Never the Twins Shall Meet

31 - Everyone’s Favorite Dirtbag Warlock

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the character of John Constantine, DC’s infamous dirtbag warlock. Beginning with his iconic Hellblazer comic and going on to discuss his many movie and TV appearances, we tackle some of his most iconic storylines, how various adaptations do or don’t work, and why we find one British magician’s poor life choices so compelling. 

 

Media mentioned:

• Lockwood & Co. (Netflix show)
• The Last of Us (HBO show)
• The Legend of Vox Machina (TV show)
• Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore
• Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
• The Newsreader (TV show)
• Andor (TV show)
• The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
• Kindred by Octavia Butler
• Sandman by Neil Gaiman
• DC Pride Anthology (2021)
• Constantine: The Hellblazer by James Tynion IV and Ming Doyle
• Hellblazer: Original Sins by Jamie Delano
• DC Bombshells by Marguerite Bennett
• Swamp Thing by Alan Moore
• Constantine: All His Engines by Mike Carey
• The Girl with all the Gifts by M.R. Carey
• Constantine: City of Demons
• The Sandman episode 3: “Dream a Little Dream of Me”
• Legends of Tomorrow

 

Content warnings: lung cancer, suicide, child abuse, homophobia, biphobia, racism

30 –Regency Romance and Victorian Valentines

This week’s episode is a blast to the past as we delve into a new genre for this podcast: historical romance novels. Focusing on five novels–A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera, The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian, The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan, and The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite–we delve into how they fit into the overall genre while crafting individual love stories that stand out on their own. We discuss some of our favorite romance tropes and how these books subvert them or play them straight, as well as examining the historical contexts a bit. Plus: seances, heists, and Worcestershire sauce.

 

Other media mentioned

• AMC’s Interview With the Vampire
• A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
• Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier
• The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
• The Brown Sisters trilogy by Talia Hibbert
• Bridgerton (TV show)
• Belle (2013 movie)
• “Why Are So Many Novels Set in the Regency Period?” by Jess Romeo for JSTOR Daily
• Jane Austen
• Georgette Heyer
• Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
• The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes Cat Sebastian

 

Content warnings: discussions of historical racism, sexism, colonialism, homophobia, and slavery, as well as two novels that deal with parental death

29 - Where the Heights Are Wuther and the Love is Gritty

This episode, we’re taking a turn into the classics by reviewing two retellings of Emily Brontë’s gothic novel Wuthering Heights: Black Spring by Alison Croggon and What Souls Are Made Of by Tasha Suri. We indulge our inner English majors by getting very excited about cycles of tragedy, ghosts, and doomed romance while also discussing how the novels put their own spin on a classic work of literature. 

 

Other media mentioned

• The Rings of Power
• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
• House of the Dragon
• A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
• Sistersong by Lucy Holland
• Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
• A League of Their Own (TV show)
• House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson
• Spear by Nicola Griffith
• AMC’s Interview With the Vampire (TV show)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
• Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore
• The Books of Ambha by Tasha Suri
• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
• Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
• Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush

 

Content warnings: discussions of abuse, racism, murder, colonialism, famine, death

28 - Don’t Cha Wish Your Girlfriend Was a Witch Like Me

Segueing into Spooky Season, this week we’re bringing a seasonally-appropriate episode on witchy books! Focusing on The Scapegracers by H.A. Clarke and Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper, we discuss the different takes on witches in both novels, their representation of magic-wielding lesbian and bisexual women, and how supernatural elements are used to underscore and develop the character relationships. (And also how a drag show act served as the seed of inspiration for this episode.)

 

Content warnings: car crash, parental death, homophobia

 

Other media mentioned

• The Sandman (comic)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
• The Sandman (Netflix show)
• Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
• Hellblazer by Jamie Delano
• The Scratch Daughter by H.A. Clarke (upcoming)
• The Lost Coast by A.R. Capetta
• Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

As always, you can learn more about our podcast at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

27 – More Pride and Less Prejudice

The start of fall may be nearing, but we’re here to prolong summer with an episode on the movie Fire Island! A modern gay adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, it follows a group of friends on their annual summer vacation. Topics include how the movie updates the novel’s social commentary and class dynamics, what makes the iconic Elizabeth/Darcy relationship work, and how the film deviates from the source text in fun and interesting ways. Also, a lot of positive yelling about the romance.

 

Other Media Mentioned:

• The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
• The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing
• Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales
• The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
• Wildhood (2021) dir. Bretten Hannam
• Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud
• Seeing Ghosts by Kat Chow
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (many times!)
• Pride and Prejudice (2005) dir. Joe Wright
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) dir. Burr Steers
• Heartstone by Elle Katharine White
• The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
• Pride by Ibi Zoboi
• The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
• Jack of Hearts and Other Parts by Lev A.C. Rosen

 

Content Warnings: discussions of classism, anti-Asian racism, and revenge porn.

26 - Bad Things at the Beach

It’s summer, and that means sunny weather, visits to the beach…and murder? This week’s episode is on two seaside mysteries, Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow and I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick. Topics include mental health representation, balancing nuanced characters with twisty plots, and how the setting enhances both books. (Note: we do not spoil the big plot twists in either of these books.)

 

Media mentioned

• The Scapegracers by H.A. Clarke
• Queer As All Get Out: 10 People Who’ve Inspired Me by Shelby Criswell
• The Heartbreak Baker by A.R. Capetta
• The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
• Rooks and Ruin trilogy by Melissa Caruso
• Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel Lavery
• Legion (TV show)
• You Don’t Know Me But I Know You by Rebecca Barrow
• This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
• I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuistion
• Knives Out (2019) 

 

Content warnings

Murder, drowning, racism, mental health struggles including suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

25 - Wizards and Waistcoats

We’re back! This week, we’re discussing A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske and and Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho, two novels that reimagine English history with a magical twist. Topics include wizard bureaucracy, ambitious women, and the way that both novels intertwine fantasy and history.

 

Other media mentioned:

• A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
• Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
• Nimona by N.D. Stephenson
• Heartstopper (TV show)
• From Dust, a Flame by Rebecca Podos
• The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar
• Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
• K.J. Charles’s books
• Jupiter Ascending
• The Fantasy Inn podcast
• Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
• Black Sails (TV show)
• The Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia Hibbert
• The Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
• Knives Out
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The True Queen by Zen Cho
• The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
• Legally Blonde
• The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
• Episode 21: Murder, Magic, and Making Different Histories

 

Content warnings: Discussions of historical homophobia, racism, sexism, slavery, and colonialism.

 

You can learn more about Never The Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com

24 - Arcane on the Brain

This week, we’re discussing the recent Netflix show Arcane! An animated blend of science fiction, fantasy, and crime drama, it’s also an adaptation of the video game League of Legends–something we know pretty much nothing about. However, we both still adored it. Topics include the show’s careful construction of inevitable tragedies, the complex cast of characters, the gorgeous animation, and one aspect where we think it stumbles.

 

Other Media Mentioned:

• Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow (forthcoming June 2022)
• The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
• Druids: A Very Short Introduction by Barry Cunliffe
• Only Murders in the Building
• Yuri on Ice
• To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
• The Bone Key by Sarah Monette
• Turning Red (2022)
• The Batman (2022)
• Episode 15: Into the Batman-verse
• League of Legends
• Castlevania
• Critical Role
• Black Sails
• Wonder Woman (2017)
• James Bond
• Phantom of the Opera
• How Disfigured Villains Like “Wonder Woman’s” Dr. Poison Perpetuate Stigma by Alaina Leary for Teen Vogue

 

Content Warnings: discussions of murder, violence, emotionally abusive relationships, terminal illness, classism, and ableism.

23 - Mullets, Murder, and Motorcycle Races

This week, we take a trip back to 1987 to discuss the horror-comedy movie The Lost Boys. Following a pair of brothers who move to a sunny California town plagued by vampires, the film includes a tangled love triangle, some inventive methods of murder, and a lot of 80s fashion. Topics of discussion include possible gay subtext, the deep-seated appeal of vampires, and why cinema needs more films about vampiric motorcycle gangs.

 

Other Media Mentioned:

• The Legend of Vox Machina
• Dungeons and Dragons
• The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
• The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
• The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
• Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
• Arcane (2021-)
• Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand
• Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
• What We Do in the Shadows
• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• Episode 11: An Anthropological Study of Cohabitating Vampires
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• Worn Stories on Netflix
• Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time by K.M Szpara
• Dead Collections by Isaac Fellan
• A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
• Stranger Things (2016-)
• The Lost Girls by Sonia Hartl
• The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
• Bit (2019)

 

Content Warnings: mentions of drug use, murder, a controlling/abusive relationship, all the blood-drinking stuff that comes with vampires.

22 - The Mortifying Ordeal of Being Cursed

Step one: rob the rich. Step two: break a curse. Step three: interrogate your deep-seated childhood trauma. Who could this to-do list belong to? Why, none other than the protagonist of Little Thieves by Margaret Owen! This week, we dive into a delightful young adult fantasy retelling of the fairytale The Goose Girl following a teenage thief whose final heist goes terribly wrong. Topics include the hilarious and cynical protagonist, our love of a good heist story, the excellent romance, and the unexpected emotional depth through an exploration of childhood trauma.

 

Other Media Mentioned:

• BBC Starstruck
• Sh*t Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby
• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
• The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
• Some By Virtue Fall by Alexandra Rowland
• The Liar’s Knot by M.A. Carrick
• The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
• The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
• Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong
• Dungeons and Dragons
• I Know What You Think of Me by Tim Kreider in the New York Times
• Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
• Painted Devils by Margaret Owen (forthcoming)
• Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
• The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Content warnings: mentions of child abandonment and child abuse.

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website, neverthetwinsshallmeet.com