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Overthinking It Podcast — TV & Film
Overthinking It Podcast

Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn’t deserve.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 664: You’re in the Snyder Cut, Baby! Mar 22, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather have made it about a third of the way through the Snyder Cut of Justice League, and they join forces to overthink what they saw. They take in the somber mood, and point out the problem with a long-running superhero franchise at the fever pitch of world-ending stakes; discuss how the Justice League are all re-introduced in light of some unique virtue; and wonder what gives Ben Affleck his super amped-up Batman voice.

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Episode 664: You’re in the Snyder Cut, Baby! originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 663: I Don’t Wanna Be a Terminator Mar 15, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather continue to entertain themselves during the Pandemic including watching YouTube, Matt enjoying affable British gents doing puzzles, and Pete watching old conference presentations about game design. They talk about subjects relevant to understanding storytelling, including the role of reluctance in quest narratives, behavioral psychology and D&D playing, and why it’s important to kill some stormtroopers.

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Further Reading

Episode 663: I Don’t Wanna Be a Terminator originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 662: Is It Lost? Is It Howard The Duck? Mar 08, 2021

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Matthew Belinkie, Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, Jordan Stokes, and Matthew Wrather overthink the series finale of Marvel’s WandaVision. Mostly we wonder about the show that could have been, where the main conceit of the TV show was not explained away so easily, and some of the secondary characters had more satisfying development and resolution.

Along the way, we think a bit about fan theories and easter eggs, proposing a continuum between Lost (the clues don’t lead anywhere and and it’s total audience abuse) and the Howard the Duck cameos in the MCU after-credits scenes (a reference that didn’t really “lead anywhere” but was charming and fun).

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Episode 662: Is It Lost? Is It Howard The Duck? originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 661: It’s Almost Like Herman’s Head Mar 01, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather make two related observations: HBO Max has some good old movies on it! And one of them is Point Break. These two observations lead directly to this episode, where we stream the movie for overthinking and find an artifact stranger, more provocative, and more blessed with the divine uniqueness of Gary Busey than Pete remembered or Matt expected.

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Further Reading

Point Break, from “Surf Breaks” (Wikipedia)
Patrick’s Roadhouse

Episode 661: It’s Almost Like Herman’s Head originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 660: That’s What I Did, and It Worked for Me Feb 22, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather read an article on advice columns, and explore the features and dynamics of the genre. Pete and Matt actually have some large differences of opinion here. It’s like they’re from different realms or something!

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Further Reading

“The Age of Peak Advice” from The New Yorker
r/relationships on Reddit
Mortal Kombat (2021) — Official Red Band Trailer on YouTube

Episode 660: That’s What I Did, and It Worked for Me originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 659: I’m Turning The Crank! I’m Turning The Crank! Feb 15, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather have both experienced a (brief!) blackout during the past week. This cannot be a coincidence! Let’s see if there’s an episode in it.

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Episode 659: I’m Turning The Crank! I’m Turning The Crank! originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 658: A Didgeri of Dews Feb 08, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather overthink the commercials of Super Bowl LV, which can’t talk about the problems we actdually have, so instead present problems we can actually talk about.

This podcast features a special appearance by Mark Lee in the Trader Joe’s Store Brand Beer Halftime Show!

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Episode 658: A Didgeri of Dews originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 657: How We Climbed, or Were Clumb Feb 01, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather continue their close reading of Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb,” finding that it rewards sustained attention and repeated reading.

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Further Reading

“The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” by Sir Walter Ralegh
Sonnet 30, William Shakespeare
From George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, 18 August 1790
Psalm 85 (KJV)
The Statue of Liberty

Episode 657: How We Climbed, or Were Clumb originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 656: “Us” is Also the Country that the Poem is About Jan 25, 2021

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Peter Fenzel and Matthew Wrather get to subject the popular culture—a poem, of all things!—to a level of scrutiny it certainly does deserve! They analyze and discuss Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb,” focusing on its references, it’s ambiguities, and it’s phonology. It’s an exciting and in-depth conversation, and they only make it through the first half.

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Further Reading

“The Gift Outright” by Robert Frost
Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address (this website includes a photo of the manuscript!)

Episode 656: “Us” is Also the Country that the Poem is About originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Episode 655: At the End, There’s Going to be a Portal Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

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Matthew Belinkie, Peter Fenzel, and Matthew Wrather watch and overthink the first two episodes of Marvel’s WandaVision. What kind of show is it? What is the show within the show? What is the show outside of the show? What is really going on? What is this genre? What does it have to do with college theater productions and with The Aeneid? Our conspiracy theories will astonish you.

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Further Reading

Buzzfeed’s list of easter eggs

Episode 655: At the End, There’s Going to be a Portal originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

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