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A stitched body, a bruised heart, and a question that won’t let go: who bears the burden for what we make? We dive into Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and trace its roots from Mary Shelley’s storm-lit summer to a modern, war-shadowed tale about creation, responsibility, and the cost of love. This isn’t just another gothic retelling—it’s a story about breaking cycles, where forgiveness is the bravest experiment in the lab.
We start with the news that’s lighting up romantasy—cover reveals, special editions, and why “trend readers vs genre readers” is shaping online discourse more than craft. Then we jump into the film’s craft: Oscar Isaac as a preening, brilliant Victor; Jacob Elordi as a towering, soulful Creature who learns love the way many of us do—from stories and the rare person who is kind; and Mia Goth’s striking dual roles that knit grief, desire, and projection into Victor’s unraveling. We talk color symbolism and costume design as character psychology, from blood-red guilt to nature-drenched greens and x-ray-stitched gowns. Practical effects and built sets keep the world tactile: a ship that creaks, a laboratory that feels engineered by obsession, and camera moves that play like a rock concert.
The adaptation choices matter. Setting the tale against the Crimean War reframes Victor’s ambition as morally funded by violence, while the “brain bargain” with an arms dealer sharpens the ethics of creation. Del Toro’s ending—asking for forgiveness instead of doubling down on punishment—will spark debate among purists, but it lands with emotional clarity. We wrestle with whether this is a kissing story, and arrive at something richer: a romance of care, where monstrosity looks less like stitched skin and more like the refusal to take responsibility for what you bring into the world.
If you love romantasy, gothic cinema, adaptation theory, or just want to argue about whether color motifs can break your heart, you’ll feel right at home. Hit play, then tell us your hottest Frankenstein take, share the episode with a friend, and tap follow so you never miss what we resurrect next.
Links from the News Segment and Show:
- Kimberly Lemming did a cover reveal for her latest novel - I Punched An Alien And Now We’re In Couples Therapy
- LitJoy Crate is doing a special edition of Gail Carson Levine’s The Two Princesses of Bamarre
- Cover revealed for The Wrath Gods Reap by Abigail
- Cover revealed for Loched in Love by Jacklyn Hyde
- Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked is releasing a prequel Galinda novel
- Time released their 100 must read books of 2025
- Threads discussion on What’s Going on in Romantasy
Follow us:
Instagram - @ofswordsandsoulmates
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/ofswordsandsoulmates
Chapters
1. Cold Open, Hosts, Winter Vibes (00:00:00)
2. Romantasy News Roundup (00:01:22)
3. Trend Readers vs Genre Readers Debate (00:08:20)
4. Why Frankenstein, Why Now (00:18:36)
5. Release Dates And Synopsis (00:19:50)
6. Mary Shelley’s Origins And Goth Lore (00:20:35)
7. Byronic Heroes, Vampires, And Influence (00:24:40)
8. Del Toro’s Long Road To Frankenstein (00:26:07)
9. Casting Changes And Final Lineup (00:28:04)
10. War Setting, Score, And Visual Language (00:29:10)
11. Practical Effects And Built Sets (00:31:40)
12. Adaptation Choices And Thematic Swaps (00:35:04)
13. Costume Design As Character (00:37:00)
14. Color Motifs And Dual Perspectives (00:40:02)
15. The Creature’s Look, Scars, And Meaning (00:42:58)
16. Morality, Funding, And The Brain Demand (00:45:25)
17. Nature vs Nurture And Narcissism (00:50:08)
18. Milk, Mommy Issues, And Symbolism (00:53:08)
19. Is It A Kissing Story (00:55:20)
20. Recommendations, Sign‑Off, And CTA (00:57:50)
49 episodes
