LDS Geeks Podcast #62: Slytherin House

Rounding out our series about the Hogwarts Houses, we have Slytherin. The evildoers and the unexpected heroes. And this was all recorded before the release of the HBO Max Harry Potter trailer. So let's go at it!

--Spencer

Listen to Episode 62 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Check out Spencer's recent content: click here

Check out Michael's recent content: click here

Show notes:

00:12 - Introductions
00:48 - Spencer's Recommendation: Animorphs Graphic Novels
03:06 - Michael's Recommendation: Simply on Purpose on Instagram
04:49 - Slytherin House overview
        "Our Hogwarts Houses" by the LDS Geeks Team
07:21 - Favorite Slytherins
        Spencer: Horace Slughorn
        Michael: Lucius Malfoy
10:49 - Least Favorite Slytherins
        Michael: Bellatrix Lestrange
        Spencer: Severus Snape
        "Why Snape Is the Absolute Worst (Besides Umbridge)" by Spencer
        "Unpopular Opinions: Harry Potter" by Spencer
        "Heroes of Slytherin" by Spencer
14:58 - Slytherin Best Friend
        Spencer: Leta Lestrange
        Michael: Horace Slughorn
18:38 - Slytherin Theme Song
        Spencer: "Good to Be Bad" (Descendants)
        Michael: "Bad Boys Reply" by Inner Circle
21:14 - Analysis of Slytherin House
23:53 - Slytherin from Other Fandoms
        Zuko and Iroh (Avatar the Last Airbender)
        Vanellope von Schweetz (Wreck-It Ralph)
        Emperor Kuzco (Emperor's New Groove)
        Tony Stark (Marvel)
        Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold (Once Upon a Time)
        Hades (Hercules)
29:14 - Conclusion

LDS Geeks Podcast #49: Fourth Doctor Companions (1)

I'm still trying to work myself through the Fourth Doctor's adventures (it's hard these days to find time to watch 4-6 episodes close enough together to follow the story). But now that I've finished the first half of the Tom Baker era, we decided to start out with the first round of Fourth Doctor companions and stories. Here's to the man of the scarf!

--Spencer

6 Disney Movies I Could Watch on Repeat

Remember when you were a kid and you got enthralled with a new movie and would end up watching it on repeat? For me, apparently it was Alice in Wonderland. As a young parent, I get to revisit this experience with my daughters, like when they got obsessed with Frozen and Tangled (right now they're loving Shrek). Even as an adult, I get in that mode where I have my comfort show/movie. Digimon, Narnia, and plenty of others I can watch whenever I need a nostalgia boost (frankly after this past week, I think we could all use a boost). Disney has some great rewatchables so here are six of my go-to movies.

Emperor's New Groove

This movie is absolutely ridiculous and I love it. Half the things in this movie don't make sense (Kronk outright admits that toward the end of the movie) and I love it. Additionally, it's rare to have a "bad" guy as the protagonist. By the end of the movie, Kuzco is a good guy too, but the premise is pretty unique among Disney movies. Having the depth of a character like Kuzco juxtaposed with the comedy of the movie only adds to the ridiculousness. Also, this movie is one that I've been known to quote frequently in everyday conversation. And who needs the Fourth Wall anyway?

Christopher Robin

Winnie the Pooh was my little brother's repeated movie, but since becoming a father this movie hits even deeper. How many things on my to-do list are actually productive for my family? Or do they take my heart away from what they really need? In addition, we have the ridiculousness juxtaposing the seriousness. The antics of Pooh and his friends drive the adult Christopher Robin crazy. It wasn't until he embraced the nostalgia of his childhood that things improved.

Wreck-It Ralph

Particularly in Ralph's first movie, the tension of moving away from being a villain, despite being a "bad guy" pulls me in. It's anyone who spirals in feelings of shame would understand. While Ralph tries to find his place among the video game characters, he also sought for acceptance among the characters in his game. You can see throughout the movie how Felix's feelings towards Ralph evolve, from coworker to friend to brother. 

Moana

Both movies hit the spot for me, the original and the sequel. A Disney Princess without a prince, Moana overstepped cultural norms repeatedly on her island. Her passion for the ocean was forbidden, which naturally only makes a teenager want to embrace it more. Also, I love how Moana's friendship with Maui evolves during the first movie, wonderfully carrying over to the sequel.

Lilo and Stitch

The original. I still haven't seen the live-action. It's another ridiculous movie! A little girl adopts an alien as a dog. Of course antics ran high. The sisters had a tragic backstory and Stitch had to work his way into their already difficult family dynamics. The importance of family is no small thing here. And who doesn't love getting a hug from Stitch at Disneyland?

Mulan

Despite it's cringey sequel, the first Mulan is a fan favorite among Disney Princess movies. Maybe it's because of the music (including the voice of Brother Donny Osmond). Who can help from cracking into "I'll Make a Man Out of You" during some car karaoke? Mulan messed with cultural norms even more than Moana and is loved for it. I still have yet to see the live-action version (you may see a pattern about my feelings of the live-action remakes) but I can't imagine it'll match up to the original. Also, I love Mushu, so there's that.

As I wrote this, the theme of "identity" comes through each movie. Kuzco grew into a beloved emperor. Christopher Robin found his footing as a working father. Ralph fought for acceptance of himself from within and from his neighbors. Moana learned to embrace her passions despite the cultural norms she faced. Stitch changed from being a compulsively destructive force to being a loving family member to Nani and Lilo. And while working to save her father from danger, Mulan discovered a bit about herself and who she wanted to become.

The obvious answer to close out this blog post: Which movies (Disney and otherwise) are on your list of perpetual rewatch? 

The Bad Guy Affirmation (Ralph's 10th Anniversary)

Wreck-It Ralph is among my favorite Disney movies (and one of my favorite cosplays), so I was enthusiastic when my daughter started asking to watch it in the past few months (she mostly likes the Disney Princesses in the sequel). This month celebrates the 10th anniversary of the movie about the lives of video game characters. Since Ralph, our main character, never exactly got his proper 30th anniversary in the movie, it’s only fair we give him a good 10th anniversary here.

The biggest conflict in Wreck-It Ralph has to do with the title character’s inner conflict about who he is. For thirty years he defined himself as a bad guy, specifically the way “bad guy” is defined by the populace of his game. Despite his job requiring him to be the “bad guy” for the game to function, none of the Nicelanders recognize this. Instead, they treat him like an inherently awful person. After being called a “bad guy” for thirty years, Ralph believed it. In a bad guy support group for video game villains, his fellow bad guys try to convince him that job title doesn’t define who he is as a person/program… but Ralph needs a little more convincing.

This becomes quite a good allegory for our own lives. The world bombards us with labels and titles from every angle: marital status, sexual orientation, occupation (like Ralph), political affiliation, etc. Sometimes it can feel obnoxious or even oppressive for the world to continually assault us with ideas and identifying labels of “what we should be like,” even if we want to believe differently. We are blessed with a modern-day prophet who has been inspired to teach us about how to deal with these identifiers:

“Labels can be fun and indicate your support for any number of positive things. But if any label replaces your most important identifiers, the results can be spiritually suffocating. I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God.

“No identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations: child of God, child of the covenant, disciple of Jesus Christ.

“Any identifier that is not compatible with those three basic designations will ultimately let you down. Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become." (President Russell M. Nelson)

After thirty years of life (like Ralph) my subconscious has begun to believe a lot of things that have been said about me… mostly from within myself. Despite help in therapy over the years, it’s tough to overcome this negative self-talk. How do I stop calling myself useless, worthless, or replaceable when I’ve thought that way for so many years? How do I undo all that backwards thinking? I’ll tell you one way… in closing the movie with Ralph’s share/voiceover, he says something that resonated: “If that little kid likes me, how bad can I be?” When I feel down on myself but I see my little girl chase after me and beg for my attention, and even asks to watch some of my most beloved films, how can I stop my spirits from feeling lifted? When I think of my unborn little girl grabbing my finger in a few months, how can I stop myself from smiling?

From the moments I’ve felt it (which I’m still working on) I feel lifted up even higher when I can feel that way about my Father’s love. If God loves me, how bad can I be? If I can cling close to the Spirit, and the Lord’s love, it doesn’t matter what other people call me (or what I call myself): I can remember my true identity. I’m not a bad guy… at least not in the ways that matter. I am a divine son of God, and a loving father and husband. I take great solace in the words of President Nelson, and I hope that you might too, as we seek to live up to our true and eternal identities: 

"Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become." (President Nelson)

Sorting Disney Princesses into Hogwarts Houses (3/3)

Less than one month now until Raya and the Last Dragon gets released. While we wait for our new Princess, let's talk about some of our existing Disney Princesses. So far I’ve sorted about two thirds of them into Hogwarts houses (click here for part one and click here for part two). I’ve got five left, including our last honorary princess. So I won’t waste anymore time with further introduction and jump right in.

Aurora - Hufflepuff

Sleeping Beauty is a Puff like me. Even once finding out that her three weird aunt/fairies had been lying to her for sixteen years, she still demonstrated patience as she reserved herself to marrying an unknown prince. I also noted modesty as a defining trait, as she’d have rather lived in the forest as a peasant than marry someone her unknown parents had betrothed her to. Fortunately, it all worked out for her and Prince Phillip in the end anyway. In Disney World, you can meet her in Magic Kingdom.

Mulan - Slytherin

I debated between Gryffindor and Slytherin for Mulan. She definitely exhibited bravery and daring as she took her father’s place in the army. However, I felt like she was more defined by her ingenuity and cunning. These are very Slytherin traits. Also, she admitted that not all her intentions were necessarily selfless. As her ambition (another Slytherin trait) to prove herself led her, she definitely grew as a person. But I’d still consider her a Slytherin. She can be found at China in Epcot.

Jasmine - Gryffindor

I know I sorted Ariel into Gryffindor as well, but in many ways I think Jasmine would be the first Disney Princess to be a Gryffindor in the traditional sense. Throughout her adventures with Aladdin, she demonstrated bravery and daring at every turn. In addition, she was the first Disney Princess to directly fight against her villain. So with that in mind she’s a solid Gryffindor to me. You can meet Jasmine at Morocco in Epcot and in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

Pocahontas - Ravenclaw

When I first re-watched Pocahontas for this post, I thought I was going to put her in Gryffindor because of how bravely she protected John Smith and stood up to her father. However, as I watched the movie again, what stuck out to me was how she sought wisdom first before making any decisions. Should I trust these newcomers? Should I forge my own path? Should I defy my father? This soul searching reminded me more of Ravenclaw wisdom. This princess can be found at Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

Vanellope - Slytherin

This mischievous little glitch was befriended by the Disney Princesses in Ralph Breaks the Internet, so she is our honorary Disney Princess this time. In the first movie, she was focused on her ambition (and excessively determined) to win a race. In the sequel, she was focused on a new ambition: Who was she outside the arcade? Her ambitiousness (and honestly her sneakiness) could only place her in Slytherin. You can find her with Ralph in Epcot at ImageWorks.

If you enjoyed these Hogwarts posts about the Disney Princesses, let me know which franchise I should sort next. Remember to also check out our previously sorted franchises: Team Arrow, Friends, Power Rangers 2017, Once Upon a Time, and the Avengers.

5 Unofficial Disney Princess Movies to Watch

Day 600 of social distancing (it feels like). How many shows and movies have you finished binging so far? In case you need some suggestions, here are a few unofficial Disney Princess movies for you to check out on Disney+ while you're stuck at home.

The Princess Diaries
Who doesn't love Anne Hathaway as the lovable misfit turned princess? Mia may not be the most elegant of princesses, but I think that's what makes her relatable. Growing up, she wasn't a princess; she was a regular person like any of us. In the end, it's a nice uplifting movie when you're having a bad day. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." Also, check out its sequel on Disney+.

Star Wars
Say what you will about the Star Wars movies new and old, but Princess Leia (or General Organa, as she's known more recently) is amazing. She was feminism before forced representation in the media happened. She was a tireless hero in the original trilogy and a fearless advocate of freedom (as well as a fierce mother) in the sequel trilogy.

Wreck-It Ralph
Long before Vanellope met the official Disney Princesses on the internet, she was Princess Vanellope in Sugar Rush. A lot can be learned from this little ball of spunk. She's a great example of self-acceptance and of following your dreams. Also she's witty. She's one big reason I love the Wreck-It Ralph movies.

Black Panther
The movie may focus on Prince T'Challa, but let's not forget his sister Shuri, Princess of Wakanda. If it weren't for her intelligence and technological prowess, her brother would only have his Black Panther powers and fighting stills, none of the tech. She also quickly outwitted Banner in Infinity War, when she instantly knew how to separate Vision from the Mind Stone, which had never even occurred to Banner.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire
I honestly don't know why Kida isn't an official Disney Princess. It's probably just because her movie was released at a downer point in Disney's history. All the same, she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Like Ariel, she defied her father because of what she believed was right. Like Belle, she was willing to sacrifice her for the ones she loved. If you haven't watched Atlantis in a while, turn it on and enjoy.

Hang in there while you're stuck at home. If you're feeling stressed, try to laugh it off (that's my goal). At least we know this will eventually pass.

5 Favorite Easter Eggs from Wreck-It Ralph 2

So I finally got around to seeing Wreck-It Ralph 2. I was a big fan of the original and I was not disappointed in the sequel. The characters' progression felt natural and the conflict wasn't what I expected (I expected Yesss to try to keep Ralph around for her own benefit). But this isn't a review. I just wanted to comment on some fun Easter Eggs that I liked.

Young Moana as "Mo"
In a "mid-credits" scene (because Marvel has conditioned me to not leave before credits are over), we get a familiar face driving home from the movie. If you're paying attention, her name is Mo and she looked exactly like young Moana. This one made me giggle.

Casual Disney Princesses
I mean, I could say a lot about the Disney Princesses appearing and their wardrobe and green room, but let's just appreciate for a moment on their casual outfits. I could go off on this, but just a few notes (just to keep it simple). Snow's shirt says "poison", Ariel's got a list of "thingamobobs", Elsa' shirt says to "just let it go", Moana has a #shiny and there are even more than I can't pull from memory.

Stan Lee Cameo
After the recent passing of Stan Lee, I don't think any of us were planning to see a cameo of him anytime soon, but we had a silent appearance as Vanelope and Ralph run through the web. His user ID character was seeing visiting "Oh My Disney". His appearance may have only been because of Marvel's deal with Disney, but I think it was fun, fitting addition to his legacy.

Merida, from the "other studio"
They actually did a pretty good job giving all the Disney Princesses decent talking time. One big exception is Merida. For the record, I tried really hard to understand what she said and I never had a problem understanding her when I watched Brave. They really amped up her Scottish accent this time and made the great joke about her being from the "other studio", since Merida is the only Pixar Princess in the franchise.

Internet Graveyard
When Ralph goes down to retrieve his cookie medal, there are a number of dead websites hidden down in the rubble. One I noticed was Geocities, a former Yahoo web hosting service. I remember making website with them when I was a kid, back when I was into website design. It was very primitive stuff, but to a 10-year-old it was great. So when I saw it in the background, I had to smile.

What other Easter Eggs did you see that you liked? Obviously too many to list them all. I'll have to watch it again to catch more.