High Tea with Monsters, Rebel Scum, and Vigilantes

We've reached the end of another Star Wars streaming journey, this one loaded with acting talent, surprises, comebacks, and no shortage of duel action. But the back end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series left Stephen and Brett with... feelings, some light, some dark (some of that meant fiddling with the brightness on our devices). Join us as we meander through the Fortress Inquisitorius for (yet) another rescue (ep. 4), some motivations and manipulations (ep. 5), and the culmination in that memorable finale (ep. 6) that it turns out WON'T be the end of OBK on Disney+.

Hello there! Brett and Stephen are back with the recap you need going into the second half of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" on Disney Plus. Episodes one through three see Ben looking middle aged, middle-chlorianed, and barely holding the middle ground as a fiery Darth Vader brings the fury. That light isn't burning very bright for any of our friends when the half-season credits roll, so it's the perfect time for a breakdown show. All the Easter Eggs, analysis, predictions, laughs, and fan theories you're craving... recorded before Wednesday's episode four aired. Brett and Stephen are here to help you navigate where the events of Obi-Wan fit in to the House of Mouse's broader SW content universe. This episode contains spoilers through episode three, references to existing Star Wars cinematic and expanded universe content.

WELL HELLO. It took us a few days to collect the remnants of our jaws off the light cruiser floor, but here is our our Christmas gift to you: Stephen worked his magic like some sort of jedi elf to get our roundtable Mandalorian Season 2 Finale discussion, including fan fave guests Star Wars specialists Alex Potanos and Gee Stryker! SPOILER ALERTS. You shall not pass unless you've seen the episode or you promise not to hold us accountable for ruining the episode for you! Because all of us are musicians on the side, we spend a solid 20 minutes praising the mastery of Ludwig Göransson's soundtrack, which is now available on all streaming music services. Stephen unearths the vaguest reference ever Brett makes to a Star Wars song that played in the early 90's when you waited in line for Star Tours at Disney. Alex and Stephen discuss the associations Mando music and sound editing call back to the scariest parts of Dark Forces. We all gush over the director (Peyton Reed who you probably know best from Ant-Man but whose filmography dates back to Bring It On) and his decisions. There's the triumph for female Star Wars fans in the badass boarding party. The casting choices. And that Luke Skywalker arrival scene and how it blew our minds to the point where we all had out of body experiences... and there's so much more. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did, that we can keep you company if you are spending time alone or away from loved ones this year, and we wish you the safest of holidays, Thank you for being part of our family of listeners!

We are thrilled to bring to audiences a four-part-series featuring filmmakers on the independent festival circuit today who will be household names in the near future. Chisa Hutchinson, award-winning playwright and filmmaker and the wordsmith behind "The Subject" (https://www.thesubjectmovie.com/, starring Jason Biggs and Aunjanue Ellis); Phil Knowlton (documentarian and acclaimed music videographer who brings us "Kupenda": https://kupenda.org/documentary/); and Ken Perlstein whose read on recovery as a NYC-based actor divorced dad a la Curb Your Enthusiasm situational comedy "How Am I Doing?" is shopping it's pilot https://www.howamidoingtv.com/) join us for a look behind the curtain and bringing their projects before audiences in this bonkers filmmaking year. In today's episode, they'll discuss their processes collectively, and in three forthcoming episodes, we'll feature one-on-one chats more in-depth on each work. Enjoy! Feel free to submit questions for the one on one portions in the comments below or to our Patreon or Facebook group chats. Music today courtesy of The Beastie Boys, The Creation, and Derde Verde.

Join host Stephen Gawrit and guest Noel Nicoletti, of Wrestling Talk and Randomness, as they break down the penultimate episode of THE MANDALORIAN Season 2 and the massive Star Wars information release on upcoming movies and series - ROGUE SQUADRON, AHSOKA mini-series, LANDO series... and more! What a week to be a Star Wars fan! Brett was so busy weeping about that comms terminal scene that she gave herself laryngitis, but she did record a full FOUR additional episodes on independent filmmaking in the time of COVID with some exclusive and very special guests, so watch this space, this week, for those bonus eps.

It's a Bounty Hunter Jamboree! Or it would be if not for "THE TRAGEDY." Gee Stryker is back with Brett & Stephen for a long recap of Robert Rodriguez's episode of The Mandalorian. There's Beskar, Jet Packs, Explosions, Force Chokes, Explosions, Pew Pews, and so much more.

I don't know how Disney and The Mandalorian are ever going to top this episode, but WOW. Stephen and Brett are joined by fellow Star Wars experts Alex Potanos and Star Wars analyst Ed Poretz for a bursting at the seams chat, minute by minute, of "The Jedi." SPOILER ALERT. Don't listen unless you've seen the episode!!!! We get our first "Corrections Cantina" Fact Check and we geek out over all the video game hat tips in this episode. We also REJOICE BECAUSE GROGU. Also if you have questions or ideas for a future episode you can post them in our Facebook Group (High Tea with Mrs. V) or comment on Soundcloud or Patreon. We will see it, promise!

Dank Ferrick, those Baby Yoda-colored Macarons looked delicious, am I right? Stephen and Brett gather and savor every cookie crumb Mando S2E4 left along the way of the no-holds-barred, Carl Weathers-helmed "The Siege." Horatio Sans is maybe one of our favorite of several returning Mando pals in a fast-paced, fun-filled, callback-laden episode. Happy Thanksgiving from your favorite Tea Party pals!

This week at the tea table we have Movie Madness founding member Corey Johns to explain why last week's egg-filled episode has half the internet whining about Baby Yoda's snacks. Then Stephen, Brett, and Stryker dive headfirst into the nautical sarlacc pit of material that the ocean moon of Trask turns out to be. Not to brag but we think we stick the landing better than poor Mando did. Who are these "others"? Does The Child still regard frogs as food? Find out!

The Mandalorian showrunners heard Brett and Stephen chatting about Easter Eggs on last week's episode... and followed it up with an entire episode about EGGS. Well, mostly about eggs. Fans of Star Wars creatures and critters have their fill in this reptilian and insect-filled ep. Stephen and Brett pick through the wreckage of the Razor Crest and find the unearthed Easter Eggs within (recognize the X-Wing pilots?). We also get down into rumors and confirmed announcements for forthcoming Star Wars shows and films. BYO Snacks to the tea table. No eggs for you!

SPOILERIFIC HALLOWEEN EPISODE It may be Halloween, but HOLY EASTER EGGS, Mandalorian! What a treat. Hosts Brett Ashley McKenzie & Stephen Gawrit return after a long Covid hiatus and welcome back guest and friend of the pod Gee Stryker (of Steeler Nation and Movie Madness) for a no stone left unturned discussion on "The Marshal," Season 2's near-perfect premiere. We go almost minute by minute through the episode to uncover every reference to Return of the Jedi, Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars, Deadwood, Dune, multiple episodes of Mando Season 1, Solo, and more. Whether you're an SWU fanatic with canon embedded in your brain, or simply a Mando fan looking for some clarity, we got you. And of course, we spend a good 10 minutes dissecting THAT cameo reveal at the end. Is there such a thing as an abandoned Sarlacc Pit? Grab your kids candy, poor a cup of tea or something stronger, and buckle up partner. High Tea with Monsters, Rebel Scum, and Vigilantes is back in town.

WE ARE BACK! After a seven+ month hiatus due to CovidLife, we kick off a second season by getting right into the scifi/fantasy shows that have sustained us. Specifically today, we invited G Stryker, host of the SteelerNation podcast (https://www.steelernation.com/steelernation-podcast/) and a fellow "Movie Madness" (https://www.facebook.com/groups/MovieMadnessChallenge) costar of Brett's. Spoiler alert begins for HBOMax's "Raised By Wolves" at 14:35.

High Tea with Monsters, Rebel Scum, and Vigilantes proudly presents: "Star Wars: What Ifs and What the F*cks?" Part 1 of our miniseries is dedicated to one of the weirdest unexplained/underexplained concepts in the Star Wars Universe: midi-chlorians! Are they an ability? A genetic anomaly? A tiny race of sentient mitochondria-like cellular beings speaking to you in your head and accessing the force from within your BODY OMG THAT'S REALLY F*CKIN WEIRD. Stephen brings his formidable knowledge of Star Wars canon and lore to the table while Brett attempts to process and understand and asks the FAQs and WTFs that have been burning in your brain since The Phantom Menace debuted. Join us for this hilarious, historic and hotly-debated Star Wars topic.

Bracketology for film fanatics? It's a thing! Brett Ashley speaks to fellow UMBC alum Dustin Fisher, founder of "Movie Madness," a 1500-member, free group on Facebook where you can nominate and vote on your favorite films in a March Madness style bracket for the silver screen and root for your epic triumph or bust. Dustin and Brett fanguy and fangirl out, first over the jubilant claim-to-fame that all UMBC grads have in common, as the only 16-seed to upset a 1-seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and then over the films they favor in Movie Madness. Dustin tries to win Brett over to finally watching "Wall-E," Brett struggles through mom-brain to recall obscure alien abduction films from the Nineties such as "Fire in the Sky," and we have some fun at the expense of "Goonies" addicts, the dancing in "Remember the Titans," people who only nominate "Jaws," the sad trombone of the Dr. Jones saga: "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull," and people too old to appreciate "The Sandlot." We also give kudos to another UMBC alum having a big moment this week, R. Eric Thomas, whose book "Here for It" is a chart-topper in its debut this week. Dustin's book "Daddy Issues" can be found in paperback, e-book, and audiobook format here: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Issues-Average-Daughter-Learning/dp/B00KO84G2G

Brett Ashley's seven-year-old Sophie joins the tea table as a guest host to discuss when kids are old enough for "scary" films, Jafar vs. Maleficent, The T-Rex vs. Velociraptors, scary rides, and more. Mother and daughter render each other momentarily speechless with random dinosaur tangents.

TRIGGER WARNING/CONTENT WARNING. Our show is usually relatively friendly for audiences aged 13 and up but parents, please use your judgement with this one. This content may be difficult for survivors of sexual assault. I do not go into any detail in outlining the attacks on the show "Unbelievable," as this is an episode focused on the portrayal of the victims and the investigation. Additionally, we spend some time at the end discussing reaction to Kobe Bryant's death, the validity of survivors' experiences, but also the lens of racism through which we hold black celebrities and athletes to a different standard of accountability and punishment than we do white athletes and celebrities. This is a difficult but important conversation. Thank you for listening.

Is Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "Little Women" (gasp) BETTER than the 1994 film? Brett Ashley thinks so. In seven minutes, here's why.

The "Rise of Skywalker" left even those of us who live and breathe Star Wars with more questions than answers. Our resident expert Stephen Gawrit and Brett Ashley sit down to hash out what showrunners left unanswered. Why leave Snap Wexley's important familial role in the Rebellion and Resistance untouched? Why Retcon most of Rose's story? Why cast a talent like Keri Russell and not even show us her whole face? Who the hell are the Knights of Ren? What was Finn so desperate to tell Rey? And how the heck did Palpatine reemerge? Did Ben/Kylo's story really conclude the way we think it did? And could Cara Dune have been somewhere in that armada? Let's get into it.

Part 1 of a 2 part series. Three. That's the total number of black actors and actresses nominated across ALL categories in the Golden Globes by the Hollywood Foreign Press. Major snubs included "Watchmen," "When They See Us," "Us," "Euphoria," and "Queen + Slim." At a time when representation, intersectionality, and anti-racism matters MOST, what WAS the HFPA thinking? We try to wrap our minds around it and discuss the handful of people of color who made it past the narrow-minded HFPA to secure well-earned nominations. What are their odds?

Part 1 of a 2 part series. Three. That's the total number of black actors and actresses nominated across ALL categories in the Golden Globes by the Hollywood Foreign Press. Major snubs included "Watchmen," "When They See Us," "Us," "Euphoria," and "Queen + Slim." At a time when representation, intersectionality, and anti-racism matters MOST, what WAS the HFPA thinking? We try to wrap our minds around it and discuss the handful of people of color who made it past the narrow-minded HFPA to secure well-earned nominations. What are their odds?

We miss you already, Mando! Star Wars expert Stephen Gawrit is back to close out Season One of "The Mandalorian." We talk Cara Dunn badassery, the season's roster of strong directors, Mando's face AND name, and more.

It's the eve of Rise of Skywalker! I was joined by Star Wars Expert Stephen Gawrit to discuss our predictions and expectations as we prepare for the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga.

Fresh Air, WHYY, and the media owe Star Wars' Adam Driver a massive apology for gross mishandling of his requests to accommodate anxiety boundaries in recent interview.

HBO's hit series explodes to a close with no plans for Season 2 in sight, and that is just fine with us! We'll talk about how underrated Looking Glass/Wade and Agent Blake's performances were, the exceptional range and uncharacteristic restraint of Regina King and Jeremy Irons, the moments that hit us right in the feels, and so much more.

Episode 1 of High Tea with Monsters, Rebel Scum, and Vigilantes is alive. Is Angela's Calvin a dream husband on The Watchmen? What would Carrie Fisher say about the female supporting roles in the Mandalorian? And would you take on the privileges of life as a Windsor ala the Crown if it mean inheriting THAT royal family? Pinkies up. It's tea time.