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In this episode, host Manika is joined once again by pop culture commentator Naja (@nawjuhh) for the second half of their candid, no-holds-barred exploration of Ryan Murphy’s TV empire. But before diving in, they take a detour into the fandom-fueled chaos of Tumblr-era television, the fan theories that became canon, and the blurred lines between creators and online fanbases.

Together, they revisit the emotional rollercoaster that was Glee, unpacking its messy brilliance and maddening missed opportunities—especially when it came to characters like Mercedes and Sam. They discuss the show's flirtation with queer representation, its uneven treatment of Black characters, and how the writers often seemed to take cues from the fandom without fully committing to the stories they teased.

The conversation also traces Murphy’s signature style across his post-Glee work—from the stylish absurdity of Scream Queens to the prestige ambitions of Pose and American Crime Story. Manika and Naja dig into his tendency to reuse actors, the moral whiplash of his storytelling, and the way real-world controversies (including Emma Roberts' behavior and Angelica Ross’s exit) reflect larger issues on Murphy sets.

They also reflect on Pose's legacy, the offscreen drama that undercut its impact, and the industry's failure to sustain shows centered on trans and queer people of color. Finally, they tackle the internet’s appetite for reboot culture, why a Glee revival should never happen, and how formative shows like Glee and Riverdale capture a very specific kind of chaotic cultural lightning.

This is a sharp, funny, and deeply personal conversation about art, identity, fandom, and the media that shapes us—whether we love it, hate it, or keep rewatching it anyway.

Naja's Socials

Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@nawjuhh

Twitter https://x.com/nawjuhh

Manika's Socials

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1CmokqeLIagz7nYQJfeRIw

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manika3000?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Podcast Socials

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ivebeenmeaningtowatchthatp2316

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeenMeaning2Pod

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