Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr

Little Brooke isn't quite as boring anymore, is she?!Welcome back listeners. It's Valentine's Days on Gossip Girl and Ari, Jenny and Joe are ready to declare "One Flew Over the Cuck's Nest" the best episode of the series to date. Sure we're not enthused by Shan's betrayal or Julien's potential affair, but between the bottoming stuff in the throuple, Round 2 of Monet vs Camille DeHaan, Max reading Jenny for liking 2046, Luna being vulnerable and yes, a Chris Pratt read, this episode is amazing. And just when it can't get better, Charli XCX shows up!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Ari: @TheAriDrew> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're closing out 2022 with one final foray into big budget spectacle with Andrew Adamson's 2005 epic adaptation of C.S. Lewis' 1950 British classic The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Up for discussion: the uncomfortable racial aspects of the film, CGI vs practical effects, the wartime elements, religious propaganda, which Pevensie child we identify as, and why it's ok to hate Edmund and Turkish Delight.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back followers. This week on XOXO, Ari, Jenny and Joe are discussing the third episode of the rebooted Gossip Girl's second season "Great Reputations" which takes the action to the Guggenheim, focuses too much on boring Brooke and Obie, and gives Monet another great storyline. Plus: more skin, Joe's continued frustrations with Zoya, and Luna drags Jenny!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Ari: @TheAriDrew> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honour of the 25th anniversary of Spice World, we're giving you everything...or at least an episode on the iconic UK film! Along for the ride is Bobby Torrez, who - like Brenna - loves this film (Joe, meanwhile, is mostly just overwhelmed).Up for discussion: British humour, cameos and cut scenes, the $25 M budget and whether a film like this could even get made today.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote> Bobby: @BobbyTorrezHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back followers. This week on XOXO, Ari, Jenny and Joe are discussing the second episode of the rebooted Gossip Girl's second season "Guess Who's Coming At Dinner?" which finds our crew attending a series of eventful dinner parties. While we're frustrated with Nick and annoyed at the repetition with Kate and Mike, we're living for the Monet vs Julien cover spread storyline and dying at the comedy and heart of The Birdcage-inspired storyline with Max's dads.But also: Brooke is sooooo boring.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Ari: @TheAriDrew> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're headed to Calgary in the 90s with Canadian lesbian twin sister singing sensations Tegan and Sara, reading their 2019 memoir High School and the 2022 Amazon Freevee adaptation, showrun by Clea DuVall.We're talking raves and acid, multiple perspectives of the same events, the twins' meteoric rise to stardom and the many girls they had crushes on. Plus: the show's challenging short episodes and split focus, great performances and our continued issues with the "all or nothing" approaches by streaming services. Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greetings listeners. School is back in session as HBO Max's Gossip Girl returns for a second year and a new semester. How are Jenny, Ari and Joe feeling about the fresh start? Well, we're big fans of Monet as a multifaceted villain, Luna's glow-up, the status of our fave throuple, and the curious lack of Obie.Plus: thoughts on the Deb ball, the new Russian classics teacher and will Zoya ever become more interesting? We'll find out soon. XOXOWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Ari: @TheAriDrew> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an Angie Thomas gush fest as Brenna and Joe cover the author's On The Come Up (2019) and first time feature director Sanaa Lathan's 2022 film adaptation.We are *huge* fans of the book, which is covertly about trauma and features a more challenging teen female protagonist. The film is still enjoyable, but it takes the more commercial approach of focusing on Bri's art/ascent to stardom.Plus: Method Man is great, why Aunt Pooh is such a great character, Jay as a great mom, and why we do not care for a freeze frame ending!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greetings listeners. We know you love us, but do you love Gossip Girl (2021)? That's one question we feel is worth pursuing, so join Joe, as well as Ari Drew and Jenny Nulf, as they provide weekly commentary on the HBO Max remake/revamp/sequel.We're starting with our thoughts on S01, including which characters we find hot, which throuple we're obsessed with, and which characters are boring (hi Obie!). Plus: the narrative risk-taking, why Julien and Zoya need to get along, and where the show will go in S02. You know you love us. XOXOWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Ari: @TheAriDrew> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for our final Banned Book Club of the year and we're going out with a "classic": William Golding's 1954 novel Lord of the Flies and Peter Brook's 1963 adaptation. Thanks to listeners Natalie and Miriam for chiming in!This is Joe's first time reading the book, but it's so familiar because of its pop culture legacy. It's deeply colonial, though Brenna is frustrated by Golding's penchant for asking questions he doesn't want to explore.Plus: fatphobia and ableism for days, wanting more characterization, how the black and white affects the viewing experience, a trauma-filled shoot, and why Joe would rather watch The Wilds on Amazon!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Dec 30: All American Boys (2015) by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds Hosted on Acas

On its eighth anniversary (and with one year until the prequel film drops), Joe returns to Panem to revisit Mockingjay Part 1. Along for the ride is Alex Heeney, who guested on our episode on The Hunger Games and has strong opinions about Suzanne Collins' book and Francis Lawrence's film. Please note: we're only discussing Chapters 1-13 for this episode.We're still chatting about love triangles and dystopian world-building, as well as whether director Lawrence is better suited to directing action than actors, the mega stunt casting and why the film doesn't deserve its "cash grab" moniker.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote> Alex: @bwestcineaste / Seventh Row WebsiteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) / Peter Brook (1964) Hosted on Aca

Joe is joined by Justin Nordell to discuss Peter S. Beagle's 1968 fantasy novel The Last Unicorn, as well as Rankin and Bass' 1982 animated film, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.We talk about the kindertrauma of both texts, particularly the Harpy and the Red Bull characters, as well as the universality of searching for self-identity and losing yourself pretending to be something you're not. Plus: the "feminine" animation style, the first all-star voice cast and why Tammy Grimes' performance as Molly Grue is so emotionally impactful.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote> Justin: @jnordell / Insta: @mogwai47Have something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) / Peter Brook (1964) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Brenna taking a breather, Joe recruits former guest Jenn Adams to tackle director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson's Netflix's '90s throw-back, Do Revenge. The Camila Mendes/Maya Hawke film is perfectly cast and feels extremely timely in its discussion about female friendship and the patriarchy, with plenty of commentary on race, class and queerness. Plus: spotting all of the YA homages, costume designer Alana Morshead's influences, why Max is so hateable and SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR (!!!)Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremote> Jenn: @jennferatuHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) / Peter Brook (1964) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hopping on the Lana Condor train for one last Spooky Season entry with Netflix's Boo, Bitch! Spoiler: the first half of the season is silly fun...then the back half happens.We're *extremely* annoyed at the "twist" (not a twist) that the creative team isn't really interested in exploring, how heavily prom and the idea of a high school legacy figure into the narrative and how grating Condor's Erika Vu becomes. What went wrong here?!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) / Peter Brook (1964) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spooky season continues as Brenna and Joe tackle 2002's gothic vampire lesbian boarding school text The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein and its 2011 adaptation by Mary Harron. While we're intrigued by the unreliable unnamed narrator and the teen girl drama, Brenna is very frustrated by the book's Afterword, which eliminates all ambiguity. Joe is more receptive because of his familiarity with Carmilla, but finds the film's disinterest in vampirism perplexing. Plus: Scott Speedman in full whisper phase, Joe's love of a particularly bloody scene, bad flying and Brenna delivering backhanded compliments about Joe's choice of vampiresReference: Scout Tofoya. "The Unloved: The Moth Diaries" Roger Ebert.comWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Fli

We're back for another Banned Book discussion about Roald Dahl's The Witches (1963) which we've partnered with Nicolas Roeg's 1990 adaptation, as well as tangential conversation about Robert Zemeckis' 2020 film. Thanks to listener Miriam for contributing!Yes, this book was banned...for promoting witchcraft, not Dahl's anti-semitism, which we have to discuss <sigh>. It's such a shame because the book - with its willingness to put children in danger and its "grim dark" ending - is still great (bonus points for Quentin Blake's illustrations). Then the film is all about Anjelica Houston's Grand High Witch, cute Jim Henson mice, Roeg's POV camerawork and great practical FX.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Nov 24: Lord of the Flies by William Golding

It's not often we get to a show just after it's been cancelled, but that's the sad situation here as we tackle Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang's excellent feminist sci-fi comic series Paper Girls and Stephany Folsom's 2022 Amazon adaptation.We discuss how Vaughan has grown since Y: The Last Man (see previous episode), the perfectly 80s art, and the effortless representation. Then we praise the show for focusing on characters, particularly the interactions between the girls and their older selves and the tampon conversation in episode five. We miss this one already!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Oct 13: The Witches by Roald Dahl (1983) / Nicolas Roeg (1990) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's week 2 of our coverage of Vampire Academy and we're ending with a whimper! The 2022 Peacock series by The Vampire Diaries co-creator Julie Plec and actress Marguerite MacIntyre is confusing, boring and poorly paced. Sure the people are pretty, but that isn't getting us through 50+ minute episodes of some of the worst world-building we've ever seen on a YA series.References: Joe's Bloody Disgusting ReviewWanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Brenna: @brennacgray> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say or a comment about banned book club? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com or tweet us your responses before the following deadlines:> Oct 13: The Witches by Roald Dahl (1983) / Nicolas Roeg (1990) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Brenna away one more week, Joe recruits recurring guest Jenny Nulf to gush over Zoey Deutch's star-making turn in Mark Waters' 2014 Vampire Academy.The film wisely eschews a ton of the mythology in author Richelle Mead's novel, though the mix of comedy, YA and horror don't always mesh well (looking at you, Claire Foy).Plus: the book's oh-so-2000s depiction of self-harm and slut shaming, the bland blonde playing Lissa, and complaints that Dimitri is too old and not attractive enough for this adaptation!Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Jenny: @jennyleighx33> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Brenna's absence, Joe recruits Nichole Goble for a return to Sick Lit with Justin Baldoni's directorial debut, Five Feet Apart (2019) and its novelization by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. This free flowing discussion tackles the depiction of CF in the film and the criticisms lobbied at both texts, which acknowledging that they did help to raise awareness of the disease. Plus: the sick bodies of stars Richardson and Sprouse, why we don't buy their love affair, the realities of divorce, and how the different endings between film and novelization change its meaning.Wanna connect with the show? Follow us on Twitter @HKHSPod or use the hashtag #HKHSPod:> Nichole: @bodiesofhorror> Joe: @bstolemyremoteHave something longer to say? Email us at hkhspod@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.