Podcast
Doug Defends
Hosted by Doug Ridley & Billy Business · EN
Have you ever wondered how many laws Batman breaks in Gotham City? Or maybe you’ve always wondered what legal trouble InGen would be in for actually bringing dinosaurs back to life in Jurassic Park? Well, wonder no more! Defense attorney and former district attorney Doug Ridley and Producer Billy Business analyze your favorite movie and TV shows from a real life legal perspective! Each week will be a deep dive into a new franchise...from ”Star Wars” to ”Power Rangers” all the way to America’s favorite sitcom ”Friends”, Doug and Billy are putting your favorite properties on trial! Want more? All our links in one place: https://linktr.ee/dougdefends
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Batman vs Joker...Who's the Real Criminal?! Doug Defends Batman (1989)
Feb 1601:32:45Tap to summarizeBatman (1989) is remembered as a classic hero movie… but legally it might be one of the wildest superhero films ever made. This week Doug and Billy break down the crimes of Batman and the Joker — from mass poisoning and terrorism to lethal force, explosions, property destruction, and yes… Batman committing crimes to protect himself. So who would actually get the longer prison sentence in real life? This episode puts both characters on trial and answers the question: Who is worse legally — Batman or the Joker? The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Wakanda Forever! Doug Defends Black Panther (2018)
Feb 901:06:12Tap to summarizeBlack Panther is one of Marvel’s most celebrated movies, but when you look at it through the lens of real-world law, almost every major moment raises serious legal questions. In this episode of Doug Defends, real defense attorney Doug Ridley breaks down the biggest legal problems in Black Panther, including a killing on U.S. soil, the fallout of an illegal cover-up, stolen cultural artifacts, Wakanda’s trial-by-combat succession system, international weapons trafficking, and covert CIA involvement inside a sovereign nation. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley – Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business – Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg – Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Just...So Many Felonies. Doug Defends National Treasure (2004)
Jan 2601:02:06Tap to summarizeIn National Treasure (2004), Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) doesn’t just hunt for hidden treasure… he goes on a full-on felony spree including the most famous crime of all: stealing the Declaration of Independence! So what actually happens to Ben Gates in real life? What charges is he facing? And could anyone ever realistically “get away with it” the way he does in the movie? Today, Doug & Billy break down the crimes, the legal consequences, and why this is one of the most entertaining federal cases ever put on screen. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →The Law Will Go On! Doug Defends Titanic (1997)
Jan 1901:05:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Doug Defends, defense attorney Doug Ridley puts Titanic (1997) on trial and it turns out the romance isn’t the most dramatic thing happening… the crimes are. From empty lifeboats and chaotic evacuation decisions to Cal Hockley’s felony speedrun (framing, attempted murder, firing a gun into a crowd…), we break down what’s legally realistic, what isn’t, and what consequences these characters would face in real life. And because Titanic is based on a real historical tragedy, we also cover the real-world legal fallout including lawsuits and the safety reforms that followed (yes… Titanic literally changed maritime law). The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Gambling On a Life Sentence?! Doug Defends Ocean's Eleven
Jan 1201:03:50Tap to summarizeOcean’s Eleven is one of the slickest heist movies ever made… but legally? This plan is a COMPLETE NIGHTMARE. In this episode of Doug Defends, real lawyer Doug Ridley breaks down the crimes in Ocean’s Eleven (2001): from conspiracy and wire fraud to impersonation, explosives, and what kind of prison time the crew would face in real life. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Why is Santa Claus Such a Jerk?! Doug Defends Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Dec 2201:12:33Tap to summarizeRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a beloved holiday classic... but legally? It’s an absolute disaster. In this episode of Doug Defends, Doug and Billy break down the shocking legal issues hiding inside the 1964 Rankin/Bass Christmas special: From Rudolph being discriminated against for his nose, to horrific animal cruelty, to an absolutely shocking clear-as-day murder, this “wholesome” holiday special might be one of the most illegal stories we’ve ever covered. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Is John McClane Actually a Criminal? Doug Defends Die Hard
Dec 1501:07:04Tap to summarizeDie Hard (1988) isn’t just an action classic...it’s a legal minefield. Today, real lawyer Doug Ridley takes a deep dive into John McClane’s chaotic night inside Nakatomi Plaza to answer one question: Is John McClane actually a criminal? Doug unpacks the real-world legal consequences behind cinema’s most iconic Christmas… or not Christmas… movie. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Is Buddy the Elf an International Criminal? Doug Defends Elf
Dec 801:03:55Tap to summarizeIs Buddy the Elf actually an international criminal? In this special holiday episode of Doug Defends, real lawyer Doug Ridley breaks down Elf (2003) and analyzes the very real legal problems behind Buddy’s cheerful Christmas chaos. From crossing international borders without identification… to assaulting a mall Santa… to trespassing his way across New York City… Buddy might be far more illegal than anyone wants to admit. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Are the Guardians Actually Criminals? Doug Defends Guardians of the Galaxy
Dec 101:12:40Tap to summarizeDefense attorney Doug Ridley and Billy Business break down every crime in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 including kidnapping, illegal experiments, prison breaks, war crimes and more. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
Transcribe →Bonus Episode! Doug Defends Wicked For Good
Nov 2600:46:44Tap to summarize***THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR WICKED: FOR GOOD*** We went back into the land of Oz for "Wicked: For Good"… and found even MORE crimes. In this quick follow-up case file, defense Doug and Billy break down some huge legal issues we didn’t get to in our full Wicked episode...including Glinda’s involvement in the Wizard’s fraud, Elphaba’s life-or-death “surgeries,” and whether Nessarose massively overstepped her authority as Governor. The Doug Defends Team: Doug Ridley - Host, Defense Attorney at Ridley Defense Billy Business - Co-Host, Producer, Editor Linda Weg - Director of Operations Music by www.purple-planet.com
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