The force is strong with this podcast. It took 42 previous episodes, and we are finally ready to jump into the galaxy far far away. The topic this week is Darth Vader and the role of fatherhood as villainy in storytelling. As we all gear up for The Last Jedi, it is time to look at Vader, and his legacy in the Star Wars universe and in villain construction.
Episode 35: The Podcast We Deserve
Everything is Batman. Listen as Derek and Laurel lift up the Batmobile hood to look at Gotham’s favorite son Bruce Wayne and his true self, the darling of pop culture, the Dark Knight, hero of heroes, Batman. In particular, we examine Frank Miller’s the Dark Knight Returns as a watershed moment in rebranding of the crime fighter from a campy Adam West cheeseball to a tortured lonely man who will stop at nothing to fight crime. The theme, why Batman? Why is he our hero, the one who’s fame and power shakes pop culture to its very knees?
Episode 30: Frankenstein
q Game of Thrones Season 7 Spoilers:
What happens when you create a monster? Not literally, but in a story, a Frankenstein…Listen as Derek and Laurel do there next Game of Thrones character case study, as they examine Arya Stark, and how the writers of the show failed to address the spirit of vengeance they created in one of the shows most beloved characters.
Dark and Full of Terrors
“Ours is the fury.” These are the words of House Baratheon. Lords of the Stormlands, and House that brought about King Robert’s rebellion. Yes my friends, Derek and Laurel travel to the fantastic realm of Westeros, as they perform the first of many Game of Thrones character studies. The focus of the first study is Stannis Baratheon, younger brother of Robert, and his journey from second fiddle to claimant of the Iron Throne, perpetrator of filicide, and ultimately the one who brings ruin to his house. We learn that Stannis is not a unique figure, drawing upon his Greek mythological character archetype, and historical parallels. Perhaps the more fitting words for House Baratheon, “Go on, do your duty”.
Episode 2: Hey Princess
Derek & Laurel pay tribute to their favorite princess in storytelling, Princess Leia.
Episode 1: Villainy
Derek and Laurel publish their first podcast, where they break down different elements of storytelling. The first episode is a case study into what makes a villain so darn villainous. We talk about how villains are constructed and do a case study into two separate well known villains in popular culture: Dracula and Lord Voldemort.
