Episode Details

107 | Girls Like Girls: Hayley Kiyoko's Masterpiece is All That

Season 3 Episode 107 Published 1 day, 4 hours ago

Description

Show Notes:

Val, Lisa, and Courtney review the coming-of-age film Girls Like Girls, a late-summer story about grief, first love, and the messiness of being young in a small town. They dig into the film’s 2006 setting, its roots in Hayley Kiyoko’s viral music video, and why the father-daughter relationship becomes the emotional center of the movie.

Key topics

The film’s nostalgic 2006 setting and how life before social media shapes the characters’ choices
Cole’s grief, isolation, and adjustment to life with a father she barely knows
The story’s path from Hayley Kiyoko’s 2015 music video to the YA novel and feature adaptation
Cole and Sonia’s attraction, secret hangouts, and complicated relationship
Pressure, identity, and the tension between safety and authenticity
Controlling behavior and relationship red flags
Why the father-daughter relationship stands out as one of the film’s most moving elements
The difference between representation and a healthy relationship

Loveable Quote/s:

“We need to look at the quality of the relationship and the healthiness of the people engaged in the relationship

Resources:

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introductions and Valerie's Dirt Biking Injury
(00:02:27) - ADHD and Hypermobility Banter
(00:03:53) - Hula Hoops and Catching Up Plans
(00:04:25) - Intro to Girls Like Girls and 2006 Nostalgia
(00:05:28) - MP3 Players, Napster, and Limewire Memories
(00:06:10) - Plot Setup: Cole, Sonja, and the Film's Origins
(00:09:05) - Banana Seat Bikes and Childhood Nostalgia
(00:11:56) - How Cole and Sonja Meet
(00:14:52) - High School Boys vs Girls Discussion
(00:17:10) - Cole and Sonja's Contrasting Worlds
(00:20:18) - Deepening Connection and the Party Kiss
(00:23:06) - Confrontation and Coming Out Pressures
(00:27:33) - Cole's Grief and Trust Issues
(00:30:57) - The Father-Daughter Relationship
(00:33:31) - Discussion: What Would You Do as Cole
(00:36:29) - Realism and Longevity of Sonia and Cole's Relationship
(00:39:26) - Spiciness, Favorite Lines, and Authenticity Themes
(00:41:30) - Reflecting on Healthy Relationships and Representation
(00:44:39) - Final Thoughts and Show Wrap-Up
(00:46:45) - Disclaimers, Contact Info, and Upcoming Episodes