73. Trope Series: Is the Manic Pixie Dream Girl Really Over?
In 2007, film critic Nathan Rabin coined the term "Manic Pixie Dream Girl", pointing out the inherently misogynistic trope that had become especially prevalent during the 2000s hipster indie film era. From there, the term's actual definition became murky, and was eventually viewed as a problematic cliche. This week we're exploring some of the classic examples of the "manic pixie" (*cough, Garden State), some incorrectly labeled MPDG's, and the trope's relevance today.