Beauties and Headcanons

There has been a lot of buzz generated about Disney's new streaming service that started before it even launched, and now that it's been available for about a week and a half now, Lindsay and Elisabeth want to talk more about it! Lindsay details her personal experiences with the service, including technical issues, and both hosts discuss some of the media that's offered. Between most of the Marvel movies (sorry Spider-Man fans, it doesn't look like Sony is relenting for now), The...

There have been many a feud that have lit the fandom world on fire, between who would win in a fight (Jason vs. Freddy, Alien vs. Predator, Juggarnaught vs. The Blob, Goku vs. Superman), to which Doctor is the best, to which gaming console reigns supreme, to even petty, pedantic arguments like whether or not the Balrog from Lord of the Rings has wings. This week, Lindsay and Elisabeth examine some of these feuds, look at the evidence for either side, and take a stand for themselves, if...

Tis the season to be spooky, and in the spirit of the holidays, it seemed only fitting to discuss the horror genre. Guest film, indie filmmaker, and fellow podcaster Brian Cottington sits down with Elisabeth to talk about the origins of horror movies, how they've served as entertainment over the years, how they've reflected the issues and served the audiences of their times, and just how difficult it is these days for unique and brand new stories to make their mark in the world of remakes...

As Halloween approaches - and with it, seasonal parties - Elisabeth and Lindsay discuss how they might throw their own fandom-themed party. From fun groups to food to how they might execute it, they get into the nitty gritty … and Lindsay potentially receives a new life calling in the arena of geek-themed event coordination. Whether based in Fallout, Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls, Game of Thrones, Marvel, or DC, there might be some ideas for you to try out this year! Also in this episode,...

Makeup and special effects have been a mainstay in Hollywood for decades, though as of late movies have trended toward incorporating more and more CGI … with both good and bad results. With guest host and special effects makeup artist Noelle Hetzel, Elisabeth and Lindsay discuss their favorite makeups as well as which movies successfully and artfully incorporated both practical and CGI elements and which ones leaned too heavily on CGI and veered into the uncanny valley. Also in this...

With the MCU’s expansion into the world of Disney Plus, they’re not just adding new shows but also new characters … well, new in the sense they have yet to be formally introduced in the MCU, as they’re all still well-established in the comic world. Marvel fans who are primarily MCU fans and haven’t ventured far into the comic world may be caught off guard by the announcement of series for characters like Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and a Ms. Marvel that isn’t Carol Danvers, so Elisabeth takes...

Sci-Fi as a genre has evolved over time, giving us fanciful technology we didn’t dare dream of … until they became reality. Nowadays, it seems the trend du jour leans not toward space travel and laser weapons but instead toward time travel and alternate realities. In this episode, Lindsay breaks down some books and series she’s been reading and watching lately and discusses with Elisabeth the science and the fantasy and where it all seems to blend together, complete with thoughts by...

With the end of Game of Thrones and Marvel’s Phase Three this year - and the announcement of the last season of Supernatural on its heels - it almost seems like a lot of geeky things are coming to an end. But, in the case for some, the ending doesn’t come together so well, as it’s happened in the past. Shows like Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, Incredible Hulk, and Lost have all suffered from lackluster finales compared to how well the show has developed before. But in other cases, fans have...

Villains are an integral part of storytelling. Heroes need an adversary, a reason to fight, a reason for us to root for them. At the same time, however, if a villain isn't well-written, it can bring down an entire story, and while we've talked here and there about what makes a good villain, Elisabeth and Lindsay discuss their least favorite villains in this episode, breaking down their history, their abilities, their relationship to the hero, and why they just don't work. These antagonists...

The DC universe offers much in terms of flawed characters and a variety of ways it addresses mental illnesses and mental health support. So this week, Elisabeth and Lindsay dive into the subject, talking about how Arkham Asylum does its patients no favors, comparing and contrasting how Flash deals with a mentally ill villain compared to Batman, how a hero like Martian Manhunter exercises appropriate self-care by stepping back from his role in the Justice League cartoon, and how a good hero...

At San Diego Comic Con this year, Marvel made their official lineup announcement for phase 4, so you know we had to talk about it! While phase 4 will only span movies and series coming out in 2020 and 2021, it seems like they’re packing the schedule pretty full, especially toward the end. Between old characters coming back like Dr. Strange and Loki, to new characters making their debut like Shang-Chi and the Eternals, to old characters taking on new roles like Falcon becoming Captain...

With remake after remake being announced and cast and made, it can be overwhelming to take in! But while some can be good and build on the original story and world, others just seem like bland recreations that fail to capture the charm of what came before it. And of course, that’s to say nothing of movies like Ready Player One and Captain Marvel whose marketing banks on 80’s and 90’s nostalgia respectively in order to draw people in to see the movie. Does the marketing hype truly match...

As far as the genre of Sci-Fi goes, there’s plenty of offerings out there in the form of movies, TV shows, books, and other media. Not everything tends to stay with us, however, beloved as a classic, so this week we wondered, why is that? What exactly goes into making good Sci-Fi that will stick around years after its initial release? Emily, Elisabeth, and Lindsay discuss what some of their favorite series have in common, between the characters they love, the stories that are told, the...

Gender and its representation in video games can be a bit of a tricky subject for certain franchises, but others tackle it head on, incorporating it into their storytelling. Cyberpunk 2077 - to be released next year - is already said to sport a robust character creation engine, allowing the player to determine not only gender but presentation and orientation. Other games have similarly allowed its players free reign over their characters, and with it, it creates an interesting dichotomy...

With the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home, phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to a close. After the trauma fans endured with Infinity War and Endgame, Far From Home attempts to bridge the gap between the shattering events of the previous films, set up the next phase of movies, and stay true to the spirit of Spider-Man and what he brings to the table. Lindsay and Elisabeth take the opportunity in this spoiler-filled episode to discuss the movie itself, the twists and turns...

Keanu Reeves has been a Hollywood staple since the 80’s, starring in roles both large and small over the years. He made a name for himself initially in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, bumped it up a notch starring as Neo in The Matrix, took on the part of the one and only John Wick, and is set up for the role of companion and central character Johnny Silverhand in the upcoming and highly anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077. Lately, between his movies and his appearances, he’s been seen around...

It’s finally here, our 100th episode! The show has undergone some changes here and there, between old hosts leaving, new hosts coming in, and new segments being introduced, but the spirit of geekiness has endured and we’ve all had a lot of fun with the topics we cover! That being said, in the last 100 episodes, there have been times that have stuck out to us, either because it was a subject near and dear to our hearts, because something stuck out to us while doing research, or because we...

With schools letting out and summer pretty much here in most places in the northern hemisphere, the subject of summer camp is coming to the forefront for a lot of families. Which one to go to? What amenities to look for? Too bad there isn’t a geek camp, right? Well, there is one in Northeast Maryland called Epic Nerd Camp that offers a variety of activities from LARPing to tabletop gaming. But if you’re unable to make it there, Emily, Elisabeth, and Lindsay took some time to talk about what...

When Aladdin was initially released in its animated form in 1992, it was quick to make a name for itself in the Disney Renaissance. It broke records and won awards, cementing itself in animation history as the first animated movie to break half a billion dollars at the box office and holding the title of highest grossing animated film for two whole years - until the release of 1994’s The Lion King. When the announcement was made that it was getting a Live Action remake, fans were skeptical...

Game of Thrones has officially come to a close, and whether you were satisfied or not with the ending, there was one particular topic that Emily, Elisabeth, and Lindsay wanted to discuss: the deaths! The show writers have never been shy about killing off major characters, and throughout the series, there have been quite a few doozies. But which ones complement their character’s arc and which ones fall short of satisfying? Beware of spoilers as there are no holds barred in this week’s...