Episodes
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Episode 42 - Forever / Intervention / Tough Love (feat. Melanie Scala)
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Saturday Aug 31, 2019
Stage and screen legend Joel Grey joins the series, and so from this point on Conversations with Dead People is a Joel Grey fan podcast. Sorry Buffy fans.
Okay, seriously, we’re into the darkness of the near-end of Season 5 now, which of course is also a LOT of foreshadowing of the darkness awaiting us in Season 6. To help me get through the pain of these episodes Melane Scala is back, bringing with her a refreshing appreciation for the character of Dawn. In 517, “Forever,” the Summers girls, with Spike’s help, just barely manage to stay out of full-blown zombie mom territory. Episode 518, “Intervention” gives us a Buffy and Giles wearing turtleneck sweaters and jackets in the desert, Spike’s post-coital hair, and a Scooby Gang that inexplicably can’t recognize a Buffybot just weeks after instantly spotting the Aprilbot. And 519, “Tough Love” struggles with writing/pacing issues, but still gives us our first glimpse of Dark Willow. And my questions about the way the show treats issues of mental health, raised way back at the beginning of the season, are brought back for further consideration.
Next: things get seriously dire in the next couple of episodes, so what better time to welcome a shiny new guest to the podcast? Margaret Ann Robbins joins me for her debut Conversation as we discuss episodes 520, “Spiral,” and 521, “The Weight of the World.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:35:25
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:03:35 - Main Topic
01:31:35 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream, Disraeli Tears (1967)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
Episode 41 - The Body (feat. Arlo Wiley)
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
Saturday Aug 17, 2019
“But I don't understand! I don't understand how this all happens. How we go through this. I knew her, and then she's—there's just a body, and I don't understand why she just can't get back in it and not be dead ... anymore! It's stupid! It's mortal and stupid! And ... and Xander's crying and not talking, and ... and I was having fruit punch, and I thought, well, Joyce will never have any more fruit punch, ever, and she'll never have eggs, or yawn, or brush her hair, not ever, and no one will explain to me why!”
Next: someone (TBD) will join me to discuss episodes 517, “Forever,” 518, “Intervention,” and 519, “Tough Love.”
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:44:16
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:06:27 - Main Topic
01:40:56 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“Now Only” by Mount Eerie, Now Only (2018)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Episode 40 - Crush / I Was Made to Love You (feat. Jessica Hautsch)
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Jessica Hautsch is back in the cemetery to discuss two more episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Being massive Spike fans, episode 514, “Crush” gives us both a lot to talk about. Episode 515, “I Was Made to Love You” gives us...less. We have plenty to say about the performative nature of Spike, the arc of his moral continuum, and how wisely (or not) vampires are able to love. We go on and on about how problematic he can be, how much we love him in spite of all that, and how intensely, annoyingly metatextual and condescending Quasimodo comparisons are.
“Doesn’t seem to me it matters very much how you start out.”
When it comes to long, compelling conversations about misogynistic geeks and sex robots...we do all right.
Next: My hetero life mate Arlo Wiley returns to help me tackle the heartbreaking 516, “The Body.” Have the Kleenex ready.
THE BREAKDOWN
Run Time: 01:42:05
00:00:55 - Intro / Guest
00:02:28 - Main Topic
01:38:30 - Outro / Next
THE LIBRARY
Library Closed For Filing - Please Come Back Tomorrow
THE MUSIC
“Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017)
“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by Kiss, Dynasty (1979)
THE SCHOLARS
Whedon Studies Association is a non-profit academic organization devoted to the study of the works of Joss Whedon and his associates. They put out Slayage: The Journal of Whedon Studies, and Watcher Junior: The Undergraduate Journal of Whedon Studies, both blind peer-reviewed twice-yearly online publications. They also host the biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses, which brings all these incredible scholars together to present papers, discuss ways of incorporating Whedon Studies in education, and basically just geek out together.