Ahead, Warp Factor 2: Lessons From Phase 1
October 13, 2021
9 years ago I returned to my college dorm after seeing Skyfall, and my roommate said to me, "Who do you think has more dead girlfriends, Sam Winchester or James Bond?" That sentence - and our ensuing futile attempts to Google the answer - kicked off the project that eventually evolved into this blog. Now that I've answered her original question, therefore, I'd like to reflect on what I've learned.
Lesson 1: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad [Man's] World
Carry On, My Dead Girlfriends: Sam Winchester
July 29, 2021
Welcome back to the #DFGRR's signature discussion of the gender-based violence in popular media. Today's target is Supernatural, our first contestant franchise to to incorporate God and Lucifer as characters (although unlike Bonanza, it has no sign of either Jesus or the Easter bunny.)
Content Warning: Like all of our contestants, Supernatural has a lot of violence against women. In addition, it makes many references to sexualized violence. If that's disturbing for you, feel free to skip the parts marked out below.
Supernatural: Saving People, Hunting Things, and Killing Women
December 31, 2020
In November of 2020, the world witnessed an amazing and historic development out of the USA: Supernatural finally aired its last episode.
Its passing is mourned by legions of fans, but celebrated by us here at the #DFGRR, because it means we can finally analyze it.
You Only Live Twice: RIP to Sean Connery
November 1, 2020
Content warning: sexualized violence
On Halloween 2020, a retired actor named Sir Sean Connery went to meet the great casting director in the sky, at the ripe old age of 90. His passing has been mourned by most fans of James Bond, our current lead for both number and percentage of dead girlfriends. For it was Sean Connery, rest his soul, who originated James Bond on-screen, way back in the halcyon days of 1962.
Yes, it was Connery who first whirled to fire at the camera in an opening sequence:
Why You Need to Vote
October 12, 2020
My Dear Readers,
Hi! I know it's been a while since we talked. I also know that you may be sick unto death of hearing about politics. I know I am. In fact, I have channeled my frustration into this special 2020-themed version of Female Cause of Death BINGO.
Joe Cartwright's Dead Girlfriends: No Wonder Michael Landon Always Cried!
August 6, 2020
You're stubborn and cantankerous, but they just ain't makin' girls into women like that no more. I know, I looked around. - Joe to Carrie Picket, "Different Pines, Same Wind" (aired September 15, 1968)
Welcome back to the #DFGRR, and to our blast from the past: Bonanza. As we covered in the last installment, this little-remembered Western was a colossal hit in the 1950s-1970s. In its 14 years on the air, it racked up almost 360 hours of screentime.
Content warning: This entry discusses sexual violence and intimate partner violence, but does not contain clips of either.
So how many fictional girlfriends died? Let's find out...