Talking Tropes Podcast - podcast cover

Talking Tropes Podcast

Talking Tropes Podcastsoundcloud.com
A Podcast about writing cliches, their origins, and their impacts on the stories we tell. Just two cousins with enough trope to hang themselves. Follow us on twitter @TalkingTropes
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Episodes

Talking Tropes #27: Silence Is Golden

Were you APRIL FOOLED?!?! Okay but this one is for real this time, we're really talking about Silent episodes of TV and movies post-"Talkie" invention. We're covering all the classics from Spongebob to Buffy. Have a favorite we missed? Tweet us @TalkingTropes. Love the show? Support us on Patreon! Thanks again as always for Logan McBride for editing. You can find him online everywhere @LoganMcHollow

Apr 02, 201956 min

Talking Tropes #25: March Of The Penguins

It's March! What better time to talk about everyone's favorite flightless tuxedo-wearing bird. I CAN'T LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT PENGUINS! Spoilers for the Pebble and the Penguin, March of the Penguins, Happy Feet, Happy Feet 2, Surf's Up, Surf's Up 2, The Penguins of Madagascar, and Mr. Popper's Penguins "Midnight creeps so slowly into hearts of men who need more than they get Daylight deals a bad hand to a PENGUIN who has laid too many bets The mirror stares you in the face and says, "Baby, uh, ...

Mar 11, 20191 hr 13 min

Talking Tropes #24: It's Groundhog Day All Over Again, Again, Again ∞

♪♫♬ Let's do the time loop again! ♪♫♬ That's right, whether it's Groundhog Day or Russian Doll, Edge of Tomorrow or Happy Death Day, the idea of being forced to relive the same hour, the same day, the same week is quickly becoming a modern classic in speculative fiction. David and Hannah take a deep dive into all these and more as we question where this trope came from, what it means, and where we'd like to see it evolve. Don't forget to rate & subscribe! You can chat with us on Twitter @Tal...

Mar 04, 20191 hr 8 min

Talking Tropes #23: The Oscar Bait Debate

We recorded this before the TRAVESTY that was last night's Best Picture win, so please enjoy 20 minutes devoted to us calling out Green Book for how racist it is! Additionally: Do the Oscars really matter at all? Should they? What makes something Oscar bait? (*cough cough*greenbook*cough cough*) Want to chat with us? Tweet to us @TalkingTropes! Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride. You can find him around the interwebz @LoganMcHollow

Feb 25, 20191 hr 14 min

Talking Tropes #22: The Math of Love Triangles

Romance is in the air this week on Talking Tropes, as Hannah and David talk about the geometry of Love Triangles! Love them or hate the, these triads of romance, these tri-corner flings, love triangles are ubiquitos and basically as old as dirt. But are they worth it in the modern age? Tell us your most beloved and your most hated on Twitter @TalkingTropes and let us know what tropes we should talk about next! Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalkingTropes

Feb 18, 20191 hr 14 min

Talking Tropes #21: How Incredible was The Incredibles 2?

I never look back darling, it distracts from the now. Except when we look back on classic Pixar animated films in order to dissect the sequel released a decade later. Did you like Incredibles 2? If so, why are you ruining cinema? Tweet at us @talkingtropes

Feb 11, 20191 hr 15 min

Talking Tropes #19: Everyone Loves Spider-Man Now

This week on Spider-watch, we're diving into the three most recent Spider-centric films - Vemon, Spider-Man Homecoming, and Into the Spider-Verse. All of these are in Hannah's top 5 spider-flicks of all time, and David pitches his own theories about why these films are good, but SPIDER-MAN 3 IS STILL THE BEST ONE!!! Find us on Patreon, or on Twitter @TalkingTropes! Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride. Find him around the internet @LoganMcHollow!

Jan 28, 201959 min

Talking Tropes #18: All Your Spider-Man Opinions Are Wrong

Get ready for Spider-palooza, as we deep dive into the cinematic spider-verse for the next three weeks! To kick it off, we're talking about the franchise that launched the modern superhero genre vs Andrew Garfield's dreamy eyes and spoiler alert: everyone's opinions are WRONG, including ours. Thanks to our editor Logan McBride! You can find him online @loganmchollow or email him at loganamcbride@gmail.com.

Jan 21, 20191 hr 35 min

Talking Tropes #17 Fixing Moana

Yes that's right, this week Hannah and David are fixing one of the most beloved of the modern Disney

Jan 14, 20191 hr 8 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap New Years Special

It's a new year, but is it a New Doctor Who? Well... sort of? We dig in to all the best and worst moments and tropes of this New Years episode. We also debate the very existence of the concept of a "New Years", if the romance of the episode works, and what it means that Doctor Who had it's first cut away gag. (Spoilers: it's the end of everything.) Thanks as always to our editor Logan McBride who you can find across the social internet at @loganmchollow!

Jan 07, 201942 min

Talking Tropes #16 The Christmas Special Special

BAH HUMBUGGEROO! It's a very Talking Tropes Christmas, Charlie Brown. Is this episode part of the war on Christmas? Or is it just corporate propaganda? YOU DECIDE! Comment your favorite Christmas special!

Dec 24, 20181 hr 8 min

Talking Tropes #15 Peace Out

'Tis the season for love and peace, so we're talking about pacifists in media! We've got video games where no one has to die, shows where even the worst people are redeemable, and a whole mess of others where morality is somewhat a little more gray. Peace! And! Love! Thanks to our editor Logan, who you can find around the internet as @loganmchollow.

Dec 17, 20181 hr 38 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episodes 9 & 10

It's the final two episodes of the season, and we want to know: did Doctor Who stick the landing, or did it backslide into underdeveloped swill once more? The answer may surprise you! We've got final thoughts on the whole season, hopes for the future, and more proof that Homestuck is everywhere, Thanks to our editor Logan! You can find his work @loganmchollow on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Dec 10, 201852 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episodes 7&8

Alan Cumming steals the show this week on Doctor Who. Also he stole our hearts. And our wallets. Today David and Hannah recap and dissect the tropes in Series 11 episodes 7 and 8 Kerblam! and The Witchfinders. Will politics ruin Doctor Who? Will mud men finally provide season 11 with an iconic villain? Find out with TARDIS TROOOOOPES!!!

Dec 03, 201836 min

Talking Tropes #14 One Order of 'Found Family', Please

We're thankful for our family this time of year - whether that's the people who birthed you, the ones who raised you, or some kindred spirits you found along the way, and so we're talking about examples of the latter for a whole episode! This one goes out to all the Mom Friends, to the begrudging father figures who adopt orphans, and to the groups of four or more kids who have to band together to save the world. Big thanks to our editor Logan! Find him on Insta and Tumblr @LoganMcHollow

Nov 26, 20181 hr 14 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episodes 5&6

This week, Hannah is finally happy with an episode of Doctor Who, and David is so very very tired. Is there any hope for the season to be any good? Maybe... but probably not. Direct all angry complaints to @TalkingTropes on Twitter or the BBC! Thanks to our editor Logan McBride! Find him on Instagram or Tumblr, @LoganMcHollow.

Nov 19, 201839 min

Talking Tropes #13 The Good Place is Homestuck

It's all in the title, folks. Today we explore why the Good Place is literally, figuratively, ironically, the same as Homestuck. Spoilers for both of those. Special thanks to our editor, Logan

Nov 12, 20181 hr

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episodes 3 & 4

Did doctor Who nail it these last two episodes? Well... not really. But it did mange to suck just a little bit less! Hop into the TARDIS to meet Rosa Parks and some spiders and a really incompetent parody of Donald Trump. We'll cover all that and more in this episode of Tardis Tropes! Special thank you to our editor Logan McBride for his patience and skill. You can find him @loganmchollow on Instagram and Tumblr.

Nov 05, 201840 min

Talking Tropes #12: Fantasy Americana

Happy Halloween! Today we're looking at the spooky myths and legends of the United States of America. What makes a ghost story or a fairy tale feel 'Murican? How do the colonies draw on their European folklore? Who would've gotten away with it if not for those meddling kids? Find out on Talking Tropes. Spoilers for Over the Garden Wall Gravity Falls American Gods Various Fairy Tales Scooby Doo

Oct 29, 20181 hr 4 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episode 2

Episode two was... underwhelming in more ways than one, and we're gonna talk about why. Hot takes include: Chris Chibnall is a hack who can't write himself out of a paper bag and is probably scared to get dressed in the morning cause CLOTH IS SCARY!!!! Spoilers for Doctor Who season 11 Edited by Logan McBride (loganamcbride@gmail..com)

Oct 22, 201830 min

Tardis Tropes: Doctor Who Recap Series 11 Episode 1

New Doctor, New Showrunner, New rules. How does the season premiere stack up against a 50 year history? Does the concept of a woman doctor collapse the space-time continuum? Is Chris Chibnall a better writer than "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" would suggest? Spoilers for Doctor Who season 11. Lovingly edited by Logan

Oct 15, 201833 min

Talking Tropes #11: Moffat Vs. Davies Showrunner Showdown

It's farting aliens vs. impossible girls. It's bad wolf vs. silence will fall. It's Rose vs. Clara and Tennant vs. Smith. This podcast will weigh the good tropes with the bad on the most divisive sci-fi show in the history of time and space. Who was the better Doctor Who showrunner? We look at the good tropes and the bad of New Who do determine Who wore it best.

Oct 01, 20181 hr 29 min

TalkingTropes #10: Mary Sues, SFCs, and Building a Stronger Female Character

Hey everybody, we're going on hiatus for a bit. When we get back, hopefully we can start updating weekly instead of every other week. In the meantime, let's discuss Mary-Sues, Smadness, Sexy Badasses, Action Girls, Trinity Syndrome, and Empowerment. What makes a female character strong? And why is it so important to include it in your marketing? Spoilers for: Catwoman Tomb Raider Black Panther Harry Potter The Lego Movie Wonder Woman The Dark Knight Trilogy The Matrix Jessica Jones Red Sparrow S...

Jun 19, 201842 min

Talking Tropes #9: Is Fullmetal Alchemist Shonen?

Today we tackle the ultimate anime question: Is Fullmetal Alchemist shonen? We examine the tropes of the genre and how it applies to both the original series and the manga-following 2009 reboot. Spoilers For: Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) If you disagree with our conclusions, or have your own thoughts to add, you can let us know on twitter @talkingtropes and if you want us to make better content and access exclusive perks, please donate to our patreon at patr...

Jun 04, 201838 min

Talking Tropes #8: Who is the Worst MCU Villain?

Where does Thanos rank among the MCU baddies and antagonists? Today we discuss the bad, the bad, and the ugly of Marvel Villainy. Spoilers ALL MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE FILMS AND TV SHOWS If you disagree with our picks for best and worst villain, you can let us know on twitter @talkingtropes and if you want us to make better content and access exclusive perks, please donate to our patreon @ patreon.com/talkingtropes Special thanks to Logan, our editor. If not for him, you'd have to listen to a l...

May 21, 20181 hr 30 min

Talking Tropes #7: A Bit of a Snickety Wicket

Narrators: the disembodied ghosts of movies. Today we take a look at some of our favorite narrators that put a fun spin on telling stories that we're already watching. Snicket, Ron Howard, Douglas Adams and more! It's wacky wordsmiths all the way down. Little did they know, the podcast would include spoilers for Stranger than Fiction and A Series of Unfortunate Events. If you like us and have some ideas of what tropes to talk about next, you can let us know on twitter @talkingtropes and if you w...

May 07, 201854 min

Talking Tropes #6: Boy Geniuses and Brainy Kids

Kids are pretty stupid, but in our media we love the idea of children that are smarter than the adults, able to build fantastic inventions, and possessing the skills to solve mysteries the cops can't. If you can think of any Boy Geniuses or Kid Detectives we missed, let us know in the comments or on twitter @talkingtropes. If you want to see more content like this, donate to our patreon @ patreon.com/talkingtropes Spoilers for: Jimmy Neutron Dexter's Lab Shaolin Showdown The Adventure Zone Case ...

Apr 23, 20181 hr 8 min
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