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Can We Talk About the Taylor Swift Backlash?

On Friday, 25 September 2026, Taylor Swift delivered unto the world The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore in the form of four additional tracks that weren’t part of last year’s album (which spent an impressive twelve weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 and absolutely destroyed the records for biggest opening sales week[1]). The songs are “Patient Zero,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon,” with “Cleveland!” rounding out the set. As happened when The Life of a Showgirl itself came out…suddenly everyone lost their minds! Taylor Swift is certainly a cultural figure who generates BIG REACTIONS but the reactions to The Life of a Showgirl and these new encore tracks particularly fascinates me. I’ve been pondering it for a year now and I thought it would be fun to chat about it. Please feel free to let me know what you think below, too!

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Should I Watch Doctor Who? / How to Begin Watching Doctor Who

Once upon a time, I didn’t watch Doctor Who.  I didn’t know why the blue phonebooth was important and I didn’t know if that garbage can thing with the whisk and plunger was a good guy or a bad guy.  Once upon a time, I was too intimidated to even think about watching Doctor Who.  Then I started a new job and met Theresa!  We became fast friends and the only way I survived my first year teaching was because of her friendship and guidance.  Theresa’s the best.  One of the many things we bonded over was our shared love of Marvel, Star Wars, and all those nerdy corners of pop culture fun.  But I couldn’t discuss one of Theresa’s favorite shows/characters/universes with her – Doctor Who.  Eventually, trusting Theresa and her taste, I jumped into the world of Doctor Who and my life has become better in every way for it!  But you may not know Theresa.  Maybe that’s why you’re here.  Maybe you’re curious if you should watch Doctor Who and/or how you even begin watching Doctor Who but you don’t have Theresa there to help you.  Well, that’s why I’m here.  I hope this short piece helps answer your questions, calm your concerns, and ignites your excitement for Doctor Who in the way being friends with Theresa did for me :D.

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Doctor Who: Becoming a Fan Without the Fandom

I watch Doctor Who now.  If I’m being honest, I watch Doctor Who a lot.  If I’m being really honest, I am absolutely in love with this show (and I may have developed a bit of a binge-watching problem).  I began watching it at the start of the school year and fell in love immediately.  Soon words like “TARDIS,” “Time Lord,” “sonic screwdriver,” “psychic paper,” “Daleks,” and “Cybermen” had become a regular part of my vocabulary.  However, this isn’t a piece about Doctor Who so much as it’s a reflection on falling in love with a show in isolation, completely removed from whatever fandom exists for the brilliant, beautiful world of the Doctor. Continue reading →