Strong Female Leads Strong Female Leads

After an amazing five years, the time has come for Strong Female Leads to hang up our capes for the forseeable future.
 
A combination of professional and personal changes means that availability to record and edit podcasts has become more or less impossible to maintain going forwards in 2023.
 
We couldn't be more grateful for such a wonderful audience willing to listen to our thoughts on nerd culture from a feminist perspective. And what a few years it's been! Captain Marvel, female Ghostbusters, Jodie Whittaker and so much more (not that we're taking the credit... but we're absolutely taking the credit).
 
Massive shout out to our Book Club readers (and Krissy!), everyone who chats to us on Twitter and all of our fabulous guests.
 
It's been a brilliant run. Our archive will remain in all the places you find podcasts and you can find the hosts in all the usual ways (we'll pin this to our Twitter feed as well, @strfemaleleads).
 
Peace out, nerds.

New York, New York! In this episode, Kate and Colleen are reviewing all of the news from New York Comic-Con, which at this point should probably be called New York TV-Con. Marvel! Star Trek! Velma's officially a lesbian now!
 
Plus, it's our book club review of 'The Echo Wife' by Sarah Gailey. What did they think of this twisty sci-fi summer read?
 
And RIP to Dame Angela Lansbury. She played a singing teapot and a witch who defeated Nazis, you best believe she was a Strong Female Lead.
 
Colleen: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/11/angela-lansbury-star-of-tv-film-and-theatre-dies-aged-96
 
Kate: https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/first-black-adam-reactions-pour-in/
 
Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/my-neighbor-totoro-stage-show-london-studio-ghibli-1849655275
 
Main Feature
New York Comic Con took place last week and it's become the peak autumn time for announcements for all the best things coming up in the world of geek. We've got some of the biggest announcements here...
https://gizmodo.com/new-york-comic-con-2022-news-trailers-announcements-1849638028
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/90567-fans-come-roaring-back-to-new-york-comic-con-2022.html
 
 
Bonus Feature
Our most recent pick, from our recent fabulous guest Krissy, was The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey!

News
Debs: Noteworthy Book review: https://gizmodo.com/disney-princess-beyond-the-tiara-author-interview-1849543164
 
Kate: Archie Comics https://gizmodo.com/archie-betty-cooper-alien-hunter-chilling-adventures-1849539948
 
Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/brie-larson-asks-if-anyone-wants-her-to-play-captain-marvel-again-and-yes-i-do-very-much
 
 
Main topic
 
There are miles-long queues here in the UK to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Today we look at some of the monarchies that have mattered (perhaps more) to us in fiction!
 
Game of Thrones. A whole series about a battle for the royal seat.
You watching House of Dragons?
 
Aragorn
King Triton/Elsa/
 
Queen Momby
 
Pevensie Kids from Narnia
 
King Arthur
 
The Princess Diaries
 
Star Wars?
 
Fave?
Worst/Best
Why is the idea of monarchy so popular in fiction
Which land would you like to rule?
 
Bonus Feature
--
D23
Top Ten
Debs, welcome to highlight ANY of the things you think are key. We'll do a dash through the top ten. Maybe 5 and 5 each?
https://d23.com/every-major-announcement-from-disney-branded-television-at-d23-expo-2022/
 
 
Kate's (Including extra in case there's crossover/mutual picks)
Disenchanted
Inside Out 2
Ironheart
Thunderbolts
The Marvels
Christmas Specials
Muppet Mayhem

News
Colleen...this is basically an excuse for us to talk about She-Hulk https://www.themarysue.com/megan-thee-stallion-in-she-hulk/
 
Kate https://gizmodo.com/marvel-comics-monica-rambeau-photon-miniseries-1849465414
 
Colleen...https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/furiosa-mad-max-prequel-release-date-cast-story/
 
Academia in genre entertainment
 
Xavier Academy
starfleet academy
jedi academy praxeum
Sunnydale/Buffy
Battle School (Ender's Game)
Miss Peregrine's
Hogwarts/Durmstrang/etc...
Riverdale
Avalon (The Mists of Avalon)
Avengers Academy
Dance Academy from Suspiria
Monsters University
Springfield Elementary
 
Book Club: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
 

Intro
 
Strong Female Needs
Colleen: Strange New Worlds
Kate:
 
News
Colleen: https://gizmodo.com/nichelle-nichols-star-trek-uhura-actor-obituary-1849353418
 
Kate: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/03/irredeemable-batgirl-movie-unexpectedly-cancelled-despite-being-in-final-stages
 
Colleen: https://screenrant.com/star-wars-andor-show-release-date-delay-updates/
 
Main Feature - SDCC reactions!
SDCC is back as the biggest update in the geek calendar and we've been treated to a plethora of updates, trailers, fun panels and more. As we've said before, yay for conventions.
 
So what's - well, not hot, but lukewarm off the press?
 

Dungeons and Dragons trailer


Marvel - phase 5! Avengers! Namor! Trailers for Wakanda Forever and an improved She-Hulk! Secret Wars! Daredevil! I'm so tired! https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272923/marvel-black-panther-2-ant-man-3


Sandman!


Rings of Power versus House of Dragon


Star Trek!


DC https://www.polygon.com/sdcc/23272917/dc-panel-warner-bros-news-trailers-announcements

 
Anything you're looking forward to? Any surprises?
 
Bonus features - Strong Female Sport!
Look. We're sorry in advance to our German listeners and also to everyone who isn't English but - IT'S COME HOME, THERE ARE NO MORE YEARS OF HURT.
 
Yep, we wanted to recap a bit on the Women's Euro tournament and the historic victory of the Lionesses and a bit of a look at how women's sport is doing at the moment. If you don't want to listen to the next bit, the short answer is: better than ever but still underfunded.
 

Do you watch any women's sport? How about participating?


Did you enjoy the match?


Will it change your mind about sporting stuff in the future?

 

Hey there Leaders,
 
New idea. Actual show notes...
 
Strong Female Needs
Debs: English women's football team
Colleen: Sea of Tranquility
 
Spoiler Alert
 
News
 
Debs: https://www.themarysue.com/harley-quinn-the-animated-series-season-3/
 
Colleen: https://variety.com/2022/tv/awards/emmys-nominations-list-2022-1235313788/
 
Debs: https://gizmodo.com/we-now-know-the-exact-crater-that-spat-out-a-famous-mar-1849170072
 
Main Feature - Conventions!
Conventions are, perhaps inexplicably, back. Those of you who follow the Strong Female Leads twitter account will know that I was down at London Film & Comic Con this weekend and it was a BLAST but  there have definitely been some changes since 2019! So we were thinking - what does the future hold for this fundamental geek space?
 

Difference between virtual and in person


Less merch now and feeling less specialised BUT ALSO a growth in independent operators


Is there still a space for virtual cons?


Lessons learned (or not) - news in the press about Joseph Quinn


Are you going to change your behaviour around conventions going forward?

 
Bonus Feature - Phase 4!
Look, we bang on a lot about Marvel but perhaps you've lost track of all the telly and movies and life is short - is it worth catching up on? Can you just get the highlights?
 
Spoilers

Very mild Harley Quinn animated TV series spoilers


Very mild spoilers for MCU, particularly Phase 4


Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers


Mild speculation about The Marvels and linked to WandaVision


Stronger spoilers for Dr Strange & The Multiverse of Madness


Russell Crowe's accent in Thor: Love & Thunder