Trope Watchers

We are Trope Watchers, the podcast about pop culture and why it matters!

[tropewatchers]

We know that Firewatch is beautifully designed, has a great story, and wonderful performances. It does what it aims to do perfectly, allowing players to choose the kind of personality they want to bring to the story, and expertly employing simple mechanics to build a gripping and elegant puzzle. But you don’t get to shoot hundreds of enemies, so can it really count as a “video game”? Join us for episode 109 of Trope Watchers where we are joined by special guest Nyssa Harkness to chat accessibility in gaming!

 #firewatch #walkingsimulator #realgames #accessibility #gaming #videogames #difficulty #gitgud #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

Did we ever tell you about the time we beat Mike Tyson on Mike Tyson's Punch-Out by humming melodies to a German Shepherd who has been trained to press NES controller buttons based on Celine Dion’s hits? It’s SO easy. Join us for episode 109 of Trope Watchers where we are joined by special guest Nyssa Harkness to chat accessibility in gaming!

 #miketyson #miketysonspunchout #accessibility #gaming #videogames #difficulty #filthycasual #gitgud #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

Roger: “Hey, I really like you and I’d love to get to know you better. Full disclosure, I’ve lived with drug addiction but I’m clean now. My deceased girlfriend also struggled with drug addiction. I’d really like to pursue a relationship with you but I don’t want to go back to using, and would prefer if you didn’t use around me.”

Rest of the characters in RENT: “Booooo! She’s great for you! Why are you so mean?” Join us for episode 108 where we look at artist activism, privilege, and bohemian lifestyles in RENT. #nodaybuttoday #mimi #rogerdavis #heroin #drugaddiction #toxicrelationship #badfriend #yuppiescum #aids #homelessness #bohemia #lavieboheme #privilege #rent #artists

[tropewatchers]

Mark, when you commodify the suffering of the vulnerable around you, and demand that the bodies of those populations become actors for your artistic vision, you haven’t broken free of capitalism – you’re “yuppie scum” in training!
 #markcohen #yuppiescum #aids #homelessness #bohemia #lavieboheme #privilege #rent #artists

[tropewatchers]

I wonder how many times a creative pitch has gone something like this: “Okay so we have this character. And they’re blind. But get this... in a way, they can *SEE* more than anyone else around them.” Tune in to episode 107 where we look at the trope of the blind “supercrip”! #blind #superhero #disability #supercrip #daredevil #starwars #rogueone #chirrutimwe #angel #blinddate #tropewatchers #podcast

[tropewatchers]

Did anyone else hear sirens during this scene? 🚨mad queen alert🚨 Tune un to episode 106 as we discuss points of exit in Game of Thrones. #gameofthrones #got #pointofexit #foucault #daenerys #madqueen #siren

[tropewatchers]

Tyrion has always been the voice of reason in Game of Thrones. He is intelligent and logical and his frequent use of alcohol and prostitutes is presented as an understandable response to years of abuse by his father, sister, and society as a whole. We can even forgive him for taking out this trauma and desperation on his father. But Shae....? The show might have made an effort to increase sympathy to his cause by having her reach for a knife, but at the end of the day he punishes a woman for betraying him. So why exactly should we believe he is invested a better, more just future for Westeros? Tune in to episode 106 as we discuss points of exist in Game of Thrones. #tyrion #shae #got #gameofthrones #westeros #pointofexit #foucault

[tropewatchers]

Would Daenerys REALLY be a different ruler to those who came before her? We ask this question and more in our special Game of Thrones episode of Trope Watchers. Tune in to episode 106 as we discuss if Game of Thrones really offers points of exit from the status quo. #got #gameofthrones #pointofexit #foucault #statusquo #daenerys #dany #westeros

[tropewatchers]

I don’t know if you’ve heard but Daenerys and Cersei are FAKE bisexuals!! I mean, incest and birthing dragons are obviously examples of normal familial relationships but everyone knows women who have sex with men and women are probably just lonely.. Tune in to episode 106 where we look at sexual fluidity in Torchwood and Game of Thrones. #Westeros #gameofthrones #asoiaf #daenerys #cersei #incest #motherofdragons #sexualfluidity #bisexuality #sexuality

[tropewatchers]

Anyone who has listened to our pilot will not be surprised to hear we were pretty uncomfortable seeing Owen spray on pheromones to get a woman to have sex with him. But then (twist!) he does it again with her boyfriend because it’s easier to sleep with him too than to fight. So #progressive ! Tune in to episode 106 where we look at sexual fluidity in Torchwood and Game of Thrones. #equalopportunityrapist #owenharper #pheromones #doctorwho #torchwood #sexualfluidity #bisexuality #sexuality

[tropewatchers]

In Dorne, they do not harm little girls, they treat bastards as equal, and they do not deny themselves half the world simply based on gender. We know where we’d want to live in Westeros... Tune in to episode 106 where we look at sexual fluidity in Torchwood and Game of Thrones. #Westeros #gameofthrones #asoiaf #dorne #oberynemartell #ellariasand #sexualfluidity #bisexuality #sexuality

[tropewatchers]

On the left, we have Captain Jack Harkness, the swashbuckling, time travelling, James Bond of the Whoniverse. 

On the right, we have Captain John Hart, played by the irresistibly high cheekboned James Marsters, morally lacking but charming as hell. In what cruel world would you deny any gender the opportunity to romance one of these dreamy time agents? Tune in to episode 106 where we look at sexual fluidity in Torchwood and Game of Thrones. #doctorwho #jamesmarsters #johnbarrowman #jackharkness #johnhart #torchwood #sexualfluidity #bisexuality #sexuality

[tropewatchers]

Ok so I got drunk and married in Vegas. But if I get an annulment I’ll have THREE failed marriages and that’s just embarrassing. Much better to lie and hope Rachel never tries to marry someone else. Keep my dignity. Tune in to episode 104 where we explain why Gaston, Ted, and Ross and really not that different. #friends #rossgeller #niceguys #toxicmasculinity #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

And that kids, is why if you don’t succeed in love once, try again. And if you don’t succeed twice, try a third time. And if you don’t succeed a third, just keep trying. Seriously, don’t stop. Doesn’t matter how many times they tell you they’re not interested or that they want to focus on their career or that they don’t love you, don’t leave them alone. Tune in to episode 104 where we explain why Gaston, Ted, and Ross and really not that different. #himym #tedmosby #niceguys #toxicmasculinity #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

Imagine Hugh Laurie giving this speech to Ross in the finale instead... Hugh: I’m sorry, can I interrupt? You know I just want to say that you are a horrible, horrible person. 
Ross: Pardon me? 
Hugh: You say you love this woman, yet you’re about to ruin the best opportunity of her life. I’m afraid I have to disagree with your friend "Pheebs". This is a..this is a...terrible, terrible plan. 
Ross: But she has to know how I feel! 
Hugh: But why?! She loves this...this job. No good can come of this. Tune in to episode 104 where we explain why Gaston, Ted, and Ross and really not that different. #friends #hughlaurie #rachelgreen #paris #niceguys #toxicmasculinity #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

Oh, you think it should be pronounced “encyclopeeeedia”? It’s a common mistake... Tune in to episode 104 where we explain why Gaston, Ted, and Ross and really not that different. #encyclopædia #pretentiousdouchebag #beautyandthebeast #himym #gaston #tedmosby #niceguys #toxicmasculinity #podcast #tropewatchers

[tropewatchers]

Gentlemen, if you’re in a happy relationship with a woman and want to show your love through a grand romantic gesture, then great – there are plenty of women who would enjoy that. If, however, you are hoping to win the love of a woman who does not love you, or secure a relationship that you feel is threatened, you might want to consider what company you’re keeping. Tune in to episode 104 where we explain why Gaston, Ted, and Ross and really not that different. #friends #beautyandthebeast #himym #rossgeller #gaston #tedmosby #romanticgesture #quartet #niceguys #toxicmasculinity #podcast #tropewatchers