Today, we'll be discussing the first half of one of the most truly unique shows of the last decade: Drop Dead Diva. This series follows Deb, an aspiring model who dies, ascends to heaven, and hits the return button, coming back to Earth in the body of a hardworking, generous, plus-sized attorney named Jane, who is also recently deceased. With a guardian angel and best friend in on the secret, Deb learns to navigate both Jane's life and her body. So what exactly made this series so refreshing? Stay tuned!

Drop Dead Diva, Part I

89: Drop Dead Diva, Part I

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 first 3 seasons of The WB/CW’s iconic superhero teen drama, Smallville! Based on DC comics most popular franchise of all time, Superman, Smallville follows the journey of a young Clark Kent from a small farm in Smallville, Kansas, to the bustling city of Metropolis. We get a front row seat as the boy who would become Superman navigates friendship, family, romance, and wanting to be normal when he’s anything but. Smallville solidified the network as a primetime contender, but how does the show hold up 10 years after its finale? Stay tuned!

Smallville, Part I

118: Smallville, 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

Under the Banner of Heaven is a miniseries tracks a young Mormon detective as he tries to solve a double murder of a mother and infant, a journey that takes him to the underbelly of his religion, and the core of his faith. So is Under the Banner of Heaven worth watching? Stayed tuned!

Under the Banner of Heaven

124: Under the Banner of Heaven

Inspired by the true story of Anna Sorokin, Inventing Anna follows the party-girl turned con artist who invented Anna Delvey, a German heiress. Through this new identity, Anna was able to sweet talk her way into exclusive parties, clubs, and restaurants, negotiate her way into major business dealings, and fake it into the lives of some of the wealthiest of New York’s old money. So is Inventing Anna worth watching? Stay tuned!

Inventing Anna

125: Inventing Anna

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

Welcome to the very first episode of The Good. The Bad. The Basic! In this episode, we break down the first half of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (seasons 1-4), and everything that made the series both iconic and a little bit problematic. Together, Alex and I take a walk down memory lane and into the Hellmouth! Enjoy!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Part I

1: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Part I

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

Welcome to the second season of #GBB! This season, vampires are out and #WhitePeopleProblems are up for dissection as we explore some of the most popular white teen and family dramas! First up is Fox's breakout hit, The O.C.! Alex and I review everything that made this show good, bad, basic, and iconic! Enjoy!

The Good. The Bad. The Basic.

7: The O.C., Part I

#GBB had so much to say about The O.C., and it couldn't be contained in a single episode. Check out the second half of our recap of The O.C., and relive the highs and lows of Newport Beach with us! Enjoy!

The O.C., Part II

8: The O.C., Part II

The Gilmore Girls are easily modern TV's most iconic mother-daughter duo, but what did Alex and I think of this whimsical fantasy of a family drama then, and how well does it hold up now? Stay tuned to hear our thoughts on seasons 1-4 of this iconic series!

Gilmore Girls, Part I

13: Gilmore Girls, Part I

Gilmore Girls was a breakout hit for The WB/The CW, but a revival 9 years after the season finale would have been an ambitious undertaking even under the best of circumstances. So how does Netflix's Gilmore Girls revival hold up? Is it Gilmore worthy? Have the lives of Lorelai and Rory gone in the directions that we would have expected? Stay tuned!

Gilmore Girls, Part III

15: Gilmore Girls, Part III: A Year In the Life

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

ABC/CMT's Nashville was a show with an excellent premise: The public and private lives of country music stars. With a star-studded cast, and an amazing soundtrack and collection of original music, Nashville was poised to capture a large audience. So did it succeed? Check out what we had to say on seasons 1-3 of this musical drama!

Nashville, Part I

22: Nashville, Part I

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

The Good Wife, CBS' award-winning legal/political drama, is praised by many critics as the last great network television drama. This series, about a wealthy stay-at-home mom who must re-enter the workplace and finally use her law degree after her husband is arrested, is captivating, but why? Find out as we discuss the first 4 seasons of this memorable series!

The Good Wife, Part I

32: The Good Wife, Part I

The Good Wife is a series that delivered quality for seven spectacular seasons! On this episode, #GBB dives into seasons 5-7 on this immaculate drama. Our protagonist, Alicia Florrick made a series of questionable decisions for the series duration, decisions that did very little to bring her closer to happiness, but did keep viewers on the edge of their seats. So what did we think of The Good Wife, its cast of characters, and Alicia’s lace front wig so intriguing? Stay tuned!

The Good Wife, Part II

33: The Good Wife, 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

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

We’re debuting our 9th season with none other than the most successful historical television drama of all time, and one of the most groundbreaking series to ever air on any network, AMC’s Mad Men! Mad Men, short for Madison Men, is a series about a group of advertisers working for the Sterling Cooper advertising agency on Madison Ave in Manhattan. At the series debut, we’re placed in the year 1960 and quickly immersed in the life of protagonist Don Draper, a savvy advertising executive and shameless womanizer. Over the course of a decade, we see how Don and his colleagues, associates, and lovers evolve to be better or worse people. How did Mad Men manage to take such an eventful time in history, and such a seemingly unglamourous line of work, reduce it into individual stories, and turn it into television gold? Stay tuned!

Mad Men, Part I

71: Mad Men, Part I

On today's episode, we'll be discussing seasons 4 & 5 of Mad Men! AMC's critically-acclaimed drama about the inner lives of Manhattan's elite advertising executives was responsible for putting the spotlight on so many previously unrecognized but immensely talented actors and writers, as well as the AMC network itself, and the show's creator! But what was it about this series set in the 1960s that intrigued us in the 21st century? How did Mad Men manage to grab and hold our attention? Stay tuned!

Mad Men, Part II

72: Mad Men, Part II

Today, we’ll be discussing the final seasons of the critically-acclaimed Mad Men! AMC’s period drama about the inner lives of Manhattan’s elite advertising executives successfully captured the personal and political nuances of the white upper-middle class who kept consumerism at an all time high during a time of war. What was it about this series that made these people and this time period seem so interesting? How did Mad Men manage to grab and hold the attention of so many people for so many seasons? Stay tuned!

Mad Men, Part III

73: Mad Men, Part III

Today, we’ll be discussing the British Tudor-era historical drama, The Tudors! This period drama follows the lives and loves of King Henry VIII of England and how these women influenced his allegiances, his politics, his religion, and ultimately, the course of history. What is it about this period drama that made it so intriguing? How do the politics of this British monarchy continue to keep us fascinated over 500 years later? Stay tuned!

The Tudors

75: The Tudors

Today, we’ll be discussing the British historical drama, The White Queen! This miniseries set against the backdrop of the infamous War of the Roses follows the power struggles of the women of the House of York and the House of Lancaster as they fight for the throne. This period drama takes us behind the seat of power as we watch how the machinations and manipulations of power affect the monarchy, and the nation as a whole. So what exactly made The White Queen so engaging, and what does the series teach us about modern-day politics? Stay tuned!

The White Queen

77: The White Queen

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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