Literary Merit

Because we just can't get enough we're back again with our friend Rachel, aka. brentraptor, and we're talking about the burger show and why it's just so good. Also, Alex fell down the Disney hole and Ashley is very sad about the Disney. Find Rachel on twitter: @brentraptor

One month in, and already this year has given us a lot to talk about. We cover Kingdom Hearts 3, Polar, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. Also, BIG NEWS EVERYONE!!!!!! 

Rejoice, as the Gay Agenda(TM) claims another for our flock. Soldier 76 is gay, and we love it, but so what? What does it matter for Soldier to have a boyfriend, and what about other queer characters in other games? Also, Ashley leared about soome spooky little guys, and Alex has been watching Netflix (surprise!).

So... what even was last year? Alex and Ashley try to piece together what 2018 looked like in media, and try not to think about all the... other things that occurred. Also, Alex has strengthened his relationship with Youtube, and Ashley wants to get her gambling freak on.

It's been a while, but we're back and talking about The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter's Tale! Well, after the important business of those new movie trailers... Also, Alex has a new toy and Ashley has a new child.

What are we to do when a problematic person is involved with a project we like? What about when a creator we once admired has started making a lot of bad decisions? We're not totally sure we can answer those questions, but we'll talk about them anyway. Also, Alex has questions about salad, and Ashley has questions about ham.

What did we think of Netflix's newest, spookiest original series? This is your chance to find out, lucky you. Also, Ashley had a great pie and Alex met a big pumpkin.

Alex's story is The Stepmothers by Kelly Magee Ashley's story is The White People by Arthur Machen This episode's music is Sorcerer by Mort Garson

So... what the heck is hygge? How do you even pronounce it? And what does it have to do with Hayao Miyazaki? We answer these questions and more in this extra cozy episode. Also, Alex is experiencing a time slip and Ashley has no more bones.

Once again we've prepared a nice scatter-shot of stuff we watched. Looking for a new series to start? We've got you covered. Also, Ashley achieved culinary perfection and Alex might be cursed.

Now that Ashley has finished watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, we wanted to discuss what we saw as being one of the most prominent themes running through the show: the perpetuation and breaking of cycles of violence and abuse. Also, Ashley found a new favorite show and Alex has a hot date.

This episode required the help of a special guest, Ashley's husband Will! The topic of the day is movie musicals, especially those adapted from the stage. Also, Alex is still very tired, and Will and Ashley went to Black Mirror.

How has fairy lore evolved over time, and what even IS a fairy? We discuss these questions and others as we compare fairy folklore to the modern idea of fairies. Also, Ashley saw a show, and Alex just can't. Ashley's new show! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/junkadventure Youtube: https://bit.ly/2MlkW4B

This episode is a little different! We each went to the movies, and want to tell you about what we saw. First is Alex with Mama Mia: Here We Go Again, and then Ashley with Ant Man and The Wasp. And as a special bonus, we discuss what Ashley has watched so far in Avatar: The Last Airbender, and just how dang good it is! Also, Alex is an important poetry boy, and Ashley's legs almost fell off.

Springboarding off of an article from the New Stateman featuring Neil Gaiman and Kazuo Ishiguro, this episode is about how genre fiction is disparaged, the usefulness of genre, and how it can be used or subverted to tell great stories. Also, Alex went to the park and Ashley endured a living nightmare. Article Discussed: https://www.newstatesman.com/2015/05/neil-gaiman-kazuo-ishiguro-interview-literature-genre-machines-can-toil-they-can-t-imagine

Things have been a little crazy for us lately, so we decided to chill out and do a nice breezy media round-up. What have you been watching, reading, or listening to? Let us know on twitter @litmeritpod! Also, Ashley is the boss now, and Alex has the water you crave.

Inspired by Mikey Neumann's "Lessons Animation Taught Us" project on YouTube, we decided to try out the concept in our own medium. We talked about Avatar: The Last Airbender, We're Back!, Princess Mononoke, and of course Quest for Camelot (as well as a few others). Also, Alex struck out, and Ashley learned why you should go to a graveyard. If you want to join in the conversation you can find us on twitter, and please check out Mikey's original video on the FilmJoy channel as well as the various great responses other folks have made, which can be found in the Lessons Animation Taught Us playlist.

This time we're talking Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, God of War (again), and Troy: Fall of a City, and wondering why it's gotta be so hard to keep track of these darn pantheons. And why are the gods so dumb? Also, Alex has the sleep schedule of a kindergartener and Ashley has identified the one time when double-dipping really is the best plan.

It's been a little while since Alex and Ashley found time to chat, so this episode is a little bit of a media round-up. We're talking Infinity War, Troy: Fall of a City, and of course the Met Gala. Also, Ashley had some housing troubles and Alex met some dinosaurs.

Well this was a little bit of a weird one! Since Ashley and Alex just couldn't find the time to get together, Ashley's two best boys Dillon and Will stepped up to fill those big shoes and discuss the new God of War game with her. Also, fight choreography is hard, and GO KAYLEY O'CONNOR!!!!