The Best of 2021: The Best of the Waffle
2021 was a big year for The Geeky Waffle. We added four new shows to our network, and expanded our website in so many ways, all thanks to the hard work of our talented hosts and contributors. This week, we’re taking a look back at all the highlights of 2021 as we look to the future of the Waffle in 2022.
All this week, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites from the media we’ve engaged with. Today, on the last day of the year, some of the Waffle contributors pick their personal Geeky Waffle highlights for 2021.
Candace Kaw - Host (The Geeky Waffle, Straight Out of Home Video) Co-host (Space Waffles)
1. Podcast: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Rachel Leishman joined me for this deep dive into the most expensive and dangerous Broadway show of all time, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. I loved researching the behind-the-scenes of this musical.
2. Podcast: Christmas in the Stars
It was delightful to introduce Arezou to the weird little record known as "Christmas in the Stars," a Star Wars album with Broadway pedigree that incorporates so many Earth things into the Galaxy Far Far Away.
3. Podcast: What If Wishlist
Inspired by the release of Marvel’s What If, we pitched our own “what if” we would like to see. Like what if Neville was the chosen one? What if Bella chose Jacob? What if Boo fell in love with a monster? What if Gilmore Girls...had zombies? It got strangely heated and those are always my favorite episodes.
4. Four New Shows!
We premiered three new podcasts this year, Space Waffles, Starbuck Lovers, A Fight Club Far Far Away and Killer Waffles. I truly feel like we became a network this year. It’s been amazing working with such talented people.
Arezou Amin - Host (Space Waffles), Co-host (The Geeky Waffle), Waffle Writer
1. The debut of Space Waffles
Stereotypical to say, but absolutely one of my highlights for this year was the debut of our Star Wars-focused podcast Space Waffles. It’s great having a space to chat with friends about the kinds of Star Wars things we want to discuss, without worrying about whether or not it’s the most topical. For crying out loud, we spent two episodes on dyads and three on Ewoks.
2. Book Reviews
I’ve reviewed books on my own before, but one of my proudest moments was helping to bring book reviews to the site. We’re all geeks, and we’re all avid readers, so this felt like a natural extension of the Waffle website. Plus, now I get to spend hours with my nose in a book and tell people not to disturb because I’m working. Living the dream, really.
3. The impact of The Love Hypothesis
Obviously, I didn’t write The Love Hypothesis. I just read it in a single sitting. I joked in the early days that the subtitle of Space Waffles should be “a Reylo podcast”, and while that never actually wound up happening, that doesn’t change the impact Reylos have had on the show. To this day, the Love Hypothesis mini episode remains our most popular on Space Waffles, and the corresponding book review is our most popular article, full stop. It’s not a personal achievement, but it is a never-ending source of amusement.
4. Interviews!
We got to do a few interviews across Geeky Waffle shows this year, and I was fortunate enough to sit in on two of them. Back in March, we were lucky enough to be joined by Prince Charming himself Paolo Montalban from the 1997 Cinderella adaptation, who could not have been lovelier. In August, we had Star Wars author Jason Fry join us on Space Waffles, and somehow managed to not make him run away screaming, even though he logged into the session in the middle of a heated debate between Candace and I.
5. The High Republic
I talk about this a lot, so I’ll keep it short, but I am insanely proud of the amount of time we’ve been able to spend on the High Republic this year, between articles, podcast episodes and reviews. I don’t see this slowing down anytime soon, so I won’t talk about it like it’s over. I’ll just express my excitement at its continuation in the years to come.
Hope Mullinax - Waffle Contributor and Writer
1. Owl House
It was such a joy to join the Waffles this year and get to talk about my favorite shows each week. Starting with The Owl House, I loved deep-diving into each episode. My three favorite reviews were discussing the pressure of being perfect in Eclipse Lake, the exploration and learning to live with mental health in Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Hooty's Door, and falling in love with the history-making queer character Raine Whispers in Eda's Requiem.
2. Amphibia
Like The Owl House, I also tackled season three of Amphibia. Leading up to my reviews, I adored going through the first two seasons again when writing about my Essential Amphibia Episode Guide. My favorite episodes to write about this year were discussing the importance of Tupperware in grief with Temple Frogs, how my queer ship shined in Olivia & Yunan, and Rupaul's delightful antagonistic character in Mr. X.
3. Star Wars
I got to write a few posts for Star Wars, sharing my love for a galaxy far, far away. Deep-diving on characters is a favorite pass time of mine and I analyzed Kazuda Xiono and Jace Rucklin from Star Wars Resistance. Getting personal, I discussed how Rogue One validated me as an animated Star Wars fan. I loved teaming up with fellow Waffle, Arezou, on two separate articles! We reviewed each entry of Star Wars: Visions as well as debated who will live and die in Star Wars: The High Republic.
Maggie Lovitt - Host (Starbucks Lovers)
1. The All Too Well (Ten Minute Version) Reaction Episode
Our 'All Too Well: The Short Film Reactions’ was such a delight to record. Candace, Arezou, and I sat on Streamyard on mute and watched the short film when it launched and got to watch each other's reactions as the story unfolded. Our pure, immediate, and unfiltered reactions were so much fun to revel in together
2. The Shipping Episode of Starbucks Lovers
It feels like an easy answer to say the final episode of the season was the best, but I Ioved bringing back guests from the season and talking with them about Taylor Swift tracks we associated with our favorite fictional ships. It was a great way to unwind at the end of the year.
Mack Veltman - Host (Killer Waffles), Waffle Writer
1. The debut episode of Killer Waffles.
Killer of the Month Michael Myers. Becoming a co-host with the amazing Bri for a horror podcast was something I'll always treasure and be grateful for.
2. "Why Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is a Classic."
What a fine way to honor a damn good movie.
3. Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark podcast episode from the Geeky Waffle.
I was laughing and cringing at the show the whole time.
4. A Very Merry Pooh Year
That was a fun podcast episode to do with Candace.
5. Podcast Episode: What If Star Wars Edition
Noor-Hal - Waffle Contributor
1. Podathon 2021
Loved how the Waffles and friends brought a great combination of banter and merriment to this worthy cause!
2. Space Waffles
A podcast dedicated to a galaxy far, far away with a great insight and perspectives!
3. Bad Bitches on the Bad Batch
Following the Livestream tradition from the Geeky Waffles, it was wonderful to have a panel of amazing guests joining Geeky Waffle and friends to talk about the Bad Batch!
What were your Waffle highlights for the year? Let us know on Twitter at @Geeky_Waffle