The Magic Circuit

014 - Fate/Stay Woke, Route One: Gender's Feel

Episode Summary

This week, Ben and Mia take a little change of pace and talking about something a bit more important than gameplay or lore. We're both big proponents of active reflection on the media you consume, and heaven knows that the Fate series has a lot of content about gender, sexuality, and cultural appropriation. In this episode, we take a deep dive into genderbent Servants and what they have to say about gender stereotypes, sexual objectification, and LGBT representation. Also, the Case Files anime is out and in this house, we stan Waver. Content warning: use of transphobic slurs This episode also contains spoilers for Sarazanmai and Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire. See below for timestamps.

Episode Notes

This week, Ben and Mia take a little change of pace and talking about something a bit more important than gameplay or lore. We're both big proponents of active reflection on the media you consume, and heaven knows that the Fate series has a lot of content about gender, sexuality, and cultural appropriation. In this episode, we take a deep dive into genderbent Servants and what they have to say about gender stereotypes, sexual objectification, and LGBT representation.

Also, the Case Files anime is out and in this house, we stan Waver.

Content warning: use of transphobic slurs

This episode also contains spoilers for Sarazanmai and Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire. See below for timestamps.

8:11 - Our positionality
14:33 - The History of Genderbending
23:20 - Nero, Kagetora Nagao, and historical justifications for genderbending
29:08 - How do we feel about the existence of genderbend servants now?
31:12 - Un-gaying the Gilgamesh/Enkidu relationship
31:48-33:51 - Vague SARAZANMAI SPOILERS about the depiction of gay relationships in media
35:33 - Why do they make genderbends?
38:55 - Sometimes, genderbends can be a cool take on a historical figure.
49:30 - Gender ambiguity: Astolfo and the "Are traps gay?" meme
1:01:05 - Le Chevalier D'eon, trans representation, and Agartha
1:07:43 - Mordred and masculinity
1:12:14-1:16:50 - GAME OF THRONES/A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE SPOILERS about Cersei Lannister and internalized misogyny
1:16:59 - What hills can we choose to die on?
1:21:39 - Wokeness reprieve: El-Melloi Case Files anime episode one!!!