BSG #19: Jaysus! / The Trespasser

September 10, 2018 The Squad

91cPk+F8NjL.jpg — BSG #19: Jaysus! / The Trespasser

Get out your magnifying glasses because it’s time for a classic detective story as we dive into Tana French’s newest novel, *The Trespasser.* The #BookSquad talks about the mystery genre, the “femme fatale” character type, and subverting expectations in detective fiction. Plus, we answer the question: Just how Irish is this book? (Spoiler: Jaysus! It’s very Irish.) There’s even a new segment in this episode called Emily Recommends, where Emily tells you which Tana French book you should read next! Then we read some listener feedback from our last fullpisode on The Leftovers. After you listen to this, check out our latest content on the #BookSquadBlog, and start watching *Sharp Objects* if you haven’t already, because that’s what we’re discussing on our next othersode! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe!

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So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 4 Get Vulnerable

September 7, 2018 Emily Martin

Vulnerability. It's a quality that is intangible and yet become so important in these final weeks of competition on So You Think You Can Dance. At this point, several (if not all) of the top four are on equal footing when it comes to dance ability, so whether the audience is able to view the dancers as "vulnerable" or not can win or lose the season for these contestants. Often, a far superior dancer will go home because of this perceived lack of vulnerability, which is what I guess happened here and why we have landed ourselves with this top 4. They certainly aren't the best dancers of the season, but they are perhaps the most vulnerable? Who knows? Who can argue with that?

In this episode, Vanessa Hudgens says, "being vulnerable is the connective tissue of your soul." Do you know what that means? Because I don't. This is probably why I don't have what it takes to be a contestant on this show. That's probably the only reason. Right?

Anyhow. On to the performances.

Are You The One S7|E4: Just A Bunch of Random People on Some Horses

September 2, 2018 Emily

That's right. Time to get the bottles poppin' because here is your weekly Are You the One? recap that I know you've been desperately waiting for. A lot of drama went down this week. Tea was spilled, COFFEE was splashed all over the counter, couples were formed, other couples were tested, people got into drunk fights and called each other by the wrong names, horses were ridden across the foggy moors. All in one hour of television. Let's go.

So You Think You Can Dance: Who's Going to the Finale?

August 31, 2018 Emily

It’s already time for the finale next week, guys. My head is spinning. How did this happen so quickly? Who even are these people? Why does it feel like the auditions were twice as long as the live show? Can FOX stop the madness? Even Nigel pleaded with FOX this week to bring back the Top 20, so what do we have to do to make that happen? Like, if we’re gonna do this show. Let’s do it RIGHT, right?

Anyhow, here’s how everything went down.

Othersode #18: Hold On To Your Souls / Grady Hendrix & Jennifer's Body

August 27, 2018 The Squad

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Are You The One S7|E3: Do Not Infer With Me Right Now

August 26, 2018 Emily

Episode 3 of Are You The One starts off where we left off, with Bria freaking out and screaming for her mom. This is not good TV. This is stressful.

Also Bria took up so much of last week’s episode(s) that Kenya giving Lewis a BJ totally flew under the radar for me. Yes, that’s how much Bria’s wailing is addling my brain. Please make it stop. Anyway, on with the recap.

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 8 Get Whittled Down to 6

August 24, 2018 Emily

And the number of dancers continues to dwindle ever so quickly before we even have a sense of what these dancers can do. How is the American public supposed to feel inclined to pick up the phone and vote for people they barely know? This is why starting with 20 is so important. Or one of the many reasons. In my frustration, I searched the Internet for some sort of justification for WHY they've cut the beginning number of dancers in half, and this article on Dance Network was the best argument I could find.

But I still disagree. Yes, keeping the numbers down to 10 rather than 20 means we're getting much more skilled dancers right off the bat. But the show has never been about finding America's BEST dancer. The wording of the show clearly says America's FAVORITE dancer. Part of what makes someone a "favorite" is the journey, rather than the end result. We want to see dancers falter and get better after receiving feedback. We want to root for the underdog and watch them grow and get better. Cutting the show down to a Top 10 doesn't give space for growth. And the show happens so quickly now that the dancers that are on the show are simply proving how good they are now, rather than getting an opportunity to become even better.

But on with the show, I guess. Sigh.