Episode 126: Remember Remember | V for Vendetta, Shakespeare, History & Politics

Remember, remember the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot. This week on the Midnight Myth, we’re exploring the 2005 film V for Vendetta—and what a treasure trove of theme, history, literature, and philosophy it is! We’ll unpack connections between the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and similar historical attempts at rebuilding society through destruction of the status quo. We’ll explain why V quotes so much Shakespeare, and why he makes Evey sit through The Count of Monte Cristo. We’ll discuss the implications of the troubling torture sequence and celebrate the film’s emotional impact.

Episode 124: Doomsday Clock | Watchmen (2009), History & Psychology

Who watches the Watchmen? We did! This week on the Midnight Myth, we’re jumping down the massive rabbit hole that is Zack Snyder’s 2009 adaptation of the iconic graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We analyze some of the film’s most fascinating and disturbed characters from a psychological and philosophical perspective, trying to learn what makes the Watchmen tick. It’s a landscape of real and imagined gods, human and institutional monsters. In the context of alternate history, we discuss the consequences of the counterfactual—what happened to the American Dream? It came true.

Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 7: There Is No Spoon

Have you ever wondered if this world is real? Have you ever wondered if the life you are living is the good life or just the life you have been told to live? Listen to Derek and Laurel discuss storytelling that questions and deconstructs the narratives of 1990s American peace and prosperity. We talk about three amazing movies, Fight Club, American Beauty and The Matrix. Remember, all things have questions, and all questions help us understand this fundamental truth: there is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path.

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Midnight Myth Time Machine | Episode 6: Rebel Rebel

It’s the Midnight Myth Time Machine! This is Episode 6: Rebel Rebel, which originally aired in March of 2017. Derek and Laurel discuss rebellion, resistance, and revolution in stories. From the Hunger Games to Star Wars in the realms of sci-fi and fantasy and dramatizations of historical events like Les Miserables and Hamilton. So hop in the time machine with us and enjoy Episode 6: Rebel Rebel.

Episode 109: Be Excellent to Each Other

The year is 2688. The place is San Dimas, California.The air is clean, the water is clean, and even the dirt… is clean! Buckle up, friends, because we’re going back (and forward) in time for this episode, exploring the cult classic and career launch for the one and only Keanu Reeves: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. For an unassuming slacker buddy comedy, Excellent Adventure delves into its own special moral philosophy, pays tribute to its sci-fi forefathers (H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, and even Mark Twain), and asks a fundamental question: can art and music really change the world? Join us as we discuss progress toward Utopia, the themes and legacy of time travel science fiction, and the philosophical depth of your favorite metalheads. Most importantly, we’ll understand what it means to be excellent to each other (and party on, dudes!)

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Episode 103: On Your Left

Who will campaign door to door for America? Why, the Star-Spangled Man with a plan. Our Captain America character study is here, the second in a new series of character-based podcasts from the MCU. Hot on the heels of Avengers: Endgame, Derek and Laurel analyze the long, emotional arc of a 90-year old superhero. We track his character evolution from scrappy young man to propaganda symbol to fugitive to savior in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Through comparisons to the Greek hero Perseus and the folk motif of the ‘man out of time’ as in Rip Van Winkle and the Japanese fairy tale of Urashima Taro, we get at the heart of his emotional conflict, and explore his relationship to American history and international politics. We’re with you till the end of the line.

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Episode 102: Avengers Assemble

We’re in the Endgame now. Hot on the heels of the release of Avengers: Endgame, a defining moment for the MCU, and the culmination of 22 films spanning over a decade, we’re here with a deep dive into some of the most potent themes at play. A heavily spoiler-filled discussion kicks off with our first impressions, then turns to the history of the American Civil War, 20th century psychology, and Greek mythology. There were over 14 million ways this movie could have unfolded, 14 million possible conclusions to this fight. So why is this the ONE? Assemble as we grapple with the sorrow and the triumphs of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the communal experience of storytelling.

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Endgame Funkos!

Episode 96: You See Me R'hlling

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is dark and full of spoilers for seasons 1-7 of Game of Thrones! In a new in-depth character study from the universe of A Song of Ice and Fire, Derek and Laurel explore the Red Woman: Melisandre. She made an explosive appearance in season two of the HBO series as the mouthpiece of a mysterious religion, and she whispered in the ears of kings, wielding her strange influence from one land to the next. By turns upholding and deconstructing the ancient archetype of the sorceress, Melisandre’s very nature is enigmatic, making the quest of understanding her a never-ending task. So we look to women of history, mythology, and folklore to grasp her inner workings, and to the faith to which she so keenly clings to imagine her deepest motivations.

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If you enjoyed this podcast, check out some of our sources and inspiration. All images are affiliate links, meaning if you purchase the item, a percentage will go to the podcast. Thank you for your support!