The Good. The Bad. The Basic.

Hello World! Today I am joined by entertainment and culture writer Sydney Urbanek. Hang with us as we talk about the global pop superstar Taylor Swift and the 2020 documentary Miss Americana. Miss Americana follows Swift as she closes the chapter on her 20s and looks to the future of her 30s reflecting on lessons she's learned along the way. But what has she learned really?

Today, we're discussing the back half of Fox/Netflix's hit fantasy police procedural, Lucifer! Based on the hit DC comics character, Lucifer Morningstar abandons Hell for the city of angels and becomes a successful nightclub owner in LA! During his tenure on Earth, Lucifer becomes a civilian consultant to the LAPD, helping to solve crimes. The Prince of Darkness became a crime fighter and falls in love, but was this portrayal enough to charm audiences? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the first half of Fox/Netflix's hit fantasy comedy-drama, Lucifer! Based on the hit DC comics character, Lucifer Morningstar abandons Hell for the city of angels and becomes a successful nightclub owner in LA! During his tenure on Earth, Lucifer becomes a civilian consultant to the LAPD, helping to solve crimes. The Lord of Hell is a universally reviled character, so what did we think of this charismatic, sensitive portrayal of Lucifer? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the final 4 seasons of The WB/CW's iconic superhero teen drama, Smallville! Based on DC comics most popular franchise of all time, Superman, Smallville takes us into the inner world of a young Clark Kent as he navigates friendship and family, all while hiding the secret of his origins. We also get to explore the young hero's relationships with his would-be arch-nemesis, and his greatest love, Lois Lane. So how well has Smallville aged a decade after its finale? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the midsection of The WB/CW's iconic superhero teen drama, Smallville! Based on DC comics most popular franchise of all time, Superman, Smallville follows a young Kryptonian's journey from small farm to big city. We get to witness all of the big and small events in Smallville, Kansas that helped shape the Superman that we all know, as well as his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. So what do we think made Smallville so captivating? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the first 3 seasons of The WB/CW's iconic superhero teen drama, Smallville! Based on DC comics most popular franchise of all time, Superman, Smallville follows the journey of a young Clark Kent from a small farm in Smallville, Kansas, to the bustling city of Metropolis. We get a front row seat as the boy who would become Superman navigates friendship, family, romance, and wanting to be normal when he's anything but. Smallville solidified the network as a primetime contender, but how does the show hold up 10 years after its finale? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the back half of the Fox original crime drama, Gotham! Based on the popular DC comics series, Gotham chronicles the early career of a young Jim Gordon as well as the amplified teen angst of a recently orphaned Bruce Wayne. Gotham had excellent original characters, as well as great portrayals of the beloved Batman villains that many of us grew up on, but did the effort pay off? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the Fox original crime drama, Gotham! Based on the popular DC comics series, Gotham chronicles the early career of a young Jim Gordon as he battles the seedy underbelly of crime in his beloved, but very corrupt city. It also takes us into the formative years of a young Bruce Wayne prior to his reign as Batman. This series was ambitious, but did the risks pay off? Stay tuned!

Joining us for this episode are our very special guests, Sara and S.E. of the Bitches on Comics podcast! The last time Sara and S.E. were guests here on GBB, we were discussing Lost Girl, so of course, they were the first people to come to mind when discussing the contemporary Sapphic delight that is the topic of our current episode, the Syfy original, Wynonna Earp Based on the comic book miniseries by Beau Smith, this supernatural Western horror follows the great-great-daughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp after she inherits the power to return reincarnated villains back to hell, using her ancestor's magical gun. Wynonna must also do battle with other supernatural forces which reside near her hometown, as well as renew her relationship with her younger sister. This series was bold, and ambitious, and quickly became an audience favourite, but what did we think of Wynonna Earp? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the FX original, Legion! Based on the Marvel comics series, Legion is about a young man who's battled schizophrenia his entire life, only to learn that he is a mutant, and that his “mental illness” is really just his mind's way of coping with his vast power. Legion took a bold and daring move, at the height of the MCU, but did this gamble pay off, or did the series bite off a bit more than it could chew? Stay tuned!

We're debuting this 13th season with one of the most popular, critically-acclaimed superhero dramas of recent memory: Heroes! Heroes tells the myriad stories of seemingly ordinary people who learn that they have supernatural abilities, and how those abilities impact their lives, for the better and for the worse. Some become villains, some become opportunists, and others become heroes. So what did we think of this television juggernaut? Stay tuned.

Today, we're discussing the Netflix original series, Dear White People! Based on the satirical dark comedy film of the same name, Dear White People uses the fictional Ivy League of Winchester University to explore race relations among the student body and America at large. With each episode focusing on the personal life and inner world of a different character, Dear White People attempts to explore ideologies, loyalties, and motivations in a complex way. So did the series succeed? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the BET college drama, The Quad! The Quad chronicles the growth and growing responsibilities of a newly-elected president at a financially struggling university. Dr. Eva Fletcher, the first female president of GAMU, must manage her students, her faculty, and her not-so-stable love life, all while trying to manage a healthy relationship with her rebellious daughter. This was only the second series to attempt an HBCU perspective, and one of the first to center the head of the university rather than its students, so how did The Quad fare? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing NBC's college sitcom, A Different World! A spin-off of the critically-acclaimed Cosby Show, this series began by following the Cosby's second-eldest daughter, the aimless Denise Huxtable, as she started her journey of higher education at Hillman College, a fictitious amalgam of Spelman and Morehouse Colleges. This sitcom chronicling the HBCU experience was much-needed and hadn't been attempted before, or since. So what do we think made this series so enjoyable? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing Global and E!'s short-lived college drama, The Best Years! The Best Years is a Canadian series set in the U.S. which follows a young woman's journey into womanhood when she is awarded a scholarship to an Ivy League university after having spent the past 10 years in foster care. Our protagonist, Samantha Best, doesn't really have any family when she arrives at college, but soon makes close friendships and even begins to explore romance. So what do we think of this almost forgotten relic of the early 2000s? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing The WB's hit college drama, Felicity! Felicity is a series in which the title character scraps all of her plans for college in order to chase her high school crush across the country. We follow the adventures of our heroine in love, academia, and adjusting to life in a new city with new, adult responsibilities. Felicity was one of the most iconic shows of its era, so how do we think the show has held up almost 20 years after it ended? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the hit ABC Family college comedy-drama, Greek! Greek follows a group of young adults at university who are a part of fraternities or sororities, otherwise known as Greek life. This series observes the college experience from a lens that's often seen on the periphery of the college experience rather than the forefront, and chronicles the characters' various highs and lows during their first real foray into adulthood. So what do we think made this series so unique? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the back half of Syfy's fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the struggles, danger, adventure, and growth of a group of friends at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, as well as their magical friends. The Magicians wasn't perfect, but it left an indelible impression and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. So what do we think made this series great? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the first half of Syfy's fantasy series, The Magicians! Based on the popular new adult fantasy book trilogy, this series follows the exploits of our protagonist after he is granted admission into Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, an exclusive, and secret, university for magicians. Often referenced as an aged-up Harry Potter for adults, The Magicians gives us magic, mystery, and friendship. So what do we think made this series so captivating? Stay tuned!

We're debuting this 12th season, Off to College!, with one of the most popular, critically-acclaimed sitcoms of this millennium: Community! Community follows an unlikely group of friends who meet upon attending Greendale Community College, and chronicles their personal antics, burgeoning camaraderie, and their wildly inappropriate relationship with their dean. What is it about this mildly over-the-top show set in a fictional town in Colorado that kept audiences hooked? Stay tuned.

Today, we're concluding our Spies & Lies season with a discussion on the back half of ABC's action- spy thriller, Alias! Alias tried to mix the political, the theological, and the mythological, but this risk was...questionable, to say the lead. Our protagonist, Sydney Bristow tries to juggle the relationships with her father, her handler, and her work, and doesn't always succeed? So why do we think, despite all of this, Alias was such a critical darling? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the first half of ABC's action- spy thriller, Alias! One of ABC's most critically-acclaimed dramas, Alias follows Sydney Bristow, a CIA agent working as a double agent for SD-6, a counter-government agency. Sydney must handle the stressors of her job while keeping her friends in the dark, navigating a romance with a co-worker, and handling the tense relationship between her and her father, who is in the same line of work. So what do we think made Alias so exciting? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the back half of NBC's comedy-action spy series, Chuck! Chuck goes from a Nerd Herd member at Buy More to the CIA and NSA's most valuable asset after opening an email from his college roommate. The series follows an ordinary guy after he's pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, with impeccable comedic timing. So what do we think made this series so enjoyable? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the first half of NBC's comedy-action spy series, Chuck! Chuck follows the escapades of the title character after some of the nation's greatest spy secrets are embedded into his brain and he is subsequently used on top-secret missions by the CIA and the NSA. So what was it about this tech genius turned international man of mystery that made audiences love Chuck so much? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing NBC's spy-drama, Undercovers! This series worked from the unique premise of a husband and wife catering duo who had a colourful past as CIA agents, and are called out of retirement to take on the big jobs that no one else is qualified for. Filled with intrigue, international jet-setting and crime-fighting, and ulterior motives, Undercovers was certainly very different from what one would expect from NBC. So what made this series so interesting? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing The CW's action-spy thriller, Nikita! Based on the critically acclaimed spy-drama from director Luc Besson, this series about a young woman recruited into a secret government agency was the fourth adaptation of the source material and had some very big shoes to fill. Nikita takes a different approach, beginning where its predecessors ended, with Nikita managing to get away from her captors, and determined to bring the entire operation down. Filled with action, drama, and double agents, Nikita was different from anything else that The CW had to offer at the time. So what do we think made this series so brilliant? Stay tuned!

Today, we're discussing the back half of FX's magnetic spy thriller, The Americans! The Americans is about undercover KGB agents posing as travel agents, and how their dangerous lives become more complicated as their daughter gets older, an FBI agent moves in across the street, and they experience myriad crises of consciousness about the nature of their work. The Americans gave us a very balanced look into both sides of the Cold War without sacrificing key historical events. So what do we think made this series so brilliant? Stay tuned!

Today, we're debuting our highly-anticipated 11th season: Spies & Lies! During the course of this season, Alex and I will be discussing all the riveting series which featured a hearty dose of intrigue, espionage, and international warfare! We're premiering GBB's 11th season with none other than one of the most critically-acclaimed spy thrillers of all time: The Americans! The Americans is not just a spy thriller, but a highly nuanced serial drama and period drama that made both critics and audiences alike sit up and pay attention. The Americans featured a married couple as undercover KGB agents living as a typical American family during the height of the Cold War, and chronicled how their already stressful and dangerous lives are made even more so when an FBI agent moves in across the street. So what do we think make The Americans so brilliant? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the back half of one of the most groundbreaking Black sitcoms: Girlfriends! Girlfriends took us through the highs and lows of a group of four very different Black women, and chronicled their searches for love, purpose, career, and family. So what do we think made this series so iconic? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing one of the most beloved modern Black sitcoms of all time: Girlfriends! This series follows four Black women as they navigate careers, romance, and most importantly, their relationships with themselves, and one another. Girlfriends was a refreshingly insightful, loving, and honest portrayal of what it means to be a Black woman in America, and approached the issue from four very different lenses. So what do we think made Girlfriends so relatable? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing America's second-most popular teenage girl detective: Veronica Mars! This series follows a whip-smart highschooler from the elite, fictional town of Neptune, California, who solves the various mysteries in the lives of her classmates, even as she struggles with a few mysteries from her own past. So what do we think made Veronica Mars so intriguing? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the back half of one of the most truly groundbreaking and provocative series in television history, The L Word! This American-Canadian drama follows a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles, and chronicled all of their high and lows during their quests for love. How did The L Word manage to avoid so many heteronormative tropes, and what made this series an instant classic? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing one of the most truly groundbreaking and provocative series in television history, The L Word! This American-Canadian drama follows a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles, and all the lovers they keep and exes they lose along the way. The L Word was the first series to ever star an entire principle cast of queer women, and center lesbian and bisexual women's experiences within the queer community. Although the series sparked a lot of controversy, The L Word was television gold! So what do we think made this series so intriguing? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the back half of one of the most truly unique shows of the last decade: Drop Dead Diva! When the consciousness of a thin, vapid aspiring model returned to Earth in the body of a plus-sized attorney, hi-jinks ensued, but Drop Dead Diva kept its humanity to and allowed us to witness the amazing character arc of our protagonist as she learns to become a figuratively bigger person as well. So what exactly made this series so interesting? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the first half of one of the most truly unique shows of the last decade: Drop Dead Diva. This series follows Deb, an aspiring model who dies, ascends to heaven, and hits the return button, coming back to Earth in the body of a hardworking, generous, plus-sized attorney named Jane, who is also recently deceased. With a guardian angel and best friend in on the secret, Deb learns to navigate both Jane's life and her body. So what exactly made this series so refreshing? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the back half of the charming English-language telenovela that gave us a refreshing, messy, and entertaining look at modern families: Jane the Virgin! This series only recently ended, yet it was clear from the very first season that this series would be an instant hit. From premise, to casting, to writing, Jane the Virgin was a delight to watch. So what exactly made this series so endearing? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the ground-breaking English-language telenovela that radically changed the way the Millenials view abstinence, IVF, hotel moguls, and identical twins: Jane the Virgin! Jane the Virgin had a humble enough premise: A young virgin in a relationship with one man ends up artificially inseminated with the baby of another man, by that second man's gynecologist sister. What could have easily delved into comic absurdity, with bad punchlines and a laugh track, one instead became the foundation of a romantic comedy-drama that was warm, moving, family-centered, and thoughtful. So what exactly made Jane the Virgin so beloved? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the short-lived ABC spy-fi series, Marvel's Agent Carter! Featuring MCU character Peggy Carter, this series is about a young woman who must balance life as a secret agent in the 1940s. Agent Carter's “superpower,” is how often other people underestimate her, which she uses to her advantage to save the world as we know it on numerous occasions. So what do we think of this campy action-spy series? Did Marvel's Agent Carter deserve more seasons? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the final two seasons of the iconic sex comedy, Sex and the City! We'll be diving into the last 2 seasons, as well as the first movie, on the series that made Cosmos and Manolo Blahniks trendy, and featured women who knew exactly how they liked their drinks, their shoes, and their men! It's been 17 years since the series debuted, so how does Sex and the City hold up for Millennials living through a pandemic? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the landmark sex comedy about 4 friends exploring their careers, sex, and love in New York City, all while remaining immaculately fashionable. Sex and the City gave us an unflinching and unapologetic look at 4 very different women's love and sex lives, and sparked numerous questions and conversations with its provocative material. Sex and the City directly challenged the notion that having a main cast over the age of 30 wouldn't lead to success, and the writers directly challenged the way that we talk about sex? So how has Sex and the City aged almost 23 years after its debut? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the groundbreaking ABC dramady: Ugly Betty! Based on the internationally acclaimed Yo soy Betty, la fea, Ugly Betty chronicles the blossom of an ugly duckling who gets her feet wet in the world of fashion and learns how to assert herself, follow her dreams, and coordinate her outfits! Ugly Betty was US television's very first foray into making an English-language telenovela. The series gave us laughs, loves, ridiculous scenarios, and epic cliffhangers. So how did the gamble pay off? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the Lifetime series that set the network on fire:The Client List! Based on Lifetime's hugely successful TV movie of the same name, The Client List follows a recently abandoned single mother of two who crosses a personal moral boundary when she uses her massage therapy skills to earn a living, while also charging for “extras”. The Client List explores single motherhood, friendship, and sex work through a thoughtful and very provocative lens. So what do we think made The Client List so seductive? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the BET series that quickly became a household name: Being Mary Jane! Being Mary Jane allowed viewers to explore the inner world of a highly successful, but romantically unfulfilled TV news anchor. Mary Jane has the perfect job, her dream home, and a supportive family, but no man, and a ticking biological clock. This seemingly very basic premise launched a hit series, but what exactly made Being Mary Jane so intriguing? Stay tuned!

Today, we're debuting GBB's 10th season with none other than one of the most beloved Black sitcoms of all time: Living Single! Living Single gave us not one by four strong, female leads! Four Black women living their best lives, and learning about themselves and what they wanted from their partners and their careers. Living Single leaned on beautiful, intelligent leads who spoke from themselves, instead of being led by ceaseless trauma as a plot point. This highly successful series ended over 20 years ago, so why is it still so beloved and so impactful to this day? Stay tuned.

Today, we'll be discussing the historical drama, Rome! This period drama, which begins in the year 1 BC, follows the lives of two Roman soldiers whose personal lives are deeply interwoven in key historical events during Rome's transition from a republic to an empire. Although the series touches on and, in some cases, dives deeply into true historical events, the series' mostly peripheral view of them allows the audience to see how the rise of this empire affected those outside of the ruling class. So how did the most ancient show in our Historical Dramas season manage to engage so many people? And how is Rome holding up over 13 years after its finale? So what made the series so hard to turn away from? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the historical romantic drama, Reign! This period drama follows the early life of Mary Stuart, better known as Mary, Queen of Scots, and how she went from the betrothed of Prince Francis of France to a highly influential queen and political strategist in her own right. Reign was the CW's very bold and brave stab at a historical drama, and although the series didn't last as long as most on the network, it's safe to say that Reign was GenZ's favourite period drama. So what made the series so hard to turn away from? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the British historical drama, The White Queen! This miniseries set against the backdrop of the infamous War of the Roses follows the power struggles of the women of the House of York and the House of Lancaster as they fight for the throne. This period drama takes us behind the seat of power as we watch how the machinations and manipulations of power affect the monarchy, and the nation as a whole. So what exactly made The White Queen so engaging, and what does the series teach us about modern-day politics? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the Renaissance-era historical drama, The Borgias! Set in the late 1400s, this period drama follows the Borgia family, led by Cardinal turned Pope, Rodrigo Borgia, as they fight to maintain their grip on the Papacy and by extension, the Roman Catholic Church. This series delves headfirst to all of the details, both fact and rumour, of this time, as well as exposing the hypocrisy, misdeeds, and bureaucracy of the Borgias and everyone around them. So what exactly made The Borgias so titillating? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the British Tudor-era historical drama, The Tudors! This period drama follows the lives and loves of King Henry VIII of England and how these women influenced his allegiances, his politics, his religion, and ultimately, the course of history. What is it about this period drama that made it so intriguing? How do the politics of this British monarchy continue to keep us fascinated over 500 years later? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the heart-pounding antebellum period drama, Underground! This short-lived series about the endeavors of desperate slaves to make a bid for their freedom kept audiences enraptured and turned many new audiences on to its home network, WGN America. While slave narratives aren't uncommon, Underground took bold risks with its portrayal of slaves, slave owners, plantation life, slave catchers, and the abolitionist movement. So what do we think made this series so unique? What helped set Underground apart from its contemporaries? Stay tuned!

Today, we'll be discussing the final seasons of the critically-acclaimed Mad Men! AMC's period drama about the inner lives of Manhattan's elite advertising executives successfully captured the personal and political nuances of the white upper-middle class who kept consumerism at an all time high during a time of war. What was it about this series that made these people and this time period seem so interesting? How did Mad Men manage to grab and hold the attention of so many people for so many seasons? Stay tuned!