7 chapters across the catalog
Dr. Leana Wen's media appearances are analyzed alongside broader television tropes regarding the casting of minority women in authoritative or antagonistic roles. The discussion explores how news personalities and fictional characters are framed to influence public perception.
The television show NCIS is characterized as a government propaganda machine, specifically citing a season finale involving American children radicalized by a cult. The plot features characters being lured into a trap in Syria and the use of a "crude version" of Morse code. The segment mocks the unrealistic depiction of terrorist communication methods in mainstream media.
The episode concludes with a humorous clip from the TV show Castle illustrating the absurd portrayal of computer reboots and system crashes in popular media. The hosts sign off with a reminder of the upcoming "666" episode on Sunday and a final musical montage. The program ends with its signature "best podcast in the universe" declaration and a call for continued listener support.
The forensic science depicted in the TV show "Bones" is ridiculed for a scene where a character identifies a specific cookbook by running a typeface through a fictional Library of Congress database.
NCIS Los Angeles, Technical Inaccuracies and Internet Tropes
An episode of NCIS: Los Angeles featured a scene where a character "broke the internet" to stop a video upload. The dialogue used technical jargon, including "VNC controller" and "stack buffer overflow," in a nonsensical manner. This is identified as a propaganda technique to convince the public that the government possesses total control over global digital infrastructure.
The series finale of 24 is criticized for its use of unrealistic forensic technology, specifically a scene involving facial recognition from a reflection on a 22nd-floor window. The hosts argue such "magic" software is depicted in media to make the public believe in the omnipotence of government surveillance. This is contrasted with the mundane reality of failing internet connections at major hotels.
Phone Tracing Tropes, Caller ID Reality
The common television trope of needing to keep a kidnapper on the line to "trace the call" is criticized as outdated disinformation. In the era of modern digital telephony and Caller ID, the origin of a call is known instantly, making the "hold the line" suspense tactic a sign of lazy writing.
