We've Got Worm

Podcast
Title:	We've Got Worm
Created by:	Doof! Media
Date(s):	Mar 9, 2017 - Jan 3, 2018
Focus:	recaps and discussion by chapter of Worm; sequel podcast did Ward
Fandom:	Worm
External Links:	http://dalyplanetfilms.com/2017/03/09/weve-got-worm-episode-1-gestation/ youtube youtube playlist
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We've Got Worm is a podcast by Doof! Media analyzing the webserial Worm.

Format

The podcast is a discussion between the two hosts, Matt and Scott. Matt had previously read Worm, and Scott was reading for the first time. They would recap the part of the story while sharing analysis, impressions, and predictions for the rest of the story. Scott's predictions became particularly famous among podcast listeners, to the point that it became its own feature segment of the podcast. Most episodes covered one Arc (set up chapters) of the story, although a few arcs were split across two episodes. The podcast also featured "Mailbag" episodes where Matt and Scott answered listener-submitted questions.

Fandom Response

The podcast was well receieved and gained popularity within the fandom. Each episode was paired with a weekly discussion thread on the r/Parahumans subreddit, which often got dozens of comments. Fans praised Matt's and Scott's discussion and analysis of the story, pointing out themes, interesting interpretations, and foreshadowing that many fans had missed when they read the story themselves.

I don’t listen to a lot of podcasts, but this is one of the best I’ve seen, and better than other review-type podcasts I’ve listened to. This is not a fluff podcast just to praise Wildbow, despite the number of times Scott says, “I love this!” Nor is it a boring, beat-by-beat summary of the story like some I’ve seen. This is serious literary analysis, but at the same time, this isn’t your high school English class. In fact, if high school English class were more like We’ve Got Worm, the world would be a slightly, but measurably better place. I think the highest praise I can give this podcast is that I really enjoyed it, and it’s made me a better writer. The analysis goes down to the line-by-line level, showing how a single sentence can do a huge amount of work at characterization, among other things. It goes up to the overall structural level, exploring the whole scope of the story and the vastness of Wildbow’s worldbuilding. And it has everything in between: proper use of the Rule of Three, how to build up tension and set up reveals in a satisfying way, how the failure to communicate or withholding of information can be done well, and when it isn’t, and so on. To keep with the English class comparison, instead of the shallow “themes” and “symbols” you get in easy books like Lord of the Flies (and nothing against Lord of the Flies), this is a much deeper look into dramatic parallels, character arcs, psychology, sociology, “writing the other” both with other humans and non-human perspectives, and much more.

Podcast Review: We’ve Got Worm and We’ve Got Ward by Alex R. Howe </ref>Podcast Review: We’ve Got Worm and We’ve Got Ward, ^{Archived version}. Posted on January 28, 2018 by Alex R. Howe. </ref>

Petition for a weekly We've Got Ward segment in which Scott picks apart r/parahumans threads and explain why we're all wrong.

(I joke, I joke. But I honestly really marvel at Scott's ability to cogently break down and respond to internet commentary and appreciated his response re:Amy)

Also - thanks Scott and Matt for an amazing podcast! This podcast started up literally the week I finished Worm, and has therefore enabled me to stave off post-Worm depression for nearly a year. Not sure what to do with myself now, haha.

comment by u/perditorian 

One thing I really appreciate about Scott, and the biggest thing him and Matt have brought to the Workings of Wildbow in my opinion, is his ability to articulate. There are some things that I've had feelings on- joy, anger, satisfaction, frustration, contentment...but I can't put words to them or describe them in a satisfactory way. Especially to convey things to friends; probably why my current conversion count is 1.

Scott and Matt have taken the large rocks and chipped them into manageable pebbles. Its one of the reasons I really wanted something like this format for Pact and Twig because it I don't get that feeling of sitting down at a table and listening to them speak and analyze through any other medium. The livereads are popcorn fun, but the Podcast is an intellectual delight.

comment by u/Keifru 

i havent listened to the episode yet, i just wanted to comment one thing: you guys frustrated me, there were times i would get so annoyed at your opinions and your conclusions about both the characters and the story, to the point i did what i almost never do and directly engaged in argument with you. To listen to your podcast was hard, it was downright infuriating at times... and yet. and yet you guys never failed to give me a smile with every new episode. You made me angry but you also made me think, you made me reconsider aspects of worm that i never even realized were there. I can confidently say i learned new things listening to you guys. You were the best part of my weeks for all of 2017. and however i might disagree with you i also had immense respect for how well constructed your positions were, for how insightful and well thought out. you guys were the best podcast i listened to, seconded only by the adventure zone and i cant wait for what you got for ward in 2018. thank you, matt and scott.

comment by u/fipindustries 

Further Works

Doof! Media did a sequel podcast, We've Got Ward, and a number of other podcasts featuring Wildbow's works.