Episode 240 "WonderCon 2025: Analyzing Arkham Asylum"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
Release Date: 04/07/2025
Episode 253 "Frankenstein (2025)"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) is a visually stunning adaptation of the original novel by Mary Shelley. Del Toro turns the well known horror story of Frankenstein into a romantic, emotionally absorbing fairy tale. He softens the grotesqueness of The Creature by giving him tenderness and benevolence, angling the perspective to heighten audiences' sense of compassion and even relatability toward an individual who does not earn the abandonment and cruelty given to him.
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Episode 252 "Gargoyles: Awakening"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
The beloved, darkly themed animated series, GARGOYLES (1994), features a supernatural species of nocturnal beasts who turn to stone during the day and confront dangers in the dark of night. Winged, fanged, and clawed, the Gargoyles stand out as monsters amidst people, but their intelligence, wit, charm, and value system humanize them. Watch the reaction on YouTube! https://youtu.be/nuIt-9P1hbM Follow us on Instagram! Dr. Drea Letamendi - @drdreapsychology Brian Ward - @b_ward028 The Arkham Sessions - @thearkhamsessions Join our Patreon! Patreon.com/ArkhamSessions
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Episode 251 "Sunshine"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
A crew of ambitious astronauts and scientists are sent on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun. Things are going well for the crew until they stumble upon the distress signal of Icarus I, the first mission to the sun that mysteriously failed. Members of the Icarus II crew become overwhelmed by their sense of wonder and awe toward the sun's growing presence, and as the ship travels nearer to this cosmic miracle, the psych officer descends into an unhealthy obsession with the celestial body. Watch the reaction on YouTube! https://youtu.be/8-RvrOh-eFk Follow us on...
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Episode 250 "Event Horizon"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
The story of Event Horizon (1997) is disturbing as a concept. The crew of space travelers face off with harrowing and grotesque interactions that they first interpret as hallucinations but come to learn that the ship itself has probed their psyche to produce personalized living nightmares. Upsetting flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and triggers can be seen as the ghosts or remnants of trauma. To see the video reaction, join us on YouTube! https://youtu.be/B0-4SU0Urbw Follow us on Instagram! Dr. Drea Letamendi - @drdreapsychology Brian Ward - @b_ward028 The...
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Episode 249 "Back to the Future"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
Marty McFly, a typical teen living in the 1980's, accidentally travels 30 years into the past and inadvertently disrupts the timeline of his very existence! Luckily, he can depend on his genius friend and mentor, Doc Brown, to get back to his own timeline safely. Follow us on Instagram! Dr. Drea Letamendi - @drdreapsychology Brian Ward - @b_ward028 The Arkham Sessions - @thearkhamsessions Join us on Patreon! Patreon.com/ArkhamSessions
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Episode 248 "Solaris"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
In the science fiction film Solaris (1972), a psychologist is sent to a space station hovering a distant planet to evaluate a crew of scientists suffering from serious emotional disturbances. But when he arrives, he finds the station in disarray and the crew members seemingly disoriented, obstinate, and psychotic. See the full watch along! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG0szTOgxKS4vRzOoQg8PeLVOyakpSG-a Follow us on Instagram! Dr. Drea Letamendi - @drdreapsychology Brian Ward - @b_ward028 The Arkham Sessions - @thearkhamsessions Join our Patreon!...
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Episode 247 "SDCC 2025: The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars, Episode VII"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
This is not your typical space battle! Turbocharged with brain science and fun facts, this discussion will explore, explain, and celebrate the "psy" in sci-fi! Squaring off are pop culture psychologists Dr. Drea Letamendi (UCLA, The Arkham Sessions) and Dr. Ali Mattu (YouTube's Dr. Ali), who will team up with the persuasive viewpoints of guests Ronald D. Moore (writer, Star Trek: The Next Generation; Deep Space Nine) and Diana Lee Inosanto (actress, Ahsoka; Star Wars: Tales of the Empire). Impartially moderated by Brian...
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Episode 246 "2001: A Space Odyssey"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is a cerebral, atmospheric, slow-paced and largely non-verbal spaceflight film thematically narrated by the musical backdrop of classical waltzes, creating strange sensations and uplifting novel psychological questions about human evolution, artificial intelligence, and alien interventions. To see the full REACT video version of this episode, you can visit our channel!
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Episode 245 "Harley Quinn: The Final Joke"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
In his wildest move yet, the Joker seizes control of Gotham City, militarizes the government, and holds Batman captive in his headquarters. Despite these achievements, Joker confesses that he still feels "bored," dissatisfied and anhedonic, amidst the chaos and violence that he created.
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Episode 244 "Harley Quinn: Devil's Snare"
The Arkham Sessions: Psychology of Batman & More
Just when Harley begins to repair her relationship with BFF Poison Ivy, the city of Gotham is attacked by an army of murderous anthropomorphized trees. And Ivy can't control them! Or Harley's narcissim!
info_outlineIs the Joker actually “insane”? Does Two-Face have “multiple personality disorder” by today’s standards? From an ethical perspective, do Gotham’s rogues belong in prison or in rehab? In works like The Penguin, Joker: Folie a Deux, and Batman: White Knight, DC villains have brought "main character energy" to life, proving themselves as enduring figures in media storytelling—but just how well do these baddies depict the mental health landscape of today, and is there anything wrong with celebrating villain vibes? Media psychologist Drea Letamendi, Ph.D. (Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics), screenwriter Ernie Altbacker (Batman: Hush Animated), and comics writer Kyle Higgins (Nightwing, Batman Beyond 2.0, Batman: Gate of Gotham) deconstruct, decriminalize, and debunk Gotham City’s most notorious institution and the stories behind it. Moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions Podcast).