RomCom Killjoys – Details, episodes & analysis

As part of our ongoing series on Bridgerton, Eliza and Jonelle take a deep dive into how Bridgerton portrays (and glosses over) racial and/or cultural difference. Your hosts tread lightly into the difference between American and British representation; color conscious and color blind casting; and why it's weird that anyone thinks people of color didn't exist in early modern England. 

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Spoilers abound, dear listeners ... Eliza and Jonelle (finally) tackle Regency juggernaut Bridgerton (2020-Present). Herein your heroines discuss race and speculative history for the British Empire; the perils of #GirlBoss feminism; and a truly shocking encounter with a bee ... don't tell the mamas ... 

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Jonelle and Eliza tackle Patreon-pick Notting Hill (1999), including the star texts of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant; how much our perception of fame has changed; and whether charming leads can make up for a milquetoast script. (Yeah, we said it.)

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Jonelle and Eliza discuss the ick factor of Never Been Kissed (1999) including irresponsible representation of student-teacher relationships; why 90s movies hate the popular kids; and the sexualization of teenagers in high school romcoms. 

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Happy National Coming Out Day! Jonelle is joined by special guest host Melissa Englander for a discussion of queer cinema classic But I'm A Cheerleader (1999), including the tension between bleak reality and camp satire; femme representation and compulsory heterosexuality; and the most important issue of all -- the movie's iconic soundtrack. 

For resources on the fight against conversion therapy,  please visit https://bornperfect.org/. 

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We burn, we pine, we perish. Jonelle and Eliza throw it all the way back to the last millennium with 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), including 90s feminism and intersectionality; smart adaptations of problematic Shakespeare plays; and why you can't take your eyes off of Heath Ledger. 

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Jonelle and Eliza close out Brendan Fraser month by discussing both the original and remake of Bedazzled (1967/2000), including the rise of self-objectification at the turn of the Millennium; uncomfy indentity-based humor; and why actors so often make deals with the devil to make it in Hollywood. 

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The Mummy (1999) is a romcom. We will be taking no more questions at this time. Eliza and Jonelle are joined by Jodi McIntyre to discuss this film's undeniable orientalist lens; its chaotic bisexual energy; and jawlines so sharp you could light a match with them. 

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This month we celebrate the one and only Himbo King of Hollywood -- Brendan Fraser. Eliza and Jonelle kick it off with personal favorite George of the Jungle (1997), including why the himbo and Brendan Fraser are both making a comeback; the importance of sensual intelligence; and how the second demographic transition is about to make a househusband out of you. 

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Jonelle and Eliza discuss Netflix's borefest Love, Guaranteed (2020). Topics include sad spinster tropes, better courtroom dramas, and the existential anxiety spiral of online dating. 

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