DOC: Alright, welcome back to another episode of Scene Interpretation. I am Dr. Sophia Murphy, a licensed professional counselor here in Arizona. I know I've been on hiatus. I've missed you. I've missed doing this. My real world job has just kind of taken over, but hey, I'm back. We're doing the thing. If you've been listening at all, you know that I am a huge Cenophile. Movies are my favorite thing, and the only thing I love more than movies is sharing them with my friends. So today I have the lovely Payton joining me. Hi guys. If you want to introduce yourself to everybody, we'll get into our movie for the day. I'm Payton. I work with Doctor Sophia over here. and I I work at a naturopathic clinic and I do a bunch of different naturopathic integrative things Monday through Friday and then work in the sports spaces a little bit. Yep. And so in our joint sports spaces, you've heard me talk about movies for years. Yes. we get to travel together. So when we're sitting together, I'm always watching some new movie. And it's always a horror movie. And I do not handle horror movies at all. Yes. So the fun thing about our choice for today is as I hide on the plane watching grotesque movies. It dawned on me, we are getting to my favorite time of year, which is spooky season. And I've been trying to get you on the pod, trying to get you on the pod, and I knew a horror movie was gonna be a yoga. There's no way I'm gonna get you to watch the nightmares for the rest of my life. More than fair. Not everybody's a sicko as I am, which is fair. Not a sicko. It's just you can shut up. High threshold. I've gotten into some dark stuff. So with that being said, I was trying to think of what could be our soft launch into spooky season. And if again you're a fan of movies and you pay attention to what's in the theaters, Practical Magic 2 just dropped. Yes, it did. Which for me was a perfect indicator of I need to find a friend who's never seen the original Practical Magic. And then pick your brain. Insert our conversation. And so today we are talking about the 1998 classic Practical Magic, which I absolutely love. I've probably seen this movie once a year since 1998. That's a wild. And I'm so excited to talk about it with you today. As we're kicking off, we're doing something a little different on the podcast as well. Is if you have seen practical Magic, then you will understand the significance of da da da da Midnight Margaritas Cleek. So Payton had the fantastic idea that we need to enjoy our Midnight Margaritas as we talk about her first viewing of this movie and break it down. So cheers, thanks for being here. And as a first ever on our episode, we're gonna have a little cocktail. Mm-mm. And it's fantastic. It is yummy. It's a coconut margarita. Which really blew my mind because as a fan of margaritas, I don't know that I've ever had coconut. It like hides the acidity of margaritas a little bit, I feel like. So then it's just like super easier. And you're like, I love it. Don't have acid reflex, all the things. So I don't know if we'll be casting any spells today, but we are enjoying a classic part of the movie. It would be fun to learn though. I know. I mean I'm a hundred percent on board. We're gonna create our own little With our little tequila fest on the side. Yes. Okay, so I love coming into this and starting with just kind of talking about the cultural experience of practical magic back in the day and you coming on board. So just kind of your overarching reaction to the movie. What did you think now that you've seen it? Yeah. Well, I was super apprehensive at first. Anything Halloween Just scares me because I am just such a wimp. I'm a rom-com kind of a person. And I mean sometimes action, but like I like easier movies. Sure. And so I was super skeptical at first, but it was so cute. It was like a little bit Halloween as when they were witches and added that aspect to it. But it was actually so cute and like kind of so realistic ish in like a go to like the sister bond and even just like relationships and love and everything like that. I thought So cute. I'm a huge fan and I love Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. So I really wanted to see the second one, but I was like, maybe this isn't for me. But I'm so glad that you made me watch the first one. Because it was so cute and now I'm such a fan. Yeah, I figured this was again like the perfect like slowly getting into the Halloween y space. And in my mind it really is a romantic comedy. Yes. And it's also a love story through the sisters. Yes. And it's really about their bond and what they have to overcome over the years. And it's one of my favorites. I mean I think Nicole Kidmons at her peak, Sandra Book is on fire, like they're so good together. Yes. And it's so endlessly rewatchable. absolutely. Like every time I revisit it, I still laugh. I still kind of like get something else out of it. Yeah. It's just so fun. It is really fun. And it's I don't know. I think to have a best friend, a sister, that kind of thing. Like I got fortunate and I have a sister like that. Yeah. And there is nothing like that bond. Like you would do anything for them as in what they did in the movie. That's such a good way to put it. Like it like It's a a great way to live life to have someone so close. I agree. And I love how they evolve from the time that they're really little and they get bullied, right? And way up until they're adults, and it's still really their bond that ties the whole story together. Yeah. Even when they kind of ebb and flow from each other over the years. Absolutely. But they always like come back to each other and know each other's there for them. Yes. Whatever they need. Yeah. And they're at different phases of lives throughout it. Like one gets married and has kids while the other one's just Figuring out dating, running around, yeah, in an abusive relationship, all that kind of stuff. That's the darkness of the movie. Yes, yes, it really is. And like so real to today's life. I feel like dating is so hard. And so like you get those people out there, not just guys, girls too. Like it's absolutely it goes both ways. But it's it's it's so bad. I know. So sometimes I wish I could put a spell on a person. Like they do in there. Beautiful. Okay, we'll come back to that. Okay. But so at the time this movie was actually considered a box office disappointment and it didn't do very well when it was released. And now over the years it's really been considered a central viewing, especially I think for like women and then for people who love that romantic comedy space. So what do you think it says about the fact that sometimes as just kind of like a culture we don't recognize what something is or what it has to offer until years later? I feel like that's so much in life. Like box office is not right about a lot of movies. I feel like I'm like how did this get ninety eight percent on Rotten Tomatoes? Or like whatever the yeah thing might be. But wow, that is honestly just like life. I feel like we don't appreciate things until it's gone or like later on kind of a thing. Yep. A lot of books, a lot of poets, like they won't appreciate it if they hit their time. Absolutely. And people just like as the world changes, then views change a little bit and they're like, Wow, they were actually on to something or That's a good way to put it too. Yeah, so kind of in that same vein, because I know there was a little bit of the nerves that it was gonna be scary. Yes. It was gonna be too Halloween y Dracula came out and that was a little scary. I mean, yes, Jimmy gets very freaky when he's in the ghost form. I he's scary as a a person when he's alive. Yes. But as a ghost, it's definitely unsettling. And I guess walk me through the moment, maybe you realize that this movie wasn't really what you thought it was gonna be, or maybe not even so much about magic, but just more about relationships. Like where did that hit you or like what What did you notice? honestly it was probably very early on. Like when the girls were just growing up and they were trying to learn and I love that like they the aunts wanted to teach them about magic, like about their heritage basically or about life. And they're like, You've already done your homework, like let's teach you about real life things or magic, which I think is I appreciate that so much. Like there's so much learning to learn or like knowledge to be had. And so like to be able to like do real life stuff outside of school is huge for a kid to be able to do. So like especially right after what the hanging of the witch right away. Yes, yes, which honestly wild just because And that part's true. Like that was really happening in the Northeast for a long time. Like that's not even fictional to the story. No, yeah, yeah. You get no say and what happens, some people don't like you and like okay, let's hang you. Right. We think that you're evil. Mm-hmm. So kind of early on and then yeah, like there was the little bit of like spooky when he is in the spirit form and that's just why I don't mess with anything. Like I don't know what you believe in, but like you there's good and there's evil in the world and you just don't tap into that. Yes. Or I just try to do. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. And I I really love how you brought up the word heritage because to me I think a lot of that Is really more what the movie's about, right? The family aspect, the lineage, and kind of coming into who you really are. So one thing I was thinking about was like Sally spends her whole childhood, right, so Sandra Bullock, wanting to be normal and like trying to design a life that looks like everyone else's, and then it still falls apart. So what do you think about that idea of like expending all this energy to try to outrun your heritage just to still not get what you want or need at the end of the day? I think that's like everyone's life path, right? Like if she She wouldn't have done that. It's like a what if kind of a thing. Like She had to experience that and I get it, like sometimes you're dealt different cards and you think the grass is greener on the other side or what have you, and so you want to be quote unquote normal, yeah, kind of a thing, but I think destiny is also like or like fate will bring you to where you're supposed to be too, yeah, kind of a thing. And I think she tried it but it still brought her back to like her roots kind of a thing. Like Yep. Yeah, I was thinking about that too. It's like I think we are all motivated on obviously to fit in and especially as kids and if you are different and you can feel that difference and especially if that difference is seen as negative or you're treated in a negative way, like it's not uncommon to wanna try to push against who especially when you're getting bullied. Terrible now. And people hide behind their computers and say the worst things. Absolutely. And like not even to your face. So I get wanting to fit in. It's and not to like shun parts of yourself if you think that's gonna make you fit in. Right. But like everyone's an individual and being unique is a good thing. But it's sad that kids don't see that. You like don't realize that until you start aging and like coming into your own and everything like that. And like maybe that was Sandra Bullock too, like wanting to fit in and until she like came into her own. Yes. And then realize like she has a gift. One thing I like about how they show the distinction between Sally and Jillian is even though I mean I guess Jillian makes some pretty scary that's some people's lifestyle too. Yes, you have to like learn your lessons or like she's at least her lesson. Yep. Yeah. Exactly. And so I love when she comes back and Sally's still trying to fit in and like trying to be like all the other PTA moms and like be in that circle, and then Jillian comes in and is just like authentically herself. Yes. And I really love how she doesn't let Any of the nastiness for the other woman get to her. I agree. And that seems to help Sally kind of get out of that stuck place even as an adult with kids. Like she's still so desperately trying to be whatever that version of normal is. Right, absolutely. Because in especially in a small town like they lived in, like everyone talks, she's never on like the top number for the call log or whatever the thing was. Whatever the like emergency tree or whatever. Right, but that doesn't mean she's a bad mom or Or anything like that. So it was really nice that when Jilly came back and she like, okay, no, we're not never gonna fit in. So like why not just be me? I totally agree. So kind of what in watching this too, did anything change in how you think about the things that we inherit from the women who came before us, whether it's trauma or power or even being afraid of some of the things that we've inherited? Mm-hmm. Honestly, try to embrace it. Like everyone goes through traumas in life. So, like how you can better that for the future, yeah, I think is all we can do in our lifetime. We're dealt the hands that we're dealt, and we're dealt what we can handle too, I feel like. And so, like, it's even if it's a lot of work, that kind of thing, like, I think you should still try to try to better it for the future because that is just gonna continue getting passed on. Yeah. So, and everyone just tries their best, right? Like, you can't blame anyone. in your past, like you don't know what they were going through and what it's all that kind of stuff. Like so like no one's to be put at fault for like not giving you better hands for the life that you live kind of a thing. Yeah. So I don't know. I just think like you're dealt what you can handle. Sometimes that seems like so much. But like you you just try to do the best that you can and that's all anyone can do. Like life is just an experience for everyone. No one has a rule book. Everyone's just tr honestly trying to figure out why if like no matter if you have zero dollars or a billion dollars, every I'm just trying to figure it out. Well, and I was thinking too of like, I mean, I know the magic is kind of like an over-the-top, almost its own character in the story. But the thing that really stood out to me, I think, is like, you know, so Sally tries to do it differently, it still collapses. And when she moves back with the aunts and brings her girls, she tries to shelter them from their history, right? Like she tells the aunts they're never gonna learn magic, like, don't say these things to them. And so she's trying to keep this really important story from the girls. And it made me wonder because we never really really see Sally and Jillian with their mom. We just know that she died of a broken heart when their dad And so I think there is kind of this underlying message of like what you ignore and purposely suppress about your lineage still comes back. Yes. And again, maybe it's not witchcraft, right? This is a fictional story, it is something. Yeah. And so I really like how you said like we don't want to fault our past right or the people in our past. Maybe we can recognize some shortcomings and also in context of what they had or didn't have. But I think there is something really to be said about you have to embrace some of those. Things from your history, especially even if it is trauma. Right. So that it's not this like hidden thing that we're pretending never happens. But we have to interact with it differently to make different choices for our children or whoever that next generation is. And I kinda like how they used witchcraft as a way to show that same philosophy. Yes. Because it's like tangible and fun. Yes. But I think in my therapist brain, like that's true for all of us, even if it wasn't magic. Something like as cool as magic. I wish it was magic. It would be so cool. Like I I would love to learn some of those spells. But no, I totally agree with you. It will always come back. And I think she was just trying to protect her kids. Like she didn't want what happened to her to happen to them. And you always want to try to do better for your kids, I feel like. I don't know personally, but like I think that's what I would do. For the next generation, yeah. Absolutely. But that I think maybe protecting them too much is also a negative, though, too. And that's still a part of their history, a a big part. Yes and a like a skill that they have. Yeah. And so like totally trying to ignore that, like it's it's gonna come back. Yeah, 'cause again I was thinking about it through like a clinical lens. Like I talked to my patients so much about like how much do you know about what your mom went through or your dad went through and how generations up can you answer those questions and for a lot of people they don't know they just have never talked about it and again it isn't always necessarily like one big obvious trauma but just the types of patterns that do move through family trees is like once you know it and you can like sit with it then you can explore like what do I want to do differently or man I didn't know maybe even my great grandparent had this interest or this hobby or this skill like you can learn so many interesting things and either keep them or let them go that it can't be done without the information. absolutely. So trying to hide it too much doesn't help anybody because again stuff comes up. it comes back around all the time. All the time. It can be even like the simplest things. Like I remember when I was younger we like probably in college we my sister and I had a conversation with our parents we're like why don't you say I love you and it's because they never heard that. Like don't you know that we love you like but it's also nice to be told that. Like even when we mess up or like Like whatever, like I'm proud of you, I love you, like that kind of thing, but they don't know what they don't know, they didn't get that And so they didn't know that they should do that to us, but then after we j you just bring it up, they're like, Of course, like I will say that more. So like now always say it. So it's just like those little things too. Like they don't know what they don't know either. They're just they're at that age for the first time in their life too, trying to figure it out. I love that. That's a perfect example of just like you learn something about them and how they were raised. Right. And then it's an opportunity. We don't have to do it like it was just because it was. Yep. We can change it. I love that. Perfect example. Let's see. So kind of going back to Sally and Jillian's differences, Jillian runs towards chaos, sensation, danger, and Sally runs towards safety and routine. what sister do you identify more with and do you want to change that at all? my gosh. Yes. I feel like I'm both of them. that's awesome. What kind of? Maybe I don't know. I feel like safety but I'm also Jillian and I think then maybe my sister is Sally because she's always had a boyfriend. Like I feel like I'm not like she's not independent at all. But I just feel like I I'm like if I don't like the guy I'm not gonna stay with him where Riley's like my sister she's like maybe w just try this out a little longer and then like just switch from boy to boy kind of a thing. she's married, happily married, all that kind of stuff right now where I'm still just trying to figure it out like Jilly. So maybe I guess I am more like her, just without as maybe it's chaotic chaotic of yes. I'm like, I don't want to deal with this. I'm done. Kind of a thing. Yeah, you're not in the nightmare place of some of her choices. Thank God. No. I've stopped before then. Wonderful. So yes, I'm Jilly and my sister's more Sally. Yeah, and I was thinking about too, like I think in my trajectory, like there's an age component too of like at some age you think like I need it to be like as safe and secure, but that could also come from a place of fear. And it's not necessarily the same as safety and security with intentionality. You just want like no risk at all. Yes. And then you might go through a phase where you want lots of risk and you just don't want to have to commit to anything. And so I see that as even like in the same woman you could have both parts of them, right? absolutely. Just depending on where you're at in your life. I feel like I've been a different person each five, ten years, like of my life. Like kind of a thing. And there's like no way I could have been married when I was in my early twenties because I was wanting such different things back then that I like don't think I I would. not be the right person for me and I like I don't know if there's necessarily the one but I feel like there's a good amount maybe that's like I don't know what do you think about that? What do you think about like the one or are there just like a some right people that you want to make it work out with? Yeah that's a good question. I mean I I think that our culture is so hyper focused on the one and like Everything that we kind of watch and consume is very much centered on that. Like even in this story. Like Sally's first husband, I guess we're meant to think wasn't the one. But she loved him. So I think that there's other people that you will love and you don't find that one. Like she wouldn't have known that wasn't the one. Right. If she hadn't made that spell and then like true, he didn't have the different color eyes, whatever kind of a thing. Yes. but yeah. all the movies, it's like the one, you'll like that kind of thing and then hopefully ever after. Yes. And I'm like, I don't know. Is there the one or are there just like there are some some that you obviously vibe with more like others that it's just like not your person or like a good person that you want to do all the hard ups and downs with. I think it's more the latter. Right. And partly just I think again from like my job and my career and seeing how hard people f not I don't want to say force feel compelled to like wait or find or everything has to be perfect. And that also never seems to be sustainable. So I think it is more about like who's the person that we're both equally committing to do the work. versus like again the like novelty of the romance of the story of like the spell and then finding the exact person that I was meant to be with. Right. Aside from everyone else. Yeah. And for people who've like listened to me or know me personally, I am not a romantic comedy person for that reason. I actually think most romantic comedies are more horrific than horror movies because of the tropes. and this one I love just because I again I think I love Nicole Kinman and and And just like when it came out and I love how she is with Sandra Bullock and so like it just I can shut that part of my brain off. Yes. But even at the end she has a line where she says like she recommends falling in love as often as possible. Exactly. And I love that takeaway too of like it did come full circle and I guess she found like the man of her dreams and he wished for her too, which always gets me. It's just like so sweet. So cute. And I do think there's this piece of like it doesn't take away from the love she had with her husband. No. And the fact that she went through that tragedy. Two people were committed to each other. They made life Like happy or like they like of the the other one, like kind of a thing. And I think that's just like the person you have to kind of find though too. I agree. Yeah. So kind of in that same vein, Sally ends up falling in love with the man that she literally conjured as a child, an impossible standard that she invented to actually protect herself. So what do you think about the idea that kind of on the flip side some of us create impossible standards to protect us from ever getting the thing that we want and almost get in our own way? Yeah. I think it's like kind of a huge thing right now. It's like there I don't know, there's so many things on the internet that's like and you want to have standards. You should have standards. Like sure. We need boundaries. Absolutely. Yes. And everyone, like, is an adult, like they guys, girls can sh should be able to live on their own and like do those things. It's not all a guy's job, all a girls job, anything like that. but I do feel like we have impossible standards or even just like something hard comes up and it's like, no, like it shouldn't be this hard. Yes. Kind of a thing. I agree. But then I also think sometimes if we get to a certain age we're like, it's just too late, like I'm already this age. We're gonna try to make it work. And it's not I don't know, so I think there's a balance though too. Like some s times we make way too high of standards and then we don't even try to do like a little bit of a compromise and like actually see and I that obviously does us a disservice. Like the getting married so much later now because I feel like the standards are so high, which is good. Right. You want them high and you want I feel like to find that person instead of like find at twenty and get divorced because you weren't even fully developed and like whatever it might be. But I do think our standards are very high. Yeah, I think a lot of what we do, at least in our culture, seems to come from extremes. This is a lot of what I noticed too in my work is that again, if you've listened to any of these episodes, I'm very critical of social media and how it's changed how we relate to each other. And so one of the things I think social media has done for relationships is that you only see the best of what other people are going through. So create these standards, not just for yourself, but for your dynamic and you compare your relationship to what you think these perfect relationships are. And I do think that's created these very unrealistic standards of like how a man should behave, how a woman should behave, or just even how a person should behave. And really even in whether it's a heterosexual relationship or a same-sex relationship, we have all these scripts now. And I do think the standards seem to be getting more and more like almost cookie cutter, it has to be like this. And then when we don't reach that, sometimes we just take whatever we can get, the other extreme. Yes. And we're not really figuring out to your point like what the actual things are that I want separate from what I think I should want. Yes. And I love the idea of like what if we gave ourselves permission to just answer those questions versus either extreme. Mm-hmm. I agree. I don't know why Social media probably has created that and like we just want what's perfect or like what everyone else is saying that we should have. Yeah. And then again, everyone has a comment, like, that too. You're okay that he doesn't do this, like I wouldn't be okay with that. But opinion. Yes. And like actually that didn't matter to me at all. Like he fulfills X, Y, and Z for me. Right. I that's not my love language, or like but I feel like people have are so opinionated and especially opinionated. ruminated on other people's lives. Yes. That it then that like creates issues because then now I'm ruminating on it and like, maybe he should and if he doesn't think of that he doesn't love me or like whatever. I think you're right, yeah. like weasels its way into people's brains. Yes. And we're not really deciding for ourselves. We're letting all this outside noise or our interpretation of outside noise affect us too much. Yes. So just an interesting thought. I do think that at the end of the day a lot of that is driven by trying to feel safe and wanting it to feel like more stable and secure than maybe it is. If we think if we check all these boxes we'll never get hurt. Right. And I think that's all anyone wants is to like feel safe and feel loved. Yeah. And to feel chosen kind of like For sure. Having someone choose you and give you that safety, we make it so much harder. Yeah. Doesn't need to be. Well, and I think part of the story of the movie too is just like sometimes you do still have heartache and loss, and it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. No. Right? Like it's just a part of life. And I think that's I like how he's she says fall in love as many times as you can. I feel like some people are scared of letting their hearts get hurt, broken. And I can I am the same way too. Because it is very vulnerable. You don't want to have that happen because you don't think you'll be able to get over it or like it's not worth it. But it It's still part of your story. Exactly. And like without that first love she wouldn't have had her two girls. Like kind of a thing. So You have to be okay with being vulnerable. Yeah. And so I think what's interesting is Jillian's the other end of that spectrum and they have that fight in the kitchen where she even says to her, like you hate me for living my life and like going out and taking all the risks, like you're scared to death of your power, which again I know they're talking about witchcraft in the story. And I think you could make that argument for any woman. If you're too afraid of the opportunity or the risk or the potential heartbreak, you make yourself small. And Jillian's the other end where she's actually saying to her, like it terrifies you how I live my life because I'm willing to take the risk. Now, with that though, you know, she makes some dangerous choices and stays with specifically Jimmy way too long. Yes. and it's almost the other end where she's willing to take so many risks that she's not recognizing like how much danger she's putting herself in. So I guess like what do you think about people who kind of fall on the other end of the spectrum and become almost so reckless that they also are still not taking care of themselves or I don't know not seeing the forest for the tree. Yeah. Honestly, I it could be like a little bit of different personality traits though too. Because I feel like Jilly needed that and needed to see and then that unfortunately having an abusive relationship, she's like, okay, I like need to reel it in a little bit more. Like that her rock bottom but like kind of like okay w I've had fun like but I can't I don't wanna have this much fun. But I think she needed that. She needed to be like a free bird. That's part of her story where I don't think Sally ever needed to be a free bird. Like yeah, in that sense, like traveling on the world and dating all the countless guys and all that kind of stuff. Like I think that's just like different personalities. Even though you come from the same parents, which is still so wild to me how different people siblings can be. Absolutely. Like totally different parents raised this exact same way, went to the same schools, blah blah blah. Right. It is crazy how different they can be. I don't know. That's Interpretation, what do you think? Well, and I think as I was re-watching it, what was coming up for me was I got the sense that Jilly was also running in a different way. So, like, even though Sally stayed and tried to fit in, she was still very much running from their heritage. Yeah. Whereas I felt like Jilly physically left, and at least the little clips that we see while she's gone, she's still not really like living that truth or living that heritage. It's almost like she's more explicitly running, and even when she's sneaking out that night to meet the first boyfriend, she says, like. Like I have to get out of this house, I have to get away from the aunts. Coping mechanisms. Yeah. And so I I kind of had a different perspective this time of like it seems like they're actually both doing the same thing, just in very different ways. Yeah. And the two different traumas that they experience bring them back and actually embracing their roots. And like even the end when they're all literally dressed as witches for Halloween. Like that's the most honest they are. Yeah. And I haven't seen the sequel yet. I always ended the first one with thinking like now they're the most at truth and they don't need these other ways of living to deny like just the reality of who they are. Yeah. And they seem so much happier. Like your truth. Like embracing your special talent, your witchesm, whatever Yeah, whateverism is. but so much happier. But try to cope and everyone copes so differently yeah and at the end too the curse with Jimmy is only broken when the sisters stop fighting and actually come together but they also let the other women in. Yes. Right? Like they bring all the people from the town in. And so I was wondering about that idea too of like how actually embracing the community was the thing that actually saved them all versus all the like fighting and the separateness and just the idea that like you don't have to survive by yourself. Right. Or be Hiding. Yeah. I love that. It takes a village. But like having friends and community is so nice and that's like a part of life. Like you need to have that. Otherwise you feel so secluded and the best ending it could have had. It really was. Because the other woman had been so nasty. And yet when they really needed them, they all came together. And all you can do is try. Like I feel like they tried to be nice, or at least Sally did. Yeah. kind of a thing and sometimes it'll just take them time. Yeah too. Like you can only do what you can do. Like you know you are a good person. I can sleep at night. How they treat you is that's on them. And I even love the part where Sally has to activate the phone tree. Yeah. And she's calling everybody and you see the other woman on their phone, they're like, my God, Sally just came out and they almost use the same language like she come out as a lesbian or come out as whatever to come out as a witch. And then that actually brings them together. Yes. That her like putting words to it like, you know how everyone's always been talking about me and Saying all those things I can't do. Well, here's the news I am a witch. Right, and like I have to help my sister. And I just again I know it's like a romanticized version of that, but I love the idea that like her coming out and like being open and honest is actually what brings them all together. It's just like the sweetest way that it could have turned out. Yes. She didn't get hanged, she got helped. No, she did. Yes. Thank goodness we don't do that anymore. I know. Let's see. So where do I want to go? So kind of on the less great side, up into the part where they actually bring the town together, for the history of history, the town has treated the Owens family as outcasts. This has been going on for generations and it's really based on fear of what they don't understand. Right. And so, like, what do you think about people who are seen as like too much or too different just because other people can't understand them? I think it's so unfortunate. Like what why is that your place to judge someone? Like, again, we're all just here doing our best like everyone has their own story like why what makes you better than them yeah or whatever you think to be able to judge them and think they're lower or whatever kind of a thing. I know so yeah I think it's unfortunate and we still deal with that in life for sure now too but I wish I wish it wasn't I know, that's I think part of what I love about this movie is that again it does work out in a place where when they finally confront the bullying and the way they've been treated and they are their true selves, they're received actually much better than when everything is like whispers and, you know, bullying and jokes. And we know in reality unfortunately it doesn't turn out that way. No. And especially now, like people being more themselves isn't always safe and it doesn't change someone's mind and it doesn't create community. And so I think this is kind of a nice watch. Like a good pop movie. Again, a good f feel works out. Yes, exactly. Happy endings kind of a thing. But yeah, life isn't always that way. So I get why some people don't want to come out or be themselves because again difference isn't a good thing but it is a good thing. Right. It's like we know it's a good thing and in so many spaces and in so many settings, the fear, which I think is accurate, is people respond from fear. You can't protect yourself with empathy, right? So even if you can understand why someone is receiving you poorly, or even if you can't have empathy for their fear or ignorance of just not understanding who you are or your life or whatever, that doesn't make you any safer if the other person isn't willing to learn or in this case like come over and do the spell and be a part of the thing and like help it work out for everybody. and so I do think even like just like with everything going on, this was such a nice rewatch because like it is so sweet and people grow and learn and like I love when the other women come over and they're like prepping everything and they start sharing their individual stories. Yes. And the one lady's like, you know, I swear the one time like I was across town and like my daughter was struggling and I just like knew she was struggling. They're all like kind of relating to each other. And when Of the aunts says, like, there's a little witch in all of us, and so there's even that moment where it's like we're not so different, right? And I think it just like it's so nice to see that in a movie and like wish that people would open their eyes and recognize like the things we have in common versus the things we don't, yeah. and it is kind of like that both end of like, it's so fun to watch this and see it, and then you're like, I don't know that everyone could come out in whatever way they're coming out and be received so warmly, and people grow. But like sometimes movies are a good reminder. For people though, too. Like treat people nicely, treat them how you want to be treated. Like, don't judge. Like, we're all just human here. Like, this is like community again. Like, this is a good reminder, kind of a thing. And if you're scared, maybe come learn. Yeah, right. Right? Like, all they needed was to learn. Exactly. Come over to the house and hang out. Like, I've yeah. Or we can do it in a different building. Like, if you're too scared to come over to the house, like baby steps, whatever you need, kind of a I know. It's kind of neat to to to also see how the aunts are really unapologetic the whole time. Mm-hmm. I love how they never change. Yeah. So even though they let the girls, you know, figure out their own way and like Jilly comes and goes and Sally's lonely and then not and then lonely again. The aunts are so apologetic and they have the house full of magic and moonlight and they just are themselves the whole time. And so like, what do you think it would have been like and maybe you were, I don't know, but to be around women who were always so unapologetic and like who they were growing up. my gosh. I have not seen that a lot. No. I think more now. And it would be It's so good. I feel like to see that at such a young age. Yeah. Because I feel like a lot of times we'll quiet ourselves or a little ourselves or like I w and like I was a middle child, so like I I just tried to stay out of trouble, kind of a thing. Like nope only we'll go like if I need something kind of a thing, but like in like I'm fine, like w whatever kind of a thing. But like I I'm just fine. But I think having that seeing that and like knowing like no what you're going through matters no matter how small or how big it is. Kind of a thing. And so yes, n I mean, I think my parents did a great job, my aunts, uncles, grandparents, all that kind of stuff. But like definitely not as unapologetically themselves and just It's a small town. It's like very Midwest old school kind of a thing. Like which I'm s I still like, but I just think you can be a little bit more independent and like you are human and you're going through matters kind of a thing. A hundred percent. And I think a lot, even contextually, like so many women were just expected to be like smaller or conform or whatever that meant to them in that space and time. And just even as I've grown up, like I think of female friends I have now who are just really so unapologetically themselves and are raising their daughters to be that way. And it's so neat I think at this age to see like a ten year old little girl with self esteem and more self awareness and yeah more just like secure identity than I think even ten years ago. Yes. Or sometimes they're even more than I am. And I'm like, how? Like that is not okay. Like I need to get my stuff together kind of a thing. Like like this is encouraging. She knows who she is and she's like a little diva and like just knows what she wants. I'm like just say what you want. Yes. And I love that. And I love seeing I think now that more women are doing that for themselves or raising young women to do that for themselves or both. It's amazing. And I think that is one of my favorite parts of the movie is that there's even the scene where before Sally meets her husband where she's walking down the street with the aunts. They've like gotten the mail and the aunts are just themselves, like even their clothes. Like, you know, they look like a witch and it's so over the top and they speak to everybody. And the women that won't speak to them. Exactly. But they'll just die give a fuck. And I like love that energy. And again this is from nineteen ninety eight. Like it's just so cute and sweet and also at the same time I think like it's got a message in there. absolutely. Like a valuable message of just like it took the two sisters time to figure out who they were. But I love that they had the aunts as like those anchors through their whole lives. I wish we had gotten to see the mom. I know. That's the one part of the story. Like even at rewatching it, I was like, man, I always wonder what that part was like. Yes, I know. I do too. I don't wish she would have died from a broken heart. I know. I think about it. But I am excited to see the second one and how they do that 'cause I feel like will Jilly be just as confident? I'm sure. I'm but like will Sally like be into her own and And they the daughters are older now, right? So like I wanna see how they've evolved with what they were supposed to A hundred percent. So I'm really excited to see like what's taking place twenty years later. That's really cool. Yeah. So were there any specific scenes that maybe made you pause? not necessarily because it was like funny, but maybe it just was like something you weren't expecting. Well, the crickets. Like for you find love and then you they die on you? Like I know. That is such a curse. So I was not a fan of that because that So sad, and no wonder why the mom died. Like, there's older people that will die of like a broken heart because they're with their person for forever and then they're just like alone and like that's how they die. So, or like one of the main reasons why they do. So that I mean, yes, kind of realistic, but also so sad that like you finally find someone that you love and then lose them get to lose them at a young age. Yeah. Because if you love them, like yeah. And I remember when I first saw it, 'cause again, like this was one of my favorite movies when it came out, I had no idea that he was gonna die and that was gonna like kind of start the story. Right. Right? Like I think I thought it was probably gonna be more about Nicole Kidman's character when it was new. And so like Sandra Bullock finding the guy, even though it's kind of given to you in the beginning, right? Like any man who loves an Owens woman is cursed to die. I just remember being so shocked. Yes. That like she was really gonna lose him and it wasn't like an accident or like something he was gonna come back from. Like it was really like nope, on with the story. No, yeah. Right. Yeah. And like how that changes even the little girls' lives and everything like that. Like losing a parent. at such a young age. I know. Just so sad. That's why I love the aunts and then being like that steady yes anchor for both the sisters and then the younger girls as well. So great to have family or The family that you choose. Yes. 100% that. And what did you think, even though it's like an older movie of some of the like special effects and the magic and like even the scary stuff with Jimmy? Honestly, I thought it did a great job. I watched some other old movies and I'm like, wow, you can tell like it wasn't quite there. But I don't know. I thought they did a good job with it. Like sure the quality of things are so much better now and I'm not like the biggest like I will watch movies but I don't dive deep into like a CG or like like my brother in law does. but I don't they did a really good job and it wasn't that much magic like to be like they're here and now they're here and like to try to make it like it wasn't crazy CGI take very little computer edited but I thought the like film itself whoever was the director and like I thought they did a really Age is well, like I love the little parts of like Sally being able to stir her spoon without her hands. Yes. Right. And to like light the candle with her breath. And even just when there's the flashback, or I guess she's still little at the time, but when she makes the potion for the boy with the two different colored eyes and the flower petals go up into the sky, and then when he's an adult and it shows the flashback to him on the horse. Yeah. And the little flower petals fall. Like I just love all the like whimsical, like romance of It's very sweet and pretty understated minus like I guess when Jimmy's actually a ghost. That's like the most CGI that we Yeah, it was all very subtle things and nothing like Yeah. I agree. Never too scary but like just spooky enough. Yes. And not too much computerized, like just enough to get the point across. Right. And like get you to understand like something's wrong with it. And like feel like every good story needs like a little bit of a thrill, a little bit of a laugh. So you get all of that in there without it being too extreme. A hundred percent. So over this almost twenty years it has become a a cult classic movie, even though like I said it was considered a a flop when it first came out. But really it's now gained all of its acclaim because women pass it on to other women. Like it's a thing that we've shared. And so coming through it or coming to the movie from that perspective, what do you think about watching it knowing I loved it? Like do you think it changed your expectations? Do you think it would have hit differently if you'd seen it with just like scrolling on whatever app and saw it playing? For this one, no. you like a lot of movies that I don't wouldn't like. So I think if I said I didn't like it, I it would be like all the other movies that you like and I don't actually like at all. Logo. So changed my opinion. I it's definitely up my alley perfect of a movie. But like I do like I mean I love I like Halloween. Like that kind of thing. I just like don't like the scary eerie, spooky, gory gory kind of stuff. So I like that I like can actually like participate in a little bit of like Halloweeny stuff. Or like now watch the second movie too. Yes. And like get into like the Halloween spirit and like that kind of stuff without not being able to sleep at night. Yeah, I don't think this movie will keep anybody up. No. No, you will be good. If I can handle it, all of you guys can handle it. So who's a woman in your life that you want to pass it on to and kind of keep its lineage going? definitely whenever I have kids, if I have kids. Yeah. to my kids. But like I think even like my sister and my fri best friend, like I don't think they they're just like me. We're the biggest ones in movies. So like that's why maybe one of the reasons why we get along so well. But I think it's just like a good movie for best friends, for sisters, like fort like I have both and both in one. like see that bond and like appreciate it and be able to pass that on to then their lineage then too. So like yeah, I think honestly it's a great watch for anyone. Yeah, so it sounds like you need a girls' night with your two favorite ladies so that you can spread this movie and then maybe go see the second one. And then the second one. Yeah, two girls' nights right there. It's such a good idea. I like it. Yeah. I feel like it's a good Friday night, Saturday night. It has to keep getting passed along to Like other women who haven't seen it yet. Because again, I feel like it's such a good story. Like it's lighthearted. Yes, it's like the perfect popcorn movie. Yes, absolutely. And to have a good conversation with afterwards. Because you can get deeper into it. Yeah. or you can take it as it is, and I still think it's a great story for them just to see, you know, like a feel good and like 100%. And I was telling you before we got on mic, like, it still makes me emotional, and I've seen it so many times. Like, I just get Wrapped up in the sweetness of it. Yeah. And I love again, I get moved by their sisterhood, and even when they like have to like cut their hands and like clasp hands, and that's the magic that breaks the spell. I still get goosebumps, and I've seen it so many times. Right. And I love her falling in love with the sheriff and that line I already mentioned, but when he says, I wish for you too, like that always gets me so cute. I'm like perfect one liner. Literally. I just think it's such a a fun, like it's not. gonna s like set off your nervous system, it's not super upsetting. There's like very, very little blood, I guess, again when they cut their hands, that it's just like a sweet person movie. It it really is. Which hey, I watch all the dark shit. This is a lovely change of pace. But like still realistic. They fight in it. Everyone fights and like but they come back together and Yeah. A lot of time goes by, they grow together. Absolutely. I like that too. I love a movie that takes place more than like four days. That's one of my favorite things. Yes. I'm not a big fan of like a Monday to Thursday story unless it is more like a horror movie that's like taking place in a couple hours. Yes. Yeah. But I like the evolution of their relationships as a family. I think that's also really well done. too. Yeah. So by the end of the movie did you feel maybe more like enchanted, emotional? Were you just kind of emotionally in it with the characters? Where did you land by the end? So I think I was just like emotionally in it with them. Like again, it just felt so real like having a sister best friend. You're like, that's like our lives, just without the magic, kind of a thing, and it's just kind of magic. You feel so fortunate to have that and then to like have love and I just yeah, you just get emotional with them and you're Good. So like a lot of gratitude, it sounds like like it resonated. Yes. The good parts resonated. The good parts, yes. I love that. Yeah. So is there anything you think you would have understood differently or it might have landed differently if you'd seen this movie either when it was new or just when you were at maybe a different part of your life where maybe you didn't feel as close to some of the other women in your life? Yeah. Honestly, if I would have watched it when I was young, like when it came out in nineteen ninety eight, I would've I was just too young to that's fairly appreciated. It so I don't think it would have had the same hit waiting to watch it till now, or at least when I was an adult kind of a thing. so I am glad that I hadn't even heard of it until now because yeah, you really get so much more out of it, or at least I got so much more out of it. If I would have seen it as a kid, it would have just been like okay, yeah, like magic, yeah, fun. And like I don't need to see it again maybe. Like 'cause I yeah, I don't know how you found it to be your favorite. I wish I would have thought that back then, but I don't think I would have thought it was my favorite. But now that I'm older and like I I will watch this every year. Yeah, I think it was probably like even though I was still young, I think two things. I was less nihilistic about relationships. becoming a therapist really fucked that up for me, ironically, where I was like, ooh, I don't know if I like all these romantic narratives that we have in TV and movies. Yeah. so I think I was like, yeah, less nihilistic about relationships in general. So I just loved the love story. and I think I was always just I loved the little like witchy. adjacent stuff. Yeah. like I was a big like Sabrina the Teenage Witch fan, you know. So like this is like a non scary witch movie and so I think as a kid it was just like, ooh, I like the magic. I love the romance. And again I just think I love them as sisters. Yes. Yeah. I love that it all comes together. And so think it just, yeah, it hit me at a actually a good time. I think if I'd seen it for the first time when I was older, I might have thought it was cheesy. okay. Because I I'm just so anti romantic movies in almost every way. Yeah. it's funny, this one and Pretty Woman are two that I still love, even though wait till I do Pretty Woman out of here. That movie is so incredibly problematic. But because I saw it young and wasn't thinking about any of the realities of it, I just love the love story. my gosh. And have what I don't know if I want to think that deeply into it because I just love it so much. Yeah. I think nowadays it takes a lot for me to like a romantic story. Like Heated Rivalry is the last time that I was like such a great movie that one person in it. And I think it's because it felt more real. Yeah. Right. Like it also spans like twenty years, not that long. It spans like six years, nine years, whatever of them being in the league and like not really getting to have each other, but sort of having each other. Like I have to be really Some spice and it was just it was all about I it's just yeah, I think it takes so much more for me now to get swept up in the romance of something and it was actually better that I did see it when I was young. Yeah. Before the world And becoming a therapist had really burst that bubble for me. So that wasn't my path. Yeah, no, that's fair. But that's sweet. I like the idea that like even in our friendship, like when you meet and you become friends with people. Right. It's just so fun, like how your lives go where they come from and then cross. Yes. Like it's so cool to me that no matter where we end up, like we'll have always met when we met and like have that friendship. Isn't that cool? And like at the right time. Yeah, or like yeah. You cross. Paz and like get to make an impact on each other. I love that stuff. That's the stuff that really like keeps me going. Okay, so as we're wrapping up, always ask people a week from now what image or moment from this movie do you think will live rent-free in your head? What's gonna stay with you? probably the margarita night. I just think it's cute. They're like dancing and just having a fun night. Like night. Yes. And then it gets a little bit more heated. But I guess and it's also real too. Like it'll bring out some truth. Yes, absolutely. and bring down some walls and everything like that. So I think that's cute. I think the bond between the sisters is just s so cute and a good reminder. And I think like the community at the end. Yeah. I think it's just s like is such a good reminder to Create that or keep that, how whatever you need to do to have in your life. Agreed. I think the minute Margaritas has always stayed with me just because it's like this cute little reprieve in the movie from the seriousness. Yeah. But then it turns really dark. So I just love that juxtaposition in the story. and then I love the final scene where they jump off the roof and they're in their like actual wit witch costumes and the whole town comes instead of judging them, they partake. Mm-hmm. I just love that again, like community aspect when they're all together. Yeah. awesome. Be you. I know, right? It's really sweet. It's like the perfect little like heartwarming movie for this time of year. It really was. I'm glad you made me watch it. Me too. I'm such a good bully. Like I'm a fun bully. Yeah. There's so many of that. I was like, no, absolutely not. I know. I'm a good bully with boundaries. Yes. You know how to take no for an answer. Yeah, exactly. Like, I'll just throw out ideas, things that I really want, and I can also respect your no, and I'm gonna find something. Well, you will find something that I think. You're gonna like. And so far, I think the track record is working. Yes, I I love how I've gotten to introduce so many of my friends to new things over this show. And even doing podcasts and everything like that. All of this is so new. But it's so good for you, though too. Like just trying new things. It's been so fun. Like get out of that comfort zone and not be like afraid to take a risk, which I'm all about this year. So all right, any last thoughts as we are winding down? Any final feelings or reactions to practical magic, the original? Everyone watch it. Such a fan. Just be nice to people. That's all I got. I love that. That's a great closing tagline. okay, so one other thing that I do on every episode is ask you, is there any movie that you love that you think that maybe I haven't seen that I need to watch for homework? Now it's on the spot. I have so many rom coms. That might be the thing that gets me because I am unless it came out in 1998. Well, see, and I love the older ones. How to lose a guy in ten days. Yes, I've seen that. She's the Man. Yes, I've seen that. Bridesmaids. Yeah, that's a classic. Classic. That's in its own. Do you like all of Because it's ramchy. out of the three, I love Bridesmaids. Okay. How to lose a guy, that's okay. Okay, it's it's okay to have differences. Absolutely. I can fall asleep to that every single night. What would we do? I mean I could definitely like put it on in the background and work. I don't dislike it. Yeah. But it's never one that I'm gonna like find and put on. Like if pretty woman is on, I will get sucked in and stop what I'm doing and watch it to the end. I know every line, I know every song. and again I think that's more just about when it came out. Yeah. Because how to lose a guy in today's is more like early two thousands. I think so old. Yeah. And I think at that point I was like, Mm, I think I'm on to you guys. This ain't real. Correct. How about Miss Congeniality? Love that movie. I don't think there's any Sandra Bullock movie except for what's the one where like they have to cover their eyes and they're fighting like a a monster? It's a Netflix original. Yeah, like Bird Box. okay. I did not like that movie. I thought it was very dumb. No, I didn't like that one. Yeah, sorry. Sondra Blook, I love you. I don't like that movie. But I don't know that there's any other Sonder Bullock movie I don't not only like but love. Yes. Like she's one of my absolute favorites. I adore her. Speaking of rom coms, have you ever seen Hope Floats? No. Here I go giving you another one. I love it. That is it. Sonder Bullock movie. Okay. From nineties. That is fantastic with Harry Connor Jr. Breaks my heart every time I watch it. Sob beautiful. I'll watch it so I gave you your homework again. Hope floats. So if you can't think of any other movies, you can text me. Yes. My long-term goal, maybe before the end of the year, is we're gonna I'm gonna call it flip the script, and I'm gonna bring guests back, and I'm gonna watch the movie that you assigned me, and then you're gonna ask me questions. Okay. Do a little reflection. You can text me, even if it takes 20 movies, we can find one. Yeah. and I have a really Really great list from everyone who's done an episode so far. So then I'm gonna have some episodes coming up where we're flipping the script. I get to be introduced to something new that a friend of mine loves. I love the idea. Yeah, that's cool. All right. All right. Well, that's another episode of Scene Interpretation. I hope that you enjoyed our little soft launch into spooky season, a little witchy vibe. Exactly. so please, if you don't already, you can find me on Instagram at scene interpretation pod. You can find me specifically at dr. dot sophia murphy episodes drop on apple podcasts spotify podcasts and youtube would love to hear your thoughts please like subscribe and like we just talked about share with a friend in your life spread the word but until next time hope you have a great day bye bye guys