Not Just Tentacles

In the second Hell's Belles episode, Rachael talks about Via, our troubled Goetia princess. Why has she proved controversial, and what will happen to her next?
Contains lurgy, profanity and exasperation with Stellatrons.

Rachael and Ruth discuss the shows they've been watching over the winter: My Hero Academia Vigilantes, Trigun Stargaze, Tamon's B Side and Assassination Classroom. It's been a pretty stacked season! Also includes Helluva Boss news.
Contains copious pop culture references, singing, profanity - you know, the usual.

Rachael and Ruth review the latest Helluva short, where IMP have their wackiest target yet!
Though one thing they have to ask: who'd want to kill Bigfoot anyway? Or will this be a riddle for the ages?
Contains the usual snarking, swearing and news in passing.

In the first of a new miniseries, Not Just Tentacles discusses Helluva Boss' most misunderstood female character, Loona.
Contains spoilers (duh), dodgy singing and dyscalculia. You have been warned.

In this unorthodox Valentine's Day/Mardi Gras episode, Rachael and Ruth review queer apocalyptic drama Pluribus and the recent Muppets revival. They also share news regarding Knights of Guinevere and The Earth Guy.
Contains copious spoilers, singing and numerous Muppet impressions.

Rachael and Ruth recap Mission: Big Boss, the February 2026 Helluva Boss short. There's also a review of the second episode of Pretty Pretty Please I Don't Want To Be A Magical Girl.
Contains dictionary definitions, British politics and lots of strange Welsh noises.

Rachael and Ruth have mixed feelings about Wicked: For Good, the second film in the musical franchise.
Contains pondering, singing, random cartoon references, and how on earth Ruth can fancy Ian Malcolm of all fictional characters.

Rachael and Ruth discuss the anime Rachael's watched over Christmas: the fourth MHA movie and Trigun Stampede, the reboot of beloved classic Trigun. They also review the first episode of queer sci-fi Pluribus and wonderfully trashy series The Hunting Wives.
Includes brain fluffs, singing, impressions and various dated pop culture references (they are millennials, after all).

It's been a stellar year for anime and animation, so what better way to recognise achievement than the second Tentacles Awards?
Rachael and Ruth honour everything from Best Romance to Unusual Artistic Choice (trust them, it's weird).
Includes impressions, singing, brain fog and tangents. You know the score.

In perhaps the longest episode ever, Rachael and Ruth review Fall 2025's anime: SpyxFamily S3, Cat's Eye, This Monster Wants To Eat Me, A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace and the final season of My Hero Academia.
Oh, and did you know Not Just Tentacles has been going for 4 years now?
Contains tangents, cricks from recording on the floor, discussion of sapphic media and tons of Star Wars references.
CW: Suicidal ideation, emotional incest, implied actual incest/SA.

Rachael and Ruth recap the last two episodes of Hazbin Hotel Season 2, Weapon of Mass Distraction and Curtain Call.
It's 24 hours until Vox takes over Heaven. Will our heroes be able to stop him?
Contains brain fog, tangents and wild speculations. Nothing new there.

Rachael and Ruth recap and review episodes 5 and 6 of Hazbin Hotel Season 2.
Vox's cult is growing, and Charlie thinks only she can stop it. Unfortunately this leads to a declaration of holy war ...
Contains blanket forts, brain fog, wonky chronological order and appreciation of demon daddy dilfs.

Rachael and Ruth recap and review episodes 3 and 4 of Hazbin Hotel.
Charlie proceeds to put her foot in it in every way imaginable, while we learn the origins of Alastor and Vox's feud. Did you know the TV demon used to be called Vincent?
Contains brain fog, tangents and opinions. The usual, then.

Rachael and Ruth recap and review the first two episodes of Hazbin Hotel S2.
How will our antiheroes cope with a flood of vengeful guests? What are the Vees up to? And how will Heaven react to Sir Pentious as the first redeemed Sinner in known history?
Contains impressions and tangents as you'd expect - and gah, we missed out Lilith's second appearance 🤦‍♀️

Rachael discusses a certain avenging angel and wonders why she has been overlooked by fans. What's in store for Lute in the second season of Hazbin Hotel?

Rachael and Ruth examine the 2015 Death Note live action drama series. Is it a hit or a miss, and why does L keep taking his shirt off?
They also review The Earth Guy, the quirky indie animation series by Aninamated. How will hapless everyman Neil cope as the only human at a space school?
Includes discussion of the Hazbin Hotel trailer and Hazbin Guarantee (Trust Us).

Rachael and Ruth discuss Homestuck and Knights of Guinevere, the two latest indie animation pilots to make a splash online.

Now that Mission Zero reintroduces Stella, Stolas' fearsome ex wife, Rachael discusses her characterisation and some frequently heard complaints about her storyline.
Contains brain fog, iffy impressions and facepalming.

In which Rachael and Ruth discuss the controversial second half of the classic anime, and whether it should have finished with L's death. Naturally this involves copious spoilers.
And yes, Rachael realises she should have referred to defendants, not Mikami's "clients." All she knows about law is taken from Ace Attorney.
Contains impressions, tangents and family tree investigations.

Rachael and Ruth review the sixth Helluva Boss short, Mission: Bad Drivezo.
Blitzo and Moxxie are on what seems like a regular job when they're cut off by a horrendous driver. Wackiness ensues!
Contains impressions and copious cursing. It *is* a Helluva Recap after all.

Rachael and Ruth discuss the latest Hellaverse updates from San Diego Comic Con 2025.
Includes tangents, theories and Ruth's Alan Rickman impression.
Also what's happening with the podcast going forward.

Rachael and Ruth review KPop Demon Hunters, the hit animated musical on Netflix.
To the outside world Rumi, Mira and Zoey are Huntrix, a beloved KPop group. Their real purpose? Warriors in an epic battle of good and evil. But the foe has a brand new weapon: a rival boy band ...
Contains spoilers, tangents and RWBY news. Also an update on the podcast going forward.

It's the second Pride Month episode of 2025!
Rachael and Ruth review two yuri anime, If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would Die and Yuri Kuma Arashi (Lesbian Bear Storm).
One is a romcom about a fan falling for her idol; another is a metaphor for homophobia and depictions of lesbians in Japan.
Expect the usual singing, impressions, tangents etc.

In 2025's first Pride Month episode, Rachael and Ruth discuss Bumbleby, the slowburn sapphic romance between Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long of RWBY fame.
Includes repeated use of the word "nonce," dated pop culture references and bickering about AI.

It's Not Just Tentacles' YouTube debut, shared with you lovely listeners! (It was originally the third May episode).
Rachael and Ruth discuss fan content and fanons, namely head canons shared by a large number of fans.
Contains strong language, flappy hands and an ironing board.

Rachael and Ruth review the recent Netflix adaptation of Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight.
Rachael has grown up with Goscinny and Uderzo's classic French comic series; it's passed Ruth by. Will she convince her co host to watch it?
Includes millennial songs, random fangirling and puns.

Rachael and Ruth reminisce and review Shrek, the classic film series about a moody ogre, his unlikely romance with a princess, and a heck of a lot of pop culture references and fart gags.
Contains singing, impersonations and Donkey noises. You should know by now.
Also: which star did our hosts randomly meet in Liverpool?

Rachael and Ruth discuss the recent Helluva developments at LVLUP 2025.
Includes impressions, tangents and ... frog noises?

Rachael and Ruth discuss the shows they've started watching for Spring 2025: Once Upon A Witch's Death, Your Forma, Go Go Loser Ranger Season 2 and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
Since they're Whovians, they also have to review Alix, the recent live action/animation episode of Doctor Who.
It's a completely un-Eastery Easter episode!

Rachael and Ruth cover indie darling Pretty Pretty Please I Don't Want to Be a Magical Girl, the Indigo reboot, and Netflix donghua No Doubt In Us. It's clearly the right time for supernatural fantasy with sapphic overtones!
Includes misnomers, mispronunciations, David Attenborough and the Road Runner.

Rachael and Ruth review Spy x Family: Code White, the 2023 standalone film.
There's no such thing as an ordinary day with the Forger family, and certainly not an ordinary holiday. What will our favourite spy, assassin and telepath do when they accidentally threaten world peace?
Rachael is a firm fan of the series; Ruth has never watched it. How will they rate the movie?
You know the drill: tangents, impressions, and whether or not a scientist looks like a member of Take That.

In this mega long episode, Rachael and Ruth wonder why the films of the Disney Renaissance exert such a hold over millennials. Are they as good as we remember, or is it the nostalgia speaking?
Includes singing, digressions and cussing.
Ruth couldn't resist reviewing The Emperor's New Groove because 1) she watched it recently and 2) just because 🤦‍♀️

Rachael and Ruth discuss the shows they've been watching over Winter 2025: Sakamoto Days, Ameku MD: Doctor Detective, Tasokare Hotel, Indigo and The Magical Girl Garnet Heart.
There's an overriding theme of mystery, but a wide range of shows: hitmen, medical drama, supernatural thriller, sci-fi and magical girls!

In this bumper Valentine's Day special, Rachael and Ruth talk about all things Stolitz in the second half of Helluva Boss Season 2.
Includes dubious impersonation, Rachael playing devil's advocate for Blitzo and Stolas, and Ruth being Ruth. Also spoilers for Aggretsuko, What We Do In The Shadows and Carol (sorry!)

Rachael and Ruth enthuse about Wicked, the blockbusting film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
Includes belting notes, brain fog, tangents and Ruth's Jeff Goldblum impression.
They know it's not anime or animation, but what the hell.

Rachael and Ruth discuss the recent antics of Helluva Boss' infamous abusive wife and mother, Stella.
Since people are still missing the point.
CW: Mentions of domestic and child abuse.

Rachael and Ruth review The Promised Neverland. Ruth is no wuss, but she's traumatised.
They also discuss indie animations Gods' School, The Epilogue of Endings and Bite Shift.
Contains tangents, singing and anecdotes.
CW: Child murder, abuse and endangerment.

In their first episode of 2025, Rachael and Ruth review Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the beloved duo's first outing in 16 years.
Wallace has become overly reliant on his new invention Norbot, to Gromit's chagrin. To make matters worse, an old enemy is waiting in the wings, seeking revenge ...

It's the Helluva Boss Season 2 finale!
Blitzo tries to teach Stolas the spirit of Sinsmas, but he's worried about Via, and they've a target to take out. Oh, and Millie has a secret ...
Rachael and Ruth ask: Is it the best Christmas episode of a show ever? Quite possibly!

Rachael and Ruth host the first Tentacles Awards ceremony, recognising the anime and animation they've watched in 2024. Which shows and movies will receive the coveted gongs?
Includes the usual tangents and brain guffs (sorry, Stephanie! And who the hell is Paul?)