[0:12]What's up y'all? It's your boy RB3 and um we're here, I'm here uh joined by Rihanna Stark from Geeks of Color and um today we're talking about the new Amazon Prime video show, I Am a Virgo from writer, director Boots Riley. Um, brilliant director who gave us Sorry to Bother You and now this show, and I I wanna start with you Rihanna because you you wrote a review, a really good review for Geeks of Cali. I'm gonna put that in the link, in the description down for people below to check that out. Um, but just for people who haven't read that review yet, what are your thoughts on the show? It is not subtle at all. It's very overhanded, but it's also very fun. Um, I think once you sort of forget like um subtlety and try to look for symbolism and all that, it's like, it's right there, like it's right in front of your face, so it's refreshing in that way. Yeah, and I I love the refreshing aspect of it, especially in the age of there being so many superhero movies, superhero content in general right now. Uh, and if if you ask me personally, I do believe that there's a lot of superhero fatigue. I feel like that's a real thing. For sure.
[1:26]And I think, yeah, I mean, I think what this show does, you know, there's a few exceptions. There's like a Cross Spider-Verse, uh, you know, Watchmen. I was on HBO with kind of. But these are really ones that like really, really stick out. And at the same time, they're also based on Marvel and DC properties. So it's like, with this, with this show, it just really, um, was refreshing to see an original voice in the superhero genre, but like not a particularly optimistic voice either. It's like a true, to me, I love it because it's a true satire. I feel like they really got to the satirical aspect. For sure. Uh, so I was gonna ask you though, like, do you, like, you know, for out of the superhero satirical elements, what what kind of stood out the most to you? The hero dead ass being called the hero. I think it's very funny because they don't even give him a superhero name. They could just call him the hero just to say he can do no wrong. Um, so there's that. I think that is just uh, really just comedy. And also, I think, uh, the homie, uh, Cody was reading Gigantor. I think, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. Oh, because, yeah, because he's giant. So that thing. Yeah. I thought that that was cute. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah, that is cute. That's funny too. I think Amazon Prime in particular has a lot of that superhero satire kind of content with with the boys and with Invincible, the animated show that they have. Um, but what do you think like makes this particularly like stand out? In a superficial standpoint, well, everyone is black, which I appreciate, so you know, seeing black faces, black bodies. Different body types as well, um, just on on the screen. Uh, and what also, I can't really can't get over the absurdity of it all. Um, like I think it's it's pretty neat that things just are the way that they are. And sure, the other characters question it, but there's just never an answer, and I think that's it's refreshing. Because to sort of, you know, because some things don't need to be answered, like I don't need to know why he's a giant. He's already a giant, you know. So, so stuff like that definitely makes it stand out, for sure. And, uh, the setting, it takes place in Oakland. Um, I've never been, I'm not a Cali person like you, but I I've heard a lot of, you know, Snoop Dogg and Kendrick, which I appreciate it. I really did appreciate it. So I think the soundtrack also, uh, set it apart from others. Yeah, yeah, that soundtrack was hard. Yeah, they had that, um, when he was rolling around in the in the car. He had the Oh, yeah, for real. Yeah, that was Yeah, that was cool. Yeah, that was. It did feel like the first, like, couple episodes in particular felt like a really good coming of age story. Uh, and it I think that's I also what's made it made it a fun, instead of it being a superhero origin story, it's really like a a character origin story per se. Exactly. Yeah. Uh-huh. I saw I don't know if you I saw on Amazon Prime they have the little like behind the scenes feature us where Boots Riley was like talking about each of the episodes and um, Uh-huh. And um, I think on episode one he was mentioning how, uh, like he he was inspired, he wrote the character of Cody because, uh, he had when he was like 18 or 19 or something, he had dated a young woman who has spent the first 18 years of her life, like inside of a cult, like trapped inside of a cult and never really saw the outside world. So that's kind of what like Cody's Cody's kind of based on. I thought that was kind of a funny aspect. Like the whole fish out of water perspective that that they kind of take on in this show. Yeah, also when just Cody just coming to terms of like, you know, racism, you know, because he's obviously he's he's told about it, but he's sheltered, you know, because he said, well, if you're a black man, you don't have a job, the cops put you in jail. That's not exactly what happens. However, you know, So just stuff like that. So he's slowly just learning that like he people are not inclined to like, not only because he's a giant, but because he's a black man, you know. And so that just adds to it. And so I just think it's it's really neat just watching him like discover how fucked up the world is with him, but the other characters are just like, yeah, that that's that's what happens, you know. Yeah, and I they they like you, you mentioned at the beginning, there's like no subtlety in terms of what they get to, which I love, you know what I mean? I personally love the fact that it's like over the top and absurd. Yeah, because not everybody is like, can analyze all these films. I know you can, but like not everybody is like that, you know, to write, be writing essays on it. Some people need to like just slap them in the face with like the meaning of the show, really. Right, right, right. And I thought, you know, um, like I I had a couple of them like listed here, just from like the things they address, right? But like discriminatory zoning practices, environmental racism. Yeah, uh-huh. You know, cultural appropriation, like with the the whole him being like the sneaker, uh, or not the sneaker, but the, uh, the clothing street wear brand. Yeah, yeah. The live art, yeah. Yeah, that that was crazy. That was super crazy. It was almost like some King Kong kind of stuff, you know. Yeah, it really was, yeah. It's just so funny, even um, I was even gonna mention the death penalty, which had a hilarious cameo from Eli, Elijah Wood. Yeah, I thought that was hilarious. Because I was like, I didn't know what he was expecting, honestly. Right.
[7:05]Like, he think he's going to be, you know, against the death penalty, you know. And so I just think, I mean, it's funny, but it's also sad just watching him sort of, you know, realize that the the system doesn't really work, you know, when he, uh, I forgot the brother's name, but he, you know, when he got stabbed and was bleeding out. Stabbed. Yeah, how he was just like appalled and just in shock that such a thing happened like that happens, that that happens, you know. Right, right. And that's a real, that's a real, and that's a real thing. And that's what was so, again, the the capitalism, um, and that the the, uh, going into how it's like this, the show is pretty pretty firmly like anti, pretty like anti-capitalist, pretty like firmly on the side of like we should give back to the people. Yeah, very socialist. Yeah. Yeah, very socialist, yeah. And I think that one character, Jones, is like the kind of stand-in for, uh, a lot of that representation in that. Um, and it's so interesting seeing Jones trying to build a movement, people through strikes, through organized movement, things of that nature, which is, I think, very nice and very reflective of real life, what we're seeing a lot in real life through a lot of strikes that happen all out throughout the country. Um, but I also feel like it's such a vast contrast to, you know, we see those brief moments of Cody's Cody's mom is much more like head on like, yo, we need to be more forceful. Like, we need a a leader like, Yeah, yeah.
[8:36]And, uh, they almost kind of implying that Cody is like, they they want Cody to kind of be that that leader long-term, you know. Uh, so it's just kind of interesting seeing that. I don't know what were your kind of take away from Yeah, I did like the different aspects of activism because I think a lot of people, um, are quick to write other forms of activism off because they're not as effective or like not as immediately effective. And I think, you know, the the one the whole us versus them stuff really distracts from like, like why activism is a thing, like like the main goal.
[9:08]And so I really like that. But I also appreciated how, you know, they didn't make it seem like a given that capitalism is evil. You know, they like they they explain that to like like to the the hero, like he was a five-year-old. And I appreciated that because a lot of people, you know, depending on who they are and and, uh, what they see, odds are they're not thinking about capitalism like that. You know, because and you can't really blame them for that. So I just think it's neat that Jones's power seem to be explanation, you know. Just explain it to me like I'm five, but that was their strong suit, that was their superpower. And I really did like that. And, um, even not just the not even just the power of convincing or explain, but it's also, I feel like the power of storytelling. You know, the power of just, you know, how they I I love those sequences where it just became all black and you just saw the entire world, you know, it was very surrealist. And I I think that's the overall theme I could catch from this show was just the surrealism. It doesn't feel like it's exactly real, it's exactly real life, but it's close enough. But when they when they have those big moments like that, you're like, oh, okay, this is a little fantastical. But it's in a beautiful way. It's done, it's done in an amazing way. Yeah, it really is, yeah. Um, I just, you know, and talking about Jones having that, um, power persuasion, you know, kind of power that they have. Uh, you know, also we see Olivia, uh, Olivia Washington, she, uh, plays Flora in the show. I really did like her character. I think it was really nice. Um, like, um, especially for, uh, neurodivergent representation and autism representation. Personally, I I'm not autistic, but I do I have friends who are, and so it's just nice seeing, like I think she said something like, he said, well, I'm not too fast. You guys are just too slow, you know. Just sort of and how she felt that he needs to translate her her mannerisms, her her sayings. He has to translate for everybody else's sake, you know. So I really appreciated that. That was a really, um, beautiful metaphor and I I honestly hadn't even, um, picked up on that, uh, until I really just mentioned it just now. Um, how I was with that, yeah. It's it's a big gloss over, or not gloss over, but it's it's a bit quick when they do it, but it's it's also like relatively obvious in the things that like they do. But I think that's why she and Cody are perfect for each other because they're both awkward to no one's fault. I mean, Cody has been inside the house for 19 years. Of course, he's going to be awkward, but she's awkward, too. And it's but she's like accepting of his awkwardness, whereas he's just like, okay, I am socially weird. I like this cannot be, you know. So I think that she kind of helps him just accept his, you know, social ineptitude. Yeah, yeah. And, uh, and and I think that I think having that companionship is is helpful for the both of them, because like you said, their powers are reflective, their powers are like, kind of reflective of like who their personalities are, but almost like a contradiction a little bit, too, whereas Cody Cody is is big, but he feels small in this world that he's in. That whereas, uh, you know, Flora, she's, um, she, you know, processes time in a much like faster like reality. Um, but then, you know, and she talks slow too, Flora, which I thought was interesting because she was saying how fast she processes stuff, but she had to slow herself down and you could hear it in her speech, like, Yeah, not like she's slow, but like she's slow in speech. That's what, yeah, that's yeah. Exactly. Exactly. And, um, it's like that awkwardness. I feel like that was a really good performance choice from, um, uh, I believe her name is, uh, Olivia Washington. Yeah. I know Dorian did interviews with the cast on Geeks of Color if you if uh, people want to check that out, too. Um, but yeah, her personality is not not like at all like the Flora character. So, um, Yeah. And I think that all the all the all the young actors did an amazing job. Uh, Jam, um, Jurel Jerome, obviously, he won the Emmy a couple years ago for When They See Us. Uh, Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, he was really amazing. And he was really good in this, you know, playing somebody like a young teenager who's like socially, like you said, socially awkward, trying to like find his place in the world. Everybody stood out. Even Walton Goggins, uh, is like he could just like play a natural racist, uh, doing Yeah, and it comes a bit too easy, don't it? Yeah, we we saw I was that when hate for late, yeah, we saw that one. We know what's going on. Um, so but he was really good too. I believe, uh, Brian, oh, Mike Epps, I didn't even mention Mike Epps as the father. He, I think, he was such an unnecessary casting because he, because it's already absurd, you know, the premise of it being this 13-foot man, you know, but like he makes jokes about it, right? You know, you a big motherfucker. All the wear and tear that you putting on this house. I mean just leaning on the walls you putting holes in them. And I got to fix this shit myself. Cuz I don't want nobody to see your big ass. So it just sort of like, okay, so we're not the only one who realizes that this is weird, you know. So, but he's, but also normalizes it, and I think that's this his perfect comedic timing. Like, I I can't explain it. That's just apps, you know. Yeah, yeah. And I that that casting is so good because it's like, and going back to Sorry to Bother You, it's like Terry Cruz playing the father and in that film, um, you just have that abrasive black fatherhood, like, Yeah, it is hard. Sometimes it used to be hard because like sometimes Cody talks is like, I don't know if he's trying to make a joke. Or if he's being serious. You know, but I'm laughing either way, so like, I I guess that's a good thing, you know. Right, right. Yeah, no, it was good though. I really enjoy, I really enjoyed the, um, I really enjoyed it. It was a really fun, um, it was a really fun show. I'm excited to see, they're obviously building up to more seasons it looks like. I certainly hope so because there was, I think, the show asked a lot more questions than it answered. Granted, the questions didn't need to be answered, but there's just like, with the Bingo Burger, you know. Right, right. I was like, what is in that food? What, what is in that, you know. Right. That's why I was kind of. What is that what make Cody big? He was like, there he was saying in the beginning, that was the system. Yeah, and then how his parents were like strapped, you know, they were like ready. I wasn't ready for that. That was I was not unexpected. I would like to to know more as to why, you know, they they got that thing on them. Yeah, no, I I'm excited to see what what more of the story goes. Uh, and again, it's like, it's like you said, I don't need a whole origin story as to like, how he got big or how, you know, Flora got her. Yeah, because he's already big. Right, exactly, exactly, exactly. I'm just excited to see where this world develops more. because what was that big, it kinda spoiler alert, but what was that giant thing that was like eating them up like in the torso area toward the end. That was kind of nut. I think it was because of the burger. Right, right. Yeah, you you see that rash until later. And, I I, and this is a bit unrelated, but I do love the way that they talk about his hygiene. You know. Oh, yeah. He said, I love playing with your balls, but I do not like smelling them. Yeah, because I'm just thinking like, does he shower? Because they make it seem like he doesn't, you know. Right, right. I think we see him shower like one time in the very beginning, but even then, I'm like, how does that work? Like, I just got giant. What, water bills are crazy. Right, right. I think we see him shower like one time in the very beginning, but even then, I'm like, how does that work? Like, I just got giant. What water bills are crazy.
[18:17]Yeah, no. It was just dope all around. It was dope all around. Um, but yeah, that's that's our review of uh, I'm a Virgo. I don't know if you had anything else to say about about it. I'm a Sagittarius. You're a Sagittarius. I'm a Gemini, so like, you know, yeah. We're actually not Virgos here, but, uh, you know, we appreciate the Virgo mentality that this, uh, this show brought out to us. Um, Rihanna, real quick, before we dip out of here, where can people follow you? @ Stark B U Y on all socials. Okay, okay, okay, okay. And then, um, it's just like, you know, Stark by I don't know, I don't know. I was trying to make a pun that wasn't going anywhere, my bad. My bad. It's cool. And, um, you can follow us here, uh, first cut MO on Twitter, and, uh, TikTok, and Instagram. You can follow me personally at director RB3. And, uh, make sure you subscribe to this channel if you're watching this for the first time. Um, with that being said, uh, you know, I'm RB3. I'm Rihanna Stark. And, uh, we're gonna be peaceing out, y'all. Peace.
[19:33]Well, I'm a Virgo, and Virgos love adventure.
