The Watchers Watch The Legend of Billie Jean

Yellowjackets might be taking a break, but The Watchers doesn't quit. Jodie and Andrea are using the off-season break to share the movies that made them the kind of people who were destined to be obsessed with a show like Yellowjackets.

Fair is fair! And this week, it was Jodie's turn to pick a movie that Andrea hasn't seen. She chose the 1985 teen drama, The Legend of Billie Jean, starring Helen and Christian Slater (no relation). Billie Jean and her brother Binx are two siblings who end up on the run after fighting back against a teenage bully and his father. Andrea and Jodie talk about movies with iconic haircuts, teenagers versus adults, rejecting the male gaze, class dynamics, the significance of pop icons like Madonna and Taylor Swift for young women, the commodification of the female body, and a ton more. This admittedly kind of ridiculous movie led to some serious conversations that we did not anticipate. We'd love to hear what you all thought of the movie!

Next week, Andrea's back in the pilot's seat, and we're watching Radio Flyer, another movie about young people fighting back against adults, starring Watchers favorite Elijah Wood in one of his earliest roles. This one is darker and definitely more intense than The Legend of Billie Jean, but it's also beautiful and moving, and it will probably make you cry. Content warning for child abuse and alcoholism.

If you're reading this, that means you've probably got your podcatcher of choice open right now. It would be SO helpful if you gave our little new show a follow. If you like what you hear, you could even leave us a review. ☺️

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The Watchers on Twitter and Instagram (@WatchersPodNJ)

Andrea on Twitter and Instagram (@AQAndreaQ)

Jodie on Twitter (@jodiemim) and Instagram (@jodie_mim)

Our sister show, New Jersey Is the World, on Twitter (@njistheworld) and Instagram (@newjerseyistheworld)

Thanks to Kitzy (@heykitzy) for the use of our theme song, "No Book Club."