Mostly Murder (But Sometimes Not)

New episode out now! We revisit the work of Agatha Christie with the 2022 BritBox miniseries Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? starring Will Poulter and Lucy Boynton and adapted by Hugh Laurie. We get into how the relationship of Bobby and Frankie evolves throughout the story, have difficulties figuring out the timeline, think both doctors make better investigators than the young couple, and dig into the nature of evil and the way the villain of the story shifts plans based on the opportunities presented. We discuss the influence of English classicism and how it affected the investigative style, talk a little about the Marple adaptation of this same story, think this is really a romance wrapped in a mystery, and speak at length about the attractiveness of Will Poulter. Katy loves the ‘90s, Carrie likes a helpful kind man (who’s also hot), Maddy locks in for cats, and Mack has a pretty okay Palpatine impression. We also muse on how non-traditional mystery solvers always seem to have an unending supply of family members to visit, reveal various childhood (and adulthood) cartoon crushes, learn things about the full moon, and uncover a trope of character design that is pretty wild. Listen to hear more about IMDb credits, miming a telephone, Brennan Lee Mulligan, wedding pants, horror tropes, and the hotness of forearms. Go ride a bike!TW: Suicide, mental health issues, electroshock therapy, opioid addiction

New episode out now! We watched the first episode of Luther, the British detective procedural starring Idris Elba. We discuss Luther himself and how he does not come off as a good or stable person, are drawn into the character of Alice and think she is realistically terrifying, have a lot of questions about Luther’s relationship with his estranged wife Zoe, and talk about how the most important piece of evidence was the lack of evidence. We get into Luther abusing his power and toeing the line of legality, wonder what Alice’s true motivations are, think the actors were excellent, and dive into the misogyny inherent in Luther and the treatment of women as a prize. Katy recommends some other British mystery shows, Carrie shares some disturbing lines from And Just Like That…, Maddy deserves a gold star, and Mack gives some good dating advice. We also talk about different reward systems employers use, try to recruit people for D&D, go on a collective semi-rant about the modern alpha male mentality, and learn about dark cremation facts. Listen to hear more about William Shatner, excited Googling, the Glasgow Coma Scale, microplastics, and how women are actually people! Enjoy this episode of many tangents!TW: Violent death of a dog, pedophilia mention, capital punishment, domestic violence, domestic violence in the police force, misogyny, veterinary euthanasia, cremation

New episode out now! We watched the classic 1944 noir film Laura. We discussed the eponymous Laura and how everyone is obsessed with her, believe that the detective feels a little out of place and maybe belongs in a different movie, think the police work was hit or miss, and barely recognize Vincent Price. We talk at length about the character Waldo and debate how hidden / coded his sexuality was, hate that his obsession with Laura was essentially of her as an accessory, think the love story doesn't make sense, and get into the themes of classicism, misogyny, and the pervasive eugenics throughout. Katy is poor, Carrie looked into the eyes of a dead man, Maddy would like built-in fancy bathtub money, and Mack comes for Phil Collins. We also get into the familiar music theme, lament crime sensationalism, think dusted knick-knacks are a symbol of wealth, and learn you cannot trust a corpse whose face you don't see. Listen to hear more about game show host voices, J.C. Leyendecker, grappling hooks, hot men, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Enjoy!TW: Graphic murder, misogyny, homophobia, eugenics, Selena murder

New episode out now! We watched the 1991 neo-noir film Dead Again, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh and also featuring Emma Thompson, Derek Jacobi, and Andy Garcia. We wonder how we’ve never heard of this film because of the stacked cast, discuss how the personal history of Branagh and Thompson may have colored our perception of the film, get frustrated at the male ego and the need to be a hero, and debate how the movie would have felt with different actors. We discuss the concept of past lives and fate and how they were utilized in the story, think the old age makeup was terrible, have major issues with romancing an amnesiac, and debate the success of what the movie was trying to do. Katy pitches a TV show, Carrie got a warm heart hug while watching, Maddy wants to be in a weird old elevator, and Mack is not on Blue’s Clues. We also talk about where we’ve seen the filming locations before, think the accents are not great, get annoyed at water, and mention Buffy multiple times. Listen to hear more about soulmates, Robin Williams, claddagh ring traditions, Georgia O’Keeffe, pronouncing “Jacobi” wrong, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Enjoy!TW: Infidelity, drug use, amnesia consent issues, fatphobia, domestic violence, animal carcass mention

New episode out now! We watched the little-known comedy mystery with a stacked cast Once Upon A Crime (1992). We cover how the film had a different plot than expected, decide that it took a long time to set up the actual mystery but thought it turned out well, felt it was often incredibly silly in a good way, and get into the full 1980s of it all, good and bad. We also talk about the various characters and how many of them seemed more like caricatures, think the actors all nailed the vibe, wondered how much improv was involved, and obviously loved the dog-heavy plot. Katy got her Belushis mixed up, Carrie did not think of cocaine at all, Maddy really wanted to gamble, and Mack explains things women do for fun. We also try to use Italian accents, fail to recognize a Napoleon reference, discuss what groups of straight men do for fun, and learn we are susceptible to a voicemail joke. Listen to hear more about mean olds, James Bond, Chicago Pope, great eyebrows, and a Vegas roulette story. And thank you to Jerome for the suggestion! Enjoy!TW: Domestic violence, gambling addiction, animal cruelty, fatphobiaShow Notes:Nathan Rabin’s Happy Place post “This Looks Terrible! Once Upon A Crime (1992)”

New episode out now! We watched the 1993 film The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. We discuss the two main characters and their dual and layered investigations that evolve over the course of the film, love the action and stunts as well as the tension that carries between them throughout, enjoy the camaraderie of the US Marshals team, and think Harrison Ford is just so great at playing a guy who’s Going Through It. We also get surprised over and over by recognizable character actors, wonder if certain cliches stem from this movie, really enjoy the score, and debate what happens after the movie’s credits. Katy uses official medical terms, Carrie worried about the surgeon's hands, Maddy shares a story about a prison visit, and Mack looks up some AO3 statistics. We also have many questions about paper charting in a hospital, get weirdly proud of being Irish during St. Patrick’s Day parade scenes, compare our rating systems, and talk about Batman yet again. Listen to hear more about hospital rollerblading, fridging, trenchcoats, hair dye techniques, and Harrison Ford’s powerful finger. Enjoy!TW: Discussion of limb difference, wrongful convictions, death row, issues with prison and department of corrections Show Notes: “Fridging Women”: How the Comics Industry Flubs Female Characters by Emma SauerWhat is “Fridging” in Fiction Writing? by Fija Callaghan“Stuffed Into The Fridge” on TV Tropes

New episode out now! We watched the 2022 film The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the title role. We discuss how Batman actually did detective work, and how his background and upbringing both helped and hindered his investigation among the dark corners of Gotham. We talk about the main villains in the film and their portrayals, debate the success of the movie toeing the line between serious and emo but also silly and funny, and appreciate the nods they gave to the world of Batman and comic books without making it feel overtly cartoonish. We love the cinematography and production design, think that this may have been a low-key anti-Batman film, and have a disagreement about the end message. Katy is not a big fan of the mob, Carrie does not like heavy breathing in her ear, Maddy enjoys boys running around, and Mack shares a story about being an accidental stalker. We also talk about the possible influence of Zodiac and Seven, touch on the homoerotic vibes of Batman and Jim Gordan, get confused by cling wrap, and lament growing older than our superheroes. Listen to hear more about the 1893 World’s Fair, the brilliance of John Turturro, our childhood Disney bedsheets, and why Batman is a drag queen. Enjoy!TW:  Fat suits, serial killers, Zodiac, incels, domestic terrorism, classicism

New episode out now! We watched the first episode of the 2023 miniseries A Murder at the End of the World. We discuss the main character Darby, a “Gen Z Sherlock”, and get into her strengths and weaknesses as an investigator. We believe she is entirely too trusting of billionaires and their agendas, wonder if she is naive or just careless with her life, and appreciate the other realistic characters and their grey moral decision to seek shady money for admirable projects. We ponder the prevalence of the same older music in entertainment, get into the current culture surrounding tech billionaires and AI, and discuss the ramifications of no longer living in a monoculture. Katy forgot Dakotas were states, Carrie is a true genius and unrecognized in her time, Maddy has Annie Lennox stuck in her head, and Mack is ravaged by the weariness of his own bones. We also think ending a series with a cliffhanger should be illegal, hear an incredible Count Orlok impression, and discuss using iTunes shuffle to give meaning to your life. Listen to hear more about Jedi bombs, scumbag tattoos, St. Elsewhere, great music for mountain driving, rat guys, and the sounds of Saturn’s rings. Enjoy!TW: Tech billionaires, AI, serial killers, domestic abuse, gaslighting, climate change

New episode out now! We watched an episode from the second season of Psych, titled “Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion”. We love how fun and quippy the show is, utilizing the familiar hyper-observant-detective trope in a new-ish way. We dig into the character relationships, discussing the balance and strength of Shawn and Gus’ friendship as well as the father-son relationship of Shawn and Henry and how it evolves—although we do also believe everyone in the show needs therapy. We love Psych’s early adoption of meta references, enjoy the consistent bits, wonder how Gus has time for his hobbies, and really appreciate the multiple homage episodes and their casting of ‘80s and ‘90s cult film guest stars. Katy is on crab TikTok, Carrie shares an excellent grilled cheese-based metaphor, Maddy would love an arcade birthday, and Mack tells a wild misheard lyrics story. We also do a collective Doofenshmirtz impression, decide who the least problematic Beatle is, appreciate Shawn’s relationship advice, and list shows that were filmed in Vancouver. Listen to hear more about ephemeral fame, New Zealand accents, sexualized restaurant names, and ‘80s music. Enjoy! (You hear about Pluto? That’s messed up.)TW: police, eating disordersShow Notes/References:Psych WikiPsych Pineapple websiteList of Pineapple AppearancesKaty meant Lesley Ann Warren, not Lesley Ann Howard

Bonjour! New episode out now! We watched the first episode of the French crime show Candice Renoir. We discuss our enjoyment of Candice and her approach to policing, drawing on her intuition and skills as both a professional and a mother, and how that causes strife within the team she is placed in charge of. We talk about the challenges in understanding some of the nuances in a different language and culture, but how that also made it fun. We touch on the somewhat mysterious and confusing hierarchy used by police and military units, discuss the pros and cons of doing procedural television for multiple seasons, and try to pronounce French names and terms with varying success. Katy sneaks in a Seinfeld reference, Carrie has read this whole show, Maddy tells a fun hospital story about weird brains, and Mack got Inception-ed by Aretha Franklin. We also believe being called “Barbie” is not an insult, wonder how much fandom can really influence media, enjoy foreign media’s depiction of Americans, and discover Discord is amazing for pun-based comedy. We touch on gay Star Wars characters, Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 marking the passage of time, Columbo, and the marimba. Apprécier!TW: Child abuse, sex work, suicide, fatphobia, misogyny

Extra special episode out now! For this year’s holiday treat, Quizmaster Mack designed a whole game show for us to play! We play four different games, each one tied to our podcast in some way. We confront how often we veer off topic, test our knowledge of Florida Man, see if we can tell what's been subtly changed in a plot synopsis, and guess weird facts about properties we will probably never cover. Katy realizes she talks about the World’s Fair a lot, Carrie got away with mispronunciation, Maddy is a dehydrated queen, and Mack airs some grievances. We also learn what is technically north of Florida, why paleontologists lick things, and how Mary-Kate and Ashley always travel. Listen to hear Mack being a clever (and tricksy) game-maker, who bet on the fact that we don’t listen to each other well or retain information-and won! And after the games, we have a familiar Casemas treat! Enjoy, and happy holidays!.....Show Notes:The music used within the games is all by Kevin MacLeod.  Website YouTubeHappy Happy Game Show, The Show Must Be Go, Corncob, Quirky Dog, Aunt Tagonist, Scheming Weasel, and Running Fanfare Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/(Spoiler alert!) Mack immediately forgot the last game was double points and only counted single ones. The outcome is the same either way, but the true point count is Maddy with 16, Carrie with 26, and Katy with 30.

New episode out NOW! We’re shaking things up for the month of December. It’s the third of four brand new episodes along the same theme: the game Crack the Case. It’s Crack The Casemas!Crack the Case is a Milton Bradley party game that came out in 1993 where players ask yes or no questions in order to solve a mystery. We’re finally putting our detective skills to the test!Maddy hosts week three, where we discuss poor city planning, have a few false starts, and it gets very apparent we’re siblings. Katy loves CSI, Carrie shares her perfect mansion location, Maddy has very specific sock questions, and Mack makes some gross jokes. There’s a callback to last week’s episode, and a small preview of an upcoming one!Give it a listen! Let us know if YOU solve it before we do!TW: Death by gas

New episode out now! We spent some time with the Belcher family and watched 2022’s The Bob’s Burgers Movie. We cover the dynamics of the Belchers and how Bob and Linda’s relationship with each other and their children is so great, love the town they live in and how it is full of a community of weirdos who support each other, think that the children feel like real kids and they also make great detectives, and really enjoy the voice talent. We loved that although it felt very like the show in how it included asides, daydreams, and fun musical numbers, it had an elevated quality, a more involved plot with a mystery, and still utilized hand drawn animation. Katy got scared watching Jaws by herself in the dark, Carrie has many tickets to the orchestra, Maddy did not find cars important as a baby, and Mack is a ground down 30-year-old. We talk about being grossed out by skeleton teeth falling IN YOUR MOUTH, delve into the complexities of fantasies and daydreams, decide yet again Carrie should never watch The Thing, and share our favorite childhood toys we still have kicking around. We also cover rich people, Kurt Russell’s hotness, nice teenage boys, the reality of Stars Hollow, and spear guns. (Also we have confirmed Hornsley’s birthday is March 31st). Enjoy!TW: Capitalism, misogyny, economic disparity, animal harm depicted in film

New episode out now! We watched the first episode of the ‘90s British mystery series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, titled “The Bearded Lady”. We discuss the character of Hetty and how she feels a little bit different than other characters who fit the “older lady who solves mysteries” description, and have differing opinions on whether or not we even like her. We try to figure out what actually happened in the episode with varying success, wonder if audiences are treated more with kid gloves nowadays, get confused by science experiments, and disagree on whether Dominic Monaghan has an “English cheekiness” quality but enjoyed him as the teen sidekick anyway. Katy tries to make excuses for Hetty and fails, Carrie does not want anyone in her home, Maddy harkens back to MapQuest days, and Mack shares a childhood memory. We also make fun of our mental scripts for hosting, would not put anything past the ruling class, reminisce about watching LOST live on air, and love libraries. Listen to hear more about Bluey, children being used by detectives, shrimp paste, and Scooby-Doo. Enjoy!TW: Scientific experimentation without consent, hormonal changes, difficulties of being an unhoused person, censorship of trans people, mention of human sterilization

New episode out now! We have a slightly different encounter with the figure of Agatha Christie in the Doctor Who episode “The Unicorn and the Wasp”. We talk about the Doctor and his relationship with Donna, truly enjoy the actor’s chemistry throughout the show, and uncover how much this episode utilized tropes that came directly from both Christie’s books and the adaptations of her stories. We discuss the way Doctor Who depicts real people throughout history, and how well this depiction of Agatha Christie may have compared to the real person and her real-life struggles. We also debate insect anatomy when the insect is also an alien, have a discussion about the limitations and ability of the TARDIS for language translation, and discover we all stopped watching the show around the same time without realizing. Katy mixes up her Shakespeare plays, Carrie makes a Transformers reference, Maddy flashes back to her 2009 fashion choices, and Mack shares a fairly gross detail about facial hair. We experience in real time the drawbacks to using AI, ponder the goals of pants, have some light debates about what constitutes a monster for certain romance novels, and dislike how mysteries involving sci-fi or the supernatural put the viewer at a disadvantage as we lack the usual tools to follow along. We also touch on the Ghoul Boys, charming CGI, symmetrical white males, and TARDIS impersonations. Enjoy! PS there are some Doctor Who spoilers concerning more recent iterations so be warned!  TW: Racism, insects, unexpected loss of pregnancy  NOTES:  The podcast Katy mentioned is called The Swinging Christies, Spotify link here. Katy meant Much Ado About Nothing, not The Taming of the Shrew. David Tennant and Catherine Tate starred in a production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Wyndham's Theatre in 2011.  The house filming location was Llansannor Court in Wales but does not seem to have been used for any Jane Austen adaptations.

New episode out now! We revisit the world of Alfred Hitchcock with 1954’s Dial M For Murder. We talk about the visual style of the film and how it was influenced by the decision to shoot with a new 3-D camera rig, are impressed by the use of shadows and score to increase the suspense, enjoyed watching Tony evolve his plan when things went wrong, and discuss the first appearance of both the stereotypical “Hitchcock blonde” and Grace Kelly in particular in his films. We touch on the similarities we see between the film and other Hitchcock movies as well as Columbo and Poirot, try to figure out where we’ve seen the actors before, and admit we kinda wanted to see the murder succeed just to see a satisfying plan come together. Katy cannot pronounce names or remember things, Carrie knows a real finger when she sees one, Maddy has to plan very carefully when going to a movie, and Mack is the Keymaster. We also discuss new terms for a secret male lover, ponder the ubiquity of a pencil-thin mustache in these noir films, and compare a scene from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to one of an English judge ordering the death penalty . We touch on movie theater soda blends, Mouse Trap, auditing your keyring, and the evolution of the car selling process. Enjoy! And special thanks to Jason for compiling a very helpful dossier- find him on Letterboxd under JKHenson89 here! TW: Capital punishment, gaslighting

Extra special episode out now! For this year’s holiday treat, Quizmaster Mack designed a whole game show for us to play - again! We play four different games, each one tied to our podcast in some way. We play Aside From That again to confront how often we veer off topic, make guesses about sequels to things we covered, see if we can tell what show a piece of generic background music came from, and learn about off-the-wall mystery media we probably will not be covering. Katy subsists on chemicals, Carrie only knows some Peanuts characters, Maddy gets upset again about medical misrepresentation, and Mack hates The Good Dinosaur. We also air a few grievances, learn what emesis means, reveal some embarrassing facts, and learn a super cool spy trick Carrie may or may not have done. Listen to hear Mack being a clever and delightful game show host, who has also created an incredible musical world- in more ways than one! And after the games, we have a familiar Casemas treat! Enjoy, and happy holidays! TW: Child death, modern day sex pests

New episode out now! We watched the pilot episode of the British mystery show The Last Detective, starring Peter Davison as DC “Dangerous” Davies. We talk about the main character and how his whole vibe seemed to be just “normal” and “nice”, and how he utilizes that vibe to get people to really talk to him. We have a discussion about the evolution of British vs American humor and debate whether this show can be labeled a comedy in any way or more a “dramatic cop show with small comedy elements”. We enjoy how it explored the real trauma a family goes through when the worst happens, and appreciated how it portrayed the messiness, randomness, and complexity implicit in human nature. Katy forgot about the Roman Empire, Carrie shares a fun fact about Mormans, Maddy was actually compelled, and Mack worries about remembering where he was at all times. We also talk about council estates (again), learn some Doctor Who family connections, wonder if you can eat fruit from a green burial, and get jealous at European transit. Listen to hear more about Madonna music rights, JSTOR, tithing, Carrie laughs, and gender swapping RPG campaigns. Enjoy!  TW: Chris Hardwick, generational trauma, sexual assault, cancer

New episode out now! We revisit the world of Thomas Harris with the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs. We get into the dynamics of Clarice and Hannibal and how their relationship is portrayed, commending both actors for their work, but wish we saw more of Clarice’s internal journey. We admire the cinematography and sets, with the camera’s POV of Clarice being both compelling and unnerving, and talk about the realities of the cells that were created to hold Hannibal. We again discuss how the depiction of Buffalo Bill explores fear mongering about trans people but is not a representation of actual trans people, think that Hannibal almost evolved into a caricature through pop culture, debate the genre of this film, and still hate Chilton. We touch on the rise of mainstream true crime, wonder if the growing prevalence of violence in media may explain how we responded differently to the film than our parents, and learn about various inspirations Anthony Hopkins used for his portrayal. Katy acted heroically by putting a package on the porch, Carrie paid close attention to details in Baldur’s Gate 3, Maddy lives out a meme in real life, and Mack shares a fun fact about a Buzz Lightyear toy. We also get disappointed by the lack of flaying, wonder if bug enthusiasts can be endearing, and have a very long discussion about where Hannibal kept the pen. Listen to hear more about cornfields, Emperor Palpatine, bee unions, bald eagle noises, and practical advice to keep you out of the ER. Enjoy! TW: Serial killers, body mutilation, cannibalism, gender reaffirming surgery, outdated transgender terminology, misrepresentation of the transgender experience, fear mongering about trans people, misogyny, law enforcement power dynamics, mental institutions, insects Show Notes: CBS did produce a show about Clarice Starling, called Clarice. It ran for one season in 2021; there was an attempt to move to Paramount+ for a second season but it didn't happen. Katy meant she gets Jodie Foster confused with Holly Hunter, not Helen Hunt. She gets Holly Hunter confused with Helen Hunt. She does NOT get Jodie Foster confused with Helen Hunt. 

New episode out now! We watched the mystery-adjacent coming-of-age film Now and Then (1995). We discuss the more nuanced depiction of girlhood and the evolution of female friendships, talk about growing up in the 1970s and how the world has changed, lament how the film was not as popular with critics like similar films with boys, and discuss how it touches on the difficulties of confronting your younger self and coping mechanisms around those who knew you growing up. We also talk about our changing relationship with the film over the last few decades, are impressed by the big hitter ‘90s cast but especially the girls, cover the detective work they actually do, and reveal that the excellent soundtrack has burned itself into our subconscious. Katy got into Dave Matthews Band to be cool, Carrie really loves a drum, Maddy draws the line at dresses over pants, and Mack recites some poetry. We reminisce about our own childhoods, begrudgingly admit our dad has some good music taste, comment on fashion trends of the 1990s, and still don’t understand some of the movie’s references. We also talk about great swears, 1970s television, red rover, lesbians, pushing people into water, and Grinch 2000. And one of us has seen this film more than 30 times but missed that there’s a whole ghost in it - give it a listen to learn who! Enjoy! TW: Anorexia, childhood trauma, fatphobia, diet culture, generational trauma, body dysmorphia, grief, faking an accidental drowning, Vietnam War, government misinformation, divorce  Show Notes: ‘Now and Then’ at 25: Girlhood Finally Taken Seriously article (Unfortunately behind the NYT paywall but still good if you can read it)