Joanna Hagan
@2hatsjo
Writer, TV nerd, cooks stuff, co-host of The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret (A Discworld recap podcast). She/They
Did the first table-read for a full-cast audiobook I’m narrating, and have just come outside to enjoy the post-hailstorm sun and discovered I’ve grown one stupidly perfect strawberry. A good day.
Finally, Riverdale. This is another everyone-is-bad/the-show-is-the-villain and I’m still not clear on wtf happened despite writing about it at length. So let’s go with Michelle Gomez as Lilith from the Sabrina spin-off, because…it’s Michelle Gomez.
Next: Once Upon a Time This is the one that made me such a staunch supporter of women’s wrongs. THE villain. Lana Parilla as Regina, the Evil Queen. Every single (Enchanted Forest) outfit was ridiculous. 10/10 no notes.
Vampire Diaries time and Katherine Pierce! The icon, the legend, the evil, the delight every time she turned up (and the way I thought “yay, they got that actress back” even though it was the main actress in a wig) Nina Dobrev should have been paid SO MUCH MORE
Unfortunately now it’s Glee, and the real villain is the show itself. But Naya Rivera was amazing, and Santana deserved the world. (Chaotic bisexuals all deserve the world.)
Next: Supernatural (or; fuck me women were wronged on this show) But Rowena was the most delightfully charming queen of hell I ever did see. 10/10, would let her wrong me in a heartbeat.
Gossip Girl: Everyone is a villain in this show but Michelle Trachtenberg (RIP) as Georgina Sparks was a masterclass in scenery-chomping, unhinged evil. I support almost all of her wrongs.
Next up: The OC Autumn Reeser came on this show in season three, after the rest of the cast had pretty much given up, and made Taylor Townsend the most charming, neurotic villain I’ve ever seen. I love her.
Next up: Gilmore Girls. Look, Emily Gilmore is the ✨worst✨ BUT “Only prostitutes have 2 glasses of wine at lunch!” “Then buy me a boa and drive me to Reno because I am open for business!” Is a truly great exchange.
First up Buffy: it has to be Faith. She does so many terrible things and I love her. Also that boob window was formative for me. (Honorable mention goes to season 1 Cordelia)
Happy International Women’s Day! I’m woman-adjacent at best, but I’ve written about a lot of women in my book on American Teen Dramas (www.joannahagan.co.uk) Here’s a thread of my favourite “I support women’s wrongs” characters from each show in the book.
I’m not particularly romantic but I am very willing to find any excuse to cook steak and a fancy dessert* *triple-checked that spelling after a lot of cock-ups in the @makeyefretpod.bsky.social episode plans
Happy advent! Obviously the biggest reason for the season is chocolate for breakfast, but I’ve also got books on sale for the entire month! They make perfect gifts for your favourite TV nerds, I promise. Shop here: www.joannahagan.co.uk/shop
It’s Cover Reveal day for my book American Teen Dramas: From Sunnydale to Riverdale and LOOK HOW PRETTY Book is out in December - head to my blog and see where to pre-order! - two-hats-television.ghost.io/american-tee... (Also subscribe for upcoming bake-off nonsense)
Help I’ve gone to a festival and I’m suddenly feeling all of my years (and a few more for good measure)
Made a dirty Kalamata martini with tomato & oregano salt on the rim, an excellent use of the souvenirs my sister brought me home from Spain (duty-free gin and flavoured salts - she knows me well)
I haven’t posted much recently because I’ve been trying to be less online (for the morbs, you understand) so I’ve been sewing stuff instead.
Can’t believe I learned that Tom Lehrer passed away from a Supernatural meme. Going to go and poison a pigeon in the park in his honour.
This weekend’s cocktail hour features crab cakes with dill creme fraiche and a French (Italian - I used Prosecco) 75. (This is a cocktail hour/starter hybrid because Valentines is this month’s excuse to cook a fancy 3-course dinner.)
I’ve only gone and bloody done it lads. STUFFING SOURDOUGH. This might be the greatest think I’ve ever baked.
More deliciousness added during the shaping process, and now my stuffing sourdough can have a nice snooze in the fridge overnight
This weekend’s sourdough fuckery: can I make a loaf that tastes like stuffing?