Nerd Alert: Marvel Edition

Genn and Bridgette explore many surprises in Doctor Strange’s tragic foray into the Dark Side, including but not limited to: the Watcher’s sassiness, Strange’s newfound softness, and Dr. Christine Palmer becoming the absolute point of an entire universe. What defines the “heart” of Doctor Strange and what does it say about gender dynamics and love versus obsession? We set out to find the answer in a “What If…?” episode that has our minds reeling. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

What if...Bridgette and Genn were more thrown off than usual and at a loss for words for the first time since never? Listen as they are continuously surprised by the latest episode of Marvel’s What If…? and how they reevaluate how different the MCU would be if certain characters were less crusty and more unhinged. Also, how much do you want to bet that Coulson's password is everyone's Tumblr password? Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Wakanda Forever, even among the stars! Genn and Bridgette launch into a new and improved galaxy courtesy of T'Challa as Star-Lord in Marvel's What If...? With his gracious and generous nature, T'Challa alters the fates of the Ravagers, Nebula, and even Thanos (which we still have some perplexing feelings about) in a beautiful alternate universe that would intimidate even the biggest Peter Quill stans. We exult in great dental coverage, charming nicknames, Korath's fanboying, and a galactic spin on Robin Hood! Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Bridgette and Caroline have been waiting their whole lives for this episode! From watching Peggy be the hero of her own story (again), to the wholesome friendships and wholesome shipping, to deep character exploration, we enjoyed many splendors in the first episode of Marvel’s What If...? series. We unravel Peggy’s split second decision and how it managed to create whole new universe where Hydra men lose their marbles, Bucky gets to be happy for once, and Steve becomes Retro Iron Man (while still being the good egg we know and love). Also, brief Internet etiquette: keep your salty Tumblr posts out of irrelevant shipping tags! Especially when it comes to Steggy! Thank you and good night. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

After taking some time to wash off the bitterness of Marvel fridging Black Widow, we return to dive deep into the movie that we wish had come out five years ago. We discuss the themes of found family, moral ambiguity, and asserting your identity in the midst of oppression through the lens of the Red Room and Natasha’s character arc. We also unpack what happened in Budapest, Dreykov’s weak sauce, and the spectacular sister dynamic with Yelena that we didn’t realize we needed. Then once we’re done, we’ll write some fix-it fic where Natasha lives. Because we need that the most. Recommended Reading: Black Widow by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto Bridgette's fic "Hide Your Gun": https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11365747/1/Hide-Your-Gun Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Bridgette and Genn review the season finale… and we have questions. From the distinct lack of jet skis to the lackluster villain to the unraveling plot yarn, now we can only wonder what’s going to happen next. At least we have a newfound appreciation for Tom Hiddleston’s fantastic acting (and surprisingly buff look in a sword holster). Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

All the Variants come together for Loki-ception! Bridgette and Genn do their best to make sense of the ball of plot yarn as we envision what we want (Mobius riding into the sunset on a jet ski) and don’t want (the Loki/Sylvie ship sailing) from the finale. In addition, we discuss the surprising emotional depth to the Classic Loki and the theorize on what lies beyond the Void. Also: Smol Thor is the cutest and we want to put him in our pocket. Check out RJ Pierce on Instagram @racheljpierce for hilarious comics about Loki and other Marvel characters! Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Sorceress Supreme Caroline and her apprentice Genn offer a speculative look into episode 4 of Loki, “The Nexus Event.” They bring in mythology and theories as they attempt to make sense of all the chaos within the episode. Also, is dating your alternate self as weird as it sounds... or have we reached a new level of romance? Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Happy Pride Month, everyone! Listen as Genn, Bridgette, and Caroline tackle numerous subjects, from characters to creators, to history and facts... with plenty of wit and pride to go around! Links from Genn: I Thought I Was A Hopeless Romantic — Turns Out I'm Demisexual: https://www.yourtango.com/2016295502/i-thought-i-was-hopeless-romantic-turns-out-im-demisexual 52 LGBTQ+ Superheroes and Villains: https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/geek/2015/07/07/52-lgbt-superheroes-and-villains#media-gallery-media-1 Hulkling and Wiccan’s Relationship Firsts: https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/hulkling-and-wiccan-s-relationship-firsts Winning Peter - Chapter 19 - iamtheyellowbox - [Archive of Our Own]: https://archiveofourown.org/works/1738823/chapters/4178835?view_adult=true Links from Bridgette: Follow Brianna Cherry Garcia @briannacherrygarcia and @briannacherrycosplay on Instagram Follow Lindi on Instagram @stil_lindigo and @pulse_comic on Instagram Follow Cubbish Crub @crubdraws on Instagra

Queer representation. Jedi mind tricks. Sympathetic Loki headcanons?! Caroline and Bridgette cover the highlights of Loki & Sylvie’s misadventures in Lamentis. We compare Loki’s persistently ambiguous characterization to Sylvie’s role as “Hyper-Competent Spoilsport Lady” that is so common among female characters. We also make fun of Loki’s terrible metaphors. And of course, you couldn’t have Caroline and Bridgette hosting the same episode without that Agent Carter Connection! Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Sports Loki, Ice Runt Loki, Loki Prime, Lady Loki, so many Lokis! Hold our mead! Episode 2 of Loki, titled “The Variant,” is given a dash of magic from your all-knowing Sorceress Supreme Caroline and her trusty assistant, Genn. Listen as they untangle theories, mythology, and Loki’s motives - fresh off the press and completely unfiltered! Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Genn and Bridgette have many questions… but are all of them good questions? We dive into timeline shenanigans, as well as Loki’s inferiority complex and mixed morals that have continually brought his character motivations into question. We also unpack his relationship with his brother Thor (and their apparently elaborate pranks) and the confirmation that he is genderfluid in the MCU. And of course, we will talk about new characters like Agent Mobius (AKA the stand-in for the fandom), the Hunter-Who-Has-Not-Been-Named, and Casey, who must be protected at all costs. Make sure to listen all the way to the end for a fun bonus listen! Learn more about the term genderfluid: https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Genderfluid https://www.healthline.com/health/gender-fluid#learn-more Learn about Loki’s genderfluid identity: https://www.cbr.com/loki-mcu-god-of-mischief-genderfluid/ https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/06/loki-will-be-genderfluid-in-disney-series-and-tom-hiddleston-is-thrilled/ Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (also known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month), our four hosts talk about AAPI creators and characters in Marvel. Genn gushes about Cindy Moon AKA Silk, a Korean American with spider powers who had to hide in a basement for years, only to face a missing family when she emerges. Caroline overviews the Asian and Middle Eastern characters who have appeared so far in the MCU while Maddie caps it off with the amazing Wong from Doctor Strange. Bridgette rounds out the episode with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel Studios' Director of Visual Development, and a local professional artist who dabbles in Marvel and other fandoms. Get started with Cindy Moon: Silk Volume 0: The Life and Times of Cindy Moon Writer: Robbie Thompson Artist: Stacey Lee Follow these creators on social media: Follow Maurissa Tancharoen @MoTancharoen on Twitter and on Instagram Follow Ming-Na Wen @MingNa on Twitter and @migna_wen on Instagram Follow Chloe Bennet @chloebenne

Genn and Bridgette chat about a Marvel movie trailer for the first time in forever! As we take a first glance at Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, we discuss The Mandarin’s role in Iron Man Armored Adventures, father vs. son tensions, Awkwafina’s surprise MCU debut, and yet another gratuitous shirtless scene. Then we talk more broadly about Phase 4, including our crumbs of knowledge about The Eternals and our bated breath for Black Widow. FYI, if you are interested in watching Iron Man Armored Adventures, it’s available to stream on Disney+ (not Netflix). Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Our plot sweater is complete and we are feeling fabulous in it! Bridgette and Genn kick off the finale with our realtime reactions, followed by a robust deep dive review. The fight choreography. The real world relevance. The emotional dialogue. The well-earned character moments. All this and more we discuss as we track the beautiful culmination of Sam and Bucky’s growth as individuals and as friends, the (questionable) redemption of John Walker, and that surprise revelation about Sharon (whom we now and forever refuse to recognize as Agent Carter). More gushing about Bucky’s smile included. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

In which John Walker is an entitled prick with spray paint and anger management issues, the Dora Milaje are FABULOUS, Genn squees at a certain cameo, and our homoerotic-themed dreams are taken down a peg. Listen as passionate advocate Bridgette and sometimes-optimist-sometimes-pessimist Genn dissect the emotionally complex conversations of Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode 5, all while knitting a soon-to-be-complete plot sweater (we hope). Also, #FoundTorres and #Hugs4Bucky! Bonus: this episode's artwork has been changed in honor of Bucky's smile, which is now living rent-free in Bridgette's brain. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

After the heart-stopping ending of the darkest chapter yet, Bridgette and Genn are here to unpack John Walker’s downfall, Karli Morgenthau’s complicated struggle for her people, and the consequences of supremacist ideals and the “do what must be done” philosophy that plagues both these characters. Meanwhile, we talk about the ramifications of Steve’s absence and how it skillfully weaves into the narrative (better than, say, Tony’s in Far From Home *cough*) as Sam must decide what kind of hero and person that he wants to be. This episode also includes shoutouts to the Dora Milaje and Agent Carter and Bridgette’s official headcanon that Zemo secretly has powers. You heard it here first. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Caroline and Genn team up again for sorcery (not really), truth and history lessons, and plenty of savagery as they tear apart Zemo and Walker... and analyze the rest of the episode too. But seriously, there’s nothing left of those two once the witty Sorceress Supreme and her chuckling assistant got a hold of them. Episode 3 of Falcon and the Winter Soldier covers topics like how and why representation matters, the effects of global catastrophes (real or fictional), and the difference between fictional and actual geographic locations (yes, Genn will look at a map once in a while). Listen as Genn and Caroline put on their plot sweaters and uncover surprises during their analysis, including crossovers to other fandoms and helpful knowledge from unexpected sources. We hope everyone had a lovely Easter! May it excuse our slight delay in posting the episode this week. :) Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Folks, Bridgette and Genn saw NOTHING coming in this episode... except for the homoeroticism. We’ll always notice homoeroticism. Join us for history and comic lessons, heartbreak over the Isaiah Bradley revelation, raving about the name John, and loving our favorite bickering duo (#Sucky). As always, we are here to over-analyze the characters and feel a lot of feelings because of them. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com or Twitter @NerdAlertPod.

Caroline and Bridgette kick off the premiere with theorizing, in-depth analysis, and unadulterated adoration for two of our faves (hint: the titular characters). Sam copes with the impostor syndrome and a struggling family business. Bucky copes with finding - and losing - human connection as his past keeps haunting him. Both must cope with the gaping wound that Steve has left behind. Today, we discuss the start of their character journeys, the legacies of Steve Rogers and Captain America, new characters like Torres the Baby Bird and Walmart Cap, and how it shows that Black creatives are behind the making of this series. Also, Bucky is giving off major Zuko vibes, and we dare you to prove us wrong. We love our angsty boys. We at Nerd Alert Girls stand in solidarity with Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities. To learn more about how to take action, please visit stopaaipihate.org. Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.c