Pop culture, feminism, books+art, homelessness+class, social justice, scifi+fantasy+horror, and intersections of these
Captain Marvel's Goose joins a long lineage of feline familiars
If you had to dream up the perfect way to draw millions of internet-obsessed nerds to come see your film, what would you do?
Make sure you featured a kickass cat in it, obviously.
Luckily, the creators of Captain Marvel got the memo and from early reports, we know the film’s feline friend, Goose, really delivers on the kitty goodness.
Captain Marvel is exactly like other girls — that's the point
Captain Marvel blasted, flew, and slammed her way through her big screen debut, making for a record-breaking opening weekend.
Given Captain Marvel’s astonishing powers and her righteous battle against those who would try to control her, it’s tempting to fall into a tired way of thinking, saying she’s not like other girls.
But that’s the whole damn point. Captain Marvel is exactly like other girls. She’s pissed. She’s powerful. She’s funny. She’s indefatigable. She’s sarcastic.
Late to the Party: Into the Badlands
Every time I turn around, there’s a new TV show or movie I just have to see, but it turns out I actually require more than four hours of sleep a night. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be grateful for Late to the Party, a FANGRRLS feature where one of our writers introduces a neophyte to one of their favorite shows.
There are exactly two things I know about Into the Badlands: Carly Lane is a fan and it has been lauded as containing the best martial arts sequences on TV.
The 5 queerest episodes of Steven Universe
In the golden age of television, there are more shows than any person could possibly keep up with. That’s why your friendly neighborhood FANGRRLS have pulled together a list of the queerest episodes of one of our favorite shows, Steven Universe. Whether you’re a first-time viewer or a die-hard mega-fan, these episodes will make your heart sing with queer glory — and with so much TV to watch, why not cut to the good (read: queer) stuff?
The Batman should take a cue from MCU's Spider-Man when it comes to trauma and grief
How many times have you seen Martha and Thomas Wayne die? 10? 15? It probably depends on how many Batman films, TV shows, video games, and comic books you’ve consumed, but if you’re even a casual viewer of Batman media, you’re probably familiar with the scene where both parents die.
The badass weaponry of our favorite female heroes
In the world of genre, weapons aren’t just tools; they get to be like sidekicks, familiars, or even family. Some are heirlooms, some are destined weapons, and others are just something dope a character finds and makes their own. Regardless of the origin, a signature weapon becomes a part of why we love and root for characters. And when that weapon is in the hands of our favorite female heroes, you’ve got one exciting combination.
Late to the Party: Sense8
What I know to be true about Sense8 is that it is queer, the main characters are connected supernaturally, FANGRRLS' own Riley Silverman loves it, and I really missed the boat by not watching. It turns out I’m not the only one, given how good Sense8 is and how quickly it was canceled. In fact, after news of the cancelation spread, the fans of this short-lived series spurred quite a revival campaign that was actually somewhat successful.
Sense8 shows that sex is as much about your brain as your body
Sense8 brought whole new meaning to the term “mind-f*cking” during its two-plus seasons on air. (The plus being, of course, the special series finale Netflix made in response to fans’ outcry when it was canceled.)
The series, created and directed by the Wachowskis (The Matrix, V for Vendetta), brought to life the interconnected realities of the sensates, a distinct species called Homo sensorium that evolves alongside Homo sapiens undetected.
Sex is never foxier than in The Magicians
When they’re forced out into the cold of Antarctica naked, Quentin Coldwater and Alice Quinn have to find a way to survive in The Magicians. Luckily, they are both pretty top-notch magicians and they transmogrify into foxes to stay warm. What they find, though, is that foxes love the cold and the snow, causing the two magicians-turned-foxes to lose themselves in the moment: surviving turns into playing, which turns into chasing, which turns into sex.
How genre uniquely captures what it feels like to be in a healthy romantic relationship
If you’ve ever been in a really good, healthy romantic relationship, then you know that there is no way to describe your love that doesn’t sound hyperbolic or corny AF.
“She’s the very best.”
“Ze changed my life forever.”
“They’re my person.”
“He makes my heart sing.”
Despite the fact that these comments are indicators of genuine affection, all of the above make me want to barf and I’m guessing they might make you sick, too.
John Constantine's long journey to being out
Self-proclaimed “accomplished warlock,” expert exorcist, and generally sarcastic Brit has had a rocky path to coming out—not necessarily within his demon-filled world, but in our world, the world of publishing and TV production and way too many straight people saying, “Maybe later.”
Rocky Horror Picture Show helped me explore my queerness before I even knew I was queer
I was 10 years old the first time I saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show. My parents had put the film on and with no context or discussion of sex and sexuality, the campy tale unfolded before my eyes.
I’m sure my parents also watched the film, but I can’t remember anything other than my mom telling me it was one of her favorite movies. After that, there was no mom, no dad, no me. There was only Janet, Brad, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and a whole lot of my burgeoning sexuality.
Legends of Tomorrow low-key introduced a non-binary character in Season 4
The newest addition to the crew of the Waverider, Charlie, is a rowdy shape-shifter stuck in the form of Amaya Jiwe, a superhero displaced from her time.
If that sounds ridiculous, then clearly you haven’t been watching Legends of Tomorrow. It’s a wild ride of a TV show that revolves around a time-traveling team of misfits, led by their bisexual ship captain, Sara Lance.
The Steven Universe special explores what it feels like to be queer when your family doesn't accept you
“The Crystal Gems understand that I’m Steven and they support me and Connie,” Steven Universe tells his family member, Blue Diamond, who keeps calling him Pink. Blue is disgusted at Steven and Connie for fusing into Stevonie, but Steven feels no remorse. He believes in himself and in fusion, as do the Crystal Gems.
Definitively ranking the top 12 sexiest Star Trek characters
Here at FANGRRLS, we’re all about celebrating our thirst. Whether we thirst due to fashion, werewolves, or TV shows like Shadowhunters, we do so with a certain je ne sais quoi that’s about loving, understanding, and deeply, deeply desiring the objects of our thirst. What we’re saying is that we’re thirst-inclusive.