Today, we’ll be discussing the back half of the charming English-language telenovela that gave us a refreshing, messy, and entertaining look at modern families: Jane the Virgin! This series only recently ended, yet it was clear from the very first season that this series would be an instant hit. From premise, to casting, to writing, Jane the Virgin was a delight to watch. So what exactly made this series so endearing? Stay tuned!

Jane The Virgin, Part II

88: Jane The Virgin, Part II

Today, we’ll be discussing one of the most truly groundbreaking and provocative series in television history, The L Word! This American-Canadian drama follows a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles, and all the lovers they keep and exes they lose along the way. The L Word was the first series to ever star an entire principle cast of queer women, and center lesbian and bisexual women's experiences within the queer community. Although the series sparked a lot of controversy, The L Word was television gold! So what do we think made this series so intriguing? Stay tuned!

The L Word, Part I

91: The L Word, Part I

Today, we’ll be discussing the back half of one of the most groundbreaking Black sitcoms: Girlfriends! Girlfriends took us through the highs and lows of a group of four very different Black women, and chronicled their searches for love, purpose, career, and family. So what do we think made this series so iconic? Stay tuned!

Girlfriends, Part II

95: Girlfriends, Part II

Today, we’ll be discussing The CW’s action-spy thriller, Nikita! Based on the critically acclaimed spy-drama from director Luc Besson, this series about a young woman recruited into a secret government agency was the fourth adaptation of the source material and had some very big shoes to fill. Nikita takes a different approach, beginning where its predecessors ended, with Nikita managing to get away from her captors, and determined to bring the entire operation down. Filled with action, drama, and double agents, Nikita was different from anything else that The CW had to offer at the time. So what do we think made this series so brilliant? Stay tuned!

Nikita

98: Nikita

Today, we’re discussing the first half of ABC’s action- spy thriller, Alias! One of ABC’s most critically-acclaimed dramas, Alias follows Sydney Bristow, a CIA agent working as a double agent for SD-6, a counter-government agency. Sydney must handle the stressors of her job while keeping her friends in the dark, navigating a romance with a co-worker, and handling the tense relationship between her and her father, who is in the same line of work. So what do we think made Alias so exciting? Stay tuned!

Alias, Part I

102: Alias, Part I

We’re debuting this 12th season, Off to College!, with one of the most popular, critically-acclaimed sitcoms of this millennium: Community! Community follows an unlikely group of friends who meet upon attending Greendale Community College, and chronicles their personal antics, burgeoning camaraderie, and their wildly inappropriate relationship with their dean. What is it about this mildly over-the-top show set in a fictional town in Colorado that kept audiences hooked? Stay tuned.

Community

104: Community

Today, we’re discussing the first half of Syfy’s fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the exploits of our protagonist after he is granted admission into Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, an exclusive, and secret, university for magicians. Often referenced as an aged-up Harry Potter for adults, The Magicians gives us magic, mystery, and friendship. So what do we think made this series so captivating? Stay tuned!

The Magicians, Part I

105: The Magicians, Part I

Today, we’re discussing the back half of Syfy’s fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the struggles, danger, adventure, and growth of a group of friends at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, as well as their magical friends. The Magicians wasn’t perfect, but it left an indelible impression and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. So what do we think made this series great? Stay tuned!

The Magicians, Part II

106: The Magicians, Part II

Today, we’re discussing the hit ABC Family college comedy-drama, Greek! Greek follows a group of young adults at university who are a part of fraternities or sororities, otherwise known as Greek life. This series observes the college experience from a lens that’s often seen on the periphery of the college experience rather than the forefront, and chronicles the characters’ various highs and lows during their first real foray into adulthood. So what do we think made this series so unique? Stay tuned!

Greek

107: Greek

Today, we’re discussing the Netflix original series, Dear White People! Based on the satirical dark comedy film of the same name, Dear White People uses the fictional Ivy League of Winchester University to explore race relations among the student body and America at large. With each episode focusing on the personal life and inner world of a different character, Dear White People attempts to explore ideologies, loyalties, and motivations in a complex way. So did the series succeed? Stay tuned!

Dear White People*

112: Dear White People*

Joining us for this episode are our very special guests, Sara and S.E. of the Bitches on Comics podcast! The last time Sara and S.E. were guests here on GBB, we were discussing Lost Girl, so of course, they were the first people to come to mind when discussing the contemporary Sapphic delight that is the topic of our current episode, the Syfy original, Wynonna Earp

Based on the comic book miniseries by Beau Smith, this supernatural Western horror follows the great-great-daughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp after she inherits the power to return reincarnated villains back to hell, using her ancestor’s magical gun. Wynonna must also do battle with other supernatural forces which reside near her hometown, as well as renew her relationship with her younger sister. This series was bold, and ambitious, and quickly became an audience favourite, but what did we think of Wynonna Earp? Stay tuned!

Wynonna Earp

115: Wynonna Earp

Today, we're discussing the first half of Fox/Netflix’s hit fantasy comedy-drama, Lucifer! Based on the hit DC comics character, Lucifer Morningstar abandons Hell for the city of angels and becomes a successful nightclub owner in LA! During his tenure on Earth, Lucifer becomes a civilian consultant to the LAPD, helping to solve crimes. The Lord of Hell is a universally reviled character, so what did we think of this charismatic, sensitive portrayal of Lucifer? Stay tuned!

Lucifer, Part I

121: Lucifer, Part I

Hello World! Today I am joined by entertainment and culture writer Sydney Urbanek. Hang with us as we talk about the global pop superstar Taylor Swift and the 2020 documentary Miss Americana. Miss Americana follows Swift as she closes the chapter on her 20s and looks to the future of her 30s reflecting on lessons she's learned along the way. But what has she learned really?

Taylor Swift & Ms Americana

This week, we continue with our Limited Edition season and dive into a discussion of the edgy, tense, and loaded biographical drama, The Dropout! This series chronicles the rise and eventual crash and burn of disgraced biotech girlboss, Elizabeth Holmes. After dropping out of Stanford, Elizabeth goes on to be the founder and CEO of Theranos, a company who claimed to be able to test for dozens of illnesses, diseases, and even cancer with only a single drop of blood. But as Theranos grew, so did suspicion of what Elizabeth and her COO were doing behind the scenes, and why Theranos seemed to be all talk and no action. So is The Dropout worth watching? Stay tuned!

The DropOut

129: The Dropout

This week, we continue with our Limited Edition season and dive into a discussion of the tense, uncomfortable, and shocking miniseries, Unbelievable! Based on true events, this series covers two detectives’ hunt across two states for a serial rapist with an unknown modus operandi, and one survivor’s years long struggle to be seen as victim instead of a liar. So is Unbelievable worth watching? Stay tuned!

Unbelievable

130: Unbelievable

This week, we continue with our Limited Edition season and discuss the Freevee original crime comedy, Sprung! Because of overcrowding and COVID-19, several nonviolent offenders are granted early release from prison. But for 3 of them, the excitement of unexpected freedom is soon eclipsed by a desperation to make money, and they soon find themselves tempted back into a life of crime in order to finance the straight and narrow. So is Sprung worth watching? Stay tuned!

Sprung

131: Sprung

This week, we conclude our Limited Edition season and discuss the critically acclaimed miniseries, Queen’s Gambit! Set from the mid-1950s through the 1960s, this drama follows a young girl as she learns to play chess in the basement of an orphanage and becomes a powerful contender, all while struggling with the ghosts of her past and a growing substance addiction. So is Queen’s Gambit worth watching? Stay tuned!

Queen's Gambit

132: Queen's Gambit

This week, we’re keeping the First Impressions season going by discussing the internet’s favourite new drama, The Bear! The  Bear is a comedy-drama which follows a young, award-winning chef de cuisine who leaves a thriving career in New York City and returns home to Chicago to take over his late brother’s struggling sandwich shop. This ambitious character-driven series is a social media darling. But is The Bear worth watching? Stay tuned!

The Bear

133: The Bear

This week, we’ll be continuing our First Impressions with a review of yet another critical and audience darling! Bel-Air is the dramatic retelling of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, bringing the beloved classic into the 21st century and speaking directly to GenZ. Bel-Air takes a whole new approach to the iconic 90s sitcom, giving us more backstory, more layers, more nuance, and more humanity. But is the risk paying off? Is Bel-Air worth watching? Stay tuned!

Bel-Air

134: Bel Air

This week, we’ll be continuing out First Impressions season with a discussion on the reboot of the iconic 80s and 90s coming-of-age series, The Wonder Years! The Wonder Years was one of the most iconic shows for younger GenX and older Millenials, a series where, through the eyes of an initially 12 year old, middle-class suburban white boy, we get a glimpse at life growing up in the late 60s and early 70s. This risky reboot does the exact same thing… with a protagonist growing up in Montgomery, Alabama. The Wonder Years doesn’t just deal with the typical issues of a pre-teen boy, but the greater issues of a highly segregated America. So is the bold new, melanated series any good? Is The Wonder Years worth watching? Stay tuned!

The Wonder Years

135: The Wonder Years

This week, we’ll be continuing our First Impressions season with a discussion on the reboot, or rather continuation of That 70s SHow, That 90s Show! That 70s Show was a hit sitcom, and That 90s Show continues that saga of the Forman family with the daughter of Eric and Donna, Leia Forman, a 15 year old who’s spending the summer with her grandparents and making friends with other teens who are vastly different from herself. So is That 90s Show as good as its predecessor? Is That 90s Show worth watching? Stay tuned!

That 90s Show

136: That 90s Show

This week, we’ll be continuing our First Impressions season with a discussion of the futuristic drama from the creators of HBO’s Westworld, The Peripheral! The Peripheral is a sci-fi drama set roughly 10 years in the future, where a young woman is unknowingly recruited as a mercenary by a sinister corporation who’s using talented VR players to commit crimes 70 years in the future. The first season of The Peripheral has had amazing critical acclaim, and the series has been renewed for a second season, but is it worth it? Is The Peripheral worth watching?

The Peripheral

137: The Peripheral

This week, we’ll be continuing our First Impressions season with a discussion of the hit Apple TV+ original, Physical! Set in the 1980s, Physical is the story of a truly desperate housewife named Sheila, a lifelong bulimic with an expensive secret and a dissatisfying marriage. When Sheila’s husband decides to run for California statesman, Sheila feels as if her life is about to implode, but she finds strength in an unexpected source: aerobics. So is Physical as addictive as critics say? Is Physical worth watching? Stay tuned!

Physical

138: Physical

This week, we’ll be concluding our First Impressions season with a discussion of the hit AMC+ original, Interview with a Vampire! Set in 1910s New Orleans, this hit series is based on the best-selling novel by Anne Rice, this fantasy drama follows the relationships of vampires Louis and Lestat and their protegee, Claudia. So does Interview with a Vampire live up to its namesake? Is it worth watching? Stay tuned!

Interview with the Vampire

139: Interview with the Vampire

In keeping with the vampire theme of our last two episodes, Alex and I dive into The Vampire Diaries, a fairly-recent hit teen series which, in many areas, tried and failed to be Gen Z's response to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. On this episode, we discuss what made seasons 1-4 of TVD basic, and how writers can avoid the lack of character complexity and development that TVD has in abundance. Enjoy!

The Vampire Diaries, Part I

3: The Vampire Diaries, Part I

Alex and I wrap up our recap on the hit series The Vampire Diaries. There was simply too much fuckery in all things Mystic Falls-related for one episode, so sit back while we dig deeper into TVD and how the strength of a break-neck pace and a loyal fandom kept this show alive for so long! Enjoy!

The Vampire Diaries, Part II

4: The Vampire Diaries, Part II

When The WB debuted Dawson's Creek in 1998, even the network's own executives couldn't have predicted how successful and groundbreaking the series would go on to be. This landmark teen drama changed the foundation of teen dramas irrevocably and its impact is still going strong. So what do Alex and I think made seasons 1-3 of Dawson's Creek so iconic? Stay tuned!

Dawson's Creek, Part I

11: Dawson's Creek, Part I

Malcolm In The Middle was Fox's the breakout hit of 2000, a hilarious, relatable, and unexpectedly moving family sitcom that lasted seven seasons on the network. The perfect storm of casting, writing, acting, and comedic timing are just some of the things that made this series so stellar! Check out what we think made Malcolm In The Middle television gold!

Malcolm In The Middle

18: Malcolm In The Middle

Instant Star is the whirlwind modern-fairy tale of a young girl who finds the happily-ever-after of overnight super-stardom after winning a nationally-televised singing competition, and quickly learns that her work as singer-songwriter(and her personal growth) is just getting started! Find out what #GBB had to say about this Canadian teen drama!

Instant Star

25: Instant Star

ABC's Scandal is a show which revolutionized how we discuss and consume television. Despite a short and very rocky first season, Scandal because a the cultural artifact and managed to survive 7 seasons on the network. What made Scandal so addictive, what did we love and hate about the series, and how well has it aged? Stay tuned as we discuss the first 4 seasons!

Scandal, Part I

28: Scandal, Part I

Scandal was truly a force of nature, despite a lot of convoluted writing and plots that we hanging on by a thread. In this episode, we dive into seasons 4-6 of this groundbreaking political drama and try to get to the heart of what made this series so addictive! Enjoy!

Scandal, Part II

29: Scandal, Part II

Today, #GBB will be kicking off our 6th season, Outlaws, and kicking things off by discussing the first 3 seasons of the ground-breaking FX original, Sons of Anarchy! Sons of Anarchy used a more modern setting and some inspiration from Shakespeare's Hamlet to weave an intricate cautionary tale. The series constantly explored themes such as friendship, betrayal, brotherhood, loyalty, and redemption to explore the inner workings of gang life. So what exactly do we think made Sons of Anarchy so compelling? Stay tuned!

Sons of Anarchy, Part I

35: Sons of Anarchy, Part I

Today, #GBB will be discussing the last 4 seasons of the ground-breaking FX original, Sons of Anarchy! Sons of Anarchy used gang life as a backdrop to create an ongoing narrative about toxic friendships, narcissistic parents, misguided loyalty, the necessity of personal accountability, and how misogyny hurts everyone. So what exactly do we think made Sons of Anarchy such a huge network achievement? Stay tuned!

36: Sons of Anarchy, Part II

Charmed was an unexpected breakout hit that changed the face of prime time network television and garnered a huge amount of respect for its home network, The WB. Deemed by critics to be a fusion of Practical Magic and The Craft, Charmed far surpassed expectations and became a pop culture icon, a cult classic, and a critical darling. So how do we feel about Charmed over 21 years after its debut? Stay tuned!

Charmed, Part I

44: Charmed, Part I

On today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the back half of the original Charmed! This series ended 14 years ago, but not a single year has passed since where it wasn’t being broadcast on syndicate or via streaming services, and it's also seen impressive sales in home release of the DVD box sets as well. So what is it about this series that keeps us under its spell? What can we take away from Charmed, and what do we think made this series so ubiquitous? Stay tuned!

Charmed, Part II

45: Charmed, Part II

On this episode of #GBB, we'll be discussing the first two seasons of the hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off series, Angel! This series first aired almost 21 years ago to a wave of skepticism because of the failures of the many spin-offs which had preceded it, but due to the popularity of Buffy, the enormous fan base around the Angel character, and the same sort of stellar writing and acting that we had come to expect from its predecessor, Angel became an overnight success. So what was the magic formula that kept audiences hooked? Stay tuned!

Angel, Part I

46: Angel, Part I

Hello, world! This Alex and Em! Welcome to our corner of the Internet! The Good. The Bad. The Basic. is a podcast where two Black Millennials wax nostalgic on the TV shows and movies we grew up on as well as intellectualize and throw shade at what we're watching now! Join us for obscure pop culture references and organic, fair trade teas as we analyze what makes all of our faves good, bad, and mildly problematic! Enjoy, and check out our Patreon for more exclusive content!

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