Marchella, Em's eldest daughter, dives into family dynamics and humorously disowns her father's last name. They discuss the controversial series 'Baby Reindeer,' which Em watched despite warnings—spoilers included! The conversation shifts to their guilty pleasure, 'Sullivan’s Crossing,' dissecting its absurdities while reflecting on nostalgia tied to 'Gilmore Girls' and a charming cameo from Scott Patterson. Em also shares her newfound obsession with a Fleetwood Mac song and dishes on Disney's upcoming Mufasa origin story. It's a blend of laughs and heartfelt moments!
The hosts express a mix of engagement and emotional turmoil over 'Baby Reindeer', highlighting its unsettling themes of trauma and consent.
In contrast, they discuss their guilty pleasure of 'Sullivan’s Crossing', critiquing its flaws while acknowledging its value as essential viewing.
Deep dives
Acknowledgment of Indigenous Lands
The podcast opens with the team acknowledging that they are on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people and recognizing their role as the country’s first storytellers. This acknowledgment is not merely a formality; it encompasses a deep respect for Indigenous culture and history. The hosts express their commitment to recognizing the ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land and the importance of sovereignty, emphasizing that it was never ceded. This introduction sets a tone of awareness and respect for the Indigenous community.
Discussion on 'Baby Reindeer'
The hosts delve into a show called 'Baby Reindeer', which presents a deeply unsettling narrative that left one host feeling emotionally drained. The show, based on a one-man play, revolves around a man named Donny who develops a dangerous relationship with a distressed woman named Martha after showing her kindness at a pub. As the plot unfolds, it explores heavy themes like trauma, mental health, and consent, yet delivers its disturbing content in a nuanced manner. The hosts reflect on their conflicted feelings about the show, noting that it kept them engaged despite its harrowing subject matter.
Character Analysis and Viewer Reactions
The hosts share their frustrations with Donny, describing him as a character whose decisions often lead to disastrous consequences, thus making him appear villainous despite the presence of an actual stalker. Throughout the discussion, they express feelings of investment in Donny's journey, even while yelling at him for poor choices. Compounding their emotional involvement, they highlight moments that unveil his self-sabotage and inability to escape his predicament, leading to heightened viewer anxiety. The complexity of character portrayal contributes to the show's depth and the audience's turmoil regarding moral alignment.
Themes of Sexuality and Trauma
Significant attention is given to how 'Baby Reindeer' tackles themes of sexuality and trauma, especially concerning a male character's experience of sexual assault and its implications on his identity. The show does not shy away from the realities of how trauma can shape one’s understanding of self and sexuality, offering a perspective that's often overlooked in mainstream discussions. The creators are praised for their effort in accurately portraying these sensitive topics, as they resonate with many viewers, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. By doing so, 'Baby Reindeer' contributes to broader conversations about trauma, consent, and the complexities surrounding sexual identity.
It’s a return to our favourite combo, another mother daughter episode as Em’s eldest Marchella steps in for Michael Lucas. We begin with Chella disowning her own father’s last name and an explain on why she has a deeper voice than Em. Then Em reveals she gave in and watched the entire series of ‘Baby Reindeer’ and she is NOT OKAY! After being told in our previous episode by Michael and Chella to avoid it at all costs, Em decided they’re not the boss of her, dove right in and then promptly nearly drowned in all of the things.
(TRIGGER WARNING - Discussion of sexual assault, stalking & abuse) Inside you’ll get a full breakdown on what to expect, why you should probably avoid it and also a bunch of spoilers, if you’d prefer to skip ahead, then you need to jump from 9.43 to 20.35 to escape any reveals.
We follow that with the palate cleanser of Em and Chella’s latest obsession ‘Sullivan’s Crossing’, from playing ‘Okay, Stop!’ with the show’s trailer, to giving us a full exposé on why it's terrible, but also essential viewing. Em even gets Chella to reveal why she watches ‘Gilmore Girls’ on repeat and play a clip from a birthday cameo she got from Scott Patterson, aka Luke Danes, as well.
Also in our Sealed Section, Em has become addicted to a particular Fleetwood Mac song and its accompanying live performance, plus Disney is releasing a Mufasa origin story and Em has a LOT to say about it. Sign up now to start listening & watching at emsolation.supercast.com.