Real Women of Gaming

Humans have always had a fascination with what happens after death. Are there parts of us that move onto a shining afterlife? Do we get reincarnated to continue a journey? Do those who have moved on ever get stuck? Can we still speak to the dead? Do they try to interact with the living? These questions have been a big part of religious, spiritual, and paranormal societies throughout time. 

For the last 20 years, television and streaming services have been providing viewers with shows featuring teams of paranormal investigators. It almost seems like we have gone ghost hunting crazy in a way that has been unmatched since the spiritualist movement of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. There have been teams for everyone. Some have been dominating television for years. Some have fizzled out. Last year we were introduced to a new group who have a very different take on ghost hunting. 

Living for the Dead is a group of ghost hunters with a different perspective and approach to the craft. It premiered on Hulu in 2023 just in time for Halloween. Five queer ghost hunters have teamed up to drive across the USA in search of people who need help with the paranormal. 

Each member of the team has a specialty. Juju is a witch and spiritual healer. Alex is the resident ghost hunter and tech expert. Ken is a tarot card reader. Logan is a physic medium. Roz is the researcher. Together they are tackling paranormal cases in their own way. 

I have been an avid watcher of paranormal shows since 2004. I have recently been feeling frustrated at the lack of respect many teams have. Instead of trying to help they come in and stir up ghosts to gather evidence and then leave like there are no consequences to this methodology. Some teams that I started out loving I can no longer watch. It has been disappointing to hear that this methodology makes activity worse. Also that it continues to be the way of approaching ghost hunting in shows. 

Living for the Dead is vastly different. Perhaps it is because the team is composed entirely of queer people who have never fit into the mold. They go into each location with respect. Yes, sometimes there are jokes, but nothing nasty. They focus on the people who are affected by the hauntings. Then the team starts to investigate and research the location. From there they work on empowering the space, speaking to ghosts civilly, and helping the living to coexist. The episodes are surprisingly kind more than anything. 

I have gotten emotional many times watching this show. They put care into helping the living to take positive steps for themselves. The firm but never rude way they handle less kind spirits. The gentle way they work with protective spirits. How the team goes out of their way to meet with staff and teach them all to be safe. 

Yes, we get silly queer good times with ghosts. Yes, we get scares. There is super cool tech, all bedazzled by Alex. It is all of the things about ghost hunting shows that I love. Every episode is a great ride to go on.

I highly recommend Living for the Dead. 

I hope you will give it a try even if you have never watched a paranormal show before.

ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!!!