Episodes
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
New feature at Estradiol Illusions! Take a trip with us back to Downton Abbey for an in-depth look at one of the show's most fascinating characters. After being introduced as the show's primary antagonist in season one, Thomas Barrow largely sheaths his villainous inclinations, growing to become a figure with great depth. Ian explores Barrow's full series arc and the ways he gradually endeared himself to the audience.
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Ian's in-depth review of the Downton Abbey film: https://ianthomasmalone.podbean.com/e/downton-abbey-1569517256/
Please leave a review on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts if you feel so inclined.
Photo courtesy of Carnival Films
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
We are delighted to welcome Michael McElhatton to the show to talk about his new film The Last Right, a beautiful Irish road movie. April also marks the tenth anniversary of the premiere of Game of Thrones, where Michael played Roose Bolton, who's either an arch-villain or a pretty decent guy depending on how you feel about a certain dinner party hosted by Walder Frey. Michael shares plenty of thoughts on Thrones, The Last Right, Zack Snyder's Justice League, and so much more.
The Last Right is currently available in theatres and on VOD.
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/04/the-last-right-is-a-touching-meditation-on-grief-with-plenty-of-laughs/
Film poster courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment. Headshot courtesy of Michael McElhatton
Monday Mar 29, 2021
Monday Mar 29, 2021
March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Ian would really like to see the day switched to Transgender Day of Action or Day of Hiring a Trans Person. Trans people are visible. Trans people don't need additional visibility. Trans people need equity.
More than 80 anti-transgender bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country in 2021 alone. Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi have passed bills targeting trans healthcare and participation in sports. Trans people deserve more than to be seen, we need a seat at the table.
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Friday Mar 26, 2021
We are back on the Island of Sodor for another edition of TTTE & Chill, the number one Thomas the Tank Engine recap show in the world. Percy’s Ghostly Trick is a sentimental favorite tape. Ian & Tara break down the intricacies of Percy’s prank, Douglas’ daring rescue of Oliver, the infamous “Thanksgiving” episode, and the handling of the regatta medical emergency in All at Sea.
This tape covers the following episodes
Thomas’ Anthem (music video)
Percy’s Ghostly Trick
Woolly Bear
Thomas and Percy’s Mountain Adventure
Escape
Oliver Owns Up
All at Sea
Be sure to check out all of our other episodes of TTTE & Chill!
Photo courtesy of the Britt Allcroft Company
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Grab your lavender and your little birds, we’re going to Westeros. Join Ian for a solo episode all about Lord Varys. As someone who knows what it’s like to lose their balls, Ian feels a kindred connection to the Spider. For his talent, George R.R. Martin often portrays Varys in an exceedingly cartoonish fashion that plays into homophobic stereotypes. Join for a close reading of many of Varys’ key passages.
This episode will cover the following chapters:
A Game of Thrones
Catelyn IV
Eddard IV
Eddard V
Eddard VII
Eddard VIII
Eddard XI
Eddard XII
Eddard XIV
Sansa IV
Eddard XV
Tyrion IX
A Clash of Kings
Tyrion I
Tyrion II
Tyrion III
Tyrion IV
Tyrion VI
Tyrion VIII
Tyrion IX
Tyrion X
Tyrion XII
Sansa VIII
A Storm of Swords
Sansa I
Tyrion II
Tyrion III
Davos IV
Tyrion IX
Tyrion X
Tyrion XI
A Feast for Crows
Cersei I
Jaime I
Cersei IV
Jaime III
A Dance with Dragons
Tyrion I
Tyrion II
Tyrion IV
The Lost Lord
Epilogue
For a complete list of our ASOIAF episodes, check out our neatly organized episode page. https://ianthomasmalone.podbean.com/p/episode-categories/
Image courtesy of HBO
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Come take a ride with us to Westview! Alexandra August returns to the show for a delightful discussion all about Wandavision, which kicked off Phase 4 of the MCU. We talk about what worked, what didn't work, how amazing Kathryn Hahn is, and all the fan theories that didn't quite pan out. Maybe Mephisto didn't want to step inside New Jersey? Who could blame him!
You can follow Alexandra at @alxaugust
Ian's review of the series: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/01/wandavision-isnt-designed-to-meet-expectations/
Series poster courtesy of Disney.
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Grab your phaser and your away team, because we're heading to Vagra II. "Skin of Evil" lives on in Trek infamy for the senseless death of Tasha Var. Armus is one of science fiction's earliest incels, taking the spotlight away from a female character in order to harass the rest of the crew with his endless whining. Natty Strange, co-author of the iconic web comic Pokey the Penguin, returns to the show to discuss this mess of an episode.
As Data put it, Armus has "no redeeming qualities." That's probably true, except with that annoying pile of goop, we probably wouldn't be talking about this episode. Tasha deserved better. We all deserve better.
You can follow Nat on Twitter @nuns_on_film. Be sure to check out her new Star Trek blog, deepspacenat.com.
You can follow Pokey the Penguin's latest adventures by checking out Pokey's website https://www.yellow5.com/pokey/ & @pokeythepenguin
Photo courtesy of Paramount.
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
We delighted to welcome Adrienne Wilkinson to the show for a wide-ranging interview including her new film Dreamcatcher. Fans of Estradiol Illusions may know Adrienne best for her roles as Eve on Xena: Warrior Princess, Daughter in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Maris Brood in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and as Captain Lexxa Singh in Star Trek: Renegades. Adrienne shares many fascinating insights from her career throughout so many iconic franchises.
Dreamcatcher is available March 5th, on demand and digital, on Amazon, Apple, Redbox, and other major VOD services.
Ian’s review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/03/dreamcatcher-subverts-slasher-norms-in-an-intriguing-horror-narrative/
Headshot courtesy of Adrienne Wilkinson. Photo by Damu Malik.
Poster and stills courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Saturday Feb 27, 2021
Saturday Feb 27, 2021
American civilization collapses as cancel culture claims its next victim, the valiant Mr. Potato Head. Except he isn’t going anywhere. Hasbro dropped the “Mr.” from its broader Potato Head branding. Mrs. Potato Head can serve at the altar of capitalism without the oppressive patriarchy creeping over her shoulder.
Ian breaks down all the Potato Head nonsense and what this whole saga is really about. LGBTQ families deserve to see themselves reflected in the corporate consumerist culture that rules over our society.
Potato head logo courtesy of Hasbro.
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
We are delighted to welcome Douglas Goldstein, creator of Devil May Care and head writer of Robot Chicken. Devil May Care is a new animated series starring Alan Tudyk & Asif Ali that offers a fresh perspective on hell. Douglas talks about his experiences crafting both shows, their differing styles of humor, and the challenges of packing humor and narrative into an eleven-minute runtime.
Devil May Care airs at 12:00 am Saturday night as part of SYFY's TZGZ block. You can watch the first three episodes on NBC.com here: https://www.nbc.com/devil-may-care
Ian's review of the series: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/02/devil-may-care-finds-humor-and-heart-in-the-depths-of-hell/
All photos courtesy of SYFY
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Today we are joined by Sarah and Zachary Ray Sherman, directors of the film Young Hearts. One of Ian's favorites from Slamdance 2020, the film follows two teens developing their first romantic relationship, learning the messy nature of love in a high school setting. Sarah and Zachary talk about their experiences making the film and its unique place amidst high school narratives.
Ian's review of the film (originally titled Thunderbolt in Mine Eye): https://ianthomasmalone.com/2020/01/slamdance-review-thunderbolt-in-mine-eye/
Young Hearts is now available to rent via VOD from all major services including Amazon, Google, and Apple.
Film poster courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Slamdance 2021 coverage continues! We are thrilled to welcome Angela Washko and Mrs. Kasha Davis, director and star of the new documentary Workhorse Queen. The film follows Mrs. Kasha Davis' journey from small-town drag queen all the way to Ru Paul's Drag Race, where she competed in season seven. Angela & Mrs. Kasha Davis (Ed Popil) talk about the evolution of drag, their experiences making the film, and what mainstream visibility means for the LGBTQ community.
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/02/slamdance-series-workhorse-queen/
Slamdance tickets are on sale now for $10, which you can purchase here: https://slamdance.com/festival-passes/
Poster and still courtesy of Situated Productions
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Thursday Feb 11, 2021
Our Slamdance 2021 coverage continues with a delightful entry in the Episodes section. The Little Broomstick Rider is a loose adaptation of Ludwig Bechstein's The Little Pitchfork Rider, the series follows 9 year old Linhard, accused of witchcraft in 17th century Bavaria.
Director Matteo Bernardini shares some insights into his creative process. Made entirely using paper, pens, scissors, and glue, The Little Broomstick Rider is a crowning achievement of quarantine-inspired filmmaking.
Slamdance tickets are on sale now for $10, which you can purchase here: https://slamdance.com/festival-passes/
Poster and still courtesy of Matteo Bernardini
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Our Slamdance 2021 coverage kicks off! Delighted to welcome Ethan Dirks and Troy DeWinne to talk about their indie fantasy animation Chef Giants, which is premiering as part of the episodes block on February 12th. Chef Giants is the proof-of-concept for their full series Gobble, a delightfully strange musical odyssey that follows two goblins who want to be pop stars.
Troy and Ethan also illustrated all 145 Slamdance filmmakers for an animated virtual party, which you can check out here: https://chefgiants.com/party
Troy & Ethan talk about their creative process, the marginalization of goblins in popular culture, and the importance of giving virtual festivals a sense of connective tissue. Ian really appreciates the way that Chef Giants helps emphasize the vital role of community in the filmmaking experience.
Slamdance tickets are on sale now for $10, which you can purchase here: https://slamdance.com/festival-passes/
You can follow Ethan on Instagram, @ethan_dirks, and Troy, @dewinnethepooh
Images courtesy of Ethan Dirks and Troy DeWinne.
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Today we welcome Constantine Venetopoulos to the show to talk about his new short documentary, Draw With Me. The film follows the coming out journey of nonbinary teen Brendon Scholl, with appearances by Brendon's aunt Jennifer Lopez and President Joe Biden. Draw With Me was featured at the first ever panel on transgender health at the United Nations and is an Official Oscar Entry for the Documentary Short category.
Draw With Me is an excellent resource especially for parents looking for resources to support their trans children. Constantine & Ian discuss the complicated family dynamics that can surface after coming out and the contrasts between America's growing acceptance of LGBTQ people against the backdrop of the Trump administration.
You can view the trailer for Draw With Me here: https://vimeo.com/450714908
Film poster courtesy of Ithaka Films. Headshot courtesy of Constantine Venetopoulos
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Alejandro Mejía, cinematographer for Son of Monarchs, to the show. While the cinematography is always vital to the success of a film, Alejandro carried additional obligations to convey protagonist Mendel's passions to the audience, something the film does quite well. Alejandro shares some insights into his creative process and what it was likely to film in the butterfly forests of Mexico, beautiful scenery typically only depicted in documentaries.
Ian's review of the film: https://ianthomasmalone.com/2021/01/sundance-review-son-of-monarchs/
Photo caption: Kaarlo Isaacs appears in Son of Monarchs by Alexis Gambis, an official selection of the NEXT section at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute.