We watch a lot of TV and movies! And we listed a lot of music, podcast, audiobooks…so yeah, we’re fangirling over a lot of things! So we come together to highlight all the feels they give us throughout the week. On these Fangirlish Feels of the Week, there are five categories and many thoughts! Ready?
Here we go!
What You’re Fangirling Over This Week
Shana: So, For All Mankind is back, and it is…it’s my show, ok? I’ve been down bad for this series since the first press rooms at NYCC in, like, 2019. So, when I was watching the premiere, I lost track of how many times things that weren’t even supposed to make me cry almost made me cry anyway. And then, foolishly, I went on social media, where I saw Krys Marshall’s “hi, Bob” post and got emotionall over again. So. You know. Normal things.
Ashley W.: The Marvels is finally here, and I will yell about it to anyone who will listen. It was so fun and just a good time. I was laughing, crying, and laughing so hard I ended up crying. I don’t want to give away too much, but the film features a marvelous (pun intended) trio of women — both the characters and actors themselves.
They worked tremendously together and have great chemistry. But there’s a specific music choice that was perfectly selected for a scene on the S.A.B.E.R. space station that I will never get over, and chances are you won’t either if you’re a fellow fan of Marvel and musical theatre.
Rachel: I’m overjoyed that the SAG-AFTRA guild got a fair deal for actors this week! This strike was the longest actors’ strike in history and it is so wonderful to see the positive progress that can be made when workers stand together to get what they deserve.
Ashley T.: The Marvels had me screaming in the theater with its delightfulness. Every time Kamala was on screen I felt like I was watching myself, should I happen to find myself with superpowers and hanging out with my heroes. The entire movie is worth your time, so get yourself to the theater ASAP.
Lizzie: I’m with everyone, go watch The Marvels ASAP. Don’t let some men convince you it’s not worth it. It is. Do it for Kamala!
WTF Moment of the Week
Ashley W.: Regardless of how you feel about the upcoming Mean Girls movie (which is a movie musical adaptation of the Broadway musical), it is not okay to put down, ridicule, and belittle the actors who are portraying the iconic characters many people love. And it is especially not okay to say the new Regina George is “mid and fat now.”
Regina George is a fictional character played by a real person — a real person by the name of Reneé Rapp, who is immensely talented, played Regina on Broadway, and has publicly spoken about her struggles with eating disorders and body image. It’s infuriating, gross, and harmful that anyone thinks it’s fine to criticize Reneé and anyone in the new yet-to–be-released film just because it’s supposedly not as good as the original classic 2004 film.
Amanda: What Ashley W. said, but also in the realm of the new Mean Girls movie, I was so confused after watching the new official trailer that featured absolutely zero of the movie musical’s music.
I know it’s not a new concept to not advertise movie musicals as such, but that is literally what sets the January release apart from the original 2004 film. Without acknowledging that it’s the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, the new movie just looks like a mediocre remake cash grab, and Reneé Rapp is not reprising her role as Regina George for that!
Rachel: The Gilded Age ended its episode this week with a jaw-dropping reveal. The maid who tried to seduce George Russell and was fired by Bertha Russell in season one is back…and married to a man the Russells need on their side in the battle of the New York opera venues. UH-OH. Oh, what drama, Julian Fellowes!
Ashley T.: If you don’t like something, that’s fine, but stop raining on the powerful women parade. We have had 23 Marvel films and 11 shows. We have had so many male-led Marvel things and now we have a movie fronted by three powerhouse ladies and you gotta whine about that? Please take your ball and go home.
Lizzie: That moment when the AMPTP literally offered SAG-AFTRA a deal where they would scan actors ONCE and then own that image in perpetuity, even after their death. Like, what the actual f** was that?
What We’re Listening to This Week
Shana: Armor for Sleep is doing a tour for the 20th anniversary of “Dream to Make Believe.” Went to the local show, at a venue I’ve never been to despite living in my area for 16 years. Do not fuck with elder emos reliving their misspent youth/young adulthood. Just saying.
Ashley W.: The Wicked original Broadway cast recording continues to be on repeat for me after attending the Wicked 20th anniversary Pink Performace. I will quite literally wake up with “Popular” stuck in my head only for “Dancing Through Life” to be constantly on my mind hours later, and it’s great!
Amanda: This week I listened to two things: the Wicked cast recording, because I am still on a Wicked high, and my Taron Egerton playlist, because it’s his birthday week, and I need to celebrate accordingly.
Rachel: I’m still working my way through episodes of the “What a Barb!” podcast that’s all about Polin, otherwise known as Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, of Bridgerton. The hosts are much more lenient and optimistic about Shondaland’s writing than I am, but the love for this perfect couple is still great to hear.
Ashley T.: “Intergalactic” by The Beastie Boys has been on repeat since hearing it in The Marvels. It’s one of my favorites of theirs anyway, but there is nothing like cranking up that boom-bap while driving in the car.
What We Rewatched This Week
Shana: Friends. Always Friends.
Ashley W.: To prepare for The Marvels, I did my standard rewatches for new Marvel projects. So I revisited Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and WandaVision this week. If I had the time to, I would’ve rewatched Avengers: Endgame as well. To some people, that probably seems like a lot. But it’s really just another week for me.
Amanda: To celebrate Taron Egerton’s birthday, I always try to have a marathon of all of his movies (and now shows) that I own or have access to. It’s not always possible to get through everything I want to, but I always have to watch my top three: Kingsman: The Secret Service, Sing and Rocketman. (Someone please cast this man in more musicals!)
Rachel: I got to rewatch some brief scenes from all the traditional filmed versions of Pride and Prejudice this week when I attended the annual conference of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This story is so perfect, any bit of any filmed version of it is worth watching to me.
Badass Character of the Week
Shana: Still very annoyed with the creative choices on The Morning Show this season and am still…iffy on whether or not this was totally earned or not. But I mean, Alex Levy figured out a way to catch Paul being a creepy techbro stalker, save legacy media, and (apparently) get Bradley to finally wake up. That’s pretty badass.
Ashley W.: Loki season 2 finale spoiler alert!
Seeing Loki fully embrace and become the God of Stories was such a bittersweet but badass moment. He had no hesitations, and he didn’t second guess himself even though it would give him the one thing he didn’t want: to be alone.
Loki really just went for it and ran down and out to the loom to destroy it without wearing the safety suit — even with all that temporal radiation! I was yelling at my TV, concerned for his wellbeing. But he wasn’t concerned for his wellbeing as he had been so many time before in the MCU.
He had become an antithesis to the villain we knew from The Avengers. It was a visual masterpiece that beautifully captured his growth and transformation into a selfless hero who just wants his friends to be alive and happy.
Rachel: I have to second what Ashley said. Loki truly got a fulfilling character arc, culminating in his hero moment in the second season finale. And Tom Hiddleston could not have turned in a better performance.
Lizzie: I said it in my review, but Loki might just be the best character in the MCU.
Ashley T.: Can’t say it better than Ashley Wijangco did. Loki.
Also in The Marvels….well, REDACTED. Go see it!
