If you want a straight answer, ask a straight lady. The Nerd Alert Girls need that on a T-shirt yesterday. Agatha All Along is done and finished beautifully. Marvel crafted a spell-binding story that Caroline and Genn adored and proved that they can treat their audience well with solid characters, surprising twists, and strong emotional hits.…

Alright, folks. This is a meaty one. After Agatha threw us for a loop, we Nerd Alert Girls had MUCH to say about motherhood, LGBTQ+ themes, gender roles, the history of witches, comic book context, and the intense FEELINGS we have about Agatha All Along.And then there's the realization that Marvel is our hot n' cold romantic partner that either tre…

We're almost halfway through Agatha All Along, and we're off to a solid start. Listen as Genn and Caroline reunite to discuss episodes 3 and 4, dissecting make-up, queer representation, and possibilities for the remainder of the show. No plot sweaters here, just friendship bracelets~

We’re capping off our series with a bonus category: transgressive masculinity. How does “coming out of a bottle” disrupt the inherent contradictions of what makes the ideal man? How does “feminized” framing influence how male characters are perceived by other characters and the audience? We look at Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes to answer these ques…

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. The witching hour is upon us as Agatha All Along premieres on Disney+. Listen as Genn and Sorceress Supreme team up to analyze the first two episodes and express their hopes and fears...all while cooing over Joe Locke and tapping into their dark little hearts…

So far we’ve discussed male superheroes who get stuck in the rigid (and sometimes toxic) rules of the traditional masculine code. But what about the positive side of masculinity? How do other heroes embody the flexibility and fluidity inherent to healthy masculinity? How do family, race, and culture influence how they express their gender? Peter Pa…

The toxicity is at tolerable levels, folks, with our Middle Ground Men. These MCU boys have their moments of toxicity and their moments of being healthy humans. Listen as the Nerd Alert Girls explain the good, the bad, the ugly, and the complexity of three more Marvel heroes and how their evolving interpretations of masculinity affect themselves, t…

What defines a man in the hypermasculine genre of superhero movies? Is it being a genius/billionaire/playboy/philanthropist? The Nerd Alert Girls aren’t so sure. We’re looking at the good, the bad, and the ugly side of masculinity in our heroes - starting with how they break free (or don’t) from their more toxic traits. From the tech bro archetypes…

How many cameos can you stuff into one movie? Deadpool & Wolverine’s answer is yes. As the Nerd Alert Girls dissect the film, we parse through the gratuitous violence, the jokes, and the nostalgia in search of the plot. While we certainly had fun, we couldn’t help but wonder how this movie reflects Marvel’s broader trends in romance, women, and dee…

For Pride Month, Caroline takes a look at the queer characters in Marvel movies and television and asks whether or not the MCU is guilty of queerbaiting. Some may be wondering what that means while others might be having flashbacks to 2010s Tumblr discourse. To all of you: don’t worry, we are going to get through this and have a thoughtful discussi…

From Deadpool & Wolverine in July 2024 through Vision Quest in 2026, the Nerd Alert Girls are discussing what’s next for Marvel movies, television, and animation. Could (or should) Agatha All Along be a musical? Is Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man just a nostalgia grab? Why are so many characters from The Incredible Hulk appearing in Captain Americ…

The Nerd Alert Girls are celebrating 5 years and 124 episodes (and counting) of podcasting! Bridgette, Caroline, and Genn discuss our superhero origin stories as Marvel fans, how the podcast first came to be, and our favorite podcast episodes. We've always been a character-driven podcast, and we're leaning into that more than ever with our annivers…

Before Black Panther, there was Blade. For Black History Month, Caroline takes a look at the Blade film trilogy starring Wesley Snipes. While Blade was essential in paving the way for the MCU, the character hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves. Caroline unpacks the importance of Blade as a Black vampire hunter as she journeys through the complic…

Deadpool is officially part of the MCU! Genn and Bridgette share their insight on the Deadpool and Wolverine trailer and laugh and speculate as we start the countdown to July. Our beloved Merc with the Mouth tangles with TVA (we Nerd Alert Girls EAGERLY await roasting the Loki series). He's also teaming up (or battling to the immortal, bloody death…

Howard Stark has played a supporting role in the stories of Iron Man, Captain America, and Agent Carter, but what is his story? Caroline and Bridgette argue that Howard is a more complex and ultimately tragic character than he’s initially made out to be - both by his son and by fandom. Cynical and heroic, secretly kind and not-so-secretly in love w…

We came, we saw, and we loved it. The Nerd Alert Girls finished watching Marvel’s Echo and have MUCH to discuss. This phenomenal show runs the gamut: healing from generational trauma, struggling with estranged family members, and coming into one’s own power. Listen as Bridgette, Genn, and Caroline applaud Alaqua Cox's performance as Maya Lopez, gri…

Season 2 of What If…? flips our expectations of who’s a hero and who’s a villain in another inventive slate of episodes. We start our season recap with an overview of themes, including light vs. darkness, the power of friendship, and becoming more than a tool for another person’s ends. Then we do a deep dive analysis for every episode from Nebula B…

Headlines are shouting that “The Marvels” was a box office bomb - but what’s going on under the surface? Are the latest Marvel movies and shows as bad as some YouTubers would have us believe? How are the casual Marvel fans looking at the time commitment of a TV show? The Nerd Alert Girls discuss how the pandemic, franchise fatigue, and over-saturat…

Bridgette, Jenn, and Caroline put on their thinking caps for season 2 of Marvel’s What If…? We hypothesize about who the big bad is this time (Hela and Odin evil duo, anyone?) and discuss Captain Carter’s role as a multiversal protagonist. We also talk about the MCU’s introduction of the Native American character Kahhori. We have a few ideas (some …

The Echo trailer has dropped and the Nerd Alert Girls have thoughts and feelings about this! Listen as Bridgette and Genn are joined by the Sorceress Supreme Caroline in theorizing what the premiere of Echo will mean for the MCU and what could possibly happen with BAMF Maya Lopez and the terrifying, unkillable Wilson Fisk. If you want to read more …

While the Nerd Alert Girls were less than impressed with season one of Loki, season two managed to turn things around in thrilling (and devastating) ways! Is a Loki always destined to lose? What is the true meaning of “glorious purpose”? What makes a person’s love selfish or selfless? As we review season two, we grapple with these questions, make m…

Time to coo about Kamala Khan and bring out the soap box! Marvel marks a first with three female characters leading the film... and the lowest box office opening weekend yet. We discuss the nuances of theater-going in the real world before diving into The Marvels - a delightful film that almost seems afraid of how charming it could be. We’ll talk a…

Bridgette and Genn review Jason Reynolds’ sequel book “Miles Morales Suspended.” We discuss Reynolds’ experimentation with poetry and prose, Zeke Peña’s illustrations, and how termites become a potent commentary about book bans. Bridgette also shares about the time she met Reynolds and why he’s the perfect author for Spider-Man and for Miles Morale…

I am Groot, you are Groot, we are Groot. I Am Groot is a delightful Marvel series of shorts about Baby Groot’s childhood antics, and it is an absolute treat. Bridgette and Genn discuss and coo over the show, chuckle at its cleverness, and make some surprising connections that heal the battered souls still reeling from Ultron and Thanos. Groot is th…

If anything can lift our Marvel spirits after Secret Invasion, it’s The Marvels! Genn and Bridgette hypothesize about the villain, the tension between Carol and Maria, and whether Secret Invasion will play as much of a role in this film’s plot as we had originally thought. We also squee about how adorable Kamala is as always, and Bridgette doubly s…

Secret Invasion was the mystery meat of the MCU: you don't know what's in it or where it came from...all you know is that it's janky. Listen as Bridgette and the Sorceress Supreme Caroline break down why Secret Invasion flopped and how some characters were done so dirty. In addition to the slog of a plot, the villain was worse than a ficus, Nick Fu…

Miles vs. Miguel; Spider-Man vs. The Spot; Fate vs. free will; Spider-people vs. tragedy; Miguel vs. chill... Across the Spider-Verse has all this and more. Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and Peter B. Parker are reunited in the all-new movie as they go head-to-head with Spider-Man 2099, who's convinced that his way is best and that Miles doesn't belong…

Once again, the Guardians prove that a small-scale, deeply personal conflict can feel as high-stakes as a space battle. We’re concluding the trilogy with laughs, tears, and all the feels—but did we expect anything less? Bridgette and Genn discuss Rocket’s rise as a protagonist and leader, Peter getting closure about Gamora, and why the High Evoluti…

From Black Widow to Wakanda Forever and from WandaVision to She-Hulk, Marvel's Phase 4 has been a wild ride. Between the lack of "evil ficus" villains to the darker themes to the excessive hate toward a certain female-led property, Genn and Caroline tackle Phase 4's impact, their surprise favorites, and what everything could mean for Phase 5. If yo…

Before she was Captain Carter, her name was simply… Agent. From her first appearance on Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter been a fan favorite and a groundbreaking female character that breaks free of the “love interest” archetype. Today, Caroline and Bridgette revisit how the Agent Carter television series fleshed out her character a…

It's been a spell, but the Nerd Alert Girls are here to discuss Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania! With the gorgeous visuals, the cosmic cockroaches, and the sober Valkyrie, we have much to say about Scott Lang's quasi-retirement as an Avenger and journey into the Quantum Realm. And then there's Kang... Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumbl…

As usual, the Guardians of the Galaxy know how to give you a deep belly laugh and an emotional gut punch at the same time. Bridgette and Genn discuss this rousing spoof of Christmas and the legendary Kevin Bacon as well as family themes, Mantis’ burgeoning powers, and Yondu the Blue Grinch. Outro Music: “Jingle Bells Rock - Energetic Positive Upbea…

Bridgette discusses local Native American history and land acknowledgments, followed by a review of Indigenous author Rebecca Roanhorse’s take on Maya “Echo” Lopez in her comic series Phoenix Song: Echo. We look forward to seeing more of Echo in her upcoming TV series! Learning resources about the Gabrielino-Tongva and Kizh peoples: https://gabriel…

Wakanda Forever reigns true, and so does the Nerd Alert Girls podcast! Listen as Bridgette and Genn talk about honoring Chadwick Boseman and T'Challa's legacy, Namor seeking an evil queen, and Shuri channeling her inner Inigo Montoya. We delve into how grief manifests for different characters (and for us as viewers) and what's next for Wakanda. Ser…

Get in the spooky spirit with Caroline for a mini episode about the history of monster movies and horror comics leading up to Marvel’s Werewolf by Night. Happy Halloween, fellow nerds! Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay Visit us on our website: nerdalertgirls.tumblr.com! Or you can contact us directly at nerdalertgirlspodcast@gmail.com. *In case a…

Join Latina co-hosts Bridgette and Genn for a special edition of Nerd Alert Niñas in honor of Latinx Heritage Month! We break down some Latinx characters in the MCU (including the Netflix shows and Agents of SHIELD’s Slingshot miniseries). Bridgette also discusses how Frederick Luis Aldama’s book Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics takes a scho…

She-Hulk episode 1 was just full of delight and soapboxes worthy of being stood on. Yup, we Nerd Alert Girls approve! Listen as Bridgette, Genn (Not Walters), and Sorceress Supreme Caroline talk about how "A Normal Amount of Anger" was more than just a normal amount of fun! We got to talk about Steve (of course), what it means to be a woman, and wh…

Listen as Genn and Bridgette go over the Ms. Marvel finale and gush about how far Kamala Khan has come. The DoDC were a racist nuisance, but justice was promptly served through the power of community and friendship... although we're still wondering if this is really the last we'll hear of Deever - or Karam's mother Najma for that matter. And let's …

Logic and emotional impact...where art thou? The question that Bridgette and Genn ask after watching Thor: Love and Thunder. Listen as we dissect the latest Thor movie - from the hilarious(?) hijinks to the meaning of love to Jane's stint as a superhero - and try to figure out why Ragnorak is still the superior Thor movie. Not that we didn't enjoy …

Time for a double-episode review as Kamala’s family history is finally revealed! Bridgette and Genn discuss the intergenerational mother-daughter relationships and how the India-Pakistan Partition changed the Khan family forever. We also hypothesize about how a certain someone may be taking over Kamran’s subconscious, affectionally roll our eyes at…

Hello fellow nerds, and welcome to another segment of Ms. Marvel! This episode had oodles of action, wedding fun, and Genn finally eating her Kamram Karrots and admitting he's not so bad - all of which Bridgette thoroughly enjoyed. Listen as we scratch our heads over the Djinn's sudden entrance to the story and their cultural significance (La Lloro…

The Nerd Alert Girls are reviewing "The Episode where No One Had Any Chill!" - also known as Ms. Marvel episode 2! Listen as Genn and Bridgette switch between capital F Feelings and logic and the immersion into Muslim and Pakistani culture as they discuss the newest episode! Kamala keeps charming the hell out of her audience, and we Nerdettes are i…

Genn has been gushing for years about Kamala Khan in the comics, and now she finally gets to see her onscreen! Genn and Bridgette discuss the nuanced family dynamics, wholesome friendships, colorful whimsicality, and Pakistani heritage featured in the first episode of Ms. Marvel. We also spend time asking why this fictional AvengerCon only takes pl…

Hello all! This is a special Nerd Alert Girls podcast! Listen as Bridgette, Caroline, and Genn discuss different aspects of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage in the MCU, from Shang-Chi, to Ned Leeds, to Doctor Strange. Learn some awesome facts about your favorite characters and be fearless and tackle the tough questions we have to…

Bridgette, Genn, and Caroline give their first reactions to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. We address the criticisms about CGI and Bruce Banner while speculating about what Jennifer Walters’ character journey will look like and how superhuman law will play a role in the MCU. We also talk about bird metaphors, sitcom vibes, and whether fry guy is in it …

Enter the madness with Genn and Sorceress Supreme Caroline! Listen as we gush about the 2nd Doctor Strange movie and delve into what it meant for the titular character and the MCU as a whole. We discuss America Chavez, the multiverse, ratings, and Wanda's characterization and how it all tied together to make a very stellar movie! Not to mention how…

Bridgette says, "I'm SO happy." Genn says, "Shut UP, Harrow!" And so goes the Moon Knight season 1 finale. There was so much going on that shocked and delighted us. Bring on Season 2! We need more Steven Grant. We need the dynamic duo of Taweret and Layla. We need to know what the deal is between Jake and Khonshu. This show has stuck the landing to…

Bridgette and Genn delve into the many meanings of “asylum” and how they manifest in the penultimate episode’s heartrending emotional journey. Meanwhile, we discuss the ramifications of a certain someone being dead (maybe), “Doctor” Harrow being suspiciously helpful, and one sarcophagus remaining unopened. Where does Moon Knight go from here? Let’s…

Listen as Bridgette and Genn get totally squicked by blood and undead priests as well as tickled pink by the, ahem, unique love triangle that's definitely happening here. Our boys Marc and Steven are in a world of trouble (thanks A LOT Marc!), and we're boggled as to how they're going to get themselves out! Also, was that Jake banging around in tha…

It's finally here, folks! Our first trailer for Thor: Love and Thunder! Listen as Caroline joins the talk on what this trailer means for Thor. Is this the end for Chris Hemsworth? Will Valkyrie find her queen? Will Peter Quill finally accept Thor? Will we fangirls finally get a buff Hayley Atwell? We have questions, Marvel! Do not leave us hanging!…