic patterns? Abigail & KJ explore "Hunted", how Sam is struggling with his anger, and how Dean chooses to respond to his fear. They also discuss how Ellen is a hunter parent without traumatizing her kid, how John makes Dean responsible for Sam's morality, and a queer reading, this time of Sam! *A Note this week: We had some technical difficulties with our platform which...

How do we make good judgment calls in bad situations?   Abigail & Hana explore 2.09, hunting ethics, and judgment's connection to salvation, particularly Sam's. Dean expresses (again) a desire to get out of the life, & Sam continues to fight his dark side. They also talk about the racism and misappropriation of indigenous history inherent in this episode's plot. Additionally, there is...

What is worth committing your soul for? Jai and Abigail explore the repercussions of making a deal with a demon and the significant moral crossroads that Dean reaches in 2.08: Crossroad Blues.  They discuss what it means for Dean to carry the guilt of someone else's commitment, and speculate on how that decision will influence his self-perception and future choices. We had so much fun re...

What were Sam and Dean doing from 2001-2005? Abigail & KJ come up with canon-based (and fan-based) theories for the Stanford era, including Sam and Jess' apartment, an AU theory where Jess knows about the supernatural, ideas about Dean & Lee Webb's relationship (#deanisbi), multiple headcanons about Sam's hair, Dean's GED, and more! Fanfic: Pity Party by yeehawdean67: https://archiveofouro...

How does privilege affect how we experience adversity? Renny and Abigail explore 2.07 and ask the all-important question - how does Sam hack so many passwords? They discuss the clever way that the Winchesters use communication to overcome adversity. This week's supernatural being is the victim of this episode, which leads to a conversation about adversity, gender, and victimization.  Con...

Is it jealousy, or is it chemistry?  Abigail is joined by guest Frances to talk about 2.06, Jo's first hunt, serial killers, and jealousy. Sam and Dean are finally working with other hunters and it's complicated. Frances shares her extensive knowledge of the origins of this week's monster, and Jo and Dean bond and clash over their relationship with hunter fathers.  Find us on the interne...

What do you do when your mind is being attacked? Abigail, Jamie & Beth discuss 1.05, talk about the special children with their morally complicated powers, come up with a theory for why Ash knows Enochian, and rage about John Winchester's disconnection with other hunters. Also, more conversations about Dean + gender!   Find us on the internet: www.queeringthingspodcast.com Listen to...

How do we have willpower of our own actions? Abigail & Noah talk about 2.04, the importance of consent, and how willpower gets twisted into abuse by this week's monsters. They also explore the battle of wills between Sam and Dean in relation to addressing their family trauma. This episode is anchored by the phrase "what's dead should stay dead", adding further fuel to the fire of Dean Winchest...

Is hunting valorous? Abigail & Renny talk about 1.03 and the introduction of Gordon Walker. Is a monster 'evil' because it's not human or because of the things it does?  Is shoot first, ask questions later the only way to hunt? They talk about the confidence that Sam brings to this moral quandary and the mid-episode flip that Dean makes. Finally, they have a theory about Ty Olsson's chara...

How do we survive impossible grief? Abigail and KJ talk about 2.02, Dean's survivor guilt, the line between human and monster, and the introduction of Jo and Ellen Harvelle! They find it hilarious how Dean is unable to lie in a job interview, tragic when Sam drops a confirmation that he's not going back to school, and discuss Ash's possible backstory. They also talk about how Sam and Dean's percep...

Is family all about who we have faith in? Abigail and Hana discuss 2.01 and how Sam's choices in the Season One finale give Dean the ability to cling to life. They explore how John's authoritarian parenting breaks down when Sam refuses to rise to the revenge bait and how half-hearted attempts at connection are nullified by the lack of behaviour change. Hana shares their experiences with powerful s...

It's awards season! Abigail & cohosts recap the events of Season One and give out awards, including favourite female character, character with the most potential, a character with the best arc and most tragic character. They also preview what we're excited about for Season Two!  Find us on the internet: www.queeringthingspodcast.com This show contains content and discussions that may be i...

In this Season 1 Finale episode, Abigail & Hana talk about Devil's Trap through the theme of Free Will, focusing on the big choice Sam makes between John and Dean and the moral quandry of what to do with a nearly-dead girl who has a demon keeping her alive but stripping her of free will. They also talk about the introduction of Bobby Singer, hunter extraordinaire and what his knowledge of the...

How do we sort through traumatic memories? Abigail is joined by three siblings: Hana, Noah & Theo for a conversation about 1.21, sibling feelings, and the continuing hunt for the demon. They talk about John & Sam's pre-season fights, "passable strategist" John Winchester, and the way that Dean positions himself in both his relationships.   Find us on the internet: www.queeringthi...

Abigail talks about the Confession. And Cas. And Dean. They discuss why the events of 15.18 were significant to them as a queer fan and how Destiel and the Confession have impacted the fandom as a whole. They also talk about their favourite sources of Destiel content, including video essays, fanfics, video edits, and meta accounts.   We will return with our episode on Season 1, Episode 21 on...

Alesha and Abigail take a tangential discussion into the events of Season 15: Episode 20 because of its connection to this week's Season 1: Episode 20. This episode does contain spoilers for the Supernatural finale. This show contains content and discussions that may be inappropriate for those under 18. Listen with discretion. Find us on the internet: www.queeringthingspodcast.com

How can we know that we are not wasting our knowledge? Abigail & Alesha discuss 1.20, talk about the wasted information John held on to by not exposing his sons to more hunters, and explore how Supernatural handles its first crack at vampire lore. In an attempt to figure out what kind of characterization the writers were going for with John they come to some conclusions about his actual s...

How is masculinity connected to economic status? Abigail & Jacob talk about 1.19, Sam's challenge connecting with Sarah so soon after Jess' death, and Abigail has a pet peeve concerning the Impala's presentation. Jacob also shares some personal stories about how masculinity limits boys from expressing emotional vulnerability, and they connect with how this episode demonstrates that.  Jaco...

Does revenge make it impossible for us to see anything else? In this flashback episode, Renny, Abigail & Sam talk about 1.18 and are back to their favourite discussion topic: John Winchester's parenting. How are Sam and Dean circumventing the neglect of their childhood in their own hunting practices?  This show contains content and discussions that may be inappropriate for those unde...