Inchworm
A chapter-by-chapter spoiler-free podcast covering the web serial Worm by Wildbow. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms.
Episodes
14.y - "Cauldron's Pocket"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.y.Episode Notes:The chapter was dark, but Legend weirdly wasn'tLegend had way more illusions about Cauldron than we didWhy do the Case 53s get released in the first place?Reasons for stirring the CauldronCreating a LegendAh, rationalizations The tragedy of a wasted chargeLegend vs. PiggotTaylor was so right about the heroesGay headcanonsThere's no es-capin
14.x - "The Humanity They Lost"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.x.Episode Notes:Taylor picks Skitter’s next targetSkitter takes her minion’s loyalty for grantedCan Taylor work around the Noelle problem?Would Coil even be threatened if he knew they were turning on him?Taylor has her friends back and Skitter has notorietyThe last two arcs have basically been a season of 24It’s like Skitter’s back from the deadSkitter thinks s
14.11 - "The Shipping Industry Is Dead"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.11.Episode Notes:Mailbag episode incoming, get your questions in!The most sapphic chapter so farJenny isn't locked in on a particular Taylor ship yet but we discuss the potential optionsTaylor-Siberian parallelsTaylor and Lisa as bookendsIs Lisa a good friend if you aren't Taylor?Brian got kiss-blockedThe particular trauma of this miasma for BrianWhy kissing, t
14.10 - "Someone To Feel My Pain"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.10.Episode Notes:An unlikely Undersider tier listXenia HighIf this is basically the status quo by the end of the arc… where do things go from here?How fast acting is the cure?What if Alec is the only other one who remembers things?Who exactly escapes with Jack and Bonesaw?Ted raises a mystery that didn’t come up in Jenny’s summary of the chapterMiasma HighWe do
14.9 - "The Temptation Of Skitter"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.9.Episode Notes:We're really confronting the themes of the work in this arcJack aaaaalmost manages to stop underestimating SkitterA big L for JackTwangin’ that bowstringHer key? Stoned.Women and children first for Taylor?Cherish isn't good ~~at manipulation~~, actuallyConsensus-based decision making among the UndersidersThe Skitter-supervillain seesawTaylor's a
14.8 - "Fog With Bad Vibes"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.8.Episode Notes:A delicious cliffhangerThe (tattle-)tell-tale signs of deception that Jenny (bone-)sawWhy do they want Cherish?The art of being subtly out of characterWhat are Bonesaw’s favorite tropes?Arc 1 Taylor wasn’t easy prey, eitherJack forces the issueMajor theme alertWhen you can’t beat ‘em, plague ‘emWas the water warning a bluff?It’s not like the cit
14.7 - "A Snuff Film About Brockton Bay"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.7.Episode Notes:Why isn't Legend letting the Unravelers play anymore?They say they've killed Crawler...Emily might be good at something after all(But not everything)Legend: honest to a faultTaylor coming full-circle with LegendMercy killingsLegend and the inscrutable planSwan thoughtsDid Jack and Bonesaw know about Siberian before today?The challenges of having
14.6 - "The Challenge Of Deciding You've Done Enough And You Can Stop"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.6.Episode Notes:Jenny kicks things off with a bold and hopefully wrong predictionThe Nine are convergingJenny ranks the Nine by who’s most likely to survive Arc 14What’s going to happen to Shatterbird?Regent’s power is a political obstacle for the Undersiders and a moral tangle for TaylorBook 2 scatters and reunites the UndersidersWhen will the crisis be over “
14.5 - "Scrambled Eggs"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.5.Episode Notes:We were due for a down chapterThe narrative challenges of deploying Crawler in a fightSo much Victoria speculationDo two wrongs make a right?Amy was so annoying in this chapterWhy can't people understand Skitter's intentions even though they have no reason to know or trust her??The narrative is kind to Taylor's hero instincts in this chapterMayb
14.4 - "Akira Motorcycle Slide"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.4.Episode Notes:A steed! A steed! A steed! A steed!Everyone has bomb-resistant plot armorIt’s harder to pull off a surprise attack when your team needs time to duck and coverHave you tried a sacrifice play?Emily and the love of the gameAs bad as this plan was, Piggot almost killed SkitterPiggot better hope this is the last time she’s facing down the Undersiders
14.3 - "Romantic Jealousy Scenario"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.3.Episode Notes:Oops everyone is preyPiggot's gonna try to have it allHeroes are just heroingSundancer is useful, actually!The mystery of Siberian in the pitCan we just knock this guy out?Amy's power is pretty cool, turns outSkitter thinks we're stronger togetherAmy <3s binariesLisa's meeting Amy where she isCAN we judge Amy by what she did to Victoria?Accou
14.2 - "Arrogant In Her Salvation"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.2.Episode Notes:Jenny, I don’t think the Siberian is trying to suck toxins out of Amy’s fingertipsThe “isn’t there someone you forgot to ask” meme about Taylor saving AmyTattletale checks on Skitter’s prioritiesHow Amy’s gonna feelWhat if Emily accidentally firebombed Panacea?Siberian’s missing real bodyRefreshing oopsie momentsAn aside about Battery’s narrativ
14.1 - "Radical Friendship"
Jenny and Ted discuss Prey 14.1.Episode Notes:Jenny loved this chapterBrian probably doesn't sleep anymoreJenny's less worried about him being evil, thoughUndersiders vs. Travelers vibesWho has the deadliest secrets??Cherish doesn't say anything about Lisa...Cherish isn't very good at thisLies Cherish might have toldJenny was almost right!What's the Siberian's deal??If you could project any
13.x - "They Could Work Together"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.x.Episode Notes:Even before the summary we are discussing whether Emily War Crimes is a villain, in several senses of the wordEvil ends vs. evil meansGiven what else we’ve read, it’s tough to say she’s just being paranoidCan she control you?The kind of “hero” Taylor has come to expectEmily’s career so far must cast a shadow on her present feelingsThe (we hope)
13.10 - "Feeling The Worm"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.10.Episode Notes:Jenny's hottest (and hopefully coldest) take yetTaylor's giving him way more benefit of the doubtIf Brian's trying to manipulate her it's only sort of workingHe might be right about her self-destructive tendenciesGesturing at butterfly, “Is this a confession of feelings?”A wild vulnerability appearsDoes Brian still need to sleep?Jenny likes Br
13.9 - "Gruecatastrophe"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.9.Episode Notes:Jenny, once again, was rightWhat makes a second trigger possible and who gets one?The purpose of Bonesaw’s experimentWhat exactly was Brian withholding from Bonesaw?Possibilities in time and spaceThe limits of the entitiesFaultline is gonna be SO JEALOUSWho (and when) is this familiar guy?The (new) worst day of Brian’s lifeGet that saw away fro
13.8 - "Installation Piece"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.8.Episode Notes:Boy are they ever ensnared!Jenny is cautiously optimistic. But maybe not about GrueAlert! We have body horror!Jenny's list of options for who's about to show upOops no one knows they're thereThe Nine are just too adaptableFaultline vs. sheathsMaybe she can kill Mannequin alreadyOne Leviathan event per story, please!A meditation on fridgingWho w
13.7 - "You're Kidding Yourself"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.7.Episode Notes:Trickster the optimistCherish: “We have Tattletale at home!” Tattletale at home: Cherish.Who was Sarah?Maybe Cherish is just bad at thisNobody is surprised at the accusations against CoilSkitter gets violentTaylor can’t see how to win over the heroesLegend is Bionic BunnyMiss Militia is like “Yeah, as you now know, when you fight the Nine, you
13.6 - "The Sacrifice"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.6.Episode Notes:Who got snared?Cherish is a liar but sadly sometimes she tells the truthThere's nothing off the table with BonesawOur villain heroes are catching up to our knowledge of the NineSiberian is Aegis without the damageThe capture of Shatterbird puts us at odds with BatteryThe many pitfalls of rescuing GrueOops we've misplaced ImpBut she had such a b
13.5 - "Shoe Factory"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.5.Episode Notes:Somewhat hypocritically we can’t believe they’ve forgotten ImpClever SkitterA partial metamorphosisNew Skitter takes a blunter approach with the TravelersThe edge that fear gives youChoosing villainyThe unwritten rules are also unspokenCharacter economy and creating room for New SkitterHow going after the Nine is like punching RachelIs this goi
13.4 - "Keeping Herself Off-Balance"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.4.Episode Notes:Things don't look great for SkitterlandMore cheating!!We suspect Taylor doesn't have a planNarratively, we could really take a curveballDo the Nine even have keystones anymore?Jack doesn't care about fairBurnscar's a bird of prey, basicallyTaylor's making some big leaps about a lack of affectThe dark triadWe want Burnscar to stay complicatedA J
13.3 - "Someone Who Likes Trying Stuff"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.3.Episode Notes:Monster dog biologyThe narrative pendulumJenny’s expecting rescuers Share your favorite visual references for Mannequin’s “laughter”Mannequin’s priority targetsTaylor is making all the right moves to earn Bitch’s trust againWhere Bitch finds her extra dog juiceBastard the Most Valuable PupperTo kill or not to kill?Burnscar was probably wat
13.x.5 (bonus) - "Girl Detective"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.x.5 (bonus).Episode Notes:We make peace with interlude labelingCherish's potential demandsThe sticking point: the SiberianImp's regard for her own life vs. her own reputationSheath knowledge is our new secret weaponSo many missed shots at JackImp_______Brian needs to get it together and listen to AishaMaybe we need to start taking Aisha seriously as an Undersi
13.2 - "There Has To Be Loss"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.2.Episode Notes:Mannequin is formidable but Taylor just might have the narrative advantage againIt’s not fair that tinkers can use their sideboard between rounds!!Of course, Grue and Imp have sibling powersMannequin’s misprinted knives and a double Wormiversary!On the other hand, a win in round one suggests Taylor would be due for future defeats…Bitch isn’t ju
13.1 - "Intensive Grueling Death Games"
Jenny and Ted discuss Snare 13.1.Episode Notes:It's possible this is the bad-joke arcWe've been successfully reminded of the tensionHow much narrative space are we gonna spend on these rounds of testing?Skitterland! We love what she's done with the place!Taylor, Lisa, and the mortifying ordeal of being perceivedTaylor, Brian, and the cautious approach to villainyTaylor, Colin, and the vulne
12.x.5 (bonus) - "Her Words Have No Meaning Or Power"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.x.5 (bonus).Episode Notes:It’s 10 minutes in before we tell you whose interlude this isWe deliver our verdict on this instance of enemies-to-lovers(?)Jenny thinks that if Cauldron needs to call on reinforcements that fate has a loss in store for the Nine (and an ironic mission in store for Battery)Battery’s cop brain and total lack of commitment to her stated
12.x - "Teatime"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.x.Episode Notes:Jack missed his calling as a normal non-murderous manager, or maybe as a middle school teacherThe best we can say about Jack is that maybe he's indifferent to murderWhat if Jack's deepest desire is just to play a lot of MafiaOr...to be a novelist?This interlude was really the Nine's, not Jack'sDid Jack make the deal harder for himself before t
12.8 - "Creepy, Nice, and Strong"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.8.Episode Notes:Now that Jenny knows that Taylor knows that Plan A is bad, she’s a lot more forgivingTaylor needs to be stronger, or maybe just have a stronger stomachLisa appears to be all in, tooSadly we won’t get to immediately her Brian complaining about Plan B… or will we?Will Alec and Rachel come along?Taylor just wants to be honest with BrianPeople ski
12.7 - "Think Like A Bug"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.7.Episode Notes:Taylor totally would've won that fightIn the world of Worm, all Alans are terribleHurrah for the skitizensThe vindication of art suppliesAh, the joys of being underestimatedMannequin and emotional buttons, including his ownTaylor's delegation is only improvingTaylor's good at theater, actuallySpider silk is a metaphor. Surprise!Hipster Guy is
12.6 - "Entropy Is Hard To Fight"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.6.Episode Notes:Skitter is never cooler than when she’s irrationally determinedMannequin put Skitter in a corner and will reap the consequences…… if she can even do anything on her own??Was Skitter targeted just for what she’s doing now, or did Mannequin come here to teach her a lesson?Couldn’t the government be doing better against the Nine? The status is no
12.5 - "Anything That I Don't Stop Is My Fault"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.5.Episode Notes:Skitter does her best yetLoved ones can provide collateral aidThe chapter avoids a simple moral lesson about Danny’s fateWhat Taylor’s missing about what makes her effectiveTo slash Jack, or not to slash?WWCD?Wait Colin and Coil are one letter away from each other omgHave we ever seen them in the same room at the same timeWait yup we did and C
12.4 - "Cut!"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.4.Episode Notes:Jenny hates the Nine and Ted loves the chapterWe stop trying to make “Undlers” happenShout-out to biomechanimagical for the new team name!How deep into the bench of Worm characters do you have to go to find a certified Tumblr Sexyman?The “deal” gambit will unite our herovillains if not all of Brockton BayTaylor and Jenny are sus-Bitch-ousLisa
12.3 - "Now, Unionize"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.3.Episode Notes:We loved hanging out with the TravelersJenny's off-by-two errorWe're pessimistic about BitchThe Slaughterhouse Nine are winning at shogiTaylor and her hold-out secret identityWe're so invested in Noelle now (unfortunately...)Ted would've been friends with Trickster in high schoolOops the Travelers are the AnimorphsThe Undlers are so good at pl
12.2 - "Off The Island"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.2.Episode Notes:There’s a special frustration when someone gets in our protagonist’s wayA bright clear red line for Taylor: no bugs on naked people, ewHookwolf knows his audience (dumdums)What’s changed since Somer’s Rock? A lot of turnover and little institutional memoryIs Coil’s alternate timeline on the island with us right now?Taylor’s big no-mentSave the
12.1 - "The Mayor of Skitterland"
Jenny and Ted discuss Plague 12.1.Episode Notes:The Slaughterhouse Nine are just waiting for everyone to mass against themTaylor needs to catch up with our level of information alreadyThe possibility of heroes crashing the villain meetingLet's do arc 5 again against the Slaughterhouse NineTaylor the Tailor: we love to see itTaylor's a good person to give your resources toGrue's thinking too
11.h - "Refusing The Call"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.h.Episode Notes:Jenny didn’t see it coming but Ted brought receiptsLook, I know you weren’t asking, but the incest math checks outAmy got her “resenting an unwanted burden” from her mom I guessIntrusive romantic feelings are deeply tragicJenny and Ted do what Assault and Battery simply refuse to doAmy’s fantasies and fatalismThe category of “healing” nev
11.g - "Fate-Worse-Than-Death Warrant"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.g.Episode Notes:Jenny ALMOST got this one rightContent warming for murder set up as suicide??Cherish is in a tangleSome very strong symbolismThrill-seeking is a family traitWe're not happy about these thralls, RegentWe're happy about his friends, thoughCherish is powerful, but it's a Wildbow power, so she has to work for itPlaying with point of viewCheri
11.f - "What Doesn't Kill You"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.f.Episode Notes:This one’s got TWO unseen monsters!It’s not too late to save Dinah, but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s close to doing soWhy did Sundancer become a villain?The Travelers’ ties bind them from helping and from hurtingThe temptation of communityThe eventual Marissa and Taylor team-upJenny theorizes that Ballistic and Genesis were here the whol
11.e - "Cosplay and LARPing"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.e.Episode Notes:Will the threat of the Slaughterhouse Nine bridge the gulf in Empire Eighty-Eight?Hookwolf has too many “friends” to be recruitedShatterbird: great at picks, bad at pitchesTed does a British accentBut does he even care about the lore as much as Shatterbird does?We’re doing the evil Hunger Games!Possibly the Slaughterhouse Nine's only viab
11.d - "Technology Loves Him Back"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.d.Episode Notes:The most romantic chapter in WormButterflies in the machineThe nature of Colin’s egoWhat difference does it make that Colin has this connection to Dragon?How real love can be selfishCould love hold Colin back from something he sees as the greater good?If Mannequin thought Dragon would keep Colin alive, why doesn’t he try harder to isolate
11.c - "You Just Can’t Help It"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.c.Episode Notes:We speculate on Wildbow loreVery different interludes, each with a Slaughterhouse Nine member to placateParallels with TheoWhy did Labyrinth lie to Burnscar?Burnscar's guilt and Labyrinth's internalized ableismTwo different takes on depressionA correlation between strength of power and disability?A possible explanation for the Slaughterho
11.b - "Dead Man's Switch"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.b.Episode Notes:Jenny spools out “two years” of red stringIf this encounter didn’t trigger Theo, what (if anything) would?Aster is notable even if you aren’t all Purity about itWill the story even last another two years?How fixed are the futures Dinah sees?Whimsy is central to who Jack Slash isHe sees Theo’s story potentialJenny sees what we all see in J
11.a - "Free to Be Dirty"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.a.Episode Notes:A very distressing chapterThe conflicting temptation of the Slaughterhouse NineBitch isn't good at this territory thingThere's a huge communication problem hereAlso an insecurity problemTaylor reaching out to Bitch was both more heroic and more cruel than she knewIt's Bitch's guilt, not Taylor's, that puts her in danger nowBitch isn't a k
11.8 - "Are We Human Or Are We Supervillain"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.8.Episode Notes:If you’re the main character you should never feel this optimisticJenny pitches Ward as an AU sidequel We struggle to come up with a gender neutral term for henchmenSierra’s a liability and Taylor’s hang-ups about Thomas don’t do her any favorsSmugbug stocks are risingSierra and Charlotte are synthesizing their views of Skitter/Taylo
11.7 - "The Slippery Slope"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.7.Episode Notes:Faultline's crew is so competent *fans self*One of the best inside Taylor vs. outside Taylor moments of all timeCharlotte's unique positionTaylor's tenuous relationship to her civilian identityTaylor wants all other villains to like herWhat's the purpose of the Nemesis program?Oh, this is where Coil got his powersHow do these powers in a
11.6 - "Piercing The Veil"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.6.Episode Notes:Hot take: what if the cosmic entities are actually small?Many theories on timing, who triggers, mappings between entities and capes, piercing the veil, etc.The implications of the new rule that trigger events must incapacitate nearby capesCan we trust Skidmark’s advice to Scrub about using the Turn-Me-Into-A-Monster Energy Drink?Did someo
11.5 - "There Were No Heroes for Her"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.5.Episode Notes:This episode is about saving people!Even a single new cape could change everythingThe Protectorate should really be doing more to stop the MerchantsHow many people actually know trigger events are a thing?Taylor and Lisa are gonna have to stop this power transferWhat do we owe to each other?Taylor's displaying a very emotional approach to
11.4 - "Made Up Of Secrets"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.4.Episode Notes:Odds are good that Taylor can’t simply walk away from what she’s about to seeTattletown seems great, too!Tattletale hasn’t announced herself yet, but why should she?Ted tries to tease out the balance of power between Coil and each Undersider based on this situationLisa’s lair’s layersInstinctive secrecy as an adolescent traitLike you woul
11.3 - "Stealing Fire From The Gods"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.3.Episode Notes:Skitter in this chapter is iconicThe appeal of character competenceAction without suspense, yumTaylor's kind of like Bakuda, but it's fine!What if this is all a metaphor for Taylor harnessing the humans to take down the Endbringers?We love everything about bugs with fireThe tea is a metaphorDid these particular Merchants deserve this?Skit
11.2 - "Benevolent Bug Queen"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.2.Episode Notes:Prediction: this woman’s brother is problematicIf only Taylor could see how cool (and scary!) she actually isTaylor plays against her weaknesses to great effectSkitter needs a higher rating!Weirdly, Taylor has found her supervillain callingThe people of the Boardwalk are… into it?Battery lends Taylor legitimacy and keeps her from going fu
11.1 - "Daddy Issues"
Jenny and Ted discuss Infestation 11.1.Episode Notes:This chapter really hooked usJenny isn't fooled by dreams!Jenny's giving up hope of a secret, non-terrible planThe many layers of Taylor's daddy issuesDanny is the best and should have more power(s)Taylor's so good at terror, and at compartmentalizationWhy does Coil really want to split the Undersiders up?The narrative draw of a Scooby ga
10.x (bonus) - "Assigned Female At Compilation"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.x (bonus).Episode Notes:A crack ship is born mid-summaryWe count the ways we love DragonThe way she is written clearly shows that Dragon is a full personDragon’s romantic prospectsWe trust Dragon with power more than anyone we’ve met so far but leaders with good personalities do not necessarily create good legaciesWas Richter a Bad Dad or just your average
10.x - "Overt Horror"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.x.Episode Notes:Sophia won Jenny over, but only at the bitter endWhat a fake-outRegent's emotional numbnessTed grapples with hate in the face of tragic circumstancesWhat if Taylor finds out about this?There's a compelling human impulse behind wanting to use Regent’s power Regent’s missing pieceHe likes what he’s doing, but he’s not doing it for himsel
10.6 - "The End"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.6.Episode Notes:We forgot about Dauntless again RIP :(Jenny brings down the hammer on Taylor’s foolishnessIs Taylor taking the same kind of deal Kayden did?Ted tries to shore up Jenny’s secret takedown theoryThe real problem with Taylor’s request is that she’s no threat to CoilWhy save the world when you can save one girl?Maybe this is night eight of Coil t
10.5 - "Strong Moral Code"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.5.Episode Notes:Jenny loves DragonDragon's designs on SkitterWhat if Taylor gets Dragon on side?Dragon's got her priorities straightAlso she's prepared!...but her suits are creepyWe're so impressed by Taylor's innovations, and also Wildbow'sHeroes have to pull their punchesWe're not pleased with BitchTaylor did say she deserved it...What was Bitch's plan, t
10.4 - "She's In The Computer"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.4.Episode Notes:Don’t overthink the mystery of EpeiosPutting the Imp in impactHere comes the (new?) Protectorate!Jenny keeps leaving the villain part out of “hero-villains”Taylor’s gonna win, but maybe someone else will get capturedTTRPG problem solvingGun talkImp can make you forget her actions and not just her mere presenceIf Lisa can kinda remember Imp,
10.3 - "Frogs In The Pot Of Boiling Villainy"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.3.Episode Notes:Jenny has a new theory BUT HOW CAN WE BE SUREThe sibling dynamic explains a lotWhat a metaphor for a neglected kidA major change in motivation for BrianFamily powers are at it againDoes Imp's power work on Brian?Buffy comparisons (so many spoilers)Flechette's moment to shineWhich Worm characters would we date?We're so happy for Kid WinBut we
10.2 - "Blorbo vs. Blorbo"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.2.Episode Notes:Where was Imp?Putting the Weld in Well DoneWe know the Wards better than TaylorWhat on earth are the Undersiders trying to do?Hopefully Imp is just a phaseTed doesn’t think Shadow Stalker could pull this offThe PRT officer who bent the rules is gonna get cannedJudgy teen Taylor is back, and might not want to look too closely in the mirror ri
10.1 - "Repiloting"
Jenny and Ted discuss Parasite 10.1.Episode Notes:Regent the YeerkTalking through how his power worksWhat’s their plan for Sophia, both short and long term?Arc 9 has made it harder for us to root for Taylor vs. the (non-Sophia) WardsWhatever she’s all in on, it’s not CoilJenny could see Taylor setting any number of goals at this pointWell, does she deserve it? The narrative tempts us to say
9.6 - "Anything Feels Justified Now"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.6.Episode Notes:We have feelings about AngelicaSeeing Skitter from the outside!Unclear in what way Skitter is a member of the Undersiders right nowWhat's with Imp?We contemplate degrees of premeditationSophia: a means to an end?Could the Undersiders be turning on Coil?We feel so distant from Taylor. We need answers!!Murder attempts galoreSophia just gave Tay
9.5 - "Where's The Lie?"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.5.Episode Notes:Sophia isn’t worth all this troubleVista, in particular, has no way to reach herBut we don’t want her to, because seeing her get under Sophia’s skin was SO SATISFYINGAre there hidden costs to abiding Shadow Stalker?How superpowers sharpen and distort our understanding of why “bad apples” are protectedMaybe Vista could leverage her strong rati
9.4 - "Constantly Shooting Himself"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.4.Episode Notes:Kid Win has no nameTed makes a formal apologyOne of the objectively best things that happens in all of WormThe problems in Brockton Bay are stacking upKid Win: really smart, actuallySo why does he not think so?And how much is it Armsmaster's fault?Maybe he just needs a gimmickSlaughterhouse Nine origin theoriesMaybe Kid Win is
9.3 - "What They're Here For"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.3.Episode Notes:Jenny's very good at predicting Wards (so far)Clockblocker: not a bad guy, pretty much!Clockblocker would have loved those training exercisesWe review some murder candidates and posit some new onesThe Wards maybe should've thought before they foughtBut it's a very cops and robbers fightTrickster is a star!What is becoming of New Wave?Glory Gi
9.2 - "Lawful Good Easy Street"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.2.Episode Notes:We don’t even need gaydar for this oneGirl friends or girlfriends?Scratching the surface of Lily’s need for connection to see what’s underneathSophia’s not putting up much of a frontWe establish a motif about D&D alignmentsThe parkour here is top notchThe city challenges outsiders in many waysSophia sees power more clearly but also feels
9.1 - "Will You Recover From Trauma?"
Jenny and Ted discuss Sentinel 9.1.Episode Notes:Weld doesn't have the trauma to relate to these WardsClassic new manager problemsPiggot and a sink or swim philosophyWeld is a character from a different genre of superhero storyThe Wards are going through itThe question of hope for Brockton BayHow does Coil feel about the Merchants?Piggot's sympathy for the people of Brockton Bay and go
8.mailbag - "I Want To Have Hope"
Jenny and Ted discuss listener questions, again.Episode Notes:A flawless introThe shoes have droppedHow Worm has infected JennyRachel disambiguationJenny picks favorite moments, characters, and predictionsNew theories from Jenny, with an assist from our friend DaveThe unexpected relevance of MadisonOur most anticipated interludes (in order!)Jenny faces several dilemmas when she is isekai’d
8.x - "Too Much Control Is Bad For You"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.x.Episode Notes:Merry Inchmas! It’s the first Noelle chapterCoil hasn’t won yet but realistically who’s gonna stop him?Details of horrible vices left as an exercise for the readerAre Coil’s timelines basically a guilt-free personal Westworld?Do absolute power fantasies corrupt absolutely fantastically?And yet, Coil is unhappyWhile writing these notes, T
8.8 - "How To Move Forward"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.8.Episode Notes:The end of Book One of WormThe power of “I can do better than that”The mystery of what Taylor will do nextCan Taylor get Dragon’s number from Armsmaster?Envisioning Taylor’s CrewBug-based humanitarianismThe distancing effect of a small time skipIs it time for Taylor to make amends with Danny?Arc 8 shows how Wildbow is an excellent Game M
8.7 - "Not Good Enough"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.7.Episode Notes:This revelation to the Undersiders had to happen, actuallyWhy did Tattletale go along with the lie?We think better of some of these heroes than TaylorLegend is someone who cares about opticsTurns out Armsmaster is a shameless hypocrite with a lot of reasons to hate TaylorJenny is still rooting for the Amy / Taylor friendshipThe meaning b
8.6 - "Happier As A Villain"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.6.Episode Notes:Oops, Taylor and Jenny both forgot about protecting secret identitiesOdds are good that Sophia doesn’t know Taylor is SkitterReviewing what we remember about Sophia’s two identities in light of this knowledgeIf anyone other than Taylor knew that Shadow Stalker had caused Skitter’s trigger event, wouldn’t it be a huge deal?Taylor’s reason
8.5 - "Beneath His Notice"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.5.Episode Notes:One of Jenny's least favorite moments of anything ever!We're outraged by the medical establishment and also the PRTMaybe Taylor should have known better than to, uh, be a villainTaylor got here through a tragedy of circumstancesMaybe she should've just joined the Wards, thoughPanacea predictionsScion is so Jesus-codedTheories about Taylo
8.4 - "They Are All So Small"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.4.Episode Notes:We got just as caught up in the drama of Armsmaster vs. Leviathan as TaylorWhy cars are just the roofs of the streetTaylor’s clever thinking earns her the front-row seatTaylor Hebert’s Bug ReconA glimmer of cooperationHow will a life debt change the Armsmaster and Skitter dynamic going forward?If this Armsmaster guy would shut up we migh
8.3 - "What Can One Girl Do?"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.3.Episode Notes:Welp, it sure was a down chapterNot to be all Taylor about it but why is this the best the heroes can do?What does Taylor think she's going to be able to do?"So... we good now, Clockblocker?"The action is out of scale with our hero. What does that mean for the narrative going forward?Some of the losses are starting to hurtCompartmentaliz
8.x (bonus) - "Do We Need To Have Monsters?"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.x (bonus).Episode Notes:The Tattletale interlude was great but we are counting the chapters until 2 Tattle 2 TaleFic idea: Tiny Tim triggers with his initials-sake’s powerThe headcanon that makes Tattletale Ted’s favorite“Dying” in your own chapter is very GRRMStories have plot armor until they demonstrate that they don’tIt’s very Tattletale to have a w
8.2 - "The Numbers That Would Be Needed"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.2.Episode Notes:Jenny wants it to be even weirderThe story demands Taylor do something big but what could it possibly be?smol bean Leviathan theoryIt remains great that the Undersiders are underdogsHow does Legend actually feel about the bad guys?How do normal people actually feel about the good guys?Listen out for the spoiler warning if you haven’t rea
8.1 - "A High School Cafeteria Scene"
Jenny and Ted discuss Extermination 8.1.Episode Notes:Jenny's dying of suspenseA parahuman response, but no military?We're meeting some pretty intense capes. Amazing that they're not gonna be enoughThis is gonna be bad...but fast, apparentlyWe get why the heroes are here. Unclear about the villainsAlso unclear why the Endbringer is here, actuallyJenny has sea monster theoriesTaylor's such a
7.x - "Always With Her"
Jenny and Ted discuss Buzz 7.x.Episode Notes:How Hannah sees ColinJenny isn’t attending this pity partyWhy does Armsmaster even want a management role if he knows he’s bad at it?If she gets the chance, will Hannah be ready to lead the heroes of Brockton Bay?Miss Militia is much more authentically patriotic than she first seemsDoes Hannah’s advancement reflect meritocracy or instrumentalizat
7.12 - "True Heroes Are Rare"
Jenny and Ted discuss Buzz 7.12.Episode Notes:Not what Jenny expected!Taylor's not just demanding the other Undersiders agree with her. She's demanding that they agree with her without stopping to think or talk about it“They still seem like they could be good people,” we liedNot fight an Endbringer? Have you MET Taylor?Do any of the Undersiders really know Taylor, after all?The power of lab
7.11 - "She's Not Walking Away"
Jenny and Ted discuss Buzz 7.11.Episode Notes:Jenny ALMOST knows what the story is aboutThe cost of working with CoilComing Soon: Insinuation 2.0Never tell me the odds (after telling me the odds in front of someone who hates all this)How Taylor can get the other Undersiders to go along with her presumed planDinah’s power and how her situation landed for JennyCoil as a perverse parentWe coun
7.10 - "Under Cover Of Light"
Jenny and Ted discuss Buzz 7.10.Episode Notes:Does Lisa’s gambit put her at odds with Coil or not?Taylor didn’t read Purity’s interlude, but Lisa got the gist of it from her powerThe potential for rifts in Empire Eighty-EightDoesn’t Coil care about his investment in this team? Or was some of this his idea?Purity wants to be seen as reasonableThis flight Purity and Tattletale took together m
