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The Drowned Word 2nd Edition

Is Sansa Just Playing the Game?

Welcome to The Podcast That Drinks and Knows Things’ Drowned Word! The Drowned Word focuses on topics discussed in a recent episode of the show. Today I’m talking about S05E06 Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.

You might have noticed that I said “a recent episode” instead of “the most recent episode.” Normally I discuss the latest episode of the show, but I had to cover episode six instead for two reasons: 1) my Hogwarts Radio co-host Terrance was on this episode of the podcast, and 2) I just have to weigh in on that Sansa scene, right?

After listening to the episode, I googled “Sansa Stark season 5” and everything that came up was about this episode. To say Sansa and Ramsay’s wedding night is divisive would be a bit of an understatement. Even within the opinions of the podcast hosts, views were split. I’ll start with a disclaimer that I agree with Luke and Terrance: the scene is unnecessary, doesn’t further Sansa’s character development, and serves Theon’s development in a horrible and unforgivable way.    

But I guess we can examine both sides.

Side One: The Rape Scene is Trash and Lazy and Sucks

Did anyone want to see one of our beloved Starks raped on the night of a wedding she didn’t want when her plot this season is already so boring? No. But did we? Yes. So let’s discuss why it’s a problem.

First, let’s talk about The F Word’s article, “Using Rape as a Plot Device,” which was written in 2013 by Caity Goerke. Goerke discusses how rape is often used as a way to move the plot forward, a device which “functions to erase women, as characters, from films and drama.” I would argue that this is the case with Sansa’s plot line in this season. Is it really about her, or is it about Ramsay and the upcoming Battle of the Bastards? Is this scene about Sansa, or is it about Theon? I would also argue that rape is never needed as a plot device and should never be used to create character, and some showrunners are starting to agree that it’s lazy.

Goerke also talks about how rape in popular culture desensitizes the viewer to it, almost normalizing it. I think we can all agree that Game of Thrones doesn’t shy away from violence. We watched a man crush another man’s skull with his bare hands (well, some of us just peeked through our fingers at it). But people in real life aren’t often crushing each other’s skulls. People in real life are being raped. Do we really need another representation of it (especially when the show already gave us a questionable scene between Jaime and Cersei)?

But let’s get to the other side.

Side Two: The Rape Scene was “Reality” and Sansa is Playing the Game

The show’s creatives have had to defend this scene since the episode’s premiere. Writer and producer Bryan Cogman explained that when they decided to combine Sansa’s book plot with another character’s, they had to make some decisions. They decided to “not shy away from what would realistically happen on that wedding night.” He also said that while it would have been nice to have Sansa kill Ramsay right there, it wouldn’t have been practical or realistic: “Most people in that situation, they have to play a longer game.”

Cogman also said that when Sansa realizes how awful Ramsay truly is, “she immediately sets to getting the hell out of there and planning her next move.” So this scene could be viewed as part of Sansa just playing the game to the best of her abilities and tapping into her inner strength to do so.

Cogman addressed the idea that the scene becomes about Theon when they cut to him at the end. He denied that it was meant to make the scene about Theon and instead said:

The main reason we cut away at the end, frankly, is that this was Sophie’s first scene of this nature, and we didn’t want to show the attack. And so we cut to Theon to hear the attack. I understand why many people reacted to that, [thinking] we were making this scene about Theon and not Sansa. I’m sorry it was viewed that way.

I will say, I’m not sure why we needed to hear the attack. They could have just not shown any of it. But I guess that’s just my opinion. Where do you fall in this debate? Do you also skip this scene when you rewatch this episode? Let me know.

Until next time, thanks for reading The Drowned Word. What is read may never die.

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The Daily Derry 2nd Edition

That Is Ominous

Welcome to The Podcast That Floats Down Here’s Daily Derry! The Daily Derry focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 020 IT Ch. 11 pt. 3 – Walking Tours.

In this episode, Luke, Ben, and Melissa discussed part 3 of chapter eleven, which focuses on Beverly. There were two interesting things in this chapter that I wanted to discuss: time and memory.

Luke pointed on early in the episode: “The timeline jumps around so often it feels like we haven’t gone anywhere yet. And that is ominous.”

I find the structure of It very interesting. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like there is ever that much going on. This entire chapter is just each Loser walking around and remembering something about their childhood. There really isn’t too much plot here. But King is creating this slow burn of action, keeping the reader wondering what will happen and when.

On the topic of memory, the hosts pointed out that the characters are often saying, “If I could only remember” and then they do remember. They wonder if this is because they are in the environment that causes them to remember, or because they are trying to remember. I think both probably come into play here.

We know that most of the Losers left Derry and were probably trying to escape what they experienced as kids. This means they’d probably be trying to forget those experiences and not think about them. But of course, when you’re back in a meaningful place, that will make you remember all the things you did in that place. The characters are remembering because they’ve placed themselves back in the experience.

But also, when you think about something and try to remember it, that can often jog your memory too. The Losers were not trying to remember their childhood, so when they do actively try, they might find the memories were lurking there beneath the surface all along.

Perhaps this remembering adds to the ominous feeling that Luke was describing. The Losers spend this entire chapter remembering and reliving things from their childhood. By slowly regaining their memories, the Losers are slowly coming to terms with what they must do, the tension building for the reader. I have a feeling this tension will pay off soon.

Until next time, stay imaginary.

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The Quibbler 2nd Edition

Prisoner of Azkaban Movie Adaptation- Love It or Hate It?

Welcome to The Podcast That Must Not Be Named’s Quibbler! The Quibbler focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 3-22M Movie Special, in which Luke, Melissa, and first-time-reader Riley provide commentary on the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie as they watch.

It was fun to listen to this episode of the show while at work, but it was even more fun to go home and sync up the movie to watch along with them. I highly recommend that method. Moving on.

Luke, Melissa, and Riley talked a lot about the differences between the movie and the book. The beginning of the film is pretty different from the beginning of the book. As Melissa pointed out, there’s no build up to Harry enlarging Aunt Marge, which changes Harry’s characterization. You don’t get to see how restrained he is for the entire visit and that it really is the last straw by the time he blows her up.

We also didn’t get to see the weeks of Harry’s summer that were spent living at The Leaky Cauldron. I know this is one of Luke’s favorite parts, and I loved it the first time I read the book. It’s so fun to experience living in the wizarding world along through Harry’s eyes. I could read an entire book of him hanging out in Diagon Alley and not even be mad.

I don’t have too many issues with the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. I think it’s gorgeous to watch and a lot of fun and pretty well adapted, considering the book is all about time travel, the most confusing sci-fi/fantasy subject ever. I’d say my biggest complaint is that the Marauder’s plot is very abbreviated and not very clear.

I don’t have too much to say in this blog, so I’d really love to hear from everyone else. What was your favorite thing about the Prisoner of Azkaban movie adaptation? What was your least favorite thing? Where does this movie rank on the list for you? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @ThePodcastThat or @NotNamedPodcast and I’ll add your thoughts to this blog!

Until next time, stay imaginary!

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The Drowned Word 1st Edition

Trial By Combat: “Does It Make F***ing Sense?”

Welcome to The Podcast That Drinks and Knows Things’ Drowned Word! The Drowned Word focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was S04E06 The Laws of Gods and Men – The Monster You Think I Am.

The really important part of this episode is the fact that Peter Dinklage can ACT. Did you see that “For Your Consideration” monologue? Did you? He earned that Emmy win.

None of the hosts really asked a question about this part, but I’m going to talk about it anyway because it’s just so good. This moment has been festering since season one. It’s extremely satisfying when Tywin tells Tyrion that he’s not on trial for being a dwarf, and Tyrion says:

Oh, yes I am. I’ve been on trial for that my entire life.

We know Tyrion is constantly affected by his status as a dwarf. To hear him finally get to accuse everyone- especially his father- of putting him on trial for the crime of his birth is extremely powerful.

Tyrion refuses to take the blame for Joffrey’s death. He tells the court:

I wish I was the monster you think I am.

Have we ever had a more beautiful character moment for Tyrion? He’s not always a good man, he’s not always an evil man, but he is always faced with the consequences of what life has handed him. The consequences of something that is not and could not ever be his fault.

And he thinks, “This would all be a lot easier if I actually WAS who they thought I was.” If he was a horrible, hideous monster, maybe he would have killed Joffery. Maybe he’d accept his punishment for that act. Maybe he’d have already killed his whole family and been done with it. But Tyrion is a complicated man. He wants to do what is right. But he also wants to be valued and heard and powerful and important.

So because Tyrion will “get no justice here,” he calls for a trial by combat to “let the gods decide [his] fate.”

This moment prompted Luke to ask, “Trial by combat. Does it make f***ing sense?”

I know I’ve already bored you with my soliloquy about Tyrion, so let’s get into attempting to answer Luke’s question: does trial by combat make any sense?

According to this great article by Priceonomics (which includes spoilers for season 6, be warned), trials by combat, or duellums, are thousands of years old. This method was used in cases where there was no serious proof and a judge or authority couldn’t resolve the issue. But how did they actually work? Were they even fair?

In theory, God helped the honest party win the fight. In practice, the strongest person, or the person with the money to hire the strongest champion, won the case. In yet another example of history failing to live up to our romanticization of it, trials by combat usually ended with one of the fighters surrendering, and judges often had champions use weaker weapons like clubs to keep the trials non-lethal.

It makes sense, then, that Tyrion would request a trial by combat. He is touting his innocence over and over, and he is not being believed. They can’t prove Tyrion’s guilt and he can’t convince them of his innocence, so he calls for the only reliable method left to him: a duellum (great word, add it to your vocabulary).

Personally, I like the idea of a trial by combat. Pick a strong champion and you win! I also love the poetry of it in this moment. Tyrion is so sick of fighting, fighting the same people over the same thing they’ve been fighting about his entire life. He’s ready to let someone else stand up for him and fight. Good thing he’s got strong friends.

Until next time, thanks for reading The Drowned Word, and remember, what is read may never die.

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The Daily Derry 1st Edition

People Would Notice

Welcome to The Podcast That Floats Down Here’s Daily Derry! The Daily Derry focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 016 – IT Derry – The Second Interlude.

I want to start by admitting that I haven’t read this book (I’m sorry!). I saw the 1990 mini-series when I was a pre-teen. When the 2017 movie came out, it looked a lot scarier than the mini-series and I really dislike being scared, so I didn’t see it. However, for some reason, I’ve always been interested in this story, and I ended up reading a lot about the new movie. Long story short, I’m pretty familiar with the book even though I’ve never read it, and today I want to talk about something Ben, Luke. and Melissa discuss in this episode: social amnesia.
There’s no denying that weird stuff has been happening in Derry, Maine for a very long time. In this episode of the show, the hosts discuss the idea that the entire town is collectively forgetting the previous events.

Ben explains, “In real life, people do that. You find excuses to ignore what’s going on.”

“This is such an extreme, though, and it’s so consistent. People would notice [the weird occurances],” Luke counters.

Is Luke right? Would people notice? Let’s start by thinking about what social amnesia is. The concept is attributed to Russell Jacoby, and I’m such a scholar that I went into his work and found a quote!

In brief, society has lost its memory, and with it, its mind. The inability to think back takes its toll [on] the inability to think.

We’ve definitely seen this idea in It so far. The people of Derry tend to think of any reason to explain away and then forget about the weird occurances. Two children are missing, and the law enforcement claim one of them has run away to her abusive father who she hasn’t seen in three years, and the other has simply run away. And then they move on. Strange happenings are forgotten, and as Jacoby would say when the people of Derry are unable to remember, they are unable to think.

“Something is wrong here,” Luke says in this episode about Derry. Is it perhaps because something is so wrong here that people have to forget? The town has decided to forget about the weird things that happen there and move on, but because they’ve forgotten, nothing will ever be fixed.

But there is one person who might be trying to remember. Mike is the only member of the Losers to stay in Derry, working as a librarian. Libraries exist to preserve memory. Mike’s life and career in Derry are an attempt to counter the social amnesia of the town. He knows that if and when It comes back, he will need to be ready.

We see this idea of social amnesia a lot in movies and television. I’ve been rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sunnydale is such an insane place for anyone to live. Kids and teenagers die all the time, and there are always monsters and vampires roaming around town. But the people of Sunnydale still live there. They even try to explain the appearance of and destruction by the monsters, blaming drugs or accidents.

But we do get a glimpse that the town is in on it. In season two, episode three, the principal and the police chief reference their usual cover-up, hinting to the audience that they actually are aware of the weird circumstances and are choosing to ignore and forget them.

Could the people of Derry be doing the same thing? Maybe people do notice, but choosing to ignore and forget the horrors of their town lets them continue their lives without facing the facts. And don’t we all do that sometimes?

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The Quibbler 1st Edition

Time-Turners Should Include Nap Time

Welcome to The Podcast That Must Not Be Named’s Quibbler! The Quibbler focuses on topics discussed in the most recent episode of the show, which this week was 3-22E Final Chaps Recap.

In this first edition, I have some burning questions from hosts and guests Luke, Riley, and, of course, Lorelei, all of which focus on the use of the Time Turner in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We’ll start with Lorelei (who was on fire in this episode). Lorelei asked, “Why would Hermione want to take all those classes anyway?” An excellent question, Lorelei.

We know from the book itself that several of the classes held topics of interest to Hermione. Despite being a Muggleborn, she thought it’d be interesting to study the subject of Muggles from the wizards’ perspective. I totally agree. But why did Hermione even sign up for Divination? Is this a required subject for all students? That seems a little silly to me, since Hermione ends up dropping it anyway and it is arguably the least respected of the subjects studied at Hogwarts. It doesn’t surprise me that Hermione would want to make the most of her education, and it sounds like Hogwarts might have too many options of classes, really, since she has to take three during one class period.

But maybe a more important question off of Lorelei’s wonderful question: Why would McGonagall LET Hermione take all these classes? We can assume that the Hogwarts class schedule has been set for quite a long time and that no one ever used a Time-Turner to take multiple classes before, because that’s insane. Why make an exception for Hermione (besides, you know, the plot)? There is literally nothing stopping Hermione from using it for her own desires, and McGonagall just trusts that she won’t? Doesn’t seem like the McGonagall I know.

But since McGonagall did allow her to use the Time Turner, let’s look at Riley and Luke’s questions: How could she ever be tired? Couldn’t she get her own bedroom?

If Hermione had her own room, she could go back in time and take a nap while she was also studying. Problem solved. She wouldn’t have to worry about being spotted in two places at once. Also, the hosts pointed out that if she walked in on herself in the bedroom she wouldn’t be confused.

Which leads to my final question: WHY would a wizard in the past ever be confused by the appearance of their future self if they knew they had a Time-Turner in their possession? I understand not knowing what was happening if you didn’t know you had a Time Turner. You’d be a little confused. But Hermione knows she has one. If she saw her future self taking a nap, she’d say, “Ah yes, of course, a nap will be great later!” Perhaps wondering about when exactly she would go back to take a nap would be confusing? But if she believes that everything in the past has already happened, then she’d trust that she would go back to take her nap exactly when she was meant to.

Hopefully, in future editions of the Quibbler, I’ll be able to discuss things in more concrete terms, but I think we can all agree that time travel is confusing and Time-Turners are just insane. Until next time, stay imaginary!