TLDR;
The Dub Talk crew reviews the English dub of Carol & Tuesday, discussing the ADR direction, script, casting choices, and overall performances. They address the controversy surrounding the casting of Black characters with non-Black voice actresses, and also touch on the show's themes of diversity, immigration, and the music industry. The hosts share their thoughts on the characters, music, and political commentary, providing a comprehensive analysis of the anime's dub and its underlying messages.
- The ADR direction and script are generally solid, but the casting of Black characters with non-Black voice actresses is a significant issue.
- The show explores themes of diversity, immigration, and the music industry, with varying degrees of success.
- The characters are well-acted, with some stand-out performances, particularly from Ryan Bartley as Angela.
Intro and Rules [0:00]
The host welcomes viewers to Dub Talk Idol and outlines the rules for the contestants. The show may contain mature content, spoilers for Carol & Tuesday and other anime, and the opinions expressed are those of the individual judges.
Introduction of Dub Talk and Carol & Tuesday [1:18]
The hosts introduce themselves and the anime Carol & Tuesday, which is set 50 years after mankind began migrating to Mars. The story follows two girls, Carol and Tuesday, who come from different backgrounds but share a dream of becoming musicians. The anime is produced by Studio Bones and directed by ShinichirÅ Watanabe, known for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.
General Thoughts on the Series [4:07]
The hosts discuss the series being set in outer space with music, a common theme in ShinichirÅ Watanabe's work. They mention a previous episode on the Beck anime and how they might rehash some of the same talking points. The hosts also joke about judging each other's musical tastes and share anecdotes about watching the show with their families.
ADR Staff and Initial Thoughts on the Dub [7:55]
The hosts introduce the ADR directors and scriptwriters for the English dub of Carol & Tuesday. Erica Mendez directed the first half, while Kyle McCarley directed the second half. Both also served as scriptwriters. The hosts then transition into a discussion about the casting choices in the dub.
Controversy Surrounding Casting Choices [9:29]
The hosts discuss the casting of Carol and Angela, two Black characters, being played by non-Black voice actresses. They express disappointment and find it inexcusable, especially for a dub that came out in 2019. They point out that there were Black voice actresses in the dub playing other characters, making the decision even more baffling. The hosts also emphasize that the show is about diversity and the importance of immigrants, making the casting choice a bad look.
Diversity and Authenticity in the Dub [12:39]
The hosts clarify that they are not faulting the actors or ADR directors, but rather the casting director, Mommy Akana. They acknowledge that she has gotten better about this sort of thing over the years. The hosts also mention the queer representation in the show and how it would have been good to have more queer actors for those characters.
Voice Direction and Script [18:34]
The hosts agree that Erica and Kyle did a good job with the voice direction, and the script was fun. They mention some fun lighter sprinkles in the dialogue, especially everything Toby says. The hosts also discuss the lack of techno babble in the series and how it doesn't feel like there was a whole lot of localization that needed to be done.
Setting and World-Building [21:49]
The hosts discuss the setting of the series on Mars in the future and how it may take place in the same universe as Cowboy Bebop. They also mention the manipulative characters in the dub and how the writing is getting real good at zeroing in on the language they use to get what they want. The hosts also touch on the realism-focused animation and the use of 3D renderings for the stage performances.
Overall Thoughts on Script Writing and Acting [28:06]
The hosts share their overall thoughts on the script writing and acting in the dub. They agree that everyone is consistently good throughout, and both Erica and Kyle grasp the grounded reality aspect that is necessary for this kind of show. The hosts also mention the commentary on the current political climate and how the over-the-top aspect is meant to make you almost forget that you're even watching a dubbed performance.
American Idol Competitors and Judges [29:23]
The hosts introduce the competitors and judges from the "American Idol" parody arc in the show. They discuss each character's personality and motivations, as well as the voice actors who play them. The hosts also joke about the implication that Instagram will be the one social media platform to endure through the space age.
Thoughts on the Judges [33:32]
The hosts share their thoughts on the judges from the "American Idol" parody arc. They discuss Sybil's stalker-like behavior, Catherine's role as a heel, and the chill AI robot judge, Shakti. The hosts also touch on the performances of the voice actors who play these characters.
Thoughts on the Competitors [37:18]
The hosts share their thoughts on the competitors from the "American Idol" parody arc. They discuss Pyotr's attention-seeking personality, GGK's unique character, and Catherine's role as a judge. The hosts also touch on the performances of the voice actors who play these characters.
Music and Song Quality [43:28]
The hosts discuss the music and song quality in the series. They agree that there weren't any bad songs, but some were more forgettable than others. The hosts also mention that the music appeals to American taste and could believe it was filling out a top 40. They compare the music to Fleetwood Mac and discuss the variety of songs in the show.
Other Musicians in the Show [47:13]
The hosts introduce other musicians in the show, including Skip, Crystal, Desmond, Flora, Ezekiel, and DJ Ertegun. They discuss each character's background and motivations, as well as the voice actors who play them. The hosts also touch on the show's use of music to address injustices and the political commentary in the second half of the series.
Thoughts on Skip and Crystal [53:16]
The hosts share their thoughts on Skip and Crystal. They praise Imari Williams' performance as Skip and Christina Valenzuela's performance as Crystal. The hosts also discuss the on-screen chemistry between the two characters and the scenes where Skip helps Carol and Tuesday.
Thoughts on Desmond, Flora, and Ezekiel [58:23]
The hosts share their thoughts on Desmond, Flora, and Ezekiel. They discuss Desmond's purpose in the narrative, Flora's drug dependency plot, and Ezekiel's bangers. The hosts also touch on the performances of the voice actors who play these characters.
Thoughts on DJ Ertegun [1:14:58]
The hosts share their thoughts on DJ Ertegun. They praise Ray Chase's performance and how he gets to be both over the top and depressed. The hosts also discuss the episode where Ertegun gets robbed blind and the show's bashing on cryptocurrency.
QT Cameo and Space Dandy Universe [1:19:22]
The hosts discuss the QT cameo from Space Dandy and how it means that Space Dandy is an anime in this universe. They also mention that all the actors did their singing as well and that the songs were recorded before they even started animating.
Political Figures [1:21:53]
The hosts introduce the political figures in the show, including Valerie Simmons, Spencer Simmons, Jerry Egan, Kyle Schwartz, and Dan. They discuss each character's motivations and the voice actors who play them. The hosts also touch on the show's political commentary and the elephant in the room about who Valerie is modeled after.
Thoughts on Dan and the Villains [1:26:45]
The hosts share their thoughts on Dan and the villains, Jerry and Schwartz. They praise Ben Wesley's performance as Kyle and Richard Epcar and Kirk Thornton's performances as Jerry and Schwartz. The hosts also discuss the show's portrayal of anti-immigrant policies and the conclusion that if you just stop having anti-immigrant policies then everything goes back to normal.
Valerie Simmons and Political Commentary [1:34:15]
The hosts discuss Valerie Simmons and the political commentary in the show. They mention that it is very clear who Valerie is modeled after and that Rachel Robinson does a very good job of making this character sound very unlikable. The hosts also touch on the show's portrayal of female presidents in media and the fact that Valerie didn't go looking for her daughter.
Spencer Simmons and Kyle [1:38:53]
The hosts share their thoughts on Spencer Simmons and Kyle. They praise Lucian Dodge's performance as Spencer and Ben Lepley's performance as Kyle. The hosts also discuss the fact that Kyle has a girlfriend and didn't tell Tuesday about it.
Supporting Cast [1:43:44]
The hosts introduce the supporting cast, including Dahlia Carpenter, Tao, Katie Kimura, Gus Goldman, Roddy, and Toby. They discuss each character's background and motivations, as well as the voice actors who play them.
Thoughts on Katie and Toby [1:47:44]
The hosts share their thoughts on Katie and Toby. They praise Zephy Win's performance as Katie and Joe Dimucci's performance as Toby. The hosts also discuss Toby's profanity and how it loses its impact after a couple of times.
Thoughts on Tao [1:53:19]
The hosts share their thoughts on Tao. They praise Kyle McCarley's performance and how he balances the stoic part and the personality side. The hosts also discuss Tao's faith in AI and his learning about emotions.
Thoughts on Dahlia and Roddy [1:59:15]
The hosts share their thoughts on Dahlia and Roddy. They praise Brooke Chalmers' performance as Dahlia and Zach Aguilar's performance as Roddy. The hosts also discuss Dahlia's manipulation of Angela and Roddy's competence at what he does.
Thoughts on Gus [2:07:41]
The hosts share their thoughts on Gus. They praise Jason Marnocha's performance and how he is a good person. The hosts also discuss Gus's role as a manager and his relationship with Carol and Tuesday.
Main Characters: Carol, Tuesday, and Angela [2:16:29]
The hosts introduce the main characters: Carol, Tuesday, and Angela. They discuss each character's background and motivations, as well as the voice actors who play them. The hosts also touch on the chemistry between Carol and Tuesday and the fact that Angela has a lot more going on.
Performances of Carol, Tuesday, and Angela [2:19:46]
The hosts share their thoughts on the performances of Carol, Tuesday, and Angela. They praise Jeannie Tirado's performance as Carol, Brianna Knickerbocker's performance as Tuesday, and Ryan Bartley's performance as Angela. The hosts also discuss the fact that Angela has a lot more personality than Carol and Tuesday and that she is the star of the show.
Angela's Story and Character Development [2:30:46]
The hosts discuss Angela's story and character development. They mention that she is going through a lot and that she starts doing painkillers. The hosts also touch on the fact that she is a designer baby and that she is worried about being replaced.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations [2:38:17]
The hosts share their final thoughts and recommendations on the show. They agree that it is a pretty enjoyable show and that it is important to call out terrible policies. The hosts also mention the casting problems and that it is important to be aware of that particular caveat.
Plugs and Outro [2:45:31]
The hosts plug their social media accounts and other projects. They also give a shout out to their patrons and thank them for their support. The hosts then say goodbye and end the episode.